Wine
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Wine Located in the 'Jerez Superior' the long established firm of Antonio Barbadillo farm just over 500 hectares of vines. They combine state of the art winemaking facilities with ancient barrel halls that store 35 million litres of maturing sherries. They are the largest producer of Manzanilla in Andalucia but their range covers all styles.
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Wine Appetising aromas of Provenþal herbs (bay leaves; thyme); generous black cherry and raspberry flavours. Mas de Gourgonnier is a star of Les Baux de Provence, a sleepy little appellation south of Avignon. At their 100% certified organic vineyard, amid aromatic herb-scented scrubland ('garrigue') in the ancient hamlet of Mouriés, Luc and Lucienne Cartier consistently produce wines to challenge the finest from Rhône and Bordeaux.
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Wine Two elderly sisters created this wine almost as a hobby and having made a few vintages have now decided that winemaking is too much work. The 2004 is all sold, this 2005 will not be seen again and we can only hope that they let us have a bit of their 2006, because after that there will be none of this delicious bargain to be had - ever! Discovered by Simon Loftus, this wine is a rare treat.
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Wine Pitted with deep valleys and sheltered by the Aragonese Pyrénées, high-altitude, rough-textured Somontano, north-east of Rioja, offers protection from bitter northerlies, Zaragozan dryness and Mediterranean humidity. Natural advantages exploited by the Otto Bestué family, resident in the village of Enate since 1640, and now owners of sizeable Tempranillo and Cabernet vineyards. This glorious rosado is big and juicy yet fabulously fresh, with red plum and cherry flavours
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Wine The vineyards of Corte d'Aibo lie at the heart of the beautiful Monteveglio Abbey regional park, a short hike from Bologna. Advocate of 'doing your own thing', Antonio Capelli produces wines organically because he lives amid his vines: "It is not for you, it is for me". He says. In 1989 (just after Antonio bought into the place with friends), production was endorsed as organic. Barrique-aged for 12 months, this is a bold Cab. with spicy oak and meaty, herbal flavours. Classic roast lamb wine.
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Wine Carignan's young vine 'second wine' is excellent, with full black fruit flavours and a hint of burnt orange peel. A wine for roasts. The misdeeds of the estate's founder, Jean Poton de Xaintrailles (comrade in arms of Joan of Arc and crusher of the English at the Battle of Castillon) is redeemed by the organic winemaking of Mme Marie Claude Deville. On the right bank of the Garonne, Merlot is in its element on the estate's clayey hills, fertilised by Limousin cows.
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Wine Leaving behind careers in medicine and molecular biology, Doctors John and Brigid Forrest established Forrest Estate in Marlborough's stony Wairau River Valley in 1989. This cheery pair won a coup at their first vintage, scooping a trophy at NZ's national wine awards. Unstopable, they have forged on to become one of the most innovative and reliably good of NZ's top wineries.
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Wine Enjoy the seductive aromatics, take a sip and you'll understand instantly why the snappily-titled 'Cave Vinicole de Pfaffenheim and Guberschwihr' often wins the title 'Top French Co-operative Winery'. Many of the efficient growers who supply this sleek, modern Alsace cellar own Grand Cru Gewürz vineyards, and, as the C.V.de P & G trophy cabinet testifies, the variety is their forte. This soft, fresh, lime, lychee and rose-petal-scented delight excels with Oriental and Thai cuisine.
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Wine Take a tasting tour of the classic grapes of Alsace with this excellent blend of spicy Gewürztraminer, fruity Riesling, fragrant Muscat and crisp Sylvaner, lovely, we've found, with smoked chicken. Another benchmark wine from the crusading, vineyard-resurrecting Hugel family, based in Riquewihr since 1639 (and owners of the world's oldest barrel, dated 1715). Centuries of winemaking lore in no way restrict the family's current generation of constantly-improving innovators.
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Wine Alsace Pinot Blanc should have a higher profile. Delicious, true-to-type examples like this bright, clean cuvée, with its plump orchard fruit flavours and citrusy edge can't fail to help. Serve it with roast belly pork and you're sure to make sudden converts to the variety. Sustaining a winemaking tradition that dates back to 1610, Frédéric and Philippe Blanck are passionate about Alsace's classic grapes and their family's ancient vineyards, cultivating them as organically as they can.
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Wine A rare opportunity to taste a mature example of gently sweet Montlouis from the Loire Valley. Made from the Chenin Blanc grape and a surprisingly good match for ripe blue cheese.
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Wine Regnie is the last village to make itself one of the official 'cru' wines of Beaujolais. This may have been a marketing mistake as they moved from being the 'best of the rest' to the 'least of the few' -regardless this is a sheer delight. Monsieur Jambon vinifies a high temperatures to extract all the colour and fruity flavours into his wine. Juicy and fresh this is archetypal Beaujolais and the ultimate picnic wine.
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Wine Leaving behind careers in medicine and molecular biology, Doctors John and Brigid Forrest established Forrest Estate in Marlborough's stony Wairau River Valley (not a million miles from Cloudy Bay) in 1989. This cheery pair won a coup at their first vintage, scooping a trophy for their Sauvignon at NZ's national wine awards. Their dry, finely-balanced Riesling, delivers appealing aromas of fresh ginger and citrus fruits, flowers and a hint of spice.
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Wine Chiroubles. The very name evokes romance and charm. This is one of the most fragrant, appealing Beaujolais wines on our list, made at a family-run domaine in one of the ten 'cru' villages in rolling hills to the north of the region. Enjoy the array of delicate summer fruit flavours cellar cool, with soft cheeses, chicken or charcuterie.
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Wine Subjects of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Endrici (Endrizzi in local dialect) family arrived in northern Italy in 1885 and established a formidable estate at the foot of the Dolomites. More recently, the Endrizzis descended from lofty Trentino to purchase Tuscan estate Serpaia. Application of biodynamic techniques has resulted in impressive wines like this. "A very appealing and straightforward wine. Good acidity and plenty of jammy fruit with a Wine & Spirit, May 2008
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Wine The lush, green, rolling hills of Beaujolais are home to many different styles, with surprising degrees of variation given the near complete domination of the Gamay grape. Ten 'cru' villages on granite hills to the north of the region are home to the most substantial wines, and Chénas is renowned for producing some of the longest-lived wines. This is youthful yet sturdy, with plenty of vibrant raspberry fruit. Lovely drinking with roast poultry or soft cheeses.
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Wine From a family-owned producer, this is a food-friendly Gamay, full of bright red and black fruit aromas. Serve alongside Coq au Vin for a truly French experience.
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Wine Subjects of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Endrici (Endrizzi in local dialect) family arrived in northern Italy in 1885 and established a formidable estate at the foot of the Dolomites. More recently, the Endrizzis descended from Trentino to purchase Tuscan estate Serpaia. Application of biodynamic techniques has resulted in stylish 'SuperTuscans' like this. Wildly complex flavours of succulent red fruits, plum skins and leather; fantastic with beef carpaccio.
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Wine If you've preconceived notions about Beaujolais being a bit weak for a red, then here's the wine to change your mind. We've always admired the robust, fleshy, forceful and full-bodied styles made in Brouilly, southernmost 'cru' (one of ten quality enclaves on granite hills to the north of the region). This is the Gamay grape at full throttle, with notable earthy substance balanced by ample, vibrant, juicy fruit. At its best with roasts, grills and charcuterie.
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Wine Almansa, inland from Spain's east coast city of Valencia, is handy to know about, offering Rioja in all but name at low prices. Bodegas Piqueras, founded in 1915, benefits from extreme continental conditions: vines yield tiny quantities of very high quality grapes. Juan-Pablo and Angel Bonete are well kitted-out at their modern winery, with stacks of new barrels. Aged in oak a year, this fragrant red has intense spicy vanilla aromas complementing rich, baked red fruit flavours. coast city of Valencia, is handy to
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Wine Goldwater Sauvignon uses the best Wairau Valley fruit to exhibit all the elegance and finesse of top quality Marlborough terroir.
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Wine The Mundy Family has been cultivating the land on their island vineyard beside the braided Waimakariri River for three generations. Owners Robin and Bernice Mundy and award-winning winemaker Hamish Kempthorne are passionate in their dedication to producing exceptional quality fruit taken from regions all over the South Island of New Zealand.
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Wine An unusual marriage of Argentina's two great grapes. Dominated by Malbec but with an aromatic influence of Torrontes which adds perfume and freshness to the blend.
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Wine Subjects of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Endrici (Endrizzi in local dialect) family arrived in northern Italy in 1885 and established a formidable estate at the foot of the Dolomites in now coveted Saint Michele All Adige. Enthusiastically biodynamic, they offer an impressive array of wines including this vividly fragrant Pinot Grigio, with crisp, succulent pear flavour and hints of angelica. Great with seafood ravioli.
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Wine Based in the picturesque, tourist-town of Rudesheim, Johannes Leitz is one of the most exciting of the new wave of German winemakers. From some of the best sites in the region he makes wines of real depth and character.
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Wine Subjects of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Endrici (Endrizzi in local dialect) family arrived in northern Italy in 1885 and established a formidable estate at the foot of the Dolomites in now coveted Saint Michele All'Adige. Enthusiastically biodynamic, they offer an impressive array of wines. This classic style from the region's Teroldego grape is deep in colour and firm-structured, yet soft and appealing, with warm, rustic summer fruit flavours; ideal with meaty, mushroomy dishes.
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Wine Founded over 300 years ago by a nostalgic ex-Rhine-dweller, this historic estate has been propelled to global prominence by winemaker Adi Badenhorst. He's been the catalyst for innovations such as aerial x-raying of vines to assess grape ripeness, and conveyor belts that grade out imperfect grapes.
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Wine The vineyard surround a house dating from 1774 which was built by Nicolas Barreyre. The vineyards were planted after this date, on the '8 nivôse of the year II' (which is French revolution talk for: December 28th, 1793). The Barreyres were an old 'bourgeois' family inhabitants of Bordeaux who were financial consultants of their day. The 13.5 hectares of vineyard extend over a ground of clay and fat sand, called "palus" lining the Garonne river.
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Wine Suffolk-born Chris Pask and daughter Tessa McKay set up their estate in 1985 on the gravelly soils of the North Island's Gimblett Road (underlain by an old riverbed of the Ngaruroro River) and have triumphed ever since. Thanks to the efforts of winemaker Kate Radburnd, the winery has reeled in scores of awards, including a Wine Challenge trophy. Their minerally, elegant Sauvignon has currant-leaf aromas and vibrant lime-zesty flavour with hints of tropical fruit richness.
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Wine A beautifully clean, unoaked style of Chardonnay, with fresh flavours of lemons and melons that excel with grilled fish. The no-nonsense Talmard family have long been our touchstone for consistently brilliant, reasonably-priced southern Burgundian whites. Their gleaming, steel-tank-lined cellar sits at the edge of the Mâcon village of Chardonnay: they're intimately au fait with the eponymous grape.
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