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
£189.00 £227.40
I was blown away by the sheer drinkability of this lovely Barbera, once known as “the people's wine” due to its widespread popularity in northern Italy. Giulia Negri only recently took over these vineyards, which have been in the family even before Italy was unified in the nineteenth century. One of the rising stars of Piedmont, she also makes a renowned Barolo, but that takes far more time to come around. I don’t want to wait to see whether this wine improves with age; it’s exquisite as it is, with hints of fresh cherries and red fruit.
£181.00 £215.40
It may be 100% Sauvignon Blanc, but unlike its Antipodean cousins, Pouilly-Fumé is more understated with a hint of smokiness and flint like precision. Located across the Loire from the much larger Sancerre appellation, André Figeat is the sixth generation vintner at this family estate, which sells exclusively to Corney & Barrow in the UK. This wine will improve for a few more years but it’s
drinking perfectly already, and its freshness is one of the great attractions. An excellent choice with seafood.
£189.00 £227.40
This is one of the most famous and reliable village wines from Burgundy, crafted
by Olivier Leflaive, who is a leading negociant in the region. The grapes came from a number of different vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault on a 60/40 ratio. It is made in the way that well established non-vintage Champagne producers create a house style year in and year out. Les Setilles has minerality and white flower notes you get from proper white Burgundy and is a perfect summer wine.
£151.00 £167.40
Located in the Hungarian village of Mád, this is an exciting find. The region is renowned for Tokaji, the great pudding wine. This dry wine is made from the
same grape variety (Furmint) but without the Noble Rot. Picked from the Old King’s Vineyard, which is cultivated under organic principles, wine has been
made here for the past three hundred years with minimal intervention. It is a wonderful expression of the terroir. It has a clean, pure aftertaste and I would
happily drink this on a terrace while watching the sun go down.
£148.00 £162.00
Brouilly is the largest of the various Beaujolais crus and generally produces the most robust examples. Grown from 50 year-old vines, it amazes me how reasonably priced this wine is. Cathy & Cédric Lathuilière are the fifth generation of owners and work as near as they can to organic principles. In time, the Gamay grape takes on the personality of Burgundy’s Pinot Noir grape, but when it is young has an exuberance and vitality, making it very enjoyable without food.
£155.00 £174.00
Famous Argentinian reds tend to be Malbec, but I’ve always preferred the lesser-
known Cabernet Sauvignons. These are high altitude wines, planted above 3,000 feet in Mendoza Province. There are also tiny amounts of Petit Verdot and Merlot in the mix, similar in proportion to many wines from the Medoc in Bordeaux. This wine has a rich texture with a chocolatey flavour and hint of spice, without any of the fruit bomb characteristics that can afflict New World reds. Great with red or white meats and full flavoured cheese. In a word, delicious.
£164.00 £187.80
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 4 bottles of each of the following wines:
Barbera d'Alba Giulia Negri 2015
Brouilly Pisse-Vieille Domaine Lathuiliere Gravallon 2016
Cabernet Sauvignon Bodega Ruca Malen
£169.00 £195.60
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 2 bottles of each of the following wines:
Barbera d'Alba Giulia Negri 2015
Pouilly-Fumé Les Chaumiennes A&E Figeat 2017
Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles Olivier Leflaive 2015
Egy Kis Dry Furmint Barta 2017
Brouilly Pisse-Vieille Domaine Lathuiliere Gravallon 2016
Cabernet Sauvignon Bodega Ruca Malen
£174.00 £203.40
The 12 bottle mixed case includes 4 bottles of each of the following wines:
Pouilly-Fumé Les Chaumiennes A&E Figeat 2017
Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles Olivier Leflaive 2015
Egy Kis Dry Furmint Barta 2017
