Years ago, before very clever folk started coming up with all manner of means to keep open bottles of wine (reasonably) fresh, half bottles of wine were a thing. Growers would routinely bottle a modest proportion of their harvest into half bottles and restaurants in particular, would carry them, largely for the benefit of solo diners. And then things changed and the hospitality world started sucking oxygen out of bottles or pumping inert gas into them and offering numerous wines by the glass and lo and behold the principle market for halves faded away.
Which was totally understandable and fine.
Unless, for whatever reason you like a half bottle. (Guilty as charged, m’lud.)
So we’ve put a little collection together including some rather lovely mixed case offers.
And if lots of folk start buying them, we shall scour the planet for more.
And if they don’t, that’s Chris's drinking sorted out for the rest of the year.
£21.75
Lovely pale gold and gentle, fine bubbles. Toasty, spicy and complex aromas showing wonderful development after more than three years on lees in our cellar. The palate supports these complex aromas with honey, almond, pastry and baked apple flavours. Very fine and elegant with great commination of intensity, delicacy and length.
Nyetimber£10.39
Living up to their name, Wild and Wilder are delighted to present the rule-breaking Tabula Rasa. Each year, the slate is wiped clean and, with no preconceptions, every vintage is original. #V18R draws on fruit from historic vineyards across South Australia, Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro and Carignan, this delicious wine captures the very essence of one season in a playful format that just demands to be drunk. The 2018 edition is lip-smackingly crunchy with vibrant black cherry fruit and exotic spice on the finish.
£10.25
An elegant Fleurie where mineral notes complement ripe fruit and spicy nuances. Inimitable finesse and a persistent finish with well balanced tannin and acidity. Velvety, elegant and floral.
£8.69
Kick-ass Gewurz, bursting with spice and more than a hint of lychees
£9.39
Aromatic and intense, lovely aromas of wild red berries, blossom, nutmeg and hints of sandalwood. Fresh, fruity and well balanced with sensations of raspberries, vanilla and cinnamon.
£22.30
The white Santenay Clos de Malte is a rich and structured wine. It is elegant and fresh, with fruity, citrusy aromas and a hint of woody notes.
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Supple, medium-bodied Pinot Noir showing delicious lifted fruit, made from fine outlying vineyards, together with fruit sourced from the villages of Santenay, Auxey-Duresses, Savigny, Chorey les Beaune and Ladoix.
£14.45
£8.79
An expressive wine with aromas of apricot, fennel and floral scents. The wines roundness is a perfect match for its freshness and the finish reveals subtle notes of aniseed.
£14.95
A perfect introduction to the delights and complexity of real white Burgundy, this is mainly Côte d'Or fruit together with some Mâconnais. Fresh with lovely weight, delicate creaminess and judicious oak making this a beautifully balanced dry white.
£8.65
Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure.
£12.19
Deeply coloured with ripe, sweet bramble and pepper spice notes, full-bodied with a defined structure, nice balance and some classic northern Rhône freshness on the finish.
£8.55
Ripe aromas of black fruit with warm wood spice. Cherry and plum fruit on the palate with fresh acidity and smooth balancing tannins. Classic, approachable and satisfying.
£20.75
A champagne of exhilarating freshness, complexity and finesse, made from approximately two thirds Pinot Noir and one third Chardonnay, matured in bottle on its lees for 24-36 months. The result is a Champagne with a pale lemon colour, good steady fizz, and a powerful typical ‘bready’ Champagne nose. On the palate it is a big complex wine, quite vinous with lots of mouthfeel followed by a long, dry finish.
£6.59
A classic Portuguese blend of Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Perrum, Fernao Pires/ Arinto. Complex and inviting citrus notes of lemon and white fruit are followed by fresh and balanced palate, with a firm body and a long finish
£6.75
On the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc displays citrus aromas, of lime and tangerine. The palate features aromas of mandarin, tropical fruits and herbal notes. A wine with a refreshing acidity, great depth and persistence.
£6.75
This wine displays an intense ruby red colour with violet hues. The nose reveals aromas of red fruit and black fruit with balsamic tones, which complements with notes of vanilla, chocolate, cherry and plums. It has a soft palate, fine-grained tannins, and refreshing acidity.