WINTER WINE TIME...

Moscow locals have long championed the health benefits of stripping off mid-winter and plunging into their ice covered lakes. They have a fully fledged Winter Swimming Federation to prove it. That all manner of illness can be cured by just twenty breathtaking seconds in the sub-zero waters apparently has everything to do with the instantaneous rise in core body temperature, and absolutely nothing to do with the post plunge vodka.

It’s that time of year again; time to swap your tee shirt for a sweater, your flip flops for wellies, your lovely summer salads for hearty winter stews and your white wine for red. More specifically, this is the time of year to bring out the heavy artillery; big reds, reds that pack punch, reds from warm far away places you’d probably rather be, reds to warm your soul. And great as the above Russian custom sounds, I’ve got my own winter ritual that simply involves an open fire place, a nice bottle of red and some decent company. And while medical evidence would suggest that in moderation my practice will also benefit my health, the stripping off part remains optional.

Here’s three full-bodied reds guaranteed to get you through the coming winter.

Katnook Founders Block Merlot, 2005
Coonawarra, South Australia

The Katnook Founders range consistently displays the kind of spit and polish more often reserved for wines going for far more money. From the moment you raise your glass,
lush cassis and plum fruit flood every sense. Characteristically, the palate is soft and forgiving with fresh acidity and fine grained tannins - the perfect introduction to New World Merlot and terrific value for money.

Catena Malbec, 2005
Mendoza, Argentina

A former resident of Bordeaux, Malbec has risen to become one of the true superstars of Argentina’s flourishing wine scene. Taken from high altitude vineyards tucked neatly into the foothills of the Andes Mountains, this wine is deeply colored with masses of dark dried fruit and spice. In the mouth it’s soft and plush, while bright acidity, well judged cedary oak and fine grippy tannins to finish.

Quinta de la Rosa Aguia 2006
Douro, Portugal

It’s exciting times for Portugal - particularly in the dry red table wine department - and the Bergqvist family’s Quinta de la Rosa is certainly one estate worth watching. Since
1992 winemaking has been overseen by Jorge Moreira, and from much loved favorites like Vale de Clara right the way to this - their latest red offering - quality has improved out of sight. Aguia, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Touriga Franca, is a deeply colored and concentrated wine with masses of dark dried fruit, smoke and spice on the nose. In the mouth prepare yourself for ‘inky’ and ‘full’, while bright acidity, cedary oak and some fine grippy tannin complete
the picture.