Last Friday, iDealwine’s tasting committee came together to update our Must Have selection, the wines that should feature in your collection. Among the dozen or so wines tasted – all of which wonderfully represent their appellations -, here are the favourites of our tasters.
The wines form part of iDealwine’s Must Haves, wines that deserve to have a place in enthusiast’s collections. They are chosen for their quality and accessibility in terms of price as well as their characteristics that single them out to be loyal ambassadors of their terroir and/or region. Finally, these wines have the potential to survive the passing of time. However, enthusiasts can open these bottles now and then restock their collections in a few months’ time when their stocks are running low. Of course, we adapt the selection to the seasons, such as rosés in summer and bubbles or sweet wines in the run-up to the festive season. But on the whole, these are extremely beautiful wines that our team knows, appreciates and could talk about for hours.
CHÂTEAU SUDUIRAUT 1982: THE FAVOURITE OF CRISTINA AND LAURE
The wine has a fresh and jammy nose all at the same time – a true treasure that has so much to offer on the palate. It’s rich while not missing any delicacy or freshness, which is brought by the mineral and saline notes in the finish. The delicate tropical aromas that show up in the finish mix beautifully with those of roast pear.
Cristina (from the sellers team) is a huge lover of Sauternes and thinks that this wine just has to have a place on the family’s Christmas table. “Before anything else, I think that it’s a beautiful wine to look at and admire while twirling the glass. A nectar if ever there were one, it is balanced by a freshness on the palate which continues to evolve right up until the finish.”
Laure (from the French marketing team) also appreciated this wine, saying “Serving a 1982 that has been preserved in the best conditions is rare and what makes this wine even sweeter is its price that’s also pretty delightful. This wine is still lively and can be savoured now or be kept for several more years. Château Suduiraut charms me every time I taste its wines that are perfectly balanced between a sweet acidity and freshness.”
OLIVIER HORIOT, MÉTISSE: JOSSELIN’S FIRST CHOICE
This is a grower Champagne with its own identity and unique characteristics. Its slight pink tinge comes from the fact that 80% of the blend is comprised of Pinot Noir. The fine bubbles pop in the glass to reveal delicious pastry-like notes as well as beautiful hazelnut aromas and sipping the wine unveils a balanced, saline palate.
Josselin (from the sales administration team) thinks that is wine is “a perfect Champagne to open while having dinner with connoisseurs. It has a true presence on the palate without there being any balance or finesse missing.”
SAINT-JOSEPH CUVÉE POIVRE ET SOL 2021 BY FRANÇOIS VILLARD: ANTOINE’S FAVOURITE
This is a wine to decant before tasting so that you can experience its best side. The nose is scattered with black fruits and more profound notes of cigars, enhancing the power of the palate, which is full of spices and body.
Antoine (from the expert department) really liked it, stating “it’s a great representative of its appellation. I like its length and its spiced side. A powerful wine that I’d pair with a meat dish.”
BAROLO SERRALUNGA 2019 FROM LUIGI PIRA: THE WINE THAT STOLE CLÉMENT AND ANGÉLIQUE’S HEARTS
The fine, peppery nose also contains beautiful black fruit notes. On the palate, the tannins are quite firm but integrated, and the wine doesn’t lack any elegance meaning that it can be enjoyed in its youth.
Clément (from the expert department) didn’t expect to be able to appreciate this wine in such a young vintage. “It can certainly mature for longer but it’s already accessible.”
Angélique (a co-founder of iDealwine) has the same opinion and recommends decanting it twice to accentuate the velvety tannins. “It is intense but already very elegant and will continue to become more refined with time. I am curious to see how it develops and think I’ll taste it regularly to understand its potential. An excellent wine to pair with flavourful dishes, without a doubt!”
MEURSAULT LES CLOUS 2021 FROM PRUNIER-DAMY: THE BEST WINE ACCORDING TO ANGÈLE
The nose of this wine possesses the charm of a great Meursault with delicate notes of hazelnut and butter. On the palate, the initial impression is energetic before it moves aside to make way for a beautiful length and saline element.
Angèle (from the sales administration team) appreciated it aromatic complexity. “We have just added this domain that I didn’t know of before to our network and I have to say that I really liked this wine for its classicism, which is heightened by a saline touch that I love.”
XB IGP PAYS D’HÉRAULT 2022 FROM LA TERRASSE D’ELISE: ELOÏSE’S COICE
Complex notes of black fruits and shrubland plants set the stage for an encore of barnyard-like aromas on the nose. The palate is equally complex with supple tannins and a saline finish. All of this comes together to create a beautiful wine to share with friends that would pair wonderfully with well-prepared meat.
Eloïse (one of our buyers) enjoyed it, saying, “If you’re looking to catch your friends out when blind tasting, this should be your next wine because you would never believe that it’s made with Syrah when analysing the nose. This is a simple wine which would allow you to experiment with pairings and at a wonderful price.”
The team has soft spots for these wines too that you can also find in our selection of Must Haves:
LES PERLES DU MONT BLANC FROM BELLUARD
This sparkling wine is produced from the local grape variety Gringet. The bubbles are quite fine and reveal a mineral nose as they burst in the glass. The palate is balanced between flavours, acidity and a saline touch. It concludes with a flavourful, vinous finish and this could safely accompany an aperitif or a soirée.
COLLECTION 243 BY ROEDERER
With the 2018 vintage as its base, this Champagne presents quite a fresh nose, full of white fruits. The initial drop is lively and energetic, while the popping bubbles reveals elegant floral and slightly toasted flavours, heightened by beautiful white fruits. The finish is ample and elegant, saline with plenty of finesse.
SANCERRE CHAVIGNOL 2021 FROM DELAPORTE
This wine has been created in the image of its appellation and in it, we can find notes of green and tropical fruits, such as litchi, and boxwood without it adding any heaviness. The energetic, pleasantly powerful palate is followed by a fresh finish. This bottle would be the perfect introduction to the beautiful Sauvignon Blanc wines produced in Sancerre.
MÂCON CLOS DE LA CROCHETTE 2020 FROM HÉRITIERS DU COMTE LAFON
The nose contains both ripe yellow fruit aromas and mineral notes, while the palate is flavourful and warm, with mature, patisserie-like aromas. It spreads across the taste buds with vivacity and possesses a pleasant acidic characteristic. A very accessible and delicate Mâcon that is available as a magnum.
MORGON 2022 FROM LAPIERRE
A beautiful mix of slightly acidulous, red fruits (think raspberries) mix with black fruits and rounded off by a peppery touch. The palate is complex, yet equally fruity with a rather profound finish of cigar and spices. The wine possesses a wonderful silky, velvety texture right until the finish is no longer present.
Have a wonderful tasting these wines!
