9 products
2024 Waterkloof Circle of Life White
Regular price £14.99Circle of Life celebrates farming in harmony with nature, telling a story of preserving and regenerating biodiversity. This harmonious combination of 3 classic grape varieties captures the essence of Waterkloof's biodynamic viticultural amphitheatre. 94 points, Decanter July 2023.
Tasting notes
A fine and seamless blend of 3 classic white grapes. Sauvignon Blanc aromas are prominent on the nose, with lime and prickly pear notes. A tight mineral core and creamy mid palate from the Chenin Blanc gives complexity and a persistent finish while a small proportion of Semillon adds texture and depth.
Awards
- Vintage 2022 - Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Silver
Production
Circle of Life White is neither defined by grape varietals, nor indeed a specific block within the vineyard, but instead encapsulates the myriad soils, aspects, altitudes and grape varieties found on this windswept, biodynamic farm. The windswept vineyard blocks are all, south facing (less sun exposure), 200-350m above sea-level and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production is a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Bunches are picked early in the mornings, when they are still cool, which helps to preserve the flavours. Extracting juice from the grapes is achieved through whole-bunch pressing in our modern basket press. This is the most delicate way to extract the juice. No additions of enzymes or settling agents were made to the juice. After a settling period of 24 hours, a large proportion of the juice was destined for co-fermentation. We determined a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc prior to fermentation which went into old 600-liter barrels where it fermented for four months. After the fermentation was completed the blend was racked to a stainless-steel tank to which they added the rest of the Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Semillon. To have the varietals integrate the wine was left in barrel on the fine lees until its bottling date six months later. This helped to add more complexity and weight to the palate. The wine is produced as naturally as possible, with no additions of acids or enzymes.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 49% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Chenin Blanc, 10% Semillion |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | White Wine Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Try with Sashimi of Tuna, smoked potato gnocchi or red snapper. |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | WO Stellenbosch |
2022 Tiki Single Vineyard Pinot Gris, North Canterbury
Regular price £17.99 Sale price £14.99 Save 17%Colour
A delicate, pale gold with hints of pink from the variety's skin colour.
Nose
A delightfully ripe and fragrant wine showing stonefruit, pear and floral aromas.
Palate
Finishing long and comforting, this wine combines complex fruit flavours with a balance of acidity.
Vintage
The 2022 Vintage in Waipara, North Canterbury was notable for the changeable weather, as was the case throughout several of the wine regions around New Zealand. On par with previous years, we did see a higher than average number of small rain events towards the end of the growing season. Our Pinot Gris this year is rich in the traditional flavours this Tiki Single Vineyard wine has become known for.T
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested at maximum flavour as determined by frequent tasting in the vineyard. It was then very gently pressed to avoid harsh phenolic extraction and the juice allowed to cold settle. The clear juice was fermented at low temperatures using yeasts renowned for their ability to enhance Pinot Gris aromas and to add complexity by the addition of fermentation esters. A small amount of residual sugar was left in the wine to complement the palate weight and structure.
Awards
"Offering terrific fruit purity and fragrance, the bouquet shows honeydew melon, Nashi pear, lemon peel and white floral aromas. The palate displays excellent weight and youthful fruit intensity, beautifully complemented by rounded texture and vibrant acidity." 5 Stars Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2022
- 16.5/20 - Jancis Robinson
- 92 POINTS - Cameron Douglas, Aug 2022
- RECOMMENDED - Bob Campbell MW - The Real Review, Sept 2022
- SILVER - dish Magazine Pinot Gris Tasting Panel, Mar 2023
- 90 POINTS - NZ Wine Rater, Jan 2023
- COMMENDED - International Wine Challenge 2023 (IWC), May 2023
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is pure class. Beautiful ripe tropical fruit flavours balanced by lovely fresh acidity. Add in layers of complexity, delicious textural mouthfeel, exceptional balance and a long long finish gives a perfect glass of white. Single vineyard Pinot Gris (not Grigio) from North Canterbury shows that it’s not all about Marlborough Sauv Blanc around these beautiful islands. Really proud to be representing these pure, sustainable wines in this country." August 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Gris |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.38 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | 2022/25 - will continue to develop for a further 5 years. |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | Pair with a delicious Asian curry - fantastic with a Thai green chicken or seafood curry. |
| Appellation | Waipara Valley, North Canterbury |
2020 Cycles Gladiator Zinfandel
Regular price £18.99 Sale price £14.99 Save 21%Fruit driven American Zinfandel with Best Buy Ratings
Tasting Notes
Nose
Rich, sweet aromas of cherry and raspberry lead into jammy flavours of red plum, red currant and blackberry, with a dash of baking spices and a touch of smokiness.
Palate
Structured and textured, velvety tannins weave their way from mid-palate to a lingering finish.
Winemaking Notes
Working with top growers in Lodi where Zinfandel reigns supreme, our Cycles Gladiator Zinfandel embodies all the beloved characteristics of the grape.
Background
Cycles Gladiator was founded in 2005 with the mission to create high quality, affordable wines that honour the iconic artwork on the label by empowering and inspiring women. Proudly sourced from some of California’s top wine growing regions , award- winning winemaker Adam LaZarre crafts each wine with passion and care from grape to glass.
Accolades
- 20+ Best Buy Ratings by Wine Enthusiast
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Zinfandel |
| Country | United States of America |
| Alcohol content | 14% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matching |
Try this fruit-driven Zinfandel with lamb or hearty pasta dishes. |
| Appellation | Lodi |
| Origin | California |
2021 Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir
Regular price £18.99 Sale price £14.99 Save 21%A lush Pinot Noir!
Tasting Notes
Fragrant scents of red cherry and plum lead into fresh, bright flavors of strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate, backed by hints of star anise and clove. The soft tannins and balanced acidity provide structure and a lush, velvety texture.
Background
Cycles Gladiator was founded in 2005 with the mission to create high quality, affordable wines that honour the iconic artwork on the label by empowering and inspiring women. Proudly sourced from some of California’s top wine growing regions , award- winning winemaker Adam LaZarre crafts each wine with passion and care from grape to glass.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | United States of America |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matching |
A light pasta with grilled cherry tomatoes pairs wonderfully with seafood and would also be an excellent choice to accompany roast duck. |
| Appellation | Lodi |
| Origin | California |
2022 Baleia Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £16.99 Sale price £13.99 Save 18%Baleia is Portuguese for whale and the striking labels are inspired by St Sebastian Bay, the Whale Nursery of South Africa.
Discover a place of whales and wonder, where wines are born from rocky limestone soil in a remote and unspoilt corner of the Cape South Coast.
Here vines overcome fierce elements to create fruit with singular character and depth of flavour. Beyond evocative wine, Baleia is also about finding harmony between self, others and nature in pursuit of life's perfect equilibrium.
Tasting Notes
Pale, greenish gold. Reflecting classic aromas of elderberry flower and green fig on the nose.
Lovely juicy, tropical fruits such as litchi, forrel pear and a hint of sea mist. The lush balanced palate entertains with granadilla, guava and a Prickly pear.
Winemaking Philosophy
Making Sauvignon Blanc one is often faced with the temptation of making something frivolous, upfront and flirty which results in very upfront wines that lack a sense of place. With Baleia, they have chosen to take the road less travelled by choosing texture and minerality from the site to portray the beauty of the terroir.
Vineyard Philosophy
Baleia believes that living soils = strong roots = healthy vines = perfectly ripened fruit. They believe that through science and meticulous farming with attention to the details, they can produce grapes that truly reflect the terroir in which they are grown.
Vintage Notes
The 2022 vintage was characterised by heavy winter rains and a wet Spring which resulted in optimum reserve build-up. A drier flowering and ripening period ensured for a decent crop size.
Accolade
- Jancis Robinson 16.5 points
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | South Africa |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | St Sebastian Bay, Cape South Coast |
| Appellation | Western Cape |
2023 Hermanuspietersfontein Bloos Rosé
Regular price £15.99 Sale price £12.79 Save 20%‘Bloos’ is the Afrikaans word for blush, which describes the delicate pink hue of this wine.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh red fruits with creamy undertones and pleasant floral notes
Palate
Perfect balance between freshness and texture, effortless weight and length
Vinification
A wine designed for everyday enjoyment with a focus to be approachable and accessible. The wine is predominantly a blend of Malbec and Merlot to create a fruit-forward rosé aimed to please all palates. A small percentage of the wine ferments in contact with French oak to broaden the palate without compromising the refreshing sensation of this wine. Our aim is to create a wine that showcases fresh red fruit (strawberries) and floral notes, with a creamy finish.
On the palate this wine presents the perfect balance between freshness and texture, with effortless weight and length. This wine was not made with the intention to age, but rather to be enjoyed immediately.
History
You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.
150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
Predominantly Malbec and Merlot (85%) |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.84 units |
| Type | Rosé |
| Cellaring Potential |
This wine was not made with the intention to age, but rather to be enjoyed immediately |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Maturation in Oak |
1 month with French oak alternatives |
| Food Matches |
Salmon gravlax with lemony creme fraiche and dill on crostini. |
| Origin | Hermanus |
| Appellation | WO Western Cape |
Crafty Spirit Range Miniature Gift Set
Regular price £18.50 Sale price £14.99 Save 19%The clever folks at Crafty Spirits have created this fabulous gift back of 2 Gins & a Vodka. A super stocking stuffer, a welcome host/hostess gift, or one for you ... so that you can sample the range.
Tasting Notes
The set includes:
24Seven Vodka 5cl… 24hour Coco Carbon Filtration & seven day fermented Scottish wheat. With soft cream soda, light toffee, and subtle biscuit notes, we recommend you simply serve straight from the freezer or over ice.
Hills & Harbour Gin 5cl … The Best Scottish London Dry Gin at the 2020 World Gin Awards. A smooth and vibrant gin that leads with juniper, delivers hints of the forest, tropical fruit, citrus spice, tangy sherbet and a subtle scent of the shore.
Hills & Harbour Gin Burnt Orange & Smoked Pineapple ... The world’s first Distilled Gin Cocktail. 100% Distilled Fruit - Smoked Pineapple & Burnt Orange. 0% Artificial Nonsense.
Specifications
| Bottle Size | 3 x 50cl |
| Country | Scotland |
|
|
40% ABV |
| Units of Alcohol per single serving 25ml | 1 unit per serving |
| Type | Spirit - Gin & Vodka |
