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What We're Drinking: Charlotte & 1847 Oloroso Dulce Sherry





It’s a perfect winter warmer for the dismal nights in January and February when you fancy a drop of something a little indulgent. It is not too sweet though, there are some really delicious savoury overtones to the wine which make it just perfect with a piece of mature cheddar or gouda and a few salted almonds.

Oloroso implies something sweet smelling and fragrant in Spanish and this Sherry certainly is that. It has lovely nutty, ripe aroma and a smoothness at the finish which just keeps you wanting to have a drop more. The other thing is that it is in half bottles – a great size for two – or if you are on your own you can have glass put it in the fridge or on the side and have another drop a day or so later – once open you can leave enjoy it for up to a couple of weeks without affecting the quality or condition of the wine...if it lasts that long.

21.05.13

UK consumers seek better quality as sales of wine over £7 increase


According to the latest figures from market analysts Nielsen, the average price of a 75cl bottle of wine has increased to £5.11 on the back of escalating taxation, but UK consumers are increasingly opting to spend more on better quality wines. 
20.05.13

The Oscars of the wine world announces Trophy winners


Prestigious wine awards announce Trophy winners, with Australia and France coming out on top.
16.05.13

Beautiful Douro map by David Eley to be auctioned at Christie’s


A new map of the Douro Valley by English artist and author David Eley, will be auctioned alongside a 12 bottle vertical of Quinta do Noval from 1937 to 2003 by Christie’s this June.


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28.03.13

What We’re Drinking: Emeline & Cono Sur Single Block Visión Riesling

When it comes to wine, we all have different tastes and expectations. Sometimes it can be a real challenge to agree on one bottle and everybody tends to have their own particular favourite.

22.03.13

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Les Abeilles Rouge, Jean-Luc Colombo

Our office at CellarVie Wines is very much founded on an Anglo-French axis. Christopher’s wife Dominique, our graphic designer Emeline, her predecessor Sophie, and Cordelia, who is currently on work experience, are all French. Jonathan is moitié français (half French…according to Google Translate). Mr Robins and I are quintessentially English (in desperate need of sunshine) and therefore none the wiser when the office breaks into in a crescendo of French vocabulary. Yet the phonetics of the language is something I have always enjoyed being surrounded by; words like cambrioleur and asperges, never to my knowledge used in the same sentence, roll beautifully off the tongue. And this brings me nicely to my What We’re Drinking selection; Les Abeilles Rouge, Côtes du Rhône, by Jean-Luc Colombo.

08.03.13

What We’re Drinking: Jon & JJ Hahn Western Ridge 1975 Planting Shiraz 2009

Our JJ Hahn Reginald Shiraz (as you must know by now) is a real favourite. Not only from a CellarVie Wines team perspective, but also from the thrilled customer who recently called us to let us know how much they enjoyed it too. Given my love of Shiraz/Syrah wines I was recently asked by a good friend, who almost exclusively only drinks beer, to bring over a bottle of wine to blow him away and the JJ Hahn Reginald was my selection. Additionally, it was this wine that caused a 'first' for CellarVie, when the last bottle on sale at a recent tasting caused something of a melee. But fear not, the wine in question is now back in stock and I’m digressing, because I’m actually going to discuss the Reginald's big brother; the JJ Hahn Western Ridge 1975 Planting Shiraz 2009, which is also from the Barossa Valley.

07.12.12

What We're Drinking: Georgia & Bolla Prosecco

Last month, we participated in 'The Spirit of Christmas' fair at Kensington Olympia where we were showcasing 12 wines that not only represented the wide variety that CellarVie Wines have to offer, but also the wines that we believe are perfect for the festive period. One of those wines was the Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Bolla. This gorgeous sparkling wine hails from northern Italy, specifically from the Veneto region which is home to Prosecco, Soave and Valpolicella.

23.11.12

What We're Drinking: Georgia & Cono Sur Single Block Visión Viognier

I must admit that up until a few months ago I was not an avid wine drinker and had little knowledge about grape varieties and their differing flavour profiles. In an attempt to initiate me into the world of wines - where better to start than at CellarVie Wines - our resident wine-guru Simon suggested I try a Viognier. 

16.11.12

What We're Drinking: Simon & Savigny-les-Beaune

Ahhh Burgundy! Difficult to understand, often fickle and unpredictable but once you have fallen for her charms you’ll find it hard to look at other wines. Alongside Rhone and Bordeaux, Burgundy is one of the three great French red wine regions. As a region it lacks the ostentatiousness of the grand chateau of Bordeaux but at the same time it isn’t quite the source of bargains many still consider the Rhone to be. It sits in the middle of the two regions with its best wines still commanding the very highest prices but in contrast to their monetary value they are often made by relatively small family owned estates.

09.11.12

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Blackstone Chardonnay 2010

In addition to our considerable commitments with CellarVie Wines, we also run the RFU Wine Club. At a recent tasting event at the Westbury Hotel, attended by none other than World Cup winner Richard Hill and current bastions of English rugby, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree, we tried the Blackstone Chardonnay 2010 from Monterey County, amongst a host of other wines.

01.10.12

What We’re Drinking: Simon & Over the Shoulder Chardonnay 2009

When is a blend not a blend? When it is made from the same grape. Now I probably sound like I've been sampling a little bit too much of my own supply but bear with me. The Over the Shoulder Chardonnay is exactly that - 100% Chardonnay, but interestingly it is made from three batches each one created in three completely different ways and then blended. 

21.09.12

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Solandia Primitivo 2010, Puglia

CellarVie Wines recently did a tasting with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the aftermath of one of their lengthy seven hour practice sessions in the quite beautiful Henry Wood Hall near Borough. In addition to meeting members of the UK’s unofficial national orchestra, many of whom were unsurprisingly thirsty; it was a great opportunity to reacquaint oneself with some of our tried and trusted wines. One of the eight wines being tasted on the night was the Solandia Primitivo 2010, from Puglia in Italy. 

14.09.12

What We’re Drinking: Jon & Veramonte Merlot Reserva 2009

For my latest instalment of ‘What We’re Drinking’ I chose the multi award winning wine - Veramonte Merlot Reserva 2009. This Chilean wine was not only feted by the Decanter World Wine Awards but also by the International Wine Challenge. The acclaim doesn't stop there; our friends over the pond in the US – The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator - both marked this wine 87 out of 100. 

31.08.12

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Nederburg Reserve Noble Late Harvest

I was fortunate enough to interview Nederburg’s charismatic cellarmaster Razvan Macici back in June and in addition to being a lovely bloke, he also gave CellarVie Wines a unique insight into the ethos behind one of South Africa’s leading wineries. In particular, the Romanian born star of South African Master Chef laboured the importance of the Nederburg Winemakers Reserve Noble Late Harvest; a wine their world renowned traditions have been founded on and a totem of their unwavering commitment to world-class vineyard and cellar skills. I was sold on it from the get-go and simply had to try it…albeit a little belatedly.

23.08.12

What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Gavi di Gavi 'La Toledana'

The Gavi di Gavi 'La Toledana' 2011 is a delicious aromatic Italian white and is a fine example of what can be produced in the north of the country. It’s a bit pricey but when I want to enjoy a white that is subtle and complex as a treat, I tend to reach for a bottle of this Gavi di Gavi. 

16.08.12

What We’re Drinking: Simon & Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc

My first love, Champalou Vouvray 1998, well my first Chenin Blanc love at least! It must have been 2002 and I was only a couple of years into my wine career when a friend and wine mentor, Mark, suggested we scoop up the last four bottles at the company where we both worked. I followed his lead and two days later I was driving home from work with two new passengers rolling around on the seat next to me.

27.07.12

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008

I tried the Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008 sometime ago but having recently met González Byass’ chairman Mauricio González-Gordón and the family-owned business' Master Blender Antonio Flores Pedregosa at the 2012 London International Wine Fair, I felt compelled to revisit it. 

20.07.12

What We’re Drinking: Sophie & Riesling Marlborough 2010, Vidal

I really enjoy having light lunches during the summertime (is this really a stereotypical summer in England?) and having stumbled upon a delightful chicken and courgette couscous recipe, I was eager to find a wine with citrus flavours to perfectly match my dish. The Riesling Marlborough 2010, Vidal was the ideal combination.  

06.07.12

What We’re Drinking: Jon & Château Les Justices 2005

The Château Les Justices from the 2005 vintage is quite simply to die for. The property is family owned and relatively small at just 40 hectares. Out of these hectares the vineyard production for this wine is 11 hectares of Semillon vines, three-and-a-half hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and three quarters of a hectare of Muscadelle vines.  

05.07.12

CellarVie Wines meets…González Byass' Master Blender Antonio Flores Pedregosa

Antonio Flores Pedregosa is one of the Sherry industry’s most revered blenders and having lived and breathed Tio Pepe from the moment he was born in Gonzalez Byass’ iconic bodega in Jerez de la Frontera in 1955; he is certainly one of the finest. Having joining the company where his father was head of production in 1980, Antonio Flores has continued the family traditions of creating award winning Sherries in the heart of Andalucía.  

02.07.12

What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Savoury reds, medium-sweet whites & Riesling

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In this instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, we scrutinise some of our venerated wine journalists’ weekend efforts including The Sunday Times’ championing of savoury red wine, Susy Atkins of the Telegraph’s endorsement of medium-sweet whites, and the improvements of once maligned Rieslings…  

29.06.12

What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Rare Vineyards, Cinsault Rosé, 2011

The Rare Vineyards Cinsault Rosé, 2011 is a great glass of summer rosé. It’s quite a savoury wine and would go well with barbecued chicken and pork – if the sun ever comes out – or with a salad and some grilled fish, if not I enjoy it as a pick me up when I get home from a particularly hard day. 

22.06.12

What We’re Drinking: Christopher & Château Piochet 2009

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11.04.12

What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc

For the past couple of weeks I have been tucking into the rather deliciously fresh Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc 2010/11, Stellenbosch from South Africa.  


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21.05.13

UK consumers seek better quality as sales of wine over £7 increase


According to the latest figures from market analysts Nielsen, the average price of a 75cl bottle of wine has increased to £5.11 on the back of escalating taxation, but UK consumers are increasingly opting to spend more on better quality wines. 

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