Years ago, before very clever folk started coming up with all manner of means to keep open bottles of wine (reasonably) fresh, half bottles of wine were a thing. Growers would routinely bottle a modest proportion of their harvest into half bottles and restaurants in particular, would carry them, largely for the benefit of solo diners. And then things changed and the hospitality world started sucking oxygen out of bottles or pumping inert gas into them and offering numerous wines by the glass and lo and behold the principle market for halves faded away.
Which was totally understandable and fine.
Unless, for whatever reason you like a half bottle. (Guilty as charged, m’lud.)
So we’ve put a little collection together including some rather lovely mixed case offers.
And if lots of folk start buying them, we shall scour the planet for more.
And if they don’t, that’s Chris's drinking sorted out for the rest of the year.
£8.65
An intense wine with blackcurrant and raspberry notes complemented by notes of white pepper. The wine is juicy, powerful and fruity on the palate with lovely roasted notes, and silky, delicate tannins.
£10.25
An elegant Fleurie where mineral notes complement ripe fruit and spicy nuances. Inimitable finesse and a persistent finish with well balanced tannin and acidity. Velvety, elegant and floral.
£21.75
£16.65
"Petit Guiraud is a fresh and precise Sauternes, and is the result of a long period of reflection on the wine style and its drinkability. As the flag-flyer for modernity and accessible pleasure, Petit Guiraud is a slice of luxury to be enjoyed every day." - Luc Planty, Director
£7.15
£22.30
The white Santenay Clos de Malte is a rich and structured wine. It is elegant and fresh, with fruity, citrusy aromas and a hint of woody notes.
£16.90
Supple, medium-bodied Pinot Noir showing delicious lifted fruit, made from fine outlying vineyards, together with fruit sourced from the villages of Santenay, Auxey-Duresses, Savigny, Chorey les Beaune and Ladoix.
£14.45
£8.79
An expressive wine with aromas of apricot, fennel and floral scents. The wines roundness is a perfect match for its freshness and the finish reveals subtle notes of aniseed.
£14.95
A perfect introduction to the delights and complexity of real white Burgundy, this is mainly Côte d'Or fruit together with some Mâconnais. Fresh with lovely weight, delicate creaminess and judicious oak making this a beautifully balanced dry white.
£9.39
Aromatic and intense, lovely aromas of wild red berries, blossom, nutmeg and hints of sandalwood. Fresh, fruity and well balanced with sensations of raspberries, vanilla and cinnamon.
£8.69
Kick-ass Gewurz, bursting with spice and more than a hint of lychees
£15.05
Wood aged muscat from Australia, delightfully smooth and nutty with huge helpings of ripe plums and damsons fruit. A good alternative to Tawny Port.
£8.55
Ripe aromas of black fruit with warm wood spice. Cherry and plum fruit on the palate with fresh acidity and smooth balancing tannins. Classic, approachable and satisfying.
£8.65
Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure.
£14.25
Brilliant gold, a refreshing bouquet of dried fruits, quince and a touch of honey, flavours of citrus fruits and honey combine to show a very fresh enticing palate.
£20.75
A champagne of exhilarating freshness, complexity and finesse, made from approximately two thirds Pinot Noir and one third Chardonnay, matured in bottle on its lees for 24-36 months. The result is a Champagne with a pale lemon colour, good steady fizz, and a powerful typical ‘bready’ Champagne nose. On the palate it is a big complex wine, quite vinous with lots of mouthfeel followed by a long, dry finish.
£30.75
£6.59
A classic Portuguese blend of Antão Vaz, Roupeiro, Perrum, Fernao Pires/ Arinto. Complex and inviting citrus notes of lemon and white fruit are followed by fresh and balanced palate, with a firm body and a long finish
£6.75
On the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc displays citrus aromas, of lime and tangerine. The palate features aromas of mandarin, tropical fruits and herbal notes. A wine with a refreshing acidity, great depth and persistence.
£6.75
This wine displays an intense ruby red colour with violet hues. The nose reveals aromas of red fruit and black fruit with balsamic tones, which complements with notes of vanilla, chocolate, cherry and plums. It has a soft palate, fine-grained tannins, and refreshing acidity.