Out & About July 2017

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The Newbury area is blessed with a
number of excellent wine merchants.
I attended a wine tasting recently
at Haynes Hanson & Clark’s shop in
Whitchurch.
I was treated to some super wines, the notes
for which I would like to share with you!
“The pursuit of good wine at a good price
is very exciting”, enthuses Master of Wine
Anthony Hanson.
It was with this zeal and drive that he founded
the wine merchant Haynes Hanson & Clark in
1978 with Denis Haynes and Nicholas Clark.
“The idea was to be an independent specialist,
fast-moving and shipping directly,” says Hanson.
“We pride ourselves on the efficient, friendly,
personal service we offer, ensuring that clients
old and new are always looked after by someone
knowledgeable, enthusiastic and keen.
“Thanks to our long history and years of hard
work in establishing relationships with wine
producers, we are able to seek out bottles that
offer brilliant quality and value, from the £6
mark upwards.”
Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie,
Dmne Chauvinière 2015 £9.55
The nose is perfumed, floral and fresh followed
by a beautifully silky texture in the mouth.
Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine Jacky
Marteau 2015. £10.00
The 2015 is wonderfully open and aromatic,
with ripe greengage and hints of spices and
fresh herbs. Very popular in our tasting.
Viognier, Domaine Gayda,
Pays d`Oc 2015. £10.15
This 2015 is an attractively perfumed, peachy
wine. There is ample richness, yet the acidity is
racy and wonderfully fresh.
Mâcon-Prissé, Vignerons des Terres
Secrètes 2015. £12.15
Un-oaked, clean and lively in style, aromas
are bright, floral and lemony. Excellent middle
richness with peach and apricot flavours.
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay,
Auckland 2014. £21.00
One of the stars of the evening, the 2014 is a
spectacular vintage. This Estate Chardonnay is
a bright, pure wine, with lovely oaking, that has
a rich core that is balanced perfectly by racy,
fine acidity.
Racine Minervois, Bruno Lafon & François
Chamboissier 2015. £9.20
A juicy Languedoc blend with aromas of spiced
plums and perfumed garrigue, the palate is
vibrant and fresh.
Gamay sur Volcan, La Madone, Côtes du
Forez, Gilles Bonnefoy 2015. £13.00
Colour is vivid purple, with fresh, red fruit and
floral aromas. The palate is ripe and seamless,
with good depth of flavour and a long-lasting
flavour.
Rioja Crianza, Bodegas
Bagordi 2012. £11.25
The colour is a bright ruby with open spiced
cherry aromas. This is a fresh, ripe style, with
a creamy texture and a fine structure. The
tannins are gentle, with a clean, bright, enticing
finish.
Chateau de Malleret,
Haut Médoc 2009. £18.33
Château de Malleret 2009 is the epitome of
rich, ready-to-drink Bordeaux. The palate is of
medium to full weight, with generously rounded
texture, ample fruit core, supple edges and a
pleasing length.
Château Raymond Lafon,
Sauternes 2008. £28.00
Château Raymond-Lafon is beautifully placed
– the vineyards abut those of Château
d’Yquem and their wines are often compared
in quality, despite the disparity in price.
The property was bought in 1972 by Pierre
Meslier, then the manager of Yquem. He
immediately duplicated the regime of Yquem at
Raymond-Lafon and set about producing one
of the great sweet wines of Bordeaux.
This 2008 is a wine with racy acidity and
crystaline intensity that cuts through the wine’s
natural richness. The aromas combine white
flowers, spiced apricot and peach, with sublime
textures and a clean finish.
Ready to drink, but will cellar well to 2020 and
beyond. If you like sweeter wines... this is a
delight.
Keeping it local
In the first of a series featuring local wine merchants, James Allen shares some of the
delights he discovered at Haynes Hanson & Clark in Whitchurch. And they have a special
offer for out&about readers
toptipples
by
Prices are per bottle. Haynes Hanson
& Clark, are offering a special 10 per
cent case discount on six-bottle cases
(normally only on 12-bottle cases).
Please call them or email your order,
and quote ‘Out & About’
Haynes Hanson & Clark,
7a Church Street, Whitchurch,
Hampshire RG28 7AA
Tel: 01256 830 104
Email:
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
Saturday10am-4.30pm
READER OFFER