Grapevine Wisdom
Getting a little lost in all the vineyard verbiage? Fear not, The Whisky Exchange’s Master of Wines, Dawn Davies, offers up her top picks for a well-stocked wine stash
words by Dawn Davies MW
St Veran Bois de Fee Domaine Thibert Pere et Fils
Burgundy prices have gone through the roof recently, and so drinking casually at home has become less realistic. However, the Maconnais in southern Burgundy can offer some great value wines. This St Veran is a great example of this. A beautifully-crafted Burgundy with the elegance and depth of many of the wines of the North.
Vina Gravonia Blanco 2010
This legendary white wine from Lopez de Heredia shows just how amazing white wine can be with a bit of age. This wine is only released when it is around 10 years old, it is incredibly complex with notes of baked apples, toast and honey. This is a wine that deserves a beautiful baked skate with butter or to be enjoyed with your Sunday roast chicken
Bruno Rocca Barbaresco
I love Italian wines, especially those from Piedmont where Nebbiolo reigns supreme. This grape variety delivers beautifully-structured wines with an attractive perfume of red cherries and violets. Bruno Rocca is one of the masters of Barbaresco and this wine has always been a favourite with its elegant fruit – red berry, thyme, caraway and a hint of olive. The perfect wine for lamb or pork belly.
Finca Suarez Tinto 2018
When I want to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a bottle without too much thought, I often reach for this delicious wine. A blend of Merlot and Malbec from Argentina and the Zuccardi winery, this wine never fails to please. There is plenty of juicy fruit there with blueberry and raspberry, but a herbaceous note of bay leaf and thyme keeps the fruit in check. This is not a one glass wonder, more like a two bottle delight.
Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2015
Everyone deserves bubbles, and whilst I love champagne and always have a bottle in the fridge for when I need sparkle in my life, I’m also a big fan of British sparkling wine. Enter Gusbourne; a winery in Kent that’s making absolutely beautiful wines that rival any Champagne. A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meurnier this Brut Reserve boasts notes of brioche, white hedgerow flowers and English orchard fruits.
