Ehrmanns is proud to announce a new listing for Quinta da Bacalhoa Red – DO Peninsula de Setubal, in Majestic available from January 2012.

Wine of the week written by Majestic Manager Louise Stonestreet, published by Horsham & Billingshurst Advertiser, ‘Quinta da Bacalhoa – Peninsula de Setubal’ buy 2 save £3 per bottle from £13.49.

“The 15th Century Quinta da Bacalhoa estate, formerly known as Vila Fresca, used to be owned by the Portuguese royal family. Turning to commercial wine-making in the 1970s, it is now one of Portugal’s largest porducers.

This wine is an unusual ‘iberian style’ claret, blended from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. On the nose there is a delightful array of pencil shavings, tobacco and sandal wood. The palate offers a supple mouthfeel boosted by juicy bramble fruit. Careful use of oak produces nutty, cedar-like tannins.

This is a ‘big’ wine which will be best paired to protein-rich food in order to complement the tannins. Why not try it this weekend with your roast beef or fillet steak – or maybe with the cheeseboard afterwards?”

Its amazing quality scored 93 PTS – EDITOR’S CHOICE – Wine Enthusiast Magazine –December 2009;

93 PTS – EDITOR’S CHOICE – Wine Enthusiast Magazine – September 2010 & TOP 100 Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2010

A fantastic wine to have with red meats, game or with a fine selection of cheese.

For further information on Quinta da Bacalhoa please contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Terry Kirby (Independent on Sunday) focused on The Best Wines for Australia Day for his Wines of the Week. His review is below:

“For the Party

Four Sisters Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling

No celebration is complete without something spakling and this is a perfect party cork to pop at a terrific price. Made by Tahbilk, one of the great names in Australian wine, this is an unpretentious does-what-it-says-on-the-bottle sparkler, full of light, grassy minerality, as clean and invigorating as a Bondi Beach breeze and incredibly gluggable. £9.99, Nisa stores; thedrinkcellar.co.uk”

Although we agree this wine is perfect for Australia Day Celebrations, we believe it is perfect for all kinds of celebrations. So pop a cork tomorrow and give it a go and we believe it will become a firm favourite for all those special occasions.

RRP £9.99

Wholesalers:

Retailers :

• Nisa Stores
• Dallas Liquor Mart Ltd
• The Drink Cellar
• Ye Old Bottoms Up
  

 For further information contact Innessa Melnikova at Inessa.Melnikova@ehrmanns.co.uk or call 02074499916

Our Miopasso Nero d’Avola has been selected by Joanna Simon for her “Wines of the month” column in House & Garden’s December issue. The journalist wrote :”  Miopasso Nero d’Avola is a new red made using a proportion of sun-dried grapes – the traditional ripasso method – to give extra concentration. The result is smooth and rounded with spicy cherry and damson flavours and a touch of sweetness…” - House & Garden – December 2011

Matthew Jukes was also seduced by this Sicilian Nero d’Avola back in August 2011 and noted at the time :”  Made with a small percentage of dried grapes for added concentration, Miopasso is a wondrous, fruit cocktail scented red with lashings of coffee beans and liquorice notes.It’s a great alternative to more run-of-the-mill syrahs and cabernets” – The Daily Mail – August 2011

 The Miopasso range is the brainchild of The Wine People, a company headed by Stefano Girelli of “Casa Girelli” fame. The Wine People’s winemaker - Andrea Valentinuzzi – has created a brand which showcases modern Italian winemaking made with local grapes. Different vineyards in both Sicily and Puglia have been handpicked for their quality and characteristics which suit best specific indigenous grapes.  In addition to the Sicilian Nero d’Avola, the range counts a lovely Sicilian Fiano and an intense Primitivo from Puglia. We will also be adding a Miopasso Sicilian Grillo to the range in February 2012.

Miopasso Nero d’Avola stockists : Cambridge Wine Merchants – Planet of the Grapes – Corkscrew Wines - Field & Fawcett Wine Merchants – Hawkshead Wines – Jubilee Wines – Grapes Expectations – Robert & Speight – S.H. Jones …

RRP : £8.99

For any information on the Miopasso range or other wines by The Wine People, please contact Marianne Fillion: marianne.fillion@ehrmanns.co.uk

Valdesil Godello in Jancis 65 great whites!!

Jancis Robinson MW published her Top 65 favourite white wines last weekend (10th of December 2011). Our Godello from Bodegas Valdesil shined with 17 points – Jancis Robinson MW wrote:

Valdesil Godello 2010 Valdeorras 17 Drink 2011-2012
”From a producer who has been shaking up one of the most exciting white wine regions in Spain, in the cool, green, far northwest. Godello is the revitalised local grape variety; 30-year-old vines grown on high, … slate slopes. Lovely freshness, smokiness and sheer confidence – racy but not feeble. Creamy. 13%”

£15.99 Waitrose

For the full list go to:

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201112014.html

FT website:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f699c2fe-1fbf-11e1-9916-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1gQZDQ9s7

For a full list of stokists or more information on the Valdesil Godello, you can contact Andre Neves at: andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Wine critic Fiona Beckett has recommended Tahbilk Marsanne as a quality alternative to wine offers in the supermarkets. She writes : “And if you’re lucky enough to have an old bottle of Tahbilk Marsanne, a rarity among Australian whites in that it ages for a good 10 years and still tastes fresh, fish it out – or buy a couple, one to drink now ( its rich, musky, grilled pineapple flavours would be great with leftover ham), the other in five to 10 years: the award winning 2007 vintage is around £9.49-£9.99 at Waitrose and other independent, an amazingly good price for such a classic.”

RRP : £9.99

Stockists : The Wine Society, Waitrose, Booths, Bat & Bottle Wine Merchants, Corkscrew Wines, Eagles Wines, Gwinology, Jeroboams, Planet of the Grapes, Robert & Speight, The Guildford Wine Company, Topsham Wines & Wines Importers of Edinburgh.

And if you want something special the Tahbilk 1927 vines Marsanne is an interesting and rare wine made from old vines. Its quality shines through and is one again that will age extremely well.

For a full list of stockists and more information on Tahbilk wines, please contact Inessa Melnikova at : inessa.melnikova@ehrmanns.co.uk

Jancis Robinson MW published her Christmas recommendations in last weekends Financial Times ( 3rd of December 2011), we are pleased to write our Portuguese star – Tinto Da Anfora – made the final cut. Jancis Robinson MW wrote :

Quinta da Bacalhôa, Tinto da Anfora 2008 Alentejo
“Portugal is full of underpriced gems such as this rich blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo) with Portuguese varieties. Playful, satisfying with a flavour that reminded me of marrons glacés. Neat and complete. 14% ”
Reduced to £7.49 Waitrose (£7.99 after 4 January)

She extended her list to 60 reds on her website – for the full list go to http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201112012.html

For a full list of stokists or more information on the Bacalhoa, you can contact Andre Neves at : andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

The most acclaimed and influential Spanish Wine Guide – Guia Penin - is helping to put the ancient grape, back on the Spanish map. The 2012 edition rewarded our pair of Godellos from Valdeorras DO with excellent results : “Valdesil is the only winery of Spain with two white wines on “the podium” (Exceptional wines)”.

Bodegas ValdeSil owns the oldest Godello vineyards in the world. The oldest, Pedrouzos, is from the final part of the 19th Century (1885) and was planted by an ancestor of the family. The new vineyards added over the years were made grafting the buds of the Pedrouzos vineyard on to the new vines. This is absolutely unique in the area and gives the wines an authenticity and quality unrivalled in the DO. These wines are truly a labour of love : made from old vines with smaller bunches, lower yields and more concentration. Jancis Robinson herself was bowled over when she tried our Pezas de la Portela at the Waitrose tasting (see our post from the 9th of November), her colleague Luis Gutierrez wrote a fantastic review of the range after his visit at the winery (post of 31st of October 2011 – For the total article go to : http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201110252.html )

Ehrmanns currently imports 2 wines from the range :

Valdesil 2009 – RRP £15.99

91-Valdesil 2010

90-Valdesil 2009

“An elegant expression of Godello, the lees ageing provides depth, character, and the potential for ageing. The wine is complex and yeasty with mineral and citric notes, good weight and balancing acidity”.

Pezas da Portela 2008 – RRP £22.00

94-Pezas da Portela 2008

93-Pezas da Portela 2009

“More individual and complex Godello, Its character reflects the minerality of the slate soils at Portela and is enhanced by the discreet use of French oak. Notably fresh yet full-bodied, with good weight of fruit and balancing acidity”.

Stockists: Waitrose, The Wine Shop, Hawkshead Wines

For any more information about these wines contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Adam Lechmere has written a great article in this month’s Food & Travel Magazine and recommends using your local independent wine merchant for those special Christmas wines. One of his top picks for Christmas is our award winning Bacalhoa Moscatel 2004. Adam writes : “The perfect entry-level “sticky” – its intense sweetness is balanced by a salty mid-palate. The fruit is raisined, the texture dense, opulent, unctuous. Drink it with your Christmas pudding or strong ( but not blue ) cheese”. We could not agree more !

RRP : about £9.50

Stockists : Tanners

For the whole list of stockists or information about the Bacalhoa range plesae contact Andre Neves at : andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Guia Penin logo

Considered as Spain’s most influent wine guide with over 9.800 wines tasted and 450.000 books sold, Guia Penin 2012 rewarded our Mencias with excellent results. 

Both wines are made by Losada Vinos de Finca in the up and coming Bierzo DO in Northern Spain.Losada is part of a handful of wineries which have been key in resurrecting the DO during the last few years and have created a real buzz around the Mencia grape.  

Losada only produce estate wines, from a few properties which have been hand picked for the quality of their vineyards and the potential of their vines. The fruits of each vineyard are picked and vinified separately in order to produce elegant, perfumed and complex wines. 

 Losada 2008 – RRP : £15.99 

90 points 

“Intense cherry red color. Coffee aroma, spicy, roasted, ripe fruit. 

In mouth, soothing, creamy, high roast, powerful, tasty, ripe fruit.” 

 Altos de Losada 2007 – RRP £22 

93 points 

“Intense cherry red color. Spicy aroma, creamy oak, aromatic coffee 

ripe fruit, fruit expresion. In mouth meaty, complex, 

structured, oily, powerful, tasty.” 

Stockists : Goodrich Wines, The Wine Shop, Vagabond Wines, Robert & Speight  

For any more information about these wines contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk