Thursday 29 December 2011

Best of 2011 - My case of the year

Hi all!
2011 was a year of change. And a very exciting one!  Not every day do you go from being a professional & amateur of wine into an amateur wine professional. ;))
TippleTips had a great year too. After a hush-hush launch mid-October, the page views have more than doubled every month, reaching more than 500 page views just before Christmas. Most popular post: the Christmas Prosecco.  Tipple Tips has also just started on Twitter with a daily TippleTip and has counted at least 1 new follower every day!
To celebrate 2011 and best prepare for 2012, here is my TippleTips case of the year. Total 6-case price: £60.
!!!! SPECIAL LIMITED OFFER!!!!  Interested in getting it shipped to your door?  I will get the wines for you and ship them at request. Please contact me for conditions and details.

Wine
Key characteristics
Food to match
Price / UK merchants
Makutu
2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Kiwi wine first tried at Number 18 brasserie in Wales.

What I loved about it: the hint of tropical fruits behind the classic grassy and gooseberry flavours

You’ll like it if you like: refreshing white wine, tropical sauvignon blanc

Feta cheese salad; Scampi or prawns; Chicken Caesar salad
£8.50
Marques de la Concordia 2006 Rioja Reserva

A surprisingly soft & smooth Rioja. Tried it at the counter in Majestic Cirencester.
Thanks Olly.

What I loved about it: the delicate build of powerful fruit aromas.

You’ll like it if you like: Rioja, Chilean Merlot, Bordeaux

Roast beef & gravy
£7.99
Tenuta Ulisse
2010 Pecorino
Terre di Chieti IGT
An Italian aromatic rococo-esque white wine discovered @ the Zurich Vinexpo ’11 with Andreas. It blew us both away!

What I Ioved about it:  the exotic and floral perfumes on the nose and the finesse on the palate; the superb bottle .

You’ll like it if you like: Papaya, white peach, white wines with floral character

I tried it on its own and it’s already very quaffable.
Italian salad or Fish dishes

~£12


Allegrini
2010 Valpolicella
Mamma Mia! Another Italian beauty! I haven’t tried a wine from the Allegrini famiglia that I don't like.

What I Ioved about it:  it’s light, velvety soft with juicy red fruits (cherries & berries). Dangerously easy to drink.

You’ll like it if you like: juicy cherries, berries, light smooth reds.

Had it with a home-made pizza, a little rocket salad e basta! Pouf!
£9.99
Loads of wine merchants offering this wine.
Try:

Marques de Riscal 2010 Rueda
A Spanish delight. Discovered with Kerry & Alistair around a nice piece of chicken.

What I Ioved about it:  the delicate of white flowers and white fruit; a spring blossom perfume.

You’ll like it if you like: floral wines; pear, white peach


Chicken with a bit of cream or Thai chicken
£8.49
Villa Caffagio
2006 Chianti Classico Riserva
Visited the vineyard after I bought the non-Riserva in Tesco and expected a factory. Most intimate and simple visit ever! AAA!

 What I loved about it: full body but incredibly smooth with gorgeous concentrated morello cherries.

You’ll like it if you like: smooth & powerful wines; black cherries
Had it at Christmas with roast beef after Chateau Méaume and everybody loved it.
Try with a beef fillet and a hint of white pepper.
£14

Non Riserva in Tesco for £12.29


Enjoy your New Year's Eve and hope to hear from you in 2012!

Cheers! Skoll! Santé! Prost! Salud! Salute!

:@lex