Enjoy European flavours in the last of the summer wine | Alistair Gibson

There is little doubt we continue to live in strange times, but the change of seasons remains a constant.
Geyser Jurancon sec Domaine Cauhape.Geyser Jurancon sec Domaine Cauhape.
Geyser Jurancon sec Domaine Cauhape.

We do seem to have been enjoying a little bit of an Indian summer, which no doubt will end as soon as I write this week’s column.

But when the sun does shine over the next few weeks, here are some slightly unusual late summer wines that I have tasted over the past few weeks which you will enjoy.

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You may need to track down Domaine Cauhapé Geyser 2019, Jurançon Sec (vinatis.co.uk - £16.19 and available from The Wine Society at the end of this month - thewinesociety.com), but this is definitely worth the effort.

Jurançon is a small region in south west France in the foothills of the Pyrenees and produces both dry and sweet wines from a number of grape varieties, which are seldom found elsewhere.

This dry white wine is a blend of five different varieties including gross manseng, petit manseng and the very rare camaralet from one of the region’s best known producers.

It really is quite an exotic wine with aromas of grapefruit, peaches, herbs and honeysuckle.

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The palate is beautifully textured with more exotic fruits and a touch of spice and a long, juicy finish.

This is a really delicious and different wine.

It makes a great aperitif, but would also work with some fresh seafood.

Banfi La Pettegola 2019, Toscana (Fareham Wine Cellar - £15.50) is another white wine made from a less well known grape variety.

Produced in the foothills of Maremma, a southern coastal region of Tuscany, this wine is made from vermentino which is very much a Mediterranean grape and this is a really food-friendly dry white.

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It is really fresh with some tropical fruits, ripe pears and dried herbs on the nose, followed by a really crisp acidity with more ripe pear, a little spice on the palate and a long, clean finish.

This would go well with a simple vegetable risotto or pasta dish.

Etna Rosato 2019, Tenuta del Terre Nere (Justerini & Brooks – justerinis.com - £11.25 - based on buying a case) is made from Nerollo Mascalese, a variety indigenous to Sicily, on the slopes of Mount Etna.

It is definitely the style of rosé that does not need to confine itself to summer drinking.

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Quite pale in colour, but with a delightful orange copper tinge, there are spices, red fruits, grapefruit and minerals on the nose.

This is followed by a dry, crisp palate with red cherry fruit and a little salinity in the background.

This is really quite a grown up rosé and is paired really well with some fishcakes.

Our wine columnist Alistair Gibson is proprietor of Hermitage Cellars.

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