Ned’s Club August wine box with Master Sommelier Vincent Gasnier

Vincent talks us through this month's pick of wines.

What's in the box?

WHITE

Quercus Pinot Bianco, Goriska Brda, Slovenia

Just over the border from Italy’s Friuli region, the hills of Goriska Brda are really a continuation of the same landscape, and produce equally excellent white wines, crisp yet textured. On the nose there are notes of apple, grapefruit and lemon, as well as a pleasant floral aroma. Smooth and full-bodied on the palate, with a long finish.


Conte della Vipera, Castello della Sala, Umbria, Italy

Antinori’s Castello della Sala estate may have put Italian Chardonnay on the map, but this bordeaux-inspired blend of Sauvignon and Semillon is every bit as impressive, showing classic Sauvignon aromas of peach, herbs and melon, backed up by citrussy Semillon. Dry and zesty yet with ample weight and richness in the mouth.


Inopia blanc, R&M Saouma, Rhône Valley, France

From exceptional vineyards bordering Châteauneuf-du-Pape, owned by the star couple behind Lucien Le Moine in Burgundy, this wine sets a new standard for white Rhône. A blend of five local varieties, it is full and rich, yet tingling with lively flavours of grilled nuts, orchard fruit, and citrus. Made in tiny quantities, this is a real tour de force!


RED

Bee-Side Grenache, Domaine of the Bee, Roussillon, France

A micro-estate owned by Master of Wine Justin Howard-Sneyd, Domaine of the Bee is producing some of the Roussillons most exciting wines just now. This pure Grenache is bursting with expressive red fruit, with a distinct mineral freshness, fine tannins and notes of fennel that balance the wine perfectly.


Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Langmeil, Barossa Valley, Australia

The classic Rhône blend, from Australia’s leading region, Langmeil’s Three Gardens shows the benefits of handling great fruit with a light touch. Showing lifted aromas of black cherry and blueberry with hints of mocha, spice and white pepper, this wine has luscious fruit contained within a refreshing, medium-bodied style.

Othello, Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, USA

Christian Moueix is a legend on both sides of the Atlantic, having managed Château Pétrus for almost four decades while also founding his famous Napa Estate, Dominus. This exceptional wine comes from the latter: a selection of earlier-drinking lots that are bottled separately from the main Dominus blend to give a more accessible expression of the vineyard. Intense yet precise red fruit aromas are complemented by notes of black pepper and laurel, with a supple structure and lovely aromatic persistence on the palate.