‘THE HOOPS INN’ & COUNTRY HOTEL
“PROBABLY THE BEST WINE LIST IN NORTH DEVON”
WINE LIST
AMONGST OUR EXCELLENT SUPPLIERS ARE:
● Wheelers Cellars (Lay & Wheeler)
● Christopher Piper Wines
● Amphora Wines
● Liberty Wines
● Oliver & Bird Wines
● T & W Wine
● Seckford Wines
THE HOOPS INN & COUNTRY HOTEL.
“PROBABLY THE BEST WINE LIST IN NORTH DEVON”
(REVIEWED AND TOTALLY UPDATED LATE 2007.)
OUR WINE LIST IS ALL ABOUT CHOICE AND GREAT WINE.
● 20 Super Wines by the Glass.
● 15 House Wines, Reds, Whites and Rosé.
● 16 Half Bottles, Try a half bottle with the Cheeseboard.
● 8 Magnums.
● 200 Wines from around the World.
● Prices start from £10.50.
CONTENTS.
Wines by the Glass
Pudding Wines by the Glass
House Wines Page 1 & 2
Champagne and Sparkling Wines Page 7 & 8
Rosé Wines, try something different Page 6
THE ‘OLD’ WORLD LIST.
England Page 9
Lebanon Page 9
France – Bordeaux Page 11 & 12
Burgundy Page 13 & 14
Macon & Chablis Page 16
Beaujolais Page 17
Rhône Valley Page 21
Loire Valley Page 18
Midi, Languedoc & Roussillon Page 19 & 20
Alsace Page 15
Spain & Portugal Page 24
Italy Page 22
Germany & Austria Page 23
THE ‘NEW’ WORLD LIST.
Australia Page 26 & 27
New Zealand Page 29
North America & Canada Page 31
South Africa Page 28
Chile Page 32
Argentina Page 30
A long list of Half Bottles Page 3 & 4
A short list of Magnums Page 5
Dessert Wines (some unusual Pudding Wines) Page 34
Ports (not too expensive) Page 33
Fine Wine List Page 35, 36, 37
Reds and Rosé wines by the Glass
Rosé Wine Regular Large Bottle 75cl
2005 /06 Grenache Rosé, Montagne Noir 3.35 4.75 12.50
Vin de Pays D’ Oc. France
Cool and really drinkable
Red Wines
2006 Mas des Lauriers, Rouge. 3.35 4.75 12.50
VdP Coteaux de Narbonne.
Full of ripe blackberry and licorice
2005/06 Shiraz/Cabernet, Tin Hat. 3.35 4.75 12.50
South East Australia.
Classy Varietal, full and long
2006/07 Merlot, Rio Claro, Maipo Valley, Chile. 3.65 4.95 12.90
Just fantastic, plum scented Merlot
2006 Shiraz/Malbec. Pampas del Sur. 3.35 4.75 12.50
Mendoza, Argentina.
Rounded palate, structured with abundant flavours.
2004 Rioja. Marqués de Caceres, Crianza. 4.20 5.40 16.90
A superb young fruity Rioja and just so drinkable
N.V. Fonds de Pagau, Cotes du Rhône. France. 5.00 6.50 19.90
This is a class find,Cotes du Rhône, from two separate years
mixed, but with all the character of a full A.O.C. Châteauneuf
de Pape. We sell this by the shed load.
White Wines by the Glass
Medium Sweet
N.V. Liebfraumilch. 2.75 3.90 10.50
Lively Aromas of Apple & Citrus.
White Wines
2006 Marsanne, Montagne Noir. 3.35 4.75 12.50
Vin de Pays D’ O c.
Its clean, its refreshing and yet opulent in style
2006/07 Semillon/Chardonnay, Tin Hat 3.35 4.75 12.50
South East Australia
A mouth full of fresh tropical fruit
2006/07 Chardonnay, Rio Claro, Chile. 3.65 4.95 12.90
A clean tasting, unoaked, Super Chardonnay.
2006 Chardonnay/Chenin, Pampas del Sur. 3.35 4.75 12.50
Mendoza, Argentina.
Apricot, Lemon and Pears
2006 Pinot Grigio, Avio Trentino, Italy. 4.20 5.40 16.90
The finest Pinot Grigio ‘ Normale’ we have found.
2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Moa Ridge Marlborough. 5.00 6.60 19.90
N. Z in a glass, a really drinkable Sauvignon with bags of Citrus and
Peaches. Just goes so well with Fish and Shellfish
House Wines.
Price per 75cl Bottle
Red
Bin 1 2006 Mas des Lauriers, Rouge, VdP Coteaux de Narbonne. £12.50
Wow! What a terrific glass of wine for the money. This wonderfully soft and generous blend of Syrah
Merlot and Marselan is full of ripe blackberry and licorice. Perfect for everyday drinking.
Bin 2 2006 Shiraz/Cabernet, Tin Hat, South-East Australia. £12.50
With the excellent Tin Hat range one gets a real sense of the grape variety. Sweet forest fruit notes
of Shiraz combine with the cassis and currant of Cabernet. Has lovely balance and a long refined finish.
Delicious! The 2006 gets better and better.
Bin 3 2006 Merlot, Rio Claro, Maipo Valley, Chile. £12.90
The team at the Dona Javiera winery has made a most attractive, plum-scented Merlot.
Suitable for any occasion.
Bin 4 2003 Château Grand Caumont, Corbieres, France. £15.50
We started drinking this wine in the early 1990’s, when we first lived in France. It was and still is superb.
This is stunning value, a mature and supple Corbieres, with ripe blackberry dominating the nose. Real
wine bargains are rare to find these days, but this is one.
Bin 5 NV. Plan Pegau, Domaine du Pegau, Rhône Valley. £19.80
Superb wine, very interesting. It is Châteauneuf du Pape, Domaine Pegau from two separate vintages -
2003 and 2004, hence the fact it has to be classified as a non vintage wine. Intense sweet plum, cherry
and spice scents on the nose, with rich dark, creamy ripe prune flavours on the palate.
Bin 6 2006 Shiraz/Malbec Bodegas Pampas des Sur, Mondoza, Argentina. £12.50
A blend of Malbec and Tempranillo provides a rounded palate structure with the abundant flavours of
Argentina’s high altitude vineyards.
White
Bin 8 2006 Marsanne, Montagne Noire, Vin de Pays D’Oc. £12.50
Marsanne is a Northern Rhône grape variety. Its clean, refreshing, opulent style is ideal as a partner to
food but equally successful as an aperitif.
Bin 9 2006 Semillon/Chardonnay, Tin Hat, South-East Australia. £12.50
A bouquet of fresh tropical fruit leads to a cascade of peach and exotic fruits on the palate with a
delightful zesty freshness and crisp finish.
Bin 10 2006 Chardonnay, Rio Claro, Maipo Valley, Chile. £12.90
This Chardonnay is clean tasting, without an ounce of unnecessary fat. An unoaked style.
Bin 11 Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Rolle, Les Lezards Blanc. £13.90
VdP Cotes de Thongue.
Viognier and Rolle are the perfect foils, providing apricot, lemon and much needed acidity to accompany
the pear like nose of the Grenache.
Bin 12 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Moa Ridge, Marlborough, New Zealand. £19.80
New Zealand in a glass – Tons of cut grass and hay, layered with Gooseberry and summer fruits.
Dry, clean, refreshing acidity and so gulpable.
Bin 13 2006 Chardonnay/Chenin, Bodegas Pampas del Sur, £12.50
Mendoza, Argentina.
Offers vibrant fruit flavours with a crisp yet satisfying taste; a wine to drink at all times of the day and for
any occasion.
Page 1
Bin 7 2006 Grenache Rosé, Montagne Noire, Vin Pays D’Oc. £12.50
Get to know Grenache Rosé, that is our advice. An unpretentious wine, but very well balanced with a soft
Strawberry like aroma and a luscious savoury palate. The pale hue, between onion-skin and Salmon pink,
is perfect. Just made for al fresco enjoyment.
And given the demand we can’t forget these perennial “Old Favourites” from Germany.
Bin 14 N.V. Niersteiner, Schonheim. Rheinessen. £10.50
Lively aromas of Apple and Lime. Typical sweet German White Wine.
Bin 15 N.V. Bernkastler Kurfurstlay, Mosel. £10.50
Evocative tropical flavours, and well-balanced.
And….
New for 2008.
Bin 97 R 2006 Bodegas Castano. D.O.C. Yecla. £12.90
We tried this wine in a Mid Devon Restaurant, tracked it down, and added it to our list. This is an easy
drinking Red Wine, from the Monastrell Grape (Mourvèdre in Southern France), Ripe, Soft, Succulent,
you can taste the Hot Sunshine and the Mediterranean Coast. A touch of oak for a long lasting chewy
finish, a hint of finesse and not too rustic. Sometimes we can’t make up our mind what to drink with
supper, so we plump for a ‘Castano’.
Page 2
Half Bottles.
Try 2 Half Bottles Instead of a Full
Price per 37.5cl
Bottle
Bin 150 W 2006 Domaine La Colombette, Sauvignon Blanc. £9.70
Vdp Coteaux Du Libron. France.
Wonderfully aromatic, with elderflower, citrus and grassy notes. (O&B)
Bin 151 W 2006 Domaine La Colombette, Chardonnay. £10.20
Vdp Coteaux du Libron, France.
This Chardonnay made the Estates reputation. (O&B)
Bin 152 W 2005 Château Carbon D’ Artigues, Graves. £8.70
Semillon Chardonnay.
Honeyed richness and a refreshing clean zestiness. (C&P)
Bin 153 W 2005 Domaine Bois d Yver, Chablis £13.30
Georges Pico, Courgis.
Text Book Chablis, Chardonnay and Terroir.
Bin 154 W 2005/06 Sancerre, Domaine Serge Laporte. £12.25
The very French essence of Sauvignon Blanc. (C&P)
Bin 155 W 2005 Pinot Grigio, Sudtirol – Alto Adige. £10.50
San Michel Appiano, Italy.
Clean, Clear, High altitude Pinot Grigio. (C&P)
Bin 156 W 2005/06 Chardonnay, Brightview £9.95
Simon Hackett, South Australia.
Great Australian Chardonnay. (C&P)
Bin 157 R 2005/06 Beaujolais Villages, France. £8.40
Domaine de la Sorbiere, Quince en Beaujolais.
Light and fresh to be drunk whilst young. (C&P)
Bin 158 R 2005 Brouilly, Chateau du Pave’. France. £10.50
One of our Wine Merchants is the Wine maker. (C&P)
Bin 159 R 2004/05 Chateau La Passone, Cadillac. £8.40
Premieres Cotes du Bordeaux.
This is a house style Claret, for easy drinking. (C&P)
Bin 160 R 2005/06 Montepulciano D’ Abbruzzo £7.80
Umani Ranchi, Osimo, Ancona Italy.
Soft and approachable, plumy fruitiness (C&P)
Bin 161 R 2003/04 Rioja Tinto, CVNE. Crianza. £8.90
Haro, Rioja, Spain.
From possibly Spain’s leading Rioja producer. (C&P)
Page 3
Bin 162 R 2003/04 Massaya Classic Red (White Label) £10.90
Massaya, Bekaa Valley, Labanon.
An explosive mouthful. (C+P)
Bin 163 R 2005/06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Montes, £7.80
Curico, Chile.
Full on Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. (C+P)
Bin 164 R 2004/05 Shiraz, Simon Hackett. £10.90
South Australia.
Strong peppery wine, perfect with cheese. (C+P)
Bin 165 R 2005 Château Grand Moulas. £7.50
Cotes du Rhône, France.
On our list for over 10 years. Text book, easy drinking Cotes du Rhône.
Page 4
Magnums.
2 Bottles in a Bottle.
Price per Magnum
1.5. L
Bin 250 R 2002/01 Bodegas Ameloza de la Mora, Rioja Crianza. £45.00
Torre Montalbo, Rioja Alta. Spain.
Tempranillo, Mazuela and Graciano, give a wine of great expression. A really great wine. Our favourite
tipple at the moment. Length and Depth, Fruit on the palate, Blackberry and Smoke on the Nose. (A&P)
Bin 251 R 2004 Tenuta Fontodi, Panzano, Tuscany. £135.00
Flaccianello della Pieve, Chianti.
Made solely with Sangiovese, from a selection of the Estates best grapes, this wine is outstanding.
96 points from Robert Parker, underlines the quality. (L&W)
Bin 252 R 2004 Château Montaguillon, Montagne St Emillion. £45.00
What a super wine, we have been listing this for over 10 years, deep and dense with plenty of Berry
Fruits. (L&W)
Bin 253 R 1999 Château La Tour de By. Medoc. £58.00
Bégadan, Cru Bourgeois Superior.
Marc Pages, runs his vineyards with passion and care. These are phenomenal wines for the price.
(C&P)
Bin 254 R 2004/05 Brouilly, Chateau du Pavé. £49.00
St Lager, Beaujolais, France.
This is a big structured wine with little filtration to allow the fantastic quality of the vintage to shine
through.
Bin 255 R 1988 Château Siran, Margaux. £180.00
Grand Cru, Exceptionnel.
This 40 ha vineyard, owned by the Miailhe family, produces classic Margaux, dense, but with a
certain muscularity, finishes with great elegance and balance.
Bin 256 R 2003 Chateau La Peyreyre. Haut Medoc. £49.00
Grand Vin de Bordeaux.
A wine from an excellent négociant, full of Cabernet Sauvignon Smokiness on the nose with tight
blackberry fruit on the palate. Good weight and a long finish, excellent with robust foods.
Bin 257 R NV. Fonds De Pegau, Domaine du Pegau,
Rhône Valley. £49.00
Superb wine, very interesting. It is Châteauneuf du Pape, Domaine Pegau from two separate vintages -
2003 and 2004, hence the fact it has to be classified as a non vintage wine. Intense sweet plum, cherry
and spice scents on the nose, with rich dark, creamy ripe prune flavours on the palate.
Bin 258 R 1997 Cote – Rotie. Ampuis, Rhone Valley. £90.00
Jean Paul and Jean Luc Jamet.
Full bodied Cote – Rotie, super smooth with an intense, peppery palate, makes really good drinking.
Page 5
The ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Worlds.
Rosé Wines.
Price per 75cl Bottle
Bin 7 Rosé 2006 Grenache Rosé, Montagne Noir £12.75
Vin de Pays D’Oc, France.
Wow! What a terrific glass for the money. Lovely expressive fruit – sweet plums, cherries and bramble
fruits, elegance, succulent tannins and a fresh finish. Super supper wine that would go great with pizza,
spaghetti bolognese or bangers and mash. (L&W)
Bin 101 Rosé 2006 Rioja Rosé, Marques de Caceres, £14.10
Rioja, Spain.
Very fruity full-bodied style. (C&T)
Bin 135 Rosé 2006 Pinot Noir Rosé. New Zealand. £18.90
Lawsons Dry Hills, Marlborough.
Lawson’s is strawberry coloured with pure, ripe aromas combining cherries, raspberries and blueberries.
The palate is soft, yet crisp and refreshing, just as a good Rosé should be.
Delicious, innovative New World style. (L&W)
Bin 93 Rosé 2006 Villa Wolf Rosé, Ernie Loosen. £16.70
Rheinpfalz.
Fabulous rich and full flavoured Pinot Noir Rosé. This is an off-dry with a creamy texture and a splash of
strawberry essence running through the middle. Delicious lunch time drinking. (C&P)
Bin 125 Rosé 2005 Angels Flight £14.90
Zinfandel.
The grapes for this wine came from many select parts of California where the soils are mostly sandy
loam and the climate is Mediterranean. Cool stainless steel fermentation was used and the wine was
filtered to leave the residual sugar. Light to medium bodied, this fruit forward White Zinfandel opens with
bright aromas of strawberry and watermelon. The full, ripe fruit flavours are well balanced with a
refreshing mouthfeel and a slight crisp, lingering finish. This White Zinfandel has a deep, rich salmon
colour announcing this special wine. (L&W)
Bin 70 Rosé 2004/05 Domaine la Colombette, £27.90
Pinot Noir Rosé.
No apologies for the price, this is an absolutely stunning wine. This is a Rosé for vintage Champagne
Drinkers, think of the difference between Mateus Rosé and Krug; Aged in oak this wine is Fine,
Complex, Round and Long.
Page 6
The ‘Old’ World List.
France, Spain and Italy.
Champagne (C) and Sparkling Wines (S.W)
Price per 75cl Bottle
Bin 300 S.W NV. Freixenet, Brut £14.90
Cordon Negro, Cava Spain.
High quality Cava at a really sensible price. (CT)
Bin 301 S.W NV. Cremant de Limoux Brut 1531. £16.95
Grande Cuvée d’Aimery, Sieur d’Arques.
Limoux is situated in the heart of the Languedoc where, at the monastery of St Hilaire, monks are
reputed to have discovered the secret of the sparkle some 50 years before Dom Pérignon. This
delicious example is made from the local Mauzac grape with Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. It is floral
and perfumed on the nose with a very open easy structure and fine, soft finish. A glorious aperitif.
(L&W)
Bin 302 S.W NV. Prosecco dei Colli Trevigiani Frizzante £17.50
Nera Spago, de Faveri, Italy.
In the right hands, prosecco can be a delicious, soft, light apple and pear fruit flavoured sparkling wine,
offering excellent value for money. This is just such an example which makes a delicious alternative to
champagne. (L&W)
Bin 303 C NV. Gobillard Brut Rosé. £37.50
Here is proof that you do not need to spend a fortune to enjoy a glass of rosé champagne. Pure aromas
of wild strawberries and summer berries complement the delicate pink colour. The palate is elegant and
balanced with crisp acidity and a wonderful cherry and ‘digestive biscuit’ finish. The perfect aperitif on a
warm summer’s evening and a wine to try with grilled fillet of salmon with a cream sauce.
Bin 304 C NV. Michel Guilleminot. £33.00
This blanc de noirs cuvée is from a quality cellar in the Vallée de l’Aube. It is brilliantly fresh and has a
lovely berry-fruit palate with length and finesse. A perfect aperitif champagne.
Bin 305 C NV. Brut Reserve, Mercier. £42.50
A champagne to inspire the palate morning, noon or night. Fresh floral aromas and a delightful mousse
lead into a clean, soft palate. Chardonnay in the blend contributes to the delicacy and finesse of this
lovely wine. (L&W)
Bin 306 C NV. Billecart - Salmon Brut £48.00
Lovely fresh pure fruit flavours, from one of our favourite Champagne Houses. This is a clean, lean and
very crisp wine, with a fine mousse, biscuity overtones on the palate and a long dryish finish. A
wonderful bottle to start the evening.
Page 7
Champagne and Sparkling Wines Continued…
Bin 307 C NV. Louis Roederer. £55.00
Brut Premier
Roederer’s Brut Premier always reveals a fine biscuit/toasty quality. The accent here is one of luxury -
due in part to the substantial Pinot Noir content of this cuvee. A very well followed non-vintage style
that has become a favourite of ours over the years.
Bin 308 C 2000 Cristal, £240.00
Louis Roederer.
One of the greatest wines ever produced, Louis Roederer’s Cristal more than justifies its reputation.
A broad structure, stunning purity, crisp acidity and almost decadent opulence and if you’re going to
drink vintage champagne, this is the only one. (L&W)
Bin 309 C NV. Jacquart Brut £50.00
Mosaique Rosé.
Traditionally produced. Brilliant rose pink colour with vibrant wild strawberry aromas and masses of
elegance. Evocative summer fruit aromas and flavours to the fore.
A sheer delight. (L&W)
Champagne Half Bottles.
Bin 310 C NV. Michel Guilleminot. £18.90
This blanc de noirs cuvée is from a quality cellar in the Vallée de l’Aube. It is brilliantly fresh and has
a lovely berry-fruit palate with length and finesse. A perfect aperitif champagne.
Bin 311 C NV. Billecart Salmon, £37.90
Rosé.
This is Rosé to perfection, a soft Pink Rosé wine, masses of wild strawberry fruit and a soft creamy
mousse. This is so heavenly hedonistic.
Page 8
The ‘Old’ World List Continued…
England, Lebanon & Others.
Lebanon.
Bin 79 R 2000 Château Musar, Serge Hochar. £39.00
Bekaa Valley. Lebanon.
Serge Hochar and his team have produced a gem that is internationally recognized as one of the world’s
greats. This wine can age but you will have a hard job resisting its immediate charms.
Great with hearty food, and of course unparalleled with Middle Eastern cooking. (L&W)
England.
Bin 80 W 2005 New Hall Bacchus. £13.50
A medium dry white wine. A great individual wine with a full subdued fruity aroma and mouth watering
backdrop of luscious soft fruits similar to Sauvignon Blanc. (L&W)
Bin 81 R 2005 King Coel Red. £16.50
An exciting English Red Wine! A bright ruby red colour, this wine gives inviting red berry aromas.
On the palate there are complex flavours of redcurrants, raspberries and liquorice and gentle tannins
from its eleven months ageing in French oak barrels. It is a medium bodied, 11% volume, red wine made
by blending four different varieties of grape; Rondo, Dornfelder, Dunkelfelder and Pinot Noir. (L&W)
Page 9
Page 10
The ‘Old’ World List
France
Bordeaux and Satellites
Bin 17 R 2004 Château La Passone £13.90
Premier Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillac.
Michel Bonet and Leuis- Michel Muyst make. What we call a “House style Claret”. Full of soft succulent
fruit, with a good structure and ripe tannins.
Bin 18 R 2004, Château Nicot £14.40
Château Nicot has been on our list for 4 years and is very reliable text book claret. A blend of Merlot and
Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes, with a deep ruby red appearance with bright stone fruit scents and flavours
to give an easy to drink approachable Red Wine.
Bin 19 R 2001 Château des Joualles. £15.20
The Freylon family based at Ruch make a deep colored and fruit driven Bordeaux Superier. Château
bottled Claret from a good year and excellent value.
Bin 20 R 2002 Château de Carles £24.70
Fronsac. Bordeaux
Merlot predominates in this deep colored, Damson scented Fronsac fresh, vibrant and juicy, revealing a
delightful clarity of flavour and harmony. This is an excellent example from a frequently under estimated
appellation.
Bin 21 R 2003 Château Le Breuil. £16.75
Cotes de Bourg, Bayon sur Gironde.
Cotes de Bourg is another of the “satellite” appellations of the Bordeaux. It’s probably difficult to find a
Cotes de Bourg that would beat Henri Doyens fine example. Château Le Breuil is situated just 500
metres from the Gironde (river) whose influence helps make this a supple and intelligently extracted wine
with great depth.
Bin 22 R 2003 Château Montaguillion £19.50
Monatagne Emillion.
This is a super wine and certainly one of the best examples of this very popular Château that we have
tasted in over a decade of listing this wine. French ‘Merlot ‘as it should be, deep and dense with plenty of
berry fruits.
Bin 23 R 2001 Château St Jacques. £27.90
Bordeaux Superier de Château, Siran.
A multi award winning wine. Brigitte Micilles, Château St Jacques is actually made at Château Siran (one
of the big names), but with grapes from just outside its boundaries, so is classed as a ‘semi second wine’.
Don’t let this detract, this is a serious wine.
Well worth enjoying. St Jacques, who is depicted on the label, is the original ‘Pilgrim’, of St
Jacques de Compestella fame.
Bin 24 R 2001 Château La Fleur – Haut Brisson. £23.75
Cotes de Castillon. Sainte Colombe.
We have been looking for a really decent ‘Cotes de Castillon’ for some time and in Château La Fleur we
have one of its rising stars. The passionate and dynamic Pierre Choukroun has invested heavily in the
property and the 2001 is very rich and deliciously ripe, with a soft and poised soft cherry fruit and fire
grained tannins. It is a real find.
Bin 25 R 2001 Clos Sainte Anne £27.00
Pomerol.
We just had to have a Pomerol on our list; the Clos St Anne has intense Cherry and Red Fruit perfume
and flowing vivacious flavours. Superbly crisp and beautifully vibrant, there is substance, depth and