Red Wines

French Regional

80  Grenache Syrah 2006, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, France  £14.00
Excellent value. An easy drinking everyday wine.

81 Les Auréliens, Domaine de Triennes, Vdp du Var 2003  £24.00
Burgundian superstars Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac) and Aubert de Villaine (D. Romaneé Conti got together in the early 90’s to develop this estate. Predominately Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of Merlot. Full bodied, a dry finish.

83 Domaine Ferrier Ribière Cuvée Tradition 2001   £23.00
Vin de Pays Catalan
Red berry fruit flavours and supple tannins.

84 Pinot Noir, Bouchard Ainé, Pays d’Oc 2007    £19.50
The southern outpost of this famous Burgundian house. Juicy, strawberry fruit and great value.

ITALY
Veneto, Piemonte and the North

92 Corvina, Alpha Zeta, Veronese 2004     £16.50
Hand harvested grapes and low yields have resulted in a wine with dark berry fruit with a touch of black pepper. Soft and supple tannins with good length.

93 Valpolicella, Allegrini 2007      £25.00
The quality of Allegrini’s wines is impeccable; they are among the elite of the world’s best producers of red wine. Wonderful fruit, balance, intensity and above all drinkability.

94 Dolcetto D’Alba Rossana, Ceretto 2006    £31.00
The Cerotto family is as Italian as Ferrari. The family own plots in Piedmont’s finest vineyards and are very highly regarded. Soft, smooth and fruity.

95  Berbera d’Asti, Alasia 2003      £19.00
Traditional northern Italian variety which has been given a modern winemaking twist by ageing in small new oak barrels. Perfectly mixes spice from oak with the grapes natural bittersweet style. Flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate, plums and morello cherry.

96 Barolo, Brico delle Viole, G.D. Vajra 2003    £40.00
Full bodied and powerful. Dense, plum coloured, rich and truffle scented.

Tuscany

100 Brunello Di Montalcino, Fossacolle, 2002    £47.00
A tiny 2 hectare estate, owner Sergio Marchetti wines have won several recent awards including a Decanter Award. Aged in large “botte” for 12 months and a further 12 months in barriques. Voluptuous and chocolatey fruit.

101 Villa Antinori, Toscana 2003      £28.00
One of Italy’s top winemaker families, Antinori has made a cracking bottle of wine at a very reasonable price. Predominantly Sangiovese with a little of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Big, firm, full of dark black fruits, great with red meat.

102 Morellino Di Scansano, Moris Farms 2005    £29.00
Lush black cherry fruit, great value from one of Tuscany’s top estates.

104 Saffredi, Maremma Toscana, Le Pupille 2002    £81.00
Is this Tuscany’s best red? Certainly Robert Parker’s rating suggests so. Made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 15% Alicante, the wine is aged for 18 months in new French Oak. An exquisite, toasty, smoky and black fruit scented nose, a fabulously rich and hedonistic wine.

Chianti and Southern Italy

111 Chianti, Cantine Leonardo 2007      £17.50
Leonardo’s hallmark is lovely colour and fragrance, with depth and good acidity. Modern Chianti at its best.

113 Chianti Rufina, Selvapiana 2005      £26.00
Selvapiana makes some of the most stunning red wines in Tuscany. This is very “food friendly” – brilliant with pork dishes.

115 Salice Salentino, Costa Savella 2001     £16.00
A light bodied red with plenty of fruit.

116 Angelo, Nero d’Avola/Sangiovese, Sicilia 2007   £16.00
Rich, ripe and fruity, this is especially good with pasta and rich sauces.

SPAIN

118 La Planta, Bodegas Arzuga, Ribera del Duero 2007   £24.00
The vineyards are planted alongside the fabled Vega Sicilia. 100% Tempranillo, elegant, silky mulberry fruit with just the right amount of oak.

119 Tinto Pesquera, Ribera del Duero 1998    £39.00
Alejandro Fernandez’s reputation continues to grow and his wines are now very sought after. Dense black colour packed with rich, oaky sweet blackcurranty fruit.

120 Monte Clavijo Rioja Tempranillo Tinto Joven 2007   £17.75
Ripe and juicy Red, excellent on its own or with food.

121 Petalos Del Bierzo, Palacios 2006     £25.50
Alvarro Palacios learnt his trade initially from his father’s estate in Rioja and then as understudy at Chateau Petrus, he was recently described as one of the top 10 winemakers of the world. Made entirely from old vine Mencia grapes, this is a boldly flavoured wine, packed with wild damson fruit and hints of lavender and thyme (these grow wild throughout the vineyard)

122 Rioja Puerta Vieja ‘Crianza’ 2005     £21.00
Rioja at its most seductive. Ripe, fleshy, charming and a touch of spice.

123 Rioja, Conde de Valdemar Crianza, Bujanda 2004   £23.00
This hi-tech winery has won many plaudits for its pure, fresh fruit driven reds – we agree!

124 Rioja, Bodegas Ondarre, Reserva 2002     £25.50
 Sweet, earthy black fruits, good balance.

126 Rioja, Monte Real, Gran Reserva 1998     £39.00
 Impeccably made Rioja, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruit. Full bodiedxxx

CALIFORNIA

Bin No
132 Dry Creek Vineyard, Heritage Clone Zinfandel 2006   £30.00
A 90 points plus rating from Robert Parker must make this one of the best value wines on our list. A dense purple colour with a sweet black fruit nose, great balance.

AUSTRALIA

135 Heywood, Shiraz, S.E. Australia  2007     £15.50
Powerful, rich berry fruit and spice. Subtle oak, and great length. Great with red meat and game.

136 Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2005     £27.00
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Phil Sexton from Giant Steps has built a state of the art winery and brings in the fruit from other top estates. Silky Pinot fruit at a reasonable price.

137 Hellfire Bay Shiraz Grenache 2005     £20.00
Western Australia
Generously flavoured: spicy with fresh berry flavours, combining perfectly for a wine to be enjoyed with many foods.

138 Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006     £19.50
South Australia
Hill Smith family at Yalumba are Australia’s oldest family owned winery. Medium bodied with blackberry and mint flavours.

140 The Gatekeeper, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005    £25.50
McLaren Vale
Perfect vintage, deeply coloured with hints of eucalyptus and mint.

142 Bremerton ‘Tamblyn’ (Cabernet/Shiraz/Merlot/Malbec) 2003  £24.50
Langhorne Creek
Bremerton Estate is a family vineyard in the cooler Langhorne Creek region of South Eastern Australia. Ripe cherry aromas, soft tannins and good length.

143 Harry’s Monster, Giant Steps Vineyard 2004    £40.00
Owner Phil Sextons youngest son saw what he thought was a monster in the vineyard – hence the name. A very impressive red, this Bordeaux style wine is one of our favourites with rare Roast Beef.

144 Cullen Cabernet Merlot 2001      £68.00
Margaret River, Western Australia
This wine is made from exceptionally low yielding dry farmed vines. The wine manages to combine huge concentrations and weight with refined structure, balance and great length. Gold Medal International Wine Challenge winner.

145 Yarra Yering ‘Underhill’ Shiraz 2003     £76.00
Yarra Valley
Dr Bailey Carrodus is a perfectionist, making unique and highly sought after wines in the cool Yarra Yering valley of Victoria. Sweet nose of black fruits, intense, stylish and elegant. Limited production – definitely worth seeking out.

NEW ZEALAND

Bin No
150 Eradus, Marlborough 2007      £30.00
Hand picked grapes aged in French Oak for 9 months results in a black cherry nose with chocolate and savoury characteristics.

CHILE

155 Andes Peak Merlot 2007       £16.00
Made by one of Chile’s foremost winemakers – Thierry Villard. Ripe, plummy Merlot, with just enough oak to add weight and complexity, without being overbearing. A classy, long finish too!

158 Les Robles, Carmenère 2007      £21.50
This ‘Fairtrade’winery in the Curico Valley was recently nominated ‘Best Chilean Winery’. Damson fruit flavours. Long rich finish.

159 Los Vascos, Cabernet Sauvignon, Domaine Rothschild (Lafite) 2005    £27.00
Located in the Colchagua Valley this is one of Chile’s oldest estates. Powerful, rich and full.xxx

SOUTH AFRICA

160 Eagle’s Cliff, Pinotage, Western Cape 2005    £20.00
South Africa’s ‘national grape’ is a cross between pinot noir and cinsault. Strawberry fruit, good balance.

163 Klein Constantia, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Constantia 2004     £25.50
Superb vintage, this Bordeaux style blend from one of South Africa’s top vineyards is a cracker. Elegant with rich plumy fruit.

164 Bainskloof Merlot, Breede River 2007     £16.50
 Brightly spiced nose, ripe cherries and cassis.

ARGENTINA

170 Altos Los Hormigas Malbec 2006      £19.00
This Malbec has dark, plummy fruit that seems to last forever. Ripe, smooth finish with fine tannins and lots of finesse for such a flavour-packed big wine.
 

“Ah! Bouteille, ma mie, Pourquoi vous videz-vous?” Molière

WHITE WINES

FRANCE

Burgundy

200 Chablis La Colombe,Paul Boutinot 2007      £24.50
Steely, mineraly flavours with hints of baked apples.

202 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, Moreau-Naudet 2005      £39.00
Stéphane Moreau is one of the bright young stars of Chablis. Packed with Citrus fruit flavours and a touch of honey.

205 Bourgogne Blanc Les Setilles 2006, Olivier Leflaive     £27.00
Leflaives wines are superb, fresh sherbety nose with background tropical opulence.

206 Saint-Veran, Domaine de la Croix Senaillet 2005   £27.50
Richard Martin is a great discovery. An all stainless steel cellar and moving towards bio dynamic wine making, makes his winery one to watch. We thought we were tasting a Puligny when we first tasted this.

207 Meursault, Vallet Frères 2005       £50.50
Lashings of buttery texture, but also good fruit, weight and concentration. If you’re looking for richness, class and something special, this is the one!

208 Mâcon-Farges, Domaine Talmard 2006     £26.50
Paul and Mallory Talmard have no intention of becoming superstars. They only produce one cuveé of Mâcon each year – but it is one of the best value Chardonnay’s on the list.

209 Auxey-Duresses La Macabree 2003, Olivier Leflaive   £34.00
Sweet citrus, nutty character – drinking beautifully.

210 Mâcon-Verzé, Domaine Leflaive 2006      £38.00
Almost cult status wine, this biodynamic vineyard is producing great wine. Clean white fruit with a hint of butter.

211 Mâcon-Village, Domaines de la Bon Gran, J. Thevenet 2004     £34.50
Jean Thevenet is one of a handful of great winemakers in Macon producing wines far above their class, much more akin to Cote de Beaune than Macon. A complex and intriguing mix of vanilla, buttered toast and toasted nuts.

212 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Perrières, Etienne Sauzet 2005      £66.00
Gérard Boudot’s wines are always in demand. Opulent, plump with a dollop of pear and minerality.

213  Chassagne-Montrachet, Morgeot 1er Cru, 1998     £64.00
Louis Jadot
Powerful and complex, pears and baked apples

214 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Bonneau du Martray 1994     £111.00 
Tropical fruit, rich and precise with lemon and pear flavours.

Loire

220 Château du Cléray, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Sur Lie 2006     £17.50
We tasted loads of different Muscadets (most of them were pretty average) before plumping for this cracker. Great balance and acidity, perfect with shellfish.

221 Sauvignon de Touraine, Domaine des Corbillieres 2007     £20.50
A Sauvignon Blanc from the central Loire that puts many a more expensive Sancerre to shame! Crammed with curranty, herbaceous fruit and a very stylish palate, this new addition to our list is sure to win many friends.

222 Quincy, Domaine Trotereau 2006        £25.50
Sauvignon Blanc at its best, crisp and pure fruit.

223 Sancerre, Domaine Michel Girard 2007       £28.50
Bone dry with hints of gooseberries and a touch of peach.

225 Pouilly Fumé, Le Calvaire, Domaine P.Renaud 2006     £28.00 
Very pretty and full of fruit, good balance, perfect with shellfish.

227 Vouvray ‘le Mont’ Sec, Huet 2004      £36.00
Huet’s Vouvrays are some of the most highly acclaimed wines of the region. Good Vouvray can age for decades and this is a wonderful opportunity to taste a wine from an excellent vintage with some bottle age.

France Regional

250 L’attitude,Sauvignon-Colombard, Côtes de Gascogne, 2007     £14.00
Fresh, citrus fruits, good to drink with food or on its own.

251 Chartreuse de Mougères, Muscat Petit Grains, Vdp d’Oc 2006     £16.00
Bone dry with dollops of Rose petals.

252 Bellefontaine Chardonnay Vdp d’Oc 2007      £14.50
Full-bodied with a buttery nose perfectly balanced by tangy citrus flavours.

253 Marsanne/Viognier Domaine Orpin, Vdp d’Oc 2006   £18.50
This 35 hectare domaine pays great attention to detail, owned by the professor of oenology at Montpellier University. Floral bouquet, lovely as an aperitif on the lawn.

254 Bellefontaine Viognier 2006, Vdp d’Oc     £14.50
This is a good not-quite-dry wine which will go with most foods.

255 Sauvignon, Domaine la Prade, Vdp Côtes de Thongue 2006     £14.75
Crisp and clean with a touch of apple.

256 Picpoul de Pinet, La Croix Gratiot 2007      £18.00
Picpoul is the grape, Pinet the village, which lies just below Montpellier. Bone dry, zesty citrus fruit, fabulous with seafood. The best Picpoul we have tasted.

Rosé

260 Château La Moutete 2007, Côtes de Provence,      £20.25
A pale, delicate pink wine from Provence with light and subtle flavours of peaches and sweet spices. Just how a good rose should taste.

261 Rosé, Domaine de Triennes, Vdp du Var 2006       £22.00
Owned by two Burgundian superstars (Dujac and D. Romaneé Conti) this 100% Cinsault is fresh & vibrant and perfect on a warm day down by the river.

262 Domaine Coste, VDP Cotes de Thongue 2006       £14.00
This up and coming appelation is in the Hérault on the South East Coast just below Montpelier. Lovely salmon pink colour, crisp and refreshing.xxx

Alsace

265 Gewurztraminer, Cuvee des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre, F.E. Trimbach, 2000       £43.00
Lychee, peaches and apricot fruits. Gorgeously balanced, concentrated and intense.

266 Gewürztraminer ‘Tradition’, Caves de Turckheim 2004     £23.00
With spicy. floral aromas on the nose and rich spicy, smokey palate, this is a fantastic partner for any spicy or aromatic food.

267 Pinot Blanc Réserve, Cave de Turkheim 2005     £19.00
Dry, fruity and elegant - a lovely aperitif wine or great with fish.

268 Riesling, Prestige, Cave de Ribeauville, 2005      £27.00
Bone Dry character with candied lemons and pears, long and supple finish.

GERMANY

280 Kreuznacher Riesling Kronenberg 2004, Germany    £14.00
Fragrant and flowery

ITALY

290 Alasia Muscat Sec        £15.50
Aromatic and incredibly fruity. If you can imagine squeezing a bunch of ripe grapes into your glass, then this is what you’d get. A wine set to become a firm favourite this summer and beyond.

291 Soave Classico, Pieropan 2006       £25.00
I have not tasted any other Soave that comes close to Pieropan’s. An obsession with detail ensures consistently great wines. Aromatic, minerally and steely character.

292 Gavi La Doria, Villa Lanata 2006      £18.25
A great expression of the Cortese grape, a fresh crisp minerality shows through.

294 Pinot Grigio, Castel Firmian 2006       £16.50
A really good Pinot Grigio; certainly a cut above the average.

295 Vermentino, Marema Toscana, Moris Farms 2005    £25.50
Moris Farms is one of the top Tuscan Estates, over recent years they have pioneered a high class white made from Vermentino. The wine is bone dry with delicate lime zest and sherbert flavours.

SPAIN

310 Veigadares, Rias Baixas 2005      £29.00
Spain’s rising star wine area is located in Galicia. Albarino grape, zippy full of fruit and a slight perfume finish.

311 Condesa Eylo, Rueda 2006      £19.50
A little down river from Ribera del Deuro, made from Verdejo grapes, the wine is fresh dry and crisp. Try it with white fish.

312 Rioja Blanco, Conde de Valdemar, Bujanda 2005     £26.00
 Oaky, very full bodied and not for the faint hearted.

PORTUGAL

315 Quinta Do Covela, Eschola Blanco, Minho 2005   £25.50
This is an ambitious blend of Avesso, Chardonnay and Gewurtztraminer. The result is a beautiful balance between fresh lemon fruit, rich tropical fruits and a hint of rose petals.

AUSTRALIA

320 Omrah Unoaked Chardonnay, Western Australia 2006    £21.50
One of the first wineries in Australia not to use oak. Delicious, and very good with fish.

323 Innocent Bystander, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Victoria 2005     £27.00
A state of the art winery, top winemaker, lovely bottle of wine – say no more!

325 Pyramid Hill, Verdelho, U.Hunter Valley, N.S. Wales 2007      £23.50
Verdelho is one of the grapes used to make Madeira, in Australia this grape has adapted very well, able to stand the heat and still retain freshness. A delicate wine with crisp orchard fruit and floral notes.

326 Knappstein, Handpicked Riesling, S. Australia 2006      £28.00
 The winery is located in Clare Valley, citrus fruits with a perfumed floral nose.

327 Chardonnay, Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard 2005       £36.00
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Meursault like quality at a considerably less price. Honey and nuts on the nose with a creamy vanilla finish.

NEW ZEALAND

CALIFORNIA

340 Firesteed Pinot Gris, Oregon 2004       £25.00
Nutty with touches of camomile and jasmine. A good change from Chardonnay and Sauvignon

341 Saintsbury Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa 2006      £37.00
 This unfiltered Chardonnay is buttery and rich with hints of baked apples.

342 Chateau Ste Michelle, Dry Riesling, Washington State 2006    £21.00
Aromas of citrus and peach with a touch of apple, good balance and a clean dry finish.

CHILE

360 Araucano Sauvignon Blanc, Lurton 2007      £19.50
Made in the Central valley by one of Chile’s best winemakers. Crisp with Citrus notes.

361 Gran Hacienda, Viognier, Santa Rita 2005      £15.50
 Made in the Maipo valley, intense aroma of peaches and apricots, floral finish.

362  Panul, Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Chile        £15.50
Founded by Francisco Errazuriz, the vineyard is in the Lontue Valley.
Apple and lemon nose, clean finish.

366 Santa Monica, Chardonnay 2005       £18.00
The winery is focused on quality, hand picked grapes and stainless steel fermentation. Peach, apricot and apple aromas – good balance.

“What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile” William Sokolin