By Christine Salins.
Around a decade ago, there was a lot of media coverage about a study done at the University of Alberta in Canada in which a researcher found that resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, showed results similar to that of extensive endurance exercise training.
Social media went wild, concluding that no longer would you need to go to the gym, all you had to do was drink wine and the weight would peel off.
Well, not quite … By January 2015, the university was updating its website, making it very clear that “wine is no excuse not to hit the gym, period”.
Researcher Jason Dyck said resveratrol could help people who were physically incapable of exercising. But if you were “drinking red wine to get resveratrol, you would have to drink anywhere from 100 to 1,000 bottles a day”.
The moral of the story: don’t rely on the following reds to give you a leave pass from the gym. But do enjoy them in moderation and let them give you a warm inner glow, something we can all do with during a cold, wet winter in uncertain times.
Re-write The Rules 2021 Pinot Noir, $19.95: De Bortoli named its “Re-write” wines thus because they are different from what you might expect. In the case of this Pinot from Victoria, it is bolder, deeply fragrant and more ‘out there’ than the elegant, restrained Pinots of cool-climate vineyards. Uncomplicated but with oodles of personality, it’s one to kick back and have fun with.
Yalumba Barossa 2018 Grenache Shiraz Mataro, $28: It’s hard to go wrong with a Barossa GSM – the region does this classic blend just so darn well. Always a favourite, this one from Yalumba entices with deliciously silky tannins and vibrant floral, nutmeg spice and dark cherry notes.
Burge 2021 The Hidden Sea Shiraz, $19.90: Generous plum flavours with hints of vanilla and choc-mint. Not only is this a pleasure to drink, it’s also a ‘feel good’ drop. For every bottle sold, the producer works with the ReSea Project to remove and recycle the equivalent of 10 x plastic bottles from the ocean.
Angulong 2019 ‘Crossing Reserve’ Harriet, $48: This big boy from Orange NSW gets all the senses working at once. A blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano, it’s quite tannic with complex layers and a long, drawn-out finish. A new wine from Ben Crossing, who experimented for years to get it right. It’ll be even better in a few years.
Sevenhill Cellars 2019 St Ignatius, $50: Rich and concentrated but nicely balanced so as not to be overpowering, this is a luxurious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. With silky tannins and sweet floral aromas, it has hints of juniper and mint, along with vibrant blackcurrant and plum flavours. Very saintly indeed.
