Young Fruity Reds

58 2009 Borsao Garnacha, Borja Spain                                                                        £5.20

Campo de Borja is in the north central area of Spain, located on the south bank of the river Ebro and just below the border of Navarra. Borsao has an open, forward nose full of fresh red raspberries and oaky vanilla spice, with hints of black fruit and a touch of something floral -- maybe violet. A soft, velvety texture in the mouth carries bright berry flavors -- mostly ripe raspberry, with a nice touch of vanilla oak spice. It finishes rather quickly, with a chalky acidity. Very mild tannins make a cameo appearance at the tail end of the finish.  This is a soft, pleasant, berry-filled, spicy red wine with a flavor profile that many people will find appealing. It is enjoyable by itself, and will match well with beef (stews, meatloaf, burgers) and sausage dishes


59 2009 Monte Arcos Garnacha Shiraz , Borja, Spain £5.40

Deep vibrant purple colour. Inviting nose of sweet raspberry and blackberry fruit and a light, spicy perfume lift. Spicy, chocolatey, berry fruit fills the core, gentle tannins and a warm ripeness make this incredibly drinkable


60 2009 Piemonte Barbera £5.30

Ruby-red in colour with purple hues, aromas of ripe raspberries and plums on the nose; this is a medium-bodied wine with soft tannins, an abundance of tangy red cherry and plum fruits laced with a savoury spiciness. Good with simple pasta or pizza


62        2008 El Tesoro, Monastrell/Shiraz, Spain                                                          £5.50

This is everything simple wines should be and very rarely are using a blend of Monastrell and Shiraz to create a supple red from southern Spain. Warm and spicy on the nose with aromas of plums and ripe red fruits. Medium bodied with youthful berry fruit characters leading to a dry, savoury finish. Great with grilled meats, cured cheese, pates and stews.

 

64        2009 Merlot Sierra Grande, Curico ,Chile                                                         £5.30

Deep in colour and showing ripe plum and berry fruit aromas, this wine is warm and supple. The palate exhibits rich fruit, soft tannins, a silky texture and plenty of weighty fruit.Wine & Spirit International, December 2006 'This is barely out of its cradle. For such a baby, it has plenty of upfront plummy, black fruit. This is all good ...'

 

65        2008 Bellefontaine Merlot, Languedoc, France                                                 £5.75

Rich, vibrant and aromatic fruit showing soft plummy flavours but with full jammy fruit too then quite dry tannic bite giving it structure and length in the mouth.Soft and pliable red capable of matching with most foods. Easy choice for a devouted red drinker. Try with mushroom risotto. Also a deceptive 14.0% alcohol

 


66 2008 Pasquiers Grenache Noir, Languedoc £5.75

The underrated Grenache is probably the most widely panted red grape variety and it is the backbone of Chateauneuf-du-pape. This black Grenache from the deep South of France is steeped in texture, sinewy flavour and structure - talk about length, the flavours just go on and on! A wine that will stand up well to rich foods - hearty roasts and casseroles, deep flavoured pasta dishes and robust roast vegetables Smooth easy drinking



67        2008 Conviviale Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Italy                                                 £5.75

Initially just a little reticent on the nose, this super wine quickly opens, and offers a quite remarkable array of aromas and flavours. The slighly sulky, smoky notes at the beginning are followed in quick succession by dark and red cherry fruit, coffee, chocolate and spice. Perfect with takeaway pizza or home-made spaghetti bolognese

 

68        2008 Vina Borgia Garnacha, Borja                                                                £6.25 

Lucrecia Borgia was one of the most infamous women to ever grace the countries of Spain or Italy. She was well known for her fiery temprament and aptitude with poison. This wine though will revive you. The Bosaro Vina Borgia is the color of a bright ruby. Perhaps the colour of a jewel that would grace a noble woman's hand. It is made from 100% garnacha. The nose is full of ripe berries. There are chewy tannins that accompany lush flavours. You will find jucy black cherry and spice tones to play on your tongue. There is good body and a medium-long finish. At under  £6 a bottle, this is a deal. You can afford to enjoy it at almost every meal. It will accompany a wide variety of dishes: a hearty soup, strong cheese, grilled steak. Just please, let it breathe before you drink this wine


69        2007  Cotes du Rhone Villages, Darriaud, Rhone                                              £6.60

From the 11,000 acres of the Côtes du Rhône villages clay and stony limestone earth rise Grenache and Syrah grapes that produce 19 million bottles of medium body fruity reds. This has warm, ripe red fruit with jammy damson characters, gentle tannins and a rounded chocolatey finish. Very easy undemanding drinking but very pleasant. It will support meat dishes without dominating.

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70 2008 Valpolicella Montresor, Veneto, Italy £6.95

Do try this. It has great fruit good body and is a delight to drink. It`s reputation ruined by previous cheap winesValpolicella can be a fruity, medium-weight red wine, but because of recent production troubles and overplanting it can often be acidic and thin. They can have a light cherry flavor, with licorice hints and alovely clean finish. Well worth trying..


72        2007 Fleurie, La Riene de L`Arenite, Beaujolias, France                                      £9.50

Minimum use of pesticides in vineyard. No systematic use of chemicals for rot treatment. Grapes are hand-picked and whole-berry fermented for 8-10 days (traditional maceration carbonique) followed by a further 2 or 3 days on the skin to assist with aromas. No use of cultured yeasts. Pressed after 8-10 day cuvaison. First press wine returned to wine and left for 8 months before bottling. Ripe red fruit flavours with hints of strawberry and morello cherries. Perfumed, gentle, cherry fruit. Lovely, fresh cherry fruit. Quite long. Extremely versatile red wine - will go with spicy dishes, like curry or with gamey meat dishes. Even goes well with plain grilled white fish. This wine is often overlooked but it is always one of the first wines to go from your stock as it has such a broad appeal.

 

 

 

Full Bodied Reds

81        2008 Negroamaro Il Meridione                                                                        £5.75

Tomatoes crop up all the time in salads, sauces and stews but they’re not all that easy to match to wine. That’s especially true of the concentrated flavours of passata and tomato purée.  Nobody eats more tomatoes than the Italians, so it’s no surprise that Italian reds seem to work better than most. The name negro amaro means “black bitter” but this is spicy and approachable. 20% of the wine is aged in french oak barriques. A warm, full-bodied red with pronounced plummy aromas and a rich, smooth palate which combines sweet, dark ripe fruit with a satisfyingly spicy element from 12 months in large oak casks.

 

82        2007 Vista TR, Beiras, Portugal                                                                       £5.95

A blend of 85% Tinta Roriz / 15% Touriga Nacional giving a real powerhouse of rich, ripe, generous, lots of dark and chewy fruit, good structure with no hard edges and good length. Stylistically it could be argued that it’s about ¾ Portuguese and ¼ New world with the right blend of the best bits of both. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees Centigrade with full-flavoured meaty stews, bangers and mash or barbequed meats.


83 2008 Mas Barrau Cabernet Franc, Gard £6.65

Cabernet Franc is normally grown in the loire producing thin stalky reds here grown in Nimes it is transformed. A French red wine of real character, there is a wild ripeness of sweet scented fruit twinned with an edgy woodland perfume. The palate is incredibly long and very rich - scrumptiously juicy fleshy Rhone flavours are counterbalanced and intertwined with the savoury crunchy rooty character of Cabernet Franc. Very exciting, This is the best Cabernet Franc I have ever tasted.

 

84        2007 Quinta el Refugio, Toro, Spain                                                                £6.95

Brambly, chunky and warming with a lean, muscular edge, Quinta El Refugio displays all the classic characteristics of the Tinta de Toro variety ( Tempranillo). Three months in American oak barriques has given the wine a silky finesse, rounding off the wilder elements of this dark, full-bodied red. Perfect with grilled meats, roasts and stews. This wine can also hold its own in the presence of chilli.

 

85        2006 Darriaud Les Hauts du Mont, Ventoux, France                                        £5.95

 A blend of65% Grenache, 35% the wine is bottled without filtration to capture the full flavour and character of the wine. This complex, 'hand made' red is oaky (coconutty), spicy, rich and full with smooth tannins and long powerful finish, which delivers hints of juicy cooked blackberries, warm spicy cinnamon, black pepper and a tad of toasty oak all nicely balanced. Think Chateauneuf-du-Pape aged in some new oak!This serious and robust wine will work well with lamb with roast garlic and rosemary served with roast carrots and parsnips; Beef Wellington or perhaps a traditional cassoulet loaded with beans and a reduced onion and wine stock.

 

87        2009 Chianti Colli Senesi Terza, Tuscany Italy                                               £6.75

The Sangiovese grapes are harvested when fully ripe and fermented using selected yeasts. A long maceration follows fermentation. The wine spends two months in barrel to add further complexity before being bottled. Lively ruby appearance. Clear notes of cherries and wild berries on the nose and good, pure fruit on the palate. A very correct, well-balanced wine. Goes with ripe cheese (especially Parmesan), roasted red meats and tomato-based pasta dishes.

 

 89        2007 Vega del Rayo Seleccionada, Rioja, Spain                                              £6.95

A blend of mainly Tempranillo with some Mazuelo The clear wine is then racked to a mixture of American and Russian oak barrels for 6 months maturation before bottling.  If it was aged for another 6months it could be classed as a crianza. However it would lose some of its lovely fruit so a decision was made to withdraw it from the oak., resulting in a delicious modern Rioja with a deep colour and ripe plum and cherry fruit aromas. Richly flavoured and substantial with fruit dominant and a smoky, spicy dimension from six months in oak. Brilliant quality and exceptional value, a real crowd pleaser.Perfect with a smoky barbequed steak with patatas bravas (spicy tapas potatoes), or a chunk of Manchego cheese.


96 2006 Winston Hill Zinfandel, California U.S.A. £6.95

Deep, sweet black berry fruit with an amazing ripeness on the palate and taught acidity creating a wine with poise and balance. Perfect with steak and chips or equally suitable as a picnic red and of course BBQ if we ever get a warm day? It is also superb value for a Californian wine



98 2009 Adobe Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile £6.95

Great value blackcurranty Cabernet with mellow tannins from biodynamic producer he fruit is maturing nicely and developing a toastiness from the 6 months in oak and the tannins have mellowed. Lovely to drink now with soft bread and cheese. The winery aims to increase biodiversity in the vineyard by planting cover crops leaving corridors between vine blocks for plants and wild flowers to grow. This also has the effect of attracting the pests away from the vines. The gravity-fed winery is made from natural materials including 'adobe' a traditional brick made from mud and straw .


100  2009 Adobe Carmenere, Chile £6.95

An outstanding Carmenère, the product of a real commitment to organic viticulture. Intense dark red colour with purple hues with an extremely fruit driven nose, soaked with cherries, plums and spicy pepper. This expressive full bodied wine ends with flavourful tannins and a long persistent finish


108        2008 J Gil Monastrell/Monastrell, Jumilla Spain                                                £7.75

'Yes, the name of the wine is correct: it's called Monastrell-Monastrell because the producer reckons it packs twice the punch of a typical Monastrell ! The 2005 vintage is much more serious than its predecessors the fruit is fresher, still full of blackberry and plum fruit with hints of vanilla spice and coffee but in a more refined and elegant way. The palate is warm and rich with layers of lush spicy plum and cherry fruit, with an overlying atractive perfume. Rich, sweet tannins and a touch of chocolate on the finish. The mix of old vines and TLC has resulted in a heady, berry-rich, herb-scented blockbuster of a wine that comes in at 14.5%, but still retains its style and finesse. Drink by itself or with cheeses, casseroles and strong meats.

 

110        2009 Les Ruffes La Sauvageonne, AOC Coteaux du Languedoc                         £8.75

A blend of 40% Cinsault , 30% Syrah, 15% Grenache, 15% Carignan. Vibrant aromas of fresh toasty berry fruits, un-wooded but the wines possesses a richness and depth with a round mouth-feel and long supple mineral finish.Warm with cherry and red fruits, supple tannins and a peppery finish this wine is ideal with barbecued food.  Jancis Robinson, Financial Times 12/02/2005
‘Very individual, characterful red from one of the coolest, highest vineyards in the Languedoc

Anthony Rose, The Independent (12/02/2005)
"A meaty southern French blend stuffed with blackberry fruit and seasoned with spice"

 

112        2006 Puerta Vieja Crianza, Rioja, Spain                                                           £8.75

This is a classic old fashioned Rioja that is beautiful. Class always shows. 18 months in American oak casks and almost 36 months in the bottle racks, where it acquires its definitive character. An intense, cherry-red coloured wine, which has pronounced aromas of orange peel and dried fruit, along with spicy notes from new wood. A robust and fruity wine with pleasing tannins and a long, well-balanced finish. Serve between 16 - 18 degrees centigrade. Goes very well lamb and also surprisingly well with salmon.

 

113        2005 GSM, Cotes de Roussillon, France                                       £8.95

This is a blend of the traditional grapes Carignan, Grenache,  Syrah and Mourvedre. This wine is a perfect example of eRIC mONNIN`s genius. He had tasted 2 separate wines from different growers and recognised that they would be vastly improved by blending together. The 2 areas are Maury & Tautavel using low yielding vines  aged in amix of 1 year & 2 year old barriques . Giving  rich warming smooth wine capable of standing up to casseroles and strong dishes. Very enjoyable and rewarding.

 

114        2006 Mesoneros de Castilla Roble, Ribera del Duero,Spain                             £8.75

This is I think Spain`s best wine area, using Tinto del pais ( a variation of Tempranillo)  with 3 months oak aging to give smooth voluptuous wine that has fine fruit and finish This family has been making wine for over 200 years so they might just have got the hang of it by now. A really impressive wine.


117 2005 Dignite Syrah £9.25

80% of the wine was aged in two year old Allier oak barrels for 12 months, the remaining 20% in new oak for 20 months and only then was the final blend decided. Eric Monnin, winemaker discovered the parcel of Syrah (aka Shiraz) grapes growing on 50 year old, low-yielding vines in black schist soil, it immediately stood out as being very special Dignité Syrah is rich, powerful and brimming with blueberry, black plum and blackberry fruit flavours, the oak-ageing adds nuances of cedar spice, coffee and cocoa, with a final lick of pepper to the silky-smooth tannins. IDeal with Grilled red meat, especially lamb or sirloin steak, flavoured with Southern French herbs (rosemary, thyme) or hearty casseroles

               

118            2007 Pica Broca La Sauvageonne Coteaux du Languedoc                                  £11.95

The vineyard resembles a lunar landscape, you have to dig through 12 inches of hefty stone before you find soil.Using 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache with careful ageing in both tank (30%) and oak (10% new) are employed to make the Pica-Broca.  A medium ruby red; ripe with sweet dark fruits, black olive and liquorice notes. Rich and dense, with great expression of terroir (garrigue & herbs) and a firm tannic structure with spicy layers.A wine with bags of character, suited to all types of game and red meat, especially lamb. Will profit from decanting. Fantastic wine there are far worse Chateauneuf-du-papes at twice the price

Richard Ehrlich, The Independent 22/05/2005
Big,spicy blend of syrah/Grenache, loads of juicy ripeness kissed with a sensible dose of warm ,toasty oak. Beautiful.'


121 2007 Cascabel Tipico, McLaren Vale, Australia £11.50

Susana Fernandez and Duncan Ferguson ,having made wine in Europe created Viña Cascabel, which is only 3 Km from the sea. Their winemaking reflects the best of Australia without the current trend for too much alcohol or oak. This is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Monastrell, 20% Shiraz, with 15 months ageing in used French oak puncheons (500Litres). Their stunning wines have real texture and soul. Ideal with Spicy Quail’s Eggs, Potato and Clam Sup, Roast Loin of Pork

            

123      2006 La Côte Sauvage, Cairanne Boutinot,                                £11.50

This is the first time that Paul Boutinot has put his own name on a wine label, so it will be very good.To make this Cairanne, Paul Boutinot used traditional vinification techniques - indigenous yeast and a long cuvasion period, followed by maturation in French oak barrels to develop great concentration, complexity and finesse in the wine. Intense morello cherry fruit and a touch of spice on the nose, ripe berry, liquorice and a hint of cinnamon spice on the palate, this wine is ful flavoured, rich and smooth with supple tannins. The perfect match for red meat dishes and rich stews

 

124      2007 Poderi Alasia Rive Barbera, Piemonte, Italy                                          £11.95

The wine is pressed just before dryness and then racked to a mixture of new (2/3) and one year old (1/3) French oak barriques, where it undergoes malo-lactic fermentation and is aged for 18 months. The wine is left to develop in bottle for 6 months before being released. A deep garnet hued Barbera with vibrant aromas of black cherries and prunes with chocolate and toasty oak undertones and a touch of mint. An abundance of vibrant red currants, black cherries and a touch of spice show through on the palate, which has a rich, voluptuous texture balancing taught acidity and fine oak tannins. Mature hard cheeses, pepperoni pizza, gnocchi with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, smoked gammon with onion mash. Perfect example of when Barbera is grown well it can take on its more famous namesakes as one of Italy`s best grape varieties.

 

128 2007 Valpolicella Classico Ripasso, Capitel della Crosara £11.75

Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara have been taken, fermented slowly with the lees from the fabulous Amarone ( grapes that have been partially dried, leaving them 40% lighter and much more concentrated) and then left to mature in French and American oak. Medium to full bodied red in a deep ruby red colour with deeply inviting aromas of rich fruit, almond and cinammon and a smooth velvety palate, rich with flavours of cherry, musk, spices and vanilla. Simply outstanding. Without doubt one of my favourite reds at the moment. A real treat .


129 2007 Novas Winemakers Syrah/Mourvedre £11.95

Grapes grown under bio-dynamic conditions then aged in French and American oak barrels Ripe blue and black fruit, high-toned, touch of oak spice, creamy and inviting. Fleshy, heady style but well grounded. Quite unusual to have Mourvedre in Chile.


130 2005 Canus Verus, Toro, Spain £12.95

Tempranillo, locally called Tinto de Toro has been aged in French and American oak barrels for 9 months. A big, bold wine. Full of dark brambly fruits and rich, leathery meatiness. Well integrated oak gives a touch of spice and chocolate notes. The complexity of the 100 year old vines shows through with good intensity and a long finish. It is claimed that the vines are pre phylloxera.


131      2003 Monte Real Reserva, Rioja, Spain                                                         £12.65

This is classic wonderful Rioja. Mainly tempranillo with support of Graciano and Mazuela is allowed to mature for 24 - 30 months in American oak casks with appropriately time rackings. The wine is aged in bottle for at least one more year before being released. Medium depth ruby colour with brick red rim. Open, spicy nose with aromas of sweet, ripe, red fruit and well-integrated oak. Medium bodied with good balance between fresh berry fruit and the complex leather and spicy oak characters typical of classic Rioja Reserva and a warm, rich finish. Excellent with a meaty terrine of pheasant or duck

 

132 2007 Tres Picos Garnacha, Borja, Spain £14.50

Deep and sweet, Tres Picos Borsao is cherry red in colour with a hint of purple tones. In the nose, there is a boundless bouquet of mature red fruits with traces of flowers that are typical of the best Garnachas. In the mouth, it is rich and well-structured simultaneously conveying flavours of blackberries, strawberries and tones of leather, vanilla and plums. Perfectly combined with a sweet and pleasant tannin, Tres Picos Borsao leaves us with a long, silky and balanced finish .

Bodegas Borsao, Tres Picos Garnacha 2005 - 91 points
This remarkably hedonistic wines has been a perennial Best Buy in the pages of this journal. The 2005 Tres Picos Garnacha is purple coloured with a cherry-scented nose that roars from the glass. It is intensely fruity, with terrific depth and concentration, oodles of sweet fruit and terrific length. This wine which can be likened to cherry pie in a glass, is awesome value. Robert Parkers Wine Advocate Issue 169


134      2005 Araldica I Classici Barolo 'Flori`, Piemonte, Italy                                £12.50

Barolo is never cheap , but this is excellent value, just a tad lighter than most Barolos. This Revello has all the tell-tale Barolo characteristics. It is a light red coloured wine with hints of orange. It has all the typical tobacco, leather and violet notes and yes, there is tannin, but it is pleasingly supported with plump fruit and a round silky texture, giving a good lengthy finish. Perfect with wild boar sausages, venison, roast lamb or gamey stews.

 

           

136      2006 Balgownie Shiraz, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia                                      £16.95

The wine is aged for 15 months in a combination of 50% French and 50% American oak approximately one third of which was new. The wine is a deep red/purple colour and offers blackberry liquorice and spice on the nose with a hint of eucalypt and pepper. The palate is full bodied with sweet blackberry and spice flavours and fine lingering tannins. Suggested cellaring 7-10 years.  A fabulous food wine - drink with roast lamb, game and robustly flavoured dishes.



138      1998 Monte Real Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain                                                £21.95

80% Tempranillo 15% Mazuelo 5% Graciano From the vineyards of Cenicero and la Sonsierra. Classical vinification with destalked, crushed grapes using the latest fermentation technology and long maceration periods. Aged for 24 to 30 months in American oak casks appropriately-timed rackings. Aged in the bottle for at least 36 months before being put on the market. An ochre-red Tempranillo with a rich, smoky bouquet. The fruit is dark, pruney and decadently ripe with a good balance between tannins and acidity. An earthy, opulent wine, which is drinking well now. Serve at 17 - 19 degrees C. Excellent with roast meats, particularly loin of lamb with mustard potatoes and oxtail sauce

 

140      2006 Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Vieilles Vignes, Chante Cigale,                  £31.95

A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre. This has a huge 14.5% alcohol and it is such a big wine that it is not unbalanced. Ageing takes place in large oak barrels (40%), with 30% respectively in new small oak barrels and concrete vats. Deep, dark and intense black spicy fruit on the nose with a lifted violet aroma. The palate follows through with leather, cloves and a mix of herbs and plums. The finish is supple and rounded with excellent integration, complexity and concentration as a result of the old vines superior fruit.  Meat such as lamb, beef or venison, either grilled or with a spicy or peppery sauce, or with duck paté.

 

144      2005 Vallet Freres Beaune 1er Cru Les Epenottes, Burgundy                         £26.95

One of a handful of producers in the Cote d'Or who continue to use ultra-traditional winemaking techniques. Grapes are selected from vines of a minimum 15 years of age; whole bunches (which are not de-stemmed) are fermented in open top wooden vats using only natural yeasts and no temperature control; the grapes are left on their skins for 3 weeks days and the 'cap' is trodden down by the oldest method - by feet! All this extracts as much colour, tannins and fruit as possible but in relation to ripeness and quality of the 'appellation'. The wine is then put into French oak barrels where it matures for a minimum of two years with racking off two or three times a year (to gently remove natural deposits). They don't have a fancy bottling line here - usually a pipe is inserted into each barrel which is joined to four taps, and the wine flows by gravity straight from barrel into the bottles without any filtration and just a candle to check that it's clear!

Classic Pinot fruit with supple tannins, crisp acidity and delicious red berries on the palate - drink now or keep for 5-8 years to see exactly what these wines can achieve with age. Ideal with Boeuf Bourguignon (all the better if made with Charolais beef, a breed associated with Burgundy), game dishes - at the White Hart in Lydgate they match it with roast loin of venison and a juniper dressing - or cheese.

 

148      2005 Vallet Frères Gevrey Chambertin Clos de la Justice, Burgundy              £32.95

The grapes come into the winery with stalks, the first 10 cm of each barrel is filled with grapes which are crushed by foot, the barrel is then topped up with whole bunches and fermentation starts naturally after 2-3 days. Since yeasts are an expression of the individual vintage and vineyard no artificial yeasts are used. 3-4 times a day the pulp is trodden by foot to further extract colour and flavour. Louis is passionate in his belief that wines vinified with stalks are better; in blind tastings destalked wines start with more colour which rapidly degenerates after 2-3 years in bottle, this cannot be said for Vallet’s wines which retain colour and evolve more gradually.

The wines are left in open top fermenters until the cap sinks, this is the time to decant into 20-30% well toasted new oak (a small percentage compared to most). After 15-20 months the wine is racked, blended and lightly fined with gelatine. The decision to use gelatine is not whim, Louis always felt that commercial egg whites lack sufficient albumen to do the job and isinglass is not necessarily pure. Wines are not filtered but checked by candlelight, then bottled directly from barrel by hand on a cask by cask basis.

According to Louis “
Burgundy must not be fruity – this is no good for great wine …. Short cask ageing and early bottling are the denaturing of real Burgundyonly a long period in wood, followed by a long period in bottle will produce finesse, breed and elegance. Delicious, supple red berry fruit with elegance, integrated tannins and a long, pure Pinot finish. Ideal with poultry and game-birds or a delicate Burgundian cheese such as Montrachet.

 

 

Bubbles

 

161      N.v  Mas Macia Cava Brut , Spain                                                                    £7.95

Mas Macia is produced with the three classic grape varieties: Macabeo, Xarel lo and Parellada, using the traditional Cava method. The finished Cava has very small, fine, persistent bubbles, which are a result of the low temperatures in the wine cellar where fermentation takes place and appropriate levels of carbonic acid during the secondary fermentation. The wine is matured for 24 months before bottling to enhance the complex, fruity aromas. A fresh and nicely creamy Cava with delicate, complex flavours of apples and stone fruits and some nutty, yeasty notes from time on the lees. Good acidity and a clean, pure finish. Excellent on its own as an occasion wine or try with salted almonds and other tapas.


Mas Macia Cava Brut NV came joint first in Wine International's Cava & Prosecco Tasting - August 2005, scoring a high 94 out of 100 points. It was also highlighted as particularly 'Good Value' along with a couple of other wines in the tasting. Please see some of the tasters comments below:
'Earthy, but with a smoky, buttery intensity. Quite dark, ripe and broad, but with good acidity. CM. 94 Points.'
'Long, rich and satisfying on the finish. RJ'
'Good weight and depth of fruit with a pleasant mid-palate, sweetish lemon fruit and a good length. DS.'
Wine International, Cava & Prosecco Tasting, August 2005
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163 N.V Primo Prosecco Spumante £6.50

Lunetta Prosecco Spumante is made exclusively from Prosecco grapes cultivated in the Veneto region, in the hills north of Treviso, between the river Piave and the Prealps. The Prosecco grape flourishes in the fresh, loose hill soils in this area and the average yield is 90 hl/ha. The grapes are harvested by hand in mid September . A deliciously light and fruity Prosecco with hints of apple and peach on the nose and a fresh, softly sparkling palate. Serve chilled as an aperitif or celebration wine. Also goes well with Italian panettone



165      2008 Taltarni Brut Tache, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia                         £13.45

A blend of Chardonnay 52%, Pinot Noir 41%, Pinot Meunier 7% go into this incredible colourd wine. Tache is a French word meaning 'stained' and refers to the rare winemaking method used since 1985 by Taltarni to create this fine rose-coloured sparkling wine. It's amazing delicate samlom pink colour is achieved by adding a dash of red wine liqeur to the finished tirage wine at disgorgement. Created from a blend of the three classic sparkling wine varietals sourced from our cool climate vineyards in Victoria and Tasmania.

An engaging salmon pink colour enhanced by a fine persistent bead. The wine expresses an assortment of fresh fruit, turkish delight, rose petal, apricot blossom and luscious white peach aromas complemented by complex nougat and yeast aromas. Layered with elegant red berry fruit and nutty savoury flavours. The wine had great length, finishing clean, dry and refreshing. An ideal aperetif or serve with fresh prawns, sushi, oysters, soft cheese or fresh ocean trout. Works equally well with fruit salad, rhubarb tart or a croissant for breakfast.

Matthew Jukes Top 100 Australian Wines 2006
"This is joyous. Kir-Royale stained, rose wine. Unashamedly tarty, but all the better for it, Tache is a basque and stockings in a glass".

 


167 2005 Franciacorta Saten £22.95

Same process as Champagne but uses 100% Chardonnay grown in a warmer region than France thus giving better quality grapesThe alcoholic fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tank at controlled temperature between 16 and 18 °C with selected yeast. 10% of the base wine finishes alcoholic fermentation in used barriques and matures there for 5 months. Tirage is carried out in spring time of the following year. The wine has 36 month of ageing on the lees. Dosage add is 7 grams/litre of sugar. Saten has a lower pressure ( less than 4,5 atmospheres) and this is responsible for its distinctive softness. Beautifully elegant and complex with a delicious creamy texture. An intruiging interplay of peachy fruit, subtle mineral qualities, a buttery brioche character and a hint of almond and honey. Mellow, fine, long and sophisticated. Brilliant




 

 
 
 
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