The WINELOVERS CLUB
Welcome to Theatre of Wine’s June Winelovers’ offer. We’re playing around with the format again, trying to keep things simple. Rather than offer two pre-mixed cases, we are listing twelve wines of varying styles and prices and then leaving it to you to decide how to put together your case - 12 bottles of one wine, one each of all twelve, or anything in between.
We’d welcome your feedback on whether this is easier or whether you prefer the two case offer. Any other thoughts would be gratefully received.
And remember there's free local delivery.
Le Lesc 2007, Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne, France
normal price : £5.40, winelovers’ price : £4.86
Le Lesc is made by France’s most go-ahead wine co-operative, Plaimont, down in SW France. The Colombard-based blend is zingy and fresh and pleasingly lowish in alcohol (11.5%). With the seemingly unending price rises for decent Sauvignon Blanc, we we’re delighted to come across this pocket-friendly alternative that does much the same job at a lower price. Perfect summer party and BBQ fare.
Emery Rhodos 2006, Rhodes, Greece
normal price: £7.40, winelovers’ price: £6.66
We have heard all the horror stories about Greek wine drunk on holiday, but we urge you to give this a go. The Triantafyllou family began making wine on Rhodes in 1966 and are now considered one of the Island’s best producers. Using the native Athiri grape, they produce a racy lemon-infused wine that would sit happily with grilled sardines/mackerel/halloumi.
Pares Balta Blanc de Pacs 2007, Penedes, Spain
normal price : £8.50, winelovers’ price : £7.65
Delightful organic white from the hills around Barcelona (they even go to the trouble of keeping sheep for manure and bees for pollination). The mix of native grapes (Parellada, Xarel-lo, Macabeo) give the wine lively aromatic, elderflower and ripe pear fruit. Great as an aperitif or maybe with a grilled chicken salad.
Gocker Gewurztraminer 2006, Alsace, France
normal price: £9.50, winelovers’ price: £8.55
The fresh Gocker style works really well with Gewurztraminer meaning that you get all the classic, flamboyant aromatics (lychee, mandarin and passion fruit) but without any flabbiness. Great balance and it works really well with mildly spicy food.
Altivo Malbec Rose 2006, Mendoza, Argentina
normal price: £5.50, winelovers’ price: £4.95
A great, fruit-filled crowd pleaser that looks and tastes rather like alcoholic cranberry juice. Or is it raspberry? You decide. Either way, it has the guts to take on charred bangers straight off the barbie if you're not in a red mood, but is equally happy being drunk ice cold in front of the TV.
Domaine du Petit Chaumont Gris de Gris, Camargue, France
normal price : £7.30, winelovers’ price : £6.57
The French call rosé of a pale hue such as this Vin Gris. The flavours tend to be less obviously red fruit - in this case tending towards a subtle peachiness with a touch of fennel leaf about it. Possibly my favourite rosé of the moment - it’s not flashy in the slightest, but it subtle charms weave their way into your affections.
Guillaume Pinot Noir/Gamay Rose 2007, Franche-Comte, France
normal price : £7.30, winelovers’ price : £6.57
It almost wouldn’t be a Winelovers’ offer without one of Xavier’s wines (he’s gathered yet more medals, you know). This dry rosé is an absolute charmer of creamy strawberry fruit and perfect balance.
Kingston Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Australia
normal price : £7.00, winelovers’ price : £6.30
Ripe, plump and bold and full of soft berry fruit. Just what “everyday” Australian red wine should be, but unfortunately often isn’t. And don’t get me started on ridiculous “half price” deals, where the wine was never meant to sell at the pre-discount price.
Herdade Monte da Cal “Terra Plana” 2006, Alentejo, Portugal
normal price : £7.40, winelovers’ price : £6.66
The modern face of Portuguese winemaking, particularly in the Alentejo. Bags full of supple black fruit that would work with everything from a midweek pepperoni pizza to weekend roast lamb.
Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva 2003, Italy
normal price : £8.80, winelovers' price : £7.92
This really impressed us with its charm and balance. It's full and ripe, certainly, but not over-ripe or baked and has bags of appealing, suave red fruit on the palate. Tip-top stuff from heel of Italy.
Jean-Marie Rimbert “Le Chant de Marjolaine” nv, Roussillon, France
normal price : £10.00, winelovers’ price : £9.00
Rimbert is one of Roussillon’s great winemakers. This cuvee is pure Carignan, which denies it appellation controlée status, indeed relegates it to Vin de Table, and thus forbids mention of grape and vintage. Rimbert gets round this by subtitling the wine “la Carignatora”, Lot 2006. Without being massive, it is sensuous in the extreme with silky black fruits from the first sniff to the last sip.
Clos de Tue-Bœuf “La Guerrerie ” nv, Loire, France
normal price : £13.20, winelovers’ price : £11.88
Another Vin de Table that makes a mockery of the French wine laws. Because Thierry Puzelat blends in 25% gamay to soften the edges of his malbec he cannot use the Touraine appellation, despite both being allowed in their pure states in the region. (How Australian winemakers must laugh.) Needless to say, this is one of the finest reds it is possible to find in the Loire valley: velvet-like, strikingly aromatic, with damson, spice and a touch of violet all blending harmoniously together and a long, pure black fruit palate. Oh, and it’s from the2006 vintage, although the label won’t tell you that.
We hope that at least some of these tickle your tastebuds and we wish you all the best.
