After a pretty darn decent stretch of clement weather, it seems we have been delivered safely into the hands of summer. Surely some of you would gladly fill your swimming pools with Rosé if you could. And for those die-hard white drinkers, you must be in your element.
Nevertheless, I can guarantee there will be moments over the next glorious couple of months when you'll still crave wine with a bit more colour. Even in a scorching heatwave, a light-bodied red can cool you down. The key is serving it with a slight chill. Pinot Noir is the poster child for summer reds but Gamay (the grape used to make Beaujolais) is equally fitting. I also like Italy's Bardolino and inexpensive Valpolicella for warm weather quaffing.
And let's be honest, our coastal locale rarely suffers from exaggerated heat. Evenings are usually fresh, sometimes demanding a fuller red to take off the chill when dining outdoors. For those casual backyard barbecues by all means go big, but nothing too demanding or complicated.
Finally, if you are entertaining out-of-town guests, it behooves you to give them a taste of our local juice. With plenty of excellent examples to choose from, this should never pose a problem.
So here are some reds that are well adapted to the sunny season; easygoing on the palate and not too taxing on the wallet.
2015 Grão Vasco, Dão DOC, Portugal$8.49 BC Liquor Stores
This one is for those big summer bashes when you need to slake the thirst of the masses. I'm not sure how it has flown under my radar until now but it really is a great value-driven red. Dry, medium weight with plummy aromas and plump red berries, it finishes firmly with licorice flavours.
2014 Pérez Cruz, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Chile $15.49 BC Liquor Stores
When I smell steak sizzling on the barbecue, all of a sudden only a classic Cab will do. Here's a well priced, satisfying example from Chile. Black currant, smoky tobacco, chocolate and a touch of green pepper lead to plush ripe fruit on the palate. Finishes with a seasonally refreshing lift.
2009 Bodegas Garcia, 'Señorío de Baldíos' Ribera del Duero DO Crianza, Spain $20.99 BC Liquor Stores
There is a charming rusticity to the Baldíos along with nuances of leather, spice, plum and coconut. Robust and mouth filling but with almost eight years under its belt, the tannins are soft and mellow. Well priced and totally appropriate for a meat-centric barbecue.
2014 Vignerons de Buxy Buissonnier, Bourgogne Côtes Chalonnaise AOC, France $20.99 BC Liquor Stores
Excellent price-to-quality ratio from Burgundy, this light, bright Pinot Noir offers intense crunchy cranberries, succulent red currants, subtle clove and an underlying earthiness. Don't hesitate to give it a chill and gulp down with a classic burger.
2015 Blue Grouse, Estate Pinot Noir, Cowichan Valley, BC $27winery direct
You may recall the summer of 2015: hot! hot! hot! Not that high temperatures necessarily make the best wine, but, in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, the long, dry summer gave fully ripe grapes with lots of flavour concentration. Blue Grouse's Pinot Noir is rounded out with 15% Gamay and offers red cherry, black raspberry and sweet baking spice with a tangy backbone. And as cliché as it sounds, it will indeed go beautifully with grilled local salmon.
Prices exclusive of taxes.
