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From Japanese whisky to natural wines, Boutique Manager Patrick offers up a selection of his favourite winter warmers

A rainy, golf-free day has given me time to reflect on a few of the winter drinks that I can’t get out of my mind. This will be the first of hopefully a quarterly selection of interesting wines and spirits that I believe our clients will love. Think of it as a curated selection from the Bespoke Corner’s pseudo-sommelier or, more realistically, a somewhat tenuous excuse to take the company card to the bottle shop. My passion has always been for smaller, minimal intervention producers so some recommendations may push the boundaries but my aim is to showcase a broader diversity of styles and interests than the jammy, high alcohol red wines you’d typically see at a long lunch in the CBD. Hopefully you enjoy them as much as I did.

Drink wine not labels Nebbiolo Piedmont

A perplexing wine from a young winemaker producing exceptional Nebbiolo in the most storied region for this varietal for under $60! 100% Nebbiolo, 80% whole bunch pressed, this medium-bodied wine benefits from brief decanting. Beautifully expressive in the glass and great value compared to similar wines from Piedmont. If you love Barolo, this will be right up your alley.

https://ditc.wine/products/2020-drink-wine-not-labels-nebbiolo

Pooley Pinot Noir Coal River Valley

Tasmania, and particularly the Coal River Valley, should be top of mind for anyone partial to Australian Pinot Noir. Pooley is a shining light of the region, host to some of the state’s most meticulous winemakers who aren’t afraid to experiment. Pooley’s Pinot is wild-fermented with just a touch of whole bunch, and matures for just shy of a year in french oak. Bright red currant and cherry dominate the palate with a fine dusting of tannin on the finish. In keeping with Tasmania’s spirit of making high-end wines with a youthful edge, it’s excellent now but will cellar for years to come. 

https://www.pooleywines.com.au/wine/pooley-pinot-noir/22613/

Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt Japanese Whisky

One of the increasing number of no-age-statement whiskies emerging from Japan, Nikka’s Miyagikyo single malt is one of the most resounding arguments yet that Japenese whisky need not have an age on the label to be outstanding. Rich and velvety across the palate with more tertiary elements of malt and baking spice on the finish, this is a cold weather whisky that makes for the perfect nightcap. 

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_700772/nikka-whisky-miyagikyo-japanese-whisky-700ml?isFromSearch=true

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon Hunter Valley

Inspired by an upcoming trip to the Hunter Valley, I revisited one of Australia’s most Iconic, age worthy white wines. Tyrrell’s Vat 1 is a joyous wine that simply has no comparable peers, pushing forward bright citrus on the palate with mouth-watering acidity and a lengthy layered finish. The 2005 Museum release is currently available through Dan Murphy’s, and is every part the archetypal Tyrrell’s Semillon experience.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_535802/tyrrell-s-museum-vat-1-semillon-2005

Momento Mori Fistful of Flowers 

Without hyperbole I can honestly say that Momento Mori’s fistful of flowers is one of my favourite wines, and an incredible value at around $35 per bottle. Hand-made on two small plots of land in Victoria’s Gippsland, this unique moscato giallo and vermentino blend is intensely perfumed with bright floral and tropical fruit notes. This wine spends just over a month on skins and presents a little cloudy, but at less than 12% ABV makes for the perfect afternoon drinking or as an aperitivo. If you are yet to taste ‘natural wine’, there is simply no better introduction.

https://www.blackheartsandsparrows.com.au/products/26886/momento-mori-fistful-of-flowers-2022-moscato-giallo-vermentino

Feel free to pass along your thoughts or recommendations to: patrick@thebespokecorner.com