The Rickety Press at 67 Cranham Street, in Jericho, is adding a few new dinners delectable.  Last Wednesday they launched their Champagne & Oyster night. It was so successful they carried the oysters through Valentine’s Day and into the weekend. It continues Wednesday night as long as the month has the letter 'r' in it. Customers also get £10 off any bottle of fizz they order.

 

On Monday’s, the Rickety is starting a steak & wine club. To be a member, all you have to do is bring your own wine! I can count the number of BYOB (bring your own bottle) restaurants in Oxford on one hand. I’m lucky if I get to my ring finger. They will be charging £5 corkage per bottle.  Be savvy, and bring in a magnum or jeroboam for the multiple bottle experience and one corkage fee.

I scouted the local wine bodegas in Oxford to find which ones offer larger bottles to serve with steak. 

Nigel Woodgate, the retail manager from Stevens Garnier on the Botley Road, suggests Chateau Jaumard 2009. The predominantly merlot grapes are grown on the fringes of St. Émilion, which makes this wine a bargain at £17.99 per magnum.

Jon Rundle, Manager at the Majestic Wine Warehouse on the Cowley Road says, “The big thing with steak at the moment is Malbec, in particular big Argentinean Malbec.  We've got the Vinalba Reserva in a Magnum at £17.99.”  Senior Assistant Manager Rob Satchwell from the Majestic Wines in Summertown suggests the Marques de Riscal Reserva 2007 Magnum at £30 a bottle.

The closest wine shop to The Rickety Press, Oddbins on Little Clarendon Street, has two great options in the magnum size.

My favourite is the 2005 Château Citran (Haut-Médoc) at £65. It has fruit, a touch of oak and plenty of acid and tannins that are enjoyable with steak. At least it did when I last tasted it in March 2009.

If that is too pricey try the Luis Alegra Crianza Rioja. The magnum is available for £24/bottle and the Assistant Manager Karen Gormley says it has “a fabulously velvety finish.”

*After the column was published, Lee Isaacs from the Oxford Wine Company on Botley Rd got in touch with his suggestions.

Lee says, "I tend to like a touch of sweetness of fruit in my red to accompany that rare fillet on my plate, so a good option could be Boekenhoutskloof’s (Gesundheit) Chocolate Block (£49.99). Not only looking impressive in its tall, sleek dark bottle, this wine is an assault of berry fruit, chocolate, apricot perfume (from 2% Viognier) and spicy toasty oak notes. Full bodied and incredibly rich, this is more than a match of the finest steaks."

However if you want to go all out then you must get the 6 Litre (Methusaleh) bottle of Banda Azul Crianza Rioja (£89.99). Taking two to pour, Lee Isaacs continues, "This raspberry, coconut toast and game filled wine was the favourite of Ernest Hemingway. Drinking it may lead to wanting to collect cats and go fishing, but it’s worth the risk! You can follow me on Twitter @SauvignonBlonde

"