Monkeyshed Wines

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Welcome to the launch of Monkeyshed Wines, in earnest. As the pound slides out of sight and our little Darling heaps even more duty on the “evil drink” launching seemed the obvious thing to do! To keep you abreast of just how you might drown your sorrows, we’ll be updating you with a monthly page of news, bargains, little gems you can’t possible live without and general waffle. All this to supplement our core list and the full, expanded, in depth, incisive, penetrating examination of the World of Wine, all viewable on line at www.monkeyshed.com.
Below are the core elements of Monkeyshed. Each pairs highlights a white and red, very pc!

Quaffers for April

This month’s a pair of fancy ticklers!
► Domaine de la Cessane, Marsanne Viognier ’06
► Alpha Zeta, Corvina ’06
The Cessane has been a home staple for ages and why change a thing! It also has a cheeky red to pair. What I like is the combination of vibrant substantial fruit and zippy acid, rare with southern French Viognier and rarer at this price. By the Bottle £6.50, By the Dozen £74.10 (£6.18 each)
The Corvina is elegant and sprightly, a wine of impressive balance and surprising length. Enough waffle? I think this is going to feature as a favourite on the beach this summer – enough weight to see off any less than welcome cold snaps too. By the Bottle £5.50, By the Dozen £61.80 (£5.15 each)

Stars for April

Something you really shouldn’t miss out on.
► Jules Taylor, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ’07
► La Grola, Allegrini ’04
Jules’ Sauvignon has just been judged the best wine ever in the history of wine! Well it won the Trophy at the Air New Zealand Awards which is pretty close. By the Bottle £12.00, By the Dozen £135 (£11.25 each)
Allegrini put all the ‘A’s in ItAliAn wine! This comes from a lovingly recovered ancient and magnificent vineyard site. Elegance, length and pure class in every mouthful. By the Bottle £14.50, By the Dozen £162 (£13.50 each)

Classic Corner

Here the plan is to highlight a classic star or two. Usually they will be in short supply and priced to move!
► Meursault L’Ormeau, Boyer-Martenot ’05
► Gevrey-Chambertin, Humbert Freres ’01
Boyer-Martenot has an unctuous juicy generosity that for shows Chardonnay at it’s best. It’s also from that stunning ’05 vintage, can you go wrong? By the Bottle £22.50, By the Dozen £250 (£20.83 each)
The Humbert Freres Gevrey is power in a velvet glove. Complexity, length and subtlety. Tick three boxes and add some aging, very fine indeed. By the Bottle £27.50, By the Dozen £300 (£25.00 each)

The Box Scheme

Let us do the work and send you a special selection every two months. Although we are happy to tailor a selection for any day of the week, this is a selection that aims to expand your horizons. We’ll tackle a vinous subject with ever box. On top of a solid safe core we’ll add in some treats we hope you might never have heard of, let alone considered. Sign up now for The All Singing All Dancing Introductory Box.

Monkey Food and Monkey Toys

So wine alone can be exciting, but add some food and you’re well on your way to a feast! Coming from a Restaurant background I’ve always been amazed at how food seems to slip by the wine trade – it cuts the other way too, but don’t get me started! Every month we’ll be tackling the thorny subject of food and wine matching by cooking up a feast and drinking too much in The Great Recipe Test Experiment! – notes to follow. We’ll also be opening the Monkeyshed Larder to offer treats, ingredients and frivolities – we started with two fine olive oils - but stay tuned. The right glass really does make a bottle taste better. Watch this space……….

Onwards and Upwards!