Wine for Winter Nights

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Kesh

It’s officially Winter and almost the countdown to Christmas (eeeek) so here at Frost we decided to toast away what has been a glorious Summer and a mild Autumn with some beaut wine offerings.

For our White Wine lovers we have gone for;

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin

Villa Maria has long been a hit with consumers and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has continued to dazzle customers for a number of years now. As the most widely planted grape variety in NZ, Villa Maria have a few distinct Sauvignon Blanc styles dependent on regions of the country owing to the maritime climate. Here we try the Malborough Private Bin which features grapes picked from a combination of vineyards across two different valleys in Malborough. The result is an intense and herbaceous flavour noticeably distinguishable from Villa Maria Reserve Malborough wine which has grapes specifically from Wairau valley. Private Bin has a strong and fresh flavour alive with citrus and tropical fruits owing to the long sunny days and cooler nights.

This is a flavoursome wine and can be enjoyed without food but with owing to its strong flavour, a glass with dinner will go down well. We paired it with Chicken and Mushroom risotto.

Available from most good grocery stores. A full list can be found on their website:

www.villamaria.co.nz

RRP: £9.69 (Waitrose price)

For a hearty RED recommendation we chose;

Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenere 2017

This Chilean number is robust and pleasing owing to it being 90% Carmenere. The aromas are evocative of a classic wintery red with hints of black pepper, oak and nutmeg. A perfect fireplace wine. The balance of smoke and spice is the stand out essence which distinguishes this Carmenere variety, and ever so subtly sets it apart from the Merlot. The dash of Petit Syrah which makes up the other 10% adds to the aromatics of the wine.

Smooth tannins make this highly desirable on the palette with and without food and I would certainly recommend with rich dishes sweet and savoury due to the chocolatey nature of this wine.

RRP: £10.50

www.majestic.co.uk

Garmence Wine Studio SS16 Capsule Collection

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Kesh

I know what you’re thinking, A capsule collection for wine? ‘WI-NE NOT’ we say. Indeed, we are in a renaissance of wine and Garmence Wine Studio are leading the way with their capsule SS16 Collection. Garmence Wine Studio are a fresh, new wine company committed to bring you wine which is ‘crafted with love’ by people who love wine. The new concept created by the hard-working Charlotte Calvet, who’s family have been in the wine business for generations, is, in a nutshell, based on blending the highest quality wines which are the most memorable and fragrant to match the Garmence unique tasting profile. Their aim is to make it easier for you to select wines that you enjoy based on your own unique taste and aim to deliver a high quality wine to you at a fair price. Helping you to pick your wines with the help of a food pairing wheel, they want you to find exactly the wine you’re after and aim to help you pick something you’ll enjoy.

Essentially, Garmence Wine Studio work with wine growers and producers from all over Europe and have selected wines that ‘evoke a unique sensorial experience.’ Their cooperative approach means that even smaller wine producers get a look in. These guys have done all of the leg work capturing the best of the best and it’s clear that this concept can only be overseen by someone who has an immense passion for wine and after meeting and speaking with Charlotte and her Father you are safe in the knowledge that they really know and adore their wines.

The SS16 collection is created with the premise that consumers’ taste changes with the seasons, so alongside their ‘core collection’, there are a few Spring/Summer heroes that feature with a lighter, fresher taste. Lucky for you, us at Frost got to do all the hard work and attend the wine tasting and here are our top picks;

The Whites;

Pouilly-Fumé

This Sauvignon Blanc has got to be one of the sexiest wines I have ever tried. Deliciously crisp and energetic, this Pouilly-Fumé has flavours of green apples, stone fruits and lemons. This fantastic little number will go well with seafood, Italian food and poultry.

Serving suggestions; a bottle of this on a date will go a long way!
£18

http://www.garmence.com/beta/shop/16-pouilly-fume-france.html

The Reds:

Fleurie

This fruity wine is King of the Beaujolais region which makes it perfect to drink chilled. Perfect for the summer this wine is fresh and light with almost no tannins. Hints of strawberry, cherries and bramble spice this wine is well paired with all meats and of course a cheese board.

Serving suggestions; A foolproof dinner party wine.
£16

http://www.garmence.com/beta/shop/28-fleurie.html

The Heroes;

With some collective positive thinking, hopefully the Summer will be here in no time, but in the meantime Garmence are on a mission to create you the best Rosé. Exclusively to their SS16 collection they have two on offer for you to try.

Côtes De Provence

The clarity of the wine is enough to let you know it’s going to be sublime. Putting Rosé back on the map, this delicious blend of Grenache, Cinsault & Syrah make the perfect balance of citrus, exotic and white fruits. Great paired with steak, seafood and veg.

Serving suggestions; This elegant wine is a showstopper at a BBQ or picnic.
£15

http://www.garmence.com/beta/shop/26-rose-de-provence.html

Crémant De Bordeaux

Because who doesn’t love a bottle of pink fizz! This one is every bit as delicious and exquisite as it looks and just bursting with aromatic fruitiness. Fresh and fizzy, this wine is produced according to the “Champagne traditional method”.

Serving suggestions; Suitable for every occasion
£20

http://www.garmence.com/beta/shop/27-cremant-de-bordeaux-rose.html

These are just our top picks but visit their website to choose wines based on your flavour profile. The minimum order is three bottles and once you’ve selected your wines, pick a day and a time slot. Bottles are stylishly wrapped and delivered in fantastic wine storage boxes which can be doubled up as a wine rack to suit your home.

So visit Garmence for their full collection.

“Fewer, better wines – Crafted with love”

Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Review

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Frostie

This wine is fruity and fresh. Savoury with the perfect balance of acidity: this wine is the perfect wine to bring in the New Year. Ripe fruit characters, intense aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit and blackcurrant with a subtle underlying of gooseberry on the nose. The palate is concentrated with tropical flavours and it has a long finish. Delicious.

Winemaker Notes

A classic Wairau Valley style bursting with the trademark ripe fruit characters found in this sub region. The nose displays pure and powerful aromas of peach, grapefruit, blackcurrant, and underlying fresh aromatic herbs like rosemary and lemon thyme. The palate is concentrated with an enticing array of gooseberry, melon and guava flavours, balanced by a fine thread of acidity, and a savoury refreshing finish.

Vineyards

The fruit for this wine comes from a combination of vineyards with varying soils and viticultural techniques throughout the Wairau Valley. The common thread between the vineyards was an unrelenting focus on vine health. This was achieved by careful yield adjustments and water management as well as a balanced approach to vine nutrition

Winemaking

All Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested at the cool of night to retain aromatics and freshness in the grapes. The fruit was destemmed, crushed, and pressed before cold settling. The clear racked juice was inoculated with selected aromatic yeast strains. Cool, slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks took place to retain distinctive sub-regional and varietal characteristics

Vintage

The climate in Marlborough has high sunshine hours, but temperatures during the growing season are regulated by the cooling ocean influence. In 2014, Marlborough had warmer than usual spring, followed by temperate summer. Overall, it was a bountiful harvest with excellent quality grapes; intensely flavoured and picked in pristine condition. All Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested between early March until mid April.

Food match

Enjoy with:

Fish/Shellfish
Salads & Picnics
Mild Creamy Cheeses

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 100.0%

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13%

pH: 3.00

Total Acidity: 6.80 g/l

Residual Sugar: 3 g/l

Drink: Now to 2 years

Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2014

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

Christmas Gift List For The Wine Connoisseur

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Frostie

These bottles of wine are perfect as presents, or just for serving to guests.

Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir 2013 £12.99

Has ripe red fruits of red plum and cherry notes with a lingering spice.

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 £12.99

Aged for 9 months in lightly toasted French oak barrels. Has tastes of dark red fruits, spice and a touch of fresh mint. Has smooth raspberry and cherry flavours.

Brancott Estate Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc 2013 £12.49

This is a special wine. Has tropical fruits complemented by hints of freshly cut herbs. This is elegant, delicious and refined. From majestic.com and tesco.com

Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Gris 2013 £10.49

Goes well with salmon, has a slight sweetness. Has ripe notes of nectarine and pineapple with underlying hints of fennel. Available from tesco.com, ocado.com and asda.com

Jacob’s Creek Twin Pickings Pinot Grigio 2013 £7.49

This is the perfect aperitif. Has a wonderful hidden sweetness and a dash of Moscato Bianco. Vibrant and fresh with flavours of pear, crisp apple, honeysuckle and hints of lemon. From tesco.com

Wine Reviews By Matt Pain: Joseph Mellow Sancerre & Villa Maria

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Margaret Graham

Joseph Mellow Sancerre

Joseph Mellow Sancerre is a wine that is typically Loire with the chalkiness of the soil keeping it relatively light. It is a Pinot Noir, which is more typical of Burgundy but it does give a sophisticated wine rather than the more indigenous Chinon.

Red Sancerre is a relatively rare beast; only produced when the yield and harvest are good enough. This is well balanced, with damson or dark cherries on the palate.

Good for those who like a dry red wine but with a mellow finish.

Good with pheasant (that hasn’t been hung too long) or fowl. Or, of course, on its own with some jazz playing quietly in the background.

Villa Maria

Villa Maria have been making Sauvignon Blanc seemingly forever in cool Marlborough vineyards with unnervingly high quality results.

This is new though; a light sparkling wine, similar to the experience of a Portuguese Vinho Verde.

This is though, a lot better. It feels lighter than the still version though with the same citrus freshness.

Drink as a superior aperitif or with shellfish.

Available from tesco.com and ocado.com

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Wine Review

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Frostie

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Wine Review

This sauvignon blanc is one of the best we have tasted. It is dry and fruity. It is also smooth, refreshing and ripe. With gooseberry and characters of tropical fruit. It is vibrant with nuances of melon, fresh lime, the previously mentioned gooseberry and passionfruit.

We are very partial to New Zealand brand Villa Maria. They make some good wines and this medium-priced sauvignon blanc is one of them. Very drinkable and wonderful for if we ever have a summer again.

Enjoy with: fish/shellfish, salads & picnics, mild creamy cheeses and grilled seasonal vegetables and seafood.

Drink now or up to two years.

https://www.majestic.co.uk

Prezzo Witham Restaurant Review

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Melissa Volpi

Prezzo is helping to make Witham High Street fashionable. This stylish silver painted Italian restaurant opened here at the end of last year and has become a busy nighttime dining establishment.

We arrive at 7:30 pm on a Tuesday evening and are glad that we booked in advance – as there is not one table unreserved. Karen, the Hungarian Restaurant Manager, greets us and we are seated in a comfortable candlelit booth with monochrome patterned bench seats.

Verdicchio

Karen gives us a few minutes before walking over to take our drinks order and after asking for a bottle of San Pellegrino; my partner asks her what the most popular wine is.

“The Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is our biggest seller here,” says Karen. “It’s a medium bodied wine with a crisp gooseberry fruit flavour.”

My partner orders two large glasses of the Sauvignon for us to try. It’s a drinkable wine that I think would go well with any vegetarian, fish or chicken dish. But it’s too non descript for me. And my partner agrees. So we scan the wine list again (which has a good selection of Italian whites from Trebbiano and Frascati to Pinot Grigio and Fiano) and order a bottle of Verdicchio Urmani Ronchi DOC. This is one of my favourite whites. To me, it’s the Italian Chablis.

Baked Mushrooms

There are nine starters on the menu. From classics like Bruschetta, Tricolore Salad and Antipasto to modern melts like fried mozzarella in tomato sauce and grilled goats cheese on ciabatta bread with a balsamic glaze. The prices are excellent value, with all starters under £6.00.

We pick two classic dishes. Baked Mushrooms stuffed with grana padano cheese, garlic, onions, mushrooms and breadcrumbs. And King Prawns cooked in tomato sauce with garlic, chilli and spinach served with ciabatta bread.

Karen tells us a story of her mushroom picking expeditions in Hungary as she serves us our starters. The Baked Mushrooms and King Prawns are elegantly presented on white square plates. The six mushrooms, which surround a bed of salad leaves and a bowl of aioli, smell like a forest and I cannot wait to dig in.

My partner and I share the first mushroom and both gasp with delight at the texture and taste. We try them with and without the aioli and both agree that they taste best without. The combination of creamy cheese and that straight from the earth flavour is heavenly.

The King Prawns are not as spicy as the recipe suggests. But they are a good, light choice nonetheless.

Executive Pizzas

The maincourses at Prezzo are what you would expect from an Italian restaurant. There are pastas, pizzas, risottos and meat dishes with a choice of sides. But the Executive Pizzas stand out.

My partner orders the Chargrilled Chicken Breast Funghi (with field mushrooms and baby spinach in a Marsala wine sauce) and Rosemary potatoes. And I order one of the Executive Pizzas: the Queen Margherita.

There are four different Executive Pizzas on the menu. There is Posh Pepperoni, Steak and Rocket, Prawn and Lobster and the Queen Margherita. If we had not ordered King Prawns to start, then I would have gone for the Prawn and Lobster pizza. But the Queen Margherita sounds interesting. And when Karen lays it down on our table, it even looks interesting.

The Executive Pizzas are bigger than normal Prezzo pizzas. And they have a crispier, thinner base. The Queen Margherita is made up of three sections. So you end up with one pizza that has three different toppings.

What I find striking is the tri-colour design. The three sections are cleverly done and made to look like the Italian flag: green, white and red.

The green section is asparagus, spinach and basil pesto dressed rocket leaves. The white section is béchamel sauce and buffalo mozzarella. And the red section is sunblushed and cherry tomatoes.

Prezzo give you a pizza cutter for ease. So I cut each section into threes and dig in. The pizza is as good as any I have tasted in the UK or Italy. The base is light and the flavours from each different topping really come through. My favourite is the béchamel sauce and buffalo mozzarella.

I can tell that my partner is enjoying his chicken dish. As he has not spoken one word in the past five minutes. He is too busy eating.

The Gelupo Gelato Burger

“This is one of our most popular desserts,” says Karen while placing the Gelupo Gelato Burger in front of me.

And I can see why. This toasted brioche bun with a light dusting of icing sugar looks like a real American burger roll. It’s a gimmick that works and immediately transports you to the set of a Godfather inspired movie, where Italians talk with a New York accent.

This bun would never be found on the dolce list of a traditional Italian Trattoria. But I’m very happy to see it on the menu of Prezzo in Witham. This is much more than a simple dessert. It combines the two things that Italians cannot get enough of: bread and ice cream.

Our burger is stuffed with two large scoops of Amaretti and Hazelnut Gelato and the idea was to cut the burger down the middle so that we could both enjoy our favourite ice cream. But as I try the combination of warm brioche and frozen Amaretti and let the sweet taste of bread and marzipan envelop my senses, I decide that half of this dessert is not enough and end up eating three quarters of it. Sorry Mike! (My partner)

Tiramisu

I try not to order tiramisu when eating out in Italian restaurants as I was brought up on my mother’s homemade version, which no other tiramisu can compete with (in my biased opinion!). But the other desserts on this menu just don’t do it for me.

The Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake, Chocolate Profiteroles, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Milk Chocolate Fudge Cake are not Italian enough for me. And although the Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding sounds delicious (and a dessert that I will definitely try on my next visit to Prezzo) we thought it would not compliment the Gelupo Gelato Burger. That it would be a case of too much bread. So, we opt for the Tiramisu – an Italian dessert that always satisfies, even if my mother didn’t make it.

And Prezzo’s tiramisu is no exception. This square of whipped up eggs and mascarpone on espresso-drenched ladyfingers looks good on the plate. A sprinkling of cocoa around the tiramisu and three dark coffee beans pressed gently into the top layer of this dessert add the finishing touches.

It’s light and creamy and the perfect end to our meal. But this time I let my partner eat more.

Hot Amaretto

Karen must have noted my love of Amaretti because she brings out a hot glass of Amaretto for me to have alongside my cappuccino.

My partner inhales the aroma and notes how nice it is to have a warm shot of liqueur. These little details are often a rarity now. But they make a meal. And they have certainly made our meal special.

We enjoy our coffees with Amaretto and both decide that Prezzo is a great Italian restaurant for couples. The décor is minimalist with lots of wood. The pizza is as good as any you would find on the streets of Rome. And the service is excellent. Thank you, Karen and Prezzo. We will be back.