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Hail Hot Bottlers! As we tipple into August it’s time to lap up the Summer vibes with this edition of Hot Bottle and lashings of smashing wine recommendations.

To launch you into the holiday mood, these two Romanian bargains from Waitrose are well worth scooping up while on offer - which ends tomorrow so get in quick!

Sorcova Pinot Grigio 2019 (12%) £5.84 Stock up for summer, this is a steal on offer for a scented zinger with a slightly exotic twizzle.

Sorcova Pinot Noir 2019 (12.5%) £5.84. Silky and fleshy with supple delicacy - a blueberry waltzing with a raspberry.

I was knocked out by a recent tasting of wine samples kindly sent to me for review by Haynes Hanson & Clark and I'm glad to share my findings exclusively with you. This was the first tasting in a very long time where I found every single wine in the line up was good enough to recommend. The hit rate is usually nowhere near this high so consider this as my doff of the hat to the team at Haynes Hanson & Clark and their excellent work. I’d order a case of 12 if you can, one each of these rockers should do it. You can find all these wines at www.HHandC.co.uk

WHITES

La Fruitière 2019 Vignes Blanches (12%) Val de Loire £10.50 Blended from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne this blend is genius. Just think of sinking into peaches and melons at the seaside, fruity refreshment and breezy delight.

Gayda Collection 2019 Viognier (13.5%) Pays d’Oc £10.70 DING DONG! Apricot scent, jasmine and lemon blossom, a wonderfully scented wine with beautiful balance. Viognier this good is rarely a tenner.

Cady, Chenin Anjou Blanc Val de Loire 2019 (13%) Vin Biologique £12.25 There’s a savoury windfall apple character here along with a saline edge - richness with brightness, makes me want to reach for punnets of seafood dipped in mayonnaise.

Pinot Bianco 2019 (13.5%) Südtirol Alto Adige Kellerei Kurtatsch £14.65 A delicate whirl of apple blossom, roses and tangerines. This is minerally pure Pinot Bianco, think ripe Cox’s apple bite, with a sensational twist of melon and all presented with pristine crisp definition - sunlight on a gently frosted mountain flower.

Jacques Rouzé Quincy 2019 (13%), Les Grandes Vignes de Villalin, £15.25 Cor! This has deeply pleasant rounded zing about it, think Granny Smith meets grapefruit with a dusting of lemon balm. Vivid, enticing and splendid.

Petit Chablis Daniel Dampt & Fils 2018 (12%) £15.95 Worth the money! This is Chablis as it should be, all chalk, fresh green herbs yet rounded with a lift of zip to the finish and long tapering elegance. Dive in.

REDS

Château Paret Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2016 (14%) Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux £10.65 All the savoury, sweet leather and truffly aromas with savoury herby depth, classy velvet richness and then a firm firm tannic finish. Roast beef please. Class.

Domaine de Verquière Plan de Dieu, Thibaut Chamfort 2018 (14%) £13.50 Stewed strawberry-cherry compote and roses - so scented! Stunning purity of fruit with a minerally-liquorice core of bolt upright structure and lovely espresso nip to the tannins.

Domaine des Sanzay 2018 Saumur Champigny (14%) £13.50 Alongside the black cherry and pencil shaving you’d expect from Cabernet Franc, there’s a glorious intensity here with fine grain tannin that coalesces into a finish that calls for a platter of peppery salami.

Ca’Viola Dolcetto d’Alba Vilot 2019 (13.5%) £15.50
Heavenly! Inky aromas layered into damsons and cherries and when you sip it, black and red berries with bite... just gorgeous. Fine tannin, impressive length and pleasing vibrancy. I love this elegant red - pair with charcuterie.

Lagrein 2019 Kurtatsch (13%) Südtirol Alto Adige £15.65
Another belter. Blackberry, violet, black cherry and sapid silky blackberries draped in sweet scented honeysuckle. The long finish is bright with a twist of bitter cherry rising pleasantly at the end. Stunning poise.

Clos Sainte Anne 2015 (13.5%) Côtes de Bordeaux, Marie & Sylvie Courselle £16.25 Get your nose in the glass! Strawberries in a dusty sheen of hazy summery splendour. Vibrant fruit, lively and lovely balance, scrumptious and sumptuous, long tangy length with fine grainy tannins knitting the finish, pair with roast chicken  and you’re set for the day.

I'm thrilled to reveal that my cocktail book FIZZ is being published in the USA! Huge thanks to my US publishers Penguin Random House - the book is now available for pre-order Stateside at a variety of stockists.  I couldn't be more excited to share this collection of 80 cocktails and mocktails all with a fizzy touch even further afield.  Take a look here for the new snazzy cover and where to buy if you're in the USA.

And if you just can't wait to shake up a Mule or tickle some Tequila, all of my Locktails are online to watch at Mail+ here. 

If you're out and about and getting your nose into nature, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust have a brilliant new app that identifies bees! Check it out here to get more out of your walks this summer.

Have a wonderful time and I'll be back with more news and wines to tickle your fancy jolly soon.

Olly x

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www.ollysmith.com