Top deal: Delicious Marsanne Sauvignon Blanc Orbiel & Freres from the Flying Winemaker’ Hugh Ryman: only £99 per case of 12 bottles delivered: vintage sold out

19
Mar

We apologise but this vintage is now sold out.

Finding a good wine at an expensive price is easy—the trick is to find a French wine without a hefty price tag yet still delicious enough to drink regularly and to confidently serve your guests. Our Club Tasting Panel were pleased to find a new Sauvignon Blanc blend from near Caucasonne, in the Languedoc, which totally fits the bill.

It’s a Marsanne/Sauvignon Blanc which the Tasting Panel learned later—they always taste ‘blind’—is made by the famous ‘Flying Winemaker’ Hugh Ryman, he whose life inspired Sir Ridley Scott’s film ‘A Good Year’, starring Russell Crowe. The Panel pronounced it refreshing and extremely drinkable: tropical and balanced, lively and bright citrus, crisp, fruity, dry—and miles better than it should be for the price.

The wine is Orbiel & Freres, named after the river which meanders through the Minervois appellation, an essential part of Languedoc life for the vignerons of the region. Today, the area is part of the world’s largest wine producing region. It is especially renowned for the quality of its local co-operative cellars, and 10 of these co-ops have got together and invited high-flying winemaker Hugh Ryman to take his pick of their fruit, in order to create wines which offer unbelievable value for money.

Ryman chose 90% Marsanne and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and with this blend he has definitely succeeded in making wine which stands head and shoulders above anything else at this price. The Marsanne is a particularly tricky grape to cultivate—hence this combination is rare—as it is particularly sensitive to climate changes. It is used to produce white St Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage.

It’s a delicious everyday wine, perfect for drinking alone and with food—and our Tasting Panel enjoyed it with herb-encrusted salmon and green vegetables including asparagus, peas and salad leaves.

Case of 12 bottles. Non Members £130. CCUK Members £99 with free UK mainland delivery.

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Delicious French red by ‘Flying Winemaker’ Hugh Ryman: Grenache Syrah: Members’ favourite at only £99 per case of 12 bottles

26
Apr

Here is a delicious French red from the brilliant ‘Flying Winemaker’, Hugh Ryman. It’s a real ‘Bon Affaire’—a Grenache-Syrah so soft, complex, round and fruit-driven that the Club Tasting Panel say it really should become one of your own house wines!

Traditional hot fermentation and ‘New World’ cool fermentation temperatures ensure the wine has both intense fruit and structure. The Grenache is from some of the best Minervois soils, while the Syrah is from the cooler part of Carcassonne. Soft, intense, up-front fruit, with plum and ripe berry flavours, it has perfumed violet aromas with overtones of rich, jammy red fruit and spice. The crisp blackcurrant finish offers lingering mulberry and blackberry fruit and ripe tannins.

The wine is from Orbiel & Freres (whose Marsanne-Sauvignon Blanc is already a Club favourite). It is named after the river which meanders through the Minervois appellation, an essential part of Languedoc life for the vignerons. It is renowned for the quality of its local co-operative cellars, and 10 of these co-ops have got together and invited high-flying winemaker Ryman to take his pick of their fruit, in order to create wines of spectacular value.

Ryman has succeeded in making wine which stands head and shoulders above anything else at this price. It can be enjoyed with a range of meat dishes, game and cheeses, pasta ragu, and it is soft enough to drink alone. You really should try it!

Case of 12 bottles. Non Members £135. CCUK Members £99 including UK mainland delivery.

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Delicious 2018 French Merlot by Flying Winemaker Hugh Ryman: a snip at £99 per case of 12 bottles delivered: sold out

24
Mar

We apologise but this wine is sold out and currently unavailable.

Finding a good wine at an expensive price is easy—the trick is to find a French wine without a hefty price tag yet still delicious enough to drink regularly and to confidently serve your guests. Our Club Tasting Panel were pleased this week to find a new Merlot from near Caucasonne, in the Languedoc, which totally fits the bill.

Soft, rounded and full of plummy fruit, this Orbiel & Freres Merlot 2018 made by brilliant winemaker Hugh Rymann is a delicious southern French red. Smooth and supple, bursting with dark fruit—plums, raspberries, dark cherries—and cocoa, with hints of freshly ground coffee, this is a smooth Merlot which you can drink alone—and it pairs beautifully with pork and lamb, with mushrooms, hard cheese and more. It’s also a delicious dark chocolate pairing—it will even work with raspberries and cream—try it!

Orbiel & Freres is named after the river which meanders through the Minervois appellation, an essential part of Languedoc life for the vignerons of the region. Today, the area is part of the world’s largest wine producing region. It is especially renowned for the quality of its local co-operative cellars, and 10 of these co-ops got together and invited high-flying winemaker Hugh Ryman to take his pick of their fruit, in order to create wines which offer unbelievable value for money.

He chose Merlot—as well as our previous launches, Grenache-Syrah and Marsanne-Savignon Blanc, both of which are already firm Members’ favourites! And apart from his skills as a winemaker, Ryman is best known for being the inspiration behind the film ‘A Good Year’ starring Russell Crowe, and while he might not be as handsome as Russell, his Orbiel & Freres wines stand head and shoulders above anything else at this price.

Drink up to four years after release.

Non-Members £130. CCUK £99 including UK mainland delivery.

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