The January detox may well have begun, however we can still indulge in memories of what the Christmas cellar had to offer. My last recollection of the New Year period was savouring a fine-looking and sophisticated dessert wine that can only be described as Panettone in a glass. Rivesaltes Ambre Els Pyreneus NV is rich in colour and the nose nutty with hints of honey soaked apricots and rich roast coffee, the palate is beautifully balanced and chock-full of glacé fruits and brioche.

Bibendum teamed up with Jean Marc Lafage in 2008 to produce elegant wines such as this from the quality vines found either side of the Pyrenees. Jean Marc is definite in maintaining the divide between France and Spain as a political one as he believes “For a wine maker there are no borders.” He continually seeks to make captivating wines from old vines in the terroirs of Emporda, Calatayud, and the home of Vin Doux Naturel wines, Roussillon.

To produce the Rivesaltes Ambre, Grenache Noir and Grenache Gris grapes are hand harvested and vinified with their skins. The wine is then aged in three parts starting with 60% of the juice being pressed and aged under the Solera system. This is where fractional blending, within a set of barrels, brings about a creation that is a mixture of vintages with the average age increasing gradually as the process continues over many years. Another 35% of the juice is kept well away from fresh air in concrete tanks to add intensity to the plummy character of the wine. Finally the remaining 5% is aged outside, in demi-john glass bottles, bringing a little bitterness to the wine and developing the caramel colour.

We all need a little lift in the often gloomy UK January, so I suggest taking time to reminisce the joy of the holidays just gone. Kick back by the fire, craft yourself a little Stilton cheese board and enjoy with a glass of this classy sweet wine, with just enough punch to cope with the strong flavours of the New Year leftovers. Sipping a glass of Rivesaltes Ambre Els Pyrenees NV is the perfect way to start 2012.

Check out the links below to read a few recent wine of the week posts here on B Times –

Patrick Piuze Terroir de Chablis 2010 (Chablis, France)

d’Arenberg The Cadenzia 2009 (McLaren Vale, Australia)

Albert Beerens Brut Reserve NV (Cotes des Bars, Champagne)

The UK has always had a loving relationship with the bubbles of Champagne, for hundreds of years we have enjoyed the delicate, yeasty brilliance produced across the water.  Although it’s safe to say, today’s Champagne drinker is more often than not only aware of a dozen or so Champagne houses, the powerful few which adorn the wine merchant shelves and restaurant lists.

However, the Champagne region is awash with some 15,000 growers, some producing their own wines, while others produce grapes which are then sold onto larger houses. These growers are making stunning Champagne on a much smaller scale, creating wines which reflect their region of Champagne, showcasing terroir and speaking of a real sense of place.  Many of these Champagnes often don’t even make it to the shores of the UK, with many being consumed in Champagne and the restaurants of Paris.

One producer which fits this bill is Albert Beerens, a fantastic producer from the Aube area of Champagne, 75 miles south-east of the Champagne hub, Epernay.

An outpost of the Champagne region, the Côte des Bars was first introduced into the Champagne region in 1911, to much disgust of the producers of the northern parts of Champagne. Today however, things have calmed down and the area is recognised as a brilliant place to source excellent value Champagne of a extremely high quality.

The style of Champagne from here is joyful. The bright and fruity expressions of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from the Cotes des Bars area appealed greatly to Charles de Gaulle who was a big fan of this style of Champagne and even retired close by. The fruit here is often blended away into the Grandes Marques Champagnes, these grapes being an element in the big Champagne houses’ blends since modern Champagne began.

The Albert Beerens Brut Reserve NV displays a vibrant straw-gold colour with a lively yet subtle mousse. The aromas are complex yet fine and the palate is balanced and round with delicate apple, citrus and peach fruit. The blend is made up of 57% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay, 18% Pinot Noir, and you will be hard pressed to find another Champagne for the festive season of this quality at the very reasonable prices commanded by Albert Beerens, this really is excellent fizz for the price.

Click here to see Bibendum’s Christmas Champagne offers, including the excellent Beerens Brut Reserve NV.

Being the most wonderful time of the year, we are all looking for a merry red for the festive season. On the agenda is something smooth, perfect for sipping with a snack of roasted chestnuts. Or something rich and full bodied, to accompany those hearty dinners. A wine that will please even the fussiest in the crowd, whilst keeping a gathering high in Christmas spirit.

Introducing the ultimate party pleaser, d’Arenberg The Cadenzia 2009. Aussies may be celebrating the holidays grilling burgers on the beach, but at least Australian producer d’Arenberg has parcelled up a Chateauneuf-du-Pape style red, packed with cranberries and spice to keep us smiling this chilly winter.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a story, and the vivacious 4th generation winemaker, Chester Osborn, has a tale to tell with the name of every wine. The Cadenzia comes from the word ‘Cadenza’, meaning an impassioned improvisation played by a virtuoso soloist towards the end of a musical performance. For the team at d’Arenberg it’s a celebration of the opportunity to blend so many varieties from within the McLaren Vale around the almighty Grenache.

The Cadenzia is one of several wines produced as part of the Cadenzia winemaking initiative in the MaLaren Vale.  An initiative which was formed by some of the regions finest producers, to showcase the regions production of Grenache, raising awareness of its Grenache based wines, and a grape variety that really excels within this region.

Creative, passionate and full of gusto, the Osborn family understands the art of being different. It all began back in 1912, when teetotaller Joseph Osborn purchased 25 hectares of vines in the McLaren Vale. Before the winery took on the d’Arenberg label in 1959, when 3rd generation winemaker Francis (d’Arry) Osborn named the new venture in honour of his mother Frances Helena d’Arenberg.

Now in the hands of Chief Winemaker Chester Osborn, the winery is run with traditional winemaking methods very much at the fore front of everything they do. All grapes are basket-pressed, with the reds traditionally fermented with the grape skins (caps) submerged in open wax-lined concrete fermentation tanks, utilising the age-old technique of foot-treading.

Predominantly led by Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, with elements of Tempranillo and Cinsault, the 2009 vintage includes fantastic examples of various varieties following a year of mild weather in the McLaren Vale. This has ensured stress free ripening and grapes with good natural acidity and balanced tannins.  The result is a stimulating nose, jam packed with figgy pudding notes of currants, nuts and spice with delicate violent undertones. The palate is surprisingly earthy with dried herbs and pepper lifting the rich red fruit body.

Josh Raynolds from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar gave the wine 90 points and no wonder when it was described as “deep ruby, sexy, perfumed aromas of raspberry, cherry preserves and rose with a touch of smoky herbs”. Perhaps be careful who you hand a glass to at the party…A kiss under the mistletoe seems inevitable!

Want to show off your knowledge at this year’s festivities? Don’t forget to mention that the winery took home 8 Gold medals from the 2011 New Zealand International Wine fair including, you’ve guessed it, our favourite winter warmer The Cadenzia 2009!

Merry Christmas!

With four weeks left until the big day, our four remaining wine of the weeks will be fully devoted to Christmas, with a selection of awesome wines perfect for the big bird and all the trimmings, endless desserts and all those general festive celebrations. First up, we kick it all off with a classy white from one of Burgundy’s hottest producers, Patrick Piuze and his Terroirs de Chablis 2010.

A French-Canadian by birth, Patrick became interested in wine whilst running a wine bar in Montreal, and packed it all in to get involved in the vineyards of Burgundy. Following working with the likes of Verget and Olivier Leflaive, Patrick set out on his own in 2008, creating his own micro-negociant business. Amongst the historic, French family-owned vineyards of Burgundy, Patrick was somewhat of an outsider on arrival, but today is regarded as one of the most talented winemakers in the region.

Patrick’s micro-negociant model works on a similar basis to the standard negociant, with grapes brought in from various growers to create a wine under one label. However for Patrick Piuze, he sources the best quality grapes he can find, often from some of Burgundy’s finest growers. These grapes truly reflect their terroir, and Patrick carefully selects the best fruit from these single vineyard sites. This is all done on a small, artisan scale, with Patrick keen to get his hands dirty amongst the vineyards where he sources his fruit, he can often be found with a few family and friends out in the vineyards picking grapes.

Although Patrick doesn’t own his own vineyards, being so close to production he fully understands every inch of the land his grapes are grown on. He understands the terroir and growing conditions, and personally selects each vineyard based on specific criteria, which is all very much reflected in the quality of his wines.

Alongside this, what also sets Patrick above the rest is he is extending his approach to winemaking in Chablis out from 1er and Grand Cru, to include generic AOC Chablis. However at this level, Patrick is producing single vineyard wines from the very best vineyards. Unlike most other AOC Chablis which will be created from many different parcels blended together.  His wines really show the quality and variety of styles that can be produced at this level.

So onto the wine…Patrick’s Terroir de Chablis 2010 is an exciting, racy style of Chablis, displaying the elegant minerality and acidity, Chablis is renowned for. As with all the finest Chablis, it is the minerality that has an overriding impact on the palate, and Patrick’s wines are packed with intense mineral character, perfectly balanced alongside the delicate fruit and acidity.

So with Christmas on its way, you can’t go far wrong with the creations of Mr Piuze during the festive celebrations; these crisp, exciting wines complementing the finest of Christmas spreads.

Twinkling lights meandering city centres nationwide are a cheery reminder that the holiday season is upon us. A jovial time when pubs and restaurants overflow with groups of friends and family merrily dining together, however recommending a wine that will please the demanding crowds and complement winter fare can be tricky.

Turkey is not only a Christmas dinner staple, but also the jewel of the US thanksgiving meal. Tomorrow US expats across the country will need an appropriate wine to pair with the famous roasted bird; therefore it seems only appropriate that this week’s wine is an offering that celebratory diners can’t refuse.

Keeping with the American theme, Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2010 from Healdsburg, Sonoma County, is an ice-crisp, dry white packed with pineapples, lychee, and hints of soothing honey and refreshing lemon. Chenin Blanc was a commonly grown grape within The Golden State in the 1960’s and 70’s, however today Dry Creek Vineyards is now one of only a handful of Californian wineries creating delightful 100% Chenin Blanc wines with such elegance and pizzazz.

David Stare founded the family owned Dry Creek Vineyards in 1972 with the aim to produce ‘that something special’ in quality wines at reasonable prices, and it has to be said, David has had much success. In the 2010 book by UK wine writer Stephen Brook, The Finest Wines of California, he named Dry Creek Vineyards as the state’s best value winery. While Robert Parker has been quoted as saying, “Dry Creek routinely turns out elegant, classy efforts.”

The classic yacht labelling looks great on the table. The signature yacht was introduced in the 80’s to represent David’s love of sailing and reflecting the similarities between the sport and winemaking – ‘fun, adventurous and romantic’.

This Chenin will charm any crowd with the subtle white pepper and citrus zest marrying well with white meat and grilled fish, plus this Californian gem has a sensible alcohol content of 12.5%, perfect for those looking for a wine without the heavy alcohol levels so common in today’s wines.

An extremely approachable wine and just as easy to drink alone as with food. You can feel confident offering the bottle at this year’s festivities.

I’m a Southern Rhone girl, possibly due to the size of my wallet, but in my opinion you can’t go wrong with the deep, rich, earthy reds of the Cotes du Rhone, perfect for winter hibernation.  The south is full of such amazing quality for a fraction of the price of much of the north and other regions such as Bordeaux.

Last year I was lucky enough to attend a Chateau de Beaucastel dinner presented by Marc Perrin. We tasted verticals of both Chateau de Beaucastel and Coudoulet de Beaucastel, needless to say I was completely won over.

Of course there remains the argument surrounding the Rhone’s high alcohol levels, but this is increasingly the case with wines from all regions of the world, it’s a modern wine issue not just a Rhone issue.  Either way, it’s a great excuse for a post Sunday lunch snooze which I welcome wholeheartedly!

Here’s a little tasting note from Robert Parker on one of the latest vintages from Chateau de Beaucastel -

Chateau de Beaucastel 2008 -

“The 2008 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the few outstanding wines produced in this vintage. More evolved than Beaucastel’s wines tend to be, it reveals a healthy dark plum/ruby colour, notes of liquorice, meat juices, smoked game, black currants and garrigue, medium to full body, silky tannins, good freshness, surprising depth for the vintage and a long finish. Drink it over the next decade.” 90pts, Robert Parker

Tell us your thoughts on the Rhone Valley and whether you prefer North or South on the Bibendum facebook page

Plus check out our latest special offer on Chateau de Beaucastel 2008

North v South. Wow, that is quite a shoot out, is it not?

For me one of the greats is the YL Chave Hermitage from the Northern Rhone, which sits firmly in my top five of all time, I’ve had many stellar bottles over the years. My criteria for a top spot from the Rhone is always great wines in off vintages, I can still almost taste the magnum of 1984 glugged down last year – it was wonderful!

My top Rhone from another neck of the woods is Clos des Papes from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the wine is truly fab if a bit over-eulogised by the great Robert Parker. At a recent BYO dinner, with stellar bottles (Petrus and more), the wine was right up there with the best of them.

Just in case you think I am a flash Harry who only drinks the posh stuff (nearly true), I truly love Cotes du Rhone and definitely prefer the Southern versions with a melange of grapes, in particular with Carignan and Grenache, to the 100% Syrah versions of the North. However the only curse of the Rhone can sometimes be lashings of alcohol and a headache in the morning – mind you that won’t happen with YL Chave and Vincent Avril’s Clos des Papes.

Personally I like drinking Clos des Papes rather than worrying about the scores. However Robert Parker loved Chateauneuf du Pape – here is the famous note for 2007 Clos des Papes.

2007 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape, 99+ points Robert Parker -

“Paul Avril was a bigger-than-life vigneron, a visionary, and a great teacher, but Vincent has been in charge for a number of years, and he has rewarded his father with what I believe is the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape made since 1978 and 1990, the 2007. I have not only tasted this wine at the estate, but I purchased it for my cellar, and have now drunk it on three separate occasions out of bottle. It is unquestionably one of the great Chateauneufs of my lifetime, and I suspect it will merit a three digit score after another 3-4 years of cellaring. The blend is generally 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and the rest small amounts of Muscardin, Vaccarese, Counoise, and Syrah. It exhibits what is probably the deepest color I have ever seen here, and the finished alcohol is a high (for Clos des Papes) 15.5%.

Still slightly restrained because of its recent bottling, but wow, what potential complexity, mind-boggling richness, and compelling flavor profile are apparent. It is a sublime expression of the art of winemaking as evidenced by its dense purple color and big, sweet kiss of kirsch, framboise, blackberries, licorice, roasted herbs, and smoked meat. It hits the palate with a fascinating combination of substance, power, full-bodied authority yet extraordinary freshness, elegance, and precision. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and watch it unleash its glory over the next three decades. This is a prodigious wine of great quality from one of the most important reference point estates in Chateauneuf du Pape.”

Tell us your thoughts on the Rhone Valley and whether you prefer North or South on the Bibendum facebook page

Be sure to check back each week as we continue our Battle of the Rhone: North vs South, with thoughts from our Fine Wine team…the guys who drink all the good stuff!

Plus check out our latest special offer on Clos De Papes

I was recently drinking with a friend whose knowledge on wine isn’t the greatest, but like many people out there, they know what they like and know what they don’t.

On said occasion we drank a bottle of Charming Gruner Veltliner from Laurenz V, and it is safe to say my friend was positively stunned. They were amazed at this little known grape variety, questioning why they had never come across it before. Another fan of the mighty Gruner has been born.

Gruner Veltliner has played a leading role in the revolution of Austrian winemaking over the past 15 years or so, and although it is still not quite as well recognised as the likes of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling, GV has made tremendous ground in the UK market.

Producing dry, fruity, (and usually) unoaked wines, Gruner offers a fantastic alternative to these varieties, and its popularity is only going to go one way as more and more people discover this fantastic grape.

Laurenz V are one of the producers who have changed the perception of Austrian winemaking in recent years by promoting GV and singing its praises worldwide. Lenz Moser is the brains behind Laurenz V and the brand’s name is ac recognition that he is the fifth generation of one of Austria’s most famous winemaking families.

As well as being the inventor of the first modern vine trellising system, Lenz’s grandfather popularised Gruner Veltliner, turning it from only 2% of Austria’s plantings in the 1930s, to the country’s national grape in just three decades. In keeping with the family love affair with GV, Laurenz V is the only wine company in Austria that focuses solely on Gruner Veltliner, making the team experts in the field.

Today’s wine in question, Charming Gruner Veltliner 2009, is Lenz’s top wine. the grapes are grown in Austria’s Kamptal region and they ripen on granite, gneiss, mica-slate and loess soils. Cold air from the north lowers nighttime temperatures to slow up the ripening process. This is all crucial to producing the concentrated style of Gruner that has been turning heads: fresh, fruity, spicy, appley and with just the right amount of acidity.

Check out the video below of Lenz and his beloved Charming GV -

With the Indian summer in full swing, Bibendum’s MS Society Charity Fete couldn’t have come at a better time.  Amongst the glorious sunshine, Bibendum has organised a whole host of fete shenanigans for the people of Primrose Hill.  Calling on the help of Bibendum staff and local businesses, the fete aims to raise money for Bibendum’s chosen charity for 2011, The MS Society. From a spot of bric-a-brac, a cheeky glass of wine and massages for a fiver there is something for everyone.

Also raising cash for the MS Society are the Bibendum Spirits team, mixing up a selection of cocktails and fruit punches.  Plus The Wondering Wine Company is back in Primrose Hill, offering up great wines with all proceeds going straight to a good cause. With this heat it looks like the reds will be staying firmly inside the Citroen van, with the punters snapping up the special fete prices on chilled whites and sparkling.

Number one pick on a day like today has got to be the awesome Bisol Jeio Prosecco, a favourite from the Wondering Wine Company list and one of their top selling wines from this summer’s run of events. Its affordable, elegant bubbles proving a real winner this summer.

Bisol are legends of the Valdobbiadene region, with all their fruit coming from their own land in the hills above Treviso, something that is very rare in this region. So with full control over their own fruit, and with centuries of experience making these Italian bubbles, their Proseccos are of the finest quality.

With lively apple, peach and citrus fruits, brilliant acidity and balance, this extremely light and crisp fizz is the perfect drink for the late summer sun!

A chilled bottle of Jeio from The Wondering Wine Company -

The fete is up and running –

Come and spend your cash!

Margarita’s and Rum Punch from Bibendum Spirits –

The Wondering Wine Company roles into Primrose Hill –

On Tuesday, I was speed tasting some of the reds at our W1 tasting to check for TCA or other problems before we opened the doors. I wasn’t taking my time to think about balance, fruit or quality. I wasn’t writing notes and mentally composing potential food matches. It was open, pour, sniff, slurp, spit and move on.

Until I reached this wine and I stopped in my tracks.

I used to drink a lot of it a few years back. For a while, it was my house red, an ever-reliable stand by for a midweek bowl of pasta or a trip to a pal’s for dinner. Then for some reason, I stopped drinking it. No doubt, something else caught my wandering eye, something newer and (temporarily) more exciting. It’s time to start drinking it again.

The name isn’t the easiest to decode if you aren’t a keen student of Italian wines.

‘Aglianico’ is the grape. It is one of Italy’s most interesting indigenous varieties: tannic, perfumed and full of freshness. Some call it the ‘Nebbiolo of the South’.

‘Vulture’ refers to Mount Vulture, the conical larva pit that overlooks the vineyards of the Basilicata region.

Mount Vulture has provided the dark soils that give this wine its sub-brand: ‘Terra di Vulcano’ or Volcanic Earth.

‘Bisceglia’ is the name of the winery and the surname of Mario Bisceglia, the man who has invested his millions in trying to raise the profile of his home region. Mario is from Lavello, a poor but beautiful hilltown that was once home to Horace – he of ‘nunc est bibendum’ fame and the man indirectly responsible for the name of this website.

Get past the label, and the screwcap, the liquid is a deep, dark ruby. The nose is full of dried rose petals, plum sauce and sweet spices. The palate is juicy and fresh with a bite of chunky tannins and mouth-watering acidity. The cherry fruit has a bitter-sweet edge.

On its own it is simple but delicious, with olive oil, garlic and some hard pecorino alongside it absolutely sings. Throw in a spicy, fennel-scented sausage or two and you will have a feast.

www.agricolabisceglia.com