With May comes a fresh season, blossom on the trees, spring in the air and we have five new arrivals to celebrate the long days.
Four of our new additions are whites, from a fascinating range of countries and grape varieties, but the one unifying theme is they are all delicious. The red is from Georgia, a country with an incredibly long history of wine making which is coming to the fore again with its amazing selections and production methods. We are very excited about these welcome new additions to our wine selection, and we hope you agree. Here they are:
Argyros Estate, Santorini, Assyrtiko, 2019, £32
A dry white, made from 100% Assyrtiko, an indigenous grape variety to the island of Santorini. The grapes are grown on 100-120-year-old ungrafted vines in volcanic, sandy soil, then fermented in stainless steel vats. The wine has a really beautiful nose, with lots of lemon intensity and salt. Zippy but concentrated. Estate Argyros was established in 1903, but the Argyros family has been involved in wine production for decades before that. It is the largest private owner of vineyards in Santorini.
Orgo, Saperavi, Kakheti, 2019, £21
Orgo is a small artisan winery in the Kakheti AOC in eastern Georgia and is run by Gogi Dakishvili, credited as one of the most skilled and influential winemakers in Georgia. Made from 100% Saperavi grapes sourced from 80-year-old vines. Fermented in Qvevri, large clay pots buried under the ground, following the 8,000-year-old Georgian method. Lovely plush plum with earthy, tar notes. Very plush and juicy feeling, with a mouthwatering freshness. More approachable and easy to drink than some of the more rustic Georgian wines on the market.
Mathias Hirtzberger, Gruner Veltliner 'Treu' Federspiel, Wachau, 2019, £28
From the Wachau, Niederösterreich in Austria, the label features the coat of arms of St Florian. The monastery of St Florian, in Upper Austria, had wine production site in the village from the 13th Century. On the nose it has bananas and cucumber, with a touch of yellow plum. Nice velvet start to the palate, then the acidity hits. One of the best Gruners we have tried at this price, classically styled and delicious.
Oenops Wines, Vidiano, Crete, 2019, £24
Vidiano is a white wine grape variety native to Crete, and has much of the versatility of Chardonnay. From selected vineyard plots in mountain vineyards in the Heraklion area of Crete, spontaneous fermentation takes place in amphora, barrel and inox (stainless steel) tank. Blended soon after fermentation, it is aged for six months on its fine lees in amphora. Unfiltered in order to retain its natural character and elegance. This has a typical lovely combination of herb, lemon, dry honey and gentle salt. Soft mouthfeel but very good acidity.
Franz Hirtzberger, Ried Setzberg, Wachau, Smaragd 2017, £52
This is one of the most famous estates of Austria. Franz took control of this estate from his father in 1983. A perfectionist, his top-quality wines have been awarded numerous awards. His vineyards at Weingut Hirtzberger, on very steep terraces above the Danube, are planted with 45% Grüner Veltliner, 40% Riesling and small quantities of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. Rich honeyed nose, flavours which follow to the palate, but the lime acidity is searing. Lots of stone fruit and honey still. Would go very well with spicy food, pork or chicken.
Four of our new additions are whites, from a fascinating range of countries and grape varieties, but the one unifying theme is they are all delicious. The red is from Georgia, a country with an incredibly long history of wine making which is coming to the fore again with its amazing selections and production methods. We are very excited about these welcome new additions to our wine selection, and we hope you agree. Here they are:
Argyros Estate, Santorini, Assyrtiko, 2019, £32
A dry white, made from 100% Assyrtiko, an indigenous grape variety to the island of Santorini. The grapes are grown on 100-120-year-old ungrafted vines in volcanic, sandy soil, then fermented in stainless steel vats. The wine has a really beautiful nose, with lots of lemon intensity and salt. Zippy but concentrated. Estate Argyros was established in 1903, but the Argyros family has been involved in wine production for decades before that. It is the largest private owner of vineyards in Santorini. Orgo, Saperavi, Kakheti, 2019, £21
Orgo is a small artisan winery in the Kakheti AOC in eastern Georgia and is run by Gogi Dakishvili, credited as one of the most skilled and influential winemakers in Georgia. Made from 100% Saperavi grapes sourced from 80-year-old vines. Fermented in Qvevri, large clay pots buried under the ground, following the 8,000-year-old Georgian method. Lovely plush plum with earthy, tar notes. Very plush and juicy feeling, with a mouthwatering freshness. More approachable and easy to drink than some of the more rustic Georgian wines on the market.Mathias Hirtzberger, Gruner Veltliner 'Treu' Federspiel, Wachau, 2019, £28
From the Wachau, Niederösterreich in Austria, the label features the coat of arms of St Florian. The monastery of St Florian, in Upper Austria, had wine production site in the village from the 13th Century. On the nose it has bananas and cucumber, with a touch of yellow plum. Nice velvet start to the palate, then the acidity hits. One of the best Gruners we have tried at this price, classically styled and delicious. Oenops Wines, Vidiano, Crete, 2019, £24
Vidiano is a white wine grape variety native to Crete, and has much of the versatility of Chardonnay. From selected vineyard plots in mountain vineyards in the Heraklion area of Crete, spontaneous fermentation takes place in amphora, barrel and inox (stainless steel) tank. Blended soon after fermentation, it is aged for six months on its fine lees in amphora. Unfiltered in order to retain its natural character and elegance. This has a typical lovely combination of herb, lemon, dry honey and gentle salt. Soft mouthfeel but very good acidity. Franz Hirtzberger, Ried Setzberg, Wachau, Smaragd 2017, £52
This is one of the most famous estates of Austria. Franz took control of this estate from his father in 1983. A perfectionist, his top-quality wines have been awarded numerous awards. His vineyards at Weingut Hirtzberger, on very steep terraces above the Danube, are planted with 45% Grüner Veltliner, 40% Riesling and small quantities of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. Rich honeyed nose, flavours which follow to the palate, but the lime acidity is searing. Lots of stone fruit and honey still. Would go very well with spicy food, pork or chicken.