April/May Newsletter 2015

APRIL/ MAY NEWSLETTER

NEW WINES FOR SPRING

N.V. Blanquette de Limoux Le Moulin – France £10.99

Blanquette de Limoux is one of those odd-ball French sparkling wines with an army of followers, we get asked for it all the time but until now we have struggled to find an example of any real quality.

This is high quality, light, fine and fruity Blanquette with real freshness.

2013 Adobe Organic Viognier – Chile £6.79

Emiliana are real flag flyers for the organics movement and produce the sort of bargain priced flavourful wines for which Chile has become famous. It may seem excessive to list three Viognier’s here, but all offer something different. This example has plenty of body and plenty of fruit but it is also very drinkable, with decent acidity and strictly no fruit pastilles.  

2013 Domaine P. Raimbault Sancerre Les Godons – France £11.99

I received a sample of this excellent Sancerre just prior to Christmas, the wine came directly from a friend of the vineyard owners who lives locally. I was blown away by the pristine nature of the fruit and overall drinkability of this fine wine, and the price, well that’s what makes the discovery side of our job so satisfying, because we know that we are passing on ultimate satisfaction to our clients.

2014 Fauno Viura Sauvignon Blanc – Spain £5.59

This wine is the sort of fresh and fruity dry white that is impossible not to like. The slightly dull Viura grape is given some much needed verve, and flavour by the more internationally known Sauvignon Blanc to fashion a wine with mass appeal. 

2013 Villa Raiano Fiano di Avellino – Italy £10.99

2013 Villa Raiano Greco di Tufo – Italy £10.99

Two classic wines from a wonderful property in the Campania, both are textbook examples of their respective grapes, are fine, flavourful and very Italian….perfect.

2014 Caparrone Pecorino – Italy £7.59

We see very little these days of new and interesting wines from the Abruzzo, and we see even less from the Pecorino grape, so to find an interesting Pecorino from Abruzzo was something of a revelation.  

2014 The Next Big Thing Chardonnay – Australia £8.99

A fresh and tropically fruity style with a touch of oak, the sort of Chardonnay we all fell in love with and one which is definitely making a come-back.

2014 Fauno GSM – Spain £5.59

Appealing nose of plums and blackberries, the palate has more ripe black fruit and supple tannins with a hint of spice. This is a fairly light and excellent value wine from Valencia.

2013 Conviviale Primitivo – Italy £5.99

There are many likenesses and similarities which point at the Primitivo and Zinfandel grapes as being one of the same family. Yes this has the feel of a Zin but it also tastes of the warmth of Puglia and is in its own right an authentic, classic Italian wine of real quality.

2013 Caparrone Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – Italy £7.99

A great combination of rich, spicy, robust flavours with fresh and approachable fruit.

Deeply-coloured red with aromas of violets and ripe black fruit. The palate is warm and generous with attractive black cherry fruit, wild plum, firm tannins and good length.

 

2013 Chateau Coulon Corbieres Rouge – France £9.59

This is an excellent Corbieres, a proportion of Carignan in the blend provides added freshness and a wild spicy edge. 

2013 Clos Bagatelle Saint-Chinian Rouge – France £8.99

In the glass, the wine has a bright ruby colour with a fresh, herby, garrigue nose. A touch of liquorice is followed by full-flavoured and intense, typically southern flavours. Equal measures of Syrah, Carignan and Grenache and a dash of Mouvèdre provide youth, excellent balance and generous and gentle structure.

2009 Fleur de Thenac Bergerac – France £10.99

An outstanding Merlot prevalent Bordeaux blend from the Bergerac, modern and brimming with fruit, think of this as a £25 a bottle right bank Bordeaux from a rich vintage. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SPRING

Castanzu Vermentino Sardinia - Italy          £5.99

This wine has a rich and spicy nose with citrus and ripe tropical fruit, as well as hints of apple, there is a lovely palate weight here with some minerality. Flavours are initially light and build to a textural honeyed feel with hints of lemon marmalade on the finish.

Vedilhan Viognier  - Pays d’Oc – France £5.99

Serica Viognier - Pays d’Oc – France £6.99

Two different styles of the ‘ultra-trendy’ Viognier from the excellent Domaine de Vedilhan. Both wines carry the irresistible perfume and soft exotic fruits that typify Viognier, with the Serica justifying the extra pound after being partially fermented in oak. Either way you simply cannot fail at these prices.

Domaine de la Motte Chablis, Burgundy – France £10.99

A glut of delicious Chablis from the excellent 2012 vintage has seen prices drop…..£ 10.99 is a fair drop for such a posh drop as this so take advantage.

Pablo y Walter Malbec, Mendoza – Argentina £6.99

One of our most popular wines, Pablo has everything. It’s a very funkily packaged bottle of impossibly good Malbec for £6.99, and one that walks from the shelves with good reason.

Mon Vieux Syrah/Tannat, Stellenbosch - South Africa £5.99

This is virtually half its original price, technically a bin end but too good to be burdened with that tag. This is an intriguing mix of savoury flavours coupled with plenty of fresh, sweet and sour spice.

Manon Tempranillo, Tierra de Castilla – Spain £5.99

Manon is quite simply a very good and ultimately very gluggable drop of ripe, juicy fruited Tempranillo. 

Terrazze della Luna Teroldego, Trentino – Italy £6.59

Here lies a classic example of the benefits of thinking outside the box. It’s very safe to pick up Shiraz or Merlot and there is nothing wrong with that but would it not be more interesting to astonish your friends with a Teroldego. It sounds like an exotic dance but it is in fact a hugely interesting indigenous grape from the north of Italy…….trend setter or what?

Domaine Mas Barrau Cab Franc, Pays du Gard – France £5.99

To say that Cabernet Franc is enjoying a brief spell of popularity is a massive understatement, and thanks to examples such as this, the slightly lean, green, mean and leafy Cab Francs of yesteryear are long forgotten. This is a fantastic price for a pretty wine with sweetly tinged perfumed red fruits.

Belles Granges Syrah, Rhodaniennes – France £6.99

A former red of the year back at its original price, still the same vintage, the extra year in bottle has actually enhanced what was already a knock out Syrah from a single Domaine just outside Crozes Hermitage. Fresh and nicely peppery.

Pierre Fine Grenat Grenache, Cotes Catalanes – France £6.99

In terms of complexity Grenache is one of those under the radar grapes that has the potential to deliver flavours and aromas of a truly compelling nature. Don’t get me wrong, this is not Chateau Rayas but it is an absolutely delicious drop for £6.99 (was £8.99).

PORT & BRANDY OFFERS

Grahams Six Grapes, Reserve £8.99

Grahams L.B.V. 2009 £8.99

A great saving of £3 per bottle on both of these delicious, rich Ruby Ports.

Krohn Vintage 1965 £119.99

The perfect gift for anyone you know with a 50^th birthday coming up this year. Beautifully presented in top quality individual wooden gift boxes. This exquisite Port displays opulent aromas of butterscotch overlaid with hints of apricot and tobacco with a warming mellow finish.

Torres 10 Imperial Gran Reserva £12.99

A deliciously smooth, rich easy drinking Spanish Brandy normally £16.99. 

GIN RECOMMENDATIONS

After reaching the milestone of over 150 Gins in our stock, here are just a few recommendations:

PINK 47 London Dry, Kent 47% £21.99

A true London Dry Gin flavoured with 12 botanicals from all four corners of the world to produce this strong, smooth and crisp gin, with a compelling finish and no trace of harshness. (Garnish Lemon)

OPIHR Oriental Spiced, London Dry 40% £23.59

A bold intense oriental gin, smooth soft perfume notes, warm earthy spice background note, balanced with a sharp burst of citrus. (Garnish Orange)

CAORUNN Small Batch, Scottish 41.8% £23.99

Our most popular gin by far. Clean and crisp aromatic taste adventure, with a long dry finish. Fresh, floral aroma with citrus, slightly spicy and aromatic. (Garnish Red Apple)

WHITLEY NEILL Small Batch, Liverpool 42% £25.59

A handcrafted gin of exceptional quality, inspired by the captivating flavours of Africa. Fresh citrus Baobab fruit and aromatic Cape gooseberries skilfully blended with 7 traditional botanicals. (Garnish Orange)

SIR ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY, Sheffield 40.5% £29.99

Upfront juniper with more delicate aromas of elderflower bubbling through. Deliciously smooth on the palate – warm cassia notes soothed with dandelion. (Garnish Pink Grapefruit)

AVIATION, Portland USA 42% £29.99

Vanilla on the nose with the aroma of cedar nuts developing slowly. Slightly sweet with a silky feel. The nutty grain is assertive with anise coming through. (Garnish Lavender)

PICKERING’S, Edinburgh 40% £29.99

Strongly aromatic in the mouth. There are hints of liquorice and cinnamon, slightly nutty notes and a sweet lavender-like softness. Refreshingly crisp and dry with a long spicy residual flavour. (Garnish Pink Grapefruit)

BROCKMAN’S Premium, Surrey 40% £30.29

Very fruity gin, perfect for summer. A unique infusion of exquisite botanicals creates an intensely smooth gin with a distinctively original taste like no other. (Garnish Grapefruit and Blueberries)

BECKETT’S Small Batch, Kingston Upon-Thames 40% £31.99

Citrus notes from both Moroccan lime and Spanish sweet orange peel which, in perfect harmony with mint, give this gin a refreshing, zesty flavour that is also warm, aromatic and bittersweet with a slightly cool aftertaste. (Garnish Mint and Lime)

BATHTUB Small Batch, Kent 43.3% £34.29

Juniper leads, as it should in any gin, but there’s plenty more besides. Thick and creamy mouthfeel with cloves, coriander and cardamom offering depth. My personal favourite at the moment. (Garnish Lime)

LIVERPOOL GIN, Organic 42% £39.99

Very few gins are made from the finest organic botanicals and organic grain spirit. Ingredients such as coriander, angelica and citrus, plus hand-picked juniper berries result in a gin with a well-balanced nose, complex flavours and a long finish. (Garnish 1: Watermelon, 2: Orange and Mint, 3: Star Anise and Orange).

WHISKY RECOMMENDATIONS

BLAIRMHOR 8 Year Old - Blended Malt £16.99

Full-bodied, sweet and spicy on the nose, revealing floral and fragrant overtones complemented with vanilla and honey. The taste is sweet and toffee-like with a beautifully smooth, long-lasting finish. Well worth a try.

ABERLOUR 10 Year Old - Speyside Single Malt £23.99

A great price for this extremely popular single malt. Exceptionally smooth and creamy, with spicy-sweet nutmeg and honey combining with the freshness of autumn fruits. Long, rich and warming finish of Sherried raisins, hints of toffee and a pleasant nuttiness.

TOMINTOUL ‘With a Peaty Tang’ - Speyside Single Malt £25.59

On the nose a waft of heathery smoke balanced with subtle, fragrant floral and sweet tones. On the palate a persistent vein of smoke and peat eases to an equipoise with the understated barley sugar.

EDRADOUR 10 Year Old - Highland Single Malt £34.99

Handmade in Scotland’s smallest distillery in the hills above Pitlochry. A truly hand crafted malt, Edradour is golden in the glass, with a delicious aroma of sugared almonds and a hint of Oloroso. The smooth, creamy, light malty taste is followed by a mellow, warming finish.

OUR SPECIAL SEASONAL WINE CASES

All of our seasonal wine cases are available to collect in the shop, or can be delivered for you anywhere in mainland UK.

  

D. Byrne & Co. Spring Case (Easter)

£79.99 if collected from the shop, £88 delivered, free delivery within 30 mile radius
For details of theis case CLICK HERE

D. Byrne & Co. Everyday Case

£62.99 if collected from the shop, £70.99 delivered, free delivery within 30 mile radius

Orders or enquiries for any of the cases or wines in this newsletter please apply by phone to the shop on 01200 423152 or 01200 422281 – not by email, thank you.