Nicolas

I used to live… well, not too close but not too far. It was always nice to wander round Dulwich way and I’d inevitably stop for a bottleOvino.
Now, I’m not proud. I’ll stop almost anywhere for wine, but I do appreciate it when it’s a better wine shop.
I’m not sure how they do it, but, although Nicolas is a chain, along the lines of Threshers or Oddbins or whatever, they somehow retain the feeling of an independent wine merchant.
What could it be?
Could it be that the mass-​produced signs look like they’ve been handwritten (and sometimes are?) (yeah, maybe a little)
Could it be that they get annoying French blokes who sound like they know what they’re talking about vs. Sarf London Pimply Yoof who can just ring up a till? (yeah, maybe a lot)
Could it be that the selections and prices are any better (possibly… but probably not)
This, then, is the secret. They’re the Waterstone’s of chain corner wine shops. Maybe even shoppes.
Though that’s just silly.

I was only very recently alerted to the wonder that is Nicolas — a wine shop on Lordship Lane I’d passed many times in the assumption it was just another one of those chain wine shops. I’m no connoisseur of the grape but I’d rather drink no wine at all than shell out £7 on something random only to discover it tastes the same as all the others.
Turns out Nicolas is a chain but a smallish one with an emphasis on quality wines and friendly service. And with Green & Blue just down the road a little on the pricey side for regular drinking, this place has filled the gap for me with its great selection of house wines. Six red and six white are on offer for just £4.40 a bottle, with cute home-​made looking labels and knowledgeable and authentically French staff on hand to suggest one to suit your taste.
I know the red wine with the purple label is nice, and one evening I bought two different bottles in the search for something spicy with body and one more plain but I got a bit tipsy and couldn’t remember afterwards which one had been the best. Oh well, I’ll just have to work my way through them again I suppose.
Here’s an idea for an affordable night in with friends: buy all six house reds, get some friends round and do proper tastings before finishing them off over dinner. BUT remember to take notes at the sober end of the evening or suffer having to repeat the process every few weeks. Kerching!