James Martin's coq au vin

Name: James Martin's coq au vin
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 25g/1oz butter; 150g/5½oz shallots, peeled but left whole; 5 garlic cloves, crushed; 150g/5½oz streaky bacon, cut thickly; sprig of fresh thyme or a good pinch of dried; 350g/12½oz button mushrooms; 500ml/16½fl oz good red wine; 500ml/16½fl oz chicken stock; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 free range chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces, on the bone but skin removed (or 6 chicken thighs); small bunch flatleaf parsley, chopped; salt and crushed black pepper