Selfridges and Decanter launched a week of Decanter World Wine Award winners at the luxury shop's Wonderbar last night.
The renowned department store in London’s Oxford Street is showing 52 Trophy-winning wines in its revolutionary Enomatic machines, which are operated by pre-paid cards and allow customers to pour either 25ml or 50ml into their glass.
Guests at the launch, in Selfridges Wonder Bar, were delighted with a machine that allowed them to sample so many different wines.
‘It’s a very good idea,’ Rosie Nixon, assistant editor of Hello! Magazine said. ‘If you don’t have much wine knowledge you can try as much as you like without someone looking over your shoulder.’
Her friend Joe Motte – taking a sample of the 2005 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon – agreed. ‘It’s brilliant. It’s a great way of learning about wine without being daunting at all.’
Jamie Graham of brokers Fine & Rare was impressed – by both the Enomatic machine and the launch. ‘It allows you to taste what you want, when you want. And this is a good party – it’s like a gallery opening with much better wine.
At the sherry bar, food writer Brian St Pierre was sampling a fino from Bodegas Valdivia – an International Trophy winner.
‘This is the kind of place people come back to,’ he said. ‘If you work in the neighbourhood, you’d drop in. It’s casual, comfortable, there’s no pressure.’
The 52 wines on offer range from top end Barossa like the Glaetzer Anaperenna Cabernet Shiraz 2006 and the St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve, to Da Vinci Chianti, Chateau Couhins white, and wines from Corsica, Rias Baixas, Languedoc and just about every wine-producing region.
The most popular last night included the sherries, the St Clair Sauvignon from Marlborough, the Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay, and the Mandarossa Fiano from Sicily.
‘I had to change the bottles twice or three times on some wines – like the Rustenberg and the Amontillado,’ Selfridges sommelier Dawn Davies said.
‘It’s a great concept,’ she added of the Enomatic machines, which cost around £10,000 each.
The Enomatic will also give 10ml measures, but current drinks legislation prohibits sales of alcohol in less than 25ml measures. Selfridges is lobbying to have that law changed.
Decanter World Wine Awards Trophy Tasting at the Selfridges Wonder Bar, 10-17 October 2008 Tickets and more details here
Decanter World Wine Awards Trophy Tasting at The Wonder Bar, Selfridges
The Wine List in full:
Abbotts Brothers Zephyr Chardonnay 2006 France
Adegas d’Altamira Seleccion Albariño 2007 Spain
Alpha Estate Estate Red 2005 Greece
Bodega Colomé Torrontes 2007 Argentina
Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 Spain
Bodegas Santa Eulalia Conde de Siruela Crianza 2005 Spain
Bodegas Valdivia Valdivia PX Spain
Bodegas Valdivia Pedro Ximenez Spain
Cantina Tollo “Cagiolo” 2005 Italy
Carlo Pellegrino Passito di Pantelleria 2007 Italy
Cave de Roquebrun Les Fiefs d’Aupenac 2006 France
Cederberg Shiraz 2006 South Africa
Cederberg Sustainable Chenin Blanc 2007 South Africa
Château Couhins – Lurton 2006 France
Château Rouquette sur Mer L’Absolu 2007 France
Chateau Ste Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills 2006 United States
Curin-Prapotnik Laski Rizling Icewine Prestige 2005 Slovenia
Da Vinci Collezione Speciale 2006 Italy
Glaetzer Wines Anaperenna 2006 Australia
Hardys Nottage Hill Riesling 2007 Australia
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Proprietors’ Reserve Riesling Icewine 2006 Canada
Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles 2005 United States
KWV Mentor Selection Chenin Blanc 2006 South Africa
La Spinosa 2005 Italy
Lomond Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Pincushion 2007 South Africa
Mandrarossa Fiano 2007 Italy
Masi Riserva di Costasera 2003 Italy
Murray Street Vineyards Greenock Shiraz 2006 Australia
Penfolds Yattarna 2005 Australia
Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling 2002 Australia
Peter Lehmann Margaret Semillon 2002 Australia
Rabl Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2006 Austria
Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel,Dry Creek Valley 2005 United States
Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2006 South Africa
Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2007 New Zealand
Sandeman Royal Esmeralda Spain
Skalli Terra Vecchia Merlot/Nielluccio Réserve 2007 France
Spy Valley Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2007 New Zealand
St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve 2007 Australia
Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Australia
Tempus Two Cabernet Merlot 2006 Australia
Tenuta L’Illuminata – La Morra Tebavio 2004 Italy
Tokara White 2006 South Africa
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Australia
Viña Chocalán Carmenère Selección 2007 Chile
Viña Falernia Syrah Reserva 2006 Chile
Viña San Pedro Reserva Castillio de Molina Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Chile
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 New Zealand
Yering Station Chardonnay 2006 Australia
Written by Adam Lechmere
