Pinot Noir, Domaine de la Renne, Val de Loire

This is a delicious summer red, light and juicy with crunchy red fruits. Gouleyant as the French would say, or very gluggable in English I couldn’t find a vintage on the label; possibly it was on the cork, long since recycled. Great summer drinking and good value too.

€14.15 from Wines Direct, Mullingar, and Arnott’s, Dublin 1, winesdirect.ie

We drank ours with pan-fried hake, new potatoes and the very last of the season’s asparagus.

Loire Pinot has been improving steadily in recent years, possibly partly due to climate change, but also better viticulture and winemaking. It also helps that our tastes have shifted a little towards lighter wines.