{"title":"Anniversary","description":"Got a birthday or anniversary this year? Here are a bundle of wines and spirits that are ideal for those with big celebrations this year.","products":[{"product_id":"bonnenouvelle200475cl","title":"Bonne Nouvelle 2004 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis was a less than successful project from travelling winemaker Michel Rolland in the early noughties. Big, powerful, jammy and full, this wine is classic Rolland winemaking that has had a decade to soften and the price to become more realistic!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2001, Michel and Dany Rolland decided to create a Bordeaux style cuvee in the Stellenbosch terroir, with the purpose of producing the best possible quality by applying accurate and respectful cultural methods of the outstanding environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is produced on the Property of Remhoogte Estate, a historic domain of the famous wine region that was established in 1812, which is situated on the Simonsberg Hills. This vineyard is looked after by seven families who live on the property, and here everything is \"hand-made\", even the treading of the grapes in order to obtain the softest possible extraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis terroir benefits from ideal conditions for the production of red wines and is also a great site to be able to see the Table Mountain of Cape Town in the skyline along with some antelopes and zebras!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMichel Rolland has chosen to create this wine in the Bordeaux style method, however he includes a significant proportion of Pinotage, paying homage to the country in which he produces the wine. The wine is described as \"the soul of a Grand Cru Bordelais and the identity of its country\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: South Africa | Region: Stellenbosch | Alcohol: 15% | Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage | Contains Sulphites\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dreyfus Ashby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18322226117,"sku":"373","price":24.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_3617.JPG?v=1559148471"},{"product_id":"pocas20yearoldtawnyportdecanter75cl","title":"Pocas 20 Year Old Tawny Port Decanter 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Pale to mid-deep amber\/tawny. Open and gentle on the nose showing walnuts and brazil nuts. Savoury, quite rich in style but suave with a silky texture and a spicy edge. Long and complex with marmalade on the finish.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points, Richard Mayson for Decanter Magazine.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePocas was founded just before the end of the First World War when Manoel Domingues Pocas Jr decided to set up his own port company. Still in family hands, this is a producer of exceptional quality and one you should give a shot.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro Valley | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional | Family Producer\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oeno Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31405866352712,"sku":"11821","price":54.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_5764_copy.jpg?v=1575381923"},{"product_id":"chateaudemontifaudheritagelouisvallet50yearold70cl","title":"Chateau de Montifaud Heritage Louis Vallet 50 Year Old 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"An intense rich aroma of dried apricots and marzipan with a very smooth palate, gentle stone fruit and some sandlewood. Cognac producers use the term 'rancio', which is a flavour the emerges from cognac in barrel over 10 years of age and starts off as vanilla and nuts, goes through curry, ginger, chocolate and onto a woody, nutmeg, tobacco element. This Cognac is certainly in the latter part of the rancio flavour profile!\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Montifaud is very much a family enterprise with Michel and Catherine Vallet, their son Laurent and his wife Elodie all involved. This is lovely unadulterated pure, fine, perfumed cognac. A family domaine and distillery. 125 hectares of vineyard in the heart of the Archiac where the Grande and Petite Champagne meet, much sought after by the larger Houses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: France | Region: Cognac | Alcohol: TBC | Grapes: Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanc | Vegetarian | Vegan\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Thorman Hunt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31557231542344,"sku":"11463","price":214.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_2697_3fbfe2d8-7ece-4247-90c4-517529e2a2dc.jpg?v=1579113871"},{"product_id":"luis-xiv-50-year-old-fondillon-50cl","title":"Luis XIV 50 Year Old 'Saboners' Barrel Fondillon 50cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Very pruney - toffee, chocolate, intense and dark and haunting. Imagine a Michelin star chef made sticky toffee pudding - that is what this smells like. There is a lift to it, a freshness with ginger spicy notes. The palate has loads of acidity, nudging into Balsamic vinegar flavours with tang, but then there is tobacco and leather and more of that dried fruit - almost fruit jerky! A once in a lifetime experience.\" \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 25 year old is a blend of 2 different soleras aged in 19th century American oak. A ‘saca’ was taken from each of the casks 805L 70 cántaros valencianos and 600L pipas and blended. The original casks are topped up individually with another wine at least 25 years old and will not have another saca for another 10 years. A different two will be selected for the next saca and bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Carbonell, a wine producer in Alicante who had stumbled across an old cellar containing some ancient barrels, mothballed since the 1960s. His story was so compelling, we’ve followed this through and I’d like to introduce you to ‘Luis XIV’ and the mythical Fondillón wines of the Levante.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2015, Ferrero Valdés, a contract grape supplier to Vins del Comtat, asked David to visit an old cellar at their winery, to give them some advice. The cellar, which included an old barrel room, had remained undisturbed since the 1960s. They uncovered a wonderful collection of 25 very old, traditional Fondillón ‘toneles’, still with their contents and in surprisingly good condition. It is important to understand that retaining the wine in its original barrel is integral to the tradition of Fondillón winemaking and the natural, constant temperature and humidity of the cellar here, had created ideal conditions to preserve the barrels and the wines they contained. There was very little documentation or information available to help them identify the actual age of the wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid and the families worked closely with various experts to ultimately gain classification by the Alicante Consejo Regulador as Fondillón and agree on approved labelling terminology to help denote the age of the wines. Their research included tracing the barrel cooperage markings and using carbon 14 dating on the wood. This has helped to ascertain the approximate manufacture date of the individual barrels and thereby an estimation of the age of the contents contained within. In summary, there are: 10 barrels ‘toneles’ of 800L, from the end of the 19th century. 4 barrels ‘toneles’ of 850L, from the end of the 19th century. 11 barrels ‘pipas’ of 500L, from the beginning of the 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother branch of the same wine family, Ballester, also joined the partnership. They have contributed old wines and barrels, as well as more recent vintages from their own cellar to add to the discovery at Ferrero Valdés. Ballester had continued to make and age Fondillón wines over the years, exclusively for family consumption. So, in 2018, David and the two families created Colección de Toneles Centenarios’ (CTC), a partnership with the clear objective to preserve and capitalise on their legacy. For them, the priority was to continue the Fondillón tradition for the future, as part of the heritage of the region. So, what is Fondillón…?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe true nature of Fondillón, requires looking beyond merely the ‘old’ and the ‘rare’. It is produced exclusively from Monastrell (Mourvèdre), the classic red grape grown in the Alicante region. Fondillones have the distinction of great longevity, capable of extended ageing in solera, protected by a naturally higher level of alcohol, achieved through overripening the grapes on the vine and are never fortified. The styles can range from off dry to semi-sweet. They are sometimes identified as ‘rancio’ wines, but the winemaking tradition does not deliberately seek to age the wines oxidatively. A natural element of oxidation does occur, over time, through the very extended ageing and due to evaporation. It is traditional, however, to keep the barrels topped up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is also solera style blending with replacement wines but in the same barrel to ensure the handling and exposure to air are more limited. The quality and ageing capacity is reliant on the naturally high alcohol achieved solely from overripe grapes. The single barrel solera is one of the most distinctive factors in creating Fondillón. The same barrel is usually retained for the whole of its lifetime. They are never fully emptied or cleaned and so there is a slow accumulation of lees in the bottom ‘fondo’. This can sometimes be a substantial amount, up to a third, in a very old barrel and is referred to as the ‘madre ancestrale’. The ‘rare’ nature of Fondillón is also due to the limits on quantity that can be extracted from the solera. Only 20-25% will be extracted for bottling at any one time. The solera then needs to be topped up with another aged Fondillón wine. The frequency will also be very limited, with several years between each ‘saca’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll this contributes to maintaining a very low, annual production. The past Historically, references to ‘Alicante’ wines date back to the 15th century. Alicante’s location on the Mediterranean coast favoured the trading of its ‘robust, sweet wine’ that could withstand the long voyages, without turning to vinegar. There are many historical references to Alicante wine as a favourite of the rich, royals and elite, most famously that of Louis de Rouvroy, Duc de Saint Simon, official chronicler of the court of Louis XIV. He recorded in the ‘Journal de la maladie du Roi’ in 1715, that Louis XIV on his deathbed would only countenance cakes soaked in Fondillón wine. Records show the high value placed on bottles of Fondillón and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Montecristo describes the Count choosing ‘Alicante wine’ over Port and Sherry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday the ‘last bastion’ of Fondillón, originally found all over Alicante, is the Vinalopó region. Only a limited number of producers have continued the tradition commercially and maintained their own soleras, some of which are extremely old. Today there are only 10 wineries certified by the Alicante Consejo Regulador to officially produce Fondillón. David states that Colección de Toneles Centenarios is the only producer to have recently been authorised to bottle and commercialise Fondillón. The last was approved some 15 years ago. Other wineries have requested, but not achieved certification, which is very strict, and no one is anticipating any more wineries to be admitted in the next few years. The Consejo has established procedures to classify wines recovered from old cellars, as well as define the characteristics and assess the quality of wines destined to be blended in soleras and bottled as Fondillón.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Alicante Consejo Regulador specify that new wines suitable to eventually enter the solera system must be: 100% Monastrell have a minimum of 16% natural alcohol (no fortification) have a minimum of 4 years of aging in old barrels before adding to a solera a maximum of 45g\/l residual sugar (no minimum) For a wine to be bottled and labelled as Fondillón it must have a minimum of 10 years ageing in old barrels, although all the wines from the Colección de Toneles Centenarios, plus those used for topping up soleras, well exceed these minimums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Spain | Region: Alicante | Alcohol: 17% | Grapes: Monastrell\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MHuh4iIfq-o\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oeno Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42482416287987,"sku":"12819","price":239.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_4219.jpg?v=1646140758"},{"product_id":"stiubhart-single-cask-collection-dumbarton-21-year-old-70cl","title":"Stiùbhart Single Cask Selection Dumbarton 21 Year Old 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you like American whiskies, but want something Scottish, this is for you. Distilled mostly with corn, it shares many characteristics with Bourbons but has a richer spiced note from the refilled hogshead.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded by American (with Scottish heritage) George Stewart in 2020, Stiùbhart whiskies are a new independent bottler, releasing outstanding single cask whiskies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Scotland | Region: Lowland | Alcohol: 55.5% | Non-Chill Filtered | Distilled 21st November 2000, Bottled 1st June 2022 | Cask 211090 | Re-fill Hogshead | 120 bottles\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stewart Whisky Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43008378437875,"sku":"13387","price":159.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_6204.jpg?v=1658500831"},{"product_id":"real-companhia-velha-vintage-port-2003-75cl","title":"Real Companhia Velha Vintage Port 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom the wonderfully hot year of 2003, this big, bold, sweet wine has oodles of blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry flavours mixed with soft anise and spice. Fantastic.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince its foudation on the 10th september 1756 by Royal Charter of D. José I, King of Portugal, under the auspices of his Prime Minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal, the importance of this chartered Company was reflected by the valuable services to the community, being the most relevant, the demarcation of the Douro region – the oldest wine appellation in the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince 1960, Real Companhia Velha has been run by the Silva Reis family, who have dedicated their efforts to the production of both Port and Douro wines, focusing on the study and development of the Douro \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eterroir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The Company owns 5 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003equintas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the Douro valley – Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta de Cidrô, Quinta dos Aciprestes, Quinta do Casal da Granja and Quinta do Síbio – with a total vineyard surface of 557 ha.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro Valley | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties | Vegetarian | Vegan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oeno Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43404678922483,"sku":"13475","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_7054.jpg?v=1666692345"},{"product_id":"royal-oporto-20-year-old-tawny-port-70cl","title":"Royal Oporto 20 Year Old Tawny Port 70cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis 20 Year Old Port presents a typical brick toned amber colour, indicative of its long ageing in oak. A very complex wine in which we discover a perfect balance between notes of nuts, dry raisins and oak. On the palate, shows great acidity, portrayed by a lively and long finish.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince its foudation on the 10th september 1756 by Royal Charter of D. José I, King of Portugal, under the auspices of his Prime Minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal, the importance of this chartered Company was reflected by the valuable services to the community, being the most relevant, the demarcation of the Douro region – the oldest wine appellation in the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince 1960, Real Companhia Velha has been run by the Silva Reis family, who have dedicated their efforts to the production of both Port and Douro wines, focusing on the study and development of the Douro \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eterroir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The Company owns 5 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003equintas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the Douro valley – Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta de Cidrô, Quinta dos Aciprestes, Quinta do Casal da Granja and Quinta do Síbio – with a total vineyard surface of 557 ha.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro Valley | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties | Vegan | Vegetarian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Marta Vine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43404712313075,"sku":"13470","price":54.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_7057.jpg?v=1666692937"},{"product_id":"royal-oporto-colheita-2004-75cl","title":"Royal Oporto Colheita 2004 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/USKkG0PCnDY\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSoft and honeyed with sweet tobacco notes, some marzipan and a sweet berry aroma coming off. A super soft palate, very well integrated alcohol with some soft, warming spices. Raspberry jam, dried figs, cloves and cinnamon and so harmonious on the finish. A superb bottle of wine. 93pts\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince its foudation on the 10th september 1756 by Royal Charter of D. José I, King of Portugal, under the auspices of his Prime Minister, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal, the importance of this chartered Company was reflected by the valuable services to the community, being the most relevant, the demarcation of the Douro region – the oldest wine appellation in the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince 1960, Real Companhia Velha has been run by the Silva Reis family, who have dedicated their efforts to the production of both Port and Douro wines, focusing on the study and development of the Douro \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eterroir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The Company owns 5 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003equintas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the Douro valley – Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta de Cidrô, Quinta dos Aciprestes, Quinta do Casal da Granja and Quinta do Síbio – with a total vineyard surface of 557 ha.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro Valley | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties | Vegetarian | Vegan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oeno Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43404712575219,"sku":"13473","price":52.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_7058.jpg?v=1666692946"},{"product_id":"fragrant-drops-30-year-old-french-brandy-70cl","title":"Fragrant Drops 30 Year Old French Brandy 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eTasting Note: Full-bodied and nuanced arroma, with hints of toasted almonds, dark chocolate, and dried fruit.Caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch flavours are present and are smooth and velvety. The French oak hogshead barrel enhances the flavour with hints of smokiness, spice, and oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry: France | Alcohol: 46.5% | 217 bottles | Cask Strength | Distilled 1991, Bottled 2022\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fragrant Drops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43704702042355,"sku":"13706","price":99.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_9692_bf27ef9e-bd24-4348-a3e7-12c987d561a1.jpg?v=1679665065"},{"product_id":"fragrant-drops-port-dundas-21-year-old-single-grain-70cl","title":"Fragrant Drops Port Dundas 21 Year Old Single Grain 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eTasting Note: With flavours of vanilla, toffee, caramel, and dark fruits like raisins and figs, this wine is rich and fragrant. A rush of sweetness is followed by a complex and layered mixture of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Moreover, the whisky gains a light smokiness from the wood aromas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProducer: \u003cspan\u003eLimited edition single grain Scotch whisky \"Fragrant Drops Port Dundas 21 Year Old American Oak Barrel\" has been matured for 21 years in American oak barrels. Upon flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and a light smokiness, it has a complex scent of vanilla, toffee, caramel, and dark fruits. The long, silky finish makes it a superb whisky to sip neat or with a little water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountry: Scotland | Region: Lowland | Alcohol: 62.1% | 187 bottles | Cask Strength | Distilled 2000, Bottled 2022\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fragrant Drops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43704875614451,"sku":"13711","price":95.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_9698_92f9b925-fa5a-4876-8e61-bb4d8f52935b.jpg?v=1679673080"},{"product_id":"moulin-touchais-coteaux-du-layon-2003-75cl","title":"Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhilst the family Touchais cannot claim to have pioneered the production of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emoelleux\u003c\/em\u003e, their ancestors were certainly making wine as far back as 1787. That’s eight generations so far, and counting… The first six were situated not within the town, but in Tigné, the location of the original\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eMoulin\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand it was from here that the original vineyard holding was built up, mostly to support the requirements for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCuisse de Bergère\u003c\/em\u003e, a hugely successful inexpensive branded rosé that was developed by Joseph Touchais in the late 1940s and around the same period the business was transferred to the cellars in Doué-La-Fontaine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe family still own an impressive 150 hectares of vines, spanning the communes of Tigné and Martigné-Briand, although the death of Joseph ten years ago saw the company split into two divisions; Vignobles Touchais, which retains 35 hectares of Chenin Blanc in the Coteaux-du-Layon appellation for the continued production of Moulin Touchais, whilst the other, Vin Touchais, is a trading company responsible for selling off the balance of the production in bulk to the larger Loire\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003enégoce\u003c\/em\u003e; which is mostly vinified as base wine for Méthode Traditionelle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe current incumbent is the 61 year old Jean-Marie Touchais, who took complete control of the winemaking from his father in 1990. Little has changed in the viticulture and vinification process and Jean-Marie continues with the traditional values of low yields, hand harvesting and a long, slow fermentation. The general principle behind the picking of grapes for Moulin Touchais is that around one-quarter of the crop is harvested relatively early (about 80 days after flowering) and whilst the fruit is slightly under-ripe. This component part helps to maintain the acidity in the final blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: France | Region: Coteaux du Layon, Loire | Alcohol: TBC | Grapes: Chenin Blanc | Family Producer\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oeno Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43766395404531,"sku":"13765","price":41.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_0433.jpg?v=1683797771"},{"product_id":"churchills-20-year-old-tawny-port-75cl","title":"Churchills 20 Year Old Tawny Port 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGentle sweet honey and with some nutmeg and cinnamon. Really elegant with an intense caramel finish. Delightfully excellent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the family port house was sold in 1970, Johnny Graham worked in the port trade for a while and decided he had to start his own house. In 1981 he did this, with his first vintage being 1982, and since then, he has grown Churchills (his wife's maiden name) into the quality focused, family run company it is today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Festa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44751546351859,"sku":"14175","price":49.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_3873.jpg?v=1707728588"},{"product_id":"quevedo-colheita-2003-75cl","title":"Quevedo Colheita 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Cf4XLfrMyb8?t=309s\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sensual wine - delicate fruit, soft butterscotch notes with a wee bit of honeydew melon on the end. Staggeringly good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Quevedo family lineage in viticulture goes back five generations. The first Quevedo vines were lovingly planted by Abel Gouveia Costa in 1889, in Valongo dos Azeites, S. João da Pesqueira. Abel's legacy was carried on by his son, Raul Gouveia Costa , who expanded the family's wine business. The torch then passed to his son-in-law, João Batista Quevedo , who not only expanded the vineyards to new properties, but also instilled in his son, Óscar Quevedo (Sr.), a deep love for wine production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeatriz 's family also had its roots in the Carrazeda district, contributing to the family's rich wine-growing heritage. Quinta da Alegria has been passed down through generations and continues to occupy a central position today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 1970s, Oscar and Beatriz Quevedo decided to start a family in S. João Pesqueira, in the heart of the Douro Valley. Both descend from families with a long history of growing grapes and producing Port wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOscar Sr. embarked on a mission to modernize the family's winemaking facilities, eventually building Quevedo's initial winery, which is currently undergoing expansion and remodeling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, the family cultivated 100 hectares of vineyards and 25 hectares of organic olive groves, cultivating the land and its legacy. It was only in 1993 that the Quevedo brand was officially founded, marking a new era for the family, which began bottling Port wines under its own label, thanks to Portugal's entry into the EU in 1986.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Quevedo legacy continues with the fifth generation, with Cláudia and Oscar Quevedo (Jr.) who followed in their parents' footsteps in the family business. Thanks to your dedication, the family tradition continues to thrive, and your own children will be the guardians of the legacy in the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage Wine \u0026 Port","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44754970902771,"sku":"14171","price":49.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_3908_bae83cf6-3cd0-4d83-82a7-e886cbdee324.jpg?v=1707835139"},{"product_id":"quevedo-20-year-old-tawny-port-75cl","title":"Quevedo 20 Year Old Tawny Port 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sexy little minx - plummy, funky, a little bold and forward. A wonderful, fun wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Quevedo family lineage in viticulture goes back five generations. The first Quevedo vines were lovingly planted by Abel Gouveia Costa in 1889, in Valongo dos Azeites, S. João da Pesqueira. Abel's legacy was carried on by his son, Raul Gouveia Costa , who expanded the family's wine business. The torch then passed to his son-in-law, João Batista Quevedo , who not only expanded the vineyards to new properties, but also instilled in his son, Óscar Quevedo (Sr.), a deep love for wine production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeatriz 's family also had its roots in the Carrazeda district, contributing to the family's rich wine-growing heritage. Quinta da Alegria has been passed down through generations and continues to occupy a central position today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 1970s, Oscar and Beatriz Quevedo decided to start a family in S. João Pesqueira, in the heart of the Douro Valley. Both descend from families with a long history of growing grapes and producing Port wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOscar Sr. embarked on a mission to modernize the family's winemaking facilities, eventually building Quevedo's initial winery, which is currently undergoing expansion and remodeling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, the family cultivated 100 hectares of vineyards and 25 hectares of organic olive groves, cultivating the land and its legacy. It was only in 1993 that the Quevedo brand was officially founded, marking a new era for the family, which began bottling Port wines under its own label, thanks to Portugal's entry into the EU in 1986.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Quevedo legacy continues with the fifth generation, with Cláudia and Oscar Quevedo (Jr.) who followed in their parents' footsteps in the family business. Thanks to your dedication, the family tradition continues to thrive, and your own children will be the guardians of the legacy in the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003eCountry: Portugal | Region: Douro | Alcohol: 20% | Grapes: Port Varieties\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage Wine \u0026 Port","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44754971001075,"sku":"14172","price":45.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_3905.jpg?v=1707835143"},{"product_id":"domaine-huet-le-mont-moelleux-vouvray-2003-75cl","title":"Domaine Huet Le Mont Moelleux Vouvray 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHints of maple syrup dance around your nose, with a sweet stone fruit element coming through. I got a little lychee on it, with some white flowers and peach on the end. A superb maturing Vouvray.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Le Mont Vineyard\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecognised since the 15\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCentury as being one of the most distinguished sites in the appellation, Le Mont was also known locally as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePerruches\u003c\/em\u003e, a local name for the greenish tinged clay soils flecked with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eperrons,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efist-sized pebbles of flint. This eight-hectare vineyard is situated below Le Haut Lieu and abuts the vineyards of Domaine Foreau. As with Le Clos du Bourg, it is positioned on the first\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecoteaux\u003c\/em\u003e, around two kilometres further to the east although the soil here is more profound and the vines need to delve deeper to access the honeycomb coloured\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003etuffeau\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebelow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRegardless of the style of wine produced, Le Mont is usually the last vineyard to be picked, the retarded ripening is reflected in the maturation of the wines as they are usually the last to develop, even if they remain very long lived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLe Mont was purchased by Gaston in November 1957 from the Saumur based sparkling wine producer, Ackerman-Laurance. They had previously sold the wine under the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003elieu-dit\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ename of ‘Clos le Mont’, with the 1945, 1946 and 1947 all listed by London based wine merchants, Saccone \u0026amp; Speed, in their 1951 catalogue. Price: 16 shillings and sixpence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the foot of the vineyard is a semi-troglodyte house, which became the home of the Pinguet’s. Cut into the honey-coloured rock at the back are the old cellars where the wines would have once been matured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the side is an old cave with two ancient wooden presses, last used in 1935. It is from here that one takes the 62 stairs cut in the rock in 1968 to access the main Huet cellar. At one point in time, Le Mont was also home to the gendarmes, and within one cellar in the house there is an old holding cell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston Huet was born in Plauzat, a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evillage vigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the Auvergne on the 4h April 1910. He came from a modest family. His father, Victor, ran the village café, which is where he met and married Anna-Constance Moreaux, Gaston’s mother, in September 1908. Victor served his country in the Great War, but as a victim of mustard gas, he suffered respiratory problems and, at the advice of his doctor, he gave up the bistro in search of another career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVictor’s own father was an\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAngevin\u003c\/em\u003e, so it was decided that the family would relocate to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eVal de Loire\u003c\/em\u003e. He was considering a future in forestry when, by chance, the couple happened upon the appropriately named Le Haut Lieu, high up on the plateau above Vouvray. It was Constance who fell in love with the low\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emanoir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith its pretty shutters and its south facing views over the valley. As it was, Victor became a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einstead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston, now 18, was encouraged to attend college where he studied general agronomy before returning to the domaine. Between 1929 (the first Huet vintage) and 1934, the wines were made at Le Haut Lieu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 1934, Gaston married Germaine Foreau, sister of André, whose family had installed themselves as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evignerons\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein Vouvray in 1923. The couple’s first daughter, Jacqueline was born in 1938.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThat same year, Gaston was destined to take over the running of the domaine from his father, although with an impending war, he found himself drafted into the French army as a lieutenant instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore leaving for the front, Gaston ensured that wines from their first few vintages were safely secreted in cellars along the Loire. \u003cspan\u003eIn the years that followed the war, Gaston and Germaine had two more children; a son, Jean, who duly followed his father by studying as a winemaker, and a daughter, Marie-Françoise. From the original three hectares, Le Haut Lieu grew to become nine and, in 1953, he added Le Clos du Bourg which is still considered by many to be the greatest single site within the appellation, and was followed, in 1957, by the addition of Le Mont. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1968 Marie-Françoise married local butcher’s son, Noël Pinguet, a beer drinker by his own admission who just happened to fall in love with the daughter of a \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e. In the early 1970s, Noël worked alongside his father-in-law and, although having no formal winemaking training, he took over the running of the cellar from the 1976 vintage. Apart from his five years spent in a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e POW camp, Gaston had lived the whole of his adult life at Le Haut Lieu; right up to the time of his death in April 2002. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no natural family successor (the Pinguet’s had two daughters but neither Anne nor Carine showed any interest in taking on the domaine), the property was offered up for sale and in 2003, Anthony Hwang, a Filipino born, New York based businessman took a controlling share.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 2003 and 2012 there were no real changes in the day to day running of domaine. Noël continued to tend the vines on its biodynamic principles, aided by the genial Jean-Bernard Berthomé, a local lad who had worked closely with Noël since 1978, joining directly from college.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the sale in 2003, Noël had a contract with Société Huet to work ‘part-time’ until his 70\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebirthday in 2015, although he and Hwang decided to part company in 2012. Jean-Bernard elected to retire in 2021. \u003cspan\u003eToday, it is Vouvrillon, Benjamin Joliveau, who officially started working at Huet in May 2009 (having just completed a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003estage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at Hoopenburg in the Cape) who heads up the cellar and vineyard team, whilst Sarah, Anthony’s daughter, is in overall charge of domaine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: France | Region: Vouvray, Loire | Alcohol: TBC | Grapes: Chenin Blanc | Organic | Biodynamic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dreyfus Ashby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44788435353843,"sku":"14185","price":74.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/products\/IMG_3983.jpg?v=1708606640"},{"product_id":"domaine-huet-le-clos-du-bourg-moelleux-vouvray-2003-75cl","title":"Domaine Huet Le Clos du Bourg Moelleux Vouvray 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApricots, quince and then a subtle citrus note comes out of this sweet Vouvray. Such a joy and with years to go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Le Clos du Bourg Vineyard\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso referred to locally as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eChatellenie du Bouchet\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLe Clos du Bouchet,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eLe Clos du Bourg is a six-hectare vineyard and a true\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eclos\u003c\/em\u003e, being surrounded by an ancient stone wall. It is acknowledged as the oldest\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecru\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the appellation. The site is recognised by name in eighth century records belonging to the Collégiale de Saint-Martin de Tours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyard sits on the first\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecoteaux\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eabove the town (\u003cem\u003ele bourg\u003c\/em\u003e) and directly behind the town church. The soil here is less than one metre deep, allowing the vines easy access to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003etuffeau\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edirectly below. Le Clos de Bourg is perhaps recognised as the most likely source for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emoëlleux\u003c\/em\u003e, from grapes that have been affected either by botrytis or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epasserillage\u003c\/em\u003e.  \u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to Gaston acquiring the vineyard in August 1953, it was owned by Russian born Charles Vavasseur, distinguished, along with Gaston, as a longstanding Mayor of Vouvray. In addition to Le Clos du Bourg, Vavasseur also owned Domaine des Biduadière and Domaine de l’Auberdière between the late 1800s and early 1900s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA tariff issued by Domaine des Biduadière dating from the first decade of the 1900s was offering the 1904 and 1906 vintages of Le Clos du Bourg for a couple of Francs each per bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston Huet was born in Plauzat, a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evillage vigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the Auvergne on the 4h April 1910. He came from a modest family. His father, Victor, ran the village café, which is where he met and married Anna-Constance Moreaux, Gaston’s mother, in September 1908. Victor served his country in the Great War, but as a victim of mustard gas, he suffered respiratory problems and, at the advice of his doctor, he gave up the bistro in search of another career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVictor’s own father was an\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAngevin\u003c\/em\u003e, so it was decided that the family would relocate to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eVal de Loire\u003c\/em\u003e. He was considering a future in forestry when, by chance, the couple happened upon the appropriately named Le Haut Lieu, high up on the plateau above Vouvray. It was Constance who fell in love with the low\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emanoir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith its pretty shutters and its south facing views over the valley. As it was, Victor became a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einstead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston, now 18, was encouraged to attend college where he studied general agronomy before returning to the domaine. Between 1929 (the first Huet vintage) and 1934, the wines were made at Le Haut Lieu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 1934, Gaston married Germaine Foreau, sister of André, whose family had installed themselves as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evignerons\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein Vouvray in 1923. The couple’s first daughter, Jacqueline was born in 1938.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThat same year, Gaston was destined to take over the running of the domaine from his father, although with an impending war, he found himself drafted into the French army as a lieutenant instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore leaving for the front, Gaston ensured that wines from their first few vintages were safely secreted in cellars along the Loire. \u003cspan\u003eIn the years that followed the war, Gaston and Germaine had two more children; a son, Jean, who duly followed his father by studying as a winemaker, and a daughter, Marie-Françoise. From the original three hectares, Le Haut Lieu grew to become nine and, in 1953, he added Le Clos du Bourg which is still considered by many to be the greatest single site within the appellation, and was followed, in 1957, by the addition of Le Mont. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1968 Marie-Françoise married local butcher’s son, Noël Pinguet, a beer drinker by his own admission who just happened to fall in love with the daughter of a \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e. In the early 1970s, Noël worked alongside his father-in-law and, although having no formal winemaking training, he took over the running of the cellar from the 1976 vintage. Apart from his five years spent in a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e POW camp, Gaston had lived the whole of his adult life at Le Haut Lieu; right up to the time of his death in April 2002. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no natural family successor (the Pinguet’s had two daughters but neither Anne nor Carine showed any interest in taking on the domaine), the property was offered up for sale and in 2003, Anthony Hwang, a Filipino born, New York based businessman took a controlling share.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 2003 and 2012 there were no real changes in the day to day running of domaine. Noël continued to tend the vines on its biodynamic principles, aided by the genial Jean-Bernard Berthomé, a local lad who had worked closely with Noël since 1978, joining directly from college.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the sale in 2003, Noël had a contract with Société Huet to work ‘part-time’ until his 70\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebirthday in 2015, although he and Hwang decided to part company in 2012. Jean-Bernard elected to retire in 2021. \u003cspan\u003eToday, it is Vouvrillon, Benjamin Joliveau, who officially started working at Huet in May 2009 (having just completed a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003estage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at Hoopenburg in the Cape) who heads up the cellar and vineyard team, whilst Sarah, Anthony’s daughter, is in overall charge of domaine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: France | Region: Vouvray, Loire | Alcohol: TBC | Grapes: Chenin Blanc | Organic | Biodynamic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dreyfus Ashby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44788436467955,"sku":"14089","price":74.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/files\/IMG_3981.jpg?v=1708612205"},{"product_id":"domaine-huet-le-clos-du-bourg-moelleux-1er-trie-2003-75cl","title":"Domaine Huet Le Clos du Bourg Moelleux 1er Trie Vouvray 2003 75cl","description":"\u003ch4\u003eTasting Note\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOh sweet nectar of heaven.... almonds, nectarines, peaches, sweet pears, quince... all you really need to know is you will not get better Vouvray than this!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Le Clos du Bourg Vineyard\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso referred to locally as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eChatellenie du Bouchet\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLe Clos du Bouchet,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eLe Clos du Bourg is a six-hectare vineyard and a true\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eclos\u003c\/em\u003e, being surrounded by an ancient stone wall. It is acknowledged as the oldest\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecru\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the appellation. The site is recognised by name in eighth century records belonging to the Collégiale de Saint-Martin de Tours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyard sits on the first\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ecoteaux\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eabove the town (\u003cem\u003ele bourg\u003c\/em\u003e) and directly behind the town church. The soil here is less than one metre deep, allowing the vines easy access to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003etuffeau\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edirectly below. Le Clos de Bourg is perhaps recognised as the most likely source for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emoëlleux\u003c\/em\u003e, from grapes that have been affected either by botrytis or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epasserillage\u003c\/em\u003e.  \u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to Gaston acquiring the vineyard in August 1953, it was owned by Russian born Charles Vavasseur, distinguished, along with Gaston, as a longstanding Mayor of Vouvray. In addition to Le Clos du Bourg, Vavasseur also owned Domaine des Biduadière and Domaine de l’Auberdière between the late 1800s and early 1900s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA tariff issued by Domaine des Biduadière dating from the first decade of the 1900s was offering the 1904 and 1906 vintages of Le Clos du Bourg for a couple of Francs each per bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProducer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston Huet was born in Plauzat, a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evillage vigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the Auvergne on the 4h April 1910. He came from a modest family. His father, Victor, ran the village café, which is where he met and married Anna-Constance Moreaux, Gaston’s mother, in September 1908. Victor served his country in the Great War, but as a victim of mustard gas, he suffered respiratory problems and, at the advice of his doctor, he gave up the bistro in search of another career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVictor’s own father was an\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAngevin\u003c\/em\u003e, so it was decided that the family would relocate to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eVal de Loire\u003c\/em\u003e. He was considering a future in forestry when, by chance, the couple happened upon the appropriately named Le Haut Lieu, high up on the plateau above Vouvray. It was Constance who fell in love with the low\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emanoir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith its pretty shutters and its south facing views over the valley. As it was, Victor became a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einstead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGaston, now 18, was encouraged to attend college where he studied general agronomy before returning to the domaine. Between 1929 (the first Huet vintage) and 1934, the wines were made at Le Haut Lieu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August 1934, Gaston married Germaine Foreau, sister of André, whose family had installed themselves as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003evignerons\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein Vouvray in 1923. The couple’s first daughter, Jacqueline was born in 1938.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThat same year, Gaston was destined to take over the running of the domaine from his father, although with an impending war, he found himself drafted into the French army as a lieutenant instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore leaving for the front, Gaston ensured that wines from their first few vintages were safely secreted in cellars along the Loire. \u003cspan\u003eIn the years that followed the war, Gaston and Germaine had two more children; a son, Jean, who duly followed his father by studying as a winemaker, and a daughter, Marie-Françoise. From the original three hectares, Le Haut Lieu grew to become nine and, in 1953, he added Le Clos du Bourg which is still considered by many to be the greatest single site within the appellation, and was followed, in 1957, by the addition of Le Mont. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1968 Marie-Françoise married local butcher’s son, Noël Pinguet, a beer drinker by his own admission who just happened to fall in love with the daughter of a \u003cem\u003evigneron\u003c\/em\u003e. In the early 1970s, Noël worked alongside his father-in-law and, although having no formal winemaking training, he took over the running of the cellar from the 1976 vintage. Apart from his five years spent in a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e POW camp, Gaston had lived the whole of his adult life at Le Haut Lieu; right up to the time of his death in April 2002. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no natural family successor (the Pinguet’s had two daughters but neither Anne nor Carine showed any interest in taking on the domaine), the property was offered up for sale and in 2003, Anthony Hwang, a Filipino born, New York based businessman took a controlling share.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 2003 and 2012 there were no real changes in the day to day running of domaine. Noël continued to tend the vines on its biodynamic principles, aided by the genial Jean-Bernard Berthomé, a local lad who had worked closely with Noël since 1978, joining directly from college.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the sale in 2003, Noël had a contract with Société Huet to work ‘part-time’ until his 70\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebirthday in 2015, although he and Hwang decided to part company in 2012. Jean-Bernard elected to retire in 2021. \u003cspan\u003eToday, it is Vouvrillon, Benjamin Joliveau, who officially started working at Huet in May 2009 (having just completed a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003estage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at Hoopenburg in the Cape) who heads up the cellar and vineyard team, whilst Sarah, Anthony’s daughter, is in overall charge of domaine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountry: France | Region: Vouvray, Loire | Alcohol: TBC | Grapes: Chenin Blanc | Organic | Biodynamic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dreyfus Ashby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44788437352691,"sku":"14184","price":109.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0356\/6409\/files\/IMG_3982.jpg?v=1708611656"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.standrewswine.co.uk\/collections\/anniversary.oembed?page=2","provider":"St Andrews Wine Company Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}