To add to the above comments, the Wine Soc buy what they think is best value for the members, whereas others look to buy what they can make the most profit from. They also provide a large number of tastings around the country, which are most informative, and these give you a chance to taste wines that you might not normally consider. Been a member for nearly 40 years.
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I’m a fan of the Wine Society. I buy most of my wine from Lay & Wheeler, but I’m also in the Wine Society and Naked Wines. WS have a great range of wines, really well picked, and good pricing. Naked as Dave suggests have a very good range, quite a few unique to them, WS have a lot more top end wines.
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Interestingly Lay and Wheeler are local, but when we tried them many years ago they were pretty unhelpful, i dont think we were quite up with their other clients, think they were then taken over by some rival. Thankyou
I have an advisor at Lay & Wheeler who is really competent and also lovely, I get regular updates on her mad puppy as she “matures”. But I’d probably recommend the Wine Society as a broader ranged merchant, as you can tell from my posts here I do a lot of buying of Bordeaux with smaller amounts of other wines, so my usual merchant isn’t necessarily ideal for others.
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Thank you for your insights, we will give Naked wines and the Wine society a try.
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Errazuziz Las Pizarras Chardonnay 2014
I fancied a glass of something cool yesterday, so Coravined one glass of this. A lovely deep golden colour, nose closed at first (I’d slightly over chilled it), opened to strong citrus with bakery hints. On the palate strong acidity, lively lemon and crisp apple, and a rich Chardonnay butteriness. Powerful mouth-filling wine, really well balanced and really enjoyable, very reminiscent of a good Chassagne-Montrachet. I nearly went back for a second glass
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Sunday is normally dominated by beer at my local; but as it was hot I left Thom at home so returned home early. Then a mate knocked on the door and the wine flowed. first a Riesling , which needed time to breathe. Later with fried duck breast I had a Banyuls; I had forgotten how powerful they are (a tad too much for this hot weather, but tasty nonetheless).
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Just back from a week in Northern Portugal 3 days in Porto of course visit to Taylors, then 3 days with a friend (ex taylors) great food & Wine
love Alvarinho white,highlight Parcela Unica 2021
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We’ve been with Naked Wines for maybe 18 years. Very good values and easy to use, good app, offers/freebies/tours and standing order option funds new wine producers. Free delivery over £100 order. No quibble credit if not liked. Christmas cases with festive extras. We don’t tend to do their pre-chosen cases any more, knowing what we like. But no tasting notes or similar and not vintage wines.
Our local independent wine merchant does a periodic mixed pre-chosen case club which is very good also. That does have notes and unusual grapes/countries. I go there for “celebration” bottles. And spirits.
If we ever get seriously into wine (say £20+ every bottle) then I’d definitely go Wine Society instead of Naked.
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We are going through a mixed case……a bit mixed, but are taking a pic on the phone to reorder what we like.
love this white wine from Sicilia, made from Grillo grape, also Bio - lovely fresh citrus rotes, cooked poached salmon & Jersey Royals just about perfect
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Actually, I think The Wine Society’s sweet spot is between £15 and £25, and there is plenty below that level which is worth buying too.
I would say though that I need some guidance to find their best stuff. Jancis Robinson publishes tasting notes on their new releases twice a year, which I find really helpful. For example the most recent set of notes directed me to a £22 orange wine from Alsace which is lovely, and I never would have bought otherwise:
Some of JR’s content is free to view but the most recent set of WS tasting notes is behind a paywall unfortunately
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I am tending to try orange wines when the turn up on wine lists and am often delighted when they are part of a paired wine “flight” on tasting menus. They can smell a bit “funky”, but as with many cheeses, the taste is worth it. So far…
Most wine from Alsace is very good IME.
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Pöckl, Zweigelt Reserve 2020
I am absolutely delighted and believe this is the best Zweigelt I have tasted in a very long time. It is an exceptionally full-bodied, well-balanced wine with intense berry aromas, subtle spice, and an elegant, long-lasting finish.
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@Veltliner – I agree re: the Pockl Reserve and their Mystique wines.
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More dry red Georgian magic – again using the Saperavi grape from the Khaketi region. Tbilvino is an up and coming winery there.
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When in Vouvray…. This dry yet fruity bottle is from the local cooperative, Cave de Vouvray. We wandered up there earlier today.
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@dave-marshall has in the past mentioned the annual fundraiser one of the Naked Wines winemakers in South Africa holds with their subscribers, she runs a “kitchen” which feeds impoverished schoolkids in the region. £27 provides meals for one year for a child, this year’s fundraiser is over £250,000 already.
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