It’s even easier to buy wine with our new online shop

We’re delighted to let you know that our online shop has launched and people are already buying their wine online. It’s really simple… go to https://www.domaine-du-grand-mayne.com/ and hover over ‘Shop’ in the main menu. You’ll get three options: UK Shop (to have it delivered to your home or collect from our offices), Calais Shop (to collect your wine at Calais) and Vineyard Shop (to collect your wine from our vineyard). Pick whichever you want and start shopping!

To use our online shop you’ll need to create an account. There is a button on there to set this up and many of you will already have your login details. If you have questions, or get stuck, however, just contact richard.boden@grandmayne.net

Why can’t I taste apples? Should you sip or gulp when wine tasting?

There’s nothing worse that sitting at a wine tasting listening to everyone around you enthusing about tasting apples when all you can taste is… well… wine! Is being able to taste all these flavours the sign of a real wine expert, or something that one can learn?

A recent article in The Telegraph (19th September 2015) reported on a controversial new study that stated that the taste of wine varies greatly, depending on the size of the sip taken.

The article stated:

“While taking a small slurp can produce grassy, woody and even almond flavours in a white wine, a larger gulp can transform it into a blast of citrus and flowers.”

According to the scientists behind the research, this is because wine releases different quantities of chemicals, known as volatiles, in the mouth depending on the volume of liquid tipped in. These chemicals influence the way it tastes.

We all know that the smell of wine is important and it does, indeed, influence the way we experience the taste of wine. However, the researchers found that human saliva fundamentally changes the way volatiles are released from wine, producing quite different flavours in our mouths than we would expect from smelling the wine. This explains why, sometimes, we smell something very different from the eventual taste.

As you would expect, this research has caused a stir within the wine community. Many commentators have suggested that it will change the way wine tasting is conducted in the future.

However, Victoria Moore, the Telegraph’s wine critic, made a valid point when she said that it would be very hard for drinkers to accurately regulate the amount they took with each sip for it to make any meaningful difference.

“Everything we do changes the way we taste the wine, whether it’s the type of glass we use to the amount we pour into the glass. But sniffing remains one of the most important ways we detect flavours,” she said, adding:

“It’s hard enough to persuade people not to fill their glasses to the top because you lose the aroma of the wine which produces so much of the taste, never mind them remembering to alter the size of their sips.”

But what impact does (or should) this have on your glass of wine at home? Day-to-day, probably very little. However, this study suggests that you could enjoy far more sensory pleasure from your glass of wine simply by varying the size of your sips.

The researchers recommend small sips to taste baked apple, apple pie and floral flavours associated with Chardonnay, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc, while larger sips detect the flavour of berries, cherries, grapefruit and honey.

We’d be interested to hear your views on this, and the flavours you can taste in Domaine du Grand Mayne wines, depending on how you taste them.

Full details of the research can be read here.

A gift from us to your friends

Here at Domaine du Grand Mayne we believe that our vineyard community of friends, shareholders and supporters is one of the things that makes our wine taste that little bit better. That’s why we’d like to offer a gift from us to your friends.

You can now invite your friends to enjoy outstanding wines direct from the vineyard at great prices.

Simply forward the email sent last week to a maximum of six friends between now and the end of October and they will each save £38 from a special mixed taster 12 bottle case of Grand Mayne wines (list price £113.00) which have been made with care and passion by our small dedicated team. All they need to do is click here and use Promotion Code TRYGMSAMPLE at checkout.

NB …by ordering now, they will also qualify for all the benefits of the special friends and family membership, which include discounts and exclusive events.

Calais collections

We feel really guilty mentioning Christmas when it’s only just October, but with wines for both everyday drinking and special occasions we wanted to provide you with plenty of time to plan both your own drinking and wine gifts this Christmas.

This is especially important if you want to save lots of money by collecting wines for you and your friends from Calais.

Buying from Calais can typically save you around £30.00 a case, and it couldn’t be easier, with our Franglais Vins warehouse just 5 minutes from the tunnel exit. And we’ve had lots of reports lately which confirm that there are currently no delays or problems at Calais to deter you. Current rates are £30 return with P&O or £60 on the tunnel. There’s also still time to order personalized labels by calling Richard Boden on 01256 772898.

“Just to let you know that the collection of my wine order all went very smoothly last week end and could not have been easier as it is just 10 minutes away from the Eurotunnel terminal.” Alistair Bird, London

“We were a little apprehensive knowing of all the trouble with the migrants etc. but although our visit only took in Cite Europe and Franglais Vins we saw no trace whatsoever of any form of trouble, migrants or illegal immigrants” Brian Parfitt, West Sussex

 

2015 Harvest and Vendange Event

We’ve got really high hopes that the first vintage we’ll be making under our new ownership will be one of the best ever at Grand Mayne.

The balance of the whites between acidity and alcohol, which were picked early in September, is very good, and early signs are that the wines will have the fruity character and freshness that we’re looking for.

We’re also delighted with the concentrated juicy fruit from both the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc, and there’s every sign that the Cabernet Sauvignon which is the last to be picked will be every bit as good.

All those who came to help at the grape picking festival over the weekend of the 26th and 27th September not only helped to get the harvest in under clear blue skies, but were also the first to taste the succulent fresh juice as it went in to the tanks.

Picking of Cabernet Franc was followed by a perfect vineyard lunch washed down by copious quantities of Grand Mayne wines. Then following a much needed siesta, it was back for a five course supper and dancing under the stars until well after midnight.

Sunday (with some slightly bleary eyes), was brunch, winery and vineyard tours.

A big thanks to all who made the journey and a date for diaries for next year’s event is 24th and 25th September 2016.

But don’t just take our word for it… hear what some of those that took part, had to say:

“What a great weekend and good to see and hear about all the changes in hand and planned to make the experience even better.The annual Vendange weekend will be back on our calendar from now on.”    Leonie and David Jones

“We had a great time over the weekend, meeting all the DGM people and made thoroughly enjoyable with the picking experience, fantastic weather, new people, food, wine, dancing, etc, etc” Nick & Sally Hornsey, Hampton

 

“Chris and I enjoyed the weekend very much and certainly enjoyed the wine. Next Vendange weekend is in my calendar and we definitely plan to be there in 2016.” Sue Green, Olney