Tasting Notes

Sumptuous organic Malbec!

Colour 

Deep ruby-red in colour

Nose

Vibrant aromas of redcurrant and blackberries, elegantly combined with mild notes of white pepper.

Palate

Medium-bodied on the palate with silky ripe tannins and a long, broad finish. An elegant wine that is easy to drink.

Production

The Rapel Valley lies with the Pacific Ocean to the West, to the east the Andes Mountains, and to the south the province of Colchagua. The climatic characteristics of this valley include frost-free springs and warm summers that allow the grapes to ripen well. Riverbed associated soils, deep alluvial clay loam. Clay provides water retention, which contributes to good grape ripening. 20% in French oak barrels for 6 months.

Producers

Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.

Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

Sustainable

Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.

Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.

Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.

Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.

Awards

• Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2016 vintage)

Specifications

Doña Paula is a winery that produces Premium wines, established in 1997 in Mendoza, Argentina. They own 100% of the vineyards used for the production of all their wines, planted in the best areas of the country, looking for the most faithful expression of each terroir.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Intense violet color.

Nose

Lovely notes of blackberry and plum along with a hint of violet and spice. 

Palate

This follows through into the palate which has a lovely play between the concentrated black fruit and the spices, along with a hint of minerality that really rounds out the palate. It is wonderfully balanced with a nice freshness that makes the wine seem not quite as heavy as it should be with an ABV of 14.5%.

Vinification

The grapes are hand-picked the first week of April. In the winery, they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Then, a cold pre-fermentative maceration is carried out to preserve the primary aromas. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures, and a post-fermentation maceration is later performed for 15 to 20 days. The wine is aged in first, second and third-use French oak barrels for 12 months.

The Estate Vineyards

90% of these grapes are sourced from our best vineyards in Alluvia, Gualtallary, at 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) above sea level and 10% from Los Indios, El Cepillo, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The soils are stony in the first location and sandy loam in the second one, and both have high calcareous content.

Doña Paula Estate Malbec displays the unique characteristics of the Uco Valley, a terroir where the climate is cold, with an average temperature variation of 16 °C (60.8°F) in Los Indios and 12.5 °C (54.5°F) in Alluvia, and an average annual rainfall of 280 mm (11 in) in El Cepillo and 300 mm (11.8 in) in Gualtallary. The vines yield an average of 8 tons per hectare, and they are grown in espaliers, using drip irrigation. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.

Accolades

• 91 points - Tim Atkin 
• 91 points - Descorchados
• 90 points - Wine Enthusiast

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"As I thought - this is absolutely stunning. Lots of fresh black fruits with some spice. It’s big, full-bodied, complex, and long, but there’s a freshness to the fruit and silky tannins that can only come from high altitude, cool climate fruit.  Drinking exceptionally well now but it's got the power to last a few years yet. Certainly over-delivers at £10.99!!" 14 Dec 2023

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

A bright violet red wine

Nose

Highly expressive aromas that are reminiscent of red fruit and spices.

Palate

It is straightforward and flowing in the palate, with incipient tannins. An intense, gentle, juicy and full bodied wine, with a marked varietal typicity and a very pleasant finish, with everything that a young Malbec has to offer.

Winemaking

Handpicking, selection of clusters, destemming and grain selection. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C with selected yeasts. When alcoholic fermentation is completed, it is aged in concrete and stainless steel tanks. Lightly filtered while bottled.

Specifications

Warm, soft and lusciously lush this is juicy, crunchy and bright.

Tasting Notes

Black aromatic Malbec, with notes of black cherry fruit and flavours of summer pudding. Charming, soft, sumptuous but with a core grip and power that gives it length and the muscles for food.

Production

All the Malbec fruit comes from an estate in the Swan Hill region where there are 5 hectares of Malbec (approximately 12.5 acres which produces 90 tonnes of fruit per vintage). The Malbec are on their own roots and were planted in 2000. With the age of the vines and the harsh growing conditions, the Malbec vines are less vigorous which leads to a more intense colour and flavour. The vines are trained on a two wire vertical trellis, drip irrigation and minimum fertilisation. All the vines are machine harvested at night between mid to late March and grown on red sandy loam soil with limestone clay base. Climate is Mediterranean with summer temperatures between 30 and 40°C. Total vineyard area is 1250 acres. Once the grapes have been crushed pressed and sent to the fermenter, the winery then pumps over 4 times a day. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks at 25°C for three weeks. Malolactic fermentation takes place over 4 weeks. 50% of the blend is aged in French and American oak barriques for 3 months.

Specifications

Lovely red plum notes, hints of spice and smooth, silky tannins.

Tasting Notes

The Luigi Bosca Signature Malbec has the best of both worlds, with grapes from Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. Lujan brings ripeness and sweet tannins to the wine, while Uco Valley ensures a lively freshness. 

Tasting Notes

Colour

A bright violet red wine.

Nose

It has intense and balanced aromas, with rather red fruit, spicy and florals notes. It is generous, smooth and expressive in the mouth, with incipient tannins.

Palate

Clean, refreshing and well-bodied in the palate, with attractive character. It has a deep and clear finish, with a fully integrated oak character and good ageing capacity. It is the flagship wine of its variety.

Vineyard

Produced with grapes grown in estate vineyards, located in Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco, Mendoza.

Winemaking

Handpicking, selection of clusters and destemming. A pre-fermentation cold maceration process is conducted at a temperature of 8 °C. Fermentation is conducted in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C with selected yeasts. After the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels where it rests for 12 months. Lightly filtered while bottled.

History

Established in 1901, the Luigi Bosca estate covers 700 hectares of land in Mendoza, across 7 vineyards. It continues to be one of the region’s leading wineries and was actively involved in the creation of the Luján de Cuyo D.O.C. Luigi Bosca remains in the Arizu family, where the 4th generation is now bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to their wine range.

Comments by the winemaker

Malbec is the winery’s emblem wine, which fully expresses the characteristics of the Malbec variety. Grapes grown in the best areas of Mendoza are selected for its making process, thus achieving the ripe character and typical sweet tannins from Luján de Cuyo, together with the freshness, color and vivacity of the Uco Valley. The ageing process in oak barrels adds complexity, structure and elegance, therefore providing a highly aromatic wine, with an elegant texture and great persistence of flavors.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Nose

A bright violet-coloured red wine featuring varied aromas, highlighting sharp red fruit, reminiscent of ripe cherry. Spicy notes can also be perceived, thus adding complexity and very well integrated slightly roasted hues evoke coffee - the result of its aging process.

Palate

A round wine, rich in red fruity notes, that is also a little spicy in the palate. Including firm tannins of balanced acidity, this robust red of great character vigorously fills the mouth with ripe fruit and offers a lingering and compact finish.

Producer

The winery that today produces Luigi Bosca wines was founded in 1901 by Leoncio Arizu, a Spanish citizen from Navarra who settled in Mendoza in 1890. Located in the Vistalba valley, in the Luján de Cuyo region, an area that, due to its characteristics, achieved the first " Denomination of Controlled Origin "of America.  Luigi Bosca launched the first Malbec DOC in Argentina and Latin America.

Winemaking

The grapes are manually harvested in 18 to 20-kilogram boxes, followed by the bunch selection and stalking processes, and, subsequently, berry selection. The grape juice is cold macerated at a temperature ranging between 8 and 10 °C for five to seven days. After that, it is fermented in small stainless steel tanks, undergoing various extractions, such as plunging and rack and return (délestage). Once maceration is completed, wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels, where it goes through malolactic fermentation. The wine is then filtered and bottled, and then stowed in the wine cellar for at least six months before it enters the market.

Specifications

 Los Cardos means "The Thistles" in Spanish. Their presence indicates an unmistakable sign of good terroir. Also 

100% Vegan Approved.

Tasting Notes 

Deep violet red color. Spicy and rich with juicy black fruit and a long jammy finish.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested from mid to late March. In the winery, they are first destemmed and softly crushed. A cold pre-fermentative maceration takes place to preserve the primary aromas. Then, the must is cooled and traditional fermentation starts. Post-fermentation maceration lasts between 10 and 15 days. Malolactic fermentation is carried out after maceration.

The Estate

El Alto Vineyard is located in Ugarteche, in the southern part of Luján de Cuyo, at 1,050 meters (3,445 feet) above sea level. The soils range from sandy loam to clay loam, with variable content of stone. The climate typically presents warm days and cool nights, with an average temperature variation of 14 °C (57.2 °F) and an average annual rainfall of 250 mm (9.8 in). The vines yield 12 tons per hectare, and they are grown in espaliers, using drip irrigation. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.

Accolades

• Bronze Medal Winner - International Wine Challenge 2022

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"This is lovely, fairly full bodied with lots of vibrant red and black fruits with a super smooth jammy finish. Great value too. A fabulous easy drinking introduction to Argentinian Malbec." tasted June 2024

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

A bright red garnet-coloured

Nose

Palate

It is compact, robust and very concentrated in the mouth, with a clearly defined and very smooth palate. Fine tannins of pleasant texture, great acidity, firmness and balance, and a long and complex finish.

Producer

The winery that today produces Luigi Bosca wines was founded in 1901 by Leoncio Arizu, a Spanish citizen from Navarra who settled in Mendoza in 1890. Located in the Vistalba valley, in the Luján de Cuyo region, an area that, due to its characteristics, achieved the first " Denomination of Controlled Origin "of America.  Luigi Bosca launched the first Malbec DOC in Argentina and Latin America.

Winemaking

Specifications

Specifications

Winery

The three individual blocks that comprise their Malbec plantings each have their own unique profile due to different row direction and training systems. Each block was harvested separately, each contributing it’s own unique building block. Left on the skins, post-fermentation before being transferred into 225 and 300-lit French oak barriques, where MLF took place. The wine spent approximately 18 months in wood with a 20% new wood component. 15% was matured in a concrete egg, contributing towards the fruit driven profile and adding yet another building block to the final compilation.

Accolade

• 90 points | 2022 Platters Guide (2018 Vintage)
• 90 points Silver | IWSC (2018 Vintage)
• 92 points Winemag.co.za (2018 Vintage)

Specifications

Redolent of roses and ripe-for-the-picking strawberries, the refreshing De Toren Délicate is an elegant red blend that combines red’s seductiveness with the undeniable drinkability of white.

Medium-bodied and immeasurably gentle, it offers up an abundance of juicy fruit and velvety, smooth tannins that lead to a sophisticated finish. Delicious on its own as an apéritif, it’s also the perfect consort to the lingering pleasures of Spanish tapas or a platter of the finest French charcuterie.

Tasting Notes

Specifications

A vibrant red blend of Mendoza's favourite red varieties, the label is equally animated, depicting Mendozancontempoary and classic culture.

Tasting Notes

With lifted aromatics and a bright, brambly palate this is a really appealling expression of a classic Mendozan blend. Bonarda is dark and juicy, freshened by the gently tart Cab with the aromatic lift of Malbec all making for a deliciously vibrant wine.

Production

This wine marries the best of Mendoza’s widely planted cultivars. Grapes such as Bonarda, Cabernet and Malbec have long been favored in the Barrancas region and have been well suited to the warm dry climate. Whilst Malbec stole the limelight, lots of these vineyards have become older and produce excellent fruit. These grapes are co fermented in stainless steel and then spend time in concrete where it’s tannin and acidity softens before the wines’ release.

Producers

Boutinot has been working with growers in Argentina for over 15 years, constantly sourcing the best value from vintage to vintage. Winemaker Eric Monnin has been working tirelessly over the last few years to secure the best long term contracts for these important wines sourced from specific old vine estates in Mendoza. Recent vintages have really started to show the results of this long-term vision with regards to quality and value.

Specifications

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet, this is not done by jostling in the street”.

Tasting Notes 

The quest for higher quality has seen Argentina's most ambitious winemakers push into the Andes foothills where the higher altitude and meagre soils produce the finest grapes. Man Meets Mountain celebrates those that face up to and conquer the challenges posed by nature and brings to you a harmonious Malbec, packed full of blueberry, blackcurrant and plum and a complex and delicious finish.

Producer

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet, this is not done by jostling in the street”.

The quest for higher quality has seen Argentina's most ambitious winemakers push into the Andes foothills where the higher altitude and meagre soils produce the finest grapes. Man Meets Mountain is one of our own production projects in Argentina made in conjunction with our consultant winemaker Sebastian San Martin.

Winemaking

Fermented in stainless steel tanks and concrete vats. Traditional red wine fermentation with commercial yeasts, open tank pump overs and the fermentation conducted at 28ºC.

Specifications

Its name derives from the average height of the selected parcels for this Blend.

Tasting Notes

Cabernet Franc 50%, Malbec 45%, Casavecchia 5%. Three are the varieties that compose this complex and balanced wine of intense purple colour. Cabernet Franc provides spicy and floral notes, while Malbec provides berries notes. It presents a good length and it is very persistent due to its tannins. It is an elegant blend with a great structure.

Vineyards

Doña Paula 1350 comes from 2 quarters (N° 10 and N° 7) from Finca Alluvia, Gualtallary, located at 1350 meters above sea level. The ground is sandy, with alluvial and calcareous stones. The weather of Valle de Uco represents mild days and cold nights, with a thermal amplitude of 12,5°C, and an annual rain average of 280 mm. The vines are planted in ESPALDERO, and they are watered by drip feed. The performance per hectare is of 10 tons. In Doña Paula, we have always been practicing sustainable agriculture methods

Vinification

The harvest starts with Malbec and Casavecchia by mid-April, and it finishes with Cabernet Franc at the end of the same month. The grapes are hand-picked and then they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Each variety undergoes cold maceration separately, in stainless steel tanks, to extract the primary aromas. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, the blend is made, and the aging process is carried out in 20% new French oak barrels, for 16 months.

Awards

• 93 points Tim Atkins MW Argentina Report
• 93 points James Suckling

Specifications

‘Kleinboet’ translates to ‘Little Brother’ from Afrikaans. This alludes to the fact that this Bordeaux Blend is incredibly elegant, with only 12.5% alcohol, compared to other South African Bordeaux Blends.

Although quite the lad, he’s not too big for his boots

Larger than life, there’s nothing small about him! The agile charmer, living life to the full. Simple, down to earth. With energy and a second breath, he’s not the kind to be second guessed…

Tasting Notes  

Nose

Bright red and purple fruit such as raspberries and blueberries; savoury notes; dried herbs (oregano and rosemary).

Palate

Generous offering form entrance to finish; supple and full without over-saturating the palate with tannin; persistent with good length.

Vinification

A Bordeaux blend that is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and comprises of all five ‘noble’ varietals (Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet franc and Malbec). The use of 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill oak over 24 months ensures a beautiful “marriage” between the different varietals. The wine showcases bright red and purple fruit such as raspberries and blueberries; savoury notes; dried herbs (oregano and rosemary). On the palate this wine presents a generous offering from entrance to finish.

History

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are blended to create this complex and balanced wine of a deep violet color. In the nose, it has floral aromas – such as violet and rosehip – typical of the Malbec variety.  The Syrah contributes spicy notes, good volume in the mouth and silky tannins, whereas the Cabernet Sauvignon complements the blend with a great structure.

Vineyards

Doña Paula 1100 comes from 3 blocks in our Los Indios Vineyard, which is located in El Cepillo, San Carlos, Uco Valley, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The sandy loam soil here has great drainage; in some sectors, there are gravel and stone deposits of colluvial origin, always bound by a thick, 70 cm (27.5 in) deep layer of black caliche. Days are warm and nights cold; the average temperature variation is 16 °C (60.8°F), and the average annual rainfall reaches 300 mm (11.8 in).      The vines yield 7 to 9 tons per hectare. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.

Vinification

The harvest starts with Syrah in the first week of April, it continues with Malbec by mid-April, and it finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the same month. The grapes are hand-picked and then they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Each variety undergoes cold maceration separately, in stainless steel tanks, to extract the primary aromas. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, the blend is made, and the aging process is carried out in 20% new French oak barrels, for 16 months.

Awards

• 92 points in the Tim Atkin Argentina Report
• 92 points James Suckling

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 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

Winery

The grapes all originate for the Elgin region, a high-lying basin surrounded by mountain ranges. Naturally the Malbec hails from Paul and Nicky’s farm, Wallovale Vineyards, whilst the other three grape varieties were bought in from Elgin grape producers with whom Paul has a direct involvement. A Cabernet Franc vineyard has been planted on Paul and Nicky’s farm but the first commercial harvest is only expected in 2020.

Each parcel of grapes was harvested at its own optimum ripeness and vinified separately at Eikendal Winery, Somerset West. Each wine was inoculated with Zymalore Xpure, a yeast recommended for wines with high aromatic purity, enhanced expression of black fruit notes and a great smoothness of mouthfeel. Post fermentation the wine was left for 14 days on the skins. Thereafter each wine was transferred to barrel where they completed Malolactic fermentation. The wines spent a minimum of 24 months in 225 lit French oak barriques prior to blending. The wine received a light filtration before bottling on 8th July 2021.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Attractive and intense ruby red colour with a contemporary perfumed nose of violet and fresh red berry fruits - strawberry, raspberry and cherry. There are gentle spice and fresh herb notes with a real purity of fruit on the palate topped off by soft tannins and a juicy finish.

Production

Grapes are grown in the Finca Río Seco vineyards located 1,700 mts above sea level in Cafayate, Salta meaning that the intense sunlight of the day is followed by bracingly cold nights. The end result is a wine beautifully balanced between flavour inducing sugars and precise acidity. Surrounded by ancient and magnificent cacti, the 18 year old vines produce approx. 8 tons per hectare. Grapes are hand harvested into 20kg containers during the first and second week of March. Cold pre-fermentative maceration for 4 days at 5 ºC. Alcoholic fermentation for 14 days at a controlled temperature between 26 ºC and 28 ºC. Post-fermentative maceration for 15 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation.

Producer

El Porvenir de Cafayate is one of Salta's premium but very affordable, high altitude wine producers. This small, family-owned winery in Cafayate, specialises in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and red blends from 45-50 year old vineyards which are amongst the highest in the world at 1900m asl and surrounded by 20ft, 200+ year old monster cacti. Colour in the reds here is profound due to the exposure to prolonged mountain sunlight, with soft tannins thanks in part to the extreme diurnal temperature differences... some mornings the catcti are thick with frost but within a few hours temperatures soar to the mid/high 20s!

El Porvenir – “the future” has been the name of this estate since it was founded in 1890. The winery and vineyards were restored by the Romero-Marcuzzi family in the 1990s and the main team is made up of company Director, Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, Winemaker Francisco 'Paco' Puga, and Agricultural Engineer Daniel Guillén, whose joint goal is to capture the essence of Cafayate's unique high altitude characters through their remarkable range of wines.

Sustainability

El Porvenir de Cafayate are in the process of being certified to international sustainability and organic standards. In collaboration with the renowned certifier ECOCERT, they are working hard to meet the standards required and hope to be fully certified soon.
Soil health is prioritised across all vineyards by using techniques that minimize erosion and promote biodiversity with a proactive approach to reducing herbicide use. Since 2022 they have welcomed a flock of 50 sheep to the farms. These lovely companions play a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. By grazing the vineyards, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing soil compaction. As they move, they weed and fertilize naturally, helping to maintain a balanced ecological cycle. As a result, soils are enriched with increased oxygenation and microbial life.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Specifications

Moments, stories and shared drinks are Unique. This wine knows the only way is that of sustainability, is Unique.

Nose

Unique is an organic wine of intense red fruit aromas and herbal notes reminiscent of peppermint and wild herbs, with some spice.

Palate

In the mouth, it’s a medium-bodied wine, with fine-textured tannins and balanced acidity.

Vinification

Wine fermented with native yeasts and aged in concrete vessels for 10 months. It has not been aged in oak barrels, which accentuates the fruity character of this Malbec.

The Estate

Trellised, 15 years old, with traditional irrigation and grapes harvested by hand.

Specifications

A youthful and modern unoaked Malbec,
 with an elegant character.

Tasting Notes

It reveals clean, ripe black and blue fruit, dried thyme, and French lavender aromas and flavors. The palate is generously fruity, with a refined chalky texture, culminating in a long and complex aftertaste.

Vintage

Harvest 2023 came early and was challenging yet of great quality. The temperate and very date led to excellent health and quality of the grapes. It is a year defined by low average ds of 25% below, a consequence of a frost in the spring of 2022.  A deep understaning of each parcel allowed us to precisely define the harvest time for each area, always in search of freshness and expression of our place. This years wines show great purity and sharpness, vibrant acidity and fantastic complexity of scents.  Fermented in stainless steel tanks,  Aged for 6 months in concrete and 3 months in bottle.

History

It was the year 2002 when a group of friends decided to invest in Argentina. They knew little about wine production, but all were passionate wine lovers and excited about the vision of bringing Argentine wines to the world stage. They bought the land that would become Finca Ambrosia and set about turning their idea into reality. At this time, the Gualtallary district began to attract the interest of wine producers, primarily because of its outstanding soil and climate characteristics. Encouraged by the positive forecasts, the friends bought 3 more plots over the years, from which the current winery emerged. Today, Gualtallary is considered the best terroir for producing premium wines in the province of Mendoza.

Specifications

‘Bloos’ is the Afrikaans word for blush, which describes the delicate pink hue of this wine.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Fresh red fruits with creamy undertones and pleasant floral notes

Palate

Perfect balance between freshness and texture, effortless weight and length

Vinification

A wine designed for everyday enjoyment with a focus to be approachable and accessible. The wine is predominantly a blend of Malbec and Merlot to create a fruit-forward rosé aimed to please all palates. A small percentage of the wine ferments in contact with French oak to broaden the palate without compromising the refreshing sensation of this wine. Our aim is to create a wine that showcases fresh red fruit (strawberries) and floral notes, with a creamy finish.

On the palate this wine presents the perfect balance between freshness and texture, with effortless weight and length. This wine was not made with the intention to age, but rather to be enjoyed immediately.

History

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.

Its name derives from the average height of the selected parcels for this Blend.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Petit Verdot, Bonarda and Malbec compose this wine that has an intense violet color with black tint.

Nose

In the nose, Petit Verdot brings aromas of blueberries and jasmine while Bonarda adds intense aromas of blackberries and raspberries.

Palate

It stands out for its firm tannins and good volume in the mouth, Malbec offers an attractive structure and a long finish. 

Vineyards

In our Finca El Alto in Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, we chose the stoniest plots that have the presence of Calcium carbonate, to plant the Petit Verdot at 1030 meters above sea level. In the lowest part of the same vineyard, at about 908 meters of height we have Bonarda, it has the most clay dominate soil with gravel and pebbles. The yield per hectare is 7 to 10 tons, and the irrigation is by drip. The climate of this is farm characterized by its warm days and cool nights, with a thermal amplitude of 14 ° C and an average annual rainfall of 250 mm. The training system used is double cordon. At Doña Paula we have always managed our vineyards with sustainable farming practices.

Vinification

The harvest begins with Malbec at the end of March, then the Petit Verdot in the first week of April and Bonarda in the middle of the same month. A manual harvest and a destemming without breaking grains is carried out. Traditional elaboration of each variety is carried out separately we call it of minimal intervention in cement eggs. After the alcoholic fermentation, the blend is made to begin the short aging in the same cement egg and immediately after malolactic fermentation has finished, the wine is bottled to keep the fruity and floral aromas in their freshest possible state.

Awards

• 91 points - Robert Parker
• 92 points - Tim Atkins Argentia Report

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is full, fresh and lively with a subtle and well-balanced tannin structure.

History

Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.

Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity. 

Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.

Fermentation & Aging

All components of this blend were fermented separately in vineyard specific batches with pump-overs for colour and tannin extraction being performed five times daily. The wine was barrel matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and a small un-oaked component was used to provide a fresh and lively character.

Vintage Conditions

The vines are planted on our Groenkloof farm on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The soil is composed of coffee coloured decomposed granite. The vines get full sun which allows for optimum development of rich berry characters in the grapes.

Accolades

• 4.5 John Platter Stars
• TOP 100 SA Wines
• Veritas Silver Outstanding

Specifications