The Royal Oak Wine List
The Royal Oak Inn
House Wines,
The New List,
and Our Policy
We’ve always strived to offer new, different, high quality and most importantly good value house wines here no matter what the consequences. Everyone’s palate is different and here at The Royal Oak, we each have our favourite but we’re all agreed that we’d be happy to drink any of our house wines and hope that you will too.
We believe that house wines should show the level of quality to be found throughout the list, and should be something to be proud of, not just a way of selling cheap plonk to rake in profits!
We were the first people in the UK to take the Emiliana wines, and previously the biggest seller of the Waterstone Bridge wines in the UK; both are ranges that shouldn’t
be anywhere near house level.
Our Tierra Alta Sauvignon Blanc from Chile has also been a storming success, and one which we feel still offers the best quality available at the price point you want to see.
We asked you what you’d like to see and brought in some Pinot Grigio at house level from Veneto, however we we’re never quite satisfied – although you voted with your pockets - so, we looked again. Nothing out there of the right quality, so to keep our consciences clear, satisfy your desire and slake your thirst, we’ve lowered the price of Ancora Pinot Grigio from £15.95 to £13.95 as our new house option.
Due to the wildly fluctuating recent exchange rates and the credit crunch, our new list reflects the value to be found wherever that may be, not just within one range or country. To this end you’ll notice a much larger range from Italy, because Italian producers are taking a very sensible and pragmatic view on prices – as are the Spanish & Chileans. You’ll notice less from France where the opposite view has dominated, especially in Champagne – do they really deserve their stereotypically stubborn or arrogant tag? Hmmm.
There are also two new house wines, a really refreshing rosé with bags of flavour from Spain, and a Merlot that’s good enough to oust an old favourite – the Last Stand Merlot. We think that Villarrica from Chile, is a more than worthy successor, but hey you be the judge.
We’ve reduced the main list firstly to concentrate on maintaining quality and value, but just as importantly to allow us some extra space to highlight one-off specials.
These wines are bought in as special one-off parcels or bin-ends that allow us to offer something different, unusual, or downright unmissable at seriously attractive prices, in fact we’ve tried to keep the bulk of the list under £20 so it’s accessible to all.
They won’t last forever, so if there are any wines that you feel that you can’t live without, buy some and put them in your own cellar for a rainy day. Ask Steve for a price, and if you need a larger order Martin will deliver it to you.
Enjoy! Steve, Anna and Pat.
House Wines
125 ml Glass £2.85
175ml Glass £ 3.85
250ml Glass £4.85
Bottle £13.95
H1. Tierra Alta Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Valle Central, Chile
Hand harvesting sets this apart from most PG, and it’s this, coupled with a very gentle pressing that retains all the fresh aromatics, and avoids any harsh edges. Lees stirring also adds some weight and texture. 100% Pinot Grigio from hillside vineyards near the town of Pavia in Lombardia, this is a great example to show why PG is so fashionable.
PG is all too often bland and disappointing as we found when trying to find one, so, we’ve done a deal to reduce Ancora from £15.95 on the main list and offer it to you as our house PG - expensive region, expensive harvesting and expensive presses, however, an inexpensive option on our list!
Very vibrant bright pink in the glass, with lots of flavour. Ripe raspberries & strawberries on the nose, & bursting with fruit as soon as it hits your mouth. Full on flavour coupled with a crisp & surprisingly long finish with a touch of spice. Really refreshing & able to be glugged or paired with virtually anything due to that remarkable depth of flavour.
Hold on to your hat, it’s a belter!
H4. Villarrica Merlot 2009 Maule Valley, Chile
Tasted blind with an MW pal of Martin’s against Reserva level wines this stood out as very much over delivering. So, we tried it against what had become an institution for us here at The Oak, The Last Stand Merlot - it won! A bit bigger, younger & fresher with a classic, slightly herby nose with a touch of vanilla. The palate is fleshy with bags of plum & red berry fruit. Villarrica uses the third rung up of fruit, known as varietal plus, and as such is considerably better quality that most Chilean wines around at anywhere near this price.
H5. One Chain Vineyards “The Wrong ’Un” Shiraz Cabernet 2008, Australia
The imperial measurement of One Chain, or 22 yards, gives this range a loosely cricket based theme but you don’t need to be a connoisseur of the great game to appreciate what One Chain delivers! A hedonistic nose that virtually leaps from the glass with masses of fruit. The palate is similarly hard to resist. Bright, spicy with ripe red and black berry flavours and lovely velvety texture. Hints of eucalypt and cassis complete the picture. When Steve tasted this he said, and I quote, “bloody hell that’s good, we’re definitely having this!”
Whites, Rosés & Sweeties
1 Alasia Brachetto d’Acqui 2009 Piemonte, Italy Sweet & Gently Fizzy £13.95
This is great as an aperitif, it is ace with fruit salad-could be for breakfast- or to help a chocolate mousse or tiramisu glide down your gullet! Vibrant translucent ruby with raspberry, honey and rose petals on the nose with raspberry fruit, a little sugar boost and a mouthwatering finish. Oh, and technically it’s a red, but it would be hard to justify it as anything beyond a very dark rosé.
2 One Chain “The Opportunist” 2008 Adelaide off dry £15.95
Colombard Sauvignon Blanc Riesling. Vibrant, intense, grassy amd grapefruit tinged with pineapple and passion fruit, guava and banana this ultra refreshing, zingy, medium dry wine gives you an instant boost. The “opportunity” was to bottle a flagship wine under a vineous “nom de plume” to raise some extra cash selling it off cheap with nobody being any the wiser, but, we know, oh yes.
Primo Estates’ own label La Biondina – la bee-on-dee-nah : (n) the young blonde - an institution for 25 years down under, would set you back AU$15.99 retail! Let the racy “young blonde” strut her stuff.
3 Vallemayor Rioja Blanco Cosecha 2008 Rioja £15.95
Hailing from the best of the Rioja sub-regions, Rioja Alta, this is not the traditional over-oaked, dried out battery acid. It’s soft, fruity, refreshing, enjoyable, moreish….well you get the picture. Went down very well with a certain non-wine drinking customer at our pre-list tasting. I shan’t say who.
4 Windowrie Verdelho 2008 Cowra, New South Wales £16.95
Harvested at night and soft pressed to retain freshness. Tropical fruit salad aromas on the nose following through to a full citrussy palate with a smooth rich finish. Fantastic with Thai food, curry or fusion food due to Verdelho being the only grape to chemically bond with and thus cool chilli.
5 Adobe Organic Reserve Gewurztraminer 2008 Cachapoal Valley £18.95
Hand picked to retain fresh aromatics, the nose shows jasmine and roses blended with some soft herbaceous notes, lychees and tropical fruit. On the palate there are again floral and fruit notes, leaving a sweet sensation with a delicate acidity and some weight and texture from lees stirring. This is a great aperitif wine and a proven foil for Asian food. It's also great with fresh salads.
6 Norfolk Rise Pinot Grigio 2008 Mount Benson, South Australia £19.95
Gently lifted aromas of pears, musk, white peach, honey and grapey flavours with a hint of citrus oil in the background. The wine is complex, rich, full bodied and balanced by a mineral backbone and persistent finish. The comparison with Coonawarra is hard to avoid yet we feel that this wine offers comparable quality at a price that would make an “average” Coonawarra producer blush.
7 Bon Courage Prestige Cuvée Chardonnay 2008 Stellenbosch £19.95
A big, full nose of peach, citrus, yeasty and toasty overtones. Round and voluptuous in the mouth, packed with flavours including grapefruit, lime and cream. Vanilla and butterscotch give crème bruleè characters to the finish. This wine is delicious with fish in a creamy sauce, pâte and turkey.
8 Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough, New Zealand £22.95
This family run estate was planted back in the early 80’s which means it has some of the oldest vines in Marlborough, and crucially in a very elevated and cool spot at the head of the Brancott Valley. All of which adds up to it being very intense and concentrated but refreshing due to the more European structure. 2008 was a monster vintage of huge yields with lots of producers making thin, dilute and weedy wines, these guys had the same yields as the tiny 2007 vintage – old vines, good management, green harvesting – and hence it’s their best wine yet!
9 Taltarni Sparkling Brut Taché 2008, Victoria / Tasmania Fizz £27.95
“Taché is a basque and stockings in a glass" - Matthew Jukes. By God he’s right, this is sexy! Apricot blossom and luscious white peach aromas are complemented by complex nougat and yeast. The palate has elegant red berry fruit and nutty savoury flavours great length. An ideal aperitif or serve with fresh prawns or trout. Works equally well with fruit salad, or a croissant for breakfast.
10 Champagne Lallier Grand Cru Grande Réserve Brut NV Fizz £33.95
Pale lemon colour, good steady fizz, and a powerful typical 'bready' Champagne nose; on the palate it is a big complex wine, quite vineous with lots of flavour in the mouth followed by a long, dry finish. Great on its own but also rich enough to drink with a meal.
Using 30-40% reserve wine the bottles are matured on their lees in chalk cellars for 36-48 months.
Reds
11 Pasquiers Grenache Noir 2008, Languedoc £15.95
This wine has had the “Noir” added to Grenache to emphasise just how deep, dark and brooding it is. It has a wonderful nose of raspberries, herbs and liquorice with a dash of white pepper. The palate is full of gorgeous, concentrated sweet fruit but is not jammy or baked, and the finish has an abundance of, and yet not obtrusive, ripe tannins to give it structure and surprising length. It is a mini Rayas, one of the most prized and expensive Châteauneufs and also 100% Grenache (Noir).
12 Soldier's Block Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale, South Australia £16.95
The 2007 achieved 92pts from Parker under its other label – there’s a theme developing here – which would obviously cost a lot more, and, not only that, 2008 is a better vintage! Typical blockbuster style, but retaining gluggability. Immensely fruity with some cream, oak and spice. Bonza bargain!
13 Nostros Reserva Pinot Noir 2009, Casablanca Valley, Chile £17.95
A real steal this, for those of you who’d love to drink New Zealand Pinot for lunch, dinner and supper, but because of the “so called” credit crunch can’t get a second mortgage. Really up-front on the nose with red and blackcurrants with a pure fruited, concentrated soft palate with just enough acidity and spice on the finish to remind you it’s owed respect. Drink up John, there’s plenty more.
14 Adobe Organic Reserve Carmenere 2007 Casablanca Valley £18.95
Its aroma reflects ripe fruit perfectly balanced with sweet, toasted notes from the oak and some spices, the main characteristic of the Carmenere. A soft and well balanced palate full of plums and blackberries with ripe tannins that frame a persistence, full flavoured finish. A perfect match for pasta dishes with spicy sauces. It also goes well with cheeses like Camembert, Roquefort and goats cheese.
Martin was telling me that this is the best buy he’s ever made! It’s not the most expensive or even the finest, but you’ve got to spend a lot of cash to beat it. Really concentrated with black treacle, plums, mulberries, pepper and spice on nose and palate, seamless integration of oak and great length.
Not only do you get serious wine from Bendigo, but it’s from the coolest and greatest vintage of recent times in Victoria. Enjoy!
16 Conde de Jáuregui Rioja Reserva 2004, Rioja, Spain £19.95
From one of the finest vintage of recent times, this has a superb balance of fruit, weight, oak, vanilla, liquorice and spice. Made from predominantly Tempranillo with a dash of Garnacha to lift the nose and a large dollop of Mazuelo to add structure and spice.
Matured in barrel for 18 months.
Serve with roasts, stews, game – in fact great with all sorts of red meats – and really good with mature cheeses!
17 Sangiovese di Santa Lucia 2007 IGT Tuscany £22.95
Owned by Tony Brierley from North Yorkshire, situated north of Siena between the fortified villages of San Gimignano, Monteriggione and Castellina, it is unbelieveably 200m outside the Chianti DOC.
Still that means it’s cheaper – yippee – but by no means inferior; in fact this puts the vast majority of Chiantis to shame, and it’s also organically farmed! How many feel good stories could you ask for?
Very deep red crimson in colour and on the nose shows ripe blackcurrant and mulberry fruits mingled with lifted spicy cedary notes. Full and firm on the palate, echoing the same. A big fruit-driven wine balanced with fine drying tannins resulting in a long and flavourful finish. Lots of old vine Cabernet has just been left to hang in Barossa in the last few years because prices are so low, which means that Paul can afford to buy the absolutely best fruit for their top, yet modestly priced Cab..
19 Conan The Barbera Barbera d’Asti 2007 Piemonte, Italy
“Top drop” £25.95
Huge, thick, and dangerous in the wrong hands. This beast of a barbera is deadly serious and so full of ripe fruit flavours you won't know what's hit you. We're looking forward to the sequel...'Arneis' Schwarznegger!
This is made by our mate Graham, so rather than be accused of being biased, here’s what someone else thinks:
“Intensely coloured. Vivid, spicy, sweet plum and rasberry fruit nose with earth and mineral notes. The palate is crunchy, vivid, extracted and tannic, with sweet berry fruits, spicy, tarry, mineral savouriness and some sweet raisiny notes. The signature here is the amazingly vivid fruit kept fresh by high acidity. It’s Piedmont’s answer to Penfolds Grange” Jamie Goode, wine writer June 1st 2010
20 Langmeil The Freedom Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
“Top drop” £69.95
If you buy this wine you will literally be drinking history. The vines for this wine are the oldest Shiraz vines in the world planted in 1843! The vines are also ungrafted – all new plantings are on American rootstocks – this tastes how wine used to taste, albeit with lower yields & Paul’s genius in the mix. Saved from neglect in the mid 1990’s this has been released as a single vineyard wine since 1997 achieving cult status overnight. Martin has been importing from the start, hence still gets an allocation.
Oh, by the way it is awesome, no it’s mindbendingly brilliant! Ask to see the photos of its effect.
£50 retail!!!!!!
Royal Oak Inn
Wine List Specials
Hillsview Vineyards
Blewitt Springs
Malbec 2002
Langhorne Creek, Australia
A full-bodied richly flavoured powerful Malbec with generous robust fruit and ripe cocoa-like tannins.
This inky beast was aged in a combination of French and American Oak 300l and 200l barrels for 10 months, which tamed the mulberry and blackberry fruit adding complex notes of mocha, cedar,
vanilla and roasted nuts.
Enjoy with hearty food such as pheasant, slow cooked lamb, steaks, roast beef or liver.
£14.95 Bottle
K1 Chardonnay 2005
Adelaide Hills
South Australia
People rush out of Adelaide and drive up the hills to Mt. Lofty every time it snows.
Yes, snow, really!!
So, this is proper cool climate wine and yes Geoff Hardy is from The Hardy Dynasty.
It’s fresh and crisp yet full, rich and incredibly complex from French barrique fermentation and maturation, partial malolactic fermentation and lots of battonage – that’s all good by the way!!
Enjoy with Creamy or Oily Fish Dishes,
Great with Lobster and Crab
£25.95 Bottle
“Top Drop”
Ancora
Pinot Grigio
Rosé IGT 2008
Pavia, Italy
Proper pink, none of that blush nonsense, this is a real rosé! Dry, fresh and fruity with delicate aromas of red berries and a crisp and lively palate with red cherry and a surprisingly long finish.
Enjoy with grilled fish, lobster, prawns, crab and salads or just perfect for sitting in the garden and glugging
on a hot summers day.
Casa Defra 1404
Soave DOC 2008
Veneto, Italy
Soave is a small town and commune located in the Veneto region of Italy in the province of Verona, it’s DOC wine must come from the hillside vineyards in the oldest classic region of Soave and Monteforte d’Alpone.
Enough already! It’s a dry white wine very popular in the 70’s and 80’s, and now due to stricter controls and better winemaking it’s back. Light, fruity, slightly floral or grapey maybe, hint of almonds.
This wine is great as a glugger to refresh tired minds and bodies, or great with salads and fish.
