Niepoort ‘White Rabbit’ White Port
One of the best white Ports available. Like all of Dirk Niepoort's wines, this is at the top of the tree in terms of quality. Drier than most and with real depth of flavour; rich and nutty with a long lingering finish.
Great to drink chilled on it's own, or with olives and salted almonds, or mix with tonic and ice for Portugal's answer to the G&T! A great aperitif.
Deya Steady Rollin’ Man Pale Ale 5.2%
Deya from Cheltenham are making beers that are really creating waves in the beer world...the new coolest brewery??
Anyway, this is fantastic, a really fresh and tasty Pale Ale but with a subtle savoury side that makes it that little bit more interesting than most.
Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
Verdant Lightbulb Extra Pale Ale 4.5%
Astrolabe Marlborough Pinot Noir
Simon Waghorn of Astrolabe Wines is one of New Zealand's most respected winemakers; his wines are always balanced, with great depth of flavour.
This Pinot Noir has more complexity than many from Marlborough, with a subtle savoury edge to the rich creamy red fruit flavours.
Delicious with rack of lamb or soft cheeses such as Baron Bigod.
Chateau Cantemerle 2015
Niepoort Tawny Dee 1/2 bottle
Named after the characters in Alice in Wonderland, the Dum and Dee wines are a great introduction to Dirk Niepoort's wines.
Brick red/tawny in colour, with delicate nutty aromas and a hint of dried fruits.
On the palate, very well balanced with a youthful fruity, luscious character, which integrates well with a long finish.
Perfect with nuts, dried fruits and blue cheeses. Lovely served slightly chilled.
Niepoort Ruby Dum 1/2 bottle
Named after the Alice in Wonderland characters Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dee, these wines offer a great introduction to Dirk Niepoort's wines
The Ruby Dee is dark red in colour with a fresh vibrant aroma of dark fruits which follows through on the palate along with an almost mineral character, a youthful wine with good extract and great balance, offering superb "drinkability".
Ready to drink now after a meal on its own or with a selection of cheeses.
‘El Candado’ Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Valdespino
Valdespino is one of the oldest bodegas in Jerez, with a history of Sherry production going back six centuries. Back in 1264, Alfonso Valdespino was one of 24 knights who fought against the Arabs for the city of Jerez with King Alfonso X. As a reward for his efforts he was given land that formed the basis of the bodega. Today Valdespino belongs to the Estevez family, who purchased the bodega in 1999.
This delicious Pedro Ximenez has a liquid Christmas cake character, great depth and a lovely flick of acidity on the finish which serves to emphasise the unctuous sweetness and flavours of dried fig and raisins.
Great poured over vanilla ice cream, with mince pies, hard or blue cheese, or just on it's own after a meal
Lugana ‘i Frati’, Ca dei Frati
The Dal Cero family has transformed their Ca' dei Frati property, situated on the southern shores of Lake Garda, into a model Italian estate over the past two decade, they remain the best producer in Lugana.
The quality of the wines is attributable directly to Igino Dal Cero's obsession with detail. All their fruit is picked by hand and he ensures there is no skin contact as he wants to retain the delicate perfumes and enhance the supple texture of the whites.
Made solely from the Turbiana variety (related to Verdicchio, it was formerly known as Trebbiano di Lugana and then Lugana), the wine has depth and zip that few wines from this area demonstrate.
Perfect with grilled fish, light pasta dishes or antipasti.
Redoma Tinto, Niepoort
The Redoma wines are perhaps the flagship of Dirk Niepoort's range. The Tinto is rich and full-bodied with layers of dark fruit flavour and complex spice. 2017 was such a fantastic vintage for Niepoort, the wine is approachable now, but having tried older vintages over the years, it will definitely repay some years in the bottle.
Perfect with the full roast beef dinner, or something gamey like venison stew.
Louro de Bolo, Rafael Palacios
Since starting his own winery in 2004, Rafael Palacios has fast become one of Spain’s pre-eminent producers of white wine. His 32 parcels of Godello, which are spread over 19.5 hectares in the Val do Bibei in Valdeorras, Galicia, produce some of Spain’s most interesting white wines.
The hills are so steep that most of the vineyards are planted on terraces buttressed by stones. Rafa’s viticulture is sensitive to the fragile nature of these old terraces, and he has adapted his approach to ensure these magnificent structures are preserved. His viticulture is low intervention, with some of the older plots (or ‘sortes’ in Galician) being farmed biodynamically.
This really is one of my favourite white wines! It's made from small parcels of Godello with an average age of 25 years, grown at over 600 metres above sea level. The must is fermented in 35 hectolitre French oak foudres, after which the wine is aged on lees for four months before bottling. The wine has a lovely flinty character on the nose that gives way to a fresh note of wild mountain flowers. On the palate, it has a taut, saline fruit with a gorgeous textural complexity.
When pairing with food, think the same as with Premier Cru Chablis, classic fish dishes, shellfish with garlic butter, that sort of thing.
