Award Winning Wines Update - As featured in Decanter Magazine for Christmas

Alpha Zeta 'A' Amarone della Valpolicella 2006 @ £23.95 per bottle

Awarded 4 Stars ****
"Smooth with huge concentration but firm structure. It's well spiced, with lovely purple fruit depth and truffle notes. Perfect for Cheese".

Click here for more details and to purchase!



Gran Sasso, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008 @ £6.95 per bottle

Awarded 4 Stars **** "Smooth, dark, rich and creamy, this smells and tastes like it costs more than it does: juicy brambly fruit, grippy tannins and a lovely fresh smell."

Click here for more details and to purchase.

Neil Ellis Sauvignon Blanc Groenekloof 2008 @ £8.95 per bottle

Awarded 4 Stars **** "Neil Ellis makes great red and Chardonnay but I think this Sauvignon is his best wine. Depth of Gooseberry and a hint of tropical fruit with taut minerality and impressive concentration."

Click here for more details and to purchase

Latino Food & Wine Dinner at Salty Dog 10th December 2009

Last night we hosted Damon's Latino Food and Wine Dinner at the Salty Dog, our last dinner for 2009. 

There was certainly some Christmas spirit going round and it was lovely to also welcome a large group who had chosen a food and wine dinner as their Christmas staff party.  Such a great idea and perfect for whoever was paying as everything was included in the price, from the aperitif to the after dinner drink.  Very savvy!  It was also lovely to have Cristian Urra with us, a young Chilean winemaker (perfect timing for a Latino dinner) who has been with us for three days this week on work experience.  We hope he has enjoyed his stay with us and that we have given him a good insight into the wine business in Jersey.

Damon had again spent many hours researching the dishes for the evening and we had the challenging task of matching the wines.  Having chosen Cuba and Mexico as his main influences for the food, we knew that the wines would have to stand up to complex flavours and spice.

After the apertifs, a crisp and lively sparkling wine from Valentin Bianchi, Argentina and for the Lager lovers, Brahma from Brazil, we sat down to begin.

The starter of Crispy Pork Belly with Chipotle Chilli King Prawns with Cool Lime and Coriander Salsa, Picadillo Peppers stuffed with Crab and Chicken and Pecorino Cheese Jalapeno Peppers packed quite a punch but was nicely refreshed, particularly with the Amaral Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from Chile with its exceptional purity of flavour and great acidity.  Lovely pear drop notes and hints of grass made this juicy, crisp wine a real winner against the heat.  The Catena Chardonnay 2007 from Argentina with its denser structure and creaminess was excellent with the Belly Pork.  A great start!

Next up was the first of two main courses, Ancho Marinated Sea Bass Oaxaca Style with crushed Pintos Beans and Baked Rice (Frijoles Barrachos).  This was served with the same two whites from the starter and how different they were with this dish.  The Amaral was still excellent, the acidity cutting through perfectly but the Catena Chardonnay really stood up well with the Seabass, bringing out its delicate and subtle flavours.  I have never eaten seabass as silky and flaky as this.  Amazingly well cooked and certainly had the WOW factor.

The second main course was Cuban Roast Pork with Filling of Crushed Crackling, Golden Raisins and Oloroso Marinated Apple Sauce and served with Cumin Roast Potatoes.  We served two reds with this course, the Luigi Bosca Malbec/Petit Verdot/Tannat 'Gala 1' 2006 from Argentina and Chocalán Syrah ‘Reserve’ 2005 from Chile.  The dish was really tasty and reminded us of a really posh roast dinner.  The raisins were amazing and complemented the dish very well indeed.  Both wines performed very well but it was difficult to choose which one was the best.  However, as the Chocalan is £8 cheaper per bottle, it won through for me.  No wonder it received a GOLD medal at the Concours Mondial Bruxelles awards 2009.  Its complex and distinctive nose of spices mixed with plum, strawberry and coffee and its elegant yet bold palate worked perfectly with this dish.  Think I'll add this wine to our next wine delivery for home!

Last up was the incredibly light and tropical flavour-packed Mango and Lime Bavarois with Toasted Coconut Biscuits. Unfortunately, we did not have a dessert wine from South America to showcase against this dish and so chose a wine from the other side of the world!  We chose the multi-award winning Mount Horrocks Riesling 'Cordon Cut' 2008 from South Australia.  A unique wine.  ‘Cordon Cut’ refers to a unique, risky process that involves cutting the canes when the grapes are ripe, allowing the remaining fruit to concentrate and raisin naturally on the vine. The resulting flavour is intense and rich  with lively perfumes of citrus, flowers, spice and honey that flow through to the palate. Another Gold Medal winner and was totally scrummy with the dish.

Then the rum started flowing.  Pyrat X.O. Planters Reserve Rum from Anguilla.  Pyrat XO Reserve is a select blend of fine, 15 year old Caribbean rums. It's smooth taste and delicious flavour is complimented by its rich amber colour. It was served with ice and very much enjoyed by those who chose to have it.

It was a superb evening and there was a such a warm, lively atmosphere.  Huge thanks to Damon and his incredible team for faultless food and service once again.  Thanks also to Liz who did all the talking, giving Neil a night off from speaking between each course, you did a great job.   Finally, thank you to all those who came and enjoyed the evening, we hope to see you again soon.

We look forward to hosting many more food and wine dinners in 2010!

Middle Eastern Food and Wine Dinner at The Salty Dog 3rd December 2009

On Thursday 3rd December we hosted a Middle Eastern food and wine dinner at The Salty Dog featuring wines from Israel and Lebanon.  A much anticipated evening as last years event was a sell out and a great success. 

Damon put together an amazing menu for us and our task was to ensure that the wines matched perfectly.  Having only a small selection of wines from Lebanon (mainly from Tanail Winery) and nothing from any other area in the Middle East (apart from Chateau Musar 1983 at £49.95 a bottle!), did limit our offering so we decided that we would undertake some research in the form of acquiring new samples.  Not only would this expand our knowledge but also give us a chance to see if there were any exciting new wines that we could use for the dinner and then start selling in the shop. 

One of the most popular wines from the Middle East is Chateau Kefraya (Lebanon) so we obtained a number of samples from them as well from a Chateau called Chateau Ka and some from a winery called Carmel from Israel.  We were very unimpressed with the wines from Kefraya but the wines from Carmel and Ka were outstanding and we were delighted to import them just in time for the dinner.

After welcoming the guests in the bar area with a glass of Massaya Arak from Tanail Winery Lebanon, (an aniseed flavoured eau-de-vie which is a little sweeter than the likes of Pernod or Ricard) or a glass of Mercier Champagne (for those who did not want the Arak), we sat down to our mixed platter starter (Mezza Classic) together with two new wines from Carmel Winery, Israel.  The platter consisted of : Dolmas - Spicy Lamb Wrapped in Vine Leaves, Char Grilled Mackerel, Sweet Potato Pickle and Mint Yoghurt, Houmous with Crispy Shredded Duck and Marinated Harissa King Prawns with Mint and Cucumber.  These were accompanied with Lebanese Flat Bread. 

With this course we served Carmel Winery 'Carmel Ridge' White 2007, a wine made mainly from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, with a little Colombard and Semillon, from the Zichron Ya’acov vineyards. It was cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the aromas of melon, pear and lime and was light-bodied, clean and refreshing with good balancing acidity.  A perfect match with all the food, particularly the Harissa Prawns.  We also served the Carmel Winery 'Carmel Ridge' Red 2007 made mainly from Carignan, with a little Shiraz, Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon also grown in vineyards surrounding Zichron Ya’acov. This is a medium bodied wine with a fabulous aroma of cherries and plums and a little vanilla in the background.  It was soft with a satisfyingly long finish and also worked well with the food, particularly the stunning lamb wrapped in vine leaves.

Next up was Syrian Slow Braised Lamb with Saffron Cinnamon Rice and Roast Aubergine and Artichoke Salad with Green Beans and Tomato Fenugreek Sauce.  This was served with Chateau Ka (Cabernet /Grenache/Mourvedre) 'Source de Rouge' 2005 (Lebanon) and Tanaïl Winery Silver Selection Red 'Massaya' 2005 (Lebanon).  This course was delicious and beautifully cooked.  I particularly loved the Aubergine and Artichoke salad.  Both reds were great but undoubtedly the star was the Chateau Ka and everyone agreed.  Quite Bordelaise in style, this wine was succulent, juicy, smooth and very moreish.  It went down a treat!  We are so pleased to be stocking this wine and will, we are sure, be a great seller for us.

Finally, the dessert of Baked Quince Tart with Tahini and Rose Water Honey was served and we couldn't wait to get stuck in.  More of a sponge than a tart but it was simply stunning.  With this we served the equally stunning Carmel Winery 'Sha'al Vineyard' Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2006 from Israel. This wine has a fruit and flower aromas with a lively flavour of citrus fruits. Moderately sweet, with rose petal and orange peel overtones and honeyed pear, apricot and litchi fruits;  it was almost like a dessert in itself. Succulent, with a long-lingering finish and a perfect match with the dish.  Many commented that the wine actually 'made' the dessert!

Oh how I wish Damon would also set up a Middle Eastern restaurant because he really is a damn fine chef who clearly spent a lot of time researching the food and perfecting the flavours and authenticity of the dishes.  I personally have not experienced the food first hand from these countries but Kasia, one of our Sales Advisors has and she said the food was actually better than when she visited!  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the new wines were very well received.

Huge thanks to Damon and his team, a very memorable evening!  We will be there again on Thursday 10th December for the Latino dinner and again on Saturday 12th for our Christmas Staff do!  We just love The Salty Dog!  See their website http://www.saltydogbistro.com/ for details.

Burgundy Dinner Friday 13th November with Dunell's and Berry Bros.

After our Burgundy Tasting upstairs and apertif of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque 2002, it was downstairs to the private room in Bohemia for the Burgundy Dinner.  Shaun Rankin devised a menu especially for the evening and after the welcoming introduction from Adrian Burns there was much anticipation for the food and wine combinations ahead. 

First up was Grilled local mullet and roast scallops, cauliflower puree, blood orange, white chocolate and fourme d’Ambert.  This was served with Les Heretiers du Comte Lafon Macon-Milly ‘Clos du Four’ 2007 and Bret Bros Pouilly-Vinzelles ‘Les Quarts’ 2007.  When we were told what Shaun had planned for our starter, we must admitt that we were a little daunted as to what wine to choose (especially with the use of white chocolate) but we came up trumps with the two choices but in particular the Comte Lafon Macon-Milly with its creamy minerality, richness and length.  What a stunning wine, not to mention the dish.  A flavour explosion and every mouthful was different, delicate yet textured.  The wine really brought out the flavours of the mullet and scallop which against all the other flavours on the plate was quite remarkable.  The room was almost silent as no one wanted the dish to end!  The second wine was also great, much crisper than the Macon-Milly but equally powerful.

Next up was Slow cooked fillet of Scottish beef Rossini, woodland mushrooms , “pomme galette” and Summer truffle served with Patrice Rion Nuits-St-Georges Vieilles-Vignes 2006 and Frederic Mugnier Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru ‘Clos de la Marechale’ 2006.  Stunningly presented, this dish was perfect with both wines and it was hard to choose which was the best.  The wine from Patrice was plummy and made in the classic Nuits-St-Georges style, full of fruit and finesse and the wine from Frederic was harmonious, classy, plummy and superbly structured to age.  The room was very divided on opinion.  It is great when that happens and reinforces the choice to serve two wines. 

The cheese course of Brie des meaux and Perigord Truffles was delicious.  Always a great combination, Neil loved loved loved this dish.  This was served with Arnaud Ente Meursault ‘Clos des Ambres’ 2005.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to photograph this dish as it was devoured rather quickly. Sorry.  It was easy to see why Domaine Arnaud Ente is one of the hottest wine properties in Mersault today and is arguably Burgundy's brightest rising star.

Finally, the dessert of Slow cooked caramelised pineapple chop, coconut sorbet and sesame seed brittle adorned the table and was served with Domaine Cauhapé Jurancon Vendange Tardive ‘Symphonie de Novembre’ This was a WOW dish and I could have happily eaten two plates! Incredible flavour and the coconut sorbet was to die for.  Unfortunately, the dessert wine wasn't from Burgundy as Burgundy is not really known for its dessert wines so we chose a Jurancon and it delivered! A very intense nose, combining citrus fruit and exotic perfume (pineapple & quince) with hints of fine oak, resin, spice and toasty notes.  Another dish and flavour combination that no one wanted to end.

We finished the evening with coffee, some gorgeous petit fours (we even asked for more) and a glass (or two, or three) of Chateau de Montifaud 'Reserve de la Famille' 30 Year Old XO.  Remarkable aromas of dried fruits and, in particular, grilled almonds. Great freshness and not too tannic.  A perfect end.

All in all a fabulous evening and wonderful company.  Huge thanks to Adrian and Damien for their wisdom, to all the satff and chefs at Bohemia for an incredible meal and to all the guests who made it a evening to remember!

Jane

Our Burgundy Wine Tasting with Berry Bros. & Rudd 13th November 2009

Sorry for being so far behind in writing a little about our Burgundy Wine Tasting last month, it has been crazy here and whilst we were preparing for our huge ONE DAY SALE on 28th November, there was not a moment to sit down and reminisce on what was a superb event.

It was hosted by ourselves, together with Adrian Burns and Damien Carrington from Berry Brothers, London.  It was a delight to welcome them both to Jersey although we were experiencing some dreadful weather at the time with heavy rain and gale force winds!

Held in the aptly named Burgundy Room at the The Club Hotel & Spa, Green Street, we welcomed over 60 guests to sample 19 great wines (£11.40 to £73.75 per bottle) from the likes of Patrice & Michel Rion, Dujac Fils & Pere, Jean-Frederic Mugnier, Arnaud Ente, Francois D'Allaines etc.  What was great to see was not only the eagerness from the guests to learn and appreciate such great wines, but also the vast age range attending.  It was clearly evident and noted by many guests that Dunell's is now not just attracting the more mature client but we are also attracting those brand new to wine, from 18 years of age and upwards.  We have been working really hard to diminish the more traditional barriers that Dunell's used to represent and open ourselves up to all those who love wine, no matter what age (over 18 of course) or budget.

The venue was perfect and as guests worked their way through the wines, Adrian, Damien, Liz and Neil had the chance to mingle and talk to everyone about the wines.  However, the main purpose of the afternoon was all about enjoying the wines, relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and colleagues.

Of course, the most popular wines were the two most expensive, the PATRICE & MICHEL RION Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2005 (£67.50) and the PATRICK JAVILLIER Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2006 (£73.75).  Both were beautiful.  The Charmes-Chambertin displayed red berried fruit and subtle earthy tones.  It was delicious with great long with finesse and although you would not describe it as a powerful red it was certainly elegant.   The Corton-Charlemagne was rich and deep with well integrated toasty oak.  Creamy, concentrated and full but with enough zestiness to give a fresh finish.  Really excellent.

Another wine stood out for many people was the COMTE LAFON Macon-Milly 'Clos Du Four' 2007 at £16.95 per bottle.  It was the first wine of the tasting and it was the perfect wine to awaken the taste buds. This macon offered intense aromas of citrus, quince and honey, developing in the mouth with good acidity.  Lovely creamy texture and elegant.  This is a wine that will continue drinking well over the next five years.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable event and we would like to thank everyone who attended.  We hope to see you all again at future events.  Thanks to Adrian and Damien for choosing a great selection of wines to showcase and thanks also to our wonderful staff members who helped to make everything run so smoothly.

Jane

We travelled East again last night to Feast - A Spanish Feast

http://www.feast.je/

Last night we headed East again to Feast for their Spanish Food and Wine Dinner.  Having tried out some of the food with Anne beforehand we were very much looking forward to the evening.  This was the first time that Anne has held an event like this on a Wednesday evening (they are usually on Thursdays) and I am glad to say that it was full again!  Her evenings have become so popular and now have quite a following.  It was nice to see some regulars but also some that had never been to Feast before or indeed eaten in the East of the island for over 2 years....damn those taxi fares from St. Brelade! (Ray and Sue, it was a pleasure to take you out East).

So, the night was all about Spanish Food and Wine and Anne and her brilliant team had devised some gorgeous introductory tapas to get the evening started.  Along with a lovely glass of bubbles from Torre del Gall, the Sardines wrapped in Filo pastry and the Barbacoa chorizo sausage with tomato and piquillos peppers on country toast were stunning.  I usually don't like sardines but I think I may be converted!

These were quickly gobbled up and we were then ready for the next round of tapas.  After Neil's introduction and explanation of the wines to come we were served the first two wines (1 white and 1 red) with the array of six different tapas.  The Castro Martin A20 Albariño 2007 was the hit of the two as it has great acidity and a creamy depth which worked well the abundance of different flavours.  These evenings are always a great opportunity to get people to try new wines and this one was no exception.  Many commented that they would have never thought to buy this wine if they had the choice against more well known grape varieties but they were really impressed with it.  We love it!

Next up, the pork we told you about, rolled and stuffed with prunes and walnuts with a tomato, lemon, herb and olive sauce and saffron rice, again served with two wines.  This time both red.  Both worked brilliantly with our personal favourite being the Abadia Retuerta Rivola 2006.  The other, the Herencia Remondo La Montesa Rioja 2005 (the overall favourite before the food was served) was also excellent, elegant in style but it didn't quite match up to the depth of the Rivola which made it a better match with the food with its mix of flavours.  The dish was devised by Lorraine Falle (co-owner of Feast) and it was great to see her togged up in the kitchen! Well done Lorraine, you created a very authentic Spanish dish as well as decorated the restaurant again in true style!

Next up, the cheese course.  A lovely Manchego with quince jelly (membrillo) and country bread (sorry got stuck in before I could take a picture..oops).  We kept the same two reds through to this course and again the Rivola shone with the dish. But it was the dessert we were all waiting for and the chance to try out the Etim Verema Tardama 2006 which is a delicious sweet wine made from selected late harvest red Grenache grapes.  Beautifully served, the ice-cream with Seville Orange Marmalade was accompanied by a little cup of dark chocolate sauce and homemade Churros (Sugar and cinnamon doughnuts).  The wine was great with it all and very much enjoyed.  We love serving red dessert wines! Something a bit different.

Huge thanks have to go to the brilliant team at Feast as well as to Jamie Racjan from Fungi Delecti for all the authentic Spanish ingredients that were used to create the dishes.  Liz will be hosting the second round of this event on Thursday 12th November along with Jamie himself which I have no doubt will be just as great!

Jane

Taltarni Food & Wine Dinner at Danny's Harbour View, St. Aubin 22.10.09

Yesterday we welcomed Arnaud Deville, Sales and Marketing Manager for Taltarni in Europe.  Arnaud is also the Managing Director of Domaine de Nizas, an exceptional estate in the Languedoc owned by John Goelet.  John not only owns these two properties but also Clos du Val in Napa Valley and Clover Hill and Lalla Gully in Tasmania.  These properties make up Goelet Wine Estates, a global fine wine alliance coordinating the marketing, sales and distribution resources of these five pioneering family owned and operated wine brands. For more information go to http://www.goeletwineestates.com/

So, yesterday was all about Taltarni. Established in 1969, Taltarni is a founding winery of Victoria’s Pyrenees wine region. The picturesque 700ha property, was purchased by John Goelet in 1972 and released its first wine in 1977. Today Taltarni has 132ha of vines.

The Pyrenees wine district is one of life’s hidden treasures – the rolling hills, sweeping bluffs and gum trees create a beautiful landscape and a great place to relax. In local aboriginal dialect Taltarni means ‘red earth', describing the rich, red soil of the region. To read more about their vineyards click here.

We have been selling wines from this estate for nearly 15 years and there is now a huge following in Jersey.  Our biggest selling wine out of everything we sell is the Taltarni Brut Taché Sparkling 2007 (The wine we celebrated with at our wedding nearly 12 years ago).  We sell in excess of 15,000 bottles a year of this wine alone which is more than what is sold in the whole of the UK! That just shows how popular this wine is in Jersey.  Arnaud described us as a 'Champion Seller' - what an honour!

Having recently increased our range of wines from Taltarni, what better way to showcase them than with a food and wine dinner.  As Arnaud is currently travelling around other merchants and restaurants in the UK, we thought it would be great for him to pop over and visit us too. 

Having chosen the ever popular Danny's in St Aubin as our venue, we were very much looking forward to an enjoyable evening of great food, great wine and in a great atmosphere.  We all enjoyed the Taltarni Taché 2007 on arrival and there was also the opportunity to try the newly introduced Taltarni T-Series Brut Sparkling.  This non-vintage Taltarni T Series Sparkling NV is a traditional method sparkling made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier sourced from the Pyrenees and Macedon Ranges. It is a blend of 70% current vintage and 30% reserve wine that is aged in stainless steel and older French oak. A bright, fruit driven wine that shows an impressive array of citrus, melon and ripe strawberry flavours. Lovely an refershing and perfect as an aperitif, it is a great wine to enjoy any time, for any celebration. All I can say is that this went down really well indeed and at £7.95 per bottle it is a steal! (I will be adding this sparkly to the website shortly but do pop down to the shop)

After Neil's introductory welcome, Arnaud introduced himself and told us a little about the background of the properties owned by John Goelet.  The first wine that we were to have with our starter of Roasted Goats Cheese with and Aussie Eggplant Relish was the Taltarni 'T-Series' Sauvignon/Semillon 2008.  A recent addition  to our portfolio, we just loved its fresh and lively attack with lemon, passionfruit and mango notes from the Sauvignon Blanc complemented by straw and guava flavours from the Semillon. The very easy, refreshing natural acidity was perfectly complemented by a well textured mid-palate which they gain from lees contact. These flavours and acidity worked very well against the goats cheese, cutting through its creaminess very well indeed.  This wine, for the price (£6.95), is very impressive and many agreed.  Not only is this wine great without food but stands up well to a complex palate of food flavours.  Great start!

Next up was the intermediate course of Vanilla Baked Red Snapper with Babaganouj.  A beautifully cooked, meaty piece of fish wrapped in pancetta with an aubergine puree and parmesan shavings.  We thought we would test the boundaries here by serving the Taltarni T-Series Shiraz 2006 with this dish.  Shiraz is a varietal with which Taltarni has excelled from the very start.  This wine offers a soft Rhone style structure with deep colours, a vibrant assortment of juicy plummy fruit, and assertive but integrated oak. This is a quaffable red which is not hugely powerful, so it's perfect to drink with many different styles of food.  The wine worked well with this dish, particularly with the pancetta, aubergine and pesto dressing.  In fact, many noted that the wine brought out the lime flavours in the dish which was quite interesting. 

Next dish up, Danny's famous 'Quack' (Slow cooked duck leg in red wine served with rosemary mash and Chorizo honey sauce) served with two of Taltarni's 'Big Boys'.  With the Taltarni Heathcote Shiraz 2005 and Taltarni Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 'Cephas' 2001 (not currently available on our site yet).

Sourced from a single vineyard, Taltarni Heathcote Shiraz is partially barrel fermented and matured for 16 months in American oak. It is crafted to reflect the distinctive style of the Heathcote terroir.  We couldn't wait to tuck into the beautifully cooked duck, so inviting, so soft and flavoursome.  The jus was stunning and added a slight sweetness to the dish which when paired with the wines really took them to a higher dimension.  The Heathcote (one of my personal favourites) is rich with hints of sweeter red fruits, chocolate and vanilla oak aromas.  It has exceptional structure and is very well balanced and everyone loved it.  A lovely match with this dish. 

The Cephas 2001, with 72% Shiraz and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon structure really, when I look back now, was the winner of the two wines.  The room was almost equally split on which one was the favourite but I feel the Cephas did in fact have that edge, for a number of reasons.  The Cabernet had really added to the structure and length of the wine as well as very smooth tannins on top of the body, richness and red/black fruit flavours from the Shiraz.  In fact this wine was so fresh that you would be very hard pushed to guess the age if tasting blind.  It tasted like an 04 or 05.  The cellaring potential for this wine is therefore great and I spoke to Arnaud about Taltarni's library of wines dating back to the 1970's.  Their wines are proving to age exceptionally well and Arnaud said how impressed he was when he was at Taltarni last year and had the opportunity to try some of the much older wines.  I think I better check how many bottles we have left because it will be very interesting to keep a case or two to try this wine in another 10/15 year times and see what the result is.  A mouth-filling, complex wine that also worked very well with this dish. A great success!

Unfortunately, Taltarni do not produce a pudding wine to export so we decided (as we couldn't resist Danny's Bitter Chocolate Tart when we put the menu together) to showcase one of our favourite red pudding wines - Domaine Pouderoux Maury Rouge 2007 from Arnaud's home territory, the Languedoc.  It was a lovely match and a perfect end to a wonderful meal.  Many people had never been to Danny's before and they were very impressed.  Danny will certainly be seeing us again for food and wine dinner in the future.  Huge thanks to 'Team Dunell's' for their professionalism and team-work and to Danny and his staff for making the evening a great success.  Also, huge thanks to Arnaud himself for coming to Jersey to share his wisdom and expertise.  He was a pleasure to listen to and we look forward to seeing him again next year.  He has been really taken by Jersey and we are already planning a rather special event for next June.  Watch this space! - Jane

UPDATE: Today we had the opportunity to try the wines from Domaine de Nizas with Arnaud and Neil was very impressed with them.  Watch this space because we will be stocking some of these wines in approximately one month.

Mel Hollick from Hollick Winery comes to Jersey!

I am a little behind in my blogs (Neil never seems to have the time to write them these days) but I just had to let you know about a food and wine dinner we held in September at the Atlantic Hotel. 

We were very fortunate to have Mel Hollick from Hollick Winery, Coonawarra Australia visit Jersey as part of her whirlwind tour around other merchants and restaurants in the UK.  Mel admitted that she wasn't too sure what to expect of Jersey but almost fell in love immediately and promised to return soon.  Makes you really think about what we take for granted every day living on such a beautiful island.

Hollick is a small independent, family owned winery located with vineyards located on the famed terra rossa soils of Coonawara.  The first wine under the Hollick label - a Cabernet Sauvignon - was released in 1983. Successful vintages followed, and the wines across the Hollick range have won numerous trophies and medals including the coveted 1995 Jimmy Watson Trophy. The quality of their wines is very high indeed and we were very much looking forward to trying them out against Mark Jordan's beautiful food.

The Gallimard Brut Cuvée Reserve (such a great small house Champagne) was a beautiful start to the evening and we all wondered outside to enjoy the warm (ish) evening. 

After being seated in the wonderful Italian Room (always a favourite of ours for dinners) and the official welcome from Neil, Mel told us a little about her family and the winery itself.  The winery was established in 1984 after 22 Hectares of prime Terra Rossa soil was purchased in 1974 by her father, Ian.  In 1985 they won the Jimmy Watson Trophy for the best one-year old red wine in the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.  So, they realised that there was massive potential and the winery grew to 100 hectares by 1987.  In 2007, after the purchase of a further 24 hectares and the celebration of their 25th Anniversary, Ian's daughters, Kate and Mel came on board to work at the winery.  They also run a very successful restaurant at the winery called 'Upstairs at Hollick'.  It was actually the first winery restaurant in the whole of the Coonawarra!  It sounds amazing with stunning panoramic views over their vineyards as well as into their barrel store.  I would love to visit there one day!


The risotto starter (Risotto of Jersey Crab and Sweetcorn with Parmesan Shavings and Basil Oil) worked particularly well with both the Sauvignon/Semillon 2008 and the Chardonnay 2006 but my personal favourite of the two, with the food was the Chardonnay.  The full and complex palate of fresh fruit and mineral notes compliment by a soft, creamy mouth feel really worked well with the creaminess in the risotto. A succulent and balanced wine with an elegant structure, fine texture and excellent persistence. No wonder James Halliday and Matthew Jukes love it so much. 

The main course (Baked Fillet of Irish Beef Wellington with Truffle Pomme Puree, Buttered Vegetables and a Red Wine Jus) was a delight.  Perfectly cooked beef, flaky pastry and a lovely jus that was gently poured by Sergio.  The room was divided over which wine they liked best with this course, one of the reasons why we served both.  The Cabernet/Merlot 05 was complex and intense with lashings of sweet black fruits and chocolate notes. Its fine and velvety tannins combined well to give the wine a soft and lingering finish.  It worked very well indeed with the food.  We didn't get a chance to ask Mark, but it looked like the filling in between the meat and the flaky pastry was within a thin pancake, a technique I had recently seen on TV that helps to 'mop' up the meat juices and helps keep the pastry flaky.  The technique certainly worked.  Well done Mark and his team for a perfectly executed dish.

The straight Cabernet Sauvignon 04, my personal favourite, offered a wonderfully intense and vibrant mix of dark berry fruit aromas, laced with hints of mint and dark chocolate. This is a big, slightly more rustic red with excellent length and texture that worked so well with meat as well as with the creamy mashed potato. It was divine.


The Hollick Ravenswood 2002 was much anticipated with the cheese course (Gouda and Parmesan). A very classy wine that showed great depth of fruit and fine tannins especially against the parmesan and oat biscuit.Very complex and concentrated.  We all loved it but it would have been great to have tried this against the beef wellington as it could have been a real stunner with the beef.

The Hollick Botrytised Riesling 'The Nectar' 2008 was stunning with the Thin Crispy Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream.  It is not called 'The Nectar' for nothing. Its luscious palate of concentrated apricots, and citrus fruit mingled particularly well but I have to say that the brush of chocolate and the chocolate stick that accompanied gave the wine it's wow factor - even Mel was surprised at how it brought out the flavours in the wine. It was mouth-coatingly complex with a fresh and vibrant palate revealing undertones of lemon and mandarin. Yum!

All-in-all, a fabulous dinner with extremely enjoyable wines.  Hollick winery has a wealth of talent for creating award winning wines from many different grape varieties.  Having recently taken on a much larger range of wines from them, we very much look forward to their future vintages.  This is certainly a winery to watch!  Huge thanks go to Mel Hollick who not only was charming but enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable.  She was a delight to listen to and we look forward to her visiting Jersey again sometime in the future.  Also, thanks to Mark Jordan and his team for the wonderful food and to Sergio and his team for looking after the wines.

Jane

The Italian Feast @ Feast, Gorey 15.10.09

Whilst 3 of our team were down at Motor Mall showcasing dessert wines, Neil and I were at Feast in Gorey to help host their Italian Food and Wine night. Annie, Olie and Lorraine had beautifully decorated both the exterior and the interior in true Italian style with candles, lemons, herbs, Venetian masks and hats.  Such thought and care had been put into the evening.  No wonder their 'Feasts' are always fully booked. The ambience had been set for a super evening.

After testing all the wines, the guests began to arrive to Annie's warm reception and a glass of chilled Bisol Prosecco 'Crede'. This was the perfect accompaniment to an array of Antipasti that followed on lovely wooden trays.  Bruscetta with figs and parma ham/ Tomato and Mozzarella with Basil and Prosciutto wrapped with rocket, parmasan and truffle oil. Delish!

With the room filling up fast, it was time to settle at our tables.  Neil introduced himself and spoke a few words about the Prosecco and the next wine, the Pieropan Soave 2008 whilst the staff busily brought through our first course - Seafood risotto with white truffle shavings and fresh pesto.  The quality of the scallops in this dish was outstanding and the risotto was a beautiful consistency.  The Pieropan particularly enhanced the scallop and had enough acidity to cut through the creaminess.

Neil then explained a little about the next two reds Ca dei Frati Ronchedone 2006 & Tenimenti Corvina/Cabernet Sauvignon Thesaurum 2006 we were to have with the Roast Rump of Lamb.  It had been marinated in sage, thyme, garlic and lemon and served with slow braised Italian beans in a tomato broth. The Ronchedone was the clear favourite of the two with this well executed dish.  One of Neil's favourite reds, it was clear to see why this why it is so great, especially with food.  Great depth of fruit and perfumes of spicy red fruits that complemented the tender lamb and brasied beans very nicely indeed.

The reds carried through to the cheese course of Dolcelatte served with 2 different Italian pressed dried fig and almond slices and fresh figs.  It is worth mentioning here that Jamie Racjan from Fungi Delecti supplied Feast with much of the produce used during the evening and it really showcased what beautiful foods he grows locally and imports into this Island.  Well done Jamie! Click here to see more information on his company and his products. The creamy Dolcelatte was one of the best I had had for quite some time and the pressed fig slices were delicious.

After a few more words from Neil we eagerly awaited the dessert of Lemon Tart with passionfruit mascapone and amaretti biscuits with Maculan Moscato Dindarello 2007.  The lemon tart was a dream with great pastry and light brulée topping which worked really well with the citrus notes in the Dindarello.

Neil then decided that the time for right to mention that he had brought along a bottle of Amarone for people to try.  As soon as he said the word Amarone, there were hands raising all over the place.  However, Neil continued that he had brought along a bottle of Allegrini Amarone di Grappa with him for people to try, if they wished.  After some initial apprehension, the contents of the bottle quickly disappeared and was very much appreciated, even with the ladies who attended.

An evening of laughter, great company, fantastic food and wine, and atmosphere was had by all.  Huge thanks must go to Garth (Head Chef) who was working hard on his birthday (we did all sing to him of course), to Annie, Olie, Lorraine and Richard and all their fantastic team who made our evening so pleasurable.  We look forward to hosting the Spanish Feast on 12th November, another sell out event.  See our events page for details. Also, we can't wait to see what decorations Lorraine will do for Christmas!

Jane

Motor Mall Event 15.10.09

Kasia, Alick and Paulo went along to to represent Dunell's at the launch of the new generation of Land Rover last night at the Motor Mall.  As part of the event, we had been invited to hold a wine tasting.  Shaun Rankin's was also there to demostrate how to make his famous Treacle Tart (Winner from The Great British menu) so we thought it would be a great opportunity showcase wines that would match with the tart, especially as it is now sold in local shops and supermarkets. 

We had previously chosen 4 wines that we felt worked very well with it and then allowed guests to sample which one they liked.  Such a great opportunity to showcase 4 completely different wines to guests that may never have thought to match with a treacle tart; a port, riesling, muscadel and sherry.

Kasia wrote "I would like to say a huge thank you to Motor Mall for putting on a great evening and for the fantastic feedback during the wine tasting.  The event went very well indeed and it was great to see many surprised faces when they realised that a Tawny Port could also work well with the tart but undoubtedly the winner on the night was the Rietvallei Muscadel."

This is a tough life! What wine to go with Shaun Rankin's Famous Treacle Tart?

13.10.09 - Tasting to find a wine that matches perfectly with Shaun Rankin's Famous Treacle Tart - It's a tough job but someone has to do it!!!

On Thursday 15th October 2009, Motor Mall celebrate the launch of the new generation of Land Rover and Range Rover and as part of this invitation only event, we have been asked to hold a wine tasting to match wines with Shaun Rankin's Famous Treacle Tart (Winner of The Great British Menu. Click here for his recipe).  As part of the event, Shaun will be there to show how to recreate his dish, so what better way than to compliment it by matching a superb wine to go with it. 

Today that we all had to decide on the wines we are going to showcase.  What a hard life!  These are the wines we have chosen:

Niepoort Tawny Dee N.V @ £6.95 per 1/2 bottle - Brings out the wonderful caramel notes in each other.  Quite a masculine match.

Rietvallei Red Muscadel 2007 @ £7.25 per bottle - An inspired choice.  This may become a favourite!

Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling 2007 @ £9.95 per 1/2 bottle - A clean, zesty match that cuts through the richness perfectly!

Emilio Lustau Pedro Ximenez @ £14.95 per bottle - The perfect match.  Silky, deep, dark, unctous and blends so well for that melt in the mouth moment!

Click on each of the products for tasting notes!

We very much look forward to gauging people's opinions on Thursday evening and we look forward to seeing you!