Spring is coming
Hello and welcome to the March edition of the l’Art du Vin wine club.
After what feels like a long winter, it seems as though spring is finally in the air!
At this time of year, our warehouse is a hive of activity, receiving new parcels of wines that we are introducing to the Scottish market for the season ahead.
As always, we have spent our winter scouring the globe for exciting new producers to add to our list. This year we have some great new additions – one of which we will showcase as part of next month’s selection, so watch this space.
This month, in time with the weather trending positively, I have put together a case of bright, zippy whites, paired with medium-bodied reds, perfect for the slightly chilly spring nights when the sun fades.
Among the selection is a wine from our friend Alberto of Soli in the Thracian Valley. We have been selling his wines for 10 years now and they continue to improve each vintage. When we first started working with him, the market was a little sceptical of embracing wines produced in Bulgaria. However nowadays he is among our most popular producers and his bottlings sit on some of the country’s best restaurant lists.
Stories like that are what inspire me each year when we make additions to our list. We are always hoping to uncover something quirky, unusual and lesser-spotted that we can then help to cut through to the mainstream. And I think this year we have a few that may do just that! I am looking forward to sharing them with you over the coming months.
Thank you all very much for your continued support. I hope you enjoy the selection and, as always, please feel free to send me any feedback you may have.
Cheers!
Philippe
‘Illico Blanc’, Domaine des Schistes, Roussillon, France 2021
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
Macabeo (95%) and Vermentino blend. Bright and floral with notes of apple, lemon, pear and white blossoms.
Food Pairing
Pair with a light Chicken Alfredo for a weekday meal!
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Sauvignon Blanc ‘A Peu Pres’, David Maudry, Loire, France 2023
Producer
‘À peu près’ means ‘more or less’ or ‘roughly’, and it’s a reference to that fact that this Sauvignon Blanc is pretty much a Pouilly-Fumé by nature, if not by name.
It is produced by David Maudry, son of Patrick Maudry of Domaine de Fontenille, in Tracy-Sur-Loire, from vines directly next to their Pouilly-Fume vines.
This parcel of vines are younger than most on the estate and are not classified for use as Pouilly-Fume. As such, we think this wine offers amazing value for money, showing all the elegance and style of classic Pouilly-Fume without the price tag.
Tasting Notes
Like all top-class Sauvignon Blanc from this point in the Loire Valley, this wine is laden with mineral flavours with particularly distinct flinty notes. On the palate, there is a well-balanced citrus and gooseberry tang, underpinned by a slight smokiness.
Food Pairing
Grilled or roasted fish, Shellfish, Goat’s Cheese tart, Caprese salad.
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‘Soli Rouge’ Edoardo Miroglio, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria 2021
Producer
Edoardo Miroglio thought that Bulgarian terroirs should be explored more with regards to quality winemaking, so he set off on a two-year-long quest to uncover land that would allow him to produce complex Pinot Noir. Edoardo, who was originally a textile manufacturer in his native Italy, settled on the micro-region of Elonovo, in the Eastern Thracian Valley, that was found to possess many similar soil and climatic characteristics to Burgundy. Now his team, under the leadership of winemaker Dessislava Baichevaa and viticulturist Alberto La Rosa, make a number of elegant Pinot Noir cuvées that age well.
Alberto previously worked at many prestigious Barolo estates, and as a result, there is a strong Italian influence in his wines. Of particular interest to Alberto is the indigenous Bulgarian grape varietal Mavrud, which he has found is likely to be a predecessor of Nebbiolo. Over the last few years he has been experimenting with a variety of Mavrud clones, and now produces some simply stunning wines with this little known grape.
Tasting Notes
A Bordeaux blend but not quite what you might expect - in a very good way. Plush, expressive and floral like Miroglio's Pinots but with a fuller, fleshier experience overall. Red and blueberries sprinkled with black pepper and tied together by a slightly savoury grip.
Food Pairing
Ideal with roasted or grilled meats (steak, lamb, duck) and dishes with umami and fat, like steak frites or beef stew.
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Tempranillo, Finca Fabian, La Mancha, Spain 2023
Producer
Located in the northern reaches of the La Mancha region, just to the south of Madrid, Dominio de Punctum has been a recent staple of our l’Art du Vin portfolio. Unlike many wineries in the La Mancha region, the team at Punctum only produce wines using fruit grown on their own estate.
Their entire operation is certified organic and they farm a portion of their land following biodynamic principles. Situated in the town of Las Pedroñeras, the Fernandez family preside over the estate, where their winery sits proudly overlooking the vines.
The proximity of the winery is a key advantage when it comes to producing wines that possess optimum freshness in what is typically an extremely hot region.
Tasting Notes
This Tempranillo highlights everything that a Spanish red should offer at this price point – juicy fruit, soft round tannins, a fresh palate and a deliciously long finish.
Food Pairing
Think roast lamb, tagines, steak, and cassoulet. Other pairings to try: Tempranillo's versatility allows it to pair wonderfully with grilled meats like steaks or gourmet burgers, mild curries, pizza, lasagna.
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