Some new bottles with a few years in the cellar under their belt have just been welcomed to iDealwine. Knowing all about your insatiable curiosity, they won’t be here for very long! We’ve got collectors’ vintages, large formats, and legendary signatures from France and beyond. Read on as we guide you in your choices…
Autumn is in the air
It might be hard to believe, but the leaves are already falling and cooler, autumnal days are just around the corner. Forest walks and slow-cooked game are calling, and just the thought of it makes us want to cosy up. What better to go with the returning season than a flavourful wine exuding earthy aromas? Bordeaux is perhaps most suited to this task, with its grands crus, crus bourgeois and iconic châteaux that draw us in with their brick-red cuvées, complex bouquets and well-forged character. A 2007 Château Cheval Blanc or a 1978 Angélus from the right bank, a 2002 Château Haut-Brion or a 1978 Château Chasse Spleen from the ever-elegant Pessac-Léognan, Château Branaire Ducru or a 1985 Château Grand Puy Lacoste from the south bank…don’t hesitate a moment longer!
How about the same varietal in a slightly different tone? Try another version of Cabernet Franc which, in the Loire valley, has a juicy profile structured by pleasant tannins, providing a nice transition from summer to winter wines. We might think of a 1996 Bourgeuil Chevalerie from the eponymous domain.
Winter warmers
When the chill sets in and you need more than the crackle of a fire to keep you toasty, it’s time for some warming wines to make their way to the table. Think sumptuous Rhône crus like the 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape vieilles vignes from Domaine de Villeneuve or the 2006 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice from Guigal. Those feeling nostalgic for nicer weather will look to sunnier regions like Provence, represented splendidly by Henri Milan’s natural domain and his vin de France Reynard Rebels. This is also the season for comfort, so a cheese board or a delectable dessert will never feel misplaced, especially when paired with an equally generous cuvée. What would you say to a Château Climens, a 2005 Château de Fargues or a 1993 Tokaji 6 Puttonyos from Domain Disnoko?
Spring back
Celebrate the renewal of nature with delicate Champagne bubbles and a resounding ‘pop’. Krug’s 2002 Clos d’Ambonnay, 2010 Dom Pérignon and La Colline Inspirée by Jacques Lassaigne are some cuvées that, dare I say, inspire us…The elegance of this season matches that of a Pinot Noir and the majesty of a Chardonnay. 2010 Bressandes, Corton grand cru from Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, 2010 Echezeaux from Domaine des Perdrix for the reds, and 2003 Chablis grand cru Moutonne-Long-Depaquit from Domaine Albert Bichot for a good white.
The freedom of summer
Let’s finish with the summer breeze that lingers still. Escape to the Jura with its lighter cuvées. Jean-François Ganevat’s vins de France Rota Gamète and De Toute Beauté are a perfect example. Head to the south for a 2010 white Côtes-du-Rhône from the legendary Fonsalette, or a little further to Lebanon, where the Békaa valley is home to the 2008 Château Kefraya.
