Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 29th 2007 12:59pm. Leave a comment
Some rather sad news - the importers of the excellent Mollydooker range have just told us that the really excellent Boxer is now out of stock (the next vintage is not due for at least three months and that too will be in short supply) while my favourite the Maitre D' is running out. It is unlikely that any of the follow on vintage of the Maire D' will be available in the UK.
It would appear that now is the time to secure a few bottles from our rapidly dwindling stocks! We have a small number of bottles remaining of the three wines we list - Two Left Feet, Boxer Shiraz and The Maitre d
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 29th 2007 12:37pm. Leave a comment
Arriving to work this morning we were greeted by a very excited Mr Chapman. Two new wines had just been unloaded off a delivery truck, two new wines from New Zealand producer Isabel - a Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc.
To be honest he always gets excited when new stuff arrives!
The Isabel Estate Vineyard was established in 1982 to produce premium classical grape varieties in Marlborough. The wines constantly garner excellent reviews and are highly sort after. I think we were lucky to get an allocation!
The Sauvignon Blanc for example (available for £11.95) was recently reviewed in the Melbourne Age
"In the marketplace Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is expected to be fresh, tangy... and often quite sweet. Isabel's version of New Zealand's most famous wine is different, dry and complex with herby fruit, honeyed and minerally notes coupled to nutty complexity."
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, Melbourne, Tuesday 20 March 2007
While the Pinot Noir received a huge 94 points in the Independent Weekly
"Swoon. Schmooch. Sigh. This is what it's s'posed to be like in Pinot World. Luscious and viscous, spicy and totally seductive, there's no point in resisting; she slides all over your sensories like some wicked therapy oil, massaging every little worry away. I'd always thought Martinborough (North Island) was the sexiest NZ pinot site, but this beauty says the wide valley of Marlborough, in the South, can do it just as well"
Paul White, The Independent Weekly, Adelaide, March 24th - 30th 2007
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 28th 2007 1:05am. Leave a comment
They say behind every successful man is an exhausted woman, and in Mr Chapman's case, it's very true. Not because he mistreats Ali, the lovely Mrs Chapman, you understand; but because she's been working hard on a BBC Radio 2 documentary.
Keith Richards' country home, Redlands, had been raided by the Drug Squad, following a tip off from the News of the World, and Keith and Mick Jagger were later sentenced to jail. William Rees-Mogg was the editor of the Times in 1967, and wrote his most famous leading article likening Mick to a butterfly on a wheel.
Ali's done many of the interviews for the programme, and has written the script. It's voiced by "Whispering" Bob Harris. To persuade you to listen (BBC Radio 2, Tuesday 3 July from 10.30 - 11.30PM) Ali's willing to give S4W an exclusive hint about what might be in the programme. As well as new interviews with the Stones' manager at the time (Andrew Loog Oldham) and the Executive Editor of the News of the World (Robert Warren), the programme's unearthed a wonderful story from William Rees-Mogg.
He's told Ali that he once went to lunch with a Home Secretary, during the course of which they decided that in order to understand more about drugs, they really ought to take some. This Home Secretary asked his staff, who said 'fine, but you do realise they're illegal and we'd have to arrest both of you?'
*Stop press* The Radio Times at www.radiotimes.com has just posted this review of the programme:
"an enthralling retelling of one of rock's most famous tales and a decent slice of social history" (Jane Anderson)
That's "Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel" on BBC Radio 2. 10.30 - 11.30pm on Tuesday 3 July.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 27th 2007 3:05am. Leave a comment
Some great reviews of our wines recently. Jamie Goode writing on his Wineanorak site recommends four from our South African range -
Lammershoek Roulette, 2004, Swartland, South Africa. "A blend of lots of things, this has lovely bright focused fruit on the nose, showing nice freshness and spiciness. Ripe, generous, fruity and nicely complex on the palate. Very good+ 90/100"
Sequillo, 2004, Swartland, South Africa. "A blend of 68% Shiraz, 26% Mourvèdre and 6% Grenache. Complex, deep savoury nose is quite old worldy and elegant. The palate is savoury and spicy with a full, earthy edge. Lovely spiciness here: a savoury style that’s really appealing. Very good/excellent 90/100"
Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards (TMV) Viktoria, 2004, Western Cape. "Mostly Syrah, with some Cinsault and a touch of Cabernet. Lovely aromatic nose with a bit of olive and a meatiness, as well as nice fruit. The palate has an attractive ripe, open character with a nice spicy meatiness. Very good/excellent 91/100"
Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Syrah Mourvèdre, 2004, Swartland. "An 85/15 blend in favour of Syrah, this is a lovely wine. It has a fresh, sweet, complex dark fruits nose. The palate shows full, spicy, rich fruit. Lovely definition with good acidity keeping things fresh. Good structure, too. A big but nicely poised wine. Very good/excellent 93/100"
The first two are soon to arrive on the shelves with the Lammershoek Roulette Rouge retailing for £9.99 and the Sequillo set at £14.50 a bottle.
Meanwhile Jancis Robinson has the Domaine de la Monnaie, L’Enclos 2004 Savennières as her wine of the week. This is going to take a little longer to land on our shelves but why not try the previous vintage? We have a few bottles remaining of the 2003 available for £11.72 (down from £13.69).
Although the 2003 season proved to a hot one, there was a little rain consistently through the summer. Unlike the previous two vintages, there was no botrytis at all in 2003. The harvest, like everywhere, was early, commencing at the start of September. The wines are fermented and aged in barrel - a combination of different oaks - with the different parcels being kept separate until the final blend, and with around 35% of the wine undergoing malo-lactic fermentation. Whilst proving a little awkward in it’s youth, due essentially to it’s puppy fat of oak and alcohol, it’s now beginning to open up and evolve a little and come back into balance.
Sounds like a great wine, does it not! One to place in the cellar for awhile perhaps?
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 26th 2007 2:12am. Leave a comment
The fun chaps and chapesses down Mollydooker way have responded to my call for some food matching ideas ("Guys, what food with your blockbusters?") and have sent in a recipe for Woodbridge Beef (named after their award winning pub/restaurant in Tassie). One I am aiming to cook this coming weekend. Thanks for sharing it guys.
Woodbridge Beef
Take sufficient THICK CUT (MUST be thick cut, 1.5 – 2 inches or 40-50mm) Shin of beef to feed the mob,
Turn the meat in Olive oil (don’t be shy)
Make up a sauce of equal parts Tomato/Soy & Worcestershire sauces, with your level of hot English mustard.
Take your favourite “magic” black enamelled & lidded pan, and stand the meat in it so that the meat grain runs vertically. Slurp the sauce into the pan and turn the meat thoroughly(ending with the grain vertical again)
Put in oven on 300F (or 150C) (with the lid on)
Look at it after 1.5 hours, panic – it will be grey and hard and misshapen & ugly. Turn the meat again in the sauce, thoroughly.
Put back in for another 1.5 – 2 hrs.
Serve with mashed spuds (potatoes) and lengthwise cut carrots and parsnips, which have been oven cooked with orange juice, butter, S & P.
Glass or two of Boxer would go very well with the cooking of this dish.
Serve whatever Mollydooker you like with the meal!
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 25th 2007 1:14am. Leave a comment
Mr Chapman is always up early on a Friday... not because he wants to get the weekend started as soon as possible or the thought of the afternoon wine tastings, but because he's at an independent business networking group called Oxygen just up the road in Oxford.
He actually set the group up with a few business friends; not only because he was "impatient with established networking groups", but also because he was determined that business should start to give something back.
So Oxygen has adopted a local charity to support - Helen and Douglas House in Oxford. They're hospices for children and young adults. Helen House was actually the world's first hospice for children.
This coming Sunday (1st July), Mr Chapman is donning running shoes (water wings perhaps unless the weather improves!) and hoping to put plenty of sponsorship money "where his mouth is" by running the ASICS British 10K London Run.
He is also generously pledging 10% of profits from all sales on Sunday to the cause.
"Over the last six years The ASICS British 10k London Run has provided a cost effective platform for hundreds of UK charities and tens of thousands of individuals from Great Britain and from around the world to take part in the totally unique unrivaled experience of running the world's greatest race route through the heart of London - on roads closed to traffic - passing many of the worlds most famous historic and iconic landmarks."
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 22nd 2007 9:43am. Leave a comment
The issue of food and wine matching is one facet of the whole wine-thang that gets us really excited. There are almost as many pairing possibilities as there are recipes! Some matches work and, of course, many don't.
It is an area we are keen to promote on the website and are collating various ideas to share. We offer a few deli products that we are keen to include too.
One set of products that may have passed you by are a range of excellent wine vinegars.
There are five in the Volpaia range that we sell, each retailing for £5.50 (25cl bottle). Each is a wine based vinegar flavoured with different combination of herbs and spices:
Erbe Vinegar is flavoured with the likes of fennel, juniper, rosemary and thyme.
Fiori is white wine vinegar aromatised with rose, marigold, borage, lavender, sage and bitter orange.
Fresco Vinegar is infused with peppermint and green anise.
Orto Vinegar is flavoured with parsley, celery, onion, garlic, bay and mustard seeds.
Spezie sees cloves, nutmegs and black pepper infused in the vinegar.
I'm still experimenting with the various culinary possibilities; the simplest being mixing a little vinegar with olive oil (which we also sell) for a dip or salad dressing. Pigeon in Erba di Volpaia was particularly tasty -
Pigeon in Erba di Volpaia
Roast two pigeons in olive oil with garlic, fresh thyme and a pinch of cinnamon. Cook until well browned and leave to cool,. Bone them and slice the meat into narrow strips. One hour before serving cover them with Erbe di Volpaia, 2 finely sliced carrots, a medium onion in rings, 2 bay leaves and a few grains of black pepper. Stir well and leave to marinate. Serve with a fresh salad and plenty of bread.
For a wine suggestion to accompany try with Jaboulet Côtes du Rhône Parallèle 45 Blanc (£7.99). A new addition to our list with complex herby flavours that match beautifully with the myriad flavours in the food.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 21st 2007 9:39am. Leave a comment
It leaves a nice rosy glow when we find our wines highlighted in the press (like the Shaw and Smith recommendation in the Times) and online.
A delight therefore this morning when into my RSS reader popped a hearty report from French Duck. The post discusses Bordeaux and our Terra Burdigala wines specifically.
"Another reason to believe that these Bordeaux wines stack up is that Andrew Chapman at www.surf4wine.co.uk is stocking them. Surf4Wine has a strong leaning towards the New World, so any Old World wine has to compete directly with some really exciting wines from Australia and South America to get a place on the list."
French Duck covers all sorts of French news/reviews/opinions related to food, wine and travel; a delightful addition to your regular reading.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 20th 2007 3:35am. Leave a comment
Lunchtime - and I notice Mr Chapman perusing the BBC website. A few minutes later and in the email inbox appears links to two 'very interesting' stories told via video-clip, on, of course, the BBC.
The first details the militant wine group in France who have informed the "to raise the price of wine or 'blood will flow'". Not the most friendly pressure group around I would say. [view video]
We are all aware of the threat generally of 'global warming' and the extreme changes to the weather globally (anyone in Henley-on-Thames last night knows exactly what I mean!). For a specific look at how rising temperatures could threaten grape harvests in Tuscany, forcing producers to move further north is the subject of the BBC's second clip. [view video].
The blogging world offers many unique and informed opinions on wine and the wine industry (in addition to there being plenty taking the totally opposite path!). WineCast.net, under the hand of American Tim Elliot, produces regular podcasts on a variety of wine related subjects; certainly falling into the first group. [download audiocast].
Generally, although entertaining, I find the chats rather America-centric and the wines impossible to find on these shores. A recently written post on his site is of interest though - how the 'über-hyped iPhone' will power, via various applications 'wine 2.0'. [view post].
Wine 2.0? Basically a way of harnessing the power of the internet by for example linking public opinion (ie wine reviews) with retailers, producer information, recipe sites etc etc. The potential is very exciting, but perhaps the vision and reality have some way to go to realise the 'potential'.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 19th 2007 3:30pm. Leave a comment
One of my tasks here at Surf4Wine (I'm the new boy in the team by the way, another Andrew just to confuse things a little) is the taking of photographs for the website. Obviously, being new, I am still finding my way around the wine list. I was rummaging around the packed Aussie shelves in the warehouse and discovered these superbly packaged wines going under the unlikely name of Mollydooker!
They just had to be Australian with a name like that! Mollydooker is Aussie for Left-hander by the way.
I have the wines lined up on the tasting table but it was the packaging that really enticed. We stock three of their range - Two Left Feet (the cartoon shows two dancers, the male treading on his partners foot), Boxer Shiraz (with a chest puffing boxer) and The Maitre d (with a mustachioed waiter tripping over).
Each label sports a fun 1940's style cartoon and it was these that caught my 'creative' eye. It really sets the tone for the wine inside, which by all accounts are on the big, luscious side of the spectrum. I can't wait to try them!
As luck would have it, the boss (that's Mr Chapman) has generously put together a mixed case of the three wines for a very special price. Just £30 saving a not inconsiderable £6.99. But only for two weeks!
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 18th 2007 9:48am. Leave a comment
I read an interview some weeks ago where a wine aficionado, a celebrity of some description who I have since forgotten, lambasted the 'fruit filled tasting note'; specifically the use of gooseberries in wine descriptions.
"What does a bloody gooseberry taste like and when was the last time anyone actually ate one?", was his conclusion.
Well, here you go chap - a picture of some gooseberries, grown and brought locally.
The 'flavour' of gooseberries appear to me quite often, most usually in Sauvignon Blanc based wines from New Zealand and the Loire. Not all though - many Sauvignon's lean more towards green peppers, asparagus or cut grass aroma/flavours while some are more passion fruit or tropical fruit heavy.
Note that the use of 'gooseberries' often refers to a combination of 'green' and 'fruity' and verges on the sweet gooseberry pie end rather than tart and sharp (although this can be found too). For me, and wine tasting is subjective after all, many New Zealand Sauvignon's are so distinctively 'gooseberryish' that they are one of the easiest of white wines to detect.
The best way to discover the differing flavour profiles is to taste the wines themselves. I've put together a Sauvignon Trio Case (£24.99) of three different wines just for this exercise. (Brampton Sauvignon from South Africa, Chateau Reynon Bordeaux and Tinpot Hut, New Zealand).
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 18th 2007 5:19am. Leave a comment
Delving through our marvellous range of wines and we thought it would be a great idea to select a few of the great wines we list and offer them as sampler or introductory packs.
With so many wines on our list it is difficult to select just a few as a gift or as tasters to see if you enjoy the wine enough to then go on and buy a full case. (Which of course is what we want you to do!).
Three mixed cases then going under the headings of
A leaning to the red end of the spectrum here but several white and producer packs will be added shortly. All three of the above packs are now ready to order!
It's cocktail hour as Andrew Chapman appears on Radio Oxford.
Andrew dropped by at BBC Radio Oxford on the 8th to talk with Louisa Hannan about the perfect cocktail, shaking up a mean Margarita on air! Click on the video above to watch, or subscribe to the Surf4Wine channel on YouTube.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 14th 2007 10:13am. Leave a comment
Our first video-cast (podcast or whatever you call it). Mr Chapman, in relaxed mode, taking us through a selection of rosé wines. These form the basis of our special rosé mixed case available for just £36.
You can subscribe to our youtube videos via our 'channel'.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 13th 2007 12:08pm. Leave a comment
For me a modicum of sweetness is required when serving a wine with fresh strawberries; especially when a little cream is involved too.
While Asti has a rather poor reputation it is actually one of the finest matches you can make. There is a little strawberry flavour in our Araldica bottling which matches superbly with the fruit itself. At just 7% alcohol and listed with a very appealing price it's a wine for 'now', as they say!
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 11th 2007 12:01pm. Leave a comment
A fascinating chat with Sebastian De Martino earlier today as he showcased his excellent range of Chilean wines.
Offering great value for money - a combination of pure drinkability and New World style fruit - several are sure to be added to our 'soon-to-be-revamped' Chilean wine range.
Based in Barcelona, Sebastian is the European Brand Manager for the estate; a lucky treat therefore to have a chance to listen to the company philosophy direct from a family member, the differences in the vineyards, the experimentation and exploration of new vine-growing areas and the like. A bit wine-geeky perhaps but what all the technical stuff boils down to is expertise in the handling of Carmenère - a red grape variety that is becoming Chiles tour-de-force.
Highly regarded as the leading experts in handling Carmenère the grape is tricky to handle made more complicated by long term confusion with Merlot. It needs careful canopy management (thats the trimming of the leaves) to give the grapes good ventilation but at the same time protection from too much sun.
It is not just Carmenère though that De Martino excel in; the range includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a rather spectacular Syrah that is just bursting with delicious fruit flavours and a complexity that defies its price.
Just got to sit down and review our existing range and see how many of these wonderful wines we can squeeze onto the warehouse shelves!
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 11th 2007 9:36am. Leave a comment
Surf4Wine is featured in the latest issue of Harpers (a wine trade magazine NOT Harpers Bazaar!). A small stats box lists our top 10 'best selling' wines, which I thought would be of interest...
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 8th 2007 9:42am. Leave a comment
Fingers crossed that the weather improves soon; a little sunshine makes all our rosés taste just that little bit better! A glass of delicious Parducci Rosé, sunshine, friends and a little food makes for a memorable and relaxing 'lazy afternoon'.
The Parducci is new in, just for the spring and summer. It offers a bright and inticing pink/red color with watermelon, strawberry and tropical aromas. But of course drinking it is the 'thing' and here the raspberry, mango and citrus fruit flavours make for fun, easy-drinking, consumption. Fresh and fruity it is a perfect wine for summer - sunshine or no sunshine.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 8th 2007 4:45am. Leave a comment
Before I slip off for the weekend I should just mention that Mr Chapman, amiable chap that he is, will be featuring on BBC Radio Oxford this weekend.
What I gather is that he will be chatting with Louisa Hannan about summer BBQ wines. Should be a highly entertaining hour (11-12) but it does mean missing the end of the Archers omnibus.
Posted by Andrew Barrow on June 8th 2007 2:31am. Leave a comment
Just a normal Friday afternoon in the warehouse - Phil waxing lyrically over two pinots, Mr Chapman aimlessly debating the merits of listing a Pinot Grigio over a Pinot Grigio-Pinot Bianco blend, a dismissive wave of the hand over a rather insipid Pinot Grigio...
Actually it is not 'normal' at all for this is the first company Friday afternoon wine tasting.
Andrew Chapman Fine Wines Ltd - Registered office: 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY Registered in England. Company no. 5496317. VAT no. GB873 7934 72. You must be aged 18 or over to order.
+44 (0)1235 821539
Your trolley is empty.
Arriving to work this morning we were greeted by a very excited Mr Chapman. Two new wines had just been unloaded off a delivery truck, two new wines from New Zealand producer Isabel - a Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc.
Some great reviews of our wines recently. Jamie Goode writing on his Wineanorak site recommends four from our South African range - 
The fun chaps and chapesses down Mollydooker way have responded to my call for some food matching ideas ("Guys, what food with your blockbusters?") and have sent in a recipe for Woodbridge Beef (named after their award winning pub/restaurant in Tassie). One I am aiming to cook this coming weekend. Thanks for sharing it guys.
Mr Chapman is always up early on a Friday... not because he wants to get the weekend started as soon as possible or the thought of the afternoon wine tastings, but because he's at an independent business networking group called 
It leaves a nice rosy glow when we find our wines highlighted in the press (like the 
Lunchtime - and I notice Mr Chapman perusing the BBC website. A few minutes later and in the email inbox appears links to two 'very interesting' stories told via video-clip, on, of course, the BBC.
One of my tasks here at Surf4Wine (I'm the new boy in the team by the way, another Andrew just to confuse things a little) is the taking of photographs for the website. Obviously, being new, I am still finding my way around the wine list. I was rummaging around the packed Aussie shelves in the warehouse and discovered these superbly packaged wines going under the unlikely name of 
I read an interview some weeks ago where a wine aficionado, a celebrity of some description who I have since forgotten, lambasted the 'fruit filled tasting note'; specifically the use of gooseberries in wine descriptions.
Delving through our marvellous range of wines and we thought it would be a great idea to select a few of the great wines we list and offer them as sampler or introductory packs.
For me a modicum of sweetness is required when serving a wine with fresh strawberries; especially when a little cream is involved too.
A fascinating chat with Sebastian De Martino earlier today as he showcased his excellent range of Chilean wines.
Fingers crossed that the weather improves soon; a little sunshine makes all our rosés taste just that little bit better! A glass of delicious Parducci Rosé, sunshine, friends and a little food makes for a memorable and relaxing 'lazy afternoon'.
Before I slip off for the weekend I should just mention that Mr Chapman, amiable chap that he is, will be featuring on 
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