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White Wines
France
Rhône Valley
Ferraton Père et Fils, Samorens, Côtes-du-Rhône.
With its inviting pale gold colour and the fresh aromas of white flowers and nectarines followed by clean zesty fruit on the palate, this wine is an excellent aperitif or, as we found quite by chance, an excellent accompaniment to scallops. | 6.20€ | £4.00 |
Ferraton Père et Fils, La Matinière, Crozes-Hermitage.
Made from 100% Marsanne, grown on the limestone soil around Mercurol. This is a beautiful wine; there are aromas of spring flowers and a palate full of white fruits. This wine is sure to be the highlight of many a dinner party. | 10.50€ | £7.25 |
Ferraton Père et Fils, La Source, Saint-Joseph.
A really beautiful wine, there is the classic blend of Marsanne and Roussanne which has a quality and complexity that captures your attention. There is a freshness that some of the Southern Rhône wines lack but also a warmth and texture which makes it so appealing. | 13.50€ | £9.25 |
| Languedoc/Roussillon | | |
| Château Saint Roch, Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Grown and produced south of Carcassonne this is a little gem. Fresh and fruity made using the same technique as good Muscadet, leaving it to mature on the lees. This gives extra depth and complexity. This is a good wine to have with salads and even roast chicken | 5.00€ | £3.50 |
| Château Saint Roch, Viognier, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Viognier has really grown in popularity over the last few years. What this wine offers is the freshness and aromatic quality of some of the Loire wines along with some weight that makes it a very versatile wine. Ideal for parties where there will be a variety of guests each with their own tastes. | 5.00€ | £3.50 |
| Christopher Barbier, Les Terre Salées Blanc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Perignan.
This is not only a wine made from an unusual grape, Bourboulenc, but from vines grown in ancient salt marshes. There is a freshness to this wine with lemony aromas, the palette is clean, fruity and there is just a touch of saltiness. Astonishing. | 11.00€ | £7.50 |
| Jeff Carrel, Morillon, Vin de Pays de l'Aude.
This is a remarkable wine, something that will stay with you for a long time. It is 100% Chardonnay, grown to the south of Carcassonne. The aroma is striking with a mixture of ripe fruits and caramel; the flavours are strong with a hint of orange and they last a long time. This is a big boy. | 8.00€ | £5.50 |
| Jeff Carrel, Saint Genis, Lucie, Vin de Table Français.
Do not be put off by the Table Wine tag, this is far from being the stuff you get in a plastic bottle from the local. A well constructed wine, 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the fermentation and maturation takes place in new barriques so there is a softness as well as a powerful fruitiness. With a lot of body this wine will go very well with roast Mediterranean dishes. | 7.40€ | £5.00 |
| Morin-Langaran, Etiquette Noire, Picpoul de Pinet.
Not so long ago this was hardly heard of outside the area between Sete and Agde on the Mediterranean coast. However as the quality has improved so has the popularity and this example is up there amongst the best. An excellent accompaniment to seafood, and oysters in particular. | 5.60€ | £3.75 |
| Morin-Langaran, Cuvée Chardonnay, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Seriously do not get confused with those awful things that come from the wine refineries of the New World, this is a fresh, citrus filled blend. Plenty of fruit and lots of zing, ideal aperitif wine. | 5.90€ | £4.00 |
| Morin-Langaran, Cuvée Sauvignon, Vin de pays d'Oc.
Although this comes from an area noted for the long hot summers, the vineyards are situated close enough to the sea and a large lagoon to keep the temperature down at night. Ideal conditions for producing clean, crisp Sauvignon with bags of green fruitiness. | 5.90€ | £4.00 |
| Mourat Père et Fils, Mouatus Candidus Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays de Vendée
An exceptional wine that on the sound of it doesn't quite seem right but the end product is sheer pleasure. The black Pinot Noir grapes come from very old vines and the juice is extracted with the absolute minimum of contact with the skin. Softy matured in oak this wine has a gentle creaminess balanced with the correct amount of fruit acids. | 9.90€ | £6.75 |
| Mourat Père et Fils, Le Sacre Blanc Sauvignon, Vin de pays du Val de Loire.
A soft highly scented wine that does nothing but please the palette. There is a harmony between sharpness and juiciness.
There is something here for everyone.
This comes from a producer who is forward thinking and ready for anything the market may throw at him.
A winner in my book. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Mourat Père et Fils, O.V.N.I, Vin de pays du Val de Loire.
Objet Viticole Non Identifié, the french equivalent of UFO except that the flying part has been cleverly changed for viticole – wine producing.
So it is unknown, and this site is not going to do an Agent Mulder and divulge the secret, all I can say is it is delicious. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Renzo Masi, Poggerissi Bianco, IGT Bianco di Toscana
A mix of Trebbiano and Chardonnay this is a lovely little wine from around the Rufina of the Chianti. A light pale colour that tells you straight away it will be fresh and fruity. The light floral aromas continue to give you clues and the end product does not let you down. If you fancy creating Spaghetti alle Vongole one night this is the wine ready to go with it. | 4.90€ | £3.25 |
| Renzo Masi, Bianco Vergine, Val di Chiana DOC
You could argue that this is a white Chianti, quite unusual considering that most producers in the area have completely ripped up their white grape vines to have a go at the Super Tuscan reds searching for the US Dollar. Paolo Masi, son of Renzo, graduated from Florence University where he developed his skills in producing fresh aromatic wines blending local and international varietals that excite the palette and go extremely well with seafood. | 4.90€ | £3.25 |
| Doricum, Catarratto, Sicilia IGT.
This is an example of how the investment in the old vineyards on the island of Sicily is paying dividends. Although quite often over produced, Catarratto is a grape variety which has great potential and here a joyful, crisp wine full of character demonstrates that perfectly. A real bargain as well. | 5.30€ | £3.50 |
| Giacomo Bologna Braîda, Vigna Senza Nome, Moscato d'Asti (half bottle).
Now I realise this is a sexist remark but here goes, this is a womans drink. Beautifully perfumed and lightly alcoholic only 5.5%, there are gentle grapey flavours and a delicate sparkle. So fellows get in touch with your feminine side. | 7.50€ | £5.25 |
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Valdadige, Pinot Grigio DOC.
Made with 100% Pinot Grigio grown high up in the Aldige Valley, North West of the delightful city of Verona. The fermentation is kept cool and any malolactic transformation – the part where any appley crispness is turned to creamy butteriness, is prevented.
What does this mean? Well, there is a lovely aromatic bouquet and beautiful freshness to the wine with plenty of grapey flavours. A cut above your average supermarket PG. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Capitel Alto, Soave Classico DOC.
Garganega and Trebbiano are the two grape varieties that combine here to create a white wine that is starting to climb out of the dip in popularity. Grown at good altitude around the communes of Soave and Monteforte the grapes are harvested in early September. This makes the wine nice and fresh with a delicious aromatic quality. For all of you who think Soave should be buried in the past along with pineapple and cheese on a cocktail stick hold on and be prepared to be amazed. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Raventós i Blanc, Perfum de Vi Blanc, DO Penedes.
A blend of Macabeu, to provide the zip and acidity, one or two other varieties to keep the locals happy and 40% Muscat to produce a beautiful fragrant wine. This is not high in alcohol so it is very easily drunk at lunch time before taking a snooze in the afternoon sun. | 9.90€ | £6.75 |
Portugal
| Bacalhôa, Quinta dos Loridos, Alvarinho, Óbidos DOC.
This grape variety seems only be produced in small quantities, which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Good that it isn't over exposed and the market is flooded with cheap imitations confusing the buyer, a bad thing because when you find a beauty like this it gets bought too quickly.
| 10.00€ | £6.75 |
| Bacalhôa, Catarina, VR Terras do Sado.
One of a clutch of new wines coming from parts of Portugal not widely recognised for wine producing. On the Setùbal Peninsula 40km south of Lisbon on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary. A long way south but with the cooling winds of the Atlantic this makes for ideal weather conditions. The blend of grapes is part traditional, such as Fernāo Pires and part international, Chardonnay. Partly fermented in new Maderia oak barrels, partly in stainless steel, the result is a joyful combination of fruit and freshness. | 8.00€ | £5.50 |
Australia
| Cumulus Wine, Rolling, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Central Ranges.
This is a high altitude region – why Rolling – simple that is what the countryside does. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Semillon love this area with a blend of 52% of the former and 48% the latter this wine has lovely aromas of lime and Kiwi. There is perfect balance of soft roundness and lively acidity on the palate. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Cumulus Wine, Rolling, Chardonnay, Central Ranges.
With plenty of sunshine hours and cool nights this region is ideal for Chardonnay. The harvest started very romantically on Saint Valentine's Day and was done at night time to maximise flavours and avoid oxidation. The use of wood has been minimised so the bouquet is intense and there is certain richness in the mouth. Try it with chicken and crayfish, we did and it was good. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Cumulus Wine, Climbing, Pinot Grigio, Orange/Central Ranges.
The Australians are making a big thing about cool-climate, something the Europeans have just had to put up with. In essence it means they are starting to create wines with structure and crispness along with the usual fruit content. This is what you get here and it is fantastic. | 11.20€ | £7.50 |
| Tall Poppy, Hillside Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia
This wine displays an inviting pale yellow colour. There are those typical aromas and fruity flavours, with lovely balance of zest and creaminess, so best drunk young. There is plenty here to take on a spicy take-away and romantic comedy on the film channel for dessert. | 5.80€ | £4.00 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Unwooded Chardonnay, Murray Darling.
Powerful, aromatic and a crisp minerality.
There is no wood here, it is not necessary. The climate allows the slow ripening of the grapes which become super concentrated. This makes a change, it is floral but with plenty of freshness. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Viognier, Murray Darling.
A deep yellow colour that just says opulence.
Big rich aromas of tropical fruits with a limey background. With medium weight and a round spiciness to compliment the ripe fruitiness this is a fantastic wine to go with Asian food or Provencal dishes. There is enough freshness to enable you to carry on drinking this long after you have finished eating and help keep the conversation flowing. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Saint Clair, Vicar's Choice, Sauvignon Blanc.
There has become a recognisable New Zealand style of Sauvignon Blanc. Firstly there is the fruit, the gooseberry taste which nearly everyone identifies immediately, then there are the more subtle tropical fruits that can be picked out, in this wine there is an abundance of flavours.
But the key is the balance with the citrus freshness, which makes it special. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
| Ngatarawa, Stables, Sauvignon Blanc.
Sauvignon Blanc is the grape variety that put New Zealand on the map. With the long sunny days and cool nights the weather is perfect for this grape. The aromas of exotic fruit and citrus fly from the glass. The palate is full and long with a real crispness and a lime finish. Serve it young with seafood there is no choice. | 10.70€ | £7.25 |
| Ngatarawa, Stables, Chardonnay.
The winery is housed in an old stable, hence the name, and is run by the first winemaker family in New Zealand, the Corbans. This chardonnay is a pungent wine and in spite of the oak the structure is light and fruity. Melon and peach flavours on a toasty finish. It will go with many dishes or just share it with good friends. | 10.70€ | £7.25 |
Chile
| Veramonte, Chardonnay Reserve, Casablanca Valley.
There are so many advantages to making your wine in Chile it is no wonder there is so much foreign investment. Then when you get a talented winemaker like Agustin Huneeus who believes “great wine is a reflection of place”, it is hard to go wrong. There are full fruit flavours with some gentle spice, couple that with some zippy backbone and you have a lovely wine. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Veramonte, Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Casablanca Valley.
The colour of this wine is so tempting, clean and bright with a tint of green. The fruit is soft and the finish is zesty.
This is a wine that will make unwinding at the end of the day a little bit easier. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Ventisquero, Chardonnay Clasico.
A yellow coloured wine with green tones, intense aromas of pineapple, bananas and citrus fruits. Its smoothness and balanced acidity on the palate make it an ideal accompaniment to shellfish, fish with mild sauces and white meat. | 4.80€ | £3.25 |
| Ventisquero, Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Casablanca Valley.
This Sauvignon Blanc is characterised by its sparkling green colour with yellow tones, and intense aromas of tropical and citrus fruits. As for bouquet, its good structure and balanced acidity make it an ideal accompaniment to shell fish, fish with mild sauces and white meat. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ventisquero, Chardonnay Queulat, Gran Reserva, Casablanca Valley.
The Chardonnay Gran Reserva, a golden yellow colour, green tones with intense aromas of tropical and citrus fruits, with notes of butter and vanilla resulting from ageing in French oak barrels. A lasting wine with a good structure and balanced acidity make it ideal to accompany shellfish, fish with mild sauces and white meat. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
Argentina
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Oak Cask Chardonnay.
If you like your Chardonnay with a warm, toasty feel and a generous amount of apple and pear fruit flavours, then you will love this wine. As did the judges of Chardonnay du Monde who have to try thousands of different Chardonnay to come up with the best in the World. What a lovely job. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Broquel Chardonnay.
A lush chardonnay from grapes grown on selected vineyards, high in the foothills of the Andes. Trapiche owns some of the best areas to produce Chardonnay in an already ideal region. There is plenty of irrigation with water running off the mountains, beautiful clear blue skies and soil rich in minerals.
With careful handling the result is a fabulous mix of ripe appley fruit with a citrus finish. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
USA
| Sebastiani Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Unoaked Chardonnay.
Sonoma County is the home to every major grape variety but certain areas suit certain vines and with this wine the sea fog coupled with the warm sunny afternoons allows early ripening Chardonnay to develop slowly to impart rich and complex flavours. They do like to compare themselves to Burgundy but I think they should take more pride in what they do and say it is Californian. | 17.40€ | £12.00 |
Red Wines
France
Rhône Valley
| Ferraton Père et Fils, Samorens, Côtes-du-Rhône.
Founded in 1946 by Jean Ferraton this winery has slowly but surely grown in stature, boosted by the association with M Chapoutier. Bright red colour with a fantastic nose, the fruits aromas fly out.
Not at all heavy, smooth and savoury tannins, this is a delightful wine. | 6.20€ | £4.25 |
| Ferraton Père et Fils, Plan Dieu, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages.
Situated between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas vines have been growing in this area since the time of the Templars. However it was not until 2005 that the INAO (l'institut national d'appellation d'origine) decided that the terroir and the geology in particular, merited its own AOC. This wine shows you why, soft ripe tannins and earthy fruits with a hint of spice. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ferraton Père et Fils, La Matinière, Croze-Hermitage.
This is a real gem; we are so pleased to have found it. It is full of soft fruit, cherries and raspberries, there is a lovely warm finish with a touch of spice. This is a very modern wine with quite old fashioned alcohol content which makes it all that more pleasurable. | 10.00€ | £6.75 |
| Ferraton Père et Fils, La Source, Saint-Joseph.
This is 100% Syrah and for all of you who are interested, the bunches are completely de-stemmed and maceration (squashing the juice out of the grapes) takes about 20 days. What does this mean? Well it gives the wine an intense deep ruby red colour, vibrant blackcurrant and blackberry aromas and warming, soft feel in the mouth. In other words totally delicious. | 13.20€ | £9.50 |
Languedoc/Roussillon
| Château Saint Roch, Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Based in the commune of Gaja et Villedieu Château Saint Roch has longed to produce a Pinot Noir. The gently sloping vineyards facing south-south east provide an environment for allowing the grapes to arrive fully ripe and in the best of conditions. The result is a warm, easy drinking wine with lovely round flavours. | 6.00€ | £4.00 |
| Michel et Pompilia Guiraud, Comme à Cayenne, Saint Chinian.
This is the future of wine in this area. Yes it is more expensive than many from around here but the care and effort that goes into making this wine make it well worth paying that extra. A blend of Grenache and Carignan from vines grown in the most inhospitable land. The winemaking is extremely involved. The wine is superb; cherry and blackcurrant flavours harmonise with soft spicy tannins. These producers must be encouraged to keep going and spread the word. | 8.00€ | £5.50 |
| Christopher Barbier, Les Terre Salées Rouge, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Perignan.
This is not a simple wine. Firstly the vineyards are at the foot of La Clape famed for its big powerful wines. It is 100% Merlot grown on ancient salt marshes and from non-grafted vines. Then there is the new oak for it to mature in. The flavours are immense, real depth and character with a finish that goes on and on. | 14.00€ | £9.50 |
| Christopher Barbier, Château Bouisset, Les Bécassines, Coteaux du Languedoc – La Clape.
La Clape is this big rock near Narbonne and gives its name to a wine producing region close to the Mediterranean that is producing very exciting wines. This is not too heavy, very aromatic with a lovely ripeness on the nose. The tannins melt away and give a lovely spicy finish. | 6.00€ | £4.00 |
| Jeff Carrel, Saint Genis Vin de Pays de la Cité de Carcassonne.
Jean-François Carrel is not just a winemaker he is an innovator and enthusiast. This is a Bordeaux blend made between Carcassonne and Limoux. There is delightful fruit content and smoky flavour to this wine. There are plenty of dishes that this will accompany this wine but how about a juicy steak and chips cooked in duck fat. | 6.20€ | £4.25 |
| Jeff Carrel, La Bette, Côtes du Roussillon Village.
Stunning – this is a wine that will forever lodge itself in your memory. There is the label to start with, not that you should judge a wine that way, and then there are the aromas, brambles ripening on a warm summer day. Finally the rich, concentration of flavours leaves you with no doubt that, the winemaker and the environment have worked together to produce something special. | 6.00€ | £4.00 |
| Morin-Langaran, Cuvée Syrah, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
This is a lovely wine that was discovered by chance. The producers concentrate their efforts on the whites but there is great warmth and spice content to this wine. It is full of dark fruit flavours that sit there with a refreshing crispness. | 6.20€ | £4.25 |
Loire Valley
| Mourat Père et Fils, Mouatus Rubidus, Fiefs Vendéen-Mareuil.
A mixture of four red grape varieties, Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, Négrette and Pinot Noir. This is not a regular blend but here it certainly works. This is a big chewy wine with a great texture; there is a soft oakiness which comes from the barrels made from locally grown trees. On this structure hangs lots of juicy ripe fruit. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Mourat Père et Fils, Très Noir, Vin de Pays du Jardin de la Loire.
This is 100% Pinot Noir and full of ripeness and oaky spice. This is a true representation of the area where there is lovely summer warmth and gentle sea breezes to keep the grapes dry and slow the ripening. With some investment in this area it could easily become the next big thing. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
Italy
| Renzo Masi, Chianti Reserva DOCG
Based in Rufina situated in the North East corner of Chianti, not far from Florence, Renzo Masi, now run by Paolo the son, is a modern forward thinking company. This Chianti highlights the philosophy of the winemaker very well. Very fruity and soft tannins. Although this wine will keep it should be drunk young to really enjoy it. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Renzo Masi, Erta e China, Rosso di Toscana IGT
This demonstrates how the IGT classification works so well. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese matured in French and American oak. The colour of this wine is a very dark purple but still bright and lively.
Despite 14 months ageing in the barrels it is the fruit which dominates the flavours all perfectly balanced with a touch of zest on the finish. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Tenuta Il Pogione, Rosso di Toscana IGT.
This wine comes from Sangiovese grapes from young vines grown in an area of stunning beauty.
The fermentation is kept cool so the wine can remain fresh. There is very little else done during the winemaking and this makes the colour bright almost shiny, the aromas lively and somewhat floral and the flavours of cherries and raspberries excite the palate. Best to be served at just below room temperature 17°C ish. | 9.70€ | £6.75 |
| Tenuta Il Pogione, Rosso di Montalcino DOCG.
Like a Rioja Crianza, this is a baby Brunello di Montalcino. It comes from the same grapes; hand picked from the same area but spends less time in oak. It is medium bodied with tonnes of fruit and just a touch of spice. It is not cheap but it is excellent value for money. | 14.90€ | £10.25 |
| Tenuta Il Pogione, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.
This is the big one. The village Montalcino sits on top of a craggy hill overlooking the ancient vineyards that produce some of the country's greatest wines. Sangiovese is locally known as Brunello, the grapes are selectively hand picked and carefully fermented. The wine spends three years in Allier oak ageing and then another year in the bottle before it is released. Soft tannins, rich dark berry flavours and a juicy succulent finish. To go with any special occasion. | 33.00€ | £22.50 |
| Agricola di Alberese, Pellegrone, Morellino di Scansano.
From a relatively unknown, but judging by this beauty, soon to be extremely popular region this is a wine of real quality. There is a solid structure to hang the ripe fruit flavours on. Morellino is the name for Sangiovese in this area at the south western tip of Tuscany and with high altitude vineyards and warm summers there is a lot of excitement about this wine. | 10.60€ | £7.25 |
| Doricum, Nero d'Avola, Sicilia IGT.
This is an excellent little wine, made from possibly the best and certainly most well known indigenous grape variety. It is extremely versatile, soft enough to be drunk by itself but with structure and flavours of dark stone fruits, to go well with food particularly lamb I would say. | 5.30€ | £3.50 |
| Giacomo Bologna Braîda, Il Bacialé, Monferrato Rosso DOC
Set in the heart of Piedmont this producer has developed something of a name for itself when it comes to making new and exciting wines. Il Bacialé in the local dialect means matchmaker, this gives you a big clue that this is a blend of grapes. In fact it is Barbera, Pinot Noir about 20% and a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon for good measure. The resulting wine is truly fantastic. Getting towards the full bodied, the Pinot Noir lifts the aromas and the fruits are perfectly balanced, blackcurrant and raspberry with a hint of spice. | 14.90€ | £10.25 |
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Castel san Pietro, Valpolicella Classico DOC.
This is one of my favourite wines. It is light and fresh with a slight bitterness on the finish. The key to this wine is what you eat with it, pasta of course, but not tomato, good oil, herbs and garlic go so much better. | 6.20€ | £4.25 |
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Capitel della Crosara,Alto, Valpolicella Classico DOC Ripasso.
A great example of how the winemaker stamps his or her identity on a wine. Here three grape varieties – Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara have been taken, fermented slowly with the lees from the fabulous Amarone and then left to mature in French and American oak.
The result is a wine of medium body, full of rich complex flavours with a hint of spice. A real treat. | 10.50€ | £7.25 |
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Il Fondatore, Amarone della Valpolicella DOC.
A part of Montresor family arrived in this part of Italy after leaving the Loire Valley in the 16th Century. They bought land and started cultivating vines. Constantly searching for new methods to improve their product the Montresor family has not forgotten that history also plays a big part.
Amarone wine comes from selected grapes, using modern techniques, from the same area as Valpolicella. They are harvested in late October and then left to dry until February in the traditional way. The wine is fermented in stainless steel then matured in French oak casks and small barrels for three years and finally a further six months in the bottle before release. The wine is stunning, aromas of violets and mint; there is plenty of body and a distinct taste of dried fruits. A sit down wine to be enjoyed slowly. | 29.00€ | £19.75 |
Spain
| Raventós i Blanc, Octubre, DO Penèdes.
Penedès, the most important region in Catalonia, and Raventós have gone hand in hand since the nineteenth century. However this is a thoroughly modern wine, 80% Merlot, 10% Syrah and 10% Garnacha, French oak and a designer label. The wine is packed with dark and red fruits with a soft tannic structure.
This will compliment a roast beef or a tomato based dish. | 10.50€ | £7.25 |
| Marques de Vitoria, Rioja Crianza,
This is a baby Rioja, if Goldilocks came knocking at Senõr Oso's house, this is the glass she would chose. And why not? Using tempranillo grapes this is lively and bright, the fruit is buoyant, raspberry and blackcurrant flavours with a tiny amount of vanilla.
The finish is fresh clean, an ideal easy drinking red. | 10.50€ | £7.25 |
| Marques de Vitoria, Rioja Reserva
The best known wine from Spain. In this wine the tempranillo grape is harvested from the Alavesa part of the region. A dry area with long hot summers where this variety thrives. With investment from the Faustino group there is plenty of new oak from Allier in France. The wine has depth and character, lovely fruit flavours and hints of creamy vanilla. | 16.50€ | £11.25 |
| Marques de Vitoria, Rioja Gran Reserva
As good as it gets.
The rules dictate that this wine must age in oak, mostly Allier, for at least two years then enjoy another three years in the bottle before it is released to the waiting public. The nose is warm and inviting with a mix of cedar and vanilla. The colour is dark and the fruits likewise, blackcurrants and figs. A grand wine ready to be enjoyed but will last a long time if kept well. | 21.00€ | £14.50 |
Portugal
| Bacalhôa, Sò Syrah, VR Terras do Sado.
From an area historically known for its sweet wines, this is a very successful diversion.
The area has lots of sunshine but because it is coastal the evenings tend to be cool. The wine has a pleasant spiciness that blends perfectly with red fruit flavours and a crisp acidity that makes it very drinkable.
| 13.20€ | £9.00 |
| Bacalhôa, Sò Touriga Nacional, VR Terras do Sado.
The most recognised Portuguese grape variety but not often associated with this part of the country, close to Lisbon. Grown on the foothills of the Arrábida range the climate is fantastic. The wine has a deep red colour and delightful fresh fruit flavours. Another wine from the producers that are revolutionising this area. | 13.00€ | £9.00 |
Australia
| Cumulus Wine, Rolling, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Central Ranges.
The autumn was very dry so there was no rush with the harvest. The grapes were not bullied. Thanks to the guidance of Phillip Shaw the wine has a style that is full and concentrated with a full dark colour. The subtle tannins and crunchy fruit means this is a perfect wine for early drinking. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Cumulus Wine, Rolling, Shiraz, Central Ranges.
Cumulus Wines was created by winemaker Phillip Shaw, formally with Rosemount. The vines are situated 280 kilometres west of Sydney around the town of Orange.
This is a Cool Climate region.
The wine is aromatic and lively; it is bright red and has a fresh finish. This would be marvellous with a plate of charcuterie. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Cumulus Wine, Climbing, Shiraz, Orange/Central Ranges
Australia is beginning to focus on what grapes do well in which areas, like the Europeans have been doing since the Romans or even before. Shiraz loves this part of the world. It ripens slowly thus developing complexity and character.
Hopefully this is the future of Australian wines. | 11.20€ | £7.50 |
| Tall Poppy, Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, South Eastern Australia
This wine is a lively ruby red with a good fresh nose. It is not too heavy and the tannins are nice and smooth. Imagine picnicking on a hillside, any one it doesn't matter, as long as you have something to stop the bottle from falling over. | 5.80€ | £4.00 |
| Tall Poppy, Hillside Shiraz, South Eastern Australia
A bright red colour that lights up the room. Lively aromas shoot out of the glass, red fruits dominate. Although not particularly heavy there is plenty of punch, raspberry and spice. If possible lay a few down and it will develop into something very much like a classic Côte du Rhône. | 5.80€ | £4.00 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Shiraz, Murray Darling.
So here it is the flagship wine of Messieurs Avery and Ferry who use the latest technology to optimise their simple philosophy the best grapes make the best wines. The colour is deep ruby red and the palate is full of soft juicy fruit – blackcurrant and blackberries. There is a leg of lamb somewhere demanding to be eaten with a glass of this wine. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Petit Verdot, Murray Darling.
A dark purple colour with hints of ruby.
This has a subtle aroma; there is a gentleness in the combination of smoky cedar, blackcurrant and dried fruit.
Unlike the nose the palette gets a good going-over. There is fruit by the bucket with a good helping of spice. This Bordelais grape has found a new home in Australia which is in fact encouraging a renaissance back in France | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Murray Darling.
The standard Bordeaux blend, here, there is plenty of blackcurrant fruit and a softness and warmth to the tannins.
For this price range you get a very drinkable wine that compares well with its European cousin. Similar to the cuisine, some Saturdays you might prefer a few sausages on the barbeque to a Confit du Canard with haricot vert. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
| Tall Poppy, Premium Merlot, Murray Darling.
Not always the easiest grape to grow in warm climates but the Tall Poppy team has the skills in the field to produce grapes that go on to make a wine that has structure and juiciness. This has a spicy palate with a freshness that lifts the red fruit flavours nicely. Goes well with food of all kinds. | 8.40€ | £5.75 |
New Zealand
| Saint Clair, Vicar's Choice, Pinot Noir.
The grapes were carefully collected from vineyards on the Wairau plains. Then using various methods the maximum flavours and colours were extracted but the end result has lovely balance with plenty of crunchy acidity. Their own tasting sheets say there are notes of boysenberry but I don't know what they are so I'll not mention it. | 11.40€ | £7.75 |
| Ngatarawa, Stables, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon.
It could be argued that after Bordeaux, Hawkes Bay is the best region in the world for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Close to the Pacific Ocean and with the copious sunshine the temperature is kept at an ideal 20°C in January. The soil, sandy loam on top of gravel and an alluvial bed is well drained. Notes of plum are on the palate, the tannins are smooth and gentle, this is a real pleasure to drink. | 10.70€ | £7.25 |
| Ngatarawa, Stables, Merlot.
For us the Merlot or in fact 87% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of the Ngatawara Stables range. The winemaker works with the terroir to create a majestic wine. This wine will seduce all wine lovers; it shows notes of dark fruits and spices that lead to a full bodied and very long finish. | 10.70€ | £7.25 |
| Ngatarawa, Silks, Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Alwyn Corban has taken up the reins and now guides the production at Ngatawara – pronounced Naa Taa Ra Wa – at Hawkes Bay on New Zealand's North Island.
This is a thoroughly modern wine.
There are intense fruit aromas of strawberry and cherry. It is silky but above all there is a notable freshness. Drink it now or watch it develop over the next five years. | 18.50€ | £12.50 |
Chile
| Veramonte, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Colchagua Valley.
Chile is the luckiest country when it comes to winemaking, sunshine, cooling winds, high altitude vineyards and there needs be very little intervention. This Cabernet Sauvignon has a delightful blend of dark cherry and blackberry flavours. You can really taste the ripeness that the grapes gathered hanging on the vines. Try and keep this in the cellar for a few years and see how it develops. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Veramonte, Merlot Reserva, Casablanca Valley.
The producers are particularly happy with this vintage. The vines were well looked after to expose the grapes and the Merlot ripened to perfection the best for over a decade. There is lush fruit content with typical hints of herbs and mint. A very enjoyable wine that could be drunk by itself but goes well a hearty stew. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
| Veramonte, Primus, Casablanca Valley.
A traditional Bordeaux blend brought up to date by some very modern techniques. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as you would expect and around 25% Carménère, the forgotten grape. A wine that can be drunk now but possibly see its best in say five years. The tannins and acid have made a great structure for lots of ripe fruit to hang on.
A smooth easy finish, plenty of potential. | 14.50€ | £10.00 |
| Ventisquero, Syrah Clasico, Colchagua Valley.
This is a young and exciting Syrah more along the European style rather than a big Aussie.
There is a pleasant balance of freshness and fruit. Let it open for a little to allow some of the volatile content to disperse after that it becomes most enjoyable. | 4.80€ | £3.25 |
| Ventisquero, Merlot Reserva, Maipo Valley
Medium bodied rather than big. There is a plumminess to this wine that makes it a great wine to have with duck or lamb. Merlot is well suited to this region and picks up plenty of flavours from the soil and ripening is slow, so there is a strong structure. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ventisquero, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Maipo Valley.
There has been a great deal of investment in this winery. With the know-how of the winemaker and all the latest equipment the wine produced is up-to-date for modern tastes. Lots of blackberry and vanilla in this wine. With the soft tannins this is an easy drinker. Would go very nicely with some cheese. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ventisquero, Carmenénère Reserva, Maipo Valley
A dark red colour with just a hint of purple when swirled in the glass. Powerful aromas of ripe dark red fruits and a lovely background of oak. The flavours slowly develop in the mouth; smooth tannins are balanced nicely with assertive but not aggressive fruits.
A grown up for all grown up occasions. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ventisquero, Pinot Noir Reserva, Casablanca Valley
A lovely warm wine that proved very popular at a recent tasting. For a Pinot Noir it is rather full bodied and every drop of colour and berry flavours has been squeezed out. If you are having a party this should please all your guests. | 7.20€ | £5.00 |
| Ventisquero, Syrah Queulat, Gran Reserva, Maipo Valley.
Chilean wine laws aren't so strict and this allows for a little bit of blending. Here there is 15% Cabernet Sauvignon which dampens the aggressive side and exaggerates the blackberry juiciness.
With over a year in oak there is lots of smooth vanilla and gentle spiciness. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
| Ventisquero, Carmenénère Queulat, Gran Reserva.
This has a fair proportion of Syrah so it has complexity and a lovely amount of red fruit flavours as well as blackberry and currants. The oak gives the wine a soft, velvet finish. It is a full bodied wine so drink at the end of the day, slowly to allow all the warmth to seep in. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
Ventisquero, Cabernet Sauvignon Grey, Maipo Valley
This is their top of the range. The grapes were harvested as late as possible, towards the end of April, therefore maximizing the fruit content. A healthy quantity of Syrah was added to the mix and left to mature in French oak for 18 months. This is a big wine full and flavours and could be cellared for up to 10 years. | 14.50€ | £10.00 |
| Ventisquero, Carmenénère Grey.
There is an incredible amount of wine in this one bottle. The length of time that the grape stays on the vine allows the maximum amount of flavours to be absorbed from the loamy soil. The slow fermentation and the long ageing period in French oak builds these flavours into a delicious brew that is ready to drink on release. | 14.50€ | £10.00 |
Argentina
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Oak Cask Malbec.
Malbec has certainly found a new home in South America. The wines here are generally more fruit driven than their French counterparts. This has some gentle oaking to give a warm background to the blackberry and raspberry flavours.
Best drunk young. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Oak Cask Pinot Noir.
Not a typical Pinot Noir but a wine that is full of lush cherry fruit and a rich velvety finish.
It makes no pretension about trying to emulate a great Bourgogne, it is here to please and be fun to drink. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Oak Cask Syrah.
Out of all the Syrahs from this corner of the globe this is to me the most Rhône like.
Lots of fruit but quite a handy amount of acidity to cut through the tannins. Not a wine to be cellared one to be drunk with a good meal on a Wednesday evening. | 8.80€ | £6.00 |
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon.
This producer is one of the biggest in Argentina and Argentina is something like the fifth biggest producer in the world. So you would expect this to have a rather lacklustre quality about it. Wrong, this is a surprise. The fruit bulges out of the bottle, the tannins are firm and the finish goes on for quite a bit. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Broquel Malbec.
A medium to full bodied wine with lots of blackberry on the palate. The wine could do with decanting or at least being opened in advance. Have it with food to really enjoy the mixture of tastes. It will keep for a year or so but don't hang on to it for too long. | 10.20€ | £7.00 |
| Fundacion de Mendoza, Mendoza, Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec Prestigo.
Nestled on the side of the Andes with all the UV thickening the skins which provides lots of lovely soft tannins and tonnes of colour. The brightness and purple colour is stunning, like having a disco ball in your glass. The two grape varieties combine perfectly to give masses of fruit. One other thing about being at high altitude is the grapes retain their acidity so this wine has a good crispness which keeps your attention throughout the bottle. | 8.20€ | £.50 |
USA
| Sebastiani Vineyards, Sonoma County Zinfandel
The Zinfandel comes from selected vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, arguably the best area in the world for this grape and Alexandra Valley where the fruit adds buoyancy to the wine. The wine is aged in Hungarian and French oak and then there are the other three grapes, Malbec, Syrah, Petite Sirah all culminating in an astonishing drink.
Full and flavoursome. | 13.90€ | £9.50 |
| Sebastiani Vineyards, Sonoma County Merlot.
As with the wine of Bordeaux, Californian wine laws allow a myriad of varieties to enter the mix and as long as it is the majority grape, it can still be called Merlot. What a luxury for the winemaker and you, the drinker, benefit from this. The appearance gives a clue to the wine to come; it is dark, almost blue. The fruit is ripe, black and delicious. | 17.20€ | £11.75 |
| Sebastiani Vineyards, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
100% Pinot Noir from the coastal region where the fog keeps the ripening at bay until the very latest date possible. Quite often the harvest doesn't finish until mid October, imagine that in Europe.
Then the techniques employed extract the maximum colour and fruit. | 16.50€ | £11.00 |
Rosé Wines
France
| Jeff Carrel, Le Temps à Nouveau, Vin de Table Français.
In here is 45% Cabernet Franc, 45% Pinot Noir and 10% Sauvignon, hence the vin de table classification. However this guy doesn't do wine lake stuff. He is an innovator, a risk taker and a success. The fruit shines through and the crispness makes it a lovely refreshing drink. | 5.50€ | £3.75 |
| Morin-Langaran, Cuvée Syrah Rosé, Vin de Pays d'Oc.
Full fruited dry rosé in a stylish clear bottle, produced in the Camargue region. With the body of a red and the freshness of a white, this is wonderful for enjoying at all times – even in winter. | 5.90€ | £4.00 |
Chile
| Ventisquero, Merlot Rosé Clasico, Central Valley.
So, rosés are now very trendy, and this success is not just because of the endless marketing.
This rosé is typical of the new rosés from around the world. The colour shines with hints of blue. The bouquet is strong and fruity and the taste has a plethora of flavours.
This should be shared with friend whenever you wish. | 4.80€ | £3.25 |
Sparkling Wines
Italy
| Cantine Giacomo Montresor, Contessa Giulia, Prosecco Spumante.
A wine that has taken over from Cava, as the light, affordable bottle of fizz from Europe. There are very good reasons for this, firstly it doesn't cost a lot and secondly there has been massive encouragement from the staff of all the Italian restaurants around the world, thirdly and most importantly, as this wine demonstrates, it is deliciously fruity, light and highly enjoyable.
| 6.80€ | £4.50 |
Spain
| Raventós i Blanc, Cava Brut, L'Hereu Reserva.
José Raventós, in the town of San Sadurní de Noya, made the first Champagne method sparkling wine after a visit to France in 1872. The grape varieties are different Macabeo being the major contributor. This is not a cheap, factory produced wine. Care, skill and time go into making this. It has depth, posture and delightful fruit.
To try this is to revolutionize your opinion of Cava. | 13.00€ | £9.00 |
Argentina
| Trapiche, Mendoza, Sparkling 1883.
A time to celebrate or just fancy a glass at lunchtime, this wine is beautifully fizzy, there is good depth of flavour and it is dry without being rasping.
Yes you can tell the difference between this and Champagne but given the comparative prices who cares. | 8.50€ | £5.75 |
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