Thursday 29 September 2011

New Wave Spanish Wine Award Winners

New Wave Spanish Wine 2011 Award-winning Wines

We have been twittering away for the last few days and enthusing about Spanish wines and as we get used to blogging, thought it would be a good way to collect them together in case you missed any. This is by no means a full list, but rather a few of our favourites that we have in stock at the moment. There is more and more hype these days about the wines of Spain and quite rightly so. Andrew and Philip have been visiting Spain for years now and are always wildly enthusiastic about what they discover there, particularly the smaller producers - it probably appeals to our own maverick streak!
The New Wave Spanish Awards are now in their seventh year and are revealling more diversity from Spain than ever before. Judged by sixteen eminent wine writers and experts, including the likes of Tim Atkin MW, Oz Clarke, Sam Harrow MW and Charles Metcalfe, here is just a small selection in no particular order, enjoy!

1. K-Naia 2010  £7.49
A fresh and racy Ruedan white which is really making waves in the Uk market.
Gently aromatic with intriguing aromas of tropical fruits, passion fruit and kiwi.
Drink this with oily or grilled fish or garlicky prawns and shrimps.

2. Naiades 2008 £16.89
Intensely powerful 'toasty' aromatics with ripe melon and citrus on the palate.
This extraordinary wine is produced from 8 small plots of land mainly planted with ancient pre-phylloxera vines (manly well over 100 years old).
Try this with hearty white fish.

3. Quinta El Refugio Blanco 2010 £5.89
The scented and aromatic wine leaps from the glass with lemon sherbert, pineapple and custard aromas. Elegant palate and well balanced zesty acidity. This was also a winner at the recent Sommelier Wine Awards.

4. Sila Mencia 2009 £8.69
A bright, fresh and intriguing red from Monterrei.

5. Macia Batle Tinto Anada 2010 £8.49
Mallorca's 2nd largest producer. Juicy plum fruit and spicy notes, rich chocolatey palate.

6. Vinedo No. 7 Graciano 2008 £7.59
Have fun with this one!
Slightly wild edged, herby funky notes weave in and out of the cherry and vanilla aromas. Unusual and boisterous ..... an attractive sweet and sour finish.

7. Fuentesca Bobal Cabernet 2010 £5.99
Smooth and fruity, gentle tannins - good with chorizo or black pudding.

8. Clio 2008 Bodegas El Nido £27.89
A glass-coating opaque purple, dark cherry, cassis and toasted coffee. Try this with grilled or BBQ meats, peppered steaks or lamb kebabs.

If the present hot and sunny weather stays with us for a bit longer, these are perfect wines to try with a BBQ this weekend!


Thursday 8 September 2011

Triumphant night as D. Byrne & Co. scoop several awards



A TRIUMPHANT NIGHT
for D. BYRNE & CO.

For months now the eyes and ears of the wine world have been waiting for the long judging process of the International Wine Challenge to end and winners to be announced.

After being shortlisted for several categories in The International Wine Challenge we won the Small Independent Merchant of the year, the North West Merchant of the year and we also named the National Specialist Champagne & Sparkling Merchant of the Year. The later gave us the greatest pleasure as we were shortlisted against one of the more prestigious supermarket chains.
The Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday 6th September (which, incidentally was Philip's birthday and gave him a very special present!) at The Hilton Park Lane in London, hosted by Tim Atkin MW and Charles Metcalfe. The awards dinner attracts over 800 guests from the UK and international wine trades.
Check out the IWC website at http://www.internationalwinechallenge.com
More photographs of the night: