The Fine Wine Club
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This is your handy hub for all things fine wine. Explore your latest case below, with downloadable tasting notes from the winemakers behind your bottles. Plus catch up on live tastings, and hear what makes each bottle special. Looking for past cases? Visit The Archive.
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Your case & tasting notes - March 2024
Marcelo Bocardo Grand Reserve 2021
Tasting notes:
Every year we make a Grand Reserve out of our most outstanding barrels. It is a wine that changes every year because it will depend on what exceptional components we find. To select these components we taste all of our barrels in a period of two to three weeks (more than 300 barrels!).
Country
Argentina
Region
Mendoza
Grape
Malbec Blend
Market Price
£28.99
Angel Price
£21.99
Marcelo Bocardo Grand Reserve 2021
By Marcelo BocardoTasting notes: We will find some plum and red bell pepper presence, also since it’s been 18 months in French Oak Barrels, there will be some walnuts and vanilla aromas. A very elegant and juicy wine to enjoy with your family as we do.
Serving suggestion: Decant and serve at 19°C.
Drinking window: You can drink it straight away or hold on to 2033 or beyond.
Marcelo’s food pairing tips: A medium rare ribeye with grilled vegetables. The balanced acidity of this wine makes it a perfect match to steaks, as it washes the fat from your palate. Also since the presence of Cabernet Sauvignon is very noticeable, I would recommend some grilled vegetables as this variety has some spiciness to it. Decant and serve at 19°C.
Notes from the Winemaker: Every year we make a Grand Reserve out of our most outstanding barrels. It is a wine that changes every year because it will depend on what exceptional components we find. To select these components we taste all of our barrels in a period of two to three weeks (more than 300 barrels!).
In February 2023, we received the visit of Ray O’Connor to our estate. After visiting the vineyards and supervising the harvest with Nicolas Bocardo, we headed to the winery, chose some of these barrels and did the blending.
Our idea was to show you the potential that Argentina has when it comes to red blends!
This blend is made out of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from our vineyard located in Maipu. Maipu is one of the most historical places for wine in Argentina.
In the vineyard, we take extra care for these varieties, our goal is to increase the sun exposure to have more polyphenol concentration. After that, we hand pick and select the best clusters to ferment.
Weingut Kriechel Spätburgunder 'S' 2022
Tasting notes:
The suffix ‘S’ is used in our house for ‘selection’. The vines for our rich Spätburgunder ‘S’ are at least 15 years old and the wine is aged in our unique Ahr oak barrels. Most of the barrels come from the exclusive Grand Cru location Walporzheimer Kräuterberg.
Country
Germany
Region
Rhineland-Palatinate
Grape
Pinot noir
Market Price
£26.99
Angel Price
£17.99
Weingut Kriechel Spätburgunder 'S' 2022
By Peter & Michael KriechelTasting notes: Pinot Noir as it should be: This wine is presented in a classic garnet red with aromas of cherries and dark berries. It is velvety with a slightly toasty barrique aroma, making it a wonderfully harmonious wine, especially on cooler evenings.
Serving suggestion: Serve at room temperature, around 16 to 18°C.#
Peter & Michael's food pairing tips: We love local game or a fine selection of cheese with this wine.
Notes from the Winemakers: The suffix ‘S’ is used in our house for ‘selection’. The vines for our rich Spätburgunder ‘S’ are at least 15 years old and the wine is aged in our unique Ahr oak barrels. Most of the barrels come from the exclusive Grand Cru location Walporzheimer Kräuterberg.
The Pinot Noir grape grows on the steep slopes of the Ahr Valley facing the sun, the slate soils retain the sun until the evening, and the minerals are also reflected in the taste.
We don’t use any harvesting machines, everything is done 100% by hand. By green harvesting – Grünlese - we have a reduction in yield, which gives the individual grapes more strength and thus increases the quality.
With our unique barrels we implement our ‘regional connection’ philosophy. The oak trees come from our own forest on the Ahr and thus provide the optimal terroir in this wine.
Due to the size of 1300 liter ‘Stückfass’ the wood influence is very subtle and extremely suitable for filegrane Pinot Noirs. The taste is close to French oak.
Rabbit & Spaghetti Icon Reserve Shiraz 2021
Tasting notes:
The Icon Reserve Shiraz represents the pinnacle of our winemaking. It’s made using small parcels of high-quality fruit grown at select vineyards across three of Australia’s most revered Shiraz growing regions.
Country
Australia
Region
South Australia
Grape
Syrah | Shiraz
Market Price
£39.99
Angel Price
£19.99
Rabbit & Spaghetti Icon Reserve Shiraz 2021
By Adam BartonTasting notes: A dense purple colour with garnet hues, this wine has intense fruit aromas of blackberry, blood plum and dark chocolate, with hints of vanilla, cedar, mint and anise. The palate is opulent with intense, ripe forest fruits supported by tobacco, mocha and sweet spice flavours. Generous, soft tannins, powerful structure and rich texture lead to a focussed, lingering finish.
Serving suggestion: Decant and allow time to breathe before serving.
Drinking window: Drinks well now but will benefit from 5-10 years cellaring.
Adam's food pairing tips: Wild mushroom confit with garlic and fresh herbs served on crusty bread. Or slow roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic.
Notes from the Winemaker: The Icon Reserve Shiraz represents the pinnacle of our winemaking. It’s made using small parcels of high-quality fruit grown at select vineyards across three of Australia’s most revered Shiraz growing regions.
The Barossa vineyards are situated in Ebenezer and Moppa, in the warm northwest of the valley. With vines grown in deep, sandy loam soils, these sub-
regions have long been regarded as growing the finest Shiraz in the Barossa, and contribute power, opulence and intensity to the wine.
Located in the White Hut sub-region, our Clare Valley vineyards are planted in classic “terra rossa”, red earth over limestone and slate. Here, warm days and cool nights produce concentrated fruit with elegant flavours, structure, and acidity, giving balance to the richness of the Barossa & McLaren Vale.
The McLaren Vale vineyard, located in the Seaview sub-region and facing west over the Gulf of St Vincent, is also planted on terra rossa over limestone. This proximity to the ocean allows for low yields and even ripening, resulting in wines with powerful fruit flavours and firm tannins that give the wine complexity and backbone.
The Strasser Collection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Tasting notes:
In 1990, I purchased a small vineyard in Napa Valley’s famed Diamond Mountain District region and together with my wife Rita started the von Strasser Winery. My heart was always set on making one variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, and in particular in the old-world style I had learned about at Chateau Lafite Rothschild early in my winemaking journey.
Country
USA
Region
Napa Valley
Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon
Market Price
£49.99
Angel Price
£22.99
The Strasser Collection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
By Rudy Von StrasserServing suggestion: If you are opening this in its youth, it will benefit from a good hour or two to breathe.
Rudy’s food pairing tips: My style of winemaking allows this wine to drink well with dishes as subtle as a vegetarian stir fry to the T-bone steak. My favorite dishes are Paprikash Chicken (due to my Austro/Hungarian background) and Thai pumpkin red curry (not too spicy though).
Notes from the Winemaker: In 1990, I purchased a small vineyard in Napa Valley’s famed Diamond Mountain District region and together with my wife Rita started the von Strasser Winery. My heart was always set on making one variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, and in particular in the old-world style I had learned about at Chateau Lafite Rothschild early in my winemaking journey.
In the 1990s a dramatic change was happening in the world of winemaking. Led by the journalistic power of winewriters like Robert Parker and others, winemakers were changing the style of their blends to get higher scores and accolades. They would allow the grapes to get over ripe and shriveled, producing wines with crazy alcohols and harsh accompanying tannins, to which they added small amounts of grape concentrate to sweeten the palate.
However my style of winemaking has remained true to my original style. While I do allow my grapes to get fully ripe, I am very careful to not let their sugar get too high. This involves farming techniques such as pruning, thinning of the canopy, shading of the growing fruit, cropping levels, as well as wine making decisions.
The ‘fruit of this labor’ is a grape that makes a full-bodied, yet elegant wine. This style is better in its youth, and interestingly ages far longer. You only must look to how long a fine Bordeaux can age to see the results.
This wine is the result of my 40 years’ winemaking experience, coupled with my artistic goal of making a classic, old-world style wine from the new world and with new technology and equipment. Cheers.
Matt Parish Petaluma Gap Chardonnay 2022
Tasting notes:
Petaluma Gap lies in a coastal range at the southern end of Sonoma County. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay, this cooler climate region is strongly influenced by foggy mornings, sunny days, windy afternoons, and cool nights. The climate is perfect for high-quality Chardonnay and has quickly established itself as a benchmark region for this varietal in California.
Country
USA
Region
Petaluma Gap
Grape
Chardonnay
Market Price
£36.99
Angel Price
£18.99
Matt Parish Petaluma Gap Chardonnay 2022
By Matt ParishTasting notes: Lemon yellow in appearance, it has classic citrus, stone, and tropical fruit notes, with complexities of spice, marshmallow, and creme brûlée from the barrel aging on lees.
Serving suggestion: Chill as you would any white, but allow it to warm slightly for the fullest expression of aromas and flavors.
Matt's food pairing tips: This wine is a great aperitif. It’s also versatile enough to pair with dishes ranging from fresh seafood to roast chicken.
Notes from the Winemaker: Petaluma Gap lies in a coastal range at the southern end of Sonoma County. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay, this cooler climate region is strongly influenced by foggy mornings, sunny days, windy afternoons, and cool nights. The climate is perfect for high-quality Chardonnay and has quickly established itself as a benchmark region for this varietal in California.
Out of all the varieties, Chardonnay is one of the most challenging to create, because every wine lover has a particular view of what characteristics
make a great Chardonnay. Some like them fresh and fruity while others want them ripe and oaky. With that in mind, I went out to make a Chardonnay for the many and not the few.
Grapes were sourced from four top-notch vineyards - Gaps Crown, Sunchase, Roberts Road, and Taylor’s Crown. Each vineyard provides a different expression based on location, topography, and soil type.
The grapes were hand-picked and whole bunch pressed - ensuring the finesse and power of the flavors are preserved and enhanced. The wine was then barrel fermented in seasoned French Oak and sur-lie aged, to create interesting nuances, aromas, flavors, and mouthfeel. After 10 months the entire blend was racked from the barrel and gently fined and filtered to bottle.
Nals Margreid Berg Pinot Bianco 2022
Tasting notes:
BERG Pinot Bianco is a delightful wine made from grapes that grow in the highest vineyards of Nals Margreid, reaching heights between 500 to 750 meters above the sea. These enjoy plenty of sunlight and gentle mountain breezes, creating the perfect environment for cultivating exceptional grapes.
Country
Italy
Region
Alto Adige
Grape
Pinot blanc
Market Price
£19.99
Angel Price
£17.99
Nals Margreid Berg Pinot Bianco 2022
By Harald SchrafflTasting notes: A lovely straw-yellow color with hints of green, the nose is greeted with a fresh and inviting bouquet of Golden Delicious apples and delicate floral notes. On the palate, it offers a symphony of flavors, with vibrant acidity and a lingering almond finish, exuding elegance and finesse.
Serving suggestion: Best served around 10-12°C.
Harald's food pairing tips: From seafood and chicken to creamy pasta dishes and soft cheeses, its vibrant acidity and delicate fruit notes complement a wide range of flavors.
Notes from the Winemaker: ERG Pinot Bianco is a delightful wine made from grapes that grow in the highest vineyards of Nals Margreid, reaching heights between 500 to 750 meters above the sea. These enjoy plenty of sunlight and gentle mountain breezes, creating the perfect environment for cultivating exceptional grapes.
The terroir is characterized by a unique blend of porphyry and limestone soils. This imparts a special character to the wine, contributing to its distinct flavor profile. The alpine climate in this region is characterized by mild summers and crisp autumn days, allowing for a gradual ripening of the grapes.
Harvested by hand in mid-October, the grapes are carefully selected to ensure optimal flavor development. Following the gentle pressing of the grapes, the juice undergoes a slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks for approximately three weeks. This allows the wine to develop its unique flavors and aromas. After that, it undergoes an additional five months of maturation on the lees, enhancing its texture and depth.
It is a charming wine that captures the essence of its alpine terroir. With its exceptional quality and inviting character, it promises a delightful experience for wine enthusiasts. Cheers!