Reviewed by
Evelyn
My Vitibox is a monthly subscription box for new wine lovers and true connoisseurs alike. Although there are a lot of wine subscription services around, the main difference with My Vitibox is that all of the wines are personally selected by the famed sommelier Alain Gousse and this man knows his wines. He was the former Head Sommelier at a number of Michelin-starred restaurants including La Tour d’Argent and Le Crillon, and he’s now sharing his passion for fine wine with the rest of Europe through My Vitibox.
My general understanding of wine is currently at what I’d call a ‘good beginner’ level. I can tell a Malbec from a Shiraz, and I can pick up on certain undertones of flavour, but I’m not too great about knowing which type of wine goes with a certain type of meal or food, nor do I have the extensive knowledge of the history or origins of certain grape varieties. With this in mind, I was very keen to try My Vitibox to help me on my journey to fully appreciate everything about wine (and of course to try out some delicious bottles!).
Each month, My Vitibox will send you two bottles of wine, chosen by Alain Gousse and based around a different theme. You can choose a subscription based on ‘Colours and Flavours’, where you’ll receive a mix of wines, or if you want only reds, you can select the ‘Wine Box Red Passion’ option. The boxes are shipped via courier to the UK and are delivered in sturdy cardboard boxes which are ‘shockproof’ to ensure that the bottles arrive in perfect condition. 
Inside March’s My Vitibox were two bottles of wine and a tasting notes booklet which describes each wine in detail, including a short opinion piece by Alain Gousse. The booklet also offers food pairings advice and takes you on a step-by-step tasting by explaining the three key steps; the Eye, the Nose and the Mouth, to encourage you to fully explore the wine that you are tasting through the three main senses. I found this very helpful when I tried out the wines, as it made me stop and take note of what I was experiencing.
The theme for March was ‘Varieties and Blends‘ and the box contained the following wines:-
Marques Del Villar 2015 – Les Passeurs de Vins Rioja (13.5%)
This Spanish Rioja from Marques Del Villar was an absolute delight, and I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best red wines that I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. It’s a beautiful purple-red colour, and once poured into the glass, I could immediately smell a subtle, spicy cinnamon and fruity aroma which was truly appetising. Despite this being a young wine, it’s easy to see it becoming a ‘new’ vintage at some point in the near future, as it just tastes incredible. Medium-bodied and semi-dry, yet with a delectable rich texture, it’s deliciously fresh and fruity, and goes well with the likes of stuffed peppers, duck breast and desserts like blueberry pie. I may have to order a case of this!
Le Secret de Sainte Frivole 2015 – Domaine Mauro-Guicheney Côtes de Duras (14%)
From the famous Côtes de Duras vineyard in France, comes a surprising new white wine, as the area is traditionally known for its fine reds. This bottle of Le Secret de Sainte Frivole strongly demonstrates to the world that the region also produces excellent white wines, and this one certainly is nothing short of excellent. Composed of a blend of Sauvignon Gris (60%) and Sauvignon Blanc (40%), it has a characteristic pale yellow colour and an aroma of citrusy lemon and fresh apples. This is a very dry white wine that’s light-bodied, but I found it very palatable which I was surprised by as I generally prefer slightly sweeter white wines than this. Recommended food pairings suggest starters like tuna cake and desserts such as lemon pie, however, I thoroughly enjoyed it with a small plate of pasta and a fresh green salad!
In addition to receiving a box of two wines each month, your subscription also includes a 15% discount off cases purchased via the My Vitbox website, so this is a great way to try some truly fine wines before deciding on a case (or two) for the home!
