Smithfield Wine Blog

Smithfield Wine Merchants UK Launch Five New Rioja Wines from Vina Palaciega

George — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:29:18 +0000

Vina Palaciega wines are available from Smithfield Wine Merchants UK from the 19^th of January. Literally translated as “wines of the palace,” Vina Palaciega wines are handcrafted in the traditional Rioja style. Grapes for Vina Palaciega wines are sourced from all three regions of La Rioja (Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja).
All the wines use traditional grape varieties (Tempranillo & Garnacha), viticultural practices and winemaking techniques. The vineyards are all located between 300-600 metres in altitude and a high percentage of the plots used are less than one hectare in size.
Vina Palaciega produce five wines, a red Joven, which means young wine, a blanco (white rioja), a Crianza, a Reserva and a very satisfying Tempranillo which is actually a blend of tempranillo and garnacha.

All of these wines offer excellent quality at a great price point.

Vina Palaciega Joven 2009
Vina Palaciega Joven 2009 is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha which has
produced a bright wine with a medium to high intensity. Primary aromas of fruit
and red berries are underscored by notes of liquorice. Well-balanced in the
mouth with a fruity, fresh and clean aftertaste.Vina Palaciega Joven is ideal
with all types of meat, but matches particularly well with pasta dishes, tapas and
medium cured cheeses. Upon arrival at the winery the grapes are destemmed and
partially crushed, with a high proportion of full berries. There is a 10-15 day
maceration period where the juice is pumped over daily. Controlled fermentation
at 24-28 degrees C with both native and selected yeasts. Joven means “young
wine” and this wine spends 1-2 months in bottle before being released.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Acidity: 5.5g/l
Residual Sugar: 1.8g/l
pH: 3.6

Young red rioja from Vina Palaciega

Vina Palaciega Rioja Blanco 2010
Vina Palaciega Rioja Blanco 2010 is made from 100% Viura grapes
which has produced a deliciously dry yet fruity white Rioja with a fresh
appealing taste. It is fresh on the palate with a nicely balanced acidity. Serve
chilled between 9 and 12 degrees C and enjoy while young and fresh. A fantastic
partner to seafood, white meats and salads.

Alcohol: 12.5%
pH: 2.9
TA: 6.2g/l
RS: 1.6g/l

Great white rioja from Vina Palaciega

Vina Palaciega Crianza 2007
Vina Palaciega Crianza 2007 is made from a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha grapes. The wine is garnet red in colour with tawny hues. Lovely and juicy hedgerow fruits and a touch of smoky oak on the nose backed by hints of cedar spice. Vina Palaciega Crianza is smooth and well structured with a lingering finish. An ideal accompaniment to all types of red meat, lamb and game. Perfect with cheese. Drinking now but will develop further in the bottle.

Alcohol: 13.0%
Acidity: 5.26g/l
Residual Sugar: 1.8g/l
pH: 3.6

A fine Crianza from Vina Palaciega

Vina Palaciega Reserva 2006
Vina Palaciega Reserva 2006 is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha grapes. Vina Palaciega Reserva is a full flavoured wine of great character and depth. A bouquet of herbs, leather and spices bursts from the glass, whilst the rich,textured palate offers concentrated ripe cherries,layered with earthiness and spice. The tannins are silky and well balanced resulting in a long elegant finish. Drinking well now but will develop further in the bottle. A fantastic partner to roasted red meats,game and mature hard cheeses. The grapes are carefully selected, de-stemmed then partially crushed with a high proportion of
full berries. The juice then undergoes a 15-20 day maceration period with pumping over taking place daily. A controlled fermentation follows at between 24-28 degrees C, using both native and selected yeasts. The wine spends 2 years in medium toasted American oak casks which contribute spicy aromas and flavours. The wine was then aged in the bottle.

Alcohol: 13%
Acidity: 5.3g/l
Residual Sugar: 1.8g/l
pH: 3/5

A great Rioja Reserva from Vina Palaciega

Vina Palaciega Tempranillo 2009
Vina Palaciega Tempranillo 2009 is made from a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha grapes producing a bright wine with medium to high intensity. Intense primary aromas of fruit and red berries combined with notes of ripe fruit in perfect balance with the oak. Vina Palaciega Tempranillo is well balanced on the palate with a long satisfying finish.
Upon arrival at the winery the grapes are destemmed and partially crushed, with a high proportion of full berries. There is a 10 – 15 day maceration period where the juice is pumped over daily. Controlled fermentation at 24-28 degrees C, using both native and selected yeasts. The wine then spends 6 months in American oak barrels.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Acidity: 5.5g/l
Residual Sugar: 1.8g/l

Try this succulent tempranillo soon

Terry likes Smithfield Wine Merchants

George — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:24:05 +0000

Terry is a customer of ours and he really likes Smithfield Wine Merchants.

This is what he said;
“As I am lucky enough to live close to Smithfield Wine I usually call in when I am
getting low on mead and Irish whiskey. George and Lynn are always there to give
advice and discuss what’s on offer which makes buying from Smithfield Wine Merchants a
real pleasure.”
Thanks Terry!

Smithfield Wine Merchants – what can we do for you?

George — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:40:16 +0000

Smithfield Wine merchants in Manchester. Life is too
short for bad wine!

Offering the best quality online wine and gifts, independent wine merchants, Smithfield Wine, offer their advice, expertise and
passion in the world of wine.

Find out from Lynn, experienced and independent wine merchant for many years,
just how Smithfield Wine can help you enjoy great wine! Buy wine online today.

For more information go to Smithfield Wine Merchants

Low Alcohol Botany Creek Rose

George — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:34:27 +0000

Low Alcohol Botany Creek Rose is a soft, delicate rose. It is ideal served chilled either on its own or as an accompaniment to fish, white cheese or desserts. Just right for that lighter lunch or for dinner guests that have to drive home.
7.5% Vol

Try this low alcohol rose now. It's great.

Low Alcohol Botany Creek Red

George — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:22:31 +0000

Low Alcohol Botany Creek Red is a soft and juicy red wine ideal on its own or as an accompaniment with any food. It is especially good with red meats, casseroles and cheese. Great for light lunches or for the dinner guest that has to drive home.
7.5% Vol

Try low alcohol Botany Creek Red today

Low Alcohol Botany Creek White

George — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:11:30 +0000

Low Alcohol Botany Creek White is a crisp, fresh white wine ideal served chilled on its own or as an accompaminent to fish, white meat, cheese or desserts. Compared to many wines it is refreshingly lower in alcohol.
7.5% Vol

Try Low alcohol Botany Creek White now

Lanchester Mead

George — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:19:51 +0000

Lanchester Mead is a medium sweet drink, delicious served either long and cool, straight on its own or drunk in accompaniment to a fine piece of cheese. It is thought that the name Mead is derived from the word “honey”. With strong similarities in various Cerilic, Latin and Slavic languages. There are even references in ancient Sanskrit texts to a sweet honey drink known as “Madhu”
Mead wine may be the oldest alcoholic drink in the world, produced and drunk even before agriculture. The earliest archaeological evidence for the production of mead dates to around 7000 BC.
14.5% Vol.

Port and the Police

George — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:08:46 +0000

Not a combination you would normally expect but the
normally restrained image of Port producers was rocked recently by
demonstrations. Police were forced to intervene after windows were smashed
during demonstrations at the Regua offices of the Port Wine Institute. The
president of the IDVP was also dismissed after the Portuguese government
intervened. The vice-president has taken charge until a new president can be
appointed. The violence marked a peak in tensions, which have been growing
since the end of July, when the licence per hectare permitted for Port
production, or beneficio, was dramatically cut from its 2010 level of 110,000
pipes to 85,000 pipes. Yet another problem for a sector of the Portuguese
economy. For the UK market it will probably result in a significant increase in
the price of Port in the coming months.

The 2010 Italian Grape Harvest

George — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:03:41 +0000

The 2011 Italian harvest is expected to be among the lowest
on record in terms of volume. The Unione Italiana Vini says this year’s harvest
will yield around 42.3 million hectolitres – 10% down on 2010. The industry is
braced for one of the smallest harvests in recent memory, with Italy only
producing less than 43m hl twice in over 50 years – in 1957 and 2007. The low
forecast is being attributed to record temperatures towards the end of August
and a lack of rain, which led to early maturation and a higher sugar
concentration. This could mean the market will see a rise in the price of
Italian wines or alternatively there may be some even more insipid wines at the
bottom end of the market as the big producers try to squeeze the last drop of
juice out of the grapes!
As if the Italian economy needs any more problems.

If you would like to try some very good Italian wines available now please go to our Italian wine section.

Lanchester Ginger Wine with Rhubarb and Ginger Jam

George — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:46:46 +0000

Lanchester Ginger Wine with Rhubarb and Ginger Jam makes a lovely gift for lovers of ginger. A rich and warming ginger wine which is great on it’s own, mixed with a tot of whisky or a dash of lemonade. Also includes a pot of Cheshire Smokehouse Rhubarb and ginger jam – a classic flavour combination for your toast or croissant. Presented in a wooden box.

Ginger Wine with Rhubarb and Ginger Jam gift