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- Alentejo Region
- Amarone DOCG
- Aude
- Bardolino DOC
- Barossa Valley
- Bio-Bio Valley
- Bordeaux
- California
- Casablanca Valley
- Castilla y León
- Central Valley
- Chianti DOCG
- Clare Valley
- Colchagua Valley
- Coonawarra
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- Gavi DOCG
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- Pavia IGT
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- Piedmont
- Pouilly-Fumé
- Provence
- Rapel Valley
- Rioja
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- Touraine
- Trentino DOC
- Tuscany DOCG
- Valpolicella DOC
- Victoria
- Vin de France
- Vinho Verde
- Vouvray
- Western Australia
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- Aglianico
- Albariño
- Alicante Bouschet
- Alvarinho
- Aragonês
- Arinto
- Bobal
- Bonarda
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Durello
- Espadeiro
- Feteasca Alba
- Fiano
- Frappato
- Friulano
- Garganega
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Godello
- Goldmuskateller
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Grillo
- Grüner Veltliner
- Loureiro
- Malbec
- Malvasia Fine
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Muscat
- Nebbiolo
- Palomino
- Parellada
- Passerina
- Pedro Ximénez
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Bianco/ Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Primitivo
- Riesling
- Rondinella
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Teroldego
- Tinta Barroca
- Tinta Roriz
- Tinto Cão
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trebbiano
- Trincadeira Preta
- Tripat
- Verdejo
- Verdicchio
- Vermentino
- Viognier
- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
- Xarel-lo
- Zweigelt
🍷 Cheers to Savings! 🍷
Enjoy 10% OFF sitewide on all wines, from everyday favorites to special finds – but hurry, this offer ends at Midnight, Jan 27th, 2025!
Exclusions apply: Fine & Rare Wines, Gift Sets, Current Case Collections, Selected Gift Packs, and Spirits.
Stock up while you can! 🥂
2021 Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir
Regular price £16.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 10%A lush Pinot Noir!
Tasting Notes
Fragrant scents of red cherry and plum lead into fresh, bright flavors of strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate, backed by hints of star anise and clove. The soft tannins and balanced acidity provide structure and a lush, velvety texture.
Background
Cycles Gladiator was founded in 2005 with the mission to create high quality, affordable wines that honour the iconic artwork on the label by empowering and inspiring women. Proudly sourced from some of California’s top wine growing regions , award- winning winemaker Adam LaZarre crafts each wine with passion and care from grape to glass.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | United States of America |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Features | Vegetarian approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matching |
A light pasta with grilled cherry tomatoes pairs wonderfully with seafood and would also be an excellent choice to accompany roast duck. |
Appellation | Lodi |
Origin | California |
2022 Pierre Chainier Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £10.49 Sale price £9.44 Save 10%A lively, bright Touraine Sauvignon Blanc from one of the region's top producers.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A pleasant aromatic and pithy blend of gooseberry, white flowers and citrus on the nose.
Palate
Complemented by quite a rich peachy and lemon palate that has lovely texture and a moreish, slightly grippy finish.
Production
Grown on flint, clay and limestone soils, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes are destemmed and crushed in an pneumatic press. After controlled settling, the juice undergoes alcoholic fermentation at about 18-19°C with selected yeasts. Ageing then takes place on the fine lees with no malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Formed in 1973, Pierre Chainier is both a négociant and the owner of some 250 hectares of vines in the heart of Touraine, from which it sources classic Loire varieties. Its eight Touraine estates include Domaine de la Bruyère in the newly established appellation of Touraine-Chenonceaux. Conversely, Clos de Nouys, its 25 acre Vouvray estate, is one of the oldest in the appellation. Here, vines average 35 years of age in vineyards that were already listed amongst the best sites on geological maps dating from 1907.
Sustainability
For both its négociant arm and its own vineyards, Pierre Chainier seamlessly blends the principles of reasoned agriculture with the most modern winemaking techniques. It encourages sustainable development and official certification for its growers, it uses sugar cane-derived biodegradable “corks”, and it has a comprehensive waste recycling programme. Lighting is changed to LED and they are currently calculating their carbon footprint.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
A great, refreshing aperitif wine that can also be enjoyed with all kinds of smoked or grilled fish, classically good with a fresh goats cheese and happily works with the "difficult-to-pair" asaparagus.
|
Origin | Loire |
Appellation | AOP Touraine |
2023 Domaine Jean Perrier et Fils, Chignin Bergeron, Roussanne, Savoie
Regular price £22.99 Sale price £20.69 Save 10%It's a delightful journey to discover wines that stand out, providing a taste experience that's as rare as it is enchanting.
Tasting Notes
Gold in colour with an intense perfume of apricot, violets and almond. A well rounded and complex palate, full of stone fruits such as apricot giving this wine an ample mouthfeel.
Production
Planted on calcium rich soils in small south facing plots in Chignin, Francin and Montmélian, the grapes are manually harvested. Vinified at 20 °C over a period of three weeks with native yeasts. When alcoholic fermentation ends, malolactic fermentation begins, creating a round wine and long finish on the palate and decent ageing potential.
Producer
Tradition is hardly sufficient a word to sum up the Perrier family who have lived and worked in the Alps for more than seven generations. They seem to be hewn from the very rock that surrounds them.
The wine style and dedication to local varieties such as Jacquère has not wavered and like their mountains, they remain resolute. And all the better for it. These are wines are stunning, different and enthralling creating flavour and palates that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Embodying their landscape and being resistant to change has made these wines special, delightful and truly regional.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Roussanne |
Country | France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Fish and white meat in sauce, foie gras and also Asian food. |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Origin | Savoie |
Appellation | Savoie |
2022 Pierre Bourée Fils Bourgogne Blanc
Regular price £23.99 Sale price £21.59 Save 10%A classic introduction to white Burgundy.
Tasting Notes
This beautifully balanced and classic white Burgundy has a savoury, baked peach and biscuity nose with a rich, broad yet vibrant palate that is balanced with moreish acidity. The oak is well-integrated on both the nose and palate adding texture and finesse followed by a long, intense finish.
Production
Chardonnay grapes are sourced from vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin and Auxey-Duresses. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthiomieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. The wine is fined prior to bottling but not filtered.
Producer
In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.
This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.
A Note on Sustainability
Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Seafood, fish, poultry and semi-soft cheeses |
Origin | Burgundy |
Appellation | AOP Bourgogne |
2022 Vallet Frères Auxey-Duresses
Regular price £37.99 Sale price £34.19 Save 10%Fine, expressive white Burgundy!
TASTING NOTES
Expressive and very appealing sandalwood spice on the nose, the palate is ripe and concentrated with pithy citrus notes and a pleasant twist of acidity on the finish.
Production
The Vallets source only the best quality Chardonnay grapes from Auxey-Duresses in the Côte de Beaune. Traditional practices remain in both in the vineyard and cellar. Grapes are hand-harvested, no artificial yeasts are used and the wine is fermented and aged in barrel for at least 12 months with regular batonnage to stir the fine lees. The wine is racked a month before bottling.
Producer
Founded in 1864 by Pierre Bourée, Vallet Frères is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the family, Jean-Christophe Vallet. The family owns vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin including the entire monopole of Clos de la Justice and in the Grand Cru of Charmes-Chambertin. Vallet Frères also act as a négociant sourcing the best grapes from growers in other parts of Burgundy, with whom it has worked closely for decades.
The wines it produces are complex, fine and authentic examples of Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Vallet family’s wines have been imported by Boutinot for over 40 years and are distributed to top independent wine merchants and Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the UK.
A Note on Sustainability
Vallet Frères is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Auxey-Duresses goes extremely well with baked fish and poultry in creamy sauces or a classic herb omelette. |
Origin | Burgundy |
Appellation | AOP Auxey-duresses |
2022 Chanzy Puligny Montrachet Les Reuchaux Côte de Beaune
Regular price £84.99 Sale price £76.49 Save 10%
A white burgundy with a strong personality and high reputation!
Tasting Notes
Concentrated strength and a great heritage have made Puligny-Montrachet. With complete balance and great aromatic complexity combined with refined style, this works with delicate but also rich dishes.
Production
Puligny-Montrachet shares with Chassagne Montrachet the most perfect expression of Chardonnay. Only a few meters from the Grands Crus, the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée was established in 1937. It offers a white wine with a strong personality and a high reputation.
Sorted grapes are subjected to slow pneumatic pressing followed by settling and then pouring into oak barrels in which alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and ageing will take place. This wine matures in 228l barrels for fifteen to sixteen months and then one month of ageing in stainless steel vats before bottling.
Producer
Maison Chanzy is a highly respected Burgundian producer, their wines are a classical demonstration of premium vineyard sites in Côte Chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits.
Their range has been carefully engineered by winemaker Max Blondelle, whose primary task is to create wines that eloquently communicate their respective terroir, whilst remaining hands-off in his approach. As such, Chanzy are one of the few Burgundy producers to achieve Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3; the most highly regarded certification for agriculture in France.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
So versatile! Poultry in sauce, pan-fried veal with mushrooms, foie gras, lobster, scampi, or grilled and pan-fried fish. | |
Origin | Burgundy |
Appellation | Puligny-Montrachet |
2022 Domaine Les Vieux Murs Pouilly Fuisse
Regular price £29.99 Sale price £26.99 Save 10%A well-balanced elegant white Burgundy
Tasting Notes
This appellation is often overlooked, a crime! An intense mineral and citrus character with strong hints of complex nutty, buttery flavours. Very well balanced with crisp acidity and good texture, this is a concentrated yet elegant wine.
Production
The Fuissé region in the south of Burgundy is 250-300 metres above sea level. The soil there is predominatly argilo-calcareous. At Fussiacus the average vine age is 25 years so that the plants are in balance and at their peak of production. The techniques are those of organic farming albeit not certified. The harvest here is by hand.
This Pouilly Fuissé is produced in the traditional Burgundy style, with entirely manual grape harvesting. The grapes are gently pressed using a pneumatic press. The must is then fermented in French oak "Foudres" of 25 hectolitres using only natural yeast. The wine goes through malolactic fermentation in oak and is matured for a further 9 months.
Producer
Jean-Paul Paquet began to work the vines of Les Vieux Murs in 1978.
The Chardonnay grape thrives on the limestone and clay soils of the Mâconnais vineyards of Burgundy. At Domaine Les Vieux Murs the 30 to 50 year old vines are in perfect balance to produce fruit of optimum ripeness. Jean-Paul has now been joined by his son Yannick in the family business. Yannick has travelled widely to broaden his knowledge and is quickly earning himself a great reputation.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites & no other allergens |
Serving Suggestion | Serve between 10°C and 12°C |
Food Matches | Fantastic with fish starters, veal and white meats in cream sauces. |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Appellation | Mâconnais |
Origin | Burgundy |
2022 Brotte Bouvencourt Vacqueyras
Regular price £18.95 Sale price £17.06 Save 10%Only 7 miles along the road from Châteauneuf-du-Pape but not as well known globally so represents much better value!
Tasting Notes
Colour
It has bright, clear red.
Nose
Bouquet fine, Provence, herbs notes, garrigue, supported by aromas of red and black fruit, earth, and olives.
Palate
Following through from the nose, the palate is warmly generous and fleshy, with a smooth and elegant finish.
Vinification
Destemming of the grapes before crushing. The temperature is kept high during the fermentation (28°C) and the maceration lasts 4 weeks, in order to obtain a good extraction of tannins and colour. The malolactic fermentation takes place in concrete vats.
Maturation
12 months in 100 year old oak vats.
History
Since 1880, five generations of the Brotte family have been making wines with passion and authenticity. The fruit for this wine comes from selected small wine producers in the Rhône Valley, all of whom have been partners of Maison Brotte for several decades. The vines are planted on a very beautiful clay-silt terroir and which benefit from a lot of sunshine. The hot and dry climate therefore favours the ripening of the grapes and the good health of the vineyard.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz / Grenache |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 14% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Food Matches |
Enjoy with a traditional hare civet, beef cheeks, braised lamb shoulder or simply a chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis. |
Origin |
Southern Rhône |
2021 Domaine de la Pigeade Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (500ml)
Regular price £16.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 10%The Muscat from La Pigeade is characterized by its freshness and finesse and is to be found in many of the leading restaurants of the Rhone Valley.
Tasting Notes
Colour
A light gold wine, shiny with golden reflections.
Palate
The complex aromatic palette combines pear with rose water and exotic fruits.
Soil cultivation
Sustainable cultivation for over 30 years; grassing controlled mechanically (hoeing). Scribbling is practiced several times a year at different depths depending on the case.
Vinification
Hand harvested and sorted before 100% de-stemming and maceration on skins for 10 hours at 3°C before pressing. Cool-fermented to reach a natural alcohol of 5 % before the ferment is arrested by the addition of grape spirit to reach a minimum of 15 % alcohol, with a minimum of 110 g/l residual sugar. Matured on fine lees in tank for two months prior to bottling.
History
Very little sweet Muscat was made before 1945 when Muscat de Beaumes de Venise was classified an AOC for its vin doux naturel, but by the 1970’s and 1980’s its popularity in northern Europe was probably greater than Sauternes or sweet German wines. The wines, by law, must have an ABV of 15% and at least 110g/L residual sugar. Domaine de la Pigeade was purchased by the Vaute family in 1960 who came from wine families but this domaine was the first generation of winemakers. Up until 1996 all fruit from the 25ha estate was sent to the cooperative but with the succession of the second generation, Thierry and his wife Marina, a cellar was built and the wine-making was brought in house. The domaine sits outside the village of Beaumes, which is sandwiched in between the Dantelles de Montmirail and Mount Ventoux. Of the 25ha around 20 are Muscat blanc à petits grains averaging 35 years of age. The vines are planted on a argilo-calcaire and all weed control is manual. The fruit is harvested at a very low 30hl/ha.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 500ml |
Cultivar | 100% Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 16% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
11.3 units |
Type | Dessert Wine / natural sweet wine |
Food Matches |
It is an ideal aperitif and also goes well with many desserts, especially ones with chocolate, or a fruit salad, or strawberries where some is also poured over the fruit. It is also a perfect companion for many blue cheeses. Drink young and always very fresh (around 7°) |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Muscat de Beaumes de Venise |
Origin | Southern Rhône Valley |
2021 Dornier Cocoa Hill Ruby Red
Regular price £12.49 Sale price £11.24 Save 10%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.”
Tasting Notes
Aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is full, fresh and lively with a subtle and well-balanced tannin structure.
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.
Fermentation & Aging
All components of this blend were fermented separately in vineyard specific batches with pump-overs for colour and tannin extraction being performed five times daily. The wine was barrel matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and a small un-oaked component was used to provide a fresh and lively character.
Vintage Conditions
The vines are planted on our Groenkloof farm on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The soil is composed of coffee coloured decomposed granite. The vines get full sun which allows for optimum development of rich berry characters in the grapes.
Accolades
- 4.5 John Platter Stars
- TOP 100 SA Wines
- Veritas Silver Outstanding
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Merlot (34%), Shiraz (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (19%), Malbec (14%) and Petit Verdot (3%) |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Up to 5 years |
Food Matching | Braised oxtail, Boeuf bourguignon, charcuterie platter and smoked kudu Carpaccio. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2022 Dornier Cocoa Hill Chenin Blanc
Regular price £12.49 Sale price £11.24 Save 10%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.
Tasting Notes
Being a truly versatile variety and lending itself well to many different styles, we have aimed at making a wine in a fresh and fruit driven style. The wine has a lively bright colour with delicate aromas of passion fruit and litchis. The palate is vibrant with a refreshing acidity and flavours of tropical fruit.
Cocoa Hill Chenin Blanc is a delectably chic version of what used to be South Africa's Cinderella variety. The vines grow in the decomposed red granite soils of Cocoa Hill – a hilltop in the folds of the Stellenbosch Mountain, superbly positioned in prime South African terroir.
Vintage Conditions
2022 was an excellent vintage for many producers in Stellenbosch. The winter was cold and wet and the ripening season was cool. This led to grapes ripening at lower sugar levels with higher natural acidities. The lower temperatures also preserved the more delicate flavor components in the Chenin Blanc during the ripening period.
Fermentation and Aging
This wine is made with Chenin Blanc grapes from the Stellenbosch and Swartland area. The wine was fermented in stainless-steel tanks and in French oak barrels. Flavour and style specific yeast were used in order to obtain the desired fruit- and aroma characteristics.
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
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Up until 2025 |
Food Matching | Being a wine with vibrant fruit it will pair well with salads, pasta dishes and grilled seafood, such as line fish and will accompany calamari and scallops very well. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2018 Dornier Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £18.99 Sale price £17.09 Save 10%Top 100 Wine Status from the National Wine Challenge. GOLD Mundus Vini, 91 Points John Platter Winemag, Double Gold Gilbert & Gaillard
Tasting Notes
Intense black cherry colour with a full bouquet of cassis, blackberries, cigar box, pencil shavings and subtle oak with a hint of mint to ensure freshness. The palate has density and concentrated flavours of dark fruit with elegant tannins to create a well-balanced wine with a long finish. Concentrated fruit, great structure and the ability to age well.
About the Harvest
Although very dry, the ripening season leading up to the 2018 harvest provided exce lent conditions for optimal ripeness and flavour development that resulted in exceptional fruit concentration and elegance in the wines of this vintage.
In the Cellar
This wine was fermented in open tanks with pump overs and punch downs being performed four times daily to extract all possible flavours from the berries. After alcoholic fermentation the wines underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel followed by 18 months ageing in 30% new French oak barrels.
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.
Accolades
-
Dornier Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 TOP 100 SA Wine
- 91 Points Winemag | "This is a gorgeous cabernet sauvignon from Dornier in South Africa. Located 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. Their Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon has an exuberance of concentrated fruit, intense black cherry colour with a full bouquet of cassis, black berries, cigar box, pencil shavings and subtle oak and a hint of mint to ensure freshness. Stunning value at under £20."
- The 2018 vintage of Dornier Equanimity Cabernet has received abundant local and international recognition having thus far received a Gold Medal from Mundus Vini Germany in 2022, 93 Points & Double Gold from Gilbert & Gaillard and now Top 100 Wine Status from the National Wine Challenge.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | From 2021 for up to 8 years |
Food Matching |
Good as an aperitif or served with starters, seafood or cold white meat. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Cave de Turckheim Baron D'Alsace Gewurztraminer
Regular price £15.99 Sale price £14.39 Save 10%A great introduction to the heady delights of Gewurztraminer.
Tasting Notes
Intensly perfumed Gewurztraminer with a rich palate of honeyed and rose-scented flavours.
Production
Produced in the traditional manner by winemaker Jean Michel Lihrmann in Cave de Turckheim's gravity fed cellar - pneumatic pressing, temperature controlled fermentation, no finings and light filtration before bottling - all to preserve fruit and aromatic qualities and elegance. His philosophy is to make wines with good acidity and fruit balance, based on the belief that all the qualities of the wine are already present in the grapes.
Producer
Widely regarded as one of the best co-operatives in the world, Cave de Turckheim lies at the mouth of the Munster Valley. Working closely with 180 partners, its vineyards span the full breadth of Alsatian terroir and grape varieties. Cave de Turckheim only produces wine from the grapes of its member growers, it is a récoltant not a négociant.
Substantial investment in the winery has enabled the team to vinify many parcels of grapes separately, offering Michel Lihrmann (senior winemaker for 25 years) the chance to highlight each wine's nuances in his signature dry, yet fruit forward, style.
Committed to producing the highest quality wines, growers are encouraged to keep yields low - for example, Cave de Turckheim voluntarily caps yields for its Grands Crus vineyards at 45hl/ha rather than the permitted 55hl/ha - and to pick the grapes by hand. This is part of a long term and innovative strategy of sustainability that includes developing the largest holdings of organic vineyards in Alsace, using natural alternatives to chemical treatments, and a green overview of all vineyard practices. Alongside some great organic wines, the extensive range runs from the excellent value Tradition wines right through to individual Grand Cru bottlings, plus fantastic Crémants d’Alsace and Vendange Tardive dessert wines.
Sustainability
An awareness of social and environmental concerns has always been high on the agenda for the Cave de Turckheim’s growers. They were among the first in France to practice integrated agriculture, an approach that combines the best of modern tools and technologies with traditional practices, lowering the consumption of energy and other resources, reducing environmental pollution, conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainability. In 2014, all the members of the co-operative obtained Agri Confiance Volet Vert (Green Section) certification and in 2015, they all obtained High Environmental Value Level 2 certification. The growers are aiming for HVE Level 3 certification in late 2019.
In 2008, a number of growers decided to commit to the rigorous standards of organic viticulture. As part of Alliance Alsace, approximately 70 hectares of vines are now cultivated organically, having obtained organic certification in 2011, with a further 30 hectares in transition. These vignerons have revived ancestral practices, tilling the soil and undertaking work that facilitates the elimination of weeds and the combat against the two major diseases: powdery mildew which is tackled with sulphur and mildew which is treated with copper sulphate. Natural fertilisers are also used (nettle, horsetail, comfrey, and dandelion), fortifying the vines and increasing their natural resistance. Organic winegrowers meticulously observe their vines, enabling them to intervene in the right place and at the right time, rather than treating the plants systematically.
Turckheim’s commitment to the environment extends to the winery where it strives to conserve natural resources. Sorting waste for recycling, reducing its carbon footprint, using solar panels, and preventing pollution are just some examples of how environmental considerations are present in every aspect of its daily work. Committed to both the environment and its customers, Cave de Turckheim also plays an important role in the local economy.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gewürztraminer |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable farming |
Food Matches | A classic match for spicy dishes (especially Thai) but can also be served as an alternative to red wine with strong cheeses. |
Origin |
Alsace, France
|
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Chardonnay
Regular price £12.49 Sale price £11.24 Save 10%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
Floral honeysuckle, peach and pear make up the aroma, with a smooth palate of lemon, nashi pear and nectarine before a long lingering finish.
Winemaking
After crushing and gentle pressing, the juice was clarified by flotation. The pressings were oxidatively handled as juice while the free run was treated anaerobically. The fermentations were carried out by wild yeasts and took place over 18 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine remained on yeast lees for 8 months
Region
The chardonnay grapes for this dry white were harvested at 12.5° Baumé on the 26th February and 14th March 2019 in Mudgee and Orange, New South Wales. The chardonnay vineyards were 46 and 19 years old respectively.
The 2019 growing season was warm and very dry in the NSW Central Ranges, however enough well-spaced rain events across the season allowed the grapes to progress through to ripeness without suffering undue stress. These conditions resulted in a compact harvest period with clean fruit and yields per vine a little lower than average. Ripeness occurred at low sugar levels resulting in generally low alcohol in the wines.
One vineyard is trained to Geneva Double Curtain Trellis type, with the other being Vertical Shoot Position (VSP).
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Mudgee & Orange Regions |
Origin | Australia |
2023 Ermita de San Felices Rioja Tinto Joven
Regular price £11.99 Sale price £10.79 Save 10%Light, elegant with plenty of summer-pudding red berry fruit. Light oak adds weight and concentration. The vibrant violet, cherry fruit is typical of good Tempranillo Rioja.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Red colour with blackish tones
Nose
Good intensity, fresh, floral and red berries.
Taste
Medium body, easy drinking, fruity and fresh with mouth-watering acidity.
Producer
Santiago Ijalba has been making wines for over half a century and founded Bodegas Santalba (a fusion of his first and last name) in 1964. Joined by his son Roberto and daughter Laura over the last decade, Roberto concentrates his wine making expertise on the more modern styles, while Laura focuses her attentions on the marketing side, making Bodegas Santalba a real family affair.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
Drink with barbecues, rice dishes such as risottos, beef carpaccio with parmesan, beans or pulses and vegetables, pork in mustard, fresh pasta, curried chicken, Eastern and spicy dishes. Serve around 16C. |
Features | Vegetarian approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Rioja Alta |
Origin | DOCa Rioja |
2020 Cortese 'Senia' Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC (Organic)
Regular price £20.99 Sale price £18.89 Save 10%When they created Senia, they took their inspiration from traditional fermentation techniques. For this reason the Nero d’Avola is fermented in open top barriques, in small quantities of around 150 litres. Senia has a extremely limited production of about 8.000 bottles per year.
Tasting Notes
Colour
An extremely intense ruby red in colour.
Nose
On the bouquet there are prominent dark fruit notes of plums and blackberries, with nuances of balsamic, liqorice and carob.
Palate
A very full-bodied wine, with a refreshing acidity, and a long finish showing soft and intense tannins.
Vineyards & Vinification
We ferment the grapes in open top barriques in small lots of around 150 litres. Using this method, it’s not possible to control the temperature during fermentation, but it never exceeds 18-24C°. The small volume allows it to adjust itself naturally.
The grapes undergo fermentation for 10-12 days. The use of open top barrels allows us to carry out “follatura” (manually pushing down the skins) as often as is necessary for the natural and delicate extraction of colour and tannins from the skins.
We leave the wine in contact with the skins for about 20 days after the fermentation and then for a total of 30-35 days.
Once the maceration on the skins has ended, the wine is placed in barriques for the malolactic fermentation, after which it remains in barrel for 12 months before bottling. The wine stays a further 6 months in bottle before being released on to the market.
Accolades
91 pts points | James Suckling
I like the dried-spice, tobacco and ash character to the black plum and black cherry fruit. It’s medium- to full-bodied with plenty of spicy and smoky flavours. Soft tannins. Delicious now.
17/20 points | Jancis Robinson
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic |
Origin | Sicilia DOC |
2023 Waterkloof Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc
Regular price £12.00 Sale price £10.80 Save 10%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
Crafted from 30-40 year old bush-vine vineyards in the Helderberg area supplemented by fruit from another dry grown block in Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Waterkloof follow a traditional, minimalistic approach in their gravitational cellar which means interfering as little as possible with the winemaking process. This allows the flavours prevalent in that specific vineyard to ultimately express themselves in the wine. To achieve this goal, all grapes are whole-bunch pressed, which ensures that juice is extracted in the gentlest way. The juice is then allowed to settle for 24 hours after which it is racked from the settling tank into stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs and older 600 liter barrels. They do not inoculate the juice with commercially cultivated yeast, but allow the wild yeast prevailing in the vineyard to ferment the juice. No additional acid or enzymes are added during the process. The natural fermentation process took 5 months to complete and only a light filtration was used prior to bottling. The only addition is a small amount of sulphur before bottling.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.
In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Great with seafood, pasta, salads, chicken... just give it a go with anything you want. |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | South Africa |
1966 Dows Vintage Port
Regular price £220.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Vintage Port is a specific style of Ruby Port which is made only in exceptional years and from the ripest grapes. The fermented wine is fortified before being aged for 2 years in massive oak vats which preserve the ripe fruit character. Upon bottling, the wines continue to age and can reward patient maturation for many decades.
Dow’s Vintage Ports are powerful and austere when young. They age superbly with high purity of style. Dow’s has a firm tannic structure with spicy black-pepper and bitter chocolate flavors. The aromas are of violets when young, maturing into cinnamon with age. Dow’s Vintage Ports develop a superb racy elegance with maturity. Dows’ Vintage Port style particularly suits the years when the grapes are very ripe and generous.
Tasting Notes
From the outstanding 1966 vintage, this wonderful Dow vintage port scores 88/100 Parker points and "is a top success for that vintage; in fact, it would be hard to find a better port from that year." It is fragrant, very sweet and has a lovely dry finish.
The Quintas & Wineries
Dow’s has five of the most beautiful vineyards in the Douro valley – Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, Quinta do Santinho, Quinta de Cerdeira, and Quinta da Fonte Branca– with a total of 133 hectares under vine. These five estates form the backbone of Dow’s greatest Ports. Three wineries, two large ‘state of the art’ wineries at Bomfim and Sol and one small ‘specialist’ winery at Senhora da Ribeira, permit Dow’s to be the largest buyer of premium quality grapes in the Douro and represent a unique investment in diversified and specialized winemaking for the pursuit of quality.
Producer History
Founded in 1798, over two centuries ago, by Bruno da Silva, a Portuguese merchant from Oporto, who made a journey which was the opposite to that of the first British merchants. Bruno set up in London from where he imported wine from his native country.
Dow’s was the first British Port producer to invest extensively in premium vineyards, acquiring Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira in 1890 and Quinta do Bomfim in 1896. These superb vineyards are fundamental to the outstanding reputation that Dow’s has long enjoyed. In 1912, Andrew James Symington became a partner in Dow’s, and today six members of the family own and work in the company; Peter, Paul, Johnny, Dominic, Rupert, and Charles.
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
Year | 1966 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Touriga Franca - Touriga Nacional - Tinta Barroca - Tinta Roriz
|
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content
|
20% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 15 units |
Type | Red - Fortified |
Cellaring Potential | Drink now - 2032. |
Food Matching |
Beef, Mature and hard cheese
|
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Douro Valley |
Appellation | Porto |
2022 Forager Red (Shiraz & Grenache)
Regular price £12.75 Sale price £11.48 Save 10%Traversing the beautiful vineyards of the Western Cape, I have the good fortune to often taste small and unique parcels of wine. Winemakers create blends to accentuate certain qualities or add complexity to a wine. Forager is one such blend, assembled from selected grapes each with its own special character, 'foraged' from various vineyards, barrels and batches to create a distinctive wine in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby garnet.
Nose
The nose is reminiscent of dark forest fruit with notes of white pepper, dried herbs, cloves and leather.
Palate
Red berry and dark jam follow on the palate with subtle vanilla oak. The finish is elegant and perfumed. Medium to full-bodied with soft, supple tannins.
Vineyards
Dryland vineyards in Paarl, Wellington, and Malmesbury, aged 16-25 years. Various soil types, including decomposed granite, shale, and alluvial soils.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested with rigorous bunch selection in the vineyards. After crushing and destemming, the grapes were cold-macerated for a few days. Fermentation took place in open-top stainlesssteel tanks with regular punch-downs and pump-overs. After fermentation, the Shiraz was left on the skins for extended contact before a portion was racked to a combination of French and American oak barrels. The Grenache portion was unoaked and stored in stainless steel tanks until blending with the Shiraz.
Awards
- 2018: Gold, Ultra Wine Challenge - 3.5 Stars Platter
- 2019: Gold, Gilbert & Gaillard - 3.5 Stars Platter
- 2020: Winemag 93pt and Top 10 SA Red blends - Gold, Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Diners Club
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Shiraz 20% Grenache |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Suggestion |
Pair with grilled and barbecued beef or game; pan-roasted duck breast; hearty stews and braised meats. Serve it slightly cool around 16°C to 18°C. |
Cellaring Potential |
This wine can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring for up to 5-6 years. |
Additional Information |
Integrity & Sustainably Certified |
Origin | Paarl & Swartland |
Appellation | Western Cape |
2023 Forager White (Chenin Blanc & Grenache Blanc)
Regular price £12.75 Sale price £11.48 Save 10%"An altogether glorious glass of wine - enough flavour to drink on its own but with interest, complexity and length that will complement lots of menu options. A lot of wine for the price." Alan Chapman
Traversing the beautiful vineyards of the Western Cape, I have the good fortune to often taste small and unique parcels of wine. Winemakers create blends to accentuate certain qualities or add complexity to a wine. Forager is one such blend, assembled from selected grapes each with its own special character, 'foraged' from various vineyards, barrels and batches to create a distinctive wine in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Light yellow-straw.
Nose
The nose is reminiscent of apricot, peach, and quince with hints of lychee and cardamom.
Palate
Citrus and stone fruit follow on the palate, rounded by subtle oak and punchy lime acidity. The finish is long and dry. Medium to full-bodied.
Vineyards
Dryland vineyards in Paarl and Swartland, aged between 12-36 years. Various soil types, ranging from decomposed granite, shale, and alluvial soils.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-picked with rigorous bunch selection in the vineyards. They were handled separately in the cellar, and only the free-run juice was cold-fermented with a selection of yeast strains to impart complexity. After fermentation, 40% of the wine was racked into a combination of 300L and 500L French oak barrels ranging from 2nd to 4th fill. The wine was given extended lees contact in the barrel for 3-5 months, after which it was racked, blended, and bottled.
Awards
- 2019: Best Value White Blend - Winemag, 90pt - Winemag, 4 Stars Platter
- 2020: Gold Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Platter, 92pt Winemag - Top 10 White blends, Winemag
- 2021: Double Gold Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Diners Club 2023 - 91pt Winemag
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"I had kinda overlooked this when we tasted in South Africa (so much to taste) - but it’s beautiful. Stone and citrus fruits dance round a core of lovely complex, textural creaminess. Good balance & length make for a thoroughly decent glass of white - lots of interest, flavour and complexity." Tasted August 2024
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 78% Chenin Blanc & 22% Grenache Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.6% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Suggestion |
Pair with wild mushroom risotto, Moroccan chicken tagine, or herb-crusted rack of lamb. Serve below room temperature: 8°C to 10°C. |
Cellaring Potential |
This wine can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring for up to 3-4 years. |
Additional Information |
Integrity & Sustainably Certified |
Origin | Paarl & Swartland |
Appellation | Western Cape |
2022 De Bortoli The Accomplice Chardonnay
Regular price £9.99 Sale price £8.99 Save 10%A lovely luscious Australian Chardonnay!
Tasting Notes
Pale straw yellow hue. A bouquet of white nectarine and pineapple, as well as underlying vanilla oak, complementing the overall freshness of the wine. Soft and creamy palate, with textural notes as well as concentrated stone fruits. Oak is well integrated, as well as gentle acid, overall tying into a round, generous finish.
The Season
Good rains during winter and early spring allowed for good fruitfulness and healthy vines at the beginning of the growing season. A cooler than usual ripening period enabled good varietal flavours. Rain during late spring and summer increased the disease pressure but with good viticultural practices and selective harvesting we were able to begin vintage albeit about 2 weeks later than what has become the norm in recent times.
Winemaking
A large percentage of juice was handled oxidatively. This develops a richer and riper stone fruit spectrum in the resultant wine. Fermentation on oak allows for quicker and greater integration between the fruit and oak for a harmonious balance. Some parcels are left au naturel to go through malolactic fermentation, further softening the acid profile. The wines are left on light primary and secondary lees to add creaminess and weight.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
12.55% Alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring | In a good cellar this wine will last for 2-3 years. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Riverina, Australia |
2023 Italia Pinot Grigio, Provincia di Pavia IGT (25cl Can)
Regular price £2.99 Sale price £2.69 Save 10%Fresh and zesty Pinot Grigio from the Pavia hills south of Milan, handily packaged in a 25cl can. Picnic Perfect!
Tasting Notes
A refreshing white with apple and citrus aromas, and combining lemony acidity with lightly honeyed fruit, to give a fresh and dry finish.
Production
The Pinot Grigio grapes are harvested in the first half of September. Then crushed and gently pressed before cool fermentation at 16-18˚C in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 250ml |
Cultivar |
85% Pinot Grigio and 15% Chardonnay |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol Content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 3.1 units |
Type | White wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Food Matches |
Great for picnics, festivals, or whenever you fancy just one glass. |
Origin |
Provincia di Pavia IGT |
2013 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir - Aged Release
Regular price £73.99 Sale price £66.59 Save 10%95 points - James Suckling.com | 91 points - Wine Advocate
Tasting Notes
Colour
A youthful bright appearance with a core of ruby leading to a just fading rim.
Nose
Aromas of primary red berry fruits including dark cherry and plums, plenty of barrel spice and bottle development complexities. The beginnings of secondary aromas with a whisper of date and toasty spices layer in complexity and depth.
Palate
Still youthful and firm on the palate with textures from tannins and acidy leading the mouthfeel. Core fruit flavours mirror the bouquet with equal impressions of plums and cherry. An excellent example, just a little bit dry though easily marries with gently salty earthy food.
The Season
A mild spring was followed by a sunny summer and a lingering dry autumn. It was a perfect growing season with enough warmth to produce optimal ripeness but it was not too hot to destroy varietal purity or freshness.
The Vineyard & The Vines
We have about a dozen different clones of pinot noir and often these grow intermingled throughout our various blocks. The vines, many of which are nearly 30 years old and on their own roots, grow on a series of north facing, gradually descending terraces. While the site is warm during the day it is cool at night. This allows the fruit to ripen fully but slowly and to retain good acid levels of natural acidity. The drainage is helped by stones intermingled with the soil.
Harvest & Wine Making
We use traditional Burgundian winemaking methods. We picked the various blocks at different stages during late April and early May, depending on their maturity. Most of the grapes were destemed and put into small fermenting vats, retaining as many whole berries as possible. Ten percent of whole bunches were also added to these vats. They were kept cool over the next few days to help extract the soft, silky tannins from the pinot noir skins.
After this time the grapes warmed enough to start fermenting. During fermentation the floating cap of grape skins was twice daily gently pushed back under the wine by hand to keep it moist and healthy. When the fermentation finished the vats were sealed and the grape remnants were left to steep in the wine for up to a week to help extract a different range of tannins that add structure and depth. The duration of this period was determined by daily tasting. Subsequently the wine was gently pressed off and put into oak barriques (30% new) from selected artisan Burgundian coopers. In the summer after harvest, when the weather warmed, the wine underwent malo-lactic (secondary) fermentation. Both this and the original fermentation phase were completely natural and without added micro-organisms. After maturing for 18 months in these barriques the batches made from the many different plots of pinot were carefully blended in varying portions to produce this wine.
Accolades
95 points - James Suckling.com
A lovely and fresh late-released pinot with plum, cooked strawberry and cherry aromas that follow through to a full body with layered fruit and tannins, and a savory finish. Shows plenty of ripeness. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap. (Nick Stock )
91 points - Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2013 Pinot Noir reveals expressive black cherry, mulberry and red currant jelly notes on the nose with hints of tar, black loam, balsamic and dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate has elegant styling with gentle savory and red berry preserves characters framed by a lively backbone and chewy tannins, finishing with earthy nuances. (Lisa Perotti-Brown)
91 points - Stephen Tanzer (tasted in 2016)
This is a beautiful wine now with lots of ripe strawberry and cherry fruit character, with hints of iron and peppercorn. It’s full and layered with lots of fruit and firm yet round tannins. A wonderful release of a pinot noir with age. Sustainable. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.
94 points - Excellent | CamDouglasMS - Master Sommelier
Specifications
Year | 2013 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Maturation | Best drinking from 2023 through 2029+ |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Waipara Valley |
Appellation | Canterbury |
2022 Beau Constantia 'Pierre' Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £25.50 Sale price £22.95 Save 10%A classic cool climate Sauvignon blanc made from grapes grown at high altitude on incredibly steep NE-facing slopes. These low-yielding, windswept vines are determined to survive and produce fruit of incredible flavour concentration.
Beau Constantia is a boutique wine farm situated at the top of Constantia Nek overlooking False Bay. These lovingly nurtured vines are spoilt with panoramic views of the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountain ranges.
Tasting Notes
A true reflection of a ‘sense of place’, this wine highlights the incredibly close proximity of Beau Constantia to the cold Atlantic Ocean with its profound minerality. The minerality serves to add flesh to the nervy acidity (high-altitude Sauv Blanc vines and cooling winds) and fine tannin structure (from skin contact and lees contact).
Notes of blackcurrant, ripe granadilla and buchu are complimented by the minerality, lively acid profile and tannin structure.
The Vintage by Winemaker Megan van der Merwe
"2022 was challenging, but challenges are what make a vintage unique, and overcoming them is what makes a vintage meaningful."
Winery
Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.
Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.
The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.
This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.
Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.
Accolades & Awards
- Tim Atkins | 93 points
‘’Two pickings across five different parcels are the building blocks of this blend, made from a pairing of Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Semillon. Wild yeasts and some skin contact, as well as a variety of fermentation vessels, add complexity, mixing notes of nettles, elderflower and oyster shell with a dab of cream.’’
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Sauvignon Blanc & 7% Semillon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13.5% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.4 units per bottle |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matching | Asparagus and pea risotto with lemon zest and basil. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Constantia |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2017 Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva
Regular price £33.99 Sale price £30.59 Save 10%Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva is obtained exclusively from Sangiovese grapes. Grown on land owned by the estate, the vineyard, situated in Panzano in Chianti, extends along the sunny slopes of the 'Conca d'Oro' (Golden basin), a wine- growing area of great value.
Tasting Notes
Nose
This opens with aromas of black-skinned berries, leather, and baking spices.
Palate
Silky, with nutty fruit and a hint of bitter chocolate character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish.
Producer
Since the Renaissance and beyond, Cafaggio's conca d'oro vineyards—which can also be translated as "golden shell," "golden bowl," or "golden basin"—have been renowned for the exceptional wines they produce at an altitude ranging from 300-400 meters above sea level and encompassing a surface area of about 60 hectares.
The conca, as its name suggests, is a steep, naturally occurring amphitheater with a southern exposure that is perfect for the growth of grapes that will be transformed into wines with intense flavor, distinct structure, and significant aging potential.
The conca d'ora is situated in the center of Panzano commune, one of the five Chianti Classico DOCG villages (the only five townships where Chianti Classico can be produced today) where Chianti was first manufactured.
The soil types, in combination with the height and exposure, offer the vines exceptional vigor as their roots look for the water table, making the estate's vineyards one of the most sought-after quality wine-growing locations in all of Tuscany.
Cafaggio is an active participant in the 1995-founded Unione Viticoltori di Panzano (Panzano Grape Grower and Winemaker Union), a group that supports and aids in the promotion of the township's wineries.
Review
- 91 Points Wine Enthusiast
- Bronze Medal at the 2021 International Wine Challenge
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Tuscany |
Amontillado Del Castillo Almacenista Sobrinos De Antonio Caballero, Bodegas Lustau NV (500ml)
Regular price £37.99 Sale price £34.19 Save 10%This exclusive solera of Amontillado consists of 38 casks. It is aged for an average period of 18 years, in the cellars of the Castle of San Marcos in the coastal town of El Puerto de Santa María.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Beautiful bright amber colour with coppery reflections.
Nose
This wine shows aromas of hazelnut praline and candied orange zest with nuances of furniture polish and smoked wood in the background.
Palate
Dry, pungent and flavoursome, with refreshing acidity. Enormously nutty with a delicious salty spiced touch and an extremely long aftertaste.
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 its Anniversary Collection, including a Manzanilla Pasada Papirusa, Amontillado Solera del Castillo, and a Vintage Sherry Añada 1996.
Specifications
Year | Non Vintage |
Bottle Size | 500ml |
Cultivar | 100% Palomino |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
21.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11 units |
Type | Fortified Wine - Dry Sherry |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Serve as an apéritif, with “tapas” and nuts, or to accompany dishes such as consommés, foie-gras, cold and smoked meats, a cheeseboard, and even rich flavoured fish or seafood dishes. It is a wine that pairs perfectly with spicy Asian cuisine. |
Origin | Jerez |
Appellation | Jerez |
2016 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon (Magnum)
Regular price £38.99 Sale price £35.09 Save 10%
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
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 1.5L (Magnum) |
Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 19.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Nuanced and developed wines go well with rustic meat dishes. You can also pair them with cheese or enjoy them on their own. Try with reindeer steak, entrecôte or hard, aged cheeses, such as Gouda, Parmesan or Manchego. |
Origin | Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers |
Appellation |
Bordeaux
|
2018 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.99 Sale price £15.29 Save 10%
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
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Nuanced and developed wines go well with rustic meat dishes. You can also pair them with cheese or enjoy them on their own. Try with reindeer steak, entrecôte or hard, aged cheeses, such as Gouda, Parmesan or Manchego. |
Origin | Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers |
Appellation |
Bordeaux
|
2022 Cape Heights Viognier
Regular price £9.29 Sale price £8.36 Save 10%Crisp unoaked Viognier from young vines, an attractively fresh and approachable style.
Tasting Notes
A ripe, fresh palate packed with citrus fruit and hints of jasmine and white spice. A tight, focussed style of Viognier with subtle varietal flavours.
Production
Grapes are sourced from the Worcester area, where a continental climate brings very cold winters that enable vines to rest before a vigorous summer. Here the vineyards need to be irrigated, but yields are controlled by suckering in November - this ensures the vine's energy is directed to the most important shoots and also to promote good air flow in the canopy. Given the high summer temperatures, the grapes are picked at a good maturity and ripeness using machine harvesters to ensure speed to cellar at cool temperature. Careful winemaking results in terrific varietal expression and freshness.
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
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Viognier |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content |
12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle |
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Fish, chicken and spicy Asian-inspired dishes. |
Origin | Western Cape |
2021 Castel del Lupo Limes Barbera (Organic)
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £12.59 Save 10%This organic, unoaked Barbera is a new project from Castel del Lupo, and has bags of red berry fruit and bright acidity.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of summer fruits with touches of spice and black pepper.
Palate
The palate has bright redcurrant and cranberry characters, violet hints, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity.
Production
The Barbera vines grow in silt, clay and chalk soils on south and south-west-facing slopes at 250 metres altitude. The Barbera grapes are hand-harvested and undergo selection, before a 6-7 day maceration on the skins. After fermentation, the wine spends over 9 months in stainless steel before bottling
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepograve; Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.
A Note on Sustainability
Led by Giovanni Doglio since 1974, the team at Castel del Lupo is very keen to honour the long heritage of its estate which existed even before its inclusion on a map of the region in 1301. All of Castel del Lupos grapes are estate grown and the 100-hectare property is now fully certified organic to maintain the integrity of the environment, the ecosystem and soil fertility without resorting to artificial substances at any stage of the production processes.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Barbera; 20% Syrah |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic
|
Food Matches | Enjoy with risotto prepared with pork sausage and a little of the wine too! |
Origin | Lombardia, Italy |
Appellation | Provincia Di Pavia IGT |
Castel del Lupo Pinot Noir Brut N/V
Regular price £14.95 Sale price £13.46 Save 10%This appealing north Italian organic sparkler, produced from 100% Pinot Noir, has layers of honeyed fruit and toasty character.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of lemon and brioche with lightly toasty notes.
Palate
The palate is fresh and dry, with citrus and apple characters balanced by crisp acidity. The wine has a fine and persistent mousse with honeyed fruit on the long finish.
Production
Produced from a selection of estate-grown grapes in Casteggio and Calvignano - where the Pinot Noir vines are planted on south-westerly facing hillside sites (around 300m altitude), in chalky clay soils. The wine is then produced according to the Charmat method, with second fermentation in tank.
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years of experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.
A Note on Sustainability
Led by Giovanni Doglio since 1974, the team at Castel del Lupo is very keen to honour the long heritage of its estate which existed even before its inclusion on a map of the region in 1301. All of Castel del Lupos grapes are estate grown and the 100-hectare property is now fully certified organic to maintain the integrity of the environment, the ecosystem and soil fertility without resorting to artificial substances at any stage of the production processes.
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Nero |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Fizz |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic
|
Food Matches | A great match with rich pasta dishes and middle aged cheeses. |
Origin | Lombardy, Italy |
Appellation | DOP Pinot Nero Dell'ltrepò Pavese |
2016 Rivera 'Cappellaccio' Aglianico Castel del Monte Riserva
Regular price £18.49 Sale price £16.64 Save 10%Tasting Notes
Garnet red, this wine has an intense bouquet typical for the variety, with notes of ripe red fruit, leather and spices.
Complex and structured in the glass, it has an imposing body and intense and elegant aromas of sour cherry and tobacco, with a long and persistent finish. In the mouth it is warm and full. A wine of great structure, it has a long finish with a balanced tannic finish.
Background
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in mid-October. Maceration lasts 12-14 days in steel vats, with frequent pumping over to obtain a better extraction of aromatic and colouring substances and, at the same time, to soften the tannic mass.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"As good as I remember it - this is proper wine - with gorgeous attractive fruit with some spice & leather notes interspersed. It’s got a really long and persistent flavour - as you would expect from Italy’s southern noble grape variety. Not cheap but delivers real value for real wine drinkers. Delicious! Not a big, full bodied fruity wine - a more lighter, fine style with great complexity, persistence and class!" Tasted 2 January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Aglianico |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food & Serving Information |
Perfect with very tasty red meat dishes. Store in a cool place, away from light, bottle lying down. Do not refrigerate. Open at least 15 minutes before serving |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Andria (BT) Apulia (Puglia) |
Appellation | Castel del Monte |
2022 Finca Ambrosia Casa Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £14.99 Sale price £13.49 Save 10%It is an expressive dry white wine with crisp acidity and great varietal typicity that are evident in every sip
6159 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is an expressive dry white wine with crisp acidity and great varietal typicity that are evident in every sip. Its clean fruit flavours of tropical mango and pineapple are not overpowering but instead complemented by moderate herbaceous undertones, making for a round and refreshing palate.
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, we were able to produce wines with remarkable quality.
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
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Dietary Information | Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Gualtallary, Uco Valley |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2022 Vila Nova Vinho Verde Rosé
Regular price £9.99 Sale price £8.99 Save 10%This is a pretty, soft and fruity Vinho Verde rosé made from the local Espadeiro grape.
Tasting Notes
Fresh red berries on the nose, the palate has delicate wild strawberry and zesty redcurrant fruit, off-dry with a soft and appealing finish.
Production
Produced from the red Espadeiro grape which is cultivated here in Vinho Verde (also found in Galicia, northern Spain). The must undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel.
Producer
Casa de Vila Nova is owned by the Lencastre family, of aristocratic Portuguese lineage (one of their ancestors became the first Baron of Varzea do Douro in the 1800s). This land has been in their family since the 12th century - the ivy-clad tower that still remains from that time is now surrounded by Vila Nova (new house) that was built in the 1700s, and the property was gradually extended over the centuries.
The estate is near the town of Penafiel, close to the eastern border of Portugal's Vinho Verde wine region, around a 30-minute drive east from Oporto. In the late 1970s the family planted vines over 12 hectares - mainly local Portuguese varieties. In 2008 Bernardo Lencastre and his brothers took over the running of the property, revitalised the vineyards, and began making vinho verde and bottling their own wines - the first generation to do so. They now have around 42 hectares of vineyard.
Here, in the Entre-Douro-e-Minho sub-region of Sousa, their vineyards are influenced by winds from the Atlantic Ocean - creating the perfect climate to ripen varieties such as Avesso, Loureiro and Alvarinho.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Espadeiro |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content
|
11.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Rose |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matching |
Perfect with simple pasta dishes, salads and white meats.
|
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Origin | Vinho Verde |
Appellation | DOC Vino Verde |
2022 Rivera Castel del Monte Bombino Bianco DOC Marese
Regular price £13.79 Sale price £12.41 Save 10%100% Bonbino Bianco grown in Adria in Castel del Monte, the wine is delicious, aromatic and refreshing.
The advanced degree of ripeness of the grapes is balanced by the good acidity typical of this variety, resulting in a wine with intense and complex aromas and excellent drinkability and freshness.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale straw yellow colour
Nose
On the nose emerge hints of white flowers such as jasmine, and fruity white peach and green apple
Palate
On the palate it is full, fresh and fruity, well balanced by a pleasant acidic note.
Producer
Marese Rivera is produced from native Bombino bianco grapes in the territories included in the Castel del Monte Docg recognized in 2011, to seal the great quality of the wines that are produced there. The grapes are harvested at the end of September with an advanced degree of ripeness, in order to balance their natural acidity and express the varietal character to the maximum. The aromas are fresh and fruity with notes of rennet apple and the same sensations are found on the palate where the acidic note makes the sip very pleasant.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Bombino Bianca (aka Trebbiano) |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2-3 years |
Food Pairings |
Well expressed in combination with appetizers and fish-based dishes.
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Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Puglia
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Appellation | Castel del Monte DOCG |
2022 Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Setzberg Riesling Smaragd
Regular price £69.99 Sale price £62.99 Save 10%From the World Heritage Site and enchanting feel-good landscape - that is the Wachau, the narrow Danube valley between Melk and Krems. A great Riesling—full and generous, yet focused with precise acidity. An aromatic bouquet of yellow apple, pear, lemon, and pineapple. Elegant and balanced with a long, lovely finish.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Medium greenish yellow, silver reflections.
Nose
Inviting nuances of fresh tropical fruit, underlaid with vineyard peach and fresh orange zest, a hint of lime, seductive bouquet.
Palate
Full-bodied, tight-knit, shows fine fruit expression, fresh acidity, yellow peach, mineral-taut finish, very good length. Secure ageing potential, already very inviting and accessible in its youth. Please let it mature!
Producer
The Wachau Valley is one of the most beautiful historic landscapes in the world and has been included, since 2000, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Here in between the Danube on the one side and the mountains on the other side is the village of Spitz.
Five generations of Hirtzbergers have lived here, tending the vines which have been planted in the Wachau Valley in the 13th Century. Today wine is produced with all the modern know-how at our disposal, but still following the tradition of the Wachau Valley and our family.
Accolades
- 96-98 points - Falstaff 2020
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Riesling |
Country | Austria |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Should be stunning in 5-10 years. |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan Approved, Sustainable Farming |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Origin | Wachau |
2018 Cosme Palacio Rioja Reserva Blanc
Regular price £25.99 Sale price £23.39 Save 10%
Tasting Notes
Colour
Light yellow with a hint of lemon.
Nose
The aroma is elegant and intense. Aromas of white flowers and fruits with a spicy background.
Palate
The palate is crisp, with a creaminess of bread and butter complemented by ripe white flesh. Balanced, full-bodied, with a refreshing acidity on the finish that energises the whole. A joy to carry the aroma of the Rioja landscape.
Winemaking
With grapes from old vineyards in Viura de Rioja Alavesa, this wine recovers the classic way of making Rioja whites, which was to age them in barrels to extend their longevity. A careful process in which this white has been aged for 10 months on the lees in French oak barrels from different cooperages, to have more profiles of aromas and flavour nuances.
Producer
A man of his time, an essential figure in the political and social life of Bilbao at the end of the 19th century, in 1894 Cosme Palacio Bermejillo took over the reins of the family winery that his father founded in Laguardia in 1863 to turn it into the most advanced winery in the Rioja Alavesa. With his characteristic vision of the future and with his sights set on the main wine reference, Bordeaux, he introduced fundamental changes that laid the foundations for modern DO Ca. Rioja wine.
At the end of the 1980s, Cosme Palacio marked a before and after in the history of the wines of this land, creating a style of winemaking at the forefront of its time. Today, Cosme Palacio enjoys great international recognition for being considered the bridge between the Classic Rioja style and the Modern Rioja.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Viura |
Country | Spain |
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Cellaring Potential | Drink now - 2028 |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Chicken, Pork, Risotto, Turkey |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Origin | Rioja |
Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
GlenWood Grand Duc Noblesse (Sweet) N/V
Regular price £25.99 Sale price £23.39 Save 10%Noblesse takes its name from ‘noble rot’, a winemaking process which accentuates sugar, and reduces water content in grapes, making them perfect for sweet wine production.
A wine in this style is the result of painstaking attention to detail in the vineyard, and the cellar.
Tasting Notes
This wine is 100% Semillon, and has the tell-tale notes of honey, dried apricots, butterscotch and ripe mango. Make sure to serve it well chilled.
Vineyards
Vine age: 19 years.
Density: 2,800 vines per hectare.
Normal vineyard yield: 8-9 tons per hectare.
Soils are well-drained compromised lightly structured Clovelly and Avalon.
Vines are planted 1.4 m apart to avoid density as Semillon can be vigorous in growth. Intensive leaf and shoot management in October allow for even ripeness and provided shade to achieve maximum fruit concentration.
Vinification
An intensive, 4-stage, harvest selection in which only noble rot berries were selected containing sugar of between 34 and 36°B. Prior to pressing the berries went through another selection process to ensure that only 100% noble rot berries were pressed. Pressing occurred over a three-day period with a minimal 95 Litres per ton of Semillon recovered. Juice was settled and racked to small 225 Litre selected French oak barrels. No yeast inoculation occurred and the juice fermented naturally down to 150 grams residual sugar per litre. The wine has spent 28 months in barrel before stabilisation and bottling.
Winemaker Comments
"This wine has developed into a well-integrated sweet wine with enticing nutty and honey flavours. We are proud to release this wine with delicate similarities to the revered French Sauternes which was one of our main objectives. Enjoy now or age for 10 to 15 years to develop further complexity."
Accolades
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95pts | Platter’s 2022
2017 botrytised semillon 50% sweeter than last, 2014 (4.5 stars, 93 pts), but so perfectly balanced, the enjoyment is unimpaired, and scores higher. Older barrel fermented/aged 28 months: candied citrus, apricot, with enough brightening acidity to offset the richness. 375 ml.
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94pts | Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report
Noblesse is a reference to the botrytis (noble rot) that affected the berries on this delicious pure Semillon from Franschhoek. Well-balanced between acidity, 156 grams of sugar and a restrained volatile lift, this has honey, peach and orange zest flavours and a sheen of toasty oak spice. 2021-25
Specifications
Year | N/v |
Bottle Size | 375ml |
Cultivar | 100% Semillon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 4.88 units |
Type | Dessert Wine |
Food Matching |
Try it with homemade apple crumble and vanilla ice cream, or mature Stilton cheese. |
Cellaring Potential | Enjoy now or age for 10 to 15 years to develop further complexity. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Robertsvlei Valley, Franschhoek |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2011 Vallet Frères Marsannay Blanc
Regular price £26.99 Sale price £24.29 Save 10%Marsannay is described as 'the Golden Gate' to the Côte de Nuits and this is a classic example from Vallet Frères.
Tasting Notes
Soft creamy oak notes on the distinctive Vallet nose. Lemons and hints of cloves and vanilla follow with surprisingly but pleasantly taught and savoury notes; the lemon zings through and the acidity is well judged.
Production
Traditional practices have remained relatively unchanged both in the vineyard and cellar since Vallet-Frères formation in 1864. Very low yields are controlled by strict pruning practices. Limestone/clay soils are ploughed, and the grapes are hand harvested. Rigorous grape selection and no destemming (Vallet, like Domaine de la Romanee-Conti are just one of a number of producers who still favour this technique). Grapes undergo immediate pneumatic pressing (to avoid oxidization) and fermentation in oak barrels with "batonnage" every day. Barrels are rolled to gently combine the lees and wine. After 14-16 months in cask the wine is bottled following a light filtration.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Well well - this was a pleasant surprise! To be honest - I wasn’t expecting too much from this 12 YO burgundy from a very traditional producer - but it’s delicious. Initial high toast aromas (signifying new oak) prevailed but soon gave way to a lovely rich creaminess. The fruit has a lovely savoury element to it and the still high lemony acidity keeps it fresh. Worked perfectly with my fabulous wife’s bacon & tomato risotto. The wine also evolved well in the glass through a little oxidation and developed very well with time. A 2011 vintage could easily have been over the hill but this is still fresh, vibrant and very together - and will still improve in bottle for another 2-5 years." Tasted July 2023.
Specifications
Year | 2011 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13% alcohol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2025-2028 |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
Food Matches | Of course match with classic Burgundian chicken dishes, such as Poulet de Gaston Gerard (plump chicken in a mustard sauce), but this Marsannay can be matched to sushi when drunk young, and the lemony notes would suit a grilled sea bass. If you decide to cellar it, then try with a regional cheese such as Epoisses. |
Origin | Marsannay |
Appellation | Burgundy |