THE WINE LIST
STRESS….WHAT STRESS?
They say the most stressful things you can do are getting married, moving house and starting a new business…well our gracious hosts, Lucy and Andy have managed all three of those in the last six months!!
Having got The Peat Spade Inn at Longstock performing above and beyond the average they decided it would be a good idea if they took the afternoon off and got married. Speed like this does rather relieve a stressful situation as the whole occasion took about an hour and there was no vast party (or was I not invited?) or months of planning to lose sleep over. Andy found the whole thing particularly stress free as he was just told where to be, what to wear, what to say and what to do.
Having tied the knot it was only right that a new house should be snapped up as soon as possible. Naturally Lucy took charge and told her devoted new husband which house and where and moved the builders in tout suite! There is a theme developing here I think.
A new business is the next on the agenda and here we are at The Anchor in Lower Froyle. The builders and designers have been working as hard and fast as they can and it only took four months longer than planned…not bad really. I think they have done a first class job and the vision and expertise of all those involved is a credit to them. Needless to say it was all rather stressful for Lucy who was constantly nipping over there to make sure that all was going well. Sadly this was not always the case and boiling point was never far away. Andy, however found the whole experience reasonably easy as his only real concern was that the kitchen was going to be large enough! I think the said theme did indeed develop.
All has ended well however and the relationship has a great chance to blossom with Andy taking the reins here at Lower Froyle and Lucy spending most of her time at The Peat Spade. There will be little time to catch up on all the problems at either place and on the odd occasion they find themselves both at home at the same time they should be too knackered to speak let alone shout!!
Jane Austin used to wander around these parts in her Donkey Carriage seeking inspiration for her next novel and if she was around today I think we may have been looking at her next bestseller!
Getting into the Wine List (albeit briefly) we have tried to offer a wide selection from around the globe with particular attention paid to the more traditional end so you should find some great names from top producers and vintages. Bordeaux and Burgundy feature strongly as that appears to be where the punters are still going for the top stuff and to a large degree their drinking wines as well.
Italy is a country on the up in the wine world and we have a carefully selected range of Italians which I think will grow as we go. Some of the reds are particularly interesting with the Barbera d’Alba offering a delightful glass of soft, fruity red wine that will appeal to any palate and the Le Volte showing more depth and the classical structure of a fine wine to be thought about.
A statement I never thought would pass my lips is that I am quite excited about Chile and Argentina and those that have avoided such things like the plague should take note and have another look. Wineries like Pulenta Estate and Arboleda really are setting the world alight and these wines should be given a go.
Hopefully within the following pages you will find some wines that tickle the taste buds and will not lose the will to live reading my tasting notes! Enjoy.
William Mason
For a detailed look at the wine list in its entirety, please click here.
ABOUT WILLIAM MASON FINE WINES
William has been a wine merchant for all his working life and in 1996 he set up his company working from home in Norfolk. The policy has always been to find good affordable drinking wines from around the world that looks good and tastes good. He does not tie himself to any agency agreements and likes to chop and change the wines as and when vintages change and more exciting finds appear. The company is now based in offices and a warehouse in Hingham (still in Norfolk), where there is a showroom and a tasting room if anyone wants to call in. The Company also has some good stocks of Fine Wine and offers advice and cellaring to those that want to get in early and take advantage of the surge in wine prices. Throughout the year there will be wine events and tastings held at The Anchor Inn so if anyone wants to test the above Company policies, that might be a good time!
Please visit William Mason Fine Wines for more details.
