SPECTATOR MINI-BAR OFFER
Simon Hoggart
ONE of our most successful recent minibars was the offer of fine wines at discount prices. This month we go to Corney & Barrow, who are perenially popular with our readers. All the wines are imported exclusively for them, so you certainly won't find them in Thresher's. Corney & Barrow have given us a generous 10 per cent discount on all wines.
The white is a Pernand Vergelesses' ' made by the famously gifted Franck Grux for Olivier Leflaive. This is a fine Cates de Beaune which can easily be drunk now but will go on improving. It has that honeyed, yet subtle and flinty taste of a first-rate Burgundy, and is a steal at £12.11.
The Mont du Toit''' from South Africa is breathtaking. The rand remains greatly undervalued, so this is a world-class wine at a knockdown price of £14.48. It's packed with flavour and fruit, but it is subtle and velvety as well. If it came from California or Australia, it would probably cost twice as much. Don't miss it.
A Grand Cru St Emilion is never cheap, though at £17.62 the Château Armens 1998' is still excellent value. The property's new owner, the splendidly named Alexandre de Malet Roquefort, simply ditched all the wine from the vintage which didn't meet the highest standards. This meant that a tiny amount was produced, all of it extremely high class, and now sold to you at a discount price.
The Moris family left Spain for Tuscany in the 1700s, and have been making wine ever since. The result, this Awoltore 1999'1' at £21.77, is one of the great Italian red wines, as deep and powerful and satisfying as anything you will find elsewhere. It is threequarters Sangiovese, with a fifth Cabernet and a hint of Syrah — a truly majestic wine.
You can buy all these by the case, or try the sampler case (three of each)tm or the less expensive taster case' — six each of the Pernand Vergelesses and the Mont du Toit. Whichever you choose I know will delight you. Delivery, as ever, is free.
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