A bright, supple and juicy Merlot sourced from long-established Western Cape vineyards.

Tasting Notes

Nose

An attractively ripe, red berry nose.

Palate

A rounded spicy palate with generous plum and hedgerow fruit flavours leading to a fresh, gently spicy finish.

Production

Merlot grapes are sourced from long-standing vineyards on the Swartland/Wellington borders and also the Breede River Valley. Low rainfall, warm weather, mainly decomposed granite soils, and low trellised vines all add really interesting complexity to the final wine. Grapes are picked in mid-March, destemmed and placed in open-top fermenters. Pigeage is carried out four times daily (whilst up to half of the sugar is fermented), then only twice daily to the end of fermentation - this is a soft delicate way of wetting the cap and aerating the wine. Malolactic fermentation follows before the wine is left on its lees to extract extra depth and soft tannins. A touch of elegance is achieved by using a modest amount (10%) of oak.

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

A fresh, dry Chenin with broad appeal.

Tasting Notes

This wine displays classic baked apple and zippy citrus aromas with soft, delicate apple fruit on the palate balanced by crisp acidity. Extended lees contact gives this great value wine some real weight and character, the barrel-fermented component adds texture and finesse too.

Production

This Chenin Blanc is sourced from vines grown on sandy loams over granite bedrock, the classic Cape soils type. No irrigation is used in the vineyards and very little crop control is needed due to the age of the vines naturally restricting yield. Part of the blend is wild yeast fermented and a tiny percentage in old barrels. The wine is left on fine lees for an extended period for greater palate weight and mouthfeel.

Specifications

Juicily tropical Sauvignon Blanc judiciously sourced from breezy coastal vineyards.

Tasting Notes

This Sauvignon Blanc from the Western Cape displays fresh, ripe yellow fruit flavours with a hint of waxy lime, as well as some leafy herbal notes which make for a zippy, racy and deeply quaffable drop.

Production

Boutinot has been refining and redefining its Sauvignon Blanc vineyards over many years and works with numerous Coastal growers to best express the specific terroirs of this region that is influenced by that cooling Atlantic Ocean breeze. The soil type is a variety of decomposed granite, shale, and limestone and the plots are all unirrigated. The winery receives the grapes before midday. They are destemmed and crushed and go into strainers where the free-run is pumped gently to tank. The Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks between 11C and 13C. The ferment is likely to last around 10 days. The wine is racked after ferment and then kept on fine lees right up until bottling.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Not the honeyed fruit salad fruits of the wild house Chenin - this is much more citric fruit and searing acidity. Really crisp and fresh and bone dry. It’s got a good balance though for a cheapie - and length isn’t compromised either. A great example of entry-level Sauvignon Blanc." February 2022

Specifications

A very proper, full-bodied, organic white from the southern Rhône.

Tasting Notes

Intense and vinous on the nose, leading into a bright, mineral-inflected yet rich palate that is subtly floral and beautifully textured with a full, long finish.

Producer

Château Maucoil’s vineyards are primarily located in the sandy-soiled northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, but its white grape varieties are planted in Urgonian limestone soils close to the river in the southwest of the region.

Vineyards have been managed organically (certified in 2014) and yields are kept to around 25 hl/ha. Harvesting is by hand and grapes are sorted before vinification.

After a cold skin maceration and pressing, alcoholic fermentation is maintained at 18°C and malolactic fermentation is prevented in order to preserve the wine’s freshness and acidity. The wine is unfined and aged in vats to bring out the varietal aromas and body, synonymous with white wines from the southern Rhône.

Did you know?

Maucoil is one of the few Châteauneuf-du-Pape estates that has conserved all thirteen of this famous appellation's original grape varieties, and grapes must pass through three rigourous stages of manual sorting before being deemed of high enough quality to be made into wine.

The estate's old vines (the youngest are merely 40 years old; the oldest date back to 1895!)

Château Maucoil (pronounced “moh-kwahl”) originally served as a base for Roman legions who were attracted by the spring that runs through the property!

Specifications

Colour

A bright ruby hue in the glass

Nose

Aromatic layers of red fruit and spicy florals with hints of crushed herbs.

Palate

The palate is smoothly textured with flavours of bright cherry, red berries and finely integrated French oak. Mid-weight on the palate, this wine is balanced with refined silky tannins that lead to a long and elegant finish.

Vinification

Grapes for this wine are handpicked at optimal ripeness before being transported back to the winery for processing. Once at the winery the fruit is gently destemmed and then lightly crushed using state of the art processing equipment. Batch fermented according to block and clone in small open-top fermenters, the must undergo a cold soak lasting around 7 days before being warmed and inoculated either with selected yeasts or left to undergo a ‘wild’ ferment using indigenous yeasts found naturally on the grapes.

Once fermentation is complete the wine undergoes a short period of post-fermentation maturation on skins before being pressed directly to a combination old and new French barriques. These barrels are kept cool in a temperature controlled cellar over the winter months, before being warmed in spring, allowing the wine to undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation. Barrels are carefully monitored over this period and once the malolactic fermentation is determined to be 100% complete the final blend is carefully put together before being filtered and bottled in late March

Producer

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

Specifications

A lesser-known, yet great alternative to Prosecco - the sparkling wine of choice in Verona bars!

Tasting Notes

Citrus and gently floral aromas lead to a very fresh and zippy palate with crisp green apple and lightly honeyed characters. A refreshing and approachable style of fizz - yet with texture and depth underlying the bright fruit.

Production Method

Production of Durello Spumante is mostly in the hands of a few small growers, traditionally producing bottle fermented wine with up to 6 years on lees. However the variety is also well-suited to the production of fresh, zesty tank method wines such as this - aged for 2-3 months on lees.

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

Specifications

a

Beautifully structured, dense and complex Qvevri Saperavi.

Tasting Notes

Kisiskhevi is a superb terroir within the wider Kakheti region, particularly for Saperavi. The best grapes are selected for fermentation in Qvevri, resulting in a deep coloured and structured wine that is still remarkably approachable due to its vibrant primary fruit and roasted nut aromas.

Production

A limited harvest of 5-7 tons per hectare from this excellent site for Saperavi, Kisiskhevi. Whole bunches are hand selected before being placed into underground qvevri, where fermentation takes place for 7-9 days with selected yeasts - being underground, the qvevri maintains the perfect temeperature at all times. Due to the size of the qvevri, production is limited to 6500 bottles only. Once fermentation is complete, the grape skins are removed and the wine spends further time maturing in the qvevri before bottling.

This Chardonnay showcases the richness and complexity of its terroir.

Tasting Notes

Colour

The golden colour in the glass

Nose

Bright aromas of stone fruit and golden apple, underscored by rich, toasted oak.

Palate

Ripe, round tropical flavours of pineapple and mango are complimented by notes of vanilla and butter.

Winemaking Notes

The 2021 vintage saw a late harvest with great quality fruit. All grapes were taken directly to press as whole clusters, gently pressed into tanks, cold-settled, racked as clean juice, and fermented over a two-month period at very cool temperatures. Once primary fermentation was completed, select lots ofthe wine went through a complete secondary fermentation to add a rich, buttery component.

Background

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

Accolades

• Top 25 Best Buy Ratings by Wine Enthusiast

Specifications

Cicada takes its name from the famed ‘singing cicadas’ of Provence and  this is a lively, fruit-forward red from the Southern Rhône.

Tasting Notes

Fresh, ripe red berries with a bit of forest floor. Yummy, ripe red and black cherries, a pinch of spice and some softly, boisterous tannins. Lovely balancing acidity completes the picture.

Producer

Domaine Chante Cigale is located within the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has been owned by the Sabon Favier family for several generations. Consisting of 41 hectares, the domaine benefits from old vines, some of which are veritably ancient at over 100 years old. Alexandre Favier took over from his father, Christian, and is part of a new wave of producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, combining modern technical expertise with time-honoured winemaking practices.

Alexandre is lauded by notable journalists including Steve Danzier and Jancis Robinson for his deftly-made and reasonably-priced wines. Domaine Chante Cigale has also built a reputation for specialising in white wines, of which they produce more than any other estate in the appellation.

Production

Alex Favier sources the grapes for his IGPs from land the family owns in the Vaucluse; grapes for this come from 2 lieu-dits in Travaillan to the west of Gigondas – La Marteillère with clay soil for the Grenache & L’Hers on limestone for the Carignan, vines are 30 years old. Hand-harvested and de-stemmed, short maceration in concrete for the Grenache plus aging in 5 yr old Burgundy barrels for the Carignan to round out the tannins.

Sustainability

As you might expect from someone born and raised on an estate named after singing cicadas, Alexandre Favier keenly promotes the biodiversity of his vineyards. He is very conscious of his role as guardian of his land for future generations and Chante Cigale is currently in conversion to full organic status.

Wild yeast fermentation, low yielding bush vines and ageing in large French oak foudre inform this richly-fruited, yet savoury and satisfying Pinotage.

Tasting Notes

Fresh, plummy aromas with savoury, smoky notes. The palate is ripe and rich with vibrant fruit, slightly rustic yet moreish tannins and a persistent finish. 

Production

The grapes for False Bay Bush Vine Pinotage stem from a single vineyard of unirrigated bush vines in Stellenbosch. The attraction to this mature (planted in 1996), coastal, bush vine vineyard were the cooler temperatures and 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 and then raised in large wooden casks (or 'foudre' en Francais). The resulting wine therefore, is perhaps more 'Pino' than 'Tage'. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine. False Bay - Real Wine, Coastal Vineyards, Sustainably Farmed, Hand Picked, Naturally Crafted, Wild Ferment, Cask Aged.

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

No Tricks, Just Wine

This Sauvignon-Pinot Gris blend is a revelation! A truly sophisticated wine, full of finesse and soft tones, with Burgundy elegance and reserved coolness. A fascinating, sensuous palate, with fully mature flavours, which impresses from the first sip. The herbaceous tang of Sauvignon creates a fine balance of sweet fruitiness and crisp acidity.

Tasting Notes

Producer

Organic, Biodynamic, young, trendy, and Austrian! Michael Opitz is part of the new generation of wine growers, no longer producing mainstream but rather, distinctive, confident wines. The personality of this winegrower is reflected in the style of the wines, which are considered and confident without excessive inclination towards the dramatic. Michael Opitz also particularly values sustainability in the winery. This includes improvements in the vineyard and in the cellar as well as considerations concerning transport, packaging materials and many other aspects.

Alan's Personal Notes

"This one was labelled 'natural' not orange but still a decent colour extracted. With Sauv Blanc being the lead varietal - it’s certainly the more commercial of the two whites he produces. Equally magnificent but still difficult to recognise any particular fruit aromas or flavours - but again multi-layered, complex, and with great length - and again that saline finish. Just shades it to be my favourite of the two - but Di preferred last night. Definitely a winemaker to watch." January 2022

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

Straw yellow with greenish reflections.

Nose

Delicate aromas of white flowers, golden apple, slight notes of banana and peach.

Palate

Fresh, aromatic and velvety with light scents of acacia honey with a pleasant roundness

Producer

The River Piave, in its early life, came tumbling out of the eastern edge of the Dolomites, full of energy. It bumped into the hills around Valdobbiadene, carved a cleft in them and carried on towards the marshy delta that is the eastern side of Venice.
At near exhaustion by its journey, it dumped large deposits of limestone pebbles and stones, known locally as “Jara”, which has proven a good challenge for vines to produce nuanced, vital fruit and pure wines. This soil absorbs the warmth of the day, and gently releases it at night, providing a steady transition between day and night for the grapes on the vines.

Driving from Venice northwards, there's not much to tell you that you've moved from the over-fertile flatlands that produce so much anonymous, intensively produced Prosecco, to the equally rather flat but charming, stony, organic vineyards of La Jara. Now well established in harmony with nature, the vines are uniform, drawing on a deep bank of nutrients from the ground-down mountain. To this phenomenon the estate credits the delicate floral aromas of their Glera (Prosecco) and Pinot Grigio grapes; combined with a dedication to organic viticulture, they make affordable wines of outstanding quality. In their own words. "We like to think that Nature is a perfect mechanism, whom it is our duty to indulge. day-to-day attention to the vineyard renders our grapes – and our wines – truly exceptional."

These days, La Jara is a story of two brothers. Massimo, who reminds one of a flamboyant Bond villain, and Paolo who makes the wine. And Giovanni, their sales director of many years, who keeps everyone on track. Their goal has always been to produce bright, easy and pure wines; they are always a joy.

Year after year they've added to their organic plantings, consistently choosing the best sites, and equally, they've kept their wine-making technology and operational know-how up to date, which is crucial in an area that is famously humid and flat.

Awards

• International Wine Challenge:  AWC Vienna Gold 2022

Specifications

Specifications

a

This fine wine is born from the areas of Monforte d'Alba, Novello and Madonna di Como with their steep, plastic soils, rich in clay and sand.

Tasting Notes

Brilliant grenade red in colour with soft orange notes, it is rich, complex, tannic and pleasant on the nose with hints of raspberry.

Vineyards

It is quite possible that the Franco Conterno estate has one of the most enviable views of any winery. In the heart of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Bussia di Monforte d’Alba, the farm sits alone atop a tiny hill overlooking La Morra, Fontanafredda and Castiglione Falletto. 

Franco Conterno comprises 28 hectares of vineyards, located in the territories of Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Novello and Madonna di Como.

The labels bear the names of the most prestigious vineyards: Bussia and Panerole. The hectares of land are dedicated to the cultivation of Lampia and Michet Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Merlot, Freisa and Chardonnay. Bussia is the first cru to have been declared a member of the "modern" era.

As always, our growing techniques are specially chosen to bring together respect for the environment and agricultural work, as required by the Regional Rural Development Plan to which Franco Conterno first subscribed in 1996. All this is possible thanks to the extraordinary nature of the soil, made up of sand, silt and clay. The elevation above sea level ranges from 250 to 400 metres.

The soil, the extraordinary microclimate, and the excellent south/south-west exposure allow for the creation of wines with unique and valuable characteristics.

From 2015, Franco Conterno has been a certified organic company, dedicated to a production philosophy based on natural ​​vineyard cultivation and a completely wholesome vinification process.

History

In the heart of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Bussia di Monforte d’Alba, is Cascina Sciulun, a typical historic farmhouse, constructed according to Piedmont architectural traditions. Built in the mid-nineteenth century and extended in the 1940s, the house has always belonged to the Conterno family.

The company Franco Conterno has deep roots, and has been a part of the family for many decades. It was nonno Pietro who allocated 18 hectares of land to Nebbiolo vineyards, initially to sell to other wineries for vinification, later destined for the creation of prestigious wines.

The business passed to his son Giacomo, and then to his grandson Franco, who took the helm of the winery in 1995 with his wife Vilma, bringing his own name and identity to the company.

In recent years, Franco’s two sons—Daniele and Andrea—joined the company, following in the footsteps of their grandfather, bringing fresh insight and innovation to the winery and vineyards, continuing the family business with passion and dedication.

Cascina Sciulun now includes a farmhouse where you can stay, for a relaxing visit immersed in the peace and tranquility of the green hills of the Langhe.

Specifications

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

Tasting Notes

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

Production Method

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

Producer

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

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

Specifications

A beautifully, elegant Rose - such a food friendly wine that will have even the hardened sceptics seen the wine through rose tinted specs!

Tasting Notes

La Vie en Rose is a beautifully elegant wine and now it comes with refreshing new packaging to match. Fresh, summery and pale in colour, this dry rosé has hints of summer fruits such as strawberry and wild raspberry and mouth-watering acidity. Food friendly and delicious.

Viticulture

Top category grapes from the Puichéric area from the best qualitative plots and vines averaging 25 years old. 150m above sea level, the vines are protected from wind and receive plenty of sunshine. Grapes mature slowly developing an aromatic profile.

Winemaking

The grapes are selected among the coolest vineyards to ensure good natural acidity. Harvest is during the coolest hours of the day, early morning and the grapes are directly pressed into airbag presses. The juice is cold settled and goes though fermentation at cool temperature for 2 weeks. The wines are then quickly cleared off their gross lees and are kept in stainless steel tanks on fine lees only until bottling, in order to keep maximum fresh fruit and freshness..

Specifications

Specifications

a

A rewarding and satisfyingly juicy mix of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Circle of Life tells the story of Waterkloof: a once conventionally farmed property transformed into a living, breathing organic and regenerative vineyard by Farm Manager Christiaan Loots and his team.

Tasting notes

A harmonious blend that combines the spiciness of Syrah, the ripe, youthful fruits of Petit Verdot and the juiciness from Cabernet Franc. The beginning is fresh and full of fruit with good acidity, evolving into riper flavours with lightly spicy notes. Elegant tannins and fine, bright acid on the finish.

From mature, unirrigated bush vines in Paarl, this old dame is remarkably light on her feet. Inestimably life-affirming and a pure joy to drink.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is alluringly bright with aromas of fresh cranberry and raspberry.

Palate

The palate reflects these with vibrant, crunchy red berry fruit, tangy acidity and warm, gently spicy notes. An immediately appealing and quaffable style with a serious streak of quality thanks to the low yielding bush vine fruit.

Production

28 year old, dry grown bush vine Cinsault from organically farmed blocks, brought to Wildeberg where roughly 30% of the fruit is carbonically macerated due to some whole bunch material in the press. The juice is then allowed to ferment naturally in older French oak. A naturally produced wine with no fining or filtration and low sulphur levels.

Producer

What’s this then? SKU is a casual band of happy ferments. A circus tent of the Cape’s stranger grapes and blends. We will champion the unfashionable, experiment with the known and express the found before it gets lost. Mistakes are likely, fun certain. Welcome to Strange Kompanjie, a Kultivar Club for the Underdog.

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 

Yellow-green colour

Nose

Citrus aromas, mixed with notes of green chili

Palate

Fresh and great volume, this is a wine structured in the palate and high in acidity that gives tension with a minerality in the mouth, granting a clean and persistent final where is left to feel slight saline touches, making this, a wine with high complexity in the mouth.

Vinification

The must first underwent a cold maceration for a period of between 6 and 8 hours. The must was protected from contact with the air throughout the process, the fermentation took place slowly at a constant low temperature of 120C to 150C so that the yeast activity could draw out the maximum varietal aromas and the expression of the northern Chile desert. After fermentation, the wine was aged over its lees for ten months and battonage was used to gently move it so as to maximize the contribution made by the wine coming into contact with the fine sediment.

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 which continues to this day.

Specifications

This Manzanilla Pasada of Sanlúcar is aged for 7 years in a solera of 80 barrels and the butts used for this are over 80 years old!

Tasting Notes 

Pale straw in colour, this Pastured Chamomile is deliciously aromatic, with almond and aniseed hints and the characteristic nuance of the sea breeze. Dry, fresh and light, still with the essence and body of a Chamomile and with a refreshing acidity. 

Producers

• 2019 IWSC Silver Award Winner

Specifications

We can't recommend this enough. A beautifully balanced dessert wine, lovingly crafted, and an absolute steal!

Tasting Notes

Nose

A nose of intense lemon curd, marmalade, and orange peel with fragrant honeysuckle notes.

Palate

The palate has lots of ripe apricot and acacia honey characters with honeyed sweetness, well-balanced by a fresh citrus zest bite on the lingering finish.

Production Method

Palazzina vineyard is on the Il Cascinone estate. Vine yield is 3000 liters per hectare. The fruit is hand-harvested in the second half of October (about one month later than the usual Moscato harvest). The grapes are dried on 'graticci' - a traditional Italian rush mat. During this time 40% of the fruit's weight is lost by water evaporation. In mid-December, the whole bunches are pressed and then a slow fermentation is undertaken in oak barrels for 2 months followed by 12 months ageing prior to bottling.

Producer

Il Cascinone was acquired by leading Piemonte producer Araldica in 1999 - an exceptional estate in the Monferrato hills which has undergone extensive restoration and replanting. Now around 70ha of the total 102ha are in full production, with the warmer, southwest-facing slopes used to grow Barbera, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon - whilst the northeast slopes are ideal for more aromatic varieties Brachetto and Moscato, along with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The 'Il Cascinone' range (and part of the Alasia range) is produced with grapes sourced from Araldica’s most prized vineyards, both on the estate itself and from other selected sites. This includes the further d'Annona vineyard in the village of Fontanile - purchased by Claudio Manera in 1998. This south-west facing vineyard is a source of premium quality Barbera, from vines over 60 years old. Grapes from d'Annona are brought to Il Cascinone for vinification.

All harvesting at Il Cascinone and d'Annona is by hand. The Araldica winemaking team of Claudio Manera, Lella Burdese and Carlo Manera oversee all production.

Awards

Specifications

Approachable yet very proper vintage Champagne - perfectly expressing the very particular character of Pinot Noir from the Aube.

Tasting Notes

Fine persistent 'bulles', lovely nose - a mix of ripe Pinot fruit and classic baked biscuit, the palate has Gremillet's characteristic gentle, ripe fruit, some nice complexity balanced with a long fresh finish. 

Production

Vines are mainly planted in the Côte des Bars on limestone-clay soil on steep, sun-drenched hillsides. The first-press juice is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (16° for the alcoholic and 18° for the malolactic) followed by secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine is then matured on lees for a minimum of 5 years, and disgorged with a 9g/l 'liquer de dosage' made from their own finished wine.

Producer

The Gremillet estate was founded by Jean-Michel Gremillet in 1979 when he inherited a plot of vines from his mother, Lulu. Today, the house possesses over 40 hectares of vineyards and is situated in a small village 45 kilometres from Troyes - the historic capital of Champagne - and 180 kilometres south of Reims. The vines lie on steep, sun-drenched hillsides in Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils. Pinot Noir is king here, and constitutes around 94% of Gremillet’s plantings, with the remainder dedicated to Chardonnay, ideal for creating a classic, baked biscuit, rich, fruit-flavoured Champagne.

A Note on Sustainability

This family-owned and run Champagne house is HVE 3 certified, and as much as possible it restricts its use of chemicals in the vineyards. One of its cuvées is certified organic by ECOCERT and hopefully, this is the start of a bigger process.

Specifications

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

Tasting Notes

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

Producer

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

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

Production

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

Specifications

From the winery responsible for the invention of Amarone! 

Tasting Notes

Nose

This has a highly perfumed nose - intense and persistent, ethereal, fruity with hints of cherries and dried prunes, dried flowers, sweetly spiced. This is full bodied with a deliciously smooth mouth-feel and velvety tannins.

History

Consisting of 230 growers and 700 hectares, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar is a co operative located just a few kilometres from Verona, in the heart of Valpolicella. They are one of the major producers in Valpolicella Classico owning a quarter of all Classico Vineyards, and are the only winery to have vineyards in all 5 communes of the region. They have a long and distinctive history of winemaking going back to 1933 and were the first to produce Amarone in 1939, a%er a serendipitous mistake producing Recioto.

Production

Personal Tasting Notes

"Lovely - full bodied and rich with an alluring blend of juicy red and black fruits, a touch of spice and a super smooth finish. Extremely well made and well balanced. A great £15’s worth. Not cloying or offering overly ripe, sweet fruit - very fresh and clean on the palate meaning each glass is a fresh mouthfeel." Tasted April 2024

Specifications

An underrated French vinous gem worth rediscovering.

Tasting Notes

Soft citrus and mineral notes are followed by riper citrus on the palate, with good body and some chalky textural elements coming through. Very moreish on the finish with refreshing acidity to the end.

Method of Production

Produced from grapes grown on clay-limestone and Kimmeridgian Portlandian soils, Aligoté is an early-ripening and high-acid grape variety. Traditional winemaking methods are employed to produce a fresh and delicately fragrant white.

Producer

Energetic and charismatic, Hérve Félix has a small estate where he passionately produces a range of artisan wines. Founded by his ancestors in 1690, the estate remained in its 11 hectare form for three hundred years. In 1991, new plots of vines were purchased and the family now owns a total of 32 hectares mainly in Saint Bris Le Vineux, 8km south of Auxerre and 16km west of Chablis. A series of further investments in cellar equipment over the subsequent years has shown that, in winemaking, tradition does not exclude dynamism or modernism.

"This place may look a little chaotic, but the whites go into bottle young and fresh... This is one of Saint-Bris's oldest families, Nicolas Félix having been second alderman in the revolutionary year 1789". Burgundy, Anthony Hanson.

A Note on Sustainability

Although an advocate of reasoned agriculture since 1996, Domaine Félix is not as yet officially accredited.

Specifications

No Tricks, Just Wine

Organically produced 

Tasting Notes

Buddy Talk Red is a unique blend of organically grown Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Roesler grapes. It exhibits aromas of black and red fruits like blackberry and cherries, and plums along with light spice notes on the palate.

Producer

Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel, is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.

Specifications

No Tricks, Just Wine

Buddy Talk White is a wine for every occasion. Unobtrusive, adaptable and flattering. Organic.

Tasting Notes

The quintessence of the Seewinkel region. Combines the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. A companion for hot summer days, which also gives pleasure in the winter. Simply casual.

Buddy Talk is made from a unique combination of Muskat Ottonel, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is made with minimal intervention and is the quintessence of the Seewinkel region, combining the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. Tart, crisp and nice citrus and tropical fruit.

Producer

Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

Specifications

Fruity fun fizz! Organic too!

Tasting Notes 

Bright and lively, packed with orchard fruit, and with all of the white flower aromas its name suggests. The perfect party wine, this is soft, approachable, and all too easy to drink.

Production

Made in the same way as Prosecco, this tank-method organic sparkling wine is crafted in a deliberately vibrant and youthful style. It has been simply but classically packaged.

Specifications

Elegant and beautifully crafted rosé from this highly regarded English sparkling wine producer.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Henners Rosé NV is made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, using the saignée method to draw colour from the grapes at the pressing stage.

Palate

This sparkling rosé delivers classic English red berry fruit flavours including raspberries, redcurrants and rhubarb. A minimum of 18 month ageing on the lees brings a delicate creaminess to the wine.

Producer

When it comes to English wine there’s a lot to shout about, not least the stunning sparkling wines from Henners. Based just 4 miles from the sea in Herstmonceux, East Sussex, the 7 acre vineyard was created in 2007 by ex-Formula One engineer, Lawrence Warr. The winery was named in honour of Larry's French ancestor, Henners Dubois, who was forced to flee Paris for England during the French Revolution in the in the late 18th Century.

Boutinot was the sole distributor of Henners from this time and developed strong ties with the winery and its wines… so when the opportunity arose 10 years later to buy the estate, they jumped at the chance. Planted with traditional Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the vines thrive in an idyllic microclimate created by the vineyard’s proximity to the sea, low altitude (only 24 metres above sea level) and steep, sunny, south facing slopes.

All Henners wines are hand-crafted from start to finish; with separate fermenting of varietals and their vine clones to allow a broader range of wines for final blending; extended lees ageing for added complexity; and holding back of all bottles for at least 3 years prior to release to add depth and richness to every wine. Hand-crafted with every attention to detail, our winemakers create award winning wines of depth, complexity and elegance that are perfect for any occasion.

Production Method

Henners Rosé is produced solely from grapes grown on our outstanding estate in Herstmonceux, East Sussex. We found the unique combination of warm well drained sandstone soils, a southerly aspect slope coupled with low altitude, three miles from the sea and at just 24m above sea level. Harvest usually takes place in late September. The result is perhaps the finest vineyard microclimate in the country. We take a non-interventionist approach in the winery, made possible by the quality of the fruit. Vine clones and varieties are fermented separately to allow a broad palette of wines for final blending. This wine will have spent a minimum of 18 months on lees at time of release, and a minimum of 5 months in cellar post-disgorgement to create a deliberately vibrant and fresh sparkling Rosé. Dosage of 7.5g/l.

A Note on Sustainability

Already a founder member of WineGB’s Sustainability Programme Henners Vineyard can now announce it is one of just 18 accredited members to have been certified as sustainable by Wine GB. This is an endorsement to Henners’ commitment to winemaking and winery management that have minimal environmental impact, as well as the ongoing promotion of biodiversity in the vineyards and protection of soils. This is no easy task to attain, requiring annual review for accreditation and ongoing improvement in methodology.

Awards - Non Vintage

Specifications

Where Mountain Meets Vine – A Bold Balkan Beauty!

Tasting Notes

The wine has an attractive, dark garnet colour. Intense aromas reveal a magnificent bouquet consist of plum, red cherry, forest fruits, milk chocolate and vanilla. The palate is dense, round with a distinctive silkiness indicating the perfect balance between ripe fruit and oak tannins. Superb softness and long-lasting end completed this remarkable wine.

Production

The grapes are hand-picked, then carefully selected on sorting tables. Cold maceration of whole berries is performed from 5 to 8 days at 16C. Alcohol fermentation with addition of selected yeast strains is controlled at 26-28C during 8-10 days, in order to reach 3-4 g/l residual sugar, followed by maceration from 5 to 8 days in concrete thermoregulated tanks. Malolactic fermentation continues in tanks, then ageing for about 12 months in oak barrels.

Producer

Count Stephan von Neipperg, owner of several famous Bordeaux properties including Châteaux Canon La Gaffelière and La Mondotte, deliberately sought out Bulgaria’s Bessa Valley, where the wonderful clay-limestone soils displayed the potential to make great wines.

In the shadow of the dramatic Rhodope Mountains, these soils provide the structure, strength and minerality that enable Stephan to create wonderful wines, full of power and elegance.

Bessa Valley is located on the hills between the Rhodope Mountains and Maritsa River. The climate is continental – hot summer and cold winter. The terroir is influenced by the river and the mountain. Rainfalls are at usual level. The soil in the Valley is loamy and clay-stony, mixed with limestone. The limestone rock is half a meter under the soil layer. 140 Hectares of vines are planted with Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Specifications