Gold Medal & Trophy Winners 2010
Award Winning Wines 2010
For your enjoyment we have selected a range of award winning wines from the world`s most prestigious and influential independent wine competitions held this year, primarily from the big two: the International Wine Challenge and Decanter World Wines Competition, but others too. For instance, we are especially delighted to stock the Palacio de Fefinanes Albarino which won this year`s coveted OLN`s New Wave Spain Trophy for their 2009 vintage. All the wines in our selection represent a mix of gold medal & trophy winners from around the world. They have been subject to the most rigorous and demanding selection processes, evaluated by many of the greatest wine tasters in the world, and they have beaten off their competition to win the top awards in their category; so you can be assured the wines are both of high quality and typical of their type. Stocks are limited due to the high demand for these award winning wines, so to be sure of your order please do not delay!
1. Palacio de Fefinanes Albarino 2009, Rias Baixas (Spain) £19.99
The original and best Albarino, this their best vintage ever has won all the awards and best/Trophy in its category. Fabulous vibrancy with lively acidities and complex, exotic notes. No oak, it has great purity and minerality with complex notes of mandarin, apples and juicy stone fruits. Excellent choice for seafood.
2. Gigondas, Les Hautes Terrasses, Boutinot 2007, Rhone (France) £14.99 (R)
Great Rhone this for a very fair price – low yielding Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes deliver rich, black cherry fruit flavours mingled with chocolate, mixed spice and subtle vanilla undertones; rich and intense, ideally served with roast beef and hearty casseroles.
3. Dignite Syrah, Vin de Pays d`Oc 2007 (France) £9.99 (R)
Great value Syrah from Languedoc-Roussillon. Complex bouquet of black cherrries and kirsch laced with cinnamon and vanilla. The palate, a simple breaktaking, rich, powerful expression of brimming black fruits suffused with an oaky, mocha nuttiness and a final lick of pepper. One for roast beef or game.
4. Nieto Senetiner Reserva Malbec 2009 (Argentina) £8.99 (R)
Fantastic value – deeply flavoured Malbec, full-bodied, concentration of blackberry, plum, violets and fig compote, supported with a spicy, vanilla, mocha finish. One for roast beef or game.
5. Cometa Fiano, Planeta 2008 (Sicily) £23.99 (W)
Deep gold-orangey wine with a huge personality. The Fiano grape at its most expressive, luscious yet minerally with a citrus thread. You know right away this is special. Aperitif.
6. Basket Pressed Shiraz, Skillogalee, Clare Valley 2006 (Australia) £19.99 (R)
Dark, rich Shiraz, intense and powerful with a mix of blackberry and red fruits and a tasty oak and pepper background. Beautifully defined and well balanced. Best food: fillet of beef steak!
7. Vidal Icewine, Peller, Niagara Peninsular (Canada) £35.00 (Sweet) 37.5cl
A rare gift from a magical Canadian winter. The finest Vidal grapes picked at the coldest moment of a winter`s night. Each frozen grape to one golden, luscious, intense drop of sweet nectar. A treat to enjoy on its own or with almond tart.
8. Margaret Barossa Semillon, Peter Lehmann 2004 (Australia) £16.99 (W)
Classic Semillon – lanolin and beeswax with lemony lift and softly rounded middle showing initial honeyed development. Wonderful example – silky rich yet lively and zesty. Enjoy best with richly flavoured seafood.
9. Man O War, Dreadnought (Syrah), Waiheke Island 2008 (NZ) £28.99 (R)
Our first winery visit to NZ earlier this year – we loved this wine then, and it has gone on to win all the awards. Fabulous, layered, complex. But also try the M0W white label Syrah – also gorgeous at £18.99. Both work perfectly with roast beef.
10. Lavico, Duca di Salaparuta, Nerello Mascalese 2006 (Sicily) £17.99 (R)
Sprightly blend of 90% indigenous Nerello Mascalese grape and 10% Merlot, grown on the slopes of Mount Edna. Aromas of allspice and black fruits, cherry and bramble, with hints of vanilla. Soft and ripe on the palate with layers of lively dark fruits, superb choice with red meats and cheese.
11. Penley Estate Gryphon Merlot, Coonawarra 2008 (Australia) £16.99 (R)
Rich, luscious Merlot displaying floral berry characters and a soft, mellow fullness. The sweet grapes were picked late for maximum ripeness and power, as indicated by its 15% alcoholic strength. One for rich red meat dishes or mature cheese.
12. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marborough 2009 (NZ) £11.99 (W)
This NZ Savvie has been a favourite of ours for some time so we were delighted it struck gold again. Mixture of tropical fruits and stone fruits with a lift of citrus and gooseberry. Classic Marlborough.
13. Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling, Eden Vale 2004 (Australia) £15.99 (W)
Bouquet of fresh limes and honey. Pure and appetising. On the palate classic lime juice backbone and refreshing dry, racy acidities. Enjoy most with seafood.
14. Quinta do Crasto, Douro 2008 (Portugal) £12.99 (R)
If you have never really bought red wine from Portugal, ask yourself why not? Then try Crasto with steak. Grapes include well known names such as Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franc and Touriga Nacional !
15. Essensia Orange Muscat, Quady, California 2008 (USA) £10.99 (Sweet) 37.5cl
Extraordinary wine – we love it! Smells and tastes of orange blossom, with lovely intensity, finishing with citrus freshness. One for fruit tarts and crumbles.
16. Montgras De Gras Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, San Antonio Valley 2009 (Chile) £9.99 (W)
Cool, classy Sauvignon Blanc fermented in stainless steel and aged `sur lie` to extract maximum fruit. Elegant, zesty with fine gooseberry, grapefruit characters persistent to the end.
17. Yalumba Viognier, Eden Vale 2009 (Australia) £12.99 (W)
Expressive Viognier, orange oil perfume with honeysuckle, apricot and white peach in buckets. Delicious palate, rounded, luscious, finishing long with citrus freshness.
18. Jim Barry The Lodge Shiraz, Clare Valley 2008 (Australia) £12.99
Robust wine stuffed with bramble, mulberry and raspberry fruits with chocolate, kirsch, menthol and rosemary in the mix. A sensual palate with ripe tannins.
19. Amarone Costasera Classico, Masi 2005 (Italy) £49.99 (R)
Majestic wine, super-charged and joyously extravagent with its display of raisin and cocoa aromas and flavours, dried fruits and spice, yet it retains an elegance which is sublime. Comes in its own 6-bottle wooden box.
20. Henriques & Henriques 10 YO Malmsey, Madeira (Portugal) £18.99 (Sweet) 50cl
Dark sweet fortified wine, 20%Alc, incredible aromas and flavours of walnuts, dried fruits, coffee and caramel. Full bodied, powerful, opulent choice for the Christmas Pud, or simply enjoy on its own by the fireside!
21. Tokaj Dobogo `Mylitta` Noble Late Harvest (Hungary) £14.99 (Sweet) 37.5cl
Both fresh and intensely sweet, with vibrancy and richness. This is a fresher style Tokaji than Aszu: delicious peach, apricot and orange characters with a citrus, pear and vanilla long finish. 70% Furmint, 20% Harslevelu, 10% Muscat.
22. Chateau Laville Sauternes, Bordeaux 2006 (France) £36.99 (Sweet)
Luscious, rounded, concentrated and silky, this wine ticks all the boxes and then some. Its deep golden honeyed character works superbly well with almond tart, but why not be Francais for a night and serve chilled with a savoury starter!
23. Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, Martinborough 2007 (NZ) £36.99 (R)
Another gold winner we have supported for a long time and visited earlier this year – recently given Grand Cru status as a result of the excellence achieved over so many years. Low yield Pinot, serious and complex with dark brooding plum, rich cherry and exotic spice. Superb with beef – but also try Thai style.
24. Pouilly Fume, Domaine Bel Air, Loire 2009 (France) £16.99 (W)
We have stocked this wine for as long as I have been here! And every year it gets better – this 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is exciting, racy, smoky, mineral-rich, pure, ripe and simply delicious with seafood, or famously with goats cheese!
Late entry:
25. Rioja Inspiracion Valdemar Edicion Limitada 2004 (Spain) £31.99 (R)
Superb limited bottling of a special cuvee Rioja which is so heavenly I felt compelled to search it out and buy it to add to our award winning line up, even though I had already made up the twenty four. Sensual and spicy blend of Tempranillo and Graciano with ripe black cherries and creamy toasty notes. Won Trophy.
10% discount when you buy 12 bottles (any mix)
All 75cl bottles unless stated.