Recent Favourites
Salut! And welcome to the November edition of the l’Art du Vin wine club.
As I noted in my introductory letter to the wine club this same month last year, November can be a slightly funny period for the wine industry.
There is a lot of pressure and expectation placed on a busy festive period, so we attempt to be as organised as possible. However our industry is all about being reactive and dealing with customer requests – so we hope we have put all the right things in place to keep everyone happy as we close out the year.
Restaurants tend to be a little quieter in November as customers think ahead to festive spending and socialising.
As a result, we have the opportunity to spend slightly more time researching and assessing the areas of our portfolio in need of strengthening for the year ahead.
This month, we are delighted to welcome Attwoods Wines to the l’Art du Vin range, as our first parcel of wines from this exciting Australian estate lands in Dalgety Bay!
Attwoods Wines is a boutique producer specialising in cool-climate wines, with particular focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery operates across several regions in Victoria, Australia, including Ballarat, Macedon Ranges, and Geelong.
Attwoods is known for its minimal intervention approach, aiming to produce wines that reflect the unique characteristics of each vintage and terroir. Having established the estate in 2010, husband and wife team Troy and Jane focus on producing food-friendly wines with a philosophy of taking great risks to achieve great rewards.
These wines have now launched on our website, so please do go and check them out!
As for the Club selection this month, I have included some favourite wines that I have particularly enjoyed drinking over recent weeks. I believe that they all offer excellent value for money and could certainly work wonderfully as festive party wines should you be entertaining over the coming season!
The Lebanese wines from Chateau Ksara are particularly great, managing to find that challenging balance of complex yet infinitely drinkable – I hope that you enjoy them.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Cheers!
Philippe
Blanc de l’Observatoire, Chateau Ksara, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2022
Producer
Its traditions can be traced back to 1857 when Jesuit monks acquired the property. The Jesuits applied their knowledge of science and agriculture to plant French vines as well as developing two kilometres of Roman caves that proved ideal for the storage of wine.
The Jesuits sold the winery to its current owners in 1973, who invested heavily in converting the estate to more modern practices.
The vineyards are located in the central and western Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1,000 metres. The Bekaa enjoys dry summers and has the advantage of its own natural water table, courtesy of the melting snow that runs off the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges; therefore no irrigation is needed in the vineyards.
The slopes on either side of the valley and the valley itself create a unique microclimate in which the cool nights compensate for the hot summer days.
Tasting Notes
Produced from Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette and Muscat. A versatile, easy-drinking, fresh and fruity wine that captures the essence of the Bekaa Valley with its simple but elegant character of citrus, stone fruit and wildflowers.
Food Pairing
The wine's refreshing character complements the vibrant flavors of Lebanese cuisine, such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh. Also a great match with fish dishes such as sea bream or sea bass in a light citrus dressing.
Reserve de Couvent, Chateau Ksara, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2020
Producer
Its traditions can be traced back to 1857 when Jesuit monks acquired the property. The Jesuits applied their knowledge of science and agriculture to plant French vines as well as developing two kilometres of Roman caves that proved ideal for the storage of wine.
The Jesuits sold the winery to its current owners in 1973, who invested heavily in converting the estate to more modern practices.
The vineyards are located in the central and western Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1,000 metres. The Bekaa enjoys dry summers and has the advantage of its own natural water table, courtesy of the melting snow that runs off the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges; therefore no irrigation is needed in the vineyards.
The slopes on either side of the valley and the valley itself create a unique microclimate in which the cool nights compensate for the hot summer days.
Tasting Notes
A bright, bold Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The backbone of the Château Ksara range, this is a ready-to-drink, medium to full-bodied wine, which owes its inspiration to the wines of the Northern Rhone and Bordeaux with layered flavours and aromas of fruit and spice with body and freshness.
Food Pairing
An ideal foil to grilled and spiced lamb, steak, and ale pie with mash. Also a perfect partner to homely dishes such as lasagne.
Poggio dei Gelsi Est! Est! Est!, Famiglia Cotarella, Lazio, Italy 2022
Producer
The Cotarella family name is intrinsically linked to some of Italy’s finest wines. Riccardo Cotarella is one of the country’s most revered winemaking consultants, and his brother Renzo is the longstanding chief winemaker at Antinori.
Following the lead of their parents, who built their own winery in the 1960s to vinify the grapes from their vineyards in Umbria, the brothers founded the Falesco winery in Lazio in 1979.
Here the focus was on showcasing forgotten varieties that had fallen from favour, with the notable launch of Poggio dei Gelsi Est! Est!! Est! in 1989, which used the local Roscetto grape to great effect.
Tasting Notes
An appealingly floral nose gives way to pithy citrus fruits flavours, with a subtle, nutty complexity on the fresh finish.
Food Pairing
A wine that most certainly doesn’t need paired with food to be enjoyed – it is an excellent aperitif or midweek sipper. However, it also acts as a good partner to creamy pasta dishes or risotto.
Pinot Noir, La Boussole, Languedoc, France 2022
Producer
This excellent-value Pinot Noir comes from the stable of Stephane Vedeau and Claude Serra who make wines in southern France under the banner of Le Boussole.
Their vineyards stretch from the hot Mediterranean coast in southern France to the cooler Ardeche region of western Provence. Low yields and a ruthless approach to quality control means that behind the label lies some of the best value wines in the region.
Tasting Notes
The nose showcases a fruity and fragrant bouquet with notes of red fruits such as ripe raspberries, strawberries, cherries and plums with a touch of liquorice and toast.
The palate is fresh with bright acidity with flavours that match the nose. Expect bags of red fruits with hints of cedar and vanilla.
Food Pairing
A natural pairing with duck or game but this wine also possesses enough acidity to work wonders with salmon or grilled seafood. Equally enjoyable on its own without any food accompaniment.
