SAMPLE CRINAN WINE LIST

Our aim each year is to have particularly interesting and unusual wines to ensure your maximum drinking pleasure - at all price levels from the really serious stuff down to the more humble - and as usual we have found some real stars.

The homogenisation of styles in the wine world - with Hungarians making wine in Italy, Frenchmen in Chile and Australians all over the place - means that we have done away with arranging the list in the traditional manner - by country of origin - and the wines that follow are posted firstly by their grape variety - secondly by origin - and thirdly by grower. I am sure you will find some surprises.

Contrary to commonly held views there are no hard and fast rules when matching wine with food - but un-oaked wines (like Sancerre - Riesling and Pinot Blanc) do go best with seafood and fish. Obviously you can do whatever you want - you're paying.

Pudding wines - half bottles and port are at the back of the list - and at least one vintage port is always available by the glass.

Owing to our remote location and lack of storage space we have been known to run out from time to time. I would ask you to bear with us - we can always recommend a suitable alternative - or something of which we have too much...

Some of the older wines require decanting to separate the wine from the deposit - otherwise all wines will be served in bottle - unless you specifically request otherwise.

Slainthe!

Nick & Frances Ryan, and Mark Reynier

FIZZ

90. Joseph Perrier £39
One of the great value, true quality, Proper Champagnes. Non of your joke, made-up named stuff here. And as if you needed an excuse, there are dinky half bottles too.

91. Billecart-Salmon - Brut Reserve £45
From our newest wine merchant whose father spent many years trying to get my business. Sadly he died in waiting but his son succeeded at the end of last year. The old boy was a great consumer of fine wines and a very nice man - remind you of anybody?

92. Laurent Perrier Rosé £86
The squat bottle shape is a replica of an original C19th bottle. The most popular rosé of all proving that yes, we too, can be as trendy as the next man.

93. Krug "Grande Cuvée" £126
Not everyone's cup of tea, like Guinness, you are either a fan or you are not. This is serious fizz, not a frivolous thirst quencher, but complex and profound as a great white Burgundy.

94. Dom Ruinart 1973 £130
The poor cousin to Dom Perignon - though every bit as good - now fully mature, so don't expect vivacity, but mellowness.

95. Don Perignon 1982 £140
What every dressed drug dealer and night clubber will be drinking this New Year. Excessive wrist jewellery essential to complete the picture

HOUSE WINES

THE WHITES

ROSÉ

4. Grenache/Syrah Rosé "Les Gres" Coteaux du Languedoc 2004 £19.50
Xavier Luc, France

REDS

5. Grenache/Merlot "Les Calades" Vin De Pays De L'Herault 2004 £19.50
Alain Grignon, France
6. Merlot "Les Souches" Vin De Pays d'Oc 2003 £19.50
Prieure St Sever, France
7. Tempranillo 2004 £19.50
Castillo De Montblanc- Spain

THE WHITES

8. Picpoul de Pinet - Coteaux du Languedoc 2004 £21
Domaine de la Viste, France

Crazy name, crazy wine. Nothing to do with hens or hookers - just simple, fun, perky Picpoul. Refreshing stuff, excellent value. What more do you want?

9. Chenin Blanc - Coastal Region 2005 £21
Klippenkop, South Africa

Slightly off-dry white, a bit like a Vouvray, but the opposite hemisphere. Useful info, eh?

10. Pinot Grigio - "Ca Del Bianco" 2005 £22
Carlo Botter, Italy

Light, cold and white. Excellent as an aperitif being inoffensive, easy-going, and relatively simple: like most Italians (white wines, I mean).

11. Chardonnay - South East Australia "Weighbridge" 2004 £22
Peter Lehmann, Australia

Scary stuff: 90% of Australian wine is made by just three companies, shortly to become two. Which is how they maintain such consistency. And it has to be said, quality.

12. Viognier - Vin de Pays d'Oc "Les Gres Xl" 2004 £22
Xavier Luc, France

For ABC fans - Anything But Chardonnay - as this is aromatic, fruity and dry
and bears no resemblance to Chardonnay at all. Great on its own or with food.

13. Sauvignon- Montravel 2004 £23
Chateau Puy-Servain, France

From near Bergerac, Greater Bordeaux. Crisp and dryish, great with langoustines - which are derisively called prawns here. Imagine the size of the lobsters.

14. Chardonnay - Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France 2003 £23
Domaine de la Moriniere, France

'Jardin de la France' - an innocent and charming name in a Gallic, Beatrix Potter kind-of-way that describes this part of the Loire Valley.

Gavi - La Zerba 2003 £24

This is a family affair and not of the current fashion for high alcohol and oak. The Real Thing

15. Chardonnay - Macon Villages "Les Florieres" 2004 £26
Cave De Lugny, Burgundy

In general I am not a fan of cooperative wines, but this Classic Macon Villages at a classic price is thanks to the efforts of this winery.

16. Sauvignon - Cheverny 2004 £26
Domaine Dellaille, Loire Valley

An absolute cracker, representing startling value for money (did I really say that?) as good as most Sancerre and Pouilly. Crisp, dry, lip-smackingly fresh.

17. Sauvignon - Marlborough 2005 £26
Stoneburn Vineyards, New Zealand

The thing with Kiwi wines is you always know exactly what you are going to get: a Lomu proportioned bouquet of grassy, fruity flavours and easy drinking.

18. Riesling - Pfalz 2003 £26
Dr Burklin Wolf, Germany

Great grape, great producer, great food wine. Less alcohol than the French version - so ideal at lunchtime or when you cannot afford to get hammered.

19. Sauvignon - Quincy 2004 £28
Bruno Lecomte, Loire Valley

Sounds like an American filmstar, but Quincy (pronounced 'can-sea') is a close neighbour of Sancerre and Pouilly though it has a tad more weight to it.

20. Semillon/Sauvignon - Magaret River "Ribbon Vale" 2004 £30
Moss Wood, Western Australia

One of the greatest estates in Australia, from near Perth. Unusually well balanced for an Aussie - a chip on both shoulders - no, it's the cooler climate.

21. Chardonnay - Montagny "Les Bassets" 2003 £30
Chateau Carey Potet, Burgundy

One of Burgundy's (just) best kept secrets, from the very southern extremity of the region. Made by a Parisian bohemian poet. Cracking kit, excellent stuff.

Chardonnay - Puligny Montrachet " Les Setilles" 2004 £32
Olivier Leflaive, Bourgogne

22. Sauvignon - Sancerre 2003 £36
Domaine Daniel Chotard, Loire Valley

One of the world's classics - though it has to be said the Cheverny runs this pretty darn close. So it's your choice. But for me at my age it's the Sancerre every time.

23. Chardonnay - Chablis "1er Cru Montmains" 2004 £36
Domaine Christian Adine, Burgundy

Chablis seems to have taken a bit of a back seat these days what with all the Aussie stuff around; worth rediscovering what all the fuss was about.

25. Sauvignon - Menetou Salon "Clos des Blanchais" 2004 £36
Domaine Henry Pelle, Loire Valley

If only French wines had simple titles like the Aussies. Another Sancerre satellite that used to be such a bargain; still excellent wine - just less of a deal.

26. Chenin - Savennieres "Clos du Papillon" 2001 £39
Florent Baumard - Loire Valley

A secret wine of huge class and style. Dry and minerally, yet with almost a hint of honey. This is one of those rare things: an original wine. Massively underrated.

27. Reisling - Alsace 2003 £39
Domaine Paul Blanck

Classically pungent - made by a quality conscious family owned estate. Mine's a Blanck.

28. Riesling - Barossa Valley "Reserve"- 1996 £40
Peter Lehmann, South Australia

Guess which sells more, the classic Alsace or the nouveau Aussie Riesling? Yup - you've got it. Alsace still haven't recovered from the Liebfraumilch association.

Bordeaux - Godard Blanc 2004 £40
Chateau Les Charmes

Crisp and dry great with Langoustines-which are derisively called prawns here. Imagine the size of the lobsters

Chardonnay - Eden Valley 2004 £40
Henschke, South Australia

Fat and Fleshy with scents of spice meld with buttery, exotic fruits. Lasts longer than the visiting mother-in-law though the price tag is marginally less painful to bear

29. Sauvignon - Pouilly Fumé 2004 £43
Chateau De Tracy, Loire Valley

'Tracy' is always mispronounced. Makes me think of a hairdresser: not 'Tray-see', as in Thunderbirds, but 'ass-sea', as Haile Sellassie.

Sauvignon - Pouilly Fumé 2004 £43
La Loge aux Moines, Patrice Moreux, Loire Valley

Chardonnay - Chablis Premier Cru "Vaillons" 2003 £46
Louis Michel et Fils

A humdinger! Restaurant Chablis is usually such a complete and utter rubbish- and to be avoided at all costs. This however, is Classic Chablis, marvellous full-bodied wine with loads of extra oomph- drinking brilliantly now.

30. Chardonnay - Saint Aubin "Murgers Dents De Chien" 2003 £46
Domaine Gerard Thomas, Burgundy

Granted, not the most flattering title (the 'dog's teeth' refers to the sharp stones in the vineyard) but sumptuous Real White Burgundy

Chardonnay - Pouilly Fuissé " Les Clos" 1998 £50
Chateau de Fuissé

A Classic. The vinous equivalent to a slice of thick, home baked toast,
oozing with melting butter on a cold winter's morning. Pretentious? Moi?

31. Chardonnay - Meursault "Les Narvaux" 2002 £61
Vincent Girardin, Burgundy

The least 'flabby' best structured of the Meursault terroirs making a full on Chardonnay but with a more minerally, dry finish. Giradin is very reliable.

Chardonnay - Meursault -Charmes 1er Cru £75
Domaine Michelot

This wine speaks for itself. We have only a few left. What are you waiting for!

32. Chardonnay - Puligny Montrachet "Cru Champs Canets" 2001 £126
Etienne Sauzet, Burgundy

This is the biz. The most complex, suave and sophisticated of white Burgundy. If you are going to push the boat out, then this is the wine to do it with.

THE REDS

40. Montepulciano - d'Abruzzo "Ca De Mori" 2004 £21
Carlo Botter, Italy

Uncomplicated, straightforward, soft, rich, mellow, round, earthy, easy drinking etc, etc... Got the picture by now?

Mourvedre - Vins de Pays des Cotes de Thongue 2001 £21
Domaine La Condamine L'Eveque, France

41. Syrah - Vin de Pays d'Oc "Les Grés" 2004 £21
Xavier Luc, France

Berry fruit and peppery spice - sounds like a girl band your daughter listens to. This is equally smooth, and almost as undemanding.

42. Grenache - Corbieres 2003 £21
Château Meunier St Louis, France

Altogether more robust, rich and spicy kit with a bit of age to it for once. Quite a step up from the previous wine. More meaningful, bigger hangover.

43. Merlot - Rapel Valley 2005 £22
Vina Carmen, Chile

Desperately trendy at present. Loads of soft berry fruit so frighteningly easy to drink. About as much a Pomerol, as I am a brain surgeon.

44. Shiraz - South East Australia "Weighbridge"- 2004 £23
Peter Lehmann, Australia

No holds barred: More Geoff Thomson than Jason Donnovan: Big, brash, powerful and unruly. For those that like things straightforward.

45. Cabernet/Merlot - Bordeaux 2002 £23
Château Pradeau, France

Simple, light weight, generic Bordeaux. Doesn't sound enthralling - but hey, what do you expect for £22? Some would pretentiously call it "lunchtime claret.

46. Pinot Noir - Vin De Pays d'Oc 2002 £25
Andre Montessuy, France

Unusual to find Burgundy's noble grape grown this far south. About as light and fruity as Julian Clarey.

Pinot Noir 2001 £24
Hautes-Cotes de Beaune

No holds barred: Big, brash, powerful, and unruly. For those that like things straightforward.

47. Gamay - Brouilly "Cuvée Du P'tit Baron" 2004 £26
Veuve Marius Carnot, Beaujolais

Fun Beaujolais deserves more respect as a decent wine in it's own right. Trouble is the vast volume of joke Nouveau that let's the side down.

48. Zinfandel - Livermore Valley 2001 £28
Wente Vineyards, California
A schizophrenic wine: both light 'n fruity, yet manically powerful and alcoholic - all at the same time! But watch out, it will sneek up on you from behind…

49. Cabernet/Merlot - Haut Medoc 1999 £31
Château La Cardonne, Bordeaux

Classic claret. Despite the New World wine march-good Bordeaux is still
No 1. Owned by Ch Lafite up to 1993, who still have an input on the technical side.

50. Pinot Noir - Marlborough 2004 £33
Hunters, New Zealand

Burgundy with Alzheimers. The cooler climate is ideal for the fickle Pinot Noir. Forget Burgundian pedigree - hello oodles of exciting, fresh Pinot Fruit.

51. Cabernet/Merlot - Haut Medoc "Les Allées" 2001 £36
Château Cantemerle, Bordeaux

The second wine of the humble Château Cantemerle, with a high proportion of Merlot, so soft and easy - more Margaux than Paulliac, he said pretentiously...

Pinot Noir - Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru 2000 £36
Poissenot, Domaine Humbert Freres

Known in the 60's as a 'knicker dropper' of a wine. But that was a long time ago.

52. Grenache/Syrah - Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2002 £39
Domaine De Sénéchaux, Rhône Valley

The Real Thing. None of that joke sixties restaurant rubbish. But pure, clean, powerful, intoxicating fruit and spice. Lighter, easier drinking version than most.

Gigondas 1998 £39
J. Vidal-Fleury, Côte Rôtie

53. Tempranillo - La Rioja Alta "Reserva" 1998 £43
Vina Ardanza, Spain

Classic, old fashioned Rioja: big, full-bodied, smooth and powerful stuff from an exceptional vintage. For "they don't make 'em like they used to…" brigade.

Merlot - Grande Cru St Emilion 1996 £45
Chateau Grand Mayne, France

Serious Claret for the aficionado rather than the pretentious label spotter/ show off - which of course you are not. Go on - prove it.

54. Shiraz - "Cephas" - Victoria 2001 £46
Taltarni, Australia

About as subtle as a bush-wacker. This is robust, heady, powerful kit.

55. Pinot Noir - Volnay "Les Blanches" 2002 £50
Domaine Darviot - Perrier

The softest, sexiest red burgundy of the lot. Not a wham-bam blockbuster - on the contrary, understated and refined. More John Mills than Larry Olivier.

56. Cabernet Sauvignon- Santa Maria Valley 1998 £51
Rancho Sisquoc, California

Does any one really read these notes? This is only here for our cousins from across the pond, to make them feel at home. We'll see how popular it really is.

57. Cabernet/Merlot - St Julien "La Réserve" 1999 £51
Château Léoville Barton, Bordeaux

The second wine of mighty Leoville Barton. Now we are talking serious claret. Not as good as Leoville itself, it is half the price. Thought you would like that.

58. Syrah - Côte Rôtie 2000 £56
Domaine Guy Bernard, Rhone Valley

Here we go: spicy, full-bodied, ultra-refined wine - none of that simplistic, sweet, 'jammy' Shiraz stuff, but altogether more complex; needs food.

Pinot Noir - Nuits St Georges Aux Mugers 1997 £56
Sylvain Cathiard Vosne Romané

59. Sangiovese - Brunello Di Montalcino 1999 £61
Santa Giulia - Tuscany

Chianti with knobs on; richer, warmer and fuller flavoured than most Chiantis - benefiting from the better exposure on the Montalcino hill side.

61. Pinot Noir - Gevrey Chambertin "1er Cru Petite Chapelle" 2000 £80
Domaine Dupont Tisserandot, Burgundy

Confused by Burgundy? Find it about as simple as trying to understand the latest computer spec.? Try this, looks young, but loaded with ripe fruit and soft tannins.

62. Pinot Noir - Vosne Romanée "1er Cru Les Suchots" 1999 £102
Domaine Prieure-Roch, Burgundy

Part owner of mighty La Romanée Conti - but this is his own domain. There are some similarities with the illustrious neighbour: silky, fine, hedonistic wine.

63. Cabernet/Merlot - Pauillac 1997 £126
Château Lynch Bages, Bordeaux

Classic Kit. Claret from a good vintage, ready to drink now, exhibiting all the usual cigar-boxes aromas, lead pencils, blah, blah, blah.

PUDDING WINES

70. Semillon - Barossa Valley 2001 37.5cl £26
Peter Lehmann, South Australia Glass £9.50

71. Sauvignon/Semillon Haut Montravel- 2002 50cl £31
Chateau Puy Servain, Bordeaux Glass £8.50

72. Chenin Blanc 2003 Quart de Chaume 37.5cl £40
Domaine des Baumard

73. Sauvignon/Semillon Barsac "Premier Cru" 1999 37.5cl £51
Chateau Climens, Bordeaux

PORT

74. Touriga/Tinta Roriz Port "Late Bottled Vintage"1998 £36
Gould Campbell, Portugal Glass £6.00

HALVES

Fizz

75. Joseph Perrier 37.5cl £26

Louis Roederer Brut Premiér 37.5cl £35
76, Krug "Grande Cuvée" 37.5cl £69

Whites

77. Macon Villages 2004 37.5cl £13
"les Florieres", Cave de Lugny

78. Santenay Blanc Clos de la Comme Dessus 2003 37.5cl £18
Domaine Borgeot

79. Tokay Pinot Gris 2004 37.5cl £19
Paul Blanck

Sancerre Thauvenay 2004 37.5cl £19

80. Chablis 2004 Domaine de la Concierge 37.5cl £20
Christian Adine

81. Pouilly Fumé 2003 37.5cl £23
Chateau de Tracy

Reds

82. Beaujolais Villages 2004 37.5cl £13
Gerard Gelin

83. Crozes Hermitage 2004 37.5cl £17
Etienne Pochon

84. Chateau Caronne St Gemme 2000 37.5cl £20
Cru Bourgeois Medoc

85. Chateau Maucaillou 1997 Bordeaux 37.5cl £25

Chianti Classico di Bossi 37.5cl £25

86. Rioja Alta Reserva 1998 37.5cl £25
Vina Ardanza

87. Chateau Meyney 2000 37.5cl £31
Cru Grand Bourgeois St Estephe