My wife’s sister Kate and her partner Sarah, have just arrived back from England. Their suitcases contained, as always, a small cache of wine bottles. The trade goes the other way too. From Australia, with love, we sent two bottles of JC’s Own. The Bluebird 2018 and a 2017 Greenock Shiraz. Fabulous wines, great prices and not what our English friends would expect from a patch of Australian dirt.
From England, with love, two bottles arrived in my hot little hands, via the suitcase, courtesy of that esteemed London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd. I had requested two wines that were bloody bargains and preferably from a producer I had never heard of. Well I think I nailed it with my bottles of JC’s Own, but boy, the return bottles put a very big smile on my face.
I knew of one of the producers (Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes), but had not tasted their wines. The other, never, but I love surprises. And these wines are the business.
Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Javernières, Impenitents 2017 – One of the best wines we’ve had all year, and without a doubt, the sexiest. It’s dark for a Beaujolais, and from pouring, unleashed flavour. Cascades of blue, red and black fruit, asian spices and minerals. The most elegantly muscled wine imaginable. Incredible presence and power. Absolute X factor wine. $68
Browse other wines from Desvignes
Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 – Classic Nebbiolo. It’s lovely to see a Langhe Neb at this price, for one. And two, one which isn’t a sweetened dumbed down version of the grape. Very pretty nose of dried roses, cherry and tar. The palate has real firmness, seriousness, but still with a lovely fruit profile that stands proud of its structure. Firm grip to close, with real freshness – beckoning the next glass. I can’t afford Barolo, and with this wine I don’t need to! Serious stuff. $31
All prices quoted are in any 6.
