- Alicante Bouschet
- Aragonês
- Bobal
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Frappato
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Nebbiolo
- Negroamaro
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Barroca
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
- Alicante Bouschet
- Aragonês
- Bobal
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Frappato
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Nebbiolo
- Negroamaro
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Barroca
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
2023 Miopasso Nero d'Avola Appassimento Sicilia DOC
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Powerful yet approachable!
Tasting Notes
Nose
The bouquet is very intense, with deep notes of dark cherries, damsons and blackcurrants.
Palate
The palate is powerful, yet approachable, with silky smooth tannins, great depth of flavour and layers of complexity.

Producer
Miopasso offers an outstanding selection of Italian wines made with modern production technologies and local grape varieties. By combining resourceful grape sourcing with precise winemaking, this range has built a reputation as an excellent value-for-money option amongst its core of wine aficionados. Enjoy some of the finest Italian wines that money can buy with Miopasso.
Viticulture
The very best Nero d’Avola grapes are selected from Belice and Agrigento on Sicily’s west coast, which are two of the island’s key areas for growing Nero d’Avola. The grapes are very carefully hand-picked and then left to dry to concentrate the grape flavours before undergoing a gentle vinification process with frequent pumping over to extract the maximum amount of flavour and colour from the grapes.
Vinification
A percentage of the Nero d’Avola grapes are dried for 3 to 4 weeks, after which time they have lost around 30% of their weight. As the water in the grapes evaporates, the sugars concentrate and the alcohol level becomes a little higher. The dried grapes are vinified separately from the other Nero d’Avola grapes, then they are blended together. The resulting wine is distinctive, rich, bold and complex, yet highly approachable.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Nero d'Avola |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 14% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches |
Match with rich meat-based pasta sauces, red meats and mature hard cheeses |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation | Sicilia Doc |
| Origin | Sicily |
2023 Bellefontaine Malbec
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
A fresh take on Malbec, from the reaches of the Pyrenees in the Languedoc, rather than the Andes of Argentina.
Tasting Notes
Bright blueberry fruit that develops to reveal an intriguing bitter-sweet character of blackcurrant leaf. Fine red fruits fill the palate; with raspberries and a touch of dark chocolate on the finish.

Production
Malbec has a long history in the Languedoc and has traditionally been used in blends. We have decided not to blend, but to offer this Malbec as a stand-alone, a wine to appreciate for its difference. One of the great advantages of the region is the ideal climatic conditions: long hot days followed by cool nights allow for longer, slower ripening of the grapes. Thereby providing lots of ripeness and soft tannins, but with necessary acidity. Here it has been allowed to shine, fermented on its own in stainless steel for maximum red and black fruit flavours.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content |
13% alc vol |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches |
Match with seared beef, lamb chops, or rich chilli con carne.
|
| Allergy Information | Contains sulfites |
| Origin | Aude, France |
|
Appellation
|
IGP Pays D'oc |
2020 Montresor ‘Urban Park’ Appassimento
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An appealing appassimento style red from the Veneto - produced from classic Amarone and Valpolicella grapes.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright berry and black cherry aromas, and a touch of spice.
Palate
The palate has all of Valpolicella's appealing fresh cherry and ripe bramble fruit, along with added weight and complexity from maturation in oak. Supple tannins lead to a finish of delicate sweetness, offset by fresh acidity.

Producer
The illustrious Montresor family moved from France to Italy at the start of the 19th Century and settled in the Veneto region near Lake Garda. In 1892 Cantina Giacomo Montresor was established in Verona, and remains family-owned to this day.
Giorgio Montresor produces a portfolio of wines which increasingly rival the offerings of the region's more fashionable names - harnessing modern technology to craft the best wines from each site, across their 100ha of vineyard, in Valpolicella and Garda.
Production Method
Produced from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes harvested from hillside vineyards north of Verona. 'Appassimento' refers to the process by which the grapes are dried for a few months before being pressed and vinified - this technique is more common in the Veneto than elsewhere in Italy. In this instance the grapes are dried for 30 days before vinification, and the wine spends 6 months in oak. The resulting red is rich with some residual sweetness.
A Note on Sustainability
At the end of 2019, Montresor received its organic certification. Some of its wines are already bottled in a lighter weight glass bottle (less than 420g) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of glass to be manufactured.
Over the next two years, solar panels will be installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process. Alongside this, Montresor is about to install a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 60% Corvina, 20% Corvinone & 20% Rondinella |
| Country | Italy |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable
|
| Food Matches | Perfect with mature hard cheeses and blue cheeses. Also excellent with game and mature beef. |
| Origin | Veneto |
| Appellation | IGT Veneto |
2023 Paolo Leo Mora Mora Malvasia Nera
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Full-bodied and well balanced, with a lively tannin and a pleasantly lingering finish of ripe red fruits.
Malvasia nera is one of the oldest indigenous grape varieties in Puglia and it is likely that it arrived in southern Italy starting from the Dalmatian coasts beyond the Adriatic Sea. The aromatic black grape variety, is distinguished by a high sugar concentration and the almost total absence of tannin in the skins, a characteristic that makes it unique and unexpected especially when sipped even slightly cool in the sunny Salento summers.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Mora Mora is presented in the glass with a beautiful intense ruby red color.
Nose
On the nose, it offers small red fruits such as blackberries and mulberries in full ripeness. Then there are hints of dried plums and sweet spices such as cinnamon and cloves that give an enveloping tertiary perception.
Palate
In the mouth, it is warm, juicy, fresh with a slightly hinted acidity. Final with a very light sweetish aftertaste given by the typical fruit of black malvasia.

Vinification
The harvest is carried out in the second decade of September with a manual harvest of the grapes completed in the early hours of the morning, in the coolest hours of the day. After harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and the crushed grapes ferments in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 22-24 ° C for 8-10 days. The must is subjected to various pumping over and delestage that offer a technological extraction of color and tannins. Subsequently the wine is drawn off in a soft press. After the first racking, again in stainless steel, the malolactic fermentation takes place. Finally, the wine finishes its maturation for 3 months in second and third passage French oak barriques and is already ready to be drunk very young.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malvasia Nera |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% |
| Units of Alcohol |
10.9 units
|
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches |
The aromaticity of the Black Malvasia di Moramora combines with slow cooking ragù. The best embers of meat enhance the structure of the wine. Combined with cold cuts and cheeses it becomes a great company guest.
|
| Cellaring Potential | 10-15 years |
|
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
| Region | Puglia |
| Appellation | IGP Salento |
2021 Boutinot ‘La Côte Sauvage’ Cairanne AOC
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A rich, savoury satisfying mouthful!
Since the elevation of Cairanne to a southern Rhône cru, 'La Côte Sauvage' continues to be characterised by its finesse and finely-grained texture, due in part to the famous ‘argilo-calcaire’ of our hilltop vineyards such as La Pauline and Les Six Terrasses, slow winemaking methods and gentle maturation in different sized barrels of old French oak.
Tasting Notes
A serious, restrained and complex example of cru Cairanne. This is rich, intense and drenched in dark red fruits. With morello cherry and a touch of cinnamon spice on the nose, soft dark plummy fruit, liquorice, chocolate, a hint of black tea on the palate, this wine is full-flavoured and smooth with supple tannins.
Method of Production
The cru of Cairanne lies in the heart of the Southern Rhône valley, northeast of Orange. For this La Côte Sauvage, fully ripe Grenache and Syrah grapes are hand-picked from old bush vines on selected hillside slopes within Cairanne. The vineyards have the classic argilo-calcaire soil of limestone pebbles over clay and the vines are harvested by hand. Vinified traditionally with only the natural yeasts present on the grapes, followed by a long cuvaison period with gentle remontage and manual pigeage. A blend of four varieties (Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre) matured for 22 months in French old oak barrels and demi-muids to develop great concentration, complexity and finesse in the wine.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | The perfect match for red meat dishes and rich stews. |
| Origin | Rhône |
| Appellation | Cairanne AOC |
2022 Vega Piedra Rioja Tempranillo Tinto
Regular price £10.59 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Approachable, unoaked, young Rioja
Nose
On the nose, a young Rioja with lifted red berry fruit and hints of spice.
Palate
Bright red fruit with smooth tannins and a fresh finish

Production
The Tempranillo grapes are harvested in early October from vineyards in Rioja Alta. Vines on average 10-20 years old and the wine is unoaked.
Producer
Spanish wine has always played an important part in the Boutinot portfolio. We represent over 50 wineries that provide wines of great quality, value and interest from all corners of the country. For over 15 years we’ve worked in partnership with a handful of these wineries on ‘own label’ projects, combining their expertise and our passion for Spanish wines to bring our customers honest and eminently drinkable wines which we believe offer good value for money.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian. Vegan |
| Food Matches | Drink with lamb kebabs, grilled chicken, stuffed peppers. |
| Appellation | D.O.Ca. Rioja |
2022 Borgia by Borsao Tinto Garnacha
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Campo de Borja is considered the 'Empire of Garnacha' - the most prevalent grape in the region, which just thrives here. Borsao have years of experience crafting ripe and appealing wines, such as this, from the variety.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright plum and berry fruit aromas
Palate
The palate is rich and welcoming with ripe cassis and bramble characters and soft, approachable tannins on the finish.

Production
Garnacha grown on alluvial soils in the foothills of the Moncayo mountain. Grapes are typically harvested in the first two weeks of October. Temperature controlled fermentation takes place in stainless steel at 22ºC - 25ºC, with a 15 day maceration period.
Producers
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes, vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimum acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. Much of its vineyard area is planted with Garnacha which traditionally has been bush trained. Until recently, newer plantings were wire trained for easier harvesting, but because of the greater exposure to sunlight of this training method the vines can require up to 50% more water. As a result, all new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water.
Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion; they contribute to a better soil structure, increasing its organic, nutrient and nitrogen content; they improve biodiversity in the vineyard since organic matter is a food source for several macro- and micro-organisms; they often increase the population of earthworms which are good indicators of soil fertility; they improve fauna above the soil, providing habitat and food for beneficial insects; they regulate vine growth, helping to control the yield and quality of grapes and wine; and they reduce the vegetative vigour of vines and thus their susceptibility to grey mould and downy mildew. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
The new cellar is well insulated to reduce the need for cooling systems and to minimise energy consumption; all the chambers are equipped with automatic LED lighting; all of the bottling lines have been designed to reduce noise and to minimise the need to move dry goods and floor stock items; all hot water installations are solar powered; the greater part of the electricity used for illumination is produced by solar panels; and every single drop of rain water from the vast roof is collected and recycled. Planned new offices will also be equipped with solar panels and other energy saving mechanisms.
Awards
- Silver - IWC 2020 (2019 vintage)
- Silver - Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2017 vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Garnacha |
| Country | Spain |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
|
| Origin | Campo de Borja |
| Appellation | D.O. Campo de Borja |
2024 La Chapelle de Marin, Côtes du Rhône
Regular price £11.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
All you want from a proper Côtes du Rhône.
Tasting Notes
With attractive, bramble fruit and floral aromas, the palate is up-front and fresh with warm spice and real depth.
This is a classic southern Rhône red; ripe and characterful with smooth supple tannins. Soft and Southern.

Production Method
We source La Chapelle de Marin from three parcels - La Combe d’Antide, Les Sablières and La Beraude – owned by Patrice, a Cairanne neighbour of Domaine Boutinot Rhône. His 40ha of vines, like ours in Cairanne, see plenty of sunshine throughout the year and benefit from both the Mistral wind – which keeps things cooler and disease-free – and higher than average rainfall. Soils are poor with a high limestone content and sandy soils on lower slopes, hence the name of the lower parcel ‘Les Sablières’.The three parcels comprise of 4ha of Grenache Noir, 2ha of Syrah and 1ha of Carignan, 7ha in all. Here vieilles vignes (old vines) are between 60 and 70 years old and, in their old age, are achieving low but concentrated yields of 45hl/ha. Handpicked bunches are carefully destemmed and vinified using traditional ‘minimal intervention’ techniques. This wine is made without the use of oak to retain the pure fresh fruit character.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don't use any single 'model' to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 60% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | Lovely with BBQs; grilled meats, halloumi and vegetables. Herby sausages, pasta with Mediterranean vegetables. |
| Origin | Rhône |
| Appellation | Côtes du Rhône |
2022 Artesa Rioja Crianza
Regular price £13.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great introduction to Rioja Crianza - vibrant and appealing with plum and berry fruit backed with subtle spice and vanilla.
Tasting Notes
An attractive, modern style of Crianza with lifted aromatics of bramble fruit with some pepper and spice. Substantial on the palate, with plummy fruit, ripe tannins and a gently savoury fresh finish.

Production Method
Made from Tempranillo grapes cultivated in hillside vineyards (600 metres above sea level) in the best parts of Rioja Oriental. The vineyards have clay stone soil with some sandy areas. 80% of the vines are trained in the trellis method and 20% are bush trained. The grapes are chilled for several hours before temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel. Fermentation lasts for approximately 15 days with twice daily remontage. The wine is matured for a minimum of 12 months in American oak, plus one year in bottle, before release. The winery replaces 20% of its barrel stock, with new barrels, each year.
Producer
Bodegas Ontañón is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental). Here Raquel, Rubén and Maria Pérez Cuevas continue their father Gabriel's work to develop Bodegas Ontañón into one of the most highly-regarded wineries in Rioja. Ontañón has vast swathes of vineyard in this part of Rioja. Whilst wine production in the region is typically very dependent on contracts with grape growers, the Pérez Cuevas family has seen fit to invest heavily in the purchase of its own land and vines. Its 250ha is a testament to the importance it places on controlling grape quality.
The family's vineyards sit high in the Sierra Yerga mountains in the prestigious region surrounding Quel, defying misconceptions that Rioja Baja is one of the lesser sub-regions within Rioja. Many of their vineyards are actually planted at altitudes on a par with, or above, those in Rioja Alta and Alavesa; (La Pasada is their highest vineyard at 800m above sea level, planted in 1979 it is used for Reserva and Gran Reserva wines). The hot and dry Mediterranean climate allows for consistent ripening of the grapes with little disease and this has enabled them to pursue organic production across 57 hectares of vines.
Notes of Sustainability
Currently run by the fifth generation of the Pérez Cuevas family to carry on the tradition of grape growing in the southern part of Rioja, they take great pride in maintaining their vineyards in the most sustainable manner possible as it is their land that supports their family’s craft. As well as farming organically and producing a range of organic wines, Bodegas Ontañón employs a range of other sustainable processes.
These include: controlled irrigation systems to reduce water usage and evaporation; planting vineyards in cooler, well-ventilated areas in order to reduce irrigation requirements and phytosanitary treatments; using plant/grass cover in vineyards to improve soil texture, to reduce tractor working hours and to lower carbon dioxide emissions; using environmentally friendly phytosanitary products that break down quickly and harmlessly; planting several hectares of pine forest near the vineyards in Ausejo and tidying and maintaining the oak forest near the vineyards in Quel. The estate plans to install solar panels at its irrigation installations to generate the electricity they require, and it encourages its worker to carpool from its winery to its vineyards to reduce emissions.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Casseroles, red and white meats and mature cheeses. |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Awaiting Info |
| Origin | Rioja |
| Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
2022 El Ninot de Paper Tinto (Garnacha, Shiraz, Monastrell)
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Bright and fruity Spanish red with - the eyecatching label design and 'El Ninot de Paper' name are inspired by the 'paper dolls' of the Las Falles de Valencia festival.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of ripe black fruits with a hint of spice.
Palate
The palate is bright and juicy - blackberries and plums are balanced by soft tannins, juicy acidity, and a touch of pepper.

Awards
- Bronze at the 2020 Sommelier Wine Awards for the 2018 Vintage
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is a bit of a revelation. Loadsa ripe, juicy black fruits with more a touch of herbs than spice I think? Really soft tannins and a touch more serious than I expected. Overall a real pleasant surprise. Medium-bodied, soft, juicy & fruity, and would be really versatile with food although it drinks really easily on its own. Value but also decent quality for a crowd pleasing easy-drinking style." June 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 33% Garnacha, 33% Shiraz 33% Monastrell |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Great with all manner of grilled meats and pasta dishes.
|
| Origin | Valencia |
| Appellation | DOP Valencia |
2024 Ca’Vittoria Appassimento
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A sumptuous, full-bodied red wine!
Tasting Notes
It begins with a rich bouquet of dried cherries, figs, and plums, highlighted by notes of chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of spice. On the palate, it is smooth and velvety, featuring flavors of ripe dark fruits, raisins, and a touch of caramel, balanced by gentle tannins and moderate acidity. finish is long and luxurious, with lingering impressions of dried fruit and a hint of sweet spice.

Producer
Botter was founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter and his wife Maria, in a village near Venice. Originally selling local wines direct from barrel and demijohns, the company has grown to become one of the leading exporters in the north of Italy. Cà Vittoria represents their foray into southern Italy, using indigenous varieties and ‘appassimento’ drying techniques to create full bodied, silky red wines.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Primitivo |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Main courses based on red sauces, meat and game; well-seasoned risotto, mushrooms, mature cheeses and cold cuts. |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian, |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation | Puglia IGP |
| Origin | Puglia |
2022 Alabastro Alentejo Red Blend
Regular price £11.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fruity, spice Portuguese red - generous, fresh and approachable!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lifted aromas of blackcurrant and blueberries.
Palate
The palate is bright and well-defined with layers of black cherry, plum, and dark spice, overripe tannins.

Production
A combination of hand and machine-picked grapes are sourced from Alianca's own vineyards in the Alentejo region in the south-east, not far from the Spanish border. Here low yielding, old vines are tended traditionally from plantings on clay soils. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats controlled at 30 degrees for 6 days with extended maceration on the skins to extract sufficient colour, fruit and tannins. The wine is matured in tank for a few months before bottling.
Producer
One of Portugal's largest and most progressive producers with 600 hectares spread across estates in five regions from Douro in the north to Alentejo in the south. Winemaker Francisco Antunes oversees what must be one of the most diverse ranges in Europe, from the 3rd largest Portuguese rose brand (Casal Mendes) to some of the country's most impressive premium reds from estates in Douro, Dao, Bairrada and Alentejo. Arguably, Francisco's greatest achievements lie between these extremes, a range of mid-priced wines from native varieties, full of character, quite distinctly Portuguese, but at the same time approachable and with fresh, modern fruit.
Sustainability
Although not accredited, since 2015 the Bacalhôa group is regularly audited for the scope of its ethical, social and environmental work, always with a green result. In 2020, it is planning a SEDEX Membership Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) audit of its labour and health and safety policies. It is also planning to fully convert one its vineyards to organic viticulture as soon as possible.
Awards
- Silver at the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards (2016 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
60% Aragonês, 30% Trincadeira Preta, 10% Alicante Bouschet
|
| Country | Portugal |
|
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
| Features |
Vegetarian, Vegan and Sustainable
|
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Drink with lamb stew or slow-cooked ratatouille drenched in fruity olive oil.
|
| Origin |
Alentejo
|
| Appellation |
Vinho Regional Alentejano |
2023 Les Coteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages
Regular price £13.59 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Each vintage, from our base in Cairanne, we are able to select exceptional Grenache and Syrah from the best Côtes du Rhône Villages to make Les Coteaux, which we then enrich with classified wine from Séguret and Sablet.
Tasting Notes
Immediately impressive, this wine reveals its class from the start. Brambly fruit underpinned by subtle oaky nuances, lovely sweet spice - warm star anise with a touch of cinnamon. This classic Côtes du Rhône Villages is enriched with specially-selected parcels from Séguret and Sablet.
Production Method
Common practice in the Côtes du Rhône is to bottle the best cuvées as a single, named, village wine and the rest as more basic Côtes du Rhône Villages. Boutinot’s philosophy, on the other hand, is to start with the intention of making the very best Côtes du Rhône Villages possible by sourcing wine from the vineyards of named villages, and enriching them with a small proportion of barrel-aged wine from Sablet and Séguret.
Boutinot's Côtes du Rhône Villages 'Les Coteaux' is therefore a selection of the best Grenache Noir and Syrah from some of the 17 named Côtes du Rhône Villages. We source wine from a number of growers with exceptional terroir and so have the flexibility to select only the very best fruit each vintage (rejecting parcels which do not meet our high standards). Mostly unoaked, a small proportion (15%) is part-aged for up to 20 months in a few new, but mostly older, oak barrels to bring depth and subtle notes of complexity.
Producer
Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.
Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.
Awards
- A Bronze Medal in the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian
|
| Food Matches | A delicious accompaniment to hearty food: grilled meats, meaty sausages with mash or, as would be served in France, with puy lentils; shepherd's pie, mushroom ragoût or simply a good pizza. |
| Origin | Rhône |
| Appellation | Côtes du Rhône Villages |
2023 Ananto Organic Bobal Tempranillo
Regular price £11.89 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A juicy, fruity organic red from Utiel-Requena, showcasing the region's increasingly fashionable, indigenous, Bobal variety.
Nose
Vibrant aromas of blueberry and blackberry
Palate
The palate has juicy plum and spice notes wrapped in supple tannins, offering a smooth, harmonious finish.

Producer
The 67 hectare Finca Fuenteseca estate lies in Utiel Requena, a high, rugged plateau, nearly 1,000 meters above sea level just inland from Valencia. The combination of hot, dry summers, cold nights and poor, limestone soil make the area relatively free of vine diseases and so ideal for organic farming. The entire estate is now dedicated to organic production and producing blends combining indigenous and international varieties.
Production Method
Vineyards are located in the north-west corner of Utiel Requena, 900 meters above sea level. Wines are made from organically grown grapes in vineyards cultivated using natural fertilisers, cover crops, biological control of pests and not using any chemical products that may damage the health of the environment. Grapes are cooled and undergo pre ferment whole bunch maceration before temperature-controlled tank fermentation.
A Note on Sustainability
Along with all its wines being certified organic and vegan, Sierra Norte is keenly involved in projects run by its D.O. that benefit local people and which defend the products of its region. In a wider environmental sense, Sierra Norte is developing a wastewater project by installing a treatment system plant to reuse water, as well as being involved in a photovoltaic solar panel installation project.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 65% Bobal, 35% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | Superb with roasts and stews, red meat dishes, small game, cheese or cold meats. |
| Origin | Utiel Requena |
| Appellation | DOP Utiel Requena |
2019 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino
Regular price £56.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
This prized Brunello from San Felice's distinguished Campogiovanni estate is a complex, richly-flavoured and robust wine that will evolve beautifully.
Nose
Offers up aromas of well-ripened wild berry fruit, plum, aromatic cedar, tobacco leaf and tanned leather.
Palate
An expansive, generous palate displays rich fruit and mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins; developing into a long, persistent and fruit-filled finish with notes of graphite.

Producer
The Tenuta Campogiovanni is a sister estate to Agricola San Felice, and is located on the southern slope of the Montalcino hill, near San Angelo in Colle.
This 65ha estate comprises 19ha of vineyard across three separate parcels - amongst olive trees, woods and fields. Production here (and 14ha of vineyard) is strongly focused on Brunello, with the remainder largely used for Rosso di Montalcino. Campogiovanni Brunello is amongst the very best in the region.
1990 saw the first production of a Riserva, entitled Il Quercione, made from fruit rigorously selected from the vineyard of the same name and made only in exceptional years.
Production Method
Campogiovanni's 12-hectare vineyards are on the south quadrant of the Montalcino hill, where weather conditions and a particular combination of soils allow optimal ripening of the grapes. Harvesting is in late September. The grapes then undergo a 20-day maceration at 28-30 degrees C, and malolactic fermentation in steel. Maturation is for 36 months in large Slavonian oak botti, followed by a further 12 months in bottle.
Awards
- Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2013 vintage)
- Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2012 vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Brunello |
| Country | Italy |
|
Alcohol content
|
14.5%alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | Pairs well with rich meats such as game and boar. |
| Origin | Toscana |
| Appellation | DOCG Brunello Di Montalcino |
2024 Bellefontaine Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £10.59 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Classically French Cabernet that delivers on all fronts.
Tasting Notes
Quite ripe blackcurrant and wild berry fruits on the nose with a hint of grassy herbs, medium to full-bodied black fruits balanced by a slight grip and length offered by underlying tannins.

Production
The Bellefontaine range has established an international reputation for consistent quality and value. Bellefontaine wines possess fine aromatics, pure fruit expression, fresh acidity, varietal character and above all, a persistent finish. The goal is to create a range of wines of consistent quality that are delicious to drink on their own but also complement food well.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol Content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches |
This medium- bodied dry red wine is fantastic with full flavoured red meat dishes and cheese.
|
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan |
| Allergy Information | Contains sulfites |
| Origin | Languedoc |
| Appellation | IGP Pays D'oc |
2023 La Reine de l’Arenite, Fleurie la Madone
Regular price £16.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pretty, floral, elegant and aromatic. Spot on Fleurie!
Tasting Notes
Very pretty indeed, a heady perfume of freshly picked irises and peonies drifts above the crushed berry fruit nose. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity support a palate of Morello cherries, strawberries with a wonderful savoury finish.

Production Method
'Arenite' is the terroir of pinky, crumbly sandstone of the La Madone vineyards, rated as one of the best vineyards in Fleurie. At up to 450m altitude and with soils still untouched by phylloxera, goblet trained vines on the east and southeast facing vineyards lie below the Chapel of the Madonna at the top of the hill. Gamay Noir vines range from 40 to 90 years of age. Grapes are hand-picked and whole-berry fermented for 8-10 days (traditional maceration carbonique) followed by a further 2 or 3 days on the skins to assist with aromas. No use of cultured yeasts. Pressed after an 8-10 day cuvaison. First press wine was returned to vat and left for 8 months before bottling.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don't use any single 'model' to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
|
| Food Matches | In winter, match with a roast leg of lamb. During the summer, chill lightly and serve with roasted or barbecued chicken or pork. |
| Origin | Beaujolais / Maconnais |
2022 Borsao Selección Tinto
Regular price £11.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world, this is an unbelievable wine … any wine retailer worth his weight should be stockpiling this wine next to the cash register ...I don’t understand how anyone can make wines this good to sell at this price… 90 points.” Robert Parker, the Wine Advocate #203.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Rich, plum and red berry fruit with a touch of spice on the nose.
Palate
Balanced yet concentrated red fruit mingles with darker spice and chocolate characters to give weight and layers to the palate. Plump ripe tannins add grip to this classic style of Garnacha.

Production
From selected 15 to 30-year-old vines grown in low yielding hillside vineyards around 600m above sea level. Soils are stony with some sand. The Tempranillo and Syrah grapes are trellised, but Garnacha is bush vine. Harvest usually takes place in the first two weeks of October. Varieties are vinified separately (22-24º C) in stainless steel with 10-15 days maceration.
History
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimium acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi-award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. All new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water. Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
Awards
- 2019 Vintage - Silver at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards
- 2016 Vintage - Silver at the 2017 Sommelier Wine Awards
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 85% Garnacha, 10% Syrah & 5% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Food Matches | A perfect accompaniment to chicken dishes, paella or chorizo. |
| Allergy Information | Contains Sulphites & Egg |
| Features | Vegetarian Approved |
| Appellation | Campo de Borja |
2016 Vega del Rayo Rioja Reserva
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Traditional Rioja Reserva
Tasting Notes
Nose
A traditional Rioja Reserva from vineyards in Rioja Alta with a nose of warm black fruit, spice and vanilla notes.
Palate
The palate has ripe plum and damson characters balanced by well-integrated oak, supple tannins and gentle cedary spice on the finish.

Production Method
This wine is produced from selected Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes sourced from 30 to 40-year-old Rioja Alta vineyards whose distinctive stony soils are ideal for the long, even ripening of quality grapes. The fruit is hand harvested in mid-October. Each variety is fermented separately in small tanks using natural yeasts at 28-30° C. After 20 days on the skins the wine is gently pressed and racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. The clear wine is then racked to 2nd and 3rd year American and Russian oak barrels for 24 months maturation before blending and bottling.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is good! Everything I would expect from a well made, traditional Rioja - bright fruit - some vanillin and spice from good oak integration and soft, smooth tannins giving a very well balanced and long finish." Tasted April 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2016 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo & 5% Graciano |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Lamb and mint kebabs |
| Allergy Information | Awaiting info |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan |
| Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
2022 Cortese Nostru Nero d'Avola No added Sulphur
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
The Rooster, a symbol of pride, courage and honesty, watches over the vineyards. The ancient Greeks believed that the Rooster greeted the sun every morning with its cordial song, which symbolized the victory over the night but at the same time also serves as an alarm clock to mark the beginning of the day for both the animals and the winemakers!
In Cortese, early morning is a key time to work in the vineyards thus avoiding the impetuousness of the Sicilian sun.
Tasting Notes
Our NSA Nostru Nero d’Avola is really something quite different. It has a unique mouth-feel, it is soft and well-rounded, with the purest of black fruits flavours coming through.
What is a wine with no added sulphites?
Sulfur dioxide is naturally produced by wine during fermentation. In this case we do not add any further. This is possible because during the winemaking process we carry out all the operations meticulously so that it is not necessary to add sulphites.
Viticulture
The grapes are 100% Nero d’Avola from Azienda Agricola Cortese, our organic estate in Vittoria, south-eastern Sicily. The grapes are very carefully selected by hand in the middle of September, brought to the winery in small containers and processed immediately.
Vinification
The prime aim when producing a NSA wine is to keep everything in the winery meticulously clean in order to avoid any possible microbiological growth, except for yeast for the primary fermentation and bacteria for the malolactic fermentation. Fermentation is done in the usual way and we do the pumping over in the early stages of the process. After fermentation, we keen the wine in contact with the skins for 3-4 days, doing some pumping over in order to keep the cap wet. The wine is racked and then stored, with meticulous care not to allow any contact with oxygen.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
| Country | Italy |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Certified Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | Perfect to be served with Mediterranean dishes, roasts of red meat, game, mushrooms and tasty cheeses. |
| Origin |
Sicily, Vini DOC |
2024 Da Vero Nero d’Avola (Organic)
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
Production
The Nero d'Avola grapes are sourced from the area around Salemi (Province of Trapani) in the north-west tip of Sicily. The vines are Guyot-trained, and grown at around 250m altitude on a combination of soil types. The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2007. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 8-12 days, then racked and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation.
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.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This wee beaut is destined to become one of our best sellers (cellars!) medium bodied with lots of juicy black fruits and a real easy drinking smoothness - absolutely no rough edges - a real crowd pleaser at a crowd-pleasing price. Watch this fly!" January 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% abv |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matching | Pair with starters, seafood and risotto |
| Cellaring Potential |
Rich pasta dishes, casseroles and grilled meats |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian, sustainable |
| Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
| Appellation | Sicilia DOC |
2021 Cantina Di Negrar Valpolicella Ripasso D.O.C. Classico Superiore
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Cantina di Negrar Valpolicella Ripasso is a serious red at a "not so serious red" price point!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Intense and persistent, with fruity aromas of cherry and plum, floral notes of violets and a touch of spiciness from black pepper.
Palate
Fresh, fruity, with an elegant balance between structure and body, harmonised by the perfect acidity and tannins, warm, medium-bodied, velvety and balanced tannins.
History
With a history of wine-making going back to 1933, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar has been at the forefront of development in the Valpolicella region since its inception. The winery was the first to make the world-renowned Amarone, and soon after, in recognition of this, was awarded the Certificate of Special Mention by the Brussels International Exposition. This firmly put Cantina Valpolicella Negrar on the map and it has continued to look forward ever since.
Awards
- IWSC Italian Winery of the Year 2013
- Bronze Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2018
- Bronze Medal, The International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018
- 92 Points, James Suckling 2017
- Gold Medal, Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2017
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2017
- Silver Medal, WOW! The Italian Wine Competition 2016
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2016
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2015
- Gold Medal, Mundus Vini 2012
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
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Corvina 70%, Rondinella 15%, Corvinone 15% |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% |
| Units of Alcohol |
10.1 units
|
| Type | Red Blend |
| Food Matches |
It pairs wonderfully with all types of red meat, both grilled and braised. Excellent with traditional Veronese dishes, such as Pastissada de caval, lesso con Pearà and lasagnette with black truffles from Mount Baldo. |
|
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian approved |
| Origin | Valpolicella Classica - Veneto |
| Appellation | Valpolicella Ripasso DOC |
2020 Amarone della Valpolicella ‘La Colombaia’
Regular price £30.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A richly flavoured and approachable Amarone with layers of ripe plum and cherry fruit, mocha and spice.
Nose
Ripe, warm and generous on the nose with abundant plum and cherry aromas, roasted coffee beans and hints of dried fruits.
Palate
Full-bodied and richly flavoured with rich berry and plum fruit, supple tannins and a spicy finish, with the characteristic dry bite of good Amarone. A balanced and very approachable style.

Producer
The illustrious Montresor family moved from France to Italy at the start of the 19th Century and settled in the Veneto region near Lake Garda. In 1892 Cantina Giacomo Montresor was established in Verona, and remains family-owned to this day.
Giorgio Montresor produces a portfolio of wines which increasingly rival the offerings of the region's more fashionable names - harnessing modern technology to craft the best wines from each site, across their 100ha of vineyard, in Valpolicella and Garda.
Production Method
Made from a blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. The grapes are hand-harvested at the end of October. The late harvested grapes are dried for four months (until January following the vintage) and then crushed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel for four months followed by maturation in Slavonian oak casks and small barrels for 2 years.
A Note on Sustainability
At the end of 2019, Montresor received its organic certification. Some of its wines are already bottled in a lighter weight glass bottle (less than 420g) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of glass to be manufactured.
Over the next two years, solar panels will be installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process. Alongside this, Montresor is about to install a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara |
| Country | Italy |
|
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.2 units |
| Type | Red Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable
|
| Food Matches | Perfect with mature hard cheeses and blue cheeses. Also excellent with game and mature beef. |
| Origin | Veneto |
| Appellation | DOCG Amarone Della Calpolicella |
2019 Château Mayne-Vieil, Fronsac
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Fronsac is a great value alternative to Saint-Émilion, but with a distinct character of its own.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A ripe and pure nose, offering creamy red and black fruit with some dark roast coffee.
Palate
Tannins are firm, and the palate is concentrated and already well-knit, if still a little youthful. Packed with intense black, mulberry-flavoured fruit, coffee and a twist of toast from the barrel, the ripeness makes this very drinkable now and it will continue to develop more complexity over the next 5 years.

Producer
History, family, and wine go hand in hand in Bordeaux and Château Mayne-Vieil's history can be traced back across three influential families to the 1500s. Descended from the original owners, the Equerry de Paty, Lord of Mayne-Vieil, built the large cellars in the 17th century. Libournais vintners, the Fontemoings, established a new Fronsac vineyard to rival Saint-Emilion, while the Sèze family, owners for the last 100 years, restored and expanded the estate after World War I. The Merlot vines of their Fronsac vineyard can be seen from the house in its entirety as it rolls across the beautiful hill overlooking the Dordogne River. The single-block vineyard covers 47 hectares (32 of which are in the Fronsac AOC) and is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.
Production
The vineyard is planted on fairly steep slopes of clay and silt soil. The 35-year-old Merlot vines are trained low and planted close together. Permanent grass cover and green harvesting keep yields low. 85% of the wine is matured in concrete vats and 15% in barrel for at least three years.
Sustainability
Château Mayne-Vieil uses permanent grass cover between the rows of vines to reduce the need for herbicide sprays and also to reduce the compaction of the soil as fewer passes by tractor are required. The increased competition for water and nutrients also reduces the vigour of the vines, thus reducing the need for green harvesting, reducing yields and increasing the concentration of the grapes. The château achieved HVE 3 accreditation at the end of 2022. This certification recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment with a focus on biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
| Country | Bordeaux France |
| Alcohol content |
14.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Up to 5 years |
| Features | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Roasted or grilled red meats and mature cheeses.
|
| Origin | Bordeaux |
|
Appellation
|
Fronsac |
2023 Le Fou Pinot Noir
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
Fuller than Pinot Noir from Burgundy, it has a warm, rich nose with aromas of black cherry compote.
Palate
The palate is nicely balanced with an exciting, savoury streak provided by ripe, tasty tannins.

Production
An unique take on Pinot Noir from two growers' plantings in the sun drenched vineyards of the Southern Languedoc. Picked at optimum ripeness, balancing phenolics and acidity then cool vinified to enhance the fresh fruit flavours. No oak was used to keep this wine as pure and sensual as possible.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches |
Served slightly chilled, Le Fou is lovely with grilled lamb, cold meats, wild mushroom risotto or homebaked ham. |
| Region | Languedoc |
| Appellation | Pays D'Oc IGP |
2016 Pierre Bourée Gevrey-Chambertin
Regular price £49.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Classic Gevrey-Chambertin, 'The King of Burgundy'.
Tasting Notes
Delicate sweet strawberry fruit, fresh acidity and a clean, vibrant palate. A restrained style, with elegance and a savoury, autumnal finish.
Method of Production
Regular ploughing, limited fertilising as well as minimal pruning is used to reduce both vigour and yield. The grapes are hand picked and transported to the winery in small containers. Hand sorting is followed by wooden vat maceration and fermentation, with regular pigeage before pressing and followed by oak barrel maturation.
Producer
In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.
This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.
A Note on Sustainability
Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.
Specifications
| Year | 2016 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | France |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
| Food Matches | Traditionally matched with game, fine red Burgundy works extremely well with strongly flavoured dishes including mushrooms, cheese, duck and liver. |
| Origin | Burgundy |
| Appellation | Gevrey-Chambertin |
2023 Bellefontaine Merlot
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Vibrant and fruity Merlot from the Languedoc region.
Tasting Notes
Strong varietal French Merlot, deep garnet colour with vibrant plummy and blackberry fruit. Soft and supple on the palate with good intensity of fruit and a lovely juicy finish.

Production
This fruit-forward, easy-drinking Merlot is made from grapes sourced from sun-drenched Languedoc vineyards, vinified to showcase their fruit and varietal characteristics. By fermenting at lower temperatures than most reds to preserve primary fruit characters. The wine receives twice daily remontage to extract colour and tannins. Meticulous blending produced the ultimate approachable and fruit-driven style, which was bottled early to capture vibrant red fruit.
Producer
Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade, we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.
Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Soft and pliable red capable of matching with most foods. An easy choice for a devout red drinker. Enjoy with mushroom risotto. |
| Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Languedoc |
| Appellation | IGP Pays d'Oc |
2021 Armigero Sangiovese Riserva
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
A juicy red which is sure to be a hit, a real crowd pleaser!
TASTING NOTES
A ruby red hue with abundant notes of ripe cherries, mulberries, dried fruit, and spice. The palate is juicy and generous.

Producer
Casa Vinicola Botter was in 1928 by Carlo Bot, a wine merchant selling restaurants at the time and remains a family-run winery now in third generation the 1950s, brothers Arnal andzo transformed the company, expanding size and shifting to sales of their bottles. Botter collaborates with most qualified in Veneto, Apulia, Molise, Abr, and Sicily, maintaining a strong relationship that begins in the vineyards and continues through all production cycles until bottling. The focus is very much on innovation through environmentally.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.75 units |
| Type | Red |
| Food Matches |
It goes well with red meat, both to the plate and stewed, particularly tasty and spicy. Its youth and vivacity ensure a perfect marriage also with meats, sausages, and fresh hams. |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation | Sangiovese de Romagna DOC |
2023 Melea Organic Tempranillo
Regular price £11.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Background
The creation of Melea Organic was a labour of love for us all. William Long spent years searching for the right winery to supply the organic, vegan-certified and wild-fermented wines, his son Freddie handled the launch and the label features an original bee motif created by his wife, artist Barbara Long, from recycled threads.
Named after a rare species of bee, everything about the range is created with sustainability in mind, from the lightweight bottles to the stone paper labels, made from a by-product of the quarrying process using a lot less water than normal paper. Melea was also the first Spanish wine brand to become a member of 1% for the Planet. Melea has donated thousands of dollars to bee conservation charities since its launch in 2020. Melea Organic also has an Instagram page to share information on the brand’s sustainable values.
The Vineyards
Fruit comes from organically certified, bush-trained, dry-farmed vines in the Cuenca area of La Mancha. The vineyards were planted in 1999 and are at an altitude of 660m with sandy-clay soils, low in organic matter and high in chalk and limestone. This suppresses yields to just 3-4kg per plant, giving greater quality grapes and red wines with the structure to age well. The extreme continental climate means there is a high diurnal temperature range conserving freshness and increasing aromatic intensity. The lack of rainfall reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Production
Fermented with native yeasts, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in tank. Fined using vegan-friendly pea protein.
Producer
The family winery is located in Alicante and is a leader in the production of high-quality, organic wines. They are IFS-certified and produce wines with organic and vegan certification.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Features | Vegan, Vegetarian & Organic |
| Food Matches | Simple Tapas dishes including olives, Manchego cheese and sundried tomatoes. |
| Origin | Alicante |
| Appellation | VdiT Castilla |
2021 PEMO Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Regular price £11.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of black cherries and violets on the nose.
Palate
A deeply characterful wine, it is really soft and velvety, with red berry fruits, and a smooth, gentle finish. It has noticeable, but subtle and well-integrated tannins which help give this wine a lovely structure and mouthfeel. The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.

Producers
The PEMO range of wines celebrates two grapes from Abruzzo – Pecorino (PE) and Montepulciano (MO). These two grapes have been growing in this region since 200 AD.
- Produced in a modern way, while respecting local wine making traditions.
- Eat anything from barbecued meats to stews to pizza with PEMO Montepulciano.
- Montepulciano is a native Italian grape variety from Abruzzo.
- Originates from the rugged, mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Medium bodied with red berry/cherry fruits. A bit of spice gives it an extra dimension. Low acidity gives it a real softness and smoothness - a real easy drinker.
No oak characteristics coming through so it’s a fruity, modern, stainless steel style. As montepulciano in this area is pretty prolific these wines were historically used for blending or ended up in the German market. Now production is cut back and wines recognised on their own merits! Got to be one of our best value reds right now!" October 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
|
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% |
|
|
10.1 units |
| Type | Red |
| Food Matches | Ideal with red meats, stews and pizza. |
| Cellaring Potential | Up to 2 years |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Abruzzo |
2021 Villa la Pagliaia Chianti Classico (375ml Half Bottle)
Regular price £9.39 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh, approachable style of Chianti Classico (in a half bottle) with vibrant, juicy red fruit. Villa la Pagliaia lies in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, adjacent to sister property San Felice.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure.

Production
The grapes come from the estate's own 350-400m altitude vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone, near Castel Berardenga. The vines are on average 25 years old (yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine) - 'guyot' trained and planted in rocky clay soil. Fermentation and maceration on the skins last for 8-10 days (at 28-30ºC) followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 10-12 months.
Producer
The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cyprus trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.
Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 375ml |
| Cultivar | 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 4.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | A good match for spicy pasta dishes, sausages and red meat. |
| Origin | Toscana, Italy |
| Appellation | DOCG Chianti Classico |
2018 Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Rioja Selección Especial
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Delicious and smoother than a dolphin in silk pajamas!"
A special edition of excellent wine launched in limited quantities on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Bodegas Palacio winery located in the prestigious Spanish wine region of Rioja DOCa.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep garnet red
Nose
Of great intensity and cleanliness where highlights the details of red fruit of the forest like blackcurrant and blackberries and in second term we find delicate aromas of spices contributed by the French oak such as menthol, black pepper and cinnamon. A delicate and subtle finish where a slight mineral touch can be seen.
Palate
In the mouth it is silky and enveloping, with a fine and sweet tannin that brings sensations of a wine with structure but at the same time respectful. A refreshing ending due to its tight acidity with memories of sweet coffee.

Glorious Centenary Selection is a red wine of the D.O.C. Rioja elaborated by Bodegas Palacio in homage to a century elaborating great wines in the Rioja Alavesa. For this, the best Tempranillo grape has been selected and it has been raised for 13 months in French oak casks.
Maturation
At least 13 months in French oak barrels and at least 6 months in bottle before being placed on the market.
Awards
- Silver IWC 2021
Specifications
| Year | 2018 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | 4-7 years from the year of bottling |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Stews, Roasted chicken, Semi-mature Cheese, Roasted red meats, fatter fish like tuna or swordfish. Serve at 14-16C |
| Appellation |
Rioja D.O.C.
|
2021 Brotte Esprit Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great wine with character, elegant and typical, honouring the historic grape variety and king of the southern Rhône Valley: Grenache Noir.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Medium intensity with aromas of small berry fruits and delicately spicy hints of pepper, thyme and garrigue.
Palate
Supple, silky, full-bodied and elegant with very fine tannins. Notes of undergrowth and liquorice accompany the aromas of wild red fruits and black cherries on the finish.

History
Since 1880, five generations of the Brotte family have been making wines with passion and authenticity. The fruit for this wine comes from selected small wine producers in the Rhône Valley, all of whom have been partners of Maison Brotte for several decades. The vines are planted on a very beautiful clay-silt terroir and which benefit from a lot of sunshine. The hot and dry climate therefore favours the ripening of the grapes and the good health of the vineyard.
Critics Review
- 89 points James Suckling | Very fresh red-cherry and floral aromas for this appellation, together with some healthy tannins on the full-bodied, but lively palate. Slight warmth from alcohol at the supple finish.
- 89 points Wilfred Wong of Wine.com | The 2021 Brotte Esprit Cotes du Rhone is rustic and savoury with lovely berries. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavours of ripe berries, rustic spices, and earthy notes. Pair it with a slow-cooked lamb stew. (Tasted: October 17, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre |
| Country | France |
| Alcohol Content | 14.5% alc vol |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Enjoy with a fresh mushroom omelette, beef tenderloin, homemade burger, veal blanquette or couscous. Or with a creamy cow's cheese such as Romans d'Isère. |
| Origin |
Southern Rhône |
2023 Paolo Leo Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Primitivo grapes ripen very early, which is how they got their name. Interestingly, just 20 days after the harvest, Primitivo vines produce new grapes, traditionally called "second harvest." These younger bunches are used by the winemaker to enhance the freshness and acidity of these bold wines, creating a wonderful balance with the rich berry fruit and spice character.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby red with refined garnet reflections. A rich bouquet of blackcurrant, ripe cherries, and forest fruits, interwoven with hints of licorice, coffee, and sweet spice. The palate is silky and enveloping, featuring dried fruit, damson, and red plum, harmonized by fresh acidity and polished tannins. Long and enduring finish highlighted by notes of berry jam and warm spice.

Vinification
The grapes are destemmed and fermented at a controlled temperature of 25 °C for 8-10days. A maceration on the skins follows, during 15-18 days, to improve the delicate extraction of tannin sand flavors. Matured for 3 months in American oak barriques and 6 months in steel.
Producer
Now in its fifth generation, Paolo Leo is based in the Salento wine village of San Donaci. The story of this beautiful estate began at the turn of the twentieth century, when Antonio Leo started to vinify the grapes grown in the vineyards of “Masseria Monticello”.The winery has enjoyed constant investment over the years and is today a thoroughly modern winery, with a capacity of 120,000 hl of wine and a barrel room housing 1000 French and American oak barriques.The company is certified BRCGS/IFS, BRCGS Ethical ICEA Organic, EQUALITAS .
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
100% Primitivo |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 14% |
| Units of Alcohol |
10.5 units
|
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches |
Goes great with well-seasoned main courses based on red sauces, meat and roasts; aged cheeses with intense flavours, forest mushrooms and game.
|
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
|
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
| Region | Puglia |
| Appellation | IGP Salento |
2021 Artesa Organic Rioja
Regular price £12.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Appealing black fruit aromas and hints of sweet spice lead to juicy plum, raspberry and liquorice characters on the palate. The finish is elegant and poised with ripe tannins.
Nose
On the nose, one finds really enticing sweet cherry fruit, with dry, fine tannins.
Palate
The palate is complex with juicy bramble fruit, black pepper, and lifted, savoury characters. There is a good amount of fruit-driven intensity with a vibrant, complex, spicy palate, and the oak provides some sweetness and a lick of vanilla and cream soda. An archetypal young rioja, just brilliant!

Estate
This large, family-owned estate draws from 800 hectares of elevated hillside vineyards in some of the best zones of Rioja Baja. Thanks to a combination of the high quality of the grapes from these vineyards and modern vinification cellars, the young, unoaked wines are fresh and vibrant with good richness of fruit for wines at this level.
200 hectares of estate vineyards near Alfaro provide the basis of the Artesa range and the best of these, at high altitude (500 to 600 metre), with mature vines and poor, stony soils, have been converted to organic production. Fermented in stainless steel, and matured for 6 months in new American oak barrels, the wine produces fresh redcurrant and cherry aromas together with woody, herbal notes.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
| Country | Spain |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Dietary Information | Organic |
| Food Matches | Drink with casseroles, red meat or manchego cheese or if you’re feeling adventurous, chargrilled mackerel! Also great with pasta, rice and veggie dishes. |
| Appellation | D.O.Ca. Rioja |
2020 Villa la Pagliaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Regular price £21.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Villa La Pagliaia is the sister estate of neighbouring San Felice. It produces a similarly full-flavoured and spicy style of Chianti Classico Riserva but in a slightly more traditional style - and offers exceptional value.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Archetypal Chianti with bramble fruit notes as well as cedar and spice aromas.
Palate
The palate is richly-flavoured and complex with black cherry, plum and dried fruit characters, along with notes of spice, leather, pepper and liquorice. Supple tannins and bright acidity lead to a rich, savoury and satisfying finish.

Production
The grapes come from Villa la Pagliaia's 350-400m altitude vineyards around Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, and are hand-picked. The vines are on average 25 years old - yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine - 'guyot' trained and planted in pliocene soil with 25% rocky clay. Fermentation and maceration on the skins is carried out at a controlled temperature of 28 to 30 degrees Centigrade and lasts for 18 to 20 days. This helps to extract the required amount of fruit, colour and tannins. This is followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is matured for 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels.
Producer
The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cypress trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.
Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese |
| Country | Italy |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Great with grilled or roast meats and steaks as well as sharp, mature cheeses. |
| Origin | Toscana, Italy |
| Appellation | DOCG Chianti Classico |
2023 Nicosia Frappato Bio
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A really pretty and perfumed example of the Frappato grape from south-eastern Sicily.
Tasting Notes
This organic red has delicious floral and red berry characters and is surprisingly fresh and delicate given the hot climate.
Nose
Delicate and lightly floral aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and wild berries, with hints of aromatic herbs.
Palate
The palate has vibrant red berry characters balancing fresh acidity.

Producer
Is there a more dynamic place to make wine in Italy than on Mount Etna in Sicily? Cantine Nicosia is based at the foot of Etna, on the east coast of Sicily, where Carmelo Nicosia, along with his sons Franceso and Graziano (5th generation), have developed their family business into one of the area's most important wine producers. Their Trecastagni winery is where tradition meets ultra-modern technology.
Trecastagni, at the base of one of the extinguished craters dotting Mount Etna and at an altitude of around 700m, is home to the ancient vineyards of Monte Gorna, with their distinctive lava terraces. The vineyards have been completely restructured and replanted, focusing on the native varieties used for Etna DOC wines: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio for the red, and Catarratto and Carricante for the whites. The extraordinary wealth of minerals found in Etna's volcanic soils can be credited with the very rich flavour and unique character of the wines produced here.
Just a few miles from the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula is the lively agricultural center of Vittoria and the Contrada Bonincontro district - home to the large and impeccably groomed Cerasuolo di Vittoria vineyards planted exclusively with Nero d’Avola, Frappato and Syrah.
Production Method
Frappato grapes are grown on sandy soil situated at approximately 200m above sea level. Grapes are hand-picked in September. The grapes undergo maceration and fermentation for approximately 10-15 at a controlled temperature of between 22-24°C. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats and 2 months in the bottle.
A Note on Sustainability
A proportion of Cantine Nicosia’s vineyards are certified organic by SIDEL, and its wines are certified as vegan by the Istituto Certificazione Etica e Ambiente.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Frappato |
| Country | Italy |
|
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic
|
| Food Matches | Pairs very well with vegetable tempura, couscous, tabbouleh and Caprese salad. Or enjoy with pasta alla Norma - a classic Sicilian pasta dish with aubergine, ricotta, basil and tomatoes. |
| Origin | Sicilia |
| Appellation | Terre Siciliane IGT |
2024 Uva Non Grata Gamay
Regular price £12.39 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%For centuries maligned, mistreated and misunderstood, Gamay was outlawed by Philip the Bold in 1395. Some vignerons rebelled, hiding forbidden Gamay vines amongst ‘noble’ Pinot Noir. In their honour we ‘release’ the deliberately disruptive Gamay, bottled without appellation and without rules!
Tasting Notes
Bouncy, crunchy Gamay, this is an irresistible fruit bomb packed with fresh, primary fruit aromas and the delicious soft red berry flavours of gorgeous Gamay at its best.

Production Method
Gamay loves the granite/siliceous soils of the vineyards in the hills to the northwest of Lyon in eastern France. Grapes were hand-picked deliberately early to maintain freshness. In the cellar, they are vinified using traditional carbonic maceration techniques (where fermentation is started by the weight of berries in the vat, crushing those below) followed by a short cuvasion to maintain the up-front, juicy fruit character.
Producer
Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.
Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.
Today, Boutinot’s French office has recently relocated to Macon, and has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don’t use any single model to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domaines, as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Vérand. Drawing on the expertise of our four winemakers and a network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality-to-price ratio possible for every wine.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Another delight. Medium to full-bodied with lovely ripe fruit, some spiciness, and a silky smoothness that lets the flavour linger and makes this a long-lasting mouthful. Got the weight and length of a much more expensive wine than it is. Delicious and keeps on giving until the last drop! Paired beautifully with our Venison Steaks." Tasted February 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
| Country | France |
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| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | Try with charcuterie, grilled herby chicken kebabs, or sausages on the barbeque. |
| Origin | Vin De France |


