Summer
Newsletter 2017
Welcome to any of you who are new to our quarterly newsletter. Hippy-like we tend to move with the seasons and will not inundate you with messages, however, if you want to hear more from us we will soon be writing a more regular blog with news from the shop written by our very knowledgeable members of staff. You will get to hear about their own tastes in wine and interests in the wine world and beyond. Our staff know so much about the world they work in that it would be such a shame if they didn’t get a chance to share it. Our blog can be read at the link below, watch this space!
We have some fabulous wines and spirits for you in this summer newsletter. If you would like to order anything you see here please give us a ring on 01200 423152 or 422281
D. Byrne & Co. SUMMER CASE
WHITES
The Underworld Grenache Blanc,
Western Cape, South Africa
There are few finer things than finding a cultivar that not only
belongs in modern South Africa but is so PHENOMENALLY tasty – its delicately
pithy otherness is hard to describe but searching for the right way to describe
it is part of the pleasure.
Domaine Les Grands Presbyteres
Wild Yeast Muscadet, Loire, France
Made using only ‘wild yeasts’ which occur naturally on the skins of the
freshly picked grapes helps to produce an exquisite intensity of perfume and
purity of flavour unmatched by cultured yeasts. Pleasant grapey aromas with a
yeasty hint of fresh bread, the flavour is fresh and instantly zingy with mid
palate fullness rounded off by a dry but fruity finish.
Waterkloof Seriously Cool Chenin
Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa
This elegant wine displays aromas of stone fruit, white flowers and a
hint of honey. Because of the longer alcoholic fermentation the flavours are
well integrated on the palette and ends with a crisp acidy. A seriously good
wine!
Vetiver Rioja Blanco, Spain
Stylish white rioja from Rioja Baja - bright fruit characters and a
judicious touch of oak.
An open and appealing nose with lemon and pineapple, and balancing oaky
notes. There is good palate weight, with tropical fruit and lightly toasted
characters. Well-balanced, with fine, fresh balancing citrus acidity.
Vitese Zibibbo, Sicily, Italy
This crisp, fruity Zibibbo shows lifted notes of succulent white peach
combined with soft floral aromatics of orange blossom and jasmine. Bright and
perfumed with a zesty citrus finish.
ROSE
Les Cerisiers Cotes du Rhone
Rose, France
A classic salmon pink rosé with delicate perfumed aromas of rosehip
syrup, wild berry blossoms and cherries on the nose. Full flavoured, ripe and
beautifully balanced with acidity, there’s elegant textured berry fruit on the
palate with a twist of raspberry freshness to lift the finish. Deliciously
balanced and moreish.
REDS
Les Coteaux Cotes du Rhone
Villages, France
Brambly fruit underpinned by subtle oaky nuances, lovely sweet spice;
warm star anise with a touch of cinnamon. This classic Côtes du Rhône Villages
is enriched with specially-selected parcels from the cru vineyards of Séguret,
Sablet and Cairanne.
Vitese Nero D’Avola, Sicily,
Italy
A brilliant, deep red Nero d'Avola with rich, juicy flavours of ripe
plum and black cherries interlaced with subtle violet notes. Concentrated on
the palate, the deep fruit flavours are backed by soft, ripe tannins and a
spicy character on the finish.
Vega del Rayo Rioja Vendimia
Seleccionada, Spain
A characterful, classic Rioja with just a touch of oak.
The nose has warm spice, ripe plum and cherry aromas while the palate
is richly flavoured and substantial with black fruit and a smoky, spicy
character from time in oak. Well-balanced, fruity and approachable.
Adobe Reserva Pinot Noir,
Colchagua Valley, Chile
Violet-red in colour, with a nose that express aromas of berries, sweet
vanilla and soft floral notes. On the palate, it is a fruity wine, with velvety
texture, medium structure and an intense finish.
Domaine Belles Granges Syrah,
Collines Rhodaniennes, France
A savoury Syrah from the Northern Rhône.
With aromas of ripe, plump plums, this Syrah is moreish and savoury
with hints of tar and an intriguing, meaty finish.
Aliança Foral, Douro Valley,
Portugal
Powerful red from the fabled terraced vineyards of Quinta dos Quatro
Ventos
A nose of ripe plum, blackberry compote and raisin, with hints of
liquorice and warm spice. On the palate there are more dark plum flavours,
pepper and spice, with red apple acidity and balanced tannins providing
structure.
£89.99 if collected from the
shop or £98 if delivered to any address in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile
radius.
D. Byrne & Co. Barbecue Case
WHITES
Burlesque Chardonnay,
California, USA
All the way from sunny California, cheeky citrus flavours meet more
rounded hints of tropical fruit in a fresh and modern interpretation of the
much-maligned Chardonnay. This is dry, elegant and refreshing and equally as
drinkable with or without food
El Tesoro Verdejo, Rueda, Spain
A great value intensely aromatic Verdejo from Rueda's finest
co-operative.
Aromas of tropical fruit with hints of citrus. The palate has some
passion fruit and grapefruit characters backed by broader stone fruit notes.
Well-balanced and textural on the palate with a fresh, bright finish.
Casa de Vila Nova, Vinho Verde,
Portugal
Bright citrus aromas with hints of lime. A fresh and zesty white with
more citrus characters on the palate, and appealing minerality. A super-fresh
spritzy classic that is perfect with barbequed fish.
Castanzu Vermentino, Sardinia,
Italy
Citrus-fresh, characterful Sardinian white from the local Vermentino
grape. This wine has a rich and spicy nose with citrus and ripe tropical fruit,
as well as hints of apple. Good palate weight, with minerality. Flavours are
initially light and build to a textural honeyed feel with hints of lemon
marmalade on the finish.
Les Cépages Oubliés Gros Manseng
Colombard, Pays des Côtes de Gascogne, France
Fresh, racy and instantly
appealing. Fruit salad in a glass!
Lovely grassy aromatic nose, balanced by ripe, tropical melon and pink
grapefruit, the palate is softer and creamier than you would expect with real
depth of flavour finishing with a fresh, zippy lemon tang.
ROSE
Dune Gris de Gris, Sable de
Camargue, France
A delicious, pale and versatile rosé from the sandy Camargue. Delicate
and mineral with subtle notes of fleshy peach. The 2016 is an absolute stunner
being the very essence of fresh, crunchy red grapes.
REDS
Aliança Bairrada Reserva,
Bairrada, Portugal
Hearty and rustic red from the Bairrada region of Portugal. Aromas of
ripe berry and plum. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh raspberry and black
fruits, supple tannins, and well-balanced acidity.
False Bay Pinotage, Western
Cape, South Africa
Perfect Pinotage - youthful, vibrant and fruity, absolutely crying out
for smoky barbeque fare.
This wine has a bright nose of summer pudding and cream. The palate has
a savoury earthiness redolent of its sandy provenance.
Ancora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy
A medium-bodied, spicy red with aromas of plum and juicy fresh
cherries. The palate is fresh and bright displaying light red fruit and
redcurrant flavours, herbal notes and more red cherry fruit on the finish.
Pedrera Monastrell, Jumilla,
Spain
A full-flavoured unoaked Monastrell - capturing the essence of Jumilla!
Appealing aromas of dark red cherry and ripe plum. A bright,
fruit-forward style with plush bramble, plum and mocha characters, wrapped up
in smooth, rounded tannins.
Les Volets Malbec, Vallee de
l’Aude, France
Vibrant ruby hues gleam out of the glass. The first notes on the nose
are of crushed blueberries which then develop on to reveal an intriguing
bitter-sweet character of crème de cassis with a touch of underlying Parma
violets. Fine red-fruits fill the mouth; raspberries and a touch of dark
chocolate truffle.
The Long Little Dog Red, Pays
d’Oc, France
A rich and juicy red made from specially selected grapes harvested in
the Languedoc. This is brimming with berry fruit flavours and a hint of spice.
Medium bodied and very easy to drink.
£79.99 if collected from the
shop or £88 if delivered to any address in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile
radius.
Special Offers and New Wines Perfect for
Summer
Gavi 'La Battistina', Piemonte,
Italy £7.59 White Wine of the Month
High quality, single estate Gavi. Aromatic, zesty nose with apple and
lime notes. Textured and gently nutty with savoury characters - the wine is
juicy, with weighty fruit and a zippy, citrusy, mouthwatering feel - creating a
refreshing, yet satisfying finish.
Vila Nova Loureiro, Vinho Verde,
Portugal £7.59
Pronounced citrus aromas lead onto a textural, mineral palate with
bright lime characters and a citrus peel tang.
Vila Nova Alvarinho, Vinho
Verde, Portugal £8.59
Bright citrus aromas with hints of lime. A fresh and zesty white with
more citrus characters on the palate, and appealing minerality.
Quinta do Pinto Vinhas do Lasso
Colheita Seleccionada Branco, Lisbon, Portugal £8.99
Peach and apricot aromas with citrus and floral notes. The palate has
more stone fruit flavours - crisp acidity balancing the lightly creamy texture.
Waterkloof Circle of Life White,
Stellenbosch, South Africa £10.59
A wine that captures the true essence of Waterkloof's viticultural
amphitheatre. Appealing and serious on the nose towards the citrusy end of the
spectrum with a firm, flinty thing going on as well. The palate retains that
citrusy focus which is an absolute delight. This vintage assures this wine's
place amongst the very best of South Africa's finest contemporary white blends.
Follow the Waterkloof story here and have a look at the fabulous vineyards:
Donovan Rall Winterhoek
Sauvignon Blanc, WO Ceres Plateau, South Africa £10.99
Stone-fruit and green melon with subtle oak nuances on the nose. The
palate is mineral and citrus driven with struck match and nutty lees flavours.
A fresh almost limey acidity contributes to the wine’s length and gives balance
to the creamy texture of the barrel fermented component.
Donovan Rall Callender Peak
Chardonnay, Ceres Plateau, South Africa £19.59
The nose shows notes of vanilla, toast and some exotic pineapple and
lemon nuances. Broad, textured and leesy with hints of honeycomb and some
yellow citrus. The acidity is piercing due to no malolactic fermentation in
this vintage and gives great focus and backbone to a wine as textured as this.
Monte Schiavo Sassaiolo Rosso
Piceno, Marche, Italy £7.29 Red Wine of
the Month
Approachable, flavour-packed red with warm earth and herbs and a
meatiness right in the middle! Ripe open nose with cherry jam, red berry fruit
characters and savoury notes. The palate is warm and generous, full of rich
berry fruit, a touch of spice and a bitter plum twist on the finish. Tannins
are gentle and add structure to this substantial, spicy red.
Mesoneros de Castilla Roble,
Ribera Del Duero, Spain £8.59
An authentic Ribera del Duero from a family-run estate with 400 years
of winemaking history. Generous and open nose of ripe black fruits with notes
of smoky oak, mocha and dark spice. A layered palate of berry fruit, tobacco
and more spice has fine tannins, giving a structured and richly-flavoured
finish.
Castel del Lupo Pinot Nero
'Della Quercia', Lombardia, Italy £8.99
Delicious organic, unoaked, Pinot Noir from a small plot of 15 year old
vines on the rolling hills of Oltrepo Pavese. A bright and fresh style with
open berry fruit aromas and gently floral notes. Lively acidity offsets the
ripe wild plum fruit and the palate combines concentration, delicacy and
structure.
Quinta do Pinto Vinhas do Lasso
Colheita Seleccionada Tinto, Lisbon, Portugal £8.99
Pronounced aromas of bramble fruit and violet with balsamic notes. More
blackberry and raspberry characters on the palate, balanced by ripe plum and a
hint of dark chocolate and tobacco. A rich, ripe red with fine tannins, vibrant
acidity and good length.
Waterkloof Circle of Life Red,
Stellenbosch, South Africa £10.59
A fantastic example of the huge potential of Cape reds. A hugely
compelling wine. Deeply refined single estate expression showing bounds of
character, finesse, length, breadth and structure - it really does have it all!
A classically styled wine with notes of cassis and cedar. The seamless, elegant
palate is encased by fine tannins. It is a wine whose flavours become more
complex if the wine is allowed to aerate for a while and that will also
increase in complexity with age.
Waterkloof Seriously Cool
Cinsault, Stellenbosch, South Africa £10.99
Leading the march for Cinsaults renaissance in the Cape. Sourced from
40 and 50 year old bush vines on the Heldeberg’s breezy maritime slopes. Here’s
a seaside Cinsault of real character defined by the soils from which it drinks.
A hardy variety that thrives on the challenges of the Southern Atlantic
setting, Seriously Cool Cinsault is a fine and friendly expression of the
Cape’s most under-rated variety. Bright fresh cherry fruits on the nose with a
savoury, fynbos finesse. On the palate it has a cranberry freshness and texture
with taut acidity and tremendous length. Seriously, it does benefit being
cooled to the right temperature (10-12 degrees).
Rose Wines for Summer Sipping
Casal Mendes Rosé, Bairrada, Vinho Da Mesa, Portugal £5.99
A delicious Portuguese classic - serve it cold! Refreshing and fruity
rosé, bursting with aromas of strawberries and raspberries. On the palate the
wine is soft and fruity with a light spritz. Nice fresh acidity and a touch of
sweetness on the finish.
Silver Myn Cabernet Franc Rosé,
Banghoek, South Africa £6.59
Delightfully pale varietal rosé. This is 100% Cabernet Franc rose from
the slopes of Stellen-bosch's Simonsburg Mountain. Zorgvliet's focus is
entirely Bordelaise so a Cab Franc rose is a natural fit and a delightfully
different product within their South African portfolio. Pale onion skin colour
with bright, crunchy red cherry fruit flavours and a full, textural finish.
A bright, punchy, characterful rosé. A vibrant cherry and red berry
scented rosé, with bright summer pudding flavours. Fruity and floral with a
fresh, balanced palate of berries and cream - balanced by juicy acidity.
Rimo de Rimauresq Côtes de
Provence Rosé, France £9.59
Stylish Provence rosé! Rimo is more aromatic than Rimauresq's domaine
wines, but still with hallmark Provence restraint and flavours of spiced red
fruit and herbs.
Chateau de Campuget, 1753 Rose
Syrah Vermentino, Costières de Nîmes, France £10.99
A classic rose petal colour, this elegant, dry rosé shows aromatic
notes of grapefruit and delicate citrus hints, through to a refreshing palate of red berry fruits with a
lifted finish.
Domaine Fiumicicoli Rosé, Corse
Sartène, Corsica, France £11.99
A softer style of rosé - less tangy and easier drinking than Provence.
Made from Sciacarello, a
traditional Corsican grape variety, this rose petal pink coloured
softer style rosé emanates exotic
characters. With a clean, fresh, earthy and aromatic nose of sweet
creamy fruit, these characters
follow through to a palate which has a hint of strawberry mousse and
ripe fruit flavours. It is well
balanced with some complexity, good length and structure.
Sparkling Wines
Fresita, Chile £7.99
The unique combination of the best sparkling wine with carefully
selected strawberries, created through the Charmat method to deliver a natural,
balanced and elegant taste that isn’t overly sweet.
Le Dolci Colline Rosé Spumante
Brut, Italy £7.99
Declassified Prosecco with 5% Brachetto juice added to give a delicate
pink fizz with light berry fruit flavours. Strawberry and raspberry aromas and
soft berry characters on the palate. Fresh acidity balanced by zesty, cherry
notes makes this an easy and appealing fizz.
Aliança Tinto Bruto Sparkling
Red, Bairrada, Portugal £8.99
Intriguing sparkling Portuguese red from the Bairrada region. Black
fruit, cherry and light mocha aromas lead on to a palate with a fresh and persistent mousse. Red
berry flavours, a hint of clove, and balancing acidity, all lead to a dry
finish.
A tiny production of Cap Classique - traditionally produced fizz from
the Cape. A blend of the excellent 2013 and ‘14 vintages, this is 100% Chardonnay grown on the
slopes of the Simons-berg. Entirely aged in third fill French oak demi-muids,
then aged in the bottle for a year prior to release. It has a nose of proving
sour dough with a fine bead on the palate that releases notes of fresh almonds,
warm sand and apricot kernel.
Domaine J.Laurens, Blanquette de
Limoux 'Le Moulin', Languedoc, France £10.99
Exceptionally good wine from the (arguably) original home of fizz. This
bone-dry blanquette has a tight and finely textured mousse. It shows great
typicity with apple blossoms and honey on the nose with a bright, crisp and
delicately nutty palate.
Domaine J.Laurens, Crémant de
Limoux 'La Rose No.7', Languedoc, France £13.59
Don't let the baby pink fool you - this is a seriously good rosé! This
beautifully balanced wine shows delicate soft stone fruit aromas, nuances of
caramel and cream with a nice biscuity finish.
Gins of the Month
We now have more than 350 gins
in store, check out our website HERE for details of all we stock, but in the meantime here
are our gins of the month.
Based on an old Bombay recipe, handwritten on a fragment of paper dated
17 July 1947. Kept as a family secret for over 66 years, it only resurfaced in
2013 when distilling began. Launched in 2014 having fine-tuned the recipe,
perfecting its balance of botanicals and tweaking it to the contemporary
palate. The result is a spectacularly smooth, refreshing and flavoursome gin.
Fresh, light and bold flavours of citrus and juniper give way to
intense warming spice of cardamom, coriander seed and clove. A background
sweetness from anise and fennel leads to a crisp, dry and exceptionally smooth
finish.
Serve over ice, with tonic and a slice of pink grapefruit.
Pickering’s Original 1947,
Edinburgh £28.99
This edition is made precisely to the original recipe, as it was
written down at Mount Mary, Bombay, in 1947. Here the botanical mix includes
cinnamon, which adds a decidedly warming and spicy kick to the spirit.
Spicier, sweeter and more intense, it’s a decadent trip back to the
last days of the Raj. Cardamom, coriander, clove and cinnamon spice lead to a
crisp, refreshing and long finish.
Serve over ice, with tonic and a slice of orange.
Malt of the Month
Tomintoul Tlàth £27.29
Quintessentially Speyside. Golden Straw in colour. Light, with some sweet toffee and vanilla and
hints of mint leaf and citrus peel. On the palate it is light and creamy.
Lively white pepper and some oak-driven spiciness dance on the tongue with
background layers of nutmeg and toasted vanilla. Spicy with notes of shortbread
and fresh mint.
