Vibrant, crisp & delicate | Complex and honeyed, to be enjoyed with close friends

Tasting Notes

Producer

Over 150 years of History! Founded in 1859, this independent and family run Maison Louis de Grenelle has passed down its expertise through the generations. It continues the tradition of making sparkling wines in the depths of its cellars burrowed underneath Saumur in the heart of the Valley of Kings, the Val de Loire.

Specifications

Deliciously juicy, forward style of Shiraz from cool Coastal vineyards.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A vibrant juicy style of Shiraz with ripe bramble and black cherry on the nose.

Palate

Fresh summer pudding fruits and gentle spice on the palate lead to a mellow and satisfyingly rich finish.

Production

The vineyards for this Shiraz clamber up the foothills of the Swartland mountains which are comprised of sandstone and alluvial soils. This region is hot and dry which forces these unirrigated vines to work hard to produce low yields and small berries. Produced from only free-run juice and fermented on skins in stainless steel tanks, a portion of the grapes are whole bunch fermented as the ripe stems add to the overall tannin quality of the wine. The remainder of the grapes are destemmed and pressed. After a third of the sugar has fermented, delestage is done once per day. The wine is drawn off at the bottom of the tank and transferred into a separate tank. Once complete, it is then transferred back into the fermentation tank onto the skins and stems. This method ensures more air is incorporated into the wine which helps to release the fresh, fruity, and spicy aromas known so well in this wine. When the final blend has been made, it is aged on fine lees for an extended period in French oak barrels along with around 15% from the previous vintage. This ensures a more complex wine with greater palate weight and mouthfeel.

Producer

Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.

Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules, and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature, and science to create versatile, expressive, and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.

Specifications

Pure unoaked Chardonnay from the Western Cape.

Tasting Notes

Fresh, tangy stone fruit and pineapple on the nose. The fruit follows through on the palate with a ripe, juicy mouthfeel and crisp acidity. There is breadth and character in this wine that follows through to a refreshing finish.

Production

The Chardonnay grapes for this unoaked wine are sourced from long-established vineyards on the Wellington/Swartland borders of the Western Cape. This area receives little rainfall and the soil is a mixture of alluvial riverbed stones, decomposed granite, and shale. The vines are low-trellised and the grapes are picked by hand in the early hours of the morning to retain their freshness. On arrival at the winery, grapes are chilled and the juice settled in tank prior to fermentation. A proportion of the grapes are full bunch pressed, the rest are destemmed and cold fermented. We keep the wine on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for as long as possible prior to bottling.

From the Producer

Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.

Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature and science to create versatile, expressive and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

Straw-yellow in colour

Nose

A fragrant and crisp aroma with unmistakable floral notes and hints of ripened pear. 

Mouth

Its taste is dry and minerally, acidic yet balanced, and is both intense and enduring.

Background

Specifications

A 50/50 blend of Merweh and Obeidi - indigenous Lebanese varieties from low yielding old vines. The Merweh vineyards are over 100 years old and have not been pruned for the last two decades, resulting in extremely low yields and concentrated flavours.

Tasting Notes

Colour

This blend of Merweh and Obeidi is golden in colour.

Nose

The nose has natural aromas of ripened grapes, apple skin and a mix of herbs and spices. 

Palate

Mineral and savoury on the palate, the wine shows notes of dried figs and fresh almonds on the finish.

Production

A blend of two indigenous Lebanese varieties that likey trace their lineage back to the Phoenicians, this wine is made from very old vines grown in altitude. Merweh vineyards are spread over the mountians of Bsharreh to the west of the Bekaa Valley at 1,400m altitude, in amongst the famous cedars of Mount Lebanon. Merweh is a resistant variety which has adpated very well to the Mediterranean mountain climate and ecosystem. Due to the wild nature of the Merweh vines, the ripening was uneven abd required several passes and a skilled team to select only perectly ripe grapes. Obeidi vineyards are grown on the hills of Zahleh - the capital of Bekaa Valley - at 1,100m altitude. These 50 year old vines are trained using a pergola system to ensure they enjoy the best sun exposure to reach maximum ripeness an balance on this late-ripening grape. Obeidi is a reliable and very resitant grape, considered to be the backbone of Behaa Valley's vines throughout its winemaking history. Both varieties were cold fermented separately, using wild yeast widely present in the winery. Once fermentation was complete, the wines we blended and stored for a short period of time in stainless steel tanks to keep the original freshness of the blend.

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.

Specifications

The bouquet has hints of blueberries, cherries, violets, tobacco leaf and spicy cedar wood. The mouthfeel is opulent with a generous lingering aftertaste. 

Accolades

• 90pts | Platter’s

  Weighty & serious Bordeaux blend, 70% cab with merlot & petit verdot in 2018, showing quintessential black-fruit aromas/flavours of cherry, currant & berry. 15% alcohol & 80% new oak deftly handled, as in 2015 (93 pts), though shade less freshness because of intense fruit-sweet finish. Also in 1.5L, as Teano. No 2016, 2017 untasted.

  Platter’s 2022

Specifications

Considered the highest expression of biodynamic agriculture in Emiliana - its name comes from the Greek root meaning 'Earth'. Biodynamic agriculture considers the farm to be a living organism. This is a unique wine with great personality that faithfully expresses the characteristics and attributes of its terroir.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A complex but delightfully varied nose showing a mix of herbaceous, fruit and spice notes. Green pepper, eucalyptus and rosemary combine with juicy blackcurrant and ripe blackberry fruit.

Palate

The palate is bright and assured with great intensity of weight and flavour. Bold blackcurrant and blackberry fruits are plentiful along with pepper spice, vanilla and gentle clove notes. Dark chocolate character is also evident which adds to the complexity. The wine has serious structure with firm yet ripe tannins and a long more-ish finish with good acidity. Wondrous stuff from Emiliana’s biodynamic Los Robles paradise.

Production

This wine is made from a blend of 53% Syrah 36% Carmenère, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The season in Colchagua presented average maximum temperatures that were higher than those of the previous season. Rainfall was lower than in other years, with a total of 395 mm, concentrated in the winter. The spring and summer were very dry, which benefitted fruit set. The harvest season arrived two weeks early, and despite being a hot and dry year, the decision to harvest early and a good selection of the bunches allowed us to make a Gê that is not overripe and remain faithful to its characteristic style.

The first stage of reception includes placing the fruit on a conveyor belt to select the fruit and eliminate any leaves or damaged bunches. The clean bunches are destemmed and placed on a second belt where the individual grapes are selected by size and then pass on to a vibrating table to achieve a perfect selection. The grapes then drop gently into the tanks by gravity and undergo an 8º pre-fermentation cold maceration for 5-7 days. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and begins spontaneously with native yeasts. Temperatures are maintained at 24º–26ºC and extraction is managed through pumpovers determined by enological criteria. The new wine then remains on its skins for a 10-day post-fermentation maceration at 22º–24ºC, for a total maceration time of 30–35 days. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in oak barrels, where the wine ages for 16 months, 80% in French oak barrels (50% new, 50% with one prior use), and the remaining 20% was gained in an egg-shaped concrete tank. The process concludes when the wine is fined and stabilized naturally without treatments and then prepared for bottling by lightly filtering.

Producer

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.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Nose

A mineral nose of crushed granite, peach kernel and petrichor.

Palate

On the palate, the sandy seam underpins ripe, juicy stonefruit flesh. The wine finishes tight and bright with a clean, lightly floral finish.

Production

Of the last blocks of Fernao left in the Cape this is the oldest at 30-something years old. Originally grown for yield and brandy this Portuguese immigrant certainly found its feet but fell out of favour. Which is where we all come in.. Before we lose ‘em let’s use ‘em. All the rock-stars are sniffing around this block now which is good for its future but here is an accessibly-priced expression of the loveliness of the Found before it gets Lost. In Portugal the variety is also known as Maria Gomes, which is strangely sexy in itself. Best drunk in its youth this wine is not for later, it’s definitely Fernao.

Specifications

A fresh bright and charming expression of Loire Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes

Warm, red berry fruit characterizes this fresh Pinot Noir. Ripe tannins are balanced by fresh acidity and subtle oak on the finish.

Method of Production

Grapes are grown on 15-year-old vines, planted at 8,000 vines per hectare on clay and chalk soils with areas of Portlandian clay. Yields are usually between 40 and 50hl/ha. The grapes are 100% destemmed after harvest and are allowed to cold soak for several days before temperature-controlled fermentation. Pigeages and pump-overs take place during maceration, which lasts between 20 and 30 days depending upon the vintage. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in cuves and demi-muids, followed by ageing for 10 to 12 months. This wine is bottled straight from the barrel without fining or filtration.

Producer

The small village of Maimbray, just to the north of Sancerre itself, is home to both Domaine Roblin and to Domaine du Pré Semelé. In fact the Roblins are just across the road from the Raimbaults and share a similar story of two brothers – 4th generation Matthias and Emile in this case – taking over from their father and implementing new ideas to move the family Domaine forward.

They have a total of 19 hectares of vines with a terroir made up of Kimmeridgian and Portlandian chalky clay (Terres Blanches) soils, spread across 45 separate parcels of vines, on the slopes around the villages of Maimbray and Sury-en-Vaux. Their vineyards are planted with 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Pinot Noir, and in the winery their intervention is minimal: gravity does the work of pumps, and the wines see long lees ageing. The wine style is very pure, fruit-forward yet fine, and really top quality.

Sustainability

Vineyards are worked with the greatest of respect to the environment; no chemical pesticides or herbicides are used; carbon dioxide emissions are kept as low as possible; there is crop cover between rows of vines to help combat soil erosion, and green harvesting is practised to restrain yields and improve ripeness. Although not yet HVE accredited or certified organic, the Roblins employ many of the practices of both.

Specifications

Widely considered to be one of the best producers in Slovenia, Edi Simčič’s wines are truly unique, stoically traditional and proudly Slovenian.

Malvasia, or Malvazija as it is known in Slovenia, is a classic Mediterranean grape variety that is perfectly suited to the warm conditions in the Gorizia Hills. The Simcics make their version in a rich, structured style which is in direct contrast to many lighter versions from more coastal regions.

Tasting Notes

Ripe peaches and apricots define the nose along with hints of cigar box spice, woodsmoke and dried herbs from the maturation period. The first sip reveals a robust medium body, subtle tannins and a bold structure which will help the wine age gracefully over the next few years.

Information about Edi Simčič

Three generations are still at work here, passing knowledge and experience from father to son every day. Edi himself is still very much a key character at the centre of the business, with his son Aleks working alongside him and taking the winery into a new era, while Aleks’ two sons learn their trade to take up the family mantle one day. Historically, Slovenia has experienced more than its fair share of hardships, re-shaping the lives of the whole population. In the case of Goriška Brda, the whole region was under fascist rule by Mussolini’s Italy up until the end of World War II, after which it passed into Communist rule as part of the reestablished Yugoslavia.

Like many other regions in the area, Goriška Brda’s whole agricultural industry suffered greatly under Communist rule, as all growers were expected to surrender a large portion of their grapes to the government, thus leaving growers with no resources to even consider quality growing and winemaking.

Upon independence and the formation of the Repubic of Slovenia in 1991, the family spared little time in pursuing their true calling as one of the leading winemakers of the country. Today their reputation is well-established, very deservedly so. Everything about Edi himself exudes gentleness, and this certainly comes across in the wines, thanks to patient growing, gentle handling in the cellar and utter perfectionism when it comes to ageing. Down in the cool cellars, none of the wines are rushed to be ready, and a masterful use of oak results in complex and slightly (but very attractively) oxidative wines.

Within Edi’s wheelhouse is a delicious Chardonnay, a wine he considers to be the first step everyone must take to fully understand his approach, after which comes the Sivi Pinot, the local name and style of Pinot Gris. The defining grape and wine of this project and indeed region is the indigenous Rebula, the true jewel in the Edi Simčič crown. Finally the range is rounded off with a red called Duet, a harmonious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. These wines are very special, and Edi and family have worked tirelessly to show the world what their region and country is capable of. This is Slovenia. 

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

Nose

The intense aromas of blueberries, blackberries, and cedar compliment the flavors of dark cherries, cassis, and chocolate. 

Palate

Black Stallion Limited Release Syrah is a concentrated, full-bodied and fruity wine with a delicious velvety aftertaste.

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

A traditionally true lower alcohol Semillon from ancient vines in the Hunter Valley made by one of the great Australian Semillon producers.

Tasting Notes

Zesty lemon and lime-fruit characters are the hallmarks of this classic Hunter Style – the bright and delicate characters are beautiful when young and will sustain for many years of cellaring. A naturally lower alcohol wine at 10.5%. A naturally lower alcohol wine at 10.5%.

Production

This Semillon is sourced exclusively from Keith Tulloch’s own old-vine estate vineyards on Hermmitage & Deasys Roads in Pokolbin, where vines were established in 1968 & 1978 respectively. in 1968 at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. It is this deep and fine alluvial sandiness that makes the vineyard resource so significant – the vines consistently produce the purest and brightest signatures of Hunter Semillon. The Semillon was harvested then crushed, chilled and pressed immediately. Fermentation occurred using a selected pure yeast culture in stainless steel tanks, at cool to cold temperatures to maximise and retain varietal freshness.

Producer

“I cannot remember being more impressed with an initial release of wines than those”, said James Halliday when he first tasted Keith Tulloch’s wines.

These thoughtful, hand-crafted wines hail from the Hunter Valley with a nod in part to the great Rhône Valley wines of Hermitage and Cote Rôtie. For those who may have tasted any legendary Hunter Shiraz wines of the 40s, 50s and 60s, tasting many of the modern Hunter wines can be a depressing experience but Keith Tulloch is very different, adding to that great legacy with a series of wines that uniquely capture the exotic spice and hedonistic pleasure of dense and rich Shiraz fruit. These are sensuous, subtle wines with the velvety texture of fine burgundy.

Sustainability

Keith Tulloch have attained the CLIMATE ACTIVE certification by the Australian Government. This means that the winery, vineyard and offices are certified carbon neutral as well as its wines (including glassware, boxes, shipping, bottling). This carbon neutral certification is one of the most rigorous in the world. Every emission created by the vineyard and the winemaking process has been reduced where possible; and where emissions are unavoidable the pollutants have been offset through carbon abatement so that the business and its products have zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Keith Tulloch is also a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (previously known as Entwine) which requires wineries to report and reduce waste whilst promoting sustainable practices. A 65kw solar array has been installed, providing the vast majority of the estate’s power needs.

Keith Tulloch winery and vineyards are also officially sustainable under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification which was developed by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

In the vineyard Keith Tulloch engages in regenerative agriculture, minimising the use of chemical sprays and actively promoting soil health, life and biodiversity. It has started a program of revitalising native vegetation around the vineyard, which creates habitat for native insects, birds and animals which benefit the vineyard ecosystem. The business has eliminated single-use plastics and has instead moved onto biodegradable alternatives to prevent plastic waste. All Keith Tulloch wines have moved from heavy glass to lightweight eco glass, which considerably reduces greenhouse gas emissions from glass production and transport. The winery has enacted an array of water efficiency measures to eliminate water waste and to recycle waste water for use in the parks and gardens. The vineyard is now composted and fertilised only by organic fertiliser, re-using a product that would otherwise go to waste and reducing soil degradation and emissions from synthetic fertilisers.

The estate continues to uphold organic viticulture principles in the vineyard, and this is improving year-on-year. Investments in agricultural equipment in the next financial year will further reduce the use of some chemical sprays, however there is no plan at this point to certify these practices.

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

Lela taught us all how to enjoy Mediterranean Spain, the beaches, the restaurants, the nightspots, the wine and of course how to play dominoes.

Tasting Notes

 Bright, ripe, tropical, a real fruit bowl of flavours- this has Lela's unmistakable stamp of unalloyed fun. Fresh and delicious.

Production Method

Cryo-maceration at 10º C for around 6 hours, static cleaning and fermentation at 18º C.

Producer

Bodegas Alceño has been producing wine in Jumilla since 1870, making it one of the oldest wineries to commercialise the wines of the region.

Now owned by Familia Bastida, the winemaking today follows modern principles without losing the tradition and identity of this historic bodega.

Specifications

A bold and expressive Portuguese red blend.

Tasting Notes.

Duris Selection has an intense ruby color with violet tones. Aromas of red black fruits, slight floral with balsamic. In the mouth, it is a wine with a good volume, lively acidity and round tannins, with a persistent finish.

Production

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

Take a walk on the white side, because there is life beyond the red!

Tasting Notes

White Vermouth -  Floral, citrus, herbaceous, with almond notes and a subtle mineral background. Delightfully light and refreshing, with a distinctly bitter and dry finish, in which fine notes prevail.

Producers

During the early years, Bodegas Lustau operated as an ‘Almacenista'. The Lustau family began bottling their own sherries and exporting by 1950. In the 1980s they expanded their range and introduced the Almacenista range concept of buying and maturing casks from small bodegas to share excellent quality names and styles with enthusiasts around the world.

In 1990 the winery was bought by the family-owned Louis Caballero group. Bodegas Lustau is considered a world-class benchmark for top-quality wines. Lustau produces all styles of sherry, from Manzanilla through to Pedro Ximénez, as well as special bottlings, single cask, VOS and VORS sherries. The En Rama range, produced from select barrels from each of the three towns, is a highly anticipated release each spring.

Lustau has, over the years, won multiple medals and trophies, including ‘Best Spanish Winery' and ‘Best Sherry Producer' at the IWSC and the Len Evans Trophy for consistency (won in 2011 and 2016) at the IWC. Current cellar master Sergio Martínez took charge of the winery's oenological team in 2016, after more than 14 years' worth of experience with Lustau. Sergio has been awarded the ‘Best Fortified Winemaker' Trophy by the International Wine Challenge three years in a row, following in the footsteps of the late Manuel Lozano who had won this award seven times. In 2022, Lustau celebrated its 125th birthday with a special release of three sherries in their Anniversary Collection, including a Manzanilla Pasada Papirusa, Amontillado Solera del Castillo, and a Vintage Sherry Añada 1996.

Production

Lustau use the solera system to make their Vermut, which is unique to Jerez. Cellar Master Sergio Martínez looks after the sherry that make up the base wines, and selects the best ones for the Vermut. Lustau's Master Distiller Fernando Pérez selects the botanicals and is responsible for the final assemblage of the wines. Fermentation in stainless steel casks. 

If You Know You Know.........what more is there to say!  Other than fill your glass and taste this delicious intense and complex orange wine!

Tasting Notes

Pale orange in color, this drink boasts vibrant aromas of bitter orange, dried flowers, and a hint of nuttiness. It’s fresh and well-balanced, featuring bright acidity on the palate. The finish is long, intricate, and deeply aromatic, leaving a lasting impression.

Production

The grapes were machine-harvested at night to minimize oxidation, then transferred directly into concrete tanks, following a red wine vinification approach. A cold pre-fermentation maceration at 4°C lasted one week, with daily pump-overs to enhance extraction. Alcoholic fermentation began at 18°C, followed by five days of maceration with continued daily pump-overs. After pressing, the press juice was blended with the free-run juice to complete fermentation. The wine was then aged on fine lees until bottling, adding texture and complexity.

Specifications

A vibrant, yet delicate Rose

Tasting Notes

This wine boasts a delicate salmon hue, capturing the essence of the Vinho Verde region with its gentle red berry aroma and lively acidity, making it a refreshingly appealing and versatile choice for pairing with food.

Production

The previously selected grapes were de-stemmed and lightly pressed. The extracted juice is decanted by gravity. It then fermented in stainless steel vats with temperature control over two weeks. Before bottling the wine was filtered and stabilized.

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

A wine full of finesse with a long and pure finish.

Tasting Notes

A deep and generous Pinot Noir showing ripe fruit flavours of raspberries and wild strawberries, balanced with subtle smoky notes and a deliciously lingering finish.

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

Our Pinot Noir comes from a small Hacienda in Maule. The 40-60-year-old vines grow in the shadow of the El Dezcabazado volcano on stony, fertile soils. Maule is in the south of the region where glacial streams and pure mountain air keep temperatures low, allowing Pinot Noir to retain the acidity that is so crucial to a balanced wine. Grapes are harvested during the coolest part of the day to ensure they reach the winery in prime condition. Temperatures are kept low throughout the winemaking process, to allow the grapes to express their natural fruit characters. No oak is used.

Specifications

A youthful and modern unoaked Malbec,
 with an elegant character.

Tasting Notes

It reveals clean, ripe black and blue fruit, dried thyme, and French lavender aromas and flavors. The palate is generously fruity, with a refined chalky texture, culminating in a long and complex aftertaste.

Vintage

Harvest 2023 came early and was challenging yet of great quality. The temperate and very date led to excellent health and quality of the grapes. It is a year defined by low average ds of 25% below, a consequence of a frost in the spring of 2022.  A deep understaning of each parcel allowed us to precisely define the harvest time for each area, always in search of freshness and expression of our place. This years wines show great purity and sharpness, vibrant acidity and fantastic complexity of scents.  Fermented in stainless steel tanks,  Aged for 6 months in concrete and 3 months in bottle.

History

It was the year 2002 when a group of friends decided to invest in Argentina. They knew little about wine production, but all were passionate wine lovers and excited about the vision of bringing Argentine wines to the world stage. They bought the land that would become Finca Ambrosia and set about turning their idea into reality. At this time, the Gualtallary district began to attract the interest of wine producers, primarily because of its outstanding soil and climate characteristics. Encouraged by the positive forecasts, the friends bought 3 more plots over the years, from which the current winery emerged. Today, Gualtallary is considered the best terroir for producing premium wines in the province of Mendoza.

Specifications

Producer

Finca Ambrosia is the story of Argentinian’s wine revolution over the last 20 years where it has moved from big Malbecs to terroir driven fine wines. This revolution started 100kms south of Mendoza City in the Uco Valley, which is only 70km long and 40kms wide. The Andes give the Uco Valley its 2 critical attributes: alluvial soils with high quality and varied terroir and altitude which is unique to Argentina, enabling good acidity and luxurious tannins.

The friends bought land at 1250m in the sub-district of Gualtallary in the Uco Valley’s northern district of Tupungato. At the time the only neighbours were Moët & Chandon and Zapata Catena’s now world-famous Adrianna vineyard. Gualtallary’s terroir has a limestone concentration giving its wines minerality and is considered one of South America’s top terroirs for premium wines.

Finca Ambrosia produces the highest quality malbec, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and cabernet franc gapes from its 59ha and is 1 of only 3 artisanal producers in Gualtallary.

Since first harvest, Finca Ambrosia’s high-quality fruit was in demand from Argentina’s top wineries such as and Trapiche, Altos Los Hormegas and Vina Cobos. In 2010 renowned Argentinian winemaker Daniel Pi was engaged to make wine for the owners, paying him with bottles of the wine. One such bottle came to the attention of Robert Parker in 2012 who awarded it 95 points – an outstanding score for a first vintage!

Daniel Pi remains a key member of the team which has also been supported by Chile’s famous ‘terroirista’ Pedro Parra. Finca Ambrosia now has its own brand and style of interpretation of Gualtallary’s terroir. It has a growing reputation in Argentina and internationally where the soil, natural environment and team’s artisanal work are seen in its wine’s freshness, elegance and fruit purity.

Vintage

 2022 was a long and dry growing season of outstanding quality. Veering on the cooler side of average temperatures, yields were still plentiful, and grapes achieved ideal ripeness throughout a very long cycle. Rainfall was limited, but abundant glacial water and sporadic showers were timed perfectly to help the vine’s balance.  After cooler autumn and ideal growing conditions in February and March, they were able to produce
 wines with remarkable quality.

Viticulture

Soil: Limestone atop quaternary gravels and sand, shaped by wind erosion. Fermentation Vessel: Initial fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks, succeeded by a traditional secondary fermentation in the bottle. Ageing: Matured on lees for a period of 12 months.

Specifications

Obscure yet delicious premium Spanish White!

Tasting Notes 

This is the tenth vintage of Florpower (MMXXII, i.e., 2022), and released as La Bota 119 in the series. An unfortified white wine which follows vintage 2010 and 2012 (releases 44, 53 and 57) in origin and winemaking practices, and even more the 2014-2021 vintages (releases 67-114). With 2022 they continue to search for the point of balance and freshness, the perfect expression of the vineyard through the biological ageing process, which is now shorter than in the pioneering vintages.

Production

Exclusively from Palomino Fino sourced from vines aged between 55 and 85 years old in the blessed plot known as Pago Miraflores La Baja, Sanlúcar.  In this vintage they have dispensed with tenuous ageing under flor in steel tanks after intense biological aging in traditional 600-litre Sherry casks. The wine is fermented in the same casks in which they later aged under flor for eight months until bottling at the end of May 2023.

Producers

Equipo Navazos was born out of a group of friend’s passion to share the authentic, traditional wines of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Montilla … legitimately some of the greatest wines of the world!

These wines come from soleras and individual casks that remain, relatively neglected by the market in corners of many of Andalusia’s most prestigious bodegas. These unexpected yet fortunate findings have been made available to wine lovers around the world in limited quantities under the La Bota series (consecutively numbered editions, with the date of each saca or withdrawl date on the label) … in doing so respecting generations of expertise and care for these rare and beautiful wines. Today their efforts are increasingly focused on producing their own exceptional wines, such as Florpower, that truly express the character of Sanlúcar and its unique terroir. Outside of Andalusia, Equipo Navazos have collaborated with winemakers including Dirk Niepoort and Sergi Colet to develop authentic and individual wines that never fail to impress.

Specifications

Specifications

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Specifications

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An impressive addition to the Wild House range, predominantly from Elgin grown fruit, a coastal region renowned for high quality, cool climate Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

A vibrant cool climate style of Sauvignon with intense citrus and crushed nettle aromas. Ripe, concentrated fruit is offset by a grapefruit tang and leafy characters. Taut and mineral with a long, textural finish.

 

Fruit driven American Zinfandel with Best Buy Ratings

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich, sweet aromas of cherry and raspberry lead into jammy flavours of red plum, red currant and blackberry, with a dash of baking spices and a touch of smokiness.

Palate

Structured and textured, velvety tannins weave their way from mid-palate to a lingering finish.

Winemaking Notes

Working with top growers in Lodi where Zinfandel reigns supreme, our Cycles Gladiator Zinfandel embodies all the beloved characteristics of the grape.

Background

Cycles Gladiator was founded in 2005 with the mission to create high quality, affordable wines that honour the iconic artwork on the label by empowering and inspiring women. Proudly sourced from some of California’s top wine growing regions , award-  winning winemaker Adam LaZarre crafts each wine with passion and care from grape to glass.

Accolades

• 20+ Best Buy Ratings by Wine Enthusiast

Specifications

Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.

Luckily, this story is true.

The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone

Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.

Tasting Notes

The lovely 2021 Apple Tree Flat Shiraz has inviting aromas of raspberry, bayleaf and a slight floral lift, before a warm welcome to the palette of red berries, clove, smooth peppers and soft tannins.

Winemaking

After crushing the grapes were fermented in stainless steel. The cap was pumped over twice a day during the 7- day fermentation period, then 100% matured in stainless steel. The wine was filtered before bottling.

Vintage

The Shiraz grapes for this dry red were harvested at 12.63° Baumé on the 29th March 2021. The 2021 growing season was a tough one in the NSW Central Ranges, although overall quality was high. Yields in the Orange region were pitifully low, about 10-15% of an average year, due to a hangover from the 2018-2020 drought, snow in November and some large rain events late in the growing season which required us to remove any mould or fungus affected grapes.

Yields in Mudgee were healthier but still a little down on average. Temperatures were cooler than average leading to slow, steady ripening, however the sunshine throughout produced clearly varietal wines, generally with lower alcohol levels.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

A bright, vibrant style of Chenin with aromas of citrus, white flowers and a hint of honey. Ripe and full flavoured with a rounded mouthfeel thanks to long fermentation and extended lees contact. Nice concentration of stone fruit characters with hints of dried apricot and mango. Good balancing acidity on the clean, fresh finish.

Production

Fresh and zesty Pinot Grigio from the Pavia hills south of Milan, handily packaged in a 25cl can. Picnic Perfect!

Tasting Notes 

The second Vielles Vignes project from enigmatic winemaker Faouzi Issa.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose has an exotic mix of ripe fig, bright cranberry and rasberry fruit with notes of liquorice , it’s lifted and pronounced.

Palate

The palate had more beautifully ripe red fruit characters, along side lively fig and date notes, the acidity perfectly balances the generous flavours and leaves a pure, clean finish.

Production

Domaine des Tourelles have a 50 year old block of Carignan in their Amik vineyard in the Bekka Valley. The fruit from here provides an excellent component for the acclaimed Domaine des Tourelles Red, but winemaker Faouzi believed it could produce great wine in it’s own right. This first vintage highlights his belief in the project. The wine only sees concrete during production, being both fermented and aged for 24 months in his old but perfectly formed tanks.

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.

Specifications

The spirited red wines of Spain | A fabulous quality and great value Reserva from a small family, producer.

Tasting Notes 

Colour

In the glass a cherry red color with rusty red reflections of medium depth.

Nose

Good aromatic intensity, with balsamic notes and ripe fruit on the nose.

Palate

Soft and clean on the palate with a fresh and elegant taste and well-integrated tannins on the finish.

Producer

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Nose

The Groote Post Pinch of Salt Chardonnay shows an abundance of fresh stone fruit and vibrant citrus notes on the nose.

Palate

On the palate, a steely minerality with crisp citrus and yellow stone fruit flavours and a long, zesty acidity assure a full and concentrated structure. This lightly wooded 2023 vintage shows complexity with fresh acidity, a beautiful minerality, and a vibrant, zesty structure. Innovation and tradition blend perfectly to bring out the best in this wine.

In the Vineyard

Out with the old, in with the new—this is the story of our Chardonnay vineyards on the farm. After more than three decades of service, our Chardonnay vines faced viral challenges, leading to a transformation. Nine years ago, we started replanting Chardonnay, not just for replacement but for enhancement. We carefully chose superior clones and optimal farm locations for this grape variety. These new vineyards exceeded expectations, yielding exceptional grapes, marking the dawn of an extraordinary wine.

In the Cellar

In the cellar, a symphony unfolds as the first and last Chardonnay grapes harvested enjoy a two- to three-week interlude due to diverse microclimates. Grapes are harvested into bins, with only the best undergoing sorting before pressing. We use whole bunch pressing, carefully separating fractions during pressing. The juice settles for three days before fermentation. We ferment Chardonnay in three vessels: fifty percent in stainless steel for a crisp character, thirty percent in French oak for richness, and twenty percent in amphoras for a unique blend. This approach creates a wine with layers of flavour and depth. After fermentation, the wine rests on the lees for six months, allowing it to evolve, refine, and develop remarkable complexity.

Alan's Personal Notes

"A pure, citric and stone fruit mineral style of Chardonnay - with just a hint of oak - more Chablis style than Meursault but equally complex and with a delicious long finish for new world Chardonnay. Toasty oak and vanillin start to release themselves with a bit of oxidation and a degree or two less cold." May 2024