TastingRoom

Bath Chef v Chef Competition 2009

2009-02-18T14:43:00.006Z

When we were asked to join this annual competition as a joint sponsor then it was with a little bit of nostalgia that prompted us to agree. It was over twenty years ago that I attended the City of Bath College on a BTEC Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Operations - a long winded name for covering a bit of every aspect of catering but with no real expertise in any particular field. Halcyon days of youth, with not a care in the world and believing you know everything. I have always wondered where all my class mates of 1983 ended up and if any of them stayed in catering.

The Bath Chef v Chef competition is a very serious affair indeed -allowing young chefs to feature classical and innovative kitchen skills in their search for culinary excellence.The City of Bath and surrounding areas have a magnitude of fine restaurants and dining experiences to explore, where many students have embarked on their careers in the hospitality industry, often being the protégés for the next generation.

The judges include Gary Jones, Head Chef Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and Martin Blunos, Chef consultant, TV celebrity (fellow Bristol City supporter) - with the results being announced on Wednesday 18th February.

We hope and pray that a long line of accomplished chefs emerge through the City of Bath Catering College, providing new blood to an ever increasingly important industry for the local area.

MAD AS A HATTER - Costieres de Nimes 'Hippolyte'

2009-01-28T14:38:00.006Z

We always welcome enthusiasm for our wines, whether it be from one of our tasting groups, a regular customer or from a sommelier at one of the restaurants that we supply throughout the country. However when the clip from Gary Vaynerchuk was brought to our attention we could not question his energy, enthusiasm nor passion for wine - worth watching for entertainment value alone - Costieres de Nimes is a wine producing area that delivers real value for money for the quality of wine produced - and the domaine Chateau Grande Cassagne is featured as our 'Domaine of the Month' for February 2009. The wine that stirs the presenter of tv winelibrary to such estatic heights is the top wine from this estate ' Hippolyte' - well worth a visit.

A fAREWELL TO 2008

2009-01-14T12:24:00.002Z

A Farewell to 2008….

Looking back on a year that has presented many challenges through a weakening pound and the doom and gloom painted via the media should be a depressing focus. However 2008 for the Tasting Room proved to be a succesful year on many fronts – this is fast approaching our fifth year since our location in Larkhall. How time flies when you’re enjoying yourself!

The Tasting Room opened solely as a retail shop with the facility to taste before you purchased a single bottle or more. This is still very much the focus with a range of wines from France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand starting at £5.95, providing for the local community and beyond.

However the launch of a new internet site in 2006 provided a new and exciting opportunity of individual and group wine tastings – those of you who may have passed by on a Saturday afternoon and seen a bevy of beautiful girls enjoying such a tasting session may have questioned how such a job could be obtained. It is this area of wine tastings that has seen such a boom in the last year with parties booking tastings as celebrations, family get togethers, birthdays or corporate rewards for staff providing a fun night out with a difference.

The coming year will see these tastings develop through popular demand into the field of whisky – we will be holding a whisky tasting on a quarterly basis. The next scheduled tasting is on Thursday 12th February or alternatively the option is there to get a small group of like minded friends together and book yourself a whisky tasting of your own.

We hope that the coming year will be as succesful as the last in a time of economic uncertainty – our message is to enjoy a little of what you like with friends who will appreciate you and your wine.

Forthcoming Tasting Evenings:

February 2009
Thursday 12th -Whisky Tasting £25.00 a head

March 2009
Thursday 12th - Tasting 3, £40.00 a head
Thursday 11th - Tasting 2, £25.00 a head, /Members Free

Tasting Room Wine Membership – Yearly subscription £35.00

Saturday 4th October Tastings

2008-10-07T13:02:00.002Z

We had two tastings on Saturday afternoon. A family birthday and a hen party.

I looked after the birthday group and Ifor looked after the hens.

Although two of my lot had been before, they had (well, she had) er... forgotton enough of the episode to warrant a return visit, this time bringing her brother, celebrating his birthday, and her father, presumably to keep order.

We started with the Cuvee Prestige Champagne from Jeanneau-Robin. Unlike his other cuvees that we have, this one is made mostly with Chardonnay (80%) with the remainder being Pinot Noir. Soft, smooth and light in style and really delicious. We then tasted the crisp Muscadet de Sevre et Maine made from very old vines, then the slightly fuller Sauvignon Blanc of Menetou-Salon and then the Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaumes from Oliveira. The reds followed: a Beaune-Greves 1er Cru, an old vine Crozes-Hermitage (fabulous 100% Syrah), a Merlot based Lalande de Pomerol and finally a Rioja Reserva. We finished the tasting with the Sauternes.

Happy birthday, Simon, and thanks for celebrating the day with us, and also thanks for your kind email.

Ifor's group were accomodated in the shop, meanwhile, tasting their way through a range of French and Italian wines. Different variations of Sauvignon-Blanc (some being blends and some being 100%) showing a range of styles. The reds included the popular "Le Ponce" from Escaravailles, Le Papesse di Papiano and Chateau Croix de Rambeau. Many thanks for coming along for your tasting and good luck for the bride to be.

Cheers.

Charles

Busy Week for the Tasting Room

2008-09-30T16:06:00.005Z

Last week was great. We did four tastings, all very different, on top of a busy trade and retail week.

We had our second visit to the local Officers' Mess on Wednesday evening, a Members' Languedoc Tasting on Thursday evening and then two birthday party tastings, one on Friday and one on Saturday.

The photo shows the Saturday tasting celebrating Ruth's birthday.

Ifor looked after Ben's birthday party on the Friday. Very nice to welcome back some of his guests to the Tasting Room, as they had previously been for one of our Malt Whisky tastings. Charles was host to Ruth's party, again seeing a few familiar faces from a previous tasting given by Ifor. So many happy returns to you!

We at the Tasting Room have said on many occasions that we are blessed with the people who come here. They are always a really nice lot and our groups last week were certainly no exception, so thank you for choosing us to host your events.

Should you be thinking of coming to the Tasting Room to hold a tasting event and would like to know more, click on the link.

Until the next round, Cheers!

Saturday 6th September Tasting

2008-09-08T09:57:00.004Z

We've had a busy August with every week-end booked with tastings.

Will's been on a wine-search trip (more about that next month) and I've been on holiday, so it was mostly down to Ifor to give the tastings.

We received the following snippet in a recent letter regarding one of them:

"Just a quick note to say many thanks for our tasting on Saturday. We had a great time and the wine selection was brilliant, once again.

Ifor - your knowledge is second to none, and we're all getting better at finding wines we actually like!....."

Well, (my) holidays are over, the kids are back at school and it's still lousy weather so we were really pleased in welcoming Andrea and her friends (and Mum) to the Tasting Room last Saturday to brighten us all up.

Most of them had never been to a wine tasting before but it emerged that a few had been to visit vineyards either in this country or in France. This was a great mix of knowledge as it fired more questions and discussions during the afternoon. The rose from Grande Cassagne in the Costieres de Nimes tasted well, not too strawberryish and with a depth nearer to a light red. The Cotes du Rhone Villages Vieilles Vignes from Les Aphillanthes proved popular with its smooth rich and slightly spicy flavours and long-lasting warming finish. Gorgeous for this gloomy wet and windy weather. Some of the ladies even conceded that "dessert" wines can be really delicious after tasting our popular Jurancon from Clos Thou, especially with the blue cheese.

Andrea, thanks for choosing the Tasting Room for your celebration, I hope that your evening out after you left us was great fun. Good luck for the 27th September and way beyond!

Cheers

Charles

Busy Week of Tastings at the Tasting Room

2008-07-08T11:53:00.004Z

Last week we had five seperate tasting events which was fantastic.

Nick's group on Wednesday evening hosted by Will,

Douglas' party on Thursday evening hosted by Ifor,

A hen party of beautiful girls on Friday evening (see photo) hosted by Charles

and on Saturday we had two tastings:

Jon's dozen or so 'Southsea Irelanders' - a group of ex-university friends who still regularly meet up, either for long distance trips with wives and girlfriends or for week-ends away. This Level 3 event was here at the Tasting Room during the afternoon, hosted by Charles.

Ifor, meanwhile, disappeared into the countryside to give a tasting to Elaine's hen party at their rented cottage near Coalpit Heath.

Best regards and thanks to all those present at these tastings and congratulations and good luck to the forthcoming wedding parties.

Cheers

New Champagne Jeaunaux-Robin

2008-07-08T09:58:00.005Z

We've taken delivery of our new 'house' Champagne, which we are very excited about.

Jeaunaux-Robin is a family business based in Talus-St-Prix, a small village 20 miles south of Epernay. They are everything that we were looking for:-

1. We loved all the cuvees which taste wonderful

2. We liked their sound, traditional, winemaking techniques (viticultural and vinification)

3. We apprediated their terrific value for money. No easy thing in this day and age of poor exchange rates (for us anyway) and transport costs.

The range starts off with their Brut 'Carte Noire' (£17.95) - a blend of Pinot Meunier (70%) and Pinot Noir (30%) - a deliciously round style, dry but not that cheek-puckeringly dry style you sometimes find. Easy drinking. Their Brut 'Selection' (£19.50) has 10% Chardonnay in the blend. Again, due to the prominence of black grapes used, rich fruit flavours and slightly higher acidity. Commended by the Guide Hachette and the Gilbert & Gaillard Guide. Their Rose (£21.50), with the same blend as the 'Selection', is deliciously fruity.

These Champagnes are all available from the Tasting Room website or by visiting our shop or indeed by phoning us on 01225 463 392.

Cheers.

Mike Smith's Party 21st June 2008

2008-06-23T17:03:00.003Z

Last Saturday afternoon we hosted one of Mike's many stag events. They arrived straight from quad biking and a pub lunch.
We tasted a sparkling 'methode Traditionelle' from the Loire, a couple of whites, one rose and three reds. With flowing enthusiasm, they allowed themselves to taste some malt whiskies as well!
A good afternoon's tasting.
Best of luck Mike.

Lucy Pateman's Party 14th June 2008

2008-06-23T16:50:00.002Z

There was a great party atmosphere during the afternoon at the Tasting Room, when Lucy and her friends came for a tasting during her hen week-end.

The time raced by as we went through the list of wines including the old vine Muscadet, the full-on Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the delicate Sancerre Rose.

We wish her a long and happy married life.

Week-end Tastings 18/19 April

2008-04-22T11:57:00.003Z

We had two tastings last week-end. First one was on Friday evening for a group of 16 friends and the second, on Saturday evening, was for a dozen friends. I didn't remember my camera on Friday, so the image here is of the Saturday group.

Both sessions were driven by their enthusiasm and questioning, which is always very welcome and encouraged.

Louise Pate's Tasting - 12th April

2008-04-18T15:23:00.003Z

Louise and 10 other ladies came for a tasting last Saturday afternoon. They started with our Michel Weynand Blanc de Blancs Champagne, then Taittinger Champagne and then Prosecco. Each of them had their fans. Domaine des Escaravaille's Rose came next. The red came from Pierrette Cravero at Domaine Gabelas in St. Chinian. Her new vintage of Cuvee Juliette. This showed wonderful promise. Still pretty firm tannins, but good depth of fruit behind.

Despite a lot of them not having attended a tasting before, the group were extremely keen to learn and discuss which made it very enjoyable for us.

Good luck to Louise and also good luck to the expectant mums-to-be (who 'tasted' a few different soft drinks).

We received the following messages from Louise and Alison (the organiser):

"I just wanted to say a massive Thank You from myself and all the other girls who joined me for a wine tasting at the Tasting Rooms on Saturday 12th April. It was part of my hen weekend and really did make the weekend for us all! We thought it was excellent value for money, very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. You made us all feel very welcome and able to ask questions and pass comments on the different wines. I’m hoping we will be ordering some wine from you soon and am sure we will be back in the future – possibly with our partners next time! Thank you so much for spending such a long time with us on the day and talking us through each of the wines we tasted. The food was also delicious and there was so much of it! The girls who had non-alcoholic drinks said they all enjoyed the experience, the drinks were lovely and they felt very much part of the whole experience so thank you for including them throughout.

I’m sure we will all be recommending the Tasting Rooms to our friends and family and hope to see you in the future. "

"I just wanted to let you know that we had an amazing time at the Tasting Rooms. All the girls thoroughly enjoyed the wines and the talk you were giving to us. The afternoon was fabulous – great homemade food and wine and lots of interesting tips and information from yourself."

Thank you both for the kind words.

Bath University Wine Society Tasting

2008-04-09T16:23:00.004Z

Long established wine society booked us for a tasting on Tuesday 8th April. This was held at Bath University and was attended by about 20 members.

The tasting, consisting of nine wines, started with the sparking Ceravolo Brut Cuvee and two of the wines were tasted 'blind'. The star of the evening was the rich Pic St Loup, T'Em T'Em, from the rising star, Fabien Reboul of Chateau Valflaunes.

One of the wines shown blind was the Sancerre Rose 2007 from Paul Prieur. This proved very difficult to guess due to the amazingly expressive floral fruit (pinot noir) on the nose and palate.

Wines of interest were the white Bandol from Alain Pascal (see posting below), white Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine Cote de l'Ange and the biodynamically produced Cotes-du-Rhone from Daniel Boulle at Domaine les Aphillanthes.

Click here to learn more about the Tasting options available or to find out how we can tailor an event for your Company or wine society.

Robert Parker Praise for Red Bandol

2008-03-26T15:41:00.002Z

Alain Pascal, at Domaine du Gros'Nore, has received high praise (91 points) from the Wine Advocate for his 2004 red Bandol.

"Alain Pascal’s 2004 is a blend of 80% Mouvedre, 12% Grenache, 5% Cinsault and 2% Carignan and aged for 18 months in oak barrels. A very ripe, lush, prune-scented nose with creme de cassis, kirsch and fig. Has a hedonistic attraction to it. Rich with a lot of glycerine, very powerful and rather ostentatious but with good acidity cutting through thick layers of sweet black fruits. Persistent, luscious finish. Great length and a great, vivacious Bandol. "

His wine can be found here at the Tasting Room.

Cheers

Single Malt Whisky Tasting - 29th February 2008

2008-03-06T16:42:00.004Z

After getting a number of very keen enquiries from some of our Club members and regular customers, we held another Single Malt Whisky Tasting last Friday evening.

Well attended by a group of a couple of dozen malt whisky fans, some being beginners and some being well-informed keen enthusiasts.

We showed the following malts, mostly from the independent bottler, Signatory:

Yamazaki - 12yr old - Kansai District, Japan

Mortlach 1991 - 16yr old - Highland

Ardmore 1990 - 17yr old Cask Strength - Speyside

Glen Scotia 1992 - 14yr old - Cambeltown

Highland Park 1991 - 16yr old (un-chillfiltered) - Island

Caol Ila 1996 - 11yr old (un-chillfiltered) - Islay

The guests were welcomed with a glass of bubbly (a clean fresh sparkling Loire Sauvignon Blanc made in the same way as Champagne which prepared the palate very well) and a brief introduction before being invited to 'nose' the range of malts. The Yamazaki from Japan's oldest distillery near Kyoto (started in 1923) was first shown here some months ago and it has proved very popular for its slightly sweet light style.

The tasters on this occasion were looking for something more intense, though. The Mortlach, where William Grant worked as a clerk before building Glenfiddich nearby and Glen Scotia, one of the few remaining distilleries from the Kintyre Peninsula were both marked in similar fashion; good all-rounders with some very keen but the next three certainly stole the show.

The Ardmore 1990 Cask Strength - A massive, full-flavoured, intense, smoky malt from South eastern Speyside that some found was better without water even at 59.5%alc.

Highland Park, Scotlands most northerly distillery from Orkney, with its wonderful complex flavours of heather and peat was unanimously popular. The favourite malt shown at the tasting had to be the fabulous Caol Ila. This was the 46%alc un-chillfiltered version (Most whiskies sold will have been through this chillfiltering process which by stripping out some fatty acids allows the liquid to be chilled or added to ice without it going cloudy. Therefore the somewhat heavy term 'un-chillfiltered' means that it is more natural, having been through fewer processes, and will turn hazy or cloudy when very cold.) This clean peated pure malt was pretty well everyone's favourite.

Our whiskies can be found on the Whisky section of the Tasting Room website or by coming in to visit us. We've still got a little left in the bottles.

Cheers!

Charles

O’Leary Walker Tasting

2008-01-12T16:43:00.000Z

We have the privilege of welcoming David O’Leary from the renowned Australian wine producer O’Leary Walker – based at Leasingham in the Clare Valley - this is a wonderful opportunity to meet one of the most progressive winemakers to appear out of Oz.

David graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1980. He spent a year in Tasmania working for Heemskerk Wines before joining Chateau Reynella in 1981. He was appointed group red winemaker for Hardy's in 1990 and held that role until joining Mildara Blass in 1994.
At Mildara Blass, he held senior winemaking roles at Quelltaller Estate in the Clare Valley where he launched Annies Lane and at Mildara's Coonawarra winery. During his time with Hardy's and Mildara Blass, he also made wine in France and California.

David has achieved considerable in his twenty years of making wine. A Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1988 and twice International Red Winemaker of The Year (1992 and 1994) sit proudly along with numerous other trophies and gold medals. David's goals have never changed; he simply wants to make great wine.

We currently list a number of wines from their portfolio but will be showing a more extensive range to taste on the evening of Friday 8th, commencing at 5pm until 7.30pm. This tasting is free for members but if you are interested in meeting the winemaker and tasting from his excellent range then please contact us to book a place.

Cheers!!

Will

Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair Top Ten

2007-11-20T16:49:00.000Z

We've just returned from spending 5 busy days in London. We had the Bar Feature at this year's Country Living Magazine's Christmas Fair.

One word would describe it: MANIC

We've done the maths and here, in no particular order, are the gifts that were the 10 most popular from our stand at the show.

(Click on any link to go to the product in question on our website which opens on a new page):

Kingston Black - Somerset Cider Apple Brandy Aperitif £9.00
Glen Elgin - Cask Strength Single Malt Speyside Whisky 1991 £47.00
Bunnahabhain - Cask Strength Single Malt Islay Whisky 1997 £45.00
Caol Ila - Chill filtered Single Malt Islay Whisky 1996 £31.50
Armagnac 1988 - Chateau de Millet 70cl £32.00
Armagnac 1974 - Chateau de Millet 70cl £56.00
Edradour 10 year Old - Single Malt Whisky £32.50
Edradour Cream Liqueur - Single Malt Whisky and Cream Liqueur £13.50
Friar's Choice - Brandy based liqueur with honey and spices £17.95
Blanche d'Armagnac - Newly launched spirit from Ch. de Millet £24.50

I hope that this list easies your worries of what you should give them!

Cheers!

Big Day Saturday 3rd November

2007-11-08T16:47:00.000Z

Saturday was a big day for us.

Three events to host at the shop. First Will looked after Philip Allen and friends for a wine tasting in the early afternoon and then Charles looked after Jane Wilkins and her group of hens (another group of local ladies)(I rashly agreed to wear one of their tiaras) which was fun but a bit rushed and finally Ifor hosted a regular customer's birthday party in the evening.

So..... long day but all went well. Phew.

Cheers!

Helen Jacob's Hen Party Tasting 2nd November

2007-11-08T16:25:00.000Z

Last Friday, Helen the bride-to-be and eleven of her friends and family joined us for a Hen Party Wine Tasting. All local ladies, which was very nice as it was a good opportunity to introduce ourselves to some more people around Bath.

The white that stood out was our new Italian called Colbadia from Cardeto. This is a delicious Umbrian answer to the UK's love affair with Pinot Grigio. Umbria's own Orvieto is lovely but it is probably perceived as a bit old fashioned, so Colbadia was born. 75% Procanico (their name for Trebbiano and what the French call Ugni Blanc) and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Result is fresh, zingy and very very drinkable.

Suddenly their taxis arrived and they departed. The evening had flown by.

We wish Helen all the best for the future.

Cheers!

Country Living Christmas Fair

2007-11-08T15:44:00.000Z

Next week we're piling into a large van and going up to London for 5 days. We'll be exhibiting at the Country Living Christmas Fair.

We're not taking wine however, BUT we are taking:

Vintage Armagnac

La Blanche d’Armagnac

Malt Whiskies

Mead Liqueur

Sloe Liqueur

Port

Cognac

Grappa

So come and see us. We'll be the Bar Feature in the Pavilion.

Cheers!

Gift Brochure Out Now!

2007-11-06T18:30:00.000Z

Our Gift Brochure has arrived from the printers and is available in hard copy if you come into the shop or as a downloadable PDF from our website. It contains some excellent ideas for presents, whether they might be for work colleagues, favourite customers, Auntie Maggie, mad cousin Keith or in fact anybody who might enjoy some alcohol.

We can send the goods out packed in wooden boxes or cardboard packages direct to the recipient or to any address on the UK mainland or indeed they can be collected from the shop.

You can download the Brochure and its all-important accompanying Order Form, which includes the prices, from the website by clicking here.

Cheers

Popham & Woodland Tasting 27 October

2007-11-06T18:04:00.000Z

Late Saturday afternoon saw two couples arrive for a tasting, bringing the news that Bath had beaten Leicester, so the mood was set for a good time.

We tasted a range of wines from various countries and had a very enjoyable few hours.

Cheers

Our Annual Woods Dinner 26th October

2007-11-05T17:41:00.000Z

We were really pleased to fill Woods Restaurant's main dining room for our annual Grower's Dinner. 65 people sat down to a splendid 4 course meal accompanied by wines from the Southwest of France. Our guest, Alfonso Calderon, flew in for the event from his base near Pau. He represents several vineyards including Domaine de Bordes (Cotes de Gascogne), Clos Thou (Jurancon), Chateau Bovila (Cahors) and Chateau de Millet (Armagnac). All of which were poured during the evening. It was a really enjoyable affair. Huge thanks must go to David Price at Woods and his team who served us brilliantly throughout as well as looking after some other guests in their other room - no mean feat.

We tripped out, happily, at about 1am (some of us literally, I gather) with the hard core (Will and his brother, Tom) entertaining our guest until much later. Following the expected (and delivered) comments about the shortcomings of French international rugby and the relative talents of one Laporte, we took Alfonso to see Bath play Leicester the next day. Nursing a slight 'gueule-de-bois', he was able to see Bath thrash the visitors. Happy days!

Cheers!

Toni's Hen Party

2007-10-08T11:18:00.000Z

On Saturday 6th October we had two games of International rugby AND twenty or so beautiful ladies to entertain! No wonder I have to beat off hopeful applicants for my job with a stick.

Out of the nine wines we tasted during the afternoon, their favourites seemed to be Weynand's Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Blue Cutting Road Chardonnay/Viognier from O'Leary Walker, Julienas from Gry-Sablon, Chateau Croix de Rambeau from St. Emilion and Joe Ceravolo's Sangiovese.

I hope that they enjoyed it and I hope the rest of their week-end in Bath went well. Good luck to Toni and her man on the 19th.

A fun tasting with a great crowd, England actually playing as a team and winning and the All Blacks losing to the French. Result!

I've put two images of the group as I couldn't decide which one was best.

Cheers

Wedding Parents' Tasting

2007-10-08T11:03:00.000Z

On the 27th September we did a tasting for two couples. They were the parents of some newly-weds and it was a present to both sets of parents, thanking them for the wedding. What a great idea! They were given a stay at the Queensberry Hotel, a visit to the Bath Spa centre for the two mums and a city tour for the dads and then an evening tasting with us. Wasn't that a really nice thing to arrange?
We don't normally do events for four people as we think that you need a few more to maintain a good atmosphere, but this was the exception. Two lovely couples, the mums still almost blushing with pleasure over the thought that they had spent some of the afternoon sharing a bath with Tom Conti.
The second after their departure I remembered my camera. Damn.
Their families are planning to get together for a holiday in France next year and our offer of introducing them to some of our winegrowers still stands.
Cheers

Officers' Mess Tasting

2007-10-08T10:49:00.000Z

On the 20th September, we were invited to a nearby military base to do a tasting evening at their Officers' Mess. There was a great turnout and the Mess had provided some excellent British cheeses. Ifor and I poured and talked for a few hours.
We all seemed to enjoy the evening and our thanks to Keith and the President of the Mess Committee for inviting us.
If you want to organise a tasting event for your club/family gathering/business click here to find out how easy it is to arrange
Cheers

Monkton Combe School Anniversary Fair

2007-10-08T10:03:00.000Z

After an aborted date at the end of July due to the continuous rain, the Anniversary Fair went ahead on a fantastically hot Saturday 15th September in the afternoon. Our tent overlooked the Midford valley which must be one of the most beautiful countrysides around.

This was a great opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to a lot of new people. We acted more as a bar than a tutored tasting, but it was a successful day nevertheless.

One of the organised events was quite special: Two donkeys, owned by some neighbours, were put in a fenced off area which had been marked in a grid system with white paint. Each square had its own reference, A2, C4 etc. The idea was that one had to guess which square one of the donkeys did his/her business in. You've got to agree that you don't get the opportunity of taking part in this kind of skilled game very often.

Anyway, happily with hindsight, we missed the result!

We finished the day with a few good orders. Our Menetou-Salon from Pierre Jacolin as did the Beaujolais-Villages from Domaine de Gry-Sablon were particularly popular.

Many thanks to Megan Witty for asking us to the event.

Cheers

Woods Wine Dinner

2007-09-03T17:10:00.000Z

We will be hosting our Annual Dinner at Woods Restaurant
on Friday 26th October
Once again we are using our excellent relationship with David Price of Woods Restaurant and are able to offer a four course dinner (with pre dinner drinks on arrival). This time we will be featuring a selection of wines from our list that will be chosen from the vineyards of the South-West of France.

We’re extremely pleased that our friend, Mr Alfonso Calderon, who represents our South West France vineyards, will be the guest of honour.

Those of you who attended the Highfield New Zealand dinner last year will be able to testify on the excellent value for money that this offers.

We’ve moved it to a Friday evening as well due to popular demand.

We have to restrict numbers for this event, so if you are interested please do not delay in contacting us to avoid disappointment.

Four-course Dinner with wine per course and complimentary glass of Floc de Gascogne sparkling cocktail on arrival.

£42.50 per head

(We have about 50 people booked already, so contact us quickly if you want to reserve your place.)

Cheers

Saturday 21st July Tastings

2007-07-31T11:30:00.000Z

We had two booked tastings for the day, both hen parties. The first group arrived at about midday and judging by the noise, Ifor obviously kept them entertained.

The next group, coming down from the midlands, had a helluva journey due to the flooding enroute. They managed to arrive in the city but got snarled up in the traffic. After lots of phone conversations back and forth, they had to cancel which was very sad but understandable. We hope that they were able to enjoy their evening in Bath despite the traumas getting here.

A piece of advice learned from their experience is that if you plan on staying at a place in the centre of town, find out where you can park your vehicles (if anywhere) as Bath on a saturday gets pretty full.

Cheers

Ifor and Cash in the Attic

2007-07-13T11:12:00.000Z

I mentioned a few weeks back that Ifor had been filmed during a tasting for the popular Cash in the Attic programme.

It is being aired on Thursday 19th July on BBCOne at 11.30 (am). We are so excited that we'll be bringing in a telly to watch it.

Comments and fan reviews can be posted here
or by phone on 01225 463 392

Cheers!

VINEXPO - Will's trip - June 2007

2007-06-25T14:27:00.000Z

Will has just got back from his trip to France. He spent 2 days at VINEXPO, the major annual wine trade fair in Bordeaux. This was a convenient opportunity to meet up with some of our existing winemakers:

Gilles Ferran from Domaine des Escaravailles in the Rhone, Pierre Jacolin from his domaine near Menetou-Salon and also Jean-Louis Trocard from Bordeaux to name a few. Jean-Louis put on a fantastic boat trip with dinner on board for fifty guests. A three hour trip which coincided with an electrical storm over the city. Jean-Louis had just lost about 30% of his vine crop in one of his vineyards from a storm a few days before, so while Will was enjoying the hospitality, J-L was looking a bit anxious. He did tell us that the reason why his son, Benoit, was looking rather pleased, however, was that his (Benoit's) property, Clos Dubreuil, had just been named in the top 3 domains in a St. Emilion tasting at VINEXPO.

While in Bordeaux, Will carried out a rare task given to him by one of our customers. The lady had a 1948 bottle of the top estate Chateau Yquem which was starting to leak. She wanted us to sell it but we advised her to get the problematic cork seen to first. Will duly turned up at the famous property where, after they had grandly declared it to be authentic, it was recorked.

Leaving Bordeaux and travelling south, Will next visited Clos Thou at Jurancon (near Pau), home of our fabulous moelleux, then Domaine de Bordes and finally Chateau Millet, our Armagnac producer. Here he was treated to a great evening which went on well into the night. Early next morning, he was forced to rise as he had to move his car to allow the mobile bottling articulated lorry to get in.

A good trip - a few new wines chosen and friendships re-kindled.

Cheers!

Post-Treasure Hunt Tasting

2007-06-15T11:10:00.000Z

Yesterday afternoon a group, from a very well known national telecomms company, arrived for a tasting after having spent the earlier part of the day in two teams racing around Bath finding answers to questions in a treasure hunt team-building exercise. The men (miraculously) won although there is some dispute over the scoring process.

French Chardonnay, some Sauvignon Blanc, a Rioja, some Australian and our wine from Pic Saint Loup featured with, again, the Cabernet/Merlot Blue Cutting Road from O'Leary Walker getting the most nods of approval. Certainly no waresh (pronounced wiersh) wine there!

Tastings always bring surprises - People who don't normally drink a particular grape/style/colour find that there are always exceptions and it's these discoveries that are fun.

Regards and thanks to Jean and her group for the visit.

Cheers!

Family Gathering & Tasting

2007-06-11T16:58:00.000Z

Last Saturday we had a great time with a family celebrating a birthday. A couple of generations and some appendages spent the evening here tasting a range of wines and of course Will's mum's tapenade and terrine. A few of the guests had been before so we chose a different lot to taste. The star, I think, was the O'Leary Walker Blue Cutting Road Cabernet/Merlot. I served this out of the fridge (it was a hot sticky day) and it was big, jammy and gorgeous.

Happy Birthday wishes again to the Dad and thanks for celebrating it here.

Cheers!

Ifor the TV Star

2007-06-11T16:52:00.000Z

While we were skiving down at the Bath and West Show, Ifor was slaving away back at the shop being filmed for an episode of Cash in the Attic. No, he was not the subject of the week but the couple being filmed wanted to do a little wine tasting, so where better than at the Tasting Room?

For what will probably be a segment lasting only one minute, Ifor did his stuff for about 4 hours. When he's famous, I hope that he will still talk to us.

Cheers!

Royal Bath and West Show

2007-06-11T16:17:00.000Z

After glorious weather while we were setting up our stall at the Bath and West Show, we arrived (soon after dawn broke) the next morning feeling it was more like an early February day. Cold and very wet. Great start. We were in a group of stalls under the "Best of Bath and Northeast Somerset" umbrella(!) next door to the main arena. We were sandwiched between the Bath Soft Cheese stall and Bath Aqua Glass, so great neighbours.

We took malt whiskies, Armagnacs, Cognacs, Somerset Apple Brandy and several other lines rather than wine this year, and we are very glad we did.

OK the weather was lousy the first day but it got better and better. We had a great time. We had various malts, some of them cask strength, open for tasting and judging by the level of sales, they obviously went down very well.

To sum up; a great show this year, the weather not stopping the crowds and very pleased with the results. We even enjoyed the mad American human cannonball!

By the way, we are having a Malt Whisky tasting at the end of this month - 28th June. Ring to book.

Cheers

Saturday 26th May - A full day

2007-05-26T20:13:00.000Z

Three tastings today which kept all of us happily busy. Ifor looked after a birthday group in the afternoon which, judging by the noise from the lower room, seemed to go very well.

I looked after seven lovely ladies in the main room (what a difficult job this is) and the hours whizzed by. They came here from a morning being pampered at the Spa and they set off from here for a full evening in town. Sauvignons, Cabernets, Merlots, Rioja and the more obscure Jurancon all featured.

Will then guided a party of ladies during the evening through a range of sparkling wines - Prosecco, Cremant de Loire, Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Rose, Vintage and Grand Marque Champagne. This was a first (and a special request) and one that we hope to do again.

So a busy day at the Tasting Room. Very enjoyable for us and we hope for our guests.

Cheers!

Corporate Whisky Tasting

2007-05-26T19:42:00.000Z

A week or so ago, Will went out to a nearby country house hotel to give a whisky tasting to a large corporate group as part of their weekend 'get-together'. He led them through a range of malts from the different regions - Lowland, Speyside, Highland and Islay - showing a wide range of flavours and aromas. Grouping these whiskies in taste 'clusters', makes it easier to identify the styles that people like from the sweet honey end to the medicinal peatiness of the Islays. Some of them were un-chillfiltered (chillfiltering being the widely used process which results in the whisky not clouding when ice is added) so showing a more authentic flavour and some were cask strength and some were from now sadly closed distilleries. Bladnoch 1992, Banff 1980, Glen Elgin 1991, Edradour 1995 (Scotland's smallest distillery) and Bunnahabhain 1997 were tasted with Glen Elgin being the star of the show. It's 59.8% so a certain respect was duly shown! Will treated them to some 15 year old Somerset Cider Brandy at the end of the tasting just to reassure them that we could make fantastic spirit down here in the southwest.

It seemed to go reasonably well(!) so we are holding our first general Whisky Tasting evening on the 28th June at the Tasting Rooms. Spaces are limited and tickets are available at £25 per head.

If you can't wait that long, we'll be at the Bath and West Show next week with a few.

Cheers!

Great Birthday Surprise

2007-05-26T19:31:00.000Z

The other morning, a man woke up on his birthday at home in Edinburgh. He was taken to the airport and flown down here. He still looked bemused when they arrived on our doorstep for a afternoon tasting organised by his friends. What a great idea! Hopefully he enjoyed the experience. Three or so hours later, when they left on their next leg of the surprise week-end, his expression had certainly changed. Happy birthday again from us here.

More Feedback Received

2007-05-26T19:22:00.000Z

We received this email the other day, referring to a tasting we did last week-end (Saturday 19th May), which really pleased us (especially Ifor!)

"....I just wanted to write and thank Ivor for a wonderful wine tasting afternoon on Saturday. It was really interesting and really good fun and was a talking point for the rest of the weekend. Everyone thinks Ivor is lovely, especially since he then kindly dropped off the girls swimming costumes which they had left behind after our spa! and everyone now thinks I'm wonderful for having organised it, so huge thumbs up! I will definitely recommend you and hope to come back at some point for another one...just have to think up an event...!......."

Booking a tasting is easy. Give us a ring or email us with your thoughts.

Cheers!

Teaching Department Tasting

2007-05-21T10:58:00.000Z

Last Friday, a small group of teachers, from the same department, came for a tasting as part of their week-end in Bath. We've awarded them top marks for their behaviour and attention in class and their head's marking technique was truly professional. I hope that they enjoyed their time with us and also the Bath Spa visit on Saturday.

Tasting on the 5th May

2007-05-10T13:07:00.000Z

We had an excellent group of ladies here for a tasting on the 5th. They tasted a range of 9 wines with some interesting results. We wish Clare all the very best this Saturday (I think it is this Saturday).

Last Week's Hen Party Tasting

2007-05-05T10:23:00.000Z

Last weekend we had a great tasting for 18 ladies. Rosie and her party were staying at the nearby Old Mill hotel and were visiting Bath from all over the country. Most of the group were new to wine tasting and were guided through the session by Charles, which lasted for about three and a bit happy hours. We wish Rosie the best of luck for the future.

Customers' Comments on Tastings

2007-04-17T15:47:00.000Z

Here are a few comments we've recently received about our tastings:
Firstly from a small private tasting a few weeks ago:

"A little late but we would all like to thank you for the wine tasting session you held for us on Sat 24/3/07. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have talked about it many times since. Just this weekend we have eaten out twice with friends and our enthusiasm of the recollection has resulted in your name being passed on. We would not hesitate in recommending or taking part in future tastings."

Then the following from a couple who came to a recent £40 a head tasting:

"I just wanted to write and thank you for an excellent evening yesterday (Thurs 29th). We didn’t really know what to expect from a tasting session, but were pleasantly surprised by how relaxed and informal it was and how it was pitched at just the right level whatever knowledge one had. We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely food, the atmosphere and all the information we were given. Oh yes, and we sampled some pretty good wines too! Once again, thank you for a very enjoyable time. Today’s slightly fuzzy head is more bearable knowing we had a good time getting it!"

Then this one from a great Hen Party tasting a few days ago:

"I would like to thank you all for getting Kirsty's Hen Weekend off to a very enjoyable start on Friday evening! It was fantastic to learn so much more about wine and it really got us all talking! Everyone had a FABULOUS time and it really was the perfect kick start to our party. Can you please pass on our appreciation to everyone involved. Many, many thanks once again!"

Visit our tastings page for details on how easy it is to arrange a tasting.

Cheers

Hen Party Culture

2007-04-05T12:49:00.001Z

Hen Parties

A couple of years ago, if anybody had thought of mentioning that we, as a wine importing business, would be soon thriving on the hen party circuit, we would have laughed and perhaps shuddered a little.
Hen parties don’t do wine tasting, do they? Hen parties drink, yes, get rowdy and all the rest of it, surely. A ‘veiled’ excuse, if you excuse the pun, for a binge session and woe betide your soft furnishings and ornaments in your establishment.
Well, that is what we thought then. We had experienced hen (and stag) parties in the restaurant business and had never thought of welcoming ‘that’ side of the wedding trade since building up the wine business.

So what’s changed? Is the hen party culture getting cultured? Now, in early 2007, a large part of our trade is providing wine tasting sessions to hen (and stag, but mostly hen) parties and it seems to be on the increase. The great thing is that everyone enjoys the experience AND so do we!
The majority of these parties come to us as part of their week-end. We are lucky in that we are based on the outskirts of one of the most beautiful cities in England, so it is on the destination-of-choice map and has been for a long time. There is, it’s true, a certain romance in the air as you walk around Bath. I put it down to, partly at any rate, the local stone. In the sunshine, whatever season, the stone has a beautiful hue to it. So is it that Bath, with its reputation for being cultural, pretty and romantic, is providing the perfect backdrop for this new breed of hen week-ends?

We tend to hear, via the media, of just the ‘ladette’ end of the market, which never fails to send a pretty gloomy message. But, if our numbers are anything to go by, there is a huge increase of this ‘anything but ladette’ market. Certainly not old fashioned, but a new breed of hens with just a nod towards the traditional.

There is drinking involved for these new hens, yes, but with a little pleasurable work as well. They taste, after being welcomed with something sparkling, a range of wines, interspersed with cold meats, olives and cheese. They make notes regarding the wines’ colour, flavour, acidity, length and anything else they care to mention. There’s no pressure to buy, although a lot do (even to the point of ordering their wedding wines and changing their original choices).

So now we are thrilled to welcome, and be associated with, the hen party circuit where we can provide alcohol without it meaning embarrassing moments, illness and even recriminations before they’ve flown the coup.

Information on our tastings is available from our website by clicking here

2007-03-30T15:15:00.000Z

O'Leary Walker Wines - Clare Valley, South Australia

We are really pleased to be finally able to introduce our customers to these winemakers' talents. When we initially found them, all their wines were snapped up by their home market, but with the growth and development of their business, we are now able to offer these wonderful wines over here.

David O'Leary and Nick Walker both have a love of winemaking, a desire to create something exceptional and a strong affinity with the Australian wine industry.
After working for large companies for twenty years and amassing over 300 gold medals and 60 trophies (including a Jimmy Watson and twice International Red Wine Maker of the Year), David and Nick had achieved just about everything that a winemaker could.
A new challenge beckoned and David and Nick's belief in their winemaking skills and their confidence in the fruit and the vineyards available to them was the catalyst for them to establish their own venture based in South Australia's picturesque Clare Valley.
They're based at Leasingham, just south of Watervale, but they do not limit themselves to producing just Clare Valley wines. They also source fruit from other premium grape growing districts in South Australia such as Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley.
O'Leary Walker is a relatively new winery on the scene which has rapidly gained a reputation for producing award winning regional wines.

Click here to visit their page on our site: O'Leary Walker Wines

Shop Top Sellers

2007-03-20T13:04:00.000Z

As usual a very mixed range of wines. The Rose Champagne sneaked into the list due, no doubt, to the local romantics!
So in no particular order, here are the wines that were the 10 most popular from the shop. (Click on the link to go to the wine in question which opens on a new page and close page to return here):

Pic St Loup - Ch. de Valflaunes - Esperance. Red £8.95
Cotes du Rhone - Dom. de Boissan - Princes d'Orange. Red £6.95
St. Chinian - Dom de Gabelas - Tradition. Red £5.95
Bandol - Dom Gros Nore - Rouge 2000 £14.95
St. Emilion, Bordeaux - Ch. Franc La Rose Grand Cru Red £14.95
Mentou Salon, Loire - Dom. Pierre Jacolin White £8.95
Jurancon - Dom. Clos Thou - Cuvee Julie (sweet) White £8.95 (50cl)
Champagne - Michel Weynand Premier Cru Rose £19.50
Macon Villages - - Domaine Auvigue - Le Moulin du Pont White £6.95
Mixed case of 6 - from our "6 for £36" bucket (normal price £41.70) £36

Cheers!

Domaine du Gros' Nore - Brilliant Bandol

2007-03-20T12:32:00.000Z

Domaine du Gros‘ Noré, Bandol
Alain Pascal

Although it has been said that Bandol produces the most serious red and rosé wines in Provence, it is still relatively unknown.

Domaine du Gros‘ Noré is situated on the outskirts of the picturesque Provençal hilltop village of La Cadière d’Azur between Marseille and Toulon, the prime Var region, set back from the hustle of the coast.
Owner Alain Pascal has 16 hectares of fairly old (averaging about 30 years old) vines. His first official vintage was released in 1997.
Prior to this, Alain’s father, Honoré, (his name is shortened to ‘Noré to give the name of the domaine as Gros‘ Noré meaning Big Honoré) worked the vineyards but never made his own wine. Instead he sold the grapes to the leading Bandol producer, Chateau de Pibarnon, while his son Alain, who has always been passionate about wine, when he wasn’t boxing, produced micro-cuvées of wines for his own interest.
Mourvèdre is the predominant grape: an exciting grape variety when it is grown in climates that are warm enough for it to ripen fully, capable of producing meaty, spicy reds, often with a slightly 'animal' nature.
As well as Mourvèdre (80%), the Gros‘ Noré red also has a little Cinsault (15%) and old vine Carignan (5%). All harvested by hand. It is aged for 18 months in 60 hl wooden barrels (foudres). Only one cuvée of red wine is produced, and it is bottled without fining or filtration. This well balanced wine can be cellared for up to ten years or equally enjoyed now and has been listed in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Most Exciting Wines.
The rare white wine is made from Clairette (70%) and Ugni Blanc (30%), while the delicate but aromatic rosé is from Mourvèdre (40%), Grenache (20%) and Cinsault (40%).
Overall, production is about 60,000 bottles, of which 75% of this is red, 20% rosé and just 5% white.This is a domaine that has captured our hearts with the stunning quality of wine, warmth of welcome and beautiful location. They also have reception and dining rooms for hire and when picking a place to celebrate my 40th birthday this was an obvious choice and many thanks must go to Alain Pascal for a wonderful celebratory meal second to none in location and quality of sea food!!

Chateau de Valflaunes - Top Pic St Loup wine

2007-03-20T11:45:00.000Z

Château de Valflaunès

Pic Saint-Loup - Fabien Reboul

Decanter magazine described talented Fabien Reboul as 'one of a new generation of stars in Pic St Loup', a northern area of Languedoc that is blessed with a wild beauty that carries through to its wines.
Reboul accumulated his wine-making experience through his extensive travels through Côtes du Rhône, Burgundy (Corton Charlamagne), Oregon and the Dry River winery in New Zealand, before returning to his native village, Valflaunès due north of Montpellier, to make his first wine in 1998.

We had to wait for twelve months to get our hands on this tranche of wines, his Espérance cuvée (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan), and then waited a further eight months to get the top cuvées (T'EM T'EM, Syrah and Grenache and Un peu de Toi, Syrah and Carignan), which is made in such small quantities that the majority is snapped up by the home market well before it is even in barrel. But it was certainly worth waiting for! (A word of advice for anyone visiting the Domaine - beware the neighbour's dogs!)

Craggy and remote Pic St-Loup, in the north of the Côteaux du Languedoc region, is where Château de Valflaunès has about 13ha (32 acres) of vines; half of those being syrah. Fabien Reboul is totally dedicated to his art of producing smooth, richly concentrated and fruity red wines and he strives to be the best. His obvious passion in all things vinous and his friendly welcoming nature makes him a charismatic man and we are delighted to have his wines on our list.

Espérance is consistently at the top of our best sellers in our shop in Larkhall.