Summer Staff picks
darryl
Producer: Cà de Noci
Region: Emilia Romagna, Italy
Grapes: Spergola
Style: Orange, Sparkling
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: The lovely new iteration of this classic bottle from the Masini brothers. Bright acidity, pithy tannin, and a gentle stone fruit-like finish. Quenching, and perfect for guzzling in the heat!
“Quenching, with hints of zesty mandarins – perfect with some salumi from Emilia. I’ll be taking this along to St. Leonard’s to drink after a swim in the sea!”
carmen
Producer: Patrick Bouju & Justine Loiseau
Region: Auvergne, France
Grapes: Chardonnay
Style: White
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From Patrick and Justine’s plot in Chauriat, this a blend of two vintages with a small portion macerated on the skins very briefly. Aged in a mix of barrels and stoneware amphorae. We were blown away by this when we first tasted it, and it just got better and better. There is depth of barrels and dense, rich fruit, but balanced by freshness and lift.
“This new vintage tastes grown-up, with a lick of salinity and some bassy mineral notes from the blending of vintages and maceration; a slight deviation, but so welcome indeed.”
Ben
Producer: Jean-Marc Dreyer
Region: Alsace, France
Grapes: Sylvaner, Riesling
Style: White
Alc.: 12%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A lesser spotted direct press white wine from Jean-Marc, which is always exciting to have! This is equal parts Sylvaner and Riesling, aged for a long time in Alsatian foudres. Opulent, spiced stone fruit coupled with complex minerality – this a bottle of incredible verve and energy.
“A rare direct-press from J.M.D! Full of life and energy, this is the perfect bottle for longer days and mellow evenings.”
J.P
Producer: Patrick Bouju & Justine Loiseau
Region: Auvergne, France
Grapes: Pineau d’Aunis (Domaine Delobel, Touraine)
Style: Red
Alc.: 11.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Made from grapes harvested from Domaine Delobel in Touraine, this is the second vintage of this cuvée we have had, and we’re thrilled to have it back on the shelves. Fresh aromatic fruit and spice (ruby grapefruit and pepper). This is very light and pale, but we’d recommend not chilling this too much.
“This juicy number brightened up a murky and bloody Lords on the first day of the first test match against New Zealand! 🏏”
anna
Producer: Loco, Vittorio Pugliese
Region: Puglia, Italy
Grapes: Maresco (red clay), Minutolo (red clay), Verdeca (white clay)
Style: Orange
Alc.: 11%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A blend of three macerated native Pugliese varieties: Maresco, Minutolo and Verdeca growing on red and white clay soils. A touch of reduction on the nose which blows off quickly, this is bursting with tropical fruit notes, vibrant acidity, and a wonderful saline finish! One to drink to welcome spring.
“Wild and energetic, with notes of stone fruit, and as salty as seaspray… with a lip-smackingly sharp acidity!”
Raef
Producer: Malauva
Region: Umbria, Italy
Grapes: Sangiovese, Drupeggio, Procanico, Trebbiano
Style: Pink
Alc.: 11.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: The juice from the four white grapes is poured over the skins of the Sangiovese from their Osarella, and spends a few days macerating. The lightest and most refreshing of the vintages we’ve had. Mineral and zingy, with some fresh summer fruit.
“A wonderful rosato that transports you to the rolling hills of Umbria; bright and fruit with stony mineral edge.”
emilio
Producer: Patrick Bouju & Justine Loiseau
Region: Auvergne, France
Grapes: Gamay d’Auvergne, Pinot Noir (Coteau de Gergovie, Auvergne)
Style: Red
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Patrick and Justine’s version of a nouveau with grapes from a plot in Auvergne. A short carbonic maceration and brief ageing, resulting in a light, bright, exceedingly fruit-forward wine. A far cry from sickly sweet nouveau wines, this is smokey, salty, and moreish.
“This really stands up to spice We had this chilled, and it was so perfect with saag paneer and grilled lamp chops at Tayyabs!
— Emilio & Manu”
Steve
Producer: La Gutina
Region: Catalunya, Spain
Grapes: Garnacha Gris, Garnacha Blanca
Style: White
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: Mainly Grenache gris, with a smaller amount of blanc, these are macerated for 3 hours on the skins. It pours and drinks like a white wine, with just a touch of texture on the palate from the light maceration.
Kit
Producer: Costadilà
Region: Veneto, Italy
Grapes: Glera, Bianchetta, Trevigiana, Perera, Boschera
Style: White, Sparkling
Alc.: 10.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: From a vineyard at 280 metres above sea level, the grapes see a short maceration, and refermented in the bottle with added must from the same vintage. This is delightful – gently floral on the nose, followed by salt, minerality and a zesty, lip-smacking finish.
“Drinking this was a real trip down memory lane, back to those first few vintages we had from Ernesto. Lip-smacking, invigorating, with the kind of salty, lean bite that keeps you reaching for the bottle.”