Some Ideas From Our Extensive Wine List:
Wines showing two prices indicate 175ml price and bottle price
Recommended White Wines
Riesling, Trimbach 2004 £7.50/£30 Alsace, France.
Trimbach started making wine in 1626 and Riesling is their specialty. 2004 was a great vintage for the grape with good food matching acidity. Works well with sauced fish.
Sauvignon Blanc, Shaw and Smith 2006. £7.50/£30 Adelaide Hills, Australia.
Tangy style of Sauvignon with distinct aromas of lemon peel finishing with refreshing pear flavours.
Chardonnay, Catena 2004 £8.75/£35 Mendoza, Argentina.
Fantastic Chardonnay with plenty of flavours and aromas, notably honey, vanilla and hazelnut. Creamy on the palate with a long finish.
Pinot Grigio, Franz Haas 2004 £7.00/£29 Alto Adige, Italy.
One of the finest in the area it presents rich flavours of almond and honey with good acidity and a smooth intimate finish. Fuller flavour than most.
Recommended Red Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Vascos 2003 £7.00/£28 Colchagua, Chile.
Renowned as Chiles oldest wine estates controlled by Domaine Baron de Rothschild (Lafite) who began a comprehensive modernisation and investment programme of the estate in 1988.
Rioja Crianza, Vina Izadi 2003 £7.50/£30 Rioja Alavesa, Spain.
Izadi sources their fruit from 186 hectares of vineyard. The grapes are hand-harvested and the winemaking philosophy is “Flexibility is the key – we follow a style but conditions change with each vintage. 14 months in oak.
Pinot Noir “Hatter’s Hill”, Delta Vineyard 2004 £8.75/£35 Marlborough, New Zealand.
The premier pinot noir from the Delata Vineyard. Showing good colour, a ripe black cherry perfume on the nose and lively yet fruit on the palate that is nicely supported by fine, grainy tannins. Slightly Burgundian.
Chateau Musar 1999 £11.50/£45 Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
Think of spice and berries and you have Musar. There is no other wine like it. It shows a blood red colour and letting it breath allows all those complex flavours and bouquets to intermingle into a smooth unforgettable finish.
White Wine
Chardonnay, “Arthur”, Domaine Drouhin 2003 £52 Oregon, USA.
Burgundian legend Drouhin has moved in many directions and this full-flavoured Chardonnay is a definite success. First made in 1996 the winemaking has matured to the excellence in this bottle.
Semillon “ILR”, Brokenwood 2001 £43 Hunter Valley, Australia.
If you like a Semillon unblended then this is smashing. Toasty and nutty with underlying honey. ILR is the premium label from Brokenwood and named after the driving force who is now the MD, Iain Riggs.
Meursault “Clos du Cromin”2004 £86 Domaine Patrick Javillier, Burgundy, France.
Flagship wine from Javillier who just happens to be based in Meursault. Fresh and lively in youth and a single vineyard and punches above itself.
Condrieu 2004 £75 M.Chapoutier, Rhone, France.
The classic Viognier showing peach and pear with good aging potential. GreatWith smoked fish and soft goats cheese.
Riesling, Erstes Gewachs 2002 £60 Rheingau, Schloss Vollrads, Germany.
Erstes Gewachs meaning “first growth” or premier cru in France, a new superior grading since 2000. Starts sweet and finishes dry with an abundance of flavour. Riesling at its best!
Pinot Gris, Kim Crawford 2005 £29 Marlborough, Kim Crawford.
Another gem from Kim Crawford - drinkability is the key to success. The Pinot Gris has undergone some malo-lactic fermentation to drive away a little necessary acidity. Dry but with sweet fruit.
Chardonnay, Hamilton Russell 2005 £44 Walker Bay, South Africa .
Strong toasty, nutty nose is the first impression of this fantastic wine at the least among the best from the country. If you like Burgundy then this is a delicious and serious alternative
Rose Wine
Rose of Virginia, Charles Melton 2006 £38 Barossa Valley, Australia.
A strong deeply coloured rose yet still heralded as refreshing. Mainly Grenache with backbone added from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Great on its own or with a great variety of food. Available by the glass 175ml £9.50
Red Wine
Zinfandel, Seghesio 2005 £44 Sonoma County, USA.
This wine has a freshness not usually associated with Zinfandel. It is bottled early and closed with a Stelvin cap. Dark chocolate and plum on the palate with oak not over-riding but integrated well.
Nine Popes, Charles Melton 2003 £59 Barossa Valley, Australia.
With Charles Melton’s basic French, Nine Popes is a rough translation of Chateauneuf du Pape. The blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre gives a full bodied wine, spicy with an intense texture.
Château Potensac 1999 £48 Medoc, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionel, Bordeaux.
Chateau not listed in 1855 as grand cru classe but often produces wines of such quality. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cab. Franc.
Mercurey, 1er Cru Les Velley 2004 £48 Jean-Claude Boisset, Burgundy, France.
Mercurey is “the messenger to the gods” in Roman mythology. In this bottle it refers to a tasty, young Pinot Noir from the Cote Chalonnaise. Well worth a flirt and drinking above its pricing.
Lirac, “La Dame Rousse” 2004 £30 Dom. De La Mordoree, Rhone, France.
Lirac is a lesser known appellation in southern Rhone producing great value wine. This example is half Syrah and half Grenache complimenting strong flavours particularly red meat.
Guidalberto, IGT 2003 £72 Tenuta San Guido, Tuscany, Italy.
The “great” little brother to the legendary Sassicaia. A supple and complex wine very much in a Bordelais style. Not a surprise considering it is blended from 45% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with the almost obligatory 10% Sangiovese.
Abadia Retuerta, Seleccion Especial 2001 £40 Sardon de Duero, Spain.
Small area just outside of Ribera del Duero technically in Castillo Y Leon. Wine from Tempranillo, Merlot and Cab. Sauvignon. House of great reputation and this is their premier release. Great vintage.
Rust En Vrede, Estate Red 2002 £63 Stellenbosch, South Africa .
Considered one of the finest reds to come from South Africa in a classic Claret-stlye. 58% Cabernet sauvignon, 33% Shiraz and the rest Merlot. If you have never tried this is seriously worth adventuring to.
Gamay Noir, Woodthorpe Vineyard 2006 £30 Te Mata, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand .
Awesome alternative to Fleurie or any other Beaujolais. Te Mata is a long established and respected producer and this is a new single vineyard venture.