Glass of 2023
Its time to uncork some of the great new wines we've introduced in 2023
Product Marketing Manager. Like many people who work in wine, I fell into the industry by accident and have never looked back. I love live music, all things Japanese, having a kick about with the kids and of course wine!
As 2023 draws to a close, it’s time to raise a glass to our passionate, dedicated producers and uncork some of the great new wines we’ve sourced and brought to market this year.
Cave de Turckheim Cremant d’Alsace Tradition Brut
Crémant as a category is increasing in popularity as wine drinkers look to bridge the gap between Prosecco or Cava and Champagne. With a second fermentation in bottle and extended lees aging, this Crémant delivers both quality and value. It’s always a pleasure to partner with Cave de Turckheim and we felt the time was right to introduce a well-priced, entry-level Crémant under our own label. With less pressure than you find in a Champagne, the bubbles lend a lovely, soft texture to the wine which makes it even more moreish. Very well received at our autumn portfolio tastings, we hope to see this fantastic quality Crémant fly in 2024.
Pierre Chainier Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, AOP Touraine
Pierre Chainier Chinon, AOP Chinon
We have a long-established partnership with Pierre Chainier who not only have significant vineyard holdings but also own several highly regarded Domaines. Joining the Muscadet we brought in last year is a classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc sourced from grapes grown in their own vineyards in the heart of Touraine; and a really accessible Chinon with good typicity, ideal for those looking for a 100% Cabernet Franc offering.
The trend towards Grower Champagnes and talk around the potential of Pinot Meunier continues, so we were excited to launch our own grower Champagne; a proper Récoltant Manipulant, using only the fruit from their own vineyards, the majority of which are planted with Pinot Meunier, some very old. When we visited we were impressed by Hugo Serveaux and their story of humble family beginnings that have evolved into a highly modern, immaculate, but still family run, winery. We think this is a real win for our portfolio and a great partner for us going forward.
Pequeñas Fermentaciones Naranjo Torrontes/Moscatel, Valle de Cafayate [Orange Wine]
Pequeñas Fermentaciones Garnacha, Valle de Cafayate
El Porvenir’s march into the future continues with the Pequeñas Fermentaciones range of small, experimental wines which we launched in 2023 with a vibrant unoaked Garnacha and the tight, floral Naranjo. The Naranjo sold quickly but fear not, stock of the 2023 Naranjo is due to ship in early 2024.
Alpha Box & Dice Italian Plastic Range
More natural ferments landed this year from our friends at Alpha Box & Dice. As Australia’s largest producer of natural and orange wine, their unconventional approach, passion and slightly bonkers winemaking result in unique wines that are proving extremely popular and causing quite a buzz in the wine scene. New stock of the range including the Pet Nat are due in early January and we can’t wait!
Soumah of the Yarra Valley
Feedback for Soumah’s fantastic wines has been glowing with remarks like noisy, hugely affirmative, exciting and contemporary. The Chardonnays and Pinot Noir are amongst the most compelling, energetic and vital we have ever listed from the southern hemisphere, the Savagnin a quirky delight.
Vitikultur Moser Pet Nat White [Organic & Biodynamic]
Vitikultur Moser Pet Nat Rosé [Organic & Biodynamic]
A couple of Pet Nats from the Austrian holistic innovators Vitikultur Moser. Utterly smashable, well packaged, and of course, being from Moser, they’re organic, biodynamic and natural. Exciting wines for the contemporary crowd but with enough bright acidity to make them really very drinkable.
Bononia Estate Koshava Chardonnay
Bononia Estate Koshava Gamza
Boutinot’s first foray in Bulgaria brought with it a characterful good value Chardonnay and a Gamza. Gamza is the Bulgarian name for Kadarka – a thin skinned difficult to grow grape that is widespread in southern Hungary. When carefully handled it is capable of producing pale coloured, chillable, crunchy red wines such as this. With no 2022 vintage released, we are really looking forward to the 2023 landing next year.
Il Traliccio Trebbiano, Rubicone IGT
Il Traliccio Sangiovese, Rubicone IGT
A great value pair of wines we brought in specifically for our 11% range. Emilia Romagna is an excellent source of low ABV wines at the right price and we think these wines fit the profile really well. The white is a clean, crisp Trebbiano which with light green apple fruit characters and bright acidity. The red partner is similarly clean and crisp Sangiovese which shows primary fruit, with appealing cherry and damson flavours. It’s an easy drinking style with soft tannins and light body.
Montecalvo Falanghina, Campania IGP
From the Benevento IGP in Campania where Falanghina is at home, this is a fantastic example of how it can show typicity even at a great value price point. Full of ripe peach and apricot fruit with a delicious mouthfilling rounded texture. And a popular label to match!
Luce D’Oro Ribolla Gialla, Vino Spumante
A surprise newcomer to the range and a great find from our partner sourcing team. It seems to get better every time we try it. It has a beautiful floral character which is so appealing at this price level but with depth and richness on the finish.
A quartet of new Primitivo wines from Agricola Felline, who have 120 hectares of vineyard across carefully selected sites with an array of soils, from which the grapes are vinified separately to harness their individual characteristics. Winemaker Gregory Perrucci’s aim is to produce ‘real’ wines inspired by the traditions of the region.
Product Manager for Italy, Beth Lodwick said “the overarching quality which struck us in the tasting room about the Felline wines is their freshness. They all have a certain lift, a pure and honest flavour which comes from the fruit sweetness. Rich yet fresh, dense yet bright and entirely authentic”.
Vila Nova Arinto, DOC Vinho Verde
A great addition to the Vila Nova range – the Arinto grape has bright acidity giving a really zesty style. It is still very familiar within the pantheon of what you would expect from Vinho Verde. Perfect for those looking to exploring this consistent range further.
Bacalhôa Dão Touriga Nacional, DOC Dão
A more premium option to the Portuguese red range while still representing great value. This wine is an elegant, complex red with some bottle age. A really good option to show the quality of what Portugal can do.
Strange Kompanjie Pet Nat, WO Voor-Paardeberg
An experimental production of ‘proper’ Pet Nat from the rare Grenache Gris, a pink-skinned cousin of Grenache Blanc. This wine has charmed with its colour, zest and label, and has certainly made a splash. Great price and packaging, relevant, but mostly just really good fizzy fun.
Wildeberg Terroirs Cinsault, WO Wellington
From this year’s ‘Winery of the Year’ an alluring and beautifully crafted example of one of South Africa’s treasures, old, dry farmed bushvine Cinsault. A small plot and production – fruit of this quality is a rarity and much sought after so will always be limited. Enjoy it while you can!
Waterkloof Boreas, WO Stellenbosch
Named after Boreas, the fiercest of the Greek wind gods and the face of Waterkloof this is the fourth wine to be released under the Waterkoof label and the second red from the exceptional 2020 vintage. A superb expression of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, it made a real impression at our tastings.
Wild House Chardonnay, WO Western Cape
The latest addition to the Wild House range, this wine has blown most away in blind tastings. A cleverly crafted Chardonnay that hits the mark in terms of that slightly nutty, structured oak integrated with generous, classy fruit. Impossibly good value, which is what we all need!
The Can’ Leandro wines represent the “New wave of Spain”. Young producers, old vines, indigenous varieties, minimal intervention farming – all creating something that was authentic to a previous time. A very welcome addition to the esoteric spectrum of the Spanish range. Exceptionally well-priced for individual characterful wines that demonstrate the really interesting way that Spanish wine is moving.
Rippa Dorii Verdejo DO Rueda [Organic]
This is a classy and characterful Verdejo. It represents good value for money and is Organic to boot. It is tasty, looks great and well priced. Reliable but really enjoyable too, we’ll drink to that!
Juan Gil are known for a rich style of wine – juicy, full-bodied with fruit sweetness and soft, ripe tannins. However, in recent years this style has been refreshed to incorporate a touch more elegance and freshness, moving to a more natural, but nevertheless juicy fruit profile. This is partly from work in the winery towards a lighter touch of oak, but also from changes in the vineyard – and a move towards Organic, and Sustainability accreditation. A fantastic collection with the Rosé a firm favourite with Boutinot staff from a recent tasting.
Queirón Mi Lugar Blanco, Vino de Quel, DOCa Rioja
When it comes to wine making techniques, this wine has it all going on. Skin contact, wild ferment, barrel ageing, concrete egg, and lees work – and this has all balanced perfectly. It tastes delicious, looks impressive, fits as a great partner to the red. As white Rioja continues to gain popularity it is a fantastic new edition to the Queirón portfolio from our friends the Pérez Cuevas family.
A niche but compelling trio of wines that bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. Harvested from Organic vineyards, some planted over 100 years ago, these field blend wines offer something new and different. We love the labels which really do justice to the wines, showing a traditional style made relevant and modern, just like the wines themselves. The range is made up of a white, a lighter style of red and an elegant, bolder red. These wines were another big hit from our autumn portfolios tastings.
Torroxal Albariño, Do Rias Baixas
Valmiñor Albariño, DO Rias Baixas
Very quickly finding a comfortable place in our portfolio, the quality of these wines is excellent so that’s no surprise that they have been so well received. A pair of bright, zesty Albariños that really deliver. A family owned, well respected producer making quality wines with innovative character.
These aren’t the only new wines we launched this year though! To read more about some of the wines we bought into the portfolio earlier in the spring, revisit our blog post “Introducing…
A glimpse at some of the new wines we have to offer this year”
