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The Surf4Wine wine blog - Posts from 01/06/09 to 30/06/09.

News Archive | Search this blog2 article(s)
Think Summer, think Rose - Pinotage RosePermalink
Posted by Andrew Chapman in News and Comments - June 3rd 2009 5:50pm. 1 comment

There's more wine tasting going on here at Surf4Wine than you can shake a wine glass at right now.

Earlier this afternoon we had  Francois Van Zyl, the talented winenaker at Laibach drop by in Overton to show us his latest releases. There were a red and white pair of Organic wines called 'Ladybird' - named after the ladybirds he used to kill bugs when he first went organic - and the top-end 'Claypot' Merlot which is limited to a maximum of 10,000 cases every year. The red Ladybird is a Bordeaux right-bank inspired blend that showed lovely plummy fruit and looks set to make a debut on Caviste's shelves soon - and here on Surf4Wine.


francosie_van_zyl_at_caviste
francois_van_zyl_2

 (This is my third attempt at a happy photo - come on Francois, smile - price negociations weren't that bad!)

On a hot Summer day in Hampshire, the wine that really took our eye was the Laibach Pinotage Rose; pale pink, cherry fruit flavoured and crisply dry - perfect for Summer drinking. In fact, it's so perfect that we have had it rushed into our warehouse today and it is on sale throughout the Caviste shops, and online here at Surf4Wine, NOW! Happy drinking...

 

laibach_pinotage_rose_400
 

 

 


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Rabbit Ranch beside the river in StockbridgePermalink
Posted by Andrew Chapman in News and Comments - June 2nd 2009 5:40pm. Leave a comment

No sooner had I arrived into our Overton office, grabbed a coffee and hit the email button than I was back out of the door again...

... The first email in my inbox was from David, for me to head to the Stockbridge outpost of Caviste and cover Rachel's day off. I shouldn't say I was so pleased to be going to Stockbridge for the day and not working with my lovely colleagues in Overton - but I was delighted (I don't think any of them read this blog, so I'm safe saying that!).

Apart from meaning I would be working in the gorgeous town of Stockbridge, and in our stunning shop there beside the little tributary of the Test (Apologies for not knowing its name dear  - I blame Roz in the S4W research dept for not being able to find its name on the OS map), it also meant I got to drive past Laverstoke Park Farm. I've been meaning to drop by and explore their farm shop ever since we teamed up with Caviste in back in May.

laverstoke_1_01

Laverstoke Park keep a herd of magnificent Water Buffalo, which they use to make a superb Buffalo Mozzarella. The plan forming in my foodie brain was for the Mozzarella to form part of a tasty little salad with the Avocado and ripe cherry tomatoes that I'd brought with me from home for lunch (yes, for once I was THAT organised!)

So, all that remained was to choose some wine to partner the soft, squidgy ball of pure white Mozzarella.

 So, what to choose.....

As luck would have it the answer was right in front of me (well, actually, I tripped over it as I scrambled for the security alarm on opening...) We have just taken delivery of the latest vintage of Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir (If you are one of the increasing number of blog readers who are on Twitter too, then follow Rabbit Ranch (@rabbitranch) and also their 'Powered by Pinot' UK Ambassador - he's gone all 21st Century and is also on Facebook too - go Justin!)

Anyway, all that mention of Social Networking and too much techy stuff has made me thirsty!

It wasn't the Pinot that I enjoyed a glass of with my lunch - but its newly arrived sibling, the Rabbit Ranch Pinot Gris. Peachy, smokey and wonderfully creamy, with hints of toasted nuts - utterly delicious.

rabbit_ranch_pinot_gris_and_laverstock_mozzarella

 

But fat and overweight, no sir. Elegant and full of poise. Enough acidity to cut through the natural fat of the avocado - not always the easiest of foods to partner - and the Mozzarella.

In fact, if this is what Tuesdays in Stockbridge are like, I think I'm happy covering Rachel's days off on a regular basis....


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