£9.99/£7.49, Waitrose
Almost everything I said about the 2016 vintage of this Cape red when singing its praises back in 2018 holds true for the 2021.
It’s a good buy at it’s usual price and a bargain when it’s on offer, as now, and it’s a wine that shows off the virtues of blending grape varieties, not least when a small proportion of the white Viognier is included to lift the perfume and freshness of a red.
In this vintage there’s 6% Viognier, seamlessly woven with the ripe berry and spice of the Shiraz and the darker, more savoury fruit, herb and earthy spice of the 14% Mourvèdre, and the sum of the three parts is integrated with the subtle nuttiness of lightly used oak and soft tannins.
What I didn’t say in 2018 – it wasn’t the season – was that you could enjoy this with a classic pink-roast Easter lamb. You could also serve it just lightly chilled with a mild lamb curry, or drink it with vegetarian chilli or chill con carne, stuffed red peppers, an array of roast or barbecued veg, spicy sausages, or duck or pork flavoured with five-spice. 14.5%.
Kleine Zalze Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2021, Western Cape, South Africa
£9.99, Waitrose, or £7.49 when you buy 6 or more bottles priced £6 or over for delivery or collection until 2.4.24; £9.99, Booths
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