Reviewed by
Evelyn
Life is all about enjoying and appreciating the smaller things, so why not celebrate the weekend with a wine subscription box to share with friends and family? My VitiBox are one of the leading French wine subscription services who ship to the UK and all of their wines are handpicked by the famed sommelier Philippe Defleur (former sommelier of La Tour d’Argent and the Élysée Palace), to guarantee top quality wines for you to savour every month.
The wines are shipped to the UK via courier and arrive in a sturdy ‘shockproof’ box. I’ve been enjoying this subscription for a number of months now and all of the wines that I’ve received have arrived in perfect condition, so their boxes really do work! Inside your My VitiBox you’ll find two bottles of wine, alongside Philippe’s tasting notes which show you how to enjoy the wines like a true connoisseur.
November’s theme is Autumn Wines and contains two lovely bottles of red:-
The Clos des Vieux Marronniers 2016, Jean Loron House, Beaujolais
I love old traditional style labels on wine bottles, so I picked up this one to open first. Produced by Maison Jean Loron who are one of the oldest and largest vineyard owners in the south of Burgundy, this winery is steeped in history as it was founded at the end of the 17th century and is now 135 hectares wide. One of the prized grapes in this region is the Gamay, and this wine is made from 100% Gamay for a uniquely deep and fruity taste.
In the glass, this wine has a deep red colour, but when it hits the light, you can see much lighter raspberry tones. It has a pleasant fruity-floral aroma with hints of Raspberry, Strawberry, Hawthorn, Cherry and Nutmeg, and it tastes very similar, with the fruity notes coming through the strongest. It’s very dry, with a light body which enables it to pair well with cured meats and dishes like Shepherd’s Pie. A very pleasant wine indeed!
Le Champ Vallin 2015, House Foucher Lebrun, Touraine
The next wine is also made from 100% Gamay grapes and comes from the Maison Foucher Lebrun, which has been operating since 1921. Located next to Sancerre, it offers a wide selection of appellations from across the famous Loire Valley, resulting in delightfully fresh and fruity wines.
I found this wine to be quite similar to the one above. The colour is the glass is a dark red with cherry undertones, and its aroma is pleasant and fruity, with strong notes of Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry combining with more vegetable and woody notes of Green Pepper, Menthol and Fern. Taste-wise, it’s very dry, light bodied and has a more acidic aftertaste. This wine pairs well with dishes such as rabbit terrine, brie and honey fried figs. I have to admit that I wasn’t all that keen on it when I initially tasted it, but it’s starting to grow on me, although I definitely prefer the first red.
