Wines of the week: Three medium reds for September

Terry Kirby shares his selection of the best reds for this month

As summer slips into the glorious month that is September, here are three medium-bodied reds suitable for warm days and cooler evenings….

From New Zealand...

Te Mata Gamay Noir 2015

One of New Zealand foremost producers delivers its own brilliant take on Beaujolais Villages, using some of the very small amount of Gamay planted in the Hawkes Bay area: succulent, ripe blackberry-fruit laden easy drinkability, with a lovely structure and elegance. Can take a light chilling on a warm day or drink at room temperature with grilled poultry or a rare duck breast.

£14.95 winedirect.co.uk; hawksheadwines.co.uk

From Italy...

Tedeschi Lucchine Valpolicella DOC Classico 2013

From the heart of the Valpolicella area in the Veneto region north of Venice, a typically medium bodied, velvety and elegant young red, with subtle flavours of fruit and nut chocolate and a full and rounded finish that denotes careful wine making by the long established Tedeschi family. An ideal pairing with all kinds of pasta or lighter meats.

£10.99 robertsandspeight.co.uk; £12.98 vintagemarque.com

From France....

Clos des Cordelieres Saumur Champigny Cuvee Tradition 2014

The Cabernet France grape – which is added to blends further south in Bordeaux – gets solo showcasing to great effect in Loire reds, both sparkling and still, as here, in a brambly, autumnal red, with terrific structure and a fine minerality from the limestone soils. Lovely match for early season game, mushrooms and charcuterie.

£12.99 virginwines.co.uk