The Wine Front- Mike Bennie
Press reviews, February 2020
It was an honour to sit with wine legend Mike Bennie at his HQ P&V Wine Merchant to taste through our latest releases. Discover below the wines he liked most:
Domaine de Brin, Mauzac Maceration 2018
"A first attempt at orange wine for Damien Bonnet, so he went three weeks on skins for mauzac. Certified organic fruit. From Gaillac. No sulphur added, or anything. Clove spiked orange aromas, some bruised apple whiffs, light herbal notes. Attractive, orange wine start. Chewy texture, powdery and chalky, good length and freshness to the wine and a really good, strong starburst of tangy acidity to finish. Blood orange, spice, earthiness in the mix. Excellent example of a complex, savoury style here."
Rated : 93 Points
$61.00
Domaine de Brin Vendemia 2018
"A blend of mostly duras with friends braucol, prunelart, syrah. Organic farmed. Fun. Bright, bloody garnet colour. Cherry cola whiffs, some plummy notes, touch of sour cherry and some salted liquorice and brambles in the mix. Crunchy texture, mouth-watering acidity, very fresh and youthful feeling with some depth of flavour too. Very satisfying lighter red, bright and so damn drinkable. Super stuff here."
Rated : 92 Points
$39.00
Domaine de Montbourgeau Cotes du Jura Poulsard 2018
"Organic producer that sits under the radar in Jura, but is firmly on mine now. It took me a while to get to these wines, but when I did they suddenly became very important in my Jura matrix. Such a beautiful wine. Highly perfumed, so silky in texture, soft and supple, succulent tannins shaping things gently. So pure feeling, pomegranate juice and light, herbal spice. Exceptional length, that amazing sense of delicacy, superb wine of tension and detail. When poulsard is on, it is world beating. Here’s one."
Rated : 95 Points
$71.00 (Sold out)
Domaine de Montbourgeau L'Etoile 2016
"Chardonnay that spends three years in barrel and a year under flor building oxidative complexity. Sustainable farming underpins the wines here. A stellar, old school producer being revitalised by a younger generational winemaker in the family. So good, so complex, so righteously touched by saline-sea spray, nutty characters without missing the crunch of green apple and mixed minerally things. Succulent and long, superbly vibrant in its way, satisfying, gourmand-like experience flows. Brilliant balance between all the elements and so very complex."
Rated 96 Points
$61.00
La Colombiere Vin Gris Rosé 2018
"Biodynamic negrette produced as a rose wine. Pretty perfume shows with rose water and watermelon scents, a touch of raspberry, some fennel savouriness in the mix. Light and dry to taste, flinty minerality, some flecks of spice, quite soft and delicate with a peachy finish. Nice drink."
Rated : 90 Points
$35.00
Olivier Morin Chitry Bourgogne Olympe 2017
"Organic producer located about ten minutes drive from Chablis. Rolling hills. Honest-feeling wines. Clean, lightly savoury, chalk and green apple juice kind of vibe here. Mouth-watering and fresh, very gentle, soft even, has high drinkability and charisma, purity too. I really like this. Understated and really lovely drinking. Straight up."
Rated : 91 Points
$51.00
Olivier Morin Chitry Bourgogne Vau du Puits 2017
"A very steep vineyard, organic farmed, naturally fermented, no additives. A quiet achieving producer. Glossy, light red of crunchy acidity, soft, sour cherry fruitiness, long but light furry tannins, general gentleness and easy pleasure. Some finer detail in spice, subtle savoury notes, but generally just pretty and pleasing to drink. Yes."
Rated : 91 Points
$51.00
Marie & Sylvie Courselle, Temps de Lune 2018
"Concrete (naturally) fermented cabernet sauvignon from two very progressive women winemakers in Bordeaux. These wines have been a wonderful discovery for me. Such unique and compelling expressions. No SO2 here (or any other additions). Soft and supple, plummy red of light spice, some earthiness and a savoury finish. This is super pleasing, very gentle in its way, easy to drink and feels so utterly pure and wonderful. Such a charming, lighter red, but with enough going on to seduce beyond the drinking pleasure."
Rated : 92 Points
$34.00
Domaine Vincent Gaudry, Sancerre, Contellation du Scorpion 2018
"Organic/biodynamic sauvignon blanc. The philosophy finds winemaking practice rooted in the historical past – old mentality about the wines. Textural and quite rich in style, light granitic minerality in the wine, some creaminess around that. Mouth-watering tang in the palate, exceptional length. Very classy, complex, almost savoury style but for the freshness and limey vibes. Lovely."
Rated : 93 Points
$83.00
