SPWREZ01
£15.60
The Basque country is to classic Spain as chalk is to cheese. The lettering is different, and the names make you wonder if you've suddenly and accidentally wandered into Greece. Like many parts of Spain, vineyards in the Basque Country have been tended since Ancient Roman times. The region is bounded by the Bay of Biscay to the north and to match the resulting cuisine, the wines are piercingly acidic and refreshing.
Rezebal have 20 hectares of high-trained vines on the green, humid coastal outskirts of Zarautz in the small Chacolí de Guetaria DO. The Rezabals (Mireya and Anders) were folk singers in their youth, but their family history lay in wine and in 1996 they decided that wine was where their future lay too. They now have some 20 hectares of high trained vines on the green, humid coastal outskirts of Zarautz in the small DO of Txacolí Getariako, about halfway between the important Basque towns of Bilbao (Bilbo) and San Sebastián (Donostia).
Their entry wine is pure Hondarrabi Zuri, the most important indigenous grape of the region, with an exuberant lemony punch, a refreshing buoyancy and the hallmark, bracing acidity found nowhere else in the peninsula and just 11% alcohol. This is classic, coastal Txacolí with just the rightamount of spritz, typical of the style.
£13.95
Deep purple with shades of violet. Complex aromas of red fruits. Appealing notes of chocolate, coffee and tobacco from 6 months maturation in oak casks. Well balanced with intense red fruits in the mouth ripe tannins and a long finish.
£14.50
From Chris- "I was properly bowled over when I tasted this a couple of weeks ago. Whilst the prices of top end Bordeaux place them well out of reach of mere mortals, many properties further down the food chain have struggled in recent years and countless Chateaux have simply thrown in the towel in the face of competition from across the globe. Others, have seen it as an opportunity to raise their game as Michael Regaud has done here. An investment programme started by his father in 1979 has seen quality levels consistently outperforming those of their neighbours – this is “proper” Bordeaux but at an accessible level."
Full-bodied, supple wine with soft tannins and a fruity finish
£15.75
Rich and smooth, vibrant berry aromas packed with cherry and redcurrant flavous, touch of cassis.
£21.75
From one of the Best Chateaux in the Cotes de Castillon owned by Bordeaux royalty Stephan von Neipperg (also owner of Bugarian producer Enira, a particular favourite of Ed), this second wine is plush with ripe autumn berry on the nose and a palate with intense bramble notes and a smotth long finish.
We paid to send Ed to a tasting and his notes read- "Yep. Fruit foward, I liked". Crikey.....