Amazingly, it is brilliant and actually sunny right here in Solihull proper now! Snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses are all beginning to flower. It may nearly be spring time. Is not there a spot, far, far-off, that is well-known for this explicit time of 12 months? Sure, you might be crossing the channel to France, to Paris, immersing your self in French tradition; wining and eating in one of the best Michelin-starred eating places (Chateau Palmer, 2009, anybody?), or discovering a comfortable, tucked away bistro with an eclectic wine listing that solely the locals frequent, and even having a picnic by the River Seine with a bottle of ‘Gold Medal’ 2017 Bastide ‘Les Figues’ Cotes du Rhone that you just picked up within the quaint wine store over the street out of your lodge, stopping alongside the best way on the boulangerie for baguettes, jambon and fromage (that is a cheese and ham sandwich to us Brits!) and simply letting the sights and sounds wash over you whilst you ponder going again for one more bottle… as a result of that final chunk of cheese additionally wants a drop of crimson wine to actually hit the spot.
On most weekend metropolis breaks, or noticeably in case you’re taking a full week’s vacation, the native wines, consumed in situ, actually do appear to style higher than at dwelling. However what if you cannot selected to leap on a aircraft (or prepare) for that final minute, discount, overseas go to? What do you do if it’s a must to keep within the UK? Easy! Come to Connolly’s and put collectively a range from round 300 scrumptious wines within the “French Assortment” that’ll completely improve your enjoyment of the subsequent French-inspired meal you rigorously put together in your kitchen at dwelling. Now, the place’s that previous, effectively used cookery e-book? Too ‘final century’ to make use of an actual e-book, however you continue to want a recipe concept? Whip out the sensible telephone and click on on the most recent ‘app’ and watch your favorite ‘foodie’ video on YouTube carried out by the ‘hippest’ chef utilizing all of the up-to-the-minute, ‘on pattern’ culinary elements and strategies. What did you do earlier than the web? Possibly, you’ll be able to’t be bothered to even cook dinner in any respect? There’s all the time Deliveroo to the rescue! Have telephone, have immediate meals and (Connolly’s) wines at your fingertips.
As you will be studying this weblog on-line, you could be mistaken in the concept outlets aren’t price visiting? Nothing might be farther from the reality! Wine is all a few ‘hands-on’ expertise. The look of the label, the texture of the bottle, extracting the cork (even twisting off the screwcap), all contribute to the enchantment of wine. It is also a mixture of the senses; sight, scent and style, whenever you drink some, however it’s essential to selected it first. You are allowed to ask questions in a store, to truly communicate to somebody who additionally loves wine as a lot as you. You’ll be able to ask for recommendation, for various ideas, you’ll be able to usually have tastings… you’ll be able to’t try this on a web site! A ‘digital actuality’ tasting? That will be one thing to realize. Might it ever be higher than the true factor? So, having made it into one in every of our outlets, cornered the pleasant assistant, you’ll be able to then spend so long as you want discussing the deserves of getting the Loire, ‘Petit Bourgeois’ Sauvignon Blanc with a Chavignol goat’s cheese salad (my supreme!), or whether or not the langoustines in lemon and pepper butter works finest with Bois Joly’s Muscadet Sur Lie, or with the brand new, 2018 classic of the Languedoc, La Serre Picpoul de Pinet. I do know, an nearly unimaginable choice to make, however we’re right here that can assist you at Connolly’s. The right selection, after all, is to have each wines, in order that you do not run out throughout the meal and, in case you are persuaded of some great benefits of buying 3 or 6 bottles, you will get an additional particular worth between March and Might on an enormous vary of French wines.
By the best way, in case you want a true-life “French Connection” expertise (a la Marseille), attempt the native bouillabaisse with some award successful La Suffrene Bandol rosé. Simply be careful for le poisson d’avril in case you’re there on 1st April. It is a fishy custom.
We do not thoughts in case you resolve to buy on-line with us, or make a private go to to browse in-store, however a very powerful and ‘life-changing’ consideration is to purchase your wine at Connolly’s!
Make the reference to the “French Assortment” this spring. Paris is nice, too…
The French Assortment
Our favorite half dozen… how are you going to simply decide six from the entire of France?
Chateau Palmer (Margaux, Bordeaux)
One of the vital famend wines on this planet!
It is the way you all the time imagined a “fairytale” French chateau ought to look. Palmer has all of it.
Technically, solely a “Third Development” or, in French, a “Troisieme Grand Cru Classé”, from the unique Bordeaux classification of 1855 however, popularity sensible, a few of the most acclaimed bottles from the good vintages have rivalled the standard of the “First Growths” (comparable to neighbouring Chateau Margaux, itself), however the pricing, though costly, is significantly much less. Nice worth!
Unusually, for a wine from the Médoc, Palmer has a better than regular proportion of Merlot in its make-up. Most wines originating from the “Left Financial institution” are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon however, do not be alarmed, the 2009 Palmer is a mix (!) of three varieties: 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and seven% Petit Verdot. It is a “very great factor”. A mix is in no way dangerous, in actual fact, you get larger complexity of flavours. Over a substantial time frame the grapes utilized in Bordeaux have been seen to be essentially the most suited to the realm and have not simply been planted as a result of the chateau has to have a “crimson” in its portfolio. Admittedly, you do not get a lot experimentation in kinds in such a traditional area, however what you do get (at this stage) is usually sensible wine!
This classic of Palmer is extremely concentrated in color, opulent in texture and, until you are still a teen, will in all probability out stay you.
Flavours and aromas embody: Black fruits (black cherry/cassis/blackberry jam), pencil lead, cedar wooden, liquorice spice, floral notes, chocolate, espresso, caramel and truffles.
Hold it easy and pair a bottle of Palmer with a roast leg of lamb alongside creamy potatoes.
Domaine de la Bastide “Les Figues” Cotes du Rhone
The domaine, initially based in 1989 by Bernard Boyer has, since 2008, been run by his son, Vincent, who’s now the winemaker. The vineyards are situated within the commune of Visan, north-east of each Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Stylistically, the wines at Bastide use the same collection of grape varieties to these extra well-known villages. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan for the reds and rosé. Viognier, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc for the whites.
All of Vincent’s wines characterize a few of the finest worth within the Rhone, recurrently successful “Gold” medals in France, classic after classic, and the 2017 “Les Figues” isn’t any exception!
Syrah is the dominant grape used on this wine (not FIGS!), contributing wealthy, black fruit flavours and a soft-textured palate. The remaining varieties are 20% every of Grenache and Carignan. The vines at Bastide are all of an age that produce low-yieldng crops, giving concentrated, however elegant construction to the wines.
Avignon is understood for its giant and various vary of native sausages and cured meats. There are a whole bunch! Attempt the “Les Figues” with a plate of charcuterie or saucisson.
Domaine Henri Bourgeois “Petit Bourgeois” Sauvignon Blanc (Loire)
Technically, the 2017 classic of “Petit Bourgeois” is labelled as a “Vin de France”, so the fruit may come from nearly wherever! In actuality, it is sourced from vineyards which can be simply outdoors the Sancerre appellation and, as a consequence, the wine is lower than half the worth of many of the firm’s Sancerre/Pouilly-Fumé from the extra prestigious websites.
Bourgeois’ giant, fashionable, 5 stage, ‘gravity fed’ vineyard relies within the city of Chavignol (well-known for it is Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese), which is just a stone’s throw from the hill-top city of Sancerre itself. Talking of “stones”, this space is all about flint (silex) and limestone. It imparts that traditional smoke/gunflint character to the Sauvignon fruit from this space that’s a lot admired by customers of Loire wines. By the way, Bourgeois even have southern hemisphere connections as they’ve established the natural “Clos Henri” property within the Marlborough area of New Zealand… and everybody loves NZ Sauvignon!
All the highest choices from Domaine Henri Bourgeois have been extremely rated by many critics all over the world and, if you wish to attempt these wines, you definitely will not be dissatisfied with the standard, though portions in current vintages have been small because of some horrible climate circumstances.
Connolly’s maintain a variety of their finest whites together with some Pinot Noir primarily based rosé and reds, however the “Petit Bourgeois” is our selection for on a regular basis Sauvignon Blanc tippling.
I do know, it is not ‘politically appropriate’ to have wine on a regular basis, so, possibly each different day?
The 2016 classic even acquired a Gold Medal on the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon Blanc, citing:
“A really fragrant white wine with an astonishing freshness.” Tasty.
As for a meals pairing, you actually cannot beat having a contemporary, inexperienced salad with the native goat’s cheese, however substituting a pleasant, crumbly Cheshire, and even some Greek Feta would nonetheless be wonderful with a bottle of “PB”.
Wine with cheese? Should not that be a crimson? Not all the time!
Domaine du Bois Joly Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie “Harmonie” (Loire)
Muscadet… a throwback to the 1970’s?
On the time it was the nation’s hottest ‘dry white’ wine and far of it was extremely boring and tasteless, however very low-cost! Adjustments in client style, poor high quality and new rivals from ‘varietal’ wines from the ‘New World’ led to it going out of style. It nearly disappeared from wine retailers’ cabinets within the UK. However some producers simply saved going as a result of they wished to provide the very best wines of their area.
Within the Pays Nantais, the commune of Le Pallet is situated simply south-east of town of Nantes on the western finish of the Loire river the place it meets the Atlantic Ocean and Laurent & Nathalie Bouchard’s Domaine du Bois Joly has been producing glorious Muscadet right here for a number of generations.
The distinctive Melon de Bourgogne grape selection is the mainstay of their vineyards and the Bouchard’s are very proud that sustainable farming is practised. Among the vines are as much as 60 12 months’s previous, producing small quantities of the very best quality fruit for his or her high cuvées.
“Harmonie” is a conventional fashion of Muscadet that is been made for consuming younger and crisp. After fermentation, ageing the wine ‘Sur Lie’ on its yeast lees till the next March offers further freshness on the palate which makes it a great companion to native seafood: white fish, crustaceans and oysters. You may discover a wine whose nostril is redolent of flowers, minerals, peaches, apples and nectarines. The extremely dry palate has a tangy, grapefruit flavour which makes it a mouthwatering aperitif wine.
Domaine La Serre Picpoul de Pinet (Languedoc)
Is it Picpoul made out of piquepoul, or Piquepoul made out of picpoul? It will get complicated after the primary few glasses! Simply to substantiate: the grape is piquepoul and the wine is Picpoul de Pinet. Acquired it now?
In France, the grape is nearly distinctive to the realm located behind the large, inland lagoon of Etang de Thau (close to Sété), though a tiny quantity might be present in each Spain and Portugal. Have grape, will journey, might be utilized to Picpoul, because it’s now been planted on the opposite aspect of the world in Australia. Coriole (McLaren Vale) and Charles Melton (Barossa) are two of one of the best recognized growers who every have a really small manufacturing that, sadly for us, doesn’t make it into the UK.
A real wine of the Mediterranean, Picpoul de Pinet is especially recognized for its contemporary acidity that makes it a very thirst quenching fashion appropriate for summer season consuming and is a agency favorite for all seafood and fish dishes. The native oysters are significantly good, or you might have langoustines in a lemon and pepper butter sauce, or a richer, seafood risotto.
La Serre Picpoul has citrus aromas of grapefruit and lemon with a floral word. A surprisingly full bodied and unctuous palate with intense minerality, melon and peach flavours.
Domaine La Suffrene Bandol Rosé (Provence)
Situated on the ‘proper hand aspect’ of the Mediterranean coast of France, Provence is the realm of France that is nearly too good! Tremendous-yachts, filled with the wealthy and well-known, replenish the harbours in Good, St Tropez and Cannes, while seafront cafés and eating places are full of clients having fun with their meals (with the odd bottle of wine) within the superb sunshine. Provence is most positively rosé nation. Whether or not it is made out of Mourvedre, Cinsault or Grenache, there are kinds and costs to swimsuit everybody. There are film-star (Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie) and rock-star (Jon Bon Jovi) produced wines and wines which have that particular mixture of flavour/picture/popularity that individuals cannot get sufficient of and can seemingly pay something to get (Esclan’s cult “Whispering Angel” and their £100 a bottle “Garrus”). Then there’s the small producer instance comparable to La Suffrene. When you’re visiting the realm the domaine is located simply to the south of the Paul Ricard GP circuit and near my favorite crimson Bandol producer, Chateau Vannieres (No, we do not maintain it!).
Cedric Gravier’s La Suffrene property produces a scrumptious, dry, salmon pink colored rosé which has a mix of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 20% Grenache and 10% Carignan grape varieties.
Low yields give good focus of flavour with rose petal, cherry and peach notes and a protracted, mineral/stony end. The brand new 2017 classic is a current “Finest In Present” Platinum award winner!
An excellent match with garlicky bouillabaisse, stuffed Mediterranean greens, or with native sardines.
