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Selfridges launches Decanter Trophy winners at Wonder Bar

Selfridges and Decanter launched a week of Decanter World Wine Award winners at the luxury shop's Wonderbar last night.

The renowned department store in London’s Oxford Street is showing 52 Trophy-winning wines in its revolutionary Enomatic machines, which are operated by pre-paid cards and allow customers to pour either 25ml or 50ml into their glass.

Guests at the launch, in Selfridges Wonder Bar, were delighted with a machine that allowed them to sample so many different wines.

‘It’s a very good idea,’ Rosie Nixon, assistant editor of Hello! Magazine said. ‘If you don’t have much wine knowledge you can try as much as you like without someone looking over your shoulder.’

Her friend Joe Motte – taking a sample of the 2005 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon – agreed. ‘It’s brilliant. It’s a great way of learning about wine without being daunting at all.’

Jamie Graham of brokers Fine & Rare was impressed – by both the Enomatic machine and the launch. ‘It allows you to taste what you want, when you want. And this is a good party – it’s like a gallery opening with much better wine.

At the sherry bar, food writer Brian St Pierre was sampling a fino from Bodegas Valdivia – an International Trophy winner.

‘This is the kind of place people come back to,’ he said. ‘If you work in the neighbourhood, you’d drop in. It’s casual, comfortable, there’s no pressure.’

The 52 wines on offer range from top end Barossa like the Glaetzer Anaperenna Cabernet Shiraz 2006 and the St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve, to Da Vinci Chianti, Chateau Couhins white, and wines from Corsica, Rias Baixas, Languedoc and just about every wine-producing region.

The most popular last night included the sherries, the St Clair Sauvignon from Marlborough, the Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay, and the Mandarossa Fiano from Sicily.

‘I had to change the bottles twice or three times on some wines – like the Rustenberg and the Amontillado,’ Selfridges sommelier Dawn Davies said.

‘It’s a great concept,’ she added of the Enomatic machines, which cost around £10,000 each.

The Enomatic will also give 10ml measures, but current drinks legislation prohibits sales of alcohol in less than 25ml measures. Selfridges is lobbying to have that law changed.

Decanter World Wine Awards Trophy Tasting at the Selfridges Wonder Bar, 10-17 October 2008 Tickets and more details here

Decanter World Wine Awards Trophy Tasting at The Wonder Bar, Selfridges

The Wine List in full:

Abbotts Brothers Zephyr Chardonnay 2006 France

Adegas d’Altamira Seleccion Albariño 2007 Spain

Alpha Estate Estate Red 2005 Greece

Bodega Colomé Torrontes 2007 Argentina

Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 Spain

Bodegas Santa Eulalia Conde de Siruela Crianza 2005 Spain

Bodegas Valdivia Valdivia PX Spain

Bodegas Valdivia Pedro Ximenez Spain

Cantina Tollo “Cagiolo” 2005 Italy

Carlo Pellegrino Passito di Pantelleria 2007 Italy

Cave de Roquebrun Les Fiefs d’Aupenac 2006 France

Cederberg Shiraz 2006 South Africa

Cederberg Sustainable Chenin Blanc 2007 South Africa

Château Couhins – Lurton 2006 France

Château Rouquette sur Mer L’Absolu 2007 France

Chateau Ste Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills 2006 United States

Curin-Prapotnik Laski Rizling Icewine Prestige 2005 Slovenia

Da Vinci Collezione Speciale 2006 Italy

Glaetzer Wines Anaperenna 2006 Australia

Hardys Nottage Hill Riesling 2007 Australia

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Proprietors’ Reserve Riesling Icewine 2006 Canada

Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles 2005 United States

KWV Mentor Selection Chenin Blanc 2006 South Africa

La Spinosa 2005 Italy

Lomond Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Pincushion 2007 South Africa

Mandrarossa Fiano 2007 Italy

Masi Riserva di Costasera 2003 Italy

Murray Street Vineyards Greenock Shiraz 2006 Australia

Penfolds Yattarna 2005 Australia

Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling 2002 Australia

Peter Lehmann Margaret Semillon 2002 Australia

Rabl Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2006 Austria

Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel,Dry Creek Valley 2005 United States

Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2006 South Africa

Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2007 New Zealand

Sandeman Royal Esmeralda Spain

Skalli Terra Vecchia Merlot/Nielluccio Réserve 2007 France

Spy Valley Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2007 New Zealand

St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve 2007 Australia

Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Australia

Tempus Two Cabernet Merlot 2006 Australia

Tenuta L’Illuminata – La Morra Tebavio 2004 Italy

Tokara White 2006 South Africa

Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Australia

Viña Chocalán Carmenère Selección 2007 Chile

Viña Falernia Syrah Reserva 2006 Chile

Viña San Pedro Reserva Castillio de Molina Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Chile

Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 New Zealand

Yering Station Chardonnay 2006 Australia

Written by Adam Lechmere

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