From Morgan And Lugana. Two Very Highly Recommended Wines.

From Morgan And Lugana. Two Very Highly Recommended Wines.

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Domaine des Souchons “Cuvée Claude Billet” Morgan (AOC) 2018, €18.95 (was €24.95) O’Briens Wine

These days, I find a comfortable certainty when I open a bottle of Beaujolais cru, particularly when that cru is Morgan. And, as soon as I smell the intense straightforward red berry nose, with a touch of spice, from this Cuvée Claude Billet, I know I’m on the money again with this deep ruby coloured wine.

The vibrant fruit and a tingling acidity leaves an excellent impression as it shines everywhere across the palate and through the long and lingering finish, a touch of fine tannins on the lips. What’s not to like here? Very Highly Recommended.

This cuvée is a blend of different plots, notably combining the volcanic terroir of the Cote du Py and the power of the Grand Cras terroir on one of the oldest estates in the Morgon area of Beaujolais. It is owned by the Condamine family whose roots are in these vineyards. This 100% Gamay, with strong character and enjoyable light fruit notes, is perfect with poultry, and they also say that it goes surprisingly well with cooked white fish, such as sole meuniere.

They say: It is at Morgon, a Beaujolais cru, that we carefully tend our 40 parcels that spread over almost 12 hectares. The domaine is subject to six different types of climatic influences, allowing us to produce wines of great richness that reveal their individual terroirs.

Guerrieri Rizzardi Lugana (DOC) 2020, 12%, €14.95 (was 18.95) O’Briens Wine

The shimmering light gold colour of this Rizzardi white dances in the glass and catches the eye. The feel good factor is increased as you sniff the attractive aromas of fruit such as peach and more exotic like mango and pineapple, and there are floral notes as well. 

There is indeed ample fruit (including the exotic) on the palate and a long and lasting finish. Terrific texture all the way thanks to it having been on the lees for two to three months. A subtle acidity is a key factor. Very Highly Recommended.

Excellent, Rizzardi say, with freshwater and saltwater fish dishes, fresh crustaceans, sushi and young cheese. Also ideal as an aperitif. Recommended serving temperature is 10 to 12 degrees. Guerrieri Rizzardi is the result of the union between two venerable winemaking families that date back to the 17th century.

This Lugana is made from Turbiana grapes, historically cultivated widely in the lands surrounding Peschiera del Garda (a town by Lake Garda). The grape is also known as Trebbiano di Lugana and is genetically linked to Verdicchio. The grapes are grown according to the guyot method in various vineyards around the San Benedetto di Lugana area, where the subsoil is abundant in white clay. 

After selection and harvest, the grapes are crushed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by refinement on the lees for 2-3 months, after which the wine is ready to be bottled. This 2020 was first bottled on the 9th of March 2021.

A Couple of Cracking Reds from Tasmania and Alentejo.

A Couple of Cracking Reds

from Tasmania and Alentejo

Eddystone Point Pinot Noir (Tasmania) 2018, 13%, €24.95, O’Briens Wine

This Pinot Noir, all the way from Tasmania, has a vibrant mid-ruby colour. Strawberry is the major actor in the moderately intense aromas. This juicy red is lively in the mouth, delicately flavoured, with strawberry and cherry, some spice too, and a natural acidity help keep the balance right to the finalé, where the smooth tannins softly tingle the lips and fruit and spice gently and pleasantly linger. 

Purity of fruit was foremost in winemaker Stewart Byrne’s mind during this vintage and he and his team hit the bull’s eye with this one. Very Highly Recommended.

 

Eddystone Point is situated in windswept North East Tasmania and features some of the most uniquely layered terrains on the planet. With its cool climate and prevailing winds it is ideal for growing Pinot Noir.

Eddystone say: One of the hardest of all grape varietals to make, this wine displays all the hallmarks of great Pinot Noir. …The unusually warm Summer and Spring conditions were able to ripen larger than average crops successfully, and vintage was done and dusted in the very short timeframe of just 5 weeks. Harvesting 100% hand picked…. Maturation was 9 months in 25% new French oak and a mixture of older oak. .. Drink now or cellar for up to 3-5 years. First released in 2013, Eddystone Point realises our vision to create wines that are drinkable, affordable and represent the undisputed quality of Tasmanian fresh produce.

Tasmania is a single wine region (Geographical Indication), with seven distinct and diverse wine growing areas. The climate is cool by latitude, not altitude, and the weather is highly variable. Many grape varieties are now found in Tasmania, with producers constantly innovating and experimenting. But Pinot Noir is the star, representing almost half of the island’s plantings for both still and sparkling wine. And those sparkling wines are pretty damn good too!

Marquês de Borba Colheita Alentejo (DOC) 2019, 14%, €17.95 O’Briens Wine

Like many Portuguese wines, this red is a blend; the grape varieties used are Alicante Bouschet, Arangonez, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Petit Verdot and Merlot. The fruit is grown on the limestone and schist soils of Alentejo (a large area with the Algarve to the south, Spain to the east and the Atlantic coast, with Lisbon, to the west).

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And, like many Portuguese reds, the aromas are intense, a concentration of fruit (red and darker berries) and a touch of vanilla. The palate too is fruit-driven but not at all over the top as you’ll find a happy equilibrium between fruit, tannin and acidity. Very drinkable and Highly Recommended.

Marquês de Borba Colheita is made by the family owned João Portugal Ramos. He started his personal wine making project by planting his first five hectares of vineyards in Estremoz in 1988. Now joined by his son and daughter in the business, they have grown to be one of the most important wineries in Portugal.

They say: One of the most emblematic brands of João Portugal Ramos, Marquês de Borba combines the tradition of the Alentejo region with an excellent quality, present since the first vintage in 1997. The brand’s name comes from the happy coincidence of João Portugal Ramos’ vineyards and winery being located in Borba sub-region, and also of one of his uncles having the noble title Marquês de Borba, a title created in 1811. Present all over the world, the Marquês de Borba brand is today a symbol of the Alentejo region.

Over one hundred wines from across the globe now on promotion in O'Briens Wine.

Over one hundred wines from across the globe now on promotion in O'Briens Wine.

Hard to confine yourself when picking a few highlights in O’Briens Wine September sale; there are well over one hundred wines from across the globe on promotion until the 26th of the month. I decided to put the focus on one grape and it helps that Pinot Noir is a favourite of mine and, while I skipped Burgundy (the home of the grape), I’ve have suggestions from New Zealand and Romania. And, if you’d like to check a well-known Burgundy example then pick up a bottle of Louis Jadot.

Pinot Noir is also much used in sparkling wines, a key part of most Champagnes and other French bubbles (eg Crémant). But oddly enough not in our Champagne recommendation:  the Granzamy Brut (down from 34.90 to 29.90) which is made from just the one grape, Pinot Meunière.

While you will find Pinot Noir around the world, it is not that widely planted. Certain areas are noted for it including Burgundy, Germany, Oregon in the US, Chile in South America and Marlborough in New Zealand.

Wildflower Pinot Noir Romania 2019, 12.5%, €8 (was 13.95)

Romania? Haven’t heard much about their wine? Reasonable questions. But vineyards were first planted in Romania by the Romans so there is an ancient winemaking history here. Nowadays, according to the World Atlas of Wine, “EU membership has encouraged considerable investment in Romania’s vineyards and relatively well-run wineries”

This Pinot Noir is a pale ruby colour, as you might expect from the varietal. There’s a fruity nose (raspberry, strawberry, cranberry) and fairly spicy too. Very fruity on the palate, richer than you’d generally find in France. But it’s light and fresh, and acidity enough to make it very quaffable indeed. Good finish too. A pleasant intro to the Pinot Noir grape and excellent value.

The label, naturally enough, says this is “an outstanding example of this famous varietal and can be enjoyed on its own, slightly chilled on a hot summer evening, or as perfect companion to BBQs where it will definitely keep all your friends happy.”

Astrolabe Pinot Noir (Marlborough) 2017, 13.5%, 19.95 (normally 25.45).

Bright ruby is the colour of this Marlborough Pinot Noir made by Simon Waghorn who is one of new Zealand’s most accoladed winemakers with a reputation for making “terroir” focused Sauvignon Blanc as well as Pinot Noir.

This fragrant wine with red berry fruit prominent (wild strawberries) and bramble fruit too. Cool elegant mouth-filling fruit (black and red cherry) follow and the oak has melded nicely with the fruit. There’s a  silky tannin structure and excellent acidity. This lively style is indeed a thoroughly pleasurable experience, plush on the palate, and fresh, fruity to the delicious finish. Very happy with this one. Very Highly Recommended as was the case with the 2015 version.

O’Brien’s say: Astrolabe is a small family wine business owned and run by Simon and his family in Marlborough. Astrolabe Pinot Noir is well-balanced with refreshing acidity and silky tannins, it is fragrant with a purity of ripe wild berry fruit that makes this wine sing across the palate. Eleven months in French oak adds a smoky complexity on the lingering finish.

Waghorn tells us “Marlborough is a great area for all those aromatic cool climate wines that we know around the world, like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, but in our cool climate, the only red that flourishes reliably every year is Pinot Noir, which is lucky for me as a winemaker, because it’s the best of them all. If you only had one red wine to be able to make, Pinot Noir would be the one you’d normally choose as a winemaker.”

He just loves Pinot Noir: “Pinot Noir occupies a special place. It’s a food-friendly red. It’s a red that has vibrancy and life in it. That’s what I’m focusing on — making sure that we don’t lose that sense of vitality from the fruit in the wine and style it in a way that it is long, plush, enjoyable and full without being heavy and muscular.”

Food pairings: Venison, duck, game, roasted beetroot, rare and tender lamb, and earthy wild mushrooms, Asian-style duck, seared tuna and swordfish.

A Few Good Whites

No problem in picking a few good whites from the promotion. Let us start in Australia with the Stonier Chardonnay. Stonier was established in 1978 and are noted for their Burgundian style cool climate wines. The vineyards overlook the ocean. Chardonnay is a signature wine for Stonier and this is a gem.

Back to Europe for the rest of our whites, beginning with the Robert Weil Riesling Trocken. A Riesling dry in style and well balanced like its Rheingau predecessors “from the glorious age of Riesling a century ago: a contemporary classic and a perfect partner for many foods.”  Must say I don’t know anything about the Rieslings of a century ago but this light gold coloured wine is a gem for sure.

The Lingenfelder family, winemakers in the Pfalz area of Germany since 1520, produce this Lingenfelder Bird-Label Riesling, one of their "Vineyard Creatures" series that also includes the Hare (Gewürztraminer) and the Fox (Dornfelder) . This particular Riesling is off dry and delicious. It has the typical Riesling aromas (citrus-y), is fresh and elegant and may be enjoyed as an aperitif or with light or spicy dishes.

Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard is “one of the first wine producers in organic farming in Chablis and Burgundy”. They started on the organic way in 1997. The winery itself is ultra modern, everything is stainless steel, and this Brocard Petit Chablis gets some lees ageing. It is a light bright gold with exotic fruit aromas. An intense palate, fresh and full, and then a lingering and very satisfying finish. 

For the last days of summer! One white and one rosé

For the last days of summer!

 One white and one rosé

Chateau Albajan Picpoul de Pinet (AOP) 2020, 13.5%, now €12.95 (was €16.95) O’Briens 

You might be expecting a screwcap closure on this one as it  is white and comes from the Languedoc, one of the less formal wine areas of France. But you’d be mistaken, though the cork itself, not from traditional materials, is one of these modern amalgams.

Picpoul is both a grape and an area. This Château Albajan has a green-tinged light straw colour. An inviting mix of fresh citrus and pear gently lead the aromatics and you’ll find their flavours on the palate, a lively palate! There is the slightest tingle on the attack before the zesty flavours round it off on the way to a lip-smacking (no, not really lip-stinging!) crisp finish. Highly Recommended. Well priced too by the way.

O’Briens tell us that Château Albajan has been in the Albajan family since 1850. It is located in Castelnau de Guers in Picpoul de Pinet, lying between the famous oyster farming Thau lake (Bassin de Thau) and the historic town of Pézenas. The estate is run by Marie-Laure Albajan with a focus on achieving the best expression of their terroir with perfectly ripe and healthy grapes.

And the grape? Picpoul (also spelt as Piquepoul) is very well suited to the region and has been grown here for centuries. The name Piquepoul might put you off because it translates as "sting the lips", and is a reference to the grape's mouthwateringly high acidity. No wonder they say: “Match with salty”! But you may like to pair it with Pastas, Vegetarian, Poultry, Lean Fish (cod, haddock, or pollock for instance), Canapés.

GAI’A 4-6° Agiorgitiko Peloponnese (PGI) 2020, 12%, €15.95 O’Briens

Agiorgitiko is a fragrant red wine grape native to Greece's Peloponnese and that is where this rosé hails from. It is a pale pink. Rose petals, strawberries and pomegranate in the aromas. Very pleasant  and fresh bouquet indeed and very pleasant in the mouth also with its fresh fruit flavours enhanced by a lively acidity. Light and lovely all the way to the finish. Highly Recommended.

Gaia say: This wine, whether taken as an aperitif or enjoyed by the glass while out at a bar with good friends, it will impress! Paired with a light meal, it will definitely fascinate! And as an accompaniment to Asian cuisine, it will surely conquer. AGIORGITIKO 4-6h can be treated as a white wine, and served cold in a big glass for one’s own pleasure! 

Rosé wines are back! Some lighter and fresher, some darker and richer. The Agiorgitiko 4-6 was created from grapes which grow at a particularly high altitude, give a lovely rose color and a profound freshness of aroma and flavor. Suitable for Vegans & Vegetarians

Bertrand's Orange Gold Shines Among Impressive New Wines at O'Briens.

Bertrand's Orange Gold Shines

 Among Impressive New Wines at O'Briens.

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Gérard Bertrand Orange Gold, Occitaine Vin du France 2020, 13%, €21.95

Orange Gold pays tribute to the first orange wines of Georgia 4500 years ago. Gérard Bertrand wants to create a new profile of orange wines, very fresh. Gérard Bertrand’s take on Orange wine is an innovative blend of seven white grape varieties:Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Mauzac, Muscat and Clairette. The name and attractive bottle are an homage to the power of the sun and the magnificent sunsets over the South of France. 

Very Highly Recommended and straight on to my short list for wine of the year.

Orange gold will also serve to precisely describe the colour of this wine in its special bottle. Aromas are intense, full of sweet blossom and yes that freshness. The palate is complex, peach and apricot flavours, sweet notes but with tremendous harmony, its supple texture envelops the taste buds, its smooth tannins kiss the lips and there’s a lingering finish with a slight bitterness that begs for more. Another glass please and more food. 

So what food for this remarkable wine? They say: Endowed with a beautiful freshness, light tannins and subtle acidity, Orange Gold goes well with many dishes. It is a wine of character, the perfect companion for aperitifs with friends and cheese platters to share. This remarkable and luminous wine also goes very well with spicy food, especially Indian dishes or Asian recipes. Orange Gold can be drunk at 12°C to appreciate all its freshness and minerality. Its aromatic complexity and the richness of its palate will develop in the glass at 14°C.

Bertrand, a former rugby international, doesn’t do things by half measures - he is reported to have tasted over 70 orange wines from around the world as part of his research! His aims apparently were not to replicate the ancient Georgian methods but to come up with his own “fresh” version. No amphora here. Instead oak and stainless steel have been used as he mixed the ancient methods of the Georgians with the new ones of the South of France where he is a major player.

A few details:

The white grapes are vinified and fermented in whole bunches, like red wines. This maceration with the stalks and skins brings a remarkable orange colour with golden reflections and a very singular “tannicity”. It is an exceptional blend of seven grape varieties, all essentially Mediterranean: Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc and Viognier add volume and Marsanne, Mauzac and Muscat enrich the aromatic complexity of the wine.

Emiliana Novas Riesling Gran Reserva, Bío-Bío Valley Chile 2019

RRP €16.95 (reduced to €11.95 from 19th July to 1st September 2021)

Colour is a clear golden yellow. Apple, pear and lime feature in the rather complex aromatics (along with a whiff of diesel). The palate is packed with flavour, even a touch of sweetness but the zesty acidity helps keep it all in balance right though to the persistent finish. Highly Recommended.

O’Briens say: Emiliana's Novas Riesling Gran Reserva is produced from organically farmed grapes grown in the Bío Bío Valley, one of the most southern wine regions in the world located 500km south of the Chilean capital Santiago. This off-dry style, with its fresh acidity, makes this Riesling a perfect match for Asian cuisine. Try also with Oysters and shellfish, white meats and smoked salmon.

It is produced from organically farmed grapes, and is certified Organic and Vegan. Grapes are handpicked then placed in a pneumatic press to obtain the different musts, which were kept separate. Once ferment was complete, the wine was left in contact with its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 5 months, with periodic stirring (batonnage) before being fined and bottled.

Emiliana is the world’s largest orange winery and have made eight commitments for the future:

1. Healing the Earth through Organic and Biodynamic actions
2. Generating new research into optimising and promoting Organic Viticulture
3. Conserving Biodiversity in the vineyards
4. Reducing Carbon Footprint
5. Reducing Energy Consumption
6. Reducing Water Consumption
7. Minimising the environmental impact of Supplies
8. Minimising the Generation of Waste and increasing Recycling

Emiliana Novas Syrah-Mourvèdre Gran Reserva, Cachapoal Valley Chile 2017, 14%

RRP €16.95 (reduced to €12.95 until 1st September 2021)

The fruit for Novas Gran Reserva Syrah-Mourvèdre comes from vineyards located in the

Cachapoal valley, 85km south of Santiago. The valley is well sheltered from the cooling

influences of the Pacific Ocean and enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate ideal for

ripening these grape varieties.

Ruby is the colour of this Chilean blend, certified organic and vegan. Aromas are rich, packed with notes of cherries and plums. And the flavours (plums, blueberries) on the palate are not shy at all, no shortage of acidity either to balance. It is juicy and full-bodied with a hint of sweet spice plus silky tannins in a lengthy and satisfactory finish. Highly Recommended.

Food pairings recommended by the makers are: roasted red meats, or beef stew with oregano and carrots. Also combines well with Parmesan cheese and toasted bread with olive oil. And I’ve also seen hamburgers heartily recommended.

Lots of care taken with the vinification. The new wine remains on its skins at 22º–24ºC for 4–5 days. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in oak barrels, where the wine is aged for 9 months, during which time stabilisation takes place naturally, without additional treatments. The wine is filtered with a 1-micron (absolute) cartridge filter just prior to bottling.

Revino Postcards From Italy Pinot Grigio Rosé Delle Venezie (DOC) 12.5% 

RRP €15.95 (reduced to €11.96 until September)

This delicately flavoured organic Pinot Grigio Rosé from the Veneto has a light rose colour with hints of grey in there. The aromas, immediately attractive, are of peach and apricot. It is the zesty acidity that makes the quick impression on the palate balancing the fruit flavours of this 100% Pinot Grigio. Chilled this down during a sunny day (during the recent heatwave) and think we got the best from it. Very pleasant, refreshing and Highly Recommended.

Lynne Coyle: Combining two of the summer’s most popular wine styles, Pinot Grigio and rosé, this wine comes from a family winemaking project, headed by Roberto Pasqua of our Musella winepartners in the Veneto. The label is a fond representation of retro Italian posters; stylish, elegant and eye catching.

* See also earlier short post on two of the other new wines (including an excellent Novas Viognier) here.

O'Briens Spanish Wine sale from 21st July to 2nd August

 O'Briens Spanish Wine Sale

 from 21^st July to 2^nd August 

Here's two to start with!

Ars Nova Navarra (DO) 2014, 14%, €13.96 (was €17.45)

Dark ruby is the colour of this fresh and elegant blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the northern fringe of the Navarra wine region. The darker berries (blackcurrant, blackberries) and herb-y notes feature in the aromas and accompany the wine onto the palate as well. It’s complex with spice also in the melange. But it is that fresh acidity that helps harmony reign in this blend and lifts Are Nova into the Very Highly Recommended category.

Founder José María Fraile: “We like freshness and elegance and luckily we’re in the coolest part of the appellation. It is super green where we are, a big contrast with the desert in the south. The Atlantic influence, the cool summer nights, and picking late in the season is good for the grapes and we get that natural acidity.”

Tandem was founded in 2003 by José María along with Alicia Eyaralar, and a small group of wine-loving relatives and friends. The vineyard is quite close to Pamplona.

This rich and complex red has been aged a minimum 24 months in concrete vats plus 9 months in 300-litre French oak barrels. Open, decant and let it breathe for half an hour before enjoying with a roast leg of lamb (or duck!).

The Latin Ars Nova translates to new art and indeed Ars Nova was a musical movement in the 14th Century which brought about the advent of volume in music. And Tandem thought this very applicable to their philosophy of this wine which also has their trademark acidity. 

Watch out also for other Tandem wines on offer, including Ars in Vitro,  Tandem Mácula, and Tandem Inmácula

Granbazán Etiqueta Verde Albariño Rias Baixas (DO) 2019, 13% €14.95 was €19.95

A few years ago, at a tasting in Cork, a wine professional’s statement that you never get a bad Albarino met with general agreement by those at the tasting table. What you do get however are some really excellent ones, that stand out from the crowd. This Granbazán is one of the stand outs, even if it's not their number one Albarino.

Colour of this gem is a light golden straw. Citrus aromas are expected and present, not so much the green apple though. The palate is outstandingly flavoursome, complex and zesty, citrus-y and briny with a slight spritz. Amazingly fresh acidity, dry of course and that slightly saline aftertaste. A striking mix of flavours that make you think fish for pairing, everything from ceviche to fish tacos, from mussels to plump oysters, from sardines to sushi. Very Highly Recommended.

O’Briens agree: A perfect match to any seafood. From the team behind our perennial-favourite, Contrapunto Albariño, Etiqueta Verde comes from the beautiful Bodegas Granbazán estate in the heart of the Salnés Valley in Rías Baixas. 

The winemakers tells us that the fruit comes from vineyards of over 35 years old, “from a soil with high granite content, on the banks of the Arousa estuary, and with a strong Atlantic personality .A classic Albariño with the characteristics of the Salnés subzone. Destemmed and cold macerated for 6 to 8 hours. Controlled fermentation in a stainless Steel tank. Rest on its fine lees without batonage. Bottled 4 to 5 months after fermantation is complete”. A

And they add more pairings: spicy white meats and cheeses such as Camembert and San Simón (both from cows milk, soft and creamy) or Cabrales (a famous blue cheese).

As mentioned above, the Granbazán Contrapunto Albariño is a customer favourite in O'Briens and is massively reduced to €12.95 and another to look for is Granbazán Limousin.

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With close on 90 wines reduced, the sale covers most of the Spanish regions. There is even a six bottle offer of Rioja. Some of the major producers are listed, including Torres. Many of you will be familiar with Campo Viejo - look out for their Garnacha.

And being Spain, it is not just still wines. There are at least two interesting sherries on the reduced list. Toro Albalá Fino Eléctric, from the lesser known Montilla-Moriles region, is made from the Pedro Ximenez grape but, instead of being sweet as you might expect, is bone dry. They also produce an Oloroso from the same grape and that too is reduced. And they both come in the smaller 50cc size, making them convenient to try!

O'Briens Introduce Exciting New Wines Including This Very Highly Recommended Viognier

O'Briens Introduce Exciting New Wines

Including This Very Highly Recommended Viognier

Lynne Coyle MW, O’Briens Wine Director: “We are delighted to have recently added these exciting new wines to our range over the past couple of weeks. Six of them are organic, of which three come from our long-time Chilean partners, Emiliana.”

The two wines featured below are among the newcomers and both are on offer until July 18th. Others will come on offer after that date and we’ll get to those as well (including two more from the Emiliana Novas series). 

Watch out also for the O'Briens Spanish Wine Sale between 21st July and 2nd August.

Emiliana “Novas” Viognier Gran Reserva 2020 Valle Casablanca (DO), 14%, €12.95 until July 18th (was 15.07).

Light to mid straw is the colour of this organic Viognier from Chile’s Casablanca Valley, part of a group of wines new to the O’Brien portfolio this year. Peach and nectarine feature in the pleasantly intense aromas and also on the palate. It is quite dense and silky in the mouth, certainly ample, and the balancing acidity is key to this excellent experience, right through to the harmonious finish. Very Highly Recommended.

The vineyards, just 100km north-west of Santiago, are only 30km from the Pacific Ocean, so cooling sea breezes and ocean fogs help to moderate the long hot summer days and lengthen the ripening season, allowing the grapes to develop greater complexity of flavour, whilst retaining acidity. After fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels for 8 months to add a creamy texture. Those cooling sea breezes are a key factor as Viognier can easily over-ripen.

The label tells us that these “Premium organic wines are made with carefully selected grapes to create unique and high-quality products that faithfully express their terroir”. The Cabernet Sauvignon was listed as the 7th best value red in Chile by Wines of South America (pub. 2014).
We’ll have another couple from Novas (a Riesling and a Syrah-Mourvedre blend) over the next few weeks and, after this, I'm really looking forward to those.

Emiliana are one of the largest producers of estate-grown organic wines in the world. Their spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from all over the world. General Manager José Guilisasti and winemaking consultant Alvaro Espinoza were key to establishing this project to convert a large commercial winery into a commercially viable organic one. These innovative wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

Emiliana’s “Gé” is Chile's first ever certified biodynamic wine and is listed at #9 in the Twenty Wines to Drink Before You Die (Wines of South America pub. 2014) 

Luzon Monastrell Jumilla (DOP) 2020, 14.5%, €10.95 until July 18th (was 13.95)

This unoaked Monastrell from Jumilla in Murcia, a small region on the Mediterranean coast of south-eastern Spain, has a deep cherry colour. Intense yet elegant on the nose, a pleasing melange of red and darker fruits (cherries, plums and strawberries). And, on the intro to the palate, you immediately think juicy and fresh, as the fruit and acidity combine in impressive harmony. Tannins are pretty well integrated and the finish lingers. Highly Recommended.

This excellent newcomer has no added sulphur (as you can see on the label), is certified organic and vegan. The label calls it “honest, fresh, fruity and flavoursome” and indicates it should be served at between 14 and 16 degrees.

O’Briens: Bodegas Luzón was established in 1916 and specialises in growing Jumilla´s Monastrell grape. The estate is now owned by the Fuertes Family, who have invested heavily in the vineyards and winery. Luzón are one of our top Spanish producers, making a range of good value red wines. This Monastrell is a good example. It is a very good price point and already proving popular with our customers.

Note too the climate in this part of Spain is Mediterranean, with dry, sunny growing seasons. This helps the grapes remain healthy, disease free and allows for easier implementation of sustainable farming practices. Not all plain sailing though. Wine-Searcher.com says that “frosts, violent storms and torrential rains still pose real threats to vines” here.

Monastrell is known as Mourvedre in France where it is a key component of the Rhone GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) blends.