JJ Gannons Hotel / Wine List

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Wines @

JJ Gannon’s Hotel and red restaurant

Welcome To Our World Of Wine

It is often someone’s worst nightmare to be handed a wine list bogged down in fancy, overpriced wines chosen from trade lists by people ‘in the know’ and then padded out with ‘helpful’ tasting notes on balance, acidity … to add style/snobbery to the overall affect.

So … Just to be different, honest … and really just to help you …
Our wine list is made up of the wines we like

How The List Works …
The first two pages give you a guide to what we have in our cellar - and after that are the usual notes on makers and each wine – if that sort of thing turns you on!

But … look out for what’s written in red (sorry unavailable online) – this is what we really think!

Our best advice to you …
Don’t even open the wine list!

Ask us what we would drink with your dinner. We chose them. We’ll suggest them. And if you don’t like them, we’ll replace them

Wine is there to be enjoyed – not suffered Experiment

But most importantly … Sit Back. Relax. Let us suffer your nightmare.


White Wine & Fizz
@
JJ Gannon’s & red restaurant

 

                                                Bottle         Glass
The House Whites
•    Willowglen Semillon Chardonnay     De Bortoli                        16.50        4.50
•    Casa Silva Colecci?n Sauvignon Blanc                            18.00        5.00
•     Les Fum?es Blanches Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays d’Oc     J & F Lurton            18.00        5.00

Chile
•    Casa Silva Chardonnay Reserva                                22.50        6.00
•    De Martino Organic Chardonnay                                22.00        6.50                        
Italy
•    Le Rime Pinot Grigio Chardonnay IGT     Castello Banfi                    21.50        6.00
•    Pinot Grigio IGT San Angelo     Castello Banfi                        29.50          ---
•    Gavi de Gavi     Broglia ‘Tenuta La Meirana’                        26.00          ---

Spain
•    Chardonnay 234 Enate     Bodegas Enate                        25.00

Australia
•    Deen De Bartoli Vat 7 Chardonnay     De Bortoli                        21.00        5.50

New Zealand
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc                            25.50        7.00
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling                            25.50        7.00
•    Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc                        35.00          ---

South Africa
•    Jordan Estate Chardonnay                                27.50          ---

France
•    Bergerac     -  Château La Brie                            17.50          ---
•    Bordeaux     -  Château Bonnet   Entre-deux-Mers     Andr? Lurton            21.50        6.00
•    Burgundy     -  Chablis Domaine Le Verger     Alain Geoffroy                28.50          ---
•    Loire Valley     -  Muscadet Château de Chasseloir     Ch?reau Carr?            24.00          ---
    Menetou-Salon     Domaine de Châtenoy                28.50          ---
    Château de Fesles Anjou Blanc Barrel Fermented 100% Chenin Blanc    22.00          ---

Champagne/Sparkling
•    Champagne Deutz Brut Classic.    AŸ. FRANCE                         65.00        9.00                
•    Marqu?s de Monistrol Cava Reserva.     Marqu?s de Monistrol. SPAIN                49.00        7.50
•    Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG.     Castello Banfi. ITALY                50.00        8.00

Red Wine & Ros?
@
JJ Gannon’s & red restaurant

                                                     Bottle         Glass
The House Reds
•    Willowglen Shiraz Cabernet     De Bortoli                            16.50        4.50
•    Casa Silva Colecci?n Cabernet Sauvignon                        18.00        5.00
•    Domaine de Berlande Merlot Vin de Pays d’Oc     J & F Lurton                18.00        5.00

Chile
•    Casa Silva Merlot Reserva                                22.50        6.00
•    Casa Silva Carmenère Los Lingues Gran Reserva [Reserva Especial]            33.00          ---
•    De Martino Organic Cabernet Sauvignon                            23.50        6.50

Italy
•    Merlot Trentino DOC     Cantina Sociale La Vis                        20.50        5.50
•    Rosso di Montalcino DOC     Castello Banfi                        39.00          ---
•    Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Rubino DOC Colle Secco     Cantina Sociale Di Tollo        22.00          ---

Spain
•    Conde de Valdemar Rioja Crianza D.O.C.a     Bodegas Martinez Bujanda, Rioja        22.50        6.00
•    Enate Crianza D.O.     Bodegas Enate, Somontano                    26.00          ---

Australia
•    Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz     De Bortoli                        21.00        5.50
•    Four Sisters Shiraz                                    24.00          ---

New Zealand
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Pinot Noir                                34.50          ---

South Africa
•    Jordan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon                            30.00          ---
•    Jordan Estate Cobblers Hill                                47.00          ---

France
•    Bergerac      –  Château La Brie                            17.50          ---
•    Bordeaux      –  Château Haut La Grenière     Lussac~Saint-Emilion            25.50          ---
•    Burgundy      –  Bourgogne Pinot Noir     Côte de Beaune  Antonin Rodet        25.00          ---
•    Rhône Valley  –  Côtes-du-Rhône Château d’Aigueville     Caves Saint-Pierre        18.50        5.00
       Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Duclaux     J?rôme Quiot        41.00          ---

Ros?
•    Cabernet d’Anjou Domaine des Nouelles Demi-Sec Ros?     Ch?reau Carr? FRANCE        17.00          ---
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Pinot Noir Ros?     NEW ZEALAND                    27.00        7.50


Australia

De Bortoli

A traditional yet innovative family winery, De Bortoli is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading wine companies and winner of many top wine making awards.
•    The Willowglen range is designed to offer excellent value for money – making them the perfect house wine for any guest! – and are made to compliment good food – satisfying wines … from a top producer … ideal to most tastes … easy going and easy drinking – the perfect House Style for JJ Gannon’s.
•    The Deen De Bortoli Vat Series has proven an ever popular range at Gannon’s – approachable, well bodied, subtlely challenging wines, yet impeccable with food, for just drinking or to add a touch of delight to any gathering.

White

•    Willowglen Semillon Chardonnay.  South East Australia                HOUSE WINE
An ever elegant wine – full of fruit flavours and aromas – an ever enjoyable experience.
•    Deen De Bortoli Vat 7 Chardonnay.  Bilbul, New South Wales
An elegant wine with full fruit flavours and fine balance – provides plenty of interest for those who ‘know’ their wines, yet an ever enjoyable softness for those who don’t!
Jay’s favourite evening tipple!

Red
•    Willowglen Shiraz Cabernet. South East Australia                    HOUSE WINE
Rich Bodied : Spice : Full Fruit : Long Finish – it may be a blend, but any snobbery disappears when you taste it!
•    Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz.  Bilbul, New South Wales
A star among the reds of Australia – simple earthy, peppery aromas give way to rich spicy bramble flavours
Fantastic with duck - give it a go

Four Sisters
Trevor Mast – the brainchild behind ‘Four Sisters’ – is one of Australia’s most experienced wine makers. Trevor has built up his winery to a level where it is recognised around the world as a leading producer of Shiraz. Accolades abound … the Four Sisters? … Trevor’s four daughters, led by Daligh, the artist who designed the label.

Red
•    Four Sisters Shiraz.  Sunbury, Victoria
A cool-climate style means that this red is not only clean and refreshing but still fruit driven with peppery, spicy blackcurrant flavours
LUSH!
 
Italy
Castello Banfi
A family owned vineyard estate in the Brunello region of Tuscany – the Mariani family – like ourselves – are dedicated to only pure excellence. Four times International Winery of the Year and eleven times Italy’s Best Wine Estate since 1994 … need we say more about why we keep such an estate’s wines at Gannon’s
Plus Jay and Niki have visited Banfi’s – loved the estate and loved the wines

White
•    Le Rime Pinot Grigio Chardonnay IGT
Often seen as an unusual combination of grapes, the aromatic Pinot Grigio and full-bodied Chardonnay in blend, however, create a truly refreshing wine.
Think Shirley Valentine sitting on a beach watching the sun go down
•    Pinot Grigio IGT San Angelo
A stylish refreshing wine with real balance – yet maintaining and building upon the intense aromas of citrus and tropical fruits that make Pinot Grigio a wine easily enjoyed by everyone.
Flavoursome/full-bodied, enough to accompany a simply dressed steak

Red
•    Rosso di Montalcino DOC
A robust red – yet one with a smoothness and soft ripe tannins.
Ideal just for enjoyment or the perfect accompaniment to a nicely cooked steak

Broglia ‘Tenuta La Meirana’
We are working at it … the notes on the vineyard and the maker may be missing and on their way soon, but this is a very recent find for us at JJ Gannon’s, and because we all loved it so much, we put it on the list Immediately for you to enjoy too!

White

•    Gavi de Gavi
A ‘lemony’ white – solidly built, deep yellow/green/white aromas which create images of green apples, raspberries and white flowers – the taste is concentrated, textured and rich in fruit, with a ‘tangy’ mountain finish.

Cantina Sociale Di Tollo
Formed only in 1960, this cooperative of 1200 members have created the largest vineyard in the Abruzzo with their concentration on top quality grapes and the combination of their location and the ideal cool southern mountain climate guaranteeing only top quality Montepulciano.

Red

•    Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Rubino DOC Colle Secco
A rich, full bodied red of bright ruby colour, a wine of warmth and generosity, reflecting how warm and generous the method used in making this great wine from the Montepulciano grape really is.
Pure Indulgence and Comfort. Great with some Spicy Asian Cuisine

La Vis, Trentino Alto Adige
‘La Vis’ – meaning ‘strength’ in Latin – may be a major cooperative and fully modernised  … but its production ethos and firm commitment to making wines that should reflect only the best qualities of the Trentino area, mean that it produces some of Italy’s best varietal wines.
Red
•    Merlot Trentino DOC
A medium bodied wine with masses of ripe, juicy fruit, the Merlot Trentino still has a rich softness.
Brings out the best in a Roast Dinner – be that Beef or Chicken.
 
South Africa
Jordan Estate
Gary and Kathy Jordan’s winery may be one of the most stunningly beautiful in the world, but so are their wines. Production focuses on fiercely individual wines from only classical varietals, and combines the fruity accessibility of the New World with the classic elegance of the Old.

White
•    Jordan Estate Chardonnay. Stellenbosch
Where many have failed with this grape in South Africa – the Jordan’s have succeeded – Brimming with fruit, flavour and elegance.
Chardonnay at it’s very best

Red
•    Jordan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Stellenbosch
Many of South Africa’s Cab Sauv’s are disappointingly lean and even bitter – but Jordan’s is a full-bodied, cassis filled Cabernet that astounds.
•    Jordan Estate Cobblers Hill
The show piece of the Jordan Estate – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A big/huge/gigantic South African wine beyond compare. Complex dark chocolate, black cherries and a cassis-filled palate.
Big and Strong … Venison begs for a fight … its met its match in this big, ‘chewy’ red!

New Zealand
Lawson’s Dry Hills (LDH)
Founded only in 1992 by Ross and Barbara Lawson, LDH is a gem of an estate among the mighty forces that have thrust New Zealand’s wines into the spotlight of the world stage.

Based in the famous Marlborough region of the South Island, LDH’s tiny production of only quality wines has given it an enviable record among the ‘New Zealand Set’, with all their wines having consistently won medals and top marks – and in January 2000 the Sauvignon Blanc received the Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc at the Sydney 100.
We love LDH – consistency, quality, yet always seeking greater success – Just Like US Really!

White

•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon is the epitome of the fresh-and-fruity, drink-it-young style of dry white wine. Yet LDH have produced nothing more than a very clean, quality, refreshing gem among the masses of New Zealand’s global flood of Sauvy B.
This isn’t just good Sauvignon Blanc – this is excellence
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling
A ‘racey’, steely dry wine with vibrant, extrovert fruit – a pure explosion on the palate

Red
•    Lawson’s Dry Hills Pinot Noir
With New World Pinot one of the wine world’s current crazes, the LDH remains classic and retains quality in the face of such demand – aromas of red fruits and cherries and layers of flavour – but without coming on with the high acid that has made many other pinots fall – a beautifully balanced and relaxed wine.
Red wine and fish??? Why not – gets on great with salmon (and it’s great slightly chilled)

Craggy Range
The Craggy Range Winery is a family owned winery specialising in producing expressive Single Vineyard wines. Craggy Range make only highly acclaimed wines and their position in the cooler climate of Hawke’s Bay gives their wines less aromatic fruit yet every detail of the New Zealand greats. Estate grown, estate made and estate bottled – it is a pleasure to introduce their wines at JJ Gannon’s.

White
•    Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc
Complex and characteristic – what made New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc great. Lime – Honeysuckle – Hints of Flint – aromas and palate alike … but with the stylish subtlety of a cool climate vineyard
 
Spain
Bodegas Martinez Bujanda, Rioja
Although one of the most modern and technologically advanced wineries in Europe, the estate of Martinez Bujanda is still family run with grapes still only coming from their own properties. Their family ethos states that “We only make wines the way we like”, this resulting in wines that may age beautifully but which maintain a rarely found enjoyable quality in their youth – this being part of the reason they have been winery of the year for nine consecutive years.

Not only do we keep these wines based on their documented quality, but because Jay and Niki discovered such rare quality themselves on a personal visit to the estate – a personalised proprietor’s recommendation

Red
•    Conde de Valdemar Rioja Crianza DOCa. Bodegas Martinez Bujanda, Rioja
A subtle and well balanced Rioja – it holds good fruits and the lightly oaked character of a crianza made well, thought about and cared for. Not only a great red to sip and enjoy, but one that lends itself perfectly to food.
Impeccable match to lamb, a quick sirloin or any red meat with a rich sauce.
We all love this wine – hits the spot every time!

Bodegas Enate, Somontano
The Somontano region is worth watching – an up-and-coming region in Northern Spain, its wines have become known for their very high quality, produced from both indigenous and international varieties. As for Bodegas Enate, its winery may be state-of-the-art, but its avant-garde working and production style is reflected in its wines – wines to watch develop in years to come, yet with a twist to be enjoyed now.

White
•    Enate Chardonnay 234
Think golden Spanish sunset in a bottle – Intense, exotic fruit. Dream of a long Spanish evening : A long, crispy, fruity wine

Red
•    Enate Crianza DO. Bodegas Enate, Somontano
With the estate dedicated to bottle and cask aging, the crianza may have a complex bouquet and rich, spicy, oaky tones – but the experience is one that is a mouthful of ripe fruit flavours.
 
Chile
De Martino
The Organics
Currently in its fourth generation, De Martino maintains its well earned reputation for quality wines – all of which are organically managed. Sympathetic farming practises, and a combination of a fiercely proud family tradition and modern technology, have led to wines that compete amongst the best in Chile – ‘Chilean Wine Producer of the Year 2005’ – a true pioneer.

White
•    De Martino Chardonnay
Crisp, balanced and overflowing with fruit. Vibrant and luxurious
A Bottle-ful of the Fun of South America

Red
•    De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon
A Cabernet redolent of the purest essence of blackcurrant – rich with a hint of earthiness – clean and well defined.
An all-round top class recommendation from us

Vina Casa Silva
Vina Casa Silva is a family owned property of five generations dedicated to becoming a leading producer of premium Chilean wines – creating a house-style of fine, complex, elegant wines – and voted ‘Best South American Wine Producer’ in 2000 at The International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Our principal House Wine since JJ Gannon’s re-opened in 2004 – the Colecci?n range come from the Cochagua Valley, where Vina Casa Silva has some of the finest vineyards in the valley, resulting in Colecci?n not only becoming wines of progressive quality but also offering some of the best value-for-money in current Chilean wine production.

However, not to be outdone on either of these fronts – lending itself even further to the house style of Vina Casa Silva, the Reserva’s build upon Colecci?n’s success through added depth, structure and complexity.

White
•    Casa Silva Colecci?n Sauvignon Blanc                        HOUSE WINE
A clean, fresh wine with apricot and mango aromas
Great sipping/drinking/eating House White
•    Casa Silva Chardonnay Reserva
Intense, steely crispness – great structure and balance – elegant clean finish – Wine of finesse
Bridget Jones would kill for a bottle of this

Red
•    Casa Silva Colecci?n Cabernet Sauvignon                        HOUSE WINE
A wine filled with crisp, dark berry fruits, light tannins and fresh acidity.
A Fulfilling House Red (What’s Niki and Jay’s Mum both drink!)
•    Casa Silva Merlot Reserva
Soft : Sweet Tannins : Well Balanced : Elegant : Rounded : Medium/full bodied
Made to be ‘more-ish’! – Andrew’s Favourite
•    Casa Silva Carmenère Los Lingues Gran Reserva [Reserva Especial]
A rare old Bordeaux variety, in Chile this grape now yields small quantities of exceptionally deep-coloured, full bodied spicy wines and is now synonymous with Chile. An extrovert wine that is generous, complex and ever evolving in its ripe fruit flavours and with fantastic hearty tannins.
Hearty in tannin … means Hearty Steak and Game
 
France
Bergerac
White
•    Château La Brie.  Bergerac
A well made Sauvignon Blanc with elegant fruit, a perfumed finish and crisp fruity palate
•    Château La Brie.  Bergerac
Like its White Sister, the red is a well made wine – soft, approachable and lightly oaked – altogether a good ‘food wine’

Bordeaux
Andr? Lurton
The Lurton family are synonymous with Bordeaux. Château Bonnet is but one little known chateau among their portfolio of so many famous Châteaux – it is a rare find among the humdrum quantities of youthful white Bordeaux and offers outstanding quality and value-for-money.
White
•    Château Bonnet  Entre-deux-Mers.                                HOUSE WINE
A full, fruity, crisp dry wine, ideal to drink alone, while this Sauvignon-Semillon partnership equally lends itself to rich
fishes like Turbot and Monkfish, and anything with a creamy sauce … chicken, pasta …
Andrew isn’t a ‘white wine man’ – but he’ll make an exception for this!

Red
•    Château Haut La Grenière.    Lussac Saint-Emilion
A quality petite-château producing well-structured claret that is packed with red fruits.
Attractive not only to lamb, pork and game, but the wallet as well!

Burgundy
Alain Geoffroy, Chablis
The Geoffroy Estate – founded in 1850 – faces South! In French Terms, it is this, along with the estate’s famous Kimmeridge Limestone make this estate one of Chablis’ top producers – only with the two former ingredients can good Chablis be made.  Chablis comes from two camps – unoaked or lightly oaked – Geoffroy hails from the later but without losing any of the lemony acid grip that makes this Chablis and maker a great Chablis and maker.

White
•    Chablis Domaine Le Verger
Like the Estate itself – well structured, full bodied and stylish. There is Chablis… and then this Chablis
A firm fish (Turbot, Monkfish, Seabass…) needs a firm wine like this

Antonin Rodet, Mercurey
His story began in 1875 – when Antonin married a young girl from Mercurey – the estate now includes some of the best Châteaux in the region, situated on some of the finest land in the Cote de Beaune and Cote Chalonnaise. Led by a lady – Nadine Gublin – in 1997 Nadine was made ‘Best Winemaker of the Year’, the first woman ever to be given this award in France.

Red
•    Bourgogne Pinot Noir
This wine shows from all angles the vinification skill of Nadine Gublin. With good structure, a fine nose of wood, spice and fruit, this wine holds every characteristic of this great Burgundy grape at its best – midweight, lightly oaked and an aromatic red with an undertone of meatiness
Currently Andrew’s Big Reccommendation (i.e. what he looks for – good wine, good value)

Languedoc~Roussillion

J et F Lurton
 Sons of Andre Lurton, Jacques and François are highly respected ‘flying’ winemakers – producing wines in many global regions. These guys can make good wine anywhere, but their ethos is to respect the winemaking traditions of the region they are in … in France and their Country Wines … they show this beyond compare.

White
•    Les Fum?es Blanches Sauvignon Blanc. Vin de Pays d’Oc.                   HOUSE WINE
An ideal House Wine, in Les Fum?es Blanches the Lurton’s have created a value-for-money, fresh Sauvignon with excellent fruit flavours
A real thirst quencher, ideal with so many dishes

Red

•    Domaine de Berlande Merlot. Vin de Pays d’Oc.                    HOUSE WINE
A deep colour, rounded style and flavoursome fruit … best way to describe this wine is ‘Vivacious Merlot’
A Chatty, Hospitable House Wine – just like ourselves!

Loire Valley

White
•    Muscadet  Château de Chasseloir. Ch?reau Carre. Serv?-et-Maine  Sur Lie
This property occupies some of the finest quality terrior in the Nantes region – not only making it the largest producer of Muscadet, but Château de Chasseloir is the oldest and most famous.
This Muscadet is produced from 100 year old vines but rather than offering a bone dry, neutral white, this Château presents an elegant wine of the highest quality.
•    Menetou-Salon    Domaine de Châtenoy
 A 14 generation old family operation, this Domaine continues to produce exemplary Loire Sauvignon – with typical Sauvignon
characteristics it produces wine of harmony with fragrance and flavour of equal importance and subtlety.
•    Château de Fesles Anjou Blanc    Barrel Fermented 100% Chenin Blanc
A Château that is very much the historical flagship of the appellation – the Chenin Blanc is a very clean, crisp wine.
Chenin Blanc itself is often misunderstood – often see as too acidic – but here the grape has been handled to give a fantastic wine –
smooth in the mouth : refreshing citrus fruit on the finish.

Rhône Valley
Red
•    Côtes-du-Rhône    Château d’Aigueville    Caves Saint-Pierre
A good Côtes-du-Rhône ticks many of the boxes for wine lovers. Good Value, versatile, slightly challenging and a good host with food. Château d’Aigueville does all this – a rich, smooth red that is nicely balanced, with a warm friendly palate that embrasses the Côtes-du-Rhône’s warmth of the South and spice of the North
•    Châteauneuf-du-Pape    Domaine Duclaux  J?rôme Quiot
Growers of Châteauneuf for two centuries, Vignobles J?rôme Quiot enjoy a long-established reputation in this area of the Southern Rhone. A big ‘chewy’ red with berry fruit flavours that fill your mouth – yet has a fine bouquet and generous finish.
Cries out to be drank with Beef and Game.