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WINE OF THE WEEK: Bellingham The Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne 2015, Paarl, South Africa


£10, Sainsbury's


Bellingham Bernard Roussanne

Roussanne is a peach of a white grape variety from the northern Rhône, but it’s susceptible to all sorts of pests and diseases, so there aren’t many pure Roussanne wines anywhere in the world: if you have a tricky variety, the easiest thing to do is blend it, as in the Rhône where its main partner is Marsanne. In this rare South African example, a small proportion of the wine was matured briefly in oak barrels to give extra richness to the typical honeysuckle, spice and herby Earl Grey perfume and the fresh, peachy fruit. The result is roundness and texture but lovely freshness and a wine that has an easy relationship with food. Try it with fish, chicken, carbonara or even a very lightly spiced curry with coconut milk. It’s always ready to drink when it’s released, but there’s no hurry: I’m still enjoying the bottles of 2014 I bought. Excellent value.

Bellingham The Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne 2015, Paarl, South Africa

£10, Sainsbury’s (online if not in your local store)

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