Current Favourites…
James’ Selection
Eric Bordelet, Sydre Argelette, 2007 (Normandy, France) - £9.35
Eric Bordelet’s Argelette is a blend of 40% bitter, 40% sweet, and 20% tangy/acidulous apples. The different varieties harmonise together resulting in a rich concentrated cider offering flavours of stewed apples and sweet spice. The round full body of the Argelette is beautifully counter balanced by enough bitterness and acidity to keep it fresh and morish. This would match well with an autumnal pork and sage dishs.
Afros, Vinho Verde, Branco, 2008 (Vinho Verde, Portugal) - £9.22
A relatively new arrival, this wine lives up to the region’s reputation for producing fresh zesty wines. The nose offers notes of green apple, lemon sherbet and grapefruit these flavours are mirrored on the palate accompanied by the traditional prickle and tingling acidity resonant of the region’s style. This would be best as an aperitif but would work well with salads and fish.
Domaine Armand, Cairanne, Cotes du Rhone Villages, 2007 (Rhone, France) - £9.91
The nose is complex with initial bramble fruit flavours giving way to dried fruit, leather, and spices such as nutmeg, mace, and allspice all reminiscent of a christmas fruit cake. The palate is rich in fruit, pepper and spice with ample body, round tannins and enough acidity to balance the wine. The Cairanne is in a style that now seems a little old fashioned, it doesn’t follow the current Parkerised trend of big fruit and high alcohol which I feel is much to it’s credit.
Danny Schuster, Twin Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2008 (Canterbury, New Zealand) - £13.55
This pinot has plenty of red fruit flavours, strawberries, cherries and raspberries with some added coffee and mocha complexity, it is light in body with good vivacity. The wine is Burgundian in style a world away from the earthy, overly extracted style many New Zealand growers favour, this pinot would be extremely difficult to place in a blind tasting. The elegance and finesse of the wine would match perfectly with the rich, oiliness of salmon.
Nini’s Selection
Domaine Berthoumieu, Didier Barre, Madiran Tradition 2005
I tried this with Will two or three weeks ago and even though it is supposed to be the baby cuvee of the estate it was still quite a big wine! The wine offered flavours of liquorice supported by dark fruits and bitter chocolate with medicinal herbs present on the finish. Given dryness of the tannins this wine would be best with food for example “no pasta” lamb lasagna…
Domaine Alain Brumont, Madiran Chateau Montus 2004
This is a powerful dark wine! We tried it in anticipation of our Whisky evening with the boys, our aim was to find a match for our spicy leg of lamb, the main event of the evening! This would have hit the spot if we had not found a 2002Cahors Prestige from Chateau du Cedre. The Montus is spicy and warm with inviting notes of liquorice, plums, cassis and blackberries. The tannins are gripy, with baked fruits, rhubarb and dark chocolate on the finish
Regarding the whisky tasting, Peter presented an amazing selection and led us masterfully along the single malt path of Scotland. We began with the Lowlands following on to the peaty single malts of Islay and the Mull of Kintyre. It was a really enjoyable evening and I personally learned a great deal about whisky…
Poggio Argentiera Bellamarsilla 2008
I have always liked this wine and was really looking forward to trying the new vintage. The blend is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and 5% Alicante. It’s really juicy wine presenting flavours of cranberries and cherries the soft tannins and vivacity combine to create a beautifully balanced wine
It would go perfectly with white meat dishes or spicy meatballs…
Caves d’Irrouleguy Andere d’Ansa 2008
This Irouleguy offers flavours of pineapple, citrus fruits and mango, the attack is round at first but is closely followed by plenty of acidity creating a clean and crisp finish. It is lovely as an aperitif or try with fish dishes, maybe a bouillabaisse…