Grand Vin Wine Merchants UK | Blog

The 2019 vintage from Chateau Rieussec in Sauternes has just been released. Rieussec, whose vineyards border those of Yquem, is owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite. The Rothschilds are positioning this release, already outside of the traditional  en primeur  system, as ' L’Art de La Métamorphose ', with a positive drive towards greater sustainability with environmentally friendly packaging. A brilliant Rieussec with so much personality Jane Anson, Decanter “ The time had come for Rieussec to reinvent itself... Devising an original bottle, one that you want to keep when it’s finished, is part of this same philosophy. ”  - Saskia de Rothschild They are releasing the wine in recycled glass bottles, that might be re-used when empty. The bottle is designed with a re-usable cork, which can be kept in the fridge so that you can enjoy the wine over a couple of weeks - even the label is easily removable - and the bottles are packaged in eco-friendly cardboard boxes of 4. This

  The charming and ebullient Michel Chapoutier, the legendary  Rhône producer, has just released his 2020  Sélections Parcellaires , his single vineyard wines , and we were very privileged to attend a tasting with him in London this week. At the risk of sounding clichéd, both the reds and whites were amazing! Chapoutier is incredibly enthusiastic, and loves to talk in great depth about a great many things when it comes to his wines and wine making techniques. His opening gambit was that he doesn't try to make the best wine possible, but instead to reflect the best expression of his terroir! He moved on to say that 2020, a dry, warm vintage, had very similar conditions to those of 2003, a vintage which he freely admitted was pretty awful, with short, bitter wines. However, we were regaled with a lengthy and technical discourse on how his vines have adapted to the changing climate in the intervening years, due largely to the enormous efforts made in biodynamics and non-interventioni

  Last week I had the opportunity to taste a range of wines from  Rocca do Montegrossi  and I was genuinely stunned by just how good they were!  Rarely has a newly discovered wine producer left such a strong impression. 'I was completely blown away by the wines I tasted at Rocca di Montegrossi this year. Proprietor Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi turned out some of the most brilliant wines of his illustrious career.  I would be thrilled to own them' Antonio Galloni, September 2021   Rocca di Montegrossi is located in Monti in Chianti close to the Romanesque church of San Marcellino. Montegrossi boasts such neighbors as San Giusto a Rentennano, Badia a Coltibuono, & Il Palazzino.  The estate encompasses about 100 hectares; 20 of which are planted to vine, another 20 are olive groves, and the remainder is forest.  The primary varietal is Sangiovese (13 hectares), followed by Merlot (2.5 hectares), while the remaining 4.5 hectares are planted to Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon

  Piedmont is famous for its Nebbiolo-based wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, but we don't always want to (or can afford to!) drink these big wines on an everyday basis.  When it comes to finding something approachable in its youth, but can age for a decade, I often turn to Barbera.  Not only does the Barbera grape offer something different with unique aromatics and flavours, it's a style of wine that offers amazing value for money!   We are therefore delighted to offer a parcel of the outstanding 2017 Barbera d'Alba 'Vigna Vecchia' Scarrone from the legendary Vietti estate. 'The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone is positively gorgeous' Antonio Galloni   The vineyard is located in the Scarrone area, from the oldest portion of the vineyard, facing the south-east.  The yields are naturally low due to the age of the vines, and they are further reduced by a strict selection of the grapes.  We recently tasted a bottle and it is an absolute gem of a wine