In late October 2024, I went to Davy’s Autumn Trade Tasting in London. Davy’s, established in 1870, supplies a range of bars, hotels, restaurants and catering services, as well as private and corporate clients, including universities, colleges and companies. Their offerings are available through several wine shops in London, online and via mail order.
The event featured an impressive selection of 240 wines spread across four elegant rooms. It turned out to be a ‘red’ day for me, as nearly all the wines I most liked were reds.
Pricing can vary significantly depending on the purchasing context, whether on trade within the hospitality industry or retail. To give an indication, I’ve labelled wines with up to four pound symbols, reflecting the estimated price range.
Bodegas Ochoa Moscato de Ochoa MdO 2022 – Navarra, Spain (£)
Made from the Muscat grape, this wine surprised me, as I don’t typically favour sweet sparkling options, they’re generally not to my taste. However, this one stood out for its unique qualities. It starts with a nose reminiscent of Tokaji, with rich apricot notes, followed by a fresh apple flavour and a lingering finish that leaves a lasting impression. With a low alcohol content of 5.5%, it’s light yet memorable.
Te Kano Landwalker Pinot Noir 2023 – Central Otago, New Zealand (££)
Te Kano, meaning ‘The Seed’ in Māori, has crafted this Pinot Noir blend for consistency across vintages. The wine has a light body with delicate floral aromatics, offering a balanced and expressive profile. On the palate, it has bright cherry flavours, complemented by subtle herbal and tobacco notes, creating an intricate, layered finish.
Josep Grau La Florens 2021 – Montsant, Spain (££)
This Grenache showcases the depth and character of old vines, sourced from two plots with vines aged between 75 and 100 years. It has an aromatic bouquet, balancing floral and fruity notes with a captivating profile. On the palate, flavours of ripe raspberries and strawberries come forward, underscored by delicate hints of caramel. The tannins are silky, giving the wine a refined texture, and it has impressive length, leaving a lasting impression.
Durigutti Inframundo Red Blend 2023 – Mendoza, Argentina (£)
Coming from the heart of Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, this red blend is primarily composed of the Nero d’Avola grape, yielding a wine with a deep, striking colour. On the nose, it offers a compelling array of aromas, including pepper, thyme and the dried fruit nuances of plum and raspberry. The palate reveals rich blackcurrant flavours, leading to a distinctive finish with subtle hints of quince. This wine is organic with no added sulphites, showcasing the natural approach to winemaking. Plus, it features an eye-catching label.
Domaine Régis Bouvier Marsannay Vieilles Vignes Les Longeroies 2020 – Burgundy, France (££)
This wine comes from Marsannay, an underrated appellation in the northern reaches of the Côtes de Nuits which I was told is currently awaiting its pending premier cru status. Sourced from 70-year-old vines, it continues an old charm with its old-school style of no back label. It opens with an inviting floral and cherry nose, leading to a medium to full-bodied experience on the palate, with smooth tannins and an elegant, fresh finish that unveils hints of liquorice. Exceptionally well-balanced with impressive length, this was my favourite wine of the tasting.
Bodegas Valduero Ribera Del Duero 6 Años 2015 – Ribera del Duero, Spain (££££)
Made from Tempranillo and aged for six years, three in oak and three in the bottle, this Ribera offers a softer expression of wines from this region. It presents deeply aromatic, intense notes of blackcurrant, toffee and a hint of cedar wood. The ageing process has softened the tannins, making it less tannic than a typical Ribera, achieving a smooth, well-rounded character. The aim was to create a gentler style of Ribera del Duero and this wine delivers beautifully on that intention.
Valserrano Finca Monteviejo 2018 – Rioja, Spain (£££)
Sourced from the historic Monteviejo vineyard, planted over 70 years ago with a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano and Garnacha, this Rioja exudes a distinctive character. The nose is highly aromatic, with vibrant redcurrant and blackberry fruit notes. On the palate, it has a round, smooth mouthfeel, complemented by medium tannins, slightly more pronounced than in a typical Rioja, lending structure without overwhelming. The wine finishes long, leaving a refined and memorable impression.
Miguel Merino Viñas Jóvenes Rioja 2021 – Rioja, Spain (££)
At this tasting, I initially sought out Miguel Merino’s La Loma 2021, which recently earned an impressive 100 points in Tim Atkin’s 2024 Rioja Report. While La Loma was enjoyable, it comes at a high price (££££), so I turned my attention to the lesser Viñas Jóvenes Rioja 2021. Surprisingly, for me it was more flavoursome than La Loma, and at a fraction of the price. Miguel Merino shared that his aim was to create a straightforward Rioja but with uncompromised quality. Miguel also said this wine makes up a significant proportion of their production so had to be ‘right’. The wine delivers classic Rioja aromatics, with rich fruit and a slight spicy twist from a touch of Graciano. Although it’s a Crianza rather than Reserva or Gran Reserva, don’t let that fool you, this wine still has depth, having spent a year aging in old barrels, enhancing its character beautifully.
Domaine Bousquet Gran Reserve Malbec 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina (£)
I’ve reviewed this vintage before, highlighting its quality and the unique story behind Domaine Bousquet, along with its impressive organic credentials, still a rarity in Argentina. It was also exciting to discover further wines in their lineup that matched this Malbec’s excellence, showcasing the breadth and consistency of Domaine Bousquet’s offerings:
Domaine Bousquet Ameri Red Blend 2021 – Mendoza, Argentina (££)
Sourced from a single vineyard and each made from select clusters from a single vine, this exceptional red blend is only produced in outstanding years. Composed of 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and small additions of Merlot and Syrah (5% each), it showcases Domaine Bousquet’s commitment to organic winemaking. The nose is complex, with inviting aromas of red berry fruits interwoven with sweet spices, and subtle hints of mineral, tobacco and black pepper. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and notably fruit-forward, even more so than their excellent Gran Reserve Malbec, making it a standout in their range.
Domaine Bousquet Dulce Malbec 2020 (50cl) – Mendoza, Argentina (£)
This unique Dulce Malbec is fortified with alcohol distilled from grape waste, creating a balance that’s pleasantly sweet but not overly so. It opens with rich aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and chocolate. On the palate, you’ll find lush blackcurrant flavours accompanied by silky tannins, leading to a finish with lingering notes of chocolate and coffee. Best served at 15°C, it should pair well with less sweet desserts or can be enjoyed on its own for a novel and distinct tasting experience.
Quinta Da Silveira 10 Years Old Tawny Port – Douro, Portugal (NV) (££)
Produced using traditional methods, this 10-year-old Tawny Port from Quinta Da Silveira is made with grapes crushed by foot and fermented in open tanks, or lagares, with only natural yeasts. The result is a port with a beautifully rich nose, combining aromas of mixed nuts and dried fruit. On the palate, it reveals a deep, woody character, with the aged complexity one expects from a well-made Tawny.
In summary, this tasting offered a fantastic selection of wines, showcasing a range extending beyond what’s typical, which was refreshing.
