OZ CLARKE’S WINE BUYING GUIDE 2001 
Published by Little Brown @ £9.99

 


I find it extraordinary that in this day and age it is possible to walk into a shop and buy a bottle of 11-year-old Alsace Riesling from a good producer at a mere £7.45 a bottle.  Well, at Waterloo Wine you can.  The grower is Seltz and the vintage is 1989; the vineyard is Zotzenberg.  There are lovely Loire wines as well: 1959 Vouvray moelleux from Huet at £65 or 1996 Anjou Rouge from Domaine Richou’s old vines at £6.25; some good Burgundies and wines from their own vineyard in New Zealand, Waipara West.  There are good bottles, including some old ones, from Germany and Italy, too.  It’s a fascinating shop: you just wander round and think: Oh, I’ll have one of that.  And look at that; and that; and that.  Full of quirky, unexpected bottles.

  
 


 

THE WHICH WINE GUIDE 2001 
Consumers’ Association
 


Paul Tutton is co-owner of the excellent Waipara West winery in New Zealand, but he also runs this hard-to-find London outlet.  The searching is well worth it as there are plenty of very good wines here that you won’t find elsewhere.  The ranges from Piedmont, Germany, the Loire and southern France are especially strong, while the Burgundy range includes top producers such as Belland and Perrot-Minot.  And we can’t sign off without mentioning the fine Le Brun de Neuville champagnes, which outclass and underprice many better-known names.

  
 



OZ CLARKE’S WINE BUYING GUIDE 2002 
Published by Little Brown @ £9.99

 


A very quirky, personal list, of which the strengths are the Loire and Germany. But there are finds in lots of regions, and the finds are the reason to come here: 1988 Sauternes from Chateau Lamothe-Guignard – a second growth – for £22.59; and 1988 Chateau Haut-Gardere Blanc from Pessac-Leognan for just £9.65; 1962 Vouvray Moelleux Clos de Bourg from Huet for £44.00; and the utterly delicious 1993 Bourgueil Cuvee Prestige from Lame-Delisle-Boucard for £8.65. There’s also something rather endearing about a company that stocks just one Argentinian wine – and it’s a Riesling.

  
 



THE WHICH WINE GUIDE 2003 
Consumers’ Association
 


Most of Paul Tutton’s business is wholesale, but it’s well worth tracking down his shop in Lant Street for its neat and appealing collection of wines, mainly sourced from small independent producers. We suggest you check out the wines from Waipara West in New Zealand’s Canterbury region, because they are elegant and delicious (and also to be polite – Paul co-owns the winery!). Pick up the Mark Rattray Canterbury label if you want to explore the region further. Other strong points are the mature German wines, the Loire range, some fine Calvados and (for those who are keen on it) Pineau des Charentes. A merchant that will certainly appeal to those who dislike huge warehouses piled high with big brands.

  
 



OZ CLARKE’S WINE BUYING GUIDE 2003 
Published by Time Warner Books UK 
 


Star Attractions  A very quirky, personal list, strong in the Loire (1962 Vouvray Moelleux Clos de Bourg from Huet for £44, the utterly delicious Bourgueil Cuvee Prestige from Lame-Delisle for £8.25, Savennieres from Domaine de Closel for £7.35) and making something of a speciality of the wines of the Waipara region of Canterbury, New Zealand. Waterloo are the UK agents for Minervois from Domaine de la Tour Boisee…and this is one of the few places you’ll find wines from Croatia and Montenegro. But there are finds in lots of regions: 1988 Sauternes from Chateau Lamothe-Guignard – a second growth – for £22.59, and 1995 Chateau La Lagune for £30.95.

  
 

 

OZ CLARKE’S WINE BUYING GUIDE 2005 
 
 


Now take a look at our Best Buys section. Look at the variety of different wines we've chosen. Look at the prices for these fantastic flavours - most of them are under 10 quid. Then look at the names of the merchants. Bat & Bottle, Vin du Van, OZ Wines, Great Western Wine, Waterloo Wine Co, Raeburn Fine Wine - and well done Tesco and Waitrose for being in this august company. But most of these are independents.  These are the passionate enthusiasts who get welcomed with open arms when they arrive on foreign shores to search out new and thrilling flavours. They don't demand 'the deal'. They say: that's beautiful,  what's a fair price? And when they have negotiated that hurdle, they come back to Britain and charge a fair price to us.