2022 Eric Texier Chat Fou
Regular price £19.98 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
All fruit is organic, harvested by hand, partly de-stemmed and co-fermented with native yeasts in open-top concrete tanks. As with all Texier wines, no extraction techniques are employed, aged in concrete for 12-18 months, unfined, unfiltered and bottled with only the smallest amount of sulphur.
Producer
Despite having no experience or contacts in wine, Eric decided to give up his career as a nuclear engineer and study winemaking in 1992, interning with Jean-Marie Guffens at Verget in Mâcon. Lacking the network to buy his own vineyard, Eric did his time with established winemakers then made négoce wines with the fruit of like-minded purists until he was introduced to François Pouchoulin, AKA the Godfather of Brézème. Eric was fascinated by the history of this tiny enclave on the southernmost edge of the Northern Rhone, on the left bank of the Rhone. It is South facing, has limestone-rich clay soils and, at 300 meters of elevation has an increasingly steep aspect with terrain that grows rockier as the slope rises. In the mid-19th century, its wines rivalled those of Hermitage but, by 1961, just one hectare remained. Thanks to Pouchoulin’s help and guidance, Texier eventually succeeded in purchasing a tiny parcel of vines in Brézème. Many years later, Éric has now put the Brézème appellation back on the map, and is the leading grower there. After Brézème, Eric and his wife Laurence (the backbone of their business-they are very much a team and travel everywhere together) purchased another tiny plot, this time in the Ouvèze valley in the Ardèche, on the right bank of the Rhone. This site has granite soils, is at a higher altitude than Brézème and has higher growing temperatures. According to Eric, both of these classic Northern Rhone plots had almost been forgotten because of their isolated geographic position and small surface areas. Today, Eric and Laurence have 12 hectares under vine, with vines aged from 30 to 90 years old on both sides of the Rhone, all worked organically. This is not a sudden conversion or a response to trend, Eric has worked organically since the beginning. As for biodynamics, he follows some of its principles but is not dogmatic about it.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 55% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 15% others |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
12,5% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved, Organic |
Food Matches | A playful wine which should be enjoyed with delicious food; pair with Mediterranean style mezze, grilled lamb, roast aubergines and good company. |
Appellation | Vin de France, Northern Rhone |
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2023 Barbebelle Rose Fleuri
Regular price £15.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
The production of Barbebelle Rosé is truly remarkable, embracing sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. The vineyard is undergoing biological conversion and has achieved High Environmental Value certification. The grapes are harvested at night to preserve their freshness, followed by careful sorting and pressing. The wine undergoes direct pressing, fermentation, and aging in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, ensuring that each bottle captures the essence of the vineyard's commitment to quality and sustainability.
Producer
At 16 kms of Aix-en-Provence, on the road to the Luberon, the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence vineyard occupies 50 hectares in a single estate of 300 hectares. It is in the heart of a protected wildlife, between cypress trees, pines and holm oaks, that vines draw all their wealth to give quality wines. The grape varieties of the appellation (grenache, syrah, cabernet-sauvignon, cinsault, vermentino, sauvignon …) are settled on a homogeneous territory of clayey-limestone slopes on a hilly relief, favorable to viticulture, very representative of Provence » Our vineyards in Coteaux enjoy an excellent sunshine. Nevertheless, they do not suffer too much from the heat. Clay and limestone soils retain moisture. The rugged relief ensures good ventilation and the average altitude of the vineyard – 370 meters – gives us fresh nights even in summer. Finally, the mistral de Provence naturally cleanses the grapes. This brings a little respite to our plants which ripen with more regularity. In addition, the field practices respect for the environment and for quality a reasoned agriculture validated by the label. Treatments are minimized and weed control is mechanical.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache 60 %, Cinsault 30 %, Syrah 10 %
|
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Rose Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | Start with an aperitif to set the mood, then savor the crisp and refreshing flavors of fresh salads. Enjoy the perfect harmony of pizzas and grills, where every bite brings out the best in your wine. Dive into the delicate and sophisticated taste of meat or fish carpaccio, and indulge in the exquisite simplicity of sushi. |
Appellation | Aix en Provence |
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2023 False Bay Whole Bunch Cinsault Mourvèdre Rosé
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 85% Cinsault, 15% Mourvedre |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12,5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Rose Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Perfect with Mediterranean dishes especially juicy pan-fried garlic prawns... or drink chilled on its own. |
Origin | WO Coastal Region |

2024 Coterie by Wildeberg Cinsault Rosé
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A delicate free run Rosé of serious quality from a 30 year old bush-vine vineyard in Paarl, whose appetisingly savoury bite offsets the gentle, creamy texture.
Tasting Notes
A pale, lightly savoury Rosé of depth and purity. The older oak wraps this dry, mineral wine in a delicate creamy veil leading to a bright, structured and fine finish.

Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards
-
2022 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Silver
- 2021 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 - Silver
Specifications
Year | 2024 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12,5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Rose Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Drink chilled on its own or serve with fresh seafood, a quinoa and pomegranate salad or herb marinated grilled chicken tenders. |
Origin | WO Coastal Region |
