The Edit is our monthly selection of what's exciting and drinking well, chosen by Robin, founder of Iron & Rose and still a wine obsessive. The three bottles selected change each month to reflect the season, the food we're enjoying, and often to introduce new arrivals.
Offered at a discounted price, it is three banging bottles to introduce you to our world of natural wine, to encourage you to delve deeper, or for a treat to yourself or as a gift.
Subscribe for regular deliveries and save even further. Although the price of The Edit will vary according to the wines chosen each month, it will always be between £60 and £90 and by subscribing you'l save an additional £3.50 off each box set - enough to buy yourself a V60 pour-over coffee from PetitGlou to enjoy while you scan the shelves in Iron & Rose or relax after some intensive market shopping.
For January Robin has chosen three wines that will lead you down paths you may not have trod before... Don't go dry in January. Make it Tryanuary instead and go on a wine-adventure!
This box set contains three bottles, one of each of the following wines, made by inspirational producers, the kind of wines which inspired Robin to start Iron & Rose back in 2016 -
L'Archetipo, Fiano, Puglia, Italy -
Francesco Valentino Dibenedetto began to convert to organic farming in the 1980's but wanted to push further and so moved to biodynamic practices in 2000. He still felt he could do more though, and following Masanobu Fukuoka's thoughts on farming he introduced regenerative agriculture across the whole farm which, as well as vines, grows vegetables and ancient grains.
For this wine local grape variety, Minutolo Fiano is aged on the skins for 7 days before being transferred to stainless steel tanks for natural fermentation and ageing. The results are a smooth, round, soft orange with bags of body, aromas of white flowers, a citrus, orange peel edge and great length. Best enjoyed not too cold to allow the aromas to develop and the complex flavours to be enjoyed, and with food: pheasant would be perfect.
Producer - l’Architepo
Country - Italy
Region - Puglia
Variety / Blend - Fiano
Farming - Biodynamic
Vegan
Domaine d'Ici La, 'Au Replat' Mondeuse, Bugey, Savoie, France -
Florie Brunet & Adrien Bariol farm 6 hectares across three distinct villages in the Bugey region, high in the Savoie region of Eastern France. "Au Replat" is made from local grape Mondeuse, Au Replat being the name of the vineyard, in the high altitude and sought after ‘Montagnieu’ zone of Bugey. This is one of their steepest vineyards with dense limestone, heavy white clay soils. Mondeuse can be compared to cool climate Pinot Noir perhaps and this wine has a beautiful tension, with juicy dark fruit at its core, peppery notes and a light, lithe body. Perfect with the kind of food you would associate with Savoie - air dried meats, mountain cheeses, and forest mushrooms.
Producer - Domaine d'Ici La
Country - France
Region - Savoie
Appellation - Bugey
Variety / Blend - Mondeuse
Farming - Organic
Vegan
Cesar Marquez, Valtuille Vino De Villa, Bierzo, Spain -
The north west region of Bierzo runs through Cesar Marquez' veins and as such he aims to reveal the characterstics of the place rather than the person in all of his wines. The wine making style and the grape varieties used are similar throughout all of his wines with each expressing their individuality through the grapes and terroir.
The grapes for this wine comes from 100 year old bush vines grown in sandy clay soil across two sites at El Llano and El Foco. Grapes are hand harvested and not destemmed but gently crushed under foot and fermentation occurs with wild yeasts. The grapes are then placed in 2,000 litre foudre and macerated for 17 days with daily punch downs. After 17 days the wine is pressed and left to settle for a week before being transferred to a 225 litre old oak barrel where it will age for a whole year before being bottled without fining or filtration.
Mencia has a lovely dense fruit core but an appealing freshness. Alicante Bouschet is a red fleshed, red juice variety that adds weight and texture to the wine. This is a great wine to pair with food, perhaps some venison or other game.
Producer - Cesar Marquez
Country - Spain
Region - Castilla Y Leon
Appellation - Bierzo
Variety / Blend - 85% Mencia, 10% Alicante Bouschet
Farming - Non certified organic
Vegan