Its May 2017 and there are so many new wines that Mr Whirly is about to import….
Mr Whirly’s choice for wine of the month will be updated in the next few days ( by 20th May latest)
Category: Wine of the Month
February 2017 ( missed out Dry January) Wine(s) of the Month, Stefano Lubiana wines from Tasmania
I have been lucky enough to work with one of the best Winemakers on “The Apple Isle” for about 10 years now. His wines are classic in their makeup with the added twist of Tasmanian Terroir. Stefano Lubiana has been making some of the most subtle and exciting wines out of Tasmania for many a year now. I visited the vineyard in 2006 and in the last 11 years his reputation has only grown as being one of the most eagerly followed winemakers from the Antipodes.
These new wines from vineyards on a steep slope above the slow, meandering Derwent river and emphasise the class and quality of his winemaking.
Primavera ( Spring time in Italian) are his range of wines that offer a little more value for money than his Estate wines. The difference between the two wines is that the Primavera is cropped at a higher level and at 8 tons per hectare, fermented in stainless steel and 50% in mostly older oak, 50% Malo and aged for less time in the barrel and bottle before released. Its therefore signifi- cantly more affordable than the “Estate” wines. The “ Estate” wines are cropped at about 4 tons per hectare, 100% barrel fermented and about 30-40% new oak, 100% Malo and 12 months in oak. Available in small quantities in the the shop at 22 Ritherdon road, SW17 8QD. Call simon on 0208 672 2572 if you have any questions….or email me at [email protected]
December wine of the month…..an impossible choice
Its December, its the wonder of Christmas and Mr whirly has the impossible task of choosing a wine of the month! With so many new delights in this month from all over Northern Italy, my first wines from Barolo in Piemonte, the home of premier red wine region in the North of Italy and the imperious Nebbiolo grape: Amarone Magnums from Bonfanti in Valpollicella as well as some lovely Valpollicella Ripasso and from Friuli a range of new vintages from Perusini including Magnums of Merlot, the choices are infinite and it makes the wine of the month choice virtually impossible. However I am going to tell you all about these new wines in a Christmas wine post this week so lets leave these Italian jobs for a while.
Lets take a step back and offer you something a little bit different and unknown. Its tough out there, for many people so this year I have not focused on Champagne for my Sparkling for the festive season but some delicate “Blanqette de Limoux” from close to Corbiere in the deep south of France not far from the Spain border. ” Domaine de Fourn” make some really special wines from the little known Mauzac grape blended with a little Chenin Blanc about 3%. I have both the”Carte Ivoire Brut” NV and the ” Carte Noire 2013″ here in the shop,both very enticing and different wines and offerinf fabulous quality sparkling at the £14.75 and £15.00. You cant go wrong with these wines if you want something a little bit different for a fizz on Christmas day and they are a lovely stepping stone from Prosecco to Champagne in terms of price.
Come on into the Whirly wine shop on Ritherdon road and check them out soon….
Wine of the month for September 2016: Meloso Joven, 2015, Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero
Its now September and the wines are beginning to flow, in more ways than one. All over the Northern Hemisphere the grapes are beginning to be picked and the year of hard toil in the vineyard culminates into the anxiety and relief of the next few weeks, one hopes. Its an exciting time for the winemaker but also a worrying one. Last minute storms and rain are not in anyway a desire.
For me as the importer its also a really exciting time since there are so many new wines to look at with the change in season from summer to Autumn. Its the major change on wine lists throughout the country and whereas the focus for the last five months has been on rose and white suddenly the focus now changes to reds with the already the wonders of Grouse on the menus of top restaurants around the UK and soon in October with the shooting season the added joys of duck, pigeon, partridge and pheasant. With such delights I long to match the succulence with a juicy, honest red and this wine performs this job admirably. Its a young Tempranillo, no oak and its full of energy and delight, with plums and Autumn blackberry prevalent yet velvety soft tannins. Ribera de Duero is fast becoming one of the most exciting red wine regions of Spain and with this wine you can see exactly why. It oozes class and value at £12.45 per bottle, available here in the Whirly shop on Ritherdon road, SW17 8QD so do pop in soon and give it a whirl!
October: new wines! So many to choose from but has to be the Post referendum wines out of the barrel from Corbiere! So two wines but heh they are both a real joy!
Mr Whirly
