Wine cellar
Our Wine cellar is for those who want to learn a little more about wine, we will be updating this section on a regular basis to bring you some insider tips on wine.
Thierry's recommends...
Dominique and Lindsay are our two buying directors who literally scour the world looking for amazing wines to bring back. Between them, they have almost 50 years of experience in the wine trade, so they know a good wine when they see one. We have asked them to recommend their top five wines which are available in store to try. We hope that you agree with their choices! Enjoy!
Dominique's Top Five Wines
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Alphonse Mellot, Domaine de la Moussière, Sancerre Blanc 2007 available at Sainsbury's at £13.99
I believe Alphonse Mellot père et fils are now at the top of their game in Sancerre. This is perfect sauvignon with great purity of fruit, texture and length.
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Gérard Bertrand, L'Aigle Noir, Pinot Noir 2007 available at M&S at £7.99
At last - a top Pinot Noir from outside Burgundy! I love this fresh wine from one of the highest estates in the Languedoc which demonstrates all of the qualities of Pinot Noir.
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Caves Saint-Pierre Préference Vacqueyras 2006 available at Tesco at £11.99
I love this rich and full bodied wine from Caves Saint-Pierre, the perfect balance of the Grenache and Syrah grape makes for a great alternative to its neighbouring Châteauneuf du Pape.
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Château Pomiès d'Agassac, 2004 available in Thresher at £16.99, or £11.33 on their 3 for 2 offer
One of my favourite Haut Medoc wines and certainly the most picturesque Château. This wine is nice and mature with lovely red berry fruit followed by cedarwood and liquorice. A top wine for the appellation and superb for the price.
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Markus Huber, Grüner Veltliner Alte Setzen, 2006 available in Oddbins at £12.99
Grüner Veltliner from Austria is one of the most exciting grape varieties around and Markus Huber is its real master. This is one of its top cuvée and has the perfect balance between fruit, depth and minerality. I love it!
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Lindsay's 's Top Five Wines
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Pleyades Shiraz 2007, D.O. Cariñena - Asda £4.98
I love this great value chunky, yet soft red from Cariñena, Aragon. Made by top Australian winemaker David Morrison from old bush vine Shiraz, this red is packed with raspberry and loganberry fruit flavours with spicy notes. My top choice for barbecues.
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Ken Forrester The FMC 2006, Stellenbosch - £17.99 Waitrose
This barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc has lots of personality. The combination of old bush vines, occasional bortrytis bunches, wild yeast fermentation in new oak barriques and Ken Forrester’s magic is truly awesome.
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Doña Dominga Gran Reserva Carmènere 2006, Colchagua - £9.99 Oddbins
I am a real fan of Carmenère, Chile’s emblematic grape. Colchagua valley’s family wine making company, Viña Casa Silva, is the undisputed master of Carmenère thanks to the family's passion for Colchagua's varied terroirs and their drive to express the characteristics of each terroir in their wines.
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Famila Zuccardi Bonarda Reserva 2007, Santa Rosa, Mendoza - £6.99 Oddbins
Familia Zuccardi has to be my top winery visit. Their welcome and hospitality is second to none and the family and whole Zuccardi team have an infectious passion for what they do. Their vineyards push the boundaries with new techniques and a myriad of exciting varieties. I've tasted many Bonarda wines in Italy and they've all been fairly simple wines, so this one was a wonderful surprise - deep, intense and velvety with layer upon layer of flavours.
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Lapaccio Fiano 2008, Puglia - new
Fiano is a really exciting, up-and-coming white grape variety from Southern Italy. This single estate Fiano from Pasqua’s stunning massería in Manduria, Puglia is a great example. It combines a silky texture with gorgeous aromatics and fruit.
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