Sparkling Wine
NV Champagne Gruet, Selection Brut
Regular price £25.40 Save £-25.40ABOUT THE WINE
The Gruet Champagne House has been in Champagne since 1670, although the family only began making wines in their own right in 1975, under the auspices of Claude Gruet, producing 2500 bottles in their first vintage. He is currently working 20-hectares of vineyard, producing wines from their own grapes as well as from grapes purchased from other carefully selected growers, to produce around 2 million bottles a year in total.
TASTING NOTES
Light yellow colour, with delicate bubbles. Aromas of white peach with a rich burst of citrus fruit coming through on the palate. Delightfully drinkable!
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal as a glass to celebrate or with light appetisers as well as seafood.
NV Champagne Ruinart, Blanc De Blancs
Regular price £52.70 Save £-52.70ABOUT THE WINE
Ruinart is a low profile, yet select, Champagne house which is steeped in history. It dates back to the 17th century, the time of the famous Dom Perignon. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728 whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House. Since the Second World War the house has become synonymous with class and its production of only 1.7 million bottles per annum is small compared to other grande marques.
TASTING NOTES
A distinctive golden yellow colour with subtle green highlights. Its delicate colour is heightened by the transparent bottle. The substantial effervescence and delicate bubbles decorate the glass with a ribbon around its inner edge while revealing an elegant radiance and purity. On the nose fresh fruit (mostly citrus) combined with aromas of white flowers & white fruits (peach).
FOOD PAIRING
Delightful with seafood, grilled sole or sashimi with white fish. For dessert, a lemon tart or grapefruit sorbet would be an excellent partner.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
With the finest grapes, skilful blending, extensive ageing in its 2000-year-old cellars, and a uniquely shaped bottle, Ruinart defines its commitment to excellence and luxury.
NV Champagne Ruinart, Brut Rose
Regular price £96.00 Save £-96.00ABOUT THE WINE
Ruinart is a low profile, yet select Champagne house, steeped in history. It dates back to the 17th century, the time of the famous Dom Perignon. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728 whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House. Since the Second World War, the house has become synonymous with class and its production of only 1.7 million bottles per annum is small compared to other grande marques.
TASTING NOTES
A subtle nose of rosehip, spice and wild strawberry; on the palate the wine marries exuberant fruit with a rich velvety texture.
FOOD PAIRING
Thin slices of fine Italian prosciutto (San Daniele, Parma, etc.) A starter of salmon prepared as a Japanese 'tataki', will reveal its many facets. Leg of milk-fed lamb or a low temperature cooked veal fillet.
FRIARDOOD SAYS
Ruinart is famous for their Rosé; justly so!
NV Deutz, Brut Classic
Regular price £23.00 Save £-23.00One of the oldest members of Champagne's prestigious Grandes Marques houses, Champagne Deutz of Ay, France, has been making distinctive champagnes marked by finesse, elegance and complexity since 1838. The house has upheld the traditions of fine Champagne making handed down through five generations. Owning a significant portion of its own vineyards, Deutz selects only top rated grapes from 275 acres of vineyards in the finest crus of Champagne. The wines are slowly and carefully aged in the chalk-walled cellars far beneath the historic village of Ay.
The colour of the wine is an intense gold with fine effervescence that signifies long maturation on the lees. On the nose, the wine initially displays notes of hawthorn and white flowers, which are followed by aromas of toast, marzipan and ripe pears. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and elegant with the freshness of Chardonnay and richness of Pinot Noir. Overall, the wine is well-rounded with a fruity finish.
As an aperitif or with fish dishes salmon, turbot, John Dory, poultry and white meat.
Brut Classic represents the distinctive Champagne Deutz style of elegance and finesse, which has made Deutz one of the most respected of all Champagne houses. The non-vintage Champagne is matured according to traditional methods from a blend of several vintages from twenty of the best crus until it reaches a perfect balance of flavour.
NV Deutz, Rose
Regular price £26.50 Save £-26.50One of the oldest members of Champagne's prestigious Grandes Marques houses, Champagne Deutz of Ay, France, has been making distinctive champagnes marked by finesse, elegance and complexity since 1838. The house has upheld the traditions of fine Champagne making handed down through five generations. Owning a significant portion of its own vineyards, Deutz selects only top rated grapes from 275 acres of vineyards in the finest crus of Champagne. The wines are slowly and carefully aged in the chalk-walled cellars far beneath the historic village of Ay.
The colour of the wine is many-hued, with strong pink tinges and fine bubbles. The nose is fresh and direct, with aromas of cherries, blackberries, pomegranates and red currants. On the palate the wine shows a deliciously full body that follows on perfectly from the nose, with flavours reminiscent of strawberries and raspberries and a pleasantly well-balanced finish.
Salmon cooked with mushrooms, beef carpaccio, duck with cranberry sauce or very creamy cheese like Chaource or Brillat Savarin.
This Brut Rose is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes from the Montagne de Reims region, and from Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. The specific style and color result from the blending in of 8 percent of red wine produced from a plot of old vines on the hill of Ay and from a plot known as Meurtet. Both are particularly well-sited and belong to Deutz.
NV Louis Roederer Collection 244 Brut Champagne
Regular price £56.00 Save £-56.00ABOUT THE WINE
First founded in 1776 as Dubois Père et Fils, the house was inherited and renamed by Louis Roederer in 1833. The company, which now includes vineyard-holdings and estates throughout France and around the world, remains under the ownership of his descendants. Unusual for large Champagne houses, Roederer owns a large proportion of the vineyards which contribute to their wines: vintage expressions, including Cristal, are sourced entirely from their own grapes, and only a third of their overall production is made from bought-in grapes. They have been undertaking experiments with biodynamic viticulture in their vineyards since 2000.
The Collection 242 was launched in September 2021 to replace the flagship Brut Premier. The radical idea of changing the flagship NV cuvée stemmed from battling the fierce challenges climate change had brought to Champagne in terms of vintage variation. Hence, to “fight for freshness" this new cuvée was created. The perpetual reserve, which had been in the works since 2013 is mainly used as the "freshening element" and makes up 34% of the blend. The rest is 10% oak reserve wines and 56% from only the 2017 harvest.
TASTING NOTES
A delightful Champagne, which sees the bright, youthful character of the base wines enhanced by extended lees-ageing and 10% barrel-aged reserve wines, which add a creamy texture to the palate, mingling with citrus, glazed fruit and toast flavours. A hint of smoke adds complexity to the finish; a very fine non-vintage Champagne.
FOOD PAIRING
An excellent aperitif, it would pair very well with smoked salmon or scallops fried in butter.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
242 represents the number of times Roederer has made a non-vintage since founded in 1776 and it's aged for 3 years on the lees, with a further 6 months ageing following disgorgement to allow the wine to settle before release. 10% reserve wine is used, which has been aged in oak barrel for between 2 and 5 years.
NV Moet & Chandon, Brut Imperial
Regular price £53.70 Save £-53.70ABOUT THE WINE
Established in 1743 by Claude Moët, Moët et Chandon is one of the most prominent producers in Champagne, producing around 28 million bottles annually. They were the first Champagne house to produce only sparkling wines, and worked tirelessly to promote the style both in the royal court of France and internationally. Today they own or lease 1,150 hectares of vineyards, and produce approximately 28,000,000 bottles of champagne annually.
TASTING NOTES
Brut Imperial is a balanced assemblage of the three vine varieties disclosing a succession of elegant and harmonious sensations, a fresh maturity, supple and refined palate. The vibrant intensity of green apple and citrus fruit is evident on the nose. On the palate is sumptuous with white-fleshed fruits, fine bubbles and a soft vivacity of citrus fruit and nuances of gooseberry.
FOOD PAIRING
Fantastic with desserts that are not too sweet, such as parts of filo pastry; also really good with lobster, shrimps and some delicate fish dishes such as oven-poached salmon steaks with mustard dill sauce.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Created from more than 100 different wines, of which 30% are reserve wines!
NV Moet & Chandon, Rose Imperial
Regular price £61.50 Save £-61.50ABOUT THE WINE
Established in 1743 by Claude Moët, Moët et Chandon is one of the most prominent producers in Champagne, producing around 28 million bottles annually. They were the first Champagne house to produce only sparkling wines, and worked tirelessly to promote the style both in the royal court of France and internationally. Today they own or lease 1,150 hectares of vineyards, and produce approximately 28,000,000 bottles of champagne annually.
TASTING NOTES
Lively and expressive, revealing intense aromas of fresh red summer berries, strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant with floral notes of rose, hawthorn and a light peppery touch.
FOOD PAIRING
Salmon, mussels, red fruit tarte; all are good accompaniments.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Such attractive balance. Interestingly, more than 20% of production at Moët et Chandon is rosé, around twice the average for the region.