{"title":"Bank Holiday Big Six","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe big weekend ahead calls for the biggest wines. So I decided to put together a collection of big wines with rocket boosters on.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"virgile-rouge-saint-saturnin-2023","title":"Virgile Rouge Saint-Saturnin 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eSaint-Saturnin sits in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac, an elevated plateau at the foothills of the Massif Central, around 40 minutes from Montpellier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe conditions here are ideal for producing world-class reds:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe elevation means it’s a bit cooler than the rest of the Languedoc - so the grapes ripen with great freshness and elegance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey get more rain too - about the same amount as Bordeaux - which keeps the vines productive and vibrant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe soils are the same as you’ll find in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas - the limestone and clay pebbles help retain water and minerals that nourish the vines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd the word’s getting out there - Terrasses du Larzac is now home to the Languedoc’s priciest reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Virgile's most precious wine. It’s the 2022 vintage of the first ever wine that he made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd he tells me it’s exactly the wine that he dreamed of making, when he started on his long and illustrious winemaking journey back in 2000.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo expense or detail is spared in the making of this. The grapes are carefully hand-picked and hand-sorted, it’s vinified in his new state-of-art winery, and aged in the finest French oak he can get his hands on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose leaps out of the glass with aromas of pure black fruit, pepper and wild herbs, while the palate is dark, rich and powerful, but it has a lovely freshness and elegance to it too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo if you like the power and ripeness of a good Rhône, with the complexity and structure of a Bordeaux, then you should try this wine!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52658523996491,"sku":"VJRSS22","price":26.13,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/VirgileRougeSaintSaturnin2016.jpg?v=1716285475"},{"product_id":"martinelle-beaumes-de-venise-2023","title":"Martinelle Beaumes-de-Venise 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eBeaumes-de-Venise is a real hidden gem in the Rhône valley - it’s best known for producing long-lived fortified wines made from the Muscat grape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut up in the foothills of the imposing Dentelles de Montmirail, you’ll find pockets of vineyards ideally suited to making amazing red wines - capable of giving nearby Vacqueras and Gigondas a serious run for their money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinemaker Corinna Faravel found two such magical plots for sale in 2006 and snapped them up immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyards are based on a mixture of limestone, clay and oxidised iron - this gives a vivid red colour to the soils. Corinna says this soil gives a lovely freshness and concentration to the fruit - it never tastes jammy or overcooked, no matter how hot the weather gets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe farms the vineyards organically which preserves and enhances the lovely raspberry, herbaceous and balsamic flavours in the fruit, which is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the hard work done in the vineyards, there’s nothing complicated left to do in the winery. It’s aged for 10 months in old oak barrels to give it serious power and muscle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like an unapologetically big southern French red, like a good Châteauneuf-du-Pape, then you have to give this a try!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52658563809611,"sku":"MRTBDV23","price":22.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/MartinelleBeaumesdeVenise2022.jpg?v=1716285400"},{"product_id":"domaine-olivier-hillaire-chateauneuf-du-pape-2023","title":"Domaine Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eOlivier tells me that the best Châteauneufs come from old vines. Olivier only has old vines - so Grenache makes up the majority (90%) of this blend. 10% of Syrah is added for extra oomph and power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe average age of the vines is 85 years. And you can taste the concentration and complexity in every sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a blend of a few of Olivier’s favourite vineyards dotted around Châteauneuf - some are on sand, others on pebbles, and others on limestone. Olivier is searching for great balance when he puts this wine together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne sniff and you know you’re looking at something serious - there’s lovely bright red fruit, but also a herbaceousness and earthiness that makes you want to dive straight in. Then on the palate, it’s weighty, dense and juicy, with lovely lifted aromas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s amazingly approachable for a Châteauneuf so young - so grab a couple of bottles, drink one and stick the other away for a while!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52952269422923,"sku":"HCDP23","price":32.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0121.jpg?v=1729090595"},{"product_id":"i-filari-toscana-cabernet-franc-2021","title":"I Filari Toscana Cabernet Franc 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou might not have heard of Suvereto, but you’ve probably heard of Bolgheri - which is the region right next door, and home to some of Italy’s most famous wines.\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever if you speak to Italians who know their stuff, they'll tell you Suvereto has far greater potential than its noisier neighbour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAround here Cabernet Franc is king - the long growing season makes for great ripeness. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFederico makes this wine at the fully organic and biodynamic Casadei winery. He employs every trick in the luxury winemaking book to make it taste sensational:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere are 2-3 different hand-harvests in the vineyard and a further selection on the sorting table in the winery - to make sure every last berry is at optimal ripeness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe wine is fermented in concrete tanks and clay amphora pots - to soften it up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt’s then aged for 18 bottles in classic French oak barrels - to give it structure and power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\nThis is an unbelievable wine for the price - you get inky graphite, charred green peppers and wild herbs on the nose, while the palate is so smooth, refined and focussed. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is Super Tuscan without the Super price tag - enjoy. \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53307102003531,"sku":"FEDCF21","price":35.17,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0080_7c9ad5db-b31d-49bb-8687-9c32afa9e7fb.jpg?v=1729090439"},{"product_id":"mauricio-lorca-poetico-mendoza-malbec-2023","title":"Mauricio Lorca Poético Mendoza Malbec 2023","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHigh up in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, is a small area called Los Arboles, where you’ll find Mauricio’s Malbec vineyard.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI’ve been there and believe me - it’s in the middle of absolutely nowhere. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut it’s an incredibly special place to grow vines...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe altitude is 1,250m, so you get very hot days and really cold nights. This temperature fluctuation is great for producing grapes with intense flavour and freshness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s very dry - Mendoza is basically a desert. They get only 200mm of rain per year, and the soils are sandy and stony and don’t retain water. So Mauricio can control precisely the amount of water the vines need through irrigation from nearby melted Andes snow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe final bit which Mauricio can’t quite put his finger on… the shoots in the vineyard are red, not green. Usually you get the odd red shoot in a vineyard but in this Los Arboles vineyard, 90% of the shoots are red. He has no idea why but they go on to produce amazingly flavoured grapes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMauricio takes this special raw material and gives it the Rolls Royce treatment it deserves in the winery - finishing it with 12 months in French and American oak, and a year-and-a-half ageing in bottle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eYou end up with an intense, spicy, smooth Malbec, typical of the region made by one of the country’s best. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55923362562379,"sku":"POEMLB23","price":21.03,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0218.jpg?v=1728290819"},{"product_id":"evoi-margaret-river-cabernet-sauvignon-2022","title":"Evoi Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eI couldn’t bring over a shipment of Margaret River wines without a good Cabernet Sauvignon - it’s the region’s calling card.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd an extra bonus here is this wine has 5 years ageing under its belt - which is exactly what Cab needs to go from good to great.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMargaret River is very similar to Bordeaux - the cooling influences from the ocean, and its ancient gravelly soils. And Nigel gets his grapes from the best area in the region - Willyabrup - where the raw material is just a dream to work with.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking here is very gentle and natural - Nigel tells me he doesn’t overmake it, he just listens to the fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a soft, smooth and refined Cab, with classic black olive, cassis and woody flavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNigel is a rare breed in the area - he wants to make wine that lasts, rather than the more commercial route of selling wines young, that fall over after a year or two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo the real winner is you - getting the chance to try a signature grape from a premier wine region, with some lovely age to show you how great the wines of Margaret River can be.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56321781760331,"sku":"EVMRCS22","price":25.76,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/EvoiMRCabSav2018.jpg?v=1716301585"}],"url":"https:\/\/winespark.co.uk\/collections\/bank-holiday-big-six.oembed","provider":"WineSpark","version":"1.0","type":"link"}