Taittinger NV Champagne 75cl MI V
Tasting Notes
The brilliant body is golden yellow in colour. The bubbles are fine, while the foam is discreet yet lingering. The nose, very open and expressive, delivers aromas of fruit and brioche. It also gives off the fragrance of peach, white flowers (hawthorn, acacia) and vanilla pod. The entry onto the palate is lively, fresh and in total harmony. This is a delicate wine with flavours of fresh fruit and honey. Taittinger Brut Réserve, which acquires its maturity during three and four years ageing in the cellar, offers excellent aromatic potential.
TAITTINGER GREEN MATTERS
Taittinger is under the “authorisation préfectorale”, a French government local representation, which requires it to follow certain environmental procedures. Examples include: industrial waste classed and weighed in by different type, card, wood, glass, plastic, aluminium and taken to recycling plants. Taittinger is also undertaking a number of steps to respect official environmental regulations on water and waste as well as implementing a plan to reduce their environmental impact concerning energy usage, water and waste.
Water – Consumption is closely monitored. This is measured and goals are fixed to reduce it daily through various programmes.
Packaging – Although difficult for Champagne to reduce weight due to the nature of the product being pressurised, consideration is being given to the whole range of packaging in order to reduce the total weight. The whole appellation is working towards a lighter bottle and 80% of the glass comes from a recycled source, for Taittinger it is 94%. Following lighter weight bottle tests, in 2010 Taittinger have been bottling wines in lighter bottles – 835 grammes -7% reduction. A positive move in reducing their carbon footprint. All waste packaging (cardboard, paper, glass and steel from capsules) is recycled
Vineyards – Taittinger are leading the way as a Champagne grower. Typically using half the amount of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides used by other growers. They wholly own half of their vineyard base producing fruit for their Champagnes giving them control over what is used to treat the soil and vines. 70% of Taittinger vineyards are also planted with grass and this increases year on year, this negates the need for herbicides. The tradition of using horses in the vineyard is still used to manage vegetation growth between the vines. A rare and natural sight in today’s world.
All viticultural by-products are developed or recycled at Taittinger’s expense. Taittinger are also moving to precision viticulture which means each vine can be managed individually if required and an important change has been the move to ‘selection massale’ where the vine stock is coming from our own vineyard source. The trend in the region is to replant hedges around the vineyards – a wide spread practice which encourages the growth of nature’s own pesticides – in their own vineyards, Taittinger reflects this trend.
Quinto do Crasto LBV Port 2013 75cl MI V
Tasting Notes
Black cherry fruit with a huge cedary core. A simple wine with a fine dark colour, ripe and mouth filling.
Perfect at the end of the meal on its own is lovely. Also with blue cheeses or sweet chocolate puddings.
Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky 35cl V
Tasting note
Bright and lively gold colour. Fruity, summer-like fragrances. Well-balanced fruity palate, strong pineapple aromas. Creamy smooth finish with marzipan and fresh hazelnuts notes.
The new spirit is transported to nearby town of Keith where it is cut with spring water and pumped into a mixture of ex-Bourbon casks made of American white oak and some sherry and port barrels made from European oak. The Master Distillers lay down this mixture of casks to give the blenders a selection of flavours to give each expression its unique characteristics. One of the best-selling single malts – light & fruity in character, with a smooth mature complexity.
d’Arenberg The Noble Wrinkled Riesling 2016 75cl MI V
Tasting Note
This wine is clean, concentrated and refreshing. The nose is lifted with an abundance of honey and citrus notes and the palate is full of lemon pie, honey dew and quince paste flavours. The acidity is tight but forgiving, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine with a long finish.
Food Matching In it’s youth this wine is crisp and provides versatility when matching to a wide range of desserts. It works particularly well with elements containing fresh tropical fruits. As it ages it will take on a deeper colour and the flavour will develop further into the dried fruit spectrum making it a sensational match to strong cheeses.
Château La Tuilerie des Combes, Lussac St. Emilion 2015 75cl MI V
Tasting Note
Beautifully developed garnet-red in colour. Shows a very ripe nose of concentrated fruits of the forest and a dense palate reminiscent of black cherries and chocolate with pretty notes of liquorice and eucalyptus. The typicaly bordelaise structure is flexible, with soft, rounded tannins that bring a balance and add length to the palate which finishes dry and clean.
Domaine des Vieux Pruniers Sancerre 2017 75cl MI V
Tasting Note
Clean and fresh with enticing lemon and leafy green aromas and a palate full of citrus and mineral fruits.
El Esteco Estate Old Vines Torrontes 2016 75cl MI V
Tasting Note
A vibrant wine with fresh tropical fruits and delicate aromas of roses and orange peel, lifted by a refreshing acidity.
El Esteco Don David Malbec 2017 75cl MI V
Tasting Note
A medium-full bodied wine with notes of cooked plums, prunes and violets. Well balanced with soft tannins & notes of red fruits & hints of chocolate.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay 2016 75cl MI VE
Tasting Note
Produced by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the founding winery of Washington State, this Columbia Valley Chardonnay has a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with hints of spice and subtle nuances of oak. Columbia Valley’s cool climate is perfect for producing complex Burgundian style Chardonnay.
Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2014 75cl V
Tasting Note
Lovely garnet colour with medium-high depth of colour. Clear and bright. When the glass is twirled you can see its legs. Sumptuous and classical in style with good use of American oak. Aromas of blackberries, cedar, leather and spices. Good balance on the palate with a long finish.
Louis Tête Beaujolais Villages 2016 75cl V
Tasting Note
Light purple in colour, with a elegant, fresh intense nose of soft red fruits. The palate is equally open and fleshy with lots of fruit and little tannin. Wonderfully soft and accessible, plenty of character backed by good balancing acidity.
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017 75cl S V
Tasting Note
This wine shows flavours of passionfruit and blackcurrant leaf with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate displays good weight and texture, with a focused mineral acidity which delivers fantastic length to the wine.