Cuvee Armandiers Languedoc 2005
£11.95
Equal measures of macabeu and grenache blanc marry together perfectly to form a pale and bright wine displaying an exceptional volume of fruit with a crisp clean finish.
Robertson Chenin Blanc, South Africa 2006
£12.95
Robertson are one of south africa’s biggest producers and this is one of their best selling wines. The chenin shows great citrus notes on the nose and palate leading through a wonderfully balanced finish.
Pinot Grigio Breganza, Italy 2005
£13.95
Wonderful, refreshing acidity is present in this trademark pinot grigio from breganza. The wine offers an almost nutty nose that leads effortlessly into a smooth clean citrus palate.
T’air D ’oc Sauvignon Blanc, Languedoc 2005
£14.75
Full of passion fruit and summer fruit salad flavours, combined with a zippy acidity and mouth-watering finish.
House Reds
Coldridge estate Shiraz/ Cabernet, Australia 2005
£12.50
This wine has a nose and palate dominated by cassis but is gently balanced by a smooth smokiness on the finish. Great value!
Neblina Merlot, Chile 2005
£13.25
We tasted many chilean merlots and are convinced we have settled on the one offering the best value and being the most typical of the region. The wine displays soft plummy fruits and a rich and ripe palate structure keeping the wine in perfect balance.
T’air D ’oc Syrah, Languedoc 2005
£14.25
Using fruit from the ‘la clape’ region, this wine displays a pure varietal character uninfluenced by oak. Heady notes of blackcurrant, spice and violets lead to a smooth, yet brightly fruity palate.
Cotes Du Saint Mont Rouge, Languedoc 2004
£14.75
An intriguing wine and a true reflection of france’s southwest, made from local varieties including tannat and cabernet franc. This is medium-bodied yet soidly structured with aromas of herbs, stewed fruit and delicate tannins combining to produce a fantastic entry level wine.
Muscadet Sur Lie, Clos De La Fine, Loire 2005
£16.50
This wine is aromatic and lightly spiced, with ripe citrus flavours and a natural intensity. It is bright, lively and long. Perfect with all types of seafood, or as a refreshing aperitif.
White Wines
Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 2005
£18.75
The grapes for this wine are produced from a handful of selected south island vineyards. They are then skilfully handcrafted by the Donaldson Family at their Waipara winery. They have successfully produced a classic Sauvignon Blanc that captures the unspoilt freshness and purity of this wonderful region.
Chablis Dampt, Burgundy 2005
£20.95
The 2005 from Daniel Dampt is pale lemon in colour, with smoky, stony mineral aromas. The concentration of fruitiness, from first impressions all the way through to its glorious aftertaste, is outstanding.
Lugana Ca’dei Frati, Italy 2005
£21.75
This is a wonderful example of some of the wines coming out of Italy. Up until recent years Italy has often produced wines that have had fairly aggressive acidity. No such problems with this wine it is ultra smooth with refreshing white peach aromas and is richly structured with a ripe middle palate and a luscious long finish.
Sancerre Etienne Daulny, Loire 2005
£24.25
The chalky soils, low yielding vines and handpicking result in a pale bright wine with intense fresh aromas of grapefruit and gooseberries. The palate leads on from the wonderful bouquet into a long lingering finish. Simply Fantastic!
Riesling Saint-Hippolyte Charles Koehly, Alsace 2002
£26.95
Bright lemon in colour, with a lovely, freshly perfumed, spicy nose. Clean and fine in the mouth, there is good weight and a creamy texture. The flavours are intense and spicy, with a tight, crisp finish. As with most Alsatian wines this offers exceptional value for money and provides a wonderful match to spiced dishes.
Pouilly-Fuisse Vielles Vignes La Roche, Burgundy 2004
£29.75
This old vine Pouilly-Fuisse from Collovray and Terrier is an exceptional example of the 2004 vintage. The wine offers a rich creamy almost toasted brioche nose leading onto a butterscotch rich palate with an elegant remarkable long finish.
Hans Viognier, New Zealand 2005
£32.50
We happened across Hans Herzog’s wines in a recent tasting and were blown away with the whole range! Malcolm Gluck says “No-one is making better wine in New Zealand than Hans Herzog” The winery benefits from a unique microclimate well suited to making complex and structured wines. The wine has the floral bouquet one would expect of a typical Viognier but with a super rich palate and finish making it suitable for matching with many dishes especially The Local Gloucester Old Spot!!
Condrieu Coteau De Chery, Jurie Des Camiers, Rhone 2001
£39.25
2001 was a fantastic year for Condrieu, having neither the rain that fell to the north, or the intense heat felt to the south. The colour is pale lemon with flashes of green, the aromas being beautifully fine and perfumed. This is a rich wine with great intensity, brimming with life. There is a good freshness and lingering peach and apricot flavours. A true great!
Puligny Montrachet Blain-Gagnard, Burgundy 2004
£44.95
This 2004 is rich, green-gold, with attractive, ripe fruitiness combining with toast and spices. Intensely fruity, with mineral character, balanced by fine freshness and lovely length. Blain-Gagnard has a top reputation within Burgundy and it is easy to see why. The team have managed to produce a wine that although only three years old in a blind tasting could easily pass for being double the age! Remarkable!
Red Wines
Carmenere Apaltagua, Chile 2003
£17.50
Carmenere is an old Bordeaux variety and has proved extremely popular in South America where it was originally misidentified as Merlot. This wine is full of ripe red berried fruits and has a smooth silky finish.
Saumur Champigny Chateau Du Hureau, Loire 2004/05
£19.25
The colour is youthful purple with a lovely rich scented aroma of black fruits and a hint of liquorice. The palate is concentrated, rich and supple with a texture of satin. The tannins are present, but well rounded and suave, making this wine very hard to resist. One of our personal favourites we will try and make sure we don’t drink it all!
Chateau Mazeris Canon Fronsac, Bordeaux 2002/03
£21.50
This is a remarkable property that has been in the same family since 1800. Deeply purple in colour, it has intense, concentrated aromas of great purity and ripeness. It is full-bodied, round and rich, with just the right balance of tannin.
Constitution Road Shiraz Robertson, South Africa 2003
£26.50
Deep rich purple colour, intense aroma of dark ripe blackberry with seductive spicy fruit and black pepper characteristics. Velvety palate with supple fine grained tannins combining well with the French oak. VINA ARDANZA RIOJA RESERVA, SPAIN 1999 £30.95 We have only recently discovered Vina Ardanza and feel that we have found a gem. This is a classic old style Rioja the bouquet combines violets, ripe black cherries and minerals. This is a densely packed wine being richly concentrated with impressive power. The wine has aged well in the bottle and the firm tannins found a few years ago to be a little harsh have now softened and this wine is at its peak.
Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir, New Zealand 2005
£33.25
The location of Pegasus Bay vineyard sheltered by the Southern Alps some 30 minutes from Christchurch provide perfect conditions for Pinot Noir. Its sheltered position but proximity to the sea gives it warm days, cool nights and a dry autumn, resulting in a very prolonged ripening period. All the typical Pinot Noir flavours are evident including its much talked about farm yardy bouquet. This has mouth-coating, rich tannins of a softness rarely seen outside Burgundy and a sumptuous length.
Chateau Grand Corbin, Bordeaux 1998
£37.25
1998 was a fantastic year for Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion was no different. Deep Purple in colour, the nose is perfumed and rich, with ripe blackcurrants and spices. This is a fabulous, mouth-filling, fleshy wine. There is richness, concentration and depth here, with a velvet texture and rounded tannins. We are lucky to have received a few cases of this wine, Enjoy!
Nuits St George Alex Gambal, Burgundy 1999
£39.95
To demonstrate the quality of winemaker we have here you should know that Alex Gambal moved to Burgundy from the USA and the French have taken him to their hearts. He established himself in 1997 and didn’t have to wait long to produce this first class wine. Bright medium depth ruby colour, with attractive, ripe red fruits and spicy aroma. Classic Pinot Noir sweetness to start, the palate is full and dense and concentrated with rich tannins and a long finish.
Ii Blu La Brancaia, Italy 2003
£52.25
La Brancaia is owned by Swiss couple Brigitte and Bruno Widmer. They have been producing wines from this fantastic estate since 1981 and have over those years built up a loyal following of fans all over the world. II Blu is their flagship wine and is made predominantly from Sangiovese with a hint of Merlot. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak and this is evident on the nose where you will find cherries, blackcurrant and a hint of smoke. The palate is full, rich and creamy and the finish so long it is unbelievable. We will be following the progress of another stable star “IIlatria” which we think will match this wine but the 2003 needs another year to be seen at its best.
Dessert Wines
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Concha Y Toro, Chile (37.5cl)
£14.50
Wonderfully scented and has a richness that is exceptionally well balanced for a wine in this price bracket. Ideally suited to creamy desserts especially Crème Brulee.
Cypres De Climens Barsac, Bordeaux 2001 (50cl)
£35.95
Ch Climens is undoubtedly one of the finest vineyards in the region. This is their second wine but in this fantastic year befits a much higher status. With bright green-golden colour, this has lovely, fresh, balanced aromas, the palate being supple, rich and enveloping. A wine of real beauty!
Sparkling Wines And Champagnes
Prosecco Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry
£18.50
Pale in colour, with intense citrus and nutty aromas. The palate is ripe and lively, with good richness and a clean crisp finish.
Louis De Coustine NV
£27.95
This is a fantastic champagne! It’s ripe, Pinot Flavour, with smooth maturity and dry finish make it perfect as an aperitif and also as with food. Its aftertaste is long and the acidity finely balanced and the finish lemony and fresh.
Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV
£42.50
This is our favourite non-vintage champagne from the house that makes the world famous “Cristal”. Brightly coloured, the fine bubbles are reminiscent of its flagship brother! The nose is beautifully open and floral; the palate is wonderfully concentrated without being cloying. The finish is remarkably long and has real depth.
Bollinger Grand Annee 1997
£89.95
Made from only the finest grapes, this is a truly beautiful Champagne. Still pale in colour with a fine, full mousse, the aromas are fragrant and intense. Dry and Racy, the palate is concentrated in flavour, with a broad creamy middle. The finish is lemony, fresh and impressive.
