WINE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SAMPLER FOR 7th DECEMBER

WHITE

Chateau Bouscassé

Vendémiaire Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh 2006 £15.90

Pacharenc du Vic Bilh is a small appellation in SW France—next to Madiran. This is 100% Petit Manseng that is not affected by noble rot—instead the strong autumn wind dehydrates the grapes and so concentrates their sugars. Often compared to Juran-con, but richer in style.

Decanter: “Intense nose of honeyed satsuma and spice. Tropical fruit character on the palate with a fine, concentrated finish.”

Willi Haag  Qba 2009 £13.80

From Brauneberg in the Mosel, this tiny estate owns vineyards in the two most prized spots in the village both of which have incredibly step in-clines. The gradient and the slate-rich soils are perfectly suited to the cultivation of Riesling and Markus Haag, who is still only in his twenties and may seem very young to be making such respected wines, quickly made his mark with pure concentrated wines.

A wonderfully fresh lemon, lime and mineral nose with intense lemon flavours on the palate and a concentrated, full mouthfeel. Off dry, yet with a bracing acidity to balance. Classic Mosel Riesling.

RED

Bodegas Las Orcas

Decenio Reserva 1999 £14.50

Bodegas Las Orcas is a small, family run winery based in Rioja’s Alavesa region. The wines are made from dry farmed, old vine Tempranillo and are aged in old oak before being unfiltered and un-fined.

Softly fruity on the nose with notes of steeped blackberries and damsons along with more earthy, spicy aromas. The palate is well balanced and not too heavy with elegant fruits of the forest flavours and undertones of spice, oak and smoke. Great value.

 

Sebastien Fillon

Domine Clos du Serres, Le Clos 2008 £12.00

Imported directly from the Terrasses du Larzac in the Languedoc we think this is a fantastic wine and certainly a winemaker to keep an eye on. The area is getting a lot of attention too with it’s fantastic soils good climate.

Fresh and young this expressive wine has smooth tannins and a lovely backbone of blackcurrant with hints of spice. A very elegant and balanced wine made from Syrah, Oeillade (an ancient ancestor or Cinsault) and Grenache.

Avalon Natura

Origenes Ecologico 2007  £9.70

This is an 100% organic Tempranillo from Vina de la tierra de Castilla—part of La Mancha in the centre of Spain. This is one of our recent imports from Spain and we hope you like it as much as we do—it offers brilliant value for money and is a lovely mid week drink.

Soft, rounded and quite full for a Tempranillo. Showing plenty of fruit and an uncomplicated style with plenty of depth.

DESSERT

Tokaj Macik

‘Versus’ 2010 £14.00

Macik is a young, progressive, family winery in the Slovak part of Tokaj. The focus here is on fresh whites wines made using modern techniques in the winery to preserve aromatics, alongside classic Tokji wines, which are produced using classical oxidative techniques.

This semi-sweet wine is made from two classic Tokaj varieties; Furmint and Muscat blanc. There is a wonderful, spicy nutmeg nose which also shows orange blossom and crushed grape aromas. There is a really pleasing weight on the palate which shows peach, grape and a waxy character with that nutmeg spice coming through towards the finish. This is a really exciting find from Slovakia.