Just in
Our freinds a domain de L’Espigouettes have just bottled a white Cotes du Rhone. Made from 70% Viognier and 30% Grenache Blanc it is absolutely delicious.
Also, in expectation of sunnier weather we have the wonderful Ch. Roubine rosé in magnums, as well as magnums and double magnums of Ch L’Aunaud rosé. All we now is sunshine!
If you are looking for a summer spirit, try Two Birds passionfruit vodka. Heavenly neat over ice or with soda to make a long drink.
Another wine bought in the hope of having a summer is Quinta da Falorca, Dáo. A great full, fruity red which will really sort out a burnt offering from the barbie.
Sherry is the most underated and underpriced fine wine. We now have a small selection of very fine and rare ones for you to re-discover the joys of Jerez.
| Palo Cortado Dos Cortados 20 yo | 37.5cl | £17.00 |
| Dom Guido PX 20 YO | 37.5cl | £17.00 |
| Fino El Rama 2006 | 50cl | £21.00 |
It’s always worth popping in to see what new Gins we have in. We’re up to 15 now! Newest are Iverochie from South Africa flavoured with fynbos flowers, the beautifully presented Silent Pool from near Guilford and most recently Brockman’s Gin which includes blueberries and blackberries in the botanical mix.
Another real find is Lymington Gin from Dancing Cow distillery. The distiller is also a brewer so he dry hops the gin using English hops. We love it. Drunk neat it leaves a memory of a fresh IPA. It coems in 50cl bottles so the price point comes down to £25.
We’ve got some plans for 2016
- Outside space
We have a small secret garden behind the shop which we have been slowly revealing.
We have got rid of the knee high brambles underneath which there is a concrete yard.
The ivy has been cut back to release a mature pear tree which should give a canopy of blossom and fruit to the left hand side. At the end of the space is the biggest hydrangea you ever saw with a massive rambling rose running through it. They should both give a lovely bright backdrop.
The south facing view is spectacular too, especially when the sun is shining.
In the summer we plan to have informal outdoortastings (maybe cigars too) and use it for pop-up events. We are already registered as the smallest venue for Shaftebury Fringe That should be good fun as the audience can buy wine to drink out there, off the premises!
We have no plans to have a permanent wine bar though. That would mean getting an on licence and building better toilets and also making better access and… We like being a wine shop not another cafe!
- Own label Claret
We already do French red, white and rose under our own Coline d’Or (Gold Hill) label. We have now added an own label Claret. We called it “Our Own Claret” as that is how we always refered to it during planning. The wine comes from a little producer in Entre Deux Mers. Lovely and light at only 12.5% it’s 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. We are very happy with it. The perfect Sunday lunch wine and a snip at a tenner.