The Wines of Mischief & Mayhem!
Mischief and Mayhem Wines is the creation of Brits Michael and Fiona Ragg and their friend Michael Twelftree. In 2003, after working for Berry Bros & Rudd wine merchants in London for almost ten years, Michael and Fiona moved to Aloxe Corton, just north of the lovely town of Beaune, in the Cote d'Or region of Burgundy.
Over time they have built up a large network of contacts within the region and they now source grapes from all over the Cote d'Or to use for their wines. Michael Twelftree, the co-founder and owner of Two Hands Winery in the Barossa Valley, Australia provides valuable knowledge of the world's wine markets to the Raggs so their wines reach the right marketplace.
Vineyard ownership in Burgundy can at time be restrictive - often winemakers have to work with grapes from a small vineyard plot. If the growing conditions for that vineyard are not ideal for that growing season, then it would result in an inferior wine.
With the connections that Michael and Fiona have in the region, they are able to call upon a number of grape growers each harvest and only select the best grapes for their wines. If a grower's grapes aren't up to scratch, they will not be used. Michael and Fiona visit all of the vineyards they use to check upon vine health and vineyard development throughout the season; this allows them to ensure that their wines truly reflect the terroir-specific nature that is Burgundy. They also advocate sustainable viticulture, low yields and hand harvesting. In the winery, there is only light use of oak, so as not to overpower the delicate characters of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.
Mischeif & Mayhem Wine Available at Whitmore & White:
Bourgogne Chardonnay - White Burgundy 2010 | £13.50
Bright pale straw in colour with hints of green and gold. Lovely clean nose of lemon, green apple, pear and grapefruit with chalky mineral, tarragon and lime juice notes.
On the palate the wine is pure and refreshing, with bright lifted acidity and subtle spice notes. In keeping with the vintage there is nice clean ripeness of fruit with plenty of lemon and lime citrus elements, great minerality and hints of vanilla, nuts, acacia honey and pear. The finish is crisp and pure with lovely stone and grapefruit notes.
Meursault 2011 / 12 | £29.95
Bright pale straw in colour with hints of green and a water white rim. Beautifully pure nose of pear, lime and grapefruit with mineral, brioche, icing sugar, white peach and hazelnut notes.
On the palate the wine is clean, fresh, pure and focused, with a terrific soft acidic profile and lovely texture. There are stone and mineral elements, and some nicely rounded notes of lemon and lime, along with apple, cream, vanilla and traces of ginger. The finish is long and pure with hints of nectarine, spice, flint and green apple.
Bourgogne Pinot Noir - Red Burgundy 2010 | £13.50
Bright ruby red in colour with a touch of pink at the rim. Extremely fine, warm nose of damsons, red cherry, clove, nutmeg and raspberry fruit.
Excellent, soft mouth feel, nicely integrated supple tannins, smooth and full with cherry pie, plum and vanilla notes, all nicaly balanced with a subtle acidic structure. Lovely even grip and balance leads into a dry, well rounded and full finish. Very nice indeed.
Nuits St. Georges 2010 | £32.50
We produced this Nuits-St-Georges from Pinot Noir vines with an average age of 40 years, harvested from sites north and south of the ancient town of Nuits-St-Georges. The growing season and harvest in 2006 were fine for pinot noir with lovely ripeness of fruit, purity and structure. Bottled after 14 months in barrel, this is a wine of real rustic fruit character, minerality and depth which we really hope that you will enjoy.
Fiona manages the Cellar Door and Tasting Room, which is an integral part of any winery, but especially so in Burgundy, where it is common for visitors to turn up unannounced (compared to many wineries in Bordeaux, where appointments need to be made, if the winery even accepts visitors). In Burgundy, there us a more relaxed approach to tastings and many producers understand the importance of showing their wines to the public.
Mischief and Mayhem produce a range of wines, from AC Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (which are stunning) through village wines such as Meursault and Puligny Montrachet onto Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines. Due to their selection process, only small volumes are produced each vintage.
If you would like to find out more about Mischief and Mayhem Wines, why not join us on Friday 7th November 2014, from 7.30pm, when we will have Rachel Beech, who works with Mischief and Mayhem in the UK, hosting an evening of eight fine wines from their portfolio.
Tickets are £20 each and available in-store. Prior booking is essential.
Bourgogne Chardonnay - White Burgundy 2010 | £13.50
Bright pale straw in colour with hints of green and gold. Lovely clean nose of lemon, green apple, pear and grapefruit with chalky mineral, tarragon and lime juice notes.
On the palate the wine is pure and refreshing, with bright lifted acidity and subtle spice notes. In keeping with the vintage there is nice clean ripeness of fruit with plenty of lemon and lime citrus elements, great minerality and hints of vanilla, nuts, acacia honey and pear. The finish is crisp and pure with lovely stone and grapefruit notes.
Meursault 2011 / 12 | £29.95
Bright pale straw in colour with hints of green and a water white rim. Beautifully pure nose of pear, lime and grapefruit with mineral, brioche, icing sugar, white peach and hazelnut notes.
On the palate the wine is clean, fresh, pure and focused, with a terrific soft acidic profile and lovely texture. There are stone and mineral elements, and some nicely rounded notes of lemon and lime, along with apple, cream, vanilla and traces of ginger. The finish is long and pure with hints of nectarine, spice, flint and green apple.
Bourgogne Pinot Noir - Red Burgundy 2010 | £13.50
Bright ruby red in colour with a touch of pink at the rim. Extremely fine, warm nose of damsons, red cherry, clove, nutmeg and raspberry fruit.
Excellent, soft mouth feel, nicely integrated supple tannins, smooth and full with cherry pie, plum and vanilla notes, all nicaly balanced with a subtle acidic structure. Lovely even grip and balance leads into a dry, well rounded and full finish. Very nice indeed.
Nuits St. Georges 2010 | £32.50
We produced this Nuits-St-Georges from Pinot Noir vines with an average age of 40 years, harvested from sites north and south of the ancient town of Nuits-St-Georges. The growing season and harvest in 2006 were fine for pinot noir with lovely ripeness of fruit, purity and structure. Bottled after 14 months in barrel, this is a wine of real rustic fruit character, minerality and depth which we really hope that you will enjoy.
Fiona manages the Cellar Door and Tasting Room, which is an integral part of any winery, but especially so in Burgundy, where it is common for visitors to turn up unannounced (compared to many wineries in Bordeaux, where appointments need to be made, if the winery even accepts visitors). In Burgundy, there us a more relaxed approach to tastings and many producers understand the importance of showing their wines to the public.
Mischief and Mayhem produce a range of wines, from AC Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (which are stunning) through village wines such as Meursault and Puligny Montrachet onto Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines. Due to their selection process, only small volumes are produced each vintage.
If you would like to find out more about Mischief and Mayhem Wines, why not join us on Friday 7th November 2014, from 7.30pm, when we will have Rachel Beech, who works with Mischief and Mayhem in the UK, hosting an evening of eight fine wines from their portfolio.
Tickets are £20 each and available in-store. Prior booking is essential.