November 2015 mixed case offer
This has been an exciting time for us in terms of new additions to our list. So we've made up a mixed case with 6 new wines for the Autumn, together with 6 old favourites in an even split between reds and whites. New wines are the prestigious Patz & Hall from Sonoma, Rutherford Hill from the Napa Valley, Grace Lane from Washington State and De Toren from Stellenbosch. This list is topped off with the return after some years of absence of Marilyn Merlot, also from Napa. More details follow below.
Old favourites are Cline Cellars' Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Plan B's Shiraz, Pierre Morin's delicious Sancerre, Ferraton's classy Crozes Hermitage, Domaine des Gerbeaux's positively new world Pouilly Fuissé and Consolation's rich and gorgeous Petit Gris from Collioure. The case price of £260 includes 15% off list prices and delivery to mainland UK addresses is included. Some brief notes follow on each wine and if you wish you can follow the links to find out more about the wineries.
 |
1. Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2012 We keep on selling out of our top end California Chardonnays so a mission for this year was to find another equally smart Chardonnay and Pinot producer from Sonoma. Patz & Hall has been on our radar for a while, so it was great to be able to come to an arrangement with them.This Chardonnay is from the highly regarded Dutton Ranch vineyard, also used by such producers as Kistler. It's an absolute gem that is lovely now and will improve over the next five to six years. |
 |
38% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot. Aged in for 12 months in 225L French and American Oak (Malbec in American Oak). Densely purple, perfumed with aromas of rich cherry and cloves with a touch of garrigue, juicy blackcurrant and black cherries evolve in a soft, elegantly rich finish. Ripe, creamy tannins coat the mouth, ending with a striking minerality. |
 |
3. Marilyn Merlot 2012 This is the first vintage we have seen in 4 years after some legal shenanigans which have, happily, now been resolved. The populist and rather fun branding is backed up by some serious credentials in fruit sourcing from top Napa Valley vineyards. Hints of cassis, raspberry, spice, and rhubarb are well integrated in the nose. From entry to finish this wine has an even, alluring presence on the palate with a nicely balanced medium body. Soft and silky, this alluring Merlot is good to go now but will also improve for another 5 to 8 years. |
 |
4. Grace Lane Yakima Valley Riesling 2013 Crisp and balanced, showing bright aromas of green apple and white peach. its delicate yet complex flavours are spicy, fruity and fresh with a long and rounded finish. Rich and lush, a great match for spicy food or well-chilled and by itself. |
 |
5. Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012 From grapes grown in the cooler climate of the southern Napa Valley. 100% barrel fermented in 25% new French oak and aged for 9 months on lees. Delicate aromas of apple and honeysuckle with some peach on the palate, full bodied with a creamy texture. Combines richness with a lithe vein of acidity and really well-judged oak. A fabulous value California Chardonnay that combines both lushness and elegance. |
 |
6. Brewer Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2013 This is the bargain of the Chardonnay range because, like the more expensive wines it also comes from Brewer Clifton’s single vineyards (a blend from 3D, Gnesa and Machado each handled separately) with each component wine contributing its character. Scented with lime, kiwi and orange blossom with jasmine and orange zest on the palate, a lithe acidity and zesty texture. Really racy acidity with vibrancy and verve, but also with richness and concentration of lime and grapefuit. Very characterful. |
 |
A rich, gooseberry leaf style of Sancerre, typical of Bué. Pale yellow-green colour, bright and clear, distinctive blackcurrant leaf and tomato stalk aromas. Firmly structured and richly aromatic, flavours of grapefruit, gooseberry and lime with a little minerality, generous and fruity in character and with elegant acidity. |
 |
8. Domaine des Gerbeaux Pouilly Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2014 An assemblage from five vineyards in Pouilly and in Fuissé whose vines are between 35 and 55 years old. 65% of the blend sees some Tronçais oak for six months. Showing a perfect balance between fruit and oak this is readily drinkable when young with attractive grapefruit, mineral notes and aromas of white flowers and acacia. It also has a little weight and roundness and will age beautifully: the class of the Cotes de Beaune and with a touch more richness. |
 |
9. Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2013 This Ancient Vines Zinfandel draws primarily from a wide selection of Cline's oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing Zinfandel blocks in Contra Costa County. Grapes were planted by Italian and Portuguese immigrants in the sandy, phylloxera-resistant soils of Oakley, California more than 100 years ago. These ancient, dry-farmed vineyards consistently produce fruit of stunning concentration. A small portion of Carignane and Alicante Bouschet has been added. Individual lots of Zinfandel were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. The must was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and then aged in American oak for 9 months. Approximately 30% of the barrels were new. |
 |
Fruit from separate vineyard patches picked at night and fermented between 24-26C for 12 days with extended post-fermentation maceration to optimise flavour, colour and tannin profiles. Individual batches aged in barrel for 14 months. A final rustic 10% of Tempranillo from Bill’s Calgardup vineyard in Margaret River rounds it off beautifully. An orgy of bright, red berries and delicious fruit. Rich and ripe, but balanced with a somewhat old world savoury charm. 14% alc. |
 |
11. Consolation Petit Gris 2013 50% Grenache Gris, 50% Carignan Gris. Bush vines 50+ years old. They have one old parcel of Carignan Gris - a very rare variety even there. This variety brings freshness and acidity, whilst the Grenache Gris brings more mouthfeel and richness. The cuvée was whole-bunch pressed and fermented in barrel - demi-muid for the Carignan and 225L barriques for the Grenache. There is no malolactic fermentation. The wines were assembled one month before bottling. The name emphasises the ‘gris’ varieties (it also means a pretty little snail in French) |
 |
12. Ferraton Père & Fils Crozes Hermitage Matiniere 2013 100% Syrah from Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux with terraces of glacial alluvial deposits. 30% aged in oak for 12 months. Intense cherry-red colour, aromas of forest fruits and blackcurrant, soft tannins, medium body and a good, well-knit finish. Soft, ripe and very appealing with a gorgeous, savoury core. |