There is no doubt that after the inevitable Christmas over-indulgence in all things liquid, not to mention bruised and stretched bank balances, one is eager to welcome not only lighter, more restrained wines, but also wines that are kind on our pockets.
It is at this time of year that Wine Merchants are constantly in touch with our favoured wine producers and attending critical wine tastings as we scrutinize the latest wines and vintages. Ever mindful of the trends and fads that help shape the wine markets, the real pleasure for an independent Wine Merchant is to unveil quality and intriguing wines from innovative producers or little known regions of production. With the imminent arrival of spring, there is a real feeling of optimism in my trade.
So, what are these wines that will stimulate such interest? We continue to witness high sales of both Chilean and Argentinean wines, with both South Africa and Australia still seeming to struggle to maintain their market share. The real winners are in general, the wines of Europe. France, Italy, Spain and even Germany seem to be on a roll. In general, lighter in alcohol, less concentration and more food biased.
It is with the thought of lighter wines that we instinctively seem to pair such wines with events as Easter, Mothering Sunday and general spring drinking. It never seems to surprise me that many customers only drink Rosé wines when the sun shines. With Rosés coming in varying depths of colour and degrees of dryness or sweetness there really are Rosés to suit all palates; dry Spanish Garnachas at under £5; clean, aromatic and scented Provence Rosés, the ultimate in elegance, or even the sweeter Californian Zinfandel Rosés. Diversity is the key judging by our sales.
As the summer beckons, and the appeal of big robust reds starts to wane, many are eager to re-familiarise themselves with pleasures of clean, invigorating white wines. There is one wine that seems to gain in popularity, our 2015 Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine des Lauriers is possibly the best example of this very fashionable wine I have tried. From a small appellation on the French Mediterranean coast, this ultra-fresh, aromatic white bursts with honeysuckle, honey and a twist of lemon, yet gentle on the finish .... some say this is the new Pinot Grigio, I do hope so! A credible alternative ... then try Los Coches Viognier from Chile. The Viognier grape is known for peach, apricot fruit and a pleasing creamy texture (and not too dry), at £6.95 this wine does not disappoint.
Ever mindful of price sensitivity it is essential that we offer a great range of wines at prices below the crucial £6.99 price point. That said, one of our best recent introductions is proving to be a new Rioja .. Bozeto de Exopto 2014 at £9.95, not a budget beater, made by a French winemaker. Whilst made from traditional red Rioja grapes those being Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graziano, the key to this wine’s uniqueness is the use of French oak, than vanilla-coconut styled American oak. In short, a wine more akin to a Rioja-Rhone blend; ideal with spring lamb, ham and many Italian dishes too!
In general, the quality of wines nowadays is so much better than yesteryear. A combination of improved production methods, highly competitive markets and more knowledgeable and demanding customers, means there is really no excuse for bad wines.