Token Wine at Corrigan's
Introducing Token Wine – a new addition to the Corrigan’s Mayfair list with a very special story.
We’re told every sommelier has a dream to sell something they are truly proud of, which encompasses their love and appreciation of wine. It’s this, that led our Head Sommelier Dmytro Goncharuk and his wife Alyona Mykhailova, to follow their dream of producing wines with a unique character and expression.
Come Autumn 2020, they searched for winemakers with vineyards to allow them to interpret the land in their own image, reaching out to friends and contacts across France and Italy. After a painstaking journey of tasting hundreds of bins and working out exactly what they wanted to present – they found their perfect match in February 2021.
Dmtryo and Alyona finally visited the estate, Orlando e Didonè Vinicoltori in Craoretto, Prepotto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia last year. The location boasts vineyards of Ribolla and Franconia within walking distance. They enjoyed taking part in every step of the process from harvest to bottling under the Token brand with bespoke labels inspired by the vineyard.
Their first vintage produced 1000 of each wine, every bottle of which came to the UK. The Ribolla Gialla 2021 is a delicate white, featuring a nose of lemon zest, crisp green apple and a hint of spice. The palate reveals a touch of complexity from a short period of skin contact maceration, resulting in a fine minerality and a lovely finish.
Meanwhile, their Franconia 2021 is every bit as vibrant and alive as the Ribolla. The nose shows aromas of summer berries, red cherry, black pepper and a hint of violet. Here, we have a medium to light-bodied number, which continues to show those fine fruit aromas on the palate and balances them with gentle tannins and wonderful, refreshing acidity.
Dmtryo and Alyona hope to bring Token to a range of restaurants and stockists across London and the country – for now, find the wines at wholesalers Propeller Wine and pouring at Corrigan’s Mayfair.