Barrels & Bottles Wine Blog
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Whilst our damage in transit figures were already impressively low we appreciate the disappointment and delay when a customer discovers their wine has been dropped by one of our carriers. We have dropped our breakage rate significantly with the introduction of "Net Protect".
This elegantly simple mesh expands to fit snugly over just about any bottle shape. The lightweight mesh creates an air-cushion effect around the bottle affording another layer of protection. The recycled polythene mesh helps to dissipate the shock of mis-handling and significantly reduces the amount of breakages we have experienced.
This elegantly simple mesh expands to fit snugly over just about any bottle shape. The lightweight mesh creates an air-cushion effect around the bottle affording another layer of protection. The recycled polythene mesh helps to dissipate the shock of mis-handling and significantly reduces the amount of breakages we have experienced.
Labels: packaging
The home of the corkscrew is without doubt Laguiole from the village of Thiers, France.
Several specialist manufacture Laguiole corkscrews but the crown-king is Forge Laguiole. The level of craftsmanship which goes into each corkscrew is phenomenal. There is no wonder why these have achieved cult status amongst aficionados the world over.
The main quality criteria of local craftsmanship :
* Individually hardened by hand
* Shaping and fitting are done by hand and to the craftsman’s eye.
* Each knife is assembled from start to finish in one sequence and by a single craftsman
* Hand decoration of the blade and spring
Fitting, assembly and finishing process :
After a rigorous quality control of parts created at the forges, the cutler begins the hand assembly and shaping of the knife. He will mark the end of his work by cutting a pattern into the hilt of the blade. Each knife is assembled entirely by hand in the Laguiole Origin area by a single master craftsman, in the pure Laguiole tradition.
The handles were historically bone or horn. Forge Laguiole now also use a range of selected natural materials (Rosewood, Olivewood and Juniper Wood for example). The solid horn tips provide a finer more refined pattern.
Genuine Laguiole corkscrews feature a forged bee welded onto the spring.
Several specialist manufacture Laguiole corkscrews but the crown-king is Forge Laguiole. The level of craftsmanship which goes into each corkscrew is phenomenal. There is no wonder why these have achieved cult status amongst aficionados the world over.
The main quality criteria of local craftsmanship :
* Individually hardened by hand
* Shaping and fitting are done by hand and to the craftsman’s eye.
* Each knife is assembled from start to finish in one sequence and by a single craftsman
* Hand decoration of the blade and spring
Fitting, assembly and finishing process :
After a rigorous quality control of parts created at the forges, the cutler begins the hand assembly and shaping of the knife. He will mark the end of his work by cutting a pattern into the hilt of the blade. Each knife is assembled entirely by hand in the Laguiole Origin area by a single master craftsman, in the pure Laguiole tradition.
The handles were historically bone or horn. Forge Laguiole now also use a range of selected natural materials (Rosewood, Olivewood and Juniper Wood for example). The solid horn tips provide a finer more refined pattern.
Genuine Laguiole corkscrews feature a forged bee welded onto the spring.
Labels: accessories, corkscrews
Bolstering our range of Cognac's by Bonnin we are please to announce the listing of Cognac Frapin
The Frapin estate is in the Grande Champagne area and officially listed as Premier Grand Cru du Cognac. All grapes (harvested exclusively from the Frapin estate) are distilled and aged in oak casks. The casks are stored on-site in their own cellars. Deep respect for the traditional methods of the Frapin Family (dating back to 1270) is combined with modern wine-making techniques to ensure the finest quality of Cognac reaches your glass.
Different vintages of the Grande Champagne Premier Cru are carefully blended to obtain the distinctive and perfectly balanced Frapin Cognac.
At only £32.49 the Frapin VSOP is our pick of the range withi its complex fruit and floral nose and subtle vanilla nose.
The Frapin estate is in the Grande Champagne area and officially listed as Premier Grand Cru du Cognac. All grapes (harvested exclusively from the Frapin estate) are distilled and aged in oak casks. The casks are stored on-site in their own cellars. Deep respect for the traditional methods of the Frapin Family (dating back to 1270) is combined with modern wine-making techniques to ensure the finest quality of Cognac reaches your glass.
Different vintages of the Grande Champagne Premier Cru are carefully blended to obtain the distinctive and perfectly balanced Frapin Cognac.
At only £32.49 the Frapin VSOP is our pick of the range withi its complex fruit and floral nose and subtle vanilla nose.
Labels: cognac
The excellent wines by Lupe Cholet of Burgundy (France) have arrived in stock.
The range includes Pouilly Fuisse, Puligy Montrachet, Nuits St Georges and Gevrey Chambertin
With prices ranging from £5.99 for the Lupe Cholet VDT and only £10.00 for their Bourgogne Pinot Noir these are truly affordable wines from Burgundy.
The star for me is the Lupe Cholet Nuits St Georges. I had this with a lightly seasoned spaghetti bolognese and the layers of blackcurrant fruits and the slight sweetness from the ripe cherry flavours really complimented the food. A silken mouthfeel provided a welcoming smooth finish. At 13.5% this is a big glass wine and the aromas leap from the glass adding to the overall experience. Great stuff.
The range includes Pouilly Fuisse, Puligy Montrachet, Nuits St Georges and Gevrey Chambertin
With prices ranging from £5.99 for the Lupe Cholet VDT and only £10.00 for their Bourgogne Pinot Noir these are truly affordable wines from Burgundy.
The star for me is the Lupe Cholet Nuits St Georges. I had this with a lightly seasoned spaghetti bolognese and the layers of blackcurrant fruits and the slight sweetness from the ripe cherry flavours really complimented the food. A silken mouthfeel provided a welcoming smooth finish. At 13.5% this is a big glass wine and the aromas leap from the glass adding to the overall experience. Great stuff.
Mark Price (National Accounts Manager) recently visited the Champagne House Gosset in the village of Ay (next to Epernay) on a trip supported by the UK importers and Gosset's Export Manager Patrick Ligeron.
By Eurostar to Paris with a group of other Independent Merchants then onto Reims and its splendid Cathedral. A dinner on the first day held in Patrick's favorite Reims eaterie started with the Gosset Grande Reserve and matched Foie Gras, followed by a fillet of Turbot with the Grande Rose, a pre-dessert of local chesses with VS Cognac from Gosset's own Cognac range Frapin which is believed to have been the Cognac on the Titanic's fatal Dinner menu. Dessert followed with a hot chocolate fondant washed down with a rather strong coffee and a perfect introduction from the enigmatic Patrick.
The second day we were met at the hotel by Patrick and headed over the mountain of Reims towards the Champagne
epicentre of Epernay. A look at the recently harvested vineyards of Gosset, followed by the cellar tour and bottle production led eloquently and informatively by Patrick. He then presented and poured the range of Gosset wines which interestingly is now owned by the Cointreau family.
Gosset champagne is the oldest house producing champagne and have created a wonderful boutique package, non vintage Brut Excellence, Grande Reserve which at £34.96 for a grand reserve is great value for money, Gosset Grande Rose, Gosset 1999 vintage and the Celebris Brut, vintage and Blanc de Blancs, Celebris being the premium champagne boxed beautifully in stunning gift boxes which will be available from early November and worthy of any special gift Christmas or not.
A trip so well put together with the passion of the people and the support given to us make you appreciate what all goes into the bottle we most frequently open. Gosset Grand Reserve is the house pouring champagne for worldwide renowned El Buli Restaurant in Spain, this shows the kind of places Gosset want to take the brand and it has all the quality to grow and grow, current bottle annual production is 1.1 million.
By Eurostar to Paris with a group of other Independent Merchants then onto Reims and its splendid Cathedral. A dinner on the first day held in Patrick's favorite Reims eaterie started with the Gosset Grande Reserve and matched Foie Gras, followed by a fillet of Turbot with the Grande Rose, a pre-dessert of local chesses with VS Cognac from Gosset's own Cognac range Frapin which is believed to have been the Cognac on the Titanic's fatal Dinner menu. Dessert followed with a hot chocolate fondant washed down with a rather strong coffee and a perfect introduction from the enigmatic Patrick.
The second day we were met at the hotel by Patrick and headed over the mountain of Reims towards the Champagne
epicentre of Epernay. A look at the recently harvested vineyards of Gosset, followed by the cellar tour and bottle production led eloquently and informatively by Patrick. He then presented and poured the range of Gosset wines which interestingly is now owned by the Cointreau family.
Gosset champagne is the oldest house producing champagne and have created a wonderful boutique package, non vintage Brut Excellence, Grande Reserve which at £34.96 for a grand reserve is great value for money, Gosset Grande Rose, Gosset 1999 vintage and the Celebris Brut, vintage and Blanc de Blancs, Celebris being the premium champagne boxed beautifully in stunning gift boxes which will be available from early November and worthy of any special gift Christmas or not.
A trip so well put together with the passion of the people and the support given to us make you appreciate what all goes into the bottle we most frequently open. Gosset Grand Reserve is the house pouring champagne for worldwide renowned El Buli Restaurant in Spain, this shows the kind of places Gosset want to take the brand and it has all the quality to grow and grow, current bottle annual production is 1.1 million.
Labels: champagne
Most wine glasses are chosen for their appearance. For Raymond Blanc the most important factor is performance. Developed by a team of wine experts working alongside Spiegelau's top designers, the Raymond Blanc Precision range has been created to provide the ideal wine glass - matching performance with beauty.
During the glass manufacturing process the liquid glass is passed through platinum tubes to eliminate impurities and remove imperfections. The result is a strong, fine, high performance glass capable or undergoing 1500 dishwasher cycles with no loss of clarity or brilliance.
The Raymond Blanc wine collection is used in his own restaurant, Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons, and will be available from us very shortly. Further information due soon.
During the glass manufacturing process the liquid glass is passed through platinum tubes to eliminate impurities and remove imperfections. The result is a strong, fine, high performance glass capable or undergoing 1500 dishwasher cycles with no loss of clarity or brilliance.
The Raymond Blanc wine collection is used in his own restaurant, Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons, and will be available from us very shortly. Further information due soon.
Labels: accessories, glasses, raymond blanc
We have just listed the range of wines from Lupe Cholet in Burgundy, France. Lupe Cholet will compliment our existing Burgundy range by Bersan et Fils and Cave de Vire.
The wines range from classic Vin de Table red, white and rose perfect for everyday drinking... right through to benchmark Puligny Montrachet and Nuits St Georges.
Arrival is imminent and will be appearing on the website shortly... watch this space for further news
The wines range from classic Vin de Table red, white and rose perfect for everyday drinking... right through to benchmark Puligny Montrachet and Nuits St Georges.
Arrival is imminent and will be appearing on the website shortly... watch this space for further news
The launch of Gosset CELEBRIS 1998 has just been announced - the fourth vintage of their prestige cuvée in 10 years. Like the previous three vintages (1988, 1990 and 1995), this exclusively grands crus Champagne is destined to be received by enthusiasts the world over as a superb example of the skill of the oldest wine house in Champagne: Aÿ 1584.
Eight grands crus were selected for this outstanding blend: 64 per cent Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil Sur Oger and Chouilly) and 36 per cent Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne (Ambonnay, Aÿ, Bouzy and Verzenay). The result is an excellent example of an homage which was initiated 10 years ago and which is a tribute to the history of our champagne house, which has maintained its tradition for over four hundred years.
Eight grands crus were selected for this outstanding blend: 64 per cent Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil Sur Oger and Chouilly) and 36 per cent Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne (Ambonnay, Aÿ, Bouzy and Verzenay). The result is an excellent example of an homage which was initiated 10 years ago and which is a tribute to the history of our champagne house, which has maintained its tradition for over four hundred years.
Labels: champagne
Barrels & Bottles
- Unit 5b Broom Business Park
- Bridge Way, Sheepbridge
- Chesterfield, S41 9QG
- Tel: 01246 453399
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