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Something at the other end of the scale today. After a good bit of white and rosé it's time for a big and bold red. How about this beauty?
Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most renowned estates of the Southern Rhône. Vieux Télégraphe is a large estate and there are about 45 hectares of red grapevines planted, with an average age of around 55 years. Blessed with one of the finest locations in the area, the particularly hot microclimate is such that the Bruniers, owners of the estate for almost a century, are able to harvest as much as a week ahead of their neighbours.
Vieux Télégraphe's blend is a typical one, with Grenache accounting for around two thirds, the rest being made up of Syrah and Mourvèdre in roughly equal proportions, and a tiny bit of Cinsault.
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe 'La Crau' CNDP 2007 @ £82.95 - Buy it here!
"The 2007 Vieux Telegraphe may be the greatest wine made at this property since the 2005 and 1998. Dense ruby/purple-tinged with an exquisite nose of salty sea breezes, licorice, ground pepper, jammy black cherries, black currants, figs, and plums, this is a full-bodied, rich, Provencal-styled offering with lots of sweet, ripe tannin. It is surprisingly accessible for a Vieux Telegraphe (this wine normally shuts down several years after bottling), but it should have great longevity (25+ years) given its power, full-bodied mouthfeel, and enormous length and richness. This is a brilliant effort from brothers Frederic and Daniel Brunier."
Robert Parker 96+/100
You really will be blown away by this considering one of the most favour wine writers in the world had his socks forcibly removed by it... Come and get it! Cheers!
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When the weekend is the next stop we need something that will make everything slow down to a easy pace. A cold glass of Chablis should do the trick. Ours is especially good, do I need to prove it?
One of the great Chablis domaines, Fèvre commands 12 hectares of premier cru vineyards and 16 hectares of grand cru sites. It was founded by the eponymous William Fèvre, who built it up from just 7 hectares in 1957 to 47 hectares including smart plantings in great sites which had previously been neglected. William Fèvre was the most vocal of campaigners for the Chablis appellation, staunchly opposing the extension of its boundaries and fighting against the use of the word ‘Chablis’ to describe any wine which did not come from the region itself. This was a particular problem in the United States, where the term had been hijacked to enhance the appeal of any dry white wine. Fèvre was also one of the first to ferment and raise his wines in new oak, which significantly polarised opinion on them.
In 1998 Fèvre retired to pursue other ventures, notably in Chile,. He sold the business to Champagne Henriot, which also owns the prominent Burgundy producer Bouchard Père et Fils. Since the takeover, the oak influence has been reduced drastically and the domaine has thrived, successfully combining quality and quantity.
William Fevre Chablis 2016 @ £18.95 - Buy it here!
Very refined bouquet, developing citrus, white-fleshed fruit and floral notes. Fresh and supple, the wine is marked by mineral notes that are typical of the appellation.
You'll have to write home about this one, absolute stonker. Be prepared to be blown away! Cheers!
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It's pink season! A brand new one here for us but not a new brand. We've had a couple of Ca Maiol and they've always been a great choice but their pink is on another level. If you've never tried Italian pink then have a read and see what you think.
A unique zone that reaps the benefit of the lake and of the land, a company that has succeeded in interpreting its potential, and a wine that has found its purest expression in this encounter between nature and man: Lugana.
The story of Cà Maiol has always been linked to this special white, due to the far-sightedness and passion for new challenges of Milanese entrepreneur Walter Contato who, in 1967, founded his estate right here on the southern shore of Lake Garda, where the Trebbiano vines have always produced the finest results.
Thanks to his love of this region and its highly-prized wine, over 50 years ago this visionary businessman created, together with other local vinegrowers, what is today the Producers’ Consortium for Lugana D.O.C., an invaluable organization that protects and promotes the excellence of this white treasure from Lake Garda.
Ca Maiol Valtenesi Roseri 2017 @ £14.95 - Buy it here!
A delicate rose shade with powder pink reflections. Its simplicity reflects its high quality with peach blossom, pomegranate, incense and lychees. Smooth on the mouth with a persistent finish and flavours of white peach and sage.
We reckon this will be big! Gorgeous colour and flavour too. Really can't go wrong. Cheers!
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Well it's finally happened. The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from La Crema has made it's way back to us finally. Let's have another look at it shall we?
In every bottle of La Crema there's an elegance that comes from the careful attention paid by Head Winemaker Craig McAllister and his team, from the first bud break all the way through bottling. They believe gentle handling is key to preserving the beautiful complexity of the grapes, so they are meticulous in their approach.
Naturally, the winemaking team seeks to express the essence of the terroir in their wines, capturing the unique personality and flavor profile of the vineyards. Craig McAllister infuses the winemaking regime with a highly personal touch that combines the best of traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques with a contemporary California style.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 @ £23.95 - Buy it here!
Wild strawberry, red plum, rose petals and baking spice aromas. Bing cherry, cola, cranberry and black tea flavors. Lingering hints of mocha are cradled by supple tannins and balanced acidity
We are absolutely stoked to get this back in. Come and get it before it sneaks away again! It's a slippery one this. Cheers!
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I know we speak about it regularly but it's so worth it. Our wine of the day is the amazing Skinny Prosecco from Thomson and Scott. What else could you want than a nice cold, dry Prosecco? With a reduced dose of sugar added to the wine this one has a slightly lower calorie content than a normal bottle. Sounds good doesn't it?
Thomson & Scott Skinny Prosecco Brut NV @ £17.95 - Buy it here!
Light and refreshing with floral and apple aromas on the nose. The palate is fresh, lively and fruity with great acidity and continuing notes of green apple, golden apple, honeydew melon and pear.
Come and grab a few, they're perfect on a sunny day! Cheers!
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Always a popular one here. The Rosso Conero already has a fond place in many of your hearts but for the rest of you here's a bit more info...
The Cantine Belisario co-operative was founded in 1971. Today, it is the biggest producer of Verdicchio in the Matelica DOC, a smaller zone than Castello di Jesi. The climate here is more continental than in Castelli di Jesi and the combination of warm days and cool nights gives a longer growing season, and lovely aromatic qualities to the wines.
The vineyard is located in the Le Marche region, in the Conero Riviera and Natural Park. Surrounded by hills and sea, this is one of the most evocatively beautiful areas on the Adriatic coast. The soil here is rich in limestone and marl. The vineyard's distinctive geographical and climactic features combine to produce grapes of exceptional quality.
A mild winter and spring saw vines developing around two weeks ahead of schedule in April. However, clouds and cool days slowed things down quickly and a wet summer made for a lot of work in the vineyards. Disease pressure meant that vineyard management and selection was necessary in order to harvest healthy grapes. Yields were lower than 2013’s bumper crop and slightly below average for the region. The weather in September and during harvest was good and as a result many producers are pleased with the vintage as a whole.
Cantine Belisario Rosso Conero 2015 @ £13.95 - Buy it here!
The wine opens with earthy aromas of tilled soil along with notes of cherries, black fruit and espresso. The palate delivers bright red cherries, notes of mocha and a good tannic structure, making the wine very pleasant and enjoyable to drink.
That tasting note is not only spot on but also so enticing. Honestly it is one of the safest buys for summer. Cheers!
