No theme this week, just a good, old fashioned random selection.
First Up is the Tahbilk Marsanne Museum Release 2012, Nagambie Lakes, Australia. This is a real little fire cracker of a wine, almost more akin to a Hunter Semillon in style that really benefits from aging. Tahbilk hold some wine back and release it years later as a Museum Release to really showcase the complexity it can gain. Toasty, floral, apricots, honeysuckle, nutty with sweet ripe fruit, apricot pits and a crisp freshness. Complex yet utterly smashable. The Whisky Exchange £16.25
Summer has officially arrived in Zurich, and so it is finally it is time to open the rosé! They have quite strict buying criteria for rosé as they haven’t been able to do their usual vineyard road trip, it must be available from the supermarket, at around 10 euro and ideally with a gold medal from the Paris competition! They struck gold when they found the Chateau de Sarrins 2020, Cotes de Provance. This is the Provence project of famed champagne producer Bruno Paillard and it is exceptionally good. Quite tart and racy at first but as soon as it is put with food (grilled fish and vegetable tian in this case) then the fruit really blossomed forth with fresh pink grapefruit and a lovely creaminess. Not available in the UK but one to look out for when you are on holiday at roughly 12 Swiss francs.
Come rain or shine, his favourite style of red is big and bold, so despite the warmer weather he is thoroughly enjoying the Via Gloria Appismento Gold Release 2016, Puglia. Dark blackberry and cherry fruit, lots of grippy tannin but fruit forward with a lovely length. Not over-ridden by oak so a really indulgent yet pure example of a wine made from drying to grapes to enhance the concentration (the same way Amarone is made up in the Veneto) Virgin wines £14.99
The Thibault Boudignon Anjou Blanc 2017, Loire Valley was part of a surprise selection delivered each month and once again they have outshone themselves in their quirky yet quality selection. Gorgeous dry Chenin Blanc that shows a lovely citrusy freshness but really gains body as the wine open up in the glass. Fresh and utterly delicious. Our Glass £20
Looking for something a little bit special, he had a recollection of previous Thursday Night Club discussions of Elgin being a particularly good area of South Africa for elegant, classy Chardonnay so chose the Iona Chardonnay 2019, Elgin, South Africa and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Citrusy with a delicate peach richness, perfectly and subtly oaked which adds complexity and charm. Absolutely worth price tag. Weybridge Wines £20
Having looked at the weather forecast I was really to pull out a zippy white, but sadly the grey skies dominated (making a sham out of my weather app!) so I decided to go with a lighter bodied red. I chose the Paddy Borthwick Paper Road Pinot Noir, 2018, Martinborough, New Zealand. I’ve had his premium Pinot’s before and been very impressed so was looking forward to his more affordable version. Quite a smoky, oaky nose. On the palate the oak dominates, hidden behind it is some attractive cherry pip, fresh cherry and spice notes with a hint of cranberry freshness. Sadly for me it is somewhat obscured by the oak. Slightly disappointing for my palate which revels in fruit purity. Twelve Green Bottles £14.95