Great Christmas wines for a fiver

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jack Shamash

Very cheap and very good

Anyone wanting to buy good wines this Christmas is in for a treat. There’s a bit of a price war at the cheaper end of the market. Aldi has been selling its very excellent ‘Exquisite Collection’ wines for just over a fiver and recently announced that it would be selling its wines on the internet, for home delivery. All of this has created consternation among the other retailers.

Asda has responded by putting some excellent wines on sale at a fiver and labelled them as ‘Extra Special Selection’. I bought about a dozen bottles yesterday and I can tell you that the ones I opened are excellent.Most of them are well known varieties such as Chardonnay – slightly floral and citrus – Sauvignon Blanc- flavours of tropical fruits. but there are one or two more unusual varieties such as Viognier and Fiano – which is from Sicily and has undertones of lemon and rosemary. They are superb wines and the sort of thing you might normally expect to pay about £8 or £9 for.

As part of the range there is a pouilly fume, which is a classy sauvignon blanc, which has a slightly flinty flavour. This cost £10.75 and was a decent wine and reasonably priced. It’s a well known wine, so it’s a good thing to impress your friends.

In the middle of the photo is a slightly smaller bottle. This is a bottle of sauternes, which was also a fiver. This is a dessert wine and very reasonably priced. It’s a lovely thing in the house to have over Christmas. It has a lovely, slightly resinous flavour of dried fruit. Serve it in small glasses and offer it to friends who come around. In Italy they drink it with biscotta or a slice of panetonne. But it would be equally nice with a mince pie.

Anyone for Pinot Noir? By Margaret Graham

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Frost has had the great pleasure of tasting three bottles of Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir (Chile) recently, and it made us very relaxed and cheerful, let me tell you.

Pinot Noir Estate Series

The grapes for the Estate Series Pino Noir have been rigorously selected from the Errazuriz vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley and the Mediterranean climate in this area of Chile which features warm days and fresh evening breezes. This temperature oscillation in the weeks leading up to the harvest triggers an intensification of the colour of the wines.

The Estate Pinot Noir 2014’s aroma promised all that was to come, the wine felt fresh on the palate, but wholesome, and full of the flavour of red fruits. It suited the chicken dish we had, but would work as well with pasta, grilled fish, and any sort of seafood.

Errazuriz Estate Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £10.25, Majestic

Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir

There’s something special about living within easy reach of the sea, and the grapes for Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir endorse this, coming as they do from the Manzanar vineyard.

It is located barely 7.5. miles from the Pacific Ocean. The 2013-2014 weather was moderately warm, followed by a dry spring. Budbreak was delayed due to a cold spell but the cool growing conditions had the effect of a slow ripening of the grapes, leading to an intense aroma, and taste.

The grapes were hand picked, double sorted, and the final blend was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Gorgeous. It reminded me of the best of the Margaret River wines (Western Australia). We enjoyed this wine, very much.

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £16.15, Stone Vine & Sun, Cheers Wine Merchant, Hoults, Eagle wines, Noel Young, R Campbell and Sons

Wild Ferment Pinot Noir

The grapes for this Pino Noir come from the La Escultura vineyard, located in the Casablanca Valley 32 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. Warm summer days, morning fog and fresh evening breezes that blow in from the coast allow for a gradual ripening process. This helps to preserve the grapes aroma, flavour and acidity.

This wine was my husband’s favourite. Aromas of wild strawberries, cranberries, savory dried herbs, rosemary made it pretty sublime.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £14.35, Majestic, Booths and Grape Sense

Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur Review

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Frostie

Feeney’s Irish Cream is often referred to as ‘The World’s Most Luxurious Irish Cream Liqueur’. High praise indeed. But how true? Well, very. This is a smooth rich liqueur made with the freshest cream from Ireland which is then blended with the finest Irish Whisky. It is smooth with a rich buttery taste and a milky finish. It is fresh as Feeney’s proudly states that it gets from dairy to distillery in 24 hours on its bottle. Blended and bottled in the Irish countryside in Abbeyleix, County Laois; It is stylish and can give any other Irish Cream Liqueur a run for its money. Delicious and prefect for Christmas.

Feeney’s Irish Cream is available from Tesco stores and tesco.com

A Pair of Classy wines from Chile

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Jack Shamash

I know it sounds a bit pretentious, but I was having a few friends for dinner, so I got two bottles of wine – one from 2012 and one from 2013 – for a side-by-side tasting. I generally enjoy Chilean wines so I bought the two vintages of Marques de Casa Concha.

Chile used to specialise in quite good pinot noir – a bit heavier than your average Burgundy but a nice thing to have with a steak. Now the Chileans are doing some quite classy things.

These are lovely wines. They are grown on high slopes so they have a bit of complexity. The 2012 is 98 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon with 2 per cent syrah. The 2013 also has some Cabernet Franc and some petit verdot. In other words, the grapes used for making the wines are practically the same. More interestingly, the 2013 vintage was made using much bigger casks. This means that there is less oxidisation and more fruit flavour in the wine.

Of course, it is a matter of taste. I personally preferred the 2013. It was full of flavours of blueberry and blackberry and had a wonderful richness and a long finish. It was something to savour. The 2012 was also a good wine, but had less of a flourish. I suspect this might endear it to wine experts, who admire simplicity.

They are both extremely good wines, and at £12 a good thing for a dinner party. Great with steak or a traditional beef stew, or just as something lovely to sip in front of the fire with good friends. The 2012, which has a slightly lighter taste, would go well with hearty lamb dishes. Available from Sainsburys

More ideas and reviews of food and wine are available on Jack’s website

Johnnie Walker® and McLaren Honda F1 Stage Driving Spectacular In London To Deliver Anti Drink Driving Message

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

F1 stars Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso called on Londoners to JOIN THE PACT to never drink and drive, supporting the Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign.

In Wembley, London, on 4 December 2015, as part of its global responsible drinking programme, JOIN THE PACT, JOHNNIE WALKER®, staged a driving spectacular with the stars of the McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team to encourage people to never drink and drive.

During the event, F1 Stars Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso and fellow McLaren Honda driver and 2015 GP2 Champion Stoffel Vandoorne thrilled spectators, demonstrating their control skills in London’s Wembley Park, driving competition winners, media and special guests in a range of cars, including McLaren road cars (including the lesser-seen McLaren 570S supercar) and the Johnnie Walker supercar Caparo T1.

Radio X DJ Chris Moyles hosted the afternoon’s event and grabbed the opportunity of Jenson Button taking him for an exhilarating ride outside Wembley Stadium.

The event is part of the responsible drinking festive campaign, JOIN THE PACT. Last year, Johnnie Walker announced its intention to gather five million ‘Join The Pact’ commitments by 2018 and has since passed the half way mark, with almost 2.6 million people having made a personal promise to never drink and drive.

The event was also marked by the premiere of a powerful new ‘Join The Pact’ film featuring Johnnie Walker Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOu8knYmMiY

What’s one of the best gifts you can give a friend this holiday season?

A safe ride home.

With the festive season in full swing and friends planning nights out all around the world, Johnnie Walker^®, the world’s leading Scotch whisky, is encouraging people to make sure they get home safely by pledging to never drink and drive.

Last year, Johnnie Walker announced its intention to gather five million Join The Pact commitments by 2018 and has since passed the halfway mark, with almost 2.6 million people having made a personal promise to never drink and drive.

To launch its 2015 global festive responsible drinking campaign, Johnnie Walker today promised 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home around the world, in cities from Madrid to Sao Paulo and Edinburgh at Hogmanay, for those who make a commitment to never drink and drive through its Join The Pact initiative. In addition, this year and starting in London, some people will have the opportunity to go one step further and experience the joy of festive giving by nominating a friend for a safe ride home.

Johnnie Walker and UBER are providing £10 off rides for a limited number of existing users who Join The Pact, and UBER will also fund unlimited £10 rides for new users on top of that for the duration of the festive campaign.

McLaren Honda Test Driver Stoffel Vandoorne, Johnnie Walker^® Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador Mika Häkkinen pictured with his Caparo T1 supercar alongside fellow F1 World Champions and McLaren Honda drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso and the lesser-seen McLaren 570S supercar at London’s Westminster Parliament buildings

Johnnie Walker^®, Join The Pact will deliver 450,000 kilometres of safe rides home in the following cities:

London
Birmingham
Bristol
Leeds
Manchester
Newcastle
Portsmouth
Merseyside area
Glasgow
Sheffield
Edinburgh
Madrid
Sao Paulo
Rio
Recife

Andrew Jones MP, Minister for Transport said: “Drivers know that drink driving is wrong. It can destroy families and ruin lives. Yet some people at Christmas will still take the risk and get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. “Over the past thirty years drink drive deaths have fallen significantly but every death or serious injury is one too many. The best way for drivers to keep themselves and other road users safe is simple: don’t drink and drive. I encourage drivers to Join the Pact to not drive after a tipple this Christmas.”

McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button said: “As racing drivers, we understand the importance of staying in control and never ever getting behind the wheel after consuming any alcohol. “We’re confident that people will get the message. Millions already have, and we want to encourage millions more to make a personal commitment to get home safely and ‘Join The Pact’ by visiting jointhepact.com or by tweeting #JoinThePact to @JohnnieWalker_.”

Andrew Cowan, Managing Director of Diageo GB said: “During the festive season millions of Brits will celebrate with a drink, and we are committed to encouraging people to get home safely. We are so excited to be hosting this event in London, and we hope that many Londoners and people across the country will be inspired to join the 2.6 million people globally who have already made a pledge to never drink and drive.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Alcohol Licensing and Harm Reduction, Commander Simon Letchford said: “We’re very pleased to have this opportunity to work together with our partners from the drinks industry to get across the important message around responsible drinking over the festive season in the run-up to Christmas. We want people to enjoy a drink but to do so responsibly and safely, and bear in mind that anti-social behaviour and road traffic accidents put a strain on emergency services and divert them from priority calls. If you cause an offence or an accident as a result of alcohol you could also face serious penalties.”

Mika Häkkinen said: “The holiday season is a time when friends and families get together to celebrate and share gifts of thanks with each other. It’s a time for parties and reunions and we want to make sure that those who are out celebrating with alcohol leave their cars at home. I strongly urge everyone to Join The Pact to never drink and drive. Some of those who make the commitment this year will be able to thank their friends with the gift of a safe ride home, thanks to a partnership between Johnnie Walker and UBER in the UK and other transport partners across the world.”

Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Guy Escolme, said: “We’re delighted to have Mika, Jenson, Fernando and Stoffel here today. Formula 1 is one of the most progressive and thrilling sports in the world – one that has proven, time and again, that those who bring passion, commitment, and a genuine love for the circuit will achieve the most.” He added: “More than 400 million fans tune in to F1 races worldwide. For ten years, our partnership with McLaren Honda has allowed us to reach this audience with our responsible drinking message and strongly urge people to Join The Pact to never drink and drive. Some of those who make the commitment this year will be able to thank their friends with the gift of a safe ride home, thanks to a partnership between Johnnie Walker and UBER in the UK and other transport partners across the world.”

People can make their pledge to never drink and drive by visiting www.jointhepact.com or by tweeting #JoinThePact to @JohnnieWalker_.

About Diageo…

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly.

@DiageoGB

About ‘Join The Pact ‘…

Johnnie Walker places great importance on Responsible Drinking and tackles this issue through the Join The Pact campaign, with Mika Häkkinen as the Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador. Join The Pact asks consumers everywhere to make a commitment to never drink and drive through signing a pact. Since 2006 Mika has led this call-to-action initiative, which has been activated worldwide, collecting over a million signatures.

Mika has visited over 40 countries on five continents, spoken to countless media, government officials, stakeholders and consumers delivering important messages through unique Johnnie Walker experiences.

The JOHNNIE WALKER and JOIN THE PACT words, the Striding Figure device and associated logos are trademarks © John Walker & Sons 2015.

Images © Shane Finn at Visual Devotion and Getty

Courvoisier this Christmas | Review

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Frostie

Smooth and strong, Courvoisier is the king of cognac. It tastes sublime and is also great in cocktails. Courvoisier is a perfect gift for Christmas. Grab one of the below now is our advice.

Let Courvoisier take you on a journey of the senses this Christmas

Celebrate the everyday and add a splash of luxury to Christmas this year with the sights, scents, and tastes of Paris in a glass of the world’s no 1 cognac, Courvoisier.

A gift for cognac enthusiasts – Courvoisier XO Imperial

One of the world’s finest XOs, crafted from a blend of over 40 cognacs and aged for up to 35 years, this precious liquid combines exotic vanilla and cocoa bouquets, spicy amber and cinnamon aromas, and violet floral notes.

Courvoisier XO is available nationwide from selected Waitrose.com and stores (RRP £95.50)

A gift for cocktail lovers – Courvoisier VSOP

Courvoisier VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a distinguished cocktail. This blend of Courvoisier is an elegant mix of cognacs that are up to 10 years old, from two of the finest crus in the Cognac region

For a cocktail to make this Christmas, that’s as indulgent as it is delicious, serve the Courvoisier Champagne Cocktail with chic canapes to befit the most sophisticated of seasonal parties.

Ingredients:

1 part Courvoisier VSOP
1 Demerara sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Top up with Champagne

Method: Soak a sugar cube in bitters and drop into a champagne flute. Cover with Courvoisier VSOP and slowly top with champagne.

Courvoisier VSOP is available nationwide from selected Waitrose.com and stores (RRP £32.85)

A gift for wanderlusters– Luxury Gift Sets

Courvoisier’s new Célébration Sensorielle limited edition luxury gift sets will take cognac lovers on a multi-sensory, aromatic Parisian expedition from day to night this Christmas15Each of Courvoisier’s Célébration Sensorielle includes one Initiale® Extra or XO, along with two bespoke scents specially crafted to evoke the spirit of the dazzling Paris Golden Age in the night and day. The exquisite fragrances also perfectly complement and enhance the notes of the cognac so, whatever the occasion or triumph being celebrated, the moment becomes a truly unforgettable and sensory experience. The Célébration Sensorielle Initiale® Extra comes with two scented candles and the Célébration Sensorielle XO gift set comes with two scented cones – simply light one of the scents, pour a glass of Courvoisier and raise a toast to the moment.

Célébration Sensorielle Initiale® Extra gift set contains the bespoke day and night fragrances, in the form of two beautiful scented candles, along with the story of Courvoisier presented in a charming little book and accompanied by detailed tasting notes. (RRP: £397 – available at Harrods®, Harvey Nichols® &Hedonism)

Célébration Sensorielle XO gift set contains the bespoke day and night scents in the form of two metal incense cones and a burner and is accompanied by the beautifully designed Courvoisier brand book with detailed tasting notes. (RRP: £190 – available at Harvey Nichols & Hedonism)

Babycham Original Sparkling Perry Review

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Frostie

This retro classic was a hit at Frost from men and women alike. It’s fun and glamorous with a low alcohol content. Which is actually a good thing, as you can have more fun without the consequences. It tastes great: sparkling perry pears are delicious, and comes in a 750ml bottle with a satisfying cork to pop, or mini 200ml bottles. Perfect for Christmas.

Looking for an unashamedly girly Christmas tipple that every generation will love? Babycham, the refreshing sparkling perry will add a touch of sparkle and fun to any Christmas festivity.

Having launched in 1953, Babycham captured the celebratory mood of the post-war era and was the first alcoholic drink to be marketed directly at women. At that time, women were only just allowed into bars and the light, sweet sparkling drink was fun and lively and something that they could call their own. Even the iconic coupe-style glass it was served in felt glamourous and it gave women the chance to experience a champagne-style drink without the expensive price tag.

Since then, Babycham has continued to be a firm favourite of women of all ages and holds a nostalgic place at many a Christmas party or soiree. Still bottled, as it was in the 1950s, with the iconic fawn on the front, Babycham is best served ice cold.

So it’s time to get in the Christmas groove with this retro blast from the past because Babycham, the original girly drink, is ready to party!

Babycham Original Sparkling Perry

4 x 200ml

RRP £3.99

Stockists: Asda, Tesco.

The light and sweet original sparkling perry, made from perry pears, is the best girly Christmas tipple for every festive occasion.

Babycham Original Sparkling Perry

Popping Cork Bottle 750ml

RRP £3.49

Stockists: Asda, Tesco, B&M.

The large popping cork style bottle is the perfect drink to bring to the party and share with friends.

Disaronno Partners with Roberto Cavalli to Outfit Limited Edition Bottles

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Frostie

Disaronno Partners with Famed Roberto Cavalli to Outfit Limited Edition Bottles

When this gorgeous box arrived on our doorstep, with even more gorgeous Cavalli wearing Disaronno inside we were pretty happy. The mini bottles are a delight and the full size one is not just gorgeous, but also comes in a little bag. Yes, we know we keep saying gorgeous but just look at them. These are limited edition so get your hands on some now.

The Annual Fashion Collaboration will Benefit Ongoing Charity Partner Fashion 4 Development

DISARONNO, the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, will be back this holiday season with a unique new look designed by Roberto Cavalli. The luxury brand has dressed the iconic bottle in the bold, vibrant and colourful style, for which it is famous throughout the world.

The DISARONNO wears Cavalli design draws inspiration from the Roberto Cavalli SS 2015 Pre Collection. Influenced by the enchanting undersea world and the most exotic safari locations, the bottle will be draped in a new graphic animal print making DISARONNO the perfect gift for fashion lovers this winter.

Augusto Reina, CEO of ILLVA Saronno, declared: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Roberto Cavalli for our third Disaronno limited edition. To include Cavalli in the list of our collaborations is a real honour and a truly special moment in the history of our brand.”

“We are excited to join ILLVA Saronno in this initiative. Two of the most well-known brands of the Made in Italy getting together is always worth celebrating”, said Renato Semerari, CEO of Roberto Cavalli.

The DISARONNO ICON project is in its 3rd iteration this year, after the past partnerships with Italian fashion brands Moschino and Versace. The ICON project will continue its longtime support of the charity ‘Fashion 4 Development,’ sponsored by the United Nations. DISARONNO will once again donate part of the proceeds to the development of this unique project in Africa. The exclusive limited edition will be available from the beginning of October in all major stores across the UK. The suggested retail price of the 500ml bottle is £15.

To toast this delightful collaboration Disaronno US Director of Brand Ambassadors, Paul Sevigny, and Disaronno UK Brand Ambassador, Rod Eslamieh, have joined forces to craft the Disaronno wears Cavalli cocktail, a unique twist on the famed Disaronno Sour. The duo have applied the most popular trends in mixology to develop this signature sip, blending the sweet flavour of DISARONNO with sharp lemon juice, sugar syrup, topped off with prosecco and a few dashes of angostura bitters.

The ‘DISARONNO Cavalli Sour’ cocktail, created for the occasion blends the sweet flavour of DISARONNO, with sharp lemon juice, sugar syrup, topped off with prosecco and a few dashes of angostura bitters – full recipe below.

1 ½ oz Disaronno
1 oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Sugar syrup
1 ½ oz Prosecco
10 dashes angostura

Check out more cocktail recipes here.

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