Posted by Andrew Barrow in New Products - August 30th 2007 4:20pm. Leave a comment Each vintage the chaps down at Kim Crawford go on the hunt for small batches of exceptional grapes which they make into their Small Parcel ‘SP’ range. This year has been no different with another discovery of a little Sauvignon Blanc that they class as top notch.
The 2006 Spitfire is a hugely aromatic and intense wine with nettle, grapefruit and tropical notes, which are underscored with the typical herbaceousness - all characteristics of good quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate this is a full flavoured wine with dry herbs, gooseberry and tropical fruits and a long lasting flavour.
This wine was awarded a Gold medal at the New Zealand International Wine Show 2006 and the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2006. Which is about as high a recommendation as you could wish!
The 2006 is on its way into the cellar. The 2005, which is drinking superbly now, is running out quickly; we have just a few bottles left.
Posted by Andrew Barrow in Cocktail Recipes - August 29th 2007 2:41pm. 2 comments Some years ago there was a rather good 'independent wine merchants' fair in Vinopolis, London. One of the specialists offered a range of Portuguese wines which and was giving out samples of a cocktail made from white port and soda.
Very refreshing.
I was reminded of this as I worked through our port listings (I'm adding a photograph to each of our product listings) and came across the Churchill's White Port. Would make a great base for that cocktail thought I...
We actually list two white ports. The Churchill's, as mentioned, in half bottle (£6.19) and full bottle sizes (£12.19) and one from Martinez (£8.40). The Churchill's is dry, while the Martinez is much sweeter. The former would be my choice for the long and refreshing drink I sampled at the fair, but for those who like a sweeter drink perhaps the latter would be more suitable. The Cardicus is a cocktail I have heard mention of all over the place but have yet to sample; anyone confirm it as worth a try?
Long White Port Cocktail
Mix equal parts white port and tonic water and serve over ice with a slice of lemon. Long, fresh, flavoursome and stylish. A great alternative to G&T.
Cardicas Cocktail
Mix one part White Port with one part Cointreau and two parts white rum.
Bank Holiday week-end saw the Chapman's decamp to Sunny Devon to visit Alison, my wifes, relatives. Exeter was the destination, which suited me as The Old Bridge at Topsham is only a few minutes away, and one of my favourite pubs - definitely worth a visit if you are ever in area. Their web site gives some of the pubs fascinating history, including a Royal visit. All I had to do was hood-wink two very bright teenagers and hope they didn't notice we were off to yet another Ye Olde World pub!
So, why am I boring you with all this anyway?
Well, Alison's family the Duxbury's live in Devon, and Alison went to Uni. in Exeter. She knows that area of Devon pretty well. So, I've got to know quite a few great places to taste brilliant Real Ales - and in some amazing pubs too. As regular Blog readers will know, we don't just sell wine, we sell beer too. No cans, just bottles, and mostly imported non-mainstream beers. Recently we have been expanding our English Ale range @ Surf4Wine (and particularly local beers).
Saturday was hectic family day and the kids had got bored, so I whisked them off for some sea air while Ali caught up with the relatives. By the time the evening came and we were heading back from the wilds of North Devon we were all feeling peckish - and some of us thirsty too!
I was racking my brains for where to go that was family-like but without bouncy castles and adventure playgrounds - I think I'd have got a thump from them and Mrs. C if I'd suggested that. I don't know why I was worrying though - Alison had it all under control - the Duxbury local knowledge came good once again! Alison really does know her husband very well - The Beer Engine at Newton St. Cyres was duly telephoned, a table reserved and Andrew started to get quietly smiley as the thought of this well-known and highly respected brew-pub began to drift into his salt encrusted brain. I am so glad I married Alison for many reasons, but this has to rank up there!
We had a great meal there. For a place most known for it's beers brewed on the spot, this Pub serves some brilliant food too. I managed a couple of pints of their very well made Piston Bitter (4.3% abv) and finished with a half of their Sleeper Heavy (5.4% abv). For those of you that haven't guessed, the beer engine is right beside the railway at New ton St. Cyres - hence the great beer names. I even had Douglas trying Real Ale with a modest amount of Rail Ale (3.8% abv) where he is normally happy, like most teenagers, drinking Coke or at a push, ubiquitous lager! Best start their education properly I say - thank goodness for sensible alcohol laws, at last, as far as over 14's drinking with family while eating.
So, a great evening out with the family with some superb real ale brewed in a great little Pub. And the kids even enjoyed as it was 'not like a normal pub'. Definitely worth a visit if you are down that way.
But the best news of all? The owner has said the next time I'm in Devon, which according to Alison won't be too long, if we give her enough notice, she'll bottle us some Beer Engine Piston Ale in 50cl bottles for us to bring back to Surf4Wine's hollowed out Volcano HQ and sell online. I think we might just take them up on that one.
Posted by Andrew Barrow in News and Comments - August 27th 2007 12:56pm. Leave a comment It's Bank Holiday and, to be truthful, I don't really want to be here; but Mr C bribed me with two days off if I 'popped in'. Good thing I did really as the phone hasn't stopped ringing since I got here.
Orders, stock inquiries, a nice chat with a gent about Ice Wine and just a few moments ago a nice chat with a lovely sounding lady.
She was after a few bottles of Cullen Semillon-Sauvignon and a top-up of TMV White. All of which were in stock. Her name rang a bell - Sarah Ahmed.
"Having practised as a solicitor for 12 years, I started off my wine career with multi-award winning wine merchants Oddbins in 2000. I’ve since literally steeped myself in wine knowledge and struck out on my own in 2005 as The Wine Detective to present tastings and write about wine. I regularly write for specialist wine magazines including The World of Fine Wine, Harpers (the Wine and Spirit Weekly) and Wine & Spirit and have contributed to the wine publications The World Atlas of Wine, Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book and Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Book.
Hands on experience includes working at wineries in Spain (Bodegas Torres), South Africa (Boekenhoutskloof) and Australia (Cullen) [which explains part of the order!] and an introduction to winemaking course at Plumpton College, Sussex. "
We don't normally give out customers names, (don't worry Mr Peters, your secret love is safe with us), but Sarah is widely acclaimed as a great wine tasting host (the fact she is recommending our wines is another bonus) so I hope she doesn't mind the mention and a little publicity!
Posted by Andrew Barrow in News and Comments - August 27th 2007 12:38pm. Leave a comment While flipping through an old issue of Wine & Spirit Magazine, the April 2007 to be precise I stumbled across this recommendation for Zig Zag Zin.
Now I love a decent Zinfandel, none of your blush-stuff thank you, but a full, flavoursome delicious interpretation of California's native, State grape (although I don't actually think Arnie made it the state grape...)
This Zinfandel slips down a treat. Remember Jammie Dodger biscuits? There's something of them in here, along with spicy bramble helly flavours, earthy herb flavours and a punchy finish. Truly a smokin' wine.
The first sunshine in goodness knows how many days saw the hot line between secret hollowed out volcano that is Surf4Wine HQ and the Chapman house come into immediate use. Mr C to Mrs C 'do you think we should have a Barbecue tonight?' 'Whatever' came back the cheery reply '... so long as you do the cooking'. Excellent me thinks I. But first things first... what to drink? (Funny how that is always the first thing on my mind... oh well)
Well, Mrs. C. is currently not drinking, so what should a boy do for a drink for one? Opening a bottle for one seems a bit extreme mid-week. I could obviously chose NOT to drink it all and lave some for tomorrow, but as we are off to sunny Devon that didn't seem practical either. M'mmm... I know. Beer! But which beer to drink?
Well, just arrived in the warehouse that very same afternoon were a clutch of new beers (See Andrew B's Blog post from yesterday). One in particular I had been keen to try ever since I saw it's reappearance on our beer suppliers list: Mahou beer from Spain. In fact, Mahou Five Star beeris Spain’s best selling domestic beer brand- don't say you don't learn something new with each Blog post ;). It was a staff as well as customer favourite when we last stocked it and it only disappeared from our list when we couldn't obtain anymore. Glad to see it back - but would it taste as good as I remembered?
I should have worried, Mahou **** lived up to expectations: Lovely crisp refreshing taste, not too heavy or gassy. Perfect for drinking while I watch the prawns on skewers gently turn fro pink to light gold. Went perfectly with the garlicky, lemony prawns - and didn't lave me with too much of a bad head next day (well, being a mid-week light-weight I only had a couple - it's no fun drinking alone!)
Posted by Andrew Barrow in New Products - August 23rd 2007 11:48am. Leave a comment A whole six - yep, SIX, count 'em - beers have arrived in the warehouse today.
Always an exciting moment when new stuff arrives; there's a scramble to blag buy a few bottles to try, followed by heated discussions and then a push on the website to highlight all that is new. So here is a quick run-down:
Tui IPA from New Zealand - 'classic beer, big reputation' £27.50
Mac's Gold - 'Naturally Brewed', another from New Zealand £30.50
Fischer - packaged in a swing top, this is a fave from France £30.50
Prices listed are for a case of 24 bottles.
More strangely, nestled among the beers, was Goose Island Root Beer. Now I'm a huge fan of this classic American soft drink; but many hate the 'germolene' edge you can sometimes find. Goose Island is a boutique producer based in Chicago. Not had a chance to try it yet but I've stashed a couple in the fridge... for research purposes...
If you have not tried any of these beers before we have created a mixed sampler case containing two bottles of each (plus a free bottle of the root beer). A bakers dozen available for £18.
Posted by Andrew Barrow in Notes From The Tasting Hut - August 22nd 2007 4:57pm. 1 comment A splendid reception for the Penny's Hill, McLaren Vale Grenache.
Wishy Washy and thin? Not a chance - it's ripe and full through and through. From the slightly tarry, pepper-drenched blackfruit aroma through to the rich, smooth palate.
"Very Chateauneuf like - Grenache being one of the 13 grapes allowed in the French classic - but of course with a riper palate. Rich, elegant, wapping great alcohol though at 15% but very well balanced. Many reds from Australia come across as just too alcoholic, too rich and extracted, unbalanced in short. But this is as elegant as you could wish for."
Looks like Mr C has already marked this beaut down for our 'soon to launch' in'a cellar.
As we are always looking for quality and value, in addition to style and pure drinkability, a comparison between our Willunga Shiraz-Viognier and another version of this grape-pairing by Penny Hill was in order.
How do they compare?
The Willunga Shiraz-Viognier is a year older (2005 vintage) but about £1 cheaper. The aroma has a meaty-savoury edge - can't really detect any obvious Viognier influence here but the palate is ripe and full, with a lick of tannins on the finish.
The Red Dot from Penny's Hill is rounded, richer and riper. But with a more obvious higher alcohol. The aroma is more fruity and floral - the 5% Viognier in this blend has made a noticeable difference.
But I think the Willunga is more food friendly; the palate is not as rich but has a decent red-berry sharpness to the acidity which will be more welcoming to food.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 21st 2007 1:43pm. Leave a comment What constitutes a blog? (Apart from the engaging content, the humour, and the stylish writing of course.)
The answer is: Comments. From you the reader. Blogging is all about communication; in our case with prospective and current customers. OK, so you can send off the odd email saying thanks and wot-not (for which we are always pleased and proud) and you can moan at us on the 'phone when things go screwy (luckily few and far-between), but a blog should allow you to comment directly in response to the post in question. A facility so far lacking on the Surf4Wine blog.
Until today!
Our marvellous technical team, led by our webmaster, fondly known as Captain Kelvin (because he's always on the ball and looks good in lycra), has revamped the blog and has enabled a comment facility. So comment away! I would love to receive feedback on the subjects I write about on an (almost) daily basis.
So feel free to share your thoughts on the wines we're blogging about. And if you've any ideas on what food to match them with, go ahead and let us and thousands of Surf4Wine readers know!
Posted by Andrew Barrow in Notes From The Tasting Hut - August 20th 2007 4:40pm. 4 comments It's been sweet wine all the way in the tasting room so far this week - which shouldn't indicate any sort of plan to our weekly 'new lines' tasting, things just happen depending on samples received or the current topic of conversation.
There were several interesting wines, of which a few will certainly be added to our list. One that we won't be listing is the Quady Deviation.
This was a most peculiar wine. It is described as 'aromatised' using the Essensia Orange Muscat as a base and infusing it with Damiana and Scented Geranium.
Quady describes the additions as "a plant that has a very pleasant herbal character which is reputed to have aphrodisiac properties. Scented Geranium is said to be used in witchcraft where practitioners supposedly employ its hauntingly seductive aroma in "love potions". This combination takes dessert wines to an entirely new dimension."
We really didn't like it. Especially at over £15 for a 37.5cl bottle.
"On one hand they are trying to have lots of added things, a wine 'plus' 'plus' - but it didn't taste like a wine, it tasted like something that was trying hard to be something too funky. It failed because it didn't have a sense of terroir, balance and proportion. Too complicated, too contrived and really expensive for what it was. The question raised was "What did you do that for?"
Did they run out of ideas - ports, vermouths, stickies - the vermouth thing works; but the Deviation just doesn't. Essenica and Elysium, two other Quady wines we list, are stunningly superb and some of my favourite wines."
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 16th 2007 10:01am. Leave a comment James Boag's Premium, our most popular Australian lager, has a new stablemate. It gives me great pleasure to introduce Boag's St.George:
Boag's St George is an aromatic premium beer brewed with a distinctive citrus hop flavour to create a less bitter, highly refreshing style of premium beer. Brewed exclusively with Tasmanian pale malts, the straw colour of this fine textured, subtle lager gives a clear clue that the beer has an exceptionally smooth finish, leaving the palate highly refreshed. The beer is crisp, clean and dry, giving it a refreshing finish that is particularly suited to matching spicy food, rich in flavour.
Boag's St George is named after the knight who has featured on the labels of Boag's beers since the company began. James Boag chose St George and the Dragon to adorn his beer because of his great respect for the legend and his own belief that virtues such as courage, honour and fortitude could overcome any adversity.
Incidentally the hollowed out volcano which is the global HQ of ACFW is a mere 17.3 miles from Uffington. Dragon Hill there, just below the world-famous White Horse, is where St George slew the dragon. So it's perfect that we'd stock St George's!
Boag's St George is available to order for £32.36 for 24 bottles.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 15th 2007 2:01pm. Leave a comment Talk and debate on the future of wine tasting notes, the style, the content and whether to include ratings and scores have occupied the wine blog arena for many a long year.
Ratings abound - the 20 point scale, the 100 point, the 5 star, the kangaroo's - all are common place but all are accompanied by a textural description. Until Château Petrogasm began blogging this June.
For a long time, the problem with wine has not been pairing it with food, but rather with words. At Château Petrogasm, we evaluate and describe wine by departing from the traditional methods of review. In doing so, we hope to provide a valuable tool for wine drinkers by using colors, sketches, photography, and other visual media in order to convey both the intrinsic components of a particular wine along with a general impression of it. Wine is art, drinking it should be too!"
The visual method of describing a wine may have its limitations - as many of the wine blog writers are discovering as they engage in a multi-blog event to encapsulate a wine via a pictorial image. Tricky it maybe, but it is proving a fun exercise.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 14th 2007 5:18pm. Leave a comment Well that was a rip-roaring success! Last weeks wine of the week has, regrettably, run-out. But never fear wine-lovers we have selected a red as this weeks WOW that should keep everyone more than satisfied.
Following the Pannell Rosé we thought a nice food-friendly red was in order. Warm hand-claps and hearty back-slaps to the Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda 2006!
A new wine to the list and our first Argentine Bonarda. This is a grape that, in hand with Malbec, is at the fore-front of the Argentine red wine league.
Bonarda arrived in Argentina during the 19th century, brought in by Italian immigrants. Wikipedia links Bonarda to the Charbono grape grown in California and it could also possibly be the famous Dolcetto of northwestern Italy.
Regardless of its origins it does make some cracking wines. Our Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda being a fine example - picked from a host of competing bottles on the grounds of taste (first and foremost) and price. For £5.99 this is superb. We are touting it as an excellent barbecue wine; but it is suitable for a host of meaty dishes.
The label/wine has been developed by Italian Alberto Antonini and his partners at Altos Las Hormigas where they are concentrating solely on developing the one single varietal, Bonarda.
Albertos' view is that the Mendoza region produces wines from Bonarda that are substantially better than those produced in its home country, Italy.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 13th 2007 4:40pm. Leave a comment
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve and Pioneer
Block 2006 - Surf4Wine Blog readers save 10%...
We had long, long ago sold out of our allocation of Saint Clair
Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.
So, a phone call last week offering us a further allocation was an
unexpected and very welcome surprise! Plus we now have more Pioneer Block wines
to offer...
As ever, quantities available of these wines are tiny. So, it's first
come, first served.
Plus, as an incentive to Surf4Wine Blog-watchers, we'd like to offer you a very
special discount of 10% off your order. Please use promo code STC07 to
activate the discount on your order.
To order online please click on the wine name below.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 11th 2007 2:21pm. Leave a comment A tasting yesterday of various 'hey try these you really should stock them' from wannabe suppliers was a touch disappointing. So, I'm afraid Mr and Mrs Wine Rep, we probably wont.
Now, I rather liked an Australian Chardonnay but the packaging was dire and the price too high to compete well with the wines we already list. A couple of wines from France looked promising but we couldn't work out which one was which from the importers price list. We HAVE to know the price to judge it against current listings from the same region. We're busy people if you cannot present your offerings with full and easy to find information then you have probably lost us before the wine is opened.
We do give each prospective new listing our full attention. We consider price and packaging in addition to the normal wine things of appearence, aroma and taste. Often comparable wines from the warehouse are opened to see how each stack up against one another.
One highly reliable way of judging a wines quality is to see what gets taken home that evening!
Mr C I noticed ferretted-away a half bottle of the Foundstone Raisined Semillon; a delicious sweet wine that has a tinge of spice that marries beautifully with cinnamon-edged desserts. Cinnamon being one of my most favourite of spices. Me? I grabbed the Omrah un-oaked Chardonnay. Not yet on our list but I think, judging by its reception it soon will be!
Left on my table was a slightly corked bottle of Australian Shiraz. Another thought for prospective suppliers - ensure your offerings are at least drinkable
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 10th 2007 5:50pm. Leave a comment Two great recommendations in the September issue of Decanter. The Wines of The Month ("The best affordable wines to snap up and drink now") have profiled our Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon-Blanc Semillon, 2006 and Poggio Al Tesoro, Solosole Vermentio, 2006 -
Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, 2006
Buy for £14.95 Vanya Cullen's biodynamic Semillon-Sauvignon is a great example of finely executed blending. The Semillon has a classic candle wax aroma and there are lifted citrus and grass notes from the Sauvignon. Full and silky with zingy acidity.
Poggio Al Tesoro, Solosole Vermentino, 2006
Buy for £12.99 "Vermention (Rolle in Southern France) can produce fruity, floral wines of great character. This is a classic example with those floral aromas combining with slightly spicy anise notes on the nose. It displays its food-matching potential on the palate, which is silky yet robust with plenty of acidity"
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 9th 2007 2:34pm. Leave a comment Right, so you have noticed that today is actually Thursday and Wine Blogging Wednesday, as its name obviously indicates, is supposed to occur on a Wednesday. What can I say - I forgot!
Lenn, the founder of this monthly wine event, is the host this round, with 'getting naked' being the theme. Nothing too raunchy - this is the world of wine after all - but naked as in unoaked; with Chardonnay being the grape variety.
Wines I have been wanting to sample since joining Surf4Wine include the Omrah range from Western Australian producer, Plantagenet. We stock their Unoaked Chard. which fits the event perfectly
Plantagenet Omrah Unoaked Chardonnay is currently £8.29 for the 2005 vintage. Pure, unadulterated, ripe, pungent aroma - a touch of butter, a hint of grass, un-ripend peaches. The palate is very rich. Intense and full. Nothing shy about this wine. Is that melon? Those under-ripe peaches are in there for sure and a burst of fresh citrus acidity on the finish. Full and fresh.
Omrah, incidentally, is the name of the vineyard. It is named after the SS Omrah that spent 18 years ferrying settlers and soldiers to and from the Western Australian shores. "Omrah now sails on our label embodying the true character of Western Australia; a pioneering spirit built from youthful enthusiasm".
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 7th 2007 11:11am. Leave a comment Our Wine of The Week is an excellent way of discovering our range; highlighting as it does choice wines from our range. Proving very popular too if orders are any indication.
Last week the Checkerspot Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, 2004, from Paso Robles, California went down a storm. For £7.99 you get a huge amount of delicious wine for you money.
S C Pannell Rosé hails from Australia, McLaren Vale to be precise and is absolutly delicious. With the sun now shining this would be superb with barbecued food, salads and other summery fare. Mr C found almost a perfect match with a juicy hunk of lamb last weekend (just looking at the picture makes me hungry!).
Matthew Jukes in his Top 100 Australian Wines 2007 is certainly a fan too -
"Steve Pannell probably doesn't really want a rosé in the 100 Best 'cos he makes such smart reds (read on). But this is just too much of a temptation for me and besides very few people understand Grenache the way he does. The result is a strawberry (fruit and hull) concoction of unnerving beauty and purity - it will be drunk by men too!"
Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 6th 2007 4:38pm. Leave a comment A busy day in the office - orders (lots), quotes for a large Polish vodka order, deliveries of Champagne to half-a-dozen Europe capital cities... which is my excuse for a rather short blog post!
Astoundingly good value for one of the best Chard's emanating from New Zealand. Normal price is £22.50 but 'while stocks last', as the saying goes, we have it listed for just £15.50 a bottle.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on August 5th 2007 2:09pm. Leave a comment
What a glorious day Saturday was! Not a cloud in the sky and no sign of rain - bright sunshine all the way.
In the morning good friends Robert and Jayne had their marriage blessed in the Chapel at The Queen's College in Oxford where Rob is the Butler. A lovely few hours were then spent in the idyllic surroundings of The Fellow's Garden, drinking Cray Montlouis Cray, enjoying the sun and catching up with friends (in a former life I was The Butler at Queen's too!)
Back at home in the afternoon: what is it about the sun and suddenly everyone wants to start throwing water about? Well, the inevitable happened and daughter thought she could give slow old Dad a bit of a soaking before he could catch her. Ha, showed the youngsters how to throw water about!
Anyway, after all that excitement we were hungry and started thinking of food. I really fancied cooking, but not indoors. So, daughter and her b'friend were despatched to shops with a list while I set about sorting out the Barbecue.
Menu Baked Camembert (no, not on the Bar-B-Q!) On the B-B: Boned leg of local lamb (check out the new butcher at Q-Farm Shop at top of Steventon hill if you live anywhere near Didcot junction of A34. Meat comes from neighbouring farms and is superb!) Courgette salad
No sooner had I started thinking of food than I immediately thought 'and what to drink?'
Well, it's hot work all that thinking, not forgetting the cooking to come. So first up is a nice cold beer, Ramsbury Gold. As some of you will have read in earlier Blog posts from the other Andrew, we are expanding our British bottled beer range. I called into one of our customers, The Radnor Arms at Coleshill, Friday afternoon and Shelley had just taken delivery from Ramsbury Brewery, a brewery whose beer I have drunk at another of our customers, The Trout at Tadpole Bridge. Anyway, Shelley and I got chatting and that's how I ended up with a nice cold Ramsbury Gold in my fridge to drink while planning the Barbecue. Really good, refreshing beer - a rich golden coloured beer produced by blending optic malt, crystal malt and a small amount of torrified wheat. Added to this are goldings and styrian golding hops which give that distinctly light hoppy aroma and taste. Look out for this one soon at Surf4Wine.
Wine-wise I had earmarked a bottle of Grenache Rosé from Steve Pannell for drinking over the week-end, and this looked like the perfect opportunity. Rosé is the perfect Summer wine - especially a full-flavoured one like this.
Steve Pannell makes brilliant wines, and this Rosé captures his magic touch with the Grenache grape variety in a fantastically Summery way. Steve's wines have been getting rave reviews, as they deserve. Two of particular note are from Jancis Ronbinson and a mention in Matthew Jukes 100 Top Wines of Australia (See Blog from last week). So, I was eager to see how it would work with the lamb later.
Shoppers returned, I set to boning the lamb. Everyone loves Sausages on a Barbecue, but I have to say it's the flavour that charcoal cooking gives to the meat that I love. And I do like to experiment above and beyond the humble sausage (although we don't havesuch things as humble sausages Chez Chapman with Dews Meadow Farm only a mile or so away!) Barbecuing lamb like this is one of my favourite Summer foods. But then I do love lamb!
First make up a marinated of natural yoghurt, couple crushed cloves of garlic, and some herbs - and I got chance to bash it all together in my pestle and mortar pounding the garlic, fresh mint and rosemary together - all very Jamie Oliver! Spoon over the lamb (rub it in even, if you don't mind getting hands all smothered in goo). Leave in fridge.
While the lamb is martinating we can get the Camembert ready. Oh what a simple dish, and oh what a taste! Simply unwrap the Camembert and put it back in its wooden case. Stud the cheese with sprigs of rosemary, slivers of fresh garlic and sprinkle with a dollop of good olive oil. Bang in the oven for 10 mins or so until all melted, and hey presto, perfect starter - eat with fresh crusty bread. Warm, gooey, garlic-infused cheese dripping off crusty bread - yum!
Time for a glass of Rosé: Brilliantly refreshing, crammed with ripe berry (especially strawberries), the wine has a wonderful purity of fruit. Flavour-packed, whilst still having a good zip of acidity. VERY yummy and will go perfect with the lamb.
The lamb will take about an 45 minutes or so to cook, depending how you like it - we go for pink here, but no blood. Start to cook once flames have died down and their is a light dusting of ash on the charcoal.
Served with my current favourite Summer salad of roasted Courgettes and goats cheese. We had a few pine nuts left from a dish earlier in the week, so we toasted them and scattered them onto the salad. Very, very good - well, it must have been as there were clean plates all round.
... and just about dark enough now to light the fire pit outside and toast some marshmallows - prefect end to a perfect day (wine with toasted marshmallows is one for another day!)
Posted by Andrew Chapman on August 2nd 2007 9:36am. Leave a comment A few more of our Australian wine range that have made it into Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007.
Cullen Diane Madeline Cabernet/Merlot 2003 [£33.50] "This is utterly spellbinding, Pauillac-wounding wine that embodies the heart and soul of the world's most renowned red grape variety. The balance here is exceptional, the complexity baffling and the finish makes it into next year."
Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2005 [£9.99] "In my humble opinion this is Mitolo's finest 2005 vintage release - strange that it's the cheapest! Dramatic fruit and oak balance and a stunning, laconically appointed demeanour make it a must buy!"
Clonakilla Shiraz/Viognier, 2005 [£29.99] "The challenge every year for Tim Kirk is to keep his adoring fans happy and satiated - 2005 CSV is doing much more than that and sending us into raptures. This is one tasting sample that got completely demolished with every aroma adored and every drop savoured. In a class of its own - monumental"
Brokenwood Graveyeard Shiraz, 2004 [£40.50] "This is my favourite Graveyard in years, but don't expect a fanfare and dancing girls. This wine has vulpine qualities and it prowls around your palate looking for signs of fleshy weakness before it strikes. Nervy, animal and uncompromising, this is an edge of the seat red wine."
Mount Horrocks Gordon Cut Riesling 2006 [14.75] "Every year. Steph's sweetie makes the hit parade. She leads the pack and the pack seems to have stopped chasing. A wonderful treat and a magical flavour that I never tire of."
Posted by Andrew Barrow in Wine Tasting Notes - August 1st 2007 2:59pm. Leave a comment We are ecstatic that several of our wines have been featured in the Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007.
Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2006 [£9.99]
"Half genial, fruit driven charmer and half demented axe-wielding nutter - this wine can be drunk with the spiciest Zuma-blessed creations, or sipped with the Queen and an innocent cucumber sandwich. How are you feeling today? This wine has the answers"
Cullen Chardonnay 2004 [£24.85]
"Vanya is in tune with her vineyards and her wines and this Chardonnay shows this rare and superb partnership in all its glory. Chardonnay is so easy to make well ,but incredibly difficult to make brilliantly. Cullen improves and augments its holistic recipe every year and the results are amazing."
SC Pannell Grenache Rosé 2006 [£8.99]
"Steve Pannell probably doesn't really want a rosé in the 100 Best 'cos he makes such smart reds (read on). But this is just too much of a temptation for me and besides very few people understand Grenache the way he does. The result is a strawberry (fruit and hull) concoction of unnerving beauty and purity - it will be drunk by men too!"
Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2006 [£12.99]
"With succulent, bruised plum fruit and a mass of soy sauce sweet and sour moments, Charlie has bolted another turbo unit to the back of his beloved rosé (sorry, deep, rich, 'red' coloured wine) and it is a joy to behold. Strap yourself in for a hilarious ride."
I think these notes speak for themselves; five more tomorrow!
Andrew Chapman Fine Wines Ltd - Registered office: 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY Registered in England. Company no. 5496317. VAT no. GB873 7934 72. You must be aged 18 or over to order.
+44 (0)7720 587073
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Each vintage the chaps down at 
Some years ago there was a rather good 'independent wine merchants' fair in 
It's Bank Holiday and, to be truthful, I don't really want to be here; but Mr C bribed me with two days off if I 'popped in'. Good thing I did really as the phone hasn't stopped ringing since I got here.
While flipping through an old issue of Wine & Spirit Magazine, the April 2007 to be precise I stumbled across this recommendation for Zig Zag Zin.
A whole six - yep, SIX, count 'em - beers have arrived in the warehouse today.
A splendid reception for the Penny's Hill, McLaren Vale Grenache.
What constitutes a blog? (Apart from the engaging content, the humour, and the stylish writing of course.)
It's been sweet wine all the way in the tasting room so far this week - which shouldn't indicate any sort of plan to our weekly 'new lines' tasting, things just happen depending on samples received or the current topic of conversation.
Talk and debate on the future of wine tasting notes, the style, the content and whether to include ratings and scores have occupied the wine blog arena for many a long year.
Well that was a rip-roaring success! Last weeks wine of the week has, regrettably, run-out. But never fear wine-lovers we have selected a red as this weeks WOW that should keep everyone more than satisfied.
A tasting yesterday of various 'hey try these you really should stock them' from wannabe suppliers was a touch disappointing. So, I'm afraid Mr and Mrs Wine Rep, we probably wont.
Two great recommendations in the September issue of Decanter. The Wines of The Month ("The best affordable wines to snap up and drink now") have profiled our Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon-Blanc Semillon, 2006 and Poggio Al Tesoro, Solosole Vermentio, 2006 -
Right, so you have noticed that today is actually Thursday and 
Our 
What a glorious day Saturday was! Not a cloud in the sky and no sign of rain - bright sunshine all the way.
Well, it's hot work all that thinking, not forgetting the cooking to come. So first up is a nice cold beer, 
Steve Pannell makes brilliant wines, and this Rosé captures his magic touch with the Grenache grape variety in a fantastically Summery way. Steve's wines have been getting rave reviews, as they deserve. Two of particular note are from 
While the lamb is martinating we can get the Camembert ready. Oh what a simple dish, and oh what a taste! Simply unwrap the Camembert and put it back in its wooden case. Stud the cheese with sprigs of rosemary, slivers of fresh garlic and sprinkle with a dollop of 
A few more of our Australian wine range that have made it into Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007. 
We are ecstatic that several of our wines have been featured in the Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2007.
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