The Salopian Brewery was founded in 1995 by Martin Barry. The story of the brewery is one of steady growth and investment, with the brewing activity moving to it’s current site on the outskirts of Shrewsbury in 2014. The purpose-built facility includes a shop and a brewery tap – something I plan to visit when I am next up that way.

For this week’s guest beer we have selected a bottle from the Salopian core range called Lemon Dream. The brewery team describe it as “a shimmering golden ale that is brewed using organic lemons which adds beautifully subtle zesty aromas and a citrus filled fruity finish.”
We have just tried it and say “smells like a good pale ale, lovely hoppy nose, nice and fresh on the palate, smooth and the lemon flavour shines through on the finish. Good, enjoyable beer.”

At last! A red wine produced in the UK that we have tried and thought it was good. We have been stocking the sparkling wines and still whites from Lyme Bay Winery for some time and they are popular. If you remember, Lyme Bay Winery make wine from grapes they buy in, working with the best growers on some of the best sites across the UK. This approach allows them to select the best fruit in good years for wine production. The 2020 season was one such year (remember, that first spring and summer of lockdown) enabling the grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness. Just before Christmas we had a visit from the winery and looked at some new wines. Of particular note was the still red wine. Made form 100% Pinot Noir, the wine sees 30% new French oak barrels, plus some experimental American and Eastern European oak for ageing, in which the wine goes through full malolactic fermentation.

As you would expect for such a young wine made in the U.K., this is all primary red fruits. But it is a well made wine and competes with some of the equivalent level Pinot Noirs from New Zealand and Oregon, but is styled very differently from same-varietal wines from France. For those who like a full fruit wine this ticks the boxes and it is great to finally find a decent red made in this country from fruit grown here. My view: give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.

You all know the story about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. A couple of years of terrible frosts have devastated harvests, resulting in low yields and very little wine available. This issue forced us to switch our hand from Nika Tiki to a South-African lookalike, Moloko Bay (£9.95). You have bought and enjoyed significant quantities of Moloko Bay since it’s introduction but some of you have asked when Nika Tiki might be back. We have managed to secure a small parcel of new vintage Nika Tiki and have put it in the shop. The price £12.95 a bottle. For lovers of this wine, come and get it while it is available.

Spirits:
Godet Cognac No.1 ‘Gentleman Cocktail’ – £40
Tosolini Grappa Cividna Tipica – £35
Tosolini Grappa Most Miste – £60
Sigognac Armagnac VS (£37.50), VSOP (£42), 10YO (£50), 20YO (£80.50)
Clos Martin Armagnac XO 15 YO – £55 (delighted to have this best seller back in)

Fizz:
2015 Pol Roger (£85)
2015 Pol Roger magnums (£200) – only 6 available
2002 Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime Brut (£255) – as above, only 1 available

White:
2020 Joseph Drouhin Macon Bussieres magnums (£39.95) – one of your favourite white Burgundies now in magnum format
2011 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Vieilles Vignes 100% Roussanne (£180) – Hilary

Red:
2013 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino (restock and glad to have it back) – £55
2018 Sociando Mallet Magnums (£100)
2018 Sociando Mallet Double Magnums (£240)

And for those that like to go large, we have just taken delivery of an Imperial (6 litres) of 1996 Chateau Talbot (Bordeaux, Saint Julien). Great wine, great vintage, great format. What’s not to like about that?

That will do for tonight. Weatherwise it looks like sunny spells over the next few days which will be a welcome change. Amanda, Trish and I will be here tomorrow to look after all of your wine needs and we are looking forward to seeing those of you attending the cellar tour tomorrow to share a glass or two.