Mike Tipping turns his attention to Bordeaux blends (From York Press)

Mike Tipping turns his attention to Bordeaux blends

12:11pm Saturday 4th February 2012 in Tipping's Tipples By Mike Tipping

What’s the difference between Bordeaux mixture and Bordeaux blend? The answer is that you can drink the blend, whereas drinking Bordeaux mixture is not recommended!

It is actually a combination of lime, copper sulphate and water, traditionally used to control downy mildew on vines.

Bordeaux blend is not an officially defined or legal term but it is used to describe wines made with two or more of the six Bordeaux red grapes.

These are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, malbec and carmenère.

Wines made using combinations of the above are popular throughout the winemaking world and it is not unknown for the words Bordeaux blend to appear on back labels.

This week’s trio of recommendations are all blends of cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

Viñalba Patagonia Cabernet Merlot 2009 was named International Red Bordeaux Varietal under £10 at last year’s Decanter World Wine Awards.

Full and balanced, this Argentinian red has plum, blackcurrant and dark chocolate flavours with sturdy tannins. It will work well with most red meats but particularly lamb.

As will Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand, including some fruit from the famed Gimblett Gravels area. This is smooth and rich, with spiced damson and cassis, mocha coffee and vanilla.

Or you could always opt for a Bordeaux blend from, err.. Bordeaux.

Try Château David Beaulieu 2010, I wager this Bordeaux Supérieur will not be the finest claret that has ever passed your lips but it is affordable and decent at the price.

Touting violets, plum and blackcurrant fruit, vanilla and chocolate, it is quite gluggable.

Viñalba Patagonia Cabernet Merlot 2009, £8.99 at The Co-operative 17/20

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Hawkes Bay, £8.99 each when you buy two bottles at Majestic 17/20

Château David Beaulieu 2010, Bordeaux Supérieur, £6.49 at Sainsbury’s 17/20

• Do you fancy going to see a film for free at York’s City Screen cinema, with an informal wine tasting and canapés thrown in beforehand?

If so, email (trioexperience@albert.co.uk) to apply for tickets, which are complimentary and available on a first come first served basis.

The evening, hosted by Chilean wine brand Trio, starts at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 23. There are three films on offer, The Single Man, The September Issue and Coco Before Chanel.

Guests get to vote on the one they’d most like to see.