Ophelia Hirst's Wine List
At this time of year, with the temperature dropping and nights drawing in, I find myself gravitating towards weightier whites and hearty reds. However, there is always space for fizz, and GONET-MÉDEVILLE Blanc de Noirs Brut 1er Cru NV is just the ticket. With a coppery pink hue from gentle skin contact, this is rich and delicious and elegant, with enough depth to warm the cockles this Autumn.
For a quintessential Autumnal white wine, Tim Hillock's Chenin Blanc has everything I'm looking for. Gorgeous weight and structure, delicious fruit and incredible value - this is a real banker. It's also the time to start tucking into some southern White Burgundies, and the 2019 SAINT VÉRAN La Fournaise from Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau is in a very good place. And for a real treat, why not go for a delicious 2020 CONDRIEU Chéry Domaine Rémi Niero, from the true heartland of Viognier.
I don't know if it's some sort of pathetic fallacy, but with the leaves changing colour and falling from the trees, but I look for something 'mulchy' in my reds. Be this the delicious 2017 RIPPON 'Rippon' Mature Vine Pinot Noir, just showing a sign of that tertiary maturity, or a trifecta of Grenaches - the delicious pinoté A Dos Manos from just outside of Madrid, the 2020 REBELLIE Grenache Van Niekerk Vintners, a jewel-like, transparent beauty, or Albert Jane's 2019 BRAO Vinyes Velles Nobles Acústic Celler for a bit more power and oomph - these all really are hitting the spot for me. And it would be rude to ignore Italy, and I find myself consistently returning to 2015 TERRAZZE CHIANTI CLASSICO Riserva Castagnoli, and with only a few cases left, I'll be snagging as many as I can carry!
Ophelia Hirst, Buyer


2018 A DOS MANOS Garnacha A Pie de Tierra
Méntrida Cariñena Spain 14% Red
Garnacha.
This was tasted after trawling through many a Gredos Garnacha when last in Madrid, and this little unassuming wine stole the show. The very charming Aitor and winemaker David are making ethereal styles of Garnacha from t...(read more)
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2020 REBELLIE Grenache Van Niekerk Vintners
Bot River South Africa 13% Red
Grenache.
In the late 1600s a prosperous farmer, Cornelis van Niekerk and eight others took a stance against the Cape’s corrupt governor by refusing to sell their wine to the dishonest regime. Instead, they sold directly to passin...(read more)
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2019 BRAO Vinyes Velles Nobles Acústic Celler
Montsant Spain 15% Red
.
Another sublime wine from Albert Jané, old vine blend of Garnacha and Carinena aged in french oak barrels of varying sizes. This is explosively fruity, with plum, blackberry, rosemary and earthy mocha notes. It fi...(read more)
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2019 SAINT VÉRAN La Fournaise Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau
Mâconnais Burgundy France 13% White
Chardonnay. Certified Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian
There's fatness but the overall impression is of a dancing lightness of touch and lean purity. A very white stone soil with lots of active limestone. It's all aged in 600l demi-muids - it's the third vintage in the same...(read more)
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2020 CONDRIEU Chéry Domaine Rémi Niero
Northern Rhône Rhône France 14% White
Viognier.
'My Cherie Amour, lovely as a summer day' I'm pretty sure Stevie Wonder penned this song sitting high above the village of Condrieu with a glass of Niero Chéry. It would be easy to make the leap, the 2020 is all f...(read more)
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