This little selection represents some of the finest examples of classically-styled wines outside of Burgundy and should appeal to any lovers of this style. So I thought you should take a look.

The New World has not entirely left behind the high alcohol, jammy Pinots and over-oaked Chardonnays that probably gave rise to the anything but Chardonnay brigade back in the 90’s. You might well have been doing shots of cheap tequila for all the good some of those wines would make you feel the next day! But there are plenty of dedicated and experienced winemakers who have pursued the holy grail of producing wines that reflect their terroir and at the same time, share the desires of those consumers who enjoy wines that offer elegance and purity.

It’s probably of no surprise that I have included a wine from New Zealand and yet more classically-styled wines from Australia and South Africa may be less familiar to you. I hope all these wines will appeal to your sense of adventure. From the fruit driven Akitu A2 to the more mineral focused Foggy Hill and the new vintage from Hamilton Russell, these are bound to appeal to any Pinot-lover. And as for the two Chardonnays, these would sit comfortably with any of their peers in Burgundy.

With the growing worldwide demand for Burgundy putting pressure on availability and prices, it has been enormously rewarding to look further afield to find similarly styled wines. Sadly, due to severe frost damage affecting much of Europe’s great vineyard regions this month and the impact that this will have on the 2021 harvest and beyond, this highlights the importance of getting to know alternative cooler climate regions that are also capable of making world-class wines.

The wines selected here all come highly recommended and please let me know if you would like any further information, or to placer an order.

Best regards

Karl

Karl Elwood, Director

Classic varietal character and a great example of why New Zealand continues to set the bar high with wines this good outside of Burgundy. It’s bound to please any Pinot Noir lover. Really attractive summer and autumn fruits on the nose and palate, with silky tannins and a fresh, persistent finish. It’s a slightly fruitier example than the Foggy Hill or Hamilton Russell below and will make for an interesting comparison over time.

“Floral-herbal-stemmy notes still mark the nose, but in a sexy, good-kinky sort of way, adding fragrance to deeper notes of dark cherry and plum.” 91 Points, The Wine Advocate

This vintage had a very exciting outcome despite the challenges over the growing season. The grapes achieved excellent ripeness, with lower alcohol levels than usual. This has given the wine its elegance, along with mineral and saline purity - the vines are right by the sea after all! Unusually prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by that tight line of bright natural acidity and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage. Stunning and stylistically, this is in the mold of a fine Puligny Montrachet.

”Pear and lime aromas with a barely noticeable backdrop of wood spice. The wine is tight, bright and pure, with a surprisingly textured and layered palate for the lightness of alcohol. The dry almost chalky minerality and saline finish mark the wine as quintessential Hamilton Russell Vineyards.” Anthony Hamilton Russell.

“Dark, salted liquorice, cracked black pepper, and wet iron-rich clay, combine with subtle wild strawberry and field herb aromas. The palate is tight, restrained and elegant with noticeable but fine-grained tannin and a characteristic Hamilton Russell Vineyards saline quality. Overall the 2020 is a little more Volnay meets Pommard, than our more typical Gevrey meets Morey.” Anthony Hamilton Russell.

An understated and refined Pinot that is very much a product of its place. A lovely medley of summer fruits, orange peel and even a touch of Chinese five spice on the nose. Fresh, extremely elegant and a lovely depth of fruit. Subtlety is the hallmark of this wine and brings to mind wines from the Cote de Nuits.

“Has the emerging signature of coal smoky savouriness (30% whole bunches) and dried flowers here. Violets and roses with a cooler on average vintage. Mulberries and red cherries with an impressive depth. The palate has the expressive, lively finish, and the tannins are groomed and linear, working in tandem. Nuanced, plush and even-paced.” 93-94 points, James Suckling.

For the growers in Adelaide Hills 2018 was the perfect vintage. Pale green gold in colour, 2018 Tiers Chardonnay has refined fresh fruit aromas and flavours of freshly cut nectarines and pear. It has a subtle complexity of almonds and with its creamy texture, the yeast lees and oak, offers an elegant backbone to the fresh fruit. Jancis Robinson previously remarked that it is “rather like a Chablis Grand Cru”.

“This is a spectacular chardonnay, eschewing malolactic in the name of precision and freshness, while sacrificing nothing in the way of flavour and textural detail in doing so. A reductive riff of gunflint segues to notes of white fig, honeydew melon, nectarine and creamed cashew. A chassis of mineral and bright acidity carry the flavours long and broad, chaperoned by high class oak that is nestled into the fray. This will age beautifully over the coming decade, but oozes class and such poise already that it is difficult to refrain from opening a bottle or, at least in my case, finishing the glass.” 97 points James Halliday

Please reply to this email if you would like to place an order or give me a call on 01273 242535.