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2016 Cafaggio Basilica del Cortaccio Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Cafaggio Cortaccio is a stunning 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that opens with delicate aromas of cassis, tobacco and cedar. The robust palate delivers mature plum, clove and espresso alongside chewy tannins. Long and pleasant finish. Certified organic.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromatic notes of coffee, juicy ripe fruits, various spices, and jam.
Palate
Its mid-palate is energetic and vibrant, with not just blackcurrant aromas and flavours but that split-leaf herbaceousness that works so well from glorious Cabernet Sauvignon. Such a fresh, attractive scent. The nose also carries hints of cedar, spice, and blackberry, with a velvety, harmonious palate.
Vinification & Aging
Manual harvesting in mid-October, alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks, breaking and soaking of the marc through manual pressing and pump-overs with air, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, maturation for 18 months in French oak (Tronçais and Allier) barriques that have been used once previously (medium-toasted), and bottle-aged for six months before sales start.
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
- 96 points with Decanter
-
Susan Hulme MW: "Lovely complex nose cedar, spice and blackberry, very smooth and harmonious palate."Andrea Briccarello: "Clean, coffee notes, roasted and intense notes of juicy fruits, charming spices and jam."Annette Scarfe MW: "Pure blackcurrant leaf with an energetic vibrant mid-palate – fresh and attractive."
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2021 - 2035 |
Food Matching | An excellent wine to pair with red meats and hearty sauces. Particularly suited for traditional Sunday Roast recipes featuring lamb. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Sustainable Farming, Practising Organic | |
Appellation | Tuscany |
2020 Cascavel Les Terroirs des Papes, AOP Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
The wine has a complex and fresh nose of red fruit, combined with slightly menthol-like notes of red fruit.
Mouth
On the palate, it is rich and full, with a natural elegance, and the silky tannins make it an immediately accessible and pleasant wine, with clear qualities to keep it for a while (5-7 years, depending on its expected profile).
The Cascavel wines are polished, authentic and very fairly priced for their quality.
Background
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2025 - 2027 |
Food & Serving Information |
BBQ Beef, Chateau Briand and Grilled Lamb as well as Chocolate Desserts |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic |
Origin | Rhône, Ventoux |
Appellation | AOC Ventoux |
2020 Cafaggio Chianti Classico
Regular price £21.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
Ripe, deliciously berry, slightly earthy and herbal aroma. The medium-bodied taste repeats the berry aromas of the fragrance. The wine also has a slight smokiness, a hint of pine, cranberry and sour cherry.
Palate
In the mouthfeel, the wine is fruity, because the acidity and slightly drying tannins give the whole thing an edge. The wine leaves a ripe cranberry and lingonberry aftertaste, slightly astringent. The earthy flavours and aromas become more pronounced as the wine matures and develops. Oak maturation also adds spicy and vanilla notes.
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.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
Nuanced and developed wines go well will 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. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Tuscany |
2017 Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva
Regular price £33.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva is obtained exclusively from Sangiovese grapes. Grown on land owned by the estate, the vineyard, situated in Panzano in Chianti, extends along the sunny slopes of the 'Conca d'Oro' (Golden basin), a wine- growing area of great value.
Tasting Notes
Nose
This opens with aromas of black-skinned berries, leather, and baking spices.
Palate
Silky, with nutty fruit and a hint of bitter chocolate character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish.
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
- 91 Points Wine Enthusiast
- Bronze Medal at the 2021 International Wine Challenge
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Tuscany |
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 |
2022 Da Vero Biologico Nero d’Avola (Organic)
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Production
The Nero d'Avola grapes are sourced from the area around Salemi (Province of Trapani) in the north-west tip of Sicily. The vines are Guyot-trained, and grown at around 250m altitude on a combination of soil types. The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2007. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 8-12 days, then racked and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This wee beaut is destined to become one of our best sellers (cellars!) medium bodied with lots of juicy black fruits and a real easy drinking smoothness - absolutely no rough edges - a real crowd pleaser at a crowd-pleasing price. Watch this fly!" January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching | Pair with starters, seafood and risotto |
Cellaring Potential |
Rich pasta dishes, casseroles and grilled meats |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian, sustainable |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
Appellation | Sicilia DOC |
2022 Les Oliviers Grenache
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A lipsmacking house wine that is great with food.
Tasting Notes
A fresh, pretty and youthful red wine that will mellow as it develops in the bottle. Supple yet with underlying structure, it is quite lifted on the nose with raspberry and floral notes. Packed full of ripe, crunchy red berry fruit backed up with a hint of liquorice and touch of spice. Fresh, elegant and pleasingly simple. Lovely.
Production
Based in the southwest of the Languedoc, where the 40 year-old cordon-trained vines thrive on silt and sand. Grenache grapes are destemmed and macerated at cool temperatures prior to fermentation in order to gain the juicy fruit flavours.
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 |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 1-2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | The perfect match for grilled meat and ratatouille or pasta dishes. Alternatively, top up the glass and enjoy on its own. |
Origin | Languedoc |
Appellation | IGP P'ays Doc |
2022 Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge, IGP Méditerranée
Regular price £7.95 Sale price £6.76 Save 15%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 | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache 20% Syrah |
Country | Rhone France |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 1 year max |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Drink with hearty food such as grilled meats and casseroles. Also great with BLTs, pizzas and mature, hard cheeses. |
Origin | Rhone |
Appellation | IGP Mediterranee |
2021 Doña Paula Estate High Altitude Malbec
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Doña Paula is a winery that produces Premium wines, established in 1997 in Mendoza, Argentina. They own 100% of the vineyards used for the production of all their wines, planted in the best areas of the country, looking for the most faithful expression of each terroir.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Intense violet color.
Nose
Lovely notes of blackberry and plum along with a hint of violet and spice.
Palate
This follows through into the palate which has a lovely play between the concentrated black fruit and the spices, along with a hint of minerality that really rounds out the palate. It is wonderfully balanced with a nice freshness that makes the wine seem not quite as heavy as it should be with an ABV of 14.5%.
Vinification
The grapes are hand-picked the first week of April. In the winery, they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Then, a cold pre-fermentative maceration is carried out to preserve the primary aromas. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures, and a post-fermentation maceration is later performed for 15 to 20 days. The wine is aged in first, second and third-use French oak barrels for 12 months.
The Estate Vineyards
90% of these grapes are sourced from our best vineyards in Alluvia, Gualtallary, at 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) above sea level and 10% from Los Indios, El Cepillo, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The soils are stony in the first location and sandy loam in the second one, and both have high calcareous content.
Doña Paula Estate Malbec displays the unique characteristics of the Uco Valley, a terroir where the climate is cold, with an average temperature variation of 16 °C (60.8°F) in Los Indios and 12.5 °C (54.5°F) in Alluvia, and an average annual rainfall of 280 mm (11 in) in El Cepillo and 300 mm (11.8 in) in Gualtallary. The vines yield an average of 8 tons per hectare, and they are grown in espaliers, using drip irrigation. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.
Accolades
- 91 points - Tim Atkin
- 91 points - Descorchados
- 90 points - Wine Enthusiast
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"As I thought - this is absolutely stunning. Lots of fresh black fruits with some spice. It’s big, full-bodied, complex, and long, but there’s a freshness to the fruit and silky tannins that can only come from high altitude, cool climate fruit. Drinking exceptionally well now but it's got the power to last a few years yet. Certainly over-delivers at £10.99!!" 14 Dec 2023
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Aged | Oak aged |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian, Sustainable practices |
Food Matches |
Sirloin strip steak, chimi-churri butter, French fries with herbs and roasted tomatoes. A pairing par excellence! And when it comes to preparing it, simplicity makes this dish even more exquisite. |
Appellation | Finca Alluvia in Gualtallary (Tupungato, Uco Valley) and Finca Los Indios in El Cepillo (San Carlos, Uco Valley) 100% Malbec |
2015 Château De Rochemorin Pessac-Léognan
Regular price £27.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A very fruity, velvety, rich Pessac-Léognan, with well-balanced tannins.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Garnet red
Nose
Intense, with notes of fresh red fruits, slightly spicy
Palate
Elegant and balanced, with notes of red fruits, round and harmonious tannins
Estate
Château de Rochemorin belonged in the 18th century to the philosopher, Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, author of the famous Persian Letters. The latter willingly became the ambassador of Rochemorin red wines to his friends, men of letters and other notables, during his numerous trips to Europe, never forgetting to praise the beautiful complexity and the mineral notes on the nose and on the palate balanced and fine, their melted and fine tannins in the finish make them a sure value of the appellation.
The vines of Château de Rochemorin which give rise to this Pessac-Léognan red occupy no less than 87 hectares on a gravel terroir typical of the appellation. Two grape varieties are represented: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, from vines with an average age of 20 years. The result is a very fruity, velvety, rich wine, with well-balanced tannins.
This vast vineyard is harvested by hand and machine with mechanical sorting for plot vinification in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, before aging for 12 months in barrels comprising 30 to 40% new wood.
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | This red wine can be accompanied by: red meat, dishes in sauce, furry and feathered game, poultry, terrines, strong goat's and cow's cheeses (brie, old chavignol, munster), coffee or chocolate desserts. The ideal serving temperature is 16-18°C. |
Cellaring Potential | A wine to keep, the vintage offers the potential to keep for around 15-20 years. |
Appellation |
Pessac-Léognan Contrôlée
|
2022 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 | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan |
Country | Rhone France |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Great on its own or with pasta, grilled lamb and ratatouille. |
Origin | Vin de France |
Appellation | Vin de France |
2010 Château De Rochemorin Pessac-Léognan
Regular price £26.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The 2010 vintage was a strong one. This winery is located in southwestern France in the Graves district of Bordeaux where the wines tend to be blacker, deeper and oakier than other Bordeaux districts.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Loads of oak and smoke on the nose and palate of this robust Bordeaux red wine from generous oak barrel aging.
Palate
Boasts a tobacco and roasted cedar frame, with a sanguine edge that guides the lightly mulled plum and red currant fruit. The supple, stylish finish lingers.
Estate
Château de Rochemorin belonged in the 18th century to the philosopher, Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, author of the famous Persian Letters. The latter willingly became the ambassador of Rochemorin red wines to his friends, men of letters and other notables, during his numerous trips to Europe, never forgetting to praise the beautiful complexity and the mineral notes on the nose and on the palate balanced and fine, their melted and fine tannins in the finish make them a sure value of the appellation.
The vines of Château de Rochemorin which give rise to this Pessac-Léognan red occupy no less than 87 hectares on a gravel terroir typical of the appellation. Two grape varieties are represented: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, from vines with an average age of 20 years. The result is a very fruity, velvety, rich wine, with well-balanced tannins.
This vast vineyard is harvested by hand and machine with mechanical sorting for plot vinification in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, before aging for 12 months in barrels comprising 30 to 40% new wood.
Specifications
Year | 2010 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | This red wine can be accompanied by: red meat, dishes in sauce, furry and feathered game, poultry, terrines, strong goat's and cow's cheeses (brie, old chavignol, munster), coffee or chocolate desserts. The ideal serving temperature is 16-18°C. |
Cellaring Potential | For enjoyment now and for the next few years. |
Appellation |
Pessac-Léognan Contrôlée
|
2015 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon (Magnum)
Regular price £33.99 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 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 | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 1.5L (Magnum) |
Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 21 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
|
2015 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.99 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 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 | 2015 |
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
|
2021 Uva Non Grata Gamay
Regular price £9.49 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 | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.37 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 |
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 |
2022 Cape Heights Shiraz
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Deliciously juicy, forward style of Shiraz from cool Coastal vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A vibrant juicy style of Shiraz with ripe bramble and black cherry on the nose.
Palate
Fresh summer pudding fruits and gentle spice on the palate lead to a mellow and satisfyingly rich finish.
Production
The vineyards for this Shiraz clamber up the foothills of the Swartland mountains which are comprised of sandstone and alluvial soils. This region is hot and dry which forces these unirrigated vines to work hard to produce low yields and small berries. Produced from only free-run juice and fermented on skins in stainless steel tanks, a portion of the grapes are whole bunch fermented as the ripe stems add to the overall tannin quality of the wine. The remainder of the grapes are destemmed and pressed. After a third of the sugar has fermented, delestage is done once per day. The wine is drawn off at the bottom of the tank and transferred into a separate tank. Once complete, it is then transferred back into the fermentation tank onto the skins and stems. This method ensures more air is incorporated into the wine which helps to release the fresh, fruity, and spicy aromas known so well in this wine. When the final blend has been made, it is aged on fine lees for an extended period in French oak barrels along with around 15% from the previous vintage. This ensures a more complex wine with greater palate weight and mouthfeel.
Producer
Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.
Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules, and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature, and science to create versatile, expressive, and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
This wine was made with the barbecue in mind, it's a great partner to homemade burgers or sticky spare ribs. |
Origin | Western Cape |
2022 False Bay Bush Vine Pinotage
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wild yeast fermentation, low yielding bush vines and ageing in large French oak foudre inform this richly-fruited, yet savoury and satisfying Pinotage.
Tasting Notes
Fresh, plummy aromas with savoury, smoky notes. The palate is ripe and rich with vibrant fruit, slightly rustic yet moreish tannins and a persistent finish.
Production
The grapes for False Bay Bush Vine Pinotage stem from a single vineyard of unirrigated bush vines in Stellenbosch. The attraction to this mature (planted in 1996), coastal, bush vine vineyard were the cooler temperatures and small, naturally balanced and concentrated berries. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast and then raised in large wooden casks (or 'foudre' en Francais). The resulting wine therefore, is perhaps more 'Pino' than 'Tage'. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine. False Bay - Real Wine, Coastal Vineyards, Sustainably Farmed, Hand Picked, Naturally Crafted, Wild Ferment, Cask Aged.
Producer
An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.
False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinotage |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Perfect with pork belly dishes or barbecued meats, boerwurst, game or good, old fashioned sausage and mash. |
Origin | WO Coastal Region |
2021 Castel del Lupo Limes Barbera (Organic)
Regular price £12.09 Sale price £10.28 Save 15%This organic, unoaked Barbera is a new project from Castel del Lupo, and has bags of red berry fruit and bright acidity.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of summer fruits with touches of spice and black pepper.
Palate
The palate has bright redcurrant and cranberry characters, violet hints, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity.
Production
The Barbera vines grow in silt, clay and chalk soils on south and south-west-facing slopes at 250 metres altitude. The Barbera grapes are hand-harvested and undergo selection, before a 6-7 day maceration on the skins. After fermentation, the wine spends over 9 months in stainless steel before bottling
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepograve; 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 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
Led by Giovanni Doglio since 1974, the team at Castel del Lupo is very keen to honour the long heritage of its estate which existed even before its inclusion on a map of the region in 1301. All of Castel del Lupos grapes are estate grown and the 100-hectare property is now fully certified organic to maintain the integrity of the environment, the ecosystem and soil fertility without resorting to artificial substances at any stage of the production processes.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Barbera; 20% Syrah |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic
|
Food Matches | Enjoy with risotto prepared with pork sausage and a little of the wine too! |
Origin | Lombardia, Italy |
Appellation | Provincia Di Pavia IGT |
2022 Cape Heights Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £8.89 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wonderfully expressive Cabernet from the Cape's blowy Atlantic coast.
Tasting Notes
Nicely expressive Cabernet from the Western Cape with good concentration of cassis and red berry fruit. Taut and leafy but also brambly, ripe and succulent with ripe tannins.
Production
The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon are sourced from vineyards that border the warm Swartland/Wellington area and also the Breede Rivier Valley. The vast variety of soils gives the final wine an interesting complexity. As the vines are over 25+ years old, lower yields of 6-8 tonnes/ha help to deliver flavoursome, concentrated fruit, and the berries are picked when fully phenologically ripe. The grapes are destemmed and crushed, with a slow start to fermentation at a low-temperature 17C then gradually increasing after three days to 22 - 24C for full fermentation. Pump-over takes place twice daily to wet the cap and aerate the fermenting wine. Wine is fermented down to 5 g/litre residual sugar and pressed before being pumped back into stainless steel tanks. This ensures soft tannins and no-over extraction of any harsh tannins. Malolactic fermentation follows and the wine is kept on the lees until bottling.
Producer
Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.
Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature and science to create versatile, expressive, and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Grilled red meats and roast lamb. |
Origin | Western Cape |
2015 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon (Jeroboam) in Wooden Box
Regular price £129.75 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 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 | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 3L (Jeroboam - Double Magnum) |
Cultivar | 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 42 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
|
2015 Château De Rochemorin Pessac-Léognan (Jeroboam)
Regular price £159.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A very fruity, velvety, rich Pessac-Léognan , with well-balanced tannins.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Garnet red
Nose
Intense, with notes of fresh red fruits, slightly spicy
Palate
Elegant and balanced, with notes of red fruits, round and harmonious tannins
Estate
Château de Rochemorin belonged in the 18th century to the philosopher, Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, author of the famous Persian Letters. The latter willingly became the ambassador of Rochemorin red wines to his friends, men of letters and other notables, during his numerous trips to Europe, never forgetting to praise the beautiful complexity and the mineral notes on the nose and on the palate balanced and fine, their melted and fine tannins in the finish make them a sure value of the appellation.
The vines of Château de Rochemorin which give rise to this Pessac-Léognan red occupy no less than 87 hectares on a gravel terroir typical of the appellation. Two grape varieties are represented: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, from vines with an average age of 20 years. The result is a very fruity, velvety, rich wine, with well-balanced tannins.
This vast vineyard is harvested by hand and machine with mechanical sorting for plot vinification in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, before aging for 12 months in barrels comprising 30 to 40% new wood.
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 3L Jeroboam (double magnum) |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 42 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | This red wine can be accompanied by: red meat, dishes in sauce, furry and feathered game, poultry, terrines, strong goat's and cow's cheeses (brie, old chavignol, munster), coffee or chocolate desserts. The ideal serving temperature is 16-18°C. |
Cellaring Potential | A wine to keep, the vintage offers the potential to keep for around 15-20 years. |
Appellation |
Pessac-Léognan Contrôlée
|
2021 Oldenburg Vineyards Rondekop Stone Axe Syrah
Regular price £51.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Outstanding. Complex. Moreish. We could go on, but we shouldn’t need to - try it for yourself.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Red fruit burst out of the glass – raspberry, dark cherry and redcurrant – before red pepper, star anise, rose petal and violets join the fray.
Palate
Mouth-watering acidity and rounded tannins complete the picture on the palate. Outstanding.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
The Rondekop Series wines represent a small selection of the best barrels – either single cultivar or a blend – from our iconic Rondekop hill. We believe there are 8 Natural Elements which uniquely impact our vineyards, creating quintessential wine producing conditions. At the centre of it all is our perfectly round hill, Rondekop: the 8th natural element.
Several stone axes have been found on Rondekop itself. These stone axes are from an early Stone Age, estimated to be at least 100,000 years old. Knowing that early humans lived and hunted on Rondekop adds to the mystical nature of our valley. In this special place, we planted our Syrah vineyard blocks.
Vintage Conditions
Moderate weather throughout the 2021 season, and specifically during harvest time, resulted in grapes ripening slower, while developing exceptional colour and flavour. Harvesting began roughly two weeks later than usual due to unusually cool weather conditions throughout the season, which persisted through to harvest. Notably, water resources were also replenished following the recent drought, which contributed to fantastic vine growth, bunch numbers and exceptional berry sizes at Oldenburg Vineyards.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes were harvested from a single high-altitude vineyard on Rondekop. The grapes were hand-picked in lugboxes and stored in a coolroom overnight. 10% of grapes were whole bunch fermented and 90% were fermented as whole berries. The whole clusters were footstomped and naturally fermented. 1-3 soft punch downs were done per day and the wine was racked 3 times during fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 months in a combination of a 2500L Austrian foudre as well as 300L and 500L French oak barrels.
Accolades
- 94pts | Platter's
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 85% Syrah, 15% Grenache Noir |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9units |
Food matching |
Black pepper and herb crusted lamb rack served with grilled aubergines and mint sauce. |
Cellaring Potential | This beautiful wine will mature spectacularly for another 13–15 years. |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 Oldenburg Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £29.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%One of SA’s most exciting producers? Yes. From one of SA’s premium Cab growing regions? Yep. Banging Cab? Absolutely!
Tasting Notes
Nose
The slopes of Rondekop provide the ideal terroir for our spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has a deep ruby core and a depth of black fruits on the nose. Black cherries, black plums and blackcurrant are present, along with spicier notes of baking spice, cigar box and lavender.
Palate
A beautifully defined palate with long-grained tannins and a mouth-watering acidity carries the fruit and the spices to an emphatic finish.
A bold, yet elegant, Cabernet Sauvignon brimming with black fruit and cassis. In addition to the black fruit there is a bouquet of spice, ranging from tobacco to cedar. Grippy long-grained tannin and beautiful mouth-watering acidity carry the wine on the palate to a long finish. An exceptional wine to be enjoyed now, or in the next 8–10 years.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.
Vintage Conditions
While winter had a late start, it was characterised by good rainfall, leading to an even budbreak. A turbulent start to flowering season improved towards the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November contributed to even vineyard growth. A moderate January and February was followed by an initially hot February, while cool and wet conditions dominated from the end of February through March, creating challenging harvest conditions. Despite the wetter conditions, our microclimate allowed the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes were hand-picked and meticulously hand-sorted before destemming and crushing. After 5 days of cold soaking fermentation began, using on wild yeast. 1 to 3 pumpovers, at the expense of punchdowns, were done per day for optimal extraction. Post fermentation wine completed malolactic conversion and spent 18 months maturing in French oak barrels (27% new).
Accolades
- 94 points | Tim Aitkin
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Match | Beef Burger with vintage mature cheddar and red wine caramelised onions. |
Cellaring Potential |
An exceptional wine to be enjoyed now, or in the next 8–10 years. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2020 Oldenburg Vineyards Rhodium
Regular price £51.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Cabernet Franc and Merlot led Bordeaux Blend - a rarity in SA that will leave you questioning why that is the case.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Both red and black fruit jump out of the glass along with the tell-tale signs of Cab Franc – tea leaf and dried herbs. These mingle perfectly with a hint of baking spice and violet, adding to the allure of the wine.
Palate
On the palate, it is weighty and savoury with some grip from the fine grained tannin. The finish is seemingly endless. Built to last. World class.
The Story
Oldenburg’s ultra-premium Rondekop Series draws its name from; you guessed it… Rondekop, the iconic hill situated in the middle of the Oldenburg property. Whether it’s the single varietal Stone Axe Syrah, Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon or the Rhodium Bordeaux Blend – they are all a small selection of the best barrels coming off Rondekop.
Oldenburg’s proprietor – Adrian Van der Spuy – spent a large portion of his life working in the world of precious metals and the name of this wine is a homage to that. Rhodium is one of the world’s most expensive metals and is frequently used in top end jewellery manufacture – and 80% of the world’s supply is mined in South Africa. Fitting name.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
Vintage Conditions
2020 was another exceptional harvest. The winter months saw good rainfall – only slightly less compared to the previous year. Spring brought ideal conditions, leading to even bud-break and homogenous shoot growth. The summer ripening period was consistent and moderate, and without heat spikes, bringing about uniform flavour development and phenolic ripeness in the grapes.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes were hand-picked and meticulously hand-sorted before destemming. Prior to fermentation, the Cabernet Sauvignon was crushed, while the Cabernet Franc and Merlot were fermented as whole berries. After 5 days of cold soak, fermentation using wild yeast began. During fermentation 1 to 3 punchdowns were done per day for optimal extraction. Post-fermentation, the wine underwent 18 months of maturation as well as malolactic conversion in French oak barrels (28% new).
Accolades
- 95 points | Tim Aitkin
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.2% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.6 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Match | Beef Wellington or a classic Italian Melanzane. |
Cellaring Potential |
13 to 18 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2016 Vega del Rayo Rioja Reserva
Regular price £12.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Traditional Rioja Reserva
Tasting Notes
Nose
A traditional Rioja Reserva from vineyards in Rioja Alta with a nose of warm black fruit, spice and vanilla notes.
Palate
The palate has ripe plum and damson characters balanced by well-integrated oak, supple tannins and gentle cedary spice on the finish.
Production Method
This wine is produced from selected Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes sourced from 30 to 40-year-old Rioja Alta vineyards whose distinctive stony soils are ideal for the long, even ripening of quality grapes. The fruit is hand harvested in mid-October. Each variety is fermented separately in small tanks using natural yeasts at 28-30° C. After 20 days on the skins the wine is gently pressed and racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. The clear wine is then racked to 2nd and 3rd year American and Russian oak barrels for 24 months maturation before blending and bottling.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo & 5% Graciano |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Lamb and mint kebabs |
Allergy Information | Awaiting info |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Appellation | DOCa Rioja |
2021 Oldenburg CL Red
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
This wine displays a gorgeous dark purple core in the glass.
Nose
An inviting nose of newly-turned earth, black plums, maraschino cherries, rosemary and fennel.
Palate
The palate is refreshing, with a balanced acidity and plushy tannins. Flavours of vibrant dark chocolate and mocha can be found, in addition to rhubarb and star anise. The wine is complex and inviting with a bitter grapefruit and tobacco finish. A delightful wine that is bound to be a conversation starter and should be a staple on all dinner tables.
Winemaking & Maturation
A ‘right bank’ Bordeaux Blend – Merlot (54%) dominant with Cabernet Sauvignon (39%) and a splash of Cabernet Franc (7%)The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes were harvested from a North-Easterly facing vineyard on Rondekop. All grapes were stored in a cold-room overnight and then destemmed and sorted by hand, spending five days in a tank to cold soak. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc berries were crushed and the Merlot berries kept whole. All grape cultivars underwent pump overs 1-3 times per day and were gently basket pressed once dry. Finally, the juice was returned to tanks for malolactic fermentation and then transferred to French oak barrels, of which 26% were new barrels, to mature for 16 months.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
The Range
Accolades
- Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 54% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon & 7% Cabernet Franc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Food matching | Beef fillet topped with a fresh chimichurri will be a match made in heaven for this wine! |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 Oldenburg Syrah
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A Rhône Valley lovers’ Syrah. Spicy, full of red fruit and lightly oaked.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A bouquet of red fruit – red cherries, rhubarb and cranberries – are interwoven with spicier notes of black pepper, lavender, parmesan shavings and grapefruit pith.
Palate
Refreshingly light in alcohol with a delicate grip from the whole bunch and 25% new wood.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.
Vintage Conditions
While winter had a late start, it was characterised by good rainfall, leading to an even budbreak. A turbulent start to flowering season improved towards the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November contributed to even vineyard growth. A moderate January and February was followed by an initially hot February, while cool and wet conditions dominated from the end of February through March, creating challenging harvest conditions. Despite the wetter conditions, our microclimate allowed the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.
Winemaking & Maturation
Hand harvested and hand sorted to ensure that only the best fruit makes its way into the bottle. Whole berry fermentation took place, using only natural yeasts, in two batches – the first batch was 30% whole bunch and the second was 100% whole bunch. Punch downs were used 1 – 3 times per day for optimal extraction. 14 months of maturation, in 300L and 500L French oak (25% new), followed by fermentation. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Accolades
- 92pts | Platter's
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
9.2% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Food matching |
Barbequed pork ribs- and don’t be scared to get a bit of char on the ribs from the flames! |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2020 Oldenburg Rondekop Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £51.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Cabernet has seldomly known elegance such as in the Per Se 2020. The wine itself showcases as a deep ruby in the glass.
Nose
A rich and inviting nose with intermingling hints of red and black fruit. Blackberries, red plums and a generous touch of brambles are interwoven with lavender, green tea leaves and rosemary.
Palate
The palate displays a wonderfully subtle elegance, with a ripe sandy tannin and a racy acidity. Notes of lavender, sour cherries, tree bark and cedar wood delight the taste buds. A beautiful finish of florality and cherry tobacco round off a divine tasting experience.
The Story
The Rondekop Series wines represent a small selection of the best barrels–either single cultivar or a blend from our iconic Rondekop hill. We believe there are 8 Natural Elements that uniquely impact our vineyards, creating quintessential wine-producing conditions. At the center of it all is our perfectly roundhill, Rondekop: the 8th natural element. Per Se is Latin for ´in and of itself. Given the ideal growing conditions, this Cabernet Sauvignon earns its name with pride and conviction. Various elements keep the sunny aspect of the hill cooler during the day and combined with cooler nighttime temperatures allow for slow ripening and development of the perfect flavour spectrum in the grapes.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single-cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.
Vintage Conditions
The 2020 season brought another exceptional harvest. The winter months saw good rainfall – only slightly less compared to the previous year. Spring brought ideal conditions, leading to even bud-break and homogenous shoot growth. The summer ripening period was consistent and moderate, and without heat spikes, bringing about uniform flavour development and phenolic ripeness in the grapes.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes were hand-harvested and sorted carefully by hand and stored in a cool room overnight. They were then cold-soaked for 5 days before fermentation was initiated, during which the wine was racked twice. Pumpovers were performed up to three times daily. Malolactic conversion was in barrel. Barrels from a single vineyard were selected and blended prior to bottling. The wines were barrel-selected and blended 3 months prior to bottling. Wines were matured for 19 months in 225L French oak barrels in 55% new oak.
Accolades
-
93 points | Platters Guide
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Match | Sirloin on the bone with peppercorn sauce and crispy onions. |
Cellaring Potential |
13 to 18 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2022 Cape Heights Merlot
Regular price £8.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A bright, supple and juicy Merlot sourced from long-established Western Cape vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Nose
An attractively ripe, red berry nose.
Palate
A rounded spicy palate with generous plum and hedgerow fruit flavours leading to a fresh, gently spicy finish.
Production
Merlot grapes are sourced from long-standing vineyards on the Swartland/Wellington borders and also the Breede River Valley. Low rainfall, warm weather, mainly decomposed granite soils, and low trellised vines all add really interesting complexity to the final wine. Grapes are picked in mid-March, destemmed and placed in open-top fermenters. Pigeage is carried out four times daily (whilst up to half of the sugar is fermented), then only twice daily to the end of fermentation - this is a soft delicate way of wetting the cap and aerating the wine. Malolactic fermentation follows before the wine is left on its lees to extract extra depth and soft tannins. A touch of elegance is achieved by using a modest amount (10%) of oak.
Producer
Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.
Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules, and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature, and science to create versatile, expressive, and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Grilled lamb, pasta with a tomato-based sauce, chorizo and butterbean stew, spicy sausages and mash. |
Origin | Swartland / Breede Valley, Western Cape |
2022 Aquiline Shiraz
Regular price £7.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A combination of Paarl and Swartland fruit naturally fermented without crushing, gives a supple and tasty Shiraz in a fresh, approachable style.
Tasting Notes
Ripe and fragrant with youthful cherry and redcurrant fruit and a hint of white pepper. Medium-bodied and rounded with warm, red fruit flavours balanced by fresh acidity, gentle tannins and a touch of spice.
Production
Grapes are sourced from Paarl and the foothills of the Swartland mountains. These vineyards produce low yields and small concentrated berries. Hand-picked and naturally fermented in stainless steel tanks. 25% whole bunch fermented as the ripe stems add to the overall tannin quality of the wine, the rest is just destemmed and not crushed. Pump overs are done once daily during fermentation. 15% went into older 300-litre barrels for malolactic fermentation and a few months ageing.
Producers
Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.
Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature and science to create versatile, expressive and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | This wine was made with the barbecue in mind, it's a great partner to homemade burgers or sticky spare ribs. |
Origin | Swartland |
Appellation | Western Cape |
2019 Oldenburg Cabernet Franc
Regular price £35.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An incredibly focused and pure Cabernet Franc that echoes the Loire. In the words of the Decanter World Wine Awards: ‘Texturally very impressive, with balance, concentration and zesty vigour!’
Tasting Notes
Nose
This wine has an incredibly generous nose, with vanilla pod, mulberry black plums and liquorice at the heart of it.
Palate
The palate showcases a depth of flavour with blackcurrant leaf, thyme and grapefruit-pith adding to the plethora of aromas and flavours. A stunning acidity, well-structured chalky tannins and a delightful finish bring this wine to life.
Winery
Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single-cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.
Cabernet Franc seems to have found its home in the Banghoek Valley, and ours grows exceptionally well at the foot of Rondekop, our mystical hill.
Vintage Conditions
While winter had a late start, it was characterised by good rainfall, leading to an even budbreak. A turbulent start to flowering season improved towards the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November contributed to even vineyard growth. A moderate January and February was followed by an initially hot February, while cool and wet conditions dominated from the end of February through March, creating challenging harvest conditions. Despite the wetter conditions, our microclimate allowed the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes were harvested and sorted carefully by hand, and cold soaked for 5 days before fermentation was initiated. Pumpovers were performed up to three times daily. Malolactic conversion was in barrel. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. 29% of barrels used were 225L with the balance in 300L. The wine was bottled in November 2020.
Accolades
- 93pts | Platter's
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Franc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Food matching |
A delicate game meat such as ostrich or deer served with a cranberry and thyme jus. |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
This wine is from a cooler vintage, and has a brilliant future ahead of it, promising spectacular development over the next 15 years. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2009 Grangehurst Nikela Magnum Gift Pack
Regular price £49.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%These three words epitomise Jeremy Walker’s winemaking, with one notable omission – Delicious. By ‘Unhurried’, Jeremy is alluding to the fact that he doesn’t release a wine until he believes it is ready to be enjoyed, which is evident in the current vintages being 2008 and 2009!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Dark ruby/garnet colour
Nose
Red berries with some mint, cedar and mocha aromas & flavours.
Palate
A full-bodied, elegant barrel-matured red wine with smooth, ripe tannins.
History
Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.
Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.
The word “Nikela” (pronounced “Ni-care-la”) is a Nguni (Xhosa/Zulu) word meaning “to offer a gift of dedication, respect or a tribute to one’s ancestors” – this wine being a tribute to winemaker Jeremy Walker’s late parents, Eddie and Betty, who contributed greatly to the establishment of Grangehurst, which was named after their childhood homes – “The Grange” and “Hurst Close” – in England.
Origin
Selected from prime Helderberg and Simonsberg vineyards in Stellenbosch. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards – especially those in the Helderberg.
Fermentation
After destalking and crushing the grapes, the mash was fermented in open tanks for between 5 and 14 days on the skins. The cap of skins was punched down and mixed with the juice 4 to 6 times per day to ensure optimum extraction of colour, tannin and flavours. After completion of the alcoholic fermentation, the free-run wine was drawn off and the skins were gently pressed in basket presses. The press wine was blended with the free-run wine in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to small oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurred in tanks and barrels.
Clarification
This wine was clarified according to the natural settling and racking method, which does not involve the use of any fining agents, centrifuges or filters – a natural, unhurried method of clarifying wine.
Barrel Maturation
The various component wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Mourvèdre – were matured in 225-litre French oak barrels for 29 months.
Bottling
Bottled at Grangehurst using a gentle gravity flow filling system. The wine flowed from the elevated bottling tanks through a cartridge filter to the hand filler and into the bottles. This was the only stage during the entire winemaking process that the wine was filtered.
Specifications
Year | 2009 |
Bottle Size | 1.5L Magnum |
Cultivar | 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Shiraz, 16% Merlot, 1% Mourèdre |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.4% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 21.6 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential |
Recommended drinking up to 20 years from vintage. |
Food Matching | Enjoy this wine with fine cuisine such as yellowfin tuna ravioli, balsamic pan-seared chicken livers, grilled kabeljou or slow-roasted lamb shanks. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 De Toren Fusion V Magnum Gift Box
Regular price £99.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
On the nose, a bouquet of ripe sweet red cherries, blueberries, sweet spice, and subtle nuances of oak prevail, accentuating the fruit. Seamlessly integrated and immensely elegant.
Palate
The taste profile of Fusion V 2019 is vibrant and moderately full-bodied. Fine-grained, yet polished tannins are present in this wine. The red cherry bouquet is unmistakable, leaving the 2019 vintage creamy, layered, and delightfully well-balanced for its age.
Producer
De Toren proprietors Emil and Sonette den Dulk left Johannesburg in 1991 to establish their vineyards in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch. Situated on southern-facing slopes overlooking False Bay De Toren enjoys the cooling effect of constant ocean breezes. Taking a holistic approach to keeping vineyard soils healthy and balanced viticulturalist Ernest Manuel employs sustainable farming practices throughout the property. Infrared Aerial Imaging is used extensively in order to monitor ripeness in various vineyard blocks and determine optimal picking times although actual harvesting and production are done almost entirely by hand. The winery is operated on gravity flow principles; a 4000 liter pressure tank in an elevator shaft (the Tower from which the winery takes its name) is cleverly used to exploit gravity in transporting wine between tanks and barrels without the use of mechanical pumps. As a result of De Toren’s innovative minimal intervention production methods their wines were among the first South African bottlings to qualify for IP (Integrated Production) certification by the Wine and Spirit Board.
The Den Dulks and winemaker Albie Koch seem to have found the key to success with their simple winemaking philosophy: gentle handling no pumps and minimum manipulation. Armed with this winning formula the boutique farm has quickly risen to the ranks of South Africa’s winemaking elite with their duo of dazzling stylish and complex five-varietal Bordeaux blends: the flagship Fusion V (which debuted in the 1999 vintage and has been hailed by Wine Spectator as a consistently polished outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend) and the Merlot-based Z introduced with the 2004 vintage.
Barrel Maturation
Aged in a climatized barrel/ maturation room (16 degrees Celsius at 80% humidity) for 12 months in approximately 50% new and 50% second fill, 225 Litre Oak barrels. French Oak is predominantly used during maturation, with a portion of the Malbec receiving the benefit of American Oak.
Accolades
- Tim Atken - UK (95 Points)
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 1.5cl Magnum |
Cultivar | Cabernet Sauvignon 56.9%, Malbec 14.4%, Cabernet Franc 9.6%, Merlot 14.4%, Petit Verdot 4.7% |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.48% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 21.7 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring Potential | If stored in optimal conditions, this wine should last up to 20 years plus. |
Food Matches |
With nuanced and complexed flavours, our renowned De Toren Fusion V wine pairs exceptionally well with perfectly tender grilled or roast lamb, with garlic, rosemary and a hint of honey lemon. For optimum enjoyment, decant at least one hour before consumption. It is recommended to serve this wine at optimal temperature (15 – 18 degrees Celcius). |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2009 Grangehurst Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Magnum)
Regular price £49.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%These three words epitomise Jeremy Walker’s winemaking, with one notable omission – Delicious. By ‘Unhurried’, Jeremy is alluding to the fact that he doesn’t release a wine until he believes it is ready to be enjoyed, which is evident in the current vintages being 2008 and 2009!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Dark ruby/garnet colour
Nose
Complex aromas & flavours of black and red berries, cassis, mocha and violets.
Palate
A full-bodied barrel matured red wine with smooth, ripe tannins.
History
Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.
Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.
The Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend has been part of the Grangehurst range since our maiden vintage in 1992. As a young wine, still in barrel, the 1992 vintage was adjudged the SA Champion Wine. The 1993 vintage was Wine Magazine’s first 5-star red wine and the 1995 was a Platter 5- star wine. Other vintages of this wine have also been highly regarded, and Grangehurst Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a fine quality Bordeaux-style wine with a good track record.
Origin
Selected from prime vineyard areas in Stellenbosch viz. the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain and the Simonsberg. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards.
Fermentation
After destalking and crushing the grapes, the mash was fermented in open tanks for between 8 and 14 days on the skins. The cap of skins was punched down and mixed with the juice 4 to 6 times per day to ensure optimal extraction of colour, tannin and flavours. After completion of the alcoholic fermentation, the free-run wine was drawn off and the skins were gently pressed in a basket press. The press wine was blended with the free-run wine in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to small oak barrels. The malolactic fermentation occurred in tanks and barrels.
Clarification
This wine was clarified according to the natural settling and racking method, which does not involve the use of any unnatural fining agents, centrifuges or filters. This method of clarifying wine prevents it from being stripped of flavours.
Barrel Maturation
The various component wines were matured separately in 225 litre French oak barrels for 27 months prior to blending.
Bottling
Bottled at Grangehurst using a gentle gravity flow filling system. The wine flowed from the elevated bottling tanks through a cartridge filter to the hand filler and into the bottles. This was the only stage during the entire winemaking process that the wine was filtered.
Specifications
Year | 2009 |
Bottle Size | 1.5cl Magnum |
Cultivar | 74% Cabernet Sauvignon & 26% Merlot |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 21.8 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential |
Recommended drinking up to 20 years from vintage. |
Food Matching |
Enjoy this wine with fine cuisine such as venison carpaccio, oven-roasted vegetable pasta, Moroccan chicken or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 Casa Santos Lima Topo Lisboa
Regular price £9.45 Sale price £8.03 Save 15%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 |
2019 Caravinserail 'Cascavel' Luberon Monts et Vertige Ventoux Rouge
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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 |
2016 Rivera 'Cappellaccio' Aglianico Castel del Monte Riserva
Regular price £18.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Garnet red, this wine has an intense bouquet typical for the variety, with notes of ripe red fruit, leather and spices.
Complex and structured in the glass, it has an imposing body and intense and elegant aromas of sour cherry and tobacco, with a long and persistent finish. In the mouth it is warm and full. A wine of great structure, it has a long finish with a balanced tannic finish.
Background
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in mid-October. Maceration lasts 12-14 days in steel vats, with frequent pumping over to obtain a better extraction of aromatic and colouring substances and, at the same time, to soften the tannic mass.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"As good as I remember it - this is proper wine - with gorgeous attractive fruit with some spice & leather notes interspersed. It’s got a really long and persistent flavour - as you would expect from Italy’s southern noble grape variety. Not cheap but delivers real value for real wine drinkers. Delicious! Not a big, full bodied fruity wine - a more lighter, fine style with great complexity, persistence and class!" Tasted 2 January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Aglianico |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food & Serving Information |
Perfect with very tasty red meat dishes. Store in a cool place, away from light, bottle lying down. Do not refrigerate. Open at least 15 minutes before serving |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Andria (BT) Apulia (Puglia) |
Appellation | Castel del Monte |
2017 De Toren Fusion V Director's Reserve
Regular price £79.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Only the 4th release of the Directors Reserve ever - only 178 cases available.
“The reputable De Toren Fusion V 2017 Director’s Reserve red blend exudes bold, yet elegant Malbec characteristics. Aromas of vanilla and blueberries come to life on the nose, accompanied by fine textured tannins on the palate. Flavours of red cherries end off in notes of cedar and dark cherries, derived from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Absolutely phenomenal!”
Charles Williams | Cellar Master
Tasting Notes
On the nose, enticing aromas of vanilla and blueberries draw you in, while the palate is greeted with finely textured tannins. The flavour profile unfolds with luscious notes of red cherries, culminating in hints of cedar and dark berries, from the Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is truly exceptional, offering an unparalleled tasting experience.
Background
The collection of De Toren Director’s Reserve wines is a very rare selection of limited-edition wines, only released in years regarded as an extraordinary vintage. These handcrafted wines are truly exceptional, and only produced in years during which our continuous quest for absolute perfection, has reached its pinnacle. The wines from this exclusive collection, and these specific vintages, showed true greatness of remarkable complexity and elegance.
Through a sustained process of pure refinement, the De Toren team has faithfully succeeded in the art of growing and perfecting Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The 2017 vintage is thus no exception. To celebrate the phenomenal 2017 vintage of our renowned De Toren Fusion V, and also a very special anniversary, we presented this VIP release of the exquisite De Toren Fusion V 2017 Director’s Reserve.
This marks the 20th anniversary of Managing Partner, Albie Koch, as an integral member of the De Toren Private Cellar team. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Albie, along with our winemaking team crafted an outstanding blend from the remarkable 2017 vintage, showcasing two of the heroes that make for our acclaimed Left Bank Bordeaux-styled wine, De Toren Fusion V. Here at the estate, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec is well-known and often considered the apple of Albie’s eye. This limited-edition wine is, therefore, nothing other than a spectacular blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec.
The remarkable De Toren Fusion V 2017 Vintage Director’s Reserve was matured for 24 months in a combination of first and second-fill French, tight-grained oak barrels with an added touch of American oak to perfectly round it off. It was kept in these barrels at a temperature of 14°C to slowly mature and ensure an absolute and seamless integration for your enjoyment now, or in 20 years’ time.
Merely 178 cases were made available for reservation by the end of September. Each bottle is hand-wrapped and signed by Cellar Master, Charles Williams and Managing Partner, Albie Koch – also known as De Toren’s very first winemaker – and presented in an exquisite wooden case that safely secures this magnificent wine. Definitely one for the collection!
Only the pinnacle of our winemaking philosophy will do to celebrate this special milestone. With a mere 1068 bottles released, we pay tribute to De Toren’s very first winemaker and today a Managing Partner in the business, Albie Koch. Thank you for two decades of incredible passion, your relentless pursuit of perfection, and genuine love for De Toren.
Producer
De Toren proprietors Emil and Sonette den Dulk left Johannesburg in 1991 to establish their vineyards in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch. Situated on southern-facing slopes overlooking False Bay De Toren enjoys the cooling effect of constant ocean breezes. Taking a holistic approach to keeping vineyard soils healthy and balanced viticulturalist Ernest Manuel employs sustainable farming practices throughout the property. Infrared Aerial Imaging is used extensively in order to monitor ripeness in various vineyard blocks and determine optimal picking times although actual harvesting and production are done almost entirely by hand. The winery is operated on gravity flow principles; a 4000 liter pressure tank in an elevator shaft (the Tower from which the winery takes its name) is cleverly used to exploit gravity in transporting wine between tanks and barrels without the use of mechanical pumps. As a result of De Toren’s innovative minimal intervention production methods their wines were among the first South African bottlings to qualify for IP (Integrated Production) certification by the Wine and Spirit Board.
The Den Dulks and winemaker Albie Koch seem to have found the key to success with their simple winemaking philosophy: gentle handling no pumps and minimum manipulation. Armed with this winning formula the boutique farm has quickly risen to the ranks of South Africa’s winemaking elite with their duo of dazzling stylish and complex five-varietal Bordeaux blends: the flagship Fusion V (which debuted in the 1999 vintage and has been hailed by Wine Spectator as a consistently polished outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend) and the Merlot-based Z introduced with the 2004 vintage.
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec. |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.79% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Decanting | To release all the flavours, we highly recommend decanting this wine at least one hour before drinking. It is recommended to serve this wine at optimal temperature of 15-18 degrees Celsius. |
Cellaring Potential | Can be enjoyed now, however this robust beauty will mature exceptionally over the next two decades if cellared carefully. |
Food Matches |
With nuanced and complexed flavours, our renowned De Toren Fusion V 2017 Director’s Reserve wine pairs exceptionally well with perfectly tender grilled or roast lamb, with garlic, rosemary and a hint of honey lemon. |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 Paul Wallace Braveheart Pinot Noir
Regular price £25.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The name is a tribute to William Wallace, a man of great principle and heart, who we would like to believe is one of our ancestors. It is also a play on the Pinot Noir cultivar’s nickname – the Heart Break grape!
Tasting Notes
Colour
The Brave Heart Pinot Noir proudly introduces itself with a bright ruby red colour enticing you to explore it further.
Nose
A complex nose defined by a combination of ripe black and sour red cherries, watermelon and white pepper, together with a hint of salinity prepares your tastebuds for a sensorial sensation.
Palate
The palate reveals cherry and cranberry, supported by a spicy core that is further embellished by fine silky tannins imparted by the subtle use of Burgundian oak barriques. Finishes with a lovely, lingering aftertaste so typical of Elgin's cool climate Pinot Noirs.
Winery
Paul Wallace Wines is a small family-run business with the farm located in Elgin, previously best known for its apples and pears, which is one of the most exciting developing wine regions within the South African wine industry and indeed internationally.
Vinification
The 2019 Paul Wallace Brave Heart Pinot Noir is our seventh vintage. The name is a tribute to William Wallace, a man of great principle and heart, who we would like to believe is one of our ancestors. It is also a play on the Pinot Noir cultivar’s nickname – the Heart Break grape. Fortunately, our 2019 Pinot Noir offering has once again captured our hearts and is anything but a disappointment. Production was very limited – only 10 barrels / 2400 liters of this vintage were vinified.
Pristine grapes (Clone PN115, Guyot pruned) selected from three different slopes on our farm Wallovale Vineyards, were vinified with much love and gentle attention at the Almenkerk Wine Estate. Whole berry fermented in open fermenters, basket pressed and taken to barrel where it completes malolactic fermentation. After 10 months on wood (20% new wood, 45% second fill, 35% third and fourth fill), the wine was prepared for bottling. Bottling date: 7th February 2020.
Accolade
- National Wine Challenge 2020 - Double Silver
- IWSC 2020 - Bronze Medal
- Michelangelo International Wine Awards – Bronze
- Platter Wine Guide 2021 – 4*
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.3% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.2 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Brave Heart Pinot Noir is so very versatile and will complement a wide range of foods. Too delicate to serve with a curry or very creamy dish but superb with plum-glazed duck, roast turkey, chicken dishes, mushroom risotto, or a beautiful side of salmon. It is recommended that in the hot summer months you serve this wine ever so slightly chilled. |
Origin | Elgin |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |