Fellow Wine Lovers,
It’s that time again – a month laden with celebrations.
Monday saw us celebrating the birthday of one of our oldest customers, congratulations to him, have a glass of bubbly. Come Wednesday, the Champagne flutes were out again, as Park Vintners Limited, aka the wine shop next to the chemist on Arthur Road, celebrated the 15th anniversary of trading; congratulations to Wayne for keeping the boat afloat for so long, without any noticeable navigational assistance from his First Mate. Thursday, the new Friday, saw us continuing the flow of bubbles from bottle to bouche as we hosted the perennially popular Champagne & Sparkling wine tasting, a fitting close to our events for 2025 – cheers! And now it’s Friday, the old Friday, also referred to as Fizz Friday, so there may well be more corks a-popping as we slide into the weekend….
With a glance at headlines, it doesn’t look like there are many other reasons to bring out the bubbles unless you happen to be a famous Frenchman called Nigel. Reform UK have just seen their coffers swell to the tune of £9 million, courtesy of Chakrit Sakunkrit, the Thai cryptocurrency investor, more commonly known in the UK as Christopher Harborne. As leader of this party, we would imagine Nigel has the pin code for the company credit and will, much like his pal across the pond with his Qatari jet, use this donation in a rigorously ethical manner!
And we’re not talking sport this week, because we’re bored of Arsenal being Arsenal and Tottenham being Tottenham, whilst AFC departed the FA Cup over a month ago. Cricket chat is verboten, too emotionally charged, whilst Harlequins are just a 15 man Spurs.
In 3 weeks’ time, the Wincanton Mares’ Handicap Chase will have gone off at 12.53 and any excesses of the previous day will be being washed away by pints of Guinness in plastic glasses and horizontal drizzle – at least, that’s the plan. Yep, you’ve been warned, less than 21 days until Christmas, is shopping time running out? If you think it might be, we might be able to help…
As ever we have put together some Seasonal Selections that look something like this:
Our December Selection – £100
- Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2013, Robertson, South Africa
- De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2024, Robertson, South Africa
- Wairau River Pinot Gris 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Geoff Merrill Bush Vine GSM 2016, McLaren Vale, Australia
- Herència Altés Cupatge 2023, Catalonia, Spain
- La Cantina Pizzolato Pinot Nero 2024, Veneto, Italy
Our Claret Selection – £130
- Château Cardinal 2015, Montagne-St-Émilion
- Château Clauzet 2017, Saint Estèphe
- Château de la Coste 2020, Margaux
- Château Grandis 2015, Haut-Medoc
- Croix de Marsan 2020, AC Bordeaux
- Château Mayne Viel 2020, Fronsac
Our Christmas Day Selection – £150
- Lété-Vautrain 204 Brut NV, Charly-Sur-Marne, Champagne, France
- Creation Chardonnay 2021, W.O Cape South Coast, South Africa
- Terlaner Classico 2024, Alto Adige, Italy
- Bodegas La Horra Corimbo 2021, Ribera del Duero, Spain
- Clos Henri Pinot Noir 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Crociani Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2021, Tuscany, Italy
Our ‘Posh’ Selection – £250
- Champagne Tarlant Zero Brut Nature NV, Champagne, France
- Boekenhoutskloof Goldmine 2024, Western Cape, South Africa
- Sylvain Dussort ‘Cuvée des Ormes’ 2021, Burgundy, France
- La Fleur de Bouard 2014, Lalande de Pomerol, France
- Sokol Blosser Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2022, Oregon, USA
- Sesti Brunello di Montalcino 2019, Tuscany, Italy
There you go, something for everyone we reckon – tasting notes are attached to this email for further delectation!
With talk of wine and celebrations, here’s what we’re going to open this weekend. As we are still only 15, we can only drink soft drinks but you lot might enjoy:
Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2013 – £20.99
Whilst hailing from Roberston in South Africa, this traditional method wine is named after the Brewer family’s Huguenot relatives from the Loire Valley. Rich, yet elegant after spending the best part of 9 years maturing on its lees, the wine has a citrus character counterbalanced with creamy yeast notes and a complex finish with real finesse. A fabulous way for you to celebrate our Birthday!
And then, two new listings to tantalise your tastebuds with:
Boekenhoutskloof Goldmine 2024, Western Cape, South Africa – £26.99
Crafted from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Viognier, this wine reflects both precision and personality, a worthy partner to Chocolate Block. The Chardonnay was aged in French oak barriques whilst the other three varietals were matured in a combination of seasoned oak foudres, concrete eggs, and clay amphorae. This gives a layered and complex wine, medium-bodied, elegant, and vibrant, with quince, poached pear, and nectarine with hints of bruised apple and baking spice and a clean, mineral-driven finish.
Montresor Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2021 – £20.99
Made using 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Molinara all of which come from the Capitel della Crosara vineyard, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico region and which gives its name to Montresor’s top Amarone and Ripasso wines. Made in the Ripasso method, which involves adding the unpressed skins from the dried grapes, which were used to make an Amarone, to a young Valpolicella wine to impart extra flavour and body. What we end up with is a nose rich with aromas of fresh morello cherry, ripe plum and hints of dried fruits. Similar characteristics appear on the palate complemented with some crunchy black cherry fruit and hints of spice/liquorice.
That’s probably enough from us for now, it’s cold outside, why not come in for a taster!