Cliveden House in Taplow, Berkshire is synonymous with
lavish entertaining and grand hospitality. The house, over the years, has seen
almost every British monarch since George l, including the present Queen
walk through its doors as well as the rich and powerful including Winston
Churchill, President Roosevelt
and Charlie Chaplin.
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| Cliveden House |
So, you would expect this world renowned house which offers
a fine dining experience to have an interesting and varied wine list, and it does.
The challenge for Guillaume Gorichon, the head sommelier is
to match food with the palate of the guest. “Some people only drink white or
red, therefore you have to accommodate their tastes and find the best solution
for obtaining harmony between the wine and their chosen dishes.”
Guillaume likes to encourage people to discover new wines
and try something a little bit different. Wines made from the same grape will
vary from country to country, from region to region, from producer to producer.
“We have a good selection of wines at different price
points from £28 a bottle to the high hundreds with plenty around the £30 mark.”
One that is rather special is the 2009 Bodega Mendel, Malbec, Finca Remota,
from Mendoza, Argentina (£195). “This is the business!” exclaimed Guillaume.
“It is all about finesse and precision. It is not your everyday malbec.”
Another one Guillaume recommends is the 2002 Gevery Chambertin Clos Prieur,
Domaine Frédéric Esmonin (£155) which has intense raspberry and strawberry
flavours combined with the right amount of tannin and earthy flavours.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good wine.
Guillaume says you should work out
which style you like. “So many people tell me that they don’t
like chardonnay but they will drink Chablis which is made from the same grape.
What they really mean is that they don’t like oaky tipples.”
According to Guillaume, the British are more knowledgeable
than they have ever been about wine. “I normally ask a guest what they like and
don’t like and what they are eating before I suggest something.”
As a general rule, when buying wine yourself, Guillaume
suggests looking for simple labels as he thinks that it indicates more money
being spent on the wine rather than on marketing.
“Don’t necessarily go for a special promotion and don’t just
choose wines from the middle shelf, look above and below. Read the back of the
bottle and see what it says about the wine.
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| Pamukkale Diamond from Turkey Available from Waitrose |
“If you are unsure, ask. There are no silly questions. Or,
you can Google the name and see what other people have to say,” he advises. “If
you go for a well-known brand you are going to get a certain quality for the
price point. It may not be a new experience, but it will be a safe bet. He also
points out that you don’t have to reach for the most expensive wine. “It may be
a great wine, but it does not mean you will like it,” he says.
Waitrose is excellent if you want to discover some unique
wines at prices that won’t leave a dent in your wallet. One I
particularly like is Pamukkale Diamond from Turkey, (£9.99).
This delicious ruby red is an unusual blend of the well-known shiraz and merlot grapes, together with the much rarer indigenous Turkish varieties of Kalecik Karasi and Boğazkere. It comes from the Pamukkale winery, founded in 1962 by the Tokat family, which is in the small town of Güney, in south-western Turkey. Oozing aromas of black cherry and blackberry spiced up with a little black pepper, this is an ideal for drinking now.
This delicious ruby red is an unusual blend of the well-known shiraz and merlot grapes, together with the much rarer indigenous Turkish varieties of Kalecik Karasi and Boğazkere. It comes from the Pamukkale winery, founded in 1962 by the Tokat family, which is in the small town of Güney, in south-western Turkey. Oozing aromas of black cherry and blackberry spiced up with a little black pepper, this is an ideal for drinking now.
By Daralyn Danns
