HOUSE WINES |
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| SANTA HELENA |
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Founded in 1942, Santa Helena was the pioneer exporter of fine wines from Chile and now supplies us with all three of our House Wines. The company has two large cellars, one on the outskirts of Santa Cruz in the ColchuagaValley and one in Teno, 200m south of Santiago, both of which are equipped with the most up to date winemaking equipment. The wine maker Miguel Rencoret oversees the production of up to 11 million litres of wine at any one time, with grapes sourced form all over Chile.
The majority of Santa Helena’s vineyards are situated in the ColchuagaValley – over 700 hectares. They also have extensive plantings in the Maipo valley. |
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| Red |
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| Santa Helena Merlot 2004/05, Colchuaga Valley |
| This is a distinguished and vibrantly fruity wine. Soft and well rounded, it has rich plum flavours with a hint of earthy mineral character. A perfect accompaniment to white and red meats and pasta |
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| White |
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| Santa Helena Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Curico Valley |
| Young, fresh wine from a cool area of Chile, this is dry and crisp with soft ripe exotic fruit flavours. This should be drunk young, on its own or as a great companion for white meat, fish and pasta |
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| Santa Helena Chardonnay 2004/5, Central Valley |
| This wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks with no oak contact, creating a bright Chardonnay with concentrated fruit and a hint of vanilla. A fantastic match with white meat and fish, this wine can also be drunk on its own |
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| Bottle £10.95 |
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RED WINES |
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| France |
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| 51. |
Fitou, Les Douze 2004 - Vin de Pays d’Oc |
£13.50 |
| Twelve small growers provide their best grapes to make this superb regional wine, bursting with intense berry aromas, herbs and spices, which continue on the palate complemented by a soft finish |
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| 54. |
Brouilly, Cuvée l’Ancienne 2004 |
£15.95 |
| Light and juicy Beaujolais Cru with ripe strawberry and raspberry fruits. Matches surprisingly well with spicy dishes as well as meaty fish such as red mullet |
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| 59. |
Cotes du Rhone, Delas Freres 2003 |
£16.95 |
| Vineyard workers were recalled from their traditional August holiday to pick the grapes for this wine at optimum ripeness, creating a wine of rare character, bursting with rich fruit. Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime vintage! |
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| 1. |
St Emilion, Union des Producteurs 2001 |
£19.50 |
| A rich and supple, predominantly Merlot blend with soft berry fruit textures. Classic Claret from a great vintage |
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| 50. |
Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine Barrot 2001/2 |
£28.50 |
| 13 grape varieties make up this powerful yet softly structured wine with aromas of leather and smoke and asian spices, blackcurrant and blueberry on the palate |
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| 55. |
Gevrey-Chambertin, Vallet Freres 2001/2 |
£28.00 |
| This is a true rarity – a fully foot-pressed and hand made wine. Sweet, rich red fruits combine with a smoky length of plums on a silky palate |
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| 56. |
Pauillac, Chateau Batailley 5ème Cru 1995/96 |
£44.50 |
| Glorious wine, classified as 5th growth in the 1855 exhibition. The wine has a deep flavour of cassis with spice, tobacco and cedar hints. Drinking beautifully now but will get better and better |
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| Spain |
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| 57. |
Syrah, Finca Antigua 2003 - La Mancha |
£15.95 |
| Innovative ‘New World’ style wine which is rich and powerful, with up-front fruit, but retains a traditional Spanish elegance |
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| 58. |
Jumilla Crianza, Casa de la Ermita, 2002 |
£19.50 |
| Gold medal winning competition for rioja from central spain, where the warm climate creates a plummy, juicy wine with plenty of pepper and vanilla |
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| 59. |
Rioja Reserva, Conde de Valdemar 2000 |
£21.50 |
| This spends a year in oak, producing a round and well-structured wine with a complex berry nose, well-integrated oak and fine tannins |
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| 60. |
Rioja Gran Reserva, Monte Real 1994 |
£25.50 |
| Huge and aromatic with a palate of sweet, smoked fruit and a chunky roastiness, this wine is excellent now, and will become outstanding with age |
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| Italy |
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| 61. |
Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Domini Veneti 2003 |
£14.50 |
| Classy valpolicella from the best part of the region. Richly cherried with a smooth marzipan finish |
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| 62. |
Barbera d’Alba, Sucule 2002 |
£17.50 |
| A single estate Italian classic packed with Morello Cherries on a smooth palate and rounded off with a creamy finish |
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| 63. |
Nebbiolo, Poderi Colla 2000 - Barolo |
£32.50 |
| North Western Italian wine made from the small, very dry Nebbiolo grape, which achieves exquisite fruit flavours soothed with earthy woodiness. Modern winemaking techniques allow this wine to be drinkable after only 5 years rather than 20 in the bottle |
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| 67. |
Amarone ‘del Fondatore’, Montressor 2001 |
£39.50 |
| Made in the Valpolicella region of Italy using dried grapes, this wine has in a rich and juicy, intensely fruited palate, soft tannins and a high alcohol content, making it perfect with richly flavoured food |
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| Australia |
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| 72. |
Shiraz, Wyndham Estate Bin 555 2003 |
£17.50 |
| Gloriously rich and full bodied with delicious jammy blackberries, exotic spices and rich vanilla overtones |
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| 71. |
Pinot Noir, Tyrells Old Winery 2003 |
£17.95 |
| One of the few hand-made Australian wines with soft strawberry fruit and gentle oak |
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| 73. |
Cabernet Merlot, Cape Mentelle 2002 |
£30.00 |
| The distinctive Dolphin cap gives this away as a wine made by the producers of Cloudy Bay, cementing their reputation as pioneers in Western Australia. This is a glorious, plummy blend with lots of juicy fruit on the finish |
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| The Americas |
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| 65. |
Cabernet Franc, Kautz Ironstone ‘02/’03- California |
£16.00 |
| Cabernet Franc is traditionally grown in the Loire Valley, where it is light and often quite tannic. This wine is a little more full-bodied and has concentrated black fruit flavours with vanilla aromas – ribena for grown-ups! |
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| 66. |
Pinot Noir, Avilla 2004- California |
£20.50 |
| Sumptuous Pinot with wild raspberry, strawberry and exotic spice flavours. Matches the best of Burgundy |
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| 64. |
Zinfandel, Clos du Val 2003, California |
£27.50 |
| Classic zinfandel from a wine house that is fast cementing a reputation for quality, almost old-world style wines from the Napa Valley area. This example is loaded with bluebery fruit and laced with eastern spices |
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| 69. |
Malbec, Alamos 2004, Argentina |
£16.50 |
| Critics’ favourite, this Bordeaux blending grape comes to life in Argentina with this fruit-packed wine, enlivened by hints of aromatic spice. The natural tannins here form a beautiful partnership with rare meats |
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WHITE WINES |
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| France |
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| 1. |
Sauvignon Blanc, Gooseberry Patch 2004 - Loire |
£13.50 |
| Crisp and dry Touraine wine with blackcurrant and elder leaf aromas, gooseberries and a long, grassy finish |
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| 15. |
Viognier, Michel Laroche 2004 |
£14.50 |
| Spicy and floral, this wine is rich in the mouth with peach and apricot notes and is a great companion for fish or aromatic chicken dishes |
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| 2. |
Gewurtztraminer, Cave de Ribeauville, 2003, Alsace |
£15.00 |
| Delicious wine, synonymous with Alsace showing good body and structure and aromas of lychees, roses and cinnamon spice |
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| 3. |
Chablis ‘La Maladière’, William Fevre 2004 |
£17.95 |
| Golden in colour, this wine has a fresh bouquet of citrus and lemon which continue on the palate balanced with the perfumed mineral notes typical of the region |
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| 4. |
Pouilly Fume, La Renardière 2004 - Loire |
£18.50 |
| Very dry, crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the eastern end of the Loire Valley with gooseberry flavours in the classical style |
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| 13. |
Montagny ‘Vielles Vignes’, Buxy 2002 |
£19.50 |
| Excellent example of what a burgundian co-operative can do with a mix of grapes from different growers, this wine offers ripe lemons on the palate and an elegant, steely dry finish |
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| 24. |
Rully, ‘Vielles Vignes en Truffiere’ Vincent Girardin’02 |
£23.50 |
| Established burgundy producer, which has recently moved to a new winery, resulting in a high level of quality across its portfolio, especially with this classic Rully |
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| 25. |
Riesling Grand Cru, Brand 1999 – Alsace, France |
£23.95 |
| Alsatian Riesling is one of the few white wines which improve with time in the bottle, and this wine is starting to show why. The palate is rich and oily, with fresh lime flavours and a complex, mineral background. The finish is out of this world! |
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| 26. |
Sancerre ‘Le Chene’, Lucien Crochet 2004 |
£27.90 |
| The lighter neighbour of Pouilly Fume, this Sancerre has herbaceous gooseberry flavours, which are balanced by a fresh acidity |
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| 27. |
Chablis Premier Cru, Les Fourchaumes, Laroche 2002 |
£36.50 |
| Structured and complex, this wine oozes class. The nose is floral and creamy, leading to a palate of powerful buttery fruit backed by a steely acidity which will allow the wine to mature for years to come |
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| Spain |
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| 10. |
Verdejo, Vina Mocen 2004, Rueda |
£14.50 |
| The spanish answer to sauvignon blanc, this wine demonstrates a racy acidity supporting ripe gooseberry fruits and hints of peach |
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| Italy |
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| 11. |
Pinot Grigio, Boitega Vinai 2004 - Trentino |
£14.50 |
| First class, pure Pinot Grigio abounding with soft elegant aromas of citrus fruit and almonds freshened by lively fruit on the palate |
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| 12. |
Cortese, Gavi Bricco Battistina 2004 - Piemonte |
£15.50 |
| This is probably the best wine on the list with which to accompany fish due to its subtle, fresh fruitiness and hints of honey and nuts |
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| The Americas |
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| 19. |
Chardonnay, Winston Hill 2003 California, USA |
£13.50 |
| Value for money californian classic with sundrenched pineapple and peachy fruit flavours |
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| 14. |
Chardonnay, Terrazas Alto 2003 - Argentina |
£14.50 |
| Alto refers to the height of the vineyards in which the grapes for this wine grows – the extra height allows the wine to retain a good acidity which balances the rich and buttery palate with delicate flavours of honeyed lemons, pineapple and vanilla |
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| ROSÉ WINES |
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| 90. |
Syrah, Winston Hill 2003, California USA |
£13.00 |
| Innovative wine with an intense, honeycomb and sweet fruit palate and a dry finish |
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| 91. |
Garnacha, Sarria Venedo No 5 2004 – Navarra, Spain |
£15.95 |
| Made using grapes from a single vineyard of 30 year old vines, this is a fresh, classy rosé with great fruit character and a mature finish |
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| Champagne and Sparkling Wine |
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| Mumm Cordon Rouge, Reims - France |
£23.00 |
| Yeasty aromas with a touch of lime on the palate |
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| Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Reims - France |
£32.50 |
| ‘The Widow’ - rich, flavoursome and traditionally styled |
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| Bollinger Special Cuvée, Ay - France |
£34.50 |
| Full bodied and beautifully structured with great length. Made from 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier |
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| Laurent Perrier Rosé, Reims - France |
£45.00 |
| Pinot Noir gives this a decadent pink colour, enhancing a palate of raspberry, black cherries and blackcurrant |
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| Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 1999 - England |
£31.00 |
| Every cloud has a silver lining! Global Warming has enabled Kent to genuinely rival champagne in the production of sparkling wine. This is a creamy wine with an accessible fruit palate and a complex dry finish. It has beaten ancient champagne houses in several recent blind tastings |
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| Bollinger Vintage Grand Année 1997/98 |
£59.00 |
| Classy, well structured with a complex fruit palate |
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| All prices quoted are excluding VAT, but include glasses, ice and other accoutrements, plus the provision of experienced wine waiting staff |
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