Wine List August 2017 What Others Say about Us “The pioneering spirit which gave birth to a family – run drinks business in the 1950s is still very much alive in the McAlindon brothers who lead it today.” Amanda Ferguson, Belfast Telegraph 7/7/14 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Peter and Neal are managing DWS with flair... DWS is one of the greatest business success stories in Northern Ireland.” McKenna Guides -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What the judges said: “The Winner of this award provided an exceptional range of products. Staff were real experts, happy to share their knowledge and make some great recommendations. A fantastic customer experience” Licenced & Catering News Award 2014 – Off Licence of the Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes from the judges; In praise of Direct Wine Shipments, they saw them as being genuine specialists, sending in products that really showcased their speciality buying choices. They have incredibly good value pricing on a wonderful selection, as well as wine tastings and excellent customer engagement. Judges also made special reference to the retailer being unique in their efforts, despite the economic austerity that has been linked to Belfast in recent history. “the McAlindon brothers have kept a flourishing business from looking after their customers” IWSC Independent Retailer of the Year 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “a must for any visiting wine connoisseur” Easyjet Traveller Magazine March 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Direct Wine Shipments, run with great passion by the McAlindon Brothers." Paul Rankin - The Sunday Times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “There really are some superb wines on this list, in fact it’s hard to find anything I wouldn’t want” Oz Clarke - Oz Clarke’s Wine Guide ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “One of the best independent merchants in the UK” Tim Atkin M.W. - The Observer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Wine communicators extraordinaire… Few companies show the same eagerness to make wine more enjoyable, and there’s a first-rate set of wines to support this.” WHICH? Wine Guide, The Consumer Association -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “DWS’s story is one of gritty survival and gradual transformation from Fifties corner shop to thoroughly modern wine merchant. DWS’s wines may be serious but the family presence generates fun and enthusiasm.” Anthony Rose - The Independent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “One of the best merchants in the UK, offering tastings & courses. Great mix of Old & New World” Robert Joseph - The Sunday Telegraph INDEX SPAIN Priorat, Montsant 5 Rioja 6 Navarra 8 Ribera del Duero, Toro 9 Rias Baixas, Monterrei, Ribeiro, Bierzo, Basque Country 10 Terra Alta, Alella, Castilla-Leon, Rueda, Campo de Borja 11 Ucles, El Terrerazo, Alicante, Valdepeñas, Jumilla, Mallorca 12 PORTUGAL 13 FRANCE Bordeaux 15 Burgundy 17 Chablis 20 Beaujolais 21 Rhône 22 Côtes du Ventoux 24 Alsace 25 Loire 26 Languedoc-Roussillon 28 Minervois, Corbières, Faugères, Cahors 29 Gascony 30 ITALY Veneto , Friuli 32 Piedmont 34 Tuscany 35 Colli di Luni, Marche 36 Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Molise, Puglia 37 Campania, Calabria 38 Sicily, Sardinia 39 GERMANY 41 AUSTRIA, HUJNGARY, GREECE, LEBANON 42 ROMANIA, MOLDOVA 43 AUSTRALIA South-Eastern, South Australia 45 Tasmania, Victoria 46 NEW ZEALAND 47 U.S.A. 51 CHILE 52 ARGENTINA 54 SOUTH AFRICA 56 CHAMPAGNE 59 SPARKLING 60 SWEET WINES 62 PORT, MADEIRA 64 SHERRY 65 SNIPES, QUARTER BOTTLES, HALF BOTTLES 66 HALF LITRES, MAGNUMS, IMPERIALS 67 SELECTED SPIRITS 69 GIFT VOUCHERS 70 SPAIN Priorat Viñedos McAlindon e Hijos In 2003 the McAlindon’s dream to buy their own vineyard and make their own wine became a reality. The vineyard is found in Priorat (meaning Priory), North Eastern Spain near the Scala Dei Monastry (meaning ‘Ladder to God’). This area today produces some of Europe’s most inspiring reds. In the 12th century the Carthusian monks built a priory thus giving the name to the region. It is a very special place and a virtual viticultural paradise. The McAlindons work with one of Spain’s leading winemakers. Silvia Puig has made wine with some of the best Spanish wineries including the legendary Vega Sicilia. The symbol for the Creu Celta wine (meaning ‘Celtic Cross’ in Catalan) is inspired by the exceptional 15th Century High Cross found on Devenish Island, Country Fermanagh, Northern Ireland Red 13-255 Viñedos McAlindon e Hijos Creu Celta 2014 (15% alc vol) £21.99 The 2014 is composed mainly of Garnacha, with a decent percentage of Syrah and the blend is completed with a small proportion of Merlot. Full flavoured red with chocolate, cherry, plum, pine and smoky nuances. Rich, complex and satisfying. Great with Steak, slow cooked meat dishes, firm and hard cheeses and dark chocolate. “Bloody good. Lovely & refreshing. Good acidity & lovely bright fruit.” (Joe Wadsack) “Pronounced, youthful nose, blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, dark chocolate, sweet spice. Firm acidity allied to high but fine dusty tannins, baked dark fruit, plum jam, lovely balance of structure & fruit, oak beautifully integrated...very serious wine.” (Michael Palij M.W.) 13-261 Viñedos McAlindon e Hijos Creu Celta Seleccion Especial Viñas Vieja 2007 (15% alc vol) £31.99 The first vintage of Creu Celta ‘Selección Especial’ is made primarily from old vines Samso. It offers a full expression of classic Priorat red. Rich, layered and concentrated it has pine, chocolate, cherry, plum and vanilla notes. This is underpinned by a typical smoky minerality from aroma to palate. Creu Celta is the perfect wine for all hearty red meat and steak dishes due to the complexity of the tannin, acid and fruit balance. 13-276 Silvia Puig En Numeros Vermells 2014 (15.5% alc vol) £30.99 13-491 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi 2010(14.5% alc vol) £49.99 13-491 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi 2012(14.5% alc vol) £59.99 White 13-559 Viticultors del Priorat Morlanda Blanco 2013(13.5% alc vol) £20.99 13-549 Silvia Puig En Numeros Vermells Blanco 2015 (14.5% alc vol) £24.99 5 Rioja Rioja Vega “The origins of Rioja Vega go back to 1882 when Don Felipe Ugalde established a bodega bearing his name in Haro. In 1948 the bodega joined with Bodegas Muerza through marriage & the name disappeared. In 1983 it was acquired by the Group Principe de Viana and construction of a new winery & a new brand, Rioja Vega, started in January 2001. The winery is located in the town of Viana, 10 km south-east of Logroño. There are also 51 hectares of Tempranillo & 9 hectares of Graciano planted around the winery, & a total of 70 hectares of vineyards is planned. The goal is to produce high quality grapes from low yields in modern surroundings. Red 13-038 Austral Tempranillo 2015 (13.5% alc vol) £7.49 13-032 Austral Tempranillo & Grenache Semi Crianza 2015 (13% alc vol) £7.99 13- 062 Rioja Vega Tempranillo 2016 (13.5% alc vol) £7.99 13-064 Rioja Vega Crianza 2013 (13.5% alc vol) £10.99 13-066 Rioja Vega Reserva 2011 (13.5% alc vol) £15.99 13-068 Rioja Vega Gran Reserva 2009 (13.5% alc vol) £19.99 White 13- 898 Rioja Vega Blanco 2016 (12.5% alc vol) £7.99 13-889 Rioja Vega Tempranillo Blanco 2014 (13.5% alc vol) £13.99 Rosé 13- 980 Rioja Vega Pale Tempranillo Rosado 2015 (12.5% alc vol) £9.99 Ostatu Ostatu is a family winery from the Alavesa zone of Rioja created in 1960 by the Saenz de Samaniego family who have a long tradition as grape growers since the 16th century. Red 13-003 Ostatu Crianza 2014 (14% alc vol) £13.99 White 13-503 Ostatu Blanco 2016 (13% alc vol) £10.99 Rosé 13-504 Ostatu Rosado 2016 (13% alc vol) £10.99 6 Palacios Remondo Bodegas Palacios Remondo is based in Alfaro in the Rioja Baja. This old family firm has been revitalised by the arrival of Alvaro Palacios who has already made his name, starting from scratch, with his extraordinary Priorat wines. He is now bringing the family Rioja winery to the attention of the wine world. The wines are made from their own vineyards, a rarity in Rioja. After more than proving himself in Priorat, he took over the home ranch after the death of his father in 2000 and slowly, surely, year on year, things in Rioja keep getting better. Vineyards are now farmed organically and many biodynamic principles are being followed. Here, Garnacha, more than Tempranillo, reigns supreme and it is from here that Spanish rusticity and spice would be contributed to blends. 13-145 Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2015(14% alc vol) £12.99 13-150 Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2014 (14% alc vol) £16.99 13-152 Palacios Remondo Propiedad 2011 (14.5% alc vol) £27.99 13-157 Palacios Remondo Reserva Especial 2010 (14% alc vol) £27.99 White 13-640 Palacios Remondo Placet Valtomelloso 2014 (13.5% alc vol) £20.99 Peter & Neal with Alvaro Palacios Red 13-026 Hazaña Rioja 2014 (13% alc vol) £9.99 13-143 Martín Códax Música en el Camino 2012(14% alc vol) £9.99 13-001 Biurko Gorri Rioja 2015 (13.5%alc) £10.99 13-176 Finca Allende Tinto 2009 (13.5%alc) £22.99 13-194 Macán 2012 (14.5%alc) £49.99 The joint vision that two great names of the wine world, Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, have of La Rioja. 7 Navarra Principe de Viana The company was founded in 1983 as a commercial arm for bottled wines of the Wine Cooperatives of Navarra. Located at Murchante, with modern facilities for bottling, ageing and treatment of the wines; there are some 7,500 American and Allier oak barriques. They have become a major player in the Navarra D.O. export market, producing high quality wines using sustainable viticulture with a distinctive Spanish feel. Red 13-041 Pleno Tempranillo 2015 (13.5% alc vol) £6.99 This is a lovely soft, easy-drinking Tempranillo with bright cherry and strawberry fruit.