Charles Lea's Wine List
Wines I Like - Late Summer
When thinking of Champagnes, now that we've hit high summer and the sun has briefly made an appearance, I lean towards the vivacity of Blanc de Blancs styles, such as the bargain vintage 2015 EXTRA BRUT Blanc de Blancs from Franck Bonville or INSTANT PRESENT from Lancelot Pienne, but there's still a place for the fuller-bodied styles as the evenings cool in late August (think maybe HERI HODIE Brut from Roger Coulon).We are just as keen as ever on the 'regular drinking' wines from all over the Italy, from Peloro Rosso from Le Casematte in Sicily, via Tuscany with both Chiantis and Rossos from Montepulciano and Montalcino, as well as the coastal wines made from 'other' grape varieties, including Caburnio from Monteti and Bolgheri Rosso from Le Macchiole, all the way to Piedmont in the north with it's bright-fruited and sleek wines from Barbera and Dolcetto, as well as the lesser Nebbiolos. Loving the sleek, firm definition of the 2022 LANGHE NEBBIOLO Barale Fratelli.
The northern Rhône is a great source of youthful, vibrantly expressive and texturally lush wines from the Syrah grape - the lesser wines from Côte-Rôtie producers who make some 'vin de Pays' alongside. Have a look at Graeme & Julie Bott's FIRST FLIGHT Syrah.
Lighter reds also have their place at summer lunches or alfresco dinners and that can mean Beaujolais (try one of the juicy wines from Domaine Chevalier-Metrat, lighter Burgundies like 2022 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR from the Dauvissat family or, and we have a special selection here, Cabernet Franc from the Loire, including amazing wines from Vanessa Cherruau at the Château de Plaisance, as well as old favourites Yannick Amirault in Bourgueil and Matthieu Baudry in Chinon. Don't forget to chill these lightly to focus the bright fruit.
2015 EXTRA BRUT Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru Champagne Franck Bonville
Champagne France 12.5% White
Chardonnay.
£53.50 £49.95 by the bottle£48.95 £45.95 in a case of 6*
INSTANT PRÉSENT Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Lancelot Pienne NV
Champagne France 12.5% White
Chardonnay.
90% Chardonnay from the coteaux sud d’Epernay (Monthelon, Mancy), which have much more in common with the Côte de Blancs than the Marne valley, and a bit of Bisseuil, which may be responsible for the ripe...(read more)
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HERI HODIE Brut 1er Cru Champagne Roger Coulon NV
Champagne France 12% White
Pinot Meunier. Certified Organic
£53.50 £47.50 by the bottle£49.95 £42.95 in a case of 6*
2023 SANCERRE Chavignol Domaine Vincent Delaporte
Loire France 13% White
Sauvignon Blanc. Certified Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan
This is a stunning wine from the off, with aromas of crushed chalk, orange blossom and ripe citrus fruits. In the mouth the wine is textured and complex, with rich acid balancing a core of ripe citrus fruit, aromatic her...(read more)
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2020 CHABLIS 1er Cru Troësmes Domaine Denis Pommier
Chablis Burgundy France 13% White
Chardonnay.
Troësmes is the very sunny eastern end of Beauroy, a bullnose end of a ridge which faces due south and can get hot. While the sun is here in this wine, the 2020 has retained tension and a firmness, and behind the we...(read more)
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2023 CORTESE Bricco Bartolomeo La Colombera
Piedmont Italy 13% White
Cortese.
The grapes are 100% Cortese grown on a light clayey ground. This wine has a straw-yellow colour, floral and fruity fragrances of broom, nectarine and apricot. It’s a versatile wine, ideal with pairings and through a whol...(read more)
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2022 TIMORASSO Derthona La Colombera
Piedmont Italy 14% White
Timorasso. Practising Organic
Creamy, oat meal and citrus, melon. Great intensity, bright acid underpinning delicious citrus and melon fruit. Drive and richness, but balanced by a lip smacking pure acid lift.
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2022 KERNER Manni Nössing
Alto Adige Italy 13.5% White
Kerner.
Manni Nossing's is one of Italy's most talented winemakers - crafting precise, limpid wines that are so satisfying it is hard to resist. Pure mountain wines that express their high alpine roots in the Valle Isarco of the...(read more)
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2023 LUGANA Felugan La Feliciana
Veneto Italy 13.5% White
Turbiana.
A very inviting nose of firm pear fruit and yellow plum with verbena notes. On the palate this is bright with lively lemon cut and spicy, softer yellow flesh. Delightfully perky but with texture too, the palate shows nic...(read more)
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2021 SOAVE CLASSICO Roccolo del Durlo Le Battistelle
Veneto Italy 12.5% White
Trebbiano di Soave, Garganega.
From a single vineyard on volcanic soils in the heart of Soave Classico. The Dal Bosco family are doing great things, cultivating some of the oldest vines in the region, on steep slopes that have led to the use of Eroica...(read more)
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2021 OSTREA Vernaccia Di San Gimignano Mormoraia
Tuscany Italy 13% White
Vernaccia. Certified Organic
The vineyard here is laden with bits of ancient oyster shells from the times when this part of Italy was under the sea, and this is where the name Ostrea comes from. As you might hope there is a good mineral line coursin...(read more)
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2020 VERDICCHIO 'VIGNA' Il Cantico della Figura Riserva dei Castelli di Jesi Andrea Felici
Marche Italy 13% White
Verdicchio.
After tasting the 'regular' bottling this Riserva is impressively different. From vines planted more than 50 years ago, the Vigna has more of everything. The taut and fresh frame is laced with beautiful acidity. Yet ther...(read more)
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