FINE WINE

OUR TEAM’S PERSONAL PICK OF THE BUNCH

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TRADESECRETS

TSOCT19The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2BT Registered no.: 1824R01438 741177

This offer is open until Sunday 27th October, 2019 while stocks last.

FINEWINETEAM

REDAs The Wine Society’s Fine Wine Team, it’s our job to keep our ears, noses and palates to the ground and bring you an ever-changing selection of exciting bottles capable of matching any occasion.

Every member of the team has their own vinous passions and preferences, and such is the embarrassment of riches available for our Lists and offers that we personally don’t always get to include everything we want to… except in this one.

For Fine Wine Trade Secrets, we throw off the seasonal shackles and choose only our personal ‘wow’ wines: the bottles we drink at home, spoil our nearest and dearest with and have been dying to put in front of our members. By their nature, many won’t be familiar names, but we think they deserve to be and once you’ve read about them and tried them, we very much hope you’ll feel the same.

Geyerhof StockWerk Zweigelt, Kremstal 2017Freddy: ‘If I could give only one fine wine tip-off, it would probably be Austria. The wines are wildly underappreciated and can offer personality, sophistication and bucketloads of finesse. This is a prime example from a family winery in Kremstal which I discovered on a buying trip at the start of 2019. Made from the zweigelt grape, it’s delicate and delightful with a hint of violet, crushed red fruit and a twist of juicy blackcurrant. If you like pinot noir but fancy something different, look no further.’ Drink now to 2021. 12% ref TS-AA2651 s £12.95 bottle | £155 dozen

Domaine Jones Hairy Grenache 2018Laura: ‘I’ll always have a soft spot for Katie Jones’ Languedoc creations after my husband and I spent a memorable week harvesting grapes there (Domaine Jones was our wedding wine too!) and this is a great example of Katie’s skill at taming wild and forgotten grapes and turning them into something special. This one, from the hairy-leaved grenache-a-like ‘lledoner pelut’ grape, has a spicy, brambly fruit-bomb nose, and a real ‘KAPOW!’ palate: all big fruit, big body and big barbecue-friendly character. Charm in a bottle.’ Drink now to 2022. 14% ref TS-FC36911 £13.50 bottle | £162 dozen

Minervois La Livinière Cuvée Cantilène, Château Sainte-Eulalie 2016Shaun: ‘If I want a wine that always delivers south of France sunshine in a glass, I go for this. It’s not the cheapest French Country red but I just love it for its warmth, richness, complexity and spice. It’s a wine that I refer to as satisfying and it’s brilliant with food.’ Drink now to 2025. 14.5% ref TS-FC35951 £13.50 bottle | £162 dozen

Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes 2017Martin: ’Fantastic company, owner of a dog named Cowboy and maker of mindblowing gamay, Jean-Marc Burgaud is my kind of vigneron. This is one of my favourite Beaujolais of the vintage: it stopped me in my tracks on a visit to the region in January with its restrained, almost candied aroma and nimble, energetic red-fruited freshness. The best things often come in small packages and sadly that’s the case here: as it’s from a tiny one-hectare plot only 5,000 bottles were made, so do give it a go while you can.’ Drink now to 2023. 13% ref TS-BJ7771 £14.50 bottle | £174 dozen

Aglianico del Vulture Armand, Alovini 2016 Martin: ‘I’ve been following Oronzo Alò’s wines for a few years after they first came to my attention in a big blind tasting. While southern Italy’s aglianico doesn’t get the billing reserved for more northerly names like nebbiolo and sangiovese, it’s a grape capable of greatness and Oronzo is a master of it. This is a cracking vintage with intense dark fruit and a touch of tobacco on the nose, and while there’s a warming tannic taste of a hot part of the world, its verve, finesse and fine cherry fruit keep things balanced. A delight now, but more herbal complexity awaits with some time in bottle.’ Drink now to 2026. 14% ref TS-IT27621 £16 bottle | £192 dozen

Chateau Ksara Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Laura: ‘I’ve yet to drink a Lebanese wine that didn’t utterly charm me, and while Ksara might not be as famous as Musar, it’s actually Lebanon’s oldest winery, and offers incredible value. This single-vineyard cabernet is cedary, succulent and beautifully balanced – Bordeaux elegance with Lebanese individuality, and perfect to drink now.’ Drink now to 2021. 13% ref TS-LE841 £17 bottle | £204 dozen

FREDDY Wine Buyer

MARTIN Fine Wine Editor

THOM Fine Wine Merchandiser

SHAUN Fine Wine Manager

LAURA Community Manager

KEY �- �bone dry to intensely sweet

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Château Puy-Blanquet, Saint-Emilion 2012Shaun: ‘This has become a Bordeaux property to watch, in my opinion. Whenever I’ve tasted the wines lately I’ve really enjoyed their fragrance and soft creamy texture. The 2012 didn’t disappoint on one such recent occasion: so much elegance and charm, along with just enough classic claret ‘grip’ to make it a perfect Sunday roast bottle.’ Drink this year and next. 13.5% ref TS-CS9131 £17 bottle | £204 dozen Nebbiolo Langhe, GD Vajra 2017Laura: ‘I first discovered the 2016 vintage of this Italian beauty at one of our #TWSTaste virtual tastings on our online Community. It had been nominated by members as their best-value ‘wildcard’ bottle, and boy did it go down well! It was even described as the best wine we’d ever tried at one of these tastings, and when you get a whiff of its delicate, perfumed nose and juicy, silky raspberry, cranberry and loganberry-packed palate you’ll see why. Long and smooth, and the perfect balance of power and elegance.’ Drink now to 2023. 14.5% ref TS-IT27911 £17.50 bottle | £210 dozen

Earth and Sky Naoussa, Thymiopoulos 2017 Freddy: ‘Arguably one of the most exciting up-and-coming winemakers in the world at the moment, Apostolos Thymiopoulos is one of my wine heroes. His wines have an almost ethereal quality, always exhibiting lift, finesse and a wonderful silkiness. He is the godfather of northern Greece’s xinomavro grape, making wines that are somewhere between Burgundy and Barolo in style. And when wines such as this are blowing similarly priced Burgundy out of the water, it’s easy to see what the fuss is all about. This has aromas of black slate and red fruit, with silky tannins and remarkable freshness. A seriously polished and downright delicious glass of wine.’ Drink now to 2027. 14% ref TS-GR1581 £22 bottle | £264 dozen Dog Point Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016Shaun: ‘This is such a good pinot noir, offering plenty of fruit on the nose and what I refer to as hot buttered toast and jam on the palate! This super effort shows that while the Central Otago and Martinborough regions remain New Zealand’s most famous for pinot, Marlborough’s wines are developing a style all their own.’ Drink now to 2026. 13% ref TS-NZ10811 £24 bottle | £288 dozen

Once and Future Sodini Vineyard Zinfandel 2017Thom: ‘Everything a top zinfandel should be: almost unforgivingly juicy, vibrant, bold and bright. Full of fruit now, but with plenty of potential to age, it’ll more than earn a place in the cellar (but only if I can keep myself distracted for long enough!).’ Drink now to 2025. 14% ref TS-US8321 £24 bottle | £288 dozen Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Meursault Rouge 2015Freddy: ‘Silky, sweet-cherry fruited and impressively poised pinot noir. Admittedly, Burgundy is far from a secret where fine wine is concerned, but red Meursault (a region much better known for its world-class white wines) isn’t on most people’s radars and when it tastes as delicious as this does, I thought it would be a real shame not to include it. Seldom do we see such impressive red Burgundy at this price so it pays to veer off the beaten path, even in the world’s best-loved fine wine region.’ Drink this year and next. 13% ref TS-BU63781 �£25 bottle | £300 dozen Garmón, Ribera del Duero 2015Thom: ‘I may have been slightly bending the ‘trade secrets’ brief when I placed this bottle on the table to argue its place. But I stand by this being an overlooked gem when compared to the plaudits given to some more famous names in Spain. It knocked me back when I first tasted it: classy, bold and striving for greatness. Give it a little time in a decanter and enjoy.’ Drink now to 2027. 14.5% ref TS-SP13151 £40 bottle | £480 dozen

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La Primera Revancha Mendoza Chenin Blanc 2018 Martin: ‘I’m always on the lookout for good bottles to share with my Argentine in-laws. This is not a grape you find often in Argentina and when you do it’s seldom worth writing home about, but this is altogether different: it comes from a low-yielding clone planted in the 1940s. Sadly most of these vines have since been ripped up in favour of malbec and cabernet, but winemaker Roberto de la Mota managed to track down this site in Agrelo (which he first made wine from back in the 1980s) and found it was still there. The old vines and judicious use of 20% barrel fermentation give a wonderful intensity and texture but this never loses its mouthwatering lime-and-peach freshness.’ Drink now to 2022. 13.5% ref TS-AR4071 � £12.50 bottle | £150 dozen

Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d’Or, Clos des Cazaux 2017Martin: ‘Another talking-point white that I enjoy pouring for visitors. Many members will be familiar with the Rhône reds of Vacqueyras, and the excellent Clos des Cazaux, who supply our much-loved Exhibition bottling. White Vacqueyras is an altogether rarer beast, yet it’s a speciality at this property, drawing on the clairette grape to make an intensely appley, broad and food-friendly wine. A classic white Rhône but not too full-on – try it with a mushroom risotto.’ Drink now to 2022. 13.5% ref TS-RH51131 �p £13.95 bottle | £167 dozen

Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015Martin: ‘Freddy picked Fabien Coche’s red earlier in these pages (great minds drink alike!), and I’ve gone for the white corner. Fabien’s wines fly under the radar too often, which is a shame as in a region where prices have famously risen in recent vintages, his offer knockout value. Matured for a year in large barrels, this has just the right balance of mealy aromas, weighty texture, fresh appley fruit and a long, classy finish. An ample but affable Burgundy that won’t break the bank.’ Drink this year and next. 13% ref TS-BU63791A � £17.50 bottle | £210 dozen

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SPARKLING

Champagne Boizel Brut Réserve NVShaun: ‘This is a Champagne that makes me salivate when I smell it. I often have a few in my Members’ Reserves as it keeps so well too. Boizel is a family-owned property and I love the wine for its light brioche hint on the nose and creamy elegant flavour.’ 12% ref TS-CH461 � £35 bottle | £175 special 6 for 5 price

Blackbook Winery, The Mixup 2018Thom: ‘Grapes from Kent, made in Battersea… in barrels from Burgundy… by a winemaker from the USA. A true mix-up that caught my attention before I’d even opened the bottle, and it didn’t disappoint when the cork popped. A 50:50 blend of ortega and bacchus, it’s delightfully tropical with mouth-filling texture and a refreshing acidity. One of my favourite wines of the year? I’d never have guessed in January!’ Drink now to 2023. 10.5% ref TS-EN1411 � £18 bottle | £216 dozen Mount Eden Vineyards Edna Valley Chardonnay 2015 Thom: ‘A California chardonnay that balances ripe baked apples and peaches, with a rich toastiness and vibrant acidity. Perfect! Right up my street. At the price a firm favourite that somehow keeps on slipping into my basket.’ Drink now to 2021. 13.5% ref TS-US8141 � £20 bottle | £240 dozen

Kooyong Estate Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2016Freddy: ‘I’ve only this year taken over buying Australian wines for The Society and one particular area I have been dying to get my teeth into is Mornington Peninsula. Having tasted a fair few of the chardonnays from this cooler-climate region in the past, I have found their freshness, tension and elegance absolutely irresistible. They seem to embody all that I love about chardonnay. This example from Kooyong is drinking so wonderfully at the moment. A sophisticated and complex wine with a perfect balance of lemon and green-apple fruit flavours and a flinty, savoury struck-match character.’ Drink this year and next. 13.5% ref TS-AU19951 �s £22 bottle | £264 dozen

François d’Allaines, Auxey-Duresses Blanc 2015Shaun: ‘This really wowed me and is my kind of white Burgundy. It has some fat and concentration but a hint of balanced oak. Just a hint, though – I couldn’t spot it on the nose, but it adds lovely weight to the palate with honey and creamy butter flavours.’ 12.5% ref TS-BU63081 � £22.50 bottle | £270 dozen

Hatzidakis Santorini Familia 2018Freddy: ‘Santorini isn’t just a great place to go on holiday. There are delicious wines here which are criminally overlooked in the fine wine world. This is the first release of the new generation from the Hatzidakis family winery, made using assyrtiko grapes from other family members’ vineyards on the island. With focus, salinity, wonderful texture and endless complexity, it’s among the best Greek whites I’ve tried to date. Worth decanting for half an hour or so if drinking young but will keep wonderfully.’ Drink now to 2026. 14% ref TS-GR1541 � £25 bottle | £300 dozen

Alheit Cartology, Western Cape 2017Laura: ‘One of my favourite Community finds ever. I first tasted this South African blend (old-vine chenin with a splash of semillon) thanks to the generosity of a member who brought a bottle of the 2015 along to a Community lunch in London, and its stunning pineapple, honeysuckle and vanilla character and lip-smacking freshness blew my mind. By strange coincidence, later that week I got the chance to attend a tasting with Cartology’s creator, winemaker Chris Alheit, and discover the genius behind this wine first hand. I’m an official Cartology convert and hope you will be too.’ Drink now to 2024. 13.5% ref TS-SA14261 � £28 bottle | £336 dozen

The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2BT Registered no.: 1824R01438 741177

This offer is open until Sunday 27th October, 2019 while stocks last.

FINE WINETRADE

SECRETS

MIXED CASES

£99

£99

£199FINE WINE TRADE SECRETS REDS CASE

Six superb reds chosen by our Fine Wine Team, from Italy’s Langhe to Lebanese cabernet. A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

Chateau Ksara Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes 2017

Minervois La Livinière Cuvée Cantilène, Château Sainte-Eulalie 2016

Dog Point Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016

Château Puy-Blanquet, Saint-Emilion 2012

Nebbiolo Langhe, GD Vajra 2017

TS-MX19199

FINE WINE TRADE SECRETS WHITES CASE

A globetrotting assembly of fine whites spanning English eccentricity to Burgundian classicism. A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

La Primera Revancha Mendoza Chenin Blanc 2018

Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d’Or, Clos des Cazaux 2017

Hatzidakis Santorini Familia 2018

Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015

Blackbook Winery, The Mixup 2018

Mount Eden Vineyards Edna Valley Chardonnay 2015

TS-MX19200

FINE WINE TRADE SECRETS MIXED DOZEN CASE

The wines that wowed our Fine Wine Team – we couldn’t wait to share these with you! A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:

RED

Geyerhof StockWerk Zweigelt, Kremstal 2017

Once and Future Sodini Vineyard Zinfandel 2017

Minervois La Livinière Cuvée Cantilène, Château Sainte-Eulalie 2016

Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes 2017

Aglianico del Vulture Armand, Alovini 2016

Chateau Ksara Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

WHITE

La Primera Revancha Mendoza Chenin Blanc 2018

Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d’Or, Clos des Cazaux 2017

Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015

Blackbook Winery, The Mixup 2018

Mount Eden Vineyards Edna Valley Chardonnay 2015

Alheit Cartology, Western Cape 2017

TS-MX19201

The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2BT Registered no.: 1824R01438 741177

thewinesociety.com/tradesecrets

This offer is open until Sunday 27th October, 2019 while stocks last.