The Spectator - October 20, 2018

SPECTATOR WINE JONATHAN RAY

W

e’re with Yapp Bros this week
and so popular with readers is
the Domaine Gaujal, Picpoul de
Pinet (1) that we’ve offered three previous
vintages of it before, selling out every time.
I’m delighted, then, to waft the 2017 under
your beaks, for it’s another cracker. As you
know, Picpoul is the grape (known locally as
‘lip-stinger’) and Pinet is the place, one of just
six communes on the shores of Languedoc-
Roussillon’s Bassin de Thau that makes this
deliciously invigorating wine. Ludovic Gaujal
is an 11th-generation vigneron and has con-
jured up a wine full of citrus freshness, herbs
and nuts and with a long, satisfying, slight-
ly savoury finish. £10.75 down from £11.75.
If, for whatever bonkers reason, I was
told I could only ever drink the white wines
of one part of France, I would unhesitat-
ingly plump for those of glorious Alsace.
The 2016 Léon Beyer ‘Réserve Personelle’
Pinot Blanc (2) comes from one of the old-
est producers in the region (there since 1580
for heaven’s sake) and is of textbook quality.
With plenty of fresh apple’n’pear-like fruit,
hints of honey, spice and an elegant creami-
ness, its finish is agreeably bone-dry. £12.95
down from £13.95.
The wines of Menetou-Salon in the Loire
Valley might not be the well-kept secret they
once were but they are still decent value
when compared to Sancerre and the 2017
Domaine Jean Teiller, Menetou-Salon (3) is
as good as any you will find. Patricia Teiller
was a huge hit at her Spectator Winemaker
Lunch a couple of years back and it was hard
to tell whether readers were more smitten
by her or her wines. Made from 100 per cent
Sauvignon Blanc (certified organic), the wine
is deliciously crisp and dry but with buckets
of ripe, juicy fruit too. PT spent a year making
wine in New Zealand and there’s definitely
a slight touch of Marlborough here. I simply
love it. £14.95 down from £15.95.
Jason Yapp never tires of playing the ‘I’m
just a poor wine merchant’ card and insisting
that fancy vino is way beyond him as he strug-
gles to find the wherewithal to put enough
gruel on the table for his starving family.
When he finds enough loose change down
the back of the sofa, Jason insists he drinks
wines such as the 2016 Yapp Rhône (4). If
so, my heart doesn’t bleed quite so much as

an ideal party wine and will do nicely when

you are besieged by festively thirsty friends

and neighbours. £9.90 down from £10.90.

Finally, the 2016 Domaine Girard (6)

from the up-and-coming AOC region of

Malepère in the west reaches of Languedoc-

Roussillon. There are only 16 independent

winemakers here, and Domaine Girard is

up with the very best. A blend of Cabernet

Franc and Merlot, it has the elegance of Bor-

deaux and the spice of the south. And if you

consider what you might pay for a so-called

Petit Chateau claret, it’s an unmitigated bar-

gain. £10.95 down from £11.95

The mixed case has two bottles of each

wine and delivery, as ever, is free.

To sign up for our wine club newsletter

and to learn more about our Spectator

Winemaker Lunches, go to http://www.spectator.

co.uk/wine-club or call 020 7961 0015.

it might. Although a vin de table price, it’s

a pukka Côtes du Rhône AOC, produced

expressly for Yapps to their own Grenache/

Syrah blend by a forward-thinking cave co-

operative in the Ardèche. It’s soft, smooth,

supple and pretty much the perfect fireside

red. Assuming Jason can afford the logs. £7.95

down from £8.95.

The 2016 Domaine Les Filles de Sep-

tembre ‘Tradition’ (5) from the Côtes de

Thongues in the Languedoc-Roussillon is

one of Yapps’ bestsellers. A blend of Mer-

lot, Grenache and Carignan, it has surprising

complexity for so modestly priced a wine

and boasts a disarming freshness along with

plenty of delectably ripe and spicy fruit. It’s

Please send wine to

Name

Address

Postcode

Telephone

Email*

Mastercard/Visa no.

Start date Expiry date Sec. code

Issue no. Signature

Prices include VAT and delivery on the

British mainland. Payment should be

made either by cheque with the order,

payable to Yapp Brothers, or by debit

or credit card, details of which may be

telephoned or faxed. This offer, which

is subject to availability, closes on

1 December 2018.

ORDER FORM^ Spectator Wine Offer

http://www.spectator.co.uk/wine-club

Yapp Brothers, The Old Brewery, Water Street, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6DY

Tel: 01747 860423; Email: [email protected]

Terms and conditions: This week’s Wine Offer is managed by Yapp Brothers. For full details on its T&Cs, email [email protected]

Contact permission: I would like to receive up to date offers and communications from Yapp Brothers R

I would like to receive up to date offers and communications from other carefully selected organisations R

This is a wine that is full of citrus

freshness, herbs and nuts, with a long,

satisfying, slightly savoury finish

Prices in form are per case of 12 List price Club price No.

White 1 2017 Dme Gaujal, Picpoul de Pinet, 13% £141.00 £129.00

2 2016 Léon Beyer Pinot Blanc, 12.5% £167.40 £155.40

3 2017 Domaine Jean Teiller, Menetou-Salon, 13% £191.40 £179.40

Red 4 2016 Yapp Côtes du Rhône, 13.5% £107.40 £95.40

5 2016 Dme Les Filles de Septembre ‘Tradition’, 13.5% £130.80 £118.80

6 2016 Dme Girard, Malepère, 14%vol £143.40 £131.40

Mixed 7 Sample case, two each of the above £134.90

Total