A beautiful setting for this lovely village Inn with the church opposite and the village green a real picture postcard setting , a warm welcome awaited us and some fine food and wines .

The menu was a four course  seafood dinner with a lovely Cipriano Prosecco from Italy on arrival. A delicate Frizzante style of Prosecco. Light bubbles with fruit and elderflower aromas ,a touch of spice and a splash of sweetness. All the wines were described and poured  beautifully by Sarah McCaffrey from Connollys fine wine and spirit merchant in Olton who presented the evening .

The Menu started with a wonderfull intense Prawn Bisque which was seved with  Timorasso "Derthona" Walter Massa from Italy .The wine was a little honeyed with a creamy texture , floral and stone fruit characters so we were told all i knew was it was extremelly nice and went exceptionally well with the Bisque .  

This was then followed by Fillet of Seabream ,English Asparagus and Beurre Blanc again beatifully presented and cooked to perfection served with a lovely Portugese wine called Terra D' Alter Blanco which had a beautiful taste of exotic fruits with a very fruity citrusy pallete with notes of pear and apricot fantastic choice .

The main course was Roast Atlantic Cod in a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce beautifully cooked fish and great depth of flavour in the sauce looking picture perfect . This was served with two light red wines one an Austrian wine St Laurent Gsellman & Hans . An elegant red packed with deep cherry flavours a touch of earthiness with hints of spice and chocolate.

Then a Californian wine called Cabernet Frank this was beautifully light with a sweet blueberry nose with hints of gentle spice and tastes of berry fruits with a long finish with minerals and spice my personal favourite.

The meal was rounded off with a gorgeously presented apple and cinnamon Tart with ice cream ,not something i would often choose on the menu but would definately have that again.

To accompany this dessert we had a wonderful Ratafia from the South of France this is a sweet fortified dessert wine with an aroma reminiscent of port whilst the wine looks like a dark rose. On the palate it is sweet but not Cloying with baked cherry flavours with hints of almond.

What a fantastic night a really great atmosphere lovely food and some really interesting and unusual wines which were described beautifully by Sarah.

Tasting Notes:- By Sarah McCaffrey

The Wines  (prices include VAT)

Cipriano Prosecco. Italy  – On Arrival  £8.99

Grape: Glera.

A delicate Frizzante style of Prosecco. Light bubbles, with fruit and elderflower aromas, a touch of spice and a splash of sweetness.

Timorasso "Derthona" Walter Massa. Italy   - with Prawn Bisque  £16.96

Grape; Timorasso

Timorossa is the grape Variety here, the winemaker is Walter Massa.  A grape variety that us rarely grown in Italy, although it was originally used to produce Gavi. The wine is a little honeyed with a creamy texture, floral and stone fruit characters.

Terra D’Alter Blanco. Portugal – with Sea Bream £7.99

Grapes: Siria, Arinto, Viognier

Fresh minerally  nose,  with lots of orchard and exotic fruits.   Very Fruity, citrusy palate complemented by notes of pear and apricot.

With the Cod

St Laurent Gsellman & Hans. Austria  £13.45

Grape variety: St Laurent.

Father and son team Andreas and Hans produce this fabulous and elegant wine. Packed with deep cherry flavours, a touch of earthiness with hints of spice and chocolate.

‘Cabaret Frank ‘Cabernet Franc £7.99

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc

Surprisingly light, this has a sweet blueberry nose, with hints of gentle spice. On the palate it is backed with berry fruit and finishes long with minerals and spice.

Dessert.

Ratafia. Marcillac. South France   £16.96

Grape: Mansois

A sweet fortified (with grape spirit) dessert wine. The aroma is reminiscent of port, whilst the wine looks like a dark rose. On the palate it is sweet, but not cloying. Baked cherry flavours with hints of almond

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