Three Xmas week wines & more
What I've been (and will be) drinking this week
So many wines, so little time and in rounding up a small number of excellent bottles to share with family and friends over the next couple of days, this trio are undoubtedly my current highlights. There will be more but these are the current créme de la créme of what has been and will be poured into my glass over the next 24 hours. There are other champagnes and the outstanding No 1 Family Estate Reserve Blanc de Blancs chilling in the fridge, which features on a previous blog published this week.
Here's what I have been and will be enjoying this week.
19/20
Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée RRP $149
The makers of Bollinger Special Cuvée go the extra mile and it shows. This champagne was first introduced to the British market in 1858 by London based wine merchant, Ludwig Mentzendorff, who offered his services to the Bollinger's founder, Jacques Bollinger, to become Champagne Bollinger’s London agent. Queen Victoria enjoyed it and this week, the King of England announced that he has bestowed the Royal Warrant upon Bollinger again, making it the official royal household's champagne of choice for a continuous 140 years.
I can't compete with that but Bollinger has long been my favourite of the big name champagnes and there are quantifiable reasons why. Base wines are fermented in large seasoned French oak, adding depth and accentuating the toasty richness of the Pinot Noir-led style of Bollinger, which makes up approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the blend. A high proportion of reserve wines and the balance of 30 to 40 per cent Chardonnay add the citrus freshness and length to Bolly.
18.5/20
2023 Alex Foillard Beaujolais-Villages RRP $40-ish
Alex Foillard is the son of Jean Foillard who has long been bestowed the honour of being a member of the Gang of Four - a phrase coined by wine lover, author and retailer Kermit Lynch. More importantly, the wines are outstanding and punch above the fruity reputation of good Beaujolais, elevating it to deeper levels of bold fruit forward flavours underpinned by savoury aspects. This is an outstandingly versatile wine to match to food and to a wide range of people's different palate preferences too. The balance, the body, the freshness of just-right acidity that adds length and the delicious savoury-fruit intermingling of flavours are all present. What's not to love.
19/20
2021 Saint Clair Omaka Pinot Noir RRP $49
The Southern Valleys are considered to be the greatest source of Pinot Noir grapes in Marlborough today and wines like this one make a compelling case for high quality expressions of this beautiful but fussy grape variety. Elevated vineyard sites provide both warm days and cool nights and this wine comes from a naturally low cropping vineyard site in the Delta sub region of Marlborough. Tight bunches of small grapes result in wines with great intensity of flavour and aromas of concentrated ripe cherries and macerated red plums are layered with integrated savoury cedar notes. The wine was aged ih new French oak (29 per cent) and seasoned 225 litre barriques.
The result is an outstanding wine from a super vintage, which drinks well now and will continue to evolve, gaining complexity for up to five years, potentially longer.
18.5/20
Bluff Gin RRP $89 to $99
This relative newcomer was launched in March 2024 and almost immediately won much fanfare, accolades and the trophy for best classic London Dry Gin at the Australian Gin Awards. Not bad for a distilled spirit from the deep south; 19,000 kilometres from London.
The proof is in the bottle, if you'll excuse the pun, and this is a classic London Dry Gin style with juniper at the forefront of flavour. Fresh herb aromas and citrus purity both add depth and freshness. Best in a short glass with a smidgen of dry tonic or served neat on ice.
