Summer Newsletter
With
Father’s Day in mind………
FIFTY
POUNDS GIN GIFT SET £30.59
A genuine English small batch
distilled Gin where the careful selection and perfect combination of its
natural ingredients give Fifty Pounds Gin an exceptional smoothness. With 2
G&T glasses in a gift box.
TEELING
BLENDED IRISH WHISKEY £29.99
A small batch blend of Malt and Grain
whiskey with a higher than normal composition of first fill bourbon barrels.
Maturation finishes in ex-Rum barrels to impart an extra sweet, smooth flavour
with the unique taste of Irish whiskey.
EVAN
WILLIAMS EXTRA AGED BOURBON £21.99
A Straight Kentucky Bourbon launched
in the 1960’s by the Heaven Hill Company. A darkly hued sour mash bourbon, aged
for seven years. Rich flavours with leather, vanilla and toffee.
MAXIME
TRIJOL VSOP GRANDE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC in Gift Box £39.99
A splendid cognac from top producer
Maxime Trijol. This elegant VSOP is a must-try. The family began distilling in
1859 and Maxime set up his own distillery in 1962.
MAMONT
VODKA £29.99
Produced in limited small batches,
Mamont Vodka is an ultra-premium, crystal clear spirit. Rich and silky smooth.
Packaged in a tusk-shaped bottle, this is a truly exceptional vodka.
BOWLAND
BREWERY 5 LITRE KEG £18.99
Traditional Ales from our local
brewery. Always a popular gift!!
Also available in three bottle gift
packs.
GIFT BOXED WINE ALSO AVAILABLE, CHOOSE
YOUR DAD’S FAVOURITE OR ASK FOR OUR ADVICE
D.
Byrne & Co. Summer Case
Selvaggio
Prosecco Extra Dry NV - Italy
Fresh, delicate and floral - a very
appealing soft mousse with ripe citrus and stone fruit characters. This new and
slightly drier Prosecco makes the perfect summer aperitif.
Adobe
Organic Viognier - Chile
A lovely golden yellow coloured wine
with fruity apricot and papaya aromas along with honey and floral notes. The
refreshing palate also has lots of character with good concentration and
balance.
Aux
Quatre Vents Blanc Pays de l’Herault - France
This cuvee is light yellow with green
highlights. Fresh, white peach fruit with a hint of wild fennel and
intermingled with white flowers and aniseed. This is very clean and well
balanced.
Alasia
Roero Arneis - Italy
Piemonte's most regarded white
variety. A rich, dry white with ripe pear fruit, almond and linseed. The palate
is plump, soft and expressive, packed with stone fruit and apricots, with a
delicious texture and nutty, herbal finish.
Peacock
Ridge Sauvignon Blanc – South Africa
This is a very concentrated, classy
and complete Sauvignon Blanc. Filled with green citrus fruit, this is a wine
with plenty of elegance, the mineral core lifts the concentrated fruit on
palate.
Domaine
L’Olibet Cinsault Rose Pays d’Oc – France
Lovely sweet fruity-floral aromas,
reminiscent of scented pink spring flowers lead onto a palate which is
immediately soft, vinous and round with abundant ripe fruit, lifted by a
natural zing and finishing with a characterful texture and richness.
Conviviale
Salento Primitivo – Italy
A warm, richly flavoured red with
aromas of plums, dried fruits and sweet spices. On the palate it is generous
with good concentration of ripe plum and black cherry fruit and hints of dried
figs -all balanced by a silky smooth mouthfeel and fresh acidity.
La
Chapelle de Marin Cotes du Rhone - France
Delicious ripe bramble fruit aromas
with a palate of rich fruit, warm spice and real depth. This is a classic
southern Rhône red, lush, rich, characterful and easy to drink with smooth,
supple tannins.
Borsao
Seleccion Tinto – Spain
Rich, plum and red berry fruit on the
nose. A nicely balanced yet concentrated red fruit mix with darker spice and
chocolate notes to give weight and texture to the palate. Plump soft tannins
and a touch of pepper add some grip to this ripe, juicy and approachable red.
Cabaret
Frank Cabernet Franc – USA
A smooth, medium bodied and easy
drinking wine that strikes a lovely balance with its blackberry, plum and dark
cherry fruit characters coupled with classic varietal leafy tones. The story
and overall package may be light-hearted, but the wine inside is as ever,
seriously good with oodles of drinkability!
Chateau
de Belleverne Beaujolais Village – France
A heady perfume of freshly picked
irises and peonies drift above the crushed berry fruit nose. The fleshy,
luscious, cherry flavours and hints of rose are typically vivacious, backed up
with a touch of spice and good depth.
Mon
Vieux Syrah/Tannat – South Africa
Black and warmly spicy with notes of
star anise and flavours of earthy forest fruits, this has character and
restraining minerality and a moreish, savoury acidity on the finish. An
inspired blend of elegant Syrah enveloped in a velvet glove of flavoursome
Tannat.
£79.99 if collected from the shop. £88 delivered anywhere in the UK.
Free delivery within 30 mile radius.
D. Byrne & Co. Barbecue Case
Diez
Siglos Rueda Verdejo – Spain
Complex aromas of stone fruit,
tangerine oil and citrus. A rounded and complex palate, with notes of peaches
and cream. Textural, though bright and pure with a long finish.
Fauno
Viura/Sauvignon Blanc – Spain
Fantastically fruity white from south
east Spain.
Fresh peach and citrus aromas follow
onto the palate with additional mineral characters and ripe stone fruit to add
texture.
Conviviale
Fiano – Italy
A crisp and spicy dry white with
delicate floral aromas and hints of fennel and white peach. Medium bodied and
fresh with zesty citrus fruit flavours and lightly tropical hints balanced by
good acidity and with spicy, mineral notes on the finish.
Les
Oliviers Chardonnay– France
Smooth and refined with an underlying
twist of freshness, this wine oozes soft buttery notes on the nose and supple,
soft ripe fruit flavours on the palate finishing with a twist of lime.
Longue
Dog White – France
A rich and ripe appley nose streaked
with fresh, zingy citrus characters and a palate that is fruity and clean,
rounded off by a zesty flourish in the finish.
Percheron
Grenache Gris Rose – South Africa
A
beautiful, limpid pale salmon pink with delicate floral hints and wild red
fruit flavours from the young-vine Grenache fruit, finishing with zesty pink
grapefruit acidity.
Juan
Gil Pedrera Monastrell – Spain
Ripe, juicy and forward with aromas of
crunchy blackcurrant, cherry, plum and a touch of spice. Open and soft, the palate
is fruit focussed with more ripe bramble and plum fruit, a hint of spice and
mocha - some weight and complexity with a supple, juicy finish.
Fauno
Grenache Syrah Mourvedre - Spain
Appealing nose of plums and
blackberries, the palate has more ripe black fruit and supple tannins with a
hint of spice. This is deliciously juicy fruited and forward.
Alianca
Vista Red Blend - Portugal
Aromas of ripe black fruits and
herbal, leafy notes, with a touch of pepper. Warm and richly flavoured on the
palate with more ripe blackberry fruit - bright and lifted though, with plenty
of grip and a touch of spice on the finish.
Domaine
Mas Bahourat Merlot – France
Smooth, ripe and seriously good.
Deliciously ripe fruit with flavours
of prunes, a touch of herbiness and pepper spice, the tannins are smooth and
supple and the finish is fresh.
El
Monstruo de las Montanas Malbec/Bonarda - Argentina
This is a delightful expression of a
full and brambly fruited Malbec.
The nose offers an appealing, mixed
spice, bramble fruit bomb followed by dark, damson and savoury overtones on the
palate with a smooth and rounded finish.
Sierra
Grande Pinot Noir – Chile
A delicate and elegant Pinot Noir
showing ripe fruit flavours of plums and wild strawberries, balanced with
subtle smoky notes, and a delicious, lingering finish.
£69.99 if collected from the shop and
£79.00 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile radius
D. Byrne & Co. Everyday Case
Our
ever popular case is still available, see previous newsletters for details.
£62.99
if collected from the shop and £70.99 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within 30 mile radius
RIOJA
“I
was recently invited to join a group of independents on a visit to the Rioja
wine region, we were guests of the ‘Wines of Rioja’, this was an action packed
three days.
At
the Consejo Regulador of Rioja in Logrono we attended a seminar on Rioja wines and two large Rioja showroom
tastings with over fifty of the regions finest producers present(+400
wines), and in the afternoon we enjoyed
visits and tastings at six different Bodegas spread throughout this wonderful
wine growing area. As a huge fan of Rioja wines this was always going to be a
very enlightening visit, and a rare opportunity to taste a large selection of
the regions finest wines side by side. We carry a huge range of Rioja wines and
I was familiar with many of the producers and indeed many of the wines I
tasted, but secretly it was always my ambition to make a new discovery….step
forward Bodegas Loli Casado.
We
made an afternoon visit to Bodegas Loli Casado, a small producer with very old
vineyards situated in the Rioja Alavesa. Neither Loli herself, nor her talented
wine maker Jesus spoke a word of English so through the help of a translator we
toured the ancient cellars and tasted the wines. The wines really stood out to
me during the tasting, there were plenty of different styles, they had no UK
importer and the quality in the glass across the whole range was fantastic.
When I returned to the UK I made contact with Loli, requested further samples
and a tariff. The wines again tasted superbly well and the prices were
extremely reasonable, there was no hesitation in placing my first order.
As
a group of wine merchants I think that we all agreed on the relative value for
money that Rioja wines in general offer to our customers, and that Rioja is
regarded as a very safe purchase of high quality. I am more than happy that
this range of wines does amply fulfil all of the above criteria.”
Tim Byrne
Bodegas
Loli Casado, Rioja Alavesa
White Wines:
2014 Polus Viura Rioja £5.99
A
young, crisp and fruity dry white with plenty of clean citrus tang. A lovely
elegant wine for summer sipping.
2009 Polus Viura Crianza £6.99
A
traditional style barrel fermented Viura that is long, and complex. A rich
white wine and excellent value for money.
Red Wines:
2011 Jaun de Alzate Crianza £6.99
Everything
you would want from a Crianza, medium bodied and fresh with crunchy red fruits
and softening oak.
2009 Jaun de Alzate Reserva £9.99
A
very well rounded and polished Reserva. Perfectly mature, with fruit and oak in
harmony.
2004 Jaun de Alzate Gran Reserva £12.99
From
one of the most revered vintages of all time. An incredible price for a
powerful and complete Gran Reserva.
2011 Polus Graciano £8.99
Typical
of the Graciano, this wine has higher acidity and real lift and perfume.
Delicious with tapas.
2012 Polus Tempranillo £10.99
Characteristic
of the vintage, this very limited production wine is warm and concentrated.
Filled with black fruits and soft toasty oak.
2009 Polus Reserva
£12.99
This
really is a ridiculous price for a posh wine that represents the modern face of
Rioja.
Greece
“Early
in May I was kindly invited by Boutinot to go out to Greece and visit Domaine
Papagiannakos, based in the wine region of Attika, just outside of Athens. I
have very fond memories of holidaying in Greece at a younger age but the
quality of the wines wasn’t one of them. I can happily now say that that has
changed.
Domaine
Papagiannakos is a truly family run winery, now in the very competent hands of
third generation winemaker Vassilis and his wife Antonia. The perfectly formed
winery completed in 2007 was a boyhood dream come true and is located just a
stone’s throw from his father’s original winery in Marcocoulo.
I
really hope people are willing to give these wines a go as, like with myself,
I’m sure your impression of Greek wines will be changed for the better.”
Joe Byrne
WHITE
WINES
Retsina (50cl)
£4.99
A
quite outstanding retsina - you'll be very pleasantly surprised! Delightfully
fresh yet complex!
The
nose has characteristic pine aromas - herb-scented too, with notes of rosemary.
On the palate the wine is fresh yet complex, with lemon citrus to support the
traditional retsina flavours, and balancing acidity. Amazing purity of
character!
Savatiano
£8.59
This
super star Attican grape variety exudes fresh, floral peachy characters, crisp
acidity and appealing texture, possibly reminiscent of Soave or northern
Italian whites, yet starting to display richer, smoky notes a little bit like
aged Riesling.
Kalogeri Malagouzia
£8.99
Aromatic
peach and apricot notes, and hints of lavender. Weighty with crackly acidity
and stone fruit characters. Fresh and textural yet with age develops flavours
of honeysuckle, roasted hazelnuts, toast and layers of wonderful complexity.
RED WINE
Erythros Papagiannakos £8.99
Broad,
generous aromas of ripe dark fruits and a hint of spice and star anise. The
wine has rich bramble fruit characters, finely structured and polished, with
well-integrated French oak, supple tannins and a bitter cherry twist on the
finish. A lovely introduction to the classic Greek Agiorgitiko grape.
DESERT WINE
Melias (50cl) £12.99
Unique
Greek dessert wine from the Malagouzia grape. Aromas of toffee, caramel and
baked apple - with just a hint of ripe pineapple. The palate is again ripe and
honeyed with rich layers of tropical and stone fruit characters, long and
luscious on the finish.
WHISKY
RECOMMENDATIONS
BLAIRMHOR
8 Year Old - Blended Malt £16.99
On the nose it is full-bodied, sweet
and spicy revealing floral and fragrant overtones complemented with vanilla and
honey. The taste is sweet and toffee-like with a beautifully smooth,
long-lasting finish.
SPEYBURN
Bradan Orach – Speyside £17.49
The nose reveals green apples, honey,
lemon and floral vanilla spices. It’s a wonderfully balanced, full-bodied
whisky, with a long-lasting finish.
THE
ILEACH – Islay £22.99
Youthful peat, herbal, oak, grassy and
notes of the coast. Sublimely smooth, peat, peppery spices, tannins and a touch
of fruit.
OLD
PULTENEY 12 Year Old - Coastal Highland £23.99
Dry, medium bodied and smooth,
redolent of honey and cream, faintly salty with a slight spicy note and a sweet
long-lasting finish.
ANCNOC
12 Year Old – Speyside £25.99
Soft and aromatic on the nose with a
hint of honey and lemon in the foreground. Sweet to start with an appetising
fruitiness and a long smooth finish. A malt for every occasion.
Great
prices on all the Classic Malts:
CAOL
ILA 12 Year Old – Islay £35.99
Firm and smooth, it begins sweetly,
then yields a fragrant smokiness and lingering finish.
CARDHU
12 Year Old – Speyside £30.59
A spirit nose with sweet apple blossom
and heathery aromas. Well-balanced with a warming dry finish.
CLYNELISH
14 Year Old - Coastal Highland £36.59
Sweet, floral fragrances and maritime
flavours with a light, dry finish.
CRAGGANMORE
12 Year Old – Speyside £30.99
Hugely complex with rich layers of
dried fruits, honey and vanilla and a hint of smoke on the finish.
DALWHINNIE
15 Year Old – Highland £33.59
Smooth and soft with flavours of
heather, honey and vanilla.
GLEN
ELGIN 12 Year Old – Speyside £29.99
Soft and malty with honey, lightly
salted butter on toasted sultana loaf and a slight hint of tiramisu.
GLENKINCHIE
12 Year Old – Lowland £32.59
Soft, sweet start, becoming flowery.
Crisp mid-palate is followed by butter icing and lemon cheesecake.
KNOCKANDO
12 Year Old – Speyside £29.99
Full with notes of heather roots,
honeyed sweetness and Jamaica ginger cake with a touch of rum.
LAGAVULIN
16 Year Old – Islay £48.99
Intense peat smoke, iodine and seaweed
with a rich, deep sweetness and a huge finish.
OBAN
14 Year Old - West Highland £39.99
Late autumn fruits, dried figs and
honey-sweet spices. Smoky, malty dryness on the finish.
ROYAL
LOCHNAGAR 12 Year Old – Highland £29.99
Fragrant with a delightful balance of
fruit and spice and a pleasant sandalwood finish.
TALISKER
10 Year Old - Isle of Skye £33.99
A rich dried-fruit sweetness with
seawater saltiness, clouds of smoke and a touch of peat. Warming and intense.
THE
SINGLETON 12 Year Old – Speyside £30.99
Smooth and
naturally rich with sweet fruity notes and a lingering, pleasurable warmth.
New
Gin from Burnley
BATCH
Premium £29.99
The spicy fragrance of frankincense and myrrh are the
first aromas picked up, some subtle notes of cardamoms and cloves then it
settles into the stable juniper backbone.
Batch Premium Gin was developed over Christmas with a
tiny 25 litre column still. Frankincense and myrrh proved themselves to be the
missing botanicals we’d long sought.
En
Primeur wines
We are offering some
Bordeaux En Primeur from the 2014 vintage, if you require a list please email
and we will send you one by return
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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.