"It’s got to be one of the best NZ sauvvies I’ve ever tasted. As expected - dry, fresh and clean - it’s the fruit flavours that are exquisite - a mix of pineapple & passion fruit - exquisite! Beautifully crafted and at £16.99 its well worth it. Loads of character!"

Alan December 2022

Tasting Notes 

Aromas of white peach and melon, along with the more traditional nuances of citrus and tropical. There is also an intriguing 'funk' and lanolin note that brings all the aromas together and provides a wonderful transition through to the palate.

A fantastic lean yet supple long mid-palate with chewy white blossom and a richness of character, almost salty. The wine is understated and has length and a mouth-watering succulence with wonderful persistence to it. 

Producer

When it comes to professional wine people, Ben Glover is about as top-of the-tree as it gets. Ben’s role call includes almost too many accolades: previously a Wine Marlborough committee member, chair of the Bragato Wine Show (New Zealand’s only single vineyard wine show) and was chair of Pinot Noir 2017 New Zealand, the world’s largest and most prestigious Pinot Noir event. He was an inaugural Len Evans scholar in 2001 and has over 25 years of experience as a national and international wine judge. This is all to say that, when you open a bottle of Bob/short for Kate, you are in safe hands.

Nicknamed ‘Bob’ by her family (some of you may recognize the Blackadder reference), Bob /short for Kate is a tribute to Kate Glover, an amazing young drama teacher and Ben’s sister, who heartbreakingly passed away in 2018. Ben explains that he has looked to produce a wine that characterises the honesty, purity and confidence of Kate. These are organic, Marlborough wines, small-batch Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, reliant on selected block from the family’s vines and exceptional fruit selection. Not to mention the skill of one of the region’s most well-regarded winemakers.

Vinification Notes

Both vineyards were kept separate during the winemaking fermentation process with the Kennedys Rd parcel treated traditionally with 100% machine harvested, stainless steel fermentation with cool temperatures to retain supple pure Sauvignon Blanc characters. Once fermentation finished we left the wine on light lees to gain some mouthfeel while holding onto the brights of this variety. The Brink parcel, though, was handpicked and split into a further two parcels, and was a co-fermentation with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with 10% spending fermentation in old French barriques. This enhanced the mouthfeel and drew in the Semillon to provide interest and intrigue to the resulting final blend.

 Specifications

Tasting Notes 

A bright, brambly, seductive cherry red hue with aromas of wild berries, cherries, raspberry, sous bois and a hint of green spice.

The flow through to the palate is sublime with a continuation of these precise red fruits with some green olive notes, wound up with a sinewy tautness. This provides a chewy supple elegant warmth to the palate with an elegant deportment providing a long and intelligent finish.

Producer

When it comes to professional wine people, Ben Glover is about as top-of the-tree as it gets. Ben’s role call includes almost too many accolades: previously a Wine Marlborough committee member, chair of the Bragato Wine Show (New Zealand’s only single vineyard wine show) and was chair of Pinot Noir 2017 New Zealand, the world’s largest and most prestigious pinot noir event. He was an inaugural Len Evans scholar in 2001 and has over 25 years of experience as a national and international wine judge. This is all to say that, when you open a bottle of Bob/short for Kate, you are in safe hands.

Nicknamed ‘Bob’ by her family (some of you may recognize the Blackadder reference), Bob /short for Kate is a tribute to Kate Glover, an amazing young drama teacher and Ben’s sister, who heartbreakingly passed away in 2018. Ben explains that he has looked to produce a wine that characterises the honesty, purity and confidence of Kate. These are organic, Marlborough wines, small-batch Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, reliant on selected blocks from the family’s vines and exceptional fruit selection. Not to mention the skill of one of the region’s most well-regarded winemakers.

 Specifications

A classic Chablis from vines grown on the famous Kimmeridgian clay, and from the2013 IWSC French Wine Producer of the Year.

Tasting Notes

From a warmer vintage, this shows riper yet still mineral fruit with added depth from a small (around 10%) addition of oak-aged wine into the blend. This is very typical of the Motte style and gives richness and balance to the wine. A deliciously precise expression of classic chalky Chablis terroir.

Production Method

Grapes are machine harvested to preserve the freshness and purity of flavour. Pneumatic pressing immediately after harvest is then followed by a gravity settling period of 24 hours in stainless steel vats. Fermentation takes place in thermo-regulating stainless steel tanks for approximately 15 days at 21 degrees Celcius. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation in stainless for approximately 5 weeks at 20 degrees. Following this, the wine is racked between December to January, and it is fined between February and March. Cold stabilization at -3 degrees for 5 days before filtration and finally bottling.

Producer

Domaine de la Motte is a 25-hectare, family-run winery handed down from father to son since 1950. Now under the stewardship of Bernard Michaut, an ex-chef, who works with his son Adrien. Their winemaking is meticulous and the wines are benchmarks for the region. They are fastidious about producing concentrated, mineral and very precise wines that reflect the particular terroirs of Chablis, with vines on both Portlandian and Kimmeridgian soils. Motte's wines are regularly chosen for the Tastevinage label, a rigorous selection by the Confrérie des Chevaliers de Tastevin of wines they regard as offering the best of the region in terms of quality and style.

Specifications

Majella have kept the Australian tradition of making sparkling red wines.  This is a delicious Sparkling Shiraz to add to your list of 'must try'!

Tasting Notes 

One of Australia's best sparkling red wines. Full flavoured with a subtle balance of fruit and vanilla wood, hints of spice cinnamon and pepper with a presence of yeasty bread characteristics with soft acid balance to finish the palate.

Production Method

Primary fermentation is in 10 tonne stainless steel static fermenter's pumped over twice daily and finished in hogsheads. Secondary fermentation carried out in bottle on the lees for almost 12 months. The wine is then disgorged and a small amount of "liqueur" (sweetener) is added. In the true Aussie tradition they use some really fantastic vintage port.

Producer

Majella are an absolute stalwart within our portfolio and regarded as one of Coonawarra’s, if not Australia’s, best producers with an abundance of awards to support this.

However, the effusive Brian ‘Prof’ Lynn would never brag. Self-depreciating to the end, he describes himself as the humble custodian of top quality vineyards on world-famous ‘terra rossa’ soils. Every step of production is engineered with sustainability in its heart. This combined with the immense talent of winemaker Bruce Gregory, has been the magic on which Majella’s reputation has been built; with their sparkling Shiraz reaching cult like status on both sides of the globe and their impeccable Cabernet Sauvignon listed in Langton’s Classification of Australia’s Best Wines.

Awards

Specifications

Late Bottled Vintage Ports are an increasingly popular style, and this, unfiltered, wine from Krohn is no exception. LBVs are produced from just a single year's crop (but not every year), and with the vintage specified on the bottle, each LBV will express the particular characteristics of that vintage.

Colheita Ports are Tawny Ports from a single year and specify the vintage on the bottle. A Tawny Port matures for many years in small (600 litre) casks, becoming more complex and taking on a broad, silky mouthfeel and brick-red colour through slight oxidation. They typically age for a minimum of 7 years, but often longer. For the first 10-15 years, the casks are racked every year, but this becomes less frequent as they age and throw less sediment. As maturation happens in this way, in barrel rather than in bottle, decanting is not normally required. They are bottled to order and will stay fresh in the bottle for several weeks after opening. Krohn is particularly renowned for the quality of its Colheita Ports.

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Deep ruby colour

Nose

Spicy black fruit aromas

Palate

The palate has vibrant plum and blackberry characters layered with more spice, fresh acidity and firm tannins. A full and rich style with impressive length.

Production

Traditional Port grapes are sourced from Krohn's Quinta do Retiro Novo estate, and from long-standing relationships with neighbouring growers. After fermentation the wine is aged in barrel for 4-6 years before bottling. Krohn's LBV Ports are neither fined nor filtered and may thus throw a sediment. We recommend to decant them before serving.

Producers

Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category. Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is all A grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.

Accolades

• 2013 Vintage - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 Bronze Medal

Alan's Personal Notes

"Delicious! The perfect way to end a meal. Rich fruit, wee bit of nutmeg and spice, a wee bit sweet and only 20% alc - just half of a whisky, rum or licquer - what’s not to like? Fire on, the dog relaxed at the fire - all I’m missing is a wee cigar for ultimate pleasure." Jan 2022

Specifications

Nose

Intense ripe dark fruit aromas, underlined with bright florals and harmonious spicy oak notes.

Palate

Flavours of red and dark fruits balanced with soft, silky tannins. Long, lingering and mouth-filling finish.

Vineyard

Awatere Valley Marlborough, New Zealand. Blocks: Araroa, Moana, Rotokaro, Taumauri & Tohu. Planted 2002. 19.22 ha. Loam soils varying from shallow to deep silt, and fine sand.

Viticulture

A relatively frost-free spring resulted in good early shoot growth. Leaf plucking facilitated bunch exposure and promoted fruit flavour development. Slightly lower than normal brix levels resulted in clean, concentrated flavours.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested grapes gently destemmed then chilled for seven days in open top vessels. Warmed for a fast ferment; the wine was pressed directly into dedicated Pinot Noir French oak barriques for the winter. Malolactic fermentation once the temperatures started to warm again in spring. Rigorous blending and barrel section, with the final blend left to settle a few more months before being bottled without the need for fining or filtration.

Bottled May 2018 – 3276 bottles produced

Awards

• Gold - 2020 IWC
• 91 points James Suckling

Specifications

Pure, fruit-forward and fine.

Tasting Notes

Vibrant aromas of green apple and citrus. The palate is complex with ripe citrus and pear fruit, pithy grapefruit notes and an appealing stony edge to the long finish. The grapes were picked early to maintain their freshness.

Method of Production

Produced from the family's 19 hectares of vines growing in 'terres blanches' - chalky clay - soil. Vineyards are worked sustainably, organically where possible. It was cool-fermented in stainless steel and aged upon its lees for 5 to 6 months.

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.

Awards

Gold Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 - for the 2015 vintage 

Specifications

A stunning Champagne that delivers on all fronts!

Tasting Notes

Fresh floral aromas combine with characteristic sweet brioche overtones, balanced by peach skin and baked biscuit flavours with a crisp citrus finish.

Production

The vineyards, situated in the southern reaches of Troyes achieve greater ripeness which leads to a richer fruit and classic baked biscuit flavours mixed with characteristic toasty yeast overtones. Only the first, lightest pressings are used, as is usual for fine Champagne. Classic slow second fermentation in bottle followed by maturing on the lees for at least 18 months before being disgorged and released for sale.

Producer

The Gremillet estate was founded by Jean-Michel Gremillet in 1979 when he inherited a plot of vines from his mother, Lulu. Today, the house possesses over 40 hectares of vineyards and is situated in a small village 45 kilometres from Troyes - the historic capital of Champagne - and 180 kilometres south of Reims. The vines lie on steep, sun-drenched hillsides in Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils. Pinot Noir is king here, and constitutes around 94% of Gremillet’s plantings, with the remainder dedicated to Chardonnay, ideal for creating a classic, baked biscuit, rich, fruit-flavoured Champagne.

A Note on Sustainability

This family-owned and run Champagne house is HVE 3 certified, and as much as possible it restricts its use of chemicals in the vineyards. One of its cuvées is certified organic by ECOCERT and hopefully, this is the start of a bigger process.

Awards

• Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021
• Silver at the IWSC 2021
• Silver at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2020
• Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2020
• Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019

Specifications

Classic Gevrey-Chambertin, 'The King of Burgundy'.

Tasting Notes

Delicate sweet strawberry fruit, fresh acidity and a clean, vibrant palate. A restrained style, with elegance and a savoury, autumnal finish.

Method of Production

Regular ploughing, limited fertilising as well as minimal pruning is used to reduce both vigour and yield. The grapes are hand picked and transported to the winery in small containers. Hand sorting is followed by wooden vat maceration and fermentation, with regular pigeage before pressing and followed by oak barrel maturation.

Producer

In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.

This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.

A Note on Sustainability

Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.

Specifications

A juicy characterful Mourvèdre which comes from Cline’s original Contra Costa ranch. It’s here where the 100-year-old bush vines thrive on the sandy soils.

Tasting Notes

Distinct and luscious. Flavours of dark plum and chocolate leads to a medley of integrated oak spice and a smooth and juicy finish. A blockbuster of a wine that has plenty of earthy soul and character.

Producer

Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906.

In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350-acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar paneled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed terroir-driven wines.

Production Method

The Ancient Vines Mourvèdre draws from some of our oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing vineyards. These blocks produce fruit of stunning concentration as a result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terroir, and a unique cooling band of air that flows in from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. By naturally restricting yields to only 2 to 3 tonnes per acre, we achieve a sublime expression of the Mourvèdre fruit. These grapes hold characteristics of dark, dusty berry fruit that makes their Ancient Vines Mourvèdre so lustrous. Individual lots of grapes were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. Grapes undergo total de-stemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks with select cultured yeasts. It was then maintained at the ideal temperature to aid in the extraction of flavor and colour. The wine was pressed off its skins at dryness before being racked to dark toasted American Oak (approximately 30% new) where it was gently aged for 10 months and then stored in neutral cooperage.

A Note on Sustainability

Cline is proud to be a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. The program acknowledges a long-term commitment to continual improvement in the field of sustainable winegrowing and business practices, from grape to glass. It is located in Sonoma County, which is committed to becoming the first 100% sustainable wine region in the US by 2019.

Fred Cline and Bob Cannard founded Green String Farm and the Green String method of sustainable farming in 2003. Green String Farm is a 57-hectare natural process, sustainable farm near Petaluma, California. The Green String method meets the highest standard of environmental sustainability practices, which is different from certified organic. The methods reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency, and loss of biodiversity; and increase resistance to natural predators.

In 2005, Cline was one of the first wineries to fully adopt solar energy. In 2018 it upgraded the original array with the latest technology, designed to offset 100% of its winery’s electrical consumption.

Instead of herbicides, Cline has 1,500 sheep and 500 goats that roam its vineyards, tasked with removing invasive weeds and instead of harmful pesticides, Cline provides owl boxes and raptor perches in the vineyard. These birds of prey are the predators of gophers and mice and help to maintain ecological control.

Cline composts and re-uses all digestible organic waste and materials from its winery, including 3,000 tons of grape pomace per year, prunings from trees and vines, plus chipped materials from the landscape. This waste is turned into a biological stimulant and food for the soils. Cline also grinds its own volcanic rock and then spreads the crushed cinder onto the soil. Having a wide spectrum of mineralogy, these cinders provide the vineyards with a complex array of nutrients and trace minerals, ensuring that the vines have all the necessary components to build fullness of character in the wine.

Awards

Specifications

Tasting Notes

The bolder Michaut style deftly added to the more restrained style of Vau-Lignau to create a textural, elegant white.

Nose

Lightly toasted buttery oak on the nose.

Palate

The palate is complex and mineral yet ripe with plenty of fresh Chablis acidity. A wine which merits its Tastevinage award will be long-lived; expect at least five years' drinking.

Production Method

The lieu-dit of Vau-Ligneau (meaning little valley) is one of Chablis' more recent promotees to Premier Crus status, elevated for consistently producing superior quality wines. Chardonnay grapes are grown on 40-year-old vines in Kimmeridgian soil with a south-easterly exposure (giving a more mineral style than the Premier Cru Beauroy which comes from south / south-westerly vineyards). A deep layer of white clay gives the wine length, finesse and elegance. 20% of the wine is fermented in oak barrels (228l & 600l), the rest in stainless steel. The oaked proportion remains in barrel for 11 months.

Producer

Domaine de la Motte is a 25 hectare, family-run winery handed down from father to son since 1950. Now under the stewardship of Bernard Michaut, an ex-chef, who works with his son Adrien. Their winemaking is meticulous and the wines are benchmarks for the region. They are fastidious about producing concentrated, mineral and very precise wines which reflect the particular terroirs of Chablis, with vines on both Portlandian and Kimmeridgian soils. Motte's wines are regularly chosen for the Tastevinage label, a rigorous selection by the Confrérie des Chevaliers de Tastevin of wines they regard as offering the best of the region in terms of quality and style.

Specifications

This Cuvee, named after Francoise, honors the strong character of the family's sixth-generation daughter. It celebrates her role in guarding her heritage and shaping their future.

Tasting Notes

Producer

For over five centuries, Maison Antech has tamed the magical terroir of Limoux to make fine sparkling wines.

The secret of their character lies in the combination of Limoux's three terroirs, which form the backbone of the cuvées: freshness from the Pyrenees, vinousness from the ocean, and roundness from the Mediterranean. From these terroirs, Mauzac and other grapes are cultivated, each bringing their own complexity and purity to the wines. This Cuvee, named after Francoise, daughter of the family and a member of the sixth generation celebrates her strong character and the part she plays in guarding her heritage and shaping their future.

Production

Grapes are handpicked and go directly into the press. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats. The various parcels are then blended and the wine goes into bottle for secondary fermentation, where it ages on the lees for at least 30 months. Finally, a dosage is added using reserve wine to balance the wine.

Awards

Specifications

A classic introduction to white Burgundy.

Tasting Notes

This beautifully balanced and classic white Burgundy has a savoury, baked peach and biscuity nose with a rich, broad yet vibrant palate that is balanced with moreish acidity. The oak is well-integrated on both the nose and palate adding texture and finesse followed by a long, intense finish.

Production

Chardonnay grapes are sourced from vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin and Auxey-Duresses. Fermentation in foudre followed by transfer to 1 year old French barriques (Berthiomieu) for 12 months. During this time the barrels are rolled to stir up the lees - this happens 4 times a year after which the wine is left on its lees for a further 3 months. The wine is fined prior to bottling but not filtered.

Producer

In the latter years of the nineteenth century, Pierre Bourée took over a wine business in Gevrey-Chambertin and gave it his name. In 1922, his son, Bernard, succeeded him and renamed the house as Pierre Bourée Fils. In 1945, Bernard Bourée began to train his nephew, Louis Vallet, who eventually became director of the house, assisted by his brother, François. Together, they expanded the cellars and the winery, and developed the business outside Europe. As well as putting their own unique stamp upon the business, each successive generation added to the house's vineyard holdings. Today, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet run the house alongside their sons, Pierre and Louis Henry.

This winery represents everything that we are proud to be associated with: attention to detail, careful selection of the best grapes, and above all a passion for making superb wines. All Pierre Bourée wines are vinified in their cuverie in Chambolle-Musigny, and are then matured in their cellars at Gevrey-Chambertin.

A Note on Sustainability

Pierre Bourée et Fils is keen to work in an as environmentally friendly method as possible, using techniques such as regular maintenance of the soil by ploughing, applying the minimum of phytosanitary treatments and the controlling of vine vigour and yields through careful pruning. The Vallets tend their vines very traditionally and advancements in the vineyards have been limited: for example, only manure has been used as fertiliser for the last half a century which has encouraged wild asparagus to grow amongst the vines. Harvesting is manual, as the family is opposed to the use of mechanical techniques.

Specifications

Vanilla ice cream will never be the same again!

Tasting Notes

Colour

Ebony in colour with iodine highlights.  

Nose

The aromas are reminiscent of figs, raisins and dates.

Palate

Enormously sweet, velvety and soft on the palate, well balanced, with a very long finish.

Producers

During the early years, Bodegas Lustau operated as an ‘Almacenista'. The Lustau family began bottling their own sherries and exporting by 1950. In the 1980s they expanded their range and introduced the Almacenista range concept of buying and maturing casks from small bodegas to share excellent quality names and styles with enthusiasts around the world.

In 1990 the winery was bought by the family-owned Louis Caballero group. Bodegas Lustau is considered a world-class benchmark for top-quality wines. Lustau produces all styles of sherry, from Manzanilla through to Pedro Ximénez, as well as special bottlings, single cask, VOS and VORS sherries. The En Rama range, produced from select barrels from each of the three towns, is a highly anticipated release each spring.

Lustau has, over the years, won multiple medals and trophies, including ‘Best Spanish Winery' and ‘Best Sherry Producer' at the IWSC and the Len Evans Trophy for consistency (won in 2011 and 2016) at the IWC. Current cellar master Sergio Martínez took charge of the winery's oenological team in 2016, after more than 14 years' worth of experience with Lustau. Sergio has been awarded the ‘Best Fortified Winemaker' Trophy by the International Wine Challenge three years in a row, following in the footsteps of the late Manuel Lozano who had won this award seven times. In 2022, Lustau celebrated its 125th birthday with a special release of three sherries in their Anniversary Collection, including a Manzanilla Pasada Papirusa, Amontillado Solera del Castillo, and a Vintage Sherry Añada 1996.

Production

Pedro Ximénez grapes are laid out in the sun after picking until they are practically raisins. After that, the fermentation starts slowly and its halted to maintain all the natural sugars.

The resulting wine ages for 12 years in contact with the air in Jerez de la Frontera. 

Specifications

An impressive take on an orange wine from one of Lebanon's oldest wineries. The average age of the vines are 150 years old! Produced from Merweh, an indigenous Lebanese grape variety, given a dose of skin contact followed by maturation in qvevri, this is something different and with real character.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light amber in colour

Nose

The nose rises up out to the glass to greet, with waves of spice, sweet clementine-infused fruit, and what can only be described as a sense of warmth. 

Palate

The palate opens up fresh and breezy, with the ripe apple and orange fruit coming through to fill up the mid-palate.  While nothing like as grippy as some orange wine there's also a pleasing hit of tannins, helping give the wine real structure and definition.

Production

The grapes were harvested in October. 100% manually with intensive selection in 20kg boxes. Several rounds are needed to obtain perfect ripeness. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in 19th-century made Amphoras for 7 days on skin contact, then followed by malolactic fermentation

Producer

Domaine des Tourelles was founded in 1868 by French adventurer François-Eugène Brun and is one of the most highly acclaimed and oldest wineries still operating in Lebanon. It was also the first commercial cellar in 'modern' Lebanon to produce wines, arak and other spirits. This place has history! The Brun family owned and ran the winery up until the last descendant died in 2003 but luckily two local families - the Issa and Issa el-Khoury families - joined forces to buy the property and continue the fine tradition of winemaking.

Today, this Bekaa Valley estate is run by the three Issa children - twins Faouzi and Johanne and their sister Christiane, alongside Emile Issa-el Khoury, son of one of the co-owners. This young and dynamic combination have introduced a handful of practices in the vineyards and cellar including the use of indigenous natural yeasts, no fining or filtering, and only very small amounts of sulphur. These techniques along with fruit from 40 hectares of ancient, organically cultivated and dry-farmed vineyards (among the oldest in the valley) and a winery perfect for hands-off winemaking, make Domaine des Tourelles one of the finest boutique wineries in the Middle East.

Specifications

Villa La Pagliaia is the sister estate of neighbouring San Felice. It produces a similarly full-flavoured and spicy style of Chianti Classico Riserva but in a slightly more traditional style - and offers exceptional value.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Archetypal Chianti with bramble fruit notes as well as cedar and spice aromas.

Palate

The palate is richly-flavoured and complex with black cherry, plum and dried fruit characters, along with notes of spice, leather, pepper and liquorice. Supple tannins and bright acidity lead to a rich, savoury and satisfying finish.

Production

The grapes come from Villa la Pagliaia's 350-400m altitude vineyards around Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, and are hand-picked. The vines are on average 25 years old - yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine - 'guyot' trained and planted in pliocene soil with 25% rocky clay. Fermentation and maceration on the skins is carried out at a controlled temperature of 28 to 30 degrees Centigrade and lasts for 18 to 20 days. This helps to extract the required amount of fruit, colour and tannins. This is followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is matured for 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels.

Producer

The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cypress trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.

Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.

Specifications

Classic single domain Pouilly-Fumé.

Tasting Notes

Floral and herbaceous, this is a concentrated wine with great elegance, complexity and power. Really special!

Production Method

The grapes are sourced from 30-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines grown on the hill of St Andelain in a mix of Silex and Kimmerigian clay soils. The individual parcels are vinified separately. The grapes are gently pressed pneumatically. Prior to fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the must is naturally clarified by cold stabilisation and some of the grapes are macerated on the skins for a short period to maximise flavour complexity. Either wild or selected yeasts are used, depending upon the conditions - indigenous yeasts are believed to add more character. The fermentation is cool and slow over 3 weeks and the wine remains on the fine lees. The gravity-fed cellar is on two levels and is fully temperature controlled.

Producer

Robert Poirier established the La Renardière domaine close to a small wood with a healthy population of foxes ('renardière' translates as foxhole). He was a pioneer with a passion for modernism; he cleared the hillsides, planted vines in the Kimmeridgian marl, introduced new pruning methods, and won the estate’s first medals. A firm believer in the potential of Pouilly-Fumé, he expanded the estate over the years and even opened a wine bar named "Au Pouilly" in Nevers.

Eugene Bouchie bought a vineyard from the neighbouring château, on the same Saint Andelain hill as La Renardière, where the soils are composed of flinty clay and limestone. In the early 1900s, the marriage of the children of these two producers created the domaine as it stands today and it is the blending of the two terroirs which gives the La Renardière cuvées their complexity.

A Note on Sustainability

The estate undertakes disease and pest control measures by maintaining natural balance ("lutte raisonnée") and works the soil in a traditional way.

Awards

• Silver in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 - (2018 vintage)
• Silver in the IWSC 2018 - (2017 vintage)

 Mr P, is a "Pinot for the people", showing all the characteristics of classic, high quality Pinot Noir at an affordable price.  Iona's Wine Making Philosophy - 'The Winemaker is the Custodian of the fruit'

Tasting Notes 

Elegant, fresh cherry and red berry nose with undergrowth melange. The palate is pure with lovely texture and sweet cherry fruit dominates with spicy undertones. The wine is fresh and intense with real vibrancy.

Producer

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.  In a country where cool climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. There is an extremely long growing season, allowing Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The approach is hands off and the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices with a particular focus on ensuring the health of the soils whilst pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.

Production

The Pinot grapes for this wine come from Langrug, one of Iona's small farms in the Elgin Valley, with a unique terroir. Here diverse soils, fanned by cooling ocean breezes ensure perfect conditions for slow ripening, allowing the grapes to develop their intense flavours, complexity and finesse. Grapes are hand harvested, de-stemmed and not crushed. 10% whole bunch fermented for complexity. The must is fermented in stainless steel tanks at 28’C with regular punch downs during fermentation. Once pressed off, the wine were racked to 2nd , 3rd and 4th fill French barrels; Matured for 11 months.

Accolades & Award

TIM ATKIN MW 2023 SOUTH AFRICA SPECIAL REPORT  [ 90/100 ]

"From Langrug farm in Elgin. Lively red fruit mingles with plum and savoury notes from pre- and post-ferment macerations. Older oak, 11 months, polishes sappy tannins. Respectable and dapper, already approachable with a few years in store.”
PLATTER’S WINE GUIDE  [4 stars – 87/100]

Specifications

Specifications

Select fruit from our Awa Block, Awatere Valley, fermented in 500L French oak puncheons to create integrated body and complexity. Flinty, fruity and generous.

Nose

Aromas of juicy ripe stonefruit, pink grapefruit and soft smoky oak.

Palate 

Richly textured palate of citrus, summer fruits and subtle mealy characteristics. Seamless balance, refinement and length.

Vineyard

Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand. Awa (River) Block. Planted 2010. 1.10ha. Silt-loam terraced block renowned for its long, cool ripening period.

Vinification

The 2016/2017 growing season began with a frost-free spring and good early shoot growth. Warm still dry conditions in the late summer, unaffected by early autumn rains in other parts of the region. Warm and settled weather in the latter part of the harvest period allowed extra ripening time.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested grapes, gently whole-bunch pressed • unsettled juice then moved to old French oak barriques for fermentation. Fermentation with natural ‘wild’ yeasts, with a cultivated yeast added partway through fermentation to assist the wine to dryness . Post-fermentation, each barrel underwent twice-weekly batonage (yeast stirring). Malo-lactic fermentation occurred once the weather warmed in the spring. Individual barrel assessment, with only the best deemed exceptional enough to make the final blend.

Bottled March 2018 - 4140 bottles produced

Accolades

• Gold - International Wine Challange 2020 - 95 points

Specifications

Top white Châteauneuf worthy of the name.

Tasting Notes

A stylish white with inviting warm, spicey aromas. The full-flavoured palate suggests poached pears and white peaches and a long, lifted finish.

Production Method

The domaine is located in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroir with the typical stony soil of “galets roulés” (rolled pebbles). A large part of the vineyard is located on the famous plateau de Cabrières, close to Château Montredon. Grapes for the white are from a 5 hectare vineyard in Travaillon. The soils of the vineyard are made up of clay and chalk covered with a layer of the pebbles, which naturally keeps yields low. Vines are 40 years old, the pruning method is Cordon Royat and harvesting is all by hand. Alexandre produces 5 times more white wine than the other producers in Châteauneuf. Manual grape harvest with selective sorting. Fermentation at low temperature (66°F) 21 days in stainless-steel vats. Lees aging for up to 6 months. No malo-lactic fermentation in order to maintain a good acidity level. The wine is bottled early to keep as much freshness and aromas as possible. Approximately 20% of each grape variety (Clairette, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc) was used.

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.

A note on 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

Tasting Notes 

Colour

The wine has an attractive pale straw colour. 

Nose

The nose leads with appealing citrus notes, which unfold onto the palate with a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Palate

The broad spectrum of citrus, underlying minerality and gentle wooding have contributed to the complexity of this Chenin Blanc and culminate in a long lingering finish.

Background

The Uncensored Version – a project of heart, and a collaboration between brothers, Mark and Bobby Wallace.

Vinification

Wild ferment and barrel aged for 10 months in 2nd , 3rd & 4th fill barriques. The wine underwent partial Malolactic fermentation in barrel. No added enzymes, yeast and fining agents were used in the making of this wine.

Accolades

• 92pts | Tim Atkin

Bobby Wallace, son of Elgin producer Paul, is an exciting new face on the South Africa wine scene. This cool climate Chenin Blanc – one of the few produced in the region – is flinty, fresh and almost Pouilly-Fumé like. Aniseed, nettle and wet stone notes are complemented by underlying grip and some leesy weight. 2023-26 | Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report

Specifications

Tasting Notes

The finest Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional is selected by the winemaker from specific low-yielding vineyards in order to craft an inky black wine, that is then barrel-matured for a decade or more.

All the fruit is hand-harvested at optimum ripeness, fermented and fortified in small lagars, barrel matured in large seasoned oak barrels for a minimum of 8 years, blended meticulously to craft the distinctive colour and flavour profile of a fine Boplaas Cape Tawny.

Producers

It would be impossible to think of South African ‘Port’-style wines and Brandies without Boplaas (‘top farm’ in Afrikaans) springing to mind. Boplaas, in far flung Calitzdorp, has been in the Nel family since 1880 so they have had many a year to perfect their craft. This is evidenced through frequently being awarded ‘Port’ of the year by both Tim Atkin and numerous Platter 5 star awards.

Boplaas ‘Port’ wines are crafted just like they are in the Douro Valley. Only Portuguese varietals are utilised, picked at full-ripeness and fermented in large open fermenters (known as lagares), intense manual pigeage, fortifying the wine at the correct time, using the finest grape spirit, and appropriate barrel ageing.

Accolades

• 93pts | Platter's 2023

Specifications

De Bortoli has an extensive collection of aged wine stocks maturing in barrel. Old Boys has been selected from the finest barrels of this aged Tawny and blended to an average age of 21 Years. This Tawny is a luscious wine with complex nut and wood aged flavours making it the perfect accompaniment for fine coffee, rich cheeses or dark chocolate.

HIghly awarded and certified 21 years old.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Classic tawny colour with streaks of amber.

Nose

An array of aromas are on display with dark raisined fruits, mocha, hints of vanillin oak and nutty aged barrel characters.

Palate

Initially luscious, nuances of mocha and coffee have integrated over time, barrel-aged flavours in harmony resulting in a smooth, lingering drying finish.

Winemaking

Producer

The De Bortoli family story is one of determination and triumph that started 90 years ago in war-torn Europe and is now told, generations later, across Australia.

Their heritage encompasses the universal story of immigrants making good in an adopted land, the rise and rise of the Australian wine industry and the tale of a hardworking and innovative family who considers good wine, good food and good friends to be among the true pleasures in life.

Reviews

"Fine aromas brimming with the aged complexity of a mediaeval souk: mahogany, date, walnut, cedar, tamarind, sandalwood and bitter orange. A volatile rancio riff services lift and freshness. This is a compelling wine on many levels. I wish the acidity was not so shrill, but there is plenty of nourishing warmth to placate it." 94 points. Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion 2023, Aug 2022

"Full rancio bouquet with aged, honeyed nuances. Ageing brandy complexity to the dry palate showing nice sweetness and soft spiciness." 97 Points. Winestate Magazine, Aug 2021

"Gold and brown tawny. Dense, rich and complex. The concentration and luscious texture from age evident in the liquored fruit, flavours, dried fig and nutty rancio oak characters. More physical than finessed in style." 95 Points. David Bicknell, Halliday Wine Companion 2020, Aug 2019

"A complex, nicely ageing, drier style with an elegance of lingering dried fruit characters and nutty rancio layered with chocolate/coffee-like elements and finishing quite dry." 5 Stars. Winestate Magazine, Aug 2019

"A very rich and luscious release: toffee, coffee grounds, chocolate, Christmas cake, spirit no issue. The extra age has brought an element of finesse with it." Rating: 95 James Halliday, Wine Companion 2019, Aug 2018

"Tawny or tawny port as it used to be called, is Australia's most popular fortified wine style, and De Bortoli's Old Boys Tawny is a classic. It has an average age of 21 years, which is achieved by drawing on the family's extensive collection of old wines. It is matured in oak casks, deriving vanillin oak and nutty aged barrel characters on the nose and palate." Hannah Sparks and Nick Blair, Drinks Trade, Aug 2017

"Deep, reddish tawny. Nutty, caramelised figs and raisins. Terrific piercing intensity and freshness and an intensely sweet wine. Much more grapey than a port but equal in complexity. Bitter toffee aftertaste and amazing length." Julia Harding MW, Dec 2016

"Utterly superb and moreish port-a-like from Australia" Jonathan Ray, The Field (UK), Jan 2016

Specifications

At the highest point of our Roblería vineyard in the Apalta Valley, a meeting between John Duval and Felipe Tosso gave birth to a unique blend of Carménère and Syrah. Two visions, just one spirit. In a process that delivers the best of each element.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Aroma

The nose reveals black fruit, such as blackberries, intermingled with gentle spices, such as black pepper, damp earth, notes of native forest and a hint of graphite and soft spices.

Palate

This wine has a firm structure and silky tannins. Its black fruit and spicy flavors, together with medium to high acidity lend it balance in the mouth and persistence in the finish.

Fermentation

The grapes first underwent a low-temperature pre-fermentative maceration to bring out the maximum colour and aromas. Then the must was fermented in small stainless steel tanks and open tanks. The management of the tannins in this wine is very important.

Aging

The wine was aged for 22 months in 300-litre ultra-fine French oak barrels, 40% of them new and the rest second and third use. Then is was bottle aged for at least 14 months. 

Producer

Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Our signature Brut harmonises an average of 32 skillfully selected reserve wines, for an elegant expression that sings with subtle intrigue.

Colour

Pale gold in colour

Nose

The Brut has a generous nose and a bright lemony character with notes of passion fruit and honey.

Palate

Minerality in the mouth indicates a good, balanced structure, with an intense backbone and a lengthy finish with a whisper of white pepper.

The Winery

Exton Park is a Hampshire sparkling wine producer with a 60-acre single vineyard planted on a south-facing slope in the South Downs National Park. Their first vines were planted in 2003, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and their state-of-the-art winery was built in 2011. A luxurious, private event space overlooking the vineyard is also under construction and will be opening later this year. With a 60-acre single vineyard, a bespoke winery and a breath-taking promotional facility all on one estate, Exton Park will be able to offer guests an unrivalled English wine experience.

2021 marks the release of their Reserve Blend range. These are traditional method sparkling wines that challenge classic winemaking conventions. They do not rely on a base vintage like other English sparkling wine producers. Over 80% of each blend is composed from their extensive archive or reserve wines.

The number of reserves in each blend is reflected in the name of each wine. For example, Exton Park RB28 Blanc de Noirs is created from a blend of 28 wines. This unique approach has been pioneered by Head Winemaker Corinne Seeling to ensure consistency, quality and complexity with each bottling. 

Specifications

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

This 10 year old is a classic Tawny with the typical appealing aromas and flavours of wood-aged Ports, particularly nuts and caramel.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Lovely tawny colour with golden hues.

Nose

Complex aromas of ripe red fruits, damson jam, raisins and toasted nuts.

Palate

Smooth and rounded on the palate, with notes of caramel balanced by fresh acidity to give great length. A very well balanced, elegant and harmonious port wine.

Production

Made from selected red ports produced from the best vineyards of the Douro Valley, and varieties including: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão and Tinta Roriz. Aged in small oak casks, typically of around 630 litres. As the wine ages it gradually loses the ruby red colour of its youth, becoming tawny in colour, more smooth and mellow on the palate, and aromas gaining richness and complexity.

Producers

Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category. Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is all A grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.

Reviews

• Wine Enthusiast Magazine
  “Elegant and balanced, with a good acidity. Fresh and delicious, exactly as it should be a 10 year old.”

Specifications

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. 

Fine, full-bodied white Burgundy.

Tasting Notes

Expressive, almost exotic aromas and flavours with a lovely touch of oak that adds a slightly nutty character to the lush, ripe Chardonnay fruit. Rich but restrained, there is a real finesse and elegant balance to this very classy white Burgundy.

Production

Grapes are grown on the limestone and clay soils of Solutré and Vergisson. Fermented in barriques, this wine then spent 12 months in a mixture of new and older French oak.

Producer

The 14.5 hectare Domaine G. Saumaize (formerly Domaine des Maillettes) is now wholly run by Guillaume Saumaize, follwing the recent retirement of his mother, Annie. Tending to more than forty parcels of vines (up to 80 years old) spread across four Mâconnais communes (Vergisson, Davayé, Solutré and Prissé), he produces Pouilly-Fuissé and a range of other Mâcon AOC wines.

In 2018, the Saumaize family invested in a new barrel cellar, giving them much more flexibility to vinify individual parcels of grapes separately and thus express their terroir even more clearly. The Chardonnays are classically styled, with part or full vinification in oak for richness and complexity.

Specifications