Page 9 - Hamilton Cellar List_Neat

HALF BOTTLES

Although the site of a full bottle of wine is not particularly scary, half bottles serve their purpose brilliantly. A good thing in a small
package, preventer of driving over the limit, facilitator of multi-wine dinners for two, perfect picnic companion, easily backpackable,
a saver of cellar space, goodness.

CHAMPAGNE

#1.CW NV Pol Roger Brut Reserve Vallée d’Épernay, Côte des Blancs
The “White Foil” blend contains approximately one third of each three grape varieties of Champagne. Pinot Noir contributes body, depth of character
and life extending tannins, Pinot Meunier adds youthful freshness, vigour and plump fruit character while Chardonnay gives lightness, elegance and
firmness.

#1.CW NV Philipponnat Royale Brut Reserve Rosé Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.
The nose is vibrant, showing lots of red cherry, raspberry notes and patisserie. The palate is soft, round and supple with a creamy mousse and juicy,
mouthwatering finish.

It is certainly the norm for champagne houses to make a rosé champagne, but not many go to the lengths of Philipponnat when making theirs. Based on 2013
vintage this is mainly pinot noir at 75% with 20% chardonnay and 5% meunier. there is a small amount of red wine addition from both ‘Les Riceys’ (small
town n the South of Champagne) and Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ. It has had part-malo-lactic and part-barrel maturation and like the other ‘Royale Reserve’ range, this
contains a blend of 26% perpetual reserve wines for added complexity and depth. It was disgorged in July 2017, so 4 years on lees plus some months after in
cellar, post-disgorgement and the dosage sits around 9 grams residual sugar.

WHITE

#2.LW1 2011 Benjamin Leroux Auxey-Duresses Blanc / Chardonnay Burgundy, France
Sandwiched between Saint-Romain and Meursault, Auxey-Duresses is another one of the high quality, off-piste villages of the Côte de Beaune that is
becoming more and more prominent. Its vineyards below the village abut the Meursault villages of Les Vireuils dessus and Les Miex Chavaux, yet due to
a contortion in the slope they remain north-facing and are therefore affected by the cool air rolling down the Hautes-Côtes. It’s from these cool, mineral
terroirs - Les Hautés, Les Macabrée and Les Boutonniers - that Leroux sources his fruit for this cuvée. With a relatively generous 2-hectares with which
to work, the Auxey-Duresses has become a principal cuvée for Leroux. It’s always a racy, textured and lovely value white Burgundy.