Friday 25 January 2013

D. Byrne & Co. January Newsletter

This blog sees the return of our ever popular Everyday Drinking Case, as well as the introduction of our new 'Taste of Spain' case, a selection designed to display the sheer quality and value for money currently to be found in the wines of Spain. There is also a chance to register your interest in our 2011 En Primeur Burgundy wines.




Whites

Champs du Moulin Colombard, Pays des Cotes de Gascogne - France
Delicious fresh fragrant nose, clean, invigorating, and zesty, with crisp green fruit on the palate and lovely acidity, a moreish drink.

Percheron Chenin Blanc Viognier - South Africa
Vibrant and aromatic with delicious generous fresh apricot, nectarine and hints of passion fruit on the nose, in this delightful blend sourced from vines up to 40 years old.

Ancora Bianco Garganega delle Venezie - Italy
Pale straw yellow colour, lightly aromatic with ripe citrus and baked apple characters, a soft easy to drink white.

Domaine des Cretes Marssanne Roussanne - France
Fresh, vibrant and youthful, with hints of lemon and mango and some complexity from the barrel-fermented proportion, the full-rounded palate leads to a rich and savoury wine, a real crowd pleaser.

Tesoro de los Andes Torontes Chardonnay - Argentina
This great value wine has some real weight and character, fresh and dry with ripe guava and citrus, and a succulent tropical fruit finish.

Reds
Mas de Vigneron Rouge, Pays du Vaucluse - France
First impressions are of a classic Rhone red, friendly and warming, with the hallmark spice of Grenache and Syrah. Soft, fruity, and easy to drink.

Ancora Rosso, Sangiovese di Puglia - Italy
A warm richly flavoured red, with aromas of plums, dried fruit and spices, a good concentration of ripe cherry is combined with a satisfyingly long finish.

Sierra Grande Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile
A light juicy red with nice crushed red fruit aromas, very easy drinking with gentle tannins and a touch of spice.

Percheron Old Vine Cinsault - South Africa
Highly praised by wine critics, from gnarly vines up to 65 years old, this wine is gently compelling with aromas of the earth and stony minerality. The palate includes red fruits, cherries, a hint of spice, and creamy refreshing acidity.

Borsao Garnacha, Bodegas Borsao - Spain
It would be hard to find, at the price, a more highly praised and award winning wine than this. Juicy bramble fruit and fresh redcurrants dominate this very approachable wine.

El Tesoro Monastrell Shiraz - Spain
A ripe chunky red, with layers of spicy fruit and damsons, that massively over delivers.

Montevista Carmenere - Chile
A powerful fruit bomb with a smokey, spicy kick. Aromas of ripe, dark fruits and mocha, with a hint of crushed black pepper come together in a balanced finish. A cracking Carmenere.
£58.99 if collected from the shop and £67.00 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile radius



D. Byrne & Co. A Taste of  Spain

White Wines
El Tesoro Verdejo - Castilla Leon
2011 Vintage, Wines from Spain Awards 2012, Top 110 Wines
Aromas of tropical fruit with hints of citrus. A palate filled with passion fruit and guava with great texture and intensity. Balanced, ripe and creamy.

Bodegas Borsao Macabeo - Campo de Borja
A fresh and lively nose with ripe peach, lemon and fennel. Apricot and cashew nut characters on the palate are matched by a clean, fruity finish.

Vetiver Rioja Blanco - Spain
D Byrne & Co White Wine of the Year.
90/100 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
100% Verdejo, four months in American Oak. A voluptuous mouth full of tropical fruit, white pepper and toasty characters, well balanced with fine natural acidity. Great to drink on its own or to have with fish and shellfish.

Marquis de la Villa Malvasia - Toro
A plump, aromatic white. The lively citrus aromas and ripe peachy fruit offer immediate appeal. A full and peachy palate balanced by fresh acidity.

Red Wines
Pinna Fidelis Roble - Ribera Del Duero
D. Byrne & Co Red Wine of the Year
Shortlisted in the New Wave Spanish Awards 2011
Fresh strawberry, raspberry and red currant aromas with some vanilla oak characters. the palate is rich and rounded with smooth and textural tannins on the persistent finish.

Pedrera Monastrell - Jumilla
From a family winery dating back to 1916 - the wines they produce are of consistently great quality. Forward aromas of crunchy red berries. Fresh and easy to drink with ripe plum fruit, a hint of spice and strawberries dipped in chocolate on the finish.

Dehesa De Rubiales Alia - Castilla Leon
Intense aromas of red fruit, woodland, cocoa powder and savoury mushroom notes. Fruity and medium bodied with soft blueberries and some spice.

Borsao Seleccion Tinto - Campo de Borja
'Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world, this is unbelievable wine...' 90/100 The Wine Advocate

Bodegas Artesa Crianza - Rioja
2009 Vintage, Wines from Spain Awards 2010 Top 110 Wines
A forward, modern crianza with perfectly integrated and expressive plum and black fruit flavours, complemented by spicy vanilla oak and a long juicy finish.

Marques De La Villa Roble - Toro
A ripe and fruity wine with red cherry, blackberry jam, blackcurrant and warming vanilla. Loaded with sun ripened fruit, this is rich and delicious.

Senorio De Sarria Crianza - Navarra
Vibrant berry fruit offsets spicy, floral aromas with some coffee notes from 12 months in oak. Typically spicy black fruit on the palate with some structure.

Fuentseca Bobal Cabernet - Utiel Requena
2011 Vintage, Wines from Spain Awards 2012, Top 110 Wines
A palate filled with ripe, soft and juicy plum fruit with faint herbal notes. Silky in texture with generous mouth feel, this is a lovely fruit driven wine.

£77.50 if collected from the shop and £85.50 delivered anywhere in the UK
Free delivery within a 30 mile radius

A Special Spanish Wine Promotion
D. Byrne & Co - Spanish Specialist Merchant of the Year
2007 IWC

The following list is a selection taken from our huge Spanish range. We have been keen to promote the wines of Spain for a number of years now, and in today's market we feel that Spain is currently offering some of the finest value wines from anywhere. The Borsao Tinto 2011 is a classic example of the sort of quality/ price ratio you can currently expect to receive in Spain, this bargain of the century is certain to be a hit, so stock up now whilst you can.


Reds

2011 Borsao Seleccion Tinto, Campo de Borja 6.29
Is this the wine bargain of the year?
Read what Robert Parker, the American wine critic had to say:
'Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world, this is an unbelievable wine...Its deep ruby/ purple colour is followed by classic aromas of kirsch liquor intermixed with raspberries, loamy soil and flowers. This medium to full-bodied wine possesses remarkable depth, an expansive texture and wonderful freshness as well as purity. On taste alone, this beauty could easily sell for $30-$50 a bottle...i don't understand how anyone can make wines this good to sell at this price...90 points.' (Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #203, 30th October 2012)                                                                                   

2011 Tres Picos Bodegas, Campo de Borja 12.89
Deep cherry in colour with a hint of purple. A bouquet of mature red fruits with floral notes that are typical of the best Garnachas. the palate is rich, showing flavours of blackberries, strawberries and vanilla. Perfectly combined with a sweet soft finish. Awards too numerous to mention.

2009 Mesoneros de Castilla Roble, Ribera Del Duero 8.39
This is a generous and approachable wine with aromas of black cherry, plum, coffee bean, and layered fruit. Sweet vanilla and toasty notes from its time spent in oak combine for a richly flavoured finish - this is excellent.

2009 Valsotillo Crianza, Ribera Del Duero 12.99
Deep Garnet in colour, with cherry aromas and containing typical Ribera notes of both cassis and menthol, this wine has a mouth-filling palate, considerable structure and complexity.

2009/10 Parada de Atauta, Ribera Del Duero 14.99
The nose is warm and spicy with intense black fruit, mocha and baked earth characters. The palate has a good structure, concentrated fruit, cedar and minerality with perfumed violets to the finish.

2010 Vega Piedra Rioja Tinto -The D. Byrne & Co. House Rioja 5.49
A soft, approachable and aromatic number, with comforting and generous ripe berry fruit aromas, and a hint of spice. The palate is light and plummy, with a long juicy finish. To get an oak-aged wine of this quality, at this price, is an absolute bargain.

2009/10 Artesa Organic, Rioja 6.89
Produced from top quality organic fruit, this is a classic Rioja, full-flavoured with dark fruit and spiced mulberry characters. Drink with red meat or cheese.

2010 Zarabanda, Rioja 6.59
A delicious modern Rioja with a deep colour and ripe plum and cherry fruit aromas. Richly flavoured and substantial with dominant fruit and a smoky, spicy dimension from six months in oak. Brilliant quality and exceptional value, a real crowd pleaser. Perfect with tapas.

2009 Ontanon Rioja, Crianza 8.19
The nose is well balanced with aromas of black cherry, spice and toasty oak. The palate contains further bright, intense tangy red cherry fruit, with fresh acidity, a silky mouth feel, soft ripe tannins, and a lingering finish.

2009 The Charge Tempranillo Garnacha, Rioja 8.59
Intense aromas of leather, warm spice and dark fruits. The palate is dark, pruney and decadently ripe with a good balance between tannins and acidity. An earthy, opulent wine that is rich, warm and classically poised.


2006 Valencisco Reserva Rioja, A Classic Vintage Red 16.99
Pungent meaty and currenty aromas, with hints of cedar and spice. Produced purely from Tempranillo, and aged in new French and American oak barriques, this wine is soft-bodied and smooth, and displays all the elegance expected of the variety. Delicate and velvety, with plenty of complexity - awarded 91 Points in the Wine Advocate.

2011 Juan Gil 4 Meses Monastrell, Jumilla 7.39
A beautiful Monastrell from 40 year old vineyards. An intense palate with fresh juicy blackberry and plum fruit, delicate vanilla spice and cedar. Hugely enjoyable!

2010 Juan Gil Silver Label Monastrell, Jumilla 11.39
An astonishingly complex, multi-award winning wine from Juan Gil. Spice, cedar, toast and chocolate are layered with blackberry and plum. A wine of great balance, concentration and length.

2011 Turret Fields Monastrell Shiraz, Jumilla 8.59
This is a characteristically rich and powerful Monastrell-based red. It is deeply perfumed with black cherry, damson and blueberry aromas, spice and black pepper. The palate has ripe juicy fruit in abundance, soft approachable tannins, hints of violet and more spice. This finish has an almost chocolatey texture and a fresh sappy character.

2009/10 Clio, Jumilla 29.99
Made from 65 year old vines, this cult wine is classic, authentic, and powerful. Dark cherry red with an intense nose of ripe cassis fruit, toasted coffee and liquorice  and all the power and concentration you would expect from a wine of this quality.

2007 Canus Verus 'Vina's Viejas', Toro 11.99
A big, bold and serious wine. Dark bramble fruits mingle with liquorice  vanilla and spice aromas. Very complex and concentrated.

2009 Gotim Bru Castell del Remei, Costers del Segre 9.89
An attractive, perfumed nose with cherry, toasted red fruit, balsamic notes and sweet spicy oak. Ripe fruit on the palate is balanced with fresh acidity and supple tannins. This is a wine of great complexity and structure.


2008 Castell del Remei Oda Tinto, Costers del Segre 13.59
Complex aromas of blueberries, blackcurrant and cinnamon spice with vanilla notes. The tannins are mellow in this elegant wine; cassis, liquorice and a touch of caramelized fruit follow through to the long finish.

2010 Catalan Eagle Red, Garnacha Carinena Syrah, La Bascula 8.39
Characterised by smoky, black berry fruit and spice, rounded off by some contact with French oak, this wine has a new world feel whilst remaining firmly and typically Spanish with the 60% old Grenache and Carignan.

2008 The Gauntlet Monastrell, Yecla 11.99
A wine with great length and complexity complemented by an excellent structure of fine acidity and well honed tannins. Ripe, spicy, black berry fruit is balanced by the vanilla flavours from oak barrels. A real iron fist in a velvet glove.

2010 Barbazul, Cadiz 8.59
A heady concoction of flavours in a seriously impressive wine. The fruit is pure with bright, juicy cherry, sweet spice, balanced acidity, an impressive structure and a long finish. Ideal for with juicy steaks.

2007 Taberner, Cadiz 16.99
The rave reviews and rewards should leave you in no doubt - a stunning wine that will not dissapoint. Full and rich, with a heady nose of ripe plum, chocolate, spice, mocha and oak. Voluptuous with a savoury edge.

2009/10 Mano a Mano Tempranillo, La Mancha 8.59
Cherry, black berries, violets and cassis mingle with smoked meat and black pepper on the nose; an intensely structured wine with robust flavours, dark fruits and a mineral yet juicy finish.

2009 Venta la Ossa Tempranillo, Castilla 14.99
Ripe fruit, lifted floral characters and then a deliciously meaty savouriness on the nose. The palate is lifted, with blackberry fruit, minerality, touched of pimento, clove, sage and dark chocolate - complex, with beautiful nuances and a long finish.

2011 Macia Batle Tinto Anada, Binissalem Mallorca 8.99
Wild berry fruit characters, smoky undertones and a structured finish. Will drink very nicely with grilled or roast lamb.

2009 Macia Batle Crianza, Binissalem Mallorca 12.19
A rich and generous red from one of Mallorca's leading producers. Powerful and spicy aromas of cherries, blackberries and warm oaky notes, beautifully balanced with layers of coffee and bitter chocolate.

2007/08 Macia Batle Reserve Privada, Binissalem Mallorca 19.99
A dark, brooding wine, with a huge concentration of ripe fruit. The palate is complex, with layers of coffee, chocolate and plum jam. This is Macia Batle's flagship wine.      

White

2011 Fuentseca Macabeo Sauvignon Blanc, Utiel Requena 6.39
Delicately herbaceous and lightly aromatic, with white peach, citrus and jasmine on the nose. Fresh and zesty, with balanced acidity, mineral notes and a clean, crisp finish.

2011 Artesa Rioja Viura 5.79
Unoaked Viura. Clean, fresh and attractive nose showing hints of ripe peach and pear. The ripe, round and almost creamy palate cut through with a refreshing streak of zesty acidity. This is excellent value.

2011 K-Naia, Rueda 7.49
A fresh Rueda from a top producer who is currently making quite an impact in the UK. A nose of zesty citrus with a rich pineapple layer and hints of mango. The palate is rich with minerality and further hints of tropical fruit. This wine has a lovely intensity and a modern feel.                            

2009 Naiades Bodega Naia Verdejo, Rueda 16.79
An extraordinary wine produced from ancient vines, well over 100 years old. Intensely powerful 'toasty aromatics' - ripe melon combined with citrus and grapefruit on the palate. A seamless mix of honeyed fruit, structure and richness.

2011 Heights of the Charge Verdejo Viura, Rueda 8.39
The palate of this wine possesses both remarkable depth and a wonderfully luscious quality. Lemony freshness gives way to hints of stone fruit, nectarine and fresh apricot. This enormously satisfying number exudes quality.

2011 Catalan Eagle White, Garnacha Blanca Viognier, Catalunya 8.39
This wonderfully complex wine from Catalonia has a delicately floral nose permeated by grapefruit and earthy clay notes. Citrus emerges on the palate, accompanied by pear and melon, with warm spice and savoury notes. Richly textured and inviting.

2011 Castell del Remei Blanc Planell, Costers del Segre 7.99
A fresh and crisp wine from one of the pioneers of Catalan wine making. Intense aromas of peach, green apple and fennel are lent additional characteristics of white flower and ripe pear by the high altitude Macabeo. The crisp citrus acidity is complemented by almond and floral notes.

2011 Castell del Remei Oda Blanc, Costers del Segre 11.69
A sophisticated, elegant wine with powerful aromatics and balanced oak notes. Tropical fruit, coconut and vanilla on the nose. The palate is texturally excellent, with balanced acidity and great length. Ripe toasty notes linger long after the first sip.

2011 En Primeur Burgundy
If you are interested in registering an interest in an offer for 2011 en primeur Burgundies, please email us at info@dbyrne-finewines.co.uk and we will forward details on to you.