Penfolds Bin 707 is the quintessential Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaking philosophy of Bin 707 is similar to that of Grange, that is ripe full flavoured grapes, completion of fermentation in barrel and new American oak maturation. The result is a wine of great richness, power, harmony and concentration with the structure and strength to age for the long term.

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Opaque, deep red.

Nose

Ripe red berries together with varietal, leafy cassis fruits. Stylish integrated oak, hints of smokiness and subtle cedar aromas.

Palate

Rich and ripe with dark cherry and raspberry fruit flavours, some dark chocolate and integrated smoky oak.

Please Note

A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!

Specifications

Bin 707 is Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Grange equivalent: ripe, intensely-flavoured fruit; completing fermentation and matured in new American oak; and expressing the Penfolds' policy of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit-sourcing.

Named by an exQantas marketing man, Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when the focus shifted to Bin 389) nor in 1981, 1995 or 2000 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full bodied and with good cellaring potential, Bin 707 has a secure place among the ranks of Australia's finest Cabernets. Packaged in laser-etched bottles from the 1997 vintage.

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Deep red with a dense core.

Nose

An immediate, intense lift of pure ripe blackcurrant fruit, laced with mint and the faintest suggestion of violet. Cigar box and fresh tobacco oak notes showcase the sheer fruit quality. Although youthful, the nose already shows true 707 character.

Palate

Powerful and complete. Saturated fruits have soaked up the new oak culminating in a rich, sweet mid-palate and long stylish finish. The depth of fruit and defined structure, coupled with obvious muscular tannins, suggest that this wine is built for the long haul.

Vintage Conditions

Good winter rains gave South Australian regions a solid start to the growing season. Fruit set was excellent and careful vineyard management to reduce crop loads ensured the vines were in good shape to continue ripening throughout the season. Summer rains brought relief and the ensuing fine conditions towards vintage resulted in fruit reaching full ripeness and was picked in optimal condition.

Please Note

A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!

Specifications

Bin 707 is Penfolds' Cabernet Sauvignon version of Grange: ripe, intensely flavoured fruit; completing fermentation and maturation in new oak; fully expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Named by an ex-Qantas marketer, Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 when fruit was directed to other wines, nor in 1981, 1995, 2000 or 2003 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 has a secure place among the ranks of Australia's finest Cabernets.

"Twenty vintages after winning the inaugural Adelaide Trophy with the 1987 Bin 707, this new 2007 Bin 707 release continues to demonstrate the advantage & wisdom of multi-regional blending in difficult years. Boldly Bin 707. Unmistakable!" Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Dense, deep-red, with a dark purple / black core.

Nose

Brooding, with a selective & slow aromatic release - firstly wafts of black olive (tapenade), then the faintest suggestion of sardine/anchovy - or maybe soy / Worcestershire - or could it be...? More confidently, familial barrel-ferment, cedary oak, and formic notes share the stage with blackcurrant & blackberry fruits. Inviting, tempting.

Palate

Cassis/blackcurrant varietal fruits and savoury oak stake an immediate (style) claim. Sarsaparilla and choco-mint flavours mould together to create the next layer, followed by a more savoury (Chinese mushroom/oyster sauce mix) immersion structurally impregnating any layering. Gripping tannins complete the offer.

Please Note

A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!

Specifications

The special clay-gravel terroir of Château Couhins-Lurton has given birth to a great left bank Merlot: it stands out in the appellation for its extreme finesse and intensity of fruit on the finish. Its nobility and ageing potential are a credit to its rank.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Intense, black-rimmed with violet.

Nose

The nose is dominated by the fruit: the ripe black cherry and blackberry aromas are intense but delicately highlighted by mild tobacco and lightly roasted notes. Very skillful barrel aging allows the oak to blend perfectly as a counterpoint to the fruit.

Palate

Very smooth, appears fat and soft… The tannins are ripe, melting and remarkably dense. Often described as jammy, but there are also spices and mild tobacco in the mix. The finish is long and lingering, with fruit that coats the palate. 

Production

Fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats and aged for 12 months in oak barrels (40% new) with racking.

Vintage

While January and February were colder than average, 2009 was nevertheless a warm year (one of the warmest in a century). There was a great deal of sunshine and a remarkable drought during the summer months.

Review & Awards

• JancisRobinson.com 17.5/20
  

"Really very subtle on the nose with some development at the rim and it has been judged just right - both texture and flavour are great. Better than many a grand cru. So much pleasure and balance. Opulent but not sweet or fat or raisined. Drink 2016-2028."

• The Wine Spectator 94/100

"Loads of crushed sweet berries on the nose, with fresh herbs and licorice. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, polished and soft texture on the end. And plenty of fruit. So pretty. Really impressive red from here." (James Suckling)

Specifications

The special clay-gravel terroir of Château Couhins-Lurton has given birth to a great left bank Merlot: it stands out in the appellation for its extreme finesse and intensity of fruit on the finish. Its nobility and ageing potential are a credit to its rank.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Intense, black-rimmed with violet.

Nose

The nose is dominated by the fruit: the ripe black cherry and blackberry aromas are intense but delicately highlighted by mild tobacco and lightly roasted notes. Very skillful barrel aging allows the oak to blend perfectly as a counterpoint to the fruit.

Palate

Very smooth, appears fat and soft… The tannins are ripe, melting and remarkably dense. Often described as jammy, but there are also spices and mild tobacco in the mix. The finish is long and lingering, with fruit that coats the palate. 

Production

Fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats and aged for 12 months in oak barrels (40% new) with racking.

Vintage

While January and February were colder than average, 2009 was nevertheless a warm year (one of the warmest in a century). There was a great deal of sunshine and a remarkable drought during the summer months.

Review & Awards

• JancisRobinson.com 17.5/20
  

"Really very subtle on the nose with some development at the rim and it has been judged just right - both texture and flavour are great. Better than many a grand cru. So much pleasure and balance. Opulent but not sweet or fat or raisined. Drink 2016-2028."

• The Wine Spectator 94/100

"Loads of crushed sweet berries on the nose, with fresh herbs and licorice. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, polished and soft texture on the end. And plenty of fruit. So pretty. Really impressive red from here." (James Suckling)

Specifications

Twelve years after arriving in America, in 1924, Gaspare Indelicato planted a vineyard in Manteca, California. With it, he planted the foundation of his eventual success in the California wine trade. Since that first vineyard flourished, Gaspare’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have honored his legacy through dedication to his steadfast values of family, hard work and integrity.

Tasting Notes

Our 2013 Transcendent Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of true depth and sophistication. It exhibits pronounced aromas of tobacco, black currant and violet. Flavors of mocha, cassis and allspice intermingle perfectly on the palate. The 2013 Transcendent is a full-bodied wine with the perfect oak to fruit balance, elegant tannins and a long rich finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon from the higher altitude mountain AVAs brings an incredible complexity and elegance to the palate. Atlas Peak has rocky, volcanic soil which allows the grapevines to focus on producing concentrated and flavorful grapes. The grapes sourced from Diamond Mountain’s volcanic soil results in fruit with great structure, texture and black fruit flavors. Howell Mountain has soils that are lean which naturally limits the vigor of the grapevines, concentrating the flavors and contributing to the intensity of the grapes. Mt. Veeder Cabernet adds an ethereal violet note to the blend that lifts and elevates the rich and ripe aromas.

Producer

More than a century ago, Gaspare and Caterina Indelicato immigrated from Sicily to the United States. With little to draw on but a long family history of grapegrowing and an entreprenuer’s gift for seizing opportunity, Gaspare entered the wine trade by planting a single vineyard in Manteca, California, where the climate reminded the couple of their homeland.

Occupying a privileged position at the southern foot of the trail, the winery grounds eventually became the site of the Silverado Western Center, a major equestrian center that opened in September 1963.

The original riding area now houses prized wines, instead of prize-winning horses. However Black Stallion Estate Winery carries its heritage forward. The estate’s legacy honors the world-class terroir of Napa Valley, the pioneering spirit of the Silverado Trail, and the Indelicato family’s warm hospitality and generations of wine expertise.

Winemaking Philosophy

To make great wine, a winemaker must have a deep familiarity with each lot of freshly pressed juice. At Black Stallion, the search for greatness means boots in the vineyard, checking on vine growth and grape development all year long. It means tasting grapes rather than looking at lab reports to determine the perfect moment to pick. It means harvesting and sorting fruit by hand. Black Stallion Winery’s small scale means that each lot of grapes that arrives at harvest is treated individually, and receives a unique upbringing to bring out its full potential for excellence.

Once crushed at the winery, micro-lots may be fermented in small tanks made of wood, concrete or steel. These choices of aging vessel give winemaker Ralf Holdenried exceptional flexibility to match a batch of grapes with the material best suited to bring out its greatness—key in a region as diverse as Napa Valley.
 
After fermentation, wine is drained using gravity (not pumps) and aged in the finest oak barrels. The gentle handling of the wine prevents the extraction of harsh components that could impart bitterness.

There’s no set recipe for a Black Stallion blend, just the finely honed palates of winemaker Ralf Holdenried and his team. It’s not uncommon for Holdenried to try dozens of trial blends before deciding on a final cuvée. The goal is always the same: To create a seamless, harmonious wine that captures the varietal’s best expression of that vintage in Napa Valley.

Specifications

Precision wine making at its best!

Tasting Notes

2014 Château La Louvière is very attractive, with a beautiful dark red colour featuring multiple purple highlights. Above all, this 2014 La Louvière reflects precision winemaking to obtain the very best from the grapes. Its freshness contributes to a long aftertaste, as well as excellent ageing potential.

Production

Specifications

The 2015 La Dame de Montrose produced by the prestigious Château Montrose, represents the second wine of this renowned estate situated the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux.

Tasting Notes 

An intense deep red colour, the second selection of Château Montrose is marked by the terroir: a powerful and expressive nose with complex aromas of black fruit, fine oak, toasty and smoky. The attack on the palate is rich and full. The mid palate, round and completely in harmony, reveals supple and silky tannins. Good length, with aromas of very ripe fruit on the finish. 

Production

2015 started with a colder winter than in previous years. The start of the season, mild and quite sunny, favoured early bud burst. Quick and uniform flowering took place at the start of June thanks to the exceptional climatic conditions. June and July were dry, marked by water stress leading to a clear slow-down in the development of the vine.  Véraison took place early and in a very uniform way between 21 July and 10 August.  The showers in September gave us the measure, once again, of the qualities of our terroir: drainage was perfect, and the Cabernet Sauvignon on the plateau bordering the estuary 
benefited from a very beneficial drying wind.  Harvest started from15 September with an increased team of pickers and continued at a sustained pace until 8 October when picking finished.  The grapes were of very good quality, and we further strengthened our ultra-precise plot selection, which sometimes involved several passes through a plot in the search for optimum 
ripeness.  In the cellar, the reception line allowed for precision work: 3 sorting tables for bunches preceded double sorting of the berries, optical then by hand.  The vinification, respectful of the identity of our terroir, was tailor-made in tanks of sizes adapted to each of the 55 batches that make up our blending palette. To these were added 7 batches resulting from the precision work carried out at the press.  At the time of blending, the richness of the batches allowed us to be extremely precise in the selection for the grand vin, the most drastic in 15 years.  The first tastings put this vintage among the great years of Château Montrose. 

Producer

The producer of the 2015 La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe is Château Montrose, a prestigious Second Growth estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux. La Dame de Montrose is the château’s second wine, crafted with the same care and terroir expression as the Grand Vin but designed to be more approachable in its youth.

Château Montrose has a long-standing reputation for producing structured, age-worthy wines and is currently owned by the Bouygues family, who have invested significantly in sustainability and precision winemaking.

Specifications

2016 was one of the finest vintages in the past 20 years of this red wine which exudes an elegant bouquet and delicate hints of oak.....

Tasting Notes

Colour

This wine is garnet-red in colour with a few carmine highlights. 

Nose

Its bouquet is wonderfully intense. On aeration, it releases black-berry fruit (blackberry, black cherry, plum) aromas, with hints of cake spices. 

Palate

On the palate, this wine is very rich and well-balanced. The aftertaste is long, with slight tarry overtones. The tannin is not yet fully resolved. These characteristics are indicative of its good ageing potential: it would be best to wait two or three years to appreciate its full complexity.

Production

Specifications

A complex and elegant Haut-Médoc, from a good vintage.

Tasting Notes

Drinking beautifully now, this has a classic Médoc cigar box nose, followed by a textured, fleshy, plum fruit and aniseed-scented palate.

Production

From a total of 32 hectares of 30 year old Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot vines, planted on gravelly soils. After harvest, grapes are manually sorted to ensure optimal maturity. Temperature controlled open fermentation in concrete vats, with extended maceration and regular pumping over.

Producer

Château Lanessan has belonged to a succession of eight generations of the Bouteiller family since the 18th century. You might assume such a longstanding family to be traditional and staid, but in fact they are very open and receptive to new influences. In 2009 they employed winemaker Paz Espejo (who came to Bordeaux from her native Spain in the 1990s) to inject new vigour into the estate. Paz’s goal is to “grow excellent fruit while remaining loyal to our fantastic terroir”. Working alongside oeneologist Eric Boissenot and advised by Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus, she has made significant changes in the vineyard and in the cellar that now are being reflected in the quality of the wines.

Sustainability

In 2011, Château Lanessan joined the Environmental Management System launched by the CIVB to promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly viticulture and in 2014, it was certified HVE Level 3.

Specifications

 Thanks to expressive fruit – but without excessive concentration – Château Bonnet's red wine is unquestionably charming. In fact, it is a benchmark in Bordeaux. The wine is best enjoyed on the young side, although the quality tannin ensures good ageing for several year. With its fresh red cherry notes, this wine makes a great pairing for grilled meats and cheese platters.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Deep ruby-red color scattered with purple highlights. 

Nose

The nose is very attractive and fruity, revealing a delicious array of fresh fruit notes (cherry), underpinned by subtle hints of spice.

Palate

This beautiful Bonnet starts out straightforward on the palate, becoming very round, delicious and sweet. Fresh red fruit aromas (cherry) follow through to the palate.

Production

Grapes come from clay-limestone hilltop vineyards of Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers. Aged 12 months in 20% new oak barrels.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Intense aromas of blackcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and Black Forest cake are intertwined with subtle hints of cedar, lilac, pencil shavings, and crushed rocks. On the palate, it presents a medium to full-bodied profile, featuring ripe, finely grained tannins and a vibrant core of crunchy black fruits, in a lingering mineral finish.

Production

From September 19th to October 7th. Hand harvesting in several passes, according to the level of maturity of the plots. Meticulous sorting in 
the vines and in the vatroom.  Gentle vinification by infusion. Cold maceration. 
Maceration period from 30 to 35 days decided by daily tastings.  Aged in barrels and casks.

Producer

The producer of Chevalier de Lascombes Margaux is Château Lascombes, a historic Second Growth estate located in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux. The wine is crafted as the château’s second label, offering a more approachable expression of the estate’s terroir while maintaining the elegance and structure typical of Margaux wines.

Château Lascombes itself dates back to the 17th century and is currently owned by Lawrence Family Wine Estates, with Axel Heinz—formerly of Ornellaia and Masseto—at the helm as CEO and winemake

Specifications

Fresh, vibrant fruit! The Chevalier immediately presents a captivating expression of the Estate. It embodies all the charm and silkiness one would anticipate from a great Margaux. The tannins are structured yet supple, making it delightful to enjoy young or after a few years of aging in the cellar for the discerning enthusiast.

Tasting Notes 

Expect ripe black cherry, plum, and red currant on the nose, layered with hints of spice, chocolate, and tobacco. The palate is rich and velvety, with a generous fruit core and supple tannins. There's a touch of oak spice and floral lift, and the finish is smooth, with lingering notes of dark berries and a whisper of cedar.

Production

From September 19th to October 16th.   Hand harvesting in several passes, according to the level of maturity of the plots. Meticulous sorting in 
the vines and in the vatroom. Gentle vinification by infusion. Cold maceration. 
Maceration period from 30 to 35 days decided by 
daily tastings. Aged in barrels and casks

Producer

The producer of Chevalier de Lascombes Margaux is Château Lascombes, a historic Second Growth estate located in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux. The wine is crafted as the château’s second label, offering a more approachable expression of the estate’s terroir while maintaining the elegance and structure typical of Margaux wines.

Château Lascombes itself dates back to the 17th century and is currently owned by Lawrence Family Wine Estates, with Axel Heinz—formerly of Ornellaia and Masseto—at the helm as CEO and winemake

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are blended to create this complex and balanced wine of a deep violet color. In the nose, it has floral aromas – such as violet and rosehip – typical of the Malbec variety.  The Syrah contributes spicy notes, good volume in the mouth and silky tannins, whereas the Cabernet Sauvignon complements the blend with a great structure.

Vineyards

Doña Paula 1100 comes from 3 blocks in our Los Indios Vineyard, which is located in El Cepillo, San Carlos, Uco Valley, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The sandy loam soil here has great drainage; in some sectors, there are gravel and stone deposits of colluvial origin, always bound by a thick, 70 cm (27.5 in) deep layer of black caliche. Days are warm and nights cold; the average temperature variation is 16 °C (60.8°F), and the average annual rainfall reaches 300 mm (11.8 in).      The vines yield 7 to 9 tons per hectare. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.

Vinification

The harvest starts with Syrah in the first week of April, it continues with Malbec by mid-April, and it finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the same month. The grapes are hand-picked and then they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Each variety undergoes cold maceration separately, in stainless steel tanks, to extract the primary aromas. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, the blend is made, and the aging process is carried out in 20% new French oak barrels, for 16 months.

Awards

• 92 points in the Tim Atkin Argentina Report
• 92 points James Suckling

Specifications

 Château Bonnet is one of Bordeaux's consistently reliable wines. Vignobles André Lurton are committed to making wines that are both full-bodied and balanced, like this Reserve cuvee, which typifies classic Bordeaux. Its faultless pedigree is revealed in its elegant balance, depth and charm.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Deep ruby-red colour.

Nose

The nose is intense, dominated by aromas of black fruit (blackberry, blackcurrant), mingled with delicious chocolate notes.

Palate

The attack is very supple. Round and fresh on the palate. Delightful notes of black fruit accompany us throughout the tasting. This is a well-balanced, easy-drinking wine. The finish has a lovely tannic structure that melts perfectly

Production

Specifications

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

Specifications

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Specifications

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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

A lovely introduction to the classic Greek Agiorgitiko (pronounced 'Ah-yor-YEE-te-ko' !) grape.

Tasting Notes

Sweetly ripe dark black and red fruit aromas. The palate has blackcurant from the Cabernet Sauvignon with rich bramble fruit from the Agiorgitiko. Finely structured with remarkably approachable tannins, there is a touch of well-integrated French oak, a light savoury note and a twist of liquorice on the finish.

Production Method

Both the indigenous Agiorgitiko grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon are sourced from old vines cultivated in the clay soils of gently sloping Peloponnese vineyards, at around 300m altitude. Each grape is vinified separately. After a 5-day pre-fermentation cold soak, the must undergoes a 15 day vinification at controlled temperatures. After a 6 month maturation in new French oak barrels the blending of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon takes place.

Producer

Domaine Papagiannakos was established in 1919 in the heart of the plain of Mesogaia, Attica - just 30km from the shadow of the Acropolis. Third generation winemaker, Vassilis Papagiannakos, was born and bred in Markopoulo, and grew up around the family winery. At that time the Savatiano variety was the winery's sole focus - but later Malagouzia was introduced, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other varieties. Vassilis owns 10 hectares of vineyard in the Attica region, and maintains long-term leases on a further 20 hectares, with vines on average 50-60 years old. Rocky, sandy, clay topsoil nurtures low yielding bush vines - extremely limited irrigation is employed. The Papagiannakos family continues its traditions whilst bringing the winery into the 21st Century with a stunning and innovative bioclimatic winery.

Sustainability

In 2007 their state of the art bioclimatic winery was completed which saves energy in the wine-making process and is built to allow gravity to move wine from one part to another. They have moved to lighter weight bottles, use electric vehicles on the domaine and are taking steps to reduce their CO2 output as much as possible over the years to come. The pine used for their Retsina has been sourced from the same resion collector for many years and comes from forests located just 15 minutes drive from the domaine.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

This wine has a soft, salmon pink colour and is bursting with aromas of strawberries and rose petals. The palate is vibrant with a good balance between the bright acidity and flavours of Turkish delight, strawberries and red cherries. The finish is juicy and dry and the wine has a pleasant length.

A fresh, dry and vibrant Rosé made via direct pressing of Cabernet Sauvignon providing a wine with an alluring salmon colour and appealing drinkability.

Vintage Conditions

2022 was an excellent vintage for the Rosé on Dornier. The ripening season was cooler than the previous vintage. The result of this cooler season was that the grapes ripened at lower sugar levels and with a fresher natural acidity and more delicate flavours. 

Fermentation and Ageing

The Cabernet Sauvignon ripened in late February. The grapes were handpicked and pressed directly after destemming in order to obtain light pink juice. The resultant light pink juice fermented for 14 days at 12 degrees Celsius and spent a further four months on full lees to provide fullness and body to the wine. 

History

Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.

Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity. 

Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.

Specifications

Good value satellite Saint-Émilion.

Tasting Notes

A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a pleasingly long finish for such a good value wine.

Producer

For over a decade Boutinot has been in partnership with leading Bordeaux négociant Ginestet, to offer high quality wines from a selection of châteaux in key appellations as well as consistently fine, benchmark Bordeaux wines.

Production

Lussac is a village to the North West of Saint-Émilion, granted appellation status in 1936. Predominately Merlot vines averaging 25 years of age grown on gravelly/clay soil. Grapes are carefully harvested before being destemmed and crushed and transfered to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation last around 10-15 days, with 7 days maceration.

Sustainability

As both a négociant and a producer of its own wines, Maison Ginestet has long been convinced of the need to work the land in a viable manner and it places substantial emphasis on partnerships with sustainable agriculture-accredited winegrowing estates. Some growers are fully organic, and Ginestet is certified to bottle wines made from organically grown grapes.

In 2006, Maison Ginestet set up an international wine school at its Carignan-de-Bordeaux site. Through the Ginestet Wine Academy, Maison Ginestet shares with its commercial partners the expertise it has gained over more than a century of producing and marketing Bordeaux wines.

Specifications

Specifications

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The ‘Man with the Ax’ is the nickname for the King of Diamonds in Poker-parlance, and in California, Cabernet is undoubtedly ‘King’. Rich cassis fruit and a good lick of oak make this a plush, easy-drinking example of why it is so highly prized.'.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe blackcurrant and wild berry fruit on the nose complemented sweet vanilla oak.

Palate

Rich cassis and black cherry fruit on the palate with a soft, juicy, yet long finish. Framed by the subtle American oak.

Tasting Notes

Summer pudding reaches from the glass, there is an abundance of blackberry and cassis fruit with a naughty creaminess of oak that marries on the palate for a bold pastiche of old vine Barossa Cabernet.

A Stellenbosch classic from one of the Cape's star Cabernet producers. Expertly crafted from 4 specifically diverse terroirs, from the cool gravelly slopes facing False Bay to the rich red granitic soils around Stellenbosch. 2022 vintage 93 points in Tim Atkin's 2024 South Africa Report.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

A pure varietal nose with fine cassis and black cherry aromas and notes of violet and cedar spice. 

Palate

The palate is ripe and fruit forward with nice depth of fresh blackcurrant fruit and fresh acidity. Well-integrated oak and fine-grained tannins support the lengthy finish.

Production

Fruit is sourced from a variety of sites ranging from the sandy gravel soils of the Firgrove and Raithby ward to sandy/loamy granite soils of the Jonkershoek ward, all harvested by hand at optimal ripeness. Once harvested, the grapes are bunch sorted and pumped into open top fermenters. Here, Christo and the winemaking team vinify each vineyard block separately, allowing the unique characteristics and flavours of each block to develop. After a few months ageing, the final blend is made and the wine spends 12 months in French oak barriques, 25% new, before bottling.

Producer

Le Riche is a family run estate founded by Etienne Le Riche in 1996. Situated close to the historic town of Stellenbosch, the winery is perched on the slopes of the Heldeberg Mountain and surrounded by the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountain range.

If youre based in Stellenbosch and going to specialise in something, Cabernet is a great choice! Le Riche are known as ‘Cabernet Masters’ and rightly so. They select grapes from the best possible Stellenbosch terroirs to craft top quality Cabernets with superb cellaring potential. The estate was founded by Etienne Le Riche in 1996 and remains a family affair.

These wines are elegant and classy with fine grained tannins and subtle oak integration, and while not aiming to be Bordeaux replicas, they do have much in common with the balance and poise sometimes found in top Margaux. With most of their wines sold domestically, it’s a rare treat to find these wines on UK soils. Production is 8000×6 cases a year, with the Reserve range consisting of only 1000 cases. These wines are rare but worth sourcing.

Sustainability

Le Riche work strictly with organic viticultural practices (though not certified), maintaining healthy soils and minimum spraying to ensuring our growers form part of the local Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of guidelines specifying good agricultural practices related to grape production (farm component), as well as a set of guidelines specifying good manufacturing practices related to wine production (winery component) and packaging activities (bottling activities). Their compliance with the IPW guidelines is assessed on an annual basis through the completion of a self-evaluation questionnaire and is independently audited on a spot check basis.

Accolades

• 93 points | Tim Aitkin

Specifications

Expressive Cabernet crammed full of varietal character and finesse.

Tasting Notes

Bursting with red and blackcurrant fruits, this is a really soft and pure Cabernet with gentle tannins and a hint of green pepper on the finish. Cool herby flavours mingle with red fruits and a nice touch of acidity.

Production

Sourced from selected areas of the Central Valley. Relatively cool short fermentation to preserve fruit aroma with maceration on the skins for only a few days to extract a nice colour but minimal tannins. Early bottling to keep the wine's youthful style.

Producer

Our winemaking team have been building relationships across Chile over the past two decades, sourcing fruit and wine from across the Central Valleys. We work with a number of small family growers who pay particular attention to quality and ensure that our winemaking team has the best possible fruit to work with . Freshness and purity are the preferred hallmarks of Boutinot's Chilean wines.

Each vintage Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang travels the vineyards of our grower partners, blending that year's truest expression's of Chile's unique terroirs.

Specifications

Classically French Cabernet that delivers on all fronts.

Tasting Notes 

Quite ripe blackcurrant and wild berry fruits on the nose with a hint of grassy herbs, medium to full-bodied black fruits balanced by a slight grip and length offered by underlying tannins.

Production

The Bellefontaine range has established an international reputation for consistent quality and value. Bellefontaine wines possess fine aromatics, pure fruit expression, fresh acidity, varietal character and above all, a persistent finish. The goal is to create a range of wines of consistent quality that are delicious to drink on their own but also complement food well.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Beautiful bright pink color with slight lilac tones, a result of its youth. On the nose, aromas of red and fresh fruits like currant and strawberry prevail. On the palate, it is long and complex with some balsamic notes that give it personality.

Production

Made using the traditional “bleeding” method, hence its deep raspberry tone. During bleeding, the must stays in contact with the skins for 4 to 6 hours, and then it goes into a tank where it will ferment at 18ºC, which preserves the freshest and most delicate aromas.

Producer

The sixth generation of a family of winemakers and vine growers. Together with their team, they care for the vineyard daily with the goal of creating timeless wines that connect people. The values and knowledge passed on by the family have brought them to where they are today. Now, Adriana and Beatriz, represent this new era of Ochoa with courage, pride, and our unique style full of resilience, tradition, honesty, friendship and joy.

Specifications

Expressive Cabernet crammed full of varietal character and finesse.

Tasting Notes

Bursting with red- and blackcurrant fruits, this is a really soft and varietally pure expression of Cabernet with gentle tannins. Cool herby flavours mingle with red fruits and a nice touch of acidity.

Producer

Our winemaking team have been building realationships across Chile over the past two decades, sourcing fruit and wine from across the Central Valleys. We work with a number of small family growers who pay particular attention to quality and ensure that our winemaking team has the best possible fruit to work with . Freshness and purity are the preferred hallmarks of Boutinot's Chilean wines.

Each vintage Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang travels the vineyards of our grower partners, blending that year's truest expression's of Chile's unique terroirs.

Production

We source our Cabernet fruit from the Colchagua Valley which sits in the middle of Chile’s main central valley. Colchagua is widely regarded as one of the best locations for red varieties in Chile and many illustrious wineries are based here. The warm, Mediterranean type climate suits Cabernet really well, allowing it to ripen fully, late into the season. A cool short fermentation to preserve fruit aroma and maceration on the skins for only a few days to extract nice colour but minimal tannins. No oak is used. Early bottling to keep the wine's youthful style. We love the pure, blackcurrant characteristics which are always so present in our Cabernet blend.

Specifications

Chile does Provence minus the £££'s!

Refreshing and delicious predominantly from Emiliana's organic vineyards in Colchagua and Cachoploal valleys.

Tasting Notes

A lovely pale and delicate rosé.

Colour 

Pale almost Provencal-pink in colour.

Nose

Gentle strawberry and red cherry aromas.

Palate

The palate is medium in weight with fresh summer fruits and a silky yet refreshing finish. Delicate and easy to drink.

Production

The Rapel Valley lies with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, and the province of Curicó to the south. This area is particularly well suited for growing Carmenère, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a transversal valley of Chile’s central zone with unique climatic conditions, including four clearly defined seasons and a unique blend of maritime breezes and Andean winds. The hand-picked grapes were transported to the winery and selected from a conveyor belt to ensure maximum quality. Vinification took place in stainless steel tanks for 3 months with selected yeasts. The finished wine was fined using bentonite and cold stabilized to prevent the formation of tartrate crystals and 1 and 0.45 micron cartridge filters were used at the time of bottling.

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.

Sustainability

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

 Thanks to expressive fruit – but without excessive concentration – Château Bonnet's red wine is unquestionably charming. In fact, it is a benchmark in Bordeaux. The wine is best enjoyed on the young side, although the quality tannin ensures good ageing for several year. With its fresh red cherry notes, this wine makes a great pairing for grilled meats and cheese platters.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Deep ruby-red color scattered with purple highlights. 

Nose

The nose is very attractive and fruity, revealing a delicious array of fresh fruit notes (cherry), underpinned by subtle hints of spice.

Palate

This beautiful Bonnet starts out straightforward on the palate, becoming very round, delicious and sweet. Fresh red fruit aromas (cherry) follow through to the palate.

Production

Grapes come from clay-limestone hilltop vineyards of Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers. Aged 12 months in 20% new oak barrels.

Rating

• 91 points from Decanter Magazine

Specifications