Posted by Andrew Chapman on January 13th 9:32pm. Leave a comment
A real wet and blowy evening here in Oxfordshire. Just the night for a 'big' red, and they don't get much bigger than this!
But for such a big wine the southern Rhône-styled 'Ned and Henry's' Shiraz Mourvèdre 2004 from Dean Hewitson has very good balance, making at a not bad accompaniment to the roast Quail. To be fair, tonight's supper was trailed as the more gamey Partridge by Alison - hence deciding on such a substantial wine when I called into the warehouse earlier this evening.
Quail is a lot more delicate than Partridge, and not nearly so gamey (somewhere between chicken and Pheasant perhaps?)
so I was hoping that the wine wouldn't swamp the food flavours. It just about worked! Pepper and cloves in the wine worked really well with the smoked Bacon that Alison had covered the Quail in to stop it drying. The dark red fruit flavours of the wine made a nice contrast to the lightly gamey meat.
This might be a 14.5% big Aussie red, and so potentially too big and gutsy as a true 'food wine'. But it worked out pretty well with some tasty Quail as a heart-warming supper on a chilly January evening.
Posted by Andrew Chapman on January 8th 11:06pm. Leave a comment
Having spent the today tasting the wines of Jean-Claude Boisset in London (see earlier Blog post) , among them some top-notch Pinot Noir, I could be seen as a something of a gluten for punishment by opening Omrah Pinot Noir 2006 to drink with the Chicken Risotto Alison had made for supper.
The Omrah Pinot Noir actually had a lot in common with the Pinot Noir's I had tasted earlier. Low-ish yields and fully ripe fruit have made for good concentration - a moderately priced New World Pinot that actually smells and tastes like Pinot, which isn't always the case. Too much that passes in the name of Pinot Noir, both from France and elsewhere, lacks any resemblance to what good Pinot should be - light to medium in colour, with cherry and red fruit aromas and palate are often described as either red berry fruits, or fleshy and gamey - the latter usually as it ages. Pinot is prone to disease, very sensitive to terroir - a notoriously difficult grape variety to get the best out of.
So, all the more refreshing to taste a good Pinot at well below £10 a bottle (All Omrah wines, made by Plantagenet vineyard in Western Australia are, in my opinion, very good value for money - but then I suppose I would say that, wouldn't I!) A wonderful aroma of cherries and fleshy/gamey notes. Ripe and really juicy style on the palate. Again, fleshy, almost meaty, hints of wood-smoke. All together a very nice glass of wine, with more than a nod to the good Burgundy tasted earlier in the day.
Posted by Andrew Barrow in News and Comments - November 6th 2007 1:12pm. Leave a comment While Mr Parker doesn't quite have the influence on this side of the pond as he does in his home country (his proclamations of Bordeaux clarets aside) his reviews certainly give an independent review of wines from, what is after-all, one of the most respected palates in the world.
Penny's Hill Fortified Vintage Shiraz 2005 (91 points) "Purple/black in colour, it has aromas of coffee, mocha, fig and blackberry liqueur that leap from the glass. At 18% alcohol the wine is full-bodied, sweet and rich. How it will age is anyone's guess but it can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years with cashews, walnuts and a Cuban stogie." £27.50
Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon (92 points) "Includes 20% dried grapes in the style of Amarone. Purple-coloured, it has a fragrant bouquet of black fruits, tar and violets. This leads to a smooth-textured, layered, dense wine with enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. It has a long, pure finish and can be enjoyed over the next 15-20 years. It is a superb value." £9.99
Mount Horrocks 'Cordon Cut' Riesling 2006 (90 points) "Is sweet but has no botrytis. Gold-coloured. It has a lovely floral and tropical fruit perfume, mango and kiwi flavours and vibrant acidity. Drink it with fruit tarts and cheese cake." £14.75
Posted by Andrew Barrow in News and Comments - October 18th 2007 10:46am. Leave a comment The major wine, or rather alcohol, related news story over the last few days has been concerned with the high alcohol consumption of the wealthy middle classes.
The BBC covers the story well highlighting affluent places such as Harrogate, Woking and Guildford as 'hazardous drinking hot-spots', which sounds more like a motorway tanker spillage than a drinking issue.
We sell alcohol. Such news stories are not in our interest, but are the likes of the BBC and the Daily Mail really going to have everyone reaching for the fruit juice? While we are not disputing that excessive alcohol intake is damaging our rule is 'a little of what you fancy'.
Coincidentally Mr C proffered a glass of something cool and white earlier - an Australian wine with just 8.5% alcohol.
Trentham Estate Two Thirds 2007 is a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc; a wine that they claim has "only two thirds the alcoholic strength of a normal white wine". A level that many German wines are still set at. But this is Australian where big alcohol is pretty much the norm. The Trentham website also proclaims the wine has "40% less carbs and jouls".
Not sure if this is dealcoholised or just fermented to a low level. But it is generally dry, light, typically Semillon/Sauvignon on the nose and palate and does taste like a 'normal' wine. Until you get to the finish. Here the flavours dissipate quickly and, where you expect the alcoholic weight to be, there is little more than a disappointing damp-squib.
No decision yet made on whether the Trentham Two Thirds will be listed. We currently list several wines from the Trentham Estate
I hadn't realised quite how much of a following Hahn has created. Chatting to an Australian friend of mine alerted me to the hilarious adverts for the award winning beer. (Is Hahn award winning or is it the adverts; not too sure on that score). Any road-up the power that is the internet lets all see these adverts...
Posted by Andrew Barrow in Special Offers - September 25th 2007 1:54pm. Leave a comment The family name Tamblyn is in recognition of the family's ancestors who migrated to Australia from Cornwall. The estate has expanded much since 2004 with increased acerage, and, dare we suggest, better quality wines.
For the Tamblyn four red grape varieties - Cabernet, Shiraz, Malbec and Merlot - all grown in Langhorne Creek have been blended to provide a generous and well balanced wine showing lifted violet and ripe cherry aromas, rich mouth filling cassis fruit, complementing soft well integrated tannins and a flavoursome savoury lingering finish.
The concept behind the “Tamblyn” blend was developed when they decided to create a wine that people were able to appreciate that night or cellar for a few years. This wine is drinking superbly now but another year or so in the cellar - or under the stairs in my case - will certainly not hurt it.
For the remainder of September and through to the end of October we are offering the Tamblyn at the reduced price of £7.99 saving £1 per bottle.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on September 11th 2007 2:57pm. Leave a comment September is going to be a fantastic month, weather-wise. Or so claims Mr C! If it continues like today he may just be right.
So for late summer drinking what do we have? How about the Mitolo Jester Rosé?
I have a little glass in my hand as I type - a clever trick indeed! The wine is dry, crisply so on the finish. Some may say this makes it incredibly food friendly, and they wouldn't be wrong, but it is a delight to sip on its own. Interestingly it is made from Sangiovese, a grape of Italian origin, that doesn't have huge plantings in Australia but on the strength of this (and others) it is proving its worth.
Cherry fruit, raspberries, quite deep and 'manly', even a lick of tannin perhaps just to get those gums a-quivering. For £9.99 I have to say it is superb.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on September 10th 2007 2:38pm. 1 comment Radical! Not one, not even two but THREE wines on offer this week. Our popular Wines of the Week special sees a range of wines from South Australia highlighted for your delight and delectation.
The Redfin Chardonnay 2005 now £4.99
A fresh clean young wine, with just a touch of oak for a rounded, biscuity texture.
The Redfin Sangiovese-Merlot Rose 2006 now £4.99. Don't the Aussies do rosé well! This, a great little blend of Sangiovese and Merlot has a lovely, summery, floral edge with a liveliness and rounded berry fruit. It is fruity, dry and perfumed and utterly delicious.
The Redfin Shiraz-Grenache 2004 now £4.99. A juicy and fruit-driven wine where the attractive, spicy blackberry characteristics typical of a good young Shiraz are complemented by the subtle use of oak.
Each of the above is discounted this week by a £1. But if you buy the mixed-six Redfin Taster Case you save a further £1 on top (being a massive £8 discount in total!).
It's gotta be done - three great wines offering more than a little character at just £4.99 a bottle.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on September 6th 2007 1:36pm. Leave a comment
The sound of popping corks... guaranteed to get Mr C's interest!
And after sipping on the offerings yesterday too, I can see why. A range from Penny's Hill, accompanied by Sophie Hislop (who sports the title of Group Brand & Relationship Manager) popped into the tasting hut to 'show us what they've got'.
Interestingly they all come with cork closures. A facet that Sophie explained was all part of the 'traditional brand' image Penny's Hill was creating. Pressures from Australia may mean, she continued, that the whole range is placed under screw-cap from the 2007 vintage. No final decision has been made though.
Six wines, plenty of discussion and the inevitable end-of-session photo shoot. (Pictured - Sophie and Andrew Chapman).
The Penny's Hill Chardonnay (£11 approx) stood out for me; not just because the estate concentrates on red wines and I was interested in seeing how they handled a white variety, but simply because of the stunning 'nose' - a complex, lightly honeyed, sophisticated aroma that was not swamped by oak. Taste-wise it wasn't half bad either! Their flagship wine, the Penny's Hill Shiraz (approx £14.50), came across as deep, dark and positively sinful with layers of peppery chocolate wrapped in a creamy blanket but the Penny's Hill Footprint Shiraz (around £28) was certainly the star.
This is a single vineyard, choice selection wine made only in the very best years. Its richness from aroma through to the palate was remarkable but tempered by a gloriously refined edge that simply screamed class and deliciousness. You get what you pay for I guess!
While we negotiate which of the wines to list you may be interested in the Penny's Hill Grenache that is already available. A mouth-filling wine of balance and deliciousness (try it lightly chilled on a warm day) for only £13.99.
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 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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A real wet and blowy evening here in Oxfordshire. Just the night for a 'big' red, and they don't get much bigger than this!
Having spent the today tasting the 
While Mr Parker doesn't quite have the influence on this side of the pond as he does in his home country (his proclamations of Bordeaux clarets aside) his reviews certainly give an independent review of wines from, what is after-all, one of the most respected palates in the world. 
The major wine, or rather alcohol, related news story over the last few days has been concerned with the high alcohol consumption of the wealthy middle classes.
The family name Tamblyn is in recognition of the family's ancestors who migrated to Australia from Cornwall. The estate has expanded much since 2004 with increased acerage, and, dare we suggest, better quality wines. 
September is going to be a fantastic month, weather-wise. Or so claims Mr C! If it continues like today he may just be right. 
Radical! Not one, not even two but THREE wines on offer this week. Our popular Wines of the Week special sees a range of wines from South Australia highlighted for your delight and delectation.
A splendid reception for the Penny's Hill, McLaren Vale Grenache.
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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