Category — Product Types

Cooden Cellars is an independent wine merchant established by Colin Barnes and Ian Jarman in 1997. In May 2001 we opened our retail shop in the Grand Hotel Buildings, Compton Street, Eastbourne. They were awarded Independent Merchant of the Year 2007 as well as Regional Wine Merchant of the Year in the IWC Awards for the last three years, in 2003 and 2004 as runner-up and in 2005 outright.

For those not lucky enough to live within the bounds of Eastbourne they maintain a very functional and informative website. Registered users can login and leave their own tasting notes. The only thing that is lacking are images of the wine bottles (perhaps they should engage this budding photographer?)

The range is excellent across the board - lots of interesting wines from Argentina and Australia, New Zealand and Portugal are particularly interesting with several wines we are yet to discover. Regular offers, a regularly updated blog section and a decent range of spirits plus a regular payment wine club complete the picture. Perhaps the perfect wine merchant?

For almost 25 years Peter Sidebotham has been enjoying fine red Burgundy wine, a tipple which inspires a singularly passionate loyalty among devotees.

Now he has turned that passion into a unique business with Hand Picked Burgundy, offering select bottles from his favourite French region via the internet.

Peter, 44, formerly made his living as a sales and marketing expert with ICI on Teesside. Some years ago he foresaw the decline of chemical manufacturing in the UK and, with one eye on a future change of career, studied for and passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s advanced certificate with distinction.

Earlier this year he opted for voluntary redundancy, and straight away set to converting vineyard dreams into vocation – Hand Picked Burgundy was born.

“My aim is to be a reliable source of good quality red Burgundy that is ready to drink,” said Peter, who lives near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

“The vast majority of Burgundy offered for sale by traditional merchants is far too young. If they do offer older wines, many merchants provide only a list of wines, without commentary or tasting notes.

“By its nature, Burgundy is complex, making it difficult to know what wines are going to taste like – let alone which are better, and when they will drink well.”

Peter’s aim therefore is to offer only wines that are ready to drink.

Each offering has been personally tasted by Peter (tough job!) and given comprehensive ratings based on the three-dimensional criteria of fruit, flavour and body.

These ratings are backed up by detailed tasting notes as well as second and third opinions provided by renowned Burgundy experts and writers

What’s more, Peter offers further advice on how to serve the wine to get the best from it.

“With red Burgundy, even wines from the same vineyard can be totally different, so it can be incredibly difficult to know what a bottle will be like, without years of study and tasting.

“I want people to be able to choose with confidence and drink with pleasure.”

Fuelling a passion for fine Burgundy is not cheap – bottles on offer from Peter’s climate-controlled cellars range from £15 right up to £400 each, but for the discerning drinker, he hopes to offer the perfect choice.

The range currently includes more than 100 different wines from nearly 50 different producers, and Peter plans to steadily increase the range up to about 300 wines.

A choice of wrapping and presentation options opens up the range to gift buyers.

Having spent months developing and fine-tuning the web site – hpb-wines.com – Peter is now looking to target Burgundy lovers across the country.

If you have always dreamt of managing your own vineyard and are looking for an established estate then the sale of Old Luxters/Chiltern Valley Wines on the South Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border may be of interest.

Perhaps an English estate was not your first choice but there is more to Old Luxters than just wine. They have a thriving brewing industry there too. The production of the Barn Ale, Dark Roast Ale and others forms an integral part of the business; they also bottle other producers ales.

The Barn Ale, incidentally, is the only micro-brewed ale to be awarded a ‘By Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen’.

The estate which includes a five bedroom house and swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and garden with orchard, the out-buildings hired out for events, the brewery and vineyard are on the market for £4 million.

Had enough of wrestling with the sellotape, wrapping paper and ribbon?

Why not think outside the box this Christmas with a selection of beautiful gift cartons from Graham’s and Warre’s ports?

Graham’s LBV is ideal for whiling away an evening with friends. This blend of wood matured wine from a single vintage has been matured in a wooden barrel for four to six years before filtering and bottling. It’s the only wood matured LBV to have won a gold medal in the world’s most prestigious wine competition: the International Wine Challenge, so you can be sure it’s a real crowd pleaser too.

If it’s versatility you’re after, Warre’s Otima 10 year old is perfect for serving with all sorts of seasonal goodies – particularly when served chilled. This finely crafted award-winning tawny has a light delicate palate, notes of dried fruits on the nose and subtle caramel finish. What’s more, the elegant bottle looks great on the dinner table too.

For really special occasions, Warre’s bottle matured LBV is the next best thing to vintage port. Having won six gold medals at the International Wine Challenge and seven at the International Wine and Sprit Competition; it’s broken all the records. Plus, because it’s been bottled unfiltered, it has unique aging potential. The flavours and aromas will improve over time in the bottle.

Warre’s Otima 10 year old. RRP £10.99, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose
Graham’s LBV, RRP £11.99, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison, Asda, Waitrose
Warre’s Traditional LBV, RRP £16.49 Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Oddbins

Superb Italian wine specialist Bat and Bottle have linked up with Italian food retailer Delizioso to create a new of hampers designed for the Christmas market.

An easy gift for many, perhaps lacking in originality for some, these hampers look a little more interesting than the norm. They actually contain items people would use rather than stuff in the back of the cupboard.

The hamper features our wines and Delizioso’s immaculate food selections, it will be packed and distributed by the Delizioso team and deliveries will be from the first week of December.

The hampers range in price from £23.50 to £144. Order your catalogue via email Bat and Bottle or
Delizioso.

Lovers of wine and all things organic can rejoice at the launch of Organi.co.uk – the new website dedicated solely to first class organic and biodynamic wines that offers a truly exclusive and unique selection of organic and biodynamic wines and champagnes.

The website helps “discerning online shoppers find organic wine for every occasion” Purchases must be in cases of 12, which can be one of several pre-mixed selections or select themselves.

Run by the Jackson family, Peter, Sue and son Chris, Organi.co.uk offers a very specialised and unique collection of organic wines brought together over a period of years. The Jacksons take pride in building personal relationships with only those farmers and vineyards who are passionate about producing wonderful wines in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Many of the vineyards have been visited personally before wines are purchased and the family show a real passion for the way the crops are cultivated and chosen.

With a directory of over 120 exclusive products that includes wines from the likes of Tuscany, Sicily, Bordeaux, Champagne and Mudgee in New South Wales Organi.co.uk lets you choose wines listed by wine type, country, region, grape type and even specific vineyard.

Founder of Organico, Peter Jackson, says:

“At last Organic and biodynamic wine drinking is on the increase and there are so many excellent organic wines and champagnes to choose from – for many years I have heard people talking about and buying organic food but not thinking about organic wine. Why would you cook a delicious organic meal and top it off with a non organic wine which may contain harmful chemical residues.

I think there is the misconception that organic wines are more expensive and not as good and at last that is changing as people realize that excellent organic wines are available and at sensible prices. Other than the pleasure of the taste there are several potential health benefits of drinking organic wines whilst the wildlife across the vineyards works to its natural cycle having not been interrupted by harmful chemicals.”

Organico also boasts the first ever UK shop dedicated to solely organic wine, located in Ambleside in the heart of the Lake District.

Key wines to be found on Organi.co.uk include:

Prosecco del Veneto Empiria 2005 “A great value prosecco from arguably Italy’s best white wine region. A drink much loved by the locals. This prosecco is hugely drinkable with lots of aroma and zing!” Price: £7.50

Colli Della Toscana Centrale Rosso Dominico 2004 “This is the first of Organico’s own ‘branded’ wines. It has a typically rounded and fruity Chianti style withthe subtle addition of 10% Merlot. It is a wine that the Tuscans drink themselves and we consider ourselves fortunate to have managed to persuade them to make a special bottling for our UK clients.” Price: £6.35

Staffa Daunia Rosato Contessa 2006 “This rosato has been created from the Montipulciano grape. A delightful drink on its own or with food it has a lovely pink colour and the wine is reminiscent of wild strawberries and other small red berries. On the palate the wine carries forwardits aromatic character and strikes a perfect balance between velvety soft and crisp.” Price: £6.20

ORGANICO

Fisherbeck Mill, Old Lake Road,
Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0DH

Telephone: +44 (0)15394 31122

FRIDAY 16 - MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007 - The Annual Salon des Vignerons Independents (indpendent winemakers) holds its annual show in the Grand Palais in Lille. Over 400 winemakers from every corner of France will be offering tastings of their wines with the opportunity to buy at vineyard gate prices. Makes a great weekend in the exciting city of Lille with its medieval centre for shopping, dining and drinking!
See www.frenchduck.co.uk
London - Lille by Eurostar in 100 minutes

THURSDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2007 - 7.30pm Bennetts Fine Wines of Chipping Campden (Glos) are organising a fantastic Pol Roger Champagne Dinner with the UK Sales Director of Pol Roger at Russells Restaurant in Broadway (Worcs).
See www.bennettsfinewines.com

In the very heart of the Cotswolds Bennetts Fine Wines looks every inch the old-fashioned traditional wine merchant - small, atmospheric shop with stone floors and a slightly hushed atmosphere.
Situated on the High Street of the charming Costwold village of Chipping Campden (Glos), the shop does have an impressive array of top quality (and top price) Claret, Burgundy, Champagne and Port. However delve only a little deeper and there are many exciting finds from regional France, elsewhere in Europe and the New World - especially New Zealand.
I have a particular passion for the lesser-known wines of the French regions, and I tend to judge a wine merchant by their discoveries from non-classic France - partly because some are too dismissive of such wines, and also because whilst there are many fantastic wines here, the merchant has to be selective to choose only the better producers, and this can take some work.
Hence Bennetts Fine Wines passes my test with flying colours - not because of the volume of French regional wines, but because their selection looks excellent. I would not have expected to see a Cotes Roannaises AC, a Gamay from the Upper Loire (Robert Serol £6.99). Great to see Madirans from Chateau de Viella, Pic St Loup (Languedoc) from Chateau de Lascaux and the wonderful Jurancons from Domaine Cauhapé. Another rarity are the Collioure AC wines from Domaine de la Rectorie and Domaine Pietri-Geraud!
Well, if the rest of their list is as thoughtfully and adventurously chosen as these, then this has to be a shop worth visiting and a list worth exploring.
The old-style shop is complemented by an excellent website (see www.bennettsfinewines.com), mail order service, nationwide delivery, bottles open for tasting in the shop every Saturday and a series of wine tasting events held throughout the winter.

Bennetts Fine Wines
High, Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AG
T: 01386 840392 F:01386 840974

Taste Spain (12 - 19 October 2007) - it’s a celebration of Spanish wine, food and culture in London, held with the help of some top Spanish restaurants such as Brindisa, Moro and Barrafina - as well as being hosted by The Spanish Tourist Board and Phaidon Press.

The event will take place at various venues around London and the highlight will be 2 days at Borough Market (Wednesday 17 &Thursday 18 October) where there will be food and wine tastings, live music and flamenco break-dancing, so bring your castanets and a sharpened appetite to The Borough!

For more details see www.tastespain.co.uk

H and H Bancroft have updated their website.

A nice clean feel, stylishly laid out. A good search facility and basic wine information that leads on to fuller details. Purchases have to be by the unmixed case though. Registered users get a wish list facility which may be useful for some, or just wishful thinking for others.

“Our wine portfolio at H&H Bancroft changes each year but the ethos behind it remains constant. From the classic regions of France to the furthest stretches of the New World our Buying Director, David Round MW has succeeded in bringing in the well-established names and also the hottest new wineries to ensure that our customers can explore the world of wine with the greatest of ease. If re-assurance were needed that we are working closely with the best growers in the world, we need only look at the awards and critical acclaim that roll in every month as their latest vintages are reviewed.”

The range is strong on France, Italy and Spain. Argentina puts in a good range too but South Africa, New Zealand, Portugal and Chile are rather poorly represented.

We generally encourage winelovers to support small independent merchants. Many of them are adventurous in stocking interesting, unusual and small-production wines which the supermarkets and larger merchant chains avoid, preferring bland branded wines suited to the mass (and often undiscriminating) market.
However, business for small merchants can be precarious financially, and from time to time some disappear. Overheads can be high and factors such as excise duty, exchange rates, transport and warehousing costs take a big chunk out of any profits.
It is always sad to see a merchant go out of business. However, there have been some recent horror stories of merchants who have disappeared with client’s money for en-primeur purchases - where you pay upfront for wine which is still in the cellars (usually in Bordeaux) which is then delivered at a later date, when the duty and transport costs need to be paid. Admittedly this applies primarily to the top Bordeaux chateaux, but for many of us this is the only way to get hold of potentially great claret without going broke ourselves.
Decanter (5 October 2007) reports that PMH Wines in Godalming seems to have let customers down by failing to pay French suppliers for wine ordered on behalf of a client. Although PMH went into liquidation in 2006, Decanter reports that the director of the company is now trading as The Wine Barrel based in Sandhurst and Aldershot (Hants). Buying “en primeur” is always risky, because you are assuming that the vintage you have purchased will be both drinkable and valuable in years to come - but you obviously have to be additionally careful who you buy from!

Zelas is the on-line arm of North London merchant Wine of Course.

The range is not huge - just one wine form the Languedoc for example, 7 from Australia, 4 from South Africa etc. But the quality is top notch. Prices generally are in the £12+ bracket and include such delights as Sequillo Eben Sadie (South Africa) £17.99, Daniel Schuster Pinot Noir “Twin Vineyards” (New Zealand) £16.99 and Bolgheri Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato (Italy) £17.99. Prices for unmixed cases are generally £1 or so cheaper.

The site is nice to use, each wine having a picture and brief tasting notes. You can add your own notes too on the site if you feel inclined; although I didn’t spot any during my forage. Delivery is free for purchases of 6 or more bottles and £8.50 for anything less.

Wine courses are held on the last Thursday of the month. These cost £25/£35 each, cheaper for 2 or more people, and are held in the store. Their Wines for Christmas tasting session is described as

If you have ever wondered which wines to serve with your Christmas meal, consume over your Boxing Day leftovers, or have just wanted to learn more about wine in general, then this is the tasting event for you. We will taste our way through a range of ten fantastic wines, featuring examples both traditional and modern, for pairing with the rich and varied foods of the season. The tasting will include a champagne, a sweet wine, and a port as well as a spread of festive nibbles.

Wine of Course / Zelas
216 Archway Road,
London N6 5AX

Just one range of wines available from Great Wine Online as this is the UK outlet for the Rickety Bridge Winery of South Africa.

Currently they list 10 wines ranging in price from £6.95 for a Chenin Blanc up to the estates top cuvee Paulina’s Reserve 2003 for £16.95. The wines are of great quality - 2000 vintage of the Shiraz won the Regional South Africa Rhône Varietal Over £10 Trophy with Decanter’s wine awards (there are on to the 2003 vintage now).

“With a cellar policy of minimal interference, Rickety Bridge Winery is one of the most progressive boutique wineries in South Africa, producing a distinctive range of high quality, hand-crafted, award-winning wines in limited quantities. Owned and operated by the winery’s owner, Great Wine Online shares the winery’s aims to provide the highest standards of excellence in all it does, and to make it easy for consumers to buy Rickety Bridge wines in the UK.”

There are currently three mixed case special offers available at £65, £88 or £106 - great value in saving 25% off the normal retail price.

Great Wine UK Ltd
18 Marcham Road
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 1AA

Tastes in wine tend to be quite individual, and it is always pleasing to find those wines which stand out from the bland, branded crowd so often presented on supermarket shelves.

Martlet Wines seems to fit the bill , especially as their strap line is “more than just another traditional wine merchant”! They stock some interesting wines such as

DOMAINE DES HUARDS, Cour-Cheverny AC Cuvée Francois 1er 2002, Romorantin £ 8.25 The little known Romorantin grape is now exclusive to Cour-Cheverny. A favourite of Leonardo de Vinci, it produces a very individual wine. Dry with subtle fruits and a slightly “sherried” flavour.

We used to stock this at ALLEZ VINS! and I know we were at that time the only UK importer. It is also one of those wines that you have to discover and import from direct rather than through an agency.

Martlet Wines is internet-based (no shop) and provides a slightly quirky approach to their wine list – so you find wines by style (e.g. red wines are classified Light Fresh, Classical Medium-bodied, Fuller-bodied and Deep and Complex) which may be useful for many – although personally I prefer to search by region or grape variety,

I like the site overall, it feels knowledgeable and friendly, but I have two issues - there is no search facility and you cannot buy online! The essence of Martlet wines seems very much to be personal service and advice – great if you happen to live near Healthfield in Sussex, perhaps less accessible if you don’t.

So good to find another adventurous wine merchant – Martlet Wines also stocks a range of other top notch French wines – such as the wines of Mas de la Serranne in the Languedoc.

Apparently the Martlet is a mythical bird often referred to in heraldry, and is on the coat of arms of the county of Sussex!

They also hold regular tastings in East Sussex - contact them for details - 01435 866419 or E-mail sante@martletwines.eu

For more on Domaine des Huards see http://www.frenchduck.co.uk/huards.html