Armit Wines

John Armit of Armit Wines has an excellent nose for excellent wine and lets us into what’s perfect for the pallet this season.

John Armit has worked in the wine business all his life. In the late 60’s he was managing director of Corney & Barrow city wine merchants. He also played a large part in Londoner’s social life, by founding first of all Dingwalls in Camden, then the famous Zanzibar club in Covent Garden. So by day, he was managing business for the Queen’s wine merchants, while at night he was running his clubs, which made for rather a frantic lifestyle. He was considered responsible for introducing the great wines of Pomerol, including Petrus, Trotanoy and Lafleur to the UK. He also introduced great Burgundy such as Domaine Leflaive and Domaine de la Romanée Conti. ‘I decided when I was at Corney & Barrow, that I would be unlike all the other wine merchants, and that I would go out and buy direct, rather than wait for agents to come and bring samples’, he says.

Today, armit, is one of the UK’s leading wine merchants acclaimed for the high quality and diversity of its wines.“What followers really come to John Armit Wines for though (apart from the high standard of service) are Bordeaux, Burgundy and Italy. Armit people know who to talk to, where to go, what to drink and where to find it. In short, this is the ‘It’ wine merchant”, Simon Woods, The Which Wine Guide.

John’s recommendations for this season are;

White Wines
Grand Village Blanc 2006, Bordeaux Blanc - £83.40
“A crisp and fresh, with herb and citrus notes. Tangy and clean on the palate with a lively length.”

Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon 1998, Domaine Leflaive - £511.000
“A delicious premier cru at the peak of its powers. Still crisp enough to be served on its own but even better as part of a gastronome’s feast.”

Red Wines
Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Aux Grands Liards 2002, Domaine Simon Bize - £224.00
“Generously rich fruit with a fine mineral backbone. Remarkable length and finesse on the finish with all the complexities of a 1er Cru. A class apart.”

Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, Tenuta San Guido - £1070.00
“Intense dark ruby colour. Dark berry fruit and exotic spice scents fill the high-toned, penetrating nose. Blackberry and blackcurrant flavours layered with bell pepper, dark chocolate and minerals.”

All these wines are available from Armit as well as many others along with gifts and champagnes. 5 Royalty Studios, 105 Lancaster Road, London, W11 1QF. Tel: 020 7908 0600

www.armit.co.uk