Category — Merchant Offers

New Zealand House of Wine has announced that their pre-mixed cases now include a free bottle of wine! Yep, a free bottle.

We have redesigned ALL of our pre-mixed cases so they each contain a free bottle of wine! For example, our stunning new Pre-Mixed Premium Sauvignon Blanc selection now includes the acclaimed Isabel Estate and Dog Point, and also the much sought-after Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (very limited availability).

Prices for the cases range from £94.95 for the Sauvignon Blanc case (free bottle is worth £7.91) up to the Premium mixed red and white case at £189.00 (free bottle is set at £15.75).

Not sure if it is my obsession with collecting interesting looking props for my food and drink photography or if these two glasses are actually stylish. The image isn’t that clear…

DrinkOn are offering a bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut Rosé for £32.99 that includes two free champagne flutes.

The two elegant glasses are set in flower-shaped holders supported on a base and are perfect for sharing a romantic glass of the world’s best-loved pink champagne.

While it is not the intention to use UKWOL as a reposting station for every merchants special offers we thought a quick mention of the Nick Dobsnon winter sale was worthy of mention.

The company specialises in wines from Switzerland, Beaujolais and Germany - they are offering some good discounts for a selection of choice and interesting wines.

There are some cracking good wines here, representing excellent value for money. In many cases stocks are very limited. Everything listed here is sold on a strict first-come first-served basis and is offered subject to stock remaining, so don’t hang around. A few more wines may be added to this list over the duration of the sale so please look in again from time to time.

In genteel Buckinghamshire, at Bourne End to be precise, there is a “local” off licence which has a pretty ghastly website (see above), but get beyond the colour scheme (or through the shop door) and you’ll discover a truly superb wine list at Bertrand & Nicholas with all sorts of French gems - fine Bordeaux and Burgundy for sure - but also an eclectic selection from South West France, Alsace, Jura and Savoie. Loire, Languedoc…… My selection would include Menetou-Salon AC from Henri Pellé (Loire); Cahors AC Clos Triguedina, Madiran AC Domaine Berthoumieu, Irouleguy AC, Domaine Abotia(South West); Bandol from Chateau du Pibarnon (Provence).
You can order by phone, mail or email - download their list from the website.

BERTRAND & NICHOLAS
14 FURLONG ROAD, BOURNE END, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SL8 5DG - see map
TEL :01628525202

It’s Christmas; deals abound across the supermarkets, specialists and high street.

Majestic have announced a range of offers across their Champagne range.

Nicolas Feuillatte NV is down to £21.99 but buy 2 and save a further £20; the equivalent to £11.99 a bottle. Jacquart Brut Mosaique NV is £23.99 and again, buy 2 save £20, or £13.99 a bottle. Heidsieck Gold Top Vintage 2001 is buy 2 save 50% or £14.99 a bottle. But my choice would be Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV down 50p to £25.49 and buy 2 save 33.3%. Making this just £16.99 a bottle.

Then again the Louis Roederer NV is down £2 to £35.99 and buy 2 save a further 25%!

The only problem with Majestic is their insistence on a 12 bottle minimum purchase. Last day for orders delivered by Christmas is the 13th December; delivery in the UK is free.

That happy bunch of like-minded fellows - The Association of Small Direct Winemakers - have combined in more ways than one this month.

They now offer a small range of mixed taster cases offering the opportunity to gain an insight into their various ranges. Each member has selected a wine to put into one of three mixed cases. There’s a white wine case (£85), a red wine case (£85), and a mixed case containing reds, whites, a sweet wine, and a Champagne (£135).

The latter looks particularly interesting, heavy on France perhaps but so are the individual members specialisations, but Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand are all represented. As a snap-shot of the quality offered by members this looks superb. Delivery is included in the price. Order from Nick Dobson Wines.

It’s a secret - but download and print the voucher and you can claim 40% off all wine purchases at Threshers. No promotion, no advertising, just word of mouth - from blog to blog. Runs from the 30th November until 10th December

Voucher Download.

Goes to show what a great price Arthur Rackham’s offer for Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc actually is - Oddbins has just sent out an offer setting the price at £17.49 compared to AR’s £15.75.

Oddbins though also gives a 5% discount off 12 bottles. The maximum you can puchase is 12 bottles.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc set the world alight with its pure, vibrant flavours and unmistakable varietal character when it hit the stage in the mid 1980’s. Today, the wine has earned itself a worldwide reputation, and it virtually sells out before it arrives in stores. For the 2006 vintage, the grapes were sourced from estate and grower vineyards located in the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley. Free draining, stony soils typify the Rapaura and Renwick areas whilst Fairhall and Brancott are predominantly aged alluvial loams containing some clay. The majority of fruit was grown on a vertical shoot positioned (VSP) trellis, and the balance on the divided Scott Henry trellis system.

The iconic wine that practically single handedly put New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the vinous map - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon has a fevered release almost approaching the old Beaujolais Nouveau in excitement. And that time is now.

Arthur Rackham is first away offering Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006 at £15.75.

This is a very good price. Certainly beating the £25 price tag slapped on by other merchants. While the wine will certainly keep you have to watch the vintage when buying; many times I see Cloudy Bay available but it is the previous years release (or in one case from two years ago!).

Arthur Rackham operate from a wine packed, if slightly chaotic, shop on the outskirts of Guildford. The range is superb. They have a six bottle purchase limit on Cloudy Bay for shop callers only; the wine is not listed on their website.

2006 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
“Many small parcels of fruit, ripened under ideal conditions, bring layers of complexity to the 2006 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. The palate has exceptional richness, with ripe gooseberry flavours and a hint of fresh fennel leading to a powerful, crisp finish.”

Arthur Rackham Emporia,
216 London Road,
Burpham,
Guildford,
Surrey GU4 7JS

The New Zealand House Of Wine is running an offer in the Sunday Times - enter in the code and receive a discount of £15 off the case price.

Our specially designed New Zealand Christmas Case (RRP £129.99) contains six of the finest New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs available, and six fantastic value New Zealand Pinot Noirs - simply type STXA7 into the Promotional Code box when purchasing and save £15 (offer valid while stocks last).

The case comprises six Sauvignon’s and six Pinot’s -

Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2005/06
Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2005/06

Forrest Estate Pinot Noir 2005
Jackson Estate Pinot Noir 2004
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2005
Morton Estate White Label Pinot Noir 2004
Spy Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2004
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2004/05