Tolpuddle Pinot Noir
The Tolpuddle vineyard was purchased by Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith in 2011. It is situated in the Coal River Valley, in Tasmania’s south-east corner. First planted in 1988 by Tony Jordan and Garry Crittenden, it has since established a reputation for growing exceptional quality grapes, with the focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The cool but relatively dry climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly in autumn, without the disease pressure that heavy rainfall can bring.The vineyard took its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were transported to Australia in 1834 for starting an agrarian union in Tolpuddle in Dorset. The leader of the group, George Loveless, served part of his sentence working on a property near Richmond called GlenAyr, part of which is now the Tolpuddle Vineyard.This is certainly one of Australia's best Pinot Noirs with this vintage rated 99/100 on jamessuckling.com.
Elegant and balanced but with great complexity and depth. Stunning wine!
Perfect Pinot for a special occasion. On my list for Christmas Day this year!
Chassagne-Montrachet ‘Les Blanchots Dessous’, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
This is a family domaine in the commune of Chassagne-Montrachet, passed down through
generations of the Coffinet family since about 1860.
In 1989 Laura Coffinet took over the domain and togetherwith her partner Philippe Duvernay (who trained alongside Laura’s father) they have created Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay.The 1er Cru Blanchot Dessus lies adjacent to and just south of the great Grand Cru Le Montrachet itself.
Limestone on top of mineral rich clay soils and a limestone bedrock make it a perfect terroir for producing profound
Chardonnay.A very classy wine which has real texture and richness; complex with a long, lingering finish, this is a perfect wine for that special meal. Especially suited to fish with creamy sauces. Or a great way to lift fish and chips to new heights!
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ is owned and managed by Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. In 1980 Clive planted the bare, stony, home paddock at the edge of Martinborough, becoming one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Ata Rangi’s first vineyard covered less than five hectares on deep, free-draining alluvial gravels – the original course of a local river which flows from the hills that flank the eastern side of the valley. Today they are joined by a strong team including winemaker Helen Masters, who in 2019 was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, as recognition of her 16 years’ work at Ata Rangi.Ata Rangi is renowned for its Pinot Noir and is widely regarded as New Zealand’s top Pinot Noir producer. They were awarded Five Stars in the ‘2019 Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification’ by Matthew Jukes and Tyson Stelzer for the consistent gold medal standard of their wines. At the 2010 International Pinot Noir Conference, Ata Rangi Pinot Noir was one of two producers granted the title of ‘Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa’ (which translates from Māori as ‘Great Growth of New Zealand’ or ‘Grand Cru’), in recognition of their unique site and of the family’s commitment to evolving and developing New Zealand Pinot Noir. The oldest Pinot Noir vines, which include a clone allegedly smuggled from Burgundy, were planted in 1980.This is one of my favourite Pinot Noirs from anywhere! I love the slightly savoury style of Martinborough Pinot and no-one does it better than Ata Rangi.I would drink this with anything but roast pork belly with fennel seeds springs to mind as a match made in heaven.
Gordon & MacPhail – Glenrothes 11yo Single Malt Whisky
Gordon & MacPhail – Tomatin 2010 Single Malt Whisky
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV
Charles Heidsieck is one of the great names of Champagne and produces some of the finest of all champagnes. Founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original 'Champagne Charlie', the foundation of its modern fame rests on the unrivalled quality of its wines, which receive countless awards and accolades year after year.
The grapes for the Brut Réserve are sourced from 60 different ‘crus’ across the region; fermentation and ageing of the base wines takes place primarily in stainless steel to preserve freshness; it is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Meunier, including at least 40% reserve wines, the average age of which is 10 years; and finally, the Brut Réserve is aged in bottle on its lees for at least three years prior to release.This really is one of the best NV wines coming out of Champagne! Beautiful.
Amarone, Musella
Musella make very special wines! What makes them unique is that they look for harmony and balance in the wine, not just power and intensity. Don't get me wrong, this is still a full-bodied wine, made with dried grapes in the usual way, but it isn't too intense or too alcoholic like a lot of modern Amarone. This is deliciously drinkable; more than one glass won't knock you out! Maddalena Pasqua is passionate about her vineyards and the land on which she lives; she makes wines that shine with this love. All the vineyards and farmed Biodynamically and the wines made by hand.
A great wine to finish the meal and can accompany a range of cheeses including complex Cheddars such as Montgomery or Pitchfork, or soft blues like Beauvale.
Etna Rosso ‘Passorosso’, Passopisciaro, Sicily
Passopisciaro is one of the leading producers in Sicily; their wines really have something special about them.The grape here is Nerello Mascalese and on Etna's volcanic soils it makes wines of beguiling perfume and style.
This is not a heavy, full-bodied wine but like Barolo and Barbaresco, there is a structure that gives them stature and a sense of import.This wine can stand up to rich stews and game dishes but really shines with a couple of simple hard cheeses; try it with Corra Lin or Lincolnshire Poacher