- Aglianico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Aragonês
- Bobal
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Corvina
- Frappato
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Nebbiolo
- Pinot Noir
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
- Aglianico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Aragonês
- Bobal
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Corvina
- Frappato
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Nebbiolo
- Pinot Noir
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
2023 Le Fou Pinot Noir
Regular price £10.45 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 | 2023 |
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 Quinta da Garrida Dão Reserva
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
A single estate combining classic Portuguese character with polished, modern winemaking.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lifted aromas of wild black fruit, off-set with some spicy, smoky notes.
Palate
The palate has black cherry, mocha and some grip - well-balanced by fruit acidity - to give an elegant yet structured wine with a fresh herbal, black fruit finish. Some savoury development on the palate adds complexity.
Production
This estate at Vila Nova de Tazém, in Gouveia county, has poor quality, granite soils. Matured for 12 months in French (80%) and Russian (20%) oak barrels.
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 2017 IWSC (2013 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
85% Touriga Nacional & 15% Tinta Roriz
|
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content
|
14% 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 |
Excellent warming winter wine with robust stews and roast meat.
|
Origin |
Dao
|
Appellation |
DOP Dao |
2022 Cantina Di Negrar Corvina
Regular price £10.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
This is a brand new single varietal from this co-operative, located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area, just a few kilometres from Verona. Corvina is usually blended with Molinara and Rondinella, but an increasing number of producers are making 100% Corvina wines. The result is light and fragrant with floral notes and some blackcurrant. It has an elegant structure.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Ruby red with garnet reflections
Nose
Spicy nose with notes of vanilla and hints of cherry and black cherry
Palate
Soft and round palate with sweet tannins that blend well with the wine's texture. The finish is long ending with spicy tones.
Winery
The Cantina di Negrar brand is the soul of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar and pays homage to the philosophy of cooperative production while also recalling the territory’s historical vestiges: the effigy of St. Mark’s Lion standing tall on a column in the centre of Negrar is testimony of the Venetian Republic’s domination in the sixteenth century.
The Cantina di Negrar wines are rooted in the wine-making tradition of Valpolicella and the Veronese wine-growing areas, with a modern reinterpretation to guarantee the best price/quality ratio.
Label
The catchy and interesting label depicts Ulysses’ 10-year journey home from Troye to Ithaca. Every facet of his journey captivates the sense of discovery, self-discovery, and world discovery Ulysses experiences in those enchanted 10 years.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Corvina |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol |
|
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
It pairs well with grilled and braised red meat. |
|
Contain sulphites |
Origin | Verona |
Appellation | Verona IGT |
2020 Rivera Salice Salentino DOC
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Salice Salentino is made from 90% Negroamaro, an indigenous grape of the region. A wine with body, spiciness, and light oak notes.
Tasting Notes
Dense, purple-tinged ruby red; rich bouquet, with notes of dried plum and cherry; generous and complex in the mouth, with excellent structure, and a finish exhibiting the pleasant, bitterish note typical of the Negroamaro grape
About the Wine
Salice Salentino DOC rosso is the most typical red wine appellation of the Salento, the extreme south of Puglia. It is a blend of the area’s traditional grape varieties, the Negroamaro and a smaller part of Malvasia nera. State-of-the-art vinification and a few months ageing in oak barrels have given it its lively ruby hue, fragrances of dark berry fruit, full body, and lingering finish with a classic bitterish note.
Production
Vineyards trained in the “Salento gobelet” style, in Salento’s typical reddish clay soils; vines average 5,000 per hectare and yield 80-90 q./ha
Grapes are harvested between the first and the second week in September. The must macerates 8-9 days at 28°C in stainless steel; the vinification style is designed to bring out the freshness of the fruit and to highlight its varietal characteristics.
After a brief stay in glass-lined vats, the wine matures 3-4 months in one-year old small oak before being bottled.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"One of our wee crackers - dusty soft tannins with a touch of both smokiness and spice mingling round the plum & cherry fruit. It’s super soft and smooth but with an attractive cherry bitterness on the finish - a hallmark of the dominant Negroamaro grape in Puglia. Great flavours and mouthfeel for a paltry £13.99 - could easily pay a fiver more for this and it would still be great value. Great for everyday/school day drinking!" Tasted 1 January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
90% Negroamaro 10 % Malvasia Nera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | The ultimate pizza and spicy tomato base pasta red wine! |
Cellaring Potential | 3-4 years |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Brindisi and Lecce |
Appellation | Puglia DOC |
2020 Weingut Hajszan Neumann Natural Zweigelt
Regular price £28.99 Sale price £22.49 Save 22%Biodynamically Farmed & Vegan Approved
Our lively wines have subtle corners and edges. And it’s good this way, because we love natural, authentic wines. Each one has a characteristic soul, which develops from the natural flavours of the grapes and the terroir. All this comes to fruition thanks to our biodynamic cultivation. We also work gently and reductively in the wine cellar.
Tasting Notes
The grapes for this Natural Zweigelt come from two particularly old vineyards in Ried Weisleiten on Vienna`s Nussberg. This bright, polished Zweigelt is quite dark and intense, with aromas of black cherries and plum fruit, as well as a subtle touch of herbs and spices. Fine texture and freshness on the palate with an engaging spiciness that leads to a fruity, cool finish.
In the Cellar
Zweigelt from old vines on the Nussberg forms the basis, maceration and longer storage on the skin (9 weeks) leads to an intense and dark berry fruit, as well as a lively tannin structure.
The wine is then not aged in wood, but in concrete eggs, which can breathe in the same way as wooden barrels, but do not bring those typical oak tones nor toasty aromas. Of course, the wine is neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfurized, just as we do with the mash-fermented white wines of the NATURAL series. After about 6 months of storage, the wine is put together and bottled, and after several months of aging in the bottle, the NATURAL Zweigelt goes on sale in September immediately before the next harvest.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Zweigelt |
Country | Austria |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
|
Food Matches | Great companion for stews. |
Origin | Vienna |
2015 Ontañon Rioja Reserva
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Supple, full-flavoured Rioja Reserva, drinking beautifully.
Tasting Notes
Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards.
Nose
Aromas of bramble fruit with spice and lightly floral notes
Palate
On the palate, plum and ripe blackberry fruit flavours combine with ample acidity, minerality, and earthy notes. Tannins are smooth and supple as you would expect from an eight-year-old wine, and it is drinking beautifully
Production
Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards. The Tempranillo is sourced from La Pasada, and the Graciano from La Montesa vineyard. After a long maceration, the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak (both used and new), followed by 24 months in bottle.
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 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 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.
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 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. They are a carbon-neutral operation, meaning the facilities no longer emit CO2 to the atmosphere. The watering systems in the vineyards are supplied through solar power. It encourages its workers to carpool from its winery to its vineyards to reduce emissions.
Awards
- Silver at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards (2015 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5% |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring potential |
Drinking now until 2030 |
Appellation | D.O.Ca Rioja |
2020 Jacopo Biondi Santi Castello di Montepo 'Sassoalloro' Toscana IGT
Regular price £23.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Sassoalloro is pleasant, particularly soft and balanced, with extremely silky tannins.
Tasting Notes
It shows a beautiful compact ruby red color and at the opening it spreads hints of black pepper and fruity notes of blackberry and cherry in alcohol, combined with floral aromas of violet, graphite and earthy hints. The taste is decidedly full and responsive, with great balance.
Jacopo Biondi Santi Castello di Montepò Sassoalloro is a bright, dynamic Sangiovese with an impressive pedigree. The name Sassoalloro (first vintage 1991) references a volcanic boulder on which legends have been built.
Producer
The Biondi Santi family has earned a place in the tradition of Italian wine thanks to the lively and passionate inventiveness that has distinguished it since the very beginning. The roots of this brilliant adventure go back to the 1800s, when Ferruccio Biondi Santi planted the first Montalcino vineyard with vines of a selected clone of Sangiovese, called Sangiovese Grosso or Brunello: it was the first step towards a new way of making wine that would soon in the history of Italian wine. Today it continues to improve under the leadership of Jacopo with the future secure thanks to help from his children, Tancredi, Clemente and Clio.
Biondi Santi is the historic cellar that has its roots in time and has marked the history of Brunello di Montalcino; a brand that has become the owner of several estates in the magical terroir of China, including that of Castello di Montepò near Pancole, where the Sassoalloro grapes are grown, a grandiose version of pure Sangiovese Grosso that oozes territoriality from every drop.
The Wine
A wine, in some ways, new to the tradition of Biondi Santi. Fermented and aged for about 14 months in Tronçais oak barriques, a short period that comes out of the company schemes which provides for long aging. A wine to drink practically immediately, but with a life potential that can reach 15 years.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Pair with red meat dishes such as lamb, pasta in herby tomato sauces or any Tuscan foods. Ideal with aged cheeses too and perfect in combination with finocchiona and excellent with sausages and beans. |
Aging Potential | Now or up to 15 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Maremma, Tuscany |
Appellation | Tuscany |
2021 Castel del Lupo Pinot Nero ‘Della Quercia’ Organic
Regular price £14.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
This spectacular Pinot captures all the vigour and character of the small plot of organically-grown 15 year old vines in the La Quercia vineyard where it is sourced. A correct and pure Pinot Noir with real soul and expression.
Nose
Pronounced, warm, ripe, black-fruited, spicy and complex aromas.
Palate
Lively acidity offsets the ripe wild plum and bramble fruit and the palate combines concentration, delicacy and structure.
Production
The Pinot Noir vines are organically-grown in a combination of chalk, clay and silt soils on the rolling hills of Oltrepo Pavese. They are Guyot-trained at approximately 250m altitude, south / south-east facing. The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo careful selection. The grapes are macerated on skins for 8-10 days, then undergo malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is bottled in spring.
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years of experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.
A Note on Sustainability
A proportion of the cantina’s vineyards are in conversion from sustainable to organic cultivation and will be certified as organic from 2020.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Nero |
Country | Italy |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
|
Food Matches | A great match with rich pasta dishes and middle aged cheeses. |
Origin | Lombardia, Italy |
Appellation | DOP Pinot Nero Dell'ltrepò Pavese |
2018 Château Mayne-Vieil, Fronsac
Regular price £13.99 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 | 2018 |
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 |
2018 Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve
Regular price £21.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A delicious example of this classic Austrian varietal elegant - juicy, ripe and generous. A wine that would appeal equally to Argentinian Malbec drinkers as to your Austrian Zweigelt drinkers.
Tasting Notes
Ripe cherry, herbal and cedar wood aromas. The palate has good weight with juicy plum and red berry fruit, bright acidity, supple balancing tannins and a bitter cherry twist on the finish.
Production
Zweigelt Reserve is made from 100% Blauer Zweigelt grapes cultivated in Sepp Moser's Hedwighof vineyard, in the warm southern Neusiedlersee village of Apetlon. The vineyard is around 117 metres above sea level (comparitively low), with deep dark topsoil and gravel beneath, which benefits from plenty of sunshine. The grapes are hand harvested towards the end of September / start of October. The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, with spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and 3 weeks spent on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in used 225 litre oak barrels.
Producer
The Sepp Moser Estate was founded by the famous Austrian wine producing pioneer, Lenz Moser. Lenz Moser's son, Sepp Moser, began operating under his own name in 1987 and handed over the direction of this family-owned estate to his own son Nikolaus in the year 2000.
The Sepp Moser Estate comprises of 50 acres of vineyards in two prominent wine regions; Kremstal (22 ha) and Neusiedlersee (28 ha). In the Kremstal, Nikolaus produces an international range of varieties as well as the ever more important local varieties of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling. The reds are produced on the gravelly soils of the warm southern Neusiederslee village of Apetlon. All Sepp Moser wines have been organic (and all estate wines biodynamic) since 2007.
Sustainability
The Sepp Moser estate produces a wide range of wines every year thanks to its vineyards in two diverse regions. There is one main aim in the cellar: the quality of the grapes shall be brought with as little influence as possible to the bottle. The grapes in the Sepp Moser vineyards are harvested by hand and at the cellar of the Atrium House Nikolaus Moser emphasizes gentle vinification and tries to interfere as little as possible with the process so that each wine can develop its own individual style. The fermentation starts spontaneously, and the maturing of the wine takes place on its own.
In 2006, Nikolaus officially moved the estate to biodynamic viticulture – one of the first to do so in Austria – and became Demeter certified. 2009 saw the release of Sepp Moser’s first certified organic wines. Nikolaus is very keen to reduce the amount of copper and sulphur used in the vineyards, and this year saw a reduction of two thirds over what was sprayed previously. He composts all the estates' pomace and vine trimmings, and there is an ongoing effort to plant trees around the vineyards.
Accolades
- 2017 Vintage - Silver at the 2020 Sommelier Wine Awards
- 2015 Vintage - Gold at the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Blauer Zweigelt |
Country | Austria |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Drink over the next 8-10 years. |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Why not try with pork dishes, goulash or ratatouille. |
Origin | Burgenland |
Appellation | Burgenland Qualitatswein Trocken |
2017 Cosme Palacio Crianza
Regular price £18.25 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fantastic Rioja with a touch of bling about it. Roberto Rodriguez calls this a ‘super-Crianza’, because he shepherds it from vineyard to bottle as if it were a Reserva, hand-picking the most flavour-intensive berries from high altitude vineyards, lavishing upon them the finest, new French oak barrels that money can buy and treating the wine to a long élevage.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Intense deep red colour with purple hues
Nose
Intense aromas, coffee, leather and spice and a firm concentration of black fruit sit alongside hints of ripe red fruit and sweet spiced sensations over a background of vanilla and eucalyptus.
Palate
A flavoursome wine - fruit forward with sweet tannins and a lovely long finish. An energetic wine brimming with personality, it fills the mouth with fruity flavours, wrapped in silky tannins to give a delicate, elegant, and mouth-watering wine. Persistent, with a long, wide and balanced finish.
Producer
Palacio is known as a pioneer winery for introducing the bases of modern wine to the D.O.Ca. Rioja. It is run by Cosme Palacio Bermejillo, an entrepreneur who took over the family winery in 1894 to make it the most advanced in Rioja Alavesa. He is still working today with his philosophy that tradition and modernity go hand in hand.
The Cosme Palacio Crianza grapes come from old vines of over 40 years old that are planted in clay-calcareous soils at an altitude of over 600 metres above sea level. The grapes are manually collected in 15 kg boxes and the fruit is selected in the vineyard.
Once the Cosme Palacio Crianza grapes reach the winery, they are destemmed but not crushed, and then undergo a long maceration. It then ferments in stainless steel tanks with automatic temperature control, pump overs and micro-oxygenation. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. Aging happens over 12 months in new 225-litre French oak barrels. The wine is then refined in the bottle for a minimum of 12 months before it is launched on the market.
Cosme Palacio Crianza is a red wine from the highest altitude vineyards in the winery. This is reflected in the wine’s good concentration and acidity.
Critical Acclaim
Tim Atkin MW: “Made and marketed as a kind of super Crianza, Roberto Rodríguez's pure Tempranillo all comes from Sonsierra vineyards over 600 metres. Dense, perfumed and textured, with lovely violet scents, fine-grained tannins, subtle wood and the freshness of its high-altitude sources. 14% alc. 2022-2029.” 93 points
- Bronze Medal 2021 IWC
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 14 % alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Cellaring Potential | Drink now - 2028 |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Cold meat, Stews, Mature cheese, Roasts, Red meat with sauce. Serve between 16-18C |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Origin | Rioja |
Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
2016 Vendimia Seleccionada para Guarda
Regular price £50.00 Sale price £30.00 Save 40%Tasting Notes
Covered, intense and elegant. Great aromatic complexity, velvety and with a long balsamic and spicy aftertaste.
Terroir
Vinification process
Traditional production method based on a selection of the best grapes of the estate, harvested by hand at its optimum ripeness, and after selecting the fruits in perfect condition. Harvested by hand in boxes of 12 Kgs. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aged in Alliers and Nevers French oak barrels of medium toasting and 18 months of aging. It is only made in years of exceptional quality.
About Marques de la Concordia
Don José Abascal (1743-1821) was crowned Marqués de la Concordia in Peru in 1812 by King Fernando VII of Spain, was also recognized for his personal merits in the 24th Viceroyalty of Peru (1806-1816) Man of his time (The Enlightenment), was an intellectual in the army and made an important public work in Peru. he also pursued reform in society and an advance of knowledge in the vast territory and cities that he ruled in the name of the King, making the Creoles and the metropolitan Spaniards work together. This is the origin of the word "Concordia" in its title.
Did you know?
This is the most prized Rioja reserve today is the crown jewel of the Marqués de la Concordia family.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
100% Tempranillo
|
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment in 2024 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Ideal to accompany meat dishes, roasts and cheeses, Pairs well with barbecued quail, roast beef, platters of pizza or a bowl of pasta with pesto. Serve at 18°C.
|
Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
2022 Conviviale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Rich, robust and chunky pasta red from old vines that over-delivers on both flavour and value.
Tasting Notes
Nose
An intense wine with cherry, ripe plum fruit aromas and warm, earthy spice
Palate
The palate is densely packed with morello cherry, cassis and bramble fruit flavours. Tannins are ripe, giving structure to a substantial wine with a fresh sappy finish.
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. Their 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.
Production
Produced from selected parcels of Montepulciano grapes, from low yielding 30 to 50-year-old vines in the Chieti province of Abruzzo. Fermentation took place in small batches between 28 and 30C using natural yeasts. The skins were left in contact with the fermenting wine for 10 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was transferred to Adria’s cellars and matured in a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and French oak barriques for 6-8 months.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
|
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
|
10.1 units |
Type | Red wine |
Food Matches | Gragnano pasta with Bolognese sauce |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 2 years |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Abruzzo |
Appellation | DOC Montepulciano D'Abruzzo |
2019 Umathum Sankt (Saint) Laurent
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pepi Umathum is a master of Sankt Laurent and this, his classic style, is a is fresh and lively version for everyday indulgence. Sankt Laurent is thought to be a relation to Pinot Noir (crossed with an unknown native variety).
Tasting Notes
Colour
The deep purple color comes from thicker skins which promotes slow ripening and increased phenolics.
Nose
On the nose a hint of blackcurrant jam, Earl Grey tea and light florals
Palate
The palate is big and full with grippy, fresh ripe tannins, notes of orange rind and cherry jam. A wine to partner with a rich stew.
Producer
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Saint Laurent |
Country | Austria |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Features |
Organic and biodynamic practices |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Poultry, chicken, veal, pasta and risotto |
Origin | Neusiedlersee, Burgenland |
2022 Monte del Fra Bardolino
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A delicately fruity and fragrant northern Italian red from southeast of Lake Garda.
Tasting Notes
Colour
A light summery red in the classic style
Nose
A delicately fruity, fragrant, nose with notes of cherries, strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants as well as hints of spices (cinnamon, cloves, black pepper).
Palate
Dry and rounded, with the same sensations of crunchy red fruits and berries on the palate. Lightly spicy, with a well-balanced, fresh, and easy-drinking style.
Production
Bardolino sits on the southeastern shores of Lake Garda and the red wines that carry its name bears some similarities to Valpolicella which comes from nearby. This example from Monte del Frà is a Corvina-led blend that undergoes a slow temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
The result is a light and juicy wine with an aromatic nose of sweet, fresh cherries and summer berries. Fresh and easy to drink, it's got plenty of tangy red fruits, a pleasant touch of spice, and cranberry to finish.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Food Matches | With its lightness of touch it makes super summery drinking and goes well with grilled fish, or cold meats and salads. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic |
Origin | Veneto & North East Italy |
Appellation | Bardolino DOC |
2021 La Pagliaia Chianti Classico DOCG
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh, approachable style of Chianti Classico 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. A juicy finish with a touch of black pepper.
Production
The grapes come from the estate's own 350-400m altitude vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone, near Castelnuovo 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 lasts for 8-10 days (at 28-30ºC) followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 10-12 months.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 95% Sangiovese 5% Merlot |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | A good match for spicy pasta dishes, sausages and red meat. |
Cellaring Potential | 3-5 Years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Tuscany |
Appellation |
DOCG Chianti Classico |
2023 Uva Non Grata Gamay
Regular price £10.49 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 | 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 |
Food Matches | Try with charcuterie, grilled herby chicken kebabs, or sausages on the barbeque. |
Origin | Vin De France |
2020 Cafaggio Sangiovese di Toscana
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The wine shows an intense ruby-red color with purple hues. The smell of red fruits recalls cherry, sour cherry, raspberry and blueberry. The scent will outline light spicy notes of coffee and black pepper.
Producer
Since the Renaissance and beyond, Cafaggio's conca d'oro vineyards—which can also be translated as "golden shell," "golden bowl," or "golden basin"—have been renowned for the exceptional wines they produce at an altitude ranging from 300-400 meters above sea level and encompassing a surface area of about 60 hectares.
The conca, as its name suggests, is a steep, naturally occurring amphitheater with a southern exposure that is perfect for the growth of grapes that will be transformed into wines with intense flavor, distinct structure, and significant aging potential.
The conca d'ora is situated in the center of Panzano commune, one of the five Chianti Classico DOCG villages (the only five townships where Chianti Classico can be produced today) where Chianti was first manufactured.
The soil types, in combination with the height and exposure, offer the vines exceptional vigor as their roots look for the water table, making the estate's vineyards one of the most sought-after quality wine-growing locations in all of Tuscany.
Cafaggio is an active participant in the 1995-founded Unione Viticoltori di Panzano (Panzano Grape Grower and Winemaker Union), a group that supports and aids in the promotion of the township's wineries.
Review
- Rated 91 by James Suckling
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.4 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 | Tuscany |
2022 Ancora Sangiovese
Regular price £8.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Approachable everyday drinking red. The perfect juicy food wine - with pasta, pizza and tomato sauces.
Tasting Notes
Appealing aromas of fresh red fruit and a touch of black pepper spice. A fresh, medium-bodied style with red and black berry fruit characters, and a hint of spice balanced by tangy acidity.
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.
Production
Produced from Sangiovese grapes from the Salento peninsula in southern Puglia. Traditional vinification in stainless steel tanks, with six days spent on skins. No oak ageing.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | Ideal with simple pasta tossed in butter and Parmesan or with tomato based sauces. |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 2 years |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | IGT Puglia |
2022 Ginestet Classique Lussac-Saint-Émilion
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Good value satellite Saint-Émilion.
Tasting Notes
A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a pleasingly long finish for such a good value wine.
Producer
For over a decade Boutinot has been in partnership with leading Bordeaux négociant Ginestet, to offer high quality wines from a selection of châteaux in key appellations as well as consistently fine, benchmark Bordeaux wines.
Production
Lussac is a village to the North West of Saint-Émilion, granted appellation status in 1936. Predominately Merlot vines averaging 25 years of age grown on gravelly/clay soil. Grapes are carefully harvested before being destemmed and crushed and transfered to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation last around 10-15 days, with 7 days maceration.
Sustainability
As both a négociant and a producer of its own wines, Maison Ginestet has long been convinced of the need to work the land in a viable manner and it places substantial emphasis on partnerships with sustainable agriculture-accredited winegrowing estates. Some growers are fully organic, and Ginestet is certified to bottle wines made from organically grown grapes.
In 2006, Maison Ginestet set up an international wine school at its Carignan-de-Bordeaux site. Through the Ginestet Wine Academy, Maison Ginestet shares with its commercial partners the expertise it has gained over more than a century of producing and marketing Bordeaux wines.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 5% |
Country | Bordeaux France |
Alcohol content |
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Fantastic with a classic Sunday roast and also good with lamb dishes.
|
Origin | Montagne de Saint Émilion |
Appellation
|
Saint-Emillion Grand Cru |
2019 Casa Santos Lima Topo Lisboa
Regular price £9.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Red fruits and aromatic exuberance!
Tasting Notes
A wine characterized by its aromatic exuberance, with notes of red fruits and vanilla. In the mouth, it is fruity with velvety notes of red ripe fruits, balanced by notes of spices, chocolate, and some oak notes. An elegant wine with firm tannins and a fruity finish.
Production
Producer
Casa Santos Lima is a 4th generation family-owned winery based 45km north of Lisbon and they produce around 40% of all certified Lisboa wines.
Most of Casa Santos Lima's estates are located in Alenquer, 45km north of Lisbon, in a region where wine production is centuries old and the typical rural landscapes are gifted with enormous beauty. The vineyards are planted in gentle slopes with altitudes between 100 and 220 meters benefiting from an excellent sun exposition and a climate slightly tempered by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, 25 km away from the property.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"I first came across this wine on a trip to Lisbon more than a decade ago - it was the House Red in most of the trendy bars & restaurants I frequented. I was immediately impressed by its fresh, forward red fruits, tempered by lovely vanillin oak with very soft tannins. It’s got great structure, length & flavour that’s difficult to find at below £10 these days - so have a bash! So juicy, fruity, easy drinking and moreish!" Tasted 4 Dec 2023
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Castelão, Tempranillo, Shiraz/Syrah, Touriga Franca |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol Content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Vinho Regional Lisboa |
2013 Franco Conterno Sette7Anni Barolo Riserva DOCG
Regular price £90.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The capstone of the range is the Riserva Sette 7 Anni, which was born out of a dare from father to son: Pietro gave one barrel for Daniele to age, reminding him that any extra ageing impacted cash flow. Sette 7 Anni, is named for the 84 months it spends in barrel, far longer than two years in oak required of a Barolo and three years of a Riserva. It is produced in the best years and ageing remains true to its name.
Tasting Notes
This wine is only produced in the best vintages. Brilliant grenade red colour with soft orange notes, richly complex on the nose with floral hints enhanced by traditionally new wood. Full-bodied palate that delivers dried black cherry, steeped prune, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly knit, velvety tannins.
Vineyards
It is quite possible that the Franco Conterno estate has one of the most enviable views of any winery. In the heart of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Bussia di Monforte d’Alba, the farm sits alone atop a tiny hill overlooking La Morra, Fontanafredda and Castiglione Falletto.
Franco Conterno comprises 28 hectares of vineyards, located in the territories of Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Novello and Madonna di Como.
The labels bear the names of the most prestigious vineyards: Bussia and Panerole. The hectares of land are dedicated to the cultivation of Lampia and Michet Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Merlot, Freisa and Chardonnay. Bussia is the first cru to have been declared a member of the "modern" era.
As always, our growing techniques are specially chosen to bring together respect for the environment and agricultural work, as required by the Regional Rural Development Plan to which Franco Conterno first subscribed in 1996. All this is possible thanks to the extraordinary nature of the soil, made up of sand, silt and clay. The elevation above sea level ranges from 250 to 400 metres.
The soil, the extraordinary microclimate, and the excellent south/south-west exposure allow for the creation of wines with unique and valuable characteristics.
From 2015, Franco Conterno has been a certified organic company, dedicated to a production philosophy based on natural vineyard cultivation and a completely wholesome vinification process.
History
In the heart of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Bussia di Monforte d’Alba, is Cascina Sciulun, a typical historic farmhouse, constructed according to Piedmont architectural traditions. Built in the mid-nineteenth century and extended in the 1940s, the house has always belonged to the Conterno family.
The company Franco Conterno has deep roots, and has been a part of the family for many decades. It was nonno Pietro who allocated 18 hectares of land to Nebbiolo vineyards, initially to sell to other wineries for vinification, later destined for the creation of prestigious wines.
The business passed to his son Giacomo, and then to his grandson Franco, who took the helm of the winery in 1995 with his wife Vilma, bringing his own name and identity to the company.
In recent years, Franco’s two sons—Daniele and Andrea—joined the company, following in the footsteps of their grandfather, bringing fresh insight and innovation to the winery and vineyards, continuing the family business with passion and dedication.
Cascina Sciulun now includes a farmhouse where you can stay, for a relaxing visit immersed in the peace and tranquility of the green hills of the Langhe.
Specifications
Year | 2013 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Nebbiolo Michet and Nebbiolo Lampia |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alcohol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Vinification |
Maceration with skins in wooded vats. Must and skins are kept in contact for 20-30 days, on which alcoholic fermentation takes place, punched down manually daily and finally racked. Fermentation temperature varies with peaks of 32°C |
Aging | The new wine is kept from 3 to 5 months in steel tanks and undergoes malolactic fermentation; it is decanted several times, and finally aged in French oak barrels (25hl capacity) for 84 months (7 years). Aging in bottle for 12 months. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Braised beef, red meat, shank, duck, long seasoned cheese. Serve between 16-18C. |
Features | Certified Organic since 2015, Vegan & Vegetarian friendly |
Origin | Langhe, Piedmont |
Cru | Bussia, Pugnane and Panerole |
Denomination |
Barolo Riserve DOCG |
Spring Special Mixed Case
Regular price £76.87 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Dust off the BBQ and sun loungers - warmer days are on their way! And in celebration we are delighted to launch our Spring Special Mixed Case full of firm favourites - tried & tested.
Each case contains a bottle of:
- NV Louis de Grenelle 'Perle' Crémant Rosé - a pure-bred rosé made from 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire
- 2021 Elicio Grenache Syrah Rosé - a french rosé without the heafty Provence price tag
- 2023 gPG Gargenega Pinot Grigio - Italian, lovely soft & easy drinking - the Garganega makes it a far more characterful wine that many basic Pinot Grigio's.
- 2022 Pazo de Monterray Godello - beautiful Spanish White, aromatic & sophisticated
- 2022 Caberet Frank No 2 The Aviary Old Vine Cabernet Franc - always a winner and one of our softest, easy drinking best seller reds
- and introducing the 2022 Palo Leo Mora Mora Malvasia Nero - again a best seller in our tasting groups! Warm, juicy, fresh with a slightly hinted acidity - think blackberries & mulberries, dried plums and sweet spices.
Save £16.87 on each case of 6 bottles or push the boat out and buy 12 bottles and save £33.74 PLUS free P&P!
2023 Cicada Rouge by Chante Cigale
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Cicada takes its name from the famed ‘singing cicadas’ of Provence and this is a lively, fruit-forward red from the Southern Rhône.
Tasting Notes
Fresh, ripe red berries with a bit of forest floor. Yummy, ripe red and black cherries, a pinch of spice and some softly, boisterous tannins. Lovely balancing acidity completes the picture.
Producer
Domaine Chante Cigale is located within the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has been owned by the Sabon Favier family for several generations. Consisting of 41 hectares, the domaine benefits from old vines, some of which are veritably ancient at over 100 years old. Alexandre Favier took over from his father, Christian, and is part of a new wave of producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, combining modern technical expertise with time-honoured winemaking practices.
Alexandre is lauded by notable journalists including Steve Danzier and Jancis Robinson for his deftly-made and reasonably-priced wines. Domaine Chante Cigale has also built a reputation for specialising in white wines, of which they produce more than any other estate in the appellation.
Production
Alex Favier sources the grapes for his IGPs from land the family owns in the Vaucluse; grapes for this come from 2 lieu-dits in Travaillan to the west of Gigondas – La Marteillère with clay soil for the Grenache & L’Hers on limestone for the Carignan, vines are 30 years old. Hand-harvested and de-stemmed, short maceration in concrete for the Grenache plus aging in 5 yr old Burgundy barrels for the Carignan to round out the tannins.
Sustainability
As you might expect from someone born and raised on an estate named after singing cicadas, Alexandre Favier keenly promotes the biodiversity of his vineyards. He is very conscious of his role as guardian of his land for future generations and Chante Cigale is currently in conversion to full organic status.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan |
Country | Rhone France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
|
Origin | Vin de France |
Appellation | Vin de France |
2021 Château de Belleverne Beaujolais Villages
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Beaujolais Villages made in the traditional way to give classic red fruits with savoury undertones.
Tasting Notes
Appealing with lots of depth of fruit and concentrated aromas of ripe raspberry and soft summer fruits.
Production Method
Château de Belleverne is owned by the Bataillard family – Didier, his brother Alain and nephew Michael. Founded on just 8ha in 1969, the family’s vineyards now total 36ha with plots in four of the ten Beaujolais Cru - Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent and Saint-Amour. Belleverne’s Beaujolais Villages vines are planted on light, sandy soils surrounding the domaine and village of La Chapelle de Guinchay, 3km east of Chénas. Viticulture conforms to the ‘High Environmental Value’ (HVE) principles; a certification Belleverne gained in 2018 to ‘a guarantee that the pressure applied to the environment by farming practices (on air, water, soil, climate, biodiversity and landscape) is kept to a minimum.’
In Beaujolais vinification traditionally includes carbonic maceration, where the weight of the grapes naturally crushes the thin-skinned Gamay. Didier and Alain prefer a semi-carbonic maceration and have mastered the technique of cooling the grapes in each tank to slow the process down. This slower fermentation, of 8-9 days for their Beaujolais Village parcels (they vinify each separately), achieves a greater expression of fruit character in the final wine. Their relationship with Boutinot’s Samantha Bailey stretches back to 2014 and now they allow her exclusive ‘first’ access to their cellar to taste each cuvée and create the blend for the fresh and approachable style she seeks for Château de Belleverne Beaujolais Villages.
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 | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian |
Food Matches | This Beaujolais Villages offers a fresh, herbaceous core which is a wonderful match to a platter of charcuterie, grilled sausages and tangy goats cheese. |
Origin | Beaujolais / Maconnais |
2019 Domaine Roblin Sancerre Rouge 'Terres Blanches'
Regular price £24.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh bright and charming expression of Loire Pinot Noir.
Tasting Notes
Warm, red berry fruit characterizes this fresh Pinot Noir. Ripe tannins are balanced by fresh acidity and subtle oak on the finish.
Method of Production
Grapes are grown on 15-year-old vines, planted at 8,000 vines per hectare on clay and chalk soils with areas of Portlandian clay. Yields are usually between 40 and 50hl/ha. The grapes are 100% destemmed after harvest and are allowed to cold soak for several days before temperature-controlled fermentation. Pigeages and pump-overs take place during maceration, which lasts between 20 and 30 days depending upon the vintage. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in cuves and demi-muids, followed by ageing for 10 to 12 months. This wine is bottled straight from the barrel without fining or filtration.
Producer
The small village of Maimbray, just to the north of Sancerre itself, is home to both Domaine Roblin and to Domaine du Pré Semelé. In fact the Roblins are just across the road from the Raimbaults and share a similar story of two brothers – 4th generation Matthias and Emile in this case – taking over from their father and implementing new ideas to move the family Domaine forward.
They have a total of 19 hectares of vines with a terroir made up of Kimmeridgian and Portlandian chalky clay (Terres Blanches) soils, spread across 45 separate parcels of vines, on the slopes around the villages of Maimbray and Sury-en-Vaux. Their vineyards are planted with 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Pinot Noir, and in the winery their intervention is minimal: gravity does the work of pumps, and the wines see long lees ageing. The wine style is very pure, fruit-forward yet fine, and really top quality.
Sustainability
Vineyards are worked with the greatest of respect to the environment; no chemical pesticides or herbicides are used; carbon dioxide emissions are kept as low as possible; there is crop cover between rows of vines to help combat soil erosion, and green harvesting is practised to restrain yields and improve ripeness. Although not yet HVE accredited or certified organic, the Roblins employ many of the practices of both.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching |
Would work deliciously with a well-ripened Brie or Camembert. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Sustainable farming methods, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Origin | Loire |
Appellation | Sancerre |
2020 Prieler Leithaberg Blaufrankisch
Regular price £39.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The small Burgenland town of Schützen am gebirge, on the edge of the Neusiedler See nature park, is an oasis of sensual pleasure and enjoyment. Deep, sandy loam, very rich in iron, can be found on the Johanneshöhe. There, the Blaufränkisch variety produces fruity, juicy wines with a peppery flavor - Burgenland classics with real character. It is particularly important to the Prielers to cultivate this traditional wine and make it shine, and so international wine critics agree: this wine from the Prielers has class!
Tasting Notes
Bouquet of ripe, dark berries, delicately of dried figs, complex yet fine, salty minerality, aging in oak barrels. Fresh, lively, and wonderfully balanced on the palate, with an elegant texture and an enchanting glaze.
From the Producer
Blaufränkisch is in our genes. By “our”, I mean my family and the vintners of Leithaberg. We know this variety’s moods and demands. Blaufränkisch in not an easy variety – whether for us or for you. It is capricious, challenging and stubborn. Rooted in limestone, it wants the sun; growing on schist, it requires refreshing winds. It rests preferably in wood, yet the barrels shouldn’t be too small. Of you, it demands patience. Blaufränkisch needs time. If you yield yourself to Blaufränkisch, you will understand why we fulfil all of this variety’s desires. For me, it is one of the few varieties in the world that perfectly balances two elements: energy and clarity.
In the Cellar & Vineyards
The grapes are carefully crushed and fermented at closely controlled temperatures in steel tanks or wooden casks. The character of the variety and the vineyard determines where the wine will mature. For example, the Seeberg pinot blanc will remain in stainless steel to maximize freshness and clarity, the blaufränkisch from Johanneshöhe will be raised in large oak casks, and top crus like Goldberg will mature in barrique.
Prieler’s meticulous work in the vineyard and in the cellar has earned them awards from Falstaff Magazine (2009 “Vintner of the Year”), Vinaria Magazine (“Best wines of Austria” 2012/2013) and was among Jancis Robinson’s top picks for Austrian red wines. Peter Moser, editor-in-chief of Falstaff wrote, “We were extremely impressed by the Prieler family’s high standards in all wine categories and by their sensitive approach to the specific properties of the respective types of vine and the selection of just the right terroir.”
Accolade
-
Critic tasting note: "A touch of tar, a hint of bitter almond and brooding black cherry fruit mark the nose and spread freely across the palate with dark but delicious intent. This is dense and firm, with drying tannins but no heaviness. There is freshness and intensity to the dark, brooding fruit that will show its true colors with some more age—but all the aromatic promise is already here. Drink 2020–2035." - 95/100, Wine Enthusiast
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Blaufränkisch |
Country | Austria |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring | 2020 - 2035 |
Food matches | Enjoy with entrecote, fillet of beef, wildfowl, pigeon |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
|
Origin | Leithaberg DAC |
2020 Prieler Ried Johanneshöhe Blaufränkisch
Regular price £23.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This wine represents outstanding value. The red “Prieler Classic”: a typical Blaufränkisch vinified in large wooden cask.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Brilliant cherry to ruby red
Nose
Classic varietal bouquet with lush fruit aromas (juicy blackberries), fine notes of pepper and elegant spice
Palate
Robust on the palate with a strong structure and fullness, the clear blackberry fruit is juicy the entire palate and lingers on for a long time in the finale!
From the Producer
Blaufränkisch is in our genes. By “our”, I mean my family and the vintners of Leithaberg. We know this variety’s moods and demands. Blaufränkisch in not an easy variety – whether for us or for you. It is capricious, challenging and stubborn. Rooted in limestone, it wants the sun; growing on schist, it requires refreshing winds. It rests preferably in wood, yet the barrels shouldn’t be too small. Of you, it demands patience. Blaufränkisch needs time. If you yield yourself to Blaufränkisch, you will understand why we fulfil all of this variety’s desires. For me, it is one of the few varieties in the world that perfectly balances two elements: energy and clarity.
In the Cellar & Vineyards
The grapes are carefully crushed and fermented at closely controlled temperatures in steel tanks or wooden casks. The character of the variety and the vineyard determines where the wine will mature. For example, the Seeberg pinot blanc will remain in stainless steel to maximize freshness and clarity, the blaufränkisch from Johanneshöhe will be raised in large oak casks, and top crus like Goldberg will mature in barrique.
Prieler’s meticulous work in the vineyard and in the cellar has earned them awards from Falstaff Magazine (2009 “Vintner of the Year”), Vinaria Magazine (“Best wines of Austria” 2012/2013) and was among Jancis Robinson’s top picks for Austrian red wines. Peter Moser, editor-in-chief of Falstaff wrote, “We were extremely impressed by the Prieler family’s high standards in all wine categories and by their sensitive approach to the specific properties of the respective types of vine and the selection of just the right terroir.”
Accolades
91 points James Suckling
"A very attractive blaufrankisch that shows wild cherries, dark plums and a light touch of mocha and coffee. Full-bodied with grippy, chewy tannins and lots of bright blueberries and roasted herbs. Drink now." (12/2019)
91 points Wine Enthusiast
"A hint of tar clings to the plummy and dark-fruit notes on the nose. The palate is laced with freshness that tames that dark dense juicy fruit while peppery hints add interest. It is a very juicy, compact but layered wine with a dry finish. (AK) " (7/2019)
Wine Spectator
"Light- to medium-bodied, with a juicy core of dark berry fruit, blood orange and rooibos tea hints. Sufficient tannins impart a slight grip on the moderately long finish. (AZ, Web Only-2020) "
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Blaufränkisch |
Country | Austria |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching | Serve with juicy roast beef with gently braised vegetables, wild game ragouts and wild fowl or with medium-strong soft cheeses. Serve at around 18°C. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
|
Origin | Burgenland |
2021 Michael Opitz Buddy Talk Red
Regular price £17.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%No Tricks, Just Wine
Organically produced
Tasting Notes
Buddy Talk Red is a unique blend of organically grown Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Roesler grapes. It exhibits aromas of black and red fruits like blackberry and cherries, and plums along with light spice notes on the palate.
Producer
Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel, is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 50% Blaufränkisch 35% Zweigelt 15% Roesler |
Country | Austria |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
|
Food Matches | Good friends and a great conversation! Soft cheese, cured salami and some cornichons will also work well |
Origin | Burgenland |
2016 Rioja Reserva Miguel Merino
Regular price £35.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%One of the smallest and most prestigious wineries in Spain.
Only 7,380 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
Sourced from vineyards over 50 years old, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 19 months in American oak.
Nose
The nose has a great intensity of deep blackcurrant fruits with notes of vanilla and leather
Palate
Complex, well-structured and persistent on the palate with smooth tannins
Producer
Miguel Merino deservedly gained a reputation as one of Rioja's rising stars, since establishing his boutique winery in the mid 1990's.
Miguel Merino created his own winery in a restored farmhouse where he built a small vinification plant and barrel-ageing cellar. He started to buy grapes grown on small plots near Briones to produce well-made, modern wines and now his son Miguel Jr, now holding the reigns, owns and runs one of the smallest, youngest and most prestigious wineries in Spain.
Accolades
- Received 92 points at Decanter’s Affordable Excellence Red Rioja Tasting Panel, November 2022
-
93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Reserva feels like a textbook classical reserva, not easy to find in a small producer. It's elegant and has high potential for aging. It has ripeness with freshness, power and elegance achieved through a soft vinification, but it's still powerful and has abundant, grainy tannins. They selected vineyards from the 1950s and 1960s with a warmer exposition, mostly Tempranillo with some 5% to 10% Graciano that gives depth and tension. They use fine American oak barrels that give it the style but without excess, looking for elegance. 7,380 bottles were filled (LG) (7/2022)
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Tempranillo (96%) and a little Graciano (4%) |
Country | Spain |
|
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring potential |
Drinking now until 2030 |
Appellation | D.O.Ca Rioja |
Zero Regrets Primitivo (Alcohol Free)
Regular price £7.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%0% Alcohol, Vegetarian/Vegan certified.
Made with grapes from a Puglian origin - this alcohol free wine is a juicy, plush alternative to the 'real thing'!
Tasting Notes
This Primitivo is rich and ripe, with an abundance of dark berry fruit on the nose, and a plush, smooth texture on the well-balanced palate.
Production
Primitivo grapes are transported in small containers and softly destemmed, taking care to keep the skins intact. Temperature controlled fermentation around 22°C with frequent pumping over of the must achieves optimal extraction of colour, a fruity bouquet and soft tannins in the finished wine. Vacuum distillation at around 30°C to preserve primary aromas.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Primitivo |
Country | Puglia/Belgium |
Alcohol content
|
0% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 0 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Calories |
83 per 100ml |
Carbohydrates |
4.5g per 100ml |
Food Matches |
The perfect accompaniment to meaty pasta dishes. |
Origin | Puglia |
Appellation | Puglia/Belgium |
NV Cantina di Soliera, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A traditional sweet style produced from the Grasparossa grape - widely considered to be the highest quality of the Lambrusco varieties, with thicker skin and ripe tannins. It has lashings of vibrant cherry and berry fruit.
Tasting Notes
Dark ruby red in colour with intense aromas of plum and ripe black cherry. The palate is fresh and vibrant with pure crushed black fruits balanced by fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness. The finish is clean and bright with a nip of tannin.
Production
The Lambrusco Grasparossa grapes are sourced from sandy-clay vineyards in the Castelvetro region south of Modena. Made using the Charmat method, with its second fermentation in tank.
Producer
This new range of high quality Lambrusco is a partnership between the Soliera cooperative and Medici Ermete, one of the most influential producers in the renaissance of ‘proper’ Lambrusco. Cantina di Soliera, with 422 member growers and a 40 year tradition of Lambrusco production, is situated in the heart of the Lambrusco di Sorbara zone north of Modena and is the DOC’s largest producer. The alluvial soils here are ideal for the cultivation of the low yielding Sorbara variety, the mixture of sand and clay produces wines which balance elegance and structure and are regarded by many as the finest Lambrusco. Grapes for the Cantina di Soliera range come from 20 ha of selected ‘cru’ vineyards here and in the neighbouring Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC.
The Lambrusco family of grapes (there are many varieties, once numbered at 56) is thought to be one of the oldest in Italy and is predominantly found in Emilia-Romagna. Today the focus is on a handful of varieties, and Cantina di Soliera specialise in Lambrusco di Sorbara and Lambrusco Grasparossa, the most important of the 5 Lambrusco DOC’s in terms of quality. The former produces light, elegant, floral wines, while Grasparossa typically gives deeply coloured, weightier and more structured wines. Both make fantastic food wines – the delicate Sorbara with cold meats and seafood, the richer Grasparossa a perfect match for fatty sausages, charcuterie, tomato-based pasta dishes and cheeses.
Sustainability
In 2022, Cantina di Soliera achieved Equalitas Winery certification and a proportion of the cantina’s vineyards are in conversion to organic cultivation and they hope to be formally certified soon.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Lambrusco Grasparossa |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
8% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 6 units |
Type | Sparkling Red Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Match | A good match for spicy Asian foods or charcuterie. Could be an interesting (and lighter) alternative to Port with blue cheese. |
Origin | Emilia Romagna |
Appellation | Grasparossa Di Castelvetro DOC |
2021 Campogiovanni, Rosso di Montalcino
Regular price £21.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Sourced from a 6 hectare plot on the Campogiovanni estate, where the vines naturally produce a brighter, more approachable and early ripening style of Sangiovese well suited to Rosso di Montalcino.
Tasting Notes
Nose
An inviting nose, warm and open, with ripe cherry and blackberry fruit combined with cedarwood and spice notes
Palate
The palate has rounded plum and red fruits balanced by fresh acidity. Spice and savoury characters and fine tannins lead to an elegant finish.
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 year.
Production Method
These 6 hectares of Sangiovese vines were planted in the 1990s on the Campogiovanni estate. The vineyard is at a 250-300m altitude, south to southeast-facing. After a 12-day maceration, and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, the wine was matured for 12 months in Slavonian oak botti, followed by a further 2 months in bottle.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% 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 pasta in meat sauces with mushroom or truffles, pork, or veal dishes. |
Origin | Toscana |
Appellation | Rosso Di Montalcino DOC |
2017 Quinta da Falorca Traditional Blend
Regular price £20.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%From the heart of the River Dão - a classic profile, colour and flavour of the region.
Only 6823 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
A full-bodied and elegant wine, extremely well-balanced with red fruit aromas. Ripe red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, floral and earthy notes, in addition to menthol and spice touches. Fruit forward backed up by a good core of moderate tannins. It’s a lip-smacking, delicious wine with a finish that lingers in the mouth.
Production
Quinta Vale das Escadinhas is also known as Quinta da Falorca. In the hands of the fifth generation of the Figueiredo family, the winery is located in the heart of Dão - Silgueiros - and is essentially dedicated to the production of DOC wines using principles of sustainable agriculture. There are thirteen hectares of vineyards that produce red varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Afrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira and Jaen, and white varieties, such as Encruzado and Malvasia. Since 2000 the winery has been producing its Premium wine, Quinta da Falorca, and has several wines with 95 points on the Robert Parker scale
They are among the secret heroes of the international wine world. In his wines, wine lovers will find the individuality that is often lost in times of increasing globalization of wine taste: authentic, traditionally prepared wines with a radiant regional character, made from indigenous grape varieties in a small edition.
At Falorca, they always bring the Traditional Blend to the market after 4-5 years. This is purposefully kept off the market until they start drinking at their best especially as the Touriga is a grape with great aging potential and needs time to mature. The vineyards are on average 40-year-old vines with some vineyards over 70 years old. These contain over 30 different Touriga clones and this important genetic strain is carefully preserved by grafting cuttings from existing old vines onto new roots.
One of the reasons Quinta da Falorca wines are among the very best Portuguese wines is because the Falorca vineyards are able to produce ripe tannins and sugar levels in Touriga Nacional at 13-13.5% alcohol so the wines remain unprecedentedly elegant and don't become alcoholic bombs.
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Touriga Nacional 33%, Rufete 28%, Jaen 21%, Alfrocheiro 12% and Tinta Roriz 6% |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | Grilled red meats with mushroom-based sauces, lamb chops, pork fillet, game meats, sausages and hard cheese |
Cellaring Potential | 2022- 2029 |
Information | Sustainable farming methods |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Dão DOC - Silgueiros |
2018 Rioja Ontanon Crianza (375ml Half Bottle)
Regular price £7.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Ontañón's Crianza is a benchmark for this style of red - richly fruited, warm oak spice, fresh balancing acidity and smooth tannins.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Ripe aromas of black fruit with warm wood spice.
Palate
Cherry and plum fruit on the palate with fresh acidity and smooth balancing tannins. Classic, approachable and satisfying.
History
Produced from 40-year-old vines grown on the slopes of the Sierra Yergas, just south of the River Ebro in Rioja Baja. The wine is produced predominantly from Tempranillo grown in the La Montesa vineyard, blended with 10% Garnacha from Siete Caminos to add aroma and body. Following a long maceration period, the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak barrels (both used and new). This is followed by a further 12 months in bottle prior to release.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 375ml |
Cultivar | Tempranillo 90%, Garnacha 10% |
Country | Rioja Spain |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
5.25 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Roast Chicken, Pork and Game |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Rioja Baja |
2022 Pasquiers Grenache Noir, Pays d'Oc
Regular price £8.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A textbook fruity southern French Grenache; rich and dark with no hard edges.
Tasting Notes
This Grenache Noir from the deeps south of France is steeped in texture and character. Rich black fruit and sweet spice on the nose with more intense berry fruit and liquorice on the palate.
Production Method
In the south western part of the Languedoc, Boutinot’s Guillaume Létang found this parcel of well tended 40 year-old Grenache Noir. Cordon trained (in an area where bush vines are more common) these old vines thrive on silt and sand, their roots buring deep into the soils in search of water. Fully ripened by the Mediterranean sun, once harvested the grapes are destemmed and macerated at cool temperatures prior to fermentation. To fully expresss the ripe black / red fruit flavours of this 100% Grenache Noir the wine was vinified without the use of oak.
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 | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Grenache Noir |
Country | Languedoc, France |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | An ideal partner to Mediterranean cooking, olives, crusty bread and tasty cheese, roasted vegetables and herb infused red meats. |
Origin | Languedoc |
Appellation | Pays D'Oc IGP |
2023 Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge, IGP Méditerranée
Regular price £8.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Crowd-pleasing, bistro-style red and stalwart of Boutinot's house wine offer.
Tasting Notes
A classic southern uncomplicated Rhône red which is deliciously drinkable yet serious enough to accompany food.
Nose
Rich fruit and an appealing herbal freshness
Palate
Lusciously textured with plum, strawberry and a touch of spice.
Production
South-eastern France is swathed in sunny vineyards and peppered with pretty villages that lend their name to famous appellations. In the bistros of these villages, local vignerons often choose not to drink the wines bearing the village name. Instead, they cannily favour a glass of IGP, aware that, although made to different guidelines, wines from the larger IGP Méditerranée can be made from plots which share very similar characteristics to these more prestigiously classified vineyards. Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge is now sourced from this wider area, working with specialist growers who own such plots. Grenache and Syrah are selected from individual vineyards, specifically for the profile they will each give to the final wine. Classic vinification techniques continue - temperature-controlled fermentation to gain immediate fruit flavours, with maceration lasting between 5 to 10 days before the wine is pressed. For the final blend, an understanding of how each component will evolve is critical in maintaining the consistent and very drinkable style expected of Cuvée Jean-Paul - a judgement which can only be made with many years’ experience of creating blends.
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 domains, 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
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache 20% Syrah |
Country | Rhone France |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 1 year max |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
|
Origin | Rhone |
Appellation | IGP Mediterranee |
2019 Caravinserail 'Cascavel' Luberon Monts et Vertige Ventoux Rouge
Regular price £14.99 Sale price £12.69 Save 15%Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby red color.
Nose
The nose is dominated by fresh black fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), with notes of undergrowth, delicately spicy, finishing with mineral notes.
Mouth
The palate is tense, with a dominant fruity (cherry) and a finish of sweet spices (licorice).
Background
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Carignan, Grenache, Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2021 - 2025 |
Food & Serving Information |
Delicious with red meat in a sauce, stew of boar, deer, duck breast. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved, mostly Organic |
Origin | Rhône, Ventoux |
Appellation | AOC Ventoux |
2018 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Thanks to expressive fruit – but without excessive concentration – Château Bonnet's red wine is unquestionably charming. In fact, it is a benchmark in Bordeaux. The wine is best enjoyed on the young side, although the quality tannin ensures good ageing for several year. With its fresh red cherry notes, this wine makes a great pairing for grilled meats and cheese platters.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby-red color scattered with purple highlights.
Nose
The nose is very attractive and fruity, revealing a delicious array of fresh fruit notes (cherry), underpinned by subtle hints of spice.
Palate
This beautiful 2018 Bonnet starts out straightforward on the palate, becoming very round, delicious and sweet. Fresh red fruit aromas (cherry) follow through to the palate.
Production
Grapes come from clay-limestone hilltop vineyards of Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers. Aged 12 months in 20% new oak barrels.
Rating
91 points from Decanter Magazine
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Nuanced and developed wines go well with rustic meat dishes. You can also pair them with cheese or enjoy them on their own. Try with reindeer steak, entrecôte or hard, aged cheeses, such as Gouda, Parmesan or Manchego. |
Origin | Grézillac in the Entre-deux-Mers |
Appellation |
Bordeaux
|
2019 Clos de la Cure, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Magnum)
Regular price £55.59 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A very classy St Emilion Grand Cru.
Tasting Notes
Juicy red and black fruits with some drier cedary streaks on the palate. A classy, complex wine with fantastic structure and a long-lingering finish.
Producer
Domaines Bouyer was a group of two top Bordeaux estates that by 2008 covered 18 hectares in Saint-Emilion. The Saint-Emilion properties Château Milon Grand Cru and Clos de la Cure Grand Cru have been in the Bouyer family for over seven generations, before being joined in 2010 by the newly purchased 56 are (0.56 hectare) Clos 56 in Pomerol. In the capable hands of Alexia and Pierre Bouyer, the domaine takes an ecological approach to the running of the estates aiming to bring out the best of their terroir marked by the fullness of ripe Merlot with intense red fruit aromas underpinned by delicate tannins.
Production
A portion of the vines are situated on the Saint Christophe des Bardes plateau and the rest are situated on the plateau of Saint Etienne de Lisse, covering a total area of 7.5 hectares. The vineyard has clay topsoil over limestone sub-soil. Vines are 25-30 years old with a vine density of 6600-9000 vines per hectare. Grapes are harvested both by hand and machine, yielding 35-40 hl per hectare. Vines are pruned in single guyot and leaf thinning and green harvesting is carried out. Prefermentation cold soaking. Vinification in tank with punching down and 3-4 weeks post-fermentation maceration in temperature controlled tanks. The wine was then matured between 12 - 15 months in barrel (new). Cellar potential between 10 - 15 years.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 1.5l (Magnum) |
Cultivar | Merlot 75% Cabarnet Franc 25% |
Country | Bordeaux France |
Alcohol content |
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 21.8 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 10-15 years |
Features | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Roast beef and lamb, tasty farmhouse cheeses
|
Origin | Saint Emilion |
Appellation
|
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru |