Dear Friends,

 

The second in a series of value mixed case offerings.

Life is too short to drink badly so down the bowl with the baddies.

 

We invite you to submit amusing ideas to dispose of bad bottles of wine ("scoundrels"). Free glass of wine at Parabola for all entrants, winner gets a bottle of champagne. To enter simply reply to this mail.

 

The Scoundrel - mix your own selection of some of the best value wines available in Japan Price: JPY 15,000 / 6 bottle mixed case

 

Number of cases available: 20

Availability: delivery within one week

 

Sparkling:

 

NV Cava Cava Parellada i Faura, Catalonia - think Cava is an unpleasant cheapskate alternative to the real stuff? So did we ... until we found this one, which shows how good is Cava when you avoid big brands and marketing! The Best Value in Guia Peñin. Zero dosage, aged 18 months, hand-riddled by owner. Traditional blend.

 

2008 Cremant de Limoux Brut Resilience , Alain Cavailles - lovely champagne impostor sparkler from the Limoux region in the south of France - who actually lay claim to making the first sparkling wine in France long before the bubble-fiddling Dom Perignon up in Champagne.

 

White:

 

2012 Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine Felines Jourdan, Languedoc Roussillon - Picpoul is the name of the grape from the old Occitan words "poule" meaning lip + piquer meaning sting, a Gallic lip stinger that lives up to its name with vibrant acidity and freshness. Most highly rated Picpoul in Decanter and NY Times.  From great seaside terroir, where heat balanced by sea breezes.  The perfect match for oysters and all seafood!

 

2010 Macon Villages, Nicolas Maillet, Burgundy - classic white Burgundy from the south of the region, this has the nuttiness and mineral character that you expect but without the price tag.

 

2012 Effet Papillon, Cotes du Roussillon -  from selected parcels of Grenache Blanc, grown in the stony, red clay soil of Rivesaltes. the wine has a beautifully textured mouthfeel, with a layered, mineral-laced core of citrus-seasoned flavors and a long, clean finish punctuated with mineral grip and fresh fruit acidity.

 

2010 Riesling Kabinett, Georg Muller, Rheingau, Germany - when standing in the dock accused of wines against humanity, the prosecution's first piece of evidence against Germany would surely be the execrable Black Tower and Blue Nun Liebfraumilch brands, they being largely responsible for the enduring perception that all German wine is foul sugar water. The defence would rightly argue that the decent stuff lies in their shadow and therefore remains one of the great wine bargains of the world. They might even bring forth as their evidence this lovely German Riesling Kabinett. There is to be sure a touch of sweetness but it is balanced by a thrilling acidity and is perfect proof that there is another side to German wine.

 

Rose:   

 

2012 Petit Arnau Rosado, Loxarel, Penedes, Spain - don't hate me because I'm pink, this delicious rose is a blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir gives juicy aromas of red berry fruits, cherry, cream and peach.

 

Red:

 

2011 Berry Brothers Extraordinary Claret, Bordeaux - a classic red Bordeaux made under the auspices of Jean-Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages fame, this is a classic red Bordeaux with briary fruit, spicy oak and a touch of leather and smoke. We have simply not found a better Bordeaux at this price. For the price of a single bottle of one of the top Bordeaux you could probably have a dozen cases.

 

2012 Cotes du Rhone, Domaine des Espiers, Rhone, Valley - a humble appellation belies how delicious this wine actually is. Made with a healthy dollop of Syrah, this is all lifted black fruit and pepper. Very moreish.

 

2011 Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Pasa Robles, California - from the cooler, wooded western part of Pasa Robles - also home to the likes of Chateau Beaucastel's Tablas Creek and Turley - this is a benchmark Zinfandel (with a dash of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) brimming with bright red fruit and pepper.