Turning Back the Clocks - Old School Cool - a six bottle box set

With this case we’re Turning the Clock Back…

But no sepia tinted nostalgia, just the good stuff brought bang up to date!

Sparkling:

Bodegas Sumarroca, Cava Brut Reserva, Catalunya, Spain - Cava was the go-to sparkling alternative before Prosecco came along and stole the thunder. The 80's, those were the good old days!! But Cava is back and better than ever, at least in the case of wines from Bodegas Sumarroca and others who have refocused on quality over quantity. All Cava is made using the traditional method, as used in Champagne, the time in bottle on lees adding complexity and depth of flavour. This wine from Carlos and Nuria Sumarocca is an elegant, balanced wine, work in the vineyards drawing on Carlos’ extensive viticultural experience. Dry but with lovely fruit it is the perfect aperitif, ideal for sharing with friends, and great to drink with rice, salads and seafood and any asparagus dish.

Producer - Bodegas Sumarroca
Country - Spain
Region - Catalunya   
Sub-Region - Penedes
Variety / Blend - Macebau, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chardonnay
Wine Style - Sparkling Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

White wines:

Quinta da Raza, Vinho Verde Branco, Minho, Portugal - Not just for holiday drinking, or even just summertime sipping, the whites from Vinho Verde in northern Portugal can be gloriously refreshing like this one from Quinta da Raza, who are also leading the field in sustainable viticulture. 

Producer - Quintas da Raza
Country - Portugal
Region - Minho
Variety / Blend - Arinto, Azal, Trajadura
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Sustainable
Vegan

Andreas Bender, Riesling Dajoar, Mosel, Germany - Andreas Bender's wines are a constant at Iron & Rose. "Dajoar" has been a go to Riesling for so many Riesling fans for a number of years - and made many Riesling converts. 

Andreas was only 13 years old when he made his first wine, learning about viticulture, soil and terroir from his father who was a vine propagator. From then on he knew he was destined to be a wine maker. He studied and then hit the road, working at wineries in Germany, France Italy and the US before he settled back home in 2008 to start his own project on his family vineyards. 

Andreas' philosophy is unusual in that he doesn't commercialise his top single vineyards separately. This doesn't mean he's not a traditionalist though and actually vinifies grapes from each individual vineyard site separately every year, resulting in a multitude of different cuvées which are later blended to make the best of each vintage into a number of different wines. He believes careful cellar work, simple techniques and natural fermentation are key.

Andreas' own vineyards are farmed organically and he also works with trusted growers who farm to his specifications.

In the dialect of the Mosel, the word ‘Dajoar’ means “as the olden days”. It is the term chosen by Andreas to describe this style of Riesling, made as an homage to the Mosel wines of the past: off-dry with a playful sweetness that balances out the crisp acidity. This is beautifully bright and fresh, with plenty of green and yellow fruits, great intensity and grip on the mid-palate and a long mineral finish. 

Producer - Andreas Bender
Country - Germany
Region - Mosel
Variety / Blend - Riesling
Wine Style - White Wine   
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Red:

Quinta Milu, La Bicicleta Voladora, Rioja, Spain -  Quinta Milu is the brain child and family business of Austrian born Germán Blanco and with the help of local expert Javier Collio they are turning Rioja on its head. Germán has created a micro winery and a new style Rioja that involves minimal intervention and zero oak.

Fermentation happens in concrete, flex tank eggs and amphorae which means the wines taste of full fruit flavours. Delicious and much easier to drink than old school Rioja.

Producer - Quinta Milu
Country - Spain
Region - Rioja 
Appellation - Rioja Baja
Variety / Blend - Tempranillo, Viura
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Les Vignerons d’Estezargues, Les Oliviers, Southern Rhône, France - When other co-ops were chasing volume and low cost, Estezargues, a small coop with just a few members (that's them in the photo) went for quality and converted to organic viticulture. A brilliant Côtes du Rhône that offers great value, generous ripe fruit and a delicate touch of spice and white pepper.

Producer - Les Vignerons d'Estezargues
Country - France
Region - Southern Rhône
Sub-Region - Cotes du Rhône
Variety / Blend  - Grenache, Syrah
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Pink:

Mas de Valériole, Rosé Vé, IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France - The Mas de Valériole estate was founded in 1427 by doctor, François de Valeriole in the heart of the Camargue national park but since the 1950's has been home to the Michel family. Brothers Jean-Paul & Patrick handle the farming with JP on the grain (rice, wheat and sunflowers) and Patrick in the vines where they've been growing organically since 2006. Patrick was joined by his son, Maxime in 2015 and together they are responsible for 22 hectares of vineyards.

Vé is a southern French (meridionale) exclamation and this classic Provencal Rosé definitely demands a Vé! It's a blend of Merlot and Caladoc picked early in the morning to retain freshness and aromatics, direct pressed before fermentation and aged in concrete before blended and bottled without filtration. The result is a beautiful pale pink colour with a whisp of haze. Sweet strawberries on the nose accompanied by white flowers and a little citrus followed by apple, pomelo and lychee on the palate with a salty tickle. Enjoy with a crunchy salad with olives and humous or grilled fish or equally treacherous on a hot day on its own.

Producer - Mas de Valériole
Country - France
Region - Provence
Sub-Region - Arles
Variety / Blend - Merlot, Caladoc
Wine Style - Pink Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegetarian, Vegan