Independent Retailers - Use Them Or Lose Them

Carringtons is proudly independent, so we read with interest this article in The Guardian about Purple Love Week 2009.

Sounds incredibly risque - but actually it's not. It is a national initiative to encourage people to make the most of their local food and drink retailers by showing them a bit of love on the week beginning 14th February.

Apparently, each fiver spent in the local economy is worth £25 by the time it leaves the community. So if two million people all spend £5 in their favourite local shop over the weekend they will helping to inject £50 million into local economies.

Here are some suggestions of how to spend your fiver on fine wine in Carringtons this weekend:

Bergerie de la Bastide 2007 (Red,White and Rose)

This is our house wine and excellent value at just £4.99.

The white is a mouthful (and then some). 80 per cent White Grenache with a nice belt of Picpoul for acidity.

Surprisingly good with Indian and Chinese food as well as grilled fish.

The red is a savoury assemblage of Grenache Noir (40%), Cinsault (30%) and Merlot (30%), a lovely effort built on the twin pillars of fruit and structure. Smooth and plummy and is incredibly versatile.


Moulin de Gassac Figaro 2006 (Red)

This infamous, organic French red is produced from the stony terroir of the Languedoc, and again offers great value for five quid.

Figaro is the farm wine from the famous Mas de Daumas Gassac, which was immortalised by Ian McEwan in 'Enduring Love':

"...Clarissa was passing me the bottle - a 1987 Daumas Dassac. This was the moment, this was the pinprick on the time map."