Hix & Buck Wines ships Ardèche Syrah in time for new season lamb
Added: (Wed Feb 24 2010)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Hix & Buck ships Ardèche Syrah in time for new season lamb
H+B introduce food and wine matching recipes online
Hix & Buck, which imports exclusive, quality wines from undiscovered vineyards in France, is now shipping Syrah 2007 Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l'Ardèche that retails at £9.99.
Described by Hix & Buck’s Commercial Director Chix Chandaria as, ”Delicious with a deep purple hue bursting with dark fruit and peppery flavours,” the distinctive wine has “a long warming finish and is great to drink on its own or as a perfect accompaniment to lamb."
Hix & Buck is to introduce food and wine matching on its website and customer e-newsletter. For the Syrah, it has chosen Herb Crusted Rack of Romney Marsh Lamb, with a smoked paprika and mint jus, with fondant potatoes and fresh asparagus and pancetta parcels. It is the signature dish of Simon Brazier - executive head chef at the George & Dragon at Ightham in Kent, which recently won Best Gastro Pub at the prestigious Kent Restaurant Awards, where Hix & Buck wines were served throughout the gala dinner.
Located to the west of the Rhône Valley, the Coteaux de l'Ardèche is a Vin du Pays region, very close to Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape growing areas. Ardèche, barren and rugged, known for its long, hot growing season, offers connoisseurs an extensive range of elegant and authentic wines that reflect their origins.
Chalk-clay soils make this an intriguing region for producers who aspire to duplicating Burgundy's success in the south.
Renowned sommelier Alain Rosier says that Syrah wines grown in Ardeche go perfectly with red meats and present specific qualities with “more freshness and stronger notes of black fruits” compared to Merlot.
The Ardèche river runs through the limestone foothills on which the Romans were the first to plant vineyards.
In the seventeenth century, Olivier de Serres, the famous agronomists, said Ardèche wines were so “precious and delicate it is not necessary to look elsewhere!"
Because of the Ardèche’s dry and stony terroir, winemakers throughout the ages had to work hard. Today, the results are self-evident. Nearly 70% of vineyards have been restructured (one of the highest rates of France). The average annual renewal rate of Ardèche vines is three times the national average. Now, 40 years after the first trial plantation of quality grapes, the wines of Ardèche have now acquired their nobility. The vineyards of southern Ardèche have now achieved an outstanding level of quality.
Hix & Buck expect the Syrah 2007 Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l'Ardèche to become one of its best sellers. Their Brut Rosé Methode Traditionelle is served on The F Word and its Sparkling XO Methode Traditionelle made with 5% cognac was No.4 on Channel 4’s top 10 Christmas drinks: http://www.channel4.com/food/features/top-10s/top-10-christmas-drinks-09-11-03_p_4.html
Editors’ Notes: Photos and samples available
Hix and Buck was founded in 2009 by Chix Chandaria, a former Bollywood dancer, and Dan Roebuck, a qualified mining engineer, to import exclusive, quality wines from undiscovered vineyards in France. Together, they devised a business model to bring in quality wines from small, unknown vineyards, which do not produce the vast quantities demanded by national supermarket chains and multiple retail outlets
About the Syrah grape variety. Syrah (also known as Shiraz) is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines. Following several years of strong planting, Syrah was estimated in 2004 to be the world's 7th most grown grape. DNA profiling found Syrah to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.
Contacts:
George Shaw at Avocado Media on 01892 750851 or geo@avocadomedia.co.uk
Chix Chandaria, Commercial Director, Hix & Buck 07958 994020 or
chix@hixandbuck.com
Dan Roebuck, Operations Director, Hix & Buck 07896 85784 or dan@hixandbuck.com
Hix & Buck Ltd, 23 Kingslea, Leatherhead Surrey KT22 7SN
www.hixandbuck.com