A British Spring might bring snow one day and sun the next, so our wine rack needs to be able to accommodate our fickle tastes. With this in mind we have put together two beautiful cases of wine which should have everything you might need; firstly the new Everyday Case which constitutes great value for money and the new Easter Case.
In this issue:
The new Everyday Case
The new Easter Case
Red & White Wines of the Month
Great finds from recent trade wine tastings
Andrew's Whisky Notes
The New Everyday Case
In this issue:
The new Everyday Case
The new Easter Case
Red & White Wines of the Month
Great finds from recent trade wine tastings
Andrew's Whisky Notes
The New Everyday Case
Cape Heights Viognier - South Africa
An exotic fruit driven Viognier, round and flavourful. Apricot and pear mingle with gentle acidity in a very well balanced wine.
Ca di Ponti Grillo - Italy
A stunning example of an underrated variety, subtle and restrained with delicate fruit and rich nutty aromas.
Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc - Chile
A classic Sauvignon Blanc nose with herbaceous notes and underlying ripeness, luscious exotic fruit aromas are balanced by clean zingy fruit flavours. Quaff with fish and chips, grilled fish and seafood.
Araldica Piemonte Cortese - Italy
Green apples, ripe grapefruit and lime cordial on the nose with honeysuckle and lightly honeyed hints on the palate. Try it with white meat, salads, white fish and shellfish or simply alone as an aperitif soft and easy to drink.
Mas de Vigneron Sec, Pays des Cotes de Gascogne - France
A delicious fresh fragrant nose, zesty and invigorating, clean fresh and zippy. Hints of pink grapefruit are balanced by a refreshing lime acidity.
Araldica Barbera - Italy
A light juicy red with crushed raspberry aromas, gentle tannins and a touch of spice. Very easy drinking, excellent with pasta, pizza or grilled sausages, try serving slightly chilled.
Ca di Ponti Nero D'Avola - Italy
Full of blackcurrant fruit and hints of spice, this is rounded and weighty with an appealing sweetness of fruit on the finish. A wine for juicy home made burgers or lamb steaks.
Champs du Moulin Grenache - France
Mouth-filling black fruit dominates this deliciously soft, jammy and supple textured Grenache - summer pudding in a glass! Drink with grilled meat or pasta but great on its own.
Cape Heights Cabernet Sauvignon - South Africa
Displaying wonderful scents of ripe blackcurrants and spices, smooth and rounded in the mouth, it shows wonderful fruit purity and soft tannins.
Sierra Grande Merlot - Chile
Fragrant aromas of plum, strawberry and vanilla complemented by a hint of fresh herbs, sweetly fruited, well rounded, irresistibly easy drinking. A wine for steaks, casseroles and sausages.
Gran Tesoro Garnacha - Spain
This wonderful Grenache is brimming with rich juicy plum fruit and balanced with soft tannins. Round and easy drinking.
Bellefontaine Shiraz - France
Soft and elegant, bursting with flavour. A ripe and juicy Shiraz with dark fruit and cracked black pepper notes on the palate.
Easter Case
Domain Vision Viognier - France
A wonderfully aromatic Viognier, citrus fruit, pear and apricot mingle with gentle acidity to make a fruit driven, full flavoured palate. Rich vibrant and great with food.
False Bay Sauvignon - South Africa
Pure gooseberry, passion fruit and melon in a fat and flamboyantly fruity style, clean and very easy drinking.
K Naia Bodegas Naia Rueda - Spain
Vibrant pineapple and mango characters dominate the nose of this fine Rueda. Fresh citrus fruit and creamy notes fill the palate.
Les Volets Chardonnay - France
The nose is hugely aromatic with candied fruit, apricot and hints of toasted hazelnuts. This is a wine with great balance, elegant and intense fruit flavours fill the mouth.
Tabali Reserva Dry Muscat - Chile
An utterly delightful dry and beautifully perfumed muscat. Deep floral and fruity notes of rose and orange zest. Wonderful with Asian cuisine, salads, chicken and white fish dishes.
Peacock Ridge Shiraz - South Africa
Shiraz at its best, bright, juicy and incredibly drinkable. Plum and dark fruits mingle with sweet spice backed by delicious vanilla oak.
Alianca Bairrada Reserva - Portugal
Ripe and fleshy, satisfying and savoury with the almost meaty flavours of the local Baga grape. There's an attractively rustic edge and a bracing burst of tannin on the finish - a bargain!
Adobe Malbec - Chile
A sensational Malbec with serious concentration. Prune and raisin with sweet caramel, vanilla and toasty oak - dense and delicious.
Zarabanda Rioja - Spain
A delicious modern Rioja with a deep colour and ripe plum and cherry aromas. Richly flavoured and substantial with fruit dominant and a smoky, spicy dimension - brilliant quality!
Les Volets Pinot Noir - France
An elegant Pinot Noir with plenty of ripe red citrus fruits, fresh and refined.
Domaine Bresquieres Ventoux 'Les Contreforts' - France
A beautiful red that shows elegance and balance with juicy black cherries, woody herbs, rich and smooth. This is a classic Southern Rhone wine.
Domaine Mas Bahourat Cabernet Sauvignon - France
Its heavy scents and rich fruit flavours hit the spot perfectly. Freshly cut green peppers and blackcurrant fruit on the nose, soft bramble flavours and a touch of crushed mint.
Red & White Wines of the Month
Pasquiers Grenache - France £5.49
Talk about length! The flavour from this Grenache just goes on and on. Rich black fruit, vanilla liquorice, sweet spice and cinnamon. The wine is a wonderful bargain.
Conviviale Fiano - Italy £5.69
A lively, fresh and attractive white with nuances of pear and honey, the palate is balanced with some weight and fresh citrus characters.
Great finds from a recent trade tasting
Like waiting for buses, wine tastings all seem to come at once and generally in the spring. All the members of our staff have been taking it in turns travelling to as many trade tastings as they can get to, so expect a flourish of new wines over the next few months.
2011 Domaine du Monteillet Condrieu - France £28.49
Intoxicating perfume of textbook Viognier. The intoxicating perfume of textbook Viognier This is ripe and peachy with all the elegance and refinement expected of one of France's leading white wine appellations.
2011 Domaine du Monteillet 'La Syrah a Papa' - France £9.99
Classic smoky peppery notes on the nose with lush, red fruit on the palate. Robust yet balanced, this is a stunning mouthful of youthful Syrah from a rising Rhone star.
2010 Vallet Freres Pernand Vergelesses - France £20.89
A beautiful and complex wine. Bright gold in colour with aromas of fresh pear, apple and caramel. The palate weight is wonderful with a smooth minerality leading to rich and complex flavours of baked apples with a hint of hazelnuts and honey. Lovely length.
1997 Vallet Freres Gevrey Chambertin - France £23.99
Bernard Vallet is regarded by many as one of the best wine makers in the village of Gevrey Chambertin. His red wines are traditionally made (the house of Vallet Freres have been making wines in this style since 1864) and capture the true meaning of the expression 'terroir'. This is mature Burgundy but still drinking well with plenty of fragrance and a silky texture.
2010 Manon Tempranillo - Spain £6.99
A hugely appealing red from the Mano a Mano winery near Alhambra - truly capturing the character of the region, and over-delivering with every sip! Rich, robust black fruit on the nose and palate, with a savoury touch and a sweet, bright berry finish.
The following wines from Argentina and Chile offer exceptional value for money.
2012 Nieto Torrontes - Argentina £7.59
Delicate lemon blossom and lemon sherbet combine perfectly with herbaceous, white peach and orange peel notes. A well balanced palate with citrus, stone fruit and super zesty refreshing acidity.
2011 Nieto Malbec - Argentina £7.59
Full-bodied with great concentration of vanilla, mocha, blackberries, sweet spices and cloves. The palate is rich and warming with more black fruit, plums and cherries as well as leathery notes. The wine is vibrant and structured.
2012 Pablo y Walter Malbec, Mendoza - Argentina £8.39
A celebration of Mendoza - the colour, culture and flavour. A really pure expression of Malbec, bright red and juicy, rich chocolate flavours with a lick of oak to round out the edges, Muy, muy fantastico! - richly bloody, vibrant, Latin and velveteen.
2011 Nieto Don Nicanor Malbec - Argentina £9.79
Dark and dense flavours of blackberry and damsons with earthy mocha characters. The palate is smooth with rounded tannins leading to a long intense black fruit finish and hints of bitter chocolate - superb with a steak!
2009 Bressia Monteagrelo Syrah - Argentina £13.49
Full-bodied and smoky, this engaging Syrah is complex, gamey and rich. Bible black with a sensational mouth-feel and finish.
2010 Bressia Monteagrelo Cabernet Franc - Argentina £13.49
A stunning wine with pure berry fruit, well integrated oak and just a touch of red pepper. Intense blackcurrant on the palate, lifted by menthol, vanilla, spice, chocolate and coffee. Concentrated with a savoury twist on the finish.
2009 Bressia Monteagrelo Malbec - Argentina £13.49
Pure and powerful, yet elegant and aromatic, this is a deeply compelling Malbec. The rich plum and cherry, sweet spice, liquorice and leathery aromas on the nose are reflected on the palate, very moreish!
2009 Nieto Bonarda Limitada - Argentina £15.99
Voted Argentina's best Bonarda, ripe fruit flavours on the nose with just a hint of pepper, rich plum and spice on the palate and a long, silky finish.
2007 Bressia 'Profundo' - Argentina £19.99
A blend of Malbec, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. the nose includes intense fruity aromas of dark plum and cherry as well as vanilla and warm oak. An opulent and beautifully rendered palate with great concentration, elegance and length, flavours of plum, cherry and luscious blackberries. This is an awesome expression of Bressia's vineyards and ambition.
2008 Nieto Cadus Malbec - Argentina £23.99
Powerful ripe red fruit mixed with prunes and more sweet vanilla from the oak, with liquorice and dark chocolate on the finish, an outstanding wine.
2009 Tabali Reserva Especial Chardonnay - Chile £8.99
Such great value. Award winning 1er cru Burgundy style at half the price - delicious! On the nose it is fresh and complex, with buttered toast, lemon curd, orange oil and stone fruit with a chalky structure and flavours of lemon meringue pie and a delightful creamy, bright acidity.
2010/11 Tabali Reserva Sauvignon Blanc - Chile £7.39
Intense, complex and elegant on the nose with citric notes, passion fruit and green aromas. The palate shows great volume with crisp high acidity giving a fresh, long, fruity finish.
2012 Tabali Reserva Viognier - Chile £7.39
This Viognier presents rich aromas of citrus and dried apricot, with hints of candied fruit. On the palate floral, honeyed and citrus flavours combine with a soft rounded texture and great purity.
2010 Tabali Reserva Merlot - Chile £8.39
Bright, ruby red in colour. Great concentration on the nose showing ripe red fruit aromas and sweetly black pastille allure. On the palate this wine is full-bodied with fine tannins and great structure, well balanced with pleasing acidity, savoury nuances, fabulous crunchy fruit and fine tannins.
2010 Tabali Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile £8.39
Deliciously dark in hue, it has aromas of intense blackcurrant, mint and black pepper. The palate has more minty cool blackcurrants plus rich plum, crunchy blackberry, sweet vanilla, flinty herbal and violet notes.
2010 Tabali Reserva Syrah - Chile £8.39
Deep red with violet hints. Great character; elegant, complex, ripe and very rich, with layers of black cherries, violets and black pepper, a touch of smoke and spicy dark aromas. The palate is full-bodied and well balanced with smooth texture, velvety tannins and lots of fruit.
Tabali 'Payen' - Chile £28.99
Beautifully balanced with excellent length, restraint and elegant fruit. This is the first vintage of Payen and a significant raising of the bar for Chilean Syrah. Unique in style, this wine speaks volumes for Tabali's intent and capabilities.
2008 Sideral - Chile £14.19
Intense garnet ruby in colour with aromas of linseed, wood smoke and vanilla pods. Aromas evolve to exhibit characters of cassis, prunes and toast, whilst tannins are well integrated and rounded. An elegant and sophisticated wine that drinks well now and will keep for 5 years.
2010/11 Novas Gran Reserva Viognier - Chile £8.59
Rich and luscious, aromas of toasted almonds mix with floral notes. The palate is lush, full and persistent with balanced acidity.
2011 Novas Gran Reserva Sauvignon - Chile £8.59
This wine has a pale and clean yellow colour. Elegant and complex on the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc presents aromas of grapefruit with soft floral and mineral notes. the palate shows great body which is joined by delicate acidity and sweetness.
2010 Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere / Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile £8.59
A deliciously natural black, muscular food wine with a great sense of place. Deep coloured classic blend of Carmenere and Cabernet reflects dark fruit aromas mixed with soft toasty notes. The palate is immensely rich with lots of herbal flavours, including mint. There is a slight salinity, with lots of fruit and dusty clay earth and a beautiful stony finish. Vibrant with huge appeal - another fabulous value wine under this trophy winning label.
2010 Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Merlot - Chile £8.59
This deep ruby red wine offers blackcurrant, spice, vanilla and black fruit. The palate has more black fruit, particularly blackberry, with more vanilla, spice and a hint of refreshing leafiness and warm smoke. Nice length and a super silky mouth-feel.
Andrew's Whisky Notes
Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland's leading independent whisky bottlers purchased, some years ago, Benromach, Speyside's smallest working distillery, producing a large range of different ages and wood finishes.
The first rung on the ladder is the delicious Benromach Traditional 40% vol £20.99. Matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled when it reaches maturity. The result is a rich mellow singkle malt with fruity and malty tones balanced with a hint of smoke.
Also bottled by them is Speymalt from Macallan 2003 43% vol. at £25.99. Sweet sherry influences with a hint of fudge and toffee, this is a very gentle Speyside malt.
From Orkney, the famous Highland Park 43% vol. at £21.99. Bottled at 8 years old, this whisky is initially sweet and fruity with hints of peach and mango. Traces of toasted malt and vanilla develop later. The palate has rich mulled fruit flavours with a touch of smokiness and black pepper.
Finally we recommend the MacPhail's Collection 2004 Bunnahabhain 43% vol. at £25.99. This Islay malt is slightly peaty, matured in a refill sherry butt, producing a sweet and fruity whisky with hints of soft tropical fruit and a hint of chocolate on the finish.
Well worth a visit is the Bunnahabhain website: http://www.bunnahabhain.com/
A delicious fresh fragrant nose, zesty and invigorating, clean fresh and zippy. Hints of pink grapefruit are balanced by a refreshing lime acidity.
Araldica Barbera - Italy
A light juicy red with crushed raspberry aromas, gentle tannins and a touch of spice. Very easy drinking, excellent with pasta, pizza or grilled sausages, try serving slightly chilled.
Ca di Ponti Nero D'Avola - Italy
Full of blackcurrant fruit and hints of spice, this is rounded and weighty with an appealing sweetness of fruit on the finish. A wine for juicy home made burgers or lamb steaks.
Champs du Moulin Grenache - France
Mouth-filling black fruit dominates this deliciously soft, jammy and supple textured Grenache - summer pudding in a glass! Drink with grilled meat or pasta but great on its own.
Cape Heights Cabernet Sauvignon - South Africa
Displaying wonderful scents of ripe blackcurrants and spices, smooth and rounded in the mouth, it shows wonderful fruit purity and soft tannins.
Sierra Grande Merlot - Chile
Fragrant aromas of plum, strawberry and vanilla complemented by a hint of fresh herbs, sweetly fruited, well rounded, irresistibly easy drinking. A wine for steaks, casseroles and sausages.
Gran Tesoro Garnacha - Spain
This wonderful Grenache is brimming with rich juicy plum fruit and balanced with soft tannins. Round and easy drinking.
Bellefontaine Shiraz - France
Soft and elegant, bursting with flavour. A ripe and juicy Shiraz with dark fruit and cracked black pepper notes on the palate.
£60.99 if collected from the shop and £69.00 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile radius
Easter Case
Domain Vision Viognier - France
A wonderfully aromatic Viognier, citrus fruit, pear and apricot mingle with gentle acidity to make a fruit driven, full flavoured palate. Rich vibrant and great with food.
False Bay Sauvignon - South Africa
Pure gooseberry, passion fruit and melon in a fat and flamboyantly fruity style, clean and very easy drinking.
K Naia Bodegas Naia Rueda - Spain
Vibrant pineapple and mango characters dominate the nose of this fine Rueda. Fresh citrus fruit and creamy notes fill the palate.
Les Volets Chardonnay - France
The nose is hugely aromatic with candied fruit, apricot and hints of toasted hazelnuts. This is a wine with great balance, elegant and intense fruit flavours fill the mouth.
Tabali Reserva Dry Muscat - Chile
An utterly delightful dry and beautifully perfumed muscat. Deep floral and fruity notes of rose and orange zest. Wonderful with Asian cuisine, salads, chicken and white fish dishes.
Peacock Ridge Shiraz - South Africa
Shiraz at its best, bright, juicy and incredibly drinkable. Plum and dark fruits mingle with sweet spice backed by delicious vanilla oak.
Alianca Bairrada Reserva - Portugal
Ripe and fleshy, satisfying and savoury with the almost meaty flavours of the local Baga grape. There's an attractively rustic edge and a bracing burst of tannin on the finish - a bargain!
Adobe Malbec - Chile
A sensational Malbec with serious concentration. Prune and raisin with sweet caramel, vanilla and toasty oak - dense and delicious.
Zarabanda Rioja - Spain
A delicious modern Rioja with a deep colour and ripe plum and cherry aromas. Richly flavoured and substantial with fruit dominant and a smoky, spicy dimension - brilliant quality!
Les Volets Pinot Noir - France
An elegant Pinot Noir with plenty of ripe red citrus fruits, fresh and refined.
Domaine Bresquieres Ventoux 'Les Contreforts' - France
A beautiful red that shows elegance and balance with juicy black cherries, woody herbs, rich and smooth. This is a classic Southern Rhone wine.
Domaine Mas Bahourat Cabernet Sauvignon - France
Its heavy scents and rich fruit flavours hit the spot perfectly. Freshly cut green peppers and blackcurrant fruit on the nose, soft bramble flavours and a touch of crushed mint.
£79.89 if collected from the shop and £88.00 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile radius
Red & White Wines of the Month
Pasquiers Grenache - France £5.49
Talk about length! The flavour from this Grenache just goes on and on. Rich black fruit, vanilla liquorice, sweet spice and cinnamon. The wine is a wonderful bargain.
A lively, fresh and attractive white with nuances of pear and honey, the palate is balanced with some weight and fresh citrus characters.
Great finds from a recent trade tasting
Like waiting for buses, wine tastings all seem to come at once and generally in the spring. All the members of our staff have been taking it in turns travelling to as many trade tastings as they can get to, so expect a flourish of new wines over the next few months.
2011 Domaine du Monteillet Condrieu - France £28.49
Intoxicating perfume of textbook Viognier. The intoxicating perfume of textbook Viognier This is ripe and peachy with all the elegance and refinement expected of one of France's leading white wine appellations.
2011 Domaine du Monteillet 'La Syrah a Papa' - France £9.99
Classic smoky peppery notes on the nose with lush, red fruit on the palate. Robust yet balanced, this is a stunning mouthful of youthful Syrah from a rising Rhone star.
2010 Vallet Freres Pernand Vergelesses - France £20.89
A beautiful and complex wine. Bright gold in colour with aromas of fresh pear, apple and caramel. The palate weight is wonderful with a smooth minerality leading to rich and complex flavours of baked apples with a hint of hazelnuts and honey. Lovely length.
1997 Vallet Freres Gevrey Chambertin - France £23.99
Bernard Vallet is regarded by many as one of the best wine makers in the village of Gevrey Chambertin. His red wines are traditionally made (the house of Vallet Freres have been making wines in this style since 1864) and capture the true meaning of the expression 'terroir'. This is mature Burgundy but still drinking well with plenty of fragrance and a silky texture.
2010 Manon Tempranillo - Spain £6.99
A hugely appealing red from the Mano a Mano winery near Alhambra - truly capturing the character of the region, and over-delivering with every sip! Rich, robust black fruit on the nose and palate, with a savoury touch and a sweet, bright berry finish.
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| Philip, Judith & Ruth Byrne working hard! |
The following wines from Argentina and Chile offer exceptional value for money.
2012 Nieto Torrontes - Argentina £7.59
Delicate lemon blossom and lemon sherbet combine perfectly with herbaceous, white peach and orange peel notes. A well balanced palate with citrus, stone fruit and super zesty refreshing acidity.
2011 Nieto Malbec - Argentina £7.59
Full-bodied with great concentration of vanilla, mocha, blackberries, sweet spices and cloves. The palate is rich and warming with more black fruit, plums and cherries as well as leathery notes. The wine is vibrant and structured.
2012 Pablo y Walter Malbec, Mendoza - Argentina £8.39
A celebration of Mendoza - the colour, culture and flavour. A really pure expression of Malbec, bright red and juicy, rich chocolate flavours with a lick of oak to round out the edges, Muy, muy fantastico! - richly bloody, vibrant, Latin and velveteen.
2011 Nieto Don Nicanor Malbec - Argentina £9.79
Dark and dense flavours of blackberry and damsons with earthy mocha characters. The palate is smooth with rounded tannins leading to a long intense black fruit finish and hints of bitter chocolate - superb with a steak!
2009 Bressia Monteagrelo Syrah - Argentina £13.49
Full-bodied and smoky, this engaging Syrah is complex, gamey and rich. Bible black with a sensational mouth-feel and finish.
2010 Bressia Monteagrelo Cabernet Franc - Argentina £13.49
A stunning wine with pure berry fruit, well integrated oak and just a touch of red pepper. Intense blackcurrant on the palate, lifted by menthol, vanilla, spice, chocolate and coffee. Concentrated with a savoury twist on the finish.
2009 Bressia Monteagrelo Malbec - Argentina £13.49
Pure and powerful, yet elegant and aromatic, this is a deeply compelling Malbec. The rich plum and cherry, sweet spice, liquorice and leathery aromas on the nose are reflected on the palate, very moreish!
2009 Nieto Bonarda Limitada - Argentina £15.99
Voted Argentina's best Bonarda, ripe fruit flavours on the nose with just a hint of pepper, rich plum and spice on the palate and a long, silky finish.
2007 Bressia 'Profundo' - Argentina £19.99
A blend of Malbec, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. the nose includes intense fruity aromas of dark plum and cherry as well as vanilla and warm oak. An opulent and beautifully rendered palate with great concentration, elegance and length, flavours of plum, cherry and luscious blackberries. This is an awesome expression of Bressia's vineyards and ambition.
2008 Nieto Cadus Malbec - Argentina £23.99
Powerful ripe red fruit mixed with prunes and more sweet vanilla from the oak, with liquorice and dark chocolate on the finish, an outstanding wine.
Such great value. Award winning 1er cru Burgundy style at half the price - delicious! On the nose it is fresh and complex, with buttered toast, lemon curd, orange oil and stone fruit with a chalky structure and flavours of lemon meringue pie and a delightful creamy, bright acidity.
2010/11 Tabali Reserva Sauvignon Blanc - Chile £7.39
Intense, complex and elegant on the nose with citric notes, passion fruit and green aromas. The palate shows great volume with crisp high acidity giving a fresh, long, fruity finish.
2012 Tabali Reserva Viognier - Chile £7.39
This Viognier presents rich aromas of citrus and dried apricot, with hints of candied fruit. On the palate floral, honeyed and citrus flavours combine with a soft rounded texture and great purity.
2010 Tabali Reserva Merlot - Chile £8.39
Bright, ruby red in colour. Great concentration on the nose showing ripe red fruit aromas and sweetly black pastille allure. On the palate this wine is full-bodied with fine tannins and great structure, well balanced with pleasing acidity, savoury nuances, fabulous crunchy fruit and fine tannins.
2010 Tabali Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile £8.39
Deliciously dark in hue, it has aromas of intense blackcurrant, mint and black pepper. The palate has more minty cool blackcurrants plus rich plum, crunchy blackberry, sweet vanilla, flinty herbal and violet notes.
2010 Tabali Reserva Syrah - Chile £8.39
Deep red with violet hints. Great character; elegant, complex, ripe and very rich, with layers of black cherries, violets and black pepper, a touch of smoke and spicy dark aromas. The palate is full-bodied and well balanced with smooth texture, velvety tannins and lots of fruit.
Beautifully balanced with excellent length, restraint and elegant fruit. This is the first vintage of Payen and a significant raising of the bar for Chilean Syrah. Unique in style, this wine speaks volumes for Tabali's intent and capabilities.
2008 Sideral - Chile £14.19
Intense garnet ruby in colour with aromas of linseed, wood smoke and vanilla pods. Aromas evolve to exhibit characters of cassis, prunes and toast, whilst tannins are well integrated and rounded. An elegant and sophisticated wine that drinks well now and will keep for 5 years.
2010/11 Novas Gran Reserva Viognier - Chile £8.59
Rich and luscious, aromas of toasted almonds mix with floral notes. The palate is lush, full and persistent with balanced acidity.
2011 Novas Gran Reserva Sauvignon - Chile £8.59
This wine has a pale and clean yellow colour. Elegant and complex on the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc presents aromas of grapefruit with soft floral and mineral notes. the palate shows great body which is joined by delicate acidity and sweetness.
2010 Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere / Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile £8.59
A deliciously natural black, muscular food wine with a great sense of place. Deep coloured classic blend of Carmenere and Cabernet reflects dark fruit aromas mixed with soft toasty notes. The palate is immensely rich with lots of herbal flavours, including mint. There is a slight salinity, with lots of fruit and dusty clay earth and a beautiful stony finish. Vibrant with huge appeal - another fabulous value wine under this trophy winning label.
2010 Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Merlot - Chile £8.59
This deep ruby red wine offers blackcurrant, spice, vanilla and black fruit. The palate has more black fruit, particularly blackberry, with more vanilla, spice and a hint of refreshing leafiness and warm smoke. Nice length and a super silky mouth-feel.
Andrew's Whisky Notes
Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland's leading independent whisky bottlers purchased, some years ago, Benromach, Speyside's smallest working distillery, producing a large range of different ages and wood finishes.
The first rung on the ladder is the delicious Benromach Traditional 40% vol £20.99. Matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled when it reaches maturity. The result is a rich mellow singkle malt with fruity and malty tones balanced with a hint of smoke.
Also bottled by them is Speymalt from Macallan 2003 43% vol. at £25.99. Sweet sherry influences with a hint of fudge and toffee, this is a very gentle Speyside malt.
From Orkney, the famous Highland Park 43% vol. at £21.99. Bottled at 8 years old, this whisky is initially sweet and fruity with hints of peach and mango. Traces of toasted malt and vanilla develop later. The palate has rich mulled fruit flavours with a touch of smokiness and black pepper.
Well worth a visit is the Bunnahabhain website: http://www.bunnahabhain.com/
