Wines in the Press
Here's what the journalists are saying...
Decanter
1 March 2012
Centre Loire - the home of Sauvignon Blanc
Jean-Pierre Vacher, Sancerre 2010
A very classic Sauvignon nose of gooseberry, flint and grassiness. Bright, racy and linear on the palate, but perhaps lacking a bit of weight and concentration. Ultra-traditional style.
Decanter
1 March 2012, Peter Richards
Casa Rivas Gran Reserva Maipo Valley 2010
Eucalyptus, redcurrant, earth, leaf, cream, plum and cassis on the nose. Fresh and fruity with fresh acidity, integrated alcohol and length. Angular, needs decanting.
The Sunday Telegraph Stella Magazine
29 January 2012
Susy Atkins
The Doctors' Riesling 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand
At just 8.5 per cent, this juicy, succulent riesling is naturally low in alcohol, but packed with tangy green apples, grapefruit and mango. Medium-sweet and made for fruit salad.
El Transistor Verdejo 2009, Rueda, Spain (£15.99)
One of the best Spanish whites around, richly textured and ripe, but dry, with lemon peel and lime, and a whiff of smoke. A serious treat with pan-fried white fish or luxury seafood.
The World of wine… with Charles Hardcastle
Hunts Post, 25 January 2012 / Ely Standard, 26th January 2012
Domaine Saint Eugenie, Corbieres Rouge 2009.
A generous and silky blend of Carignan, Syrah and Grenache to accompany any hearty casserole.
Decanter
Sunday 1st January 2012
Margaret Rand
2009 Domaine Michel Sarrazin et Fils
Pure, bright and mineral fruit on an aromatic and linear palate.
Daily Mail (weekend)
Saturday 17th December 2011
Matthew Jukes' Wine List
2009 Crasto, Douro Red, Portugal
This wine is made from Port grapes, giving it a dark brooding core and great power, but without the alcohol levels of a fortified wine. Divine with both cheese and dark chocolate after dinner.
Noval Black Port, Portugal
This, for me, is the most attractive and desirable of all ports - and it's available at a superbly competitive price. 'Black' is a work of modern art and is packed to the rafters with dense black cherries, velvety prunes and intense dark chocolate.
The Blackpool Gazette
Saturday 17th December 2011
Jacqui Morley
L'Empreinte de Saint Mont white 2009 is one for the top table, translated as 'fingerprint', the premium white will make it mark with seafood, or a lighter curry, combining layers of full-on fruitiness, peach, apple, twist of citrus, with fennel notes.
Eastern Daily Press
Friday 16th December 2011
…"Cole's Traditional Foods, has a created a special treat for Adnams of Southwold, Suffolk, to give the typical festive dessert a bit of a kick. The Broadside Chrismtas pudding contains Adnams Broadside beer and has citrus fruit flavour. Coles Traditional Foods are suppliers to the Royal Family and founder Chris Cole has used a Christmas pudding recipe which was passed down from his great-great grandmother. The 900g pudding costs £12.99 and the smaller 450g pudding is £7.99.Not content with that, if you want an extra treat this year an accompaniment for the Christmas pudding has also been created. De Klok Original Advokaat, a Dutch alcoholic custard, comes in 50cl jars and costs £11.99.
The London Evening Standard
Thursday 15th December 2011
Andrew Neather
Juniper Estate Shiraz 2005, Margaret River is a Western Australian take on the same grape (as Crozes hermitage): rich and smooth but with better acidity than most Barossa shirazes.
The Telegraph
13th December 2011
Susy Atkins
I'm a big fan of the Copper House Distillery spirits from Adnams in Suffolk, not least its sweetish, clove-scented Winter Spiced Liqueur, made with ruby-red pimenta berries (from which allspice is derived) and vanilla pods. One to savour in shot glasses by the fire after a walk, it also works well if warmed gently.
Sunday Express, S Mazine
Sunday 11th December 2011
Jamie Goode's Top 30 White Wines
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand
This helped put New Zealand sauvignon blanc on the map and is back on form with superb grapefruit, white peach and elderflower flavours. Currently selling 2010 vintage.
Forrest Estate Semillon 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand
Semillon isn't usually found in New Zealand, but this is a brilliant, fresh wine with smooth peach and green pepper notes.
The Times
The 50 Best Red Wines for Christmas
Jane McQuitty
Saturday 10th December 2011
2008 Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, H. Brunier & Fils, France
Le Vieux Tél´graphe is one of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's most revered estates and renowned for its long-lived wines. Télégramme is their second wine made from 25-year-old vines, mostly grenache and mourvèdre. Although 2008 was not a great year in southern Rhône, this spicy, fat elegant chateauneuf with lots of cinnamon, leather and sandalwood spice, is a winner.
The Surrey Advertiser
Friday 9th December 2011
Heather Dougherty
Le Faite 2007
Arrufiac, Petit Courbu, Petit and Gros Manseng - you don't need to have heard of the grape varieties to enjoy this unique white wine: big bold fruit, big-boned, but with refreshing acidity.
Seattleweekly.com
Tuesday 6th December 2011
Cocktail maven Wendy Miller spills (about) what's in her glass
"I have a fondness for things my husband and I bring back while travelling. Currently I'm a bit obsessed with the amazing gins we had in London and a few that made it home with us. One in particular is Adnams' Copper House Distilled Gin."
The Spectator
Christmas Drinks
Saturday 3rd December 2011
Pete Brown
… and possibly the perfect fireside beer, Adnams' Broadside (6.3% abv) also really some into their own when the nights are longest, with maybe a bit of cheese on the side.
Sunday Telegraph, Stella
Susy Atkins
Sunday 4th December
I’m a big fan of the Copper House Distillery spirits from Adnams in Suffolk, not least its sweetish, clove-scented WINTER SPICED LIQUEUR (adnams.co.uk, £13.99 for 35cl), made with ruby-red pimenta berries (from which allspice is derived) and vanilla pods. One to savour in shot glasses by the fire after a walk, it also works well if warmed gently.
Jancisrobinson.com
Saturday 3rd December 2011
Top 60+ reds
René Rostaing 2007 Côte Rôtie
Very fresh, sumptuous, lacy nose and silky texture. North Rhône classic before the prices went up. 13%
The Guardian Weekend Magazine
Saturday 3rd December
Fiona Beckett
…how about a bottle of Adnams' new Copper House Sloe Gin with a great hunk of stichelton (the unpasteurised version of stilton, available from Neal's Yard)?
Foodies
Thursday 1st December 2011
Xmas Cheers - Oz Clarke
2008 Primitivo, Polvanera 14, Gioia del Colle, Puglia, Italy
Thick with the richness of dates and raisins, the sticky taste of plum jam baked on the edge of a jam tart, and the glowering intensity of black treacle.
Suffolk and Norfolk Life
Thursday 1st December 2011
Alex layton
Madiran Plénitude
Madiran is an appellation in the south west of France that is responsible for producing some of France's most hearty reds. The key to this region is the tannat grape variety, which due to its thick skin, produces richly flavoured wines with hefty tannins.
This particular example from one of France's (if not the world's ) best co-operatives, Plaimont, embraces both the traditional and the modern by using traditional and local grape varieties and vinifying them using modern methods. The result is a wine of great depth and vigour, but with lovely accessible black fruit charm. DO as the local gascons do and drink this with cassoulet, or failing that, hearty (foods) which will certainly keep the winter chills at bay.
Living South
Thursday 1st December 2011
Drink Me
Tom Forrest
Another healthy trend is the move to produce lower alcohol wines, based on the interesting concept of having a glass of wine at lunch at still working in the afternoon. The Doctors' range of wines are certainly no 'skinny latte' option; they are full-fat flavour, with a light note.
Good Housekeeping
Thursday 1st December 2011, Meike Beck
Fabulous Finds for Foodies
Pralus Large Chocolate Pyramid, 500g
This stack of dark, single-origin chocolates from around the world is fabulously packaged and tastes sublime.
Adnams First Rate Gin, 50cl
Distilled in hand-made copper stills, 13 botanicals go into making this 48% proof tipple. It's good stuff.
The Daily Express
Saturday 26th November 2011
Wine of the Week
For a good winter warmer try Adnams' Copper House Distillery Winter Spiced Liqueur.
The Observer
Friday 25th November 2011
David Williams
.COM Branco. Tiago Cabaço, Estremoz, Portugal 2009
One of the most characterful sub-£10 wines I've tasted in a long time, this idiosyncratic blend of local varieties such as roupeiro and anton vaz from Estremoz in the warm Alentejo region of Portugal has the right blend of richness and crispness for the Christmas turkey, both on the big day itself or as leftover cold cuts.
Cambridge First
Thursday 24th November 2011
The World of Wine with Charles Hardcastle
If there's still room for the Christmas Pudding, then a red 'sweetie' is called for. Adnams' Antonio Barbadillo Pedro Ximenez Sherry is a heady, luscious PX that can also be poured liberally over vanilla ice cream!
Discerning Drinker: Carignan
The London Evening Standard
Thursday 24th November 2011
Andrrew Neather
Domaine Réveille Carignan Le Franc Tireur 2009, Côtes du Roussillon
Some of France Crispeel's vines in Roussillon's wild Agly Valley are 100 years old, and it shows: with bags of rich, sweet fruit, this is big and long.
Available only in our Cellar & Kitchen Stores
The Observer
13th November 2011
David Williams in the Observer reviewed his 50 best wines for Christmas. In the White section under £10 he quotes
2009 .COM Branco, Tiago Cabaco, Estremoz, Portugal £7.50
"One of the most characterful sub £10 wines I’ve tasted in a long time, this idiosyncratic blend of local varieties such as roupeiro and anton vaz from Estremoz in the warm Alentejo region, has the right blend of richness and crispness for the Christmas turkey, both on the big day itself or as left-over cold cuts.”
Decanter Magazine
Thursday 1st November 2011
Vintage Champagne
Adnams The Cellar Selection 2003
Ripe pineapple, biscuit, coffee, apricot, spice and toast. Rich and yeasty with a long fresh finish. Drink 2011 - 2016
Great British Food Magazine
Thursday 1st November 2011
All the Trimmings…
Adnams Christmas Pudding
This boozy delight has a surprisingly light texture - most likely down to the addition of Adnams Broadside ale instead of the usual brandy. The beer imparts a richness and really brings out the spicy gingerbread flavour of the fruit and zest.
Your Home
Thursday 1st November 2011
Food & Entertaining
Pick a pudding with a difference this year with Adnams Christmas pudding made with Broadside beer. The bitterness of the beer cuts through the sweet fruit whilst its fruitcake aroma adds to the richness.
BBC Good Food Magazine
Thursday 1st November 2011
Sarah Jane Evans
Stock up for Christmas
De Klok original Advokaat, 22%
Abandon the brandy butter for this show stopper. it's advocaat but no the ordinary kind. Thick, like lemon curd, and very alcoholic (22%), it's the perfect adults-only topping for Christmas pud or mince pie.
Bar Magazine
Thursday 1st November 2011
Mark Ludmon
Suffolk brewer Adnams has come up with the seasonal Winter Spiced Liqueur to complement the range of vodkas and gins from tis new Copper House Distillery. Distiller John McCarthy says, "The Winter Spiced Liqueur has a rich, warming spice and subtle vanilla flavour, using a mix of pimenta berries, vanilla pods and sugar, left to soak in Adnams Copper House Barley Vodka. I'm particularly fond of the Spiced Liqueur as it makes a perfect winter aperitif or digestif."
Imbibe
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Kate Pass
Following on from the launch of Adnams Limoncello just in time for summer, the next two products to be released have a decidedly Christmassy feel. Adnams Sloe Gin (26% abv) and Winter Spiced Liqueur (28% abv), with the latter a blend of pimento berries, vanilla pods, sugar and Adnams Copper House Barley Vodka. Great for punches, aperitifs and digestifs, the duo act as great winter warmers.
Ely Standar
Thursday 27th October 2011
The World of Wine with Charles Hardcastle
Cabernet Sauvignon is always a winner with a hearty Sunday roast. Try Adnam's Château Falfas 2006 from Bordeaux's Côtes de Bourg region, a substantial and concentrated red with restrained tannins and a lengthy finish.
The Daily Echo (Bournemouth)
Monday 24th October
Madiran Plénitude 2008
Madiran is an appellation in the south west of France that is responsible for producing some of France's most hearty reds. This particular example embraces both the traditional and the modern by using traditional and local grape varieties and vinifying them using modern methods. The result is a wine of great depth and vigour, but with lovely accessible black fruit charm. Do as the local Gascons do and drink this with cassoulet, or failing that, oxtail soup which will certainly keep the autumnal chills at bay. Please note: we are currently selling the 2006 vintage.
The Independent
Saturday 15th October 2011
Anthony Rose
2009 Le Faite, Plaimont
…richly concentrated apricoty flagship white. Please note: we are currently selling the 2008 vintage
The Morning Advertiser
13 October 2011
Roger Protz
Bitburger Pils (4.8% abv)
Enormous care is devoted to selecting the finest raw materials for the beer: four varieties of barley and five hops. The beer is lagered for two months and has a toasted aroma balanced by floral hops and light citrus fruit. Juicy malt and tangy hops fill the mouth while the finish has a delicious bittersweet note of biscuity malt, piny hops and light fruit.
The Observer
Sunday 9th October
Wines of the Week
David Williams
.COM Branco, Tiago Cabaço, Estremoz, Portugal 2009
While the name is straining a little hard to suggest modernity (branco means white, incidentally) the wine itself is effortlessly unforced. From the warmth of the Alentejo, it's a full-flavoured, rich and fruity blend of the local roupeiro and anton vaz varieties; mouthfilling, idiosyncratic and with enough bite to mop up a buttery roast chicken.
Drinks International - drinksint.com
Sunday 9th October 2011
English brewery and distillery, Adnams, has added the limited edition Sloe Gin and Winter Spiced Liqueur to its range of spirits and liqueurs. The Suffolk-based distillery opened last November, distilling vodka and gin from its copper pot still.
The new line follows a Limoncello liqueur, released in May this year for the summer period. Adnams Sloe Gin is available in 50cl bottles priced at £18.49, while Winter Spiced Liqueur comes in 35cl bottles, with an RRP of £13.99.
Billed as "the perfect seasonal winter warmers", the new liqueurs are available until Easter 2012. John McCarthy, Adnams' distiller, said, "We've used traditional methods to produce our own interpretations of these festive favourites. With the Sloe Gin, we have added sloes and almonds to Adnams Copper House Gin, which were left to mature together for two months.
"The Winter Spiced Liqueur has a rich, warming spice and subtle vanilla flavour, using a mix of pimenta berries, vanilla pods and sugar, left to soak in Adnams Copper House Barley Vodka."
The Market
Saturday 1st October 2011
Amontillado AB
A complex dry wine packed with aromas from caramel and olives, dried fruit and nuts, to butter. The flavour lingers on and on.
The Times Weekend
Saturday 1st October 2011
Jane MacQuitty
Take this grape seriously 'Oddball' carignan.
Don't miss Adnams glorious raspberry-scented Domaine Réveille 2009 Carignan, Franc-Tireur.
Available only in our Cellar & Kitchen Stores
At Home Magazine
Saturday 1st October
A-Z of Ales
Adnams
Stocked at Marco Pierre White's Steak & Ale House, this is one of the chef's favourite ales. The team at Adnams prides itself on brewing authentic beers, each with its own fresh, unique and vibrant character. You can visit the Southwold brewery to see for yourself how they make Adnams Lighthouse (3.4% abv), Tally Ho (7% abv) and Spindrift (4% abv). The brewery's newly revamped system is one of the most modern in the UK. Making more efficient use of raw materials, it uses 30% less gas, cleans itself - and the team claim they're trying to programme it to make tea too! A tour of the Adnams brewery costs £10 per person, which includes the tour, tastings and a bottle of beer to take home.
Ham & High
Thursday 29th September 2011
Liz Sagues
A second intriguing and very unusual Alentejo wine appeared in the same under-£10 line-up. .Com branco 2009 blends two other native grapes, anton vas and roupeiro, and the result is almost savoury, with generous developing flavours - a perfect match for grilled sardines.
Bodegas Tempore Garnacha Joven 2010 from Aragon with intensive fruit and some complexity.
… the marvellous mixing of elegance and rusticity in René Rostaing Côte Rôtie 2011. Currently we are offering the 2004 vintage.
The Independent on Sunday
Terry Kirby
25th September 2011
Valley Escondido Torrontes 2010
An enticingly fresh, floral nature and a crisp, dry finish excite the palate in this excellent example of Argentina’s native grape made by the highly reputable Gouguenheim Winery, which also produces terrific Malbec, near Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes. This is a fabulous wine to accompany autumn puddings involving pears, plums or blackberries. £6.99
The Jewish Chronicle
Friday 16 September 2011
Anthea Gerrie
Austrian Zweigelt is an easy-drinking red with good fruit - try Little J from Adnams at £9.99. Special cakes and celebration meals deserve a dedicated dessert wine, and Rutherglen Muscat (half bottle £10.99, Adnams), is delectably toffee-ish, a fine complement to the apple and almond cake.
Jancis Robinson.com
Friday 16 September 2011
Tiago Cabaço, .COM Branco 2009 Estremoz (Wines of the week) £7.50
Congratulations to Adnams buyer Alastair Marshall for sniffing out this bargain when he went to the wine conference in Oporto, Portugal, last December. It is made by a young producer in the Alentejo, Tiago Cabaço, who specialises in his own native region of Estremoz, advised by oenologist Susana Estéban. (The wine's official designation of origin is Vinho Regional Alentejano.) I loved its massively fruity, interesting impact on the palate. Being from such a plump vintage, I wouldn't expect it to last particularly long but why wait?
It tastes as though many varieties go into this smartly packaged blend and indeed the producer's website confirms that it contains Portugal's admirably nervy Arinto as well as Roupeiro, Antão Vaz, Verdelho and even imported Viognier. It's fruity, really round and complex, unlike anything else I can think of, and fun.
Alastair Marshall writes that when he saw that this producer's wine ranges were called .COM and .BEB, he assumed a high level of techiness but claims that when he first met Tiago, he didn't even have a website. The key apparently is that if you add an E to the end of these two suffixes, you get respectively 'eat' and 'drink' in Portuguese. Of course! I'd just suggest that you take advantage of this evidence of Portugal's singularity when it comes to wine production, and enjoy the evidence that its white wines can be every bit as interesting as its reds. For the moment, Adnams seems to be the sole stockist known to wine-searcher.com. Let's hope that changes soon, as I do think this wine should be drunk this year, ideally.
Guardian.co.uk
Friday 9th September 2011
Fiona Beckett
Adnams Cellar & Kitchen shops stock the fragrant Chateau du Pin Bordeaux 2009 (£7.99; 14% abv), which you might be able to kid less knowledgable (or sozzled) friends is the iconic Le Pin. They also have an "Affordable Bordeaux" offer on at the moment – £99 for a 12-bottle case – which you might fancy if you want to explore what bordeaux at this price has to offer.
Off Licence News
Friday 2nd September 2011
Sarah Jane Evans MW
Adnams which has long had a relationship with Forrest Wines, has an offer originally intended for visitors to the winery in New Zealand who want to ship a case home, but it's also for UK customers. There's a 'Conversion' six-pack for £60 and a 'Touchdown' 12-bottle case for £139. It is also selling a pale ale with Nelson Sauvin hops, which apparently give a 'fantastic gooseberry flavour'.
Bar Magazine
Thursday 1st September 2011
Suffolk Brewer Adnams has introduced a programme of seasonal liqueurs alongside the gins and vodkas coming out of its new Copper House Distillery. After the success of its limited release of 2,500 bites of limoncello over the summer, this month sees the release of a sloe gin with a light almond sweetness. In advance of Christmas, head distiller John McCarthy has also created Winter Spiced, a liqueur made with pimento berries and vanilla. More seasonal products are planned for 2012. "I have always used natural ingredients which is a little bit more work in terms of filtering but you get a real product," John explains.
Hunts Post
24th August 2011
Charles Hardcastle
Berton Farms Chardonnay / Viognier 'Dust Farm' 2009.
A rich and spicy Aussie white packed with tropical fruit flavours.
Country Life
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Rupert Ponsonby
Adnams Distilled Gin (40% above) from Suffolk is made from malted barley, and uses a beer base distilled with six botanicals.
BBC Good Food Magazine
Saturday 1st October 2011
Sarah Jane Evans
Salers Gentiane, France, 25%, £22.50 / 100cl
If you prefer your drinks with a savoury rather than a sweet note, and have a taste for Campari or a dash of Angostura bitters, then try Gentiane - a French speciality. Made from the root of the pretty purple gentian flower, it makes a complex herbal, bitter drink that is very refreshing over ice. Recommended as a digestif.
Waitrose Weekend
Thursday 25 August 2011
Bitburger 330ml bottles
Bitburg is just on the western border of Germany near Luxenbourg and Bitburger has been brewed there since 1817. Its unusual, distinct but eminently appealing pilsner style has gained it a cult status and it also happens to be one of my favourites. The winning combination of crisp, citrus freshness with the bitter, savoury, hoppy tang is not only palate-cleansing, but blanches rich, spicy chicken marinades such as Heston's Coronation Chicken and the sweet and savoury notes in a traditional hot dog recipe.
Decanter
1st September 2011
Juniper Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (four stars 17.5) £19.50 (2005) Adnams
Rich and concentrated aroma. Full and succulent palate with firm but ripe tannins. Long and balanced with complexity. power and finesse combined. Drink 2012 - 2025. Alc 14.5%. We are currently offering the 2005 vintage.
Decanter
1 September 2011
Panel Tasting - Four stars
Mitchell Wines, Watervale, Clare Valley, South Australia 2010
Lovely aromas of ripe fruit, delicate herbs, minerals and wild flowers. Amazing mouthful of lovely ripe orchard fruit and acacia. Soft, exotic and pure with an intense, lingering finish. Top notch. Drink 2011- 2017/ Alc 13%. We are currently offering the 2008 vintage.
BBC Good Food Magazine
Thursday 1 September 2011
What to drink - Sarah Jane Evans
Open Now 2008, Hegarty Chamans, Minervois, France, £7.99
Why buy? Floral, smoky, brambly, this is a Syrah-Mourvedre red for Autumn drinking. The man behind the unforgettable name and the striking label is advertising guru Sir John Hegarty, one of a growing number of Engish people with vineyards in France - in this case near Carcassonne. He bought the estate in 2002 and has since introduced organic and biodynamic practices. Great with: Lighter dishes, such as lamb chops, and girdled aubergines, peppers and mushrooms.
France Magazine
1 August 2011
Wines of the month
Producteurs Plaimont, L'Empreinte Blanc 2009, Saint Mont
A delicious wine from a little-known appellation in Gascony. This has perfumed peachy and allspice-infused cream aromas. It's rich and fleshy, within a well-crafted, substantial body, with exotic and tropical fruit and a glimmer of vanilla spice, held together with a fresh pink grapefruit acidity. It's made from 75% gros manseng, 15% petit curb and 10% petit manseng off a five-hectare plot by one of the region's most forward-thinking co-operatives.
Decanter Magazine
1st August 2011
Vintage Report Chianti Classico 2008 & 2009
Kerin O'Keefe
Castello di Volpaia, Volpaia
Lovely earthy aromas of lychee, violet and hint of leather. Wild cherry palate with tobacco and mineral. supple tannins and very good length. Drink 2011-2014. Alc 13.5%
The Guardian Weekend Magazine
Saturday 23rd July 2011
Fiona Beckett's end of term report on the big supermarkets
And for those of you who would rather jump in front of a bus than enter the doors of a supermarket? Try Hegarty Chamans' Open Now Minervois (13.5% abv), a terrific, spicy blend of syrah and mourvedre for £7.99, or £7.19 if you buy an unsplit case, from Adnams Cellar & Kitchen. Now that is a bargain.
The Leader (Chester)
Friday 22nd July 2011
Sam Wylie-Harris
Best Buy:
Eco-friendly Languedoc lovely… winemaker JeanJean en Languedoc has launched Bivouac organic wines, a range of premium organic Vins de Pays d'Oc, which come in a two-bottle environmentally friendly wine pouch. A great gadget with no drips. Bivouac wines are available in red, white and Rosé… and will last 6 weeks after opening.
www.jancisrobinson.com
Jancis reviews some of the good value wines required for the Royal Household:
Chateau du Pin 2009 Bordeaux 16+ Drink 2011-2014
Mild and easy but not too sweet. Good for drinking without food. Lots of fruit and no excess of anything. 14%
The Independent
Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Open now, Domaine Hegarty Chamans 2008
Made by award-winning wine-maker Samuel Berger on an organic vineyard owned by British advertising mogul John Hegarty near Carcassonne, this Syrah-Mouvèdre blend is full of bold, dark fruit, but also rich, spicy and savoury – everything a good Minervois should be. Ideal with anything meaty and grilled on the barbecue.
Imbibe
Friday 1, July 2011
Home on the Range: Our favourite line-ups
Forrest, New Zealand
Drs John and Brigid Forrest run a small winery in Marlborough, and also produce wine from vineyards elsewhere in New Zealand. The John Forrest Collection Noble Riesling 2006, however, is all Marlborough. THis sweet wine has bright aromas of raisins, marmalade and apricots, followed by luscious flavours of Seville Oranges and honeycomb on the palate, cut with taut lime acidity. The 2006 Syrah from the same John Forrest Collection features a spicy nose of cloves and blackcurrant with hints of pepper. The palate has a soft savoury attack with a burst of red and black currants, as well as lots of smoky leather and gravel. The Forrest Tattybogler Pinot Noir 2008 grown in Otago, offers a rich nose of blackberry and some malted biscuits. Cherry fruit and hints of chocolate on the palate are followed by a smoky, clove finish.
Great British Food Magazine
Friday 1, July 2011
Adnams Finest Cut Gin
Despite being best knownfor its beers,Suffolk-based brewery Adnams is using its expert skills to produce a delicious British gin. Created with a blend of East Anglian wheat, barley and rye, the spirit has a subtle,yet complex,flavour, and is made using a blend of 13 botanicals,including juniper berries, coriander seed, cardamon pods, sweet orange peel and liquorice root.
Adnams is said to be the first brewery and distillery in England to undertake the whole production process in-house, from grain to glass. The distillery is based in the old Adnams Brewery Copper House, which has been refurbished and fitted with hand made copper equipment. A vodka is also available,and a whiskey is set to follow once it has matured in specially-made oak casks for three years.
Jane MacQuitty, The TImes
Top 50 Summer Whites, 19 June 2011
2010 Lorca Fantasia Torrontes
…I was bowled over by this seductive, mouthwatering musk, peach, jasmine and hawthorn scented torrontes.
2009 Macon-Montbellet
The year 2009 was good in burgundy – just as it was almost everywhere in France – so make certain that you scoop up enough of this really rather delicious Macon, which is bursting with characterful, rich, floral, sappy fruit.
2008 El Transistor
El Transistor comes from old bush vine verdejo grown in the vineyard of El Monte, near the town of La Seca. Ripe verdejo grapes are irresistible to the area's wild boars, so Telmo Rodriguez left transistor radios playing loudly throughout the vineyard and picked a pristine crop. The result is a terrific, zesty, pink grapefruit-styled white that makes a fine summer aperitif and fishy first-course white.
Glasses at the ready: The best wines to buy this summer
By Terry Kirby, The Independent
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Franc Tireur, Domaine Reveille 2009
In the South of France, the Carignan grape used here is normally found in blends. But this terrific single-varietal, made from 100-year-old vines, has all the hallmarks of a big Languedoc red: intense, rich, with fresh flavours of dark fruits and the herby "garrigue" of the hillsides. Perfect with a butterfly leg of lamb spiked with rosemary. £12.50, Adnams
Olly Smith, Mail Online, Jan 1st 2011
The Doctors' 9.5% Sauvignon Blanc
Normally I loathe wines that are deliberately made to be low in alcohol, as they seem to me utterly rancid. This is different. This is the first one I've tasted to make me think twice. Thanks to early picking, the wine is crisp and fruity yet punchy too. Clever stuff.
Olly Smith, Mail online, 2nd October 2010
El Transistor, Rueda, Telmo Rodriguez, Spain £17.99
This white wine is awesome. The grape is 100% Verdejo sourced from old bush vines, and the wine got its name thanks to a radio placed strategically in the vineyard to ward off local wild boar from eating the delicious fruit. Peachy, creamy, zingy and long-lasting, this is purity in a bottle and a must for all fans of classy dry whites.
Anthony Rose: 'Independent wine merchants can provide a service that supermarkets can only dream of'
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Adnams of Southwold, always innovative, often quirky, came up with an exotically rich gooseberry and guava-like 2009 El Transistor, Rueda, £17.99, from Telmo Rodriguez, and a distinctively full-flavoured, sweet-and-sour, cherryish 2008 Valpolicella Classico Corte del Pozzo, Fasoli Gino, £10.99.
===product=714780===
The Mail on Sunday, 4th April 2010
Olly Smith
Saint-Mont Le Faite Blanc, Producteurs Plaimont
"A vibrant and stunning white blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Arrufiac, this wine will bring a grin to the face of anyone who has ever loved Sauvignon Blanc. It has a real grapefruit tang to it - dazzingly fresh with a joyful sense of verve."
The Weekend Australian, February 13 / 14 2010
James Halliday
2008 Forrest Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
"A mini-vertical tasting of Forrest Sauvignon Blancs back to '06 (and '01 as a back-marker) showed some sauvignons can age well. Screwcaps have, of course, moved the goalposts. Still very pale and no less fresh, with light floral / passionfruit elements, this is a wine of extreme elegance built on a minerally, citrus-nuanced framework. 13% alc/ vel; screwcap. Rating: 95 points. Drink to 2013."
The Telegraph, Friday 19th February 2010
Jonathan Ray
Jonathan Ray's Top 10 Kiwi wines
"New Zealand's wines may not be cheap, but they get better every year.
2005 John Forrest Collection Noble Riesling, 9%vol (£19.99 per 37.5cl; Adnams 01502 727222).
Wine lovers are in for a real treat now that the European Union's bizarre embargo on New Zealand's sweet wines has been lifted. This absolute peach from Marlborough is on the high seas as I write and will be available from March. Richly sweet, but with fresh, fine riesling acidity and complex whiffs of petrol and marmalade, it's wonderful on its own or with tarte tatin. Definitely a wine worth waiting for."
Wall Street Journal, Weekend Journal, Friday - Sunday, February 19-21, 2010
Drinking Now
Madiran Plenitude 2005, Producteurs Plaimont, Gascony, Southwest France
"The wines from the Madiran are big, full-bodied and rustic. I love them, but be warned they are best with food. This example has slightly softer fruit, with a notable hint of oak and is reminiscent of hearty plum jam."
Times Online December 4, 2009
Top 10 Christmas gifts under £20, Michael Moran
"3: Adnams Champion beer box £10
Got an uncle or brother-in-law that you barely know and so is impossible to buy for? Well, impossible to buy for inside your ten pound budget at least? Enter the Adnams Champion Beer Box. Six different connoisseur beers in a very handsome box. He’ll love the beer, and afterwards he can probably use the box for cufflinks or something. If he wears cufflinks."
Source: Oz Clarke's 250 Best Wines Wine Buying Guide 2010
2005 Rioja Crianza, Monte Acuro, The Adnams Selection
When I taste real Rioja, carefully, traditionally made, without any grand pretensions, I can look back almost as long as I've been drinking wine, because in the dark days when reds were thin and sour, Rioja was the opposite. Creamy, gentle, soft, squashy strawberry fruit swathed in vanilla, perhaps the bitter-sweet crack of cherry stones to provide just a hint of toughness. Well, here it is again: living memories of Rioja.
(Please note we now have a different vintage)
NV Pelorus, Cloudy Bay, New Zealand
Cloudy Bay is part of the Louis Vuitton luxury luggage group, which also owns the Champagne House of Veuve Clicquot. So you could think of Pelorus as Veuve Clicquot from the Land of the Long White Cloud (ie New Zealand). This is outstanding fizz; I wish Veuve Clicquot was a) this price, and b) so consistently delicious, but it fails on both counts. So enjoy this Kiwi version instead - beautifully creamy, smelling of macaroons and hazelnuts, fresh and foaming, but with the soft reassurance of baked rice pudding.
In the Keeping it Light section:
'Here are my suggestions for drinks with fab flavours that won't leave you fuzzy-headed the next morning'
2006 Riesling, The Doctor's, Forrest Estate, Marlborough, 9.5%
2008 Riesling, Dr L, Loosen, Mosel
Tom Parker Bowles, The Mail on Sunday
"Dinner is poured".
Tom Parker Bowles explores cooking with beer. Read the complete article here: http://tiny.cc/GSjm8
"A cottage pie is given instant extra depth with a good glug of London porter or stout (again, Meantime does a great porter), while an Adnams Broadside is the perfect partner to beef in a steak-and-ale pie."
Simon Woods Blog:
Castle Rock Central Coast Pinot Noir 2008, California
Soft spice, gentle ripe raspberry red cherry, a hint of Mivvi lollies (vanilla and strawberry if you don’t know them), juicy and friendly wine, hint of leather, not too complex but very tasty. S-
Castle Rock Petite Sirah 2006, Russian River Valley, California
Quite big blue fruit and chocolate character, exuberant, almost tar and ash character, some vanilla from the oak aging, but it’s not as clunky as in the Syrah – maybe due to the extra year on bottle? Still plenty of tannin, nicely rustic, and with its best still to come. B(+)
