Fortified Wines
The Adnams Selection Fino, Pale Dry Sherry
Barbadillo is a 100% Spanish-owned family buisness. The estate covers some 500 hectares (1200 acres!) in the Jerez Superior, with wineries in Sanlucar de Barrameda with a total capacity of 35,000,000 litres. Not only is this estate the largest producer of Manzanilla, but they also make a comprehensively exellent range of sherries which can be found under the Adnams selection label.
Royal Esmeralda, 20-year-old Amontillado, Sandeman
In 1928 George Massiot Brown was an artist working for the Lochend Printing company, who approached Sandeman for business. Sandeman requested some designs for posters, and the remarkable silhouette of the Don was born. This has become an iconic symbol. From a Solera established in 1894, this is one of Sandeman's Rare wines. Very intense and dry it has an attractive amber colour with golden highlights, opening onto a complex nose, where the pungent notes of the original fino have been gradually softened over the years.
Crasto Superior Tinto, Douro, Portugal
The precipitous terraces that hang over the River Douro have forever been famed for the production of fortified wine and their unique combination of grape varieties, grown in the lean, schistous soils. The modern winemaking era at Quinta do Crasto dates back to 1615, but its Roman ruins suggest even earlier viticultural activity. Pioneers of quality red wines as well as fine Ports, they have now branched out, or rather up, and their new wine comes from remote vineyards in the high Douro close by the Spanish border. This has all the intensity of a Port - rich, spicy, black fruit flavours, hints of muscovado sugar but with a wild, earthy quality.
1999 Dow's Quinta do Bomfim
Dow's, founded in 1798, began buying Douro vineyards long before other shippers. Quinta do Bomfim at Pinho, acquired in 1896, is now the major source of Dow fruit in declared vintages, and home to the region's first temperature-controlled cellar. The Bomfim style is dry, structured and long-lived. This vintage is now showing its true colours: rich yet firm, with concentrated flavours of dark chocolate, prunes, violets, figs and raisins. Perfect with Colston Basset Stilton.
2007 Warre's Vintage Port
The 2007 vintage in the Douro was an exceptional year where the wines produced were universally expressive for their purity of the fruit flavours which were of a standard not seen since the 1955 vintage. This is not to say that 2007 is the very best vintage since 1955, but it is a vintage that stands out from others for its approachable elegance
Oriano Grillo di Sicilia 2010
The little-known Grillo is native to Sicily and southern Italy, and is one of the region's most ancient white grape varieties. It is more widely found in the region's fortified wine, Marsala, but is here used to make a unique dry white. Straw yellow on colour, with youthful green highlights. The backbone flavours are of green apples, accompanied by scents of almond, pear and camomile on the nose. Drink with oily fish such as mackerel, bass or bream.
COCKBURNS - LBV 2005/06 75cl Bottle
Late Bottle Vintage Ports (LBV's) are made from grapes of a single year. They are aged in oak casks for up to 6 years before being bottled, at which point they are ready to drink and being lightly filtered require no decanting. Cockburn's LBV is an intense assertive wine with bags of character. It is youthful and impulsive in style, deep red in colour and with aromas of damson, mulberry, summer fruits and chocolate. It leaves an intense sensation on the palate, and has a full feel, with some complexity from its wood ageing. The fortified element is well married to the wine presenting a harmonious balanced feel. The finish is long and attractive. Cockburn's LBV works well with blue cheese, strong Portuguese cheese (try St Jorge or Serpa) or savoury dishes with a cheese component. It also complements nuts, dark chocolate dishes, good pate or jamon. Serve at cool room temperature or if preferred very slightly chilled.
The Adnams Selection Oloroso, Rich Cream Sherry
Barbadillo is a 100% Spanish-owned family buisness. The estate covers some 500 hectares (1200 acres!) in the Jerez Superior, with wineries in Sanlucar de Barrameda with a total capacity of 35,000,000 litres. Not only is this estate the largest producer of Manzanilla, but they also make a comprehensively exellent range of sherries which can be found under the Adnams selection label.
RUBIS 50cl Bottle
An indulgent blend of fortified red Tempranillo wine and premium chocolate flavour. Velvety chocolate in the mouth with red fruit and cherry flavours. Drink as a liqueur with or without ice. The perfect dessert wine to accompany chocolate based sweets or poured over ice cream.
RAMOS PINTO - 30 Year Old Tawny 75cl Bottle
This special Tawny port is made from old vines from the various Quintas (estates) of Ramos Pinto which are situated in the best areas of the Douro region. The '30 Year Old' is a special blend of different Port wines which spend decades in the Ramos Pinto cellars, in Vila Nova de Gaia. Colour: Magnificent tawny colours with orange/brown hints. Tawny red at the base of the glass changing to greenish hues, characteristic of old wines aged in casks. Nose: Noticeably elegant. Begins warm and charming with soft tones of vanilla and dried fruits. Underlying aromas of spices such as cinnamon and cocoa. Palate: The initial flavours of dried fruits, almonds and hazelnut are followed by subtle, complex and ethereal wood and spice qualities. Culminates in a sweet, fortified finish. Best serve chilled, as a luxurious dessert wine with the finest puddings or a smooth, mellow cigar. Serve between 16C - 20 °C.
1985 Quinta do Noval, Vintage Port
Although it has passed through many hands, the estate of Quinta do Noval dates back to 1715 and has been, throughout its long history, one of the most innovative of all the Douro estates with the first ever Late Bottled Vintage style produced in 1954 shortly followed by the first aged Tawny in 1958. Currently owned by the French insurance giant AXA it is not without funds to keep its vineyards and cellars in immaculate condition. Under the charge of Englishman, Christian Seely, the focus is on top quality. One of the three finest estates in the Douro valley. A source of the finest vintage ports.
2002 Potsorts, Yarra Yerring
Using classic Port grapes, Dr Bailey Carrodus has made a remarkable, and all-Australian, vintage Port. Great with fine, mature cheddar.
Smith Woodhouse 10year old Tawny Port
Tawny port is made by ageing a ruby port in cask rather than in bottle. After a certain number of years the colour fades and the young wing mellows and turns into a delicate, richly flavoured wine.
2005 Quinta do Crasto, Vintage Port (Half Bottle)
Luscious flavours of conserved black fruits, coating tannic substance. True vintage port.
Muscat de Rivesaltes, Arnaud de Villeneuve
Made by the Arnaud de Villeneuve cooperative in the Rivesaltes region of South West France this is what is know by the locals as a 'Vin Doux Naturelle'. This is curious as there is little 'naturelle' about making this. The must of the richly sweet Muscat grapes is arrested in its process of fermentation by the addition of raw alcohol. This puts a stop to any further fermentation, and digestion of sugars by the yeast, and leaves a richly sweet fortified wine. This then spends at least 22 months maturing in vats in the cellars before being bottled. Treat this as an aperitif and have a well chilled glass before a meal or as a digestif afterwards as it goes particularly well with strong blue cheese.
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port
The 2007 vintage in the Douro was an exceptional year where the wines produced were universally expressive for their purity of the fruit flavours which were of a standard not seen since the 1955 vintage. This is not to say that 2007 is the very best vintage since 1955, but it is a vintage that stands out from others for its approachable elegance
The 2009 Vintage Port Trio case -En primeur 3 bottles per case
A delightful combination one bottle each of three great estates, Taylors, Fonseca and Croft, in an attractive wooden presentation box.
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio 'Capela', Vintage Port 6 bottles per case
The 2007 vintage in the Douro was an exceptional year where the wines produced were universally expressive for their purity of the fruit flavours which were of a standard not seen since the 1955 vintage. This is not to say that 2007 is the very best vintage since 1955, but it is a vintage that stands out from others for its approachable elegance.
Fino, Pale Dry sherry, Antonio Barbadillo
Located in the 'Jerez Superior' the long established firm of Antonio Barbadillo farm just over 500 hectares of vines. They combine state of the art winemaking facilities with ancient barrel halls that store 35 million litres of maturing sherries. They are the largest producer of Manzanilla in Andalucia but their range covers all styles.
Samos, Vin Doux, Union de Samos (Half Bottle)
Based in ruggedly beautiful Samos since 1934, the island's co-operative winery takes its role as keeper of the 3,000 year-old local dessert wine-making tradition very seriously. Their vineyards, planted to the sensuously-scented Muscat grape, cloak the slopes of Mount Ampelos at breathtaking altitudes. Fortified to 15%, this lovely wine offers a rich, sweet mouthful of toffee and fresh peach flavours and a dry honey finish. Sensational value.
GIFFARD - Creme aux Fraises des Bois (Wild Strawberries)"Tradition" 70cl Bottle
Infusion of strawberries and wild strawberries. Fresh and light flavour of the strawberry fortified with the very particular and intense aroma of the wild strawberry.
Fino CB, Bodega Alvear, Montilla-Moriles
Montilla-Moriles is an area of Andalucian wine production that has, in recent years, fallen under the shadow of its larger neighbour, Jerez. It grows the same grapes, uses the 'flor' yeast and cask ageing in a Solera system to make similar wines, the fundamental difference being that Montilla are never fortified and only achieve natural alcohol levels. It has been 275 years since Don Diego de Alvear y Escalera began, in 1729, production in the town of Montilla, an hours drive north of Malaga,. The firm is still in family hands to this day, eight generations later, and guards its traditions alongside embracing modern technological developments in the largest bodega in Analucia. C.B. comes from Carlos Billanueva, the cellar master who in the early XIXth century marked the casks containing the best wines with his initials.
RAMOS PINTO - 20 Year Old Tawny, Quinta do Bom Retiro 75cl Bottle
Was made from wine coming from Quinta do Bom Retiro, a blend with an average age of 20 years, a sophisticated, adult Tawny. Colour: Tawny colour, with a yellow halo that corresponds to its advanced state of maturity. It has the genuine colour of a wine of 20 years aged in cask. At the base of the glass is a warm red, with a light, orange-coloured tone. Nose: Lively and with a velvety texture. Fruit aromas - grapefruit, apricot, almond, hazelnut, cocoa; aromas of wood - vanilla, old Port casks; aroma of roasting - cinnamon, caramel, coffee; ethereal aromas - stearin and iodine. Palate: Effect on palate is fine and delicious. The elegance of the first contact remains through a complex sequence of dry, mature fruits, in a fresh, luscious (sweet fortified) harmony. After taste: Smooth and dry, complemented by a generous, rich persistence. Aging: 20 years in oak casks. Bottling: 2 months before being put on the market. Predicted longevity: Ready to drink. Consumption suggestions: Delicious as an aperitif, or after dining, with chocolates, desserts which are not very sweet or which are creamy, and with cheeses. Must be served at temperatures from 16 to 20 degrees C.
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port 6 bottles per case
The 2007 vintage in the Douro was an exceptional year where the wines produced were universally expressive for their purity of the fruit flavours which were of a standard not seen since the 1955 vintage. This is not to say that 2007 is the very best vintage since 1955, but it is a vintage that stands out from others for its approachable elegance
2007 Smith Woodhouse, Vintage Port 6 bottles per case
The 2007 vintage in the Douro was an exceptional year where the wines produced were universally expressive for their purity of the fruit flavours which were of a standard not seen since the 1955 vintage. This is not to say that 2007 is the very best vintage since 1955, but it is a vintage that stands out from others for its approachable elegance
Aurora Manzanilla, Pedro Romero
This classic bone-dry sherry hails from the 140-year-old Sanlucar de Barrameda wine cellars of Pedro Romero, husband of the eponymous 'Aurora'-Dona Aurora Ambrosse y Lacave-who valiantly took up the reins of the business on behalf of her sons in 1911. It's subtle, dry and fragrant with the tang of sea air, hints of the finest salted almonds and lovely depth of flavour. Best enjoyed chilled as an aperitif or with shellfish, squid or gazpacho.
