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Wine Society – autumn 2017 audit

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The usual fair prices and exceptionally interesting selection here, with Chile providing some of the best value. See this post in the forum, and be aware that most of these wines are available in many a country other than the UK. 

Wine Society prices represent market rates but, comparing some of them, you do have to question the workings of the market. As I never tire of writing and saying, there is no direct correlation between price and quality in wine – especially in Bordeaux. 

The 53 wines are listed in the order tasted but you can change that.

Almost equal parts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier...

More complex on the nose than the Bride Valley – some older...

Malvasia di Candia, Malvasia di Lazio, Greco, Bombino.
Rather...

The Guardavalle grape, native to Calabria. It comes from two...

Light, delicate, quintessentially fresh and alpine. I did not...

Second vintage. 60% Viognier, 30% Roussanne and 10% Marsanne.
Ve...

Marsanne vinified like a red with 30 days' maceration, Roussanne...

Rui Reguinga’s rare white comes from a high, mixed-planted plot...

Zesty and pure, with a real line through it. Juicy and...

Made in tank. Crisp and very structured. Dry end. Teenage.

From a vineyard of 70-year-old vines, just behind Le Montrachet...

From Jadot's own domaine, this is a blend of both village and...

Pale straw. Alpine flowers but a little bit of sweatiness too...

Chenin Blanc comes from a small walled vineyard with stony...

Made 19 km from the Pacific in the Rosario Valley.
Very pale...

Subtle and minerally and juicy and really so attractive I found...

65% Sauvignon and 35% Sémillon.
Water white. More aromatic and...

Rather simple on the nose and eviscerated on the palate. Doesn’t...

Colourless. A bit austere on the end. Correct but without quite...

Mid-honeyed straw colour. Well balanced and lively and...

Water white. Intensely floral nose. Pretty good and satisfying...

Pale honey-straw colour. Sweet and just a bit watery. Not enough...

From the Neckar Valley. Old vines and aged in barrel for a few...

Bright crimson. Light, juicy nose. So delightfully fresh and...

From one of the top sites near the windmill itself. Philippe...

Mid garnet. Slightly funky, earthy nose. Lots of fresh fruit...

Côtes de Nuits pedigree, from a vineyard in Comblanchien.
Very...

30-40% whole-bunch-fermented fruit.
Mid ruby. Great funky-but...

Local Negru with Saperavi. Bright crimson. Something a little...

Bright crimson. Lightly dusty overlay on bright, fresh fruit...

100% Sangiovese aged in barrel.
Very bright crimson. Intense...

From high-lying vineyards in eastern Portugal, close to the...

Unoaked Mencia from the banks of the river Sil in Galicia, north...

Touriga Nacional and Syrah, 12 months in French and American oak...

Made exclusively for The Wine Society by Coonawarra’s Parker...

75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc.
Mid crimson. Light, correct nose...

Deep, bright purplish crimson. Rather fuller and a bit more New...

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 38% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc...

Still very deep crimson. Sweet and slightly formless nose...

Mostly Cabernet and Merlot with a dash of Syrah, Grenache and...

Cabernet-led Bordeaux blend. Light shaded garnet. Very well...

100% Garnacha. Mid bright crimson. Not particularly distinct on...

Garnacha. Pale crimson. Gamey nose. Very light and fresh. Really...

Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), from the Pérez Pascuas family...

Carignan from a small, high-altitude vineyard in northern Spain...

25% old Carignan, 65% Garnacha, 10% Syrah.
Bright crimson. Very...

Round and satisfying and ridiculous value. Beautifully...

90% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre.
Mid crimson. Blackcurrant pastilles...

So much gentler and more attractive than the Carignan/Mourvèdre...

Ramisco grows ungrafted in the sands (arenae) of the Atlantic...

Rather suspiciously modern-looking label. 90% Nebbiolo.
Pale...

Man walked on the moon in the same year that this was made. This...

High proportion of Touriga Nacional. Mid crimson. Spices, wood...

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