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Great Whites Chardonnay
ce 2009 £12.50 Domaine Simone Tremblay, Fran ca 2009 £11.50 Petit Chablis, Afri h Sout tia stan Con , nay ert Lamy, Burgundy, France Buitenverwachting Chardon Blanc ‘La Princée’ Domaine Hub ce 2008 £22.00 Saint Aubin Fran lot, Rou aine Dom c, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blan ‘Fixin, Maison Alex Gambal, nsula, Australia 2008 £24.00 Peni ton ning Mor , nay rdon .00 2008 £22.50 Yabby Lake Cha Dundee Hills, Oregon 2007 £38 du Soleil Vineyard Chardonnay, Clos ne Sere aine Dom .00 £24 France 2007 undy 2008 £40.00 Les Chaumées Philippe Colin, Burg Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Sauvignon Blanc
ce 2009 e, Domaine Mardon, Loire, Fran 9 £8.95 Sauvignon de Tourain 200 and Zeal New , ough lbor s Vlei’ Sauvignon Konrad Sauvignon Blanc, Mar .50 Buitenverwachting ‘Hussey e deux Mers, Bordeaux 2009 £13 Entr ’, eure Maj ée ‘Cuv caud Tur £9.95 Chateau Zealand 2010 £14.95 vignon Blanc, Marlborough, New .50 Kevin Judd Greywacke Sau Blanc, South Africa 2009 £13 £17.50 c, Greyton, South Africa 2009 Lismore Estate Sauvignon Blan
Grenache Blanc or Gris
‘L’Extrême’, Vin de Pays des 2008 £17.00 Les Clos Perdus des Pyrenées Orientales Blanc Pays de Vin es, Vign lles Viei Roc des Anges, lanes, France 2009 £25.00 ié, Vins de Pays des Cotes Cata £23.50 Milouise, Domaine Pad Cotes Catalanes, France 2009
Riesling
a 2009
ey, Australi ‘Ackland’ Riesling, Clare Vall any 2009 £11.50 Knappstein Germ , ssen inhe Rhe ter, Win t Riesling Trocken, Weingu ough, New Zealand 2008 £19.50 ok Vineyard Riesling, Marlbor £11.95 Pyramid Valley Riverbro
Pinot Blanc
ce 2007 £9.95Pyramid Valley
ce, Fran Pinot Blanc Philippe Zinck, Alsa
Viognier -
Kerner Estate Pinot Blanc, New .50
ton, South Africa 2009 £22 Lismore Estate Viognier, Grey
Chenin Blanc -
A A Badenhorst Family Wines,
Zealand 2008 £22.00
South Africa 2010 £9.50
‘Secateurs’ White, Swartland,
nce 2008 £12.50
ace, Fra Gewurztraminer - Gewurztraminer, Philippe Zinck, Als
Unusual white varieties
ena, Toro, Spain 2009 £14.95
Iduna Verdejo, Bodega Vinaguar
Interesting White Blends
ehaut, Vin de Pays de Gascogne
Ampelomeryx, Domaine de Pell
y, Italy 2004 £17.50
Oltropo Pavese, Lombard Ghiaia di Monte, Ca Boffenisio,
8 £24.00
Coastal Origin, South Africa 200
d, South Africa 2008 £32.00
Palladius Eben Sadie, Swartlan
4
2008 £10.50
inetti, Lazio, Italy 2009 £12.50
Capolemole Bianco, Marco Carp
A A Badenhorst Family White,
5
nza Navajas, Spain 2007 £9.9
a 2009 £7.95 Rioja Blanco Cria
Moras, San Juan, Argentin Torrontes ‘Pacha Mama’ Las
Great Reds Pinot Noir
Noir, Edoardo Miroglio, Bulgaria 2007 £12.50 St Ilia Pinot Noir, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria 2006 £8.95 Pinot Australia 2008 £14.95 ‘Red Claw’ Pinot Noir by Yabby Lake, Mornington Peninsula, £17.50 Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Cuvée ‘Les Deux Papis’, Delta ‘Hatters Hill’ Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand 2007/8 Mornington Peninsula, Australia 2008 £24.00 Maison Alex Gambal, France 2008 £19.50 Yabby Lake Pinot Noir, Zealand 2007 £35.00 Pyramid Valley ‘Eaton Family’ Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Burgundy 2008 £39.00 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru ‘Clos des Forets’ Domaine de l’Arlot,
Shiraz or Syrah
Badenhorst Family Red, Wine of Coastal Origin, A A Badenhorst Secateurs Red, South Africa 2009 £9.95 A A Zealand 2005 £22.50 South Africa 2006 £24.00 Schubert Syrah, Wairarapa, New
Cabernet Sauvignon Including Blends
Sauvignon Reserve, Zagreus, Bulgaria 2006 £8.95 Cape Chamonix Rouge, South Africa 2007 £7.95 Cabernet Italy £18.00 ia 2009 £13.50 Rivarossa, Schiopetto, Venezia Giulia IGT, Passion Has Red Lips by Some Young Punks, South Austral Ombrone Cupano, Sant’Antimo, Tuscany, Italy 2007 £38.00 De Toren Fusion V, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2007 £27.50
Sangiovese Including Blends
£9.95 Chianti Rufina Del Mulino, Lavacchio, Tuscany, Italy 2007 £16.50 The Squid’s Fist, Some Young Punks, South Australia 2009 Rosso del Gello, Montecucco Rosso, Italy 2006 £17.50 Rosso di Montalcino Cupano, Tuscany, Italy 2007 £28.00
Corvina Blends
£29.50
Valpolicella Superiore Carlo Ferragu, Veneto, Italy 2007/8 Amarone Ferragu, Veneto, Italy 2005/6 £85.00
Tempranillo Including Blends
Rioja Crianza ‘Aclys’, Bodegas Murua, Spain 2006 £8.50 Munia Durius Tempranillo-Merlot, Castilla y Leon, Spain 2004 £14.50
Crianza, Toro, Spain 2006 £9.95
, Spain 2001 £62.00
Rioja Gran Reserva, Bodegas Fernando Remirez de Ganuza
Malbec - Pascual Toso Malbec Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina 2008 £13.95 Cabernet Franc - Buitenverwachting Cabernet Franc, Constantia, South Africa 2006 £14.50
Barbera - Barbera d’Alba, Luciano Sandrone, Piemonte, Italy 2006 £19.50 Nebbiolo - Barolo, Renato Corino, Piedmont, Italy 2006 £32.00 Negroamaro - Copertino, Azienda Monaci, Puglia, Italy 2007 £8.95 Unusual Red Varieties
Argentina Chile 2008 £8.95 Las Moras ‘Black Label’ Bonarda, San Juan, Korta Barrel Selection Carmenere Reserve, Lontue Valley, 2006 Silene Olevano Romano di Cesanese, Cantina Ciolli, Lazio, Italy 2008 £9.95 Vinica, Zagreus Winery, Bulgaria 2008 £12.50 £13.50 Frappato, Azienda Agricola Cos, Sicily, Italy 2009
£17.00
Interesting Red Blends
-Rhone ‘Les Plates Pierres’, Domaine Marc Brugaliere, Mullineux ‘Kloof Street’ Red, South Africa 2008 £9.95 Cotes-du Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2003 £11.00 France 2007 £9.95 Hochar Pere et Fils by Chateau Musar, Italy 2008 £19.50 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico, Azienda Agricola Cos, Sicily,
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g n i l k r a p S Prosecco Frizzante, La Jara NV £10.95 6 bottles or more pay £8.95
Delightfully soft and refreshing semi-sparkling Prosecco Rebranding is a dangerous and potentially disastrous business, as the Post Office discovered when it spent millions changing its name to Consignia. Let’s hope that the Prosecco Consorzio hasn’t made a similar mistake in changing the name of its eponymous grape variety to ‘Glera’. The cunning idea was to retain the name Prosecco for the designated area or appellation within which the wine is made, meaning that no one outside Prosecco can call the wine as such and would be forced to name it after the grape variety. One has to wonder whether they deliberately chose an ugly name as a form of subterfuge against its competitors outside the region. This genuine semi-sparkling Prosecco from La Jara is delightfully soft and easy with hints of apple and quince. Drink now. Organic. 11% alc.
Prosecco Spumante Brut La Jara, Italy NV £12.50 6 bottles or more pay £10.50
Fully-sparkling dry Prosecco from the Veneto region “A life without love is like a year without summer”. Scaled down, this proverb could equally read “a week without bubbles is like a day without sunshine”. Let’s face it, over the last few years it has been harder and harder to achieve the recommended daily intake of sunbeams, at least without putting a big dent in the wallet. Prosecco is an excellent fillip for those in need of some illumination. This is a top-notch, fully-sparkling, bone dry, crisp and thoroughly refreshing example. The nose is pure and energised with gentle yet enticing orchard fruit aromas. The palate has a lovely soft texture with a touch of peach on the finish and great balance. Drink now. Organic. 11.5% alc.
Pinot Grigio Rosé Brut, La Jara NV £14.50 6 bottles or more pay £12.50
Beautiful pink bubbly, a dead ringer for high quality rosé champagne If featured in a Lonely Hearts advertisement, the word ‘bubbly’ acts as a polite notice for prospective casanovas to expect someone with a jolly personality and a penchant for arctic rolls. If featured in a wine list, however, the word ‘bubbly’ is simply a cue for celebration. This fantastic sparkling rosé, made from the pink-skinned Pinot Grigio grape, has universal appeal and doubles for a high quality rosé champagne. It is guaranteed to put a smile on even the most obdurate face. In fact, we served it ‘blind’ to a group of knowledgeable barristers and not only were they amazed to learn that it wasn’t rosé champagne, some of them even broke into a beaming grimace! It shows an elegant, pale salmon colour and a totally dry palate with hints of wild berries, shortbread and raspberry sorbet. Lovely bubbly. Drink now. Organic. 11.5% alc.
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Champagne Eric Lemaire Cuvee Privilege, France NV £24.00 6 bottles or more pay £21.00
A great value champagne that makes no sacrifice in quality “Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them”, or so the saying goes. Consider yourself thoroughly warned, therefore, and don’t come crying to us when you end up in A & E having shards of glass and photocopier toner removed from your backside. It’s a blend of 70% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, a gorgeous drop with great purity, lovely ripe fruit and a touch of coconut biscuit. The palate impresses with its soft texture and on the edges there is a pleasing wisp of sherbet along with some nutty nuances. Very smooth and perfectly balanced... it’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable Champagne to sip on. That’s sip on! Drink now-2012. 12%
Champagne Brut Comte Audoin de Dampierre ‘Cuvee des Ambassadeurs NV’ £29.50 6 bottles or more pay £26.00 Our magnificent house champagne - fine, complex and intricate
In terms of tours of duty, this champagne is verging on veteran status. Cast your eye over previous Swig lists and there you will find him, semper fidelis. All manner of whippersnapper, young pretender and next big thing have come and gone, but Dampierre still abides. Made from 50% Premier Cru Chardonnay and 50% Premier Cru Pinot Noir, it has a wonderfully incisive, tensile bite of quince and nectarine, softened by notes of toasted almonds and oatmeal. It is served in all the French embassies around the world (hence the name) and is an extremely fine match for Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Drink now-2014. 12.5%.
Champagne Dom Perignon 2002 £98.00
Rarefied vintage champagne – limited availability
So meagre is our allocation of Dom Perignon 2002, that if we were hosting a small party for our parishioners and decided to serve nothing other than our allotted quota, we would struggle to entertain more than a couple of diabetic parsons and an abstemious member or two of the Women’s Institute. That said, we are grateful for small mercies, particularly in this vintage, because there has been great interest and demand since the wine critic, Robert Parker, advised readers to “call your bank...line up the truck!” The wine achieved a 96 point score in The Wine Advocate itself, who described it as “a flashy, opulent Dom Perignon.” Drink now- 2020. 12.5% alc.
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Whites
Torrontes ‘Pacha Mama’ Las Moras
, San Juan, Argentina 2009 £7.95
Dramatic expression of Argentina’s signature white gra
pe variety
This is a simple tale of good versus evil. The forces of good dominate the nose, where joyful flavours of peach and rose petal frolic innocently in tangerin e orchards. It’s a carefree place, full of floral delights and exotic charms. However, within the palate, lurks the nemesis of lassitude and listlessness. Acidity. It arrives like a comic book villain, laughing maniacally as it zaps those idlers with laser beams of lemo n and grapefruit, scattering them in all directions. The tension and exci tement in the narrative lie in the clash between the two, where our hero, Torrontes, ultimately defeats the force s of evil, so that the wine shines trium phantly with ripe fruit flavours, while holding that pesky acidity in a head lock. Wham! Bam! Kerpow! It needs food , so enjoy it with fried chicken or sweet and sour pork. Drink now. Organic. 13% alc.
Konrad Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborou
gh, New Zealand 2009 £8.95
Light-bodied, crisp and pure Kiwi Sauvignon
‘Decent’ is a word that has been muscled out of the language by burly superlati ves, but it deserves to be reclaimed, so let’s bring back dece ncy (and, while we are at it, briar pipe s, worsted suits and monocles)! Once, a ‘decent fellow’ was the very highest stamp of merit to whic h a chap could aspire. Today, in the frenzy of marketing adje ctives, ‘decent’ sounds almost archaic, so let’s take a moment to celebrate a very decent Sauvignon Blanc. Is it ‘incredible’, ‘stunning’ or ‘outs tanding’? No, but it’s honest, archetypal and delicious. Stee ly, crisp and bright with perky Marlboro ugh flavours of green apple and lime, it’s a thoroughly good egg. Drink now. 13.5% alc. (due early December 2010)
A A Badenhorst Family Wines, ‘Secat
eurs’ White, South Africa 2010 £9.50
Thrilling and tangy old vine Chenin Blanc from the buzz
ing Swartland region
A stampede of wine writers is an ugly sight. The herd normally moves in a slow bovine huddle, although the mention of an all-expenses-paid junk et can suddenly turn them into a ball of dust. We had the good fortune to witness this extraordinary natural spectacle when we released the inaugural vintage of Adi Badenhorst’s Secateurs White 2009. A maelstrom of loafers and boat shoe s could be seen rushing back to their word processors, eager to claim bragging rights. Don’t get us wrong, we were extremely grateful for the exposure, but we really feel that the 2010 vintage is a big step up and take s the wine in a more exciting direction. It has a fine, incisive nose, with less of the honeyed richness of the 2009 and more tension and verve. The nose tingles with citrus, apri cot kernel and grapefruit flavours and the palate has terrific density, dry extract and a cool, stony underbelly. Made from old Chenin Blan c bushvines. Drink from now until 2014. 14% alc.
Pinot Blanc Philippe Zinck, Alsace, Fra
nce 2007 £9.95
Perfectly mature, creamy, toasty Alsace Pinot Blanc
Alsace used to belong to Germany unti l the French were given it in their ‘part y bag’ after the First World War. However, it would appear that German traditions still linger in Alsace, not least the custom for confusing wine labels, because guess which grape vari ety is not necessarily to be found in a bottle of Pinot Blanc from Alsace. Well done, top of the class. It’s too comp licated to explain the technicalities here , but we are pleased to say that this one does contain some Pinot Blanc although Auxerrois dominates the blend at 65%. Zinck’s 2007 is speaking fluently now, with ripe yello w fruits and lightly sautéed mushroom aromas leading to a silky, creamy palate and a toasty lingering finish. Drink now. 12.5% alc.
Rioja Blanco Crianza, Navajas, Spain
2007 £9.95
Aromatically intense white Rioja with lashings of creamy
oak
There are few wines that make quite such an impression on the olfactory senses as this fantastic white Rioja. A quick waft under his nose wou ld have had Lazarus sitting bolt upright. It’s dazzlingly zesty, toasty and spicy, with lashings of creamy new oak swirling amidst tangy pineapple and preserved lemon flavours. Really zingy, zesty and bright on the palate with lots of clove, star anise and candied lemon. Like the arrival of an irrepressible great aunt toppling your furniture as she rushes to greet you, it’s a joyful, dizzying, boisterous experience. Made from 100% Viura. Drink now. 12.5% alc.
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Sauvignon de Touraine, Domaine Mardon, Loire, France 2009 £9.95
Juicy, pure and delicious alternative to Sancerre.
find inexpensive and preferable It’s a matter of pride to both wine merchants and wine enthusiasts to -Salon instead of Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou are mind to spring that alternatives to famous names. Examples Zinfandel. This delightful Sauvignon Saint-Aubin instead of Puligny-Montrachet and bin juice instead of White Loire valley, with its juicy citrus the of de Touraine is a great alternative to some of the more famous names and we mean that most ... ity mineral chalky fine, its flavours, its hint of nettles and shinko leaf and alc. 12.5% Sancerrely folks! Drink from now until 2012.
Ampelomer yx, Domaine de Pellehaut, Vin de Pays de Gascogne 2008
£10.50
Tangy, spicy, complex blend of four varieties from south west France
front have a positive impact on Market research has shown that wine labels featuring an animal on the are affectionately known, they as labels’, ‘critter that revealed consumers and independent tests have new label designers is finding new outperform ordinary table wine labels by two to one. The problem for genus of herbivorous, even-toed extinct an animals to use, which might explain why this wine is named after the bottle transcends its inside wine the lly, Thankfu it? ungulate called an Ampelomeryx. Catchy isn’t nay, Sauvignon Blanc Chardon of blend a is It awards. ous prestigi two win to on dreadful name and has gone bright, zippy fruit, ully wonderf has and Gros and Petit Manseng. The wine was part barrel-fermented and from the oak, grillé pain and vanilla almond, of notes characterised by grapefruit and ginger, enriched by providing the n, Juranço a of cent reminis er, charact regional of sense a it The Gros and Petit Manseng give rich tangy acidity and hint of spice. Drink now-2012. 13% alc.
0
Riesling Trocken, Weingut Winter, Rheinhessen, Germany 2009 £11.5
Ripe, dry German Riesling pierced by a clean blade of thrilling acidity
with stomachs, batteries and rain, so Acids don’t have particularly attractive associations, linked as they are acids are as vital to a wine’s success but they tends not to feature as the central theme in most tasting notes, things around here and celebrate turn let’s So, glory. ive as the fruit flavours that steal so much of the descript ul showcase for the shimmering, wonderf a is Riesling d balance lately immacu the great job that acid does. This incisive sour apple bite that complement scintillating qualities of both tartaric and malic acid, which provide the cordial texture of the wine’s body. lime rich, the the ripe, peachy fruit and send a bolt of lightning through t asian foods. fragran with or aperitif an as well This is a great dry Riesling that works Drink now-2015. 12.5% alc.
0
Buitenverwachting Chardonnay, Constantia South Africa 2009 £11.5
Mouthwatering Chardonnay from the maritime region of Constantia
reluctant child forward from Forgive us for behaving like pushy stage school parents and shoving our not some karaoke Chardonnay, It’s t. spotligh the in be to s deserve the audition line-up, but this wine really wine that is proud of its roots in doing an impersonation of white Burgundy, it’s a really fine, characterful pine kernels and grilled toasted of the cool, ocean-influenced vineyards of Constantia. Wonderful aromas shells and a fine citrus oyster of tang iodine fresh the with almonds from ageing in French oak, together lity. persona of full and value good ly Extreme s. freshnes core give it complexity and alc. 12% 2. Drink now-201
Knappstein ‘Ackland’ Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia 2009 £11.95
Strict, no-nonsense dry Riesling that will whip your palate into shape.
to. I am Drill Sergeant Ackland Attention! Eyes front, shoulders back and only speak when you are spoken not mean I want to cuddle you. and from now on I am the closest thing you have to a mummy. That does y, discipline is your only friend. That does not mean I care about you. At the Clare Valley Riesling Academ you arrived. We weed out the when than ruthless When you leave you will be sharper, brighter and more shape by a process of into whipped als, individu focused are es spineless and the weak. Our graduat d. meticulous selection and rigorous training. Stand at ease! Platoon dismisse alc. 12% order. an That’s now. Drink
Buy Now: 08000 27
2 272 11
Gewurztraminer, Philippe Zinck, Alsace, France 2008 £12.5
0
Dazzling, perfectly-balanced Gewurztraminer with pristine fruit character
Its name may sound like a type of firework (“light the Gewurz traminer, Bob, it’s time for the finale”), but it comes with an entirely different set of safety instructions. We would urge you to get as close as possible to this wine in order to get maximum enjoyment and we would also suggest you return to it immediately for more pleasure. It has a starburst of aromas that will appeal to lovers of the variety, displaying rose petals, orange blossom, lychee and spice in a well-de fined, beautifully balanced frame that steers well clear of the common pitfalls of Gewurtramine r (soapy texture, flabby acidity etc.) and finishes bright, fresh, pure and lingering. It’s not totally dry but it’s not obviously off-dry either. In terms of sweetness, it’s the equivalent of turquoise. Drink now - 2015. 13% alc.
Capolemole Bianco, Marco Carpinetti, Lazio, Italy 2009 £12.5
Refined, stylishly-labelled organic white made just outside Rome
0
This is a load of Bellone. There’s some Malvasia and Trebbiano in the blend too, but Bellone is the principal grape variety that gives this wine its lovely, local identity. It’s a very fine, organically produced white from the town of Cori, situated 30 miles to the south of Rome, and displays gentle floral and fresh herb aromatics, with juicy nectarine and yellow plum flavours on the palate and a mellow fruitiness that is pure, soft and untouched by oak. Elegantly labelled, this is a stylish wine for dinner party oneupmanship. Drink now. 13% alc.
Petit Chablis, Domaine Simone Tremblay, France 2009 £12.5
Bone dry, refreshing expression of Chardonnay
0
Are humans the only members of the animal kingdom to experie nce irrational fear? Do otters have an irrational fear of ukuleles? Are badgers scared of marzipan? No, of course not. Are oysters afraid of Chablis? Damn right they are, but it’s not remotely irration al. If an oyster sees a chilled bottle of Chablis approaching, it has every reason to be terrified. In fact, lying in their beds at night, oysters scare each other with ghoulish tales of tabasco, shallot vinegar and ice cold Chablis. This brilliant Petit Chablis gives you an almost pathological craving for crustac ea, thanks to its mouth-watering aromas of lemon, greengages and lime. The palate is refreshingly crisp, with Chablis’ classic chalky coolness and nacreous minerality. Biodynamic. Drink now. 12% alc.
Chateau Turcaud ‘Cuvée Majeure’, Bordeaux 2009 £13.50
Sophisticated, barrel-aged, dry white Bordeaux in the style of a Graves
Perfecting the art of making a barrel-fermented Sauvignon/Se millon blend is one of the trickier balancing acts in a winemaker’s repertoire. Get it wrong and the wine will taste raucous, like Janet-Street Porter being pulled through a mangle. Get it right and all those wild herbaceous flavours weave together and work in perfect harmony with the spicy oak notes. Needless to say, we wouldn’t set this tasting note up with such a preface if this weren’t an example of the latter. There’s a lot of complexity apparent here in this foodworthy, dry white wine, with its notes of lemongrass, grapefruit oil, nutmeg and allspice. Long and full in the mouth, it goes extremely well with coquilles St Jacques, lobster, fish in caper butter sauce, roast pork and most cheeses, particularly goat’s and blue. Drink now- 2013. 13.5% alc.
Buitenver wachting ‘Husseys Vlei’ Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa 2009 £13.50
Distinctive and stimulating single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Constantia
The name may look like a hazard warning posted on the perime ter fence of an electricity sub-station, but don’t let that put you off. Once you have untwisted your tongue , get it ready for the finest Sauvignon Blanc experience that Constantia has to offer. It’s a single vineyard offering, exclusive to Swig customers, and we can’t recommend it highly enough . Distinctive notes of struck flint, fresh figs and lime juice leap from the glass and the palate is wonder fully dry, flinty and herbaceous with an intensely zesty core of crunchy fruit and freshly snapped pea pods. Drink now-2012. 13% alc.
12
o, Spain 2009 £14.95
Iduna Verdejo, Bodega Vinaguarena, Tor
Rich and vibrant Verdejo from Toro in north eastern Spain
Rokeby Venus, may never join La Sagrada Familia or the Whilst this 100% barrel-fermented Verdejo r and a thoroughly affai rked y-wo tifull beau a It’s particular way. it is a little Spanish masterpiece in its own fruit laced with white ion nt fruit flavours of grapefruit, lime and pass enjoyable tipple combining rich and vibra head towards the as arom these . With time the wine opens up and flowers, toast, smoke and subtle oak spice grapefruit at its and lime y tang of tion has an intense concentra more tropical end of the fruit spectrum. It its zesty grapefruit fan out impressively. The palate tingles with core, from which all these other flavours s the fruit. cloak y lovely savoury undercurrent which gentl acidity and the deft use of oak releases a alc. 13% . ly refreshing. Drink now-2012 It’s fine-textured, complex and delightful
Kevin Judd Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc,
New Zealand 2010 £14.95
dy Bay
Stylish Sauvignon Blanc made by the former winemaker of Clou
happy memories of the to be, but this wine certainly brings back They say that nostalgia isn’t what it used maker there for 25 wine chief was rising, given that Kevin Judd early days of Cloudy Bay, which isn’t surp theless has a none it dry, ly shing refre is it e and although years. This is his second vintage of Greywack and win you over try succulent fruit which, in its reluctance to discreetly impressive concentration of ripe, n forced to be perso lous garru a the wine a retrained power, like ss displaying straight away with caricature flavours, gives ngra lemo and fruit ion pass oniously, with lime sherbet, you with silent in a library. The flavours work harm upon esses itself stylish Sauvignon Blanc that slowly impr , fine balance and intensity. It’s a seriously salad se chee s character. Drink it wish sashimi, fig and goat’ 2010) mber its elegance, complexity and stony, flinty Dece mid(due alc. fresh seafood. Drink now -2015. 13.5% or n melo and ham a parm ese, milan pollo
s des Pyrenées Blanc 2008 £17.00
Roc des Anges, Vieilles Vignes, Vin de Pay
Richly rewarding offbeat white made from Grenache Gris
The head of the clan, and dominated by a handful of mafia families. The world of white wine is controlled and and Don Chardonnay. ignon Sauv Don i and abetted by his consiglier capo di tutti capi, is Don Pinot Grigio, aided e of white wine that we what comes out of practically every bottl Together they monopolise what goes in and gh to stand up to the wines like this one, that are courageous enou drink, so it’s incumbent upon us to support it was chosen by old, s year 100 ache Gris vines, between 70 and mob. Made from 11 separate parcels of Gren and flavourful ury savo ly erful wond a is at’ wines of the year and Jancis Robinson as one of her favourite ‘offbe e t, whit flowers, citrus flavours, suggesting lemon, grapefrui dry white wine, packed full of minerals and 13.5% alc. . ng to enjoy it in all its glory. Drink now -2016 chalk and wet stones. Decant before servi
Ghiaia di Monte, Ca Boffenisio, Oltropo
Pavese, Lombardy, Italy 2004 £17.50
Serene, elegant Italian white - a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and
Riesling
the colour of your never lets you down. Perhaps it brings out Admit it. You have one item of clothing that have a wine in we Well are). les (ladies, you know who you eyes or emphasises your powerful neck musc y are. reall we than r bette look us s t and probably make our wardrobe that shows us off to best effec onent comp ignon ignon Blanc and Riesling, where the Sauv al of It is this gorgeous blend of equal parts Sauv typic urs flavo lime s were blended. It is packed with the ted was aged in French oak before the two wine istica soph y subtl and peel om, lime cordial, candied lime reflect both grape varieties, with hints of lime bloss will and wine e whit n Italia ern north h is a genuinely stylis hints of struck flint and toasted oak. This alc. choose to drink it. Drink now. Organic. 13% you ever whom with you extremely well on
, South Africa 2009 £17.50
Lismore Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Greyton
Fiendishly alluring, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc from
The Cape
, our finger on one eye on the established stars of the Cape Please forgive our appearance, while we keep the competition. on eye our feet firmly on the ground and our other the pulse of any noteworthy newcomers, miles west of 40 t abou ton, Grey of recently declared wine ward Lismore is an exciting new estate from the ling notes of crack ic class with , ignon Sauv ant barrel-fermented Stellenbosch. This is a shimmeringly brilli chalk and of s wisp of riper passion and guava fruit alongside gooseberry, nettles, lime, blossom and hints creaminess d roun a and ctly judged use of oak adds dimension vanilla. There’s so much going on! The perfe balanced wellishly fiend , odied the palate. A medium- to full-b to the swathes of silky fruit that wash over . taste l you’l s ignon Sauv h One of the most stylis wine that makes you crave your next sip. 13.8% . Drink now-2013
www.swig.co.uk
13
Pyramid Valley Riverbro
ok Vineyard Riesling, Ne
w Zealand 2008 £19.50
Scintillating Marlborough Riesling fro
m the inspirational Mike Weersing
To succeed in life, you nee d three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone Spätlese-style Riesling fro . This jaw-dropping m New Zealand performs a vinous hat-trick. It offers aromatics of lime, peach, intense and compelling apricot, orange marmalade, honey, spice, toast and not slatey undercurrent. A hin es of petrol with a minera t of botrytis comes throug l, h (the result of the 25% of fruit that was included) wh late picked, noble rot affecte ich adds intrigue to an alr d eady fantastically comple leaves this impression tha x wine. It is off-dry, but bar nks to the tangy fruit that ely wa shes over the palate to cle and the very lively, yet by anse it of the sweetness no means searing, acidity that drives it. It is powerf very long. An immensely ully structured and finishe pleasurable wine that can s be enjoyed on multiple lev hungry for your next sip. els, but always leaves you Drink now-2016. 13.7% alc .
Bourgogne Blanc, Domain
e Roulot, France 2008 £2
2.00
Jean-Marc Roulot’s Bourgogne Blanc shi
mmers with citrus and minerals
After you have slapped the m, please show this wine to anyone who says they On second thoughts, don’t don’t like Chardonnay. waste it on them, they pro bably don’t deserve it and rest of us. Roulot’s Bourgo it will leave more for the gne Blanc 2008, made fro m Chardonnay harvested village of Meursault, is sha from vineyards around the rp, bright, saline and lem ony, with just the merest someone shutting a door hint of oak, as distant as in the east wing of a countr y hou se, This is cutting edge, racy, when you are standing in zesty Chardonnay for tho the west. se who like a high tensile Drink now-2014.13% alc. experience.
Pyramid Valley Kerner Es
tate Pinot Blanc, New Ze
aland 2008 £22.00
A Pinot Blanc with real character an
d sumptuous richness
Most of the beliefs we hav e about the world are bas ed on inductive reasoning the sun will rise tomorrow, . For instance, we believe because the sun has always that risen in the past. Or, that through the open bar-flap Del Boy Trotter falling will yet again be voted the nation’s funniest TV mome to Pinot Blanc, empirical nt. Likewise, when it com evidence leads us to expect es a wine that will be pleasa distinction or real charac nt and quaffable but lackin ter. Cue Mike Weersing of g Pyramid Valley. He has bar old French barrels, infusin rel-fermented the grapes g the wine with assertive in and mouth-watering aroma backbone is fleshed out by tics. A lime and citrus fru peach and baked apricot foll it owed by notes of buttered undercurrent of oak spice. toast, wet stone and an It has power and richness but simultaneously manag and succulence. Its short es to convey detail spell in oak gives it fantas tic texture and weight and nutty concentration. This it finishes with a creamy, wine is simply scrumptious. Long, complex and very foo a lesson in deliciously def d-friendly; ying expectations. Drink now-2014. 14.5% alc.
Lismore Estate Viognier , Greyton, South Africa 20
Seductive, buxom expression of Viognier
09 £22.50
that merits comparison to Condrieu
Allow us introduce you to the Jessica Rabbit of our Win ter List. Please excuse us smiles, clammy palms and our blushes, awkward tongue-tiedness… we are com pletely smitten. She is a vol femme fatale, oozing charism uptuous, luscious a, elegance and sophistica tion and commanding attent If you’re not feeling weak-k ion wherever she goes. need after just one sip, we beg you to check your pul exotic perfume of peach, apr se. She bewitches with her icot, tinned mandarins and inflections of vanilla cream jasmine and spice. She is , toast, honeysuckle, unctuous yet not overtly so; sexy without being tarty; all the aromatic allure and a magical wine displaying complexity of Condrieu. Ric h, yet fine and bright, she example of Viognier at its is a dazzling very best. Drink now-2013. 14.5%
Saint Aubin Blanc ‘La Pr
incée’ Domaine Hubert La
This is one of a number of fabulous St
my, Burgundy, France 20 08
Aubin cuvées from this producer
£22.50
We all have specific criteri a against which we evalua te whether we can be frie Some make judgements bas nds with someone or not. ed on flippant matters, like the other person’s taste in by more serious, ideologic music, whereas some judge al concerns, like whether the other person believes in cap Hilton or not. We judge by ital punishment for Paris whether or not you like the wines of Domaine Hubert know us better, you will hav Lamy. If you want to get to e to clear this hurdle or we simply can’t be friends. We sherbet-laced, streamline love Lamy’s style of zingy, d white Burgundy, which sets off the sprinkler system bracing combination of coo in your mouth with its l, white-stone minerals and lemony acidity. This sinew will gain weight over the y Chardonnay next few years, if you pre fer it richer and rounder, drink it on release, becaus but we love to e it offers such tantalising refreshment. Don’t you thi Drink now-2016. 13% alc. nk?
14
Les Clos Perdus ‘L’Extrême’, Vin de Pays Catalanes,
France 2009 £23.50
c
Exhileratingly tangy southern French white made from Grenache Gris and Blan
ng’, Albert Finney’s character, Arthur Seaton, In Karel Reisz’s 1960 film, ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morni is propaganda!” Whether or not the writer intended utters the great line: “I’m out for a good time - all the rest pithy remark is a moot point, but it’s a great line single to distil the whole paradox of human existence into a a glass of wine, for example, beyond a good time? and applies to every aspect of life. What do we want from wine that has no back label and consequently no cod All the marketing flannel is just propaganda. Here’s a hment in its scintillating burst of tangy, smoky, flinty, philosophy. Instead, it simply delivers ravishing refres not and nt ndy, but vinified in the South. Simply brillia mineral-laden citrus flavours, like a great white Burgu alc. Drink now-2014. 13.5% to be missed. A blend of Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc.
ce 2009 £25.00
Milouise, Domaine Padié, Vins de Pays Catalanes, Fran
Only a humble Vin de Pays by name, but a Grand Cru white by nature
up fashionable furniture company Möben was actually set Did you know that, despite the Germanic umlaut, the names the of ction contra a is se, this wine’s name, Miloui by a couple of Mancunians called Mo and Ben? Likewise, hilippe Padié. It’s a limited cuvée, made from a blend of Jean-P aker winem of ts paren grand Milou and Louise, the the best vineyard parcels on his estate. Jean-Philippe from two large barrels of Grenache Blanc and Gris sourced like earlier and was consequently leaner, taut and sinewy named the first barrel ‘Milou’, because it was harvested round us, genero more was and later Louise, was harvested his ‘Pépé’. The other barrel, named after his grandma, again and can begin a new story together. The wine itself ed reunit are they says, hilippe Jean-P As and full-bodied. sweet in pithy, smoky, earthy flavours, swathed is nothing short of a masterpiece and is alive with sappy, dust. Drink now-2018. 13.5% alc. quartz and grapefruit, spiced lemon and notes of struck match
A A Badenhorst Family White, Coastal Origin, South
Africa 2008 £24.00
Maverick genius Adi Badenhorst has fashioned a stunning white blend
(14%), Viognier (14%) Verdelho Chenin Blanc (29%), Roussanne (14%), Grenache Blanc en Sink (0%). The rule book (14%), Chardonnay (14%), Sauvignon Blanc (0.5%), Kitch burst onto the scene. His larger than was quite emphatically torn up when Adi Badenhorst yet within an intricate and poised life personality and passion radiate through the wine which hypnotises you with shifting framework. It’s a kaleidoscopic blend of seven varieties great harmony, with the Chardonnay patterns of flavour. Each component plays its part with giving the subtle apricot and floral giving ripe grapefruit and peach richness, the Viognier notes, and the Chenin Blanc notes, the Roussanne adding fatness and honey and pear s a little time in French oak to providing the cutting edge and tangy freshness. It spend y edge to shade the acidity. give it its soft texture, an underlying spice and a cream wonderful fruit volume, The final impression is of a delicately fragrant wine with energy that is just waiting a moreish palate of creamy orchard fruits and a harnessed n against the Badenhorst bug. to be unleashed. Health warning: no known vaccinatio Drink now-2016. 14.5% alc.
ralia 2008 £24.00
Yabby Lake Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Aust
Finesse, balance, complexity – what more can you ask for?
n, has crafted here what can only be One of Victoria’s most skilled winemakers, Tom Carso ers, working its magic with all the precision described as a “genuine beauty, mate”. This wine shimm pure and refined yet with an implicit richness, and sleekness of a Swiss Quartz watch. It is incredibly d. On day one, it is ultra-fine, taut and minerally a wine that gains extra dimension the longer it is opene a little and offers more expressive savoury and with a hint of struck match; on day two it has relaxed three it really comes alive with beautifully citrus aromas and a gentler aspect to the palate; on day lement the round, rich and impressively pure lemon, grapefruit and a subtle nuttiness, which comp exceedingly elegant mineral finish. concentrated body, all focused towards an intense and ble sense of time and place. It’s a stunning Chardonnay, which has an unmistakea 015. 13% alc. Exemplary Burgundy-style Chardonnay. Drink now-2
Buy Now: 08000 272 272
15
Fixin, Maison Alex Gambal,
0
Burgundy, France 2007 £24.0
rn appellation of Fixin the nor the m fro y nd rgu Bu ite wh ng iti exc y, Tense, edg give each other to signify that
look that we the winemaker, there’s a coded we have clocked When tasting wines in front of give each other to signify that we t tha look ther ano s ere’ . Th cial spe redundant. ng htly ethi we’ve clocked som of retching, so it’s slig ally accompanied by the sound usu t’s tha books to but note le, kab our r pea ove r uns something peered at each othe Alex Gambal, we simultaneously of northerly t ars cell mos the dy’s in e gun wer Bur of we n one Whe attention. It comes from our ped esca not tical to had iden uty ost bea lained, the soil is alm show that this wine’s for red wines, but, as Alex exp wn kno er ilable bett ava e is ch wer whi rels n, bar Fixi appellations, rdonnay. Only two so it’s much more suitable for Cha t, igue che intr ntra oke -Mo -sm gny gun Puli , in d eral min foun that with the flinty, is a beautiful white Burgundy, and we bought both of them. It on and lime palate. lem ty, toas ty, nut , fine a nose and that we find so appealing on the e. Drink now – 2015. 13.5% alc. A racy, rather than buttery styl
d, South Africa 2008 £32.00
Palladius Eben Sadie, Swartlan
r’ and deservedly so
The John Platter Guide’s ‘White Wine of the Yea
ensed with the ceremony last visited Eben Sadie, he disp we n whe rs, yea two for him barrels from the back of Although we hadn’t seen ing him unload twenty brand new help k, wor to ight ght of stra us put of handshaking and estimates as to the probable wei ery. Blasphemy and some loud win e put the at wer ved we arri and es just win had t his a lorry tha es between Eben and ing h he loves to chat, nothing com vok oug pro ghtAlth . thou ued t ens mos rel ca’s bar Afri oak th an He is without doubt Sou y. arch hier the in e ar. plac cell our and to under no illusion as radical ideas to the vineyard ging the status quo and bringing a motto winemaker, constantly challen you seldom have good wine’” is , ality t “where there is practic tha ef beli of 8 se d who blen k, ning eric stun mav a A true adius 2008 is e tattooed on their arm. His Pall mino Palo y, nna rdo Cha , nier that all winemakers should hav Viog e, Grenache Blanc, Clairett c, Blan nin Che ng g ludi klin (inc crac s by different varietie t flavours enlivened vivid citrus and cool stone frui with ked e pac win is le,a and bott ne) a in ssan ion and Rou is sophisticat of quinine and lemon rind. This t nex the r ove inds unw it quartz-like minerality and a hint as sure pulsive. It will give enormous plea that is as enigmatic as it is com % alc. six years. Drink now-2016. 14.5
onnay, Oregon 2007 £38.00
Vineyard Chard Domaine Serene Clos du Soleil
y yet incisive Chardonnay
am Clever, clever stuff – a gloriously rich and cre
taste as submissive. We like ld probably have to describe our wou we y, line nna rdo Cha to es com it When , wines that keep our palates in p and don’t take no for an answer t to be wan just we es etim som r, Chardonnays that crack the whi keeping us keen. Howeve but n, mea us ting of orange trea e , nos bite ul with sharpness and wn. It has a delightf ps you up in soft, fluffy eiderdo wra t tha e in its win you a is lds this enfo te and d pala mollycoddle my texture of the crème brulée. The buxom, crea ness of rich g enin soft a and oak drizzle cake, lemon syllabub and tle very sub lime flavours, underscored by s see 48%), charms, with weighty peach and flashy new oak (although it doe with not n, ntio atte r you bs gra It m. toms up! crea Bot ted ity. clot pur and white butter wcase simply stunning nsity and the confidence to sho inte t frui ry dina aor extr with but Drink now-2014. 14% alc.
aumées P. Colin, Burgundy 2008
Les Ch Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
d Decanter award winner
Heart-stoppingly beautiful white Burgundy an
£40.00
lenches uncontrollably, as if your stomach clenches and unc re whe on, sati as Eve. sen y’ terfl ‘but t You know tha anticipated event, like Christm iety, often a prelude to a highly anx s vou ble hat, ner bob g of ttin form a ill-fi an It’s er ng? und flutteri singing carols out of key kid, a as but, s, day e thes y h utiful Chardonna in the It may not happen so muc g that there is a bottle of this bea win Kno t. fligh take with to t star ld the butterflies wou er fine and super concentrated come feelings. It is at once sup wel and cious iliar deli a fam e by thos wed es follo indl ses fridge, rek etrating the sen on, citrus peel and grapefruit pen acidity. on lem ing ater thw mou a by swathes of lime, preserved lem ped off ingling minerals and all this cap buttered toast character, tongue-t the top Chassagne-Montrachet was It ers. ling ly real t tha h finis a with ts g che agin ntra eng -Mo and gny sed Bright, focu Chassagne- and Puli in Decanter Magazine’s Top 100 rd awa Star Five a of ner win and alc. 2008. Drink now-2018. 13.5%
16
Rosé
Rosado Crianza, Bodegas Navajas,Rioja, Spain
A rich Spanish Rosé with an extrovert character
2007 £11.00
We wouldn’t go as far as to suggest that this wine should have a warning on the label, but you shoul d be alerted to the fact that this is no ordinary rosé. Banish any notions you may have of subtle, low-key rosés behav ing like timid wallflowers at a dance. This one slides onto the dance floor on its knees, wearing a coral-coloured shirt and enough cologne to kill a small mammal. Made from 60% Garnacha and 40% Viura, it swaggers about with its shirt open, wafting notes of coconut liqueur and strawberry smoothie with a splash of vanilla essence and orang e cream. It is fairly full-bodied for a rosé, with a creamy textu re and flavours echoing the nose. The whole extra vaganza is brought alive with a refreshing twist of orange acidity. Drink now. 13% alc.
Reds
Cape Chamonix Rouge, South Africa 2007 £7.95
One of the best value red wines money can buy
The keen-eyed among you might have noticed this cracking blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbe c and Petit Verdot on last year’s Winter List, but it merit s inclusion again on two counts. Firstly, it is unequ ivocally one of the best value red wines on the market and as such it would be foolish of us to overlook it for fear of being deemed repetitive. Secondly, it would be foolish of us to overlo ok it for fear of being deemed repetitive. It has taken another leap forward since last Christmas and its light is blazing bright with its abundance of ripe red, black and purple berry flavours plus a hint of spice. Full-flavoured and with a suppleness rarely found at this price. Drink now-2013. 13.5% alc.
Rioja Crianza ‘Aclys’, Bodegas Murua, Spain 200
6 £8.50
Gentle, juicy, old-fashioned Rioja and a real bargain
Low expectations foment suspicion, while high expec tations lead to disappointment, so we are keen for you to approach this inexpensive wine with just the right level of circumspection. Imagine someone has invite d you to a play in a room above a pub and you go along with understandable trepidation, but find that it is better than you had expected and you tell a few friends about it. That’s the frame of mind in which we would ask you to look at this humble £8.50 Rioja. Its gentle character offers mellow, sun-kissed red fruits, spicy pepper and cocon ut flavours within a bright, juicy, medium-bodied frame . Drink now-2011. 14% alc.
St Ilia Pinot Noir, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria 200
6 £8.95
An extraordinary bargain and a double for beautiful red Burgundy
According to ‘The Bumper Book of Old Tricks’, the oldest trick in the book is the famous ‘tap on the wrong shoulder’ routine, as practiced by the ancient Egyptians and depicted in many of their wall paintings. The secon d oldest trick in the book is slipping someone a cheap wine as an imposter for a more expensive one. We’ve tried it hundreds of times and it never fails to tickle us when someone gets it wrong, particularly when their conviction is unshakeable. Well, we think this Pinot Noir is the best wine we have ever found for this game. Please, please, please pour it into a decanter and serve it ‘blind’ to an opinio nated wine buff and watch them stutter and splutt er as you reveal that it is an inexpensive Bulgarian Pinot Noir and not the delightfully ethereal Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru that they had assumed it to be. It’s unbelievably brilliant value, billowing with heady scents of sweet strawberry juice soaked into sandalwood, exotic spices from a Moroccan souk, cinnamon toast, sous-bois and sweet cherry. It is toothsome and round, with a light to medium body, a hint of maturity and perky rhubarb acidit y. Highly recommended. Drink now. 13.5% alc.
www.swig.co.uk 17
Korta Barrel Selection Carmener
e Reserve, Lontue Valley, Chile 200
Dark, intense and fragrant Carmenere packed with
8 £8.95
ripe fruit and toasty oak
Steak! There’s something about fullbodied South American red wines that has a subliminal effect on the appe Steak! In the case of this rich and velv tite. ety Chilean Carmenere, it’s the com bination of spicy oak and dark cass fruit that sets your tummy rumblin is g. Steak! Even the deep, grainy, purp le colour, promising a smooth, satis texture, has a suggestive trigger that fying turns thoughts to dinner time. Stea k! All that high altitude Chilean sunshine brings out really vivid fruit flavours, as well as fine top notes of violets, cocoa and blackcurrant leaf, all crying out for something juicy to eat. Steak! The balance between the voluptuous sweet fruit and the savoury, fragrant wood makes you painfully aware of your own hunger. If we come up with any food-matchin ideas, we’ll let you know. Drink now g - 2014. 14.5% alc.
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Zag
reus,Thracian Valley, Bulgaria 200
A Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon full of mellow autum
nal fruitfulness
6 £8.95
A couple of years ago, we would hav e started this tasting note with a defe nsive posture and an amusingly whimsical entreaty to try something outside your comfort zon e, but we like to think that we have all grown up a bit since then and learned to love Bulgarian wines. Well, some of them. This high-toned Cabernet Sauvignon shares greater similarities with Tus can or even Piedmont reds than Bordeaux or New World Cabern ets. On the nose it shows nutmeg, oran ge spice and sautéed plum skins suggesting autumn leaves and wood sheds and the palate is bright and tangy, with grainy tannins and notes of kirsch and cho colate. Drink now-2012. 13% alc.
Copertino, Azienda Monaci, Puglia,
Italy 2007 £8.95
A simply gorgeous and sweetly succulent red from the
south of Italy
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but this wine will please all of the people all of the time. As a general rule, the lower down the price scale one goes, the less a win e tends to taste of its origins and the more generic it becomes. Well, here’s a fabulous exception to that rule. Wonderfully true souther n Italian aromas of sweet cherry and loose tea at first then the more specific Copertino character emerges, displaying gorgeous hints of mahogany, cherry compote, forest floor, fruit-drenched wood and sunny tomatoes. It has juicy, ripe blackcurrant softnes s at its centre, a supple texture with the merest hint of tannins and it is refreshed by oran ge citrus acidity. Plenty of berry ripe ness, sweetly succulent, only medium-bodied and full to the brim with Puglian personality. Made from 100% Negroamaro. Drin k now-2012. 13% alc.
A A Badenhorst Secateurs Red, Sou
th Africa 2009 £9.95
Another gem from Adi Badenhorst – a wine that is
hearty and full of soul
A free-spirited, footloose red wine ma de from a patchwork of Southern Rho ne varieties, namely Shiraz, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvedre, plus a spla sh of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a wine that walks in bare feet and loves to feel the warmth of the sun on its skin. Most of the grapes come from the Swartland, a pioneering commu nity north of Stellenbosch populated by ambitious young winemakers, and the feisty cha racter of the region shines through in this wine. It freewheels across the palate with happy-go-lucky flavours of rich, ripe bramble fruits, lifted by perfumed top notes of spic e, hillside herbs, cracked black pepper and wood smo ke. It has an immediate drinkability factor but will also develop wonderfully over the nex t couple of years. Allow it to open up in the glass for a few minutes and drink with hea rty fare like bangers and mash or cott age pie. Drink now-2016. 14.5% alc.
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Mullineux ‘Kloof Street’ Red, South Africa 2008 £9.95
Sweetly-perfumed like a northern Rhone red and great value
and Carignan (6%) is like going to see one Enjoying a bottle of this blend of Mourvedre (50%), Syrah (44%) whilst you sit in the front row soaking up of your favourite bands play an acoustic set at an intimate venue effects, no auto-tuning, just a showcase special no with m, the atmosphere. Stripped back to the bare minimu ssly showcases an array of sweet wild berry of raw talent in its most exposed yet enjoyable form, it effortle those you might find in a Crozes-Hermitage. fruits, incense and some violet and lavender top notes akin to herbal-tinged fruit. Some wines require juicy sly The palate is full of flavour, bright and silky with deliciou work. Drink now. 13.5% alc. the all do it let and back sit careful scrutiny, this wine asks you to
Chianti Rufina Del Mulino, Lavacchio, Tuscany, Italy 2007
£9.95
The great 2007 vintage in Tuscany has brought the best out of this terrific Chianti
Tuscany, is the way the basic wines sneak up The most useful thing about great vintages, such as 2007 in the children’s game ‘Grandmother’s Footsteps’. in like , behind the premium wines while they are not looking behind them, but if they spin round they’ll The Riservas may think that the basic Chiantis are a long way conferred by nature in a good year allow the discover a big pair of eyes staring back at them! The benefits s, like this soft and supple Rufina from the bargain gap in quality to diminish and you can pick up some great s of cherry, sandalwood, liquorice, tobacco flavour Tuscan ul beautif of north-eastern zone of Chianti. It is full just a gentle grip of tannins that never and leather held softly within a medium-bodied frame that shows pinches. Drink now. 13% alc.
Las Moras ‘Black Label’ Bonarda, San Juan, Argentina 2008
£9.95
Voluptuously fruit rich Bonarda not from Italy, but Argentina
variety, but there is considerably The Italians hold firm to the idea that Bonarda is an Italian grape crazy. Imagine that, a country laying claim more Bonarda planted in Argentina than Italy, which is a bit ly, it’s disgraceful. Anyway, this Argentine Honest ina! to something that should rightfully belong to Argent eyes, but you drink with your eyes too Bonarda struck us as a real bargain. They say you eat with your appealing. The nose has a glorious array and the deep, rich ruby colour tinged with purple is immediately that leads to an intensely fruity palate. vanilla and of blackcurrant pastilles, roasted coffee beans, violets texture with ripe tannins and a little ined fine-gra , smooth a has it , As the appearance leads you to expect then this is a delicious and well-priced creamy oak on the finish. If you like a fruity Malbec or Shiraz alternative. Drink from now-2015. 14% alc.
Munia Crianza, Toro, Spain 2006 £9.95
A classy Tempranillo with the beautiful fine-grained texture of a new wave Rioja made from 100% Tinta de Toro (the local name for one year, and tastes very much like life itself. oak French in d for Tempranillo), fermented and mature ined texture of a more serious wine, Well, a box of chocolates anyway. It has the sophisticated, fine-gra chocolate liqueur, caramel, orange s, flavour with thrilling dark fruit tanginess amidst creamy berry and their tumbling playfight acidity l natura the with spars liquorice and blackberry. The intense fruit in turn. It’s a wine that can double as gives the wine its momentum, cleansing and coating the palate prior to the meal. hour a smart dinner party wine, particularly if decanted for half an Drink now-2014. 14.5% alc.
Forrest Gump would like this wine. It’s a rich Toro red,
e 2007 £9.95
Cotes-du-Rhone ‘Les Plates Pierres’, Domaine Brugaliere, Franc
Gently fragrant and supple blend of Grenache and Syrah
’ status, it certainly falls into While this wine may lack the cinematic sweep to merit ‘big screen After all, Fawlty Towers that. in shame no there’s and sitcom ful the category of highly success Grenache and one third Syrah, never felt the need to outreach its grasp. Made from two thirds rries, raspberries and a blackbe of it is a fresh, fragrant and juicy wine with a fleshy core spices. It falls into sweet and herbs e garrigu , violets , sprinkling of cracked black pepper fruit and perfume rather than the traditional camp of southern Rhone reds showcasing its means you can enjoy style e ‘distracting’ with the use of oak. Its easy-going and delicat e u-Rhon Cotes-d classic a just it with or without food. No tricks, no games, alc. 13.5% now. Drink wish. would performing exactly as you
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on 2003 £11.00
Hochar Pere et Fils by Chateau Musar, Bekaa Valley, Leban
This beautiful baby Chateau Musar has all the aroma and charm of its big brother
Are We Them (REM), The thing about tribute bands like One Step Behind (Madness), cover band called By Jovi, Jovi Bon h Englis an Oasisn’t (Oasis) and, our personal favourite, Well, in the same vein, we thing. real the than is that they are sometimes more fun to watch to be confused with the (not 2003 Fils et Pere were unanimous in thinking that the Hochar act. We are choosing our ne headli the than ble Chateau Musar Estate 2003) was more enjoya e the Chateau Musar becaus ’, ‘better not and words carefully when we say ‘more enjoyable’ this vintage and in works really r Hocha the 2003 is a great wine, but the lighter style of , but there’s also Rhone du Cotes sunny a of its chorus of melodious flavours is reminiscent quality akin to ned high-to a and ux Bordea e a cool graphite minerality that hints at matur Barolo. Drink now-2012. 13% alc.
Pinot Noir, Edoardo Miroglio, Bulgaria 2007 £12.50
Fortune favours the brave and this is a truly wonderful Pinot Noir for the price
of everything – ego, prejudice, Blind tasting is a humbling experience. You’re forced to let go only your senses. Had we seen pre-conceived notions – and judge the wine in front of you with approached this wine with the have would we the word ‘Bulgaria’ on the label, there’s no doubt that how wrong we would have been But stick. long a with l roadkil circumspection of someone approaching for this Pinot Noir is nothing less than and how we would have lived to regret our narrow-mindedness, oak integration of a really good red ul first-rate and brilliant value. It shares all the charm and beautif ter interlaced with smoky spice charac cherry morello Burgundy with its classic soft red fruits and so much more to it than meets with wine a e, eleganc and class e, perfum and forest floor notes. It has to know it. get to the eye and which will reward you amply...if you make the effort Drink now-2013. 13.5% alc.
Vinica, Zagreus Winery, Bulgaria 2008 £12.50
A great interpretation of Amarone using the Mavrud grape
on straw mats for 3 months The Mavrud grapes that make up this unique wine were dried flavours, so it is bound to stand and sugars the ng softeni before fermentation, concentrating and ous as that. What is remarkable, comparison to Amarone, but it’s not quite as dense or voluptu fruit is so clean and polished. though, is that despite all the time spent drying on racks, the chocolate, with a similarly dark and kirsch s, It has a comfortingly ripe nose of rich damson and succulence that ss freshne ful wonder a with but palate, lush fruit character on the brooding, but it also glides dominates proceedings. Yes it’s full-bodied, yes it’s deep and like big man who can dance. Drink now- 2015. 14.5% alc.
Silene Olevano Romano di Cesanese, Cantina Ciolli, Lazio, Italy 2006 £13.50
Beguiling wine made from the Cesanese grape, similar in weight to a Pinot Noir
d to tell the tale, albeit covered in lupine Little Red Riding Hood strayed from the path and she survive in a while. Take this unusual Lazio once gastric juices, so it’s worth venturing into the dark woods herbal, autumnal quality of a Tuscan the has It grape. se Cesane red, for example, made from the local y quality reminiscent of Cotes-duwine, the fragrance and body of a Pinot Noir and an earthy pepper notes of old oak spice, herbs, and ter Rhone. On the nose it charms with its warm dark fruit charac palate it is bright and juicy with the On leaves. autumn of mushrooms, orange rind and a subtle aroma tangy acidity. Wine writer, Jamie a lovely soft mouthfeel which is counteracted by a lively, slightly fully sweet, complex cherry Wonder Goode, took our challenge and wrote: “This is just fantastic stuff. is sweet and elegant palate The ter. charac e and herb nose with cured meat and a hint of manur adding real notes spicy sappy, herby, x comple with fruit with lovely precision to the cherry interest. I love it. 93 ponts” Drink now. 13.5% alc.
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Passion Has Red Lips by Some Young Punks, Sout
h Australia 2009 £13.50
A dramatic red, inspired by the pulp fiction novels of the 1950s
McGuire turned his back on the empty warehouse and lit a cigarette. Forensics had drawn a blank and were heading back to the precinct, the lights of their cars flickering into nothing through the twilight. He drew down deeply on the smoke and walked towar ds the water tower, the gravel crunching under the thin soles of his brogues. How could a whole vintag e disappear without trace? He stopped suddenly, his instincts ablaze. Something ahead of him gliste ned in the short grass. A bullet? He threw his cigarette down and picked up the golden chamber, turning it between his fingers in the fading dusk light. Lipstick. Red lipstick. Suddenly, it all made sense. Col McBryde, Jen Gardner and Nic Bourk e are the three Young Punks responsible for injecting some melodrama into the Australian wine scene and their exciting collection includes this thriller, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Shiraz. It’s a full throttle, high octane cliffhanger, full of dark secrets and edge of seat suspense. Drink now-2012. 14% alc.
Pascual Toso Malbec Reserve, Mendoza, Argentin
a 2008 £13.95
Succulent, fragrant Malbec with beautifully judged oak
Oak should perform the function of a bridal veil, allowing the beauty of what lies beneath to be glimp sed through a translucent layer. Consequently, weddi ng-dress designers have traditionally shied away from using wool for the veil and, similarly, winemakers tend to shy away from smothering their fruit under a thick blanket of oak. This glorious Malbec has the balance just right, with the vanilla-scented oak allowing the wine’s beauty to radiate. Subtle layers of violets, blackcurrant cordial, white chocolate and sandalwood reveal themselves as the wine opens up. The mouthfeel is smooth and cool, with fine-grained, velvety tannins transporting the flavou rs with the tangy berry acidity that keeps the wine fresh and pure. Drink from now until 2014. 14% alc.
Buitenverwachting Cabernet Franc, Constantia,
South Africa 2006 £14.50
Effortlessly classy doppelganger for a Right Bank Bordeaux
Here’s a little Swig exclusive. When we were at Buite nverwachting, we tasted this wine from tank number 57, in which it was settling before blending, and begged the owner, Lars Maack, not to let it disappear into the blend but to bottle it separately for us and he agreed. We were delighted, because it was clearly an individual parcel of some distin ction and deserved to shine on its own. It has the wonderfully lifted perfume and sweet, leafy red berry scents of classic Cabernet Franc, intertwined with cherry, stewed plum, pencil shavings and loamy soil. The palate is open and highly expressive with a concentrated, juicy core and a complex herba l character particular to this variety, one of the classic right bank Bordeaux grapes. It drinks super bly now, as it is fleshy and refreshing, but will reward a few years in the cellar. Drink now-2015. 13.5% alc.
Durius Tempranillo-Merlot, Castilla y Leon, Spai
n 2004 £14.50
Fabulous ripe fruit and exuberant new oak makes this a real had-turner
To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, “writing about wine is like dancing about architecture”. It’s frustrating having to rely on words to convey something as intangible as flavour, particularly when a wine is so delicious that the flavours are almost indescribable. We are forced into analogies, which is, in effect, descr ibing something in terms of that which it isn’t. What we would really love to do is just pour you a glass of this Spanish nectar, because it floods your senses with the wond erful alchemy that comes from soaking spectacularly ripe, pure fruit in beautiful French oak for 2 years. The result lies somewhere in the intersection between dark plum s, vanilla, incense, camphor, polish, ink and blackcurrant sorbet. I hope that evokes something hedonistic and delightful (if not, blame me, not the wine),because this full-b odied blend of Tempranillo and Merlot is in the prime of its life and awash with multiple layers of harmonious, rich, plush fruit. Drink from now - 2015. 14.7% alc.
Buy Now: 08000 272 272
21
‘Red Claw’ Pinot Noir by Yabby Lak
e, Australia 2008 £14.95
Very pure and dangerously seductive Pinot Noir from
the Mornington Peninsula,
We speak with one voice when we say that we like our Pinot Noir full of fresh , pure, primary fruit. We are not wholly averse to mature Pinot Noir that takes on some of the renowned ‘barn yard’ flavours associated with the variety, but we certainly draw the line when it comes to over mature Pinot that smells like a paddock after an outbreak of equine e-coli virus. Bani sh that image from your mind, because Tom Carson’s ‘Red Claw’ Pinot Noir is wonderfully pure with melt-in-the-m outh flavours of creamy strawberry, bright cherry, warm spice and vanilla. It is made in a lighter, less stru ctured style than the estate wine and is intended to be drunk young. It will no doubt take on some of the mor e savoury, developed flavours if that is your predilection but if you are like us, we suggest drinking it from now until 2013. A wide-bowled Burg undy glass, or even a brandy glass, really helps to bring out the flavo urs. 14% alc.
The Squid’s Fist, Some Young Punks,
South Australia 2009 £16.50
It’s worth buying a bottle just for the amazing label, but
the wine is fantastic too
First impressions are vital and we can ’t pretend that the eye-catching, pulp -fiction-inspired label design didn’t affect our interest in this wine, but we are not the sort of shallow folk who fall for style over content, so we delved deeper to see if the beauty was more than skin -dee p. We’re pleased to announce that our tastebuds came back with some very impressive reports. It’s a rich yet perky blend of the Tuscan grape variety, San giovese (70%), and Australia’s homeboy , Shir az (30%), and is bursting with warm, plump, juic y plum and velvety cherry fruit while also disp laying flavours of sweet spicy wood, a hint of olive and pepper, a twist of orange and a decent sprinkling of Mediterranean herbs. The palate is plump and round with the Sangiov ese character asserting itself as the lead while the Shiraz emb races its supporting role adding opu lence and body. NB two days after opening it was fant astic! – even more perfumed and still as lively and flavoursome. Drink now- 2014. 14% alc.
Frappato, Azienda Agricola Cos, Sic
ily, Italy 2009 £17.00
Amazingly perfumed dry red made from Sicily’s indigen
ous Frappato grape
Frappato is not a new gimmicky drin k from Starbucks, but a Sicilian grap e variety, most commonly used in the blend for Cerasuolo di Vittoria. When vinified on its own, it produces a won derfully fresh, lifted style of wine for drinking when it is young and expressiv e. This is one of the best and has a dram atic fragrance of morello and dried cherry billowing from the glas s along with raspberry crush, sweet herbs and spiced orange. Light-bodied, but fleshy and incredibly juicy and perk y, it is a refreshing style of red wine that should be drunk just below room temperature for the best effect. Drink now. 12% alc.
Delta ‘Hatters Hill’ Pinot Noir, Ma
rlborough, New Zealand 2007/8 £17 .50
Silky and sensuous Pinot Noir that outshone a host of New
Zealand rivals
The reason why we write tasting note s is because wine is a science as well as an art and the science bit isn’t very communicative, so we turn to the art of words. If we were to tell you that this wine is made from the Dijon clones 777, 114, 115 and 667 fermente d to a dry alcoholic beverage with a titra table acidity of 6.15 g/l, a PH balance of 3.7 and a residual sugar cont ent of 2.5 g/l, then, unless you are som e kind of chemist-savant, you’ll be none the wiser. Hopefully, the follo wing will be slightly more helpful. We chose this beautiful Pinot Noir from a host of contenders, because it shon e so brightly and had more complexity and graceful beauty than the more expensive ones in the line-up. There’s real ‘wow factor ‘here, with its beguiling aromas of strawberry nectar, cherry skins and vanilla. Super silky on the palate, with great succulence, depth and lustre, it is backed up by a discreetly powerful structure of fine tannins and fruit-laced acidity. Drin k now-2014. 13.5% alc.
Rosso del Gello, Montecucco Rosso,
Italy 2006 £17.50
Perfectly mature Sangiovese from a region that borders
Brunello di Montalcino
Certain songs or poems impose them selves on your memory without perm ission from your subconscious, they just let them selves in, and the same can be said for certain wines,
22
g, scany with its invitin ht into the heart of Tu aig str u yo ed s eez ort ep squ tel ly It sh rbs, fre ngiovese. ins, smoked meat, he like this delectable Sa ms, morello cherry sk its warm perfumed plu d in y ice tel sp of ple se com no u ed yo s lop ve high-ton en d an , ice d tannins and a tangy ves and old oak sp e, supple fine-graine tur orange juice, wet lea uc . str sh ed fre ion lly ort tifu op s beau t entirely pr maturity but it remain layers. It has a big ye at the perfect state of me wines demand are So s ur ry. vo mo fla e me to Th . d ish tte mi com vibrant fin ing be nd op! Some wines dema A seriously classy dr . 14% alc. mory. Drink now-2013 me to being committed
nezia Giulia IGT, Italy
to, Ve Rivarossa, Schiopet
£18.00
tation of a fine re rp te in n lia Ita rn he rt no ng Stunni
savoury claret
toms that you the more useful symp of e on , els ss ve od lculate the ‘price broken blo that allows you to ca Aside from gout and m ith or alg al nt me a . Bells start to ring rchant is of speed and accuracy develop as a wine me ee gr al de r fai a th wi actly that. Our ment of a wine and this wine did ex versus quality’ ratio lt su re rk wo ive to sit nt po a we t ts la spits ou anologis as soon as the formu category, so the camp 0 0.0 ux £3 ea e rd th Bo in n it d lia y place very fine northern Ita algorithm immediatel ll it for £18.00. It’s a se uld co we t), with beautiful at th ed ignon and 30% Merlo when we learn uv Sa et box rn be Ca % 35 Franc, rm terracotta, cigar blend (35% Cabernet h summer fruits, wa lus , re, ies tu rr be tex ck ing bla ss of malty soft, care flavours on the nose voury claret. It has a sa e, d fin y en all sp re to a ed of uld ne niscent currant acidity.You wo and pencil lead, remi ck bla its in nt me . sh alc % and refre ! Drink now-2014. 14 with great vibrancy ilar quality. Ding dong sim a of ux ea rd Bo a lot more on
9.50 a Cos, Sicily 2008 £1
, Azienda Agricol o di Vittoria Classico
Cerasuol
th heady aromas wi d re n lia ci Si ng ti ci ex d an Wild
and succulent fruit
latest bestsellers fort foods, reading the com t bu ’t ng thi no g e things repeatedly isn to go through life eatin g pleasure in the sam kin th Ta pa r. It’s entirely possible n ye ate pla be tothe au people off e 10 CDs on your resist trying to tempt n’t ca and keeping the sam m we fro t ) bu 0% , (4 ing to nk pa and Frap rstand the thi Nero D’Avola (60%) y, a bad thing, we unde licious, lively blend of de s with succulent cherr a is ma is aro Th e. ral flo tim y, to rth ea y, ed ad from time oy he s bu ha are se of wild herbs st of Sicily. The no d red fruits and notes me y the South Eastern coa rfu av pe he l, Its s. ica ur typ vo t notes. Forge and spice fla t ing spice and mineral raspberry, rosehip tea tha rry te ca tas ids w ac ne of a e nt Lik rre fresh cu ated power. along the way with a hing yet with underst re nimble and refres mo is s thi la, vo D’A Nero .5% alc. d. Drink now-2015. 13 you’ve already acquire
Bourgogne
08 £19.50
n Gambal, France 20
es II Papis’, Maiso Pinot Noir, Cuvée ‘L
om vineyards in fr dy un rg Bu d re ed m fu er -p Sweetly
the village of Volnay
friend when they given to Alex and his e am kn nic the to ers , the younger ones e, Les Deux Papis, ref were ‘mature’ students y the As ment . The name of this cuvé ne au Be in ere is, perhaps, an ele viticultural college ‘two old codgers’. Th the as e were studying at the ed on e lat ns com tra be y to has graduated s moniker, loosel now, given that Alex tagged them with thi nt el ga lab ele s the thi on for me es na tting the ide the grap of wry defiance in pu vineyards that prov favoured cted negociants. The pe are much of the style res sh st d mo an y y’s nd lna Vo s ge’ of Burgu far La flavours el ot ch Mi Pin erfully pure next to those of oak allows the wond w Bourgogne Rouge lie ne of ment. e ele us d ral ine ne tra mi ker. The res , as well as a pure gh ou thr ine sh by that great winema to arb redcurrant and rhub of cherry, cranberry, . alc % Drink now- 2014. 13
ano Sandrone, Barbera d’Alba, Luci
Piemonte, Italy 2006
pressed – Ravishing fruit, beautifully ex
£19.50
we are smitten!
that really gets us alities, but the thing on rs pe l na tio nc sfu curvaceous, on our dy beautiful fruit. Pert, is It may be a reflection g cin ra lse pu r ou , because the fruit really sets is a real pin-up for us going, the thing that lba d’A a er rb Ba is pure, perfumed wild ive fruit. Th red colour, with very by sensuously provocat ru , ep de rly fai a s Barbera should taste peal. It ha book example of how py has such burlesque ap co a is , , re ch tu su tex as d, ky sil or notes an ence point. Gorgeous cherry and forest flo ach for this as a refer re happy finish, ld g, ou sh lon e ne th wi on a ing d a little moch so anyone study an ies rr be my ea cr , succulent . 13.5% alc. medium-bodied with oak. Drink now-2014 w ne % 50 in hs nt it spends 12 mo
www.swig.co.uk
23
Schubert Syrah, Wairarapa, New Zealand 2005 £22.50
Utterly seductive expression of Syrah, similar in style to a Cote Rotie
time before an accidental reference to cloud Cumulonimbus! As closet nephologists it was only a matter of nimbus! A dramatic, fulminating, multi-cell Cumulo are. we what formations slipped out and exposed us for g country, New Zealand, also known as the formation, full of brooding energy. Our favourite wine-producin g Northern Rhone-style Syrah which stirs the Land of the Long White Cloud, has produced a beautiful, swirlin array of aromas: white and cracked black ve seducti a has It soul into action the moment it leaves the bottle. ess all making themselves heard among the pepper, smoke, nutmeg, violet, undergrowth and a hint of meatin the wine its terrifically pure and vibrant core. healthy glow of perfectly ripe red and black fruits which give a lingering peppery spice and Kai Schubert’s fruit, It excites the palate with a burst of generous and supple and caressing and its acidity both balancing smooth are s tannin Its . deft use of oak adding body and texture a gorgeous wine and one for the hedonist. and refreshing. One of the finest New Zealand Syrahs we’ve tried, Drink now-2012. 14.5% alc.
A A Badenhorst Family Red, Wine of Coastal Origin, South
Africa 2006 £24.00
A product of the cult of personality backed up by serious talent
to let the wines speak for themselves. One often hears wine merchants saying that winemakers like is a fast-talking, quick-witted, warm-hearted Well, Adi’s wines would be lucky to get a word in edgeways. He half rock star. Like our understanding of one and n kind of guy; a blend of one half talent, one half intuitio wines is not his strongpoint, but his aim is his of ations specific al technic fractions, Adi’s grasp on the precise c acid levels off the top of his head, but he is not perfection but personality. He may not be able to quote tartari with soul that were made using gut feel wines on first name terms with each of his vines. If you want to drink be focusing your attention. His ‘Estate should you where ly definite rather than technical recipes, then this is lt (3%) and we would prefer to drink this than Red’ is a blend of Shiraz (92%), Mourvedre (5%) and Cinsau rich, spicy, beefy South African interpretation 95% of the Chateauneuf-du-Papes on the market. It’s a bold, s of hillside herbs, black olives, smoked flavour n rranea of a classic Rhone blend and evokes sunny Medite The harmony between the savoury fruit. filling mouthdeep, of wealth a ham and peppery spices amidst find yourself craving the next sip before flavours and the succulent fruit is seriously appealing and you Drink 2010-2020. 14.5% alc. debut. ding you’ve even finished the one in your mouth. An outstan
Yabby Lake Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Australia 2008
£24.00
Tom Carson’s ethereal Pinot Noir is the Mornington Peninsula’s pack leader
World Pinot Noirs, this beauty leads the Signalled by Jancis Robinson as one of her five favourite New heads as they sweep through the wine turning tly curren are peloton of Mornington Peninsula Pinots that are on a par with the great Pinots of New world. If you haven’t tried one, then it’s high time, because they jersey, not only making great wine at Yabby Zealand and Burgundy. Tom Carson is the man in the yellow virtues of Mornington to anyone willing to the about Lake, but also standing on the podium proselytising the wines tend towards a firmer structure listen. Yabby Lake is situated in the north of the peninsula, where es depth with ethereal lightness of being, and deeper flavours. Tom’s 2008 vintage is a wine that combin airy notes of red cherries and violets. silky, with s balancing pureed raspberry and blackcurrant richnes and polish. Complete. balance Great . scented ingly Jancis Robinson describes it as “intrigu alc. 14% 15. now-20 Drink finish.” g Very lively and zesty. Lovely hauntin
De Toren Fusion V, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2007 £27.50
Opulent Bordeaux blend made with extraordinary attention to detail
palate into the boudoir of a 17th century This is one of those luxurious red wines that transforms your all the furnishings with satin and velvet. French aristocrat, lining the walls with damask and upholstering and supple that you barely notice soft so are s While it is full of intense, dark-perfumed fruit, the tannin pleasures that lie in its flavours. stic hedoni the s toward d diverte is them, so that all your concentration Bordeaux varieties and offers layer It is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend of all five of the red , cigar box, coffee and sweet oak. cordial upon layer of sumptuous blue and black fruit, blackcurrant the abundance of fine-grained wine, young serious a Surprisingly accessible and polished for such 15 years or more. tannins and refreshing acidity suggest it will mature well for Drink now-2025. 14.5% alc. (magnums available £55.00)
24
Rosso di Montalcino Cupano, Tuscany, Italy 2007 £28.00
Thanks to the high quality of the vintage, this Rosso is more like a baby Brunello
A contender for one of Montalcino’s most expensive Rossos, and therefo re a wine that is about as easy to sell as a timeshare in Lagos, we nonetheless decided to make life hard on ourselves and imported a few cases, simply because we loved it so much. The logic that we applied was to forget the fact that it was a humble Rosso and to judge it purely on its merits as a red wine and we thought that the quality was easily good enough to merit the price tag, as it offers wonderful Tuscan flavours in a lighter idiom than a Brunello di Montalcino, but with many of the classic characteristics found on the nose and palate. The quality of the great 2007 vintage lifts this wine onto its shoulders and carries it above the level that Rossos normally achieve, so the best way for us to convin ce you that this wine justifies its price is to see it as a baby Brunello. Woody spices, sunny dark berry fruit and layers of cigar box, leather and liquorice sewn together by grainy tannins in a full-bodied frame, it encapsulates a Tuscan summer in a bottle. Drink now-2020. 13.5% alc.
Valpolicella Superiore Carlo Ferragu, Veneto, Italy 2007/8 £29.50
One of our favourite all time discoveries – liquid velvet
For anyone studying, or even claiming a serious interest in Italian wine, then this is required drinking. It came to us through serendipitous circumstances and symbolises everything we love about our job, finding a few barrels of a hand-crafted wine made by a conscientious producer using tradition al techniques and local grape varieties to create something truly world class, in this case a Valpolicella Superior e that is an Amarone in disguise (the hand-picked grapes are dried on straw mats for one month before ferment ation). It is bottle poetry and exudes relaxed, generous aromas of melted chocolate, orange cream, dried apricots , cherry and plum skins. In the mouth, it is dry but luxurious and ripe, with pashmina-soft tannins and smooth, succulent layers of fragrant dark fruits that coat the palate leaving a twist of bitter chocolate on the finish that acts like a ribbon, tying the whole parcel together. It has none of the dried fig or sticky date characte r that tends to weigh down so many over-baked Amarones and can be drunk now and over the next ten years. 15% alc.
Barolo, Renato Corino, Piedmont, Italy 2006 £32.00
Prepare for an out of body experience – this is an amazing Barolo for the price
Ghosts tend to concentrate on being seen and heard, but rarely do they trouble our other senses, least of all our sense of smell. Or so you might think. What other explanation can there possibly be for the otherworldly aromas that rise up from this extraordinary wine? It must be haunted! Commentators compare the bouquet of Barolo to ‘tar and roses’, but that’s just grasping at earthly straws, when in fact the flavours are nothing short of paranormal. There’s a whole host of phantas magoria going on in Renato Corino’s Barolo 2006, an incredibly powerful expression of the Nebbiolo grape, with the scented wood and perfumed fruit locked in a swirling vortex of ethereal delights. Harmony, complexity, persiste nce and haunting, jewel-bright flavours make this a serious Barolo experience at a spookily cheap price. Drink now-2020. 14.5% alc.
Pyramid Valley ‘Eaton Family’ Pinot Noir, New Zealand 2007 £35.00
Multi-layered, heavenly Marlborough Pinot Noir with panache instead of power
Great grapes are like great actors. The best are able to shed their identit y and transform themselves into amazing characters that go beyond caricature and pastich e. A great Pinot Noir, such as this, doesn’t rely on mimicry or tired old devices but creates an original personality of its own making. It’s a sensational one-man show, which pays homage to the finest performers in Burgundy, while adding fascinating characteristics from its birthplace. Fine, subtle and beautifully nuanced, with a seamless interplay between the sweet and savoury elements, it doesn’t burst onto the scene, but tightens its hold line by line. A sensational wine with real star quality. Drink now-2012. 14% alc.
Buy Now: 08000 272 272 25
Ombrone Cupano, Sant’Antimo, Tuscany, Italy 2007
£38.00
A ‘Supertuscan’ of real distinction and a wine to impress your peers
can you always put your best bottle on top, so that passers-by Admit it. When you put your bottles out for recycling, for early days 4 ing recycl your a really good bottle, you put out see that you know the time of day and when you have this then cool, of state ivocal unequ your nced wine that annou maximum exposure. Well, if ever there were a bottle of Merlot and Sangiovese (effectively a Supertuscan) called non, Sauvig et Cabern of blend ction produ small a is it. It is llo Cupano, better known by many for his prestigious Brune Ombrone Sant’Antimo 2007, made by Lionel Cousin at rs. flavou dark ous villain with fairytale poison, it billows di Montalcino. A deep shade of crimson, the colour of tic ess, with the pure, pristine fruit engaging with the drama darkn and light n betwee lay interp ng There’s an amazi one each with to be locked in a fascinating game of dare, power of the new French oak. These two players seem and it creates an amazing escalation of complexity. up re measu to other raising the stakes, challenging the erry cordial, purple flowers, sandalwood and sweet The aromas are infused with mixed sweet spice, blackb blackcurrant fruit with a suppleness to the chestnut. The palate is stained in beautifully ripe, sweet 020. 14.5% alc. 2011-2 Drink tion. distinc fine-grained tannins that gives it real
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru ‘Clos des Forets’ Domaine de
l’Arlot, Burgundy 2008 £39.00
Exquisite Pinot Noir from a domaine that produces ethereal, elegant reds
on Burgundy, once wrote: “When it comes to the finest Allen Meadows, one of the world’s leading authorities a is It for.” pay don’t you what get never will you but Burgundies, you may not always get what you pay for bedevilled by the inconsistency of expensive Burgundy, frustrating truism, recognisable to anyone who has been or two magical experiences will also agree, the quest is particularly the reds, but as anyone enchanted by one , refined ce produ who , l’Arlot de ne Domai from Cru er worthwhile. We are confident that you will love this Premi wines. the of of flavours belie the deceptively pale colour elegant reds, whose complexity and beautiful spectrum al array of wild Pinot Noir characters, suggesting cola magic A it. be surely would If rubies had an aroma, then this held gently in the palm of this wine, which has terrific cubes, crushed cherries, fraise des bois and violets are ing. achiev of e capabl seems Noir Pinot ndian Burgu only latent power. It has that mystical, magical quality that 018. 13% alc. Simply beautiful and worth every penny. Drink 2011-2
za, Spain 2001 £62.00
Rioja Gran Reserva, Bodegas Fernando Remirez de Ganu
Mouth-filling, complex, and staggeringly rich Gran Reserva – a 100 point wine?
point wine, but there is sufficient Far be it from us to mislead anyone by calling this a 100 cially. Exhibit A: The 2004 vintage circumstantial evidence to suggest that it is, albeit unoffi on Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. of this Gran Reserva received the hallowed perfect score w, appended the following Exhibit B: Jay Miller, who wrote the aforementioned revie Fernando Remirez de Ganuza in incriminating line: “the greatest vintages from Bodegas fore, beyond any reasonable doubt, my opinion are 2004 and 2001” Is it not certain, there reviewed on Robert Parker’s that if this Gran Reserva from the 2001 vintage had been score? If the jury is still out, Wine Advocate, it would have received the same 100 point a witness for the defence: then kindly allow us to turn to one of our customer’s as quite simply superb and probably “The Rioja Gran Reserva 2001 you just delivered was and certainly the best under £100.” one of the best bottles of wine I have had this century We rest our case. Drink 2010-2050. 14.5% alc.
Amarone Ferragu, Veneto, Italy 2005/6 £85.00
If there’s a better Amarone on the planet, then ... well, there just isn’t.
ly before you taste this wine. Unless, of course, you active We strongly recommend that you sound-proof your house rings g greetin ng morni their that re pleasu and t of deligh want your neighbours to hear such extraordinary howls ’s described last year’s vintage as “like drinking Lord Byron We t. respec und newfo little a and ation indign both with grapes the again, Once . but with a few more gatecrashers stag night” and the new vintage is of a similar kidney, , after which the wine then matured in American oak tation fermen before mats straw on spent 90 days drying n, damso d scente of rs flavou e intens with ful, power barrels for a further three years. It’s incredibly rich and with cocoa powder. Carlo Ferragu’s vineyards lie chestnut puree, orange cream and rich plum filling dusted level of complexity and beauty in his wines rivals adjacent to those of the great Romano Dal Forno and the wine! Drink now-2030. 17% alc. those of his neighbour yet at half the price. Mindblowing
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Sweet
Chambers Rutherglen Muscat, Australia NV 37.5cl £10.95
Life is too short not to try this wine ... a true Australian treasure
The quote above comes from Robert Parker, who has been raving about the wonderfu l sweet wines from Rutherglen for over a decade. They are all made using a solera system, such as they do for sherry, which is effectively an ongoing blend of vintages, in this case with an average age of between 7 and 10 years (their 100 point-scoring Rare Muscat has an average age of 70 years!). Like a magician fantailing a pack of cards before your eyes, it opens up with amazing complexity, revealing caramel, manuka honey, brandied raisins, sticky toffee pudding and spiced fruit cake. It is rich and sweet on the palate with indulgent yet fresh and lively flavours that introduce themselves to each and every one of your tastebuds. 18.5% alc. Drink now-2020.
Pyramid Valley ‘Hille Family’ Late Harvest Semillon, New Zealand 2008 75cl
£24.00
Luminous, tantalising, lustrous, thesaurus-necessitating sweet wine from New Zealand
This late harvest Semillon is surely a product of nuclear fission, such is the explosio n of aromas and flavours it sets off, the boundless energy packed into it and the way in which these unfurl upon contact with the palate. Oodles of zesty grapefruit erupt followed by a trail of smoke, honey, toast and Semillon’s characteristic grassy high notes. Beautifully textured and balanced with an amazingly long finish that calls to mind a breakfast of pink grapefruit marmalade on toast. It is intense and unctuous with impressive bite and a welcoming tang to punctuate the sweetness. Arresting. Scintillating. Luscious. Indulgent. A ‘wow’ experience. Drink now – 2020. 13.4 % alc,
Churchill’s 10-year old Tawny Port, Portugal, NV, 50cl, £24.50
A winter-warming treat if ever there was one!
The oxidative effects of barrel-ageing lend a subtle elegance to the rich core and imbues it with a wonderfully distinctive character. Enticing and complex on the nose it draws you in with its fragrance of roasted nuts, freshly ground coffee, caramel, nutmeg and sweet dried fruits. It is at once soft and mellow yet has amazing flavour intensity and impeccable definition. Silky-textured with delicately nutty, toast and caramel flavours fleshed out by notes of raisins, figs and orange rind. Really long and not in the least bit cloying thanks to a tangy streak of acidity running through its core which keeps it lively. It is everything Tawny port should be. Drink with cheddar cheese and loved ones. Drink now-2020. 20% alc.
Four easy ways to order from Swig
1. 4.
Telephone - 08000 272 272
2.
Email - wine@swig.co.uk
3.
Fax - 0208 995 6195
Post - 188, Sutton Court Road, London, W4 3HR
Terms and Conditions - We hope you will order at least 6 bottles, but if you have a special requirement,
such as single bottle gifts, then we are more than happy to help. There is, however, a slightly higher delivery charge on smaller orders.
Delivery
- Orders of 6 bottles or more will be charged at £9.50 inc vat. Free delivery on orders over £400 to a single address. Under bond deliveries charged at cost. Standard delivery is a next-day service between 9am and 5pm. Wine can be left safely if no one is in, with instructions where to leave it Evening deliveries are available in most London postcodes (Tuesdays and Thursdays – and more evenings in peak season) Goods remain the property of Swig until paid for in full.Goods are offered subject to remaining unsold.
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