Specifications

a

A beautiful glass of white wine Spain's La Mancha, this Verdejo stands out from the rest.

Tasting Notes

Expressive nose of gooseberry, apple and white fruit. Fruity wine with a nice balance of white fruit and fresh acidity.

History

El Convertido loosely translates to 'the converter' and tells the story of La Mancha, the world's largest wine region, which is gradually transitioning to a more sustainable future. The conditions are ideal for organic viticulture and that is what family business De Haan Altés wants to show with this Verdejo. 

Specifications

0% Alcohol, Vegetarian/Vegan certified.

Made with grapes from a Puglian origin - this alcohol free wine is a juicy, plush alternative to the 'real thing'!

Tasting Notes 

This Primitivo is rich and ripe, with an abundance of dark berry fruit on the nose, and a plush, smooth texture on the well-balanced palate.

Production

Primitivo grapes are transported in small containers and softly destemmed, taking care to keep the skins intact. Temperature controlled fermentation around 22°C with frequent pumping over of the must achieves optimal extraction of colour, a fruity bouquet and soft tannins in the finished wine. Vacuum distillation at around 30°C to preserve primary aromas.

Specifications

0% Alcohol, Vegetarian/Vegan certified.

Made with grapes from a Sicilian origin - this alcohol free wine is a vibrant delicious alternative to the 'real thing'!

Tasting Notes 

Straw yellow in colour, this wine has vibrant tropical and citrus fruit aromas and flavours. On the palate it is refreshing and perfectly balanced, with a clean, crisp finish.

Production

The grapes are destemmed and very gently pressed in a pneumatic press. Prior to fermentation the juice is chilled and racked after settling. Selected yeasts are added to initiate the alcoholic fermentation, which takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 8°C. Vacuum distillation at around 30°C to preserve primary aromas.

Specifications

Head Winemaker Felipe Tosso joined Vina Ventisquero in 2000. After seriously considering alternate careers as a tennis pro and classical guitarist, he elected to enter the wine business, describing it as “one of my big passions because it’s more than work – it’s a lifestyle.”

Tasting Notes

Complex and elegant, blend aromas of ripe tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango and papaya with soft mineral and citrus notes. The barrel brings soft notes of vanilla and nuts. Of good structure, it maintains the freshness from a crisp acidity giving a wide end of good persistence. In the aftertaste, you will feel the nuts and vanilla again.

Vinification

Initially, a cold maceration was carried out for a period between 12 to 14 hours. Throughout the process the wort was protected from contact with air. The fermentation was carried out slowly, maintaining a Constant control at low temperature between 13 and 16°C, which allowed to obtain a large number of aromas typical of the variety.

80% of the wine was fermented in French barrels with 10% new cask. The remaining 20% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel barrels to maintain a fruity component in the blend. Once the fermentation was finished, it was allowed to stand for 12 months on its lees, making smooth movements (bâtonnage) to maximize the contact and supply of fine lees to the wine and in this way increase the aromatic complexity.

Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex-Penfolds Winemaker) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"A masterpiece this one ☝️ tropical fruits abound with a touch of citric lime acidity keeping it linear and balanced. Complex, long and with perfect balance! Love it!  Bit of a nutty, toasty aftertaste as well - probably from some new oak. Would love to taste this alongside some ‘named’ white burgundies - suggest it might wipe the floor with them?!" June 2022

"Still love it - colour a bit darker in the glass - but it’s still fresh as a daisy, with great balance and length. Fruit is a bit more developed on the palate but it’s still got a lot of life left in it yet. At £16.99 it really is an excellent option vs French Chardonnay at 2 or 3 times the price from Burgundy." 21 Dec 2023

Specifications

Fine, full-bodied white Burgundy.

Tasting Notes

Expressive, almost exotic aromas and flavours with a lovely touch of oak that adds a slightly nutty character to the lush, ripe Chardonnay fruit. Rich but restrained, there is a real finesse and elegant balance to this very classy white Burgundy.

Production

Grapes are grown on the limestone and clay soils of Solutré and Vergisson. Fermented in barriques, this wine then spent 12 months in a mixture of new and older French oak.

Producer

The 14.5 hectare Domaine G. Saumaize (formerly Domaine des Maillettes) is now wholly run by Guillaume Saumaize, follwing the recent retirement of his mother, Annie. Tending to more than forty parcels of vines (up to 80 years old) spread across four Mâconnais communes (Vergisson, Davayé, Solutré and Prissé), he produces Pouilly-Fuissé and a range of other Mâcon AOC wines.

In 2018, the Saumaize family invested in a new barrel cellar, giving them much more flexibility to vinify individual parcels of grapes separately and thus express their terroir even more clearly. The Chardonnays are classically styled, with part or full vinification in oak for richness and complexity.

Specifications

Crisp, unoaked, naturally fermented Chardonnay with purity of fruit and good depth of flavour from extended lees ageing.

Tasting Notes

Classy Chardonnay with flinty minerality and great purity and restraint. A citrus core with ripe apple, pear and delicate tropical notes, produces a wine with great poise. Extended time on the lees adds nutty and toasty notes. Intense yet delicate right through to the finish.

Production

The grapes for False Bay Crystalline Chardonnay stem primarily from a single vineyard in Stellenbosch located next door to one of the region's most lauded proponents of this noble cultivar. This coastal vineyard, gives lower yields, smaller berries which maintain their own natural acidity, thus obviating the need to add acid during the winemaking process. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks and then left on lees for a minimum of six months before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa.

Producer

An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.

False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

“This is astounding value! Delicious tropical fruits, a refreshing citric acidity, unoaked but with a lovely creamy texture, shows complexity with a long finish.” January 2026

Specifications

Specifications

a

Specifications

Specifications

Pinot Noir is a very selective grape. It does not like the heat but does like the sun. It likes to be on well-drained soils so not good on flat landscapes. It likes warm days but more important, cold summer nights. It is so demanding that only a few Australian regions can aspire to produce a Pinot Noir of any pedigree...the Yarra Valley being one of them.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright, cherry and raspberry aromas are supported by a palate of brooding dark fruit and deep earthy flavours. 

Palate

Elegantly balanced on the palate of soft tannins and subtle spice with a lengthy finish

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Producer

Soumah of the Yarra Valley is a producer of fine wines from the region. A hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the cool Warramate foothills of Gruyere. Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the Yarra Valley. Situated an average of 120 meters above sea level, the vineyard is elevated above the valley floor. The ancient sandy-clay loams with broken sandstone shape the small yield and define the detail in these precise, focused expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Production Method

There are four clones of Pinot Noir on Hexham Vineyard and once combined they create a classic, cool climate style wine showing elegance and savoury spice. Fermentation is completed using indigenous yeasts followed by a lengthy maturation in premium French oak to add a layer of earthy complexity.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"More a savoury Pinot than a fruity one. There is good fruit but it’s dark and brooding and overlaid with a smoky oakiness - but it’s the savoury notes that shine through from start to finish. Very well made - smooth and with some complexity held together with soft tannins. Very good value! April 2023

Specifications

"Lively, fresh and zingy - the type of wine to awaken your tastebuds and senses on a lazy Sunday afternoon!" Alan's personal notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh citrus nose, vibrantly aromatic with lemon zest, sherbert, and grapefruit. 

Palate

The palate is bright with incisive citrus and stone fruit characters balanced by taut acidity - giving an appealing texture and clean, crisp finish.

Production

The Passerina grapes are sourced from vines grown on chalky clay soils at Silvi (on the Adriatic coast) and a little inland at Moscufo. The grapes are softly pressed and macerated on skins, at low temperature, for 8 hours. Fermentation is in stainless steel.

Producers

Rocco Pasetti's superbly sited, 30-hectare estate lies in the heart of the Collecorvino district in the hills northwest of Pescara, recognised as one of the best vineyard zones in Abruzzo.

Surrounding the winery, the south-facing slopes of clay-chalk soils, at around 250m altitude, are ideal for the cultivation of Montepulciano, with Pecorino grown on the lower slopes. The cellar was completed in 2004 - carved into the hillside. Rocco's son, Franco Pasetti, is also a winemaker and now works alongside him at the estate.

The Contesa wines are impeccably-made expressions of Abruzzo's local grapes - modern and easy to drink, yet wines of real substance.

Sustainable

Contesa is committed to its sustainability programme and practices an integrated crop management system that is certified under the EU-recognised Sistema Di Qualità Nazionale Di Produzione Integrata (SQNPI) scheme. The Pasetti family is considering a move towards full organic certification.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

This spectacular Pinot captures all the vigour and character of the small plot of organically-grown 15 year old vines in the La Quercia vineyard where it is sourced. A correct and pure Pinot Noir with real soul and expression.

Nose

Pronounced, warm, ripe, black-fruited, spicy and complex aromas. 

Palate

Lively acidity offsets the ripe wild plum and bramble fruit and the palate combines concentration, delicacy and structure.

Production

The Pinot Noir vines are organically-grown in a combination of chalk, clay and silt soils on the rolling hills of Oltrepo Pavese. They are Guyot-trained at approximately 250m altitude, south / south-east facing. The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo careful selection. The grapes are macerated on skins for 8-10 days, then undergo malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is bottled in spring.

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

A proportion of the cantina’s vineyards are in conversion from sustainable to organic cultivation and will be certified as organic from 2020.

Specifications

A delicious example of this classic Austrian varietal elegant - juicy, ripe and generous. A wine that would appeal equally to Argentinian Malbec drinkers as to your Austrian Zweigelt drinkers.

Tasting Notes

Ripe cherry, herbal and cedar wood aromas. The palate has good weight with juicy plum and red berry fruit, bright acidity, supple balancing tannins and a bitter cherry twist on the finish. 

Nerello Mascalese is widely considered Sicily's premier red grape variety, contributing to many of its most acclaimed wines, especially those from Etna. It serves as an excellent introduction to the varietal, offering a lively, youthful red brimming with cherry flavors, presented in a juicier, more approachable style than the typically more structured Sicilian reds.

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of redcurrants and cherry. The palate is soft and juicy with ripe plum, red berry and cherry flavours, gentle tannins, and fresh acidity on the finish.

Production

The Nerello Mascalese was sourced from a long-standing partner of Adria Vini in western Sicily and was vinified in stainless steel.

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

Chenin crafted the wild way – old vine fruit, fermented with yeast found naturally on the grapes. Up to six months lees ageing after fermentation gives a slow and natural evolution and a harmonious and balanced wine.

Tasting Notes

Ripe citrus and green plum fruit on the nose, with lightly bready aromas and notes of dried herbs including fennel and aniseed. Good concentration of zesty fruit with a creamy lemon character offset by taught acidity. The finish is long with great textural complexity, attributable to the long, slow, wild yeast fermentation.

Production

The grapes for False Bay Slow Chenin Blanc stem from old bush vines in the coastal region. Old vines are key to making stand-out chenin and although The Swartland is not as coastal as most of the vineyards used for the False Bay wines, it is an area where, quite frankly, grapes from old vines are available at the required prices. Thankfully, the area's old vines produce naturally low yields and retain good acidity despite being warmer and less windswept than Stellenbosch, so cooler, coastal Atlantic winds are less of a necessity for these gnarly old vines. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks and then left on lees for a minimum of ten months before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine, sustainably farmed and naturally crafted.

Producer

An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.

False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.

Specifications

From cool, windswept, coastal vineyards which yield naturally balanced grapes giving a wine with pure varietal charters and vibrant acidity.

Tasting Notes

Fresh and zesty with grassy and dry bay leaf aromatics, mineral notes, with hints of richness. This is a restrained Sauvignon Blanc with a palate that has lots of minerality and citrus with lightly herbal notes. The finish is ripe and gently honeyed with crisp green apple fruit and fresh acidity.

Production

False Bay Windswept Sauvignon Blanc stems from vineyards in Stellenbosch, some of which are a mere 3 miles from The Atlantic Ocean. These vineyards allow for low yields, slower ripening, natural acidity and a greater concentration of flavours. If one wants to make sauvignon blanc naturally, these are just the type of grapes required. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, then a portion of the juice is fermented spontaneously with wild yeast and the rest is inocculated. The wine spends a minimum of 6 months on lees before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly, sustainably farmed and naturally crafted

Producer

An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.

False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.

Alan's Personal Notes

"Fresh and dry with zest citric fruit and an interesting juxtaposition between maritime salinity (proximity of vineyards to the ocean) and mountainous minerality from the granitic souls - both giving great length, complexity and balance. A real snip @£9 a bottle - it delivers a great deal of flavour for little money giving incredible bang for bucks!"

Specifications

The hills are alive with the sound of music!

Tasting Notes

Aromatic and ripe on the nose. This is a delicious and complete white blend with rounded orchard fruit and green apples, plenty of fleshy texture and a racy, refreshing acidity.

Production

Pneumatic pressing, temperature-controlled fermentation, no finings and minimal filtration all help to preserve pure varietal character of the wine. Here classic varieties Pinot Blanc and Riesling have been blended with the less well-known Sylvaner grape which brings delicacy and satisfying acidity.

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

Sourced from a vineyard nestled into the Andes in the Curico region, this Sauvignon Blanc displays the vibrant fruit of Chile's Central Valley but with elegance from its mountain terroir.

Tasting Notes

A fresh and crisp wine with ripe citrus fruit. Packed with lime zest, lemon and kiwi fruit flavours. Think of cool glacial streams and enjoy the refreshing, racy acidity on the finish. 

Producer

Our long-standing working relationships with growers enable us to source premium fruit, with the ultimate aim of making excellent quality Chilean entry-level wines with true style and character.

For the Sauvignon Blanc, we work with two families in two different locations for a blend with huge appeal. The first is the Martin Family who are nestled into the Andes Mountains in a western corner of Curico. Their vineyards sit around 500 metres above sea level (masl), a far higher altitude than the majority of Curico’s main valley which lies around 250masl. The higher altitude and proximity to the mountains means evening temperatures drop significantly, allowing Sauvignon Blanc grapes to retain crucial acidity as they ripen. This altitude also ensures there is minimal intervention in the vineyards ie. no chemical sprays or irrigation - only pure glacial streams.

Their old established vines planted on steep slopes means grapes can only be harvested by hand. Once the grapes are picked then crushed, cool fermentation is used to preserve the freshness and fruit aromas. We blend this wine from Curico with Sauvignon Blanc from the German Family in Cachapoal. Here, in a warmer location, the variety gains great aromatic expression and typically we see great varietal character thanks to the correct clones being used along with early harvesting. Wines from this warmer spot usually have a little more body, making the blend with the Martin Family wines a great combination of aromatics, fresh acidity and weight. Possibly the biggest strength of this blend is our ability to balance out warmer and cooler vintages with these two different profiles. The wine is settled in tank for a short period before being bottled early to preserve the wines youthful vibrancy.

Specifications

A celebration of Mendoza - the colour, culture and flavour and a celebration of friendship. Visit Mendoza in Argentina and you can't help but be struck by the vibrant street life of this exciting city. This wine was created to reflect the vibrancy and life Mendoza oozes.

It's the lovechild of Argentinean winemaker Walter Bressia and Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang. We've been working with Walter for many years (the Pablo referring to our original owner, Paul Boutinot) and this Malbec is the perfect way to celebrate their long friendship.

Tasting Notes

A really pure expression of Malbec, deep red almost purple in colour and wonderfully aromatic with lifted violet, red currant and cassis notes. Muy, muy fantasticó – richly bloody, vibrant, Latin and velveteen.

The Estate

Established in 2000 the Vinecol estate is located in La Paz at the eastern end of Mendoza. Their 60 hectares adjoin the UNESCO-protected biosphere at Nacunan and thus benefits from its unpolluted waters. At around 1000m, their 100 hectares are all hand-harvested and are planted mostly with Malbec, Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Torrontes. They've invested in their local environment with a reforestation programme and have a vegetable garden for their staff and sponsor local schools!

Production

Produced from 25-year-old vines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza, close to Walter’s bodega in the rain shadow of the Cordon del Plata. The unwooded Malbec vinified in stainless steel to preserve the freshness and brightness of the fruit. Walter bought three spankingly new 25000-litre steel tanks specifically for this project and subsequently somehow crow-barred them into his small family bodega.

Awards

Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 (2019 Vintage)

Specifications

A great, well rounded, fruit-forward Champagne!

Tasting Notes

Nose

Aromatic notes of juicy pear and apricot on the nose are underpinned by more mature aromas of hazelnut and fresh bread. 

Palate

The texture is creamy and full-bodied with well-balanced acidity and plenty of bubbles!

Production

Grapes for this cuvée are grown in the lieu-dit of "Auche" around the village of Janvry which lies just to the west of Reims. Firstly they are pressed in small stainless steel vats, before being transferred to ceramic vats for 12 hours to allow for natural clarification of the juice. Next, the clarified juice is moved to large steel containers where it remains from September to March, during which time fermentation takes place before finally being bottled for the secondary fermentation and lees ageing. Dosage is between 9g and 10g per litre to give a richness of profile and this Brut Sélection is comprised of 60% wine from 2017 with 40% reserve wines from 2014-2016.

Producer

The Cave Co-opérative de Germigny was created in the early '60s by a handful of winegrowers who wanted to pool their resources and craft their own Champagne. They aimed to celebrate the local terroir - the western slopes of the Montagne de Reims. Today the Co-operative works 115 hectares of vineyards covering 40 different crus, of which 5 are classified as Premier Cru. The Co-op members remain passionate about their shared values of respect for nature, protecting their heritage and working together.

Awards

• Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 - Silver
• Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Bronze

Specifications

An authentic blend of Portuguese indigenous varieties, predominantly Baga, which is a classic grape of the Bairrada region.

Tasting Notes

Attractive mixed berry aromas with spice notes. Vibrant plum and black cherry on the palate with liquorice hints, elegant tannins, and finely poised acidity. A medium-bodied, vibrant and characterful glass of red.

Production

The grapes are vinified without being totally destemmed, and macerated for 5 days in cold temperatures. The fermentation lasts around 6 days. Produced from a blend of traditional local grapes. Fermentation in stainless steel. The careful selection and blending of varieties ensures an approachable but complex style and the relatively short time on skins in fermentation creates gentle tannins leading to this wonderfully drinkable profile.

Producer

One of Portugal's largest and most progressive producers with 600 hectares spread across estates in five regions from Douro in the north to Alentejo in the south. Winemaker Francisco Antunes oversees what must be one of the most diverse ranges in Europe, from the 3rd largest Portuguese rose brand (Casal Mendes) to some of the country's most impressive premium reds from estates in Douro, Dao, Bairrada and Alentejo. Arguably, Francisco's greatest achievements lie between these extremes, a range of mid-priced wines from native varieties, full of character, quite distinctly Portuguese, but at the same time approachable and with fresh, modern fruit.

Aliança has been part of Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal since 2007 and all wines are now being brought under the Bacalhôa name.

Sustainability

Since 2015 the Bacalhôa group is regularly audited for the scope of its ethical, social and environmental work, always with a green result. The are members of the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme (WASP). This certification is the guarantee that an independent evaluation, by a third party credited to the Portuguese Quality System, confirms that good sustainability practices have been implemented across the vineyard, cellar and wine production

Specifications

Discover a wine that embodies the essence of nature's touch, meticulously balanced and structured, yet exuding a purity and freshness that is simply captivating.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Dark straw in colour with orange hints. 

Nose

The nose is a delicate mélange of quince, poire william and a hint of vanilla. 

Palate

A complex and structured wine, with elegant but discreet fruit flavours of stone fruits, backed up with a powerful tannin structure and long finish.

Production

Refreshing like a white wine, with the complexity of red wine. This orange wine is made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the pressed juice, creating a deep orange-hued finish. The wine ferments naturally without the addition of yeasts, sulphur or any other additions. The different varieties are then blended and before a natural cold stabilisation, and bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Producer

Back in 1988, three families decided to invest in a winery in Romania, starting with 650 hectares of slightly unloved vineyards and a rusty, once state-owned winery.

Yet Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have turned the Cramele Recas Estate into the most successful winery in Romania. Recas are now recognised globally for their impressive scale and breadth of fascinating wines, including natural and orange wine from organic grapes. Despite the scale the emphasis is on making good wines that over-deliver, and as a result they’ve struck on a magic formula that has seen sales and demand boom. Vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and more recent planting, whilst the winery has seen significant investment and boasts state of the art facilities where innovation thrives. Recas are in every way a modern, dynamic winery, whose open minded approach and quality sets them apart … a winery you really can’t ignore.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright ruby to dark purple in colour, it promises plenty of power.The nose is complex with powerful aromas of blackberry and blueberry with, rose, rosemary, violets and floral notes as well as a hint of spice. 

Palate

The palate is nicely concentrated and with fine tannis. The flavours of blueberry, plum and blackberry are big, with hints of bittersweet cocoa and a subtle stimulating flavour of mint and violet, dark cherry, blackberry, red plum, earth, espresso, tobacco, dark chocolate, black pepper, black tea, violet. Very complex.

Producer

Owner & winemaker, Rosalia Molina, makes organic wines in one of Spain's highest altitude wineries. Her mission is to make wines that express the typicity of DO Manchuela: the vineyard, the altitude and the varieties planted.

This is a climate on the edge of what is possible: at 1,100 metres above sea level, the grapes experience a large diurnal range that encourages even ripening and helps to retain natural acidity. Rosalia's vineyards are certified organic, she uses only natural fertilisers, promoting biodiversity by welcoming chickens, sheep and pigs from local farms to roam the vineyards freely. Grapes are hand harvested and vinified as naturally as possible with native yeasts and little other intervention. The wines are then aged in clay amphora and some in French oak to give texture and complexity.

Winemaking

Never harvested before the 12th October and always by hand. The colour is extracted in 6000 litre inox tank. Skin contact for 2 to 3 weeks at a controlled temperature before an alcoholic fermentation which is spontaneous, with gentle pumping over for 5 weeks. Pressed directly to 3rd use, 225 Litre French oak barrels, where the malolactic fermentation takes place, also in a natural and spontaneous way for about 4 months. Aged for 4 months in 50% oak barrel and 50% in clay amphoras. Stabilisation is also natural and during the coldest months, temperatures can go to minus 15º C.

Specifications

RedProduction is ‘old-school’ with wild yeast (partially whole-bunch) fermentation and maturation in large wooden casks. A fine, spicy style...definitely more Syrah than Shiraz.

Tasting Notes

Full yet elegant with bramble fruits and also some earth and meaty aromas. The palate is structured and well balanced with fresh red fruit characters, gently spicy notes, fine tannins and a refreshing natural acidity.

Production

The grapes for False Bay Old School Syrah stem primarily from two vineyards in Stellenbosch. The attraction to these coastal, vineyards were the cooler temperatures and low yields of small, naturally balanced and concentrated berries. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast (a small portion whole-bunch) and then raised in large wooden casks (or 'foudre' en Francais). No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine from sustainably faremed vineyards.

Producer

An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.

False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.

Specifications

A textbook fruity southern French Grenache; rich and dark with no hard edges.

Tasting Notes

This Grenache Noir from the deeps south of France is steeped in texture and character. Rich black fruit and sweet spice on the nose with more intense berry fruit and liquorice on the palate.

Production Method

In the south western part of the Languedoc, Boutinot’s Guillaume Létang found this parcel of well tended 40 year-old Grenache Noir. Cordon trained (in an area where bush vines are more common) these old vines thrive on silt and sand, their roots buring deep into the soils in search of water. Fully ripened by the Mediterranean sun, once harvested the grapes are destemmed and macerated at cool temperatures prior to fermentation. To fully expresss the ripe black / red fruit flavours of this 100% Grenache Noir the wine was vinified without the use of oak.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.

Specifications

Taking on other Cinsault's throughout the world! This extraordinary old vine wine comes from 50-year-old vines in the Bekaa valley and is wonderfully unique.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose has an exotic mix of ripe fig, bright red cherry and plum fruit with star anise spice, it’s lifted and pronounced.

Palate

The palate has beautifully ripe red fruit characters alongside fig and spice notes. The acidity and tannin perfectly balances the generous flavours and leaves a pure, clean finish.

Production

Cinsault has been farmed in the Bekaa Valley since the mid-19th century before ceding the way to new imported varieties. In 2014, Domaine des Tourelles decided to revive this grape by searching out very old Cinsault vines, over 50 years of age and located in Western Bekaa. The grapes are handpicked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats for ten days. Malolactic fermentation begins spontaneously. The wine is then aged for 1 year in concrete and then spends a further 6 months in used French oak barrels to round out the tannins. The result is a supple wine that beautifully reflects the terroir of the Bekaa Valley, with an ageing potential of several years.

Producer

Domaine des Tourelles was founded in 1868 by French adventurer François-Eugène Brun and is one of the most highly acclaimed and oldest wineries still operating in Lebanon. It was also the first commercial cellar in 'modern' Lebanon to produce wines, arak and other spirits. This place has history! The Brun family owned and ran the winery up until the last descendant died in 2003 but luckily two local families - the Issa and Issa el-Khoury families - joined forces to buy the property and continue the fine tradition of winemaking.

Today, this Bekaa Valley estate is run by the three Issa children - twins Faouzi and Johanne and their sister Christiane, alongside Emile Issa-el Khoury, son of one of the co-owners. This young and dynamic combination have introduced a handful of practices in the vineyards and cellar including the use of indigenous natural yeasts, no fining or filtering, and only very small amounts of sulphur. These techniques along with fruit from 40 hectares of ancient, organically cultivated and dry-farmed vineyards (among the oldest in the valley) and a winery perfect for hands-off winemaking, make Domaine des Tourelles one of the finest boutique wineries in the Middle East.

Awards

• Top 100 2019 The Wine Merchant (2017 Vintage)
• Silver - Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2015 Vintage)

Specifications

A very ripe and unusually rich example of Loire Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A honeyed and gently aromatic nose with a savoury, toasted fennel seed note.

Palate

The palate is a rich and ripe reflection of this warm vintage, balanced by smoky, grassy flavours typical of Sauvignon Blanc.

Production

The vineyards are planted on Kimmeridgian soil (fossilised clay-chalk, superb for low yields and mineral content) and face south-southwest, giving increased exposure to the sun. They are fertilised organically. Harvesting is done partly by hand and partly by machine, depending on the vintage. Vinification is old fashioned and hands-off. Fermentation is done by indigenous yeasts and is followed by naturally occurring malolactic fermentation. This helps to soften the wines by converting the harsher acids to more palatable ones. Most unusually for a producer of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, winemaker Gilles Maudry believes in allowing full malolactic fermentation to run its natural course. The wine remains on its fine lees for 15 months after harvest, intensifying and enriching the flavours to balance the incredible freshness.

Producer

Domaine de Maltaverne is one of the few producers in the Loire that allows full malolactic fermentation to run its natural course. The owner, Gilles Maudry, is a former biologist who returned to his family’s Tracy-sur-Loire estate in 1984 when his father retired. Now working with his son Matthieu, who finished his viticultural and oenological studies in 2015, Gilles is a firm believer in minimal intervention: as long as his vineyards produce healthy grapes, picked at optimum maturity and vinified with care, then the wine can be left to determine its own evolution. The beautiful label features an illustration of the fossilised ammonite shells found in the vineyard, sketched by an artistic wine lover following a tasting to represent what he visualised upon tasting this wonderful wine.

Specifications

Head Winemaker Felipe Tosso joined Vina Ventisquero in 2000. After seriously considering alternate careers as a tennis pro and classical guitarist, he elected to enter the wine business, describing it as “one of my big passions because it’s more than work – it’s a lifestyle.”

Tasting Notes

Colour

This wine is deep ruby in colour with violet hues at the rim.

Nose

Very intense nose predominated by red fruit, such as strawberries and subtle notes of ripe plums, intermingled with a touch of oak from the barrel-ageing and notes of chocolate which enhances the final complexity of the wine.

Palate

This is a full-bodied, boldly-structured wine, which fills the mouth thanks to its fine tannins. Smooth and persistent in the finish.

Vinification

A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at low temperatures to extract more colour and aromas, then the must was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of between 24°C and 26°C. 100% of this wine matured for 18 months in extra fine-grain French oak barrels, 33% of them first-use, then the wine was aged in the bottle for 8 months.

Winemaker

Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.

Specifications

Utterly luscious - fine, balanced and exceptional value

Tasting Notes

A fabulous dessert wine, sweet and luscious with a great backbone of fine acidity for a clean finish. The nose is fresh with classic botrytis marmalade and ripe nectarine. Flavours on the palate are richer: honey with a finishing twist of bitter orange.

Production

Vineyards are based in the heart of Perigord, near Bergerac along the valley of the Dordogne river. Here, on the river slopes, there is a particular micro-climate which favours the development of the botrytis necessary to make this style of sweet wine. Vines average 25 years of age. Grapes are hand harvested at a very late stage of maturity, in three successive 'triage', to ensure that only the most mature grapes are picked. Grapes are harvested in October and November. Grapes are gently put into a pneumatic press and the juice is transferred to temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is matured for 24 months.

Producer

Located in Pomport near Bergerac, in the heart of Périgord, Domaine de Grange Neuve belongs to the Pichon and Castaing families, and it has grown from being a small farm with just 4 hectares of vines in 1898 to a vineyard of 70 hectares today. Dedicated to making wine that respects tradition while not neglecting technological advances, both in the cultivation of vines and in winemaking techniques, today the property is still run by three generations of the same family. The vineyard consists of approximately 26 hectares of red grape vines (Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon), and 44 hectares of white (Sémillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc), the average age of which is 25 years.

Sustainability

Domaine de Grange Neuve is constantly working to implement practices that preserve the environment and have a positive impact on climate change, and sustainable development is one of their major concerns. The estate has been certified HVE Level 3 since 2012, regarding this course of action to be wider reaching and of greater impact than “mere” organic practices as it evaluates their impact upon a broader range of environmental issues.

Grange Neuve goes much further than required by the HVE certification, having its own biological water treatment facility, a machinery hangar with a roof covered in solar panels to generate its own clean electricity and a comprehensive waste management strategy - it is a member of the Adelphe programme, it uses eco-packaging and recycles as much of its waste packaging as possible, it uses a minimum amount of consumables, and it uses eco-friendly cleaning products.

Specifications

A very quaffable, easy drinking malbec which will absolutely have you reaching for another glass!

Tasting Notes 

This malbec has copious amounts of blackberry, plum and cherry, this is super juicy, bright and fresh. Rounded tannins make this soft on the palate with a fresh finish.

Producer

A blend of five vineyards, the selection process was rigorous in determining which parcels of fruit would make the cut for this wine.

Working with local growers from across the Mendozan region it is clear the result was worth the effort. A quintessential Argentine Malbec packed with fruit and freshness at an incredible price

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested from a number of premium vineyards and estates around Mendoza prior to pressing at the winery. The vineyards sit in the appellation of Medrano in Mendoza at around 350 metres above sea level. Vines are planted at a density of 4000 vines per hectare in a semi desert like position, located close to the Tunyan river, this moderates the climate a little.. Soils are deep and sandy and the vines they support are around 10 years old and trained vertically with Guyot pruning.

The wine is fermented in concrete vats with 30% whole berries, with a mix of pigage and pumping over especially at the beginning of fermentation. Aged on the fine lees, this produces a wine that is superb value for mon

Specifications

A classic and expressive Bourgogne Pinot Noir, crafted well and showcasing true typicity.

Tasting Notes

Translucent ruby red in colour with youthful wild strawberry fruit on the nose. Wonderfully pure and expressive flavours on the palate with mouthwatering acidity balancing the gentle, ripe tannins and elegant, savoury red fruit.

Production

Grapes are hand-harvested and are sourced from several parcels in Couchey, Meursault and Gevrey-Chambertin. Up to 50% of the bunches are destemmed and these grapes along with the remaining whole bunches are put into open top wooden tanks and gently crushed followed by daily pumping over. Since yeasts are an expression of the individual vintage and vineyard only the natural grape yeasts are used for the fermentation. The wine has a traditionally long vatting period of around 20 days and is then decanted into oak barrels of which 20-30% is well toasted new oak. After at least 6 months on the fine lees, the wine is racked, blended and rests for a month before bottling.

Producer

In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.

This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.

A Note on Sustainability

Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.

Specifications

Traditional white Burgundy.

Tasting Notes

This beautifully balanced and classic white Burgundy has a savoury, salty, baked peach and biscuity nose with a rich and broad palate that is balanced with moreish, acidity. The oak is well-integrated on both the nose and palate giving texture followed by a long, intense finish.

Method of Production

Chardonnay grapes sourced from Gevrey Chambertin and Auxey Duresses. Regular plowing and minimal fertilisers as well as minimal pruning to promote vigour and reduce yield. The grapes are hand picked and transported to the winery in small containers. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthoumieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. The wine is fined with bentonite prior to bottling but not filtered.

Producer

Founded in 1864 by Pierre Bourée, Vallet Frères is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the family, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet. The family owns vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, in the Beaune Premier Cru of Les Epenottes, and in the Grand Cru of Charmes-Chambertin, as well as the entire monopole vineyard of Clos de la Justice, also in Gevrey-Chambertin. Vallet Frères is also a négociant, and sources the best grapes from growers in other areas, with whom it has worked closely for decades.

The wines it produces are complex, fine and authentic examples of Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Vallet family’s wines have been imported to the UK by Boutinot for over 30 years and today they’re distributed to top independent wine merchants and Michelin-starred restaurants across the country. 

A Note on Sustainability

Vallet Frères is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.

Specifications

Nose

This Pinot Noir reveals a bright nose of fresh cherries and raspberry jelly.

Palate

On the palate, there's dark cherry flavours with a lick of oak.

Production

Our Pinot Noir came from 2 vineyards - 87% Rapaura Gravels and 13% Omaka Valley clay soils which included a number of clones, 667,777,115, Abel and Clone 5. Both vineyards were pruned to 2 cane VSP and yields were naturally around the 7T/Ha mark. After green thinning on the vine the fruit was harvested over a period of 10 days from late March through to early April. Each parcel was kept separate and fermented in small open-top tanks and hand plunged up to 4 times daily. Post pressing, wine was sent to a mixture of stainless steel and French oak for Malo and ageing.

Specifications

Nose

Untouched by oak, this richly textured Marlborough Chardonnay displays aromas of ripe nectarine, melon and bright citrus underpinned by complex nutty butterscotch gained from both extended time on lees and malolactic fermentation.

Palate

On the palate fresh flavours of peach and tropical fruit are balanced with subtle creaminess and great length; leading to a smooth, fresh and focused finish.

Viticulture

Vinification

Producer

Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in our breathtakingly beautiful, Awatere Valley vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world's first Maori-owned wine company. Since then we’ve grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.

Specifications

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

Tasting Notes

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

Production

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

Producer

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

Sustainability

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

Specifications

The Calusari, an historical Romanian Sect, were believed to be able to cure the victims of fairies with their magical flying dance called the Calus, The wines of Calusari are a true taste of modern Romania.

Tasting Notes

Lovely, opulent aromas of grapefruit and peach follow through to a lithe body, with loads of fruit as well as abundant melon and apple character and citrusy acidity.

Producer

Back in 1988, three families decided to invest in a winery in Romania, starting with 650 hectares of slightly unloved vineyards and a rusty, once state-owned winery.

Yet Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have turned the Cramele Recas Estate into the most successful winery in Romania. Recas are now recognised globally for their impressive scale and breadth of fascinating wines, including natural and orange wine from organic grapes. Despite the scale the emphasis is on making good wines that over-deliver, and as a result they’ve struck on a magic formula that has seen sales and demand boom. Vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and more recent planting, whilst the winery has seen significant investment and boasts state of the art facilities where innovation thrives. Recas are in every way a modern, dynamic winery, whose open minded approach and quality sets them apart … a winery you really can’t ignore.

Production

The winery has been fully fitted out with stainless steel, automatic temperature controlled tanks for fermenting and storing the wine. The primary vinification facility has been completely renewed with the best possible equipment for gently crushing, de stemming, pressing the grapes- in order to be able to maintain all the quality in the grapes. All of the grapes for this wine come from their own estate and are harvested early in the morning to avoid the heat which would otherwise cause the juice to become pink during fermentation.

The grapes were lightly crushed and then further cooled to 8°C before a gentle pressing in state of the art vacuum presses. Free run juice is separated from the heavier pressing and decanted into stainless steel temperature controlled tanks for 48 to 72 hours, until perfectly clarified. The clear juice is transferred to stainless steel fermenters and inoculate with selected yeast to begin fermentation which takes 3 weeks at 10°C. The wine is kept on fine lees until bottling.

Specifications

This wine comes from low-yielding, coastal vineyards, delicately whole-bunch basket pressed for only the purest juice. A fine wine that happens to be pink!

Tasting Notes

A pale, spicy and textural Rosé mostly sourced from bush-vine Cinsault with summer fruits on the palate and a clean, savoury, dry finish. A subtle and delicate style makes this a versatile and food friendly wine.

Production

The grapes for False Bay Whole Bunch Cinsault Mourvedre stem from bush-vine Cinsault (mostly old vines) from Stellenbosch and Swartland, along with a small proportion of Mourvedre from Stellenbosch which adds a savoury depth to the wine. These old vines produce naturally low yields and retain good acidity. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, whole-bunch pressed and fermented spontaneously with wild yeast in stainless steel and wooden foudre. The wine is left on lees for a minimum of three months before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine. Coastal Vineyards, Sustainably Farmed, Hand Picked, Naturally Crafted, Wild Ferment.

Producer

An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.

False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.

Specifications