New Arrival recommendations
There are a few new wines at M-BW, which are all obviously nothing short of spectacular, but I'm guessing that you'd like a list of, say, the top 5 of the new ones.
This will obviously exclude the wine of the week, the LAN Crianza Rioja. I know it's fashionable to jump onto the Spanish bandwagon with the likes of Iniesta, Villa and Xavi winning the World Cup (despite the overzealous application of martial arts on the football pitch by the Dutch... football chat stops immediately), Nadal winning Wimbledon (again), Alberto Contador winning the Tour de France (again), Alonso winning the German Grand Prix and someone called Jorge Lorenzo winning the MotoGP in the U.S. as well. Where was I? Oh yes, the LAN Rioja. It is just that it is pretty much always absolutely on the button - brilliantly made, not ridiculously expensive and goes well with pretty much anything. See the last option for the jumping on the Spanish bandwagon (and I didn't even mention their successes in Barcelona).
Back to the new top 5:
First up has to be the Domaine Gayda L'Archet Rose which at £7.99 a bottle (inc VAT) is just perfect from the Languedoc in the South of France.
In second place I have to go with the Casa Montes Ampakama Viognier from San Juan in Argentina. Fantastically pure peachy fruit and a clean-as-a-whistle finish that will have to reaching out for a top-up. £7.99 a bottle (inc VAT)
In third is another South American addition - the Casa Tamaya 'VCS' £7.99 a bottle (inc VAT) which is actually made from a combination of Viognier Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to great affect; it went down a treat when I paired it with a chicken tagine recently.
In fourth place is another Viognier, this time from Hawke's Bay in New Zealand (one of the hottest part of the country). Alpha Domus 'The Wingwalker' Viognier is quite simply one of the best wines I've had in the last 6 months. £12.99 a bottle (inc VAT) which in my eyes is a steal, I reckon if this sort of quality was to come out of France then it would be up there in the £20 bracket. A gem.
In 5th place is the toughest sell of the lot. Ready? It's from Bodegas Abanico from Bierzo and they call it Manium. Made entirely from the Mencia grape. A virtual pat on the back to whoever out there who isn't more than a little unsure of where this is from and what on earth it'll taste like. Bierzo is further west of Rioja in the north of Spain. Stylistically, it's not a million miles away from Rioja either, but it has a lightness of body that makes it very appealing and drinkable. I was more than a little wowed by it when I first got m mits on it and have been waiting(im)patiently for it ever since. It has finally arrived and I'm frankly delighted. It's £12.50 a bottle (inc VAT) and is very good value.
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