November 2011
Wines for Christmas
The clocks have gone back and the nights are starting to draw in. The Christmas decorations are appearing in the shops already, which means it must be coming close and the mind will be turning towards thinking about fine food and wines for the table. Here is a small selection of wines that we hope might aid the selection process. If you wanted a mixed case, then that is no problem, just let us know what you require. All our wines can be looked at on our web site.
A Selection from Chile
Alto Bajo Sauvignon Blanc 2010 £75.25
Alto Bajo Merlot 2010 £75.25
Two wines that are a good entry level for this country. The Sauvignon is fresh and attractive and the Merlot has a good ripe flavour to it. Both are easy quaffers and ideal for any occasion.
J Bouchon Chardonnay 2010 £94.00
J Bouchon Carmenere/Syrah 2010 £94.00
Julio Bouchon has been a favourite of ours for many years and he makes fine wines. The Chardonnay is rounded and full of flavour, soft and pretty. The Carmenere/Syrah is full of clean, currant fruit flavours and has a most flavoursome finish. Will warm the cockles and goes well with meat dishes and game.
White Burgundy
Macon Charnay
Domaine Tripoz 2010 £126.00
12 x halves £74.00
Saint Veran
Michel Chavet 2009 £131.00
Chablis
Domaine Partrick Puize 2009 £164.00
Pouilly Fuisse
Christophe Cordier 2009 £229.00
You cannot really get a better expression of the Chardonnay grape than that found in the vineyards of Burgundy. The grape when grown in the region produces a wine that is round, dry and delicious. The Macon is crisp and fresh and also comes in half bottles if required. The St Veran is rounder and riper in style and goes well with food. The Chablis is magnificent with a crisp, flinty style and the Pouilly Fuisse is full of ripe chardonnay flavour and has a lovely fresh, lingering finish. An absolute treat.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais Villages
Domaine de Gry Sablon 2010 £117.00
Fleurie
Domaine Gry Sablon 2010 £149.00
An average age of 40 years for the vines on this Domaine of 16 acres results in rich concentrated wines. The gamay grape produces delicious fruit laden wines and here are two such examples. The Beaujolais Villages has a lovely fruity openness to it and the Fleurie is fuller and more complex, but again with a fine explosion of fruit on the palate. Do try these two offerings. They are not filtered so may have a deposit in the bottle, so careful when poring or decant the wines prior to drinking. Beaujolais wines are fabulous and are an expression of the gamay grape from these wonderful vineyards.
Loire
Sauvignon de Touraine
Les Nuages 2010 £95.50
Pinot Noir
les Nuages 2010 £95.50
From the same producer in the Loire comes a wonderful pair of wines. The Sauvignon is open, zingy and fresh and is a great example of this appellation. The Pinot noir is vibrant, rounded and has a delightful Pinot flavour on the finish. Both these wines can be drunk alone or with food. The Sauvignon goes well with spicy food, the Pinot slips down a treat with pate or lighter meats.
A selection of Drinking Reds
Monastrell
Casa de la Ermita 2009 £99.00
Monastrell/Petit Verdot
Casa de la Ermita 2009 £112.00
Two wines from the outstanding Casa de la Ermita estate which since being founded in 1999 has come to the fore and is now producing excellent wines. These two wines are fine examples. The Monastrell is an indigenous grape in the Jumilla region and gives a rich, rounded flavoursome wine. The addition of Petit Verdot, most commonly found in Bordeaux where it is used in the make up of the top clarets, gives another layer of flavour and character to the wine.
Chateau Bonnet, Bordeaux 2006 £118.00
This Petit Chateau has been a huge success since appearing on the list over a year ago. A fine example of a well made, attractive claret, which has soft cabernet fruit flavours and a soft lingering finish. Decant for an hour and it will open up and entice.
Gigondas
Domaine Font Sane 2008 £183.50
From the Southern Rhone comes this typically spicy, peppery fruity red. The Domaine has been family run since 1860 and the new generation use the knowledge passed down over the years along with careful hand sorting of the grapes to produce a delicious wine. The vines are grown on terraced vineyards and with low yields the wine is concentrated and spicy along with a subtle toasty hint on the palate. A top quality wine to grace any dinner table.
Dessert Wine
Muscat de Rivesaltes 6 x 50cl £62.00
This muscat from Southern France is an absolute gem. It has that lovely open muscat, raisiny aromas on the nose and a rich, sumptuous fruit on the palate with a clean and fresh finish. Do try this with your Christmas pud, or goes equally well with blue cheese.
Sherry
Barbadillo Fino per bt £7.75
Barbadillo Manzanilla per bt £7.75
A nice glass of dry sherry to provide a bit of warmth prior to luncheon was once all the fashion. Time to resurrect this fine tradition with a glass of either the Fino or Manzanilla from the family owned Barbadillo House. The Fino is dry and fresh and the manzanilla is also dry, but has a salty tang on the palate and is slightly nuttier.
Something fizzy
Jeio Prosecco, Brut £132.50
4 x magnums £94.00
Jeio Prosecco Rose £132.50
Two excellent sparklers from Italy, both of which are dry and full of flavours, with a nice soft mousse. The Brut is round and honeyed, the Rose is rounded and slightly riper on the finish. Both will suit that festive moment.
J Lemoine NV £215.00
From the Laurent Perrier stable comes this rounded, ripe Champagne. It is soft and delicious on the palate and boosts morale and flagging spirits throughout the day.
Wines delivered FOC for SY postcodes, all others destination 1 – 3 cases £15.00 FOC thereafter.
Remoter parts of the UK may incur a surcharge
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