Shedding light on the power of wine & spirits, to create stardom from the unknown.
★ ★ ★ Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin, 90 score, £52.25. Forceful, oaky nose, chewy, dense & assertive; with grip rather than finesse. Rich with ample weight & texture. Long finish and built to lay down 10 years. 13.5%.
★ ★ ★ Les Suchots, Vosne-Romanee, 92 score, £61.40. Scented, smoky & chocalatey, quite concentrated but has a freshness and shows a light touch. Sauve with coffee tones on the long, elegant finish. 13.5%.
★ ★ ★ Rognet, Corton ’09. Score 90 at £56.28. Lean but stylish red fruits nose. Earthy tannins, considerable vigour, fairly rich & concentrated. A hint of varnish, long finish, drinking till 2025. 13.5%.
★ ★ ★ Charmes-Chambertin ’08, £92 with 93 score. Full-bodied, formidable black fruit concentrated, powerful reticent on nose. Long, spicy & persistent finish, lively acidity with charm. 13.5%.
Last week 250,000 people around the world clinked glasses to celebrate World Whisky Day. One day? ONE DAY??!! Whisky is something to celebrate every day, everywhere, so this week we’ve rounded up our top whisky distillery tours from around the globe. (Hic.)
With a history dating back to 1903 when John Jameson & Company entered into an agreement with Gilbeys Wines & Spirits Import Company to supply new make whiskey which was then ‘bonded’ in old sherry & port casks.
Single Pot Still whiskey is unique to Ireland and Redbreast Whiskies are exciting examples of how it is crafted from both malted unmalted barley and then triple distilled in a traditional copper still.
The result are whiskies of unrivalled richness, complexity & smoothness. Hints of creaminess on the finish round out an true Irish Whiskey of pedigree. The Redbreast 21 year old is a fine representation of the signature sherry style.
Bordeaux is famous for its Fine Wines and Classed Growths, though the vast majority of production is affordable, food-friendly and ready to drink on release! Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot – names you recognize from New World wine labels. But did you know that in France they are the grapes of Chablis, Sancerre, and Bordeaux.
Try these pairings:
Yellow fin tuna
coconut ceviche, avocado and lime
Wine: Castel Firmian Traminer Aromatico
Wild sea trout
confit baby fennel, lemon, red quinoa
Wine: Lagrein Rosato
Rock oysters, smoked salmon, trout caviar & watercress
Wine: CHAMPAGNE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT GRAND CRU 2004, or LE MESNIL
CHAMPAGNE BRUT ROSÉ NV, PHILIPPE GONET.
Pot roast pheasant with flamiche & ceps
Wine: CHAMPAGNE BLANC DE NOIRS ‘CUVÉE SPECIALE’ NV, RENARD BARNIER, CHAMPAGNE BLANC DE BLANCS, BRUT GRAND CRU 1990, A. R. LENOBLE.
Stonking new Priorat ‘Lo Petit de la Casa’ Minerally, orange blossom white from Cesconi in northern Italy – awesome premium Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from Mac Forbes Californian Cabernet ‘Decoy’, from legends Duckhorn Canadian Ice Cider!!
A delicious festive recipe from Francesco Medini, bar manager at new Mayfair haunt Mr Fogg’s. Tangy and sweet with bourbon and berries. • 50ml bourbon • 25ml Berry’s red port • 20ml mulled wine spice syrup • 15ml lemon juice • 30ml blackberry puree • Dash of egg white.
Shake and pour into a cobbler glass with ice. Garnish with spring mint and a cinnamon stick.
Names like Domaine Berenas, Tenuta di Dan Fabiano, Chateau Bella Brise, La Fontaine de Coincy, rich, vibrant Blanc de Noirs Champagne from Renard Barnier; rare white Beaujolais from Jean-Paul Brun, brilliant 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape from La Roquete, spicy northern-Rhone Syrah from masters of Cote Rotie, Gaillard.
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