Showing posts with label fine wine merchants London. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 January 2016

Famous Wine Regions: The Best Of Italian Toscana – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

Famous Wine Regions: The Best Of Italian Toscana

• Fine Wine Blog

Home to some of the world’s most noteworthy wine regions, Tuscany is known for producing stellar wines from its diverse vineyards. From Florence to Chianti, Ornellaia to Tignanello, Tuscany has produced extraordinary wines for hundreds of years.
Famous for some of the best fine wine to come out of Italy, the region is widely known for its distinctive nature and distinguished reputation among wine connoisseurs from around the world.

Introduction to Tuscan Wine

Italy produces some of the most celebrated wines in the world, and Tuscany is central to that observance. Located in central Italy, Tuscany’s Mediterranean roots and rolling hills make the region's vineyards lush and fertile – the perfect grounds for growing an ideal grape.
Recognized worldwide as coming from one of the top wine making regions of the world, Tuscan wine gains its infamous reputation from the Sangiovese grape – the pillar variation of all of Tuscany’s topmost red wines.
Tuscany has ancient traditions dating from the day of the Etruscans. With perfect weather and soil conditions, the abundant vineyards bear grapes that are much sought after and renowned. Wine and winemaking are as much a part of the Tuscan civilization as the olive trees that the region is also known for.

Moncharm’s Top Tuscan Selection

We’re proud to provide an extraordinary selection comprising some of the best that Italy has to offer in our online wine shop. Here are 3 super tuscans from various vintages that we’re pleased to recommend. Please click on the year number of each Tuscan for more information on the specific vintage.

1. This Sassicaia, 2006 – as the wine that started it all, Sassicaia remains one of the most desirable super tuscans. The 2006 vintage features a bouquet of smoked fruit, leather, and layers of earthiness.

One of the region’s great vintages, the 2006 boasts a spectacular combination of ripeness and acidity complemented by a complex nose that blends dark fruits and berries with minerals and dried herbs. Other distinguished Sassicaia vintages that you should look at are the 2005 and 2007.

2. The Tignanello, 2008 follows the great vintages from Italian winemakers. This selection is captivating and precise with subtle notes of tobacco, black cherries, smoke and liquorice.

A multi-layered consistency with silky tannins that will caress the palate. This elegant vintage has an unexpected lushness that’s balanced with perfect acidity. Other notable Tignanello vintages that you should look at are the 2007 and 2010.

3. This Solaia, 2007 is an extraordinary selection of striking quality. Translated as “sunny one” from Italian, this Solaia features an elaborate bouquet full of black cherries, crème de cassis, dark fruits, mocha, and oak.

The palate is rich, balanced, and full of delicacy. The notes are rounded and graceful, with layers of fruits and firm tannins. Generous and effortless, this delicious choice has all the subtlety and layers that you would expect from the Tuscan region. Another special Solaia vintage that you should look at is the 2001.

Making Your Choice

We provide a vast array of wine selections to suit both novices and seasoned collectors. Our wine shop offers some of the best fine wine from Tuscany, as well as other famous regions from around the world.
Browse through our extensive collection of the world’s finest, and you’re guaranteed to find the ideal vintage to suit your own taste and unique personality. If you have any questions or queries, please contact our experts – we’ll be quick to respond and happy to help!
Image source: Flickr

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Friday, 8 January 2016

Michelin Wines: Quick Guide to Award-Winning Restaurant Wines – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

Michelin guides have been published for over one hundred years, and are considered the premier indicator of restaurant quality to the public. Differing from services such as Zagat and Yelp which rely on guest feedback, Michelin employs full time, professional reviewers.
Michelin wines are the fine wines served in Michelin restaurants, highly regarded as some of the world's best.
The star rating of a restaurant has enormous effects on its success. Gaining a star (or being added to the list) is a highly celebrated occasion which sees an influx of guests, while losing a star can be disastrous. As French chef Paul Bocuse, a king of nouvelle cuisine stated, “Michelin is the only guide that counts.”

What Are Michelin Stars?

A huge majority of restaurants receive no stars at all (approximately 95% of those reviewed), among which even well-known and reputable ones. If a restaurant is lucky (and excellent) enough to be included in the official Michelin list, it will be rated on a scale from one to three stars.
One star indicates a very good restaurant recommended in its category, with dishes prepared to a consistently high standard. Two stars are for restaurants with excellent, skilfully and carefully crafted dishes (as well as served beverages) of outstanding quality.
Three stars are extremely rare and reserved for restaurants worthy of a special journey, with exceptional, superb dishes that are precisely executed with only the most rare and outstanding ingredients.

Michelin Wines

The Michelin-starred restaurants are also highly regarded for their offer of some of the finest wines, with the uniting principle being quality. Most boast extensive, detailed offerings, with several of the best vintages of each wine available for the discerning consumer.
Restaurant Daniel from New York (two Michelin stars), for example, has an extensive 44 page wine list, including of the Domaine Armand Rousseau variety – one of the most revered wine estates from the Burgundy wine region.
The Ledbury from London (two Michelin stars) is another example with its own lengthy list, at 40 pages. Château Lynch-Bages and Chateau Pavie are some of our favourite wines on the menu, among many other highly regarded vintages.
Tom Aikens (who at 26 was the youngest British chef to ever be awarded 2 stars), on the other hand, bucks the trend and prefers a more concise and carefully curated list. He even offers a special Biodynamic wine on his short 2-page list.
For champagne, most Michelin stared restaurants will have on offer Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, as well as the legendary Champagne Cristal.

London's Michelin "Bring Your Own" Wines

A few years ago, over 50 Michelin-starred restaurants joined the Bring Your Own (BYO) Wine Group, beginning to allow members to bring their favourite wines to their favourite restaurants at no charge (or at maximum a modest corkage fee).
Diners benefit from Bring Your Own, as they can avoid confusion caused by overly long wine lists – instead focusing their attention on the food menu. Enjoying a much-beloved wine brought from home that you already tasted and know you like has greatly enhanced the dining experience.

Buying Michelin Wines

If you’d like to take advantage of the increasingly popular “Bring Your Own” initiative in London, or if you'd simply prefer to enjoy fine wine at home, please take a moment to check our fine wine shop.
There we have featured a collection of the world’s best fine wines and champagnes – all ready to be delivered right to your doorstep.
Additionally, if you have any fine wine related questions or queries, please feel free to contact our experts. We always respond promptly, and will be glad to help!
Image source: Skitterphoto

Monday, 28 December 2015

France’s UNESCO Sites: Why Should Wine Investors Care? – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

France’s UNESCO Sites: Why Should Wine Investors Care?

• Fine Wine Blog • UNESCO Bordeaux • UNESCO Burgundy • UNESCO Champagne • UNESCO Sites

The World Heritage designation is directed by UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations and the manager of its UNESCO sites. This status is awarded to areas of cultural and natural significance that are of crucial value to worldwide history.
The official UNESCO site designation increases international interest in any site, and has the potential to increase tourism while also possibly helping the area earn funding for preservation.

UNESCO Sites In France

France is home to over 41 UNESCO sites on the World Heritage List, four of which are wine-making regions. Saint Emilion and Port of the Moon are both located within the Bordeaux region, while the regions of Champagne and part of Burgundy have only recently been granted the award.
The recognition is greatly deserved by all of the awarded regions, and will help them better preserve for posterity. Additional effects such as increased tourism and a heightened interest toward the UNESCO regions’ wines result in increased value over time – which should be of interest to any wine enthusiast who considers investing.

1. UNESCO Site: Bordeaux

Bordeaux has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Port of the Moon (Bordeaux’s port city) and also Saint Emilion, a village in the true heart of the Bordeaux area.
The Port of the Moon is a historic city with amazing architecture from the age of the enlightenment. This city has more historically protected buildings than any other city in France except for Paris. It is recognized for its history spanning over 2000 years of cultural exchange and commerce, including as a capital city for world famous wine production.
Saint Emilion – the second UNESCO site in Bordeaux – is a small, pretty village in the center of the wine region. It is home to world class wine, excellent wineries, and beautiful architecture. It also boasts over 2000 years of history, with an important focus on world-class fine wine.

2. UNESCO Site: Burgundy

One of the most recently designated UNESCO sites, the wine-making region of Burgundy, was recognized for its grape cultivation and production.
The Climats (vineyards) on the side of the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune (south of the city of Dijon) are the areas specifically recognized for preservation and recognition.
UNESCO states that "the site is an outstanding example of grape cultivation and wine production developed since the High Middle Ages.” A great example of a world-class wine region with a long history of innovation, Burgundy is a worthy addition to the world’s officially designated UNESCO sites.

3. UNESCO Site: Champagne

Along with Burgundy, the region of Champagne (where our favourite bubbly is produced) was very recently announced as a World Heritage Site.
Its innovative production method was developed in the early 17th century and industrialized throughout the 19th century – a strong reason for UNESCO to recognize its cultural and historical significance.
The area includes production locations, cellars, champagne houses, and the vineyards of the Hautvilliers, Ay, Mareuil-sur-Ay, Saint-Nicaise Hill, the Avenue de Champagne, and Fort Chabrol.
UNESCO’s official designation of Champagne as a new UNESCO site states “the property bears clear testimony to the development of a very specialized artisan activity that has become an agro-industrial enterprise” – one that has come to be known and loved worldwide, we might add.

Investment Value of the UNESCO Status

Tourism in the UNESCO designated wine regions is expected to grow, as interest in World Heritage sites strengthens worldwide. Heightened attention (and free advertising) toward the regions is also likely to increase demand for their wines, which would naturally result in the appreciation of the tangible asset.
This may create an excellent opportunity for savvy wine investors. If you’re looking for high quality wine from these regions, the best place to look is our online wine shop – where a wide selection of the world’s finest is a few clicks away from arriving at your doorstep.
If you need help making the most informed decision when investing in Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Champagne, the skilled wine experts of Moncharm would be happy to assist. Please feel free to write us a quick message or give us a call for any queries you may have, and we will respond promptly.
Image source: Montaplex

Monday, 21 December 2015

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro

July 30, 2015 • Fine Wine Blog • Wine Serving • Wine Storage • Wine Temperature

The temperature of your wine is extremely important for your final tasting experience. By keeping track of your wine's temperature during both storage and serving, you’ll ensure you enjoy that highly acclaimed label at its very best.

Wine Temperatures: Storage & Serving

An incorrect wine storage temperature can damage the wine irreparably. Storing the wine at a stable, ideal temperature (10-16C for reds, and a bit lower for whites) preserves its flavour and taste and will allow it to later be served at an optimal serving temperature.
The wine’s serving temperature affects its aromas, flavour, and taste at the moment of serving. A wine that is served too warm will taste alcoholic, while a wine that is served too cold will lose its flavour.
A properly stored wine also needs to be served at the best temperature for its characteristics, which will usually be different to its storage temperature.
In general a low quality wine is best served a bit cooler than average, while high quality fine wines such as those in our online wine shop are best served a bit warmer.
But what is the best wine serving temperature for the bottle you’re looking at right now? It will depend on the wine’s characteristics, and we discuss the ideal wine serving temperatures for each type of wine below.

Red Wine Serving Temperature

Rich red wines should be served a little cool, most usually between 17-21C. A good example is this Château Le Petit Cheval, 2010 as well as other high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. The high tannins of these wines do best and mellow at the warmer temperature.
Light red wines (such as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel) should be served cool, most usually between 12-17C. Light, fruity weds can be served cooler to be more refreshing, or a bit warmer to enhance the flavours.
To achieve the ideal temperature of light reds, it is suggested that the wine be placed in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes or less before serving.

White Wine Serving Temperature

White wines should be served refrigerator-cooled, from 7-14C. A good example is this Chateau d'Yquem, 2006 as well as other Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay wines. The lighter and zestier the white wine, the further on the cool end it should be served.
Oaked wines should be served a bit warmer. Full-bodied white wines should be served warmer to take advantage of their complexity and aroma range. Depending on the desired temperature, the wine should be placed in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Champagne Serving Temperature

Sparkling wines such as Champagne should be served ice cold, from 5-10C. A good example is this Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, 2002 along with other Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava sparkling wines.
The chilling keeps bubbles fine and deliberate instead of frothy. To achieve this temperature, the champagne should be placed in the freezer for no more than 1 hour.

Last Minute Miracles

For urgent cases where you have less than an hour to prepare a wine that is not at the desired temperature, a few tips can save the day. The most important general rule is that if a wine tastes too alcoholic, it should be cooled. If there is not enough flavour, it should be warmed.
If a wine is too warm and needs to be cooled, it can be immersed in a bath of ice and cold water. A red wine should be submerged for 10 minutes, a white for approximately 20 minutes, and a bubbly for 30 minutes or up until serving.
If a wine is too cold, it can be decanted into a warmed container, or immersed for a brief moment in warm water. Take care not to heat the wine directly, as this can destroy it.
When serving your wine it is better to start with a temperature a bit lower than desired, as the wine will always be easier to warm up in the glass when a hand cups it, as opposed to the hard task of further cooling it down.

No Wine to Cool Down?

Take a moment to check out our online wine shop, where a range of the world’s best fine wines is literally at your fingertips – be it for serving, collection, or even investment.
If you have any other wine-related questions, our experts are here to help. Just write us a short message or give us a call – our team always responds promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Steven