Wine for the weekend

Wine for the Easter weekend – Sonoma Coast chardonnay

Wine for the Easter weekend – Sonoma Coast chardonnay

A few days ago we found ourselves in Kentucky, at 10pm, eating bison burgers (don’t ask) — but one of the better decisions of the evening was to order a bottle of this extremely tasty chardonnay. [Read more...]

Food & Drink,Wine for the weekend

Wine for the weekend – Fleurie Domaine Fernand Verpoix

Wine for the weekend – Fleurie Domaine Fernand Verpoix

For those who like their reds on the lighter side, gamay is a grape to get into. Previously (well, in the Eighties) it was synonymous with the now rather clichéd Beaujolais Nouveau, which, more often than not, was a thin, acidic and disappointing red. These days, gamay takes on a variety of guises, with recent vintages such as 2003 and 2005 being especially noteworthy for their deep and rewarding flavours. [Read more...]

Wine for the weekend

Wine For The Weekend – Lategan Brut 2007

Wine For The Weekend – Lategan Brut 2007

You probably won’t get away with opening a sparkling that doesn’t have the word “champagne” plus Dom Pérignon/Veuve/Roederer, etc, on the label next (Valentine’s) weekend so tonight, for something less wallet-denting, we think this Breedekloof Brut makes a damn good aperitif. “Young winemaker of the year” De Wet Lategan heads up the winery, which has a growing reputation for excellence. Stocks are limited, so move quickly. £12 at www.laithwaites.co.uk

Wine for the weekend

Wine for the weekend – Amani Cabernet Franc-Merlot 2007

Wine for the weekend – Amani Cabernet Franc-Merlot 2007

The Arch hotel launched last night; it was an excellent party. Too good in fact. And too much time was spent in the martini lounge. So it’s with aching head in hand that we make this week’s recommendation – Amani: a gutsy kill-or-cure red from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Clocking in at 14.5%, it’s all you would expect from a cab franc/merlot blend: lush red fruits (blackberries and cherries), liquorice and spice. Tannins are smooth and silky, making for a well-balanced mouthful. It’s a high-impact wine for 15 quid, and one that has made us sit up and take notice of this boutique winery. Serve with steak. £14.50 at www.laithwaites.co.uk

Wine for the weekend

Wine For The Weekend – Bonterra Rosé

Wine For The Weekend – Bonterra Rosé

How can it still be January? Frankly, we’ve had enough. And, with Milan/Paris fashion weeks whetting our appetite for spring, we thought it was high time to pour a glass of something which anticipates the coming season. Cue Bonterra rosé: an organically produced Californian pink from Mendocino County, that is packed with flavours of strawberries, cherries, elderflower. It’s a juicy blend of sangiovese, zinfandel and grenache, which has enough dryness to mark it out as one for the more sophisticated end of the rosé market. £10 at www.waitrosewine.com

Food & Drink,Wine for the weekend

Wine for the weekend – Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006

Wine for the weekend – Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006

“If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!” Miles Raymond, Sideways, 2004

Robert Mondavi, the Californian wine-producing legend, revolutionised the way we think about wine. Throughout his remarkable life, he aggressively championed the labelling of wines varietally (rather than regionally, by producer, etc, as in the old world). So as we happily proclaim that pinot noir is our favourite, or that we’d never touch a merlot, it’s worth remembering that this wine-slurping lexicon is thanks, largely, to Mondavi. [Read more...]

Food & Drink,Wine for the weekend

Wine for the weekend – Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2006

Wine for the weekend – Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2006

South Africa’s reputation for producing incredibly good Chardonnays is now well-established, and it has wines like the Rustenberg Five Soldiers to thank. From one of the cape’s oldest estates, this Decanter magazine award-winner uses grapes from a tiny vineyard on the North West slopes of the Helderberg mountains, producing a wine that’s rich, nutty and memorable. £29.50, www.fortnumandmason.com

Drink,Wine for the weekend

Wine for the weekend – Domaine les Yeuses ‘Les Epices’ Syrah 2007

Wine for the weekend – Domaine les Yeuses ‘Les Epices’ Syrah 2007

Vin de Pays = plonk, non? Perhaps in some cases (we’d normally be reaching for a AOC in preference), but not when it comes to this cheeky syrah from Domaine Les Yeuses. [Read more...]