Top 10 new products of the month

Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2009

Contact: Nyetimber +44 (0) 207 734 8490

English wine producer Nyetimber has launched its Blanc de Blancs 2009. Made from estate-grown Chardonnay grapes, the 2009 is described as being “pale gold in colour with floral and lime aromas”. Nyetimber’s head winemaker Cherie Spriggs said: “We only produce a Blanc de Blancs using fruit from the finest years, and the 2009 is no exception. The 2009 vintage marks a new era in how our Blanc de Blancs is crafted. “As well as making the decision to reintroduce malolactic fermentation, I’ve fermented a small portion of the wine in new oak barrels, which gives an added touch of complexity. “We have also included Chardonnay from areas of our vineyards which we haven’t used before for our Blanc de Blancs. These parcels were chosen to create a more complete and balanced wine – one that we’re all extremely proud of.”

RRP: £40.99.

Disznókő Furmint 2015

Contact: González Byass, +44 (0)7880 200 106

Sweet wine specialist Disznókő has launched a dry Tokaji Furmint housed in a bespoke bottle. Its 2015 Furmint comes in a bottle inspired by the shape of a traditional Tokaji bottle, but with “dead leaf” coloured glass to make it more easily recognisable as a white wine. Capped with a Vinolok glass stopper, the wine is described as fruity and fresh, with the very hot, dry vintage of 2015 said to have resulted in a wine with nicely-balanced acidity, fresh fruit flavours and a minerality typical of Tokaji wines. “There’s no other white wine anywhere in the world that resembles a dry Tokaji Furmint,” said Disznókő winemaker and director László Mészáros. “Our aim is to highlight the very singular character of our grapes and terroir to consumers.”

RRP: £13.99.

Castelnau 2003 Blanc de Blancs

Contact: Castelnau Wine Agencies, +44 (0)207 751 2490

Champagne de Castelnau has released a 2003 vintage blanc de blancs that has spent 11 years on its lees. Recently disgorged, only 11,000 bottles have been released. Despite 2003 being a “controversial” vintage that not all houses decided to declare, de Castelnau’s chef de cave, Elisabeth Sarcelet, felt there was enough good quality wine to capture both the house style and vintage conditions. The wine uses Chardonnay from a variety of sites, 80% of which are in the Montagne de Reims, including Trépail, Ludes, Villers-Marmery, Verzy, Tauxieres and Rilly. The remaining 20% is sourced from vineyards in Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Nogent l’Abbesse and Bausset. Sarcelet described the wine as having “faint tobacco, spice and a touch of mint followed by crystallised orange on the nose and a lemon-zesty freshness plus rich, creamy caramelised exotic fruits on the palate, leading to a toasty and elegant finish”.

RRP: £43.

Laphroaig Lore single malt whisky

Contact: Maxxium UK +44 (0) 1786 430 500

Islay distillery Laphroaig has launched a new single malt, which it says is its “richest to date”. Produced from a variety of casks including first-fill Bourbon barrels, quarter casks and oloroso Sherry hogsheads, Laphroaig Lore is described by distillery manager John Campbell as a “massive whisky” and “the richest of the rich”. Bottled at 48% ABV, the new-release single malt is said to have “rich and smoky” aromas with “seaside minerals and a hint of ash and bitter chocolate drops”. On the palate notes of vanilla are followed by “oily unroasted chestnuts” and a hint of fudge with a “malty sweetness”. The palate is described as “richly peaty with a spicy chilli bite”.

RRP: £75.

Gosset Brut 15 Years

Contact: Louis Latour Agencies, +44 (0)20 7409 7276

Gosset has released what it calls a “masterpiece” cuvée, combining wines from several harvests and aged for 15 years. Made from a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, 15 Years was cellared in 1999 and carries a dosage of 7g/l. “Prolonged ageing in the cellars, with no malolactic fermentation to pass the time, enables our cuvée, cellared for a minimum of 15 years, to retain its freshness and elegance while improving its vinosity, complexity and fullness,” said cellarmaster Jean-Pierre Mareigner, adding, “The balance is ideal and the bubbles work in the wine’s favour.”

RRP: £95.

Villa Sandi Opere Serenissima 2013

Contact: Villa Sandi, villasandi.it

Prosecco producer Villa Sandi has released the second vintage of its Champagne-style wine from one of Italy’s youngest DOCs – Vigneti della Serenissima – established in the Veneto in 2011. Villa Sandi released the 2012 vintage of Opere Serenissima at VinItaly last year and is now targeting the UK on-trade with its second 2013 vintage. The Italian fizz is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes using the traditional method before being aged in bottle for 24 months, with the intention of combining freshness of Prosecco with the fuller flavour of Champagne.

RRP: £29.

Scarlett Dark, Lamothe Parrot

Contact: Bardinet +33 (0) 5 56 35 84 85

French wine brand Lamothe Parrot has added a new label to capitalise on the growing demand for sweet red blends in the US. Called Scarlett Dark, the wine has been created to compete with fast-growing sweet red blends such as Gallo’s Apothic and Trinchero’s Ménage à Trois, according to Laure Habbouse, international brand manager for Lamothe Parrot at parent company La Martiniquaise-Bardinet. Habbouse told the drinks business that “the big, bold red category” was a fast-growing wine style in the US, but also US islands such as the Bahamas and Barbados. Although Habbouse would not disclose the sugar content of Scarlett Dark, she said it comprised a blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Spain, and promotional material describe the red wine as “velvety with blackberries and hints of vanilla and mocha.” Scarlett Dark will only be available in the US.

RRP: $10.

2015 Chivite Las Fincas Rosado

Contact: Enotria&Co +44 (0)20 8961 5161

A Spanish rosado that pays homage to a Michelin-starred chef has been launched in the UK by Julián Chivite, president of Grupo Chivite. The 2015 Chivite Las Fincas Rosado, from the 3 Riberas IGP in the north of Spain, is made from a blend of 54% Garnacha and 46% Tempranillo and has been aged on its lees for six months prior to bottling. It was produced with Chivite’s “great friend and top Spanish chef”, Juan Marí Arzak, in mind. “The wine has been designed to stand out from the usual type of Spanish rosado, in that it is paler in colour and is very much a food wine, although, as you would expect, it is versatile and I believe as good with food as it is on its own,” said Chivite. Enotria&Coe is the exclusive distributor for J Chivite Estates in the UK, whose portfolio includes the Chivite Colección 125 and Villatuerta ranges.

RRP: £12.95.

Pol Roger Brut 2008 Rosé

Contact: Pol Roger Ltd +44 (0) 1432 262800

Pol Roger has released a 2008 vintage rosé Champagne. Pol Roger’s 2008 Brut rosé was launched on 1 March. The independent Champagne house doesn’t make a non-vintage rosé Champagne, preferring instead to release its rosé expression only in vintage years. The 2008 vintage is made from a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay, harvested from some 20 premier and grand crus in the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs. A further 15% of Pinot Noir, produced from grapes harvested from selected vineyards in Bouzy, Ambonnay and Cumieres, is vinified “en rouge” and added to the blend prior to the second fermentation to achieve a delicate colour and “subtle nose”. Disgorged in July 2015, the 2008 rosé has been left to rest on its lees for nearly seven years. RRP: £70.

Innis and Gunn draught IPA

Contact: TBC

Scottish independent brewer Innis & Gunn has added a new permanent beer to its range; an IPA brewed with a unique fusion of British, American and European hops. Innis & Gunn’s IPA is currently available to the on-trade in 50L kegs and will launch in 330ml cans in May. The beer’s hop profile includes Super Styrian, Cascade, Magnum and Admiral and it has been brewed using a new extra pale malt uniquely kilned to enhance its flavour. In describing the taste profile, Innis & Gunn’s brewers state that the 4.2% ABV IPA’s ‘biscuity malt and hop bitterness are balanced with some sweetness and a smooth texture’. The smell is described as a ‘complex blend of hop aroma including red fruits, resinous pine, rose petals and light citrus’. The IPA will be served in pint measures. Innis & Gunn has produced specially designed glassware, bar runners and drip mats to accompany the launch. RRP: TBC