Top new drinks products of the month

Chapel Down Albariño 2014

Contact: Chapel Down, +44 (0)1580 763 033

Kent winery Chapel Down has released England’s first Albariño, made using grapes from the country’s only commercial vineyard that grows the Spanish variety. Chapel Down Albariño 2014 is made from grapes grown at the estate’s Sandhurst Vineyard, where an acre of five-year-old vines are grown on clay soils with a high sand content. The aromatic dry white is said to have “intense aromas of fresh citrus, white peach and apple, combined with background tones of subtle oak and yeast lees”. The Albariño grape variety is best known for its wide planting in Galicia, northwest Spain, as well as across Portugal for Vinho Verde wines. “As a winemaker, the opportunity to work with a new style and produce the first wine of its kind in England is hugely exciting,” said Chapel Down winemaker, Josh Donaghay-Spire.

RRP: £15

Sassicaia 2013

Contact: Armit Wines, +44 (0)20 7908 0647

The 2013 vintage of Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido has been released. The latest vintage from the Super Tuscan is described as “extraordinarily elegant” and “classically defined” by its UK agent Armit Wines. James Snoxell, head of buying at Armit, described the 2013 Sassicaia as elegant with an “expansive bouquet of sweet red cherries and wild berries.” Snoxell added: “On the palate, bright redcurrant fruits mingle with Mediterranean spices, exotic wild herbs and a delicate balsamic note. Beautifully balanced and energetic with a fine mineral structure and magnificent length.” Although the 2013 vintage in Bordeaux was one of the most difficult, if not the worst vintage of recent years, in Italy the situation was quite different with “excellent” growing conditions throughout the year. Snoxell estimated the 2013’s maturity at 2025 to 2040.

RRP: £525 per six-bottle case in bond

Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Edition 2 

Contact: Chivas Brothers, +44 (0)20 8250 1801

Beefeater has launched a new cask-rested gin expression: Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Edition 2. Following the launch of Beefeater’s first ever cask-rested gin in 2013, this second edition sees Beefeater London Dry gin aged in hand-selected red and white Bordeaux barrels, resulting in an “aromatic” pale copper gin that offers “a new twist on the gin-sipping experience”. The gin is produced in small batches and the resting length of each cask is judged by master distiller Desmond Payne. “I initially created Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve to explore a different quality in our gin, with this second edition a continuation of the experimentation,” he said. On the nose the expression is said to offer “soft oak spice, balanced by the sweet, fresh aroma of juniper and citrus” and “rich, juniper-led spice” that develops into “softer notes of oak” on the palate. Available in the UK and Spain now, it will be rolled out globally in the spring.

RRP: £44

Fleur du Cap 2015 Sauvignon Blanc

Contact: Fleur du Cap, vinoteque.co.za

South Africa’s Fleur du Cap, owned by Distell, has released a 2015 Sauvignon Blanc from its Unfiltered range. The wine is produced from grapes harvested from dryland vineyards in Darling, where cool sea breezes provide enough moisture to allow the fruit to achieve “exceptional flavour concentration”. “Brilliantly clear and crisp, abounding with aromas of cucumber, fresh young asparagus tips, grapefruit, jasmine, passion fruit and lemon,” is how winemaker Kristin Basson describes the wine. “The zippy acidity is the perfect complement to seafood, especially oysters,” says Basson, who is responsible for Fleur du Cap’s white wines at Die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch.

RRP: ZAR108

Bellini by Canella

Contact: The Bottle Drinks Company, +44 (0)1623 883 214

Prosecco producer Canella has launched a bottled Bellini in the UK. Available in 200ml or 750ml formats, Canella Bellini is a classic Italian apéritif comprised of two parts Prosecco, one part fresh white peach juice – grown on the Canella family farm near Venice – and a few drops of wild raspberry. It is 100% natural with no added sugar, colouring or preservative, and is low in alcohol with an ABV of 5%.

RRP: £10 per 75cl bottle

Príncipe de Viana Edición Blanca 2015

Perfect Cellar, +44 (0)20 3675 8845

Spanish producer Príncipe de Viana has launched a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Príncipe de Viana Edición Blanca 2015, the third in a trio of limited edition releases, is briefly macerated before the must is gravity-extracted and then fermented at a low temperature in order to boost its aromatic profile. The result is a “bright” wine boasting “fresh citrus notes of lime and grapefruit, intertwined with hints of pineapple and apricot”. The palate is described as “fresh and full-bodied with a balanced acidity contributing to a lively character and length on the finish”.

RRP: £9.99

Thomson & Scott Skinny Prosecco

Thomson & Scott Ltd, +44 (0)7909 685 077

From the woman behind Skinny Champagne comes Skinny Prosecco. Launched by entrepreneur Amanda Thomson, Thomson & Scott Skinny Prosecco comes in at just 67 calories per 100ml glass – less than half the sugar content of a typical glass of Prosecco. Part of the company’s portfolio of low-sugar sparkling wines, it is the first Prosecco to include a calorie count on its label. Thomson’s first product – Thomson & Scott Skinny Champagne Grand Cru – a no-sugar Champagne from producer Alexandré Penet – was the first Champagne to obtain approval from the CIVC to call itself “Skinny”. Its Skinny Prosecco will launch exclusively at Selfridges in London this month and will be served at its the department store’s Spring Forest on the Roof restaurant.

RRP: £17.99

Oban Little Bay whisky

Contact: Diageo +44 (0)20 8978 6000

Hailing from one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries, The Oban Distillery, comes this no-age-statement single malt Scotch Oban Little Bay is crafted using a unique process that sees matured batches of the distillery’s finest single malt whiskies blended to create a “uniquely integrated single malt”. As part of the process, the specially selected whiskies are first matured in a range of casks: one in refill casks with new oak cask ends, contributing a spicy note to the final whisky; one in European Sherry oak; and the last in refill hogsheads, predominantly of American Oak. These whiskies are then married together in the distillery’s smallest casks to create Oban Little Bay. “The distillery set-up, dictated by bayside location and size, is entirely responsible for giving our whisky its taste of orange, gentle smoke, sea salt and honey,” said Dr Craig Wilson, Oban Distillery master blender.

RRP: £51

Frapin VIP XO Cognac

Contact: gbuisson@chateaufontpinot-frapin.com

Frapin Cognac has rejuvenated its VIP XO expression with the launch of a revamped decanter. The expression’s new packaging was unveiled at ProWein and is available now. On the nose, VIP XO is said to have floral notes accented by subtle touches of wood. On the palate, it offers a “sophisticated and complex” profile with notes of chocolate, gingerbread, and dried and candied fruit. Frapin owns one of the largest estates in Grande Champagne, its own distillery and ageing cellars, giving it control over its production from vine to bottle.

RRP: £180/70cl bottle