FINE WINE - The Wine Society

18
SMALL WONDERS
Fine Wine at £20 or Less
Possibly our most eclectic range yet, and a fair bit of varietal one-upmanship, with Alsace and Western Australia laying claim to
riesling, Sancerre and California doing the same for sauvignon blanc, New Zealand and Oregon fencing with pinot noir, and Cornas
locking horns with McLaren Vale for best shiraz. Hungary appears to be safe for the moment with kékfrankos, the grape behind our
new Hungarian coup de coeur, though its Austrian alter ego, blaufränkisch, has been known to appear on this page. How to
approach such diversity? With a mixed case, of course, either the suggested red mix opposite, or a more personal selection which you
can now store in our Members’ Reserve cellars for future enjoyment.
Small wonders reds
J-HU621 Hilltop Kékfrankos, 2009 £9.50 bottle £114 dozen
Lively, fresh, appetising red with dark cherry colour that is rightly much prized in both
Hungary and in Austria (as blaufränkisch). This 2009 is a particular success. Now to
2014. 12%
J-SP6101 Muga Reserva, Rioja, 2006 £13.50 bottle £162 dozen
Bodegas Muga makes delicious Rioja. The 2006 is fragrant with lots of charm and juicy
fruit. Best decanted. Now to 2014. 14%
J-AU13971 Rockford Moppa Springs 2002, Barossa £14.50 bottle £174 dozen
Superb, mature Barossa blend with savoury fruit, density and great length of flavour.
Now to 2012. 15.5% Low stock.
J-SP6171 Lanzaga, Rioja, 2007 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen
A velvety, modern-style Rioja with rich black fruit and spice flavours and fantastic
backbone and length. Best decanted. Now to 2017. 14%
J-US4611 Lemelson Six Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir, 2008, Willamette Valley £14.95 bottle £179 dozen
A fine, plump, cherry-fruited pinot produced organically, and with characteristic care, by
Eric Lemelson’s team in Oregon. Now to 2014. 13.5%
J-AU12971 Brick Kiln Shiraz, 2008, McLaren Vale £16 bottle £192 dozen
The 2008 is another blockbuster from this new name in McLaren Vale. Velvety,
concentrated and layered with blackberry spice flavours. Now to 2014. 14.5%
J-IT14171 Barbera d’Asti, d’Annona, 2007 (Il Cascinone) £16 bottle £192 dozen
2007 was an absolutely cracking vintage for barbera grapes which were beautifully ripe,
healthy, and succulent, making fragrant full and balanced wine. This top wine of the
D’Annona estate has been aged 18 months in barrique to add complexity and
roundness. Now to 2017. 14.5%
J-CS5041 Château Canon de Brem, 2004, Canon-Fronsac £16.50 bottle £198 dozen
One of the most stylish and distinguished wines of its commune, this vineyard has since
been absorbed into La Dauphine. Now to 2015. 13% Low stock.
J-NZ4711 Mahi Pinot Noir, 2008, Marlborough £18 bottle £216 dozen
This new Kiwi pinot is made by Brian Bicknell who made his name as winemaker at
Seresin. Fine and elegant with extraordinary length. Now to 2013. 13.5%
J-RH13421 Cornas Patou, Dumien Serrette, 2003 £19 bottle £228 dozen
A wonderful Cornas brimming with sweet blackcurrant fruit flavours and some
elegance. Now to 2015. 13%
To order thewinesociety.com/finewine ☎ 01438 740222