Summer Sipping with Smashing Wines

Our latest blog is written by Smashing Wines who have come up with a selection of wines that will work beautifully with duck for this summer season. We have also teamed up with Smashing Wines for a wonderful competition to win a duck hamper and 2 bottles of wine.

Summer Sipping from Smashing Wines…

Summer is upon us and it’s time to get the BBQ’s out and fired up! An often forgotten meat during the BBQ season, duck is one of our favourites here at Smashing Wines. Cooked over the coals or served up in fresh summer salads this versatile meat can be enjoyed with so many different styles of wine. Here are our top choices for this summer……

Le Vin de Blaise, 2017 – AOP Côtes-du- Rhône Villages

For those of you who just love your reds we have chosen a medium-bodied wine full of ripe, dark-berry fruit, spice and liquorice aromas and a soft, supple texture. Balanced with juicy brightness this wine makes a perfect combination with a smoked duck salad or barbecued duck breast.

Organically grown vines – this blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah is vinified in cement vats and matured in old oak casks. Only natural yeasts are used and there is no fining or filtration and very low amounts of sulphites added before bottling.

Château Massereau, Clairet, 2017 – Bordeaux

Sunshine can mean only one thing – Rosé season! We have chosen an unusual style of rosé compared to the renowned Provence. Château Massereau, Clairet, is what we call the red wine drinkers rosé! A 36-hour maceration process creates a beautifully bright ruby colour with great intensity. Fresh on the palate, low in tannins and no residual sugar, the aromas of red berries, cherries and currants perfectly compliment barbecued duck and summer salads!

La Combe des Avaux Blanc, 2016 – Côtes du Rhone

For those who prefer a white during the summer BBQ season we would suggest this Biodynamic, Clairet and Grenache Blanc blend from Côtes du Rhone – this delicate wine offers us a pale straw colour, a subtle floral nose with hints of white fruits, pear and fennel. Paired with the sweet spices, and white pepper notes of this wine, aromatic duck dishes such as Peking Duck Pancakes are a match made in heaven!

All wines can be found on our website www.smashingwines.co.uk