Monkeyshed Wines

Just the other day I was leafing through a biography that included a few photos from the turn of the last century or is it the one before? Roughly about a hundred years ago. There was a fantastic shot of a fully laid table, pristine linen and even a chandelier. Not too surprising until you fill in the background - in the middle of a wooded glade. Guess what we are up to next weekend. That's right spending most of it in A&E sorting Daddy's broken leg and mild electrocution.
Read on.....

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Our first stab at a recipe review!!
The niggled has naggled for a very long time, having decided to tackle the vast beast that is food and wine where does one start? What comes first? A bolt as shrill as every early morning wake up call from the neighbour's rooster - Coq au vin!
Read the full story.
The Great Recipe Test Experiment

A spin on the ever exciting "Options" party game (blind wine and twenty A or B questions from hemisphere, through continent right up through which side of the hill the grapes grew on!).
Anyway points for Hemisphere all the way through - Guess the Vineyard - Answers next month or by return.

Terra Burdigala is a sort of mini co op of like minded high end growers pulled together and collectively marketed by Stéphane Derenoncourt and François Thienpont. Stéphane’s excellent work in the vineyard is spoken for by the plethora of prestigious properties for whom he consults. Francois comes from the family that own Vieux Chateau Certan, Chateau Puygueraud and Le Pin amongst others. Pedigree for both that is not to be sniffed at.
What they have done with Terra Burdigala is simply to make the fruits of their high standards and practices accessible. They gathered together a group of winegrowers who believed in the same high standards of quality; respect for nature, low yields and wines with real authenticity. From meticulously selected vineyards, sometimes far removed from the most fashionable appellations, they offer all Bordeaux-lovers excellent and undeniably "good value for money" wines.
I think they succeed

Three wines
Roc de Jean Lys, Bordeaux Superior '06
La Violette de Chateau Manoir du Gravoux, Cotes de Castillon '06
La Sonate, St Emillion Grand Cru '05

More Claret!
The world of Claret is, frankly, a rather large oyster. Call us and let us divine and satisfy your own, personal needs. Call 01243 3833733 or email wines@monkeyshed.com

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Back to Merl, Cab and other Bord Beauties

Grapes: Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Each: £9.90

An exciting new venture that could show Mr Spielberg a thing or two about rediscovering a classic formula!

This "cuvée" comes from a special plot of the Château Roques de Jeanlice located on the limestone plateau of the Entre deux Mers region.
This was my introduction to the whole Terra Burdigala set up. Frankly I liked the label and had had enough of wading through some pretty uninspired wines. Tasting this was like the first double espresso of the morning – wow, I’m awake and the day is looking lively.
Pretty sexy stuff that has ripe juicy flavour over a classic Bordelais structure.

Back to Terra Burdigala
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Back to Merl, Cab and other Bord Beauties

Just the other day I was leafing through a biography that included a few photos from the turn of the last century or is it the one before? Roughly about a hundred years ago. There was a fantastic shot of a fully laid table, pristine linen and even a chandelier. Not too surprising until you fill in the background - in the middle of a wooded glade. Guess what we are up to next weekend. That's right spending most of it in A&E sorting Daddy's broken leg and mild electrocution.

The latest in the Monkeyshed Box Scheme. £130 delivered or sign up to the scheme, get peace of mind over future boxes and save its just £120 delivered! Two thoughts? Not necessary!

A selection for warmer times:
Two Whites
Loimer, LOIS, Gruner Veltliner, Austria '07
Shaw and Smith, M3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, Australia '06
The Gruner is a real star. Zippy, fresh and vibrant it combines all the refreshing zing of really good Sauvignon Blanc with a texture and weight so often missing.
The Chardonnay doesn't deny it nature pure new world power but adds a complexity and subtlety so often lacking and much more at home in a quality Burgundy.
A Pink
Domaine Poujol, Coteaux Languedoc, France '06
Elegant structure as you'd expect but with an unexpected kick of fruit. Very tasty.
Two Reds
Roc de Jean Lys, Bordeaux Superior, France '06
Greenstone, Shiraz, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia '05
Two wines that uncover the potential of their respective cradles of quality. The Roc de Jean Lys is made by a team more usually associated with the absolute pinnacle of Bordeaux. Here they have kept their high aspirations for quality but take up the challenge of delivering these without a vast budget and at an affordable price - success. The Greenstone shows, as does the M3 Chardonnay, the complexity and subtlety that can be achieved in Australia's cooler growing regions.
A twist!
Alpha Zeta, EVOO '06
Fontodi, EVOO '07
Take two saucers and pour a healthy splash of olive oil into each.
Slice up a baguette
Dip
Breath
"F"ing gorgeous to quote that mild mannered Scot.
The Fontodi is pure, green class. Fresh and spicy its a real dresser, to be used as close to by itself as possible. The Alpha Zeta is a softer sort and works better with more complex flavour combinations. Try the Tuscan steak approach. Take a thick, thick beautifully marbled steak. Grill (preferably over an open fire in your villa in the vineyards of Panzano). Slice and dress half with each oil. You might need seconds to decide which you prefer.

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