Mark Cronshaw at The Wine Company of Colchester has helped me assemble half a dozen luscious wines. They are pricier than our normal range, but by golly they’re good, and generously discounted. You can buy by the case of six, or get a sampler with one of each wine. You will not be remotely -disappointed.
First is a Champagne from a small grower, Michel Guilleminot (1). It’s non-vintage but tastes to me fuller and richer than most of the famous brands. Unsurprising, since it’s a blanc de noirs, made from the insides of Pinot Noir. French people tend not to buy the grandes marques that fill our shop shelves; they prefer to find their own vigneron, and when you try this you’ll see why. Reduced by £3 a bottle to £21.99, less than most well-advertised names.
Another small family estate gives us Jean-Paul Balland’s delectable Sancerre 2012 (2), proof of how well the French are meeting the challenge from New Zealand. I would far rather a bottle of this deep and rounded, fruit-heavy, slightly earthy wine than the costlier, overrated Cloudy Bay. A £1.99 discount brings it down to £17.
Saint-Aubin is, to use a cliché, the Cinderella of Burgundy, producing scented, peach-flavoured, honeyed wines for much less than, say, its neighbours the Montrachets. Gérard Thomas’s Murgers des Dents de Chien 2011 (3) is superb. A £3 discount brings it down to £24 — all Burgundy lovers will adore this.
Our reds are spectacular. The Valduero Crianza 2007 (4) is from the Duero Valley, home in my view of the finest Spanish red wines, much better now than most Riojas, being silky, velvety, with a glorious burst of fresh fruit which has flourished during six years of maturing. Wonderful. £3 off brings it down to £19.99, and well worth every penny.
And from Châteauneuf du Pape, often a laxly controlled appellation, there is a wondrous bottle from the Domaine de Mourchon 2010 (5). Heady and perfumed, it is delectable, but will improve vastly over the years. Down to £24.50.
Amarone della Valpolicella is winning a reputation as one of Europe’s great wines. This Torre Falasco 2008 (6) is made from two local grapes, Corvina and Rondinella, and some are left to dry before being added, -creating a wine of terrific power and elegance. Plums, spice, chocolate, sour cherries — utterly delicious, and reduced by £3.49 to £26.50.
As I said, all wines can be bought by the case of six, and there is a taster case containing one of each.
Delivery is free, and there is a sample case containing three of each wine.
Prices include VAT and delivery on the British mainland. Payment should be made either by cheque with the order, payable to the wine merchant, or by debit or credit card, details of which may be telephoned or faxed.
View all the wine offers here, or call 01748 832666
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