Unicorns… from Hampshire? Burgundy too ;)

Unicorns… from Hampshire? Burgundy too ;)
Hey there,

How is it June already? Wasn’t it Christmas, like, five minutes ago? I swear I can still hear "Jingle Bells" echoing in my brain, though maybe that’s just a year-round problem for me... No theme this week, just a whole bunch of exciting new arrivals to get stuck into.

First up, Charlie Herring! We’ve managed to secure a limited allocation of these rare bottles. For years, they evaded me, and that’s not for lack of trying. Made in minuscule quantities, usually only available at his annual open day, these have become benchmark bottles for the UK wine scene. After a bit of groveling, I got my hands on a few, just for you. Over by the New Forest in Hampshire, just 2.5 miles from the sea, you’ll find this seven-acre spread of orchards, woodland, and an impressive walled vineyard. A perfect mix of lo-fi but high attention to detail. The sparkling Riesling is a true collector’s item, and for the curious amongst you! It wonderfully reflects both varietal and place. Meanwhile, the Sauvignon Blanc is textured and complex, with a beautiful balance of phenolics and zippy acidity. Unicorns of the English wine world. Very limited.

Speaking of unicorns... ‘910’ is back but most likely not for long. This bottle pays tribute to over 1,100 years of winemaking history as the vineyards of Clos des Vignes du Maynes were planted around AD 900, with wine first made for the Abbey of Cluny around 910. It’s a wild field blend of Chardonnay, Gamay, and Pinot Noir (including heritage varieties Gamay Petit Grain and Pinot Fin), all hand-harvested, foot-trodden, vinified without sulfur, and bottled by hand. Essentially a liquid taste of a bygone Burgundy. IFYKYK.

It’s not all baller bottles this week. Working in the wine biz, it’s easy to lose touch with what is considered good value for a 750ml bottle of fermented grape juice. Thankfully, I’ve got plenty of ‘normal’ mates to keep me grounded. That said, we don't flog any old plonk here. Things must be sustainably made and more importantly, delicious. Challenge accepted with this pair of arrivals from Christina. A juicy, orchard-fruited Grüner that is dangerously drinkable plus a chillable red that screams picnic in the park.

Also obsessed with this new Georgian arrival. Saperavi is usually a beast of a wine but here it’s been tamed into something almost Pinot-like. Silky, elegant, pretty. Bonus points for the cliche *natty* label, which was obviously drawn by the winemaker’s kid. Label aside, the wine is pure class.

Plus, a final, final call for our tasting tomorrow! Midweek doesn’t get much better. With 50 vintages behind them, it’s fair to say Skye and Charlie of Paralian know their way around a ferment. This is seriously elite grade vino and £25 is quite frankly unheard of in the capital for not just wine of this caliber but light snacks, and gr8 chat from the winemakers themselves! Find me a better bargain, I dare u. See you there.

That’s all for now.

ILY
Fionn

xoxo