Having embarked on a shake-up of our wine list and vinous offerings at the beginning of the year, I can’t quite believe it has taken this long to finalise!   Yes, I am an inveterate list maker and organised bunny and so riddled with guilt, I have been looking at said item on my list “finish wine selection” for weeks and yet there was always something else taking priority. 

Back in February we trotted down to the trade fair Vinisud in Montpellier and slurped our way through dozens of wines from all round the Mediterranean. We went to a Spanish tasting at the beginning of March and discovered some amazing Tempranillo’s and Garnacha’s which blew our socks off!   Back to the Rhône to visit our lovely Domaine de Mourchon where we have agreed to act as their agent for the Alpes – Maritimes.  We even squeezed a tiny allocation of their 200 cases made premium Family Reserve – we had a client in Eze who loved it but also a chance to showcase it at a tutored tasting we did on board a 60m Super Yacht in June.  

As well as our sexy Vilmart champagne, we’ve taken on Château de Chaberts (Coteaux Varois) traditional method sparkling Provence rosé as a perfect party fizz.  They too have asked us to represent them on the Côte d’Azur so our portfolio grows and grows!   A dabble at acquiring a few top end and Blue Chip wines at auction has given us what we are calling our “Treasure Trove” – miniscule quantities of “ready to drink” Bordeaux such as the 1996 vintage, a smattering of super sexy Italian Barbaresco’s from the “Godfather of Barbaresco” himself, Bruno Giacosa – and yes we bid well to pick up 4 bottles (yes, just 4!) of the cult Spanish wine Dominio de Pingus (Ribero del Duero) 2001 – you can’t pick these gems up for less than 1000€ per bottle generally.  A lucky dip on some gorgeous Californian and US wines have given us some unbelievably attractive Oregon Pinot Noirs and a pair of triumphant Cabernet / Merlot blends from Napa Valley.

We’ve sipped (and guzzled) our way through so many different wines this first 6 months of 2010, and also been lucky enough to share them with many wine loving folk. WSET® Wine courses for yacht crew have continued to give us the opportunity to hunt down non – French wines as part of the syllabus and experience real pleasure when students suddenly “click” what you’ve been talking about when they taste it in a particular wine.  Our themed dinners earlier this Spring revealed the wonders of off-dry Demi Sec Vouvray, for example, at our “Love the Loire” evening – faces of real wonderment as the whole “food and wine” matching thing became a reality when paired with a Goat’s Cheese Soufflé.  Hardly a “posh” wine occasion, but hey, our entry level Château de Chaberts “Bacchus” went down a storm at a fund raising charity event with a Royal Ascot theme.  A buffet that included Coronation Chicken, Poached Salmon and Summer Pudding, all quaffed down by said Bacchus Rosé was followed by a sweepstake for the main race of the day, the Golden Jubilee stakes and a Hat parade competition by the ladies – great silliness all round.   We at FWW know how to have fun and create a party atmosphere.

So do I feel the guilt at taking so b****y long to finish it, has been assuaged by a sense that if a job is worth doing it is worth doing well?  Almost!

Helen Brotherton

30.06.10