Jean Summel reviews Lidl's 2018 Chevalier De Fauvert IPR Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Cimarosa Malbec and 2014 Barolo
Today on Movies & Booze we have a Sauvignon Blanc from the South of France, and two stunning reds, a Malbec from Argentina and a wine style known as one of Italy’s greatest wines, the full bodied Barolo from Piedmonte in Northern Italy. All the wines featured on today’s show are part of Lidl’s permanent wine range and are available all year round.
2018 Chevalier De Fauvert IPR Sauvignon Blanc €7.29
Stockists: Available in Lidl’s 160 stores nationwide
Sauvignon Blanc is not native to the South of France, but when grown here goes under the designation Indication Geographique Protegee (IPR) it can be very good. IPR wines were once known as Vin du Pay which means country wines from a specified area. In other words, the Sauvignon Blanc isn’t local, but it grows very well here.
Thirty years ago the winemakers were producing vast quantities of undrinkable white wines which were made from the Uni Blanc grape. Most of this went into the EU wine lake. The French Government encouraged the growers to grow less and better quality which lead to the most exciting development in the production of wine from this region. A new ethos of making wine grew up, this quality wine was produced outside the AOP system.
Many new world winemakers discovered this region as a place to make wine and experiment and investment in the form of new plantings and wineries have been the story of these wines in recent years. IPR allows the winemaker to plant good quality grapes that are not indigenous to the region. For example, Chardonnay, native to Burgundy can be grow in Languedoc and will be sold as an IGP wine. Merlot from Bordeaux can be grown in Provence and will be sold as an IGP wine, Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire can be sold as n IPR wine.
Sauvignon Blanc has a distinctive aroma, The smell of the so-called thiol character of Sauvignon is reminiscent of tomato leaf, gooseberry or can sometimes smell “grassy”. The characteristic odor is followed by citrus fruit flavours.
This is a lovely example of well-made Sauvignon from Southern France. It has a lovely freshness and all those characteristics we so associated with this much loved grape, the acidity, the citrus fruit all come through.
2018 Cimarosa Malbec Argentina €7.99
Stockists: Available in Lidl’s 160 stores nationwide
Argentine Malbec is currently is one of THE most fashionable red grape varieties on the Irish market. The grape is native to France but has found its natural home in the high altitude vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina’s premium wine. The greatest of all Malbec comes from Argentina, particularly Mendoza, where it is now the most widely planted varietal and is transforming the country's wine industry for the better.
Malbec comes from the Cahors region of southwest France, where it is known as Côt, though it is also found in the Anjou and Tourraine regions of the Loire valley. It is also still found in Bordeaux, particularly in the satellite regions such as Bourg, Blaye and Entre-deux-Mers.
Malbec was once a significant Bordeaux grape, but today, it has taken a back seat to Merlot and the two Cabernets (Franc and Sauvignon). Its origins are cloudy, in France it has over 400 synonyms.
Malbec grows really well in the Andes Mountains. The warm days ripen the grapes and the cool nights keep them fresh, packing them with extra complexity. Mendoza is THE most important region. 90% of all Argentinan wines come from this region. The soils of the different viticultural areas are mainly made up of rocks and minerals from the mountains. With 41,301 ha planted Malbec is the most widely cultivated varietal in Argentina. With exports increasing by 375% in 11 years, today Malbec is globally the grape most associated with Argentina.
Malbec is usually low in acidity, high in tannins, and has an inky-black colour. Aromas and flavors of red plums, black currants are common.
Lidl’s Malbec is super smooth, and full of rich plum fruit. Enjoy this with a delicious steak for the perfect pairing. A juicy red wine, great with barbeque food.
2014 Barolo €15.99
Stockists: Available in Lidl’s 160 stores nationwide
There are four DOCG Areas in Piedmonte. Barbaresco, Barolo, Gattinara and Moscanto d'Asti Spumante. Piedmonte is esteemed for it's red wines. The regal Barolo and Barbaresco. But the best known of the region's wines is the white, sweet bubbly Asti Spumante.
The regions climate is rigid by Italian standards with distinct changes of season. Winters are cold with plenty of snow; summers are usually warm and dry; spring and autumn are usually cool with fog normal at harvest time. Most of the vineyards are located in two major areas the Langhe and Monferrato hills. the focal point of premium production is the two of Alba on the Tanaro River. In the nearby Langhe hills Barolo (king of wines and wine of kings) is produced at the rate of about 6 million bottles a year and Barbaresco, which most experts rate as equally as good rarely attains half those production levels.
So what do you expect from Barolo? It is made from a grape called Nebbiolo which produces wines that are very perfumed and have lots and I mean LOTS of tannin. The key to Nebbiolo is that it takes a long time to mature which means that you have wait for quite a while until it is ready to drink. Young Barolo can be very tannic and full bodied but once this classic wine style has some age on it you are treated to a mature, leathery, meaty wine style with lots of spice and acidity and amazing complexity. This is definitely a wine for the enthusiast to enjoy. This wine has a great cachet among wine lovers and is considered to be one of the greatest classic wine styles .. ever!!!
Barolo can be quite pricey, at €15.99 this is a very good price for this wine style.
This a wine made to go with meat, or any dish with a strong flavours as it has quite a lot of tannin. You could match it with Risotto cooked with truffles and porcini mushrooms. Ideally thought I would serve it with roast beef or lamb, or a a medium rare sirloin steak!
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