Soft whites

104 2009 Monte Arcos, Viura/Chardonnay                                                                     £5.40

A fresh fruity white from north west Spain. Pale lemon yellow in colour. Aromatic in a fleshy, peachy fruit way. Laced with an interesting savoury, herbal, nuttiness. Generously pleasing on the palate, a very friendly drink. Try with calameres or pulpo a la gallega.

106 2009 Marques de la Villa Malvasia, Toro,Spain                                                        £5.95

The winery, situated in Zamora (Toro ) was founded by local vine-growers as a co-operative in 1974. This wine has outstanding aromatic flavours, with a fresh, rounded dry white, with lively citrus and tropical fruit aromas and ripe peachy fruit balanced by crisp acidity. Serve chilled as an aperitif or with starters, fish or white meats.

107 2009 Viognier, Domaine de Bahourat `la petit parcelle`                                               £6.95

Ultra clean, appealing textbook Viognier aromas of ripe pears and peaches with a twist of Turkish delight merge into a palate of matching flavours. The fresh vibrant fruit is very neat, not over the top expressive as some Viogniers can become, but light, zippy and elegant – sheer finesse!Works well with Thai flavours or with fusion inspired dishes

108          2008 Sylvaner,  Cave de Turkheim, Alsace                                                     £7.95

Jean Michel Lihrmann uses no fining and light filtration before bottling - all to preserve fruit and aromatic qualities and elegance. His philosophy is to make wines with good acidity and fruit balance. This Sylvaner grape is delicate and wonderfully aromatic and has been aged in Acacia barrels, hence the name . Luscious white peach, delicate citrus fruit aromas and a crisp dry finish make this a wine of real finesse and elegance. Lovely served quite chilled, simply on its own, or with fish or poultry dishes.

109 2007 Pinot Blanc,Turkheim                                                                                       £7.95

A very useful wine in that it appeals to abroad spectrum from maiden aunts to teenagers with food or drink by itself. Pale golden in colour with perfumed aromatics of peaches and citrus. Touches of minerality and spice on the palate with a dry and crisp finish. Fish, seafood, shellfish, poultry, entrees, pork, picnics, salads, pastry, or serve just as an aperitif. The Pinot Blanc can be served to any occasion which needs a nice dry white wine.

110          2009 Clos de Nouys Sec, Vouvray, France                                                   £11.50

This rich, honeyed wine from 100& Chenin blanc is a dream. On the palate it shows light, nutty and apricot flavours, which are balanced by good acidity and a crisp, clean finish. Ideally matched with grilled fish, seafood and summery poultry dishes.  This is Vouvray without tears, showing ripe apple and lemon fruit flavours, hints of honey and beeswax, and a dry but juicy finish with a lovely supple texture. It's ready to drink right now, but has the backbone of acidity to keep it fresh for years to come.

Dry Whites

125 2009 Ca di Ponti, Sicily, Italy                                                                                      £4.95

Fresh dry crisp wine from an area that produces 10% of Italy`s total wine production and more than all of Australia. Catarrato is the second most planted vine in Italy and is one of the world's six most planted vines

128          2009 Ancora Trebbiano, Abruzzo, Italy                                                            £4.95

Most Trebbiano is bland and boring, this is very good value.A bright, shiny, unoaked white with ripe peach and citrus fruit characters and an enticing almondy mid-palate. The finish is fresh with a shot of racy, zesty acidity. The perfect accompaniment to fish and light, creamy pasta dishes

117 2009 Cortese Piemonte, Araldica                                                                           £5.30

A delightfully crisp and fragrant white from the hills of north-west Italy, this is a great value wine with a vibrant herby, citrus character and a crunchy mouthfeel. The Cortese grape variety is better known as being the prime ingredient in one of Italy's most famous whites, the steely, perfumed Gavi di Gavi from the Piemonte region. This wine is grown on the steep hills of Monferrato in Piemonte and the grapes are picked early to retain all their characteristic lemony zip. With its grassy aromas, crisp, tangy flavours and modest alcohol at 11.5%, the wine as, ''the perfect antidote to heavy alcoholic New World whites''.It also makes a great match for fresh, light food such as a shellfish platter or Caesar salad

120        2009 Chenin Blanc, Paarl Heights, S. Africa                                                    £5.50

A crisp, dry white wine with a delicate lemon colour, displaying intense floral, guava and citrus aromas and succulent tropical fruit on the palate. Unctuous and mouth filling with a long finish. Excellent with seafood and poultry dishes

 123        2009 Bellefontaine Sauvignon, Languedoc, France                                           £5.75

Classic Sauvignon Blanc nose with herbaceous notes, yet with underlying ripeness. Rich citrus character on the palate is livened up by zesty acidity and a lingering finish. Drink on its own well chilled or with simple snacks and delicate fish dishes like sole or plaice; or try with goats cheese

 124        2009 Verdicchio Ruviano, Monte Schiavo, Marche                                          £5.95

This is the perfect wine for patnering fish.Light, fresh and with delicate fruit flavours and hints of grass from the Marche region on Italy's east coast. Super drinking with a good finish and makes for delightful drinking by itself or will happily partner light dishes. Should be served at a temperature of 7-9 ° and it's perfect with fish and "risotto with fish". Also it can be approached with white meat.

 125        2009 Conviviale Pinot Grigio, Lombardy, Italy                                                  £5.95

More fruit weight than the average Pinot grigio. A fresh, dry white with ripe peach and citrus fruit flavours, which are balanced by crisp acidity plus a hint of honey and nuts on the finish. Ideal chilled as an aperitif, or try with seafood, fish dishes and salads

 127        2009 Domaine de Maubet, Cotes de Gascogne,                                            £6.65

A blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc Gros Manseng & Sauvignon produce a zingy, fresh white with citrus aomas that Aromatic, dry white wine with stacks of lively fruit. Perfect on its own or with delicately flavoured foods, e.g. salmon, chicken etc

 130         2009 Sauvignon Blanc, False Bay , S. Africa                                                    £6.60

What happens when a French winemaker is sent over to help improve S. African wine making. I am sure that there were a few fireworks but the result is very ,very good. Fresh, crisp aromatics with lifted green fruit, ripe apple and floral aromas. Flavours of greengage, citrus acidity and a fine, mineral finish Really fantastic value.

 132 2009 Wild Yeast Chenin, False Bay, S. Africa                                                     £6.60

Fine mineral Chenin characters with gentle ripe apple aromas, honeyed aromatics and delicious greengage and citrus lemon acidity on the long finish. A wine with great finesse and style. This is now becoming more popular than the Sauvignon

134 2009 Adobe Sauvignon blanc, Chile                                                                      £6.95

Fresh citrus aromas with hints of gooseberry on the nose. The palate displays green apple flavours with a crisp, refreshing finish. A quality wine from an organic, wildlife filled vineyard

136 2009 Muscadet, Domaine es Gandes Pesbysteres                                                £6.95

Made traditionally at this small estate. The grapes were hand-picked, lightly pressed to keep all the delicacies and purity of flavour and fermented at cool temperatures to preserve aromas. The wine was left on its fine lees until the following spring to add complexity and extra zest. Sourced from St Fiacre - one of the best sites for Muscadet, the wine has delicate pear and apple fruit on the palate with crisp acidity. erfect with seafood

138        2009 Vina Mocen, Viura/Verdejo, Rueda, Spain                                            £7.50

A medium to full bodied dry white that can be used as a wine with lunch or dinner , as social or tasting wine, to uncork together with friends , as a festive wine for special occasions. Bodegas Antaño was created in 1988, when a number of eminent Spanish restaurant-owners joined forces to produce their own wine. However, one of the partners, José Luis Ruiz - founding father of the popular Spanish cafe chain "José Luis" - bought up all the shares. He just wanted to make his wine passion a reality Goes well with.crustaceans and shell-fish, Poached or steamed fish, White meat, Poultry , Grill and barbecue

 140        2009 Gavi la Battistina, Piemonte, Italy                                                             £7.75

 Made from the Cortese grape and fresh and unoaked. Aromatic, zesty, sherbety nose with apple and pear fruit, and a hint of minerality. Juicy, weighty fruit with a zippy, citric acid mouthwatering feel creating a refreshing, satisfying finish. Delicious with appetisers and light fish courses

 Fuller Whites

150 2009 Tabali Viognier, Limari Chile                                                                          £7.95

Although first planted vines in 1549 and an important source of wine during colonial times. This aromatic and subtle Viognier presents aromas of citrus and floral notes. On the palate gentle floral, honeyed and citrus flavors mingle with a soft rounded texture and great purity.

156        2009 Domaine du Pre Baron Sauvignon, Touraine, France                              £8.25

They have looked at new World sauvignon and thought we can do better. A classic gooseberry, grassy nose with crisp lemony acidity on the palate and a touch of minerality providing a clean, dry finish. Also a great vintage and this is the best he has made. Great as an aperitif. Perfect with fish or a creamy seafood dish. Also matches goats cheese brilliantly.

158 2008 K-Naia                                                                                                      £8.75

160        2008 Verdicchio Pallio di San Floriano, Marche,Italy                                    £8.95

Many experts regard the Verdiccio grape as having the class and style to take on chardonnay for giving full flavours. This has lees ageing. No filtering or clarifying. Bottle aged for 4 months before release Richly textured white with aromas of ripe fruit, particularly apple, pineapple and apricot. On the palate, fresh citrus and mineral characters give way to an attractive nutty, savoury finish. An extremely, well balanced wine showing good depth and complexity.

166 2007 Muscadet, Domaine les Grandes Presbysteres vieille vignes                       £9.95

Very long name matches the wine. A fabulous wine that really needs rasting. The older vines need longer on their fine lees and so are not bottled until a year after harvest in October. Flinty, grindingly mineral, almost crunchy, limey notes seem to be folded and folded again on top of each other until a beautiful smooth texture evolves and wraps up the whole; it's really quite special

168 2009 Circumstance Sauvignon blanc, Stellenbosch, S. Africa                               £9.95

Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc is produced from windswept south-west facing, low yielding slopes of Schapenberg Hill. Strong winds churn up the vineyards with regularity Remarkably elegant, the 2008 vintage shows refined minerality at the core, also exhibiting sophisticated complexity balanced with slivers of green pepper, asparagus and sea salt freshness. An exceptional white wine choice with fresh oysters.

172        2008 Roero Arneis, Araldica, Piemonte, Italy                                                 £9.95

20% of the wine has been barrel fermented in new French oak barrels with 5 months ageing prior to bottling .A rich, dry white with ripe pear fruit and almond aromas. The palate is plump, soft and expressive, with a good texture and nutty, herbal finish. Try with a flavoursome seafood risotto topped with fresh basil and grated parmigiano or fish such as trout, monkfish and snapper cooked in ginger and coriander

 174 2008 Orballo Albarino, Rias Baixas,Spain                                                              £9.95

Very bright and pale lemon in colour. Forwardly fruity citrus aromas blend harmoniously with fragrant mountain herbs and a sweeter baked apple note. Generous on the palate with a weighty leesy texture, with the ripe fruit balanced by a refreshing smack of acidity. Also described as sexy, fresh, peachy, almond-edged fruit with a stony subtlety that masks its power, and that typical albarino acidic 'prickle'

175 2008 Pazo de Monterrey                                                                                      £9.95

176 2008 Naia £10.75

177        2008    Soave Pra, Veneto, Italy                                                                    £10.95

Using 100% of  the oddly named Garganega grape. Fresh, flowery and lightly yeasty nose. The palate is light and juicy, showing zesty 'leesy' intensity and a hint of almonds. Crisp, incisive and minerally finish. Good with a goats cheese, basil and roasted red pepper salad; asparagus or delicate fish sprinkled with lemon juice.It is an example of a top-notch producer turning out better and better Soaves that make a mockery of the industrial swill that comes from some huge firms.

179 2008 Oda blanc                                                                                                  £11.95

180       2009 Ninth Island Sauvignon Blanc, Tasmania, Australia                                 £12.50

Very light gold, very aromatic and bright, fresh fruit with fresh figs, gooseberry, kiwi fruit and melon; green pepper and grapefruit combo too with medium body, fresh acidity and long aftertaste; the finish is sufficiently dry for seafood or with grilled white fish, shellfish, and summer salads. A good friend, Steve Day described this as If I wanted a textbook version of the Sauvignon Blanc grape to teach students the typical aromas and flavours of the variety, I couldn't do better than pick this wine. An intensely aromatic, crisply balanced, dry white that is bursting with fruit flavours. The bouquet is reminiscent of canned peas, blackcurrant leaves, greenhouse tomatoes, freshly mown grass, fennel, green peppers, asparagus and passion fruit, intermingled with a musky hint of cat's pee. The zesty, citrus palate abounds with tropical fruit flavours, passion- fruit, kiwi, gooseberry and more of that asparagus. The unique Tasmanian microclimate enables Pipers Brook to produce a Sauvignon similar in style to the most impressive versions from New Zealand. This is a white that jumps out of the glass and grabs your attention.

182        2009 Chablis, La Colombe, Chablis, France                                                   £9.95

Typical of what decent Chablis should taste like - not a trace of oak, pungent and flinty on the nose with a tad of creamy fruit underneath, this gets richer as the mineral characters give way to riper buttery sensations but then cut back by a long crisp bite. The kind of wine that gets nicer as you go along.I suppose a classic combo would be smoked salmon or chunky king prawns, but be a bit more daring - the balance of concentrated creamy fruit and steely acidity could do wonders for vegetarian Indian, more exotic Chinese or even Thai food as long as it's not too strong on the chilli front.

184        2007 P Bouree Bourgogne blanc, Burgundy,France                                     £12.95

There are tons of Bourgogne blancs many much cheaper but none are as good as this. Chardonnay grapes sourced from Gevrey Chambertin and Auxey Duresses. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthiomieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. Mid yellow colour with ripe stone fruit, opulence and minerality on the palate. The oak is integrated on both the nose and palate giving texture and broadness of style and a long, intense finish. Good with sea food, fish, poultry and cheeses.

 186 2007 St Veran, Domaine Clos de Chevigne                                                   £12.50

St Véran includes the area Pouilly Fuisse. This superlative wine from an underrated Burgundy appellation This is an attractive, generous, yet precisely focused white Burgundy to drink this year or next. 100% Chardonnay was used in careful vinification, the wine was aged in a large 50hl French 'foudre'. Just 2,000 bottles of this wine have been released. Stunning pear and citrus aromas, together with a pronounced minerality lead to a clean, bright and crisp finish. A remarkable wine which can be appreciated for its power, finesse and purity.

188 2009 Sancerre Silex,Michel Girard                                                                £14.95

This is what Sancerre should be but rarely is. Packed full of steely minerality with a beatiful satisfying finish. Great with creamy fish dishes and white meats.

190     2007 Domaine de la Motte, Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy ,France              £14.95

The lime-rich soil of the area suits Chardonnay very well; on the one hand low fertility naturally limits yields to an absolute maximum of 50 hectolitres per hectare, on the other it is said to impart distinctive mineral characters to the wines. The grapes are sourced only from this 'Premier Cru' site and are pressed gently and fermented at low temperature to conserve elegant aromas. It spent several months ageing on the yeast lees to add extra complexities and a brief period in oak barrels to soften the wine and give it richness.

La Motte's wine is quite rich and rounded with hints of toasty oak, buttery fruit then classic mineral tones and acidity balancing on the finish.A classic combo would be smoked salmon or chunky king prawns, but be a bit more daring - the balance of concentrated creamy fruit and steely acidity could do wonders for vegetarian Indian, more exotic Chinese or even Thai food as long as it's not too strong on the chilli front.

 “The appeal of this classic Chablis 1er Cru draws you in with its rich, inviting scent. On the palate, crisply refreshing steely acidity kicks right in to give the minerally fruit real lift and intensity of flavour. It's all shot through with a sharp spear of acidity to act as a foil for seafood and shellfish", Anthony Rose, The Independent

 194     2008 Meursault Vallet Freres, Burgundy, France `                                        £29.95

Just sheer class. 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; after pressing the juice is decanted then fermented in open wooden casks using only natural yeasts and no temperature control. The white wines are left on their lees for an extended period and put into French oak barrels, where they mature 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!Meursault lies between the villages of Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet and produces some of the world's greatest white wines. The Mersault has rich green-gold colour and heady, lightly oaky but seductive nutty bouquet; the palate is pretty fat and buttery but cut with toasty hazlenut flavours and long mineral balance. Perfect with poussin or guinea fowl cooked in saffron, herbs and olive oil; or lobster thermidor or rich bisque.

Rosé

 249        2009 Pinot Grigio Rose, Mirabello, Lombardia, Italy                                 £5.50

 A blend of Pinot Grigio 85%,& Pinot Nero 15% give this delightful wine a slight spritz and a gentle 11.5% alcohol. Drink by itself or with light nibbles

251 2009 Domaine Roman Grenache Gris Rosé,d`Oc                                               £6.65

Fantastic delicate pale salmon hue and fortunately the wines tastes as well as it looks. Again delicate fruit comes through leaving a lovely dry lingering finish. Grown in the foothills of the Pyrenees an hour from the beach.

265 2009 Circumstance Cape Coral Mourvedre, S. Africa                                         £8.75

The delicate, pale Cape Coral Rose reminds of the roses from Bandol in the South of France. Beautifully dry with flavours of red berries and raspberry. Herby flavours become more pronounced as the wine ages. The delicate fruit on the palate ends with a tight, dry finish. The colour inspired the reference to Coral. Great with fresh seafood and it even complements spicy foods.

267      2009 Senor de Sarria No 5 , Navarra, Spain                                                  £9.95

This has to be our favourite Rosado in Spain. Great weight of fruit and character ideal drinking with food or by itself. Winemaker, Jesus Lezaun, is something of a specialist in Rose wine production and this is one of the best Roses you'll taste. It has a bright and intense cherry red colour, open and varied aromas and a powerful berry character plus hints of strawberries and wild flowers. This wine is rich and textured with good acidity making it fresh on the palate but with huge concentration and a beautiful red fruit finish. Ideal as an aperitif or with light meals, pasta, vegetable stews or fish. Crack open a bottle whilst cooking and carry on throughout the meal.

 269     2008 Taltarni Brut Taché, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia                                  £13.45

A brilliant sparkler from a blend of  Chardonnay 52%, Pinot Noir 41%, Pinot Meunier 7% 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 aperitif 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. One comment was"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".