Curious Case - January 2022 - Private

The Curious Case Selection

Coupon Code (for 10% off all of the below wines) - Curious0122
expires 01/03/2022

For this month's curious case, we are looking at wines you can enjoy without the headaches (and the calorie count). While a few percentage points don't feel like a lot, the slight drop in alcohol content can be the difference between waking up feeling fresh and a morning headache…

Typical examples of Low-ABV wines are Riesling, Vinho Verde, French Gamay and Moscato. These examples will get you started, but limitless options are waiting to be discovered. As our Curious Case shows, low-alcohol doesn't have to mean less complexity, less variety or less deliciousness!

As you continue to explore with our January Curious Case, you'll find that there is a bottle for every occasion.

Ponte Pietra Merlot-Corvina

In a nutshell: A light, easy-drinking Italian red from the hills around Verona.

The lowdown: Corvina is the grape used to make Valpolicella, one of the region's specialities, which is harmoniously blended here with Merlot to give you a soft and easy drinking wine with a nose full of spiced raspberry fruit. Eager to please, it's brimming over with cherry, cranberry and mint.

When to drink: Altogether a smooth little number which won't break the bank and just wants to go out and party.

Norman Hardie Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula

In a nutshell: A classic example of cool climate Canadian Pinot Noir

The lowdown: The Niagara Peninsula in Ontario is Canada's largest wine region where the climate benefits from sitting between lakes Erie and Ontario which helps offset some of the extreme winter temperatures. The fruit for this delicious Pinot Noir is harvested from four separate sites which each contribute a different layer of complexity. After fermentation, it was aged for 9 months in French oak barrels before being bottled unfined, unfiltered and with minimum use of sulphur. It exudes bright red fruit, complex earthy aromas and a real lightness on the palate where there are plenty of generous red fruit flavours, crunchy acidity and expressive tannins leading up to a long, lingering finish.

When to drink: A wine with a delicate, almost feminine character that is right at its peak drinking period.

Vila Nova Vinho Verde

In a nutshell:
A tangy, spritzy and crisp Vinho Verde from northern Portugal.

The lowdown:
Vinho Verde comes from the bit of Portugal that sits north of Oporto and south of the Spanish border. It once was a very rough and ready wine, made both in red and white versions for local consumption only. However, now made in a modern style it retains its characteristic spritz, and good examples like this are superbly bright and refreshing. This is made from a blend of local Loureiro, Arinto and Avesso grapes and makes a wine that has a crisp floral aroma with grapey, peachy and even pineapple hints on the tongue while the spritz gives it a real lift.

When to drink:
It's actually a good alternative to prosecco or rosé and is great just by itself, or with salads, sushi and grilled fish.

COS Frappato 2020

In a nutshell: A lovely fresh and delicate medium-bodied red from the highly regarded COS winery in Sicily.

The lowdown: Made entirely with Frappato a grape that's becoming increasingly popular in its native Sicily. This has vibrant red berry fruits lifted with hints of blossom and violets and is very light on the tannins making a superb summery red.

When to drink: Perfect slightly chilled with a picnic on sunny summer's day.

Bernardi Prosecco Frizzante NV

In a nutshell: A delicious, easy-drinking, softly fruity Prosecco with a nicely light sparkle.

The lowdown: This lovely prosecco is termed 'Frizzante' which means it's lightly sparkling (Spumante is the fully sparkling version) and nicely soft on the tongue. On the nose, it has aromas of blanched almonds and white flowers giving a quite heady quality. On the tongue, it's ever so slightly off-dry with a lovely softness and a touch of poached apple flavour along with zesty sherbet and candied fruits. For a modestly priced Prosecco, there's certainly plenty going on here

When to drink: Light and fresh, it makes any occasion a bit special and it is great in a Bellini cocktail.

Domaine de Menard Cuvee Marine, Cotes de Gascogne Blanc

In a nutshell: A bright, elegant and aromatic Southern French white from the Côtes de Gascogne.

The lowdown: Elisabath Prataviera is the winemaker at Domaine Menard situated in the small village of Gondrin in the Côtes de Gascogne and is one of the new wave-making really interesting wines from this part of the world. The terroir for Cuvée Marine has a particular type of subsoil comprising decomposed ancient seashells - the inspiration for the wine's name - which allows the Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng to fully express their minerality. It's an expressive and aromatic wine packed with ripe stone fruit, lychee, grapefruit and pineapple aromas and flavours. And it's got good weight and an excellent concentration of ripe fruit balanced by fresh, clean acidity and finishes in nicely lengthy and style.

When to drink: On one hand, it's a nice light and fresh glugger and on the other a good partner for grilled chicken and fish.