UK distributor Fells is targeting restaurants with the Fells Vinothèque release programme – a new initiative dedicated to releasing mature vintages from the company’s global roster of wine producers. Fells Vinothèque launches next week (w/c 29 July) with an initial tranche of four wines: a 2018 Meursault premier cru from Bouchard Père & Fils; a 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from Barone Ricasoli; and two single-vineyard wines from Tyrrell’s – a 2018 Shiraz and a 2015 Chardonnay (further details below). The company has spent the past few years laying down stocks of wines that typically sell through on release, with the aim of tackling two main problems: the inability of most restaurants to store wines for long periods; and the frustration of seeing entire new vintages sold and consumed before they reach peak maturity. “A lot of people are not doing museum releases,” explained Richard Girling, Fells fine wine director. “Someone like Virginia Willcock at Vasse Felix would love her Chardonnays to be held back for four or five years, but due to cash flow demands they have to let them go, and they don’t have a library reserve. That set us thinking about how wonderfully expressive the wine would be after four or five years.” To date, Fells has laid down a significant number of cases covering more than 70 wines from 30 wineries, focusing on producers from whom the company is typically unable to source older stocks. Convincing Girling said: “It took some convincing with the [Fells]
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
