January 2025

January 2025

Cellar Treats

 

 

Welcome to the January edition of the l’Art du Vin wine club.

This is often a time of year that for planning and making resolutions. This year, I hope to continue to discover more hidden gems of the wine world and, in turn, share them with you all!

Over the course of this year, we will delve deeper in to some key wine regions as well as continue to debunk common wine myths.

We are kicking off 2025 with some real treats from our cellar. These are wines that I think not only suit the season well but also provide fun and are great for easy drinking.

I am particularly pleased to include ‘La Coumeille’ from our friends at Domaine des Schistes. I believe if this wine came from a more heralded appellation, it would be a classic. Instead, we found it off the beaten track and as a result, it offers fantastic value for money and highlights the potential of the south west of France when it comes to quality winemaking.

I hope that you enjoy the selection. If you have any wine resolutions for 2025 then it would be great to hear them! Maybe we can use the club to help you achieve them!

Wishing you the very best for 2025!

Many thanks

Philippe

 

Sauvignon Blanc, Ruakana, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022

Producer

Ruakana is a joint project between much-feted wine importer Les Caves de Pyrene and Clos Henri (NZ sister company of renowned Sancerre producer Henri Bourgeois). Together, they wanted to focus on producing a range of New Zealand wines from Marlborough where great care has been taken to source quality fruit which has been grown in a sustainable way. The wines created by this collaboration aim to be exemplars of vintage and place and to offer exceptional value for money.

Ruakana, an abbreviation of Ruakankana, is the name of the creek that runs down the western edge of Clos Henri’s Renwick vineyards. The creek itself was named after the fish traps that were set there but are now long since gone.

Tasting Notes

Bright notes of orange peel and stone fruits on the nose give way to a juicy and textural mouthfeel. With crisp acidity, notes of peach and ripe pineapple, the palate is approachable. Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc but with added depth.

Food Pairing

Seafood, light salads or the ideal foil to a Thai green curry.

 

Chardonnay ‘Premium’, Domaine Bousquet, Mendoza, Argentina 2021

Producer

The Bousquet family hail from the city of Carcassonne, in the South of France and are 4th generation winemakers. In 1990, they began to explore the idea of leaving behind their vineyard in France to travel and explore opportunities further afield. On one particular trip to Argentina, they fell in love with Mendoza, intrigued by combination of soil variation, altitude and terroir on offer.

In 1997, they took the decision to permanently relocate, buying a parcel of land in the Gualtallary Valley in Tupungato, in the foothills of the Andes. The site is defined by its altitude, with the majority of the vines at around 1,200 metres!

The key objective of the Bousquet family was to unite their tradition of European wine with these unique conditions and produce wines that speak of their terroirs.

The resulting range spans a number of different grape varieties yet maintains the Bousquet hallmarks throughout – vibrant colour, delicious organically-produced fruit, good structure with ripe tannins and perfect acid balance.

The grapes benefit from major diurnal temperature swings, achieving exuberant ripeness while retaining the juiciness and, crucially, acidity, that allows us to enjoy more than one glass!

Tasting Notes

Their Chardonnay is unoaked, with the grapes fermented in stainless steel in contact with lees. On the nose, it offers aromas of tropical fruits, backed up by citrus and floral notes. The palate contains concentrated notes of peach and green apple along with the classic Bousquet hallmark of zingy, fresh acidity.

Food Pairing

Ideal to drink as an aperitif or with seafood, fish or goats cheese.

 

‘La Coumeille’, Domaine des Schistes, Roussillon, France 2020

Producer

The vines of Domaine des Schistes have been producing top quality fruit for three generations.

Until the late 80s, these grapes were sold to the local co-operative. However, by 1989, Nadine and Jacques Sire were beginning to grow frustrated at the fact their quality production was being thrown in to the mix at the co-op with fruit of lesser quality from surrounding vineyards. They took the decision to withdraw from the co-op and begin fashioning their own wines.

After his parents had made the initial forays into independent production, Mickaël joined the family team in 2004 and took the wines on to a new level. Rather than learning on the job, he had studied winemaking in various regions both in France and abroad. His innovations included modernising the winery, the purchase of smaller vats for enhanced selection in winemaking and the determination to begin working organically.

Tasting Notes

Syrah (85%), Grenache Noir (10%) and Carignan blend. This ‘cuvée parcellaire’ makes for a really enjoyable red showcasing the domaine's terroir at is very best. Fine tannins, satisfying mouthfeel and fresh finish.

Food Pairing

Partner with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty stews.

 

Basilicata Rosso, Cantina di Venosa, Basilicata, Italy 2022

Producer

Established in 1957 in village of Venosa in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Today the company has 350 members who between them manage 800 hectares of vineyards, all planted on the rich, volcanic soils of the Venosan hills. The coop specialises in local, indigenous grapes such as Aglianico for the reds and Malvasia for the whites.

Cantina di Venosa have pioneered a sustainable philosophy in the region, using photovoltaic energy in the winery to reduce CO2, integrated pest management in the vineyards and over 70% recycled glass for their bottles.

Tasting Notes

Made using 100% Aglianico. Ruby red in the glass with a concentrated and fragrant bouquet of plums and blackberries. On the palate, rich and aromatic with notes of spice and woody herbs. The finish is short but concentrated.

Food Pairing

Try with pasta, tomato-based dishes or roasted veggies!