All members of the Corks Out team are a little crazy about wine! Therefore, it seemed a good idea to share with you our own personal favourites.
Each month we will all update this section with one of our much-loved wines. It might be something that we found particularly good as a food accompaniment, an easy drinking everyday value for money wine or an exciting wine that gave us that “Wow” feeling.
Click Here to Buy the Best of What We're Drinking Case for January and save!
If you have any comments on these wines or would like to tell us about your own favourites we would love to hear from you. Maybe we could create a “What you’re drinking” section! Scroll down to read our individual comments....
Ruth Yates | Stockton Heath
Well, what can I say…. except, if I had a £1 for every time someone asked me what my favourite wine is then I would be a very wealthy woman. All I can say is that I have been incredibly lucky to have tasted thousands of wines during my 19 years in the wine trade and hopefully over the next few months I can share some of those delights with you. I will, however, say that I love fizz, I love white Burgundy and I love Sauvignon Blanc.
Ruth's wine of the month - Brachetto d'Acqui Araldica Cavallino, £9.71, Italy
- Click here to buy Ruth’s choice
"Because it’s January and I am in the mood for something a little lighter in alcohol this month, now, that’s not because I over indulged, I did my best to stick to my ‘drink less but better quality’ motto and this worked in theory! Anyway, my tipple this month is the wonderful Brachetto d’Acqui from Italy, the Brachetto grape is native to Italy and is sourced from some of the most prized vineyards on the Araldica estate. Firstly, the bottle shape is tall and elegant and you sort of imagine quality olive oil to go in there not wine, next the lovely ruby appearance is vibrant in the glass and, yes, you can see that there is a hint of spritz in this wine. The palate is medium in style with fresh acidity to balance, which makes way very quickly for the wonderful strawberry, raspberry and red cherry fruit that busts out of the glass. The fruit flavours are balanced perfectly on the palate and leave you with a dry finish that brings to mind fruit sorbet! The best thing of all – This wine is only 5% in alcohol, therefore a great January wine if it’s the lighter side of things you are looking for."
Click here to read Ruth's Blog
Richard Yates | Stockton Heath
Most of you will know Richard as the Concha y Toro man and after 16 years with them the passion of Corks Out finally got to him so much that he felt this was what was truly in his heart. So, you can be sure that a few of his favourites will be coming from South America as that’s where his expertise lies, however, I do know that he enjoys quality European reds too.
Richard's Wine of the month - CVNE Monopole Unoaked Blanco, £7.81, Spain - Click here to buy Richard's choice
“Monopole maybe Spain’s oldest wine brand but this modern white has aromas of fresh citrus fruit, green apples, crushed white flowers and a hint of jasmine. It is vibrant and fresh on the palate with good acidity and flavours of pineapple, banana and mango. This wine really shows how good the Viura grapes can be! All that and a modest level of alcohol too; just perfect after the excesses of the festive season!"
Mervyn Howard | Chester
Mervyn has knowledge of wine that amazes all of us. Although he is very modest about this I don’t think there is a wine, region or country that he couldn’t talk to you about. Not only does he have his Diploma in wine but Mervyn tutored the subject for many years, leaving us all overwhelmed with his knowledge. Therefore, I am not sure what will turn up over the next few months, all I can say is watch this space….
Mervyn's Wine of the month - Mersault Domaine Michelot, £27.95, France - Click here to buy Mervyn's choice
"As we approach the festive season my December recommendation is 'Mersault Domaine Michelot'. This is a wonderful example of a white Burgundy from the Cote de Beaune, whose nutty, toasty oak characteristics and hints of tropical fruit complement both turkey and seafood. The wine has a good balance of fruit, minerality and oak.
In my opinion, this would be a wonderful wine to start your Christmas lunch. Perhaps those of you who would like to move on to red wine, would apprecite following this Mersault with a Cote de Beaune Newman (Pinot Noir). This wine also comes highly recommended."
Andrew Pritchard | Chester
Andrew is an enthusiast and although his background is in financial marketing, his liquid assets are now in a bottle rather than in a bank. He has a love of wine and enjoys meeting new and loyal customers. His favourites are a secret and will come to light over the next few months.
Andrew's Wine of the month - Pulenta Estate Pinot Gris XIV, £9.14, Argentina - Click Here to buy Andrew's choice.
"Now that the festive season is over, you're probably looking for something zippy to accompany your new year diet of chicken, seafood and light salads! Try this excellent pinot gris from a vineyard irrigated with meltwater from the Andes! It has a ripe green apple bouquet and although slightly off dry, the lemony citrus burst of acidity makes this wine very refreshing. Happy New Year!"
Tom Scargill | Chester
Tom has spent some time in the wine trade over the last few years and his wine knowledge and enthusiasm show in the store and at tastings. In his spare time he performs in a band, so you never know where you might see him in the future.
Tom's Wine of the month - Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel, £21.25, USA - Click Here to buy Tom's choice.
"This time last year I had recently returned from California and just started working for Corks Out. Indeed this was the first bottle I purchased from my new employers having succumbed terribly to the sin of Zin whilst Stateside. You often hear tales of people loving a local wine whilst on holiday only to be disapppointed on procuring a bottle back in Blighty. Not with a wine from Corks Out! Massive yet impossibly smooth with ripe black cherries, sweet raspberries and a wonderfully velvety mouthfeel. It's an overwhelmingly satisfying experience. Yanks are justly proud of their unique gift to the world of wine and many favour it over Pinot to accompany Turkey. If this tickles your fancy, we'll be showing its big brother, Seghesio's Old Vine Zinfandel at Chester's Christmas Dinner Wine Tasting on the 10th of December. Tickets available on-line. Merry Christmas. Tom."
Click Here to read Tom's Blog
James Nixon | Stockton Heath
James joined Corks Out in April 2008 and says he is loving every minute of it. You will love him as he was a Chef before joining us and is passionate about food and wine, therefore, whether it's a special dinner party or spag bol for two he will help you choose the right wine as well as giving you some tips in the kitchen. James recently passed his WSET wine exam; well done James!
James's Wine of the month - Clonakilla Hilltop Shiraz, £15.84, Australia. Click here to buy James' choice
"This month to help keep my spirits up during this cold spell I have opted for an Aussie red. I have chosen the Clonakilla Hilltop Shiraz. The spicy raspberry characteristics of this red wine make it a great accompaniment for a cosy sofa and some good old fashioned comfort food. Be it sausage and mash with a home made caramelised onion gravy or a large bowl of spag boll. Better still grab yourself a bottle to enjoy with my Boeuf Bourgignon."
Click here to read James' blog.
Angela McGlynn | Stockton Heath
Angela is a very important part of the Corks Out team and although you may not see her in store she is hard at work on our website, updating it and making sure that our customers have as much information as possible, which is important when you can't come in and chat to us personally.
Angela's Wine of the month - Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon, £12.21, Chile - Click here to buy Angela's choice
"This wine is delicious with rich fruit flavours of plums, cherries and berries. Warming and soothing, perfect for these freezing nights and will certainly pick me up from the post Christmas doldrums"
Pete Franks | Stockton Heath
Pete has spent the last eight years working in the wine trade in various different ways and was ready for a new challenge. Although Pete will be active in the Stockton Heath store helping customers to make important decisions about their wine, he will also be getting involved in the operations side of the business and making sure all of our wonderful wines are in on time, a challenge in itself!!
Pete's Wine of the Month - Ca’ del Matt – Cortese, £7.40, Italy - Click Here to Buy Pete's Choice.
"Produced by Alpha Zeta, the New Zealand winemaker Matt Thompson has once again worked his magic on this delicate grape, normally used for making the more sleek and fashionably expensive Gavi wine in North Italy. The name Ca’ Del Matt means ‘house of the mad’ reflecting the difficulty in making some of their wines. Thompson has succeeded in making a very smooth, appealing wine with a crisp, fresh and clean texture to it. A hint of crunchy apple flavour and a touch of spice, aromas of lime citrus and peach, it’s vibrant and zesty with a well balanced acidity and minerality. The wine represents fantastic value for money and is very evocative of the Italian lakes. Perfect with fish, poultry and pork dishes."
Guy Hodcroft | Timperley
Guy may be a younger member of our team but don’t let that fool you, I think he must have been taking in all of his wine knowledge in another life time. His travels to Spain have given him great knowledge of this area and although his passion is Old World I think his New World view on things is very exciting. His time working at the Harvey Nichols store in Manchester has developed his enthusiasm for the subject and now he is ready to expand his knowledge and career further.
Guy's Wine of the Month - Firesteed Pinot Gris, £14.75 - USA - Click Here to Buy Guy's Choice.
"Most of the US wine industry is located in the sun drenched state of California, where a multitude of wines are created, ranging between £3 and £3000! However, examples of great quality can also be found in Washington State, New York and Oregon, the latter being the source of this expression of Pinot Gris. Vibrant lemon yellow in aspect, with aromas of tropical fruit and ripe pear. Full bodied, rich and slightly nutty on the palate, with a good depth of passionfruit, green apple and pineapple flavour. Lively acidity and a long, slightly rich finish, serve with seafood and poultry dishes."
Hayley Staunton - Stockton Heath
Hayley, my daughter has shown an interest in wine for a little while and has recently passed the WSET wine exam; well done Hayley! Although only 19 she is enthusiastic and eager to find out more about the subject. It's lovely to have another family member in the business.
Hayley's Wine of the Month - Chase White Peach Liqueur, £20.39, UK - Click Here to Buy Hayley's Choice.
"So, on to this months selection, Chase Peach liqueur. Wow! What a pleasant surprise. This liqueur really holds its own in fact the whole range of Chase liqueurs are worth trying and are really well priced They also come in handy sized half bottles! The flavour is so intense as soon as your lips hit the glass you're in heaven! A beautiful drink to enjoy on its own or with a little fizz or however you choose. A perfect present or a great little treat for yourself!"
Graham Simpson | Heswall
Graham is the new manager for our Heswall store. If you live in Heswall you will probably all remember him as the manager of the Nicolas (Odd Bins store) in Heswall. He has spent many years in the wine trade, has fantastic knowledge and a great palate for wine tasting. I am delighted he has joined us and I can only warn you that his knowledge and enthusiasm is very infectious, therefore, if you want to know more about wine and you live in Heswall then Gray is your man.
Gray's Wine of the Month - Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, £16.30, Australia - Click Here to Buy Gray's Choice
"Well, it’s deep mid-winter now and for me, that means big, bold, deep and sumptuous reds. And there’s nothing that fits the bill more than this massive Aussie Cabernet. It’s from small parcels of grapes sourced from a single vineyard in the McLaren Vale. The grapes are fermented in open top vats and when the winemaker feels the right balance of tannin, acidity, fruit and texture has been achieved the wine is basket pressed to make sure no harsh tannins are extracted. Afterwards the wine spends 20 months in French oak barriques to mature. What evolves in those 20 months is a wine of breed and class, full in body, but smooth and velvety on the palate.
When John Reynell came to Australia in 1838 and set up the Reynella Vineyard, who would have known that over 170 years later his wines would still be enjoyed by oenophiles the world around?"
Emily Dickinson | Heswall
We are really pleased to have Emily on board at our new Heswall store on the Wirral. Emily's background has been in hospitality, managing a number of well known restaurants. During that time she has developed a passion for wine and although very modest, her knowledge of the subject is certainly more than just an enthusiastic passion.
Emily's wine of the month - Brunello di Montalcino Fossecolle 2004, £40.82, Italy. - Click Here to Buy Emily's Choice.
“Well I don’t know about you but the celebrations have continued long into the New Year for us! Following all the Christmas festivities we’ve had a wealth of Birthdays, Engagements and Birth announcements and so a gathering of friends was called for with lots of delicious food and of course good wine. We had just such a bottle lurking in our cellar (although how it survived the Christmas raid I’ll never know!) the delicious Brunello di Montalcino Fossecolle 2004. Brunello is made from 100% Sangiovese (the Brunello Clone of this grape) and this small family-owned estate creates a true classic.
With a ripe fruit nose of mature plums and blackberries and just a hint of earthy fresh porcini and cinnamon. The texture on the tongue is silky and the palate is full bodied and fleshy without too much weight. There are subtle tannins and a lovely classic dry and rich nature. The palate boasts a good structure to the finish with notes of leather, toasted oak and spices.
This wine is only really just coming into it’s own in 2010 and will continue to improve over this year and beyond, so pop a bottle in your cellar for whatever celebration the future holds for you. Happy New Year!”
Katie Butler | Alderley Edge
Some of you may be aware that we are opening up in Alderley Edge at the beginning of August and we have recently taken on Katie Butler, Katie was with Odd Bins for many years and managed the Knutsford shop until it closed earlier this year. Another knowledgeable team member who just loves wine and has a bubbly personality to go with it, It's impossible to be with Katie for more than a few minutes without feeling totally at ease with life! Katie will be a great asset for our Alderley Edge store and any of you living on the Edge will be sure to enjoy popping in the store for advice and great wine!!
Katie's wine of the month - Wincle Waller Beer, £2.50, UK-
"Feeling a little tired and jaded after the Christmas and New Year excesses? Think your tastebuds have tired of wine? Get outdoors, and earn a thirst! Nothing beats that New Year feeling of a bracing walk, which I will be needing, and taking with my dog. Of course walkies, means drinkies straight after, with a steaming dog by the fire. Beat your post Christmas blues with a fine brew from our friends at Wincle Beer. If you remember Giles Meadows from ‘The Ship’ at Wincle, then know the man hath gone brewing, and the full range of his bottled beers are available on our shelves. A Wincle Waller at a modest 3.8%, is a refreshing pale ale, in-bottle conditioned, with lots of hoppy flavour. All his beers are named after local characters from the village, and are truly unique. Happy New Year to you all!"
Simon Dewar | Alderley Edge
Simon joined the team at Corks Out in August 09 and was recently with Odd Bins in Wilmslow. He has two main passions, Wine and Photography, his enthusiasm for wine is clear when you speak to him and he is particularly interested in fine wine and the underrated wines and grape varieties that most tend avoid.
Simon's wine of the month - 2006 Pena Roble from the Ribera del Duero, £13.54, Spain, - Click Here to buy Simon's choice
"If your door is too short and the sausage dog draft excluder has taken refuge in the airing cupboard, you need a wine to keep out Mr Frosts icy chills. The 2006 Pena Roble from the Ribera del Duero is a duvet of a wine. Wines from Ribera in the Northern Plateau of Spain consist mainly of Tempranillo, but can use other varieties in the blend such as Cabernet and Merlot. Unlike other areas such as Rioja, Tempranillo from Ribera at this price point is much more inky and concentrated. Dark brooding fruits, with tobacco and spicy layers woven into Chocolate and toasty oak. Wines from this region also have superb cellaring potential, although they are great young too as there's plenty of fruit and forgiving grippy tanins.
Stay warm this Winter, and enjoy it with your slippers on!"
Jo Bradshaw | Stockton Heath
Due to our expansion, Jo has come on board to help the business out in the admin department, now with 5 shops, an extended warehouse, 18 team members and 92 wine and spirit suppliers the admin side begins to take up more and more of your time. This will allow me to get back into the stores again and spend more time concentrating on purchasing more exclusivities and exciting products. Jo lives locally to Stockton Heath and after speaking to her as a customer in the past appreciates a quality glass of wine.
Jo's wine of the month - Martin Millers Westbourne Strength Gin, £30.60, UK - Click Here to buy Jo's choice
"I have always enjoyed a Gin & Tonic but the Miller’s Gin makes it extra special. It has a very distinctive peach nuance with a warmth that will help fight those winter blues as we make our way through the long month of January. I suggest you pour it in a long glass, light the fire, put those Christmas socks on that your Great Aunt bought you and remember the days are getting longer and you can soon enjoy your Miller’s Gin on the sun lounger in your garden."
Geoffray Sylvain - Stockton Heath
Geoffray is from Belfort, close to Alsace in France and will be working with Corks Out for 6 months on a placement for work experience and will be based at the Stockton Heath store. He has some good knowledge on French wines and speaks good English and Spanish and even a little Chinese (not that we have many Chinese products at Corks Out)!! His hobbies are reading, photography and watching sport and his favourite wine is white Burgundy (a man after my own heart)!!
Geoffray's wine of the month - Les Pierriers Sancerre, £15.50, France. Click here to buy Geoffray's choice.
"Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) is one of the most famous white wines in France. Sancerre is also a very nice village with a typical castle in the Loire valley. Sancerre white wine is more delicate than close-by Pouilly Fumé wines which are excellent white wines too. Sancerre matures a little bit faster than neighbours.
This Sauvignon Blanc has grapefruit aromas, white flowers and citrus.
Sancerre is produced on 15 villages. The wines coming from Bué and Chavignol are the best."
Jeremy Cowen - Chester
We are delighted to welcome Jeremy on board at our Chester store. Jeremy has worked closely with wine for the past 11 years and was the youngest ever manager in Oddbins history, which was where his career in wine started. Since then he has travelled the wineries around the world and been Head Sommelier at some of the well known restaurants around the UK. His passion for wine and spirits and the retail sector is fairly obvious when you meet him. We are also proud to welcome Jeremy as the new manager of the Chester branch as of 1st January 2010
Jeremy's Wine of the month - Lustau, San Emilio Pedro Ximenez 37.5cl, £9.86, Spain. Click here to buy Jeremy's choice.
"That’s right it is a sherry, but it’s not to be confused with the nasty stuff lurking at the back of the drinks cabinet, brought out for the grandparents annual visit - This is Lustau “San Emilio Pedro Ximenez”, one of the finest producers in Jerez. Pedro Ximenez (the grape) is growing in popularity with its seductive sweetness and velvety texture it is easy to see why. This exquisite nectar is almost black in colour, with a pronounced bouquet of raisins and dried fruits, with hints of chocolate and spice. On the palate it can only be described as liquid raisins in a glass. It has this unctuous velvety smooth finish which would make this the perfect partner with an equally seductive chocolate pudding or be sipped meditatively after dinner wrapped in a rug next to a log fire. Another perfect match is when it’s drizzled over good quality vanilla ice cream may seem a waste, but try it, it works!
Marina Dunlop - Timperley/Alderley Edge
Marina has certainly had her fair share of wine experience, through retail, working as a chef and a cellar manager. She has spent 2 ½ years in the world of art and is a keen photographer, however, it was her passion for food and wine that changed that and now we are lucky to have her enthusiasm within Corks Out, Marina will be working between the Timperley and Alderley Edge store and if you ask her about her favourite wine, you can bet it will be Chateau Musar!
Marina's wine of the month - Pol Roger Rich Demi Sec £31.99. Click here to purchase Marina's wine
How about something a little special to accompany the Christmas Pudding this year? Pol Roger’s Rich Demi Sec is a great alternative to some pudding wine. The sweetness from the rich fruits in the pudding, cancel out the sweetness in the Champagne making it taste like their brut. Its also great to use for after dinner toasts at weddings where ordinary brut champagne may seem too harsh post pudding and result in lots of half empty glasses left – what a waste.
Last updated: January 20, 2010