Chateau Lanessan, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux '95
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
Each: £25.00
With a reputation for rich, gutsy, black currant opulence of the more chewy variety I was surprised how restrained this was drinking. Minerality shone threw. Quite the classic Claret.
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Kanonkop, Kadette, South Africa ‘05
Grapes: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Each: £8.90
Kanonkop is one of the
The Kadette is Pinotage based with a healthy dose of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc and Merlot to add style and complexity to the blend.
Cherry and berry fruit knit seamlessly into a mineral core.
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Hellfire Bay, Shiraz Grenache, Western Australia ‘06
Grapes: Shiraz and Grenache
Each: £7.50
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Neil Ellis, Elgin Chardonnay, South Africa ’05
Grapes: Chardonnay
Each: £11.50
What I really like about cooler climate new world wines is the restraint and elegance they get. Always there will be signature new world fullness and ripeness but with a cooler region this often over exploited promise is tempered and some old world elegance creeps in – voila might not be out of place!
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Gewurztraminer d’E, Domaine Ostertag, Alsace, France ‘07
Grapes: Gewurztraminer
Each: £16.50
Fantastic wines as you’d expect from someone as madly dedicated. The Gewurzt is off dry with amazing richness and clarity of flavour.
Give yourself a treat.
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Sancerre, Domaine des Brosses, Loire Valley, France ‘07
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
Each: £11.50
HALF DOZEN OFFER - £60 (£10 each)
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Allan Scott, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ‘07
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
Each: £10.00
Allan and Cathy Scott now have son Josh as winemaker and daughter Sara responsible for their sustainable viticulture and organic practices concentrating on their Carbon ZERO programme.
And the wine? As you’d expect from such experience in the new southern heartland of Marlborough – great. Not too big and heavy as some can be but refreshing, fresh, vibrant southern sauvignon.
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Chateau Tour des Gendres, Cuvee des Conti, Bergerac, France ’06
Grapes: Semillon and Muscadelle
Each: £8.50
Neither Sauvignon nor Chardonnay go anywhere near this little gem. A very fine surprise with structure from the Semillon and light perfumed flamboyance from the Muscadelle. Try it.
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Pikes, White Mullet, South Australia ’07
Grapes: Riesling, Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc
Each: £7.35
Even without reading the back label I’m thinking this might go particularly well with fish.
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Sangoma, Chenin Blanc, Riebeek Valley, South Africa ‘07
Grapes: Chenin Blanc
Each: £6.00
DECEMBER OFFER - a dozen for £66 (£5.50 each)
Another joint venture driven by the wine’s
Fresh, ethereal fruit in the apple blossom vein (no less). Good depth on the palate with a zippy dry finish. Tasty.
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Pinot Grigio, Corte Giara, Fumane, Veneto, Italy ‘07
Grapes: Pinot Grigio
Each: £6.95
DECEMBER OFFER - a dozen for £80 (£6.67 each)
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Chateau Trians, Neoules, Coteaux Varois, France ‘06
Grapes: Grenache and Syrah
Each: £9.50
Jean-Louis Masurel is the owner of this very fine property. The wines match the man – all class and charm.
Good authentic varois rose. Just the right amount of charming fruit over and elegant and deceptively steely backbone, very stylish.
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Domaine de Poujol, Côteaux du Languedoc Rose, Languedoc, France ‘07
Grapes: Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre
Each: £8.20
A Rose that is just that little bit fuller than the Cotes du Rhone of Panery and the Provence of St Marc des Omedes from an Anglo-American property of 18 hectares just northwest of
The richer colour gives the first hint and might frighten some but whilst the fruit is more evident it is still zippy and clean. Good spice and a very fine finish, another style and another success.
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Chateau de Panery, Cotes du Rhone Rosé , France ‘06
Grapes: Grenache and Syrah
Each: £7.20
The property is situated on the western, or Rose, side of the Rhône, just outside the beautiful town of
I first came across this Rose in the ’03 vintage – a cracker whose ripeness reflected the summer. The follow on ’04 struggled to live up and frankly disappointed. This is a tidy little number, back on form. Lovely creamy fruit over a precise and well worked structure. Tasty very authentic but for those that like a little more give than our Provencal Rose offers.
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St Marc des Omèdes, Provence Rose, France ‘06
Grapes: Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan – along with some Chardonnay
Authentic stuff – delicate colour and flavours on a bone dry clean finish. Close your eyes and the neighbours will all be wearing berets! Delicious.
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Alpha Zeta, Rosato, Veneto, Italy ’07
Grapes: Corvina
Each: £5.50
The Rosato is made entirely from Corvina, the grape of Valpolicella. Cold fermentation after eighteen hours of skin contact give flavour, colour and a vibrantly fragrant cherryish Rosato.
Eminently gulpable fruit with a fine spicy rigidity that shows sophistication above its station.
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Fizzzzz
Frankly, everyone has their favourite which we can, will and do find - just ask. Finding something that really hits the spot and doesn't cost the earth is a bit like climbing Everest without oxygen or Tensing - not impossible but a touch rare, we're very pleased with this....
| Aubry, Brut NV, Champagne ** By the Half Dozen £110 Prosecco, Ca’ Morlin, Conegliano di Valdobbiadene, NV ** By the Half Dozen £60 Cremant de Bourgogne, Louis Bouillot, Perle Noire, NV ** By the Half Dozen £60 | £21.50 £18.33 £11.00 £10.00 £11.00 £10.00 |
Pinot Noir
Try the Delta or the ABC (Au Bon Climat) and see that Pinot really can travel - picky with destination but then aren't we all!
| Beaujolais-Villages, Dominic Morel, France '07 ** By the HALF Dozen: £46 Fleurie, Dominic Morel '07 ** By the HALF Dozen: £64 Delta Vineyard, Pinot Noir, New Zealand '07 Mercurey, VV, Raquillet, Burgundy '04 Au Bon Climat, Santa Maria Pinot Noir, California '06 Morey-St-Denis, Pierre Amiot, France ‘04 ** By the Dozen: £240 Pommard, Domaine Billard-Gonnet, Burgundy, France ‘02 ** By the Dozen: £265 Gevrey-Chambertin, Humbert Frères, Burgundy, France ‘05 ** By the Dozen: £270 Volnay, Comte Armand, Burgundy, France ‘05 ** By the Dozen: £285 Chambolle-Musigny, Hudelot-Noellat, Burgundy '02 ** By the Dozen: £324 | £8.50 £7.67 £11.90 £10.67 £11.40 £15.00 £17.50 £22.50 £20.00 £24.50 £22.08 £25.00 £22.50 £26.50 £23.75 £30.00 £27.00 |
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Merlot, Cabernets and other Bordeaux beauties
Or those under the influence...
| Calbuco Cabernet Merlot, Chile '07 NEW - Colonia Las Liebres, Bonarda, Argentina '06 ** INTRODUCTORY OFFER - A dozen for £72 Chateau Tour de Biot, Bordeaux '05 Kanonkop, Kadette, South Africa '05 Abadia Retuerta, Rivola, Spain '05 ** By the Dozen: £120 NEW - Heinrich, Red, Austria '06 ** By the Dozen: £120 Chinon, Clos de la Cure, Jouget, Loire Valley, France '05 Terra Burdigala - a concept Roc de Jean Lys, Bordeaux Superior '06 La Violette de Chateau Manoir du Gravoux, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux '06 La Sonate, St Emilion Grand Cru '05 | £5.50 £6.50 £6.00 £7.60 £8.90 £10.95 £10.00 £11.00 £10.00 £12.50 £9.90 £14.65 £19.75 |
More Claret? The world is frankly a rather large oyster. Call us and let us divine and satisfy your own, personal needs.
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Rhone, Rioja and Relatives
Syrah, Shiraz and all those delicious varieties at home in the Rhone or generally along the Med.
| Domaine de la Cessane, Grenache Merlot, France '07 ** DECEMBER OFFER - By the Dozen £82 Grand Prebois, Vin de Pays de Med, France '07 Hellfire Bay, Shiraz Grenache, Western Australia '06 NEW - Las Rocas, Garnacha, Spain '05 La Vendimia, Palacios Remondo, Rioja, Spain '07 ** By the Dozen £100 Cotes-du-Rhone, St Cosme, France '07 ** DECEMBER OFFER - By the Dozen £106 Greenstone, Heathcote, Shiraz, Australia '05 ** DECEMBER OFFER - By the Dozen £160 | £7.50 £6.83 £7.20 £7.50 £7.95 £9.00 £8.33 £9.85 £8.83 £14.75 £13.33 |
Italians - From Barolo through Brunello via San Fransico
Tuscany, Piedmont, Puglia and that well known Italian province California!
| Alpha Zeta, Corvina, Veneto Italy '07 NEW - Il Faggio, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy '07 ** By the Dozen £75 Primitivo,A Mano, Puglia Italy '06 Chianti, Cerro del Masso, Tuscany, Italy '06 NEW - Valpolicella, Allegrini, Italy '07 Incredible Red Zinfandel, Peachy Canyon, California '05 Rosso di Montalcino, Pietroso, Tuscany, Italy '05 Chianti, Fontodi, Tuscany, Italy '05 La Grola IGT, Allegrini, Veneto, Italy '04 Brunello di Montalcino, Pietroso, Tuscany, Italy '02 NEW - Alpha Zeta, Amarone, Italy '05 ** INTRODUCTORY OFFER - Six for £129 Barolo, Massolino, Piedmont, Italy '04 | £5.65 £6.95 £6.25 £6.95 £7.80 £8.45 £9.50 £13.35 £14.35 £14.50 £18.00 £24.50 £21.50 £26.00 |
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Calbuco, Semillon Chardonnay, Chile '07
Grapes: Semillon and Chardonnay
Each: £5.50
DECEMBER OFFER - A dozen for £60 (£5.00 each)
Blessed with a great climate, soils and altogether wonderful grape growing conditions it is surprising just how mediocre most Chilean wines have been. Well at least the ones that find their way across the seas to our market. This is the white in a pair that definitely buck that brushing.
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