Member's Mixed 6 Case

Drinks Chat
#1

Following on from the wonderful post by @strawpig that was inspired by @Jonathan8’s question I thought this would be a nice thread to start.

If you had to mix a case of 6 bottles for other members to try what would you recommend and are there any stories/reasons behind it? They need to be wines available from the society or wines that are usually stocked but they may be out of the current vintages due to one thing and another.

  1. My first selection would be Vina Ardanza 2010

La Rioja Alta was the first bodegas Mrs @Winestwit and I visited on our Spanish Holiday in 2014, I had planned to propose to her at some point during the holiday. During the tour we got to taste the 904 and 890, the tour guide spoke at great length how the 890 was amazing and their best wine, suddenly the room fell silent as my wife, thinking she was whispering, turned to me and said “I don’t like it, the 904 is much better”. Everyone turned around to look and smiled, our tour guide wasn’t too impressed. I knew we were kindred spirits! I’ve chosen the Ardanza because I think the 904 and 890 are cost prohibitive and the 2010 is spectacular.

  1. Next up would be a bottle of Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Guigal 2016

Main reason is because of @Taffy-on-Tour’s passion for Rhône! My eyes have been opened to some great wines from Rhône thanks to the Rhône Rangers thread, this wine probably best sums up the beauty of the community; passion for a region, sharing ideas and knowledge to allow others to enjoy the wine too. And here is the link to the post the led me to the wine earlier this year

  1. Next up…McManis Family Lodi Petite Sirah

Tried this on a whim and now can’t get enough. Very full bodied and rich, a deliciously warming red that I keep going back to, it’s also encouraged me to explore other wines made from Durif/Petite Syrah.

  1. Another community inspired selection…Musar

I’d never heard of Musar until I joined the community and even after I did I couldn’t understand the fascination with a Lebanese wine…then obviously I tried it! Amazing. Another example of a great zoom event held this year as well.

  1. I’m not a big white wine fan (can you tell?) but trying to broaden my experiences with the help of the society. This a fruity white that hits the spot for me, I can’t believe the price!
  1. And finally something sparkling…the Society Cava

Another great value for money purchase from the society. The perfect mid/late afternoon drink when the suns out and I can relax in the garden.

Would be great to read about other member’s suggested mixed 6 cases.

22 Likes
Low Stock offer - Rhône and south of France
The perfect mixed case!
Community Highlights 2020
#2

That’s an excellent case! I’ve added the Lodi Petit Sirah to my wish list as it’s the only one I’ve not tried!

1 Like
#3

I like this game! :grinning:

Here’s my case - one combination amongst many I could come up with, needless to say:

  1. The ultimate ‘introduction’ to the wonderful world that is Alsatian Wines, an incredible food-friendly wine, and consistently delivers pleasure. We don’t have a ‘house white’’ - but this comes close to being it:
  1. This Viognier, which I had several times now, is just joyous! Easy to enjoy, but not simple - excellent with or without food and is a good example of what Viognier is all about, without the Northern Rhone-like price tag:
  1. I got introduced to Sherry quite a few years ago now, by friends living in Spain (they are not Spanish, incidentally - he is English and she is Mexican). It was a Palo Cortado that did it, but it started a fascination with the whole Sherry family… This Fino is incredible in my opinion - more complex than the Society’s Fino (which we also love), a true gem of a wine and you know what I was going to say about the price/value relation, so better not bore you with the obvious!
  1. Austrian reds rock! :love_you_gesture: At least if you like your reds savoury, fruity but not in-yer-face juicy, with freshness and elegance. Of course, depends on the price and the grape- a ‘simple’ Zweigelt is a great everyday red, as is a more basic St Laurent, but this one wowed me for delivering everything I want in my reds, and some! (clearly a very different experience from the reviewer!):
  1. One of the first wines I bought when I joined the Society - and another repeat purchase. Marcillac is such a fun wine - slightly herby, minerally and iron-y, but with ripe red fruit, and the acidity that launches a thousand drools:

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=FC37851

  1. Could have gone for fizz, I suppose - but there was no way not to include my love affair with Cabernet Franc. It actually became my husband’s obsession in recent years, and I fully joined him on his journey of Cab Franc discovery. This one is tinged with sadness, however, as Frédéric Mabileau died on the 31st of August in a light aircraft accident (there is another thread about this). His 2016 ‘Les Racines’ Bourgueil was our last wine on our recent Loire trip, and it was just wonderful and expressed everything we love in a Cab Franc. So I have high hopes for this one, once we actually open it. I hope his wife has the support she needs to continue the good work… :worried:
15 Likes
#4

@Winestwit
You are very kind, grateful thanks!! :wave: :+1: :dragon:

1 Like
#5

I like this game too. I can see if having a strong negative impact on my bank balance though, so far we’re two-for-two on cases I want.

3 Likes
#6

Zorzal Garnacha for a “everyday members’ mixed 6” - the best £7:50 that you can spend on red wine.

2 Likes
#7

I tend to spend the extra pound and go for the Graciano. Great producer though!

1 Like
#8

Super concept. Here is my mixed case:

  1. The wine that hooked me. I believe the vintage was '95 but '12s should be coming on stream now.
  1. The table wine we served at our humanist wedding. We served Lebanese roast lamb with all the (Lebanese) trimmings on a boiling hot day in May 2016. We still get told how much everyone enjoyed the food and drink. We love Musar, but the ‘baby’ Musar is a great introduction for anyone curious but not wanting to break the bank.
  1. I was lucky enough to go on a work trip a few years ago to Buenos Aires. Our clients hosted us for a fabulous Asado, complete with some excellent wines. This sparked a love affair with Malbec and Argentine Reds which are astonishing value! Weinert are wonderful and this seems to be our favourite producer at the moment.
  1. Again we served this at our wedding some years ago. I try to always keep a few bottles in the cellar in case there is cause for something fizzy. Gratien & Meyer are heroes for producing such a wonderful wine and this for me sums up TWS’ unique ability to offer amazing wine at really low prices.
  1. TWS just have an astonishing whisky offering. I love this stuff and try to keep a bottle in the house for all occasions. Unfortunately it keeps evaporating!
  1. My wife gave up alcohol recently during pregnancy and we searched high and low for some way of preserving some creature comforts. We got a few cases of this, which really is quite lovely!
15 Likes
#9

I didn’t think this was going to damage my wallet as much as it has already!

@Inbar I’ve added the Alsace and the Can Franc to my basket already.

@lorindavies I’ve added the Weinert and Saumur Rose to my basket too.

2 Likes
#10

It’s a lovely game. But also very tricky. With nearly 300 wines since I joined just over 3 years ago, there’s too much to choose from. I think maybe half of the lovely bottles I hope you would enjoy will return. My box was going to be called ‘Grab it if you see it’. However, I’ve just finished and re-read the whole post and I’ve had to change the name to Yin Yang - all about the balance (I had to delete that word a few times and it’s still there too much).

@Winestwit, you’ll be glad to see much of this box is out of stock.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=BJ7441

My first ‘serious’ Beaujolais. Really opened my eyes as to what’s possible from Gamay - from a TWS Beaujolais offer in 2018. Lovely food wine, great depth and balance. Very sad to have only had the one bottle.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=AL13671
Before this bottle, every Sylvaner I’ve ever tried was alway a bit “meh”. Not bad, not that I disliked it, just not bothered. This, however, was great. Both rich and zingy! How do they do that? TWS tasting note puts it very nicely. A lovely wine.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=SP11731
Also bought 3 vintages of this (2010 still in reserves). I bought this with my ‘free gift’ £20 credit from my membership - was in the special treat category at that price back then (oh how things have changed, thanks community). Drunk with friends on holiday on a sunny terrace and we were all struck by its quality - intensity, length and balance. Was arguably the wine of the holiday if I remember rightly.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=GR1421
I suckled on the Jeunes Vignes before weaning myself onto this; the Bin #005 should take me into my teens. Only tried this vintage so far (I can’t work out if it is me or the the 2017 that keeps avoiding eye contact every time I open the cave door), but was super impressed by this expression of Xinomavro. Complex, perfumed, intense fruit and again, really well-balanced.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=GE12731
Blown away by this at at a mini tasting at the start of this year. One of the nicest Kabinetts I can remember. Immediately bought a couple and have already drunk one! By any argument far too young, but I simply couldn’t resist. Intense, razor-sharp, pure fruit. Acidity and sugar playing tag with each other on your tongue and there’s no winner.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=NZ9801
I really can’t remember much about buying this, but maybe it was on a discount at £17. Anyway, when I opened the bottle, I wasn’t expecting a great deal but was very pleasantly surprised to find the opposite. TWS tasting note spot-on, could not say anything to enhance the description. Vague memories of feeling slightly guilty opening this as a mid-week supper wine when my wife was out, but I’m fairly confident I saved her a glass.

Now, I’m aware this is cheating, but I’ve seen the 6 bottle boxes that TWS use to ship their wine and I’m pretty sure that one of these could be crammed across the top without compromising the structural integrity. Those few extra % points make all the difference in a Negroni. Just try it

11 Likes
#11

I buy the odd bottle (or occasional case) of the 890, more out of habit of having a ‘complete’ LRA cellar, and for something to look forward to if I make it to a century, but your wife sounds very discerning, as on the whole the 904 is the far more elegant wine (and until recently a mere fraction of the price!)… you should hold on to her :smiley:

2 Likes
#12

What a lovely thread and destined to become one of the great ones, if there’s any justice. My six choices are:

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=IT26561

A wine that I wrote extravagantly about recently, labelling it as probably the best value wine that I have ever bought. It was a new grape to me and I was blown away by its gorgeous and rather unique flavours, which transported me to the Southern most reaches of Italy.

The glorious wines of Domaine Huet take me back to my childhood, visiting my French grandparents, who, at that time, lived in the North East of France but originated from close to Vouvray. They lived next to a working farm and the farmyard aromas and flavours of Huet remind me of those times and bring back so many happy memories of my grandfather, a complex man, whom I loved dearly and is sadly no longer with us. He bought me my first case of Huet Vouvrays, back in the early 1990s, and this is one reason for my longstanding loyalty to this great producer.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=ZCS11361

I am more usually an aficionado of the Left Bank wines of Bordeaux but find that Puygueraud has an excellent combination of structure, complexity and elegance, whilst managing to remain one of the best value Bordeaux wines on the market. When I have some in stock, this is a wine that I will always serve to guests and without fail, it is always met with gasps of surprise and pleasure.

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=GE12841

I think that this is the first serious Riesling that I bought, on the recommendation of a local wine merchant. It was the 2009 vintage and was another of those wow moments, when I first sampled it, to the extent that I cleared out their stock, the following day. One of the finest wines that I have sampled and whilst subsequent vintages have not quite reached those heights, this remains my favourite Riesling wine and producer.

Really difficult for me to choose an example of my favourite grape, Pinot Noir. I love so many examples, from across the world but Burgundy will always remain my favourite region. Unfortunately, The Wine Society doesn’t stock old vintages of Henri Jayer, a producer who really triggered my initial love of the great grape and what a way to start. Even if they did, I am not even close to being a millionaire, so they will always remain an incredible memory.

Whilst I love so many Burgundy producers, I have been really impressed by the wines of California’s Au Bon Climat, whose recent wines seem to have moved more towards the traditional Burgundy style, whilst still maintaining something of its original West Coast identity. It was also a regular drinker, when I lived in New York, in the 1990s, so sentimental memories too. A great producer.

My final choice was a toughie and I did think about going with a Port (Graham’s 40 Year Old Tawny, although not sure that The Society regularly stocks it) or Sauternes . I eventually decided, however, to return to Bordeaux but this time to the Left Bank and another wine that is excellent value for what it delivers. I don’t think that you can go wrong with this producer and clearly The Society thinks so too, as it seems to be one of their most regular wines. If you want to spend a bit more, then I have always had a soft spot for Chateau d’ Armailhac but, other than the occasional en primeur, I don’t think that The Society stocks it on a regular basis.

15 Likes
#13

I bought the wine directly as a result of your review! Thank you! Loved it and now have 6 in reserves for next year!

6 Likes
#14

I also thought this was excellent. I will try to source some direct as well.

1 Like
#15

Thank you @Winestwit and @Tom_R, always slightly wary after enthusing to that extent about a wine, in the event that it disappoints others but I really did love this wine. I also subsequently tasted their top Negroamaro wine, which The Wine Society also usually stocks:

https://www.thewinesociety.com/shop/HistoricProductDetail.aspx?pd=IT25771

This was also a very fine wine but different from the Castel, reminding me of both port and surprisingly, some Musars. It’s three times the price of the Castel, so not as great value, in my view, but still well worth trying.

Really pleased that you enjoyed the Castel, so thanks for feeding back.

4 Likes
#16

Apologies for bumping this thread but it was one of my favourites and didn’t get as many responses as I expected. With Christmas coming up, I am hoping that there may be a few more ideas forthcoming to further deplete my wallet. May I also be so presumptuous as to suggest that the lists be expanded to include wines that are not necessarily stocked by the Society but can be accessed elsewhere?

3 Likes
#17

Thanks for bumping; I missed this first time round. I will stick to things the Society lists and things I buy across multiple vintages (though I haven’t always yet tried the version currently listed).

First, a well made white blend that I think makes an excellent house white (not too neutral, not too aromatic) but which might not offer much for people who like extreme wines.

Second, a community favourite that in my view carries on offering astonishing value year after year (and for the most part drinks well young).

Third, one I actually like to drink with a fair amount of age (and actually the 2016 seems to be out of stock, but I’ll cheat and include it anyway - at some point I tried one vintage of Armand vs Alvolo and decided I preferred Armand, but that is entirely unscientific and there seems to be Alvolo available). These are generally too much for me young, but with some age become delicious.

An expensive sherry (dry oxidative) which has great intensity and I turn to when I want to sip a small drink over a long time. Really delicious:

Another wine I like with some age on it, but this time a white that drinks well young (though IMO it gets much better):

I was going to choose the Freycinet pinot noir next (a lovely perfumed obviously New World but not for me over the top wine), but it’s not currently listed. It came down to a choice between Chateau Sainte Eulalie la Liviniere and this Beaujolais, which I plumped for as more of a contrast with the aglianico. Again, delicious young but gets much better with age in my view:

9 Likes
#18

Thanks for bumping this as I’d like to see more replies - and it reminded me that I had intended to before it disappeared off the page.

If you had to mix a case of 6 bottles for other members to try what would you recommend and are there any stories/reasons behind it? They need to be wines available from the society or wines that are usually stocked but they may be out of the current vintages due to one thing and another.

This is easier said than done! The society has such a breadth of choice that I often try wines new to me rather than buy the same regularly so I’ll have a blend. When the new Fine list comes out on 1 Nov this may provoke another post.

  1. Château Ampélia, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2016

Bordeaux has been and remains my favourite area for wine, at times exasperating and yet also enthralling. I have been fortunate to try wines from many areas and several recent vintages and then stumbled on this. I have grown to love the wines of Denis Durantou, who makes some delicious and particularly good value wines, unfortunately not yet stocked by TWS. However, Château Ampélia is very much in that vein - from the Castillon area, made by François Despagne, definitely “ripe and opulent” as the stock list says but the Cabernet Franc keeps it honest and delicious. Not like a Medoc wine, but also not too far towards the international Cabernet style. 2016 is a lovely vintage, it is good now but still too early - and will be great over the next 2-10 years. And it is £13.99, which in Bordeaux is properly good value.

–

  1. Saint-Joseph, Domaine Gripa 2013

This was difficult…. I think TWS does the Rhone better than any other merchant. A huge range of villages and vintages, stunning EP campaigns and everything from the lovely Courac CdR at £8.95 to those rare, mature cuvees at hundreds of pounds a bottle. This SJ is my choice – lovely wine from a great winemaker and ready to enjoy!

–

  1. The Society’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2019

I could have chosen several of the Society’s own wines which have to be the strongest own brand of all the retailers. I think that they are generally good to particularly good examples of their types at very fair prices with only the occasional dud.

This is a lovely, well-rounded Italian wine and perfect with many dishes. When I think of some of the tough, jammy rubbish I’ve bought from supermarkets at £7.99 I think this is the best bargain on the whole TWS list at £7.50.

–

  1. The Society’s Exhibition Ribera del Duero 2016

A new wine to me a couple of months ago. Had two friends over for a socially distanced evening meal and opened this – enjoyable and impressive, smooth and refined, tasted special and yet accessible.

–

  1. Koyle Los Lingues Single Vineyard Alto Colchagua Reserva Carmenère 2018

I’m growing to love this grape and TWS have a good selection (I initially found the Veramonte Primus Carmenere last year but unfortunately it’s not currently stocked).

The more expensive Carmeneres definitely get bigger and richer, but this is a great introduction. I’ve tried several reds and whites from Koyle and all seem nicely done.

–

  1. Raimes Blanc de Noirs 2016

The difficult last bottle… this could have been a Bin series wine or a Pic St Loup or a stunning Greek wine or a rare whisky or … so many others. This is meant to illustratehow TWS continue to grow from their conservative background (absoloutely reflecting the demand at that time) into a more exciting organisation bringing us diverse, high quality wine from around the world. No merchant can stock every wine and vintage in the world – I think TWS do an admirable job of going broad and yet deep in several areas. There are always other specialists to complement for those going even deeper!

A blend of pinots noir and meunier… just 2,000 bottles, yet available alongside a top range of fizz. I’ve not tried it yet but at £39 it will be in my Christmas case.

–

Thanks to all who have already posted and look forward to others for further inspiration!

10 Likes
#19

You’re the one that asked the question! Delicious sounding case though. A few more bottles on the wishlist (and a reminder about how great the Society’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is).

1 Like
#20

I was on for playing this game but almost everything I was going to recommend has recently gone out of stock. :sob:

Three reds at different price points – Trillol 16, Senejac 15 and Ardanza 10 – plus the Hidalgo Pastrana Manzanilla Pasada and Aydie Pacherenc du Vic Bilh. That leaves just the Society’s Cava, which I recommend as one of the very best sub-tenner sparklers around. Hoping some of the above comes back into stock for the Christmas order :crossed_fingers:

3 Likes