Piccini 1882 Spumante & Piccini Orange Label Chianti Review

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Frostie

We have some awful news: apparently the supply of prosecco is running low. We are just drinking too much of the stuff. Fear not though, Piccini have brought out an alternative: Piccini‘s 1882 Spumante. 1882 has been innovatively produced with a blend of 75% prosecco (glera) grapes and 25% Chardonnay grapes to offer an equally delicious taste profile to the popular Italian sparkling variety. It is fresh, crisp and delicious. A fruity wine that is just as good as ‘normal’ prosecco. Zesty citrus and tropical fruit flavours make this a truly wonderful fizzy wine. We can highly recommend it.

Also perfect for Christmas is the Piccini Orange Label Chianti Review. This red blend from Tuscany is smooth and delicious. This is a very popular red wine and it is very easy to see why. Instantly recognisable, this wine is at the heart of what Piccini does: a classic Chianti made to a very traditional recipe. What’s the secret to this wine’s juicy, easy-drinking style? A traditional Tuscan technique called Governo all’uso which sees a small amount of the Sangiovese grape – which is used for all Chianti – added as withered fruit. The effect of this is to induce a very slight secondary fermentation which in turn gives delicious, bright, red fruit flavours to the final wine.

Piccini Orange Label is fabulous on its own or with practically any food you can think of – from pasta and tomato sauce whipped up after a busy day at work, to mature cheeses eaten by the fire with friends. You can find the Piccini Orange Label Chianti in Sainsbury’s at an RRP of £6.20. Sainsburys.co.uk

Renowned Italian wine brand Piccini have the perfect drinks for this season including their much-loved Orange Label Chianti. A red blend from Tuscany that is talked about more than any other wine in Italian history, it’s the perfect wintery red wine to be enjoyed at home with classics such as pizza, lasagne and lamb.

As well as the perfect wintery red, Piccini have also got the perfect party season drink – Piccini‘s 1882 Spumante. This sparkling wine is a great alternative to prosecco and is on offer at Sainsbury’s at two bottles for £14.00. A deal not to be missed ahead of the winter party season. Much-loved Italian wine brand, Piccini, launches its new 1882 Spumante sparkling wine to offer the UK an affordable alternative to Prosecco.
As demand for Prosecco continues to soar and rumors of a potential ‘Prosecco shortage’ continue, 1882 has been innovatively produced with a blend of 75% prosecco (glera) grapes and 25% Chardonnay grapes to offer an equally delicious taste profile to the popular Italian sparkling variety.

Cultivated in the cool climate and sea-fossil soils of Triveneto, including the traditional prosecco regions of Veneto and Fruili, Piccini retains its authentic Italian roots in winemaking by using the traditional Charmat production method to give 1882 its uniquely delicate fizz.

Undeniably fruity, with zesty citrus and tropical fruit flavors, 1882 is the perfect accompaniment for dishes such as succulent seared scallops, grilled fish and chicken salads.

Named after the year the Piccini family first began wine production, the launch of 1882 continues to establish Piccini as an innovative, exciting Italian brand that combines authenticity and heritage with industry innovation.

Available from Sainsburys.co.uk with an ongoing RRP of £9.00.

1882 OFFERS (available exclusively at Sainsbury’s):

From the 28th of October for 3 weeks, 1882 will be on offer, 2 bottles for £14.00.

From the 9th of December for another 3 weeks, 1882 will be on offer, 2 bottles for £14.00.

Louis Jadot Vineyards by Margaret Graham

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Margaret Graham

As one of the largest and most prestigious Burgundy houses, Louis Jadot owns or directly controls 115 ha in the Côte d’Or, including over 90 individual vineyard sites, 80ha in the Beaujolais Crus and 18ha in the Mâconnais primarily in Pouilly Fuissé.

Wines from these vineyards are labelled as either Domaine Louis Jadot, Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot, Domaine Gagey , Domaine Ferret or Château des Jacques.

It was Frost’s pleasure to taste:

Louis Jadot Moulin à Vent, Château des Jacques 2010

Louis Jadot purchased the Château des Jacques estate in Moulin à Vent at the end of 1996. The estate is well known as one of the most prestigious in Beaujolais and is made up of 6 different “clos” totalling 28.78 ha, which are now all vinified separately. Known as the ‘King of Beaujolais’ for its power, structure and longevity, Moulin à Vent is the most atypical of all the Beaujolais Crus. The wine has rich and succulent fruit as well as concentration, structure and elegance and really shows off the potential of well-made Cru Beaujolais.

The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed before fermentation and the wine is barrel aged to create a wine with rich and succulent Gamay fruit as well as having the concentration and structure to develop in bottle.

Good with Casseroles/Stews and Mature Strong Cheese – and I can endorse this. We enjoyed a lamb casserole which was richly complemented by the Moulin a Vent.

The wine is generous in flavour with a resonant after taste, and so smooth it slips down rather too easily. We loved it. It’s one to buy, and enjoy.

RRP £16.00, Sainsbury’s, Majestic Wine Warehouse, Whole Foods Market Camden, Fenwick Ltd, Hoults Wine Merchants, Cairns and Hickey (Wines) Ltd, Thomas Peatling, Bin Two, Andrew Hudson, Dickens House Wine Emporium Ltd, Eagle Wines, The Leamington Wine Company, Ptarmigan Media

Louis Jadot – the very essence of Burgundy: Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2013

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Wine Review by Margaret Graham

Louis Jadot – the very essence of Burgundy:

Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2013

There are those days which absolutely require a fine wine. Such a day occurred not long ago when one of Milly Adams’ books did rather well in the bestseller list. As a close friend of Milly’s how could we not celebrate.

Nothing’s easy is it? Bourgogne winemakers had a tough year in 2013 when nature decided to have a tantrum. First, a long winter; with hail damage and lord knows what else, then a gloomy spring, which eventually moved on into summer. In October the grapes could be picked. In spite of the difficulties – what a wine.

There is the taste of subtle fruit on the palate, acacia flowers, with a hint of buttery spiced nuts, along with an intense finish, and superb with shellfish, risotto, grilled or friend fish, goats cheese and creamy cows milk cheeses.

We ate goats cheese and salad, and drank to Milly’s book, Above us the Sky. Perfect.

RRP £26.90, Fountainhall Wines, Aberdeen; North and South Wines Ltd, London; Penistone Court Wine Cellars, Sheffield; Planet of the Grapes, London; Vino Wines, Edinburgh; Taurus Wines Ltd, Guildford; The Oxford Wine Company Ltd; Aitken Wines, Dundee; Coruss Retail Ltd, Luton; Southwick Court Fine Wines Ltd, London; Edencroft Fine Wines, Cheshire; Partridges Of Sloane St Ltd; Peake Wine Associates, Fareham, Hampshire; Wine Chambers, Newcastle; Last Drop Wines, London; Constantine Stores Ltd, Falmouth; The Red Bottle Company Ltd, Thame, Stop & Save , Tonbridge Wells.

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Amy Voce

The new vintage Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2015: Now in the UK

We are very partial to a Sauvignon Blanc at Frost, and this one is no exception. Fruity, zingy and zesty, this wine is refreshing and delicious in equal measures, with flavours of melon, passionfruit and grapefruit. Good stuff indeed.

Each year the eagerly awaited newest vintage of Villa Maria’s Flagship wine, its Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, displays the results of that year’s harvest – the most exciting but often the most challenging time of the winemakers year. Villa Maria Group Winemaker, Nick Picone, invites you to try this recently released 2015 vintage to taste the results for yourself.

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2015, 13% abv

Vintage notes: Nick sums up the vintage in Marlborough: “We experienced it all this season – a long frost in spring, along with very strong winds followed by a perfect storm of dry, hot weather (with very warm nights) that lasted without any relief for over two months through to mid-February. The dry weather continued throughout the whole growing season and while there were some weather threats over the harvest period none ended up significantly disrupting fruit flow in to the winery. This allowed measured harvest decisions and a relatively stress free vintage for growers, vineyard managers and winery staff. Wine quality has proven to be very good across all varieties and the line- up of wines this year is one of the strongest ever.”

Fruit: The fruit for this wine was sourced from both the Wairau and Awatere valleys – the Wairau valley is warmer so the fruit contributes richness and ripe tropical flavours while the Awatere fruit provides the zingy acid structure and pungent herbal aromatics.

Winemaking: After a short period of resting on yeast lees post fermentation the wine was filtered and bottled to capture its vibrancy and freshness – the essence of quality sauvignon blanc.

Tasting notes: With vibrant aromas of fresh peas, zesty limes and freshly picked herbs this is a wine of great intensity and vitality. On the palate, juicy acidity is balanced with flavours of melon, passionfruit and grapefruit with a touch of richer herbaceous characters.

RRP: £11.25, Asda.com, Coop, Majestic, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose.com, Morrisons, Oddbins, Budgens, Wine Rack, Nisa, Spar

www.villamaria.co.nz

@VillaMaria_UK

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe Aux Jacques & Macon Blanc Villages Wine Review

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Margaret Graham

The wine-producing region of Burgundy produces some of the best wines in the world. Why? Well, who doesn’t appreciate a continental climate, and grapes are just the same.

On the whole the region has long cold winters and hot summers with enough rain to jolly along the vines. Luckily for the growers, wine-makers and wine lovers of Burgundy, there is a Burgundy wine to suit every season and weather condition.

On warm summer days there is nothing more pleasant than unwinding with a lightly chilled glass of red Beaujolais or a lovely fresh young Chardonnay from the Mâconnais.

Frost tried two bottles from renowned wine producer Louis Jadot including the brand new 2014 vintage Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques.

NEW VINTAGE: Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2014
Produced from the Gamay grape, this beautifully scented, fruity red wine is delicious lightly chilled and enjoyed as an aperitif or even better at a picnic in the sunshine, accompanied by a spread of charcuterie and cheeses.

Beaujolais can often be disappointing, I find, but not this wine. It is produced from the Gamay grape and lives up to its scent: fruity with a deep timbre. I liked it slightly chilled. Try it with light meat, poultry and cheese. And a few friends – but get two bottles, so the sharing doesn’t become a burden.

RRP: £11.00
Stockists: Waitrose (for the 2014 vintage).

(The following stockists are currently on the 2013 vintage but will be moving to the 2014 vintage soon. Tesco.com, Budgens, NISA, Booths , Whole Foods Market Camden, Ellies Cellar, Vintage Wines Ltd, Hoults Wine Merchants, Islington Wine, Bin 21 , Nailsworth Wine & Spirits, Village Wines (Amersham), Dickens House Wine Emporium Ltd, Kingsgate Wines, Refreshers, The Devine Wine Company (Kent) Ltd, Dylans Wine Merchants Ltd, Famous Wine UK Ltd, Ann et Vin Ltd, Corbridge, Wines and Spirits, Grape Sense, Grayshott Wines, Hailsham Cellars, The Leamington Wine Company
Lindley Fine Wine

Louis Jadot Macon Blanc Villages 2013

This is an unoaked Chardonnay, one which is smooth and creamy but balanced by fresh, crisp apple characters. This indicates a newly ripened grape.

We loved this, which was slightly surprising, as often we prefer oaked Chardonnay, but it’s all down to personal preference, isn’t it. We took it into the garden after a tough day, and found it perfect with salad, and the odd prawn on the B-B-Q.
RRP: £12

Stockists: Asda.com , Budgens, Whole Foods Market Camden, Ellies Cellar, Luvians Bottleshop, Bin 21 , The Devine Wine Company (Kent) Ltd, Village Wines (Amersham), Eynsham Cellars Limited, The Strand Wine Company, Ann et Vin Ltd, Islington Wine, Grape Sense, Famous Wine , Grayshott Wines

Shiraz Rosé Jacob’s Creek Wine Review

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Frostie

I have to point out that I am partial to a Rosé. In fact, it is one of my favourite types of wine. That does not mean that all Rosé is equal however. This Shiraz Rosé from Jacob’s Creek is the official wine of Wimbledon. It is fresh, fruity and well balanced. It goes well with strawberries and cream of course, otherwise it would have no place at Wimbledon. This is a crisp wine with characters of fresh berry fruit. It has a finish of tempered spice and quince. This is a perfect summer rosé you can’t go wrong with. It is dark in colour which usually means the rosé is very sweet but this is not the case here. Great taste and well balanced.

Alc. 11% vol.
8.3 UK Units

Wine of Australia

Hardys Shiraz Langhorne Creek 2014 & Kumala Cabernet Shiraz 2013 Review

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Frostie

Hardys Shiraz Langhorne Creek 2014

This shiraz is a smooth, full-bodied red wine with intense autumn fruit flavours of fresh blackberry & mulberry. Accompanied by rich black pepper & vanilla spice. It is well balanced and delicious.

Goes well with pasta, meat and cheese. This wine would be perfect with roast beef, steak and at barbecues.

Kumala Cabernet Shiraz 2013

This shiraz is a South African Wine. A dark ruby red in colour. It is full bodied and has glorious spicy barbecue notes which are complimented by forest fruit flavours. A rich, high quality wine full of wonderful tastes. Smooth and goes down well.

Surrounding South Africa’s Legendary Table Mountain is a place of lush fertility and natural beauty. This is the home of Kumala, where the company make quality wines that are full of character.

Can be enjoyed on its own or with red meat dishes, at a barbecue (of course) and with cheese.

Red wine should be served at room temperature. Red wine is graded from A (light) to E (full bodied).

Sip & Learn – The New Way To Enjoy Wine

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Frostie

We love wine at Frost, reviewing all varieties to bring the best to our readers. Sip & Learn caught our eye as it not only delivers wine straight to your door, but also comes with a booklet that tells you all about the wine. It is a brilliant idea. Sip & Learn is a new monthly wine subscription service on a mission to make wine fun and accessible to all.

Each month, two seriously good bottles of carefully chosen wine will arrive at subscribers’ doorsteps accompanied by a booklet that tells you everything you need to know about the wine. Sippers will embark on an entertaining and educational tour de force in which they will learn about a range of subjects, from grape varieties to how wines are made, and all from the comfort of their own home whilst enjoying a delicious glass of wine.

So if you enjoy wine, or know someone that does, Sip & Learn is the perfect way to put the fun factor back into learning about wine.

RRP £35 per month (incl P&P). Subscriptions are ongoing or on a 3, 6 and 12 monthly basis. www.sipandlearn.co.uk

Sip & Learn was set up by French duo, Marie-Anne and wine expert Sylvain in December 2014.

‘I love wine but tend to panic when asked to taste or choose it. I used to call my friend Sylvain or text pictures of wines to get his help all the time. I’ve always wanted to learn about wine but going to classes sounds too scary and pompous. So together with Sylvain, we started thinking about how we could help people like me discover and understand how wine works without getting bored or feeling shy at a wine tasting class. The result: Sip & Learn. We hope you enjoy it.’

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