It’s Wine Time: The Pick of the Bunch at Peninsula this Month

Enter, Alex and Priti: our resident wine enthusiasts - and after sharing a few glasses of wine with them, we’re going to say experts - from the Best Bites community. Hailing from opposite ends of the globe, Alex from Melbourne and Priti from London, they rose admirably to the challenge we set them - diving into a wine tasting on a Tuesday evening!

July means Bastille Day - so we’re celebrating the best of French wine with some great picks to see you through the summer. From an easy-drinking Sauvignon Blanc, a mild Provence rosé perfect for a warm day and a full-bodied Bordeaux red, see what we rated - and what we’ll be stocking up on again in-store before the month is out.

Our White: La Perrière La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc

Price: AED64 

Best for: an easy-drinking Sauvignon Blanc 

A lot of us think New Zealand when we think of a good Sauvignon Blanc, but this French offering really pulls its own weight. With notes of acacia, ivy, peach and lychee on the nose, it’s relatively light on the palate. A fresh drop with lingering fruity notes, perfect for a summer afternoon in Abu Dhabi. 

Pair it with: soft cheese like brie or camembert, oyster, Asian cuisine or perfect to sip on all by itself

Our Rosé: Pigoudet La Tourelle Vin de Provence 

Price: AED80

Best for: a mild rosé served chilled on a warm day

Often tempted to start with a rosé on a warm day, this drop proved no exception. If it’s French - even better. Light in colour and quite dry on the palate, this is a very inoffensive rosé - with lingering notes of strawberry and cherry to balance the acidity. 

‍Pair it with: more soft cheese, summer salads or some gorgeous fresh seafood

Our Red: Chateau Virecourt Conte 2019 Bordeaux Superieur 

Price: AED70

Best for: a full-bodied red with a dry finish

We doubt we’re alone in being fans of an organic wine - I’ve certainly managed to convince myself I have less chance of a wine headache the next day if I’m sipping on organic wines - so this Bordeaux already scores points for being certified organic. 

Dark blackberry and cassis aromas give a strong indication of what’s ahead, before your first sip brings a palate with hints of raspberry. The smooth mouthfeel makes for a nice drinking wine, followed by a noticeably dry finish.

Pair it with: red meat (a nice cut of steak, anyone?), hard cheese, or even some good quality dark chocolate

So which wine was our favourite?

We genuinely enjoyed all three - but the deck was split on our favourites. Alex’s pick was the Bordeaux, while Priti and I both landed on the Sauvignon Blanc as our winner by a small margin - possibly as it’s a really nice chilled white to sip on a hot day, and less in-your-face than Sauvignon Blancs can sometimes feel. As less of a red drinker, I’d rate the Bordeaux for the perfect wine to end on - but for a red wine lover like Alex it ticked a lot of boxes. The rosé was lovely as well - one we’d buy again - but unfortunately finished in bronze medal position this week.