£4.95

Marktree Semillon/Sauvignon/Chardonnay2006

Lazy Lizard Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006

No, not from Oz as you might think, but from France. For decades Languedoc-Roussillon was a vast sink of mediocre wines which filled the EU wine lake. Around ten years ago the light dawned that it didn’t have to be this way. Trained winemakers and viticulturists realised that it was a perfect region for producing high quality wines and that inappropriate varieties, lack of investment and a rather parochial attitude was all that was holding the area back. Lazy Lizard is produced from the chardonnay grape variety, and allegedly the vineyard lizards love to bask in the warmth of the late summer sun, which slowly ripens the chardonnay grapes to their full maturity, producing a zingy wine, full of flavours of grapefruit, melon and green apples. The open fruity style hasn’t needed any oak overlay and more than matches the Aussie competition at this price. Ref LL06

£5.50

Domaine de Nerleux AC Saumur Blanc 2005

From a small vineyard in the Loire, where the vines have an average age of 25 years, the oldest dating back to 1933. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, these produce a wine with a hugely aromatic nose – quinces, pineapples, lychees - giving way to a delicious concentrated mouthful. Outstanding value for money. Ref DN04 

Vineyard website -
www.domaine-de-nerleux.com

Italia Pinot Grigio 2006

A truly delicious, bright and refreshing example of this popular Italian white. Pinot grigio is the Italian synonym for pinot gris and is grown all over northern Italy. A lovely concentration of fruit flavours, with some residual grape sugars which add to the appeal, balanced by a refreshing zingy finish, make this a versatile white - great as an aperitif or as a perfect accompaniment to your favourite white wine dishes. Ref PG06

Denbies Chalk Ridge NV 

An attractively presented dry white wine from Denbie’s vineyard near Dorking in Surrey, and great value at £5.95. Although still low in alcohol (11%) the best English wines have come a very long way from the over-chaptalised (sugar added) and rather anaemic wines of ten or fifteen years ago. Refreshing lemon and cinnamon aromas and a full, honeyed make this a refreshing wine that will accompany white meats and salad as well as being a great aperitif.  Ref DCRNV

Vineyard website -
www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk

Domaine de Miselle Cotes de Gascogne 2005

Situated in the extreme south west of France between Bayonne and Toulouse, Domaine de Miselle is a small (28ha) property producing some outstandingly good value wines. Made from 60% Colombard and 40% Gros Manseng, the wine is ripe (the grapes weren’t harvested until the beginning of October 2005) and a lovely pale gold colour. The aromas of citrus, mandarin and grapefruit on the nose give way to an elegant and fruity palate. Drink as an aperitif or partner with salads, seafood and white fish. Unexpectedly, also a great match with hard cheese!Ref DM05

Domaine Roc de Chateauvieux Touraine Sauvignon 2006

Made entirely from sauvignon blanc grapes grown on an estate near St Aignan in the little town of Chateauvieux in the Loire. The soil in the vineyard is a combination of clay and flint, with an average vine age of 30 years, perfect for achieving the classic Sauvignon flavours and producing a crisp, zesty sauvignon blanc with real nettley characteristics on the nose. After fermentation the wine is kept on the lees in order to extract further aromas. 2005 was generally considered a good year, despite the very wet summer, which fortunately dried up at the end of August, with the sun remaining throughout the harvest. Excellent as an aperitif, or with cooked meats and smoked or grilled fish. Ref.DRTS06

Vineyard website -
www.pierrechainier.com

Domaine du Pre Baron Sauvignon Blanc 2005

If you are one of the large number of fans of assertive Sauvignon Blanc, then this is the wine for you. The classic Sauvignon nose of hedgerows and blackcurrant leaf lead into a hugely concentrated mouthful of rich gooseberry flavour. The 2003 vintage proved to be one of the most successful in recent years and the good news is that the 2005 is even better! It is a very ripe vintage and the wine is more than a match for its more expensive neighbours in Menetou Salon or Sancerre. Ref PBSB05

Vineyard website -
http://www.domaineprebaron.com/

Chateau la Bastide Corbières Blanc 2006

From one of our favourite producers a lovely white Corbières made from classic southern French grape varieties Roussanne, Vermentino and Bourboulenc. Tropical fruit flavours are balanced by a lovely steely acidity. Great with fish in creamy sauces, chicken and other white meats.  Ref BCB06

Vineyard website -
www.chateau-la-bastide.fr

£6.95

Serre de Guery Viognier 2005

Viognier  (from which the classic Rhone wine Condrieu is made) is a grape variety of Mediterranean origin. This example is made from low yielding vines, which have produced a rich and aromatic wine. Viognier is a delicate grape requiring much attention, and the grapes at Guery are picked at night to help control temperatures and avoid premature fermentation. Golden in colour, with an aromatic nose and palate of white peaches, it’s ideal as an aperitif or to accompany white meats and fish. Ref GV05

Vineyard website -
www.chateau-guery.com

Denbies Surrey Gold 2006

The best-selling English wine from England’s largest vineyard, Denbie’s in Surrey. Made from the little known Muller, Bacchus and Ortega grapes, this deliciously fragrant medium dry white wine is rich in fruit and floral aromas with subtle hints of spice. This vintage won a “seal of approval in the 2006 International Wine Challenge. With only 11.5% alcohol, gently refreshing. Ref DSG06

Vineyard website -
www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk

Serre de Guery Chardonnay 2005

Like the Guery Viognier, it’s characteristic of the family’s obsession with  quality, that the grapes for this Chardonnay are picked at night to avoid possible oxidation. 40% of the wine is matured in lightly toasted new oak barrels and when the wine is bottled the following March, this blend of oaked and unoaked wine produces a great buttery Chardonnay with restrained oak. A beautifully balanced wine, with a lush mouthfeel and great length; quite capable of giving classic French burgundy at twice the price a run for its money!  Ref GC05

Vineyard website -
www.chateau-guery.com

£7.45

Alsace remains one of the most underrated wine producing regions in the world despite providing exceptional quality varietal wines that work with a range of cuisines. Gilbert Brandt, Directeur General de Cave de Turckheim adheres to strict criteria and believes in hard pruning and relatively low yields. French of course, despite the plethora of Germanic sounding names, this wine retains some residual sugar which is well balanced by acidity from the relatively cool climate production. It has a wonderfully spicy and aromatic nose, reminiscent of lychees, rose petals and most definitely Turkish delight! This wine will accompany fusion foods of all kinds, especially Thai cuisine and will even stand up to a curry. Ref TG05

Vineyard website -
www.cave-turckheim.com

Sepp Moser Gruner Veltliner 2006

The Sepp Moser Estate was founded by the famous, Austrian, wine producing pioneer, Lenz Moser. Lenz Moser's son, Sepp Moser, began operating under his own name in 1987 and handed over the direction of this family-owned estate to his own son Nikolaus in the year 2000. The Sepp Moser Estate comprises of 50 acres of vineyards in two prominent wine regions; Kremstal (22 ha) and Neusiedlersee (28 ha). Gruner Veltliner is becoming an increasingly fashionable wine in the UK, and drinking this example one can see why. With a light, early drinking style, the palate combines citrus fruit characters such as lime and grapefruit with a hint of spice and a backbone of steely acidity. Dry, crisp and the perfect partner for mildly spicy fusion cooking. Modern labelling and closed under screwcap. The 2006 vintage will continue to age well until around 2009. Match with cold starters or most mildly spicy dishes. Ref SMGV06

Vineyard website -
www.sepp-moser.at/

Klur Riesling Cuvée Katz 2004

Good Riesling has a distinctive aroma which is often described as having “kerosene” or “petrol” notes. Indeed, a more imaginative wine writer than me once described the aroma of a good Riesling as like “standing behind a fully loaded 747 just before take off”. We eschew such hyperbole, merely noting that this is a complex and interesting wine: the nose is floral and aromatic – yes, perhaps with a dash of those characteristic petrol flavours – and on the palate it is concentrated with good acidity and minerality. The wine has flavours of spice and honey, and great length. Made by one of Alsace’s premier producers, Klur, it is highly recommended. If you’re new to Riesling – never to be confused, by the way, with Lutomer Laski Rizling from Slovenia and several rungs down the quality ladder – try some as part of a your next mixed case! Ref KR04

Vineyard website -
www.klur.net

Dom Philippe Portier Quincy 2006

A dry wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape this little known appellation to the west of Sancerre captures the essence of the Loire without incurring the kind of price the region normally demands. It has a wonderful floral nose, with hints of tropical fruit, and is crisp yet rounded on the palate. It has great persistence and length. A great wine as an aperitif, to accompany oysters or a perfect partner to goats’ cheese. This wine is not unique to us, you can buy it from at least three other wine merchants on line for £8.37, £8.98 or £9.77 respectively!  Ref PPQ06

Vineyard website -
www.philippe-portier.com

Klur Gentil Cuvée Katz 2004 

Another wine from Vignobles Klur, this is a blend of three grape varieties; Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. It is a blend created by the great Johnny Hugel and now enjoys its own AOC. Made from vines with an average age of 30 years, it has an inviting floral nose and elegant fruit flavours with background notes of lychees and Turkish delight. The Katz, by the way, is because the vineyards are situated in Katzenthal – the valley of the cats – and sure enough there are three cats at the house to greet you – one named Gentil. Clément Klur makes all his wine biodynamically and organically – a selling point for some; but we stock it solely because of its stunning quality. Ref KG04 

Vineyard website -
www.klur.net

Ninth Island Chardonnay 2005

100% Chardonnay with 13.5% abv this wine is a million miles away from the headache inducing over-oaked Aussie Chardonnays you may have tasted. The wine is completely unoaked. The juice is fermented slowly at low temperatures in stainless steel vats and the resultant wine is bottled early to capture fruitiness and freshness. This result is a very pale straw colour, with fragrant aromas of fresh peach, melon and tropical fruits. A delicate palate with tropical fruit flavours and cool climate acidity dominates the finish, and a crisp mineral edge gives a fresh, dry aftertaste. Try with seafood, especially mussels, and all firm fleshed white fish. Ref NIC05

Vineyard website -
www.kreglingerwineestates.com

Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc 2006

With initial aromas of lemon, lime and a hint of cut grass, this wine from Marlborough opens up in the glass to reveal passionfruit, pineapple, honey and melon with a full and round palate due to the extended lees contact and influence of oak. This wine has great intensity, complexity and real interest with a fine mineral edge and fresh acidity providing natural balance. Drinking at its best after 2-3 months in bottle, this wine will develop greater complexity to around 12 months, but has enough weight and natural acidity, plus complexity to last past this. This wine can be enjoyed on its own, or accompanying a variety of foods such as oysters, grilled fish or spicy thai (but serve it cold to make it more zingy) where it will complement and not overwhelm the food. Decanter magazine reviewed this wine (July 2006) and commented, “"Dry, herbaceous. Dry, mineral, restrained, gooseberry-citric interplay, really quite refined, elegant, zesty, persistent, fine finish, really elegant style. Ref"CSSB06

£10.45

Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling 2004

We have had a great reception to the Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc (above) and so have introduced another wine from the same producer. Craggy Range’s philosophy is that “great wine is made in the vineyard, not the winery.” In other words they pay huge attention to everything viticultural, including low yields, harvesting fully mature grapes, careful handling and gentle pressings. The result will please all Riesling fans.  Delicate floral, gala apple, citrus blossom and white peach aromas show in a very beautiful and perfumed nose. The palate provides citrus, ripe apple and fresh peach flavours wrapped around lovely juicy acidity and a hint of lemon honey. With great length on the finish, this is a fine and classy wine which will continue to improve for at least five years. Ref CRR04

Vineyard website -
www.craggyrange.com