Summer Collection

Press Reviews

Wine Align

91 points (2020) - Michael Godel

In Catalunya and other parts of Spain’s north-central appellations there has been a decade-long investigation into grenache raised in amphora with Bodegas Puiggròs making some of the cleanest of the bunch. This family’s work dates back nearly 180 years though in bottling just more than a dozen. Their Catalonian garnatxa blanca grown at 600m on limestone and clay sees time in 800L clay amphora. The freshness and oily texture combine for honest to goodness pleasure with lemon, orange, lime and dried herbs all in the mix. Almost lemongrass and kefir but certainly some notes of exoticism within. Good energy here and worth a look, finishing with tell-tale tisane and tonic. Drink 2022-2025. Tasted September 2022.

91 points (2020) - John Szabo, MS

Amphora-aged garnacha blanca from Catalonia, Puiggros's 2020 Exedra is a fine follow up to the excellent 2019, clean, fresher than most in the clay pot-aged genre. I like the gentle white-fleshed orchard fruit flavours, the lemon curd and cream, the fullish, well-rounded palate, the impressive length. It's not easy to render this style so cleanly and precisely, but Puiggros does it so well. I'd consider ageing it another year or two for full complexity, though it's also admittedly delicious now. Tasted September 2022.

89 points (2020) - David Lawrason

This is 100% grenache blanc - the favoured white grape of northeast Spain. It shows bright fairly deep lemon colour. The nose is generous but gentle with ripe yellow melon/pear fruit, acacia florality, a hint of anise and spice. It is medium-full bodied, just off-dry and sour-edged with a hint of acetic, which lowers my rating below 90. Still, it is enjoyable, quite plush, open knit and intensely flavoured with excellent length. Tasted Sept 2022

Press Reviews

Wine Anorak

94 points - Jamie Goode

Powerful, lively and spicy with concentrated tangy citrus and pear fruit with some saline notes and tangy apple and lemon on the finish. Lovely intensity here with some crystalline citrus fruit.

Wine Align

93 points - David Lawrason

This is not your everyday chardonnay! In the Jura region of east-central France in the lower foothills of the Alps, there is tradition of oxidative winemaking, some under a layer of flor, as occurs in some Spanish sherry. As a result of the advance maturation this pours medium gold. The nose is dominated by classic hazelnut, honey, barley sugar sourdough and anise, around the ripe tropical fruit. It is medium weight, very smooth, well balanced and focused, with excellent length. More lithe lemon notes enliven the finish. There is a touch of tannin. Tasted December 2022.

91 points - John Szabo, MS

A pure chardonnay made in the traditional, oxidative Jura style under flor, not unlike fino sherry, but here the oxidation is more pronounced. Expect bruised apple and cold Orange Pekoe tea, cold wheat toast with honey, lemon pith and zest, and much more in an unusual but complex expression. The palate is mid-weight, showing more fruit and less oxidative qualities than the nose, succulent acids, and good to very good length. I must say, I like the salinity and savoury aspects, the lingering flavours and authentic but unimpeachable winemaking. There's fantasy here; be sure to decant before serving; best now-2026. Tasted December 2022.

91 points - Michael Godel

Clémentine Baud took over the family estate with her brother six years ago. The first father to daughter transition and with many to follow. The estate dates back to 1742, started by Jean-François. They farm 25 hectares, Clémentine’s father started with five and grew to 19 hectares when he retired. Picking for Sparkling now seems to happen in August, save for the difficult 2021 vintage. In 2017 70 per cent of the harvest was lost to the frosts, 50 in 2019 and 80 in 2021. "We have over 40 old varieties in the Jura, important for diversity, including those not allowed under the rules of the AOC," tells Clém. The fruit for Cuvée Flor is grown at a latitude of 46.73 North and though very much a cool climate place for chardonnay the threats of warmer winters and seasonal frosts has wreaked havoc over the past 10 years. A chardonnay of remarkable lustre, concentration and purity, worked by way of oxidative aging, low alcohol expectation starting at 12 and finishing no higher than 14 to 14.5. A floral chardonnay, not one related to yeast and surely a pretty in Jura wine. From the younger vines, phenolic and hinting towards though remaining clear of emerging boozy. Filled with flavour, hazelnut and praline, peach and yellow plum. A world of its own. Drink 2022-2025. Tasted July 2022.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

90 points - David Lawrason

This is new appellation (formerly Coteaux de Triscatin) is the northernmost in the southern Rhone. It uses the typical southern Rhone varieties, but none can be more than 80% of the blend. This is a quite elegant, well structured, mid-weight red with some stony minerality, lifted pepper and savoury notes. Not as opulently fruity and rich as many peers, yet very tidy and balanced. The length is very good to excellent. Tasted March 2022

Press Reviews

Jancis Robinson

17.5

Deep gold, pungent, punchy. A fickle nose that catches a flicker of Roman drains one moment and then floods the two feet above the glass with orange blossom and quince. So salty your mouth will pucker and then you get the sweetness and citrus oils and herbal bite. It's twists and twists of clementine peel and tangerine and sweet lime. It's oregano and kumquat, pink salt and sour cream. It's punky, silk-and-handcuffs, addictive. Jure Štekar's wines get more and more beautiful every year.