Just in case you missed it last week we’re showing again the details of the final Wine Club offer of the year, courtesy of Private Cellar, the East Anglian wine merchant which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
The great Jancis Robinson recently declared the company to be the finest independent merchant in the UK, which is one heck of a compliment and one with which many of our readers would agree, certainly the readers who joined us the other week to taste a dozen or so of their wines, of which the following selections were the highest scorers.
The Henri Chauvet Brut Blanc de Noirs NV Champagne (1) is something of a favourite at the Speccie, having been featured in a number of Private Cellar’s tastings with us. So-called grower champagnes are all the rage at the moment and this is a fine example from a family-owned eight-hectare property in the premier cru village of Rilly la Montagne. Made from Pinot Noir and a dash of Pinot Meunier, it is crisp, clean and fresh. There’s also a nice touch of toasty biscuit in there too and a very fine mousse. £24.25 down from £25.50.
The 2013 Ique Torrontés Bodega Foster (2) is a real charmer that was the hit of Private Cellar’s session at the Spectator Wine School. Torrontés has become Argentina’s signature white grape and I must say that I delight in its delicate elderfloweriness. It is not dissimilar to an Alsace Gewurztraminer, in fact, but without the oiliness and without quite so much spice. It is headily aromatic, though, and vibrantly fresh thanks to being grown in high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza. It’s certainly great value at £9.50, down from £9.95.
Readers were virtually unanimous about the 2011 Montagny 1er Cru Les Bassets Domaine Laurent Cognard (3).
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