DIRECTOR’S RESERVE
A SELECTION OF RATHER SPECIAL WINES
WHITE
R1 Chateau de Tracy Pouilly-FumÉ ~ Loire
Delicious wine from the oldest estate of the Pouilly Fumé appellation ~
strong 'gooseberry' bouquet, forthright fruity palate with additional depth
of flavour achieved by lengthy vinification on the lees ~ long lasting
palate and with alluring 'gunflint' aromas. £40.00
R2 EsporÃo Private Selection White, Alentejo, Portugal
A superb wine from the multi award winning David Baverstock ~ Semillon,
Marssanne and Roussanne ~ this wine is crystal clear with a straw-coloured
hue and a fruity aroma that betrays subtle oaky notes, guava, papaya and
mango ~ rich, complex, with a creamy palate, ripe fruit and toasty oak. £42.00
R3 Swan Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Mud House ~ Marlborough NZ
Swan is the top range from Mud House and this 2009 is impressive stuff -
piercingly fresh and intense, with spicy, green, lemon and lime flavours and
a long, mineral finish. £35.50
R4 Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva 'Mirum' La Monacesca
Classic aromas of great Verdicchios, following fresh flowers with ripe
fruits, then wild herbs ~ complex, juicy and savoury in the mouth, it
displays almost endless progression while the texture is dense yet
surprisingly light and smooth ~ delicious. £39.95
R5 Domaines Ott ~ Blanc de Blanc Clos Mireille ~ Provence
Grown on the edge of the Mediteranean ~ a stunning fresh clean wine made
from Semillon and Rolle ~ citrus flavours balanced with good minerality. £60.00
R6 Meursault 1er Cru Blagny Domaine Gerard Thomas
"An excellent Meursault Blagny" advises Robert Parker - fresh and vibrant
on release this top-tier Premier Cru Meursault is beginning to develop
honeyed depth with cellaring. Terrific value. £67.50
R7 St Joseph Blanc, E Guigal ~ N Rhone
A superb Marsanne Roussane blend ~ Powerful and complex nose ~ strong notes
of white flowers with delicate oak aromas ~ a clean roundl palate with a
very aromatic finish with pears and citrus fruits. Exceptional. £45.00
ROSE
R8 Domaines Ott ~ ChÂteau de Selle RosÉ, ~ Provence
Arguably the finest rosé in the world ~ a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Grenache and Cinsault ~ this is a serious Rosé and a fabulous food wine
~ if you're looking for something sweet and frivolous, give this one a miss. £42.00
RED
R9 Santenay 1er 'Clos Rousseaux' Vieilles Vignes Domaine Bachey Legros ~ Burgundy
Aromas reminiscent of perfumed cherry jam with touches of strawberries
and hay ~ ripe, and plush with plenty of fruit, it has a seductive smooth
currant and structured finish. £45.00
R10 Beaune 1er Cru 'Les Avaux', Domaine des Clos 2006
A deep rich and sumptuous vintage from this superb 1er Cru vineyard. £65.00
R11 Chateau Haut-BeausÉjour ~ St Estephe
An endless array of red and black-berry fruit, with notes of stewed apples
overlaid by discreet, elegant hints of wood and aromas of spice and tobacco
~ the palate remains elegant without a trace of hardness or dryness, and a
finesse and elegance that echo the nose. £58.00
R12 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieux Telegraphe 2006 ~ Brunier
A wine that lives up to this estate's considerable reputation deep
coloured with a brooding nose showing intense spicy fruit with some herbs
and menthol ~ concentrated, chunky, classic palate with lots of spicy character. £79.00
R13 Chateau Pichon Longueville Lalande 2eme 2001/4 ~ Pauillac
Distinctive bouquet of violets, soy, pepper, blackberries, cassis, and tree
bark ~ exhibits plenty of structure, wonderful sweetness and a rich,
textured, persistent character. £230.00
R14 Penfold's Grange 1995 ~ South Australia
Displaying all the classic hallmarks one would expect of Grange, this is a
full-bodied, richly flavoured wine with ripe, dark stewed fruits and mixed
spices with seamless, perfectly integrated oak and chewy tannins. £390.00
CHAMPAGNE
1 Louis Roederer Brut Premier nv
Brut Premier is blended each year by the cellar master to create an
embodiment of the Louis Roederer style ~ complex and elegant with great
depth of biscuity aromas and citrus overtones ~ a perfect aperitif.
Bottle £54.00
Flute (100ml) £9.00
2 Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2003/4
A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from only the finest Crus
~ bursting with ripe fruit flavours and an elegant brioche personality ~
luxuriously rich and full-bodied. £80.00
3 Louis Roederer Vintage RosÉ 2003/4
One of the best rosé champagnes ~ this unique and rare wine is only produced
in exceptional vintages ~ distinctively elegant and beautifully balanced. £85.00
4 Louis Roederer Cristal 2002/2004
Undoubtedly one of the best Vintage Champagnes ~ An intense delicate wine
that reveals a precise, complex pure combination of sugared flowers,
cocoas, finely toasted hazelnuts, and candied citrus fruits ~ the texture on
the palate is infinitely silky. £198.00
SPARKLING
5 Prosecco di Valdobbiadene
Top flight, deliciously light, refreshing, gently sparkling Prosecco ~
elegant fruit and a little drier in style £23.00
6 Vetriano Pinot Grigio Rose Brut ~ Italy
Delightful delicate pink with delicate, summer fruits and a gentle sparkle. £23.00
WHITE WINES
7 Vicuna Sauvignon Semillon ~ Central Valley, Chile
Dry and refreshing blend with a fresh zingy on the nose with ripe clean
fruit on the palate.
Bottle £16.50
250ml £6.00
175ml £5.00
8 Alto Pampas del Sur Viognier ~ Mendoza, Argentina
A wonderfully intense Viognier full of perfumed peach and white nectarine
aromas with a fresh balanced finish. £19.50
8a VdP des CÔtes de Gascoigne Colombard ~ Plaimont
Very fresh and aromatic with flavours of green apples and pears. Great with
salads, and seafood or as an aperitif! £19.50
9 Karri Oak Unoaked Chardonnay ~ Western Australia
Delicious ~ fragrant on the nose and refreshing on the palate ~ peach,
apricot, apple blossom, stonefruit and citrus.
Bottle £23.00
250ml £8.00
175ml £6.00
10 Vouvray Demi-sec 'La Forcine' Bonhomme ~ Loire
This medal winning wine from Brocard is just what Chablis should be ~ fresh citrus
fruit with mineral overtones and a stony dry finish.
Bottle £20.00
250ml £6.80
175ml £5.40
11 Grant Burge Chardonnay ~ Victoria, S E Australia
A rich and complex wine with notes of ripe stone fruits, rock melon and
apricots and a crisp fresh finish. £21.50
12 Pinot Grigio Vetriano ~ NE Italy
A superb crisp and delicate dry wine with an underlying richness great
concentration and a long finish. £20.00
13 Picpoul de Pinet 'Les Terres Rouge' ~ Languedoc
This small appellation near Montpellier produces one of the most interesting
whites from the South of France ~ very distinctive, with a lovely balance
between fresh, crunchy minerality and soft, ripe exotic fruit ~ Really worth a try. £22.50
14 Attitude Sauvignon Blanc ~ Pascal Jolivet ~ Loire
A stunning wine from one of the most dynamic producers in Sancerre, produced
using grapes from the 'Loire Chateaux' area of Touraine ~ this a beautifully
fresh clean wine with all the complex minerality that is Pascal's trademark.
Bottle £24.50
250ml £8.00
175ml £6.00
15 Chablis Alain Bretin ~ Brocard ~ Chablis
An excellent Domaine bottled Chablis, crisp, fruity with a delightful
fruit and splendid after-taste. £24.00
16 MÂcon BussiÈres, Gonon ~ Maconnais
This impressive Mâcon Blanc shows ethereal, light crisp fruit on the start
with a background of rich complexity on the finish. £24.00
16a CÔtes du RhÔne Blanc, E. Guigal ~ RhÔne
50% Viognier and a blend of Rhone varietals ~ fresh honeyed notes with some
tropical fruits and other assorted citrus all jump from the glass of this
gorgeous, crisp, fresh wine.
Bottle £25.00
250ml £8.00
175ml £6.00
17 Mudhouse Sauvignon Blanc ~ Marlborough, NZ
Quintessential Kiwi Sauvignon packed with passionfruit aromas ~ a classic. Bottle £25.00
250ml £8.00
175ml £6.00
18 Painted Wolf The Den Chenin Blanc
We were blow away when we tasted this Chenin ~ elegant full bodied wine
with tropical flavours of creamy pineapple, melon and vanilla. The wine has
a lovely texture with a long finish with enough acidity to keep it really
fresh and vibrant ~ Silver Medal 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards. £24.00
19 Schlumberger Pinot Blanc 'Princes AbbÉs' ~ Alsace
A superb dry Alsace wine ~ beautifully clean & fresh with intense floral and
lemony scents ~ fresh yet full and soft. £29.00
20 Cordillera Chardonnay Reserve Privada ~ Curico, Chile
A stunning premium barrel fermented Chardonnay produced by Torres ~ apple
and hazelnut fruit aromas, complemented by fine nuances of toast and vanilla
and lead to a complex balanced palate. £28.00
21 Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Blanc 2008 ~ Loire
Pascal is highly regarded around the world for the quality of his
gastronomic wines ~ an intense but beautifully balanced Sancerre which
expresses the flint and chalk minerality of the small select vineyards. £39.50
22 Santenay Sous Roche Domaine Bachey Legros
White Santenay from vineyards neighbouring those of Chassagne Montrachet.
The wine receives 12 months barrel ageing which adds additional complexity
to the rich fruit flavours. Deliciously forward and welcoming palate with
good length. £37.50
23 Le Faite Blanc, CÔtes de St Mont, Plaimont ~ Gascony
Plaimont have won world-wide acclaim ~ this, their top white cuvée,
('Le Fâite' means 'The Peak') is a partially-oaked blend of local varieties
Arrufiac, Petit Courbu and Petit and Gros Manseng. "Honeyed, baked apple and
honeysuckle nose". £35.00
24 Pask Reserve Declaration Chardonnay
Lovingly cared for by Kate Radburndt, the winemaker, this Reserve
Chardonnay is scintillating. Ripe lemons, some peachiness & subtle oak
spice; nutty, buttery characters & excellent length. £35.00
25 1er Cru Chablis 'Montmains', Jean-Marc Brocard
Superb Chablis from the famous Montmains vineyard exhibiting a honeyed
ripeness with the minerality and acidity that only this 'terroir' can achieve. £37.50
ROSE WINES
26 R.H.Phillips White Zinfandel ~ California
An off dry Zin full of strawberry and cranberry fruit flavours with a lovely
zesty freshness. £19.50
27 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon RosÉ ~ Chile
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this beautifully balanced rosé has an aroma of red
berries and spice with a fresh rounded palate.
Bottle £21.00
250ml £7.00
175ml £5.50
28 Prado Rey Barrel Fermented Rosado, Ribero de Duero ~ Spain
A full bodied rosé made from a blend of Tempranillo and Merlot ~ powerful
fruit aromas, complexity, spices and balsamic hints ~ great with fish,
cheeses, rice dishes, white meats, and seafood. £25.00
RED WINES
29 Pato Torrente Merlot, ~ Central Valley, Chile
Easy drinking Chilean Merlot packed with rich plum fruit
~ wonderfully soft and round on the palate.
Bottle £17.50
250ml £6.50
175ml £5.50
30 Los Vilos Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Central Valley ~ Chile
A full flavoured wine with mellow, soft spiciness and a hint of mulberries
complimented with a burst of blackcurrant fruit.
Bottle £18.00
250ml £7.00
175ml £5.50
31 Alto Pampas Julia Malbec, Mendoza
Spicy and aromatic with a deep crimson colour. £18.50
31a VdP des CÔtes de Gascoigne Merlot Tannat ~ Plaimont
A very approachable red from Gascony, it has a soft-medium body, and is
showing good plum and blackcurrant fruit ~ very drinkable. £19.50
32 Williams Well Reserve Shiraz ~ S Australia
Full bodied yet soft wine with hints of ripe sweet black fruit combined with
hints of chocolate, cinnamon and spice.
Bottle £21.50
250ml £7.00
175ml £6.00
33 Valcanto Oak Aged Syrah, Piqueras ~ Almansa, Spain
100% Syrah aged in American oak barrels ~ sensational ripe red fruit nose
beautifully blended with spices and a toastiness from the oak ~ on the
palate it is elegant, full, very smooth and rounded with rich plum and
blackberry fruit.
Bottle £19.50
250ml £7.00
175ml £6.00
34 Côtes du RhÔne, E Guigal
Produced by Marcel Guigal ~ this quality blend of Syrah, Grenache,
Mourverdre and Carignan from old vines spends a year mellowing in oak
foudres thus producing a full bodied fruity red with oak softened tannins. £25.00
35 Chateau Malbat ~ Bordeaux AC
A lovely, easy drinking Claret from the south of the Gironde, with soft
fruit and plummy elegance. £22.00
36 Bodegas Navajas Gustales Crianza ~ Rioja ~ Spain
A rich, ripe wine with a fresh, fruity palate that exhibits strawberry,
mint and old oak flavours – full bodied with excellent fruit and good oak. £23.50
37 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Reserve Carmenere ~ Chile
Beautiful cherry red ~ this elegant wine has an aromatic nose of
blackberries and cassis with notes of eucalyptus and mandarin ~ the smooth
balanced palate shows sweet fruity tannins with nuances of leather and spice. £24.00
38 Paul Cluver Pinot Noir ~ Elgin, South Africa
This wine shows lots of wild berry fruit on the nose complemented with hints
of chocolate, violet and coffee aromas. The complex palate is brimming with
sweet berry flavours that are long and lingering, with a velvety finish. £28.00
39 Mudhouse Pinot Noir ~ New Zealand
Superb South Island Pinot from this top producer ~ full character & elegance
~ spicy berry fruit with earthy overtones. £28.00
40 Painted Wolf 'Guillermo' Pinotage ~ South Africa
An intense, rich wine packed with flavours of ripe blueberry and mulberry,
exotic spice and creamy vanilla with evident ripe tannins and a long
lingering finish ~ Silver Medal 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards. £29.50
41 Casa Lapostolle CuvÉe Alexandre Merlot ~ Chile
Another well-crafted wine from Casa Lapostolle with opulent and decadent
fruit. Great ripeness & concentration with cassis and blackberry flavours
with toasty oak. £33.50
42 Raka Biography Shiraz ~ Walker Bay, South Africa
A much acclaimed multiple gold medal winning wine that has gained cult
status in its native South Africa. According to John Platter's guide,
"...impressively full, dark, ripe plumy nose heralds dense but not
overweight palate with savoury spice. Juicy, lip smacking". £34.00
43 Pio Cesare Barbera D'Alba ~ Piemonte.
This superb Barbera comes from a historic family estate in the heart
Piemonte ~ quite different from other Barberas because the Barbera vines
are grown alongside the Nebbiolo in the best vineyards ~ this fact,
combined with extensive barrel ageing, results in a wine with the strength
and energy of a Barbera, but the elegance of Barolo ~ full and rich, yet
soft and supple ~ a nose of dark cherry tones with tobacco and toasty hints
leads to a palate which is plummy with spicy ripe fruit and blackberry
overtones flavours. £37.50
44 MarquÉs de CÀceres Gran Reserva ~ Rioja, Spain
A top Rioja which spends at least four years in cask and a further two in
bottle. Beautiful balance between fruit & wood. £39.50
45 ChÂteau de Sabazan, CÔtes de Saint-Mont ~ SW France
Wines from the Madiran region, in the south-west of France, received a
thunderbolt of publicity when Professor Roger Corder published research that
showed they were quite possibly the healthiest wines on earth.
This is a rich, roasted, firm wine with an appealing smoothness that belies
its complexity - a class act. £35.00
46 ChÂteau Puy Blanquet ~ Grand Cru St Emilion
A deep red coloured wine with abundant red fruit aromas and flavours. Great
body from the Merlot with supple, silky tannins on the finish. £39.50
47 Clos de Cana Cuve Lamartine ~ Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
A dense deep wine with a distinctive perfume and attractive tannins. The
very essence of its surroundings is condensed in its taste: thyme, rosemary
and sharp scent of the resin of pine trees. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Grenache and Merlot aged in oak. £29.50
48 Chateauneuf du Pape, 'Telegramme' ~ Rhone
Lovely soft fruit with spice, plums, herbs and a touch of leather behind.
Quite forward in the mouth with soft, ripe tannins, great length and a
luscious finish. This is the second wine of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe £47.50
