Beyond the obvious

Hidden gems, open to taste

Beyond the obvious.

When it comes to wine we can all be a little guilty of sticking to our favourites and what we know and like. Likewise, when we think of certain countries or regions we can often look at the big picture and just associate them with one or two styles of wine. Climate and terroir have a big impact on what can be grown and produced where, but it does sometimes pay to look beyond the obvious and discover hidden gems that might fall under the radar compared to their headline winning counterparts.

If you think of Argentina, chances are your first thought will be Malbec and for good reason, their smooth, dense, lusciously fruity wines are delicious and if you've visited us in the shop you'll know we stock a fantastic range. As great as these wines are, the possibilities that Argentina's terroir can offer extends well beyond just Malbec and we're seeing phenomenal quality Cabernet Franc due to the high altitude retaining many of the delicate nuances this grape can show.

Our favourite example of this is the Bressia Cabernet Franc Monteagrelo, produced by experienced winemaker Walter Bressia. Alongside his son, Walter Jnr, the pair are crafting their very own compelling expressions of the region with intensely personal wines. The grapes are sourced from the Agrelo and Valle de Uco regions of Mendoza on impressive high alitutde vineyards producing fruit of exceptional quality. The nose on this wine is like stepping out from Walter's old Mercedes into this high mountain vineyard, full of mountain air purity, speaking volumes about the Uco Valley. The leafy graphite nose follows through on to the palate with fruit of cassis, sour cherry and crushed rocks. A stunning wine, intense, concentrated and fine with great varietal typicity. Pair this with a beautifully cooked steak and you'll have a match made in heaven. If, however you're too cool for Cabernet and mad for your Malbecs then we have a broad range of different styles from a wide variety of altitudes and regions within Argentina.

In a similar vein, New Zealand has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc and you'll be hard pushed to find a wine list without a good example on there. This zingy, citrusy, herbaceous white wine put Zealand on the map but despite this grape dominating the country's vineyards, there's far more that New Zealand has to offer. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are great alternatives to look for and after a poor Sauvignon Blanc harvest over the last year, they will offer much greater value for money. Hawkes Bay's unique climate amplifies the aromas of aromatic grapes like Pinot Gris, giving richer fruit with great texture, producing wines that are much more complex and sophisticated than it's baby brother Pinot Grigio.

A great example of this is the Sileni Pinot Gris Cellar Selection, produced in a state-of-the-art winery and overseen by vineyard manager Ritchie Garnham. His crack team of five ensure vineyard operations are done in an efficient and timely manner, with all being incredibly passionate about the ability of Hawke's Bay to produce world-class wines. The Cellar Selection Pinot Gris has classic aromatic peach flavours along with beautifully balanced acidity and a long finish. Off-dry in style, this wine would be delicious with all seafood but especially some grilled scallops with lemon and black pepper. We like to champion New Zealand's hidden gems so if Pinot Gris doesn't tickle your tastebuds then we also have an Organic Pinot Noir and Riesling for you to discover.

We're delighted to have shop tastings back and this weekend we want you to come and try these fantastic wines to see for yourself the diversity that New Zealand and Argentina has to offer. Not only do we have both the Bressia Cabernet Franc and the Sileni Pinot Gris open for you to try, we're also putting them on offer for you at

Bressia Cabernet Franc – RRP £16.50 / Offer - £13.50

Sileni Pinot Gris – RRP £11.99 / Offer - £9.99

We look forward to seeing you this weekend with a glass in hand.