It’s back to basics this week and pretty darn delicious basics at that. Corney & Barrow’s house selection has an almost fanatical following among Spectator readers and it’s a real pleasure to offer the core of the range here at extremely generous rates.
In fact, if one takes advantage of the fabled Brett-Smith indulgence (£6 off per case when buying two dozen bottles or more) there is a double discount on offer. This makes the wines very accessible indeed and ideal for stockpiling in time for Christmas.
The Corney & Barrow House White (1) is a deliciously drinkable and refreshing Gascon blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc drawn from the vineyards around Saint-Mont, deep in d’Artagnan country. Blended by Corney & Barrow’s own buyers, working alongside the winemakers of Producteurs Plaimont, it is just lovely — light, delicate and zesty but with a surprisingly long finish, thanks to a short period of lees ageing. £6.39 a bottle with the Brett-Smith Indulgence or £6.89 without, down from £7.25.
The Corney & Barrow House Red (2) is similarly tasty: a plump, juicy, supple and spicy blend of Carignan, Grenache and Merlot from Haut-Minervois in Languedoc-Roussillon. A favourite with Corney & Barrow regulars, it will be familiar to Speccie readers too and I doubt it can be beaten in terms of price and quality. I love it. £6.39 a bottle with the B-SI or £6.89 without, down from £7.25.
And for very little more there is the -Corney & Barrow House Claret 2010 (3), a disarmingly approachable Merlot-based blend from Maison Sichel. Again, Corney & Barrow’s buyers created the blend themselves in cahoots with Yvan Meyer, Sichel’s technical director, taking advantage of a truly wondrous Bordeaux vintage. It is rounded, fresh and beautifully soft, with all the hallmarks of traditional claret.
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