March wines

The first month of spring according to the calendar, but since we never really had any winter besides a couple of weeks in January it suddenly just got warmer and lighter outside. The trees started to get greener and there were snowdrops and crocuses in the garden.

Spring also means some nice limited releases (at least here in Sweden) of Stoneleigh’s Rapaura series and Schloss Gobelsburg. Both excellent producers of light and crisp wines that should be drunken young.

Another excellent wine this month was 2011 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Chapelle des Augustins. Still young and will probably peak in 2-3 years, but everything that comes with a good Sancerre was there - bone dry, highly aromatic with intense flavours of peaches and gooseberries. To add to the experience, the bottle was one of the many bottles we bought back from France last summer. We know exactly how steep the hills are in Chavignol, how hard it was to park on the tiny serpentine village street and what first-rate service and information we got at the Henri Bourgeois tasting room. As an extra treat to go with the wine last glass of wine we also had some Crottin de Chavignol. Goat cheese made to perfection! We were without a doubt back in the Loire Valley.

2012 Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Steinsetz Grüner Veltliner

2006 Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2005 Château Menota

2011 Olivier Leflaive Rully Premier Cru Vauvry

2007 André Clouet Millésime

2012 Château Mont-Redon Côtes du Rhône Réserve Blanc

2001 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2011 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Chapelle des Augustins

2007 Jean-Marc Brocard Bourgogne Blanc Kimmeridgien

2007 Palmer Blanc de Blancs

2008 Brunello di Montalcino Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona

2008 André Clouet Millésime

2011 Trimbach Gewurztraminer

2007 Cloudy Bay Chardonnay

2009 Tim Adams Semillon

NV Deutz Brut Classic

2012 Stoneleigh Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc

2012 Stoneleigh Rapaura Pinot Noir

2008 Jose Maria da Fonseca Moscatel de Setubal

2008 Palmer & Co Millésime Brut

2008 Antinori Pian Delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino