Delighted to share with you our New Arrivals! They may be 'Fine & Rare' or 'Everyday Favourites' - they'll be listed here waiting to be tasted...
46 products
Fernando de Castilla Vermut NV
Regular price £21.00A fantastic Jerez vermouth made from old Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry combined with 27 botanicals. Vermut has been brought back to life!
Tasting Notes
Marvellously mahogany in colour with rich aromas of dried fruit, nuts and herbal notes. Full-flavoured, silky and sweet with a characteristic, refreshing, yet bitter bite from the wormwood.
Production
Jerez was an important region for the production of vermouth (vermut) but this died out in the late 1960s. Fernando de Castilla were a registered vermut producer - so fast-forward 50 years to when it's once again popular (both in Spanish and UK bars) and they have brought Vermut back to life! Produced from Palomimo and Pedro Ximenez grapes. The grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel, and then aged in barrel for around 8 years.
Producer
Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla is located in the historic centre of Jerez. Its story began with the aristocratic Andrada-Vanderwilde family, who for two centuries provided grapes and wine for the production of sherry in the area. In 1972 Fernando Andrada-Vanderwilde took over some old sherry cellars and brandy soleras from a couple of local bodegas, and changed the name of the company from Fernando III to Fernando de Castilla.
In 1999 Jan Pettersen, a Norwegian with 15 years experience at Osborne, bought the company and also acquired a neighbouring almacenista, José Bustamente. He also formed a partnership with a local grape grower – to ensure consistent supply of high quality grapes – unusual for the smaller bodegas, who usually have to rely on co-operatives. He decided to focus entirely on high-end, complex sherries - in the process upgrading the bodega to one of the most interesting and highly regarded of the small independent sherry houses in Jerez.
Whilst the company also produces Sherry Vinegar, and their own range of brandies, the Sherries produced here are amongst the finest in Jerez - from the pale, dry and elegant fino to the most unique antique wines.
There are two ranges: Classic, and the premium Antique range. It is the excellence of the Antique range of intensely pure and complex single solera Sherries that has largely driven Fernando de Castilla's reputation as masters in the production and ageing of fine, unblended, untreated Sherries (they do not fine, clarify or aggressively filter any of their wines).
Specifications
| Year | Non Vintage |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Palomino 70%; Pedro Ximenez |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
17% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.5 units |
| Type | Fortified Wine - Vermut |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Serve as an aperitif - over ice with a slice of orange and soda. Alternatively use in cocktails such as the classic Negroni, or Manhattan.
|
| Origin | Jerez |
| Appellation | Jerez |
2023 Groote Post 'A Pinch of Salt' Chardonnay
Regular price £23.99
This flagship Chardonnay, hailing from cool climatic conditions, yielded excellent fruit and is another wine produced by Groote Post that is distinct in story, terroir, and taste.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The Groote Post Pinch of Salt Chardonnay shows an abundance of fresh stone fruit and vibrant citrus notes on the nose.
Palate
On the palate, a steely minerality with crisp citrus and yellow stone fruit flavours and a long, zesty acidity assure a full and concentrated structure. This lightly wooded 2023 vintage shows complexity with fresh acidity, a beautiful minerality, and a vibrant, zesty structure. Innovation and tradition blend perfectly to bring out the best in this wine.
In the Vineyard
Out with the old, in with the new—this is the story of our Chardonnay vineyards on the farm. After more than three decades of service, our Chardonnay vines faced viral challenges, leading to a transformation. Nine years ago, we started replanting Chardonnay, not just for replacement but for enhancement. We carefully chose superior clones and optimal farm locations for this grape variety. These new vineyards exceeded expectations, yielding exceptional grapes, marking the dawn of an extraordinary wine.
In the Cellar
In the cellar, a symphony unfolds as the first and last Chardonnay grapes harvested enjoy a two- to three-week interlude due to diverse microclimates. Grapes are harvested into bins, with only the best undergoing sorting before pressing. We use whole bunch pressing, carefully separating fractions during pressing. The juice settles for three days before fermentation. We ferment Chardonnay in three vessels: fifty percent in stainless steel for a crisp character, thirty percent in French oak for richness, and twenty percent in amphoras for a unique blend. This approach creates a wine with layers of flavour and depth. After fermentation, the wine rests on the lees for six months, allowing it to evolve, refine, and develop remarkable complexity.
Alan's Personal Notes
"A pure, citric and stone fruit mineral style of Chardonnay - with just a hint of oak - more Chablis style than Meursault but equally complex and with a delicious long finish for new world Chardonnay. Toasty oak and vanillin start to release themselves with a bit of oxidation and a degree or two less cold." May 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matching | With the grapes basking in the salty wind and the West Coast sun on the highest hill of the farm, this wine will be the perfect summer companion, served with simple fish cakes and a light, nutritious salad with a refreshing balsamic vinaigrette. |
| Origin | WO Western Cape |
| Appellation | Darling |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Rosé N/V
Regular price £44.99Nuanced and Graceful
Tasting Notes
Réserve Exclusive Rosé is a delicately nuanced Champagne literally bursting with red summer fruit flavours. A delicious cavalcade of redcurrant, blueberry and raspberry notes, combined with a hint of Gariguette strawberries.
From within its refined and vibrant structure, its clean flavours are extremely delicate and nuanced.
The Réserve Exclusive Rosé is a refreshing and exuberant Champagne offering fresh, light fragrances, and just perfect for summer drinking.
Elaboration
Aged for 2 - 3 years in the cellars.
The freshness and structure of this Champagne blend combine to perfection with the expressive fruit of the red wine making up 16% of the blend.
The Chief Winemaker adapts dosage levels to each Champagne in order to enhance its flavours and aromas. The choice of reserve wine is crucial and takes into consideration a whole range of factors, including the proportion of cru wines, year of harvest, grape varieties, and vinification and ageing methods, in order to guarantee the intrinsic style of each Champagne.
Blend
A harmonious blend of 10% Chardonnay imparting elegance and finesse, 45% Pinot Noir for roundness and structure and 45% Meunier for fruitiness and soft, supple character.
Medals & Accolades
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Gold Medal - Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2022
- Silver Medal - Rosé Masters 2022, Champagne Masters 2022, Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
- 92/100- Wine Spectator November 2022, James Suckling Tasting June 2022
- 15.5/20 - Gault & Millau - Guide des Champagnes 2023
Specifications
| Vintage | N/V |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
10% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, and 45% Meunier |
| Country | France |
| Alcohol content | 12% alcohol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
| Type | Champagne |
| Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Simple pleasures - Tuna carpaccio, Bellota and goats’ cheese bites, Red berry fruit salad, Strawberry shortcrust tart Relaxing Interlude - Spicy chicken samosas, Salmon sashimi, Red fruit pavlova Fine Dining - Roast duckling with turnips and cranberries, One-side pan-seared salmon “à l’unilaterale” and green asparagus, Spicy prawns in coconut milk AS AN APERITIF: best served at 7 - 8°C. WITH FOOD: best served at 10 - 12°C. |
| Origin | Champagne - France |
| Appellation | AOC Champagne |
2016 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon (Magnum)
Regular price £45.99
Thanks to expressive fruit – but without excessive concentration – Château Bonnet's red wine is unquestionably charming. In fact, it is a benchmark in Bordeaux. The wine is best enjoyed on the young side, although the quality tannin ensures good ageing for several year. With its fresh red cherry notes, this wine makes a great pairing for grilled meats and cheese platters.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby-red color scattered with purple highlights.
Nose
The nose is very attractive and fruity, revealing a delicious array of fresh fruit notes (cherry), underpinned by subtle hints of spice.
Palate
This beautiful Bonnet starts out straightforward on the palate, becoming very round, delicious and sweet. Fresh red fruit aromas (cherry) follow through to the palate.
Production
Grapes come from clay-limestone hilltop vineyards of Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers. Aged 12 months in 20% new oak barrels.
Specifications
| Year | 2016 |
| Bottle Size | 1.5L (Magnum) |
| Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 19.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Nuanced and developed wines go well with rustic meat dishes. You can also pair them with cheese or enjoy them on their own. Try with reindeer steak, entrecôte or hard, aged cheeses, such as Gouda, Parmesan or Manchego. |
| Origin | Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers |
| Appellation |
Bordeaux
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