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What we tasted in March 2026

  • Mar 31
  • 2 min read

Woodthorpe Wines - Matthew Whitaker


On the 13 March we hosted Mathew Whittaker from Woodthorpe Wines. Although this was Matthews’s first presentation to the Grand Union he is no stranger to Leicester having led tastings at the Pheonix where he has built a substantial following. Mathew started his career in hospitality and trained as a sommelier working in fine dining before opening Woodthorpe wines. He brought his wealth of experience of working with wine and food and his stories of the ups and downs of life as a sommelier.


Mathew presented an eclectic selection of wines, each of which represented an aspect of his career. For example, he had championed English sparkling wine taking it from a curiosity for the occasional aficionado to the best-selling sparkling wine in the restaurant. So he opened with the Furleigh Estate Classic Cuvee 2019, which delighted the crowd with its golden colour, brioche nose and lingering red apple notes. He is a fan of sherry, believing (quite rightly) that it represents incredible value for money. We tasted Tio Pepe Fino Enrama 2025 (an unfiltered sherry with a short bottle life) which was fresh, accessible and delicious and, at the other end of the sherry spectrum, Don PX 2003 Toro Albalá Montilla-Moriles, a PX with all the power, length and sweetness of liquidised Christmas pudding. Both sherrys split the audience but each had its fans. For me, the bargain of the night was the Barolo Tenuta La Volta Cabutto 2020: grippy, tannic and tight fruit with great complexity. While good on the night it’s a wine which will be savoured for years to come.


Mathew’s perspective on wine is different from that of a maker or a merchant, a perspective which engaged us all. He got questions from both ‘the usual suspects’ but also from some members I don’t remember asking questions before. All in all, a very enjoyable and informative evening.


For more information: https://www.woodthorpewines.co.uk


The wines tasted were:

  1. Furleigh Estate, Classic Cuvée, 2019. England. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier

  2. Tio Pepe, Fino en Rama, 2025. Jerez, Spain.

  3. Domaine de la Croix Senaillet, 2022. Saint-Veran, France. Chardonnay

  4. Zind Humbrecht, Grand Cru Goldert, 2023. Alsace, France. Muscat

  5. Judith Beck, 2023. Burgenland, Austria. Blaufränkisch

  6. Domaine Chaume-Arnaud, 2021. Vinsobres, France. Grenach, Syrah, Cinsault, Mouvedre

  7. Cabutto, Tenuta La Volta, 2020. Barolo, Italy. Nebbiolo

  8. Bodegas Toro Alablá, Don PX, 2003. Jerez, Spain. Pedro Ximenez



 
 
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