The Buyers' Everyday Selection Easter 2012 - The Wine Society

HAPPY ANNIVERSARIESBACK TO THE FUTUREIn 1703, the Methuen Treaty granted the wines of Portugal favoured importstatus, and it was a large parcel of Bucellas, known at the time as “Portuguesehock” and shipped to the Albert Hall for the Great Exhibition of 1874, thatlaunched The Wine Society. With that kind of heritage, it’s especially satisfying tostart 2013 with the International Wine Challenge award for specialist Portuguesemerchant under our belt and the future is bright. True to its indigenous grapesand proud of them, the country is now winning journalistic acclaim, including thatof Julia Harding, MW, of www.jancisrobinson.com. Turn to p6 for a selectionfrom her 50 best Portuguese wines. For a celebratory mixed case celebrating allthree of our specialist merchant awards, turn to Small Wonders on p18.ALL THE THREESOur first Fine Wine List of 2013 marks quite a few milestones, so let’skick off the celebrations with bicentenary bubbles from Laurent Perrier p3.1953 saw the first official classification of the Graves, the vast region to thesouth of Bordeaux. Its northernmost tip, home to first-growth Haut-Brion,reinvented itself as Pessac-Léognan in 1987, but to celebrate 60 glorious years,we turn back the clock and consider the original appellation as a whole. It appliesboth to red and white wines and on p4, you’ll find accessible top drops likeDenis Dubourdieu’s Clos Floridène rubbing shoulders with the likes ofLa Mission Haut-Brion, and an unmissable limited-edition mixed case fromDomaine de Chevalier.In 2003, a record-breakingly hot vintage in Europe brought many growers backat a sprint from their August breaks to pick before their grapes, hopes anddreams exploded on the vine. The wines turned out to be hot stuff in the bestpossible way. Sumptuous, rich and ripe yes, but elegant too, this is a vintage thatcontinues to surprise and delight ten years on. Turn to p11 for a pan-Europeanselection, including, of course England where harvest conditions were muchappreciated!CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY DRINKINGThis year marks the 155th anniversary of the grand old firm of Tyrrell’s p9, who,with a unique Hunter Valley semillon, created one of the first antipodean icons.New Zealand sauvignon blanc quickly became another, but Kiwi chardonnay,pinot noir and pinot gris are lining up for star status too. Try them all on p10.Château de Vignelaure, pride of Aix en Provence, appears on p15 in an intriguingvertical mix, and our Exhibition case on p23 showcases classic Old-World reds.Bridging the equator, our featured grape, the versatile chenin blanc p13 comparesand contrasts its leading exponents the Loire and South Africa, whence also achance to sample the impressive wines of Beaumont Estate p17.LOOKING AHEADFor future anniversaries, Custom Cellars on p20 are heaving with Chaves andhand-picked clarets for the discriminating party planner who wishes to leavenothing to chance, while lovers of fine cru Beaujolais will find inspiration on p16.Finally, in March 2013, Head of Buying Tim Sykes will have a year at The Societyunder his belt, so we asked him to choose some of the wines that make himhappy to be here. Start as you mean to go on, Tim!How to use this List● Wines are listed by theme and then by price● Drink dates are given as a guide to maturityand ageing potential● For further information about any of thewines, or Members’ Reserves, please contactMember Services on 01438 741177or visit thewinesociety.com/reserves● Fine wines too limited in quantity tobe listed may be found in the fine winesection of The Society’s website atthewinesociety.com/finewineCONTENTSpageTWO CENTURIES OF LAURENT-PERRIER 3THE GRAVES: SIXTY GLORIOUS YEARS 4PORTUGAL’S TOP 50 6BUYER’S CHOICE 8TYRRELL’S, HUNTER VALLEY 9NEW ZEALAND: VARIETAL VARIETY 102003: STILL HOT! 11WORLDS APART 13CHATEAU VIGNELAURE 15CRU BEAUJOLAIS 16BEAUMONT: THREE OF THE BEST 17SMALL WONDERS 18CUSTOM CELLARS 20THE SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION RANGE 232 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

TWO CENTURIES OFxLAURENT-PERRIERSo many Champagne houses are indebted to theirwomenfolk and Laurent Perrier is no exception. VeuveMathilde Laurent-Perrier steered the business to greatsuccess before the Great War while Marie Lanson deNonancourt, who had bought the company in the 1930skept Laurent-Perrier afloat during the Second World War.It has since remained in the Nonancourt family though thehouse has expanded hugely.Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier was the first house toadopt stainless steel for the first fermentation, and wasalso the first to create a truly world-class rosé Champagne.The flagship Cuvée Grand Siècle, a blend of three vintages,is one of the most complex and satisfying premiumChampagnes on the market. The special 6-for-5 prices andthe mixed case saving of £27 below are exclusive to thisFine Wines List and available thanks to the support ofLaurent-Perrier in celebration of their bicentenary.E-CH61 Laurent-Perrier, Brut, Non-vintage £34 bottle £170 6 for 5 priceA classic brut Champagne, elegant, refined and a perfect aperitif. 12%E-CH2601 Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Rosé, Non-vintage £37 bottle £222 per sixLovely raspberry and cherry fruit. Elegant and classy. Made from 100% pinot noir. 12%E-CH2591 Laurent-Perrier, Brut, 2004 £42 bottle £210 6 for 5 priceLaurent Perrier only use grand cru grapes, 50:50 pinot noir and chardonnay, in theirvintage wines. The 2004 is delicate, fine and persistent. This is offered at a very specialprice in celebration of their bicentenary. Terrific value. 12%E-CH2611 Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Grand Siècle £99 bottle £495 6 for 5 priceOne of the best of the so-called prestige cuvées and always a blend of differentvintages, this is a very fine, complex wine, golden in colour, delicate and with flavours ofnut, honey and toast. 12%LAURENT-PERRIER BICENTENARY £199CELEBRATION CASEA six-bottle case containing two bottles each of the following:Laurent-Perrier, Brut, Non-vintageLaurent-Perrier, Cuvée Rosé, Non-vintageLaurent-Perrier, Brut, 2004ref E-MX1342For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 7411773

GRAVES: SIXTY GLORIOUS YEARSWith the exception of Château Haut-Brion, the wines of Graves werespurned in the famous 1855Classification of the great wines ofBordeaux, despite a long viticulturalhistory. The Graves classification wasthe first to include dry whites. In 1959an additional two reds and three whiteswere added to the modest list of fivewhites and eleven reds of 1953.To celebrate the diamond jubilee ofGraves this year, we showcase theoriginal region, including its northern tip,Pessac-Léognan, which formed its ownappellation in 1987. The great propertiesof the north like the Brions, Domainede Chevalier and Haut-Bailly and theinfluence of relative newcomers likeDenis Dubourdieu and Dourthe in thesouth have made this region one ofBordeaux’s finest. Our selection belowrecognises its leading lights, with Haut-Brion itself making a guest appearanceas well as a special-edition wooden casefrom Domaine de Chevalier.Joanna Locke MWREDSE-CM13701 Clos Floridène, Rouge, 2009, Graves £16 bottle £192 dozenDistinctive red, unusual for its predominance of cabernet sauvignon (65%) grown onlimestone soil, which gives a distinct minerality and lovely fragrance to the wine. Richand velvety in this fine cabernet vintage. Now to 2020. 13.5%E-CM13072 Half bottle of Domaine de Chevalier, 2008, Pessac-Léognan £20 per half bottleA wine of true class in an elegant, classically structured vintage. This year, the Bernardscelebrate thirty years at Domaine de Chevalier. During which the quality of the redwine has soared. 2018 to 2030. 13.5%E-CM11301 Château La Garde, 2005, Pessac-Léognan £22 bottle £264 dozenDense, concentrated modern claret from the impressively reliable Dourthe stable.Blackberry, blackcurrant and spice fruit with velvety texture. Now to 2019. 13.5%E-CM12411 Château Haut-Bailly, 2007, Pessac-Léognan £47 bottle £564 dozenPreviously owned by the Sanders family and still managed by Véronique Sanders, Haut-Bailly is a wine of true finesse, always expressive of its terroir. 2007 was a late vintagewhich produced more forward wines with considerable charm. This is already delicious,elegant, with beautifully rounded fruit. Now to 2023. 12.5%4To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

E-CM11501 Château Bahans Haut-Brion, 2006, Pessac-Léognan £75 bottle £900 dozenSubsequently rebranded Le Clarence (see below), this is the second wine of superstarHaut-Brion, here representing 45% of the crop. Almost equal parts cabernet sauvignon,merlot and cabernet franc explains the lovely fragrance alongside the roasted spicyquality typical of the property. 2014 to 2030. 13.5%Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, 2009, Pessac-LéognanThe second wine of first growth Haut-Brion, formerly known as Bahans Haut-Brion,and the finest since the 1989. Outstanding in this celebrated and generous vintage,with 46% merlot, 39% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.2018 to 2035. 14% (available only as part of the mixed case)E-CM9321 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, 2004, Pessac-Léognan £120 bottle £1440 dozenRefined claret from one of Bordeaux’s great vineyards in a beautifully balancedvintage, here with 55% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon with just 3% cabernet franc.Now to 2025. 13%E-CM11621 Château Haut-Brion, 2006, Pessac-Léognan £390 bottle £4680 dozenTightly knit grand vin for which we recommend a long time in bottle to allow itsexceptional depth and quality to unravel. 57% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon,and just 2% cabernet franc. 2025 to 2040. 14.5%HAUT-BRION COLLECTION £279Drink now to 2025Contains one bottle each of the following three wines.Château La Mission Haut-Brion, 2004, Pessac-LéognanLe Clarence de Haut-Brion, 2009, Pessac-LéognanChâteau Bahans Haut-Brion, 2006, Pessac-Léognanref E-MX1345WHITESE-BW4161 Vieux Château Gaubert, 2010, Graves £11.95 bottle £143 dozenClassic white Graves updated for today’s competitive and demanding market by whitewine specialist Dominique Haverlan. With lovely bloom and well-integrated oak, this isa fragrant, full-flavoured food wine. Now to 2015 12.5%E-BW3611 Clos Floridène Blanc, 2008, Graves £14.95 bottle £179 dozenDelicious, individual dry white from the Dubourdieu stable where the old semillon vinescontribute richness and density and are here starting to add a more complex toastynote. Flavourful and long. Now to 2018. 12.5%E-BW4511 Château Lamothe-Bouscaut, 2011, Pessac-Léognan £16 bottle £192 dozenNot the second wine of Château Bouscaut but a separate, neighbouring property,the wine made with the same care and expertise by Sophie and Laurent LurtonCogombles. The proportions are roughly 55% semillon to 45% sauvignon and onlyaround 1,500 cases were produced in this fine white wine vintage. Now to 2016. 13.5%E-BW3521 Château Bouscaut Blanc, 2008, Pessac-Léognan £29 bottle £348 dozenFine, classically honed white Bordeaux in a year when the semillon was exceptional,hence more of it than usual (65%) in the blend. Sauvignon makes up the balance.Starting to drink beautifully already. Now to 2018. 13.5%E-BW3341 Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc, 2007, Pessac-Léognan £59 bottle £708 dozenAn outstanding vintage which will need and reward bottle age. The bouquet is alreadyextremely promising but the intense fruit and perfect balance will deliver wonders withtime. 90% sauvignon blanc, 10% semillon. Now to 2030. 13.5%For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 7411775

DOMAINEDE CHEVALIER,IN A NUTSHELLA limited-edition case of sixwines, château-packed in wood2013 marks the 30th anniversary of theBernard family’s arrival at this great vineyard.In the hands of charismatic and ebullientOlivier Bernard, investment in the vineyardsand cellar have brought exciting results.This one-off wooden case, packed at source,includes two bottles of Esprit de Chevalier,the iconic estate’s second wine, along withthree vintages of the red grand vin and oneglorious bottle of its legendary, long-livedwhite. Also included are winemaker’s noteswhich are more detailed than the necessarilybrief guide here. Stock is limited, so weadvise all enthusiasts to stake their claimwithout delay.DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER £397SPECIAL EDITIONDrink now to 2015Contains one bottle each of the following six wines. Please note that the wines are notavailable to buy individually.Esprit de Chevalier Rouge, 2004, Pessac-LéognanChunky and satisfying claret. Ready now and to 2015Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, 2004, Pessac-LéognanVibrant, fresh and set fair for ten years. Save this, and the 1999 white for last!Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, 2002, Pessac-LéognanDeeply coloured, smoky and concentrated. Now to 2020Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, 2000, Pessac-LéognanDark, liquoricey and delicious to drink now, or keep until 2015Esprit de Chevalier Blanc, 2007, Pessac-LéognanOpulently layered, but youthful and fresh. Now to 2017Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, 1999, Pessac-LéognanA great Chevalier, intense and complex, for the long haul. Now to 2020ref E-CM12841PORTUGAL’S TOP 50Our celebration of Julia Harding MW’s50 Great Portuguese WinesViniPortugal annually sponsors a leading UK journalist to make apersonal selection of 50 Great Portuguese Wines, and in 2012,it was the turn of Master of Wine Julia Harding. Julia worksalongside Jancis Robinson MW and, as co-author of thecomprehensive Wine Grapes (Allen Lane) released last year,she would have found Portugal’s unique varieties irresistible.Below are some of the wines we stock from her eclectic andcosmopolitan mix. Why Portugal, and why now? Let’s begin witha wealth of indigenous varieties, and a new generation of dynamicproducers who are committed to growing them, move on to theversatility of these unique wines at the dinner-table, and concludewith the exceptional value for money they represent at all pricepoints. Try them, and be converted. Joanna Locke MW.E-PW3531 Campolargo, Alvarelhão, Beiras, 2011 £10.95 bottle £131 dozenA new discovery and quite different from the usually robust reds from the Bairradaregion. Burgundy-like in colour and with silky pinot-style cherry fruit but with an extratang and herbiness that could place it in northern Italy. Unusual but very approachable,and, we think, utterly delicious. Now to 2014. 13.5%E-PW3631 Altano, Quinta do Ataide, Reserva, Douro, 2008 (Symington) £13.50 bottle £162 dozenDense, spicy, curranty oak-spiked red of great concentration from the Symington family’sown sustainably-farmed vineyards, where they have been producing port for more than100 years. Now to 2018. 14%6 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

E-PW3431 Alfrocheiro, Grande Escolha, Tejo 2008 (Quinta Lagoalva de Cima) £14.95 bottle £179 dozenWe have bought Lagoalva’s Alfrocheiro in the past, after tasting a lovely matureexample. Rarely seen unblended, this has a touch of northern Italy about it (fragrance,firm grip, freshness, overlaid with silkiness) and would be delicious with suckling pig or,closer to home, slow-roasted belly of pork. Now to 2014. 13.5%E-PW3551 Quinta do Crasto, Vinhas Velhas Reserva, Douro, 2009 £18.50 bottle £222 dozenClass and confidence in a bottle. Quinta do Crasto remains at the forefront of wineproduction in the Douro, offering astonishing value, from their entry-point Crasto tothis sumptuous, complex reserva from the generous 2009 vintage. Velvet-textured butwith character; savoury but wonderfully smooth. Now to 2021. 14.5%E-PW3451 Pedra e Alma, Alentejo, 2009 (Quinta do Centro) £19.50 bottle £234 dozenA velvety blend of trincadeira, aragonêz and alicante bouschet. This is the maidenvintage of the new flagship red from Richard Mayson at Quinta do Centro high on theslopes of the eastern Alentejo in the sub-region of Portalegre, close to the border withSpain. Now to 2020. 14.5% (low stock)E-PW3454 Magnum of Pedra e Alma, Alentejo, 2009 (Quinta do Centro) £39 per magnumNow to 2020. 14.5%Touriga Nacional, Alentejo, 2008 (Herdade do Esporão)David Baverstock’s rich, concentrated, savoury red still has a touch of oak spice, butwith the floral fragrance of the touriga nacional grape shining through. The combinationof structure and length on the palate promises a long and rewarding future.Now to 2018. 14.5% (available only as part of mixed case E-MX1355)E-PW3581 Duas Quintas, Reserva, Douro, 2009 (Ramos Pinto) £23 bottle £276 dozenImmensely concentrated reserva from this more traditional of port houses, wherewinemaker João Nicolau de Almeida is bringing a rich, modern dimension to theirimpressive range of reds. Lots of sweet oak makes this approachable now but it willbenefit greatly from more time in bottle. Now to 2021. 15%E-PW3601 Nossa Calcario, Beiras, 2010 (Filipa Pato) £28 bottle £336 dozenA fine, mineral and concentrated red made from Bairrada’s baga grape. Beautifulfragrance overlaid on solid structure means this wine will need some time to show at itsbest, but purists will appreciate its elegance and restraint now. Now to 2018. 13%E-PW3471 Quinta do Vale Meão, Douro, 2009 £59 bottle £708 dozenThe Quinta do Vale Meão estate in the Upper Douro was bought in 1877 by thelegendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, and is now at the forefront of fine red wineproduction in the Douro. This refined red, a touriga nacional and franca blend, with alittle tinta barroca and tinta roriz, marks their tenth anniversary. Now to 2020. 14.5%JULIA HARDING MW’S BEST OF PORTUGAL CASE £99Drink now to 2018A six-bottle mixed case containing one bottle of each of the following:Campolargo, Alvarelhão, Beiras, 2011Alfrocheiro, Grande Escolha, Tejo 2008 (Quinta Lagoalva de Cima)Altano, Quinta do Ataide, Reserva, Douro, 2008 (Symington)Touriga Nacional, Alentejo, 2008 (Herdade do Esporão)Quinta do Crasto, Vinhas Velhas Reserva, Douro, 2009Pedra e Alma, Alentejo, 2009 (Quinta do Centro)ref E-MX1355For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 7411777

BUYER’S CHOICEA personal selection of the wines Head of Buying, Tim Sykes,has most enjoyed since he joined The Society 12 months ago.No excuses, I am a huge chardonnay fan. Few white varieties successfullycombine chardonnay’s almost limitless palette of styles with its capacity to developcomplexity of flavour in the bottle. Here are two benchmark examplesfrom brilliant winemakers at opposite ends of the world, Jean-Marc Vincent inthe Côte de Beaune and Michael Brajkovich in Auckland.Syrah, a firm favourite in the Sykes’ household, is another grape that hastransplanted very successfully to the southern hemisphere from its traditionalhome in France. The Durand family crafts sublimely pure, restrained syrahs fromtheir terraced vineyards in the northern Rhône, while the Stonewell from PeterLehmann amply demonstrates the ripe, chocolatey richness of fine Barossa shiraz.My first experience of top-quality southern French reds was a vertical tasting ofMas de Daumas Gassac, conducted by its irrepressible proprietor Aimé Guibert.The wines are as impressive today as they were then, as is Aimé. Last, but by nomeans least is a claret, and a serious one. Château Pontet-Canet, 2004 has all thehallmarks of a fine Haut-Médoc – savoury, elegant and restrained. Tim SykesREDSE-RH19861 Cornas, Durand, 2006 £20 bottle £240 dozenAn especially seductive northern Rhône syrah from the Durand brothers, packed withsweet, berry flavours. Now to 2016. 13.5%E-FC14161 Mas de Daumas Gassac, 2005 £25 bottle £300 dozenDeeply coloured, densely flavoured and very long, this cabernet-driven Languedoc‘grand cru’ is now beginning to hit its stride. Now to 2025. 12.5%E-AU13631 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz, 2006, Barossa £30 bottle £360 dozenPeter Lehmann’s flagship shiraz is a wine of great depth and presence, with the intensityand structure to be cellared with confidence. Now to 2025. 14.5%E-CM9141 Château Pontet-Canet, 2004, Pauillac £55 bottle £660 dozenRich, solid, full-flavoured Pauillac, with a wealth of flavours, still tightly coiled in place.Those impatient to broach it now should let it come round gently in a decanter.2014 to 2024. 13%WHITESE-BU47071 Auxey-Duresses Les Hautés, Jean-Marc Vincent, 2009 £21 bottle £252 dozenA round, generous and stylish white Burgundy, fermented and matured in 300-litrebarrels, from a vineyard on the border between Auxey and Meursault. Now to 2014.13%E-NZ6441 Kumeu River Hunting Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, 2010, Auckland £21 bottle £252 dozenFewer than 900 cases are made of this exquisite chardonnay. The cool restraint typicalof Kumeu has the floral character and added complexity imparted by a choice singlevineyard. Now to 2016. 13.5%THE TIM SYKES SELECTION £169Drink now to 2014Contains one bottle each of the six wines featured.ref E-MX13578 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

TYRRELL’S, HUNTER VALLEYThe Tyrrell family has an unbroken 150-year history of winemaking (this year they celebrate their 155th anniversary) and is todayheaded by the enigmatic Bruce Tyrrell shown below. ‘Five generations of us haven’t been in this to hang our hats on homogenised,mass-produced wines’ says Bruce. This is evident when tasting his range. Tyrrell’s collection of wines reflects precisely the Hunter Valleystyle: elegant, restrained, individual and compelling. This small region, near Sydney, produces one of Australia’s – and the world’s –unique wines, the long-lived semillon. Vat 1 is the epitome of this style. In this Fine Wine List we offer a comprehensive selection fromTyrrell’s, the result of a mind-blowing tasting of the whole range with Bruce late last year. These wines are rare and not easy to find inthe UK, so early ordering is recommended. Pierre MansourREDSE-AU15371 Tyrrell’s Vat 8 Shiraz-Cabernet, 2010, Hunter Valley £33 bottle £396 dozenFlamboyant but polished blend of shiraz and cabernet which is fleshy, round and full ofblackberry fruit. Decant this an hour in advance to let the complex flavours unravel.Now to 2019. 12%E-AU15361 Tyrrell’s Vat 9 Shiraz, 2010, Hunter Valley £34 bottle £408 dozenOne of Australia’s most distinctive and enticing examples of shiraz, full of meaty,savoury fruit backed by an elegantly structured palate, quite Rhône-like in its poise.Now to 2020. 13%WHITESE-AU15331 Tyrrell’s Belford Semillon, 2007, Hunter Valley £19.50 bottle £234 dozenThe grapes for this wine come from the Belford vineyard, owned by the Elliott familyand situated 15km north-west of the Tyrrell’s winery. It is the last semillon picked,resulting in a broad, intense palate with lovely honeyed fruit character. Now to 2017.10.5%E-AU15341 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Semillon, 2006, Hunter Valley £27.50 bottle £330 dozen2006 is a stunning vintage here: the long, gradual season ripened semillon beautifully.Youthful and immensely fragrant, delicate yet intense, this is a near-perfect Hunter Valleysemillon that will age well. Now to 2020. 10.5%E-AU15351 Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay, 2009, Hunter Valley £28 bottle £336 dozenStylish, broadly flavoured chardonnay which delicately balances fruit ripeness, freshnessand oak. Now to 2015. 13%THE TYRRELL’S EXPLORATION CASE £159Drink now to 2015A six-bottle case containing twobottles of each of the following:Tyrrell’s Vat 9 Shiraz,2010, Hunter ValleyTyrrell’s Belford Semillon,2007, Hunter ValleyTyrrell’s Vat 47Chardonnay, 2009,Hunter Valleyref E-MX1339For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 7411779

NEW ZEALAND: VARIETAL VARIETYCapitalising on the natural ability and winemaking expertise that have propelled its sauvignons tothe top table, New Zealand is flexing its fine wine muscle with other grapes too. The six examplesbelow were chosen because they deliver striking individuality and varietal expression, year afteryear. Notwithstanding the hype surrounding Kiwi pinot gris, we list few of them because, until theseyoung vineyards attain maturity, the temptation is to boost flavour with added sugar. Not so atKumeu River in Auckland, where a combination of careful vineyard selection and lees ageing yieldsan exceptional example. Neudorf is indicative of the gathering momentum of Kiwi chardonnay.Kevin Judd’s new Greywacke vintage is a masterclass in that most established of Kiwi classics,Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Spearheading the reds are two small parcels of very rare wines,iconic Terravin pinot noir and Bilancia La Collina syrah. Joining them is New Zealand’s most refined Bordeaux-style wine from thecountry’s oldest family winery, Te Mata. Enjoy one of each in the mixed case. Pierre MansourTurn to p8 for another Kiwi treasure, Kumeu River’s Hunting Hill Chardonnay, as personally selected by The Society’s Head of Buying Tim Sykes.REDSE-NZ5331 Te Mata Coleraine, 2008, Hawkes Bay £32 bottle £384 dozenRefined and elegant blend of 53% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, and 19% cabernetfranc, from this leading family estate in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay. This will ageeffortlessly to 2022. 13.5%E-NZ5471 Bilancia La Collina Syrah, 2008, Hawkes Bay £39 bottle £468 dozenThis hillside vineyard produces tiny yields of exceptional syrah (a mere 200 cases weremade in 2008). The wine is made by Trinity Hill winemaker Warren Gibson and his wifeLorraine. It is a floral, peppery and smoothly-textured syrah with a dash of viognier tolift the fruit and add complexity. Now to 2018. 14.5%E-NZ6541 Terravin Eaton Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2010, Marlborough £39 bottle £468 dozenAn exquisite pinot from a fine single vineyard in Marlborough. This expressive, fleshyand complex wine has the wow factor and is worth every penny. Now to 2017. 13.5%WHITESE-NZ6411 Kumeu River Pinot Gris, 2011, Auckland £12.50 bottle £150 dozenAn excellent pinot gris with floral aromas which give freshness to the broad ripeflavours. Drink this year and next. 13%E-NZ6501 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, Marlborough £14.95 bottle £179 dozenBeautiful, mineral and peachy sauvignon blanc which stands out for its class, purity andextremely long flavour. Kevin Judd has pulled off yet another work of art with his stylishand smooth 2012. Drink this year and next. 13%E-NZ6451 Neudorf Chardonnay, 2011, Nelson £18.50 bottle £222 dozenNeudorf’s second wine is superb. A superb broadly flavoured, yet fine chardonnay withexcellent length from this stand-out family producer. Now to 2015. 14%NEW ZEALAND VARIETALS £149Now to 2014A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Kumeu River Pinot Gris, 2011, AucklandGreywacke Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, MarlboroughNeudorf Chardonnay, 2011, NelsonTe Mata Coleraine, 2008, Hawkes BayBilancia La Collina Syrah, 2008, Hawkes BayTerravin Eaton Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2010, Marlboroughref E-MX134810 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

2003: STILL HOT!The scorching heat of August 2003, the warmest on record in Europe, produced a vintage like no other. For vines on the edge –England and parts of Austria and Germany – such unprecedented levels of ripeness were a rare treat. Even for serial and practisedheat-absorbers like the garnachas of arid Priorato and the Midi, where no rain fell for six months, it was a test of stamina. For moretemperate – and utterly taken-aback – vineyards, it was nerve-wracking. Bordeaux endured the hottest summer for centuries, whileBurgundy recorded the earliest harvest since 1893. Nothing like it had been seen in Alsace since 1834, and in the continental northernRhône, temperatures of 40 degrees were commonplace with little relief at night.The remarkable thing about the wines below is that none of them seem the worse for their torrid incubation. On the contrary,they are uniformly harmonious, seductive and delicious, and a tribute to the importance of expert winemaking in extreme weather.A trio of impossibly elegant clarets makes the case beautifully, or you might prefer the variety of a grand tour. There is also a lot to besaid for starting with a celebratory glass of Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs and working your way through to a glorious Sauternes.REDSE-PW1691 Quinta dos Roques Reserva, Dão, 2003 £19 bottle £228 dozenThis Portugeuse red was awarded a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards,2006. It is now richly mature and more savoury, based on the generous fruit of thetouriga nacional grape. Now to 2015. 13.5%E-LE441 Chateau Musar, 2003 £20 bottle £240 dozenThe 2003 vintage of this eccentric Lebanese wine is full-bodied and powerful withchunky, ripe tannins which still promise a long life ahead. Now to 2020. 14%Clos Mogador Priorato, 2003The 2003 vintage of this Spanish classic is a blend of 32% garnacha, 25% cabernetsauvignon, 25% cariñena and 18% syrah and was aged for 18 months in 300-litrebarrels, 70% of which were new. Dense and punchy with delicious warm fruit flavours.Now to 2016. 14.5% (available only as part of mixed case E-MX1351)E-BU29661 Pommard Premier Cru Clos des Epeneaux Comte Armand, £48 bottle £576 dozenDomaine des Epeneaux, 2003The full, tannic Pommard character is the perfect foil for the opulent fruit of the 2003Burgundy vintage. From the best premier cru of the commune, owned outright by theArmand estate, this model of finesse is packed with plummy, spicy flavours, underpinnedby smooth tannins. Now to 2016. 13.5%E-CM8301 Château Rauzan-Ségla, 2003, Margaux £49 bottle £588 dozenComplex second-growth claret with very ripe middle palate. 54% cabernet sauvignonprovides structure, balanced by 41% merlot for greater generosity of fruit, with 4% petitverdot and 1% cabernet franc. Now to 2023. 12.5%E-CM8411 Bahans Haut-Brion, 2003, Pessac-Léognan £59 bottle £708 dozenThe second wine of first-growth Haut-Brion is unusually ripe in the generous 2003vintage, full and powerful yet elegant too. A most impressive mix of 48% cabernetsauvignon with roughly equal proportions of merlot and cabernet franc. Now to 2020.13%E-RH14631 Hermitage La Chapelle, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, 2003 £89 bottle £1068 dozenA northern Rhône classic in a cauldron vintage. This is more shiraz than syrah in style,rich, sweet and full-bodied. Perfect with roast haunch of venison. Now to 2025. 14.5%E-CM8461 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, 2003, Pauillac £99 bottle £1188 dozenProper Pauillac: elegant, charming and delicious, with ripeness, complexity and power inthis vintage. A great success with two thirds cabernet in the blend. Now to 2025. 13%For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117711

WHITESE-SG1551 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs Brut, 2003 £29 bottle £348 dozenCould the South Downs become the new Côte des Blancs? At Nyetimber they thinkso, which is why they’ve put so much emphasis on the chardonnay grape, which ripenedto perfection in the extraordinary 2003 vintage. This is ripe-tasting and rich with aflavour of brioche and crystallised fruit. Now to 2015. 12%E-AA1151 Riesling Steiner Hund Reserve, 2003 (Nikolaihof) £32 bottle £384 dozenShowing rich palate development, this Austrian white is densely structured, with a fine,long, mineral flavour. Drink over the next year. 12.5%E-BW2231 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, 2003, Sauternes £32 bottle £384 dozenBig-flavoured, rich and luscious Sauternes with a touch of apricot, honey and barleysugar. Consistently splendid. Now to 2025. 13.5%E-AL6111 Altenberg de Bergheim, Grand Cru, Domaine Deiss, 2003 £49 bottle £588 dozenThe suntrap that is the Altenberg de Bergheim is undoubtedly one of Alsace’s bestvineyards. Jean-Michel Deiss returns to ancient practices by mixing several grape varietiesto produce a wine with far greater complexity. Serve this with goose or scallops.Now to 2015. 12%2003 TEN YEARS ON CASE £199Drink now to 2015A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Quinta dos Roques Reserva, Dão, 2003Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs Brut, 2003Chateau Musar, 2003Château Rauzan-Ségla, 2003, MargauxClos Mogador Priorato, 2003Pommard Premier Cru Clos des Epeneaux Comte Armand, Domaine des Epeneaux, 2003ref E-MX13512003 CLARETS CASE £239Drink now to 2020A three-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse deLalande, 2003, PauillacBahans-Haut-Brion, 2003, Pessac-LéognanChâteau Ducru Beaucaillou 2003, Saint-JulienRich and spicy with deep flavour and long-lasting finishand a very high mark from US wine guru Robert Parker!2015 to 2030. 13% Please see page 22 for bottle price.ref E-MX134112 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

WORLDS APARTChenin blanc from the Loire and the CapeChenin blanc vines are planted across the viticultural world whereverthere is a mood for experimentation and diversity, or a need fornatural, freshening acidity. Its spiritual home is in the Loire, where itproduces the full range of white wine styles from sparkling to dry tointensely sweet, yielding some of the greatest and most cellarworthywines on the planet. Brought to the Cape by French Huguenots, it isnow South Africa’s most widely planted (and, strangely, its mostuprooted) grape. Luckily many of the oldest vines have been saved,spotted by today’s bright generation of winemakers whose quest forquality and individuality is as refreshing as their wines. For a grapewithout enormous flavour of its own, and one that is easilyovercome by oak, chenin blanc is remarkably adaptable andexpressive of its origins. No commercial nonentities here (those arethe vines being grubbed up!), but personality aplenty and finesseacross the board. Joanna Locke MWE-LO9731 Savennières, Domaine du Closel, 2010 £14.50 bottle £174 dozenA pure chenin blanc from the historic Loire appellation of Savennières, and certifiedorganic, this is classically proportioned, with a strong backbone of acidity and fine,mineral and appley freshness on the palate. Now to 2018. 14%E-LO7061 Vouvray, Le Haut-Lieu, Sec, 2005 (Domaine Huet) £14.95 bottle £179 dozenA wine of exquisite purity from a vintage winemaker Noël Pinguet described as a‘millésime parfait’. This has emerged from a taciturn phase to blossom into a benchmarkdry Vouvray with finesse and wonderful freshness. Now to 2020. 13%E-SA8371 Botanica Chenin Blanc, Citrusdal, 2010 £14.95 bottle £179 dozenA beautiful Cape chenin showing the finesse and balance that may be achieved fromcooler-climate old vine fruit (in this case from a vineyard at around 800 metres nearClanwilliam). Brightness of fresh, aromatic citrus fruit distinguishes this exceptional wine,from new star Virginia Povall. Now to 2014. 13.5%E-SA8261 Beaumont Hope Marguerite, Bot River, 2011 £16 bottle £192 dozenSebastian Beaumont’s top chenin comes from low-yielding vines and is judiciouslybarrel-fermented, preserving vibrant freshness and great purity of fruit with more thana nod to Europe in its finesse and structure. Awarded five stars by the influentialPlatter’s Guide. Now to 2014. 13%E-SA7671 Radford Dale Renaissance, Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, 2010 (The Winery) £16 bottle £192 dozenExquisite and refined South African chenin blanc in only its second vintage, from a singlevineyard block picked in two phases. This has settled down beautifully in bottle, nowfully embracing its gentle barrel maturation. The 2011 follows. 13%E-LO9761 Vouvray, Le Peu Morier, Demi-Sec, 2008 (Domaine Vincent Carême) £18 bottle £216 dozenVincent Carême is something of a rising star in this historic Loire appellation, aiming forminimal intervention in the cellar. Le Peu Morier is a single vineyard with only around ahectare of old vines. The 2008 is classic chenin, honeyed and citrus on the nose withpiercing freshness on the whistle clean palate. Now to 2015. 13.5%E-SA8401 Mev Kirsten, Stellenbosch, 2011 (Eben Sadie) £89 bottle £1068 dozenSouth Africa’s most extraordinary chenin blanc, from a very old vineyard in Stellenbosch.Part of Eben Sadie’s celebrated Old Vine Series, a wine of great power but withexquisite freshness, complexity and minerality on the palate. Contemplation chenin.Now to 2020. 13.5%For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117713

CHATEAU VIGNELAUREChâteau de Vignelaure is one of the best-known estates inProvence. It is close to Aix-en-Provence and the MontagneSainte Victoire. Vines have grown here for centuries but themodern estate was the creation of Georges Brunet whohappened to own La Lagune in the Médoc. He began takingcuttings of cabernet sauvignon and planting them at Vignelaure.He then planted syrah too, and it is these two grape varietiesthat are behind Vignelaure today. The estate has known fameand then decline but with new owners and a talentedcellarmaster, things are on the up. This special-edition verticaltasting case, packed at the domaine, demonstrates how thisremarkable wine evolves over time. Marcel Orford-WilliamsA VIGNELAURE VERTICAL £89Drink now to 2017A six-bottle case, packed in wood and containing one bottle of each of the following:Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Château Vignelaure, 2004A small crop, but a perfect harvest. Fully mature, deeply coloured, full-flavoured and spicy. Now to 2017. 13.5%Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Château Vignelaure, 2005Dark, cedary and full-flavoured with considerable finesse and length. Good now but will continue developing in bottle.Now to 2018. 13.5%Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Château Vignelaure, 2007A fabulous vintage that needed time. Very black, with ripe fruit and a touch of blackcurrant with cedar and spice. Still veryyouthful, even exuberant. Now to 2021. 14%Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Château Vignelaure, 2008A good, classic vintage for Vignelaure which is just about ready for drinking. Now to 2020. 13.5%And two bottles ofCoteaux d’Aix en Provence, Château Vignelaure, 2006A lovely vintage for Provence. The wines have body and flavour but are never heavy nor coarse. Dark, spicy and elegant.Now to 2018. 14%ref E-MX1354For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117715

CRU BEAUJOLAISBurgundy in all but nameThe vineyards of the Côte d’Or are only an hour’s drive awayfrom Beaujolais and Burgundian influence here is strong. Thegamay grape is extraordinary in that it delivers simple, thirstquenchingwines on the one hand and wines with both depthand complexity on the other. Moreover many of them,especially from Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent, can age well too,taking on similarities with pinot noir as they do so. This is aselection of some of the best of these grander Beaujolais –Burgundy in all but name. Marcel Orford-WilliamsE-BJ4051 Morgon, Côte du Py, Potel-Aviron, 2006 £10.95 bottle £131 dozenBurgundy’s Nicolas Potel has applied his craft to producing a range of remarkablebarrel-aged Beaujolais. In 2006 no new oak was used in order to preserve the fruit.This is flavoursome and sinewy. Drinking over the next two years. 13%E-BJ4131 Moulin-à-Vent Clos des Perelles, Château de Beauregard, 2007 £13.50 bottle £162 dozenThis is a classsic Moulin-à-Vent made from very ripe fruit that combines power witheffortless charm. Now to 2016. 13%E-BJ5101 Morgon Grand Cras, Domaine Joseph Burrier, 2010 £13.50 bottle £162 dozenLes Grands Cras is one of the better-known climats of Morgon and makes a very goodBurgundian style of Beaujolais. The wines can keep very well, especially in a vintage like2010. Full-flavoured with a touch of spice. Now to 2020. 13%E-BJ5031 Fleurie Colonies de Rochegrès, Château de Beauregard, 2010 £14.95 bottle £179 dozenA grand statement from a vineyard that borders Moulin-à-Vent. Aged in barrel asmost of Beauregard’s wines are, and with the stamp of a thoroughbred Burgundy.Now to 2019. 13%E-BJ5041 Moulin-à-Vent la Salomine, Château de Beauregard, 2010 £14.95 bottle £179 dozenMade from very old gamay vines planted a hundred years ago at over 400m, this is avery Burgundian interpretation of the cru. There is great concentration here, and finessetoo. Now to 2018. 13%E-BJ4321 Moulin-à-Vent, Clos du Grand Carquelin, Château des Jacques, 2007 £24 bottle £288 dozenChâteau des Jacques is currently making the most outstanding wines in Beaujolais andhas made a reputation based on its single-vineyard Moulin-à-Vent wines. GrandCarquelin, at quite high altitude, makes a decidedly Burgundian style of red, full offlavour yet delicate with lovely cherry and black fruit character and a long finish.Now to 2016. 13.5%THE CRU BEAUJOLAIS MIXED CASE £89Drink over the next two yearsA six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the above wines:ref E-MX134916 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

BEAUMONT:THREE OF THE BESTSebastian Beaumont is only the second generation of theBeaumont family to make wine but this delightful familyand historic property are something of an institution, atleast among Society members. Bot River is a smallvineyard area, or ward, in the southern Cape just off thewell-beaten track to Hermanus and Walker Bay. Itremains a beautiful and unspoiled place to live, visit andcultivate the vine, and Sebastian has taken their alreadyhighly regarded range to new heights. 2009 producedsensational reds throughout the Cape and we could notresist adding to our existing stock of pinotage to make upan exclusive mixed case.On p13 you’ll find the estate’s premium chenin blanc, theHope Marguerite, named after Sebastian’s grandmother,and awarded five stars in consecutive vintages by theinfluential Platter’s Guide to South African wine. Explorewith pleasure! Joanna Locke MWBeaumont Pinotage, Bot River, 2009Smooth and voluptuous oak-matured pinotage from the excellent 2009 vintage andthe Beaumont family’s own vineyards. Decant it to allow the rich flavours to open up.Now to 2014. 14% (available only as part of the mixed case)E-SA8251 Beaumont Shiraz-Mourvèdre, Bot River, 2009 £13.95 bottle £167 dozenDeep in colour and velvety rich in texture and aroma, with the mourvèdre herebringing spicy, smokey, dark flavours. A robust but extremely well-balanced wine,with real length on the palate. Now to 2016. 14.5%E-SA8241 Beaumont Mourvèdre, Bot River, 2009 £18 bottle £216 dozenA seductively fragrant wine with the generous blackberry fruit aromas and flavours thatare so typical of the mourvèdre grape, silky texture and lovely freshness. A beauty ofa wine. Now to 2016. 13.5%2009 BEAUMONT TRIO £89Drink now to 2014A six-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the above winesref E-MX1340For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117717

SMALL WONDERSFine wines at £20 and underHaving not only brought home once again theInternational Wine Challenge specialist merchant awardsfor Alsace and Chile, but also clinched a matched set forthe mantelpiece with Portugal, we’ve made a priority ofthese regions. Former Society staffer Richard Mayson’sPedra Basta is already a favourite with members in theknow, while Luis Pato’s racy white Bairrada will pleaselovers of classic riesling. There is proper riesling too, fromKuentz-Bas, along with a nicely-proportioned Alsacepinot noir from Hugel, and Chile’s most aristocraticchardonnay and the utterly delicious Coyam blend arehere too. Try them all in the Specialist Merchant Case.Add to these the usual eclectic selection of bonnesbouches at feel-good prices, and the winter won’t seemso bleak.REDSE-AL9431 Alsace Pinot Noir, Hugel, 2010 £10.50 bottle £126 dozenDelicious cherry-like fruit defines this pure, sweet and rounded pinot. Now to 2015. 12.5%E-IT16121 GB Burlotto Pelaverga Verduno, 2011 £10.95 bottle £131 dozenA Piemontese rarity, almost confined to the village of Verduno. Fabio Alessandria makesa haunting example. Perfect summer red with bright cherry-red colour, white peppernose and a fresh, appetising flavour. Now to 2015. 14%E-PW3441 Pedra Basta, Alentejo, 2009 (Quinta do Centro) £12.50 bottle £150 dozenRipe and spicy red from UK wine writer and Portuguese specialist, Richard Mayson,whose Quinta do Centro sits high in the hills of north eastern Alentejo. Decant to allowthe flavours of the indigenous grapes to open up in the glass. Now to 2017. 14%E-CB3511 Château Croix Mouton, 2009, Bordeaux Supérieur £12.95 bottle £155 dozenRichly fruity, with black plum and cherry fruit and smooth palate. Seductive, modern,merlot-based claret from Jean-Philippe Janoueix, transcending its modest appellation.Now to 2019. 14% (Low Stock)Coyam, 2008A generous organic Chilean brew of syrah, carmenère, merlot, petit verdot andmourvèdre aged in barrel for 13 months. Now to 2016. 14.5%(available only in the mixed case E-MX1352)E-LO10041 Saumur-Champigny, Clos des Cordeliers, Prestige, 2009 (Domaine Ratron) £14.95 bottle £179 dozenFine cabernet franc from a wonderful vintage for red wines in the Loire that producedwell structured but succulent wines with generous fruit but retaining typical Loirefreshness. Now to 2019. 13%E-SP7501 Viña Real Reserva, Rioja, 2006 £14.95 bottle £179 dozenClassy, perfumed Rioja with real charm and texture from this exceptional bodega inRioja Alavesa. Now to 2015. 13.5%E-AU14861 Brick Kiln Shiraz, 2009, McLaren Vale £16 bottle £192 dozenBig, bold and immensely satisfying Australian shiraz which combines ripe blackberry andspicy flavours. Decant. Now to 2014. 15%E-SA7771 Warwick Estate Trilogy, Stellenbosch, 2009 £17.50 bottle £210 dozenWarwick’s flagship red in a top vintage, still cabernet sauvignon-based but with anincreased proportion of cabernet franc. All the fruit comes from Warwick’s fineSimonsberg vineyards and the wine is matured for two years in smart French oak, 60%of which is new. Now to 2020. 14.5%18 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

E-IT15761 Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, 2010 £18 bottle £216 dozenFresh, aromatic Tuscan with sappy juicy fruit, this is a fine blend of 50% merlot 30%sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon from the prestigious Ornellaia estate with theadvantage of being ready to drink now. Now to 2015. 13.5%E-LE551 Chateau Musar, 2005 £18 bottle £216 dozenThis exquisite vintage for Chateau Musar will go down as one of the estate’s greatest.This is fragrant and pure, with that rare combination of intensity and freshness whichmarks it out as a truly great wine. Now to 2024. 14%E-AR2621 Mendel Unus, 2009 £19 bottle £228 dozenMade from 70% malbec from a vineyard planted in 1928 in the Perdriel district ofMendoza, with 30% cabernet sauvignon from a 15-year-old vineyard, aged for about 15months in barriques. The warm 2009 is a very successful vintage for Unus, as thecabernet ripened to perfection. Now to 2024. The 2010 follows. 14.5%E-NZ5921 Neudorf, Tom’s Block Pinot Noir, 2009, Nelson £20 bottle £240 dozenA smooth and smoky pinot with generous red-fruit flavours from the Moutere Hills ofNelson, adjacent to Marlbrough. Now to 2015. 13.5% S (low stock)WHITESE-IT16241 La Monacesca Verdicchio di Matelica, 2010 £9.95 bottle £119 dozenAbsolutely delicious whistle-clean dry verdicchio from the finest estate of the MatelicaDOCG whose limestone-rich soils quite high in the Appenines produce verdicchio withbackbone. Now to 2015. 13%E-AL9411 Riesling Collection, Kuentz-Bas, 2010 £10.95 bottle £131 dozenKuentz-Bas made wonderful rieslings in 2010, their best in many years. This representsan intermediary level of Alsace riesling before scaling the heights of the grands crus.What it has is real charm as well as precision and length of flavour. Now to 2018. 13%E-PW3421 Vinhas Velhas, Beiras, 2011 (Luis Pato) £10.95 bottle £131 dozenA Portuguese white of incredible minerality from king of Bairrada, Luis Pato. Localgrapes from mature vines vinified without oak produce a wine that will keep well for afew years if you can resist its precise, mouthwatering, savoury complexity for a whilelonger. Now to 2016. 12%E-SP7791 Valdesil Sobre Lias Godello, Valdeorras, 2011 £11.95 bottle £143 dozenA vibrant, lemony and zesty godello. It sees no oak, the better to express the characterof the stylish Galician grape which is now catching up with albariño. Now to 2014. 13%E-SA7711 Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay, Franschhoek, 2010 (Cape Chamonix) £14.50 bottle £174 dozenElegant, award-winning, barrel-fermented chardonnay from this fine estate inFranschhoek whose bottlings come only from their own fruit. A five-star wine, fromPlatter’s Winery of the Year 2013. Now to 2017. 13.5%E-BW4481 Clos Floridène Blanc, 2011, Graves £14.95 bottle £179 dozenDelicious, dry white from the Dubourdieu stable where the old semillon vinescontribute richness and are also adding a more complex note. Now to 2018. 12.5%E-CE6161 Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay, 2009 £20 bottle £240 dozenChile’s greatest chardonnay is even better in the 2009 vintage. As winemaker MarceloPapa gets a larger range of second and third-use barrels the wine becomes even moremineral and refined. Now to 2017. 14% (low stock)SMALL WONDERS REDS £99Drink now to 2014A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Château Croix Mouton, 2009,Bordeaux SupérieurCoyam, 2008Brick Kiln Shiraz, 2009, McLaren Valeref E-MX1352Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, 2010Warwick Estate Trilogy, Stellenbosch, 2009Neudorf, Tom’s Block Pinot Noir, 2009, NelsonFor advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117719

SMALL WONDERS £79WHITESTHE SPECIALIST £79MERCHANT CASEDrink now to 2014A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Vinhas Velhas, Beiras, 2011 (Luis Pato)Valdesil Sobre Lias Godello, Valdeorras, 2011Clos Floridène, Blanc, 2011, GravesChamonix Reserve Chardonnay, Franschhoek,2010 (Cape Chamonix)Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay,2009La Monacesca Verdicchio di Matelica, 2010ref E-MX1353Drink now to 2015A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Alsace Pinot Noir, Hugel, 2010Pedra Basta, Alentejo, 2009 (Quinta do Centro)Coyam, 2008Vinhas Velhas, Beiras, 2011 (Luis Pato)Riesling Collection, Kuentz-Bas, 2010Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay,2009ref E-MX1358CUSTOM CELLARSPersonal cellar planning by the bottle and mixed caseWe start 2013 with some very choice parcels from two giants of the fine wineworld. From the Rhône, the great house of Chave shows its mettle in sublime redsand breathtaking whites, while the Borie family, the power behind Saint-Juliensuper-second Ducru-Beaucaillou, has plenty to offer members keen to invest insome very enjoyable drinking down the line. As ever, these archive wines are verylimited in quantity, and rationing is in place to ensure fair distribution.Like any other bottle in Society Lists and offers, these wines may be stored in theoptimum storage environment of The Society’s Members’ Reserves facility. Ouronly condition is that combinations of individual wines selected by members mustbe stored, and withdrawn, in units of 12 bottles, so please take drink dates intoaccount when making your choice.DOMAINE JEAN-LOUIS CHAVEThe reputation of Hermitage was based on the quality of the white wine and some would argue that it is still the white that makesHermitage great. That is very much the view of Jean-Louis Chave, who probably makes the grandest of Hermitage whites. The maingrape variety is marsanne, golden when picked and producing a weighty wine, honeyed, often nutty, generous and very rich and withan extraordinary ability to age. White Hermitage is a food wine requiring big flavours. Crab, lobster, rich creamy sauces and maturecheeses, all go well with white Hermitage. The wines should never be too chilled and are best served from a decanter. Jean-Louis’ redsare not blockbusters, more wines of quiet power, concentration and elegance that chime with the more subtle flavours of young lamb,beef or farmed venison. Marcel Orford-WilliamsREDSE-RH27461 Hermitage Rouge, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2008 £95 bottle £1140 dozenWhat Jean-Louis Chave achieved in the 2008 vintage was a wine built on finesse, lengthand purity of flavour. This was the result of hard work with much effort in the vineyardand during the harvest where only perfect grapes were retained. 2015 to 2028. 14%E-RH18641 Hermitage Rouge, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2004 £109 bottle £1308 dozenThis polished syrah is approachable now but will respond to a couple of hours in adecanter before serving. Bewitching. Now to 2022. 14% (low stock)E-RH25431 Hermitage Rouge, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2007 £135 bottleJean-Louis Chave was struggling with pneumonia when the 2007s were last tastedin November. Nothing ailing about the wines though; the 2007 red Hermitage isvery classy with great depth of flavour and concentration. 2015 to 2028. 14%Limited stock three bottles only per member.20 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

WHITESE-RH27451 Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2008 £95 bottle £1140 dozen2008 was very good vintage for white Rhônes: less full than usual, fresher, fruitier anddecidedly more Burgundian in feel, they are untypical but very fine indeed. Now to2021. 14.5%Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2007Very sensuous and creamy, delicious now but a keeper too. Now to 2025. 14.5%(available only as part of mixed case E-MX1344)E-RH18651 Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, 2004 £109 bottle £1308 dozenThe complete white Hermitage: very full-bodied, richly textured, honeyed, multidimensionaland incredibly fine. Lovely now in its youth or lay down for at least tenyears. Never chill and always decant. Now to 2018. 14.5%CUSTOM CELLARS £329THREE CHAVE REDSCUSTOM CELLARS £279THREE CHAVE WHITESDrink 2015 to 2018This case contains one bottle each of the three reds on page 20ref E-MX1343Drink now to 2018This case contains one bottle each of the three whites aboveref E-MX1344A SMALL BORIE COLLECTIONChâteau Ducru-Beaucaillou has the classic proportions, solid structure, strong and stylish personality and elegance that epitomise Saint-Julien at its best. Add the flair, drive and charm of current owner/manager Bruno Borie and you have a formidable mix…and one ofBordeaux’s great success stories. The grand vin is much admired by English palates, rightly so if mature vintages tasted recently areanything to go by. Second wine Croix de Beaucaillou and Society members’ favourite, Hortevie, from a neighbouring vineyard, reveal adefinite family resemblance and offer exceptional value. Château Fourcas Borie in Listrac, a recent and more modest addition to thefamily portfolio is, we firmly believe, one to watch. Joanna Locke MWE-CM14601 Château Fourcas-Borie, 2008, Listrac-Médoc £12.95 bottle £155 dozenThis property, previously called Fourcas Dumont, was bought by the Borie family ofDucru-Beaucaillou for this vintage. Remarkably round, forward, and charming. Exclusiveto The Wine Society in the UK. Now to 2018. 13.5% Low stock.E-CM12981 Hortevie, 2008, Saint-Julien £21 bottle £252 dozenThe Hortevie vineyard (without a château, hence no château in the name) neighboursDucru and produces reliably cellarworthy Saint-Julien, consistently representing excellentvalue. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot. 2014 to 2024. 13%E-CM12331 Croix de Beaucaillou, 2007, Saint-Julien £27 bottle £324 dozen2007 was generally not a year to buy ‘second’ wines to lay down but this, along with thesecond wines of some first growths, is the exception that proves the rule. With 95%cabernet sauvignon this greatly impressed us at the primeur tastings. Now to 2019. 13%Low stock.E-CM13751 Hortevie, 2009, Saint-Julien £28 bottle £336 dozenHortevie is a wine we have followed over many vintages. Bruno Borie has addedextra polish to enhance both quality and reputation, and the 2009 is a delicious success.2016 to 2025. 13.5%E-CM12551 Croix de Beaucaillou, 2006, Saint-Julien £32 bottle £384 dozenWith greater selection in the Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyard, its second wine is on a level ofquality with other classed growth Saint-Juliens. From the Plateau de Beychevelle next toGruaud Larose, the 2006 is 50% each cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Now to 2018. 13%For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117721

E-CM9182 Half bottle of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2004, Saint-Julien £45 per half bottleElegant Saint-Julien from a delicious claret vintage, classic in style, with the freshness,good balance and finesse that only top quality Bordeaux can provide. 2015 to 2025.13%E-CM12801 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2007, Saint-Julien £79 bottle £948 dozenBruno Borie made a stunning success of the challenging 2007 vintage and this was astandout wine at the primeur tastings. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, with topquality press wine adding tannin and body. 2020 to 2030. 13%E-CM8451 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2003, Saint-Julien £90 bottle £1080 dozenRich and spicy with deep flavour and long-lasting finish and a very high mark from USwine guru Robert Parker! 2015 to 2030. 13%E-CM11791 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2006, Saint-Julien £92 bottle £1104 dozenHighly distinguished wine for the vintage, generous yet refined, and with fine keepingpotential with majority cabernet sauvignon, around a third merlot and 5% eachcabernet franc and petit verdot. 2018 to 2030. 13%DUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU CUSTOM CELLAR CASE £259Drink 2020 to 2030A three-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2003, Saint-JulienChâteau Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2006, Saint-JulienChâteau Ducru-Beaucaillou, 2007, Saint-Julienref E-MX134622 To order 01438 740222 smartphone app

THE SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION RANGEThe way we were, and still going strongIn 1999, year of The Society’s 125th birthday, the inaugural Exhibition range consisted of just ten European classics. Fourteen years on, some40 wines now sport the distinctive label, but our philosophy is unchanged. It is, quite simply, to transport our members to the world’s finerappellations, using growers we trust implicitly to express the specific character and complexity of their patches of earth.In the selection of reds below, members can look to the Lafite-Rothschild stable for the refined muscle-tone they rightly expect ofPauillac while enjoying the mature, cassis-infused suppleness of a gran reserva courtesy of über-bodega La Rioja Alta. The subtle spiceand silk of fine Chianti Classico are perfectly captured for us by the winemaking team at Poggiopiano, and our red Burgundy of choiceis an outstanding parcel of estate-grown Monthélie from Louis Jadot and a fine vintage. Our Haut-Médoc comes from none other thanChâteau Beaumont, a members’ favourite in its own right, and our deep-throated Exhibition Gigondas from the precociously talentedLouis Barruol of Saint Cosme.E-IT15041 The Society’s Exhibition Chianti Classico, 2009 £11.50 bottle £138 dozenA particularly charming vintage with good body and structure and velvety fruit.This is pure sangiovese from the Bartoli family’s Poggiopiano estate. Now to 2017.14% The 2010 follows.E-CM15021 The Society’s Exhibition Haut-Médoc, 2008 £11.95 bottle £143 dozenFrom members’ favourite Château Beaumont, an elegant ‘modern classic’: fragrant andmore structured than the 2007 which preceded it, the majority healthy merlot makesthis claret consistently approachable young, here with a touch of oak spice. Now to2018. 13% (low stock)E-SP7121 The Society’s Exhibition Rioja Reserva, 2006 £12.50 bottle £150 dozenOur popular Exhibition Rioja is elegant and smooth, made in the traditional style andaged for five years before release by the famous La Rioja Alta bodega. Now to 2016.13.5%E-RH23961 The Society’s Exhibition Gigondas, 2007 £13.95 bottle £167 dozenOutstanding Gigondas in an outstanding vintage, assembled by an outstandingwinemaker, Louis Barroul at Château de Saint Cosme. It is rich and seductive, butfabulously concentrated, dark and spicy, and brooding in its intensity. Decant and servewith venison, or hold and watch it develop over many years. Now to 2018. 14.5%E-BU48561 The Society’s Exhibition Monthélie, Domaine Louis Jadot, 2009 £17.50 bottle £210 dozenFragrant, light-boned wine from Jadot’s own vines in Monthélie, a village which bordersVolnay, whose wines it resembles. The extra ripeness of the 2009 vintage is evidenthere. Now to 2016. 13%E-CM14101 The Society’s Exhibition Pauillac, 2007 £19.50 bottle £234 dozenElegant claret from smart addresses within the Lafite-Rothschild stable. We chose tooffer the more forward 2007 before the more classic 2006, which needed more time.Nevertheless, this wine benefits greatly from decanting which will give an idea of itsfuture potential. Now to 2016. 12.5%THE OLD WORLD EXHIBITION CASE £85Drink now to 2016A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following:The Society’s Exhibition Pauillac, 2007The Society’s Exhibition Haut-Médoc, 2008The Society’s Exhibition Gigondas, 2007The Society’s Exhibition Rioja Reserva, 2006The Society’s Exhibition Monthélie, Domaine Louis Jadot, 2009The Society’s Exhibition Chianti Classico, 2009/2010ref E-MX1350For advice thewinesociety.com/advice or 01438 74117723

SERVICESMembers’ Reserves: optimum wine storageThis purpose-built, temperature-controlled facility offers members access tooptimum storage conditions at one of the UK’s most competitive rates.● Optimum storage at a steady average temperature of 13˚C with appropriatehumidity of 65%● Annual rental charge (currently £7.92 per dozen if paid by direct debit,£9.12 per dozen if not) includes VAT and insurance at replacement value● Mix your own case for storage, or store pre-mixed cases● Remove a few bottles of a full case stored in Reserves and leave the remainder tomature further● View your stored wines online with updated drink dates● When you are ready to receive your wines, UK delivery is free of chargethewinesociety.com/membersreservesVintage Cellar Plan – the simple and affordable way to createa cellar of fine wineChoose from a range of plans and then let The Society’s buyers do the rest, usingtheir expertise to seek out exceptional parcels of wine for your future enjoyment.thewinesociety.com/vintagecellarplanFine Wine Advisers – here to helpPlease contact the Fine Wine Advisers for help with wine selection, food matchingand any other wine-related subject. Visit thewinesociety.com/advice or call 01438741177 to find out more.The Society’s Fine Wine ListPlease note that many of these wines are available only in limited quantities andwill be sold on a first-come first-served basis. Prices are correct at the time ofpublication, but The Society reserves the right to amend them at any time during thelife of this List.For details on ordering from The Society see page 136 of the main List.KEYSee page144 of the main List for fulldescriptionsWhite Wines:bone dry, eg. Muscadeta little fuller than bone dry or with lower aciditydry but rich or lighter and sweetermedium dry, usually demi-secsmedium sweet, the driest of the pudding-style wines- dessert grade sweetness eg. SauternesAlcohol levelsAlcohol percentage by volume is indicated for each wineor spirit. Occasionally there will be slight variations fromthe published figure. Alcohol levels are only a guide to awine’s fullness; other factors such as tannin and extract inred wines also contribute to overall impression of weightand the note on the wine should make this clear. Unitsof alcohol are increasingly printed on wine labels. A UKunit of alcohol is simply measured by multiplying alcoholby volume. Thus a standard 13% 75cl bottle of wine willcontain 9.7 units of alcohol.Units pervolume % standard bottle14.5 10.914 10.513.5 10.113 9.7512 9.011 8.2510 7.59 6.75The UK governmentrecommends thatmen do not regularlyexceed 3-4 unitsa day, and thatwomen do notregularly exceed 2-3units a day. It alsorecommends thatpregnant women donot drink alcohol.Please note:● Members wishing to store mixed cases in our Reserves facility are advised to take note of thedrinking windows highlighted in the wine note of the wines included in it.● Our Stevenage Showroom doesn’t hold stocks of all the fine wines listed, so pre-ordering isrecommendedThis offer is open until Sunday 28th April, 2013 while stocks last.To order 01438 740222 smartphone appUncork with confidenceAs a mutual organisation, members’pleasure is paramount. If, forany reason, you haven’t enjoyeda wine we want to hear about itand will happily offer a credit,a replacement or a refund asappropriate. For conditions pleasesee thewinesociety.com/promiseThe International ExhibitionCo-operative Wine Society Limited.Registered Office: Gunnels Wood Road,Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2BTRegister Number: 1824R (IP)Website thewinesociety.comEnquiries 01438 741177Orders 01438 740222EFEB13