Wine Guide 2005White and Rose wines are designated numbers 1 to 9 with 1 being the driest and 9 being the sweetest. Red wines are designated letters A to E with A being the lightest and softest and E being the deepest and fullest.
Prices include V.A.T. Vintages may change according to availability. Red Wines | White Wines | Rose Wines | Sparkling Wines Red Wines
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FRANCE |
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| 1 | Merlot Grenache 'Michel Laroche' (Unoaked) 2002/3 Juicy, soft Merlot-style on the nose. Delicious fruity easy drinking. C 13% |
£ 11.50 |
| 2 | 'Chateau Belles Murailles' 2002 Excellent value 'oak enhanced' beautifully soft Claret. B 12% |
£ 13.00 |
| 3 | Fleurie Domaine de la chapelle des bois 'Paul Beaudet' 2002 Beaujolais' most sought-after village wine. C 13% |
£ 16.50 |
| 4 | Chateauneuf-du-Pape 'Chateau des Fines Roches' 2000/1 The red with everything: the deep dark colour; the intensely spicy yet floral nose; then the mouthful of unctuous fruit, and a velvet finish. D 14% |
£ 21.00 |
| 5 | Volnay Vielle Vignes 'Domaine Carre Corbin' 1999 Dark, gleeming colour. Polished, rich nose and a palate full of good, firm fruit. C 12½% |
£ 27.85 |
| 6 | Pommard 'Domaine du Comte Armande' 1999 Great end-of-century with real depth.Pinot Noir in a vigorous format. C 13% |
£ 32.10 |
| 7 | Chateau de Pez St Estephe 1999 Red/Black. Nose of ripe concentrated Cabernet - from Cabernet's classic home. Big fine flavours, richly austere, maturing at a dignified pace. The real thing, and a fine treat for claret drinkers who enjoy the muscle and sinew of St. Estephe properly demonstrated in an excellent vintage. D 12½% |
£ 28.90 |
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CHILE |
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| 8 | Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 'La Toscas' 2003 A superb example of Chilean wine making at its finest.Very Bordelaise. C 13½% |
£ 11.10 |
| 9 | Merlot 'Casa Lapostolle' Rapel Valley 2002/3 Copybook Merlot - supple, dark and velvety. D 14½% |
£ 15.00 |
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SPAIN |
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| 10 | 'Muriel' Rioja CVC Classic Tempranillo grape with oaky caramel fruit. C 12½% |
£ 12.90 |
| 11 | Azabache 'Mazuelo' Crianza Rioja 1998/99 Instantly attractive combination of vital strawberry fruit and soft oak flavours this is the hallmark of Rioja, and its universal appeal. C 12½% |
£ 13.00 |
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AUSTRALIA |
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| 12 | Grenache 'Peter Lehmann' Barossa Valley 2002/03 Soft, easy drinking, bursting with raspberry fruit flavours. C 14% |
£ 10.90 |
| 13 | Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz 'Canoe Tree' 2001 A flavour of concentrated cassis, spicy fruit & a touch of pepper. C 14% |
£ 12.60 |
| 14 | Cabernet Sauvignon 'Deakin Estate' 2002 Fruity wine from Victoria, with blackcurrant and vanilla character. C 14% |
£ 13.90 |
| 15 | Pinot Noir 'Omrah' (Western Australia) 2001 Ripe & plummy wine-gum fruit with real Burgundian overtones. C 14½% |
£ 16.40 |
| 16 | Shiraz 'D'Arrenberg Footbolt' McLaren Vale 2000 Gold medal award winning, with huge flavour of bramble and berry fruit C 14% |
£ 18.10 |
| 17 | Grenache/Syrah 'Redhouse' 2001 Stunning! Spicy voluptuous fruit with lingering finish. E 13½% |
£ 18.50 |
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PORTUGAL |
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| 18 | Tuella Tinto Douro 'Martinez' 1999 Made from the same grape as Port, a wine of incredible intensity and flavour. D 12½% |
£ 12.70 |
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ARGENTINA |
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| 19 | Malbec 'Alto' Bodegas Terrazas Mendoza 2001/02 Dark young red colour. Nose of luscious red and black fruits. Palate is rich and full, adding notes of coffee and chocolate. D 12½% |
£ 12.40 |
| 20 | Mendoza 'Valbona Bonardo' 2002 The Bonarda grape has a vibrant cherry flavour & a pleasing bite. C 13% |
£ 12.80 |
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SOUTH AFRICA |
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| 21 | Shiraz 'Rocheburg' Western Cape 2002/03 Shiraz in the South African style - perhaps a little more European. C 14½% |
£ 10.90 |
| 22 | Pinotage 'Steenbock' 2001/02 The juicy aroma and full firm flavours of Pinotage work well here. D 13% |
£ 13.00 |
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ITALY |
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| 23 | Nero D'Avalo 'Lascari' Sicily 2001/02 This Nero d'Avola is 'must have' drinking - bright, juicy and immediate. D 13% |
£ 10.90 |
| 24 | Chianti 'Colli Senesi San Domeneco' Tuscany 2002/03 Firm, dark, young Chianti. Good now and sure to mature well. C 12½% |
£ 12.80 |
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NEW ZEALAND |
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| 25 | Pinot Noir 'Whiteaven' Marlborough 2000/01 Clean pure raspberry fruit aroma, mouth coating smoothness and a lingering persistent finish, a classic Pinot Noir. C 13½% |
£ 16.80 |
| 26 | Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 'Esk Valley' Hawkes Bay 2000/01 Full dark red colour. Soft Merlot and firm Cabernet complement each other successfully in a classic blend. D 13% |
£ 18.50 |
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USA |
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| 27 | Zinfandel 'Cougars Moon' 2002/03 Dark fruit in a good berry style. Bigger and spicier in the mouth, easy and open, warm burst of alcohol on the finish. C 14% |
£ 11.00 |
White Wines
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FRANCE |
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| 30 | Vins de Pay Du Gers 'Jeans De Vignes' 2003 Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Sauvignon blended to give a superb dry country wine. 2 11½% |
£ 10.40 |
| 31 | Sauvignon Blanc 'Domaine Grauzan' 2003 Beautifully fresh from southern France. 2 13% |
£ 10.80 |
| 32 | Cotes de Gascogne 'Discovery' 2002 A dry crisp wine from Gascogny with amazing citrus flavours. 3 12% |
£ 11.20 |
| 33 | Chardonnay 'Domaine de Montmarin' 2003 Full and crisp a great regional chardonnay that's almost Burgundian. 3 12½% |
£ 11.40 |
| 34 | Macon-Lugny 'Les Genievres Louis Latour' 2001/02 Bright full-flavoured flagship Chardonnay from a top producer. 2 13% |
£ 14.30 |
| 35 | Petit Chablis 'Laroche' 2002/03 Pale lemon-green, full smooth aroma, full flavour - not 'petit' at all. 1 12% |
£ 15.80 |
| 36 | Tokay Pinot Gris 'Louis Sipp' 2001/02 Full-flavoured French version of Italy's skimpy Pinot Grigio - richer fruit, a little spice and a long dry finish. 2 12½% |
£ 16.10 |
| 37 | Pouilly Fume 'Les Logeres' Guy Saget 2001/02 A top Sauvignon Blanc from the Upper Loire - crisply refreshing. 2 12½% |
£ 16.60 |
| 38 | Chablis 'Pascal Bouchard' 2003 Classic uncomplicated white Burgundy with no intrusive oak. 2 12½% |
£ 16.80 |
| 39 | Sancerre 'Domaine Thomas' 2002 Delicious scented and aromatic fruit with exceptional fruit extraction. 2 12½% |
£ 19.80 |
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CHILE |
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| 40 | Gewurztraminer 'Insigne Vina Carmen' 2001/02 Innocent pale gold colour, gives no warning of the splendid high-flying aromatics to follow. One of the best New World Gewurztraminers yet made. 2 13½% |
£ 12.80 |
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PORTUGAL |
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| 41 | 'Casa de Lago' Ribalejo Portugal Soft creamy wine from a new generation of Portuguese/New world wine makers. 2 13% |
£ 12.60 |
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SPAIN |
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| 42 | Rueda Verdejo/Sauvignon Blanc 'Basa' 2003 Dry perfumed and slightly herbaceous with life and charm. 2 13% |
£ 14.10 |
| 43 | Albarino 'Pazo de Barrantes' Rias Baixas 2001/02 Lovely orange-blossom bouquet, and a crisp first taste. A richer style with the orange-blossom flavour becoming a touch of apricot. 2 12% |
£ 19.50 |
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ITALY |
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| 44 | Grillo 'Lascari' Sicily A whiff of new-mown hay and a tropical note make this an attractive easy drink. 2 12½% |
£ 10.80 |
| 45 | Garganega de Verona 'Terre in Fiore' 2002 Instantly appealing modern style Italian white. Perfumed and elegant. 2 12½% |
£ 12.50 |
| 46 | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 'Benito Mancino' 2001/02 Refreshing, with a thread of green energy running through it, that suggests the streams and hills of its origin in the Marche. 2 12% |
£ 11.30 |
| 47 | Pinot Grigio 'Minini' 2003 Light, fresh and aromatic, yet surprisingly persistent on the finish. 2 12% |
£ 12.70 |
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SOUTH AFRICA |
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| 48 | Chenin Blanc 'Rocheburg' Western Cape 2003/02 Light and refreshing- made from South Africa's most popular white grape variety. 2 12½% |
£ 10.20 |
| 49 | Sauvignon Blanc 'Stoneybrook' Franschhoek Grassy, gooseberry style, steely acidity and a lingering finish. 1 13½% |
£ 12.60 |
| 50 | Sauvignon Blanc 'Quando' 2003 Pure elegance. Crisp & fragrant, new world - old world cross. 2 12½% |
£ 15.10 |
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New Zealand |
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| 51 | Muller Thurgau Riesling 'Aroha Bay' 2002/03 New Zealand's 'love' wine - join in the fun with this fresh firm favourite. 2 12% |
£ 10.90 |
| 52 | Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 'Azure Bay' 2001 Classic dry New Zealand sauvignon in a blue bottle. 3 12½% |
£ 13.40 |
| 53 | Sauvignon Blanc 'Esk Valley Estate' Hawkes Bay 2002/03 New Zealand's soaring world success is its high-wire singing aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. 1 13% |
£ 14.60 |
| 54 | Pinot Gris 'Esk Valley Estate' Hawkes Bay 2002/03 Understated, yet full and quietly grand, is Esk's take on the Pinot Gris variety. 2 13½% |
£ 15.00 |
| 55 | Sauvignon Blanc 'Spy Valley' Marlborough 2002 The very epitome of the southern Hemisphere Sauvignon Blanc. A must! 2 13% |
£ 16.00 |
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AUSTRALIA |
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| 56 | Dry Muscat 'Brown Brothers' Victoria 2002/03 Brown Brothers pioneered the Dry Muscat, and their sure touch with the balance of freshness, floral perfume, and neat firm palate, a benchmark. 2 13½% |
£ 11.40 |
| 57 | Semillon Chardonnay 'Canoe Tree' 2002 Soft Chardonnay balanced with fresh tangy Semillon. 3 13% |
£ 12.60 |
| 58 | 'Snapper Point' Verdelho 2003 Tantalising aromatic fruit with a tangy yet broad finish. 3 13% |
£ 12.60 |
| 59 | Chardonnay 'Brokes Promise' Hunter Valley 2001/02 Fruit pure and fine, golden soft character with a margin of sweet new oak, delicious and delicate in all parts. 2 13% |
£ 16.20 |
| 60 | Unwooded Chardonnay 'Mad Fish' 2002 Wonderful fruit concentration, no oak & a pleasing zesty finish. Highly praised. 3 13% |
£ 16.60 |
Rose Wines
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CHILE |
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| 61 | Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 'Santa Helena' 2003/04 Attractive bright colour, with light crisp clean taste. Perfect refreshment. 1 13½% |
£ 11.10 |
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SPAIN |
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| 62 | 'Candidato' Rose Spain Superb with food, a dry rose of great character. B 12½% |
£ 10.40 |
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FRANCE |
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| 63 | Grenache Syrah 'Domaine du Poujol' Coteaux Du Languedox Rose 2002 Dry strawberry flavours with distinctive freshness. C 13% |
£ 12.70 |
Sparkling Wines
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AUSTRALIA |
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| 64 | 'Deakin Estate' Brut NV Dry soft and yeasty, excellent Aussie fizz! 3 12½% |
£ 15.40 |
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CHILE |
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| 65 | Chardonnay Brut 'La Palmeria' Rapel valley 2000/01 Fresh appley Chardonnay with easy, barely-'brut' finish. 2 12½% |
£ 11.30 |
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FRANCE |
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| 66 | 'Louis Perdrier' Blancs de Blancs Brut NV Superb value, medium dry, full of life. Made by Kriter in Beaune. 2 11½% |
£ 24.90 |
| 67 | 'Beaumont de Crayeres' Champagne Brut NV Rich, biscuity, yeasty fruit with terrific finish. 1 12% bottle |
£ 24.90 |
| 68 | 'Beaumont de Crayeres' Champagne Brut NV Rich, biscuity, yeasty fruit with terrific finish. 1 12% ½ bottle |
£ 24.90 |
| 69 | Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV Pale gold, confident full aroma and flavour, mouth-filling and satisfying. 1 12% |
£ 32.20 |
| 70 | Dom Perignon 1995/96 Reputedly the oldest and most traditional of all Champagnes. Very delicate style to be savoured. 1 12½% |
£ 76.60 |