James and Jamie's Summer Selection

Spring is on the doorstep and to celebrate we are recommending a few wines from our portfolio that are drinking brilliantly now. They are all delicious and excellent value. From small domaines who strive to create wines of the highest quality, they are some of our favourites. 

WHITE WINES

Mudhouse Sauvignon Blanc 2009       £89.00 per 12 DP
The 2009 is everything you expect from a vibrant, intense Kiwi Sauvignon. It is so fresh, with notes of kiwi, mango and citrus. The wine stays with you on the palate for at least 30 seconds. Perfect for that first barbecue of the year!

Petit Chablis, Domaine Billaud Simon 2008       £120.00 per 12 DP
A wine that is without question better than many village Chablis. Billaud Simon is one of the very best domaines and I cannot recommend this wine more highly. 

Pouilly Fumé Vinéalis, Domaine Marc Deschamps 2007       £160.00 per 12 DP
This is Deschamps’ top Cuvée.  It has a rich, concentrated mid palate, a wonderful stony mineral finish and is so classic of the wines from this region.

Meursault Les Rougeots, Domaine Potinet Ampeau 2005 £220.00 per 12 DP
A few months back we tasted some of our smarter white Burgundies blind.  This Meursault Rougeots came out in the top three and above some much smarter wines in the line up. With a few years in bottle it has taken on weight and power with lovely rich flavours but good grip on the finish. I think this is a terrific village Meursault.

Hanzell Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley 2006 (6pk)       £200.00 per 6 DP
This is top flight american Chardonnay from a fine estate that produces wines of concentration, depth and minerality. When we tasted older vintages they were truly impressive and would certainly give many Grand Cru White Burgundies a run for their money.  This is delicious now but will evolve over the next 5 years.

RED WINES

Ch La Fleur Coterie, Bordeaux 2007       £89.00 per 12 DP
You could be excused for saying “Surely this is a bit too young”.  The 2007 vintage has produced some forward, fruity wines and this is just delicious.  It opens up quickly in the glass to reveal beautifully soft, plummy Merlot fruit. If you enjoy drinking Bordeaux and don’t want to spend too much money, then this wine is for you. It also comes in its own very smart wooden box!

Bourgogne, Champ de Perdrix, 
Domaine Jean-Pierre Charton 2007       £109.00 per 12 DP
My wife and I drank a bottle of this at home not two weeks ago.  It is a delicious Pinot Noir that has lots of fruit and intensity. Cracking wine at an affordable price. Highly recommended.

Rosso di Montalcino, Castello Argiano Sesti 2007       £175.00 per 12 DP
The baby brother of Brunello di Montalcino, this is designed to be drunk younger and is very reasonably priced. Full of red berried flavours and expansive on the palate, the bottle will certainly be finished once opened.

Volnay Vieilles Vignes, Nicolas Potel 2005       £195.00 per 12 DP

Volnay Vieilles Vignes, Nicolas Potel 2005 (Mags)       £201.00 per 6 mags DP
When released en primeur, we strongly advised you to buy this wine and many of you did so. For those of you who have it in your cellars or stored in Private Reserves, it is now drinking beautifully.  This is classic Volnay, lovely and elegant with juicy red fruits. We still have a few cases of magnums which look fantastic. 

Ch Moulinet Lassere, Pomerol 2001       £230.00 per 12 DP
When I first tasted this wine, I was really impressed.  It is classic 2001 (which was a great year for the Right Bank), elegant with great finesse. On the palate it has wonderful soft Merlot flavours, this is a seductive Pomerol.

Barolo Bricco Boschis, Cavallotto Fratelli 2004       £395.00 per 12 DP
In Northern Italy, 2004 was one of the greatest vintages of modern times.  “This fresh, perfumed Barolo blossoms with the essence of red raspberries, flowers and spices. Made in a plump, fruit driven style, it possesses superb length and a completely seductive, rapturous personality…. a remarkably finessed Barolo. 91-94 points.” Wine Advocate