|
801 Chateau du Vieux Parc Tradition 2005 AOC Corbieres – 5.00
Made by Louis Panis. Grown along the pebbled terraced slopes along the Orbieu River, this is a limpid light yellow
wine of great traditional character. It is round with hints of honey, toasted bread, exotic fruits and white flowers. It is 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Vermentino and is matured in oak barrels
for 6 months. I am attracted to this value wine by its superb balance. It should be served at 8-10 C.
950 Domaine St Georges d’Ibry Sauvignon Blanc 2007 VdP Cotes de Thongue – 5.00
A harvest
starting just before dawn each day, at the coolest time, ensures that the grapes are fresh at the start of the wine-making process – essential to preserve the delicate fruit flavours of white
wines. The vines are cultivated under the environmentally friendly and healthy Terra Vitis regime. This wine is light (13% alcohol), fresh and lively with scents of peach and pear and aromatic,
floral tastes and a pleasant length. Ideal as both an aperitif and with food, it is best served around 8 to 10C. Made by Michel Cros in his own domaine.
951 Domaine St Georges d’Ibry Muscat Sec VdP Cotes de Thongue – 5.00
This is a charming,
elegant wine, with a brilliant pale yellow colour and with lots of typical Muscat presentation in the nose - look for lychees and rose petals - a balanced, fresh, lively first sensation in the mouth
followed by a hint of sweetness in the length. Even at a modest 13% alcohol, it is robust enough for asparagus, exotic meals such as curries, paté, goats’ cheeses, and Roquefort. Made by
Michel Cros under a Terra Vitis regime and bottled at his domaine. Best around 8-10C.
803 Chateau du Vieux Parc Selection 2004 AOC Corbieres Terroir de Lezignan – 5.00
A delightful,
complex and rare wine (very limited production) made by Louis Panis to the East of Carcassonne. The blend (60% white Grenache (old vines), 40% Vermentino) is vinified traditionally in new oak
barrels and then matured for 8 months, with regular stirring of the lees to transfer all the flavours. Pale gold in colour with flashes of green, its nose has scents of fruit and toast. In the
mouth it is round, soft, lightly honeyed with sensations of exotic fruits and white flowers. This wine won the coveted ‘Coup de Coeur’ in the 2005 Guide Hachette.
410 Ressac Blanc Bag in Box 5L NV Vin de Table (NB 5 litres – fridge size) - 15.00
This
is a light, refreshing bag-in-box vin de table which is ideal for a fruity pick-me-up on return from work in the evening or for a quick salad lunch. The convenient 5 litre box fits more easily into
domestic refrigerators than its 10 litre counterpart. Blended by Sebastian Martin at Florensac.
655 Chateau Capendu Blankiz NV - 5.00
Corbieres white wine laced with lemon juice – a natural quirky
and fun drink, full of flavour – which is ideal for a hot summer’s day. These drinks are lower in alcohol than the rest of our wines and are very refreshing. Earnest wine drinkers
should not even attempt to take these drinks seriously. They are just for fun – but lots of people really like them.
656 Chateau Capendu Rozangria NV – 5.00
Corbieres rose wine laced with orange juice, a rebirth of
the traditional Spanish Sangria using rose, to give a drink that is lighter and more floral, but which still has some interesting flavours to explore. These drinks are lower in alcohol than the rest of
our wines and are very refreshing. Earnest wine drinkers should not even attempt to take these drinks seriously. They are just for fun – but lots of people really like them.
653 Le Lys d’Oc Chateau Capendu 2006 VdP d’Oc - 5.00
This light, refreshing and pale dry rose
(Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache) comes from the dynamic Chateau Capendu property not far from the fortified city of Carcassonne. Didier Ragaru, the owner, is a great innovator and constantly tries new
blends and ideas. This rose is beautifully presented in a slightly ‘matt’ finish bottle with screen painting of white lilies. It is ideal with salads and lightly coloured food. Best
served around 8oC.
558 Sur la Terrasse 2006 VdP Peyriac – 5.00
Described by Caroline Panis (wife of Jean, the producer)
as a ‘vin de copains’ (wine for casual drinking with chums), this blend of Syrah, Grenache, Merlot and Carignan is designed to be immediately pleasurable and easy to drink. It is made
with strict temperature control to preserve the fresh fruitiness, which is clear in both the nose and the mouth. But despite its immediacy, the wine has a balanced and elegant presentation. It
is best drunk young at 12 – 14C, a little cooler than most reds. This is a great wine for picnics, mixed salads, tapas and barbecues.
802 Selection Chateau du Vieux Parc 2003 AOC Corbieres – 5.00
Made by Louis Panis in a long
established vineyard. His brother, Jean Panis, makes excellent wines in Minervois to the North of Vieux Parc. Louis Panis makes a range of superb wines (including the Tradition white wine which
we stock). The Selection is a clever blend of 40% Carignan (old vines, 60-80 years), 30% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 15% Mourvedre. It has a dark deep, ruby colour, with complex scents of vanilla
and spices. In the mouth it is rich and elegant with fine soft tannins. Test it against the very strong competition at this price point.
161 Chateau Sulauze Prestige 2006 AOC Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence (MAGNUM) - 30.00
Such a fine,
gold medal-winning wine, all the standard bottles are sold out and only magnums remain – but usually magnums age even better. This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot has a deep
purple colour with hints of crimson. It has aromas of flowers, pepper and coffee. In the mouth it is dry with structured tannins and with flavours of both black and red fruits. Fine,
balanced and elegant it is a great accompaniment to red meats with sauces, spicy dishes, truffles and stronger cheeses. Guillaume Lefevre is a young and dynamic winemaker whose 35Ha of vines are
located in a wonderful area, close to Aix en Provence, Arles, Les Baux and the Camargue. The name Sulauze is said to come from "Lauze", the flat stones used by local shepherds to build the
small walls called "Bancaou". The vineyards are surrounded by garrigue (wild scrubland) where bulls are raised.
.
|
