This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking...

Dianne Barrie, Company Administrator – This weekend was all about elegance and sophistication for me…well, as far as my wine selection goes in any case! I had popped in to town on Saturday to run a few errands and, as I always do when I’m in town, I dropped in to our retail shop on 47 South Street to say “Hi” to Kieran and Ally and find out how they were doing. As a result of this intended short interlude in my shopping duties however, Kieran forced me to go round to the deli with him where I ended up buying brie and blue cheese and pate treats! Then, he forced me back to the shop to buy a lovely wine to go with it all – Luigi Einaudi Langhe Rosso Micune 2009. This is a beautiful, extremely well-balanced Italian wine full of intense fruit flavours of plums and brambles with a hint of vanilla and exotic spices that makes for a robust yet very elegant wine, and one which stood up well to the rich flavours of the blue cheese and duck pate I had bought earlier that day - it was truly a taste sensation! I have to say, that it’s been a while since I have enjoyed any wine quite so much with a cheeseboard, but this really did prove to be an excellent choice. I also have to admit to having a serious liking for cheese so for now Kieran is off the hook for leading me astray!

Kieran German, Shop Manager –  Regular readers will know that when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, Mrs Kieran has a far more acute palate than I. So I shall defer to her review of Firefinch Sauvignon, which we enjoyed after cutting the grass this weekend past. “This is just like big juicy bits of chargrilled green pepper, just pulled off the barbecue”, said Mrs Kieran. She added nuance, discussing a slight smokiness and a zippy finish, but I can’t remember her exact words. She also suggested our friend Alex would love it, and I’m inclined to agree. So there you have it, a big thumbs up from the expert. If I could interject, I would say this comes from the same people who make Springfield Estate Life From Stone and I would recommend to fans of that excellent wine to give this a try.

Mark Powrie, Orders Team – This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking…Zorah `Karasì` Areni Noir 2011. I recently tried this at a wine tasting, and it was wonderful. The producer is using traditional methods infused with new-aged methods, and it was really interesting to speak to the producer. The grapes used are indigenous to Armenia and they produce a light wine, with a spicy nose and a longish finish. The 2010 vintage won a Decanter Bronze award in 2012 and I have high hopes for the 2011 vintage also. Coming into the good weather, I am hopeful that this little number will be at the top of many lists. This wine is a rare treat and an absolute bargain….

This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking...

Dianne Barrie, Company Administrator – Well, this week I ‘ave been mostly drinking Loredona Pinot Noir. I am still not convinced we have made the move in to spring yet here in Scotland, so for now I am sticking to red wines, and this pinot noir from California is the ideal wine for the current time of year. Full of lovely summer fruit flavours yet lighter on the palate than some of the richer reds we associate with winter. It is a lovely wine to accompany a lighter lunch, however the well-round character of this wine means it can also stand up to a more substantial meal, such as a mushroom and pancetta risotto, a tomato-based herb pasta dish or simply a margherita pizza! If you haven’t tried pinot noir wines before then I recommend you give this one a go as it is the perfect wine to make the transition from winter in to spring and summer.

Kieran German, Shop Manager – Remember the nineteen-nineties? They were good weren’t they? Britpop was in its pomp; Scotland could send its football team to the World Cup; George W. Who?; the economy was not on its knees; things could only get better; and we were all drinking Australian Shiraz. Well rekindle the good old days with a bottle of Bylines Shiraz (2005) – it has all the oomph of a big meaty Aussie bottle, showcasing beautiful home-made bramble jelly flavours [another nostalgia-fest] but is also balanced and with firm, unintrusive tannins. It has all the bombasticity we associate with the style, yet nuance and refinement – perhaps a nod to the fact that we’re grown-ups now, the world is a more complex place, and we like our wines to reward us, and go well with a cheeseboard.

Mark Powrie, Orders Team – This week I have been mostly drinking soft drinks. A bit random I know, however it is time to get in the zone for the summer holidays. Saying that, I am intrigued by Chase Vodka. We recently received this into our warehouse and the crisp, clean, beautiful bottle really caught my eye. Having a little sample of this, the taste was smooth, creamy and left a lovely after taste. Chase have a wide range of flavours to offer for their vodka and the Seville Orange Marmalade Vodka, over ice with a dash of soda or lemonade will be my drink of the summer I think……….

Moving into the Summer season, I feel that it is time to think about the summer tipple. Summer to me says Sparkling Rose…sitting in the garden, the BBQ sizzling away, glass of Reserve De Sours in hand. This wine is absolutely delicious and instantly appealing. The colour is a really bright salmon almost strawberry pink with flavours of ripe red summer berry fruits. With fine persistent bubbles, a very delicate mousse and on the palate it displays "strawberries and cream" like flavours with good length. You can buy this from a few suppliers, however, at £11.42 inc. VAT this is an absolute steal…make sure you stock up for the summer…….

Let’s raise our glasses to the sunshine and help it to come out to play………