2019 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Merlot'
Regular price £19.59 Sale price £16.65 Save 15%Serious Merlot - think St Emilion with guts... and legs.
Tasting notes
A fine wine with persistence, complexity and great purity - dense black cassis and bramble fruit aromas combined with plums, spice and a creamy oak on the palate. Showing real character and personality, supreme poise and balance, Waterkloof's ability to express their unique terroir improves with each vintage.

Production
Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Merlot is from two adjoining, windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) blocks 240-60m above 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 was a miserly 5 tons per hectare. Hand-picked grapes were destemmed, hand sorted and placed into our open-top wooden fermenters via gravity. Natural fermentation started spontaneously by utilising the wild yeasts present on the fruit. Punch downs (twice a day) were used during fermentation to ensure a soft and slow, colour and tannin extraction. The wine spent 30 days on the skins to help integrate the tannins and stabilise the colour. The skins were separated from the juice through a gentle basket pressing. The wine went through malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged in new (15%), second and third fill (85%) French barrels for 18 months. The wine was aged for another year in wooden fermenters to ensure a wine with silky soft tannins. The wine received no fining, which allowed the grape to be purely expressed in the wine. Only sulphur was added and no other additions, such as tartaric acid or enzymes were allowed.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned, organic, biodynamic and WWF Biodiversity Champion farm 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 young 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. To learn more please visit their website.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
| Country | South Africa |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Garlic roast lamb, or venison roasted with root vegetables. |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | WO Stellenbosch |
2019 Château La Gorce Médoc Cru Bourgeois
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Beautiful deep Garnet hue
Nose
Fine and generous on the nose with red fruits aromas laced with spice. Full-bodied red wine with blackcurrant, vanilla spice and liquorice notes.
Palate
The rich palate has great attach with a firm structure, supple tannins and superb mouthfeel with all elements well-integrated.

Producer
Lagorce, also known as the Great Gorce refers to a type of vegetation that is found in the Haux commune. It is based on this 16th-century vegetation that the wine estate, Chateau Lagorce got its name. Located in the southwestern part of France, this estate was originally a castle in the administrative region of Gironde. In the 17th century, the Faux family members planted the first Barsac and Sauternes vines in the Lagorce vineyards.
Château La Gorce is run by the enthusiastic and devoted Fabre family who have made first-rate Médoc at this Domaine since 1980. There are 45 hectares in total planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. For the Cru Bourgeois, 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon are combined to form a classic Médoc blend. Only the best grapes selected from oldest vines make it into the Cru which is then aged for 12-18 months in oak.
Awards
- 1 Star - Le Guide Hachette des Vins, 2016
- Bronze - Challenge International du Vin, 2014
- Gold - Concours des Grands Vins de France
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot |
| Country | France |
| Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | 2018-2023 |
| Food Matches |
Pair with red meats, game and mature cheeses. |
| Appellation | Médoc |
| Origin | Bordeaux |
2022 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Rose
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
THE CELLAR Fermentation - In stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks Fermentation temperature - 16 to 18°C Malolactic - No Wine maturing - For 4 months in tanks. Maturing potential - 2 to 3 years.
Producer
Lurton Family is one of the largest wine Dynasty in the world. Vignovles Andre Lurton is a family estate, established in the 1950's by Andre Lurton, and one of today's largest and most important producer of the Bordeaux region. A visionary and force of nature, Andre Lurton founded the AOC Pessac- Leognan in 1987, pioneering its aromatic white wine style. Today both reds and whites from Pessac Leognan have earned a reputation for great value. Today one of his son's is leader of the company.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Cabernet sauvignon 51%, Merlot 45%, Sémillon 4% |
| Country | France |
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Alcohol content
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13% ABV |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | Rose Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Perfect as an aperitif followed by a buffet of cold meats, pizza, and a refreshing summer salad. |
| Appellation | AOC Entre-deux-Mers |
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2019 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Merlot
Regular price £18.99 Sale price £16.14 Save 15%Head Winemaker Felipe Tosso joined Vina Ventisquero in 2000. After seriously considering alternate careers as a tennis pro and classical guitarist, he elected to enter the wine business, describing it as “one of my big passions because it’s more than work – it’s a lifestyle.”
Tasting Notes
Colour
This wine is deep ruby in colour with violet hues at the rim.
Nose
Very intense nose predominated by red fruit, such as strawberries and subtle notes of ripe plums, intermingled with a touch of oak from the barrel-ageing and notes of chocolate which enhances the final complexity of the wine.
Palate
This is a full-bodied, boldly-structured wine, which fills the mouth thanks to its fine tannins. Smooth and persistent in the finish.

Vinification
A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at low temperatures to extract more colour and aromas, then the must was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of between 24°C and 26°C. 100% of this wine matured for 18 months in extra fine-grain French oak barrels, 33% of them first-use, then the wine was aged in the bottle for 8 months.
Winemaker
Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
| Country | Chile |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Best served at a temperature of between 16°C and 18°C. This wine pairs well with soft cheese, pasta dishes and white meat, especially pork and duck. |
| Appellation |
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2020 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Rouge
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
The vineyard spans 88.50 hectares with clay-limestone and clay-siliceous soil types. Grapes are harvested manually or through a pre-machine sorting process. The rootstock used includes Riparia Gloire, 3309C, Fercal, and 101.14. Traditional plant nutrition is applied sparingly, and the vine density ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare. The average vine age is 17 years, predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. Pruning is conducted using the Double Guyot method. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks equipped with a patented cap-breaking system, at temperatures between 28 to 30°C. Malolactic fermentation is conducted, and the wine matures in both tanks and barrels, with a potential for aging between three to seven years.
Producer
Lurton Family is one of the largest wine Dynasty in the world. Vignovles Andre Lurton is a family estate, established in the 1950's by Andre Lurton, and one of today's largest and morst important producer of the Bordeaux region. A visionary and force of nature, Andre Lurton founded the AOC Pessac- Leognan in 1987, pioneering its aromatic white wine style. Today both reds and whites from Pessac Leognan have earned a reputation for great value. Today one of his son's is leader of the company.
Awards
Gilbert & Gallard - Gold
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | France |
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Alcohol content
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13,5% ABV |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | This wine, noted for its good drinkability, pairs well with a platter of cold cuts as an appetizer, as well as with a quiche, soup, or grilled meat. |
| Appellation | AOC Entre-deux-Mers |
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2022 Ginestet Classique Lussac-Saint-Émilion
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Good value satellite Saint-Émilion.
Tasting Notes
A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a pleasingly long finish for such a good value wine.

Producer
For over a decade Boutinot has been in partnership with leading Bordeaux négociant Ginestet, to offer high quality wines from a selection of châteaux in key appellations as well as consistently fine, benchmark Bordeaux wines.
Production
Lussac is a village to the North West of Saint-Émilion, granted appellation status in 1936. Predominately Merlot vines averaging 25 years of age grown on gravelly/clay soil. Grapes are carefully harvested before being destemmed and crushed and transfered to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation last around 10-15 days, with 7 days maceration.
Sustainability
As both a négociant and a producer of its own wines, Maison Ginestet has long been convinced of the need to work the land in a viable manner and it places substantial emphasis on partnerships with sustainable agriculture-accredited winegrowing estates. Some growers are fully organic, and Ginestet is certified to bottle wines made from organically grown grapes.
In 2006, Maison Ginestet set up an international wine school at its Carignan-de-Bordeaux site. Through the Ginestet Wine Academy, Maison Ginestet shares with its commercial partners the expertise it has gained over more than a century of producing and marketing Bordeaux wines.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 5% |
| Country | Bordeaux France |
| Alcohol content |
14% alc vol
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Fantastic with a classic Sunday roast and also good with lamb dishes.
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| Origin | Montagne de Saint Émilion |
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Appellation
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Saint-Emillion Grand Cru |