D. Byrne
& Co.
Christmas Cases 2017
The Christmas Case
is finally here!
Quite simply the best value for money Christmas selection
around, twelve carefully chosen wines which will compliment any food you are
likely to serve over the Christmas period. Any of our cases make ideal
presents, which can be collected from the shop or can be delivered to any
address in mainland UK in time for Christmas. The cases also make excellent
corporate gifts, please call us for details. All of our staff have fought to
include their favourites in this one box of fabulous wines. Twelve wines to
fill your wine rack, so light the fire, put your feet up and enjoy!
We also have our famous Connoisseur’s
Case, perfect as a gift for the wine expert in your life (if you can bear
to part with it), but equally perfect for drinking at home over Christmas, some
of the best wines at an amazing price.
As usual, we also managed to get Andrew to finally decide on
his special case of six wines; this year with a nod to his recent travels in
the wine world, more about that later (if you see him, ask about his very short
lived career as an international honey smuggler!)
Drum roll……………..
Your next newsletter, following shortly in a very different
format will give you much more information about all we will be offering over
Christmas. This year it has been taken over by younger members of our staff and
will be an exciting and fascinating read. I’m not allowed to reveal too much
about it other than to say it has been designed and put together by Philip’s
daughter Kate, a recent Illustration degree graduate, with contributions by
staff member and budding photographer Matt, both of whom you may have met in
the shop. With the amazing Byrne family wine and spirit knowledge of Andrew,
Philip and Joseph, combined with the creative skills of our younger staff we
hope you will look forward with bated breath to the next major Byrne
Production, our Christmas Newsletter.
For orders or
enquiries about any of the cases or wines in this newsletter, please
contact us by phone at the shop on 01200 423152 or 01200 422281, thank you. These prices & offers are current for the Christmas 2017 season
THE CHRISTMAS CASE
Monte Schiavo Ruviano
Verdicchio Classico - Italy
Delicate apricot and orchard fruit aromas, hints of white
flower, and a refreshing lemon citrus acidity. The palate has minerality and
texture with ripe stone fruit characteristics, a touch of salinity and a crisp
zesty finish.
False Bay ‘Slow’
Chenin Blanc - South Africa
D.
Byrne & Co. White Wine of the Year, first of two in the case
The grapes here do not take just three weeks to get from
vineyard to bottle. This wine is crafted the wild way, old-vine fruit fermented
with wild yeast – magic like this takes at least six months. Sampled at a
recent tasting in Manchester, Philip, Judith and Kate were blown away by the
quality. Vegetarian & Vegan
Joyau Gros Manseng
Chardonnay - Pays the Côtes de Gascogne – France
Fresh, racy and instantly appealing, fruit salad in a glass!
Its lovely grassy, aromatic nose is balanced by ripe, tropical melon and pink
grapefruit notes. The palate is a lot softer and creamier than you would expect
with real depth of flavour finishing in a fresh, lemony tang. Vegetarian & Vegan
Rude Mechanicals
‘Ephemera’ - South Wales Australia
Made by the brilliant Keith Tulloch. The Viognier/Pinot Gris
blend combines depth and freshness in this real belter. On the nose there are
the honeysuckle and orange-blossom signatures of Viognier, spice and ripe pear
coming from the Pinot Gris. Tight and elegant, poised and precise with hints of
lemongrass and fresh ginger. This wine is bright and fine but has real depth
and a fresh, long finish. And, for a wine called ‘Ephemera’ this wine is
actually ironically long on the finish.
Sileni Sauvignon
Blanc - Marlbourgh - New Zealand
The
second D. Byrne & Co. White of the Year
This Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc is rich, complex and
exotic. Its tangy grapefruit aromas lead to a zingy yet, impeccably balanced
finish. Reminds you what made Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc famous!
Soldiers’ Block
Malbec – Victoria - Australia
One
of our two D. Byrne & Co. Red Wines of the Year
This fabulous value Malbec from the Victoria region of
Australia is the first of our red wines of the year, and it’s a dark, aromatic
Malbec for the soul. Appealingly chocolatey with an abundance of crisp, mineral
fruit and notes of Morello cherry compote. Vegetarian
& Vegan
Boutinot ‘Les
Coteaux’ Côtes du Rhône Villages - France
We simply couldn’t resist putting this in the case again, it
really is that good!
This wine epitomises the D. Byrne & Co. philosophy:
quality and drinkability. Due to its soft, approachable and very easy drinking
nature it remains a firm favourite amongst our team and this 2014 vintage is
one of the best they’ve produced yet! Brambly fruit is underpinned by subtle
oaky nuances leading to lovely sweet spicy notes of warm star anise and
cinnamon. Vegetarian & Vegan
Ginestet Classique
Lussac - Saint Emilion
A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe,
flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth, with a surprisingly long finish. This Merlot
dominant blend is packed with delicate black mulberry flavours, subtle cigar
box notes and firm, yet smooth tannins. Slight perfume from the 5% Cabernet
Franc addition adds elegance and complexity. Vegetarian & Vegan
Ontañón Ecologico
Rioja (Organic) Rioja – Spain Organic
Bright cherry and raspberry aromas are balanced
by sweet spice. The palate is structured with complex, ripe red fruit, clove
and black pepper. Just five months spent in French and American oak is enough
to give this bright 100% Rioja Baja Tempranillo a character upgrade; harmonious
and elegant, this is everything modern Rioja should be.
Showdown ‘The Man
with the Ax’ Cabernet Sauvignon - USA
Ripe blackcurrant and wild berry fruit on the
nose compliment sweet vanilla oak notes, with rich cassis and black cherry on
the palate leading to a soft and juicy, yet long finish. This is deep, dark and
delectably smoky, the perfect wine to crack open in front of the fire on a cold
winters evening. Framed by the subtle American oak. Vegetarian & Vegan
Novas Gran Reserva
Carmenère/Cabernet Sauvignon – Chile Organic
Another fabulous wine under this trophy winning label.
Blackcurrant and strawberries give way to a light touch of black pepper,
tobacco leaf and chocolate. Its medium body and smooth, lush tannins make this
a very easy drinking red which stands out for its great balance and fine yet
fresh finish. Vegetarian & Vegan
The Rude Mechanicals
‘Three Monkeys’ Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro - South Australia
What a wine to finish the case with! A sensuous blend of
Barossa classics. Warm plum and raspberry fruit dominate the nose with subtle
hints of rocky earth, spice and violets. Lovely and ripe, it is medium to
full-bodied with juicy plum and raspberry on the palate leading to flavours of
black cherry, spice and a lick of creamy oak. It’s a generous mouthful with
bags of flavour.
£89.99 if collected
from the shop or £98 if delivered anywhere in mainland UK
THE CONNOISSEURS CASE
Feudo Maccari Grillo, Sicilia
Fresh and lightly
floral on the nose with savoury, nutty notes. The palate is complex with crisp
citrus flavours, ripe stone fruit, and tropical characters on the textured
mid-palate. A subtle and multi-layered wine with immediately appealing
freshness and fruit leading to a taut, savoury, mineral finish.
Les Heritieres
de Saint-Genys Haut Cotes de Beune Blanc, Burgundy
This estate has
an artisanal approach in order to offer high quality Burgundy wines. Its
philosophy is based on respect of land and vine linked to wine passion. All the
vineyards are worked traditionally, in a reasoned way, limiting chemical
products and favouring the soil work. With white peach and citrus on the nose,
this is a deliciously ripe and rich Chardonnay with a lovely citrus character,
tangy mineral notes and some salinity. Full flavoured and approachable this
wine shows great character.
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 Sauvignon Blanc,
Marlborough
A powerful and
intense wine with an aromatic nose of white currant and fragrant tropical fruit
with a hint of cut grass. Luscious ripe grapefruit and green guava flavours
envelop the palate, which has a chalky texture. A refreshing and beautifully
balanced Sauvignon Blanc with a long, lingering finish.
Cline Cellars North Coast Viognier,
California Vegetarian &
Vegan
An honest and
expressive Viognier. Wonderfully fragrant with notes of stone fruits, jasmine
and honeysuckle. The palate follows through with a richness of fruit including
ripe peach and apricot. The finish is given finesse by the refreshing acidity.
Le Riche Chardonnay, Stellenbosch Vegetarian & Vegan
Chablis freshness
with lees contact and a light wood influence. A fresh, lemony style with rich
minerality, melon and citrus characters and hints of lemongrass and
butterscotch. In the words of Christo Le Riche, "We make it to drink
it!" This wine has all the best of the Chardonnay character whilst
remaining poised, elegant, clean and fresh.
Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux Vegetarian
Fine Haut-Médoc
from a good vintage. A blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot
and a touch of Petit Verdot. Drinking beautifully now, this has a classic Médoc
cigar box nose, followed by a textured, plum fruit and aniseed palate.
Harmonious, elegant and reasonably rich.
Vallone ‘Vereto’ Salice Salentino Riserva,
Puglia
Vereto is a blend of rigorously
selected negroamaro grapes with a touch of malvasia nera to add complexity and
elegance. Generous nose of spice and dark fruits. On the palate there is an
exotic profile of sweet herbs, tobacco and candied cherries with layers of
dried fruits, brown spice and liquorice - complex and characterful.
Vina Real Reserva, Rioja
Deep ruby and cherry red with
the slightest hint of a terracotta rim. There’s good intensity on the nose with
ripe autumn fruits, warm spices and elegant toasted oak. The palate is rich,
warming and velvety with good acidity and fine tannins. The vanilla from the
oak is well integrated with the raspberry fruit of the Tempranillo producing a
rich complex palate and a long finish.
Domaine Tourelles Vielles Vignes Cinsault,
Bekka Valley Vegetarian &
Vegan
This
extraordinary old vine Cinsault is wonderfully unique. The nose has an exotic
mix of ripe fig, bright red cherry and plum fruit with star anise spice, it’s
lifted and pronounced. The palate has beautifully ripe red fruit
characteristics alongside the fig and date notes. The acidity perfectly
balances the generous flavours and leaves a pure, clean finish.
Sileni ‘The Plateau’ Pinot Noir, Hawkes Bay
A ripe, savoury
Pinot Noir showing tremendous regional and varietal character. There are
complex aromas of varietal dark berry fruit and florals. The palate is rich
with flavours of sweet dark cherry, spice and silky tannins. This is a
food-friendly style, which will pair beautifully with mushroom risotto, lamb or
pasta with truffle and parmesan.
The Songlines Grenache, Barossa Valley
The ancient
peoples of Australia navigated the vast emptiness of the continent using mind
maps; instructions remembered in song and passed down through generations, a
kind of pre-GPS tom-tom. This enticing wine celebrates this near-lost tradition
and the Barossa’s well-trodden red earth in its deep, warbling fruit - a song
of the soil. Juicy and forward with its ripe red fruits and tasty confected
fruit punch. This is a bright and primary Grenache that’s fit for all
occasions.
Kloovenburg Eight Feet Red, Swartland
In
2003 Pieter du Toit thought it would be a good idea to get his four sons
involved; a good opportunity for some father-son bonding. They picked grapes,
stomped it themselves in a few barrels and they made wine! His wife suggested
calling it Eight Feet to remind them all of that special family time they had
together. Aromas of red berries, hints of perfume, dark fruit, black olive and
spice. The palate is medium to full-bodied and has a good structure with soft
and silky tannins. Pairs well with grilled and roast beef, stew, mildly spicy
foods and game.
£152 if collected from the
shop or £160 if delivered anywhere in mainland
UK
Andrew’s Six Case
SIGNOS DE ORIGEN ‘LA VINILLA’
My biggest adventure so far in the wine
trade took me to Chile and Argentina and this beautiful place, I christened it
the ‘happy vineyard’ – everyone that worked there, even the animals seemed to
smile. The ethos of this winery is strictly organic, this wine is a fantastic
example of their produce.
From
the La Vinilla estate vineyard – a seriously good Rhone style blend… better
than ever! Translucent golden yellow in colour, the nose features fruity aromas
of apricots and white fruits with a floral side and notes of toasted almonds
and butter. Robust and creamy on the palate with good acidity.
VILLA RAIANO VENTIDUE FIANO DI AVELLINO
A young lady came into the shop with some samples
of her family’s produce, reminding me of how good the wines of Campania are.
Looking for an example of what this region produces I selected this wine as
being great value and interesting.
A rich and textural
Fiano from Raiano's finest vineyard plots. Stone fruit aromas with some
savoury, flinty and herbal notes. The palate is complex with peach, nectarine,
mineral, and slight leesy characters. Textural with crisp acidity and great
length.
SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA ‘IL
GRIGIO’
Travelling to Florence earlier this year,
an American gentleman at the back of the plane was talking to somebody about a
tasting he was going to. On arriving I made further enquiries in a local wine
shop and discovered that a huge Chianti tasting was taking place in the city. A
few phone calls later I had secured us some tickets and this wine stood out as
one of the wines of the day.
A
nose of plush red fruit and blackberries, with spicy, savoury tobacco
characteristics. The textured palate opens up to show dense rich fruit, with
layers of black cherry, spice and savoury notes. A lush and complex red - long
and full on the finish.
SAVOIR-FAIRE D’AUTREFOIS MOURVEDRE
My annual holiday this summer found me in Ireland.
Not knowing what to expect from the local wine shops I made sure there was a
nice case in the boot of the car. Working our way through whilst enjoying all
Ireland has to offer, this wine really stood out as being fantastic value for
money.
Selected from two
vineyard plots in the southernmost part of the Rhône valley, Savoir-Faire
d'Autrefois showcases our skill in taming the wild Mourvèdre grape. An
intriguing nose of tobacco, cloves and leather is followed by a luxuriant yet
sleek and supple palate. Dark cherries and chocolate are interwoven with fine
French oak and supported by firm tannins.
CADUS GUALTALLARY APPELLATION MALBEC
Last year’s young wine maker of the year
and a fanatic! Santiago shows real passion for what he does and his hard work
pays off with the wines he produces. This was the second part of my trip to
Chile and Argentina and I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Nieto
vineyards where he is the Enologist. Cadus is where Santiago makes his greatest
wines at these unique vineyards high in the Uco Valley.
High
quality Malbec from this standout producer. The combination of altitude (1300m)
and rocky, calcareous soils provide a platform for Malbec to excel. Intense
purple in colour, the wine displays great minerality, fresh herbal notes, spice
and beautifully expressive black fruits. The palate is elegant with nice fresh
acidity, silky tannins and a long finish.
LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY
My favourite
alternative to a Tawny Port or sweet Madeira.
The name refers to
the East India Company, a British trading company that transported cotton,
silk, spices, tea, saltpetre and other commodities from the East
Indies. As a fortified wine (which lasted longer), sherry was taken along
as ballast and to serve the ship’s crew on its transatlantic journey. It is
made from a selection of around 80% Oloroso and 20% Pedro Ximénez butts that
have aged separately. The Pedro Ximénez is up front, with its thick raisiny
notes and dates. However the slightly tangy Oloroso is nicely balancing this
nose. Hints of toffee and walnuts. Plum jam. Chocolate and coffee. Nice hints
of tobacco as well. Very thick and right in the middle between two styles.
Sweet but nowhere near as intense as PX. Notes of brown sugar and caramel come
through at first, followed by prunes with a spicy background. There’s a very
light salty edge and a good acidity from the Oloroso, with a very long finish
with hints of Turkish coffee.
£78 if collected from the
shop or £86 if delivered anywhere in mainland
UK
For orders or
enquiries about any of the cases or wines in this newsletter, please
contact us by phone at the shop on 01200 423152 or 01200 422281, thank you.