Chin Chin & Beyond - Birthday Edition
Happy Friday Club Members!
Hope you are all having a good week, mine has turned out to be much better than expected.
Lots of visitors out of the blue, brilliant wines and a little freelance work with Friend in a few days. But don’t worry, it will be all shared with you next week, at your favourite time of the day.
Do you know someone who would love to read about wines? Why don’t you spread the joy and share The 4pm Club today.
The long-awaited Birthday Treat
I know it happens sometimes that you end up celebrating your birthday later than the actual date. Friends and family could be far away, work gets in the way, and so on.
But I never thought I would still hear the words ‘Happy Birthday’ whispered to me, in the middle of November, when my actual birthday is in July. And from whom? The person I see every week, Accidental Wine Club Friend.
I don’t think I remember how exactly it all started but when Friend finally settled on a day ( it was a very long process ) I was so so excited! And it was a surprise so had no idea what was happening. The only thing I knew for sure was that no matter what we did on the day, there would be some serious wines to sample. And I was not wrong…
Chin Chin Vinho Verde, Quinta do Ermizio
It's impossible to fit the entirety of the birthday experience in a single newsletter but we had a chance to try some really amazing wines and food that I must tell you about.
Chin Chin Vinho Verde, Quinta do Ermizio was the perfect start on the evening ( well, after a free bottle of fizz we kindly received at the table, as a gift). This funky white kinda became a cult classic in the past year or so and can honestly say, for all the good reasons.
Developed by the founders behind the highly regarded Noble Rot, in collaboration with Quinta do Ermizio vineyard in Portugal, Chin Chin quickly rose to fame as a must-drink summer wine. Everything about it is so well thought out, no wonder people fell in love with it. A cartoonish, colourful label, a vibrant and playful wine made with low intervention, a relatively cheap price, all in one package. And you can’t get it in any supermarkets, which I suppose added more to its cult status.
Upon pouring, you are welcomed by a lovely array of floral and fruity notes, a bouquet of crisp green apples, citrus and white flowers. You can tell straight away it is going to be a very well-balanced and harmonious Vinho Verde. Those primary flavours of green apples and citrus take centre stage on the palate. A lively acidity creates a delicate but complex and oh-so-refreshing wine. And that touch of "petillance" (the slight fizz on the finish ) just keeps adding to the excitement!
And where did we have this lovely bottle you wonder?
In this small restaurant that serves unpretentious but utterly delicious Portuguese-style food. Grazing on small plates all night and sipping on some wine is probably the best way to spend an evening with friends. Think of grilled prawns, mackerel, lovely tender chicken, great slaw, the sort of Mediterranean barbecue feeling. These guys are fairly new to the restaurant scene but I have no doubt that filling those seats won't be a challenge for them. Go and visit until you can and relive the summer vibe!
( If you want to know the story behind this restaurant and see how it all started, have a quick look at their website )
Where: Our Restaurant — FRANGO's (frangoeduardo.co.uk)
Wine: Chin Chin Vinho Verde, Quinta do Ermizio
Origin: Portugal
Grape: Loureiro, Trajadura, and Arinto
ABV: 11.5%
Recommend with: Grilled king prawns, mackerel or a light salad is perfect but it also really complements spicy and Asian flavours
You could also buy this wine from a handful of online sites, starting from £11.90, worth a little Google search
The Serious Bunch
Now, before I start going into details, I have to say that the below wines are not our usual choices on a Wednesday night and we didn’t have the whole bottle… you must remember, it was a long overdue birthday treat and we are so lucky to be able to try them!
But if it’s a birthday, you have to have champagne!
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV
If you tried it before, you know it, if you haven’t, you must add it to your list of things to do! The finesse of this one is something you can’t always find around the corner. It means business, as soon as it hits the glass. The inviting dark rose colour, toasted aromas on the nose, followed by fresh, ripe strawberries. There is a touch of dryness to the finish but it just readies you for the next sip. Imagine it as a soft, pink, creamy pillow, you never want to let go.
I could have carried on sipping the bubbles all night long but both Friend and I thought we must carry on with our usual tradition and try something different. And when I say different, I mean the serious ones..
Domaine Machard De Gramont, Puligny-Montrachet Les Houilères 2020, Burgundy, France
Old World wines were my go-to wines for a very long time. I thought there was no point in mentioning anything else out there, other than beautiful Burgundies or Bordeaux. So much changed since but one thing I say, no matter what, I can always enjoy a glass of Puligny-Montrachet.
With the distinctive soft oak, the perfumed white flowers, stone fruits and green apples, this is a wonderfully designed wine made of 100% Chardonnay. Buttery notes and a hint of brioche, it is not as rich as some of its friends from the area usually are but equally as good as them. With great minerality and high acidity, this is as luxurious as it gets when it comes to white wine at this level. If you never tried Chardonnay from Burgundy, please do, will completely change the way you think about the grape! Even if you decide to opt for a New World one at the end.
Hentley Farm, The Beauty, Shiraz 2018, Barossa Valley, Australia
The team at Hentley Farm, in South Australia seem to be creating more and more exceptional wines. The Beauty is a very welcomed partner next to their The Beast Shiraz. But this is different. It is much smoother ( thanks to the added Viognier ), more refined and more complex. Rich, bursting-out-of-their-skin plum aromas and soft violet tones alongside dark chocolate; this is supposed to be the little sister next to the Beast but gosh, it delivers so much. And also costs less! With a deep ruby colour and silky texture, it is a beautifully balanced and well-rounded Shiraz. And if you get a chance, please have 2 glasses, it will keep growing on you, I promise!
Where: Wine Bar | Wine Club | 22 Yards Wine Bar & Merchants
A cosy and charming wine merchant and bar, where you can lose yourself very easily in the sea of wines. Over 70 varieties available by the glass, caters for all budgets and have a relatively large selection of Champagnes, all available by the glass too. Great team who are around to guide you if you need them but happy to step aside and leave you to chat the night away.
So was it worth waiting 4 months for a Birthday Treat? 100%! And would highly recommend spreading the birthday joys over several months. Very excited to celebrate Christmas in March now 😊
Next time…
Deals from Down Under, Accidental Wine Club plans, almost ready for the big reveal!!!
Have a grape weekend!
The 4pm Club