Joy’s 20 to try: quality wine in alternative packaging
Mitja Herga, Lot #5 Pinot Blanc, Slovenia 2020 91
£32.99/2.25L BIB Laylo
Per 750ml: £10.99 Slovenian Pinot Blanc blended with a little Furmint. The box design is inspired by Slovenian folk embroidery. Fine lemon sherbet and honeysuckle nose. Rich, rounded, mouthfilling and full of lively citrus notes, with good structure and saline grip. This is lovely. Alcohol 12%
1 La Marina, Cuvée Océane,
Côtes de Gascogne, France 2021 90
£26.80/2.25L BIB BIB Wine Co
Per 750ml: £8.93 Blend of Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng from southwest France. Engaging gooseberry and tangerine nose. Round and rich in the mouth, with a nice limey grip. Tangy, salty and refreshing. Great value. Alc 11%
2 Cantina Goccia, Celi, Umbria, Italy 2020 89
£12.99/750ml paper (2021) Embargo
Mostly Grechetto with Vermentino and Chardonnay. This has a smoky-mineral, grapefruit nose and full, melony fruit in the mouth. Good body, with a salty-savoury quality and attractive sour-bitter apple freshness on the finish. Alc 13.5%
3 Copper Crew, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa 2021 89
£4.17/250ml can Copper Crew
Per 750ml: £12.50 Citrus nose, rich and chalky in the mouth, with good grip and a little sweetness. A hedonistic mouthful of petrolly, pineapple fruit. Alc 13.5%
Copper Crew, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa 2020 89
£4.17/250ml can Copper Crew
Per 750ml: £12.50 Quite exotic tropical nose. Fresh and appealing with lime and gooseberry notes in the mouth. Nicely rounded, well-balanced wine with some complexity. Alc 13%
Domaine of the Bee, Bee Pink, Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France 2021 91
£34.80/2.25L BIB BIB Wine Co
Per 750ml: £11.60 From Justin HowardSneyd MW’s domaine in France’s far southwest, this is a blend of Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris and Syrah. Very pale pink with a fine, inviting berry nose. Refreshing and elegant rosé, full of lifted strawberry fruit. Absolutely delicious. Alc 12.5%
4 Château Galoupet, Nomade Rosé, Provence, France 2021 90
£25/75cl PET Clos 19, Millésima
From LVMH’s flagship sustainability project in Provence, a typical blend of southern French grape varieties. Attractive pale pink rosé in a strikingly designed ‘flat’, lightweight PET bottle (said to be just
63g) made from ‘prevented ocean plastic’ cleared from seashores. Classic
Provençal rosé, with a refreshing citric-grapefruit hit. Alc 13.5%
Copper Crew, Rosé, Western Cape, South Africa 2020 89
£4.17/250ml can Copper Crew
Per 750ml: £12.50 Quite a full-bodied rosé, a little reductive on the nose when tasted. Well made and full of red, strawberrydominated fruits, with a little spice. The 2019 is still drinking well, too. Alc 13.5%
Defy, Organic Rosé Wine, Abruzzo, Italy NV 89
£6.50/250ml can Defy, Brixton Wine Club
Per 750ml: £19.50 An engaging Montepulciano d’Abruzzo rosé, bright garnet in colour with a nose of stewed fruit and boiled sweets. Interesting, juicy fruit mouthful of rhubarb and cloves. Alc 13%
Du Grappin, Cinsault Rosé, Côtes du Rhone, France NV 89
£28.50/1.5L pouch More Wine
Per 750ml: £14.25 Characterful Rhône rosé in Andrew and Emma Nielsen’s distinctive ‘bagnum’ pouch. Deep orangey-pink, with a nose of rhubarb and apple. Pleasantly tart, with lively cranberry notes. Alc 13%
5 When in Rome, Rosato, Abruzzo, Italy NV 89
£10.99-£11.95/75cl paper Jaded Palates, When in Rome
Made by Azienda Agricola Casimirri from