Thursday 29 November 2012

Wines & Spirits for Christmas

Wines & Spirits for Christmas
The D. Byrne & Co.
Twelve Wines of Christmas

1. Chateau Ka Source de Rouge 2008 from The Lebanon £7.99
A new star buy. This is a fabulously rich and fruity Cab/Merlot/Syrah blend
with silky & elegant tannins.
2. 'La Cote Sauvage', Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages 2009 from France £9.99
Warmth, spice, 'terroir' and a lovely 'chewability' factor....great stuff!
91 points Wine Spectator
3. Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja 2001 from Spain £ 18.99
An outstanding Gran Reserva from one of the most celebrated Rioja vintages on record.
This is long and harmonious with real complexity.
4. Eberle Zinfandel 'Steinbeck & Wine Bush Vineyards' 2008 from the USA £19.99
Lots of sweet & chunky red fruits with some deliciously fresh spices.
The perfect wine to serve with a Christmas turkey.
5. Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf -du-Pape 2006 from France £46.99
Beaucastel produce one of the very finest Cheateauneuf-du-Papes.
6. Tommasi Arele Appassimento from Italy £12.99
A mini Amarone fermented from partially dried grapes.
An outstanding bargain with rich and savoury red fruits.
7.  Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico from Italy £31.99
A stunning Amarone filled with rich raisin fruit & complex spices.
8. Alain Burguet Gevrey Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes 2006
from France £37.99
There is plenty of depth & richness to this fine Burgundy.
9. Cave de Turckheim Riesling Reserve 2010 from France £8.59
This racy, mineral Riesling is the perfect pairing with shellfish.
10. Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2012 from New Zealand £13.99
Only limited stocks of this Kiwi classic, bold & flavourful.
11. Chante Cigale Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2010 from France £17.39
A soft & textural wine with plenty of ripe tropical fruits, very good value for money.
12. Domaine Berthelemot Mersault 'Les Tillets' 2010 from France £26.99
Nutty & complex, a fine white wine to savour with some smoked salmon.



Festive Fizz
Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz 2007 - Australia £12.59
Taitinger Brut N.V. Champagne £26.59
Louis Roederer Brut N.V. Champagne £27.59
Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne £38.99 (magnums £84.99)

House Champagnes exclusive to D. Byrne & Co.
Stephane Breton Brut Champagne £15.99
"Crisp toasty and characterful, it's as good as you'll find at the price, an absolute bargain"
Jonathan Ray in the Weekend telegraph
"Good sub £16 Champagne is scarcer than hen's teeth, so hats off to the Byrne family's house bubbly. This roughly two thirds Pinot Noir and one third chardonnay oozes seductive, rich, fat, smoky, brown bread-scented fruit"
Jane MacQuitty in The Times
Stephane Breton Brut Rose Champagne £17.99
Subtle delicate salmon pink, fine mousse with plump red berry fruit flavours and a rounded nutty finish.
A Viot Brut Champagne £16.99
Wonderful to drink as an aperitif or with poultry or fruit desserts.
Gift Idea
Our House Champagne Stephane Breton Brut can be posted to anywhere in the UK together with a message of your choice for just £25



Whisky Recommendations

Tobermory 10 y.o. 46.3% un-chillfiltered - Mull £19.99
Rich Island character. Smooth and velvety with fruity tangs and spiced gingerbread. Some oak.
Tomatin 12 y.o. 40% - Highland £19.99
Speyside malt with a delicate sherry nose. Slightly fruity, elegant and very smooth.
Highland Park 12 y.o. 40% - Orkney £24.69
The famous malt of the Orkneys. Soft & smokey, silky & smooth, with a nice honey finish.
Glengoyne 10 y.o. 40% - Highland £24.99
Lovely clean malt with no peat at all. Big barley sugar flavours with some marmalade and good length.
Ancnoc 12 y.o. 40% - Speyside £20.59
94 pts in The Whisky Bible. Soft and aromatic with a hint of honey and lemon.
Ileach 40% - Islay £20.99
A rich smokey bargain priced Islay malt - superb!


New Spirits
Comte de Ferragut 40% V.S. Armagnac £16.49
Comte de Ferragut 40% V.S.O.P. Armagnac £18.99
Special offer
Torres 10 y.o. Imperial Spanish Brandy 38% Gran Reserva
was £15.89 now £10.99



Christmas Port

At D. Byrne & Co. we always favour the smaller grower wherever we can and in keeping with this here are a few suggestions from Krohn (their website is well worth a look Krohn Ports). These ports are great as a gift, but if you can't bear to give them away we won't judge you!

Krohn Heritage Tawny £7.99

Elegant tawny with nuts, spice and dark fruits.
Krohn 2000 Colheita £12.99
This has a wonderful rich character, nicely mellow and very easy to drink.
Krohn 2003 Vintage Port £17.99
An exceptional vintage! Sweetly raisined fruit, warming spice, just put your feet up and enjoy. Christmas in a glass.
Krohn 20 Year Old Tawny £22.69
A Gold Medal winner. Lovely browning tawny colour and very complex, rich with a long elegant finish.
Krohn 1995 Colheita (in an attractive wooden box) £18.99
Dried fruit, molasses and complex nutty flavours, this port has spent 15 years in wood.
Krohn 1982 Colheita (in an attractive wooden box) £32.99
Gold Medal winner at the 2012 International Wine Challenge
Krohn 1968 Colheita (in an attractive wooden box) £72.99
Intense fig syrup, cracked pecans and walnuts and layers of exotic spices combine in perfect harmony.

Grahams 10 y.o. Tawny *SPECIAL OFFER* £13.69
Taylors 2001 Quinta de Vergellas Vintage Port *SPECIAL OFFER* £22.59

Sherry



Fernando de Castilla is another small house making great waves. Located in the historic centre of Jerez, this is a boutique winery. Sherry is always wonderful at Christmas - time to embrace all things Spanish!

Classic Fino Fernando de Castilla £8.99

Bone dry in style, powerful but with a long lingering finish.
Antique Fino Fernando de Castilla 50cl  £14.99
Sommelier Wine Award Gold Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards Dry Sherry over £10 Trophy Winner and Sarah Jane Evans MW calls it "sherry to try before you die".
Antique Palo Cortado Fernando de Castilla 50cl £23.99
A rare delight with an alluring complexity of coffee, toffee, roasted hazelnuts, raisins and butterscotch. Described by Decanter Wine Magazine as "a truly haunting and bewitching wine."
Antique Pedro Ximenez Fernando de Castilla £20.49
A wine with more medals than Sir Chris Hoy! A true head-turner....delicious lip-smacking freshness and luscious limpid sweetness. Molten brown sugar with a hint of roses, brilliant!

We all love a pudding wine don't we?


A selection of stand out wines from our huge range:

Fromm Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2009 from New Zealand 37.5cl £12.69
A truly joyful little bottle of gold with honey, apricots and white spices that dance across the palate, incredibly pure with an almost sherbet lemon finish.
Gorka Izagirre 'Arima' Late Harvest 2010 from Spain 50cl £14.29
Beautifully constructed, poised and with perfect sugar/acidity balance.
Araldica Moscato Passito 'Palazzina' 2006 from Italy 37.5cl £5.89
Acacia honey, stone fruit and a delicious core of lemon curd creating a refreshing yet rounded finish.
Domaine de Grange Neuve Monbazillac 2007 from France 50cl £8.49
The French would serve this as an aperitif, but this blend of semillon, Sauvignon and a little Muscadelle would work equally well with pate or cheese. Sweet, but not overtly so, this is beautiful to drink.
Keith Tulloch Botrytis Semillon 2009 from Australia 37.5cl £14.49
Background vanilla notes lift this harmoniously toffee and caramel scented wine. On the palate apricot and juicy pineapple mingle with the candied flavours - absolutely gorgeous!
Senorio de Sarria Moscatel 2010 from Spain 50cl £10.19
A perfectly beautiful wine to make you smile. There are angelic swirls of orange, honeysuckle  and peach with ethereal wafts of tarragon, hay and apricots. An incredibly versatile wine.
Turckheim Vendage Tardive Gewurztraminer 2007/2008 50cl £16.29
Caramelised orange, rose and geranium, with wonderful sweetness balanced by perfect acidity.

A selection of 1/2 bottles of Chateau Yquem

the greatest and rarest of all Sauternes - liquid gold!
1990 Chateau Yquem 37.5cl £149.99
1997 Chateau Yquem 37.5cl £137.99
1999 Chateau Yquem 37.5cl £109.99
2002 Chateau Yquem 37.5cl £119.99

Magnums - need to supersize this Christmas?


When feeding a larger than usual number of people a magnum of wine is the way to go. They look particularly dramatic and elegant  on the table. To tempt your palate here is a small selection from the massive range we currently have in stock.


Turckheim Sables et Galets Gewurztraminer Magnum 2009 £21.39
Boutinot 'La Cote Sauvage', Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages Magnum £20.39
Conan Barbera d'Asti 2009 Magnum £25.39
Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre 'Silex' 2011 Magnum £26.89

We also carry a large selection of 3 ltr and 5 ltr bottles, please enquire. 

Gift Vouchers
We have gift vouchers which can be made out to any amount you would like and can be posted on your behalf to anywhere in the UK.




Our famous Seasonal Cases
For quality, excitement and sheer value for money these are hard to beat!
In early November we launched our Christmas, Connoisseurs and Luxury cases of wine and they have been flying off the shelves. Each case has a beautiful selection of twelve bottles of wine designed for drinking over the Christmas period. Traditionally presented the wines are accompanied by full tasting notes.
So whether you want to send a gift, thank a loved one, turn up with something special at a house party or simply light the fire, put up your feet and indulge, we have something for you.
For the first time last year we introduced a Luxury Case and these proved so popular that we have persuaded Philip to have a dig into the shop's 'special bottles' that he has squirrelled away.
The cases also make excellent corporate gifts, please phone us for delivery details
and CLICK HERE for full details of the cases. 


The Byrnes' Christmas Beer Keg
As usual we have the D. Byrne & Co. Christmas Beer Keg. A 5 litre keg of gorgeous 'Hen Harrier' Bowland Brewery Beer prepared specially for us £18.99
We also have a huge selection of bottled beers both local and international and beer gift packs which make excellent presents.




Our extensive selection of Gins

This is just a glimpse of a small selection of our extensive collection of gins from around the world, more are arriving daily in time for Christmas. There are some truly beautiful bottlings and prices to match every budget.

Sloe Gin, Cadenheads, Scotland (46%) £19.99
Tanqueray Export Strength, London dry (43.1%) £17.99
Old Raj, Campbeltown, Scotland (46%) £20.69
The Botanist, Islay, Scotland (46%) £27.99
Death's Door, Washington Island, Wisconsin (47%) £39.29

Congratulations to Vallet Freres

Vallet Freres, Burgundian producers we have championed for many years, were awarded the prestigious French Wine Producer of the Year 2012 at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Bernard and his brother Jean-Christophe Vallet use very traditional methods to produce their amazing wines. Particularly good examples for Christmas seasonal drinking are listed below and CLICK HERE for more information.


WHITES

Vallet Freres Auxey Duresses 2009 £18.29
Vallet Freres Pernand Verglesses 2010 £19.99
REDS
Vallet Freres Gevrey Chambertin 1998 £21.49
Vallet Freres Gevrey Chambertin 'Clos de la Justice' Monopole 2009 £28.99
Vallet Freres Santenay Premier Cru 'Les Gravieres' 2006 £21.99
Vallet Freres Beaune Premier Cru 'Les Epenottes' 2007 £23.89
Vallet freres Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru 'Les Cazetiers' 2005 £36.39
Vallet Freres Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2001 £54.69


To order anything you have seen in the blog
please phone us on 01200 422281 or 01200 423152

May we take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support throughout 2012 and wish you all a very Merry and Peaceful Christmas. 





Friday 9 November 2012

Our Seasonal Cases for Christmas 2012


Our Seasonal Cases for Christmas 2012


 
The time of year has arrived when people have been asking us when our Christmas Cases will be available, so here they are!

As last year we have put together three different cases for you to choose from to suit every kind of occasion over the Christmas period. The cases make ideal Christmas 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, call us for details.

So whether you want to send a gift, thank a loved one, turn up with something special at a house party or simply light the fire, put your feet up and indulge, we have something for you. Each case comes complete with a set of tasting notes.
This year we have once again put together a luxury case of wines, persuading Philip to part with some limited gems that he has had squirrelled away.
 
We will be following shortly with our Christmas Selection Newsletter, full of wines for Christmas drinking. There was simply too much to put in one newsletter!
Orders or enquiries for any of the cases in this newsletter please apply by phone to the shop on 01200 422281or 01200 423152 – not by email, thank you.
There will be free delivery for orders within a 30 mile radius placed with us before 30th November. After that time there will be a small charge of £8, due to the volume of wines being despatched we will need to use carriers instead of our usual drivers Ken, Peter & Ian.
 

 
White Wines
Lugana 'Campo Valentino' Giacomo Montresor - Italy
 A stunning example of an underrated variety, subtle and restrained, with delicate fruit and rich nutty aromas, a beautifully balanced wine with hints of lime and toasted almonds and a clean crisp finish. Another D. Byrne & Co. gem!
Les Vieux Quartier Bourgogne Chardonnay Cote de Beaune - France
This is a really expressive Burgundy, evocatively scented and buttery with rich citrusy aromas. A full-bodied wine, showing ripe fruit integrated with finely balanced acidity and a long lingering finish.
Diez Siglos Rueda Verdejo - Spain
Complex vibrant wine from one of Ruedas best producers, aromas of freshly mown grass and green herbs mingle with vibrant citrus fruit, to make a most enjoyable drink.
Les Cepages Oublies Gros Manseng Colombard, Pays de Cotes de Gascogne - France
Ripe grass nose (reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc), citrus fruit and hints of nuttiness harmonise into an intensely aromatic wine, superb: another winner.
Vetiver Rioja Blanco - Spain
D. Byrne & Co. White Wine of the Year.
90 Points, Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
Fresh peaches and ripe honeysuckle, with crisp mineral acidity, elegant and finely balanced, the flavours linger on the palate. Great to drink on its own or to have with fish and shellfish.
Red Wines
Murphy's Shiraz - Murray River - Australia
Delicious bramble aromas compliment the rich flavours which are backed up with a hint of cloves and cinnamon and a touch of oak. Luscious, full, rich and easy to drink as the tannins are smooth and supple.
Chateau Jalousie Bordeaux Superieur - France (the best value Bordeaux we have ever tasted)
Great with food, especially beef. Fresh and forward on the nose, the lively red fruit is backed by real depth, perfectly balanced, a delightful expression of true Claret.
Gran Tesoro Garnacha - Spain  Trophy winner at this years IWC Great Value Red Under £7
Exuberant, juicy, slurpy, fruity red which tastes of proper wine! Crushed blackberries and cherry characters, a nice soft palate with vibrant acidity and a mouth-watering oh-so drinkable finish.
Les Volets Malbec Limoux - France
A vibrant malbec with blackcurrant aromas and that intriguing bitter-sweet character of creme de cassis with a touch of underlying parma violets. the palate is a marvel. D. Byrne, always searching for quality, has found another great wine.
Pinna Fidelis Roble Ribera del Duero - Spain Shortlisted in the New Wave Spanish Awards 2011
D. Byrne & Co. Red Wine of the Year
Six months in French and American oak, fruit aromas of fresh raspberry and redcurrants, balanced by notes of slightly toasty oak and a beautifully balanced persistent finish. great with lamb.
Conviviale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Italy
A medium-bodied, warm, soft, spicy red, with flavours of damson fruits on the palate. Light redcurrant and subtle red cherry fruits on the finish, juicy, succulent and comfortingly full.
Emiliana Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile
Dark and brooding, with pepper and spice and intense black fruit on the palate, rich plum and exotic spices mingle to ensure a great drink.
£75 if collected from the shop
£83 delivered anywhere in mainland UK




 

D. Byrne & Co. Connoisseurs Case
White Wines
2009 Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay - France
This is a delicious Bourgogne Chardonnay. The wine is crisp, fresh and has fine minerality, with excellent intensity and personality.
2009 Domaine du Petit Metris 'Clos de la Marche' Savennieres - Loire - France
Medal d'Argent Paris 2011
Woooo scary! Amazingly rich and wildly Bohemian, wild pear meets sizzling lemony acidity and a tangy herbaceous edge. Steely, dry and elegant, a wonderful wine.
2011 Amalaya White - Argentina Decanter WWA Trophy 2012
90% Torrontes 10% Riesling. "Intensely floral with high aromatics of rose petals, elderflower, peach, spices and lime zest leaping out of the glass. Excellent purity of exotic lychee and fresh pink grapefruit - this is wine to lift the spirits" Decanter Magazine
2010 Valenciso Blanco - Rioja - Spain
Only 12 barrels of this exceptionally fine, white Rioja were made, toasted nuts, honey and floral aromas, the palate is elegant with minerality, savouriness and pure acidity. A brilliant wine!
2008 Pra Monte Grande Soave Classico - Italy
Monte Grande is more in line with fine White Burgundy. It contains complex and developed characters, peaches and citrus fruit laced with honey. A rich and generous palate finishing with a toasted almond creaminess.
Red Wines
2009/2010 Foxglove Zinfandel - USA
Juicy Zinfandel at its very best, fresh raspberry fruit and a rich spicy tone, medium-bodied with soft tannins. The perfect wine to drink with the meal on Christmas Day.
2010 Coyam Organic - Colchagua Valley - Chile
A cult wine from Chile, dense black fruit mingle with sweet tobacco, liquorice and spice, refined, with gorgeous balance and poised personality. A big bodied wine on the palate, intense and complex.
2007 Chateau Haut Beausejour Saint Estephe - Bordeaux - France
Bordeaux at its very best. A wine that is silky and pure with dark brooding red fruit, cherry and blackberry, nicely spiced with subtle soft tannins and a long lingering finish, a great wine.
2010 Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Classico Ripasso - Italy
IWSC Silver medal winner. A lovely depth of cherry fruit and spicy oak with round and silky tannins.
2009 Venta La Ossa Tempranillo - Spain 93 Points Penin Guide 2012
Dried fruit, spicy oak and dark chocolate then a delicious savouriness on the nose, notes of clove, sage and leather. Rich, warm and classically poised.
2010 'Pride of the Fleurieu' Cabernet Sauvignon Dandelion Vineyards - Australia
Gold medal & trophy winner 2010 Maclaren Vale Wine Show
Cassis and fresh red fruit intermingling with bilberry, the palate is broad and rich with lively acidity and well integrated fine grained tannins. This will drink superbly with game dishes.
2009 'Les Coteaux Schisteux' Seguret Cotes du Rhone Villages - France
91 Points Wine Spectator magazine
Layered with exotic fruit, crushed black pepper and vanilla hints. Polished and smooth on the palate, with great depth. A classic Rhone, intense yet elegant.
£142 if collected from the shop
£150 delivered anywhere in mainland UK



 

D. Byrne & Co. Luxury Case
White Wines
2007/9 Pouilly-Fuisse Les Chardonnets Chateau de Beauregard
Rich and opulent, flavours of citrus fruit and honey, the wine is fresh and racy with good acidity and fine mineral tones. Ideal to drink with fish and poultry.
2005 Chablis Grand Cru 'Les Clos' Domaine Pinson
Ripe and concentrated, with outstanding depth and balance. Richness, power and great complexity, a good bottle age treats the palate to an explosion of flavours with a finish that lingers and changes.
2009 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru 'Clavoillons' Domaine Chavy
A wine that is characterised by purity and fresh citrus flavours rather than oak. An outstanding Puligny that is elegant and delicious with good intensity and plenty of complexity.
2005 Meursault 1er cru 'Blagny' Domaine Pierre Matrot
This is one of Burgundy's finest Domaines. Matrot's Meursault shows all the true characters of the village, with toasted almonds, honey, minerality and great structure. The added bottle age gives the Meursault an extra dimension of complexity.
2010 Condrieu Domaine Philippe Faury
Apricots and orange blossom burst out of the glass, intense concentrated fresh and opulent juicy fruit is balanced with good acidity and fine mineral tones. Philip sampled this recently and was hugely impressed. Perfect with softer cheeses.
Red Wines
2007 Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse 5er Cru Classe
Cru Classe Bordeaux from, in our opinion, a much underrated Chateau. Grand Puy Ducasse is a powerful, classic Pauillac, with lots of blackcurrant fruit as well as hints of new leather and some textbook 'cigar box' notes.
2007 Chateau Feytit Clinet Pomerol
Great purity of fruit, nice and ripe with the classic Pomeral style. Good length and balance along with subtly integrated oak complete this very classy wine.
2006 Cote Rotie Rene Rostaing
From the excellent 2006 vintage and showing good bottle age. Intense on the nose, black peppercorn and exotic spices mingle with ripe black fruits. Long and elegant with nice soft tannins that lingers on the palate, an excellent bottle. One of the most sought after producers in Cote Rotie.
2005 Volnay Vendages Selectionnees Michel Lafarge
From the exceptional 2005 vintage, Lafarge is one of the most sought after producers in the whole of Burgundy. Finely balanced with soft tannins and juicy raspberry fruit, long and silky, it will drink beautifully with lamb or duck.
2008/9 Tinto Pesquera Crianza Ribera del Duero
One of Spain's most famous producers and a leading light in the Ribera del Duero for over 20 years. Brooding dark fruits and exotic spices are integrated with beautifully balanced oak minerality and fine tannins. A truly stunning wine.
2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine de Vieux Telegraphe
One of the most famous estates in the Southern Rhone. Red berry fruit and exotic spice characters supported by ripe tannins. The flavours burst from the glass, in a soft and silky smooth wine that will compliment game dishes perfectly.
2005 Barolo Paolo Scavino
'The 2005 Barolo reveals an expressive core of perfumed red raspberry fruit, spices and sweet herbs. This sexy, elegant, wine possesses lovely balance and tons of style. Over the last few years this house's barolo has established itself as one of the most consistently outstanding wines in its class...' (Antoni Galloni in The Wine Advocate)
£315 if collected from the shop
£323 delivered anywhere in mainland UK