After what has felt like the longest January ever, we are finally in February and it won’t be long until snowdrops and daffodils are here to brighten things up a little. In the meantime, our wines of the month will have to take the place of sunshine. Though the weather might not be the best there is always a reason to match some lovely produce with these wines!
Robert Oatley Helmsman Shiraz, New South Wales, Australia 2021
History: Robert Oatley was one of Australia’s most celebrated businessmen. He made his first fortune selling coffee and cocoa beans from Papua New Guinea. He was also founder of the celebrated Rosemount Estate wines eventually selling it to the owners of such celebrated labels as Penfolds and Lindemanns for $1.5 billion.
Along with sailing, wine was a great passion and he started Robert Oatley wines in 2006 in Mudgee, New South Wales. Robert died in 2016 and control of the wine business passed to his son, Sandy, in 2023. The vineyards have good levels of rainfall and strong sunshine, with an elevation of over 500m which makes the difference, resulting in a longer, cooler, ripening period.
Taste: A rich and flavoursome Shiraz displaying all the hallmarks of the variety; vibrant red fruits, dark plum and spice with underlying soft tannins.
Enjoy: Try this with a homemade beef burger seasoned with a little garlic, onion, and smoky ancho chilli.
£11.54 FEBRUARY OFFER £9.95
Lyrarakis Kotsifali, Crete 2021
History: The Lyrarakis estate is a family vineyard and winery which has been producing high quality wines since 1966. It is located to the south of the city of Heraklion in the Alagni commune (Crete), where Myriam Ambuzer oversees winemaking and focuses on native varieties such as Assyrtiko and Vidiano as well as Kotsifali to produce precise, pure, and fruit-forward wines with a real sense of place.
Kotsifali is the signature red grape from Crete and is known to flourish in and around Heraklion. Though the variety is usually blended with others such as Mandilaria, Lyrarakis have opted to make this from 100% Kotsifali. Grown on a mix of sand and loam and hand harvested the wine is fermented for seven days under controlled temperature.
Taste: Bright, mid ruby colour. An aromatic nose of red cherries and zesty dark fruits with a touch of spice. balanced and savoury palate with smooth tannins, juicy acidity and a long fruity aftertaste.
Enjoy: Try with Roast mutton seasoned with garlic, rosemary and anchovy or a traditional Moussaka.
£15.40 FEBRUARY OFFER £12.90
Franschhoek Cellar 'Our Town Hall' Unwooded Chardonnay, South Africa 2023
History:
While the connection between the Dutch and South Africa is well known, the connection with France is sometimes overlooked. The area was originally called Oliphants Hoek but changed to Fransche Hoek (French Corner) when it was given to French settlers in 1688. This French influence is very much alive today with the area being known as the epicurean centre of South Africa.
Franschhoek has an array of soils and altitudes with mountains surrounding it on three sides and benefits from the cooling effect of the ocean less than 80km away.
Taste: This Chardonnay has attractive notes of pineapple, lemon and lime on the nose. The palate is crisp and clean with further tropical fruits and balanced by fresh, zesty acidity on the finish.
Enjoy: Try with a simple smoked salmon pate or a dish of pasta with olive oil, prawns, chilli, lemon and tenderstem broccoli.
£10.93 FEBRUARY OFFER £9.25
Gilbert Chon Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 'Clos de la Chapelle', Loire Valley 2021
History: Founded in 1719 and located in Saint Julien de Concelles (the beating heart of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine production), on the Atlantic coast where the Melon de Bourgogne grape is king producing crisp, clean and luscious wines thanks to extended lees ageing.
The running of the estate has always been a very traditional family affair and has recently been taken over by the 13th generation: Jean-Gilbert’s daughter Marine and son-in-law Arnaud, who are bringing the winery into the future with fresh branding and more sustainable agricultural practices.
Taste: Fresh, crisp and clean with a wonderful balance between citrus and tropical fruits with bright, uplifting acidity. Wonderful nose of lemon citrus, guava and passionfruit. Juicy, fresh, and pure on the palate with more citrus and tropical fruit and a mineral-driven finish providing focus and length.
Enjoy: Try with a Pissaladiere - a sort of French Pizza with anchovies and olives, or mussels steamed with Charmella, a Tunisian mix of preserved lemons, pimento and garlic (not to be confused with Chermoula).
£12.05 FEBRUARY OFFER £10.10
All of these wines will be open to taste in our Cellar 21 shop throughout February. Pop in and have a taste!
We would love to see your pictures of you enjoying our wines or if you have made any delicious food pairings, please join the conversation and tag us on Instagram @boncoeurfinewines.
