New & Exciting Wines for February; interesting + easy on the pocket!
January is over and so it’s time to blow off those start of the year blues and try something new. It’s a time to focus on regions & wines that represent amazing value for money and most importantly are interesting & new. Here’s three of our top picks to try, you can buy them as a pack and make a saving or can try & buy individually as you go.
WHERE
About the place - We’re heading to the Rheinhessen in Germany (the largest wine producing region in the country). German wines get a bad rep due to the poor quality, sweet, flabby wines which were everywhere in the 70s & 80s. Times have changed, Germany are now famed with making some of the best quality wines on the planet. They’re better known for their whites, however they also make some excellent reds, being a short stones throw from France they’ve used similar techniques and equipment.
WHAT’S
The wine - Thörle is a family run biodynamic winery that’s highly influenced by the wines of Burgundy. The grape here is Spätburgunder, a German clone of Pinot Noir - the same main red grape used in Burgundy. This wine is so rewarding with lots of structure and personality. Bright tart, fresh red cherries all balanced out by wonderful freshness and smooth fine tannins. If you love Premier Cru Burgundy (who doesn’t) but you’re on a budget this is the wine for you. £22.5
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WHERE
About the place - If you’re looking for value for money then look no further than South Africa! They have diverse climates, landscapes and soils perfect for many styles of wines. In recent years there’s been an explosion of young, creative, and experimental winemakers. We’re in the region of Paarl, a short drive of Cape Town and just North of Stellenbosch. This region also has a long history of wine growing, French settlers in the 1680s grew grapes, mainly for the production of brandy (which is why they are so fortunate to have so many old vines).
WHAT’S
The wine - Scali wines are a husband and wife team located in the Northern part of Paarl. They describe their production as “handcrafted, organic, sustainable and the minimal intervention”. This winery has been in the same family for five generations now. The labels are hand stamped by seasonal workers during the off season so they have an income during the quiet seasons.
We’re focusing on their Chenin Blanc – South Africa’s white calling card for quality wines. The first thing that strikes you about the wine is its luscious textured palate with ripe tropical fruit. It has a lively freshness and a slight mineral edge which makes it perfect with simply cooked fish. £15
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WHERE
About the place - We’re heading to a little town in Chablis, I know what you’re thinking, Burgundy isn’t normally where you look for value for money. However, this is a Crémant that will smash many champagnes at a fraction of the price. Crémant is essentially a Champagne method wine made outside of the region. This particular wine is a fine example of Burgundy Crémant.
WHAT’S
The wine - Lucie Thieblemont only had her first vintage in 2017 but the wines are already singing and packing a punch. We’re blown away by the complexity and freshness of the fruit the winemaker has managed to capture. She balances the fruit with intense mineral richness you’d expect from a Chablis wine but also manages to show off the quality of her fruit. Intense, pure and fresh raspberries & cranberries on the palate with amazing grip and vibrancy. £26
All of these brilliant bottles are available from our shop Bottles 'N' Jars in East Finchley or here on our online shop!
Pit Stop Friday, join us every Friday from 4pm as we crack open something delicious to share with you all. Come stroll around the shop, we'll talk you through what we've picked out and why. It's a great way to try something you may not have tried before and we will be pouring till its gone.