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tipples
JAMES ALLEN has bottled together some corking ideas for Father’s Day
The special day in June is Sunday 18th – Father’s Day – and what better gift than something interesting
to drink? I have a magnum (150cl) of excellent wine to suggest – magnums always look so special.
Then I have a super Armagnac, a top Spanish red and some extremely tasty beers.
Any, or all, of these would be well received on the day.
Château Gigault Cuvée Viva
Claret Magnum 2010
A magnum of “impressively opulent wine”
(Robert Parker) from the exceptional 2010
vintage.
Across the river from famous Margaux
commune in Bordeaux, lies the Premières
Côtes de Blaye.
With Stéphane Derenoncourt as winemaker,
this terrific estate is ensuring the region’s wines
get the recognition they deserve.
Cuvée Viva is a rich, world class, modern
claret. America’s leading critic Robert Parker,
always scores the wine highly, describing
it as “consistently one of my picks as an
overachieving
wine”. And
he described
this particular
vintage as “an
impressively
opulent wine –
complex, deep,
flashy”.
Hand-picked,
low-yield Merlot
aged in new
oak, this is a
deeply flavoured,
well structured
claret, velvety
smooth, too. A
top pick with roast
lamb. Alcohol:
13%. Drink by:
December 2025.
£40 per magnum
from Laithwaites,
Theale (limited
stock)
Tariquet Armagnac, Le Legendaire
Although both Cognac and Armagnac are
made by distilling the thin wine made from the
same local grapes, and, incidentally, in the
same part of France (Gascony), Armagnac
has, typically, a fuller more complex flavour
than Cognac due to
differences in distillation
and maturation
processes.
This is one of Tariquet’s
finest Armagnacs, aged
for at least 13 years in
oak barrels in Tariquet’s
cellars.
Pale gold in colour with
aromas of apple pie and
orange flower. Further
hints of toffee lead to a
smooth palate with light
caramel and liquorice
notes, roasted fruits
and fine spices such as
nutmeg and cinnamon.
Enjoy at room
temperature or lightly
chilled with luxury
desserts.
£55 from Majestic,
Newbury
Manly Red
The Spanish cult star of the
year, the Milcampos Tempranillo
from Ribera del Duero (top wine
producing area).
Juicy, brooding dark fruits and
multi-layered flavours, silky-
smooth but turbo-charged. Sure
to put a smile on dad’s face
£18.99 from The Naked Grape,
Hungerford
Real Ale Gift Set
Mix ‘n’ match from a selection of Real Ale and
packaged in a gift box for just £10.
What better way to spend a tenner than on
fourbottles of tasty beer.
£10.00 from the Naked Grape, Hungerford
Puligny Montrachet
Premier Cru
This a top-notch white
burgundy from a top-notch
producer. Superb wine.
Terrific for Father’s Day.
A perfumed and buttery
nose of fresh stone fruit, racy
citrus fruits and soft vanillin.
A rich and creamy palate of
full-bodied fruit and toasty
oak, a rounded finish of
toasty oak and vibrant acidity.
£39.95 from Majestic,
Newbury