Spring is the season that is full of new life and regrowth and we’re very happy to say that we have an array of fantastic new wines and producers to introduce you to. On show at our Independent and On-Trade portfolio tastings this spring are these new launches for 2024…..

New Producers

Château de Piote

We were introduced to this charming right-bank producer by Vicki Monaghan, our French Product Marketing Manager. Family owned, this is a genuinely artisan winery, making unique biodynamic wines with real character and substance. Much of Bordeaux remains quite traditional but there are an increasing number of more experimental producers making authentic, if less typical, wines so we are pleased to be introducing some of these to the UK market. The different cuvées are vinified and aged in a variety of ways – concrete tanks, stainless steel, French oak, large earthenware amphora and stone eggs. Grapes are all organic, harvesting is by hand, fermentation begins using only the native grape yeasts and sulphite additions are minimal. We have listed 4 wines which we think express, in vinous form, the family’s ethos and true ‘joie de vivre’.

Lone Palm Vineyards

Located in the hamlet of Marananga, Lone Palms winery was established in 1992. With sublime vistas of rolling Barossa hills, its old vineyards and ancient gum trees overlook Greenock and Seppeltsfield. Behind the small, hands-on winery is a classic, old-time Barossa homestead built in the late 1800s over which a single palm tree stands, hence the name. All fruit is hand-harvested and naturally-fermented. Aging is largely in older French barriques with some larger vessels and some American oak. Inspired by old-school winemaking techniques, winemaker Tom White champions natural vinification from his old vines, respecting the traditional flavours of the Barossa. A trio of their wines are due into the UK in early April which include a Riesling, a Shiraz and an Old Vine Grenache.

Bodegas Madai

We have listed the Bodegas Madai Origen Mencia for a number of years but after Mike Best MW, Product Manager for Spain, visited, we decided to list the majority of their range to service the growing trend and demand for wines from Bierzo. The wines are made by two brothers, Daniel and Gonzalo. Daniel is an engineer and Gonzalo is a medical doctor, working in A&E and with NGOs in humanitarian crises. Theirs is a fascinating story of how a passion for wine led them to invest their money, and time, to recover their grandparents’ old vineyards in Bierzo. They discovered plots of old Godello and Mencia vines, some over 100 years old. They believe these established, gnarled vines, on these old plots (around 4ha) have found a natural equilibrium, producing very low yields with no fertilisers and minimal intervention. 

Domaine Bargemone

As Provence continues its growth in the global rosé market, the smaller appellations which make up the region are becoming better understood. Coteaux d’Aix en Provence is a small AOC of 4,500 hectares to the north-west of the wider Provence region with some, as the name suggests, surrounding the city of Aix. In general, the vineyards here lie at higher altitude than much of the land under vine in Côtes de Provence (although there are of course exceptions) and so they enjoy a slightly cooler climate overall. The wines therefore display a lifted, reliable freshness that sets them apart from some of the richer, rounder, more aromatic styles we see from its more famous neighbour.

This all sounds quite interesting we thought, so when some bottles from a producer just to the North-West of Aix crossed our desks, we decided to look at what the appellation had to offer. Domaine Bargemone is an Organic and HVE level 3 certificated estate owned by the Einardi family, who are committed to making excellent wines, as sustainably as possibly. Their wines are fresh and made with precision, born from cool nights and sunny days. We’ve brought in a selection of rosé and white wines, and the estate still has more to offer. 

New Wines

Tabalí Tatie Brut NV, DO Valle de Limarí and Tabalí Tatie Brut Rose NV, DO Valle de Limarí

Tabalí’s newest launch is a joint venture with Champagne Thiénot, who fell in love with the mean, calcareous soils of Tabalí’s Talinay blocks. The resulting wines are defined by this soil and shaped by Felipe Muller and Thiénot’s winemaking team.

These traditional method sparkling wines are from the edge of the Atacama in the far north of Chile, the Brut is a 60/40 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend and the Rosé 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  

Rippa Dorii Los Curas Verdejo, DO Rueda

This barrel fermented single vineyard Verdejo is a great addition from the fantastic Rippa Dorii range. Quite flash in style but also with good purity, it’s a wine that can wow at tastings.

 Kardos Vineyards Estate Kardos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Butella Reserve, Mád (50cl)

A new great quality Tokaji Aszú to the range. Aimed at the on-trade and Indie specialists this wine sits well alongside their dry wine offering. A classic example that you would expect with 150g/l rs, bright racy acidity and those typical orange marmalade flavours. Delicious.

Smalltown Vineyards Sub Aqua Club Field Blend

A natural orange wine from the Barossa, Sub Aqua Club is a hugely unlikely field blend of Riesling & Viognier.  Dry-grown, natural wine fermented on skins for 2-3 weeks (depending which bin!), then in very old, neutral oak. This unusual combination of grape varieties make brilliant bedfellows. Aromatic, nutty, and gluggable. 

Juan Gil Comoloco, DO Jumilla [Organic]

Comoloco, meaning “like crazy”, is an interesting project from Juan Gil and something quite different. This is a low-histamine wine, with no added sulphites and is organic. A good wine to recommend to both wine bars looking at the low intervention trend and for wine shops to recommend to people with histamine intolerance.

Castel Del Lupo Pinot Grigio Rosé, Oltrepò Pavese DOP [Organic]

The  demand for Pinot Grigio Rosé remains unabated so when we tasted this Organic wine from Castel del Lupo it really hit the mark. Their 100ha estate is now fully organic and Daniele the winemaker has vast experience in this field,  which shows when you taste this extremely well executed example. Inviting, with a pretty raspberry hue, bags of red fruit flavours and a delicious creamy complexity on the finish from 3 months spent on lees.

Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre Blanc Les Monts Damnés, AOP Sancerre

Something new from a stalwart Boutinot producer, this expressive and more experimental cuvée of Sancerre is made from hand-harvested Sauvignon grapes grown on the famous slope of Monts Damnés in the village of Chavignol equally renowned for its goats’ cheese, which is a perfect match for the wine. Long-lees aging adds depth and texture to the intense, ripe fruit and the finish is fine and elegant.

Pierre Chainier Brut, AOP Crémant de Loire NV

Our range of Crémants is gradually increasing and rightly so as this category is now better understood and growing in popularity as wine drinkers look to bridge the gap between Prosecco or average Cava and Champagne. With a second fermentation in bottle and often extended lees aging, good Crémants deliver both quality and value. Of the eight regions producing Crémant in France, the Loire is one of the most important so we are pleased to be launching this Crémant de Loire Brut from Pierre Chainier. Produced from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Chenin Blanc with 12 months on its lees, this is a classic example with gentle, rounded flavours, hints of toasted hazelnuts and lovely fresh finish

Pierre Chainier Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de France

The grapes for this great value Vin de France Sauvignon are mainly sourced from the Loire, which gives real typicity and depth for a wine at this level and provides us with a white partner to their well-established Pinot Noir Vin de France. 

All of these wines are currently in UK stock or landing imminently, so click through above to find out more information or speak to your Account Manager.

Happy discovering!