The Weekly Wine

Week of Wines. January 15.

Not too many wines this week. A number of distributors were taking their annual inventory and were closed so many sales reps decided to lay low.

We did however taste some limited release wines and a few that were completely new to us. Here’s what we liked:

Fattoria San Lorenzo, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2016 $15.00 ($17.00 on the shelf)

This is a great introduction to Verdicchio. The grape is most commonly grown in the Marche region of Italy and whilst there are many inexpensive and plonkish versions of the wine, if you do the homework and find small producers using old clones and limiting production, the wine can be truly delicious. As in the case of Fattoria San Lorenzo. Gino – the father of the present wine maker started planting verdicchio clones back in ‘40s and his son has tended the vineyards since the early 1990’s. He transferred everything to organic and biodynamic farming and reduced yields to miniscule amounts. Total production across all 7 wines is less than 2,000 cases. This has a lovely bright lemon skin flavor, hints of almond paste on the finish and great acidity. Who needs another Pinot Grigio?

Chateau La Haie, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux 2013. $20.00 ($23.00 on the shelf)

Liquid beauty. I am always fascinated by how a wine can smell and taste like something totally different to what it is. Wine after all comes from a grape. And a grape is a grape is a grape. But have you ever tasted a Lacrima? It’s a wine made from the Lacrima grape that smells and tastes exactly like a huge bunch of red roses. It’s amazing. Or a young vine Pinot Noir from Burgundy? Tastes and smells like an unripe cherry. So when I sniffed the La Haie I was expecting to get aromas of merlot and cabernet and yet I got a nose full of tiny blackcurrants.  On the palate also – bursts of blackcurrants popping in your mouth. I was fascinated by the wine, possibly because of the currant flavor, but also because it was not a typical Bordeaux profile. It didn’t carry with it the tell-tale signs of cheap merlot (sweet candy crush cola) and since it is fermented and aged in stainless steel it didn’t have that vanillin combo that in cheap Bordeaux tastes so bad. This was a beauty; not for cellaring but for everyday drinking.

Domaine Prunier-Bonheur Monthelie Rouge Les Crays 2015 $42.00 ($48.00 on the shelf)

I have spoken about this little town in Burgundy many times. It’s one of those unknown towns that create some of the absolute best value in Burgundy. Typically, I go for their white wines that to me have a little more meat on the bone than their reds, but then I tasted this one. Wow. First written note on the wine. Resonates with cherry and cranberry and orange marmalade and baking spices and…. I could go on but that would be like reading the last page of a great novel. Don’t do it. Trust me on this one – you have never had such a tasty Pinot Noir from Burgundy at this price.

Domaine Genot-Boulanger Mercurey 1er Cru Sazenay 2015 $48.00 ($52 on the shelf)

But if you want to spend just a little more then spend it on this. A 1er Cru Mercurey that tastes like a Vosne Romanee. Ultra smooth, ultra accessible all pinot noir and all delicious. Soft and round this would be the one pinot I would like with lamb or roast salmon. Either way this wine has such finesse it’s like bringing sherry to grandma – you’ll be kissed on both cheeks and receive a nice check on your birthday

Here’s the small print. These wines were all tasted this week and we will take orders through Tuesday for delivery on Thursday to the shop. Any orders taken will be honored at the price offered today. Shelf price is indicated in brackets. There is no minimum but to ensure delivery of the quantity you want we must order by Tuesday 3.00pm.

Happy tasting