Wines
Wines and the Loch Melfort Hotel ‘philosophy’
Calum and Rachel’s wine list is a selection chosen to enhance your dining experience. The carefully selected wine list has been put together in conjunction with Inverarity Vaults, Scotland’s leading independent Wine Merchant.
Our aim is to provide interesting wines that remain well priced, looking ideally for family owned producers whose wines reflect the traditions of their district rather than the requirements of large retailers. The selection is designed to cover the flavours and staples of our menu and includes some established classics as well as some quirky newcomers.
This year we have introduced 13 new wines. Some of them like our Fleurie, Beaujolais Villages and St Veran are changes of producer but most are interesting new wines which we hope you try and enjoy.
Vouray from Guy Saget
Vouray from Guy Saget makes an appearance in the Loire section giving us Chenin Blanc from its traditional heartland. The wine is un-oaked, smooth and off dry in style and is equally delicious for sipping on its own, with fish in creamy sauces or ham terrines.
Lugana from Lake Garda
Also in whites we have the elegant Lugana from Lake Garda. It’s made from Trebbiano grapes which can give a fairly neutral wine but here it is fruit driven with fresh acidity which gives a perfect balance. Again it is fine partner to the best of seafood dishes and its one of Italy’s finest whites.
Cotes de Gascogne Blanc from Domaine Pellehaut
The Cotes de Gascogne Blanc from Domaine Pellehaut is perfect for those looking for a bit less alcohol. Made from a range of grape varieties it features a proportion of Colombard Blanc which lends a distinctive grapefruit, zesty quality to the wine. It’s perfect with simple shellfish courses.
Chardonnay and Zinfandel from Wente Vineyards
We feature a new pair of Californian wines from Wente Vineyards, founded in 1883. That’s quite a pedigree and their Chardonnay and Zinfandel are outstanding examples and offer excellent value, not always associated with the wines of California.
Chateau La Vieille France and Chateau Fourcas Dupres
Bordeaux still retains a healthy demand for its wines, fitting when “Claret” was once the national drink of Scotland. We have listed Chateau La Vieille France from the famous Graves region and Chateau Fourcas Dupres from the lesser known villages of Listrac which can be worth seeking out. Both wines appeal to lovers of Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
Castillo de Monjardin from Navarra
Lastly we have a pair of wines form Castillo de Monjardin in Navarra, Spain – a near neighbour of Rioja with a long history of quality wine production. It tends to feature more “international” varieties but has the same method of barrel ageing which gives us mellow, rounded, spicy wines. Their Cabernet Merlot Crianza fits this bill exactly and their Merlot Rose is just fresh, full-on fruit with a clean dry finish, a great wine.
The ‘onerous task’ of tasting/selecting this year was mostly down to Calum, as Rachel had baby Alex to keep her otherwise occupied, but hopefully the new wines still represent their mutual appreciation of great wine.
