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Westgate Hall Wine Challenge, 20th April

I am delighted to help the Westgate Community Trust raise funds for the refurbishment of the Westgate Hall. We will be holding an event on the 20th of April. It iss short notice, I know, but I thought you’d like to know there are a few tickets available. It promises to be a great night of fun, food and wine.

The Challenge involves tasting six wines, in teams of 5 or 6 people, and answering some questions about the the wines (with some clues and advice from me). The most successful team will win a selection of wines. There is also a delicious light supper produced by Patrick Williams (of Patrick’s Kitchen, from the Goods Shed).

The Westgate Hall Wine Challenge is on the 20th of April, at 7pm at the Westgate Hall,  Canterbury. Tickets are £25 and will help raise much needed funds for the refurbishment of the Hall. You can book as teams of 5 or 6 or individually (we can help make up tables). To book please send an email to the westgatecommunitytrust@gmail.com or call 07912626433.

Here is a bit more information about the Westgate Community Trust and what they are trying to achieve:

“About three years ago the Westgate Hall, a 100-year old large Drill Hall in the centre of Canterbury that is used for community events, dancing, fairs, giving blood, concerts,  meetings, etc. was threatened with demolition due to budget cuts. A group of local people got together and formed the Westgate Community Trust, a charity that have managed to give this big building a new future as a community hall and a digital cinema, by forming a partnership with Curzon Cinemas. They are about to sign the lease for the building now and are getting ready to do a major refurbishment of the building, which needs a new roof, new windows, doors, etc.

Canterbury is a great city, attracting so many visitors from all over the world, yet local people can often feel that there is little for them in the city, and few opportunities to engage in social activities and hobbies. The Westgate Hall will be run as a centre for people of all ages Canterbury to meet, learn and play. And it will be a venue for local businesses to hold events.”

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Dinner at Samphire Whitstable

It has been a long time since I worked with David Hart, ex of the Fitz at Goodneston and the Goods Shed (amongst) others, and also with George Lister, but I am very happy to report that we will be combining on a fabulous wine dine at Samphire in Whitstable. The date is Thursday May 16th, arrive 7.15 pm for an aperitif and we aim to start serving the dishes at 7.30 pm.

The tickets are £55 per person and will include a glass of each wine with each course, additional glasses will be available at £3.00 per glass.  The menu and wines to be served are listed below. If you are interested please apply directly to Samphire on 01227 770075.

Aperitif

Salad of peas, broad beans, cured ham and poached egg

Comenge Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 2012

Poached Sea trout with Jersey Royals, Kentish Asparagus and hollandaise

Domaine Villargeau, Coteaux du Giennois, 2011

Roast and braised Monkshill farm lamb with shallot puree, cherry tomatoes and rosemary

Biberius Crianza, Ribera del Duero, 2009

Cheesemakers of Canterbury Brie with a truffled walnut salad

Domaine Vieux College, Fixin, Les Recilles, 2009

Rhubarb tart with elderflower ice cream

Ancienne Cure, Monbazillac, 2010

Moorish Meze and Wine Tasting at the Forge Bistro, Canterbury

On the 1st March Marleen from the Forge Bistro, in Canterbury, will create a number of dishes of Moorish style and Clive Barlow has been challenged to find wines to match them.

It promises to be a fascinating mix of spices and flavours with 6 courses and a wine to partner each. The menu is below, showing a vegetarian option with each meat dish.The cost is terrific value at £35.00.

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Prosecco

Mini chicken skewers with Baharat spices and Muhammara dip (roasted red peppers, walnuts, pomegranate molasses)

Hummus with pomegranates

Zaalak (spicy Moroccan aubergine and tomato salad)

Pitta crisps

 MAIN COURSES

  1. Tunisian fishcakes (turmeric,cumin,coriander,Harissa,ginger) served with a Harissa and ginger mayo dip
  2. Prawn tagine with saffron, ginger and fennel -Tagine bil kimroun- (Vegetable tagine with saffron, ginger and olives)
  3. Chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives (Falafels with tomato jam)
  4. Lamb Shawarma in pitta pockets -pepercorns-cloves-cardomom-fenugreek-fennel seeds-cumin seeds-ginger-cinnamon-paprika- (Haloumi in spicy Chraimel sauce)

  DESSERTS:

Tunisian filo cigars -almonds, pistache, honey-

Morocan Fruit compote with orange flower water

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Call the Forge Bistro on 01227 788 022 to book your place! £35 per head. Starts 7:30pm

The Forge Bistro is at 61 Dover Street, Canterbury, CT1 3HD.

Wine notes from the Wine Table Tasting, 25th January 2013

Domaine La Croix Gratiot, Picpoul de Pinet 2011, £ 8.25
Bright clean, citrus notes on nose with a touch of minerality and apple. A broad, clean mouthwateringly fresh palate, with some depth. Good quality Picpoul crying out for seafood.

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Comenge Verdejo, Rueda, 2012, £9.90
Very youthful and aromatic wine showing pears, grapefruit and pineapple with a good intensity. Lively crisp and dry palate, more grapefruit flavours, decent finish and depth. A fine example of modern Rueda Verdejo.

Comenge

Domaine Antugnac, Terres Amoureuses, Limoux 2010, £11.75
This is a subtle Chardonnay giving gentle oat and ripe lemon aromas. The palate is long and discrete, sustained. Very well balanced and harmonious it has a shy/coy character.

Mas Cal Demoura, ‘l’Etincelle’, IGP d’Herault 2011, £18.90
A lively apricot and floral nose with a touch of weight and complexity, certainly showing some
depth. The palate is broad and fresh with good depth and mouth feel. Yellow fruits dominate but there is a pleasing spice and quince complexity.

Calmel and J Joseph, St Chinian, 2010, £9.90
Lifted aromatics of black olive tapenade, pepper and black fruit jelly lead to a mid weight savoury palate. Well balanced and juicy fruit, with fine tannins giving a gentle dusty texture.

Biberius Crianza , Ribera del Duero, 2009, £12.50
Mature nose offering mocha, dark fruits and plums. The palate has a good depth of fleshy ripe fruit balanced by plentiful mellow tannins and oak spice, Long finish, classy wine. Got the vote of best value wine and a bit of an ‘ooh la la’ moment!

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Chateau la Negly, ‘La Falaise’ , La Clape 2010, £19.00
Powerful on nose and palate with a warm Mediterranean feel giving ripe fruits of red berries, figs and cherry accompanied by garrigue herb and spice. Rich warming palate; plenty of concentration in this wine with sustained fruit finish.

wine table 25 jan

Domaine Hortus, Grand Cuvée Rouge, Pic St Loup 2010, £20.50
Restraint and harmony are the calling cards of this elegant layered wine. It has savoury and fruit notes with a fine gentle tannic mesh giving support. It really shines with food.

Domaine Massamier La Mignarde, ‘Domus Maximus’, 2008, £27.00
A handsome, deeply coloured masculine wine. It has a Pauillac character of black fruits, cedar, and pepper enveloping a firm, erect tannic core. Lush, dense fruit, great depth and a long poised finish. Drinking well now but has several years ahead of it.

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Wine list for the 25th of January, mostly Languedoc, Wine Table

Opening up the reds for tonight’s (mostly) Languedoc Wine Table; the Hortus’s Grand Cuvée and la Neglys, ‘La Falaise’ are going to be stunning!

We will be tasting:

Domaine La Croix Gratiot, Picpoul de Pinet 2011 £8.25
Comenge Verdejo, Rueda, 2012 £9.90
Domaine Antugnac, Terres Amoureuses, Limoux 2010 £11.75
Mas Cal Demoura, ‘l’Etincelle’, IGP d’Herault 2011 £18.90
Calmel and J Joseph, St Chinian, 2010 £9.90
Biberius Crianza , Ribera del Duero, 2009 £12.50
Chateau la Negly, ‘La Falaise’, La Clape 2010 £ 19.00
Domaine Hortus, Grand Cuvée Rouge, Pic St Loup 2010 £20.50
Domaine Massamier La Mignarde, ‘Domus Maximus’, 2008 £27.00

 

Wine tables and Sportsman dinners from Press Wine Services

I am currently in Krems, Austria trying to learn the terroir of the different regions of Kremstal and Wachau, such is the life of the hard pressed wine merchant! But , I thought you might like to know of a few events we are planning in the spring of 2013.

In addition to our One Day wine course (3rd of February) we are also running a number of Wine Tables at the Goods Shed, Canterbury,  and wine dinners at The Sportsman, Seasalter. The Tables are quite informal and are a great opportunity to try some wonderful wines and share them with like minded people. This year we will put on one a month and provide light, but satisifying tapas style dishes and the Tables will have a theme running through them.

The Sportsman dinners are terrific evenings of fine food and wine. Stephen Harris always produces a memorable range of dishes many of which are created solely for the Wine Dinners.

The Wine Table

Once a month Press Wine Services will be running a ‘Wine Table’ evening at which a selection of 8 wines will be opened and tasted. Corks will be drawn and the first wine poured at 7 pm; we aim to serve the final wine at 8.30pm. There will also be a range of tapas style dishes during the evening

The dates are as follows

Friday 25th January: Languedoc wines will dominate this tasting, with a selection of some of the finest wines from the region including Domaine Hortus and La Negly.

Friday 15th Februaryan opportunity to explore the wines of northern Italy. So as well as wines from the sensual Nebbiolo grape we will taste those from the Veneto region and Fruili.

Friday 22nd March: blended beauties will be at the forefront of this evening’s event. Bordeaux and the southern Rhone will be shown as well as intereting creatures from further abroad!

Friday 26th April: Recent finds and favourites will feature in this tasting show should be an exciting night of discovery.

Places are limited to a dozen guests so please book as soon as possible. The cost is £ 15 per person, payable with your booking.

More details about the wines to be tasted will posted here as we approach the dates so do keep looking.

            Sportsman Dinners

Chef Stephen Harris will create a number of dishes according to the season and, if he thinks it appropriate, to match the wines of the region. Each evening will consist of an aperitif with a selection of snacks followed by a four course dinner with two wines served with each course, and an additional two wines of special interest will be introduced during the meal. Coffee and tea is served at the end of the dinner. Carriages best booked for 10.45 p.m.

Thursday March 7th – Central Italy: Tuscany, Abruzzo, Umbria, Lazio

Thursday March 28thLanguedoc Roussillon

Thursday April 25thDouro and Duero: Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda, Cigales, Douro

Thursday May 30th Riesling and Pinot Noir from around the world.

Tickets £ 87.50/head. Aperitif from 7pm to sit down at the table for 7.30 pm

Thank you for your support and all the best for 2013,

Clive

Interview at Eat Drink Kent

I was very impressed with Eat Drink Kent’s website and their great work promoting Kent produce, so I was delighted to be asked for an interview for their “Behind the Scenes” series. Here is the interview, where they asked me a bit about how I got to be Master of Wine, my favourite wines and, very pertinently, some Christmas wine recommendations.

A visit to Barnsole Vineyard and English wines at Press Wine Services

I visited the Barnsole Vineyard (in Staple, very near Canterbury) yesterday and met the owners. We tasted a few of the wines and discussed the difficulties of the 2012 vintage. Sadly Barnsole, like other English vineyards, has been badly affected by the poor conditions at flowering during the cool, damp spring. As a result the harvest is down by 50% on whites and slightly more on the red grapes. The outcome will be fewer bottles of their wines (on average they produce 8,000 each year) and one cuvée instead of the usual two of the white wine. The good news from the vineyard is that they will be planting some Bacchus, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir next year and extending the winery. So the prospects for the future are looking good for sparkling wine, a lighter Pinot red and some delicious Bacchus.

We tasted a number of the wines from the 2010 and 2011 vintages and now I will stock three of the wines at the Goods Shed in Canterbury. They will be the light, fragrant and off dry Canterbury Choice Pilgrim’s Harvest 2010 (£10.50) made from Huxelrebbe, which gives the wine a gentle muscat scent and flavour, the Canterbury Choice Dry Reserve 2011 (£11.95), a powerful , textured dry white made from Reichensteiner, with green apple and citrus notes carrying a whacking 14% alcohol (my first 14% er from this island, and that’s with no sugar addition!) and the Canterbury Choice Red Reserve (£12.00) made from the Rondo grape, plus a little Regent and Pinot Noir. This gives a cranberry and leaf fruit with smooth tannins and pleasing balance.

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We stock quite a few English wins at Press Wine Services at the Goods Shed. From Kent: Biddenden, Throwley, Sandhurst and Barnsole; from East Sussex: Limney Brut (sadly there will be no Dry White until the 2013 vintage); from West Sussex: Nyetimber and Stopham; and from Cornwall we stock Camel Valley.

Report and Tasting notes: Clive’s Wine Table 16th November

So what happens at when Clive hosts a “Wine Table”? A small group (maximum of 12 people) of wine lovers, drinkers and thinkers gather around a table in front of Clive’s wine stall, with a tasting glass, tasting sheet and pens. It’s informal though with a purpose of sharing and enjoying wines. Everyone is introduced and then the wines come out.

Clive pours the wines without saying much about them to start with and lets the guests taste, discuss and make up their own minds about each wine before he shares more information about each wine. He normally chooses a mixture of wines; recent finds, small parcels that have just been brought in and old favourites that he stocks at the shop as well as new arrivals that he is exploring and wants to test.

And during the tasting there are food treats from the Goods Shed, from home made cheese straws, to fine Basque and Iberico charcuterie from the Patriana stall, to winter chanterelle soup from Jonny Sandwich, to Rafa’s take on patatas bravas from the Goods Shed restaurant.

The tasting on the 16th of November featured an interesting organic range from Can Majoral, Mallorca, a biodynamic Grenache from Roussillon plus a handsome claret and a fine Ribero del Duero. In addition there was an Arbois Vins Jaune, an Alsace Riesling and a Rhone red. There were two standouts, the San Roig from Can Majoral an ultra rich Cabernet Sauvignon  which proves that Mallorca can make high class wines, and the Biodynamic Grenache from Roussillon, which at the age of 7 years had terrific energy and youth. Taste notes are below.

The organic Marllorcan wines by Can Majoral

Tasting notes:

Can Majoral Butibalausi White, Mallorca 2011 organic (Premsal, Parellada and Chardonnay)

An interesting, gentle citrus scent, fresh and clean with a slight pine note which leads to a clean , crisp, fresh palate of medium weight. Certainly attractive and mouth filling it has a brightness which is refreshing and lends the wine to fish dishes and aperitif style.

J B Adams Riesling Nature, Alsace 2011 organic.

A wine with a light yet persistent aroma of lime and elderflower with a typical Riesling kerosene note haunting the background. The palate has a marked acidity, which for acid lovers is fabulous but for those looking for rounder styles this should be avoided. The acid drives the wine giving vivacity and life to the green apple and citrus fruit. Oh for some roast pork!

Fruitiere Vinicole Vin Jaune, Arbois , 2005

Following Raymond Blanc’s TV tour of France, I thought the Table should show a Vin Jaune. This had the yeasty flor-like nose with a terrific hazelnut depth and some ripe lemon and beurre blanc scents. Delicious palate , dry crisp acid cuts the oxidative notes and balances the richness and alcohol. Long finish, nutty and clean. A great wine experience.

Butibalausi Red, Can Majoral , Mallorca, 2010 (Callet, Manto  Negro, Ull de Llebre, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) organic.

A dark ruby wine with aromas of black plums, blackcurrant, leather and spice. A complex nose, fairly four square with a garrigue note in the background. The palate carried the sturdy , but accessible, character of the nose and with similar flavours but with the addition of a firm mineral element.

Can Majoral, Son Roig, pla I Levant, 2007 (Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with some Merlot and Syrah) organic.

A deep coloured wine, the glistening look of which promised a richness on the palate. The nose was laden with heavy kirsch, cassis and black fruit conserve scents, maintaining the promise and the palate then delivered. It was big, broad, unctuous, almost deep enough to spread on toast, yet balanced and vinous. The fruit characters were of black fruits almost cordial like but shot through with savoury edges. Very long and satisfying wine. Not a generic  Bordeaux style, nor with the purity of Oz or the black cherry of Napa, more akin the intense nature of recent Pontet Canet vintages.

Can Majoral, S’Heretat, pla I Levant, 2006  (Callet, with a little Merlot and Syrah)

Broad structure, loose knit with an earthy core. A very different feel to the Son Roig, this has a Mediterranean character with herbal, pine notes, red fruits which are integrating well with dusty tannins. This is not in the classic style of Roig but is nevertheless an interesting, textured  quality wine.

Les Amis de Bouissières, Vin de Table,Rhone, 2010 (Grenache, Syrah and Merlot)

Raspberry and white pepper nose with the baked garrigue of the southern Rhone create an attractive bouquet. The palate was driven by the alcohol, 14.5%, and carried some dusty fine tannins. This was a wine which caused most division at the table. Those not in favour felt it was short , those who enjoyed it liked the hit of Grenache and Rhone characters.

Chateau Lacombe Noaillac, Medoc 2006 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot)

The wine performed very well, delivering a classic black fruit, herbaceous and cedar nose, finely balanced palate with mellow yet firm tannins. It was very well behaved, ‘did what it said on the tin’, and made you happy to drink claret. Okay, so it is not a Grand Cru with the depth of that level , nor the price tag, but it delivers harmony and sophistication to the dinner table.

Ey, ‘Grenache’ Vins de Gaume’, Roussillon, 2005 Biodynamic

This is from a small bin end parcel purchased by Press Wine. Terrific Grenache suppleness and richness. The wine has great depth and breadth, still looks and tastes young, and carries that Biodynamic energy. There is the slight funk of Biodynamic wines, the hint of stemmy, very ripe fruit, fine tannins carefully extracted and Roussillon heat. Lovely exciting wine.  At a great price…..but I only have a few bottles!

Bodegas Comanges, Ribero del Duero, 2007 ( Tempranillo)

One of the most popular wines at the Goods Shed this year has been ‘Biberious’, Ribero del Duero 2011 produced by Bodegas Comanges. This wine is the one that carries the name of the estate and it is a super, fleshy, modern style Ribero del Duero. It is not the firm structured style that takes years to shed its tannic carapace but one that, at five years, delivers layered fruit and spice with a velvet-textured mesh of fine, ripe tannins. It has harmony too and great persistence.

The next Wine Tables

Friday 7th and 14th December

Press Wine Services will be running a ‘Wine Table’ evening at which a selection of 8 wines will be opened and tasted. Corks will be drawn and the first wine poured at 7 pm; we aim to serve the final wine at 8.30pm.

This will be an ideal opportunity to try a superb range of wines which will partner many dishes over the Christmas period. The same wines will be tasted on each evening. The flights will include the following wines:

2010 Seguin Moreau Savigny les Beaune Blanc, Les Goudelettes; a precise and well structured white Burgundy which carries the minerality of Chablis and the weight of the premium vineyards of the  Cotes du Beaune,

2004 Apollonio ‘Divoto’. Copertino: a fully mature deep and concentrated award winning red from Puglia. Ithas acomplex notes of spice , cedar and black fruits.

2009 Chassagne Montrachet Rouge, Jean Marc Pillot: a delightful red Burgundy from the fabulous 2009 vintage. Ripe and silky with a notes of sousbois and game.

2003 Quinta do Ventezelo Vintage Port; A ripe, powerful Black cherry fruit and spice fruited port. Drinking now but with a gutsy character to age further.

Places are limited to a dozen guests so please book as soon as possible. The cost is £ 10 per person, payable with your booking.