Staff Picks from Our 100+ New European Wines
Just before Christmas day, we received a container-load of brand new wines from Europe. If you've visited the Auckland store recently you might have noticed our shelves are positively heaving; or maybe noticed that our New Arrivals section is packed full of new wines - some super rare, others cult faves, and many that have never been in New Zealand before too!
We quickly realised that, with over 100 different wines arriving at once, (from five different countries!) it can be daunting working through them all! So we thought we would make it a bit easier for you by checking in with Everyday Wine team members Hippo, James and Dan on what they're enjoying most from the recent arrivals.
Hippo
2020 Les Cailloux du Paradis Quartz: A really incredible wine that’s unlike any Loire Sauvignon I’ve tasted before. Super mineral, very clean, beautiful texture and so much depth of flavour. Old oak influence. Spicy! Long, saline finish. I cannot get enough of this!
2018 Jo Landron 'Le Fief du Breil' Muscadet: A Muscadet with 26 months on lees! Brioche and stonefruit. A very textural yet fresh white wine with the salinity of the Loire Valley terroir.
James
2021 Comando G 'La Bruja de Rozas' Grenache: Comando G are one of those cult producers I've had my eye on for a while and was super excited to finally see these wines arrive in New Zealand. A really excellent Garnacha (Grenache), lots going on, lots to enjoy. Bright and fruit-forward, strawberry and cherry, tobacco, leather, quite spicy. Balanced. Really enjoyed finishing this on day two as it seemed to open up even more.
2020 Domaine de la Borde 'Foudre Canon Nature' Savagnin: If you’ve never tried good Jura Savagnin, now is your chance! This is a textbook ouillé (non oxidative) Savagnin - it’s citrussy, lots of fresh hay, green apple, slightly flinty. Concentrated but light on its feet. The acidity is bold but so well integrated, and it ends on a moreish salty note.
Dan
2022 Jo Landron 'Amphibolite' Muscadet – The French have it figured out; Muscadet’s the ultimate oyster wine. Period. Fresh, light, briney white wine – it’s the perfect summer drink and seemed to be a winner with everyone at the beach this Christmas, seriously.... I had both Sav and Chardy drinkers loving it!
2017 Pian dell Orino 'Vigneti del Versante' Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese - For years I had only ever tried the cheaper wines from Pian dell Orino in Tuscany but this Christmas I took the plunge and bought their Brunello. This is Sangiovese on steroids. They're the best slopes in Montalcino (the best part of Chianti/Tuscany). Best fruit. Hand picked. Long maturation. Long time in bottle. This wine was in perfect balance and total harmony. Don’t believe me? Google them! Previous vintages have even earned 100 points with big names like James Suckling and Robert Parker. Deep, clean, elegant, complex, the perception of sweetness on the nose, balanced, and very, very long. As well as the expected warmth and richness and initial flavours of black cherry, cocoa and vanilla, there is an irresistible purity of fruit launched on the back of some bright acidity and finely calibrated tannins. What a phenomenal Brunello. Open a half hour before you want to enjoy it or watch it unfold in the glass.
More wines are being added to the shelves and website daily as we continue to unpack and upload! Coming soon: Tokaji from Hungary, From France: Syrah (Côte-Rôtie) and Grolleau Noir (Loire); and Valpolicella Amarone (Italy, natch) for good measure. Watch this space!