Clive Carroll & Craggy Range Pinot Noir

Clive Carroll has been described as“the best and most original young acoustic guitar player and composer in Britain” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Born April 8, 1975, he plays a diverse range of music including Celtic, jazz, and blues. He took up the guitar at the age of twelve, and in 1998, eleven years later, achieved a 1st Class Honours degree in Classical Guitar& Composition from Trinity College of Music, London.

Clive has been awarded a dizzying array of prizes including;

1994 John Halford Prize for Composition

1994 Gladys Puttick Memorial Prize for Extemporisation

1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award

1997 Continuum Ensemble ~ National Improvisation Competition (Finalist)

1998 Gladys Puttick Memorial Prize for Extemporisation

1998 Montagu Cleeve Prize for Guitar

1999 Essex Young Musician of the Year

He’s played with guitar greats such as John Renbourne, John Williams, and Tommy Emmanuel, and in 2004 was included in Total Guitar Magazine's “Top 10 Acoustic Guitarists of all Time”. He is the only guitar player to win the Essex Young Musician of the Year (1999). His music is the perfect way to start the week leading into Christmas.

Eliza’s Eyes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUzaxpqGTk

One Take: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Jy9L8KXMk

Mississippi Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etXcTxgxUF0

Czardas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFLZHOQbIcY&feature=related

Aerial Discoveries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZlNxd7USAI&feature=related

Celtic Number Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgM_14yZu8g&feature=related

Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQmkLSfq4fA&feature=related

Promise of Spring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgWfqM0XjH8&feature=related

Kildimo Set: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wYytZEzdDY&feature=related

Jazzy Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZuJ0dTp-No&feature=related

Oregon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHoWcyYbXQ8&feature=related

Acoustic Routes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAcXi1QQmhc&feature=related

With Tommy Emmanuel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0XQyMs0sho&feature=related

With Jeff Robb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_zVoTnFA_o&feature=related

With Alexander Gismonti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezMceg7eVI4&feature=related

I’ve been reviewing wines under $25.00 and have noticed a price creep on several of my favorites over the past three years, so in keeping with the creep, I’m going to raise my price ceiling to $30.00. And it’s just in time for today. With a classy guitarist like Clive Carroll, I’m recommending a 2008 Craggy Range Pinot Noir 2008 ($30.00). New Zealand’s Craggy Range winery consistently produces award winning wines and their Pinot Noirs have garnered 90+ ratings from every critic for the past five years. The 2008 came in at #42 on Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines for 2010 list. The wine is black cherry red with dark fruit aromas of black cherry, boysenberry and wild flowers. Flavors of the same dark fruits with a touch of spice create a dense, yet elegant wine with a finish of red berries and silky smooth tannins. Wine Spectator rated it 93 while Wine Advocate gave it a 91. I’d rate it one of the best Pinot’s I’ve tasted, definitely a favorite and the perfect accompaniment to Clive Carroll. Enjoy!

Cheers!