Perfect for a short break combining city and beach. Can especially recommend the Lapa Palace Hotel as one of the best in Lisbon with a tranquil outdoor swimming pool in a secluded garden. If eating in tourist laden Rua das Portas de Santo Antao carry on to no. 150 where Solar dos Presuntos is excellent.When the heat wears you down hop on the train to Estoril for nice sandy beaches, some Vinho Verde and a plate of fresh prawns at Praia do Tamariz on the beach and then check in to the 5 star deluxe Palacio Hotel for a cosseted treat. Round the day off with delicious fresh seafood in Cascais at the O Pescador
Scores 100 points in influential Wine Spectator magazine. the perfect 100 is a rare event, with James Sukling calling it “mind-blowing in texture” and the greatest Dow ever made. Peatlings have it in stock having purchased it last year prior to these reviews but after conducting their own tastings with similar conclusions
Until the end of August 2010 we are offering the excellent Chilean wines from Torres at only £6.99 per bottle when you buy 12 bottles which can be mixed. As some of the wines retail at up to £7.99 this is an excellent chance to get these wines at a good price.
For more information on the wines follow this link to www.migueltorreschile.com
December 2, 2009 – 5:11 am
We pride ourselves at putting together personalised selections for hampers from a wide range of wines, champagnes, beers, chocolates and various foods.
We have a range of gift boxes and baskets to fit any budget and taste.
We deliver locally free of charge and have a next day courier service for goods going further a field.
November 21, 2009 – 5:28 am
Travel to Piedmont in the Autumn and you should be in for a treat as it is the white truffle season. More expensive pound for pound than gold shavings are sprinkled over your food and depending on how carried away you get the truffle is weighed again and you pay for the grams consumed. On a brief visit to the region at the end of October we stayed in a delightful restaurant with rooms near Alba, Il Vigneto at Roddi (tel +39 0173 615630)
There the young chef is reinterpreting classic Italian dishes. Take Vitello Tonnato for example, veal accompanied by tuna flavoured mayonnaise. In this region the veal is served raw, like a steak tartare, but here raw tuna is wrapped with a thin strip of veal and then quickly seared, then chilled and served cold with the tuna mayonnaise. Creative and truly delicious.
At Michelin starred restaurant La Ciau del Tornavento in Treiso more white truffle appears, this time shaved over a miniature cheese fondue, washed down with some Barolo, the unique aroma of the truffle hard to forget.
Perhaps the star attraction here however is the restaurants cellar, which has to be seen to be believed. Never have I seen such an array of wines, many so rare (mostly Italian) that the choice is bewildering. Stacked in impossibly high piles and with barely enough room to pass there is even a vaulted cellar kept under lock and key. Well worth a visit.
November 11, 2009 – 5:25 am
Floraine talked to us about Veuve Clicquot champagnes,vintage, Rose and non vintage and explained the wine making processes for the different champagnes. It was a joy to taste them and hear all about their differences. We have a fantastic range in the shop for Christmas.
November 4, 2009 – 4:18 am
A fantastic evening was had by over 120 people came to our annual Christmas Wine Tasting in the shop! Over 60 wines from all over the world including vintage champagnes, ports and whiskeys were available to taste at 8 different tables. NEXT YEAR’S TASTING IS ON FRIDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2010.
Earlier this year we made a flying visit to France to try a number of new wines being shown at a special tasting that brought together a number of independent wine makers.
Overall we returned slightly disappointed at the standard of many of the wines (there really were a number of shockers!) but did identify so lovely offerings from both Sancerre and Burgundy.
We will be trying further samples before buying so watch this space for updates
April 28, 2009 – 10:50 am
Koru in Jamie Goode’s blog of 12 April 2009
Koru Pinot Noir 2007 Marlborough, New Zealand
“From a single 1.1 hectare vineyard, just 311 cases were made. This is special. Beautifully smooth, pure, complex, elegant nose of dark cherry and plum fruit, with some deeper spice and herb notes. The palate is concentrated and intense with some lovely rich cherry fruit, but its trademark is that it is just so elegant, with a wonderful minerality and smooth, silky texture. Brilliant effort, although it is, sadly, rather expensive. 93/100
£34.99 per bottle
