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The Times and Sunday Times Exclusive Collection
At The Sunday Times Wine Club we’re always on the hunt for something new. If we were the first to introduce our readers to good wines from Australia, Eastern Europe, the Midi and Chile, we’ve never lost the sheer joy of sniffing out wines of character and authenticity, bringing them direct from the vineyards to your table. But the question always remains - what next? Having spent five decades exploring the wine route we wanted to bring you a hand-picked selection we can call our own.
Will Lyons, Club Vice President
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RiojA 2021
Our specially selected Rioja is all about searching for the highest, coolest vineyards in the pursuit of elegance and finesse. That’s where you’ll find ‘bodega in the clouds’ Altos, the award-winning winery of the Haut-Brion-trained winemaker Jean-Marc Sauboua.
Taking cool, high-grown Tempranillo and Graciano grapes from ancient vines, Jean-Marc crafts a Grand Cru style Rioja at his immaculate modern cellar. With long ageing in French oak barrels and clay amphorae, this is a powerful, rich Rioja with dense black fruits, exotic spices and a firm structure … a wine that deserves decanting.
£17.99 per bottle
It’s the highest winery in Rioja – a bodega in the clouds – the altitude of its vineyards giving freshness, power and intensity to the wines.
Designated as early as 1716, Chianti Rufina is the most ‘montuoso’ of Chianti’s subzones due to the lofty altitude of its vineyards, up to 500 metres.
Chianti Rufina 2022
For our fine Chianti, we eschewed its famous Classico region and looked to the high hills of Rufina. As early as 1716, this area was singled out for its superior wines and you’ll find few better addresses than Paolo Masi’s Fattoria di Basciano. His vineyards stretch up to 300 metres altitude, the most mountainous of Chianti, with beautiful views out across the Argomenna Valley. Grapes grown at this height lend elegance and longevity to the wines. Paolo’s estate Chianti is a masterclass in Sangiovese’s dark cherry fruit, mocha and oak spice.
£15.99 per bottle
Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2022
The claret in our range is from Castillon, home to the final battle of the 100 Years War in 1453 … the French were victorious and so ended 300 years of English rule. England’s love of claret didn’t abate, however, and today we still manage to ship the finest spoils of Castillon’s vineyards back to UK shores.
Castillon lies adjacent to the Grand Cru Classé châteaux of Saint-Émilion, with vines on the same prized limestone plateau as its illustrious neighbour. It boasts wines of equal richness, depth and finesse but for much less than a king’s ransom. From a small, immaculately tended estate and a great vintage, this delicious claret offers velvety, dark berry fruit, creaminess and spice, with smooth, rounded tannins.
£14.99 per bottle
Castillon was home to the final battle of the Hundred Years War and the end of 300 years of English rule. Despite this defeat, the English continue to covertly swipe the finest spoils of the vineyard.
The magical luminosity of this part of Provence inspires great artists and winemakers alike.
Provence Pink Alpes de Haute Provence 2024
A world away from the brash opulence of the film-star-studded Côte d’Azur, the high hills of Alpes de Haute Provence have for centuries inspired great artists with their magical light quality.
This is also where the smart money goes to discover top-class rosés. Warm sunny days and cool nights bring out the pale pink hue, delicate berry fruit, stony freshness and subtle savoury edge that whisper fine Provence rosé.
£10.99 per bottle
Chardonnay 2023
One glass of this unoaked Chardonnay from the sun-filled vineyards of southern France and you’ll be dazzled by its intense aromas and freshness. Winemaker Stéphane Bouillot puts that down to harvesting the grapes in the cool chill of the night and speedily delivering them to the cellar. The result is a crisp, fruit-filled white brimming with peach, melon and citrus flavours. Great as a refreshing glass on its own, yet equally well matched with chicken dishes, fish or salads.
£8.99 per bottle
Grown in the warm, sunny vineyards of southern France, the Chardonnay grapes are harvested at night to retain maximum fruit and freshness.
Both winemaker and farmer, Christophe Monget is wedded to organic methods at his family estate in Coteaux du Giennois, next door to Sancerre. His is an exceptional Sauvignon with bright fruit and mineral finesse.
Coteaux du Giennois
Sauvignon Blanc 2023
While many beat a path to Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé for the finest Sauvignon Blancs of the Loire, those in the know head just east and north to Coteaux du Giennois. There, Christophe Monget, both farmer and grower, works organically, hand in hand with nature at his family estate, tending his cattle and vines with equal passion. Enjoy here his latest release Sauvignon Blanc – crisp, elegant and grassy-fresh, and a touch fruitier than offerings from Sancerre.
£17.99 per bottle
The Times Exclusive Collection Malbec 2024
Malbec is the UK’s favourite red wine, and the finest come from Argentina. Mendoza is its best-known region, but for the Exclusive Collection Malbec we’ve travelled far south to Patagonia – in fact, the most southerly point in all of South America.
This super-fresh Malbec comes from the Schroeder estate, where the bones of a previously undiscovered dinosaur were unearthed when the winery was first built. The vines defy Antarctic winds to yield thick-skinned, tightly packed grapes, resulting in a silky red crammed with dark fruit and spice – perfect with grilled meats.
£14.99 per bottle
When the winery was built a fossil of a giant dinosaur. Panamericansaurus schroederi (named after the family) was found. They have a ‘dinosaur cellar’ on site where tourists can view the fossils.
Not the usual, Mendoza
Located on the furthest eastern point of the world, Lake Road’s vines are the first to see the light of each new day.
Not the usual, Marlborough
The Times Exclusive Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Sauvignon Blanc is Britain’s most popular white – especially when it hails from New Zealand. Marlborough might be the headline act, but for the Exclusive Collection Sauvignon Blanc we’ve ventured north, to a special vineyard on the easternmost tip of the North Island.
It lies in Gisborne – the first place in the world to see the sunrise each new day. Here, bright sunlight and cooling sea breezes give the wine its grassy lift, vibrant guava fruit and innate lime-zest freshness.
£14.99 per bottle
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