2010 Chateau Talbot
Regular price £136.30 Save £-136.30ABOUT THE WINE
Legend has it that Chateau Talbot takes its name from a British soldier, Connetable Talbot, who was killed in a battle at Castillon in 1453; the estate was named in his honour. Since 1917, Talbot has been owned by the Cordier family. As with all notable chateaux, the family has invested heavily in Talbot to ensure that it achieves the quality levels of which it is capable. With 102 hectares of vineyards, Talbot is one of the largest estates in the Medoc; wines see 50-60% new oak, for around 15 months.
TASTING NOTES
One of the top examples of Talbot over the last decades, but this wine is all about opulence and fruit intensity and less so about complexity for now. Undoubtedly it will develop further to reveal much more. A fine, muscular wine from an exceptional year. This is one to keep even further.
FOOD PAIRING
Strong flavours; lamb, beef stews, cured meat.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A fabulous Talbot to drink over the next 20-25 years.
NV Krug, Grande Cuvee 171eme
Regular price £227.78 Save £-227.78ABOUT THE WINE
The House of Krug was founded in 1843 in the city of Reims by Joseph Krug. His vision was that the House should produce two Champagnes in every vintage, one which exemplified the circumstances of the vintage, and one which would be altered through the addition of reserve wines to create the most “generous expression of Champagne”. In pursuit of this, the House vinifies every parcel of vines separately, in used oak barrels which allow for some controlled oxidation (providing the basis for the ‘generosity’ that characterises the House style), and maintains a library of some 150 reserve wines for up to 15 years to provide blending material for their Grande Cuvée. These wines are kept separate until the final blending process, after which the finished wines are aged in bottle for at least 7 years.
TASTING NOTES
Based on the 2011 harvest, the 167th Edition of Krug Grande Cuvée is characterised by rich aromas of flowers and dried fruit, with a hint of ginger. The palate is full and round, in classic Krug style, with hazelnut, rich citrus fruit, brioche and toasted almond, giving way to a crisp, clean finish.
FOOD PAIRING
The weight and power of this Champagne makes it extremely versatile for food-pairing; it will go well with anything from cured meats to mature hard cheeses. It is also well-suited to lighter styles of Indian cuisine and seafood, especially grilled shrimp.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
191 different wines, 58% from the 2011 vintage and the remainder from 12 different reserve vintages (the oldest coming from 1995), were blended to produce this edition.
1997 Chateau d'Yquem
Regular price £313.05 Save £-313.05ABOUT THE WINE
Arguably the greatest sweet wine in the world, after centuries of family ownership, Château d'Yquem was sold in somewhat acrimonious circumstances to Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. However, its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Located on the highest hill in Sauternes, d'Yquem enjoys some of the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sèmillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest is painstaking; 150 highly skilled pickers pass through the rows selecting grapes berry by berry to ensure that only the finest botrytized fruit is used.
TASTING NOTES
This extravagant vintage still shows incredible freshness of fresh citrus peel and lemon rind with perfumed honeysuckle and jasmine accompanied by luscious candied peached, caramel, cinnamon bark and butterscotch.
FOOD PAIRING
Often paired with cheese and sweets, try pairing this wine with crispy Peking duck with plum sauce or game meats such as guinea fowl or even pigeon in red wine sauce, as the richness of this wine will create a heavenly marriage between the strong flavours.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A wine for special occasions, of great elegance and distinction.
2006 Chateau Palmer
Regular price £427.05 Save £-427.05ABOUT THE WINE
Chateau Palmer is named after a British officer, Colonel Charles Palmer (later Maj. General), who settled in Bordeaux in 1814. It is located in the center of the Margaux appellation, and its vineyards lie on a plateau of clay and gravel soils. Historically the estate has always prided itself on the exceptional quality of its wines, declassifying whole vintages (as in 1963 and 1968) when conditions weren't conducive to the usual high standards of the property. Classified as a 3ieme Cru Classe', it punches significantly above its classification. Since the 2017 vintage they are certified 100% biodynamic.
TASTING NOTES
Maraschino cherries, cassis and tobacco characterise the bright, youthful aromatics; medium-bodied on the palate, with a succulent core of cassis and blackberry fruit. The tannic structure is super-fine, beautifully integrated into the oak character on the finish. This is a remarkably elegant wine, which has developed superbly, and will continue to do so until 2040.
FOOD PAIRING
An excellent wine for venison.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Merlot at Palmer is planted on both the clay and gravel soils of the estate; the extra drainage provided by the gravel gives Palmer its elegant opulence, hence the unusually high proportion of Merlot (often 45-50%) in the blend for a left-bank wine.