‘New Zealand isn’t just famous for Sauvignon blanc! From the best known wine producer, here is a marvellously smooth, light, silky red, especially suited to those of you, who don’t like big, heavy, blockbuster wines! This one is gentle, velvety, and oh so delicious! It’s cool, smooth, and irresistible, brimming with aromas and flavours of raspberries, cherries, and fresh herbs; it’s full of vibrant, juicy red berry fruits, and soft warm spice – this is a great red to drink on its own, and it will match perfectly with seared duck breasts, roast chicken , gammon steaks, rich pates, and will also cope beautifully with spicy Indian and Thai beef and lamb dishes.’ Angela Mount Winner of International Wine Challenge Commended Medal 2011 Winner of Decanter Wold Wine Awards Bronze Medal 2011
The fifty-two hectare vineyards of Adegas Tollodouro are entirely planted with the Albariño grape variety. This is a relatively new producer, situated on some of the gentler, southwest facing slopes in Galicia. Their aim is to make clean and fragrant wines in their well equipped, modern 'ultima tecnologia' winery. Based in the western -most corner of Galicia, not far from the rugged Atlantic coastline, this grape and style are perfectly matched to the local dishes based around an unending array of Atlantic fish. This remote corner of Spain remains undiscovered by the hordes, but offers a wonderful, martime climate and temperate summer conditions, ideally suited to white wine production. Also grown in northern Portugal, this grape is known as the Alvarinho grape in Vinho Verde country.
Leaving behind careers in medicine and molecular biology, Doctors John and Brigid Forrest established Forrest Estate in Marlborough's stony Wairau River Valley in 1989. This cheery pair won a coup at their first vintage, scooping a trophy at NZ's national wine awards. This inviting Pinot Noir offers aromas of sweet, dried cranberries and warm earth, and a beautifully fresh palate of ripe red summer fruits. John Forrest drinks it with quail risotto. Leaving behind careers in medicine and molecular biology, Doctors John and Brigid Forrest established Forrest Estate in Marlborough's stony Wairau River Valley in 1989. This cheery pair won a coup at their first vintage, scooping a trophy at NZ's national wine awards. This inviting Pinot Noir offers aromas of sweet, dried cranberries and warm earth, and a beautifully fresh palate of ripe red summer fruits. John Forrest drinks it with quail risotto.
Made in the village of Givry which was the preferred wine of Henry IV, maybe because this town in southern Burgundy's Côte Châlonnaise (a low ridge running from Beaune, recently granted its own appellation) was the birthplace of his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. Guy Chaumont's holdings are now certified organic by 'Nature & Progrès'.
An archetypal Champagne from an historic house, this brand is the epitome of quality and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in a wooden gift box is one of the most impressive gifts you can give. Madame Clicquot's wine displays a superb marriage of freshness and power - gorgeous and deceptively pale colour with fine, persistent bubbles -a poised, delicately bready nose - and on the palate a richness of fruit and mouthfilling mousse that lingers long. A fine apéritif and an absolute treat with oysters.
Under the ownership of the Mau family since 1998, Château Preuillac has been extensively restored in the winery and vineyard. Situated on the gravelly Médoc plain where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, giving aromatic blackcurrant, plum and spice scented notes, yet with firm supple tannins and the complexity of barrique maturation, producing a beautiful creamy vanilla oak finish.
From one of the oldest producers in Rioja, and from a winemaker boasting over 25 years' experience, comes this lively Crianza packed with ripe, supple red fruit, good acidity and well-balanced vanilla characters from gentle use of oak. Roast meats, stews and casseroles are a great match for this warming red.
Soft, supple and succulent, with very ripe plummy fruit, a wine to reach for if you're tucking into rare roast beef. Outwardly imposing, the château at the heart of this estimable family-run estate remains firmly shuttered. Madame Colette Darnajou, viticultrice at Perron, has more pressing demands than housekeeping or running a 'B and B'. She produces clarets of finesse and intensity from her (predominantly Merlot) vineyards on the clay-rich soils of Lalande-de-Pomerol.
Raw material: Pomace from various grape types. Production zone: Friuli Venezia Giulia. Tasting profile: White, transparent, with a crisp note of flowers; pleasingly strong, full-bodied and harmonious in the mouth, with an elegantly lingering persistence. Alcohol content: 50% alc./vol. Serving temperature: Room temperature. Ageing: In ash barrels for three to six years.
