Sauvignon Blanc is back in the game
Happy 1st of December Club Members!
I don’t know about you but we are officially on the Christmas countdown here!
I think I have been quite organised this year and managed to sort my festive wines but how about you? I made that little collection of online wine retailers, as promised and will be adding a couple more to it every week until the holiday season is over.
Oh, and a number of our wonderful subscribers have shared their delight in perusing previous newsletters and finding inspiration for weekend wine choices, which was lovely to hear.
So if you need some tips, recommendations or just want to read about our wine journey, you know where to go! 😉
The one before the Master plan!
Do you remember how excited I was about the plans for the Accidental Wine Club? How I said we have finally gotten our act together and planned( well, I did ) every week carefully, focusing on certain countries, regions, etc?
It was all decided after this particular evening, where we ended up with a very diverse selection of wines.
There was a sort of vague plan, based on the fact that we haven’t had a lot of Sauvignon Blancs in our sessions. How we got to an Australian red at the end, I am not so sure but will get to that part shortly.
Havoc & Harmony Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Sauvignon Blanc might be the most popular grape variety in the world, always providing fresh, clean and well-balanced wines, for every budget. And this one is a prime example of a great Marlborough! Compared to Villa Maria and Oyster Bay ( see Tuesday’s newsletter to find out what I thought of them ), this one is an excellent choice if you don’t mind spending a couple of pounds more on a bottle.
Bursting with tropical flavours; sweet, ripe mango and pineapple with the added zingy lime zest. The typical herbal notes are present too, nettle is the one that is coming through the most. On the palate, it is still very fruit-driven with nectarines and honeyed gooseberries. A lovely crisp citrus acidity at the end to balance a richly textured palate. New Zealand Sauvignon, enticing as always.
Name: Havoc & Harmony Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 12.5%
Notes: Ripe mango and pineapple on the nose, followed by nectarines and honeyed gooseberry. Touch of herbaceous tones, mainly nettle and lime zest to finish.
Price: £12.99 ( originally purchased from the local independent wine shop, for the same price )
Recommend with: Some New World Sauvignons are not strong enough to stand up to more flavoursome fishes but this one would be a good choice. Mackerel, sardines, fusion Asian dishes, just go for it.
Where: Havoc & Harmony Sauvignon Blanc - The Wine Flyer
Where all the planning started….
This is where it all began, the big plan on how to carry on our Accidental Wine Club. And what a way to do it, moving from a tropical, warmer climate Sauvignon to a cool climate, Old World one.
The Loire Valley, France is the home to this truly remarkable Pouilly-Fumé. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this has completely different characteristics to the Marlborough one, thanks to the cool, continental climate. Winters in Loire can be cold and long, followed by scorching summers with lots of sunshine.
Here the gooseberry is greener and more crisp and there is no sign of tropical fruits. Blackcurrant and crunchy green apples on the nose as well as on the palate with pungent lemon notes and a touch of smokiness. It is more mineral and rounded than its warmer climate friend with a beautifully long finish. Subtle, slick and very complex with that typical French fling. An effortlessly elegant wine.
I think this was Friend’s favourite from the whole evening and after one sip, he completely understood why I fell in love with certain French wines a long time ago.
So Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé? Pascal Jolivet, a French winemaker who produces both once said Pouilly-Fumé is like summer, you have to wait for it but once it arrives….
Name: Domaine Pierre Marchand, Pouilly-Fumé, Les Loges, Loire, France, 2022
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13.5%
Notes: Crips gooseberries and green apple, hints of lemon and a touch of smokiness. More citrus notes on the palate too. Good minerality, it is very complex and rounded with a beautiful long finish. Dry
Price: This one is not cheap…and definitely a treat. But if you keep an eye on it, you can find it ( just like I did ) in smaller wine shops for a much cheaper price than online. Ours was £15.99, current online price ranging from £18.99 to £21.00
Recommend with: Any seafood dish works well with the minerality of this wine, especially if it is something like a lightly grilled seabass or prawns. Would be great with a salad that contains goat’s cheese too.
Where: This is a 2021 Pouilly but one of the cheapest ones I could find online
Pouilly Fume Les Loges Pierre Marchand | Virgin Wines
The one at the end…
I went on for far too long on our Sauvignons but really wanted to talk about this red properly. The guys at Some Young Punks make seriously good wines at great prices. All the way from South Australia, their wines are bold, charismatic and a little arrogant, which gives you even more reason to love them!
I promise I tell you about it on Tuesday, it will be worth your wait!
Some Young Punks Passion
The cool online selection:
We all know the big guns in the wine industry, sending out offers and discount codes every other day. And I know many of you will be popping in there during December, don’t blame you because some of their offers are undeniably good!
But I wanted to share with you a couple of my personal favourites, where you can find all the hidden gems you ever dreamed of, something completely off the shelves that none of your friends ever come across. The wines that will make you the popular one at dinner parties. And they all have an amazing and very knowledgeable team behind them, who can guide you all along.
Buon Vino Natural Wine
Specialising in natural, organic and biodynamic wines straight out of Yorkshire, these guys have won Retailer of the Year by Decanter 4 years in a row. Nestled in the Yorkshire Dales, their shop is a great stop at if you are on your way to the Lake District. And they always have something for you to try when you pop in. My favourite is their Michelin Star selection of wines, which means you get a chance to purchase some of the wines they sell in well-established restaurants around the UK. But don’t forget to check out their Promotions page where lots to be found at a great price!
Delivery is quick and discounted if you order more bottles, which could be very handy before Christmas
The Sourcing Table: Online Wine Shop
Started by founder Ben Shaw, the brain behind Indigo Wine, who was the first to bring exciting, artisanal wines to the UK in the early 2000s. Their team consist of winemakers and award-winning sommeliers, who work closely together to bring the most unique and one of a kind wines to us all.
Since their focus is on small vineyards, you can get amazing bottles of wine for sometimes under £10. And if you have a bit higher budget, there is no limit on the amazing array of juices they have.
Their delivery is the same, very quick, usually within 2 days, which is good news for those who don’t have a lot of time. And if you want to visit them now you can finally do! They opened their shop in Peckham Rye, London, where you can choose from a selection of over 350 bottles of wine! Their ever-changing ‘by the glass’ list will keep you entertained whilst you pick the one for home.
Next time…
Weekend reds, more online tips, The Australian I didn’t have time for
Have a grape weekend!
The 4pm Club