Exciting discoveries, an array of Italian wines and new vintages of Moss Wood at Jeroboams
Although Jeroboams does not have the wide notoriety that other UK wholesalers may have one would be surprised to see how large their client base is spread from supplying Cunard and P&O liners, many of Heathrow’s First Class Lounges, prestige catering companies in the City, top restaurants and of course a large portfolio of private clients.
Jeroboams was founded by Peter Rich in 1985, and now incorporates both Jeroboams Shops and the wholesale arm Layton’s. Originally set up as a singular shop to bring the fine cheeses and wines of France closer to Peter’s London residence, these shops soon spread across the prestige boroughs of London.
With labels jumping ship so often these days it is interesting to see how loyal Jeroboams are with their brands with names like Moss Wood and Hunter’s being listed since the early 1990s and the fabulous Georges Vesselle growers champagne being on board since the mid 1980s.
Peter Mitchell MW the buying director has been developing the Italian side of the portfolio and has come up with a range of quirky and interesting wines to excite.
Here are my Italian highlights
Ciro Bianco, 2015, Fattoria San Francesco 13% RRP £11.95
Vibrant flavours, nutty, oily, herbaceous, clementine peel, textured, a full flavoured white wine that jumps out of the glass. 100% Greco Bianco.
Grillo, 2015 DOC Sicilia, Feudo Disisa 12% RRP £13.95
Grillo is the most famous grape variety on Sicily; this winery has been in the Lorenzo family for over 200 years. The wine is refreshing with delicate citrus flavours, good minerality and well balanced.
Langhe, 2014 Rossese Bianco, Amalia 12% RRP £19.95
100% Rossese di Monforte, 50% aged for eight months in new oak. Tropical flavours, ripe banana, honey, aromas of fairground candyfloss. Luscious and full flavoured – perfect to go with raw Sicilian Red Shrimps.
Nero d’Avola, 2014 Terre Siciliane, Feuda Disisa 14% RRP £13.50
Delicate perfumed nose, deep rich and luscious, very bright berries, juicy and clean on the finish.
Fiano, 2015, IGT Salento, Schola Sarmenti 12.5% RRP £14.95
Textured and full of layered clean fruit, touch of spice and a lovely citrus balance. Bunch pressed and aged on lees for six months.
Ciro Rosso Classico, 2015, Fattoria San Francesco 13% £11.95
100% Gaglioppo, aged two months in barrique then 10 months in stainless steel. Juicy blackcurrant cordial (in a good way) fresh ripe clean & easy drinking, there is a very pleasant freshness and clean perfume to this jolly wine.
Other Highlights
George Vesselle Grand Cru Non Vintage Champagne, 12% RRP £28.95
Full bodied balanced Champagne that oozes class, combines a lovely creamy palate with a crispness from an attractive citrus finish, 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay.
Clos Floridene Blanc, 2013, Graves Blanc 13% RRP £23.95
56% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Semillon, 1% Muscadelle. Fermented and aged in oak for eight months, 25% new. Mineral, bananas, melon, citrus lovely balance from the oak, fabulous layered wine delivering an exciting classy white wine.
We are definitely seeing an uptake in White Bordeaux, not only for great value compared to the reds but the quality that they provide and a perfect food matching wine. Personally I would thank the Australians for reminding the French what they can do with Sauvignon and Semillon grapes.
Hunter’s
One of the few Gewürztraminers from New Zealand (Vinoptima being my other favourite) Hunter’s Gewürztraminer 2015 despite its 14.5% alcohol is a gentle, wonderful textured rich wine that has full control of its floral notes. Together with their Chardonnay both priced at £14.95 offer great value, with the Chardonnay delivering a bright focused and layered wine that keeps its freshness throughout.
Moss Wood
It would not be right not to mention Moss Wood when dealing with Jeroboams, to me the finest Cabernet Sauvignon outside Bordeaux.
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet 2013, Margaret River RRP £25.95
92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot. Aged 28 months in French Oak (8% new). Ribbon Vale is down the road from the main Moss Wood domain and this ‘second’ wine is a beautiful forward-drinking wine, it has taken the Mugfords 14 years to get this vineyard ready to produce a Cabernet Sauvignon. Luscious aromas of redcurrant, blueberry and blackberry, soft delicate toasty oak, it is a dense wine but the Merlot gives it freshness. This is a starry wine that will evolve with time.
I would certainly mark this at 96!
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Margaret River £59.00
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. The purity of this wine is stunning, a class act to celebrate their 40th vintage. Cedar, leather, touch of tar, mulberry, cassis it has it all, one of the finest Cabernets from Moss Wood. This is made to age (decades) I still enjoy their vintages back to the early 1990s.
Moss Wood is not just about Cabernet with a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc priced at £13.95 a great challenge to White Bordeaux and a Chardonnay that keeps getting better.
