thewinesociety.com/championsWOJUN15

deliGhT UnSeen‘Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind’ (And therefore are our Champions tasted blind…)with apologies to William Shakespeare

When it comes to Wine Champions, The Society’s Buying Team has always turned a blind eye to hallowed names, vintages of the century and other distractions caused by the sight of a label. Smell and taste are the only two senses deployed to root out a genuine coup de foudre from hundreds of other bottles.

A Wine Champion is a bottle that is, quite simply, perfect for drinking now and guaranteed to deliver pure pleasure. In this, our 15th vintage of Wine Champions, we blind-tasted nearly 700 wines to arrive at the collection showcased here, in 43 wines and eight mixed cases. All that remains is for Society members to enjoy them too.

IN DEPTH (THE RULES)Participating wines are submitted by each of The Society’s buyers, after strict preselection, for tasting by a panel of at least five of their peers and two scribes.

l All wines are tasted blind, like with like, with all labels and capsules concealed by bottle bags.

l Each wine may be awarded three points (top marks), one point or no points. The highest-scoring wines are not necessarily Champions unless there is unanimous agreement among the tasters present.

l Each taster may play a maximum of two ‘jokers’ per session, to reconsider a bottle felt to have been unfairly overlooked.

l Very strong runners-up are retasted with the winners at a final taste-off.

l While a balance of styles makes for a good offer, we don’t manufacture Champions to fit the template. They are, simply, our winning wines, wherever they come from.

l When stock of a winning vintage runs out, we may offer the next one available, but not as a Champion, unless it, too, was successful at the tastings stage.

IN BREADTH (THE RANGE)This year a new record of 693 wines were tasted, as follows:

83 Bordeaux blends 62 pinot noir and gamay 55 dessert and fortified 79 Rhône and Rhône-style reds 105 Mediterranean red 43 sauvignon blanc 133 aromatic white 58 chardonnay 28 rosé 47 sparkling

IN LENGTH (THE TIME)It takes about three months to complete the Wine Champions tasting campaign, which begins in late November with Bordeaux and Rhône reds, fortified and sparkling wines, and finishes at the end of February with new vintages of wines best enjoyed in their youth, like rosé and sauvignon blanc.

Wine ChampionS – The ViTal STaTiSTiCS

ConTenTSTHE VITAL STATISTICS 2

REDS UNDER £7 3

REDS £7.50 – £10.50 4

REDS £10.75 – £19 5

WHITES UNDER £10 6

WHITES £10.95 – £17.50 7

ROSÉ , SPARKLING, SWEET& FORTIFIED 8

MIxED CASES 9 & 10

The Society’s Buying Team. From left to right, seated: Joe Mandrell, Janet Wynne Evans, Tim Sykes, Joanna Locke MW, Toby Morrhall. Standing: Sebastian Payne MW, Sarah Knowles, Mark Buckenham, Marcel Orford-Williams and Pierre Mansour

Our Tastings Team will be holding ‘Wine Champions’ tastings in September at locations throughout the UK. To find out more and buy tickets, visit thewinesociety.com/tastings

Read more from the tasting room on Society Grapevine, The Wine Society blog, including insights from the buyers and further information on the process behind the campaign, including an infographic. Visit Societygrapevine.com/tag/wine-champions-2015 for the full complement of Champions-related posts.

REDS

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3C, Cariñena 2014A rollicking start to the Iberian section of our Mediterranean Reds round, this succulent, tangy, red-berry-scented gem from Cariñena (the name of the region as well as the grape) sailed through for its balance, value and sheer deliciousness. 13.5% ref WO-SP10401 £5.25 bottle £63 dozen

Baccolo Appassimento Parziale, Rosso Veneto 2013Members have given this dark-cherry-adorned ‘baby Amarone’ a great vote of confidence since its introduction to our range. Our tasters couldn’t disagree, praising its roundness of texture, easy-going fruit and spot-hitting hint of sweetness. 13% ref WO-IT18851 £5.95 bottle £71 dozen

Old Vines in Young Hands Tinto 2013The first of four Portuguese Champions, this winning combination of old Douro vines and the young hands of the revitalised Vila Real co-operative is a serious wine for the price. Balancing polished black fruit with food-friendly freshness, it stuck its head firmly above the parapet this year. 13.5% ref WO-PW4451 £5.95 bottle £71 dozen

Château Lary, Bordeaux 2012A fine example of 2012 Bordeaux at a great price in the right hands: friendly on palate and pocket, this is a charming, light and fruity merlot-based claret for early, and dangerously easy, drinking. 13.5% ref WO-CB4491 £6.75 bottle £81 dozen

The Society’s Chilean Merlot, Rapel 2012It’s always a special pleasure to see our own livery staring back at us once the bottle bags are removed, and this favourite from Concha y Toro made the cut again this year. Aged in barrel (a rarity at this price), its union of oak spice with silky elegant blackcurrant fruit ensured another deserved victory. 14% ref WO-CE1511 £6.95 bottle £83 dozen

The Society’s Rioja Crianza 2011Another Champion from our carefully sourced Society’s range, this time care of Bodegas Palacio in Rioja, who for this vintage gave us access to some of their very best barrels. Aged for a staggering 22 months in oak, this could qualify as a reserva and its hint of traditional vanilla spice and poised, elegant fruit were deemed a cut above. 14% ref WO-SP10031 £6.95 bottle £83 dozen

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vigna Corvino, 2013No one has better understanding of Abruzzo grapes than the dynamic Rocco Pasetti, as his great-value midweek-pizza-friendly red proved ably this year. Despite its modest price, we recommend decanting this wine, as it was upon retasting that its appetising fresh fruit made our panel realise just how good it is. 12.5% ref WO-IT18991 £6.95 bottle £83 dozen

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

A sense of proportionA Champions campaign includes a range of prices from less than £6 to more than £60 because the function of these tastings is primarily to monitor drinkability in a cross-section of stock. While the pricier wines provoke a sense of expectation, even while still anonymously bagged, the real joy is to find so much to enthuse about at the more affordable end. In the new world Rhône-style session, more than half of the 40 wines shown were under a tenner, including the brilliant Aussie double act of Wakefield Promised Land and Bleasdale Bremerview (see next page).

To order thewinesociety.com/champions 01438 740222 smartphone app

Sarah Knowles

Wakefield Promised Land Shiraz 2013A voluptuous Clare Valley shiraz reverberating with black-fruited richness and smoky vanilla notes, and a seamless, velvety texture. A testament to the quality of this fine South Australian region and the talented Wakefield team. 13.5% ref WO-AU16821 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

Teroldego Rotaliano Riserva, Mezzacorona 2011More than one taster mistook this old Trentino variety for a ripasso from Valpolicella, a compliment to its full-bodied morello-cherry fruit, spicy complexity and seductive sweetness. A great hit from the exceptional Mezzacorona co-operative that must be tried by those yet to discover this Italian gem. 13% ref WO-IT19271 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

Foresco Umbria, Barberani 2013A naturally sweet-fruited Italian blend of sangiovese and Bordeaux grapes from Umbria’s exceptional Barberani family that ticked all of our tasters’ boxes. Generous almost to the point of flamboyance but juicy and balanced by a seam of freshness. Splendid value. 13.5% ref WO-IT19521 £7.95 bottle £95 dozen

Côte Roannaise ‘Les Originelles’, Domaine Sérol 2014The 2014 Loire vintage has been a godsend for the region’s fresh, delightful and oft-overlooked reds. This medium-bodied, simple but gorgeously effective gamay flourished in the tasting room, as it undoubtedly would served ‘cellar-cool’ in a sunny garden. 12%ref WO-LO11631 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

Ravenswood Lodi Old-Vine Zinfandel 2013The first of two zinfandels to earn their stripes this year, Joel Peterson’s California classic overdelivers for its price. All the sweet cherry, blackcurrant and softness you’d expect from a good zin, in a style not a million miles from some fuller-bodied Italian reds. Very smart indeed. 14.5% ref WO-US6051 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Guigal 2011The Guigals’ masterful command of the whole gamut of price ranges is remarkable, and their Côtes-du-Rhône is lavished with the same care as their prized (and astronomically priced) single-vineyard wines. The 2011 shone like a beacon with its generous ripe fruit, figgy spicy complexity and exceptional length. 14% ref WO-RH37551 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

Bleasdale Bremerview Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2012A fine complement to their Champion chardonnay on page 6, Bleasdale’s shiraz will delight fans of this Australian hallmark. Oozing with ripe blueberry fruit and a smooth texture that glides over the palate and cries out for hearty fare. 14% ref WO-AU16581 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

Weinert Cabernet Sauvignon 2006Weinert’s wines reflect the purity of their Argentine origins but with neither high extraction nor excessive oak, and thus a paradoxical yet unmistakable nod to Europe. This savoury, mellow cabernet with notes of leather and tobacco (not unlike traditional Bordeaux or Rioja) sailed through our tastings with ease. Now to 2019. 15% ref WO-AR3161 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

The Society’s Exhibition Mendoza Malbec 2013A very different expression of Argentina, our flagship malbec is on scintillating form in the 2013 vintage. A complex blend from five vineyards blended by our own Toby Morrhall and Catena Zapata maestro Alejandro Vigil, this has classic violet perfume and black brambly fruits and a long finish. Ready the steak! Now to 2020. 14% ref WO-AR3211 £9.95 bottle £119 dozen

Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010Having won in last year’s tastings, this over-achieving berry-fruited Kiwi pinot noir once again stood out for its sumptuous nose, depth and character. Superb value and ‘à point’ now. Drink this year. 13.5%ref WO-NZ7031 £10.50 bottle £126 dozen

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

Mediterranean Reds · · One boot fits allSociety members’ strong support of Italy and buyer Sebastian Payne MW’s enthusiasm for uncovering far more than merely the famous bits always ensure an embarrassment of riches to taste, as well as a grape-hunter’s delight. This year’s Champions offer up a grand tour from teroldego in northerly Trento to fiano in the deep south, and include an appealing rosato from the prime Valpolicella grape corvina.

To order thewinesociety.com/champions 01438 740222 smartphone app4

Sebastian Payne MW

Syrah L’Appel des Sereines, Domaine Villard 2012Food and wine are never far apart in the Rhône; François Villard began his career in restaurants, and his gorgeous, soft-centred syrah (mostly from young Saint-Joseph vines in the northern Rhône) had our tasters yearning for the hearty fare that would accompany it so brilliantly. Perfumed, elegant and classic. Now to 2017. 12.5% ref WO-RH37851 £10.75 bottle £129 dozen

Peachy Canyon Paso Robles Zinfandel 2012Mouth-coating dark fruits, soft tannins and strawberry zing combine to produce an American dream from the family-run Peachy Canyon. This classic, juicy zinfandel stood out for sheer deliciousness, elegance and length on the collective palate. Now to 2018. 14.5% ref WO-US5981 £11.50 bottle £138 dozen

Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013A vintage of a generation in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay, expressed by one of the region’s oldest and perhaps best-loved estates, was always going to be special and while there’s no hurry to enjoy it, this peppery, elegant, blackberry-and-plum-laden syrah is on bewitching form now. Now to 2019. 13% ref WO-NZ8031 £12.50 bottle £150 dozen

Château Tauzinat L’Hermitage, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009The opulent 2009 vintage, the skilful stewardship of Bernard and Catherine Moueix, and the Midas touch of celebrated oenologist Denis Dubourdieu combined to create a classic claret from this revitalised right bank grand cru. This excelled in its category and surprised us all when its price tag was revealed. Now to 2020. 13.5% Low stockref WO-CS8771 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen

Chamonix Troika Reserve, Franschhoek 2011An early vintage of this South African ‘Bordeaux blend’ was a Wine Champion back in 2008! Its welcome return to the roster was well deserved, as talented young winemaker Gottfried Mocke has produced something very special here, upping the cabernet franc in the blend to craft a wine of depth, freshness and a confit of red and black fruit. Now to 2019. 14.5% ref WO-SA9291 £14.95 bottle £179 dozen

Saint-Joseph, Francois de Tournon, Delas 2011Delas are on outstanding form and the classicism and character of this benchmark Saint-Joseph demanded our panel’s attention this year. Deeply coloured, full-flavoured and fruity, with some spice and a bewitching touch of slatey complexity. Now to 2021. 13.5% ref WO-RH33671 £19 bottle £228 dozen

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

‘A good, classic vintage’Thanks to a good spread of fine, mature and more recent vintages from 2006 to 2013, the Rhône and notably Saint-Joseph shone this year. What’s more there was a number of what we call Champions-in-waiting to look forward to in 2016 when they will be fully ready to drink. Bordeaux struck gold with the least inexpensive Château Lary 2012 (see page 3), while the class of 2009 was apparent in Tauzinat L’Hermitage.

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Marcel Orford-Williams

To order thewinesociety.com/champions 01438 740222 smartphone app6

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

Green with Envy?A very good reason for the increased tally of wines tasted in this already large Aromatic Whites section – some 40 more than we tasted in 2013 – is the renaissance of styles like vinho verde, which scored three Champions in 2015 including another victory for last year’s winner, Anselmo Mendes. The more modestly priced Quinto de Azevedo and Dócil are no strangers to Champions glory either. These wine are on a roll and a mixed case of all three awaits (see page 9).

Zarcillo Bío-Bío Riesling 2014This zesty Chilean riesling’s name translates as ‘tendril’, and it climbed above a number of good-value candidates in our Aromatic Whites round this year. Drier than most German offerings yet generous in its lime and passionfruit flavours. 13% ref WO-CE7861 £6.50 bottle £78 dozen

Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde 2014Surprisingly fruit-forward tropical aromas, a deft refreshing twist of citrus on the palate and gorgeous persistent length of flavour made this, the first of a hat-trick of vinhos verdes to win in 2015, a shoo-in. A revitalised summer classic. 10.5% ref WO-PW5091 £6.75 bottle £81 dozen

Pepp Grüner Veltliner 2014Ewald Gruber’s scandalously inexpensive example of Austria’s white trump card will appeal as much to lovers of zesty sauvignon blanc as it will aficionados of grüner veltliner. Citrusy, exuberant but very dry, with a tantalisingly crisp finish that invites a second glass. 12% ref WO-AA1671 £7.25 bottle £87 dozen

Fiano-Greco Bianco Puglia, A Mano 2014An extroverted and irresistible blend from the heel of Italy’s boot, utilising the fragrant fiano grape and the elegant, lemon-tinged charms of greco to craft a modern and thoroughly satisfying summery white. A firm hit with members, the press and our panel of tasters alike. 12% ref WO-IT19641 £7.50 bottle £90 dozen

Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard 2014No stranger to Wine Champions, this members’ favourite Loire white from Emmanuel Delaille reaped the rewards of a fine vintage to win our tasters’ praise yet again. Gentle, rounded and pure with an irresistible burst of citrus courtesy of a clever blend of sauvignon with a touch of chardonnay. 12% ref WO-LO11331 £7.95 bottle £95 dozen

Domaine Gonon, Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2013Purveyors of fine white Burgundy to our members since 1995, Gonon make attractive and fresh Mâcon with the aroma and flavour of baked apples that never fails to hit the spot. This unoaked cuvée was on imperious form this year. 13.5% ref WO-BU57401 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

Pinot Blanc, Trimbach 2013Alsace is a passion of ours at The Society and under blind-tasting conditions, this entry-level pinot blanc from one of the region’s titans, Trimbach, shone for its vivaciousness and versatility, its lemon-and-grapefruit palate making it as well suited to the aperitif as the dinner table. 12.5% ref WO-AL11691 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

Bleasdale Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2013A nigh-unanimous winner proving that Australian chardonnay’s reinvention is something all should take seriously. Traditional exuberance is balanced with fine use of French oak and refreshing, lemony character. 12.5% ref WO-AU17461 £9.50 bottle £114 dozen

WHITES

Joanna Locke MW

Read more from the tasting room on Society Grapevine, The Wine Society blog, including insights from the buyers and further information on the process behind the campaign, including an infographic. Visit Societygrapevine.com/tag/wine-champions-2015 for the full complement of Champions-related posts.

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

Global expansionChampions-watchers may have noticed that the number of wines tasted has been on an upward curve. The rise, from a total of 481 in 2008, to a record 693 this year, despite stricter-than-ever selection, marks the growing size of The Society’s portfolio, be it virgin territory or further inroads into Austria, Greece and the Balkans. Delicious whites like Pepp’s crisp grüner veltliner or Semeli’s crunchy Greek ‘Mountain Sun’ rosé add variety to the mix.

Niepoort Dócil, Vinho Verde 2014A floral, fragrant Portuguese classic in the hands of one of the country’s leading winemakers is a mouthwatering proposition and Dirk Niepoort’s refreshing, modern take on vinho verde was on glittering form this year. Drink this year and next. 11% ref WO-PW5101 £10.95 bottle £131 dozen

Gewurztraminer, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht 2013Another winner from Alsace, this time from the unmistakable, spicy and fragrant gewurztraminer grape. Zind-Humbrecht is a house unafraid to push boundaries and yet it was the classic typicity of this savoury, rich and dry gewurz that impressed our panel this year. Now to 2019. 13.5% ref WO-AL11671 £11.50 bottle £138 dozen

Samuel Billaud, Chablis Les Grands Terroirs 2013An ever-competitive Chablis line-up yielded a clear under-£15 winner courtesy of the impressive Samuel Billaud. His focus on precision and elegance can be tasted in this sublime, lemony unoaked Chablis, which walks a tightrope of concentration and freshness with aplomb. Now to 2019. 12.5%ref WO-BU57291 £12.50 bottle £150 dozen

NEW Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2014A mouthwatering proposition from the ‘guru of vinho verde’, Anselmo Mendes. Contacto alludes to the 12-hour period of skin contact during the vinification of this wine, and the resultant extra body and structure lifts the wine’s tropical-fruit flavours without losing its stylish flint-edged finesse. Now to 2018. 13%ref WO-PW5141 £12.95 bottle £155 dozen

Radford Dale Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2012 (The Winery of Good Hope)A seductive, buttery but balanced Cape chardonnay from a team whose wines are going from strength to strength. High scores were awarded for its gentle citrus fruit and opulent texture. Now to 2019. 13% ref WO-SA9131 £13.95 bottle £167 dozen

Domaine de la Soufrandise Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2012The older portion of the Melin family’s vines have crafted a superb Pouilly-Fuissé in this fine, fresh vintage. Subtle toasty oak and delightful balance saw this white Burgundy soar from the glass and into our tasters’ good books. Now to 2019. 13% ref WO-BU55271 £17.50 bottle £210 dozen

Janet Wynne Evans

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To order thewinesociety.com/champions 01438 740222 smartphone app 8

roSÉAlpha Zeta Rosato Veronese 2014This cheerful Italian rosato from corvina, the Valpolicella grape, is summer in a glass: its unpretentious and joyous cherry flavours transported our tasters from the wintry conditions of our rosé tasting session and put us all in mind of the warmer days to come. Enjoy! 12% ref WO-IT19711 £5.95 bottle £71 dozen

Semeli Mountain Sun Rosé 2014A fine Greek rosé whose personality assured victory amid a clutch of delicious pinks that vied for our panel’s attention. Don’t be afraid to serve with food – grilled lamb or vegetables, salads and even spicy dishes would be complemented with ease. 13% ref WO-GR901 £8.95 bottle £107 dozen

SparKlinGThe Society’s Cava Reserva Brut NVRarely is so much care and attention lavished on Cava than at Bodegas Sumarroca, whose wine has found many fans since its introduction to our range. A textured, appley delight to serve at any occasion. An International Wine Challenge 2015 Silver-Medal Winner. 11.5%ref WO-SG1661 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

SWeeTHalf bottle of Château Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes 2010This superb-value Sauternes echoed its previous stand-out performance in comparative tastings of the 2010 vintage. This long-flavoured sweet wine is spicy and aromatic, and yet boasts all the luscious elegance one rightly expects of top-quality Sauternes. Now to 2035. 13.5% ref WO-BW4062 £13.50 bottle £162 dozen

ROSÉ, SPARKLING, SWEET & FORTIFIED

ForTiFiedAlegria ManzanillaA great find from sherry buyer Pierre Mansour via the splendid house of Williams and Humbert. Its wonderful aroma, lightness of touch and intensity of flavour – with a lovely salty tang so typical of high-quality manzanilla – saw it fight off many a more expensive peer. 15% ref WO-SH931 £7.95 bottle £95 dozen

Romate Maribel A Selection of Amontillado Medium DryWe urge members not to miss this mind-bogglingly complex amontillado. Hazelnutty, opulent and yet palate-sharpeningly fresh, it offers layer upon layer of diverse, delicious flavours and is a steal at the price. 19% ref WO-SH441 £8.50 bottle £102 dozen

TALES FROM THE TASTING ROOM

The rise and rise of good sherryA drink which was, not that long ago, nationally consigned – though not by The Society and our members, let it be said – to gloomy sideboards and unadventurous gentility has traditionally done rather well in Wine Champions. Had space permitted, The Society’s Fino, a Champ last year, could again have mounted the podium with Alegria Manzanilla and Romate Maribel A Selection of Amontillado: these two inspired palates with thoughts of smoked salmon, cured ham and similar delights sadly conspicuous by their absence from the tasting room...

Pierre Mansour

9Open to reveal more wines

A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of the following:

Baccolo Appassimento Parziale, Rosso Veneto 2013Old Vines in Young Hands Tinto 2013Château Lary, Bordeaux 2012The Society’s Chilean Merlot, Rapel 2012The Society’s Rioja Crianza 2011Côte Roannaise ‘Les Originelles’, Domaine Sérol 2014

ref WO-MX15108£79

Wine ChampionS redS miXed CaSe

A six-bottle case containing two bottles of the following:

Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde 2014Niepoort Dócil, Vinho Verde 2014Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2014

ref WO-MX15111 £59

Champion Vinho Verde CaSe

A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of the following:

Zarcillo Bío-Bío Riesling 2014Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde 2014Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard 2014Fiano-Greco Bianco Puglia, A Mano 2014Domaine Gonon, Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2013Pinot Blanc, Trimbach 2013

ref WO-MX15109 £89

Wine ChampionS WhiTeS miXed CaSe

A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of the following:

Red3C, Cariñena 2014Ravenswood Lodi Old-Vine Zinfandel 2013Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Guigal 2011Château Lary, Bordeaux 2012Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vigna Corvino, 2013The Society’s Chilean Merlot, Rapel 2012

WhiteCheverny, Domaine du Salvard 2014Zarcillo Bío-Bío Riesling 2014Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde 2014Pinot Blanc, Trimbach 2013Pepp Grüner Veltliner 2014Domaine Gonon, Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2013

ref WO-MX15114 £89

Wine ChampionS miXed dozen CaSe

A six-bottle case containing two bottles of the following:

Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013Syrah L’Appel des Sereines, Domaine Villard 2012Bleasdale Bremerview Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2012

ref WO-MX15113 £65

Champion Shiraz/Syrah CaSe

This offer is open until Sunday 19th July, 2015 while stocks last.

Uncork with confidence

The Wine Society is a mutual organisation, so our members’ satisfaction is paramount. If, for any reason, you haven’t enjoyed a wine we want to hear about it and will happily offer a credit, a replacement or a refund. thewinesociety.com/promise

A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of the following:

Baccolo Appassimento Parziale, Rosso Veneto 2013Château Lary, Bordeaux 2012The Society’s Chilean Merlot, Rapel 2012The Society’s Rioja Crianza 2011Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vigna Corvino, 2013Wakefield Promised Land Shiraz 2013Côte Roannaise ‘Les Originelles’, Domaine Sérol 2014Ravenswood Lodi Old-Vine Zinfandel 2013Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge, Guigal 2011The Society’s Exhibition Mendoza Malbec 2013Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010Weinert Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

ref WO-MX15115

Champion redS dozen

£95

To order thewinesociety.com/champions 01438 740222

A six-bottle case containing one bottle of the following:

Syrah L’Appel des Sereines, Domaine Villard 2012Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010The Society’s Exhibition Mendoza Malbec 2013Peachy Canyon Paso Robles Zinfandel 2012Domaine de la Soufrandise Pouilly Fuisse Vieilles Vignes 2012Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2014

ref WO-MX15110

Champion TreaTS CaSe

£69

Key

- bone dry to intensely sweet screwcap synthetic closure

A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of the following:

RedMontepulciano d’Abruzzo Vigna Corvino, 2013Teroldego Rotaliano Riserva, Mezzacorona 2011Foresco Umbria, Barberani 2013Baccolo Appassimento Parziale, Rosso Veneto 2013

WhiteFiano-Greco Bianco Puglia, A Mano 2014

RoseAlpha Zeta Rosato Veronese 2014

ref WO-MX15112

Champion iTalian CaSe

£79