It may surprise you that when we compare the volume of Member wine orders by country, Spain is right up there in the top 5. While rightly known for its saturated and mouth-watering reds, we are presenting you with a well-rounded Cellar of wine styles for every palate.
You may also notice Austria by its absence. We have moved those wines to Cellar 315, to align with Bordeaux, Bergerac, and Beaujolais.
Instead, treat yourself to some of the best wines coming out of Germany. Marcus Molitor, featured on the cover and in the Masterpiece on page 6, has said “We give every wine the time it needs to become perfect”. Need we say more?
We created ‘Canadian Corner’ in 2023 in response to Member requests. As Canada’s largest wine club, it only makes sense to offer Canadian wines. While not as easy as it may sound, we continue to do so and you are ordering more and more of it. Take advantage of the 2019 Cloudsley Pinot Noir on page 2. For Pinot Noir lovers – you know who you are – this is a wonderful example of how the Niagara micro-climate can produce an excellent expression of this finicky variety.
Perennial bestsellers from Montblanc are back, along with a mixed case of their fabulous Cava. New last year, and returning due to demand, are wines from Giles Cook, MW – Bodegas deAlto. We’ve seen a trend of world-class winemakers like Giles and Mauricio Lorco (Viñas de Belesar) expanding their reach through Spain. We’re told it’s the superior terroir and climate that makes Spain a compelling place to grow grapes and make wine.
In the day-to-day running of Opimian, we never lose sight of the cornerstones of your Club. We connect you to unique wines, wine-related services, wine experiences, and wine education. In this issue, and in the coming year, we are adding to these important aspects. In our ‘Up to the Minute’ newsletter, make sure to see details of our new partnership with the Independent Wine Education Guild (IWEG). You now have discounted access to dozens of professionally taught courses for every level of ability and interest.
Cheers,
Michael & Greg
OPIMIAN DIRECTORS’ CURRENT CELLAR FAVOURITES
Greg
Markus Molitor Pinot Noir Mixed Case – Lot 4862, pg 43
Michael
Finca Ratón Reserva Tempranillo, DOCa. Rioja, Gómez de Segura – Lot 4913, pg 33