The Wine Cru

26/03/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - this week, some further chat about English sparkling wine. It’s reputation around the world is growing and some English brands are finding that they are being searched more than the category online.
My favourites are Bride Valley, Bolney Estate and Chapeldown.🥂🍾

Do you have a favourite English sparkling wine?

New research highlights the growing reputation of English sparkling wine but warns of hurdles in price perception and category recognition.

23/03/2025

A couple of gems amid the lovely wines we have added to our website.👏
Chateau Senejac 1945. A fantastic vintage, considered by some to be top three of the last century!
Nuits Saint Georges Clos Des Corvees 1989 from Louis Jadot. A very good vintage for the region.
Two Chateau Musar one red (1997) and one white (2001) from the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Along with three clarets from the 2003, 2004 and 2006 vintages.🍷

Follow the link🔗👇

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

19/03/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - this week, a little chat about rosé, or more specifically premium rosé. Many people love to drink it, but I think it’s fair to say it has for most people a lower price celling compared to what a wine drinker may be prepared to spend on red or white wine.

What is the most you would spend on a bottle of rosé?🌹

Château d’Esclans isn’t on a mission to rewrite the script—just to offer premium rosé as an option for those who want it.

16/03/2025

1970 Taylor's Vintage Port. Don't mind if I do. Great port is always a treat and this is a great port!🍇🍷
Its in good company with three great clarets a Burgundy and a Cote Rotie from one of the best producers in the Rhone Valley.👏

Check them out.🔗👇

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

12/03/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - here is another way that the wine trade is looking at sustainability and carbon footprint. Whilst Aldi are not the first to adopt this approach, it is welcome. Most wines purchased here are for immediate consumption and therefore the capsule isn’t really needed. So if you like Aldi wines then you can expect to see these bottles coming through your local store soon.

Are you a fan of Aldi wines?

The UK subsidiary of budget supermarket Aldi will cease to use capsules for its own-label bottles of wine which are sealed with cork.

09/03/2025

A range of wines from the 2005 vintage through to 2011 have been added to our website. Covering Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley, alongside a mature d'Arenberg The Dead Arm from Australia.

Follow the link 🔗

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

05/03/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - as St Patrick’s day is approaching I thought I would write a blog on the influence of the Irish on Bordeaux. Here’s an extract and a link to the full article.

The story of Bordeaux’s wine trade is a rich tapestry woven with influences from many cultures—one of the most significant being the Irish. From the 17th century onward, Irish merchants, known as the ‘Wine Geese,’ played a crucial role in shaping Bordeaux’s reputation as a world-class wine region. Figures like Thomas Barton, Richard Hennessy, and Abraham Lawton helped establish thriving wine houses, refine production techniques, and expand Bordeaux wines to global markets. Their legacy lives on in many of today’s prestigious châteaux.

Discover the Irish legacy in Bordeaux’s wine trade. Explore how Irish merchants shaped the region’s finest wines, leaving a lasting mark on its history and quality.

02/03/2025

Some great Bordeaux wines from more recent vintages have been added to the website. Three from 2004, a lovely vintage that was overshadowed by 2005 and one from the 2008 vintage.
For those looking for birth year or anniversary wines we have 1975 Chateau Beau-Site in the classic Berry Bros & Rudd label. 1985 vintage Chateau d'Issan from the commune of Margaux.

Clink the link below to view these.
https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

26/02/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - for a long time now I’ve been amused by what was known as ABC - anything but chardonnay. The array of flavours and styles available mean to me that people just haven’t found the right wine yet.
An English vineyard has just launched a white wine aimed at the folk who don’t like Chardonnay in a bid to win them over!
The wine is called Anything But Chardonnay, by Kinsbrook Vineyard.
I’ll give it a try, but do think at RRP £32 price point they may struggle with conversion.

Are you in the ABC crowd?

Kinsbrook Vineyard in Sussex has announced the launch of a new multi-vintage Chardonnay which aims to win over the variety's detractors.

23/02/2025

From some venerable Bordeaux to late 1980s vintage Burgundy, a Sauternes and the return of the fabulous 2001 Chateau Musar we have something for everyone in the new wines added to our website!👏

1953 was an excellent vintage for the wines of Bordeaux and is now quite rare to find. This particular bottle is in excellent condition.🍷

Follow the link below 👇

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

19/02/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - this week we are talking about wine storage thanks to this article in the Drinks Business.
It’s a big subject matter and there are a few do’s and dont’s, but a home cellar doesn’t have to include digging tunnels in your garden. Most homes have a small area which can be turned into a wine store.🍇🍷🥂🍾
If you would like any help or advice on how best to store wine at home we’re happy to help. Ask a question in the comments or DM us if you prefer.

LCB guards more than just wine at Drakelow . The site – whose name means ‘dragon’s mound’ in Old English – is home to millennia of history.

16/02/2025

Pass the Port! Or as tradition has it Do you know the Bishop Of Norwich? No? Pass the port then😂
We have two Late Bottled Vintage and one Single quinta added to our list this week.🍷. Generally produced every year, but particularly useful in years when vintage port is not made.
A pair of Chateau Cissac in 1975 and 2007. One of my favourite Bordeaux wines. The 1975 would make a great 50th birthday or anniversary gift.🎁
We also have a rare 1967 Barolo from Marchesi Di Barolo.👏

Follow the link 👇

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

12/02/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - This week we are highlighting Malbec thanks to this article in The Drinks Business. The simple answer seems to be yes! However the article points out that Malbec amounts for 25% of the vines grown in Argentina, meaning there is a lot else to seek out and try.🍇

What’s your favourite Malbec wine?🍷

Malbec, with a history in Argentina dating back to the mid-1800s, has become synonymous with the country. But does it still reign supreme?

09/02/2025

Some very rare wines that we found have been added to our wine list this week.

Marchesi Di Barolo, Barolo 1950! A very rare vintage these days and a wine known to be capable of long ageing.🍇
Chateaux Les Trios Soeurs 1959. We have seven bottles of this. The vintage is considered the last great vintage of the old era.🍷

For those looking for a 50th birthday or anniversary gift we have Chateau Lafon Rochet 1975🎁

To view these and all our great wines follow the link 👇
https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

05/02/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - martini and chips anyone?
Now as some will know we at The Wine Cru do love matching drinks with food, usually wine and cheese for our Southside Wine Club events, so as fans of both a martini and chips we love this and will be trying it out very soon!!🍸🍸🍟🍟

What’s your favourite food and drink pairing?

Eloise Feilden asks the experts what they believe is the perfect pairing if you have a penchant for fries.

02/02/2025

This weeks additions range from 1979 Chateau Laville Haut Brion Blanc to 2011 Torres, Mas La Plana. Two very different wines!
Four other clarets well worth checking out and a well aged Riesling from the famous Hugel stable in Alsace.

Link below 👇
https://bit.ly/4f9caAi

29/01/2025

Wine Cru Wednesday - this week I came upon this article about some lovely white grape varieties being produced in Chile. Probably best known for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. A couple of the varieties surprised me and a couple I have tried examples of already. A glass of Chilean Friulano anyone?🥂

What’s the most unusual wine you’ve tried?🍷🍾🥂

While Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay take up the lion’s share of white grape plantings in Chile, producers from across the country are experimenting with more unusual varieties.

26/01/2025

Some great claret this week along with a Burgundy and a Chablis!👏
Two great clarets from the 1970 vintage, probably the best vintage of that decade.
We have two great vintages from Chateau Pontet Canet. 1988 and 1995, both exceptional wines.🍷
A lovely Pommard from the N Potel stable, although he sold the estate and his name prior to this 2011 vintage. Still great wine though.🍷
Lastly a 1995 Chablis. A great vintage for the region. The colour is a little dark though so it's a gamble.

Link 🔗below 👇

https://bit.ly/4f9caAi