We have selected six wine merchants to work with, who we believe to offer a fantastic quality of wine and fantastic customer service. Every month, I choose six of my favourite bottles from one of our merchants, and will provide you with my tasting notes for each, so you can be assured of what you're buying. These wines are not readily available in the shops, and bring a little something extra to the table. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Bruce Palling, Wine Editor - The Week Wines
£181.00 £215.88
Once considered to be one of the four leading wine regions of Tuscany, this is a rare gem, with only 500 cases produced annually. Selvapiana is better known
for its superb Chianti Rufina and extra virgin olive oil, but they lease six hectares of vines in the foothills of the Apennines to make this predominantly from Sangiovese, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This wine was a revelation — beautifully balanced, smooth and completely ready to drink. A bargain at this price.
£249.00 £311.88
To call Moulin-à-Vent Beaujolais is about as helpful as describing white truffles as fungus — this is the grandest and most prestigious part of the region. With vines averaging 50 years, this vintage is one of the best in recent times, with lots of freshness, precision and focus. It has been under new ownership for the past decade and the new proprietors are aiming to become the very best in this classification. The Gamay grape becomes more like Burgundy the longer it is kept but this bottle can be enjoyed now or in a decade’s time.
£206.00 £263.88
Despite its exuberant label, this is a seriously exciting wine. With hints of spice
and sharp apples, it has remarkable depth with a tiny spritz at the end. It is no surprise this wine is popular in Michelin restaurants around the globe. Perhaps it is that combination of intense flavour, which is still refreshing, that makes it so delicious. Ideal with seafood or oysters.
£142.00 £167.88
One of the few Châteaux that can claim Joan of Arc once stayed there, Chinon has made a comeback in recent years, with a more robust style replacing the earlier lighter version. Under new ownership since 2005, this is definitely one of the rising stars of the appellation and also possesses one of the finest chateau hotels (Hotel du Coudray) in the region. The Loire is one of the only regions where Cabernet Franc comprises up to 100% of the grape variety used. This example has far more depth than usual, with its customary “lead pencil” flavour. Ideal for early drinking with powerful stews or red meat.
£141.00 £167.88
Charles Back is the third generation of his family to own these vineyards, which
are planted with the Viognier grape (more commonly known as Condrieu in the
Rhone Valley). This grape is renowned for its floral flavours and is best drunk young, as its liveliness and freshness is part of its charm. Pairing beautifully with white meats or fish, it can also be enjoyed on its own in warmer weather.
£191.00 £239.88
If you are bored with only drinking Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, why not try
this wine from the southern shores of Lake Garda? Long considered the best wine producers in Lugana, the Del Cero family increased their holdings tenfold a decade ago and are meticulous in maintaining low yields in their vineyards. Made entirely from the obscure Turbiana grape, also known as Verdicchio Bianco in central Italy, it has a distinctively decadent, substantial nose with hints of white flowers and citrus in the end. It is far more pleasurable than it sounds, thanks to its abundance of saturated flavour and texture.
£185.00 £227.88
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 2 bottles of each of the following wines:
Selvapiana Villa di Petrognano, Pomino, Italy 2013, 14%
Château du Moulin-à-Vent, Moulin-à-Vent , Beaujolais, France 2015, 13.5%
Lepus Pinot Bianco, Franz Haas, Alto Adige, Italy 2017, 13.5%
Château Coudray-Montpensier, Chinon, France 2017, 13.5%
Fairview, Viognier, Coastal Region, South Africa 2017, 13.5%
`I Frati` Lugana, Cà dei Frati, Lombardia, Italy 2017, 13.5%
£190.67 £231.88
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 4 bottles of each of the following wines:
Selvapiana Villa di Petrognano, Pomino, Italy 2013, 14%
Château du Moulin-à-Vent, Moulin-à-Vent , Beaujolais, France 2015, 13.5%
Château Coudray-Montpensier, Chinon, France 2017, 13.5%
£179.33 £223.88
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 2 bottles of each of the following wines:
Lepus Pinot Bianco, Franz Haas, Alto Adige, Italy 2017, 13.5%
Fairview, Viognier, Coastal Region, South Africa 2017, 13.5%
`I Frati` Lugana, Cà dei Frati, Lombardia, Italy 2017, 13.5%
