Naturellement Bon!
In an attempt to further promote our ever expanding Natural Wine portfolio we have created a new display in our shop at Pew corner, the display has been suitably named ‘Naturellement Bon!”
Natural wines are wines made with minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the winery with an aim to creating the purest expression of the grape variety and terroir. The ‘Naturellement Bon’ collection will change regularly based on the season and what we consider to be showing well, please find the current selection detailed below.
For any more information on any of the wines featured please do not hesitate to contact the shop team further.
Azienda Agricola COS, Frappato 2009 (Sicilia)
Variety: Frappato
The aromas are charming: fragrant wild strawberries and the merest hint of candied orange peel and light spice, maybe nutmeg or cinnamon. The polished texture is silky but definite, with a fine balance of clear fruit and structure to give it depth and length.
Château Hermitage Saint Matin, Cotes de Provence Rose 2009 (Provence)
Varieties: Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah
The wine has a limpid pink hue, and real brilliance. With an exotic nose of guava and grapefruit and a fresh, lively palate with citrus fruits and apricot notes this admirable rosé pairs twinklingly with grilled tuna coated in tapenade
Marcel Lapierre, VDT ‘Raisins Gaulois’ 2009 (Beaujolais)
Variety: Gamay
Gummy Gamay, do not pass go, do not collect tannin, a redcurrant jam jamboree which just manages to steer clear of sweetness by virtue of a thwack of liquorice on the finish. You’re madder than Mad Jack McMad if you don’t serve this well chilled.
Cantina Sedilesu, Cannonau Di Mamoida ‘Mamuthone’ 2007 (Sardinia)
Variety: Cannonau
Cannonau has a shiny ruby-red colour and plum fruity aromas, as well as pomegranate and cherries. The Mamuthone is ideal for grilled red meats on the spit, and with mild seasoned cheeses.
Agnes & Rene Mosse, ‘Moussamoussettes’ N/V (Anjou)
Varieties: Grolleau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc
This petillant naturel is a jasmine-scented, tangerine-flecked gentle sparkler. Moussamoussettes has undergone the transformation from fluffy duckling to graceful swan.
Bodegas Cauzon Blanco 2009 (Granada)
Varieties: Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Viognier, Torrontes
Complex nose with the viognier initially to the fore with fresh pear notes backed by honey with touches of sweet spice and ginger. The mouth is interesting conveying apple, peach and white pepper, with nice acidity contributing to a long finish. This would go well with paella, white meats, most shellfish and white fish.
Domaine Navarre, Vin d’œillades 2009 (Languedoc)
Variety: Oeillades (A close cousin to Cinsault)
This is a vrai wine of the country, limber, fresh, all in the fruit, all in the glancing moment, naturally vibrant.
Plageoles, Mauzac Nature N/V (Gaillac)
Variety: Mauzac
Robert Plageoles believes in rediscovering what has been lost so why not get your frothy jollies from the infinitely gluggable sparkler.
Domaine Valette, Macon-Chaintre 2007 (Maconnais)
Variety: Chardonnay
Ripe apple, honey, lemon and grey mineral all come together in a distinctly mature, winey nose. Clarity of fruit and good acidity show through, with a long, almost crystalline finish.
Terra Organica Chenin Blanc 2008 (Mendoza)
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Excellent value for money. This has beautifully pure apples and pears on the palate, with touches of honey and exotic fruits.
Bressan, Schioppettino 2004 (Friuli)
Variety: Ribolla Nera
Intense in its warm velvety colour and flavour, this ruby red wine presents a full fruity flavour of wild blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries and that typical Friulian rasp.
Ca’ D’Gal, Moscato D’Asti ‘Vigna Vecchia’ 2009 (Piedmont)
Variety: Moscato
A noble, almost toasty nose reminds one of Champagne, with rich white and yellow peach aromas. Torn mint leaves, sage, fresh Blenheim apricots and delicate nectarines come together on the palate. This is abundantly juicy and deliciously complex,
Clos Fantine, Faugeres 2007 (Languedoc)
Varieties: Mourvedre, Carignan, Grenache and Syrah
With warm fruits rouges on the nose, and ripe supple fruit on the palate. It has layers of flavour, with a firm mineral streak on the finish.
Patrick Rols, La Crouzette 2008 (Aveyron)
Varieties: Chardonnay & Chenin Blanc
Orthodox wine lovers would roll their eyes (and I once saw a sommelier squirming in his straitjacket after trying this), but I love a wine that tickles my ribs whilst staying several steps ahead of my palate. Sizzling sparkling white unsheathing sharp darts of spiky lemon, grapefruit and white peach.
Barranco Oscuro, Tres Uvas Blanco 2006 (Granada)
Varieties: Viognier, Vermentino and Vigiriega
Tres Uvas, an oak-aged split of Viognier, Vermentino and Vigiriega it is a funky wine with strong oxidative and bruised apple aromas. It’s similar to a fino or manzanilla with its flor-like aromas. Despite its weight it is intriguing and highly drinkable, a real sipper.
Chahut et Prodiges, Coup de Canon 2008 (Touraine)
Variety: Grolleau
The Grolleau is completely unsulphured and goes through only a light filtration to give a clear wine. The result is a wine which exhibits some spicy berry fruit mixed with some earthy, mushroomy flavours. This is a wine of the terroir, it would pair well with the local andouillette.
Summer Sale
The fourth edition of our Summer Sale took place on Saturday 26th June 2010.
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 dish.
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…
Our Mixed Cases
We have put together these mixed cases to help you gain time, save money and get to try something different…
The wines in each case have been carefully selected for their quality, availability and individuality.
Wines are not interchangeable between cases.
We reserve the right to change the wines available to something of equal or higher value should the need arise.
SUMMER SELECTION
12 bottles for £67.31 save £7.42
2bts Sandford, Sauvignon Semillon 2008 (Australia)
2bts Nordoc, Chardonnay 2009 (France)
2bts Alquezar, Tempranillo Garnacha Rosado 2009 (Spain)
2bts Domaine de la Zouina, Volubilia Gris 2009 (Morocco)
2bts Bodega Classica, Montesc Rioja 2008 (Spain)
2bts Chateau St Cyrgues, St Cirice Rouge 2008 (France)
STAFF PICKS
12 bottles for £98.04 save £10.90
2bts Binner, ‘Les Saveurs’ 2008 (France)
2bts Domanine de Menard, Cuvee Marine 2009 (France)
2bts Mattia Barzaghi, Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2009
2bts Bodegas Ameztoi, Txakoli Rosado 2009 (Spain)
2bts Chateau Cambon, Beaujolais 2009 (France)
2bts Domaine d’Escausses, Cuvee des Drilles 2008 (France)
BBQ SELECTION
6 bottles for £51.61 save £5.73
2bts Domaine de l’Hortus, Classique Blanc 2009 (France)
2bts AA Masciarelli, Montepulciano Rosato 2009 (Italy)
2bts Inkawu, Pinotage 2008 (South Africa)
TASTE OF THE GRAPE
12 bottles for £93.87 save £10.40
2bts Domaine Tremblay, Petit Chablis 2009 (France)
2bts Clos Lapeyre, Jurancon Sec 2009 (France)
2bts Domaine Champalou, Vouray Sec 2009 (France)
2bts La Boussole, Pinot Noir 2009 (France)
2bts Clairieres, Merlot 2009 (France)
2bts AA Masciarelli, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 (Italy)
REFRESHING WHITES
12 bottles for £81.57 save £9.03
2bts Domaine de Menard, Colombard Sauvignon 2008 (France)
2bts Andere d’Ansa, Irouleguy Blanc 2009 (France)
2bts Andre Scherer, Riesling Reserve 2009 (France)
2bts Framingham, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (New Zealand)
2bts Bodegas Torres Manur, Rueda Blanc, ‘Pindal’ 2009 (Spain)
2bts Vini del Sole, Inzolia IGT 2009 (Italy)
PICNIC ASSORTMENT
6 bottles + Rillettes + Pate for £50.45 save £4.72
2bts Chateau St Cyrgues, St Cirice Blanc 2009 (France)
2bts Gatti Lorenzo, Prosecco N/V (Italy)
2bts Honorio Rubio, Rioja Rosato ‘Tremendus’ 2009 (France)
Our Upcoming Tastings
Our regular shop tastings take place at Pew Corner on Friday evenings from 5.00pm until 8.30pm. These are informal events and our staff will always be on hand to welcome you and help you taste your way through 15 to 20 wines.
Friday 24th September 2010 – Back to School Tasting (Pew Corner)
Everyone at Les Caves is excited to welcome you back to Pew Corner for our event since June. Since our Summer Sale we have revamped the shop in an attempt to shuffle in some new arrivals alongside some firm favourites. The Back to School tasting will follow in the similar vein featuring a selection of our new acquisitions accompanied by some new vintages of a few old favourites.
For more information on some of the wines being shown on the evening please click here
October 2010 – Mediterranean Island Tasting in London (Date and Venue to be confirm)
As some of you may have read in Time Magazine (for the article click here) we will be hosting a Mediterranean Island tasting in London showcasing primarily some of our new acquisitions from Sicily and Sardinia.
As usual for our London tastings, once the date and venue are confirmed, we request that you book your place in advance by paying a nominal fee of £10 per person …
For a sneak peak of some of the wines on show please click here
Friday 3rd December 2010 – Christmas Tasting (Pew Corner)
We all know how stressful Christmas can be; what present should I get Dad? What am I going to cook for the mother in law? Will everybody fit around the table? At least there is one thing we can try and help you with and that is, of course, which wines you should be drinking throughout the festive period!
For our final tasting of 2010 we will be presenting more wines than usual. From; sparkling to spirits, crisp and fruity to mellow and mineral, and fruity and lean to rich and tannic we will present a selection of wines which is guaranteed to suit all your yuletide needs!
More information on the wines will be revealed nearer the date.
Friday 25th February 2011 – Old Vines Tasting (Pew Corner)
By recommendation of one of our regular tasters, the theme for our first tasting of 2011 will be wine from ‘vieilles vignes’. On the evening we will explore the fantastically rich and complex world of wine from old vines and hopefully you will find a few jewels to adorn your wine rack.
For more information on any of our up coming events please do not hesitate to contact the shop team.
Archives
Union Club Tasting February 2010
At six o’clock the first customers began to arrive and before long the room was filling up and buzzing with excitement. The evening began at a furious pace and didn’t let up the whole night; an estimated seventy guests attended the tasting, which was a great turnout for a cold Wednesday evening in mid-February.
There was no defined theme as such for the evening, and we had decided to select a variety of wines which we felt best represented our portfolio. Of the 20 wines on show nearly all shone brightly and incited discussion and enjoyment in equal measure. The Menard Colombard-Sauvignon was fresh with plenty of green fruit and a good streak of minerality, a great value everyday white from the Côtes de Gascogne. The Vouvray Sec from Domaine Champalou was soft and supple with a honeyed richness and some tropical fruit flavours, balanced by just the right amount of acidity. The Grandes Jorasses from the Haute Savoie offered flavours reminiscent of a tarte tatin; apricot, peaches, honey, and sweet spice also combined in this rich, oily textured wine. The Don Chisciotte Fiano from Pierluigi Zampaglione, with its cloudy orange appearance, cider apple aromas and general unconventional style, caused some controversy and a few bemused expressions, but it wouldn’t have been a Les Caves tasting without a few downright oddities.
As for the reds, the Galets Rouge from Chateau Mourgues de Gres was as good as ever, with an abundance of bramble fruit and lots of garrigue aromas; this is a wine which never disappoints. The Vin Nouveau, a “new wine” from Clos du Tue Boeuf, is made with minimal chemical intervention both in the vineyard and the winery. It is designed to be drunk in its youth, and we chilled it just a touch to promote even further its fresh aromatic red fruit flavours. The wine was very well received and in fact proved to be the best selling wine of evening. The Benanti Rosso di Verzella from Sicily was equally good, offering flavours of sour cherries and raspberries. It’s an elegant, remarkably moreish wine; we struggle to envisage a bottle of this hanging around that long once opened!
As for the sparkling, the Costadila Prosecco, another of our natural wines, was bone dry with flavours of apples and pears: the perfect aperitif before a big meal, Italian or otherwise. The Poiré Granit from Eric Bordelet is made from pears grown on ancient trees. It needs to be treated like a wine, such is its complexity and delicacy: the Granit is a king among perries.
The evening was a big success: the wines showed well, it was astonishingly busy, and from what we could tell, everybody seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came and supported us and a special thank you to Pete and all his team at The Union for making sure the event went without a hitch and for making everyone feel extremely welcome.
What a fantastic evening; we’re already looking forward to the next one!
James Board
Bin End Sale 27th & 28th June 2009
Thursday arrived: the shop had been gutted, old clothes donned, and the Les Caves team waited with baited breath in anticipation of what was to come. From the deepest, darkest depths of Essex, an articulated lorry loomed closer to Pew Corner every moment, fully-laden with eighteen pallets – that’s over 10,000 bottles - of wine. This could only be the start of the annual Les Caves Bin End Sale, and the highlight of the shop’s year.
The sale provides a chance for us to sell - at often quite dramatically discounted prices - wines that have been a bit dormant, wines that we might have over-bought, wines that we need to move along a bit as we have moved on to another vintage, and occasionally wines that we have just plain forgotten about! It is also the only day of the year when the shop is open on a Saturday.
The Thursday before the sale is traditionally frantic, as everyone scurries around desperately trying to get the shop ready in time. The shop floor is a flurry of excitement as pallet after pallet is checked and lugged off to wherever free space can be found. Next comes ‘pile construction’. This year, all the plaudits were reserved for Audrey, whose pile-making skills were truly top class. Speed, efficiency, creativity: she had it all in spades.
Friday arrived: after weeks of preparation, the shop and the staff were finally ready. When the doors opened at 9.00am, the serious bargain hunters were already assembled, just itching to gain entry to our Aladdin’s cave and plunder its bounty. Soon, case after case of wine was leaving the shop, yet customers persisted in depositing ever-growing stacks of wine in front of the counter. The tasting table was as busy as previous years, with Phil-B-two-Ts conducting proceedings with his unique mix of knowledge and personal experience of the wines, estates, and the growers. Customers’ animated shouts to one another could be heard from across the room: “Have you tried this one yet? Come and give it a go, it’s fantastic!” The initial rush died down around lunchtime, and the day continued at a much less hectic pace, with a steady flow of customers in and out of the door.
The Woking Hospice volunteers did a sterling job throughout the day haranguing customers into buying raffle tickets. Their relentless pace was slowed, and their hard-sell attack softened, however, around midday, and only by means of the timely intervention of a few glasses of rosé. The day went without a hitch, and, come 6.00pm, tired but happy, the Les Caves staff made their way to The Ship for a mini-celebration of the day’s success, and also to toast the arrival of Monsieur and Madame Champalou - well it would have been rude not to!
The Saturday is always an early start: the shop needs readying for the day ahead, benches and tables need to be laid out for the lunch, and, most importantly, the team must find time to sit down to savour Tony William’s legendary breakfast. Saturday morning started slowly; so slowly in fact that certain members of the shop team took the opportunity to engage in a few bouts of pétanque (boules).
It must have been the delicious aromas of roasted pig wafting in the breeze, combined with the distant sound of boules clanking in the dust, which seemed to bring customers running all at once. Come 11.30am, the shop suddenly went from almost empty to completely full, and the onslaught was well and truly underway. Saturday is a very different affair to the Friday, in that Friday sees serious bargain hunters looking to buy in bulk and fill their cellars until the following year’s sale, whereas Saturday sees people who are happy to take their time buy a case or two, have some food, and generally soak up the atmosphere, which this year was (again) masterfully soundtracked by Two Fingers of Firewater. Les Caves’s very own James Sacha is the drummer in this widely acclaimed band, and their country psychedelia matched the gorgeous weather perfectly.
Philippe turned up and tried to repeat his Tom-Cruise-‘Cocktail’ impression with a wine suffering from secondary bottle fermentation. The vigorous shaking, which worked so impressively the previous year, backfired this time round… literally! Wine spurted everywhere, conjuring images reminiscent of a F1 driver winning a grand prix and sharing his joy with the cheering crowds. Nobody was safe: customers, staff, and nearby bottles all received a thorough rinsing. Thanks very much Philippe!
This year the food was supplied by O’Hagan’s of Chichester, winner of Britain’s “Best Sausage Maker” Award. Both sausages and a hog roast were on offer, along with a courtesy glass of wine or organic Tuscan beer. Mr O’Hagan himself was on hand all day, offering not only expert barbequing tips, but also suggesting food and wine matches. A real character, the day would not have been the same without him.
A new addition to the Saturday programme was a pétanque tournament, although it did not draw as much interest as anticipated, which we can only put down to the scorching weather. For those who did brave the heat for Guildford’s most prestigious sporting title, they were all in for a sound beating by rank outsider Maria Smith, who quite frankly mopped the car park with the rest of the field.
The sale was again a massive success and we managed to raise over £1600 for the hospice, which will, we hope, go a long way to helping those who in need. We are indebted to everyone who worked so hard throughout. Most importantly, special thanks have to go to everyone who made the effort to come down and to support us and the Woking hospice: we could not have done it without you. We were very lucky indeed with the weather, which, accompanied by the aromas of sizzling sausages, the laidback beats of the band, and the continuous flow of wine, made for a fantastic day that will be remembered for a long time to come.
James Board
Terroirs Tasting 26/11/2008
On Wednesday 26th November the Les Caves shop team, accompanied by a few hand-picked members of the sales team, descended on Terroirs, a trendy new wine bar just off the Strand, described by Jancis Robinson as ‘a brand new, very wine-minded establishment’, and the perfect location for our first London-based tasting. The team behind Terroirs shares in Les Caves’ long-standing misson to sell ‘real wine’, which is reflected in their menu and wine list.
The theme for the tasting was appropriately entitled ‘Natural and Festive Wines’. Twenty two wines were on show from a mixture of sustainable, organic, and biodynamic vineyards. The common denominator across the range was minimal intervention, aspiring to the view that the wine can express its individuality in its purest form without the excessive use of chemicals.
Some of our wines have been described as ‘inhabiting the outer limits of weirdness, and a few on show on the evening fell into this category. Thus we began the tasting with a degree of trepidation; a few of the more ‘testing’ wines did receive mixed reviews. One onlooker remarked, ‘They’re like marmite, either you love ‘em or you hate ‘em’. In truth this turned out to be a fair assessment: it seemed that people either disliked a wine or were wild about it; there didn’t seem to be much middle ground. Having tried some of the wackier wines before, I was surprised how differently some were tasting on the evening, wines which in the past I had frankly found to be hard going I was now singing the praises of to anyone who would listen. For example, the Ageno from La Stoppa, which I had previously found to be quite medicinal, was now offering peachy flavours with notes of sweet apples. It was yeasty with ‘a scrumpy quality’ and real grip on the palate, courtesy of the tannins picked up from the wine’s lengthy maceration with the skins.
The stars of the show voted by the Les Caves tasting team were as follows: the Goisot Aligoté was showing really well, nutty on the nose and palate, with good fruit and a nice balanced finish; the Minerale+ from Montlouis was offering flavours of white stone fruit and flowers, with enough acidity to keep it lively and refreshing on the palate, balancing out the residual sugar beautifully, and it reminded one member of the Les Caves team of home (wonder who that could have been?) Two wines new to our ever-expanding list were a Pouilly-Fumé from Alexandre Bain and the Mâcon-Chaintré from Domaine Valette, which both acquitted themselves well. The Pouilly boasted notes of tropical fruit, pineapple and kiwi on the nose, whilst being well-structured with a hint of that typical Pouilly-Fumé smokiness on the finish. The Mâcon was a shining star with fresh citrus fruits working in tandem with the stunning minerality; a real winner.
As for the reds the Ferme Saint-Martin was again a consistent performer, offering loads of fruit with a moreish finish. The Bourgueil, according to Virginie, was ‘a true expression of Breton (Cabernet Franc) from the Loire’, and she should know. The Côte du Py has a gorgeous nose with terrific, unadulterated aromas of strawberries, cherries and raspberries; the palate is elegant and silky-smooth with juicy cherries and blackberries, supplemented by spice and some earthy notes; it is very easy to drink. Finally, the Bedeau offers a pure expression of Pinot Noir; vibrant and fresh on the palate with an unrestrained, wild character, possessing a fine balance between cherry fruit and savoury acidity; certainly it was showing very well.
The food supplied by the restaurant to accompany the tasting was wolfed down as readily as the wine was lapped up. Charcuterie accompanied by cornichons, terrines and a selection of rustic cheeses were all devoured rapidly, leaving nothing but empty plates; always a good sign.
The Les Caves tasting team was lucky enough to sample some of the restaurant menu afterwards. The charcuterie board was fantastic with mounds of saucisson, jambon iberico, terrines and duck rillettes, all served on a rustic wooden platter beautifully suited to any number of the natural wines offered on the wine menu. Some of the small plates also enjoyed were the Lincolnshire smoked eel & celeriac remoulade, piperade basquaise with chorizo, and, of course, the classic French dish of escargots cooked with bacon, garlic and parsley, all delicious and given the seal of approval by our resident food critique Tony Williams.
Overall the evening was a resounding success, and we thoroughly enjoyed the wines, the food, and the company, and were made to feel very welcome by the team at Terroirs. We look forward to our next venture into London, and will keep you posted.
James Board
Wines Tasted:
1. Château Tour des Gendres, Cuvée des Conti 2007
2. Domaine du Corps de Garde, Bourgogne Aligote 2006
3. Fattoria San Lorenzo, Verdicchio dei Castelli Di Jesi Classico Superiore 2006
4. Domaine Frantz Saumon, Mountlouis Sec Minerale+ Montlouis 2007
5. Domaine Alexandre Bain, Pouilly-Fumé 2007
6. Domaine Sebastien Riffault, Sancerre Akmenine 2007
7. Domaine Philippe & Gerard Valette, Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes 2005
8. La Stoppa, Ageno 2005
9. Château Plaisance, Côtes du Frontonnais Classique 2006
10. Domaine la Ferme Saint Martin, Côtes du Rhône Les Romanins 2007
11. Domaine de la Chevalerie, Bourgueil Peu Muleau 2007
12. Domaine de Montrieux, Côtes du Vendomois 2005
13. Domaine du Mazel, Vin de Pays de l’Ardeche Cuvée Saint Philippe 2005
14. Foradori, Teroldego Rotaliano DOC 2006
15. Domaine Jean Foillard, Morgon Côtes du Py 2007
16. Domaine Emmanuel Houillon, Arbois Pupillin Rouge 2004
17. Domaine de Chassorney, Bourgogne Rouge Bedeau 2005
18. Clos Lapeyre, Jurancon La Magendia 2005
19. Domaine Champalou, Vouvray Brut NV
20. Champagne Philipponnat, Royale Reservee Brut NV
21. Domaine de Montrieux, Boisson Rouge N/V
22. Casa Coste Piane, Prosecco N/V
The June Bin End Sale 2008
Friday 13th June and Saturday 14th June saw the celebration of an important date in the Caves de Pyrene diary, namely our annual Bin End Sale. This provides a chance for us to sell at quite often dramatically discounted prices wines that have been a bit dormant, wines that we might have over-bought, wines that we need to move along a bit as we have moved onto another vintage and occasionally wines that we have forgotten about! (Yes, - with a portfolio of some 900 wines it can happen!). Wines and bargains for everyone - with a top price of £10.00
It also provided us with the chance to raise some much needed funds for our neighbours, Christopher’s, the Hospice run by the local charity Chase
It’s also very evident that insider trading is totally acceptable in the world of Les Caves as the staff descended upon the stacks of wine like vultures to the kill and sifted through the offerings like truffle hounds on the hunt. Phil is confident that he got the bargain of the day with his Jeroboam of Pibarnon Rose 2004 for £12.00 - rarely has someone looked so smug - whereas Stephen seemed to be investing for many years of future drinking. There was a constant exchange of information - ‘Have you seen the Greco di Tufo for £3.00 a bottle? It’s delicious! Better grab a case!’ It was also quite fun being entrusted by mates and customers alike to spend money on their behalf! So much more fun than spending your own – and so much easier.
Friday was the more earnest day with the serious bargain hunters piling into the shop, displaying a much more business-like attitude and rolling out of the door with well-laden trolleys.
Saturday took on much more of a party atmosphere. Hardly surprising seeing that Nini had organised a ‘Lamb Roast and Paella’ lunch for a remarkable £5.00 a head which was provided by Gogo’s and was delicious.
We also opened bottle after bottle for tasting - no request refused - so the tasting table was a popular corner of the room. We were actually quite controlled until Philippe arrived and decided that the sale represented the perfect opportunity for him to taste wines that he hadn’t tasted in ages. At one stage he was spotted doing a great imitation of Tom Cruise in Cocktail as he tried to convince us (and himself) that if he shook a bottle of unfiltered Saumur, that was suffering from a bit of secondary fermentation, with enough vigour and then poured it into a decanter like Basque Barman pouring Txacoli, the wine would be perfect. To be honest, he was right!
It was great to see people leave the tasting table and then go to the ‘check out table’ where Nini, Stephen and Will looked on in ever increasing horror as the stacks of wine to be keyed in grew (in adverse proportion to the floor stocks shrinking) as they laboured over smoking keyboards. It has been reported that at some stage the tortured cry of ‘Bring on the Barcodes’ rang round the room!
Pete was kept fully busy wheeling his trusty trolley to and from the car park and somehow finding time in between to take some brilliant photos to record the event.
Didier and Carlo busied themselves with pulling the cork on numerous bottles to go with the food and making sure that the drought never set in and that no one was ever short of something to drink.
Carlo then surprised us all by showing that there is certainly more than one string to his bow (or perhaps stick to his kit) by sliding behind James’ drum kit while the boys were taking a beer break and entertaining us with some well-honed jazz rhythms.
Gideon was totally in his element having joined us under the pretext that it represented a good family day out and seemed to review the food area regularly - a bit like a diligent vigneron carrying out numerous tries down the vines. As he loaded his purchases into the back of the Scenic, children’s paraphernalia was seen being flung into a corner to make room for yet another six pack.
Yvonne came along with her daughter and realized that there really is life beyond Accounts Payable and experienced life at the sharp end helping us out enormously with the less glamorous side of life – i.e. clearing up.
Music was provided by the local Band Two Fingers of Firewater, featuring our man James on the drums, whose laid-back fusion of country, blues and rock provided the perfect backdrop to the lunchtime festivities.
There was also a surprise guest appearance of Dominique Narioo (Eric’s sister) who has recorded a number of Albums under the name of Marilis Orionaa and who sung some deliciously moody French songs using the boys as her backing band - which ,considering that they are a group of country rockers, they adapted to brilliantly.
Overall the day was a resounding success. The weather was miraculously kind to us, the food was fantastic, the music was top-notch, the general atmosphere was wonderful..... and the wines...?? Well, all of you who came and made a concerted attempt to bend the back axle of your cars know about that!
Naturally, all of the effort and preparation would come to naught if it wasn’t for the fact that you rolled up in large numbers to support us - and hopefully to enjoy yourselves into the bargain. Thanks to you we managed to raise £1256.92 for Chase which is a fantastic effort.
As our sale coincided with the open day at Christopher’s there was some good interaction between ourselves and Chase and it was really nice to see so many people who had been to the open day, and also Chase Volunteers, coming over to see us and also buy wine. You do a truly amazing job!
Finally, many thanks to our driver, Anthony, who cooked us a memorable English breakfast on Saturday morning which set us up perfectly for the day ahead and then never stopped all day, setting tables up, bustling around looking after ice, clean glasses and generally clearing up. Butler anyone?
Staff Picks
Sales Team
Doug Wregg
Red
Brunello di Montalcino, Il Paradiso di Manfredi 2001
Magical, evocative, quite beautiful – hedonism with purity.
White
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Edoardo Valentini 2001
Because it teases the intellect, stimulates the appetite and slowly envelops the senses.
Adrian Scholes
Red
Corbieres Classique Rouge, Ollieux Romanis 2005
It’s just great value for money.
White
Jurancon La Magendia, Clos Lapeyre 2004
I first tried this 20 years ago, loved the acidity, until then I had only experienced really cloying, sticky dessert wines.
Gideon Clow
Red
Very difficult decision, but would have to be from SW France, the Marcillac at my wedding (Lo Sang del Pais from Domaine du Cros), the Cahors Prestige from Chateau du Cedre and the Bandol from Domaine la Suffrene both of which I have a long history and affection for.
White
Albarino San Campio, Bodegas Terras Gauda 2006
Great with seafood, full flavoured but easy drinking and never seems to fail to impress the friends I show it to. For the same reasons I also have to mention the Picpoul de Pinet from Domaine Mirande (firm fave with her indoors).
Philip Barnett
Red
When not paying! – Brunello di Montalcino, Il Paradiso di Manfredi 2000
Simply one of the best wines I have had the fortune to try.
When paying – Segna de Cor, Domaine Roc des Anges 2005
It’s all about taste, texture and balance.
White
Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc 2007
Complex and delicious.
Patricia Sliwa
Red
Moulin des Dames, Chateau Tour des Gendres 2002
Chunky, my style of wine.
White
Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc 2006
It’s superb, easy to drink with food or simply by itself, and I love the fact there are so many odd grape varieties in it.
Fred Feyler
Red
Cuvee Persia, Domaine de Fondreche 2006
Full flavoured, deeply coloured, rich in fruit with layers and layers of dark berries and spicy flavours.
White
Gewurztraminer ‘Holzweg’, Andre Scherer 2004
A classic Gewurz bursting with lychee fruit, rose petal and white pepper aromas, quite a big wine on the palate yet smooth and refreshing.
Dario Poddana
Red
Granato, Dolomitit Rosso, Elisabetta Foradori
I love reds with great acidity when it is balanced by all the other components and enriched by stunning minerality. Great wines have to be fine, not big, Fabulous and as unique as the region, as charming and elegant as the producer (soft spot methinks)
White
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Edoardo Valentini 2001
It is unique – nobody else has ‘real’ trebbiano planted, nobody else in Italy produces such an untouched and natural wine, more than anything else every bottle is different and exciting in its own way (for some this is a weakness, but I just LOVE it!!)
Didier Cappa
Red
Barolo Giacomo Borgogno 1961
I tried this in the winery, a tear came in to the eye and I went weak at the knees. The 1982 is drinking exceptionally well now, and just the fantastic Nebbiolo grape variety in general
White
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Edoardo Valentini 2001
A real wine with no concession (do you ever get the feeling that you ought to try this wine)
The whole range of wines from Kofererhof (Valle d’Isarco) I love the minerality and it goes down well for breakfast.
Tim Wildman
Red
Luddite Shiraz 2004
It brings back memories of a fantastic trip to South Africa last year
White
Gringet Les Alpes, Domaine Belluard 2006
The force is strong with this one.
Ewan Lacey
Red
Vui 1, Viu Manent 2004
It’s really big and bold, awesomely delicious, and for a fine wine, incredibly good value
White
Soave Classico, Tamellini 2006
Just delicious, wonderfully balanced and moreish, everything an affordable wine wants to be
Office Squad
Will Johnston
Red
Cahors ‘Prestige’ Chateau du Cedre 2004
Dark, inky Cahors as it should be. A serious food wine with appealing rasp and bite
White
Fiano di Avellino, Guido Marsella 2005
Delicious almond nuanced Italian white with great balance and purity
Charles Porter
Red
Cahors ‘Prestige’ Chateau du Cedre 2004
A pure expression of real wine as a signature of Les Caves de Pyrene
White
Pacherenc Sec, Domaine Berthoumieu 2006
Totally undersold, underestimated and good value. Reminds me of my first wine trip experience to the South West with Eric
Paul Jackson
Red
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Craipillot, Jacques Confuron 1996
The subtle aromas of barnyard and manure first tempted me a number of years past, beckoning me to sup gently and drift away, after all that I have still not managed to find a red Burgundy with such huge extraction (inky black), supple tannins and length, the only downside is the fact it is no longer available, if anyone stumbles across a bottle please let me know!
White
Anthologia Blanc, Chateau Tour des Gendres 2001
Aaaaah, the magic of Bergerac, the lunacy of Luc, hunting for truffles with a dog (we were stiffed - found out later the hunted down truffle was a plant), having a vertical of this nectar of the gods thrust upon you over lunch....................
Sometimes this job is really trying.
James Sacha
Red
That one from the South West with French writing on the label and a cork in the top, because it encapsulates ‘La Croix Occitane’
White
Blue Dot Bin End
Life on the edge, you never know what you’re gonna get
Justine Cresswell
Red
Don’t like red !
White
Any will do !
Shop Team
Virginie Champalou
Red
Terrano Rosso, Zidarich 2005
Capatosta, Poggio Argentiera 2005
White
Hegoxuri Irouleguy Blanc, Domaine Arretxea 2006
Alture Bianco, Antonio Camillo 2006
Moscato d’Asti, Vittorio Bera 2006
Vin d’Autan, Robert Palgeoles 2004/05
These are not necessarily my ‘favourite’ wines but they are wines that all hold a special place in my heart, as they can be all linked with very fond memories.
James Board
Red
Pian del Orino Rosso di Montalcino, Cos Pithos, Cuvee Thibaut from Chateau Plaisance
White
Terras Gauda Albarino San Campio, Ciu Ciu Pecorino
Stephen Ince
Red
Minervois Rouge Vielles Vignes, Pierre Cros 2005
Complex, juicy, seasoned, dark and brooding wine from 100 year old Carignan vines. Taste the earth in this wine.
White
Santenay Blanc Beaurepaire, Remoissenet 1995
12 year old burgundian Chardonnay, surely not? It is and it’s fantastic. Superbly integrated fruit and oak all balanced by the impressively lively acidity. I don’t care if you don’t like chardonnay, try it anyway.
Sweet
Brumaire Pacherenc Moelleux, Alain Brumont 2005
A simply divine (and fantastically good value) dessert wine made from Petit Manseng. Fabulous sweetness and racy acidity keep the wine in balance. One bottle is never enough.
Anthony Williams
Red
Rioja Tinto, Bodegas Navajas 2006
Delicious with lamb, and I like the scented flavours
White
Verdicchio, Colle Stefano 2006
Crisp and fruity flavours