My favourite wines...
Every now and then I have the opportunity to buy wines that are especially good value or those that are just very interesting. I may get a call from one of our wine merchants and purchase two or three of them to sell from the end of the bar rather than our wine list. This gives me the flexibility to buy according to season or vintage, country or region on a more regular basis and although I admit to being no expert, I do have the rather onerous task of tasting the wine, which enables me to advise the customer based on their likes and dislikes.
Two of our best sellers at the moment are both from the Beaujolais region. A lovely soft perfumed Fleurie and a fruit – driven Brouilly that will be ideal with our chicken or guinea fowl dishes. Both are relatively inexpensive and good value at around £20. I have recently acquired a magnificent Côtes de Rhone in the Chateauneuf du Pape Exceptionnelle. Produced by Jérome Quiot, it is by far, one of the best Chateauneuf reds that I have tasted for many years and is made from the oldest vines in the vineyard and from a superb vintage.
From the southern hemisphere, I have a very full and tasty Malbec from Argentina, the Trivento Golden Reserve, which has been appreciated by many customers. This one benefits from a year in French oak and has aromas of cherries and chocolate. From the famous Marlborough region of New Zealand, known mainly for Sauvignon Blanc, I have a fantastic Syrah, lifted by floral notes as a result of being co-fermented with Viognier. This would accompany our fillet steak or rack of lamb most adequately.
Soon to arrive from Bergerac will be a Sauvignon-Semillon from the growers at La Tour de Chollet. This offers fantastic value at around £14 and will be great with any of the fish dishes on the menu or for an aperitif before dinner.
The wines mentioned above are just a few of what’s on offer at the end of the bar, so it really is a good idea to have a browse before choosing from the wine list. Please don’t forget that we offer a private purchase service at the Bakers Arms. You may have particularly enjoyed one of our wines from the list or from the bar and wish to enjoy it at home too. Tell us which one you like and we will order it for you to collect at your convenience. All you pay is the cost price of the wine (not the restaurant price) to the merchant concerned and we do the rest. We’ll even load the car for you! How’s that for service?