BEST OF BOOTHS, WINTER WINE RELEASE 2017
It is time to check out Booth’s food and wine section if you have not done so lately! Popularly known as “Waitrose of the North” Booths won the Best Supermarket of the year 2017 at Decanter’s Retail awards in England recently, a rank that is so well deserved for its focused and dedicated efforts to capture the best of food and drinks retail sector in the north. To gain this recognition, it had to outbid two very established names in the market this year – Marks & Spencer and Waitrose which goes on to prove how serious they are about reaching out to their consumers.
Booths have just revealed their new range for Winter 2017 covering not just old world wines that have always been a strong range for them but also now equipped with exceedingly well picked choices from modern wines covering Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Alongside, they have also been working with wineries around the world to broaden their own range of Booths wines that are in the process of being released now. Available at modest prices, the content in Booths range wines are equally attractive, bringing out the vibrancy of the grapes packed into them!
What is more exciting is that Booths’ wines will be made available in London through Booths online, during the Christmas week so no need to fret if you fall outside their operational zone. They will come to you within your “comfort zone” this Christmas!
Here are some of my favourite picks from Booths’ that I recommend as cooler weather sets in, from the 600 wines and spirits that are out for winter 2017! Happy Christmas preparations!! Can you believe Christmas is around the corner?
RIDGEVIEW BLOOMSBURY NV, ENGLAND, 12% ABV, £27.00
This award-winning English sparkling wine located in the South Downs in Sussex has everything going for it from its outer silky golden label to its fizzy soulful inner expression that is Chardonnay dominated. With impressive complexity backed by a ripe and rounded structure, it can give Champagne a run for its money. Fabulous zesty fizz for celebrations while serving with canapes and cheese.
CAMEL VALLEY ROSÉ BRUT, PINOT NOIR, ENGLAND 2014, 12.5% ABV, £29.00
If you are a fan of rosé fizz like me, check out Cornwall’s biggest estate that produces some of the best sparkling English rose fizz. The soft light salmon colour gives way to delicious strawberry cream pie aromas with just a soft hint of bread and biscuit notes to give the extra weight and glamour. Very refreshing and balanced with intense lemon fuelled acidity this is a stylish wine that is certain to make you fall in love in English rose sparklers!
CHATEAU AQUERIA LIRAC BLANC, FRANCE 2015, 13.5% ABV, £16.00
A powerful yet mature expression with an intense mouthfilling appeal, there is lemon peel zinginess and savouriness along with ripe white peach and stony expression. The acidity is crisp and fresh while the fuller body balances well with the fruit and the uplifting acidity. Will pair well with lamb and cream sauce. (Blend : Greanche Blanc, Bourbolenc, Clairette, Rousanne, Viognier)
CHATEAU DERESZLA 2015, DRY TOKAJI, HUNGARY 2015 13% ABV, £12.00
Don’t wish for sweet Tokaji? Well look again to seek ultimate peace and joy with this dry and crisp modern version of Tokaji made with blend of Furmint, Kabar and Muscat, giving the best of these fragrant grapes. Ripe pear, lemon marmalade and caramel on the nose but the palate is elegantly dry with a grippy richness that lingers at the end. This is genuinely a refreshing and mouth-wateringly dry Tokaji!
THE EDGE PINOT GRIS (BY ESCARPMENT), MARTINBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND 2016, 13% ABV, £12.00
Dry with just a wee bit of residual sugar, the wine has a light stony expression of peach and nectarines, passion fruit, lemon zest, hints of tropical guava and a lingering spicy pepper and toasty edge accompanying its plush texture that will go beautifully with Indian curries and Mexican dinner nights, even Cajun Turkey and the sides for Thanksgiving meal! (Importers: Seckford Agencies)
LE CLOÎTRE DU CHÂTEAU PRIEURE-LICHINÉ, MARGAUX, BORDEAUX 2011, 13% ABV, £25.00
Pronounced intensity of black cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, smoke, the structure of this wine is remarkably superior with smooth and ripe tannins which give way to wholesome meat notes at the end. Lovely foodie wine, this can be enjoyed with roasts, duck and sausage casseroles. (Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot)
CHATEAU CESSERAS CUVÉE OLRIC MINERVOIS, FRANCE 2014, 14% ABV, £9.75
Mouthfilling luscious aromatic wine with rich polished tannins and ripe black cherries and cassis fruit notes that balance with the refreshing acidity of this wine. Terroir of the Mediterranean comes through well with the ripeness of fruit backed by lean acidity that gives the wine an uplifting note. Elegantly intense with hints of minerality, earthy and gamey notes, the spicy oak is integrated well into the fruit and tannic structure. Great price for the top end cru of Minervois Livinere (Blend: Syrah, Mourvédre, Carignan)
DOMAINE ST ROCH, VACQUEYRAS, FRANCE 2015, 13.5% ABV, £12.75
Medium bodied well-rounded wine with aromas of stewed black berries. Very smooth silky tannins ending on a tobacco leaf and herbal notes. Spices of fennel, black pepper and toast from oak is vivid and adds to the aromatic intensity. Ending with a rustic garrigue finish. (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre)
FINCA MONTEFLORES, MENDOZA, CABERNET SAUVIGNON ARGENTINA 2015, 13.5% ABV, £10.00
Well known for its Malbec, the Cabernet Sauvignon is an equally classy style, expressing terroir of the region. The wine is incredibly aromatic with juicy damson and cassis notes complimented by ripe, polished and well-defined tannins, a rounded body with super concentration. Quality of fruit is superior and the alcohol and fruit notes show an elegant balanced expression.
SERESIN ESTATE RACHEL PINOT NOIR, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND 2012, 13% ABV, £23.00
Charmingly moreish with seductive flavours of baked red cherries, amber plums, rose petals, vanilla cream and grey pepper. At the same time displaying complex notes of farmyard, cabbage, earth and hay, the wine has a huge capacity to age and is very enjoyable even when young.
PAUL CLUVER NOBLE LATE HARVEST RIESLING ELGIN, SOUTH AFRICA 2014, 10.5% ABV, £15.00
An outstanding in the category of sweet wines, it follows a path of dramatic explosion of apricots, caramel and honey and ginger spice. The lip smacking acidity is quite sensational and integrates well into the body and lush fruit notes enhancing the overall drinking experience. Vigorous wine that will go well with fruit desserts as well as puddings and cream cakes. Very modestly priced at low alcohol levels, this delicious dessert wine is an absolute steal!
GINS
Booths has a brilliant range of Gins from the award winning Whitley Neil based out of Birmingham. Definitely worth trying the rich honeyed opulent notes of the Quince Gin which will be quite the attraction for parties. And contrast it with the calming subdued notes of their Nettle Gin from the same distillery which will the perfect mood setter for a chilled night time read ora close family get together. Whitley Neil’s Rhubarb and Ginger Gin which has just been released in Booths in August 2017 creates the perfect tone for after dinner palate cleanser. Gins from Whitley Neil are priced between £20-30.
BOOTH’S RANGE
Booths is also working on its own range of wines and I was particularly blown away by the following wines from their range :
EH BOOTH & CO., SOUTH AFRICAN OLD VINE CINSAULT 2016, 14% ABV, £7.50
I tried the Tank samples of the wine that show tremendous potential for this grape. Red fruit fruit expression accompanied by floral aromatics, the acidity is sharp yet graceful and matches the fruit ripeness very well. Priced very competitively, it is an elegant expression of single varietal Cinsault with a potential to age over the next 5-6 years.
EH BOOTH & CO., GRAN NORTE RIOJA RISERVA SPAIN 2011, 13.5% ABV, £12.50
Complex aromatics working dynamically creating a full bodied fruity yet age worthy wine. There are stewed black fruits, red berries, wood, toast, vanilla, coconut and liquorice notes in this wine that has been aged in barrel for 2 years finishing off with lingering notes of cinnamon and black pepper. Great value for a well crafted Rioja Reserva!
EH BOOTH & CO., CHIANTI 2014
Yummy Chianti made with great precision. Clean and fruit forward showing notes of baked red apples, red cherry pie, liquorice and vanilla. The oak used here is quite distinctive and gives a very appealing finish to the wine. Acidity is noteworthy and works subtly in the background blending into the silky structure.
EH BOOTH & CO., SOUTH AFRICAN CHENIN BLANC 2017
Quality of grapes in wine are superior showing distinct typicity of the grape, true to its character. Pleasantly vibrant wine with a smashing acidity, there is richness and ripeness from the fruit and elegant floral aromatics that lend a good degree of complexity and astounding concentration.
It is good to know that Booths will also be delivering wines to London during the Christmas week so you are set for the celebratory times to roll in! To view their wines, visit the site BOOTHS