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- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
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- Shiraz / Syrah
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- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
- Zweigelt
2021 Boutinot ‘La Côte Sauvage’ Cairanne AOC
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%A rich, savoury satisfying mouthful!
Since the elevation of Cairanne to a southern Rhône cru, 'La Côte Sauvage' continues to be characterised by its finesse and finely-grained texture, due in part to the famous ‘argilo-calcaire’ of our hilltop vineyards such as La Pauline and Les Six Terrasses, slow winemaking methods and gentle maturation in different sized barrels of old French oak.
Tasting Notes
A serious, restrained and complex example of cru Cairanne. This is rich, intense and drenched in dark red fruits. With morello cherry and a touch of cinnamon spice on the nose, soft dark plummy fruit, liquorice, chocolate, a hint of black tea on the palate, this wine is full-flavoured and smooth with supple tannins.
Method of Production
The cru of Cairanne lies in the heart of the Southern Rhône valley, northeast of Orange. For this La Côte Sauvage, fully ripe Grenache and Syrah grapes are hand-picked from old bush vines on selected hillside slopes within Cairanne. The vineyards have the classic argilo-calcaire soil of limestone pebbles over clay and the vines are harvested by hand. Vinified traditionally with only the natural yeasts present on the grapes, followed by a long cuvaison period with gentle remontage and manual pigeage. A blend of four varieties (Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre) matured for 22 months in French old oak barrels and demi-muids to develop great concentration, complexity and finesse in the wine.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | The perfect match for red meat dishes and rich stews. |
| Origin | Rhône |
| Appellation | Cairanne AOC |
2021 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Carménère
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
Deep cherry red with violet hues.
Nose
The nose has black fruits with blackberries, blueberries and black cherries that are mixed with notes of pepper and spices, additionally damp earth with minerals such as graphite.
Palate
In the mouth, is a vibrant body, which is fresh and very tense. It starts soft with firm and velvety tannins, a fresh acidity with a long and persistent finish.

Oak treatment - 18 months Oaked
Vinification
Just 50% of the grapes were crushed. A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at 8°C for 5 days. When the temperature began to increase, pumping-over started and the must fermented at between 22°C and 26°C. The wine was tasted daily to determine the level of pump-overs. The wine spent a total of 32 days in the tank and was then decanted into oak barrels, where the malolactic fermentation took place.
This is part of the ageing process for Grey and is key to achieving harmony between the fruit and the oak. 100% of this wine matured for 18 months in extra fine-grain French oak barrels, 34% of them first-use, 66% second- and third-use. Then the wine was aged in the bottle for 8 months. It was racked three times.
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.
Alans' Personal Tasting Notes
"Well – with the label showing 14% alc by volume you would expect this to be a big, brooding monster of a masculine wine – and it is – but it certainly shows it’s feminine side on the palate – where it slips down like silk knickers!!
Full flavoured and full-bodied with lots of rich, dark black fruits – think black cherries and blackberries – with lots of layers and textures of flavour!! Spending 18 months in oak has also given it some spice and creaminess – but more importantly – must help deliver the silky and velvety tannins that make this such a big, smooth, satisfying mouthful. Quite simply, one of the best reds I’ve tasted in a long time!"
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Carménère |
| Country | Chile |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan Approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | This wine pairs well with gamey meats such as deer, wild boar, and also pork and lamb. |
| Appellation | Maipo Valley |
2021 Doña Paula Estate High Altitude Malbec
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Doña Paula is a winery that produces Premium wines, established in 1997 in Mendoza, Argentina. They own 100% of the vineyards used for the production of all their wines, planted in the best areas of the country, looking for the most faithful expression of each terroir.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Intense violet color.
Nose
Lovely notes of blackberry and plum along with a hint of violet and spice.
Palate
This follows through into the palate which has a lovely play between the concentrated black fruit and the spices, along with a hint of minerality that really rounds out the palate. It is wonderfully balanced with a nice freshness that makes the wine seem not quite as heavy as it should be with an ABV of 14.5%.

Vinification
The grapes are hand-picked the first week of April. In the winery, they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Then, a cold pre-fermentative maceration is carried out to preserve the primary aromas. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures, and a post-fermentation maceration is later performed for 15 to 20 days. The wine is aged in first, second and third-use French oak barrels for 12 months.
The Estate Vineyards
90% of these grapes are sourced from our best vineyards in Alluvia, Gualtallary, at 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) above sea level and 10% from Los Indios, El Cepillo, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The soils are stony in the first location and sandy loam in the second one, and both have high calcareous content.
Doña Paula Estate Malbec displays the unique characteristics of the Uco Valley, a terroir where the climate is cold, with an average temperature variation of 16 °C (60.8°F) in Los Indios and 12.5 °C (54.5°F) in Alluvia, and an average annual rainfall of 280 mm (11 in) in El Cepillo and 300 mm (11.8 in) in Gualtallary. The vines yield an average of 8 tons per hectare, and they are grown in espaliers, using drip irrigation. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.
Accolades
- 91 points - Tim Atkin
- 91 points - Descorchados
- 90 points - Wine Enthusiast
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"As I thought - this is absolutely stunning. Lots of fresh black fruits with some spice. It’s big, full-bodied, complex, and long, but there’s a freshness to the fruit and silky tannins that can only come from high altitude, cool climate fruit. Drinking exceptionally well now but it's got the power to last a few years yet. Certainly over-delivers at £10.99!!" 14 Dec 2023
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Aged | Oak aged |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan and Vegetarian, Sustainable practices |
| Food Matches |
Sirloin strip steak, chimi-churri butter, French fries with herbs and roasted tomatoes. A pairing par excellence! And when it comes to preparing it, simplicity makes this dish even more exquisite. |
| Appellation | Finca Alluvia in Gualtallary (Tupungato, Uco Valley) and Finca Los Indios in El Cepillo (San Carlos, Uco Valley) 100% Malbec |
2023 Cline Cellars North Coast Viognier
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%Tasting Notes
It’s thought the Romans took Viognier to the Rhône 1700 years ago yet incredibly, as recently as the 1980’s, there were thought to be only 32 ha planted in the entire world. Now, Viognier, with its full-bodied richness and gentle acidity is an international superstar again. Fred Cline specializes in growing Rhône cultivars and giving them a modern twist whilst maintaining their original character... and this one is a beauty!
Nose
Wonderfully fragrant with notes of pithy stone fruits, bright jasmine and honeysuckle.
Palate
The palate follows through with a richness of fruit including ripe peach and apricot. The finish is given finesse by the refreshing acidity.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Absolutely delicious - lots of ripe peaches, apricot, and pineapple fruits with a lovely honeyed, creamy follow-through - from a small family business formed in 1982 - the year I started in the wine trade - and they have a real keen eye on sustainability and non-intervention winemaking - so ticking all my key objective boxes! And tasting delightfully into the bargain - absolutely love it!" May 2022
Producer
Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906.
In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350-acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar paneled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed terroir-driven wines.
A Note on Sustainability
Cline is proud to be a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. The program acknowledges a long-term commitment to continual improvement in the field of sustainable winegrowing and business practices, from grape to glass. It is located in Sonoma County, which is committed to becoming the first 100% sustainable wine region in the US by 2019.
Fred Cline and Bob Cannard founded Green String Farm and the Green String method of sustainable farming in 2003. Green String Farm is a 57-hectare natural process, sustainable farm near Petaluma, California. The Green String method meets the highest standard of environmental sustainability practices, which is different from certified organic. The methods reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency, and loss of biodiversity; and increase resistance to natural predators.
In 2005, Cline was one of the first wineries to fully adopt solar energy. In 2018 it upgraded the original array with the latest technology, designed to offset 100% of its winery’s electrical consumption.
Instead of herbicides, Cline has 1,500 sheep and 500 goats that roam its vineyards, tasked with removing invasive weeds and instead of harmful pesticides, Cline provides owl boxes and raptor perches in the vineyard. These birds of prey are the predators of gophers and mice and help to maintain ecological control.
Cline composts and re-uses all digestible organic waste and materials from its winery, including 3,000 tons of grape pomace per year, prunings from trees and vines, plus chipped materials from the landscape. This waste is turned into a biological stimulant and food for the soils. Cline also grinds its own volcanic rock and then spreads the crushed cinder onto the soil. Having a wide spectrum of mineralogy, these cinders provide the vineyards with a complex array of nutrients and trace minerals, ensuring that the vines have all the necessary components to build fullness of character in the wine.
Production Method
Viognier is a tricky grape to grow in that it buds out early and is susceptible to frost. Also, it's thick skins require patience to get the full flavour potential of the grape. The vines basked in the sun during the day and were cooled at night which contributes to this Viognier's full-body weight and nice acidity. This varietal comes from the Northern Rhône Valley in France. Presumed to have arrived from Dalmatia and transported to the Rhone 1,700 years ago by Romans. There are only 2,000 acres of this variety in California at this time. The grapes were handpicked and de-stemmed without being crushed then immediately pumped to the tank press where the juice was gently squeezed from the grapes. Juice was pumped to a stainless steel fermenting tank and the wine was chilled and settled overnight. The juice was then racked (decanted) off the grape solids and inoculated with a pure strain of wine yeast. Fermentation proceeded at a cool 50 degrees F to preserve the lovely fruit character and kept in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Viognier |
| Country | USA |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | Pairs well with Gruyere or Camembert cheese, sushi, or tarragon chicken. |
| Origin | California |
| Appellation | North Coast |
2020 Ben Glover BOB/Short for Kate Pinot Noir
Regular price £22.49 Sale price £17.99 Save 20%Tasting Notes
A bright, brambly, seductive cherry red hue with aromas of wild berries, cherries, raspberry, sous bois and a hint of green spice.
The flow through to the palate is sublime with a continuation of these precise red fruits with some green olive notes, wound up with a sinewy tautness. This provides a chewy supple elegant warmth to the palate with an elegant deportment providing a long and intelligent finish.

Producer
When it comes to professional wine people, Ben Glover is about as top-of the-tree as it gets. Ben’s role call includes almost too many accolades: previously a Wine Marlborough committee member, chair of the Bragato Wine Show (New Zealand’s only single vineyard wine show) and was chair of Pinot Noir 2017 New Zealand, the world’s largest and most prestigious pinot noir event. He was an inaugural Len Evans scholar in 2001 and has over 25 years of experience as a national and international wine judge. This is all to say that, when you open a bottle of Bob/short for Kate, you are in safe hands.
Nicknamed ‘Bob’ by her family (some of you may recognize the Blackadder reference), Bob /short for Kate is a tribute to Kate Glover, an amazing young drama teacher and Ben’s sister, who heartbreakingly passed away in 2018. Ben explains that he has looked to produce a wine that characterises the honesty, purity and confidence of Kate. These are organic, Marlborough wines, small-batch Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, reliant on selected blocks from the family’s vines and exceptional fruit selection. Not to mention the skill of one of the region’s most well-regarded winemakers.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Pinot Noir |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Now to 2025 |
| Features | Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | This wine has the class and capacity to handle numerous dishes from cassoulet to more sophisticated game meats. |
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Appellation | Marlborough |
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 |
|
|
|
| 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 |
2023 La Reine de l’Arenite, Fleurie la Madone
Regular price £16.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pretty, floral, elegant and aromatic. Spot on Fleurie!
Tasting Notes
Very pretty indeed, a heady perfume of freshly picked irises and peonies drifts above the crushed berry fruit nose. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity support a palate of Morello cherries, strawberries with a wonderful savoury finish.

Production Method
'Arenite' is the terroir of pinky, crumbly sandstone of the La Madone vineyards, rated as one of the best vineyards in Fleurie. At up to 450m altitude and with soils still untouched by phylloxera, goblet trained vines on the east and southeast facing vineyards lie below the Chapel of the Madonna at the top of the hill. Gamay Noir vines range from 40 to 90 years of age. Grapes are hand-picked and whole-berry fermented for 8-10 days (traditional maceration carbonique) followed by a further 2 or 3 days on the skins to assist with aromas. No use of cultured yeasts. Pressed after an 8-10 day cuvaison. First press wine was returned to vat and left for 8 months before bottling.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don't use any single 'model' to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | In winter, match with a roast leg of lamb. During the summer, chill lightly and serve with roasted or barbecued chicken or pork. |
| Origin | Beaujolais / Maconnais |
2020 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £18.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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
Deep red color, with ruby color.
Nose
With a characteristic fruitiness characteristic of Maipo Costa, red fruits such as fruitllas, raspberries and cassis are mixed with aromas of black pepper, some moist soil and tobacco.
Palate
Of elegant and smooth body, of balanced structure, good acidity that increases the complexity. Tannins present and soft at the same time, ending with a
prolonged end-of-mouth sensation.
Vinification
A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at low temperatures between 8°C and 10° C for 5 days in order to achieve greater extraction of color and aroma from the skins. The wort was then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Once the fermentation was finished, post-fermentation maceration was achieved, thus achieving a higher concentration and structure of the wine. 100% of this wine was allowed to stand for 18 months in French oak barrels of extra fine grain (33% new) to remain 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 | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, & 3% Carménère |
| Country | Chile |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | It is recommended to drink at a temperature between 16-18°C. Accompany mature cheeses and grilled red and well-seasoned meats. It is recommended to decant 30 minutes before consuming. |
| Appellation |
|
2017 Krohn LBV Port
Regular price £22.99 Sale price £18.39 Save 20%Late Bottled Vintage Ports are an increasingly popular style, and this, unfiltered, wine from Krohn is no exception. LBVs are produced from just a single year's crop (but not every year), and with the vintage specified on the bottle, each LBV will express the particular characteristics of that vintage.
Colheita Ports are Tawny Ports from a single year and specify the vintage on the bottle. A Tawny Port matures for many years in small (600 litre) casks, becoming more complex and taking on a broad, silky mouthfeel and brick-red colour through slight oxidation. They typically age for a minimum of 7 years, but often longer. For the first 10-15 years, the casks are racked every year, but this becomes less frequent as they age and throw less sediment. As maturation happens in this way, in barrel rather than in bottle, decanting is not normally required. They are bottled to order and will stay fresh in the bottle for several weeks after opening. Krohn is particularly renowned for the quality of its Colheita Ports.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby colour
Nose
Spicy black fruit aromas
Palate
The palate has vibrant plum and blackberry characters layered with more spice, fresh acidity and firm tannins. A full and rich style with impressive length.

Production
Traditional Port grapes are sourced from Krohn's Quinta do Retiro Novo estate, and from long-standing relationships with neighbouring growers. After fermentation the wine is aged in barrel for 4-6 years before bottling. Krohn's LBV Ports are neither fined nor filtered and may thus throw a sediment. We recommend to decant them before serving.
Producers
Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category. Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is all A grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.
Accolades
- 2013 Vintage - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 Bronze Medal
Alan's Personal Notes
"Delicious! The perfect way to end a meal. Rich fruit, wee bit of nutmeg and spice, a wee bit sweet and only 20% alc - just half of a whisky, rum or licquer - what’s not to like? Fire on, the dog relaxed at the fire - all I’m missing is a wee cigar for ultimate pleasure." Jan 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2017 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa,Tinta Barroca |
| Country | Portugal |
|
Alcohol content
|
20% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 15 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Perfect with blue cheeses, a decent mature cheddar or a slab of dark chocolate. |
| Origin | Douro Valley |
| Appellation | DOC Porto |
2019 Signos de Origen 'Los Morros' Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%Tasting Notes
Genuine non-interventionist winemaking from Emiliana, this matches up to all levels of the natural wine criteria. A lovely example of cabernet sauvignon with beautiful purity.
Colour
Ruby red in colour
Nose
A bright nose that offers aromas of ripe blackcurrant and licorice along with cedarwood notes.
Palate
The palate recalls black currants and red cherry fruit with star anise spice, ripe tannins and a full juicy finish.

Production
Soils are alluvial with good porosity and drainage. The land is flat, rich in minerals with a loamy-clay and muddy texture, irrigated by water coming from snow thaw in the mountains. The season 2014-2015 in the Valley of Maipo was characterized by being warm. The spring was favourable as there were no rains in flowering, which gave rise to a healthy and good harvest. The few frosts that occurred did not affect cabernet sauvignon since they were prior to sprouting. The rains, following the trend, were and concentrated in winter with a total of 230 mm fallen. The temperatures during maturation were high with maximum averages of 30 ° C in January and February and averages of 12.5 ° C for the same months. This led to an early harvest, together the oscillation thermal helped maintain natural acidity. The reception included a triple selection using conveyor belts before and after passing through the destemmer-crusher. The grapes then dropped gently (by gravity) into the fermentation tanks, where they underwent a 5-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8ºC. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks using only native yeasts at 24º–26ºC with a program of pump-overs determined by enological criteria. The new wine remained on its skins for an 8-day post-fermentation maceration at 22º–24ºC, for a total maceration (skin contact) time of 28–30 days. Malolactic fermentation took place naturally in barrels. The wine was then aged for 12 months. The wine is stabilized naturally, without treatments, and is only very lightly filtered at bottling with a 3–5 micron (absolute) cartridge. The wine was aged for 12 months, 48% in French oak barrels, 28% in concrete eggs, and 24% in a 2,000-liter French oak foudre.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | Chile |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | An interesting wine with meat-based dishes and stews. Ideal with oven-roasted pork ribs, grilled beef, or slow-cooked lamb. It is also excellent with duck magret and with strong, aged cheeses such as Emmental or rich, creamy cheeses such as Camembert. |
| Origin | Maipo Valley |
| Appellation | D.O. Valle del Maipo |
2021 Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
Regular price £16.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Home of the Worlds Best Shiraz"
The most sold wine in the Hartenberg portfolio, now celebrating 26 vintages. At a previous Classic Wine Trophy competition ten Gold medals were awarded by the French judges to the 385 red wines. Most estates entered their flagship wines. Due to Hartenbergs' uncompromising approach to standards they felt comfortable entering the pocket-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz. The wine won Gold.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vibrant red in colour.
Nose
An alluring blend of wild herbs and spices on the nose with hints of freshly picked dark fruits and berries on the palate, ending in a savoury finish.
Palate
Ripe, soft tannins balance well with the lingering finish.

The Estate
On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.
We are passionate about preserving our natural wealth as evidenced by our sustainable farming practices and conservation programs. We are proud members of Biodiversity and Wine (BWI) and Integrated Production of Wine (IPW), and the estate is home to plentiful wildlife and over 120 species of birds – inspiring us to combine the best of nature with fine wine. Our stated intention is for a pristine environment where nature thrives.
Accolades
- 2016 Vintage 90 points Tim Atkin
- 2016 Vintage 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2015 Vintage 4 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2014 Vintage 90 points Tim Atkin; 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2013 Vintage 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2012 Vintage 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2011 Vintage 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
- 2010 Vintage 3.5 stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide & 90 Points Robert Parker
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz/Syrah, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Mourvedre |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Up to 10 years from vintage |
| Features | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Pizza with all its various toppings (but not too much chilli), all traditionally prepared meat dishes (i.e. stews and grills), grilled or roasted game fish (ideally without a lemon based sauce) or for pudding. Pears in red wine will find a partner with this versatile wine.
|
| Origin | WO Western Cape |
| Appellation | Stellenbosch |
2021 Glaetzer Wallace
Regular price £24.99 Sale price £19.99 Save 20%Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vibrant purple with bright red hues.
Nose
Wild cherries with a hint of blueberry and rose petal.
Palate
Upfront red berry fruit, midpalate richness and brightness from the Grenache. Finishes fresh and long.

Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way. The Shiraz brings backbone, flesh and body to the wine with the Grenache adding a soft, vibrant juiciness.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—80 year old Shiraz and 50—100 year old Grenache. Yield 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
Vintage Conditions
A wet winter and spring coupled with cooler than average spring temperatures resulted in slower yet balanced canopy development and healthy flowering and fruit set. A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed allowing the fruit to be in no rush to mature, perfect for consistent ripening. Harvest commenced a few weeks later than recent years. The 2017 wines are of excellent quality exhibiting purity and lift with firm tannins and exceptional length.
Vinification
Old vine Barossa Grenache has a liveliness and structure that does not benefit from oak maturation—oak contact was thus minimised for the Grenache component to preserve the purity and animation of the fruit. The Shiraz was matured for 16 months in 2—3 year old oak hogshead barrels (80% French / 20% American).
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, sitespecific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2018 Wallace from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 72% Shiraz and 28% Grenache |
| Country | Australia |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Cellaring | A wine to enjoy in its youth that will also develop additional complexity over 6 to 8 years of cellaring. |
| Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
| Origin | Barossa Valley |
| Appellation | South Australia |
2022 Luigi Bosca Signature Range Malbec
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%Lovely red plum notes, hints of spice and smooth, silky tannins.
Tasting Notes
The Luigi Bosca Signature Malbec has the best of both worlds, with grapes from Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. Lujan brings ripeness and sweet tannins to the wine, while Uco Valley ensures a lively freshness.
Tasting Notes
Colour
A bright violet red wine.
Nose
It has intense and balanced aromas, with rather red fruit, spicy and florals notes. It is generous, smooth and expressive in the mouth, with incipient tannins.
Palate
Clean, refreshing and well-bodied in the palate, with attractive character. It has a deep and clear finish, with a fully integrated oak character and good ageing capacity. It is the flagship wine of its variety.

Vineyard
Produced with grapes grown in estate vineyards, located in Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco, Mendoza.
Winemaking
Handpicking, selection of clusters and destemming. A pre-fermentation cold maceration process is conducted at a temperature of 8 °C. Fermentation is conducted in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C with selected yeasts. After the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels where it rests for 12 months. Lightly filtered while bottled.
History
Established in 1901, the Luigi Bosca estate covers 700 hectares of land in Mendoza, across 7 vineyards. It continues to be one of the region’s leading wineries and was actively involved in the creation of the Luján de Cuyo D.O.C. Luigi Bosca remains in the Arizu family, where the 4th generation is now bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to their wine range.
Comments by the winemaker
Malbec is the winery’s emblem wine, which fully expresses the characteristics of the Malbec variety. Grapes grown in the best areas of Mendoza are selected for its making process, thus achieving the ripe character and typical sweet tannins from Luján de Cuyo, together with the freshness, color and vivacity of the Uco Valley. The ageing process in oak barrels adds complexity, structure and elegance, therefore providing a highly aromatic wine, with an elegant texture and great persistence of flavors.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.6 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | 5 years |
| Suggested Serving Temp | Between 16°C and 18°C. |
| Food Matches | Ideal to enjoy with grilled red meat, like skirt steak with mashed potatoes or rib eye with rosemary rustic potatoes. |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
|
2020 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Pinot Noir
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
Deep ruby red with violet hues.
Nose
The nose initially reveals aromas of black and red berries, such as murtillas (commonly known as Chilean guava, or strawberry myrtle), cranberries, black plums and raspberries.
Palate
The palate has balanced acidity and flavours of juicy black fruit, along with smooth, well-rounded tannins sustained by the notes of soft French oak.

Vinification
The grapes first underwent a cold pre-fermentative maceration to extract their colour and aromas. They were then fermented in open stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of between 24°C and 26°C. Manual pump-overs were used for 100% of the extraction during fermentation. 100% of the wine was aged in 300lts French oak barrels for a period of 12 months. 15% of them were new, 30% second-use and 55% third-use.
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.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Another Grey Glacier triumph- red and black fruits vye for your attention balanced by a fresh acidity - all framed in soft tannins from some subtle oak ageing. Incredible balance with an extended finish that stops you reaching for your glass - except that it’s so delicious that you want more. This really is an over-delivering range that demands tasting that will never disappoint. Try it once - any varietal - and you’ll be hooked. One of our fuller, richer, riper styles of Pinot noir." Tasted July 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | Chile |
|
|
|
| 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 between 14°C and 15°C. This wine pairs well duck, with oily fish, pasta, creamy soups, different lean meats and hard cheese. |
| Appellation |
|
2020 Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Mourvèdre
Regular price £24.99 Sale price £19.99 Save 20%A juicy characterful Mourvèdre which comes from Cline’s original Contra Costa ranch. It’s here where the 100-year-old bush vines thrive on the sandy soils.
Tasting Notes
Distinct and luscious. Flavours of dark plum and chocolate leads to a medley of integrated oak spice and a smooth and juicy finish. A blockbuster of a wine that has plenty of earthy soul and character.

Producer
Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906.
In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350-acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar paneled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed terroir-driven wines.
Production Method
The Ancient Vines Mourvèdre draws from some of our oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing vineyards. These blocks produce fruit of stunning concentration as a result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terroir, and a unique cooling band of air that flows in from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. By naturally restricting yields to only 2 to 3 tonnes per acre, we achieve a sublime expression of the Mourvèdre fruit. These grapes hold characteristics of dark, dusty berry fruit that makes their Ancient Vines Mourvèdre so lustrous. Individual lots of grapes were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. Grapes undergo total de-stemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks with select cultured yeasts. It was then maintained at the ideal temperature to aid in the extraction of flavor and colour. The wine was pressed off its skins at dryness before being racked to dark toasted American Oak (approximately 30% new) where it was gently aged for 10 months and then stored in neutral cooperage.
A Note on Sustainability
Cline is proud to be a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. The program acknowledges a long-term commitment to continual improvement in the field of sustainable winegrowing and business practices, from grape to glass. It is located in Sonoma County, which is committed to becoming the first 100% sustainable wine region in the US by 2019.
Fred Cline and Bob Cannard founded Green String Farm and the Green String method of sustainable farming in 2003. Green String Farm is a 57-hectare natural process, sustainable farm near Petaluma, California. The Green String method meets the highest standard of environmental sustainability practices, which is different from certified organic. The methods reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency, and loss of biodiversity; and increase resistance to natural predators.
In 2005, Cline was one of the first wineries to fully adopt solar energy. In 2018 it upgraded the original array with the latest technology, designed to offset 100% of its winery’s electrical consumption.
Instead of herbicides, Cline has 1,500 sheep and 500 goats that roam its vineyards, tasked with removing invasive weeds and instead of harmful pesticides, Cline provides owl boxes and raptor perches in the vineyard. These birds of prey are the predators of gophers and mice and help to maintain ecological control.
Cline composts and re-uses all digestible organic waste and materials from its winery, including 3,000 tons of grape pomace per year, prunings from trees and vines, plus chipped materials from the landscape. This waste is turned into a biological stimulant and food for the soils. Cline also grinds its own volcanic rock and then spreads the crushed cinder onto the soil. Having a wide spectrum of mineralogy, these cinders provide the vineyards with a complex array of nutrients and trace minerals, ensuring that the vines have all the necessary components to build fullness of character in the wine.
Awards
- Bronze from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 (2014 vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Mourvèdre |
| Country | USA |
| Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
| Food Matches | This scrumptious and unusually delightful wine goes exceptionally well with grilled lamb or pork, sautéed asparagus and curried deviled eggs. Also, fab with rack of lamb, duck confit and steak tartare. |
| Origin | California |
| Appellation | Contra Costa |
2020 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Single Block GCM
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
An intense red colour with violet hues.
Nose
Notes of fresh red fruits, such as raspberries and cassis, are very noticeable on the nose. It also has some earthy notes and a hint of black pepper.
Palate
This medium-bodied wine is highly expressive and very refreshing because of its high acidity, with lots of fruit, such as cherries. It has smooth tannins and is long in the finish. This wine reflects its origins and, being a blend of three varieties, it is a complex wine. It has red fruit from the Garnacha, structure from the Cariñena and some animal notes from the Mataro. Unfiltered and unfined.

Vinification
First the clusters of grapes were selected and 50% of them were crushed. Next, the grapes were put into small open 400-kilo containers, where they underwent a pre-fermentative maceration for 3 to 5 days. en they were fermented gently and slowly, at a low temperature of between 22°C and 26°C (72°F and 79°F), with 2-3 pump-overs each day. Next came a post-fermentative maceration for one to two weeks to ensure balanced tannins. 100% of this wine is aged in 2,500-litre foudres for approximately 1 year
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 | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 58% Garnacha (Grenache), 27% Cariñena (Carignan), 15% Mataro (Mourvedre) |
| Country | Chile |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | It is recommended to drink at a temperature between 16-18°C. Accompany mature cheeses and grilled red and well seasoned meats. It is recommended to decant 30 minutes before consuming. |
| Appellation |
|
2020 Classique Sauternes Ginestet (500ml)
Regular price £18.39 Sale price £15.63 Save 15%The classic dessert wine - elegant, fresh and very moreish.
Tasting Notes
A classic botrytis nose; rich in honey and sweet floral tones with hints of citrus marmalade. The palate is rich and smooth with similar sweet floral and honeyed apricot flavours but with a faintly citrus note in the finish which makes it very moreish.

Production
Grapes are sourced from vineyards within the Graves district of Bordeaux. Botrytis (noble rot) is allowed to affect the grapes, concentrating their sweetness and flavour. The grapes are hand-picked late in the vintage and, on average, it takes 3 passes through the vineyard to ensure that the maximum quantity of grapes has been beneficially affected by botrytis. The grapes are treated very carefully during pressing so as not to damage them and to maintain their delicate characteristics.
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.
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.
Awards
- Silver at the 2017 International Wine Challenge - 2016 Vintage
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 500ml |
| Cultivar | 75% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon, 5% Muscadelle |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Dessert Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable farming |
| Food Matches |
The ultimate dessert wine - serve chilled with a host of fruit or cream based desserts. Try also with blue cheeses such as Roquefort or Stilton. Or serve it as the French also do, as an apéritif, or with pâté based canapes.
|
| Origin |
Bordeaux, France
|
2023 Painted Wolf Teardrop Viognier
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%The Background
In 2005, Emma and Jeremy Borg's vinous adventure began when they were approached to make their own wine. Despite Jeremy's two decades of experience in the world of winemaking and Emma's expertise with wine photography, the couple was thrown into the deep end and had to bottle and cork the bounty of their friend's surplus grapes by hand.
The endeavor sparked their dreams of creating their own brand and so Painted Wolf was born. The inspiration came from the endangered African wild dog - highly social, organised, persistent and efficient hunters true to Emma and Jeremy's own vineyard hunts for their expanding range of wines.
Consequently, a percentage of profits from each bottle is donated to support charities dedicated to the conservation of the species, and the painted wolf proudly graces each of their labels. From organic Swartland vineyards to Cape South Coast cool climate sites, the couple has since established a network of esteemed growers and winemakers to ensure quality as grapes are hand-selected and some wines are
TPainted Wolf Wines supports the conservation of the highly endangered painted wolf (African wild dog) and the protection of the diminishing wild spaces of Africa, through its donations to the EWT – www.ewt.org.za and Tusk – www.tusk.org.
Awards
- Double Silver – National Wine Challenge/Top100 wines 2019
- 4 stars, 88 points – Platter 2020
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Viognier |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Now - 2025 |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Pairs well with mild Indian curries like korma and tikka masala. It is wonderful with roast pork with a mustard and apple sauce or a creamy seafood dishes. Viognier is a great partner to washed rind cheese. |
| Appellation | W.O. Swartland |
2021 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Chardonnay
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
Complex and elegant, blend aromas of ripe tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango and papaya with soft mineral and citrus notes. The barrel brings soft notes of vanilla and nuts. Of good structure, it maintains the freshness from a crisp acidity giving a wide end of good persistence. In the aftertaste, you will feel the nuts and vanilla again.

Vinification
Initially, a cold maceration was carried out for a period between 12 to 14 hours. Throughout the process the wort was protected from contact with air. The fermentation was carried out slowly, maintaining a Constant control at low temperature between 13 and 16°C, which allowed to obtain a large number of aromas typical of the variety.
80% of the wine was fermented in French barrels with 10% new cask. The remaining 20% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel barrels to maintain a fruity component in the blend. Once the fermentation was finished, it was allowed to stand for 12 months on its lees, making smooth movements (bâtonnage) to maximize the contact and supply of fine lees to the wine and in this way increase the aromatic complexity.
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 Winemaker) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"A masterpiece this one ☝️ tropical fruits abound with a touch of citric lime acidity keeping it linear and balanced. Complex, long and with perfect balance! Love it! Bit of a nutty, toasty aftertaste as well - probably from some new oak. Would love to taste this alongside some ‘named’ white burgundies - suggest it might wipe the floor with them?!" June 2022
"Still love it - colour a bit darker in the glass - but it’s still fresh as a daisy, with great balance and length. Fruit is a bit more developed on the palate but it’s still got a lot of life left in it yet. At £16.99 it really is an excellent option vs French Chardonnay at 2 or 3 times the price from Burgundy." 21 Dec 2023
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | Chile |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | This wine pairs well with oily fish, pasta, cheese and white meat. |
| Appellation |
Casablanca Valley
|
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 |
|
Alcohol content
|
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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2020 Weingut Hajszan Neumann Natural Zweigelt
Regular price £28.99 Sale price £18.99 Save 34%Biodynamically Farmed & Vegan Approved
Our lively wines have subtle corners and edges. And it’s good this way, because we love natural, authentic wines. Each one has a characteristic soul, which develops from the natural flavours of the grapes and the terroir. All this comes to fruition thanks to our biodynamic cultivation. We also work gently and reductively in the wine cellar.
Tasting Notes
The grapes for this Natural Zweigelt come from two particularly old vineyards in Ried Weisleiten on Vienna`s Nussberg. This bright, polished Zweigelt is quite dark and intense, with aromas of black cherries and plum fruit, as well as a subtle touch of herbs and spices. Fine texture and freshness on the palate with an engaging spiciness that leads to a fruity, cool finish.

In the Cellar
Zweigelt from old vines on the Nussberg forms the basis, maceration and longer storage on the skin (9 weeks) leads to an intense and dark berry fruit, as well as a lively tannin structure.
The wine is then not aged in wood, but in concrete eggs, which can breathe in the same way as wooden barrels, but do not bring those typical oak tones nor toasty aromas. Of course, the wine is neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfurized, just as we do with the mash-fermented white wines of the NATURAL series. After about 6 months of storage, the wine is put together and bottled, and after several months of aging in the bottle, the NATURAL Zweigelt goes on sale in September immediately before the next harvest.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Zweigelt |
| Country | Austria |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | Great companion for stews. |
| Origin | Vienna |
2020 Painted Wolf Black Tip Mourvédre
Regular price £22.99 Sale price £18.39 Save 20%
Background
The Vineyards
The grapes are from Kasteelsig vineyard, owned by Billy (Guillermo) Hughes, and are organically certified. Soil is red Glenrosa with some Oakleaf – shale-rich duplex soils. The vineyards are not irrigated.
Winemaking
The grapes were fermented with natural yeast in open tanks and a small, manually-rotating steel tank (20% whole-bunches). Malolactic conversion and maturation took place in small French and American oak barrels (20% new) for 8 months. Total production 2,800 bottles.
Painted Wolf Wines supports the conservation of the highly endangered painted wolf (African wild dog) and the protection of the diminishing wild spaces of Africa, through its donations to the EWT – www.ewt.org.za and Tusk – www.tusk.org.
Awards
- 2020 Painted Wolf wins trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall at 2019 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
- Bronze at the 2023 IWC
- Double Silver at the NWC
- 4.5 starts Platters Guide
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Mourvèdre 85%, Syrah 15% |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential |
This wine is delicious now but will continue to develop over ten years from vintage. |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Try with braised beef shanks, sweet and sour pork, wild mushroom risotto or Mexican-style ostrich in mole, melted cheese toastie or salt-baked Gruyere |
| Appellation | W.O. Swartland |
2023 Pierre Bourée Fils Bourgogne Blanc
Regular price £24.99 Sale price £19.99 Save 20%A classic introduction to white Burgundy.
Tasting Notes
This beautifully balanced and classic white Burgundy has a savoury, baked peach and biscuity nose with a rich, broad yet vibrant palate that is balanced with moreish acidity. The oak is well-integrated on both the nose and palate adding texture and finesse followed by a long, intense finish.

Production
Chardonnay grapes are sourced from vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin and Auxey-Duresses. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthiomieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. The wine is fined prior to bottling but not filtered.
Producer
In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.
This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.
A Note on Sustainability
Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | Seafood, fish, poultry and semi-soft cheeses |
| Origin | Burgundy |
| Appellation | AOP Bourgogne |
2023 Domaine de Maltaverne Pouilly-Fumé ‘L’Ammonite’
Regular price £23.49 Sale price £18.79 Save 20%A very ripe and unusually rich example of Loire Sauvignon Blanc.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A honeyed and gently aromatic nose with a savoury, toasted fennel seed note.
Palate
The palate is a rich and ripe reflection of this warm vintage, balanced by smoky, grassy flavours typical of Sauvignon Blanc.

Production
The vineyards are planted on Kimmeridgian soil (fossilised clay-chalk, superb for low yields and mineral content) and face south-southwest, giving increased exposure to the sun. They are fertilised organically. Harvesting is done partly by hand and partly by machine, depending on the vintage. Vinification is old fashioned and hands-off. Fermentation is done by indigenous yeasts and is followed by naturally occurring malolactic fermentation. This helps to soften the wines by converting the harsher acids to more palatable ones. Most unusually for a producer of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, winemaker Gilles Maudry believes in allowing full malolactic fermentation to run its natural course. The wine remains on its fine lees for 15 months after harvest, intensifying and enriching the flavours to balance the incredible freshness.
Producer
Domaine de Maltaverne is one of the few producers in the Loire that allows full malolactic fermentation to run its natural course. The owner, Gilles Maudry, is a former biologist who returned to his family’s Tracy-sur-Loire estate in 1984 when his father retired. Now working with his son Matthieu, who finished his viticultural and oenological studies in 2015, Gilles is a firm believer in minimal intervention: as long as his vineyards produce healthy grapes, picked at optimum maturity and vinified with care, then the wine can be left to determine its own evolution. The beautiful label features an illustration of the fossilised ammonite shells found in the vineyard, sketched by an artistic wine lover following a tasting to represent what he visualised upon tasting this wonderful wine.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | France |
| Alcohol content |
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites & no other allergens |
| Serving Suggestion | Serve between 10°C and 12°C |
| Food Matches | Goes with just about anything! Traditionally salmon, mussels or crab/lobster and chicken or veal, but also mushroom dishes, particularly an omelette. |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
| Appellation | Pouilly-Fumé |
| Origin | Loire |
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 |
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
2021 Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes Cinsault
Regular price £21.99 Sale price £17.59 Save 20%Taking on other Cinsault's throughout the world! This extraordinary old vine wine comes from 50-year-old vines in the Bekaa valley and is wonderfully unique.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose has an exotic mix of ripe fig, bright red cherry and plum fruit with star anise spice, it’s lifted and pronounced.
Palate
The palate has beautifully ripe red fruit characters alongside fig and spice notes. The acidity and tannin perfectly balances the generous flavours and leaves a pure, clean finish.

Production
Cinsault has been farmed in the Bekaa Valley since the mid-19th century before ceding the way to new imported varieties. In 2014, Domaine des Tourelles decided to revive this grape by searching out very old Cinsault vines, over 50 years of age and located in Western Bekaa. The grapes are handpicked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats for ten days. Malolactic fermentation begins spontaneously. The wine is then aged for 1 year in concrete and then spends a further 6 months in used French oak barrels to round out the tannins. The result is a supple wine that beautifully reflects the terroir of the Bekaa Valley, with an ageing potential of several years.
Producer
Domaine des Tourelles was founded in 1868 by French adventurer François-Eugène Brun and is one of the most highly acclaimed and oldest wineries still operating in Lebanon. It was also the first commercial cellar in 'modern' Lebanon to produce wines, arak and other spirits. This place has history! The Brun family owned and ran the winery up until the last descendant died in 2003 but luckily two local families - the Issa and Issa el-Khoury families - joined forces to buy the property and continue the fine tradition of winemaking.
Today, this Bekaa Valley estate is run by the three Issa children - twins Faouzi and Johanne and their sister Christiane, alongside Emile Issa-el Khoury, son of one of the co-owners. This young and dynamic combination have introduced a handful of practices in the vineyards and cellar including the use of indigenous natural yeasts, no fining or filtering, and only very small amounts of sulphur. These techniques along with fruit from 40 hectares of ancient, organically cultivated and dry-farmed vineyards (among the oldest in the valley) and a winery perfect for hands-off winemaking, make Domaine des Tourelles one of the finest boutique wineries in the Middle East.
Awards
- Top 100 2019 The Wine Merchant (2017 Vintage)
- Silver - Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2015 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% alcohol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian & Vegan, Organic |
| Dietary Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | Think Mediterranean cuisine - marinated meats, grilled vegetables. BBQs. |
| Appellation | Bekaa Valley |
2019 Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay
Regular price £21.99 Sale price £17.99 Save 18%This wine showcases the strength of Margaret River for Chardonnay with a restrained, modern, elegantly structured wine from one of the great Margaret River vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Colour
The wine displays fresh green tinges on a pale straw colour.
Nose
The nose exhibits aromas of fresh-cut pear and honeydew melon with some zesty citric notes. There are no overt woody or buttery aromas with the primary fruit characters expressed with clarity and definition.
Palate
The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright. This is a restrained style of Australian Chardonnay and highlights how far we have come with this style of wine over the last decade.

Producer
We have worked with Michael Kerrigan for more than 25 years, and we are continually impressed with his talent and capacity for reinvention. Former winemaker at Howard Park and Madfish, Michael struck out on his own when his dream vineyards in the key quality region of Wilyabrup came up for sale. With more than 30 years of winemaking under his belt, and 12 years going solo with Hay Shed Hill, this man is one of the most experienced, respected and revered winemakers in Australia - and rightly so. He is also a strong purveyor of classically blunt Aussie pearls of wisdom: “It’s all in the detail - you quite simply visit the vineyard every day. I’m not interested in being epic, I just want to make wine I like to drink”. He likens Margaret River’s climate to “Bordeaux in a perfect year”, and attributes the region’s success to its maritime climate, meaning a low diurnal range, very important in a country that is known for its extremes in temperature, and pretty much everything else!
Michael produces wines under two labels - the entry-level ‘Pitchfork’ range and the estate, single vineyard ‘Hay Shed Hill’ wines. The Pitchfork range represents unprecedentedly good value considering that all of the grapes are grown in Margaret River – very unusual for a wine at the entry-level from this region, and yet another example of Michael’s commitment to quality over all else.
There are 4 lip smackingly good, everyday wines in this range. Everything under the Hay Shed Hill label is single-vineyard, which Michael explains: “I make single vineyard and single block wines because they express a particular character – otherwise what’s the point?” All of the vines are dry farmed and made from free run juice only. The vineyards are around 20 years old and they are all farmed organically, but without certification. The Chardonnay sees 25% new oak and represents the ‘modern Australian Chardonnay’, in the words of its maker.
Reviews
95 Points | James Halliday Estate-grown. The bouquet is very pure, pointing to the restraint of the palate, where white stone fruit, apple and grapefruit do the talking. It was barrel-fermented, which has left its imprint on both the bouquet and palate. The way the wine has developed to date makes me certain it will grow old with grace a long way down the track. Great value.
93 Points | Ray Jordan, Wine Guide 2020 Great fruit from this vintage has pumped some seriuos quality into this excellent chardonnay. Retains a bright and lively mouthfeel, but with layers of complex meal and grapefruit character. Oak is neatly judged, with the 11 months maturation adding further complexity. Rich middle palate with a fine edge of melon and pear to finish. Nice wine.
92 Points | Sam Kim, Wine Orbit Delightfully fruited and elegantly expressed, the wine shows white flesh nectarine, rockmelon, nougat and lemon zest aromas on the nose, leading to a beautifully rounded palate that’s succulent and creamy. It’s splendidly composed and styled, offering lovely drinking.
91 Points | James Suckling, UK This has an array of lemons, lime juice, pears and melon with quite a fine, pared-back and taut textural stance.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
| Features | Vegan |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Margaret River |
| Appellation | Western Australia |
2022 Soumah of the Yarra Valley d'Soumah Pinot Noir
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%Pinot Noir is a very selective grape. It does not like the heat but does like the sun. It likes to be on well-drained soils so not good on flat landscapes. It likes warm days but more important, cold summer nights. It is so demanding that only a few Australian regions can aspire to produce a Pinot Noir of any pedigree...the Yarra Valley being one of them.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright, cherry and raspberry aromas are supported by a palate of brooding dark fruit and deep earthy flavours.
Palate
Elegantly balanced on the palate of soft tannins and subtle spice with a lengthy finish
'
Producer
Soumah of the Yarra Valley is a producer of fine wines from the region. A hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the cool Warramate foothills of Gruyere. Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the Yarra Valley. Situated an average of 120 meters above sea level, the vineyard is elevated above the valley floor. The ancient sandy-clay loams with broken sandstone shape the small yield and define the detail in these precise, focused expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Production Method
There are four clones of Pinot Noir on Hexham Vineyard and once combined they create a classic, cool climate style wine showing elegance and savoury spice. Fermentation is completed using indigenous yeasts followed by a lengthy maturation in premium French oak to add a layer of earthy complexity.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"More a savoury Pinot than a fruity one. There is good fruit but it’s dark and brooding and overlaid with a smoky oakiness - but it’s the savoury notes that shine through from start to finish. Very well made - smooth and with some complexity held together with soft tannins. Very good value! April 2023
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | Australia |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Grilled spatchcock with braised lentils or roasted mushrooms and pecorino polenta. |
| Origin | Victoria |
| Appellation | Yarra Valley |
2021 Vallet Frères Bourgogne Blanc
Regular price £24.79 Sale price £19.83 Save 20%Traditional white Burgundy.
Tasting Notes
This beautifully balanced and classic white Burgundy has a savoury, salty, baked peach and biscuity nose with a rich and broad palate that is balanced with moreish, acidity. The oak is well-integrated on both the nose and palate giving texture followed by a long, intense finish.

Method of Production
Chardonnay grapes sourced from Gevrey Chambertin and Auxey Duresses. Regular plowing and minimal fertilisers as well as minimal pruning to promote vigour and reduce yield. The grapes are hand picked and transported to the winery in small containers. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthoumieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. The wine is fined with bentonite prior to bottling but not filtered.
Producer
Founded in 1864 by Pierre Bourée, Vallet Frères is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the family, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet. The family owns vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, in the Beaune Premier Cru of Les Epenottes, and in the Grand Cru of Charmes-Chambertin, as well as the entire monopole vineyard of Clos de la Justice, also in Gevrey-Chambertin. Vallet Frères is also a négociant, and sources the best grapes from growers in other areas, with whom it has worked closely for decades.
The wines it produces are complex, fine and authentic examples of Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Vallet family’s wines have been imported to the UK by Boutinot for over 30 years and today they’re distributed to top independent wine merchants and Michelin-starred restaurants across the country.
A Note on Sustainability
Vallet Frères is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | Glam up your Roast Chicken dinner with this classic white Burgundy |
| Origin | Burgundy |
| Appellation | Bourgogne |
2020 Michael Opitz Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Gris
Regular price £23.99 Sale price £19.19 Save 20%No Tricks, Just Wine
This Sauvignon-Pinot Gris blend is a revelation! A truly sophisticated wine, full of finesse and soft tones, with Burgundy elegance and reserved coolness. A fascinating, sensuous palate, with fully mature flavours, which impresses from the first sip. The herbaceous tang of Sauvignon creates a fine balance of sweet fruitiness and crisp acidity.
Tasting Notes
Producer
Organic, Biodynamic, young, trendy, and Austrian! Michael Opitz is part of the new generation of wine growers, no longer producing mainstream but rather, distinctive, confident wines. The personality of this winegrower is reflected in the style of the wines, which are considered and confident without excessive inclination towards the dramatic. Michael Opitz also particularly values sustainability in the winery. This includes improvements in the vineyard and in the cellar as well as considerations concerning transport, packaging materials and many other aspects.
Alan's Personal Notes
"This one was labelled 'natural' not orange but still a decent colour extracted. With Sauv Blanc being the lead varietal - it’s certainly the more commercial of the two whites he produces. Equally magnificent but still difficult to recognise any particular fruit aromas or flavours - but again multi-layered, complex, and with great length - and again that saline finish. Just shades it to be my favourite of the two - but Di preferred last night. Definitely a winemaker to watch." January 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Gris |
| Country | Austria |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Orange Wine |
| Aging | 10 months in Austrian oak and Accacia Barrels |
| Allergen Information | Almost Sulfur Free |
| Dietary Information |
Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian
|
| Origin | Burgenland |
2023 Sancerre Domaine Michel Girard
Regular price £24.99 Sale price £19.99 Save 20%
A well-crafted and pure Sancerre. Expressive and enjoyable.
Tasting Notes
A ripe and generous style of Sancerre with a real depth of fruit; the crunchy, herbaceous aromatic notes often found in Sauvignon Blanc have been skilfully restrained, allowing fruity layers of green apples and lemons as well as a sweeter note of dried apple rings and a hint of peach to show through.

Method of Production
Terroir plays such an important role at this estate. The Girards are fortunate enough to be able to blend grapes from each of Sancerre's three key soil types, Terres Blanches (limestone), Caillottes (chalky limestone) and Silex (flint). The grapes are hand-picked and gently pressed, fermented at 18°C by indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats - all to preserve natural aromas, elegance and complexity. The final blend brings together the different elements of the three terroirs to create a balanced, complete wine.
Producer
Domaine Michel Girard comprises of 12 hectares of vineyards, made up of 30 parcels of vines with an average age of 15 years. Terroir plays an important role at this estate. Michel, Philippe and Benoît Girard's vines are planted on each of Sancerre's three different soil types: Terres Blanches (clay and limestone), Caillottes (chalky limestone) and Silex (flint). The brothers favour judicious blending of the separately-vinified cuvées to create wines with real complexity and balance.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Drink within 2 - 5 years |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Origin | Loire |
| Appellation | Sancerre |
2024 Sepp Moser Grüner Veltliner von den Terrassen
Regular price £17.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 15%Top quality, biodynamic, Gruner Veltliner from the Terrassen single vineyard.
Tasting Notes
Citrus and herbal aromas - with typical spicy Veltliner notes and hints of green pepper. The palate has mineral and flinty characters, oriental spice, and fresh citrus acidity on the finish.

Production
The grapes are biodynamically produced, and come mainly from the Wolfsgraben vineyard, with its south-exposed terraces and cool micro-climate. Wolfsgraben means 'canyon of the wolves'. The grapes were harvested in late September. The grapes are de-stemmed, crushed and pressed after 3 to 4 hours of skin contact - and fermented in stainless steel.
Producer
The Sepp Moser Estate was founded by the famous Austrian wine producing pioneer, Lenz Moser. Lenz Moser's son, Sepp Moser, began operating under his own name in 1987 and handed over the direction of this family-owned estate to his own son Nikolaus in the year 2000.
The Sepp Moser Estate comprises of 50 acres of vineyards in two prominent wine regions; Kremstal (22 ha) and Neusiedlersee (28 ha). In the Kremstal, Nikolaus produces an international range of varieties as well as the ever more important local varieties of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling. The reds are produced on the gravelly soils of the warm southern Neusiederslee village of Apetlon. All Sepp Moser wines have been organic (and all estate wines biodynamic) since 2007.
Sustainability
The Sepp Moser estate produces a wide range of wines every year thanks to its vineyards in two diverse regions. There is one main aim in the cellar: the quality of the grapes shall be brought with as little influence as possible to the bottle. The grapes in the Sepp Moser vineyards are harvested by hand and at the cellar of the Atrium House Nikolaus Moser emphasizes gentle vinification and tries to interfere as little as possible with the process so that each wine can develop its own individual style. The fermentation starts spontaneously, and the maturing of the wine takes place on its own.
In 2006, Nikolaus officially moved the estate to biodynamic viticulture – one of the first to do so in Austria – and became Demeter certified. 2009 saw the release of Sepp Moser’s first certified organic wines. Nikolaus is very keen to reduce the amount of copper and sulphur used in the vineyards, and this year saw a reduction of two thirds over what was sprayed previously. He composts all the estates' pomace and vine trimmings, and there is an ongoing effort to plant trees around the vineyards.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Grüner Veltliner |
| Country | Austria |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Biodynamic |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Drink with cold starters and fish dishes. |
| Origin | Kremstal |
| Appellation | DAC Kremstal |
2022 Teliani Valley Glekhuri Kisiskhevi Saperavi Qvevri
Regular price £19.99 Sale price £16.99 Save 15%Beautifully structured, dense and complex Qvevri Saperavi.
Tasting Notes
Kisiskhevi is a superb terroir within the wider Kakheti region, particularly for Saperavi. The best grapes are selected for fermentation in Qvevri, resulting in a deep coloured and structured wine that is still remarkably approachable due to its vibrant primary fruit and roasted nut aromas.

Production
A limited harvest of 5-7 tons per hectare from this excellent site for Saperavi, Kisiskhevi. Whole bunches are hand selected before being placed into underground qvevri, where fermentation takes place for 7-9 days with selected yeasts - being underground, the qvevri maintains the perfect temeperature at all times. Due to the size of the qvevri, production is limited to 6500 bottles only. Once fermentation is complete, the grape skins are removed and the wine spends further time maturing in the qvevri before bottling.
Producer
Teliani Valley was established in the 1990s by a group of enthusiastic young winemakers. Originally a converted car workshop was their home, but with their tremendous vineyards and skill for making quality wines, they have gone from strength to strength and are now one of the biggest producers in Georgia, with annual production of 5 million bottles.
Although their roots go back years and their connection with traditional winemaking is still strong, Teliani Valley today attracts and supports the most exciting winemakers in Georgia. Their team of innovative winemakers are given the time, equipment, fruit and support they need to create really exciting modern style wines, and we think that is evident in the selection we have here.
Awards
2021 Vintage International Wine Challenge 2023 - Bronze
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Saperavi |
| Country | Georgia |
| Alcohol Content | 13.5% |
| Units of Alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Grilled meats or portabello mushroom. |
| Allergy Info | Contains sulphites and no other allergens |
| Origin | Kakheti, Georgia |
| Appellation | Kisiskhevi |
2019 Tohu Awatere Valley Pinot Noir
Regular price £21.99 Sale price £17.59 Save 20%Colour
A bright ruby hue in the glass
Nose
Aromatic layers of red fruit and spicy florals with hints of crushed herbs.
Palate
The palate is smoothly textured with flavours of bright cherry, red berries and finely integrated French oak. Mid-weight on the palate, this wine is balanced with refined silky tannins that lead to a long and elegant finish.

Vinification
Grapes for this wine are handpicked at optimal ripeness before being transported back to the winery for processing. Once at the winery the fruit is gently destemmed and then lightly crushed using state of the art processing equipment. Batch fermented according to block and clone in small open-top fermenters, the must undergo a cold soak lasting around 7 days before being warmed and inoculated either with selected yeasts or left to undergo a ‘wild’ ferment using indigenous yeasts found naturally on the grapes.
Once fermentation is complete the wine undergoes a short period of post-fermentation maturation on skins before being pressed directly to a combination old and new French barriques. These barrels are kept cool in a temperature controlled cellar over the winter months, before being warmed in spring, allowing the wine to undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation. Barrels are carefully monitored over this period and once the malolactic fermentation is determined to be 100% complete the final blend is carefully put together before being filtered and bottled in late March
Producer
Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in our breathtakingly beautiful, Awatere Valley vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world's first Maori-owned wine company. Since then we’ve grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches |
Portobello mushrooms, bacon on sourdough bruschetta with roasted garlic and drizzled truffle oil |
| Appellation | Marlborough |
2021 Michael Opitz Buddy Talk Red
Regular price £17.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 15%No Tricks, Just Wine
Organically produced
Tasting Notes
Buddy Talk Red is a unique blend of organically grown Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Roesler grapes. It exhibits aromas of black and red fruits like blackberry and cherries, and plums along with light spice notes on the palate.

Producer
Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel, is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 50% Blaufränkisch 35% Zweigelt 15% Roesler |
| Country | Austria |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
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| Food Matches | Good friends and a great conversation! Soft cheese, cured salami and some cornichons will also work well |
| Origin | Burgenland |
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 |
|
Alcohol content
|
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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2023 Pierre Bourée Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Regular price £24.99 Sale price £19.99 Save 20%A classic and expressive Bourgogne Pinot Noir, crafted well and showcasing true typicity.
Tasting Notes
Translucent ruby red in colour with youthful wild strawberry fruit on the nose. Wonderfully pure and expressive flavours on the palate with mouthwatering acidity balancing the gentle, ripe tannins and elegant, savoury red fruit.

Production
Grapes are hand-harvested and are sourced from several parcels in Couchey, Meursault and Gevrey-Chambertin. Up to 50% of the bunches are destemmed and these grapes along with the remaining whole bunches are put into open top wooden tanks and gently crushed followed by daily pumping over. Since yeasts are an expression of the individual vintage and vineyard only the natural grape yeasts are used for the fermentation. The wine has a traditionally long vatting period of around 20 days and is then decanted into oak barrels of which 20-30% is well toasted new oak. After at least 6 months on the fine lees, the wine is racked, blended and rests for a month before bottling.
Producer
In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.
This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.
A Note on Sustainability
Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | France |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | Traditionally paired with Coq au Vin, this wine also complements roast chicken or young game birds beautifully. For vegetarians, a young Bourgogne Rouge pairs delightfully with pasta bakes or ratatouille. |
| Origin | Burgundy |
| Appellation | AOP Bourgogne |
2019 Michael Opitz Buddy Talk White
Regular price £17.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 15%No Tricks, Just Wine
Buddy Talk White is a wine for every occasion. Unobtrusive, adaptable and flattering. Organic.
Tasting Notes
The quintessence of the Seewinkel region. Combines the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. A companion for hot summer days, which also gives pleasure in the winter. Simply casual.
Buddy Talk is made from a unique combination of Muskat Ottonel, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is made with minimal intervention and is the quintessence of the Seewinkel region, combining the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. Tart, crisp and nice citrus and tropical fruit.
Producer
Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 50% Muskat Ottonel 35% Gelber Muskateller 15% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | Austria |
|
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
| Type | White Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Certified Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian approved, Biodynamic
|
| Food Matches | As an aperitif with baked cod and a potato salad or simply on its own! |
| Origin | Burgenland |

