On February 4 I wrote of selecting the appropriate wine after just being told by my wife that Michael Aday – you knew him better as Meat Loaf – had died and we had lost one of the greatest rock and roll artists.

I said that I opened a bottle of Bogle Vineyards Phantom, from the town of Clarksburg in California, as I felt that its ripe berry, spice and intensity would match my mood and the music that I was going to play. The 2017 Phantom sells for $31 (Stock # 8045).

Now I will fess up and say that I really wanted their zinfandel, but it and other Bogle wines were out of stock. I was told that our shipment of these popular and very good value wines had ended up in Singapore!

A new consignment has just arrived, and we have the 2019 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel at last. Grapes for this wine come from vineyards in Amador and Lodi counties. The vines themselves are said to be from 60- to 80-year-old plantings. According to the winemaker, “Dry farmed vines are prized for their production of small, concentrated clusters of grapes that produce incredibly rich and intense wines. Bold and vibrant notes of summer raspberry intoxicate the senses, enticing you to take a sip of this lively red zinfandel. Once on the palate, flavours of briary blackberries and ripe cranberries meld with tones of baking spices such as clove and nutmeg.” Fire up the barbecue for sure. $24 (Stock #8042).

Once again, we have their pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah, and for the first time, the 2019 Bogle Chenin Blanc. Opening with spicy, floral aromatics, this chenin blanc is fragrant with persimmons and passion fruit. Juicy and ripe it offers a rich mouthfeel that is well balanced with crisp and refreshing acidity. It is fermented in cold stainless-steel tanks to highlight it’s clean and pure, unadulterated fruit. The finish shines of stone fruits like white peaches and nectarines. $23.70 (Stock #8036).

I will quickly mention the 2018 Bogle Petite Sirah as, for me, it just hits the spot when I want my senses bombarded with intense California sunshine and fruit. The Wine Enthusiast calls it a “best buy”, rates it 91/100 and comments, “Delicious, blackberry, blueberry and dark-chocolate flavours are wrapped in thick but soft tannins. This is a full-bodied wine, with a mouthcoating texture.” $24 (Stock #8043).

Our 2021 Maison Mirabeau Forever Summer Rosé is a new release from this popular English-owned, French winery. This is a vegan-friendly, fairly low alcohol – 11.5 per cent – mix of 60 per cent grenache and 40 per cent syrah. The colour is pale peach and the wine is bursting with raspberry and cherry aromas, followed by grapefruit and apricot. A citrus acidity keeps it fresh and balanced. $24.70 (Stock #8258).

If you have been wondering when we were to offer Austria’s best-known wine, this is your lucky day! Broadbent Grüner Veltliner has just graced our shores and this popular grape has been selected from vineyards south of the Danube that are known for their limestone base. The wine is delicate with fresh, green apple aromas, lemons, limes, and peaches followed by mineral tones. This is an ideal accompaniment to seafood, white meat, and light dishes like salads. Fine to just enjoy on its own as well. The bottle may look somewhat different and that is because it is. This is a litre bottle for $26.50 and so if you convert it to a standard three-quarters of a litre wine bottle (75cl.) the cost would be $19.90 (Stock #9206).

If I were granted one wish by a magic genie it well might be having my wife enjoy pinot noir as much as I do. A new one, that I have not even seen yet, has just arrived. It is, 2019 Head High Sonoma County Pinot Noir. This pinot is a blend from several vineyards throughout the Sonoma Coast, including Durell Vineyard, Wildcat Vineyard, and Sangiacomo. Rich and gutsy, I am told that this is a black-fruited wonder that still maintains nice balance and acidity.

Applying exceptional winemaking expertise to Sonoma County’s unique terroir, they strive to be one of the most environmentally conscious wine brands in the world, responsible stewards of the land in all that they do.

In surfing slang, “head high” refers to the perfect sized wave – one that builds to the height of a surfer’s head. The owners also like the other implied meaning: to set the bar as high as they can. They’re an adventurous winery, built by surfers and explorers. They’re free-spirited and creative, but are also focused and hardworking winegrowers, dedicated to creating the best possible wines through vineyard stewardship, intelligent fruit sourcing, and meticulous care in the cellar. To quote the Wine Enthusiast: ”From a series of great sites, including Gap's Crown, this wine opens in earthy barnyard notes that meet strawberry and red liquorice flavours. Well-textured and lush in style, it delivers a note of sweet oak that works well with the fruit. 90/100.“ $29.50 (Stock #6130).

The 2016 Marqués de Riscal XR from Rioja in Spain is here for the first time and it has received great reviews. The Proensa Spanish Wine Guide rates it 95 points; James Suckling gives it 93/100 and this, “As with good Bordeaux wines, it is somewhat closed to begin with. Smoked, spicy aromas (nutmeg, cinnamon) appear, with black liquorice, ripe red and black fruits (blueberries, blackcurrants) and balsamic notes with very good intensity. Perfectly integrated oak.” $38 (Stock #9356).

Stay tuned as we have quite a few other new arrivals.

• This column is an advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Contact Michael Robinson at mrobinson@bll.bm. Burrows Lightbourn has stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554) and Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355). Visit www.wineonline.bm