As we enter our 14th year of operation we are delighted to see so many returning friends year after year choosing new itineraries and destinations onboard our three mini-cruise ships. This year 30% of our guests are returning which means we have a staggering 70% of new guests too! We look forward to welcoming you all onboard our 2018 season. With these figures and knowing that almost half our bookings for 2019 are previous guests we felt it was the right time to choose a new selection of house wines to complement our delicious gourmet menus.
In December we attended a wine tasting, hosted by Argyll Vintners and Nigel Wilkinson MS, fine dining Account Manager and wine educator of Boutinot, well respected Master Sommelier and judge of many prestigious wine awards. The evening was a success and our ‘wine consultants’ recommendation to stock three whites and three reds was greatly received. The tasting notes for our chosen wines are below.
White Wines
Les Oliviers Sauvignon Blanc – Vermentino 2017, France
From the Languedoc region in the South of France, this elegant blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino grapes is dry, crisp and refreshing. Perfect to enjoy as an aperitif or with seafood, salads, cold meats or anything with a touch of spice.
Percheron Chenin Blanc – Viognier 2017, South Africa
Medium in taste with notes of green apple, pear, apricot and peach. This delightful white wine is superb to accompany poultry such as chicken or guinea fowl, pork in a creamy sauce, grilled vegetables and cheeses.
The Last Stand Chardonnay 2016, Australia
A wine named in honour of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, whose ‘Last Stand’ was also in the state of Victoria where this wine hails from. The chardonnay displays up front tropical notes of pineapple and mango with good balance and structure in the mouth.
Red Wines
Les Oliviers Merlot – Mourvedre 2016, France
A lovely example of a French red wine. Les Oliviers red wine balances the supple Merlot with the rounded Mourvedre grape variety to produce a wine that exhibits excellent characteristics of cherry, plum and damson.
Percheron ‘Old Vine’ Cinsault 2016, South Africa
From selected vineyards in South Africa’s Western Cape, many of which are still farmed with the traditional Percheron horses, this very elegant and smooth red wine is super easy to drink and can be enjoyed with or without food.
The Last Stand Shiraz 2016, Australia
A full bodied and powerful Aussie Shiraz that is excellent with steaks, casseroles, game, roasted meats and hard cheeses. This wine is a very good example of this grape variety that has notes of blackberry, cassis, vanilla and eucalyptus.
Nigel will be visiting us again at our start of season training week, so all crew members will sample the chosen wines and gain knowledge about them before welcoming guests. Our Chefs are especially excited as they start to think about menu planning with the new selection. We hope you like the complimentary wine this year!
