Searching for the best red wine offers online? Here at Vino Fandango, we offer an extensive array of New and Old World Wines. From soft and rounded Merlots to intricate Cabernets, from spicy Riojas to Bordeaux's sublime creations, our assortment presents a diverse range of red wines sourced from countries across the world.
Discover limited edition and aged vintages, allowing you to embark on a journey of rare and distinctive wines that will elevate your palate and deepen your understanding of wine. With our seamless online ordering system, you can effortlessly have your preferred red wine delivered directly to your doorstep.
At Vino Fandango, our unwavering dedication lies in offering you an unparalleled selection of red wines, meticulously hand-picked by our team of wine experts with over 40 years of industry experience. Whether you seek a robust and full-bodied red wine to complement a hearty meal or a smooth and refined red wine to savour on its own, our collection presents the perfect bottle to suit your preferences.
Buy discounted red wine online exclusively at Vino Fandango today, and immerse yourself in the pinnacle of the wine world's offerings.
2022 Broken Record Shiraz
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A wine that celebrates Australia’s best-loved variety, Broken Record is juicy and bright and plays long on the palate.
Tasting Notes
Broken Record captures Southeast Australia’s essential joy. Soft and juicy plummy fruit flavours are balanced by smooth, savoury tannins.
Production
The creation of this wine was a judicious blending exercise to marry aromatics and lift with a generous, velveteen palate. Grapes are sourced from vineyards across Southeast Australia. They are picked at night to avoid high daytime temperatures and crushed immediately after picking. Temperature-controlled fermentation avoids extraction of harsh tannins and maintains the juicy fruit flavours.
Producer
Quintessentially Australian, this range offers consistent quality, hugely appealing, commercial wine styles that have gained a loyal following. Reflecting our skill and experience in seeking out the very best of Australia, our wines capture ideal climatic conditions and pure varietal definition.
Boutinot's Samantha Bailey brings her signature palate and decades of experience to finessing our components into the loveliest Boutinot expressions of Oz.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2020 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Enjoy with spicy red meat dishes like kofta or tagine, or grilled vegetables and halloumi. |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Appellation | South Australia |
Lautus De-alcoholised Savvy Red (less than 0.5% alc)
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pure red and black berries with a hint of oak and a gentle tannic grip. Non-alcoholic | Vegan friendly | Low in Calories
Tasting Notes
Showcasing pure red and black berry fruit flavours, with a touch of oak. The elegant palate is underpinned by fine tannin and juicy yet subtle fruit. To be enjoyed in its purest and natural form, without the restrictions of alcohol.
Winemaking
Gentle winemaking practices were followed to minimise the extraction of harsh tannins. Fermentation took place in upright fermenters with one to two pump overs per day. 26 – 28°C. Aged in oak for 9 -12 months prior to racking to the second phase of production.
Producer
Reg Holder started his career with vintages in France, Australia and the USA before returning to South Africa. He then spent 11 years as the winemaker at both Neil Ellis and Delheim. In 2015, while his wife was pregnant with their first child, he started experimenting with de-alcoholised wine for her. When they were expecting their second, in 2017, Reg decided that he was going to move full time into the Lautus de-alcoholised project.
Reg uses his traditional winemaking expertise to craft an outstanding base wine. He then removes the alcohol using a state of the art piece of machinery before carbonating (the traditional Champagne method cannot be used as it will create alcohol in the bottle) the de-alcoholised wine.
He then uses a state of the art piece of machinery that combines centrifugal force and a vacuum in order to extract the alcohol while leaving the wines’ volatile flavour and aromatic essence intact.
So how do they do it?! Remove the alcohol?
The alcohol is removed via spinning cone technology at low temperature under vacuum. The initial phase is to first remove the flavour, and set aside. The alcohol is then removed and once completed the flavour is added back to the de-alcoholised wine. Because there is significant volume loss during this process, a portion of the alcohol water is then again put through the process to extract the water, and added back. This helps to fill out the palate and balance acidity. Normal winemaking practices are followed from here in preparation for bottling. Alc: <0,5% RS: 24g/L ТA: 5.5 PH: 3.65
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz, Pinotage, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
<0.5% alc vol
|
Type | De-alcoholised Red Blend |
Calories |
12 calories per 100ml |
Sugar |
2.4g per 100ml |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian and low in calories |
Food Matches | Pairs just as nice with a slow cooked Coq Au Vin as a Traditional Beef burger or steak. Serve between 12-14C. |
Origin | Coastal Region, South Africa |
2018 Beau Constantia 'Aidan'
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The 2018 Aidan is a character of serious substance. A dry vintage has sculpted a wine with incredible structure, boasting flavours that lean towards the darker spectrum of fruit. This blend is predominantly Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Malbec and Merlot used as well.
Nose
At first, aromas of blackcurrant and blackberries fill the nose, until a necessary swirl allows for spices such as star anise, five spice and mace to enter the conversation.
Palate
Olive tapenade and fresh leather hint in the distance, beautifully balanced by a serious salinity that pins this offering to its maritime environment, where the vines grow on steep slopes circled by the cold Atlantic Ocean.
The Year by Winemaker Megan van der Merwe
"The 2018 vintage will long be remembered for its coolness and low disease pressure. It will also be remembered as the first real vintage to feel the effects of the famous Cape Drought that started in 2015 and worsened towards 2018. Our yields were down by 10%, but with our buffering cool climate conditions, the quality of the vintage was superlative."
Winery
Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.
Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.
The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.
This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.
Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.
Accolades & Awards
- 94pts | IWSC 2021
-
90pts | Tim Atkin
Aidan is an ambitious and – for Constantia – unusual four-way blend of mostly Syrah with 61% Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Dark, sinewy and concentrated, with lots of tannic backbone, damson and blackberry fruit and well-integrated 54% new oak. 2022-27
- 91pts | Platter’s
Syrah component raised to 39% in 2017, with petit verdot, cab & malbec, showing less muscle, more refinement than 2016 (4 stars, 89 pts). Delightful earthy notes with black cherries & cassis, plush ripe tannins. 20 months in barrel, 54% new.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 32% Syrah, 28% Petit Verdot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 7% Merlot. |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14.5% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units per bottle |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 2022-2027 |
Food Matching | Enjoy with a rosemary-crusted roast rack of lamb with root vegetables and a rich, umami gravy and other rich, savoury slow cooked dishes. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Constantia |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2020 Beau Constantia 'Stella' Syrah
Regular price £32.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Megan van der Merwe, the brilliant young winemaker at Beau Constantia, set out to make the Stella with ‘the absolute intention to preserve the site that grew the fruit’. The Syrah and Viognier for this wine grow side by side on one of the farm’s lower lying slopes – both varietals are picked together, when the Syrah is ripe, meaning that the Viognier hangs on the vine until it is a little raisined, adding a rich honey-like component to the wine. 18 months in French oak (only 28% new) adds complexity to the wine.
Floral notes of violet, spicy black pepper, dried herbs and fresh red fruit – cherry and pomegranate – are held together by savoury fine tannin. Epic!
Winery
Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.
Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.
The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.
This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.
Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.
Accolades & Awards
- 93pts | Platter's 2023
- Tim Atkin 90pts
“Stella is a Côte Rôtie style co-fermentation of Syrah with 0.05% (yes, really) Viognier and 52% whole bunches. Very much a cool climate style, it has aromas of dried herbs and white pepper, savoury tannins, perfumed 28% new wood and bright red cherry and pomegranate fruit.”
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 99.5% Syrah with a splash of Viognier |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14.18% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.6 units per bottle |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching | Enjoy with simple Ostrich Carpaccio covered in all kinds of Umami – try truffle, pecorino, honey or/and Dijon mustard with good quality, local, Olive oil and Carpaccio covered in truffle and parmesan or dijon mustard. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Constantia |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
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 |
2022 Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge, IGP Méditerranée
Regular price £7.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Crowd-pleasing, bistro-style red and stalwart of Boutinot's house wine offer.
Tasting Notes
A classic southern uncomplicated Rhône red which is deliciously drinkable yet serious enough to accompany food.
Nose
Rich fruit and an appealing herbal freshness
Palate
Lusciously textured with plum, strawberry and a touch of spice.
Production
South-eastern France is swathed in sunny vineyards and peppered with pretty villages that lend their name to famous appellations. In the bistros of these villages, local vignerons often choose not to drink the wines bearing the village name. Instead, they cannily favour a glass of IGP, aware that, although made to different guidelines, wines from the larger IGP Méditerranée can be made from plots which share very similar characteristics to these more prestigiously classified vineyards. Cuvée Jean-Paul Rouge is now sourced from this wider area, working with specialist growers who own such plots. Grenache and Syrah are selected from individual vineyards, specifically for the profile they will each give to the final wine. Classic vinification techniques continue - temperature-controlled fermentation to gain immediate fruit flavours, with maceration lasting between 5 to 10 days before the wine is pressed. For the final blend, an understanding of how each component will evolve is critical in maintaining the consistent and very drinkable style expected of Cuvée Jean-Paul - a judgement which can only be made with many years’ experience of creating blends.
Producer
Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade, we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.
Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.
Today, Boutinot’s French office has recently relocated to Macon, and has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don’t use any single model to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domains, as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Vérand. Drawing on the expertise of our four winemakers and a network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality-to-price ratio possible for every wine
Specifications
Year | 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 Castel del Lupo Limes Barbera (Organic)
Regular price £12.09 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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 |
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 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 |
2019 Casa Santos Lima Topo Lisboa
Regular price £9.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Red fruits and aromatic exuberance!
Tasting Notes
A wine characterized by its aromatic exuberance, with notes of red fruits and vanilla. In the mouth, it is fruity with velvety notes of red ripe fruits, balanced by notes of spices, chocolate, and some oak notes. An elegant wine with firm tannins and a fruity finish.
Production
Producer
Casa Santos Lima is a 4th generation family-owned winery based 45km north of Lisbon and they produce around 40% of all certified Lisboa wines.
Most of Casa Santos Lima's estates are located in Alenquer, 45km north of Lisbon, in a region where wine production is centuries old and the typical rural landscapes are gifted with enormous beauty. The vineyards are planted in gentle slopes with altitudes between 100 and 220 meters benefiting from an excellent sun exposition and a climate slightly tempered by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, 25 km away from the property.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"I first came across this wine on a trip to Lisbon more than a decade ago - it was the House Red in most of the trendy bars & restaurants I frequented. I was immediately impressed by its fresh, forward red fruits, tempered by lovely vanillin oak with very soft tannins. It’s got great structure, length & flavour that’s difficult to find at below £10 these days - so have a bash! So juicy, fruity, easy drinking and moreish!" Tasted 4 Dec 2023
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Castelão, Tempranillo, Shiraz/Syrah, Touriga Franca |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol Content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Vinho Regional Lisboa |
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 |
2021 Baleia Vinhos Rochas
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Baleia is Portuguese for whale and the striking labels are inspired by St Sebastian Bay, the Whale Nursery of South Africa.
Discover a place of whales and wonder, where wines are born from rocky limestone soil in a remote and unspoilt corner of the Cape South Coast.
Here vines overcome fierce elements to create fruit with singular character and depth of flavour. Beyond evocative wine, Baleia is also about finding harmony between self, others and nature in pursuit of life's perfect equilibrium.
Tasting Notes
Wine from Rock – Made from Tempranillo and Syrah grapes grown in pure limestone soils, that are so hard and rocky that the vine struggles to grow and thus yields a small, concentrated crop. We respect the fruit by making use of amphorae and large wooden foudres in the cellar, which highlights the unique minerality and makes for a tantalizing wine bursting with character.
This rich and full-bodied wine has aromas of blackberry and plum, with a hint of spice. The palate is well-balanced with soft tannins and a long, lingering finish.
Winemaking Philosophy
Wines are made in the vineyard and it is our responsibility in the cellar to trust the work that has been done all year and the terroir in which the wines are grown. We respect the fruit and play our hand very lightly in the cellar so has to ensure that the wines reflect a true sense of place.
Vineyard Philosophy
Baleia believes that living soils = strong roots = healthy vines = perfectly ripened fruit. We believe that through science and meticulous farming with attention to detail, we can produce grapes that truly reflect the terroir in which they are grown.
Vintage Notes
2021 was characterised as a temperate vintage with a dry growing season, resulting in lovely dark fruit flavours. The cool 2019 winter and a year of relatively low stress produced a softer fruit profile which elevates the mineral character in the wines.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 94% Syrah, 4% Tempranillo, 2% Pinot |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Food Matches | Grilled meats or strong cheeses |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
St Sebastian Bay, Cape South Coast |
Appellation | Western Cape |
2021 Les Coteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages
Regular price £9.77 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Each vintage, from our base in Cairanne, we are able to select exceptional Grenache and Syrah from the best Côtes du Rhône Villages to make Les Coteaux, which we then enrich with classified wine from Séguret and Sablet.
Tasting Notes
Immediately impressive, this wine reveals its class from the start. Brambly fruit underpinned by subtle oaky nuances, lovely sweet spice - warm star anise with a touch of cinnamon. This classic Côtes du Rhône Villages is enriched with specially-selected parcels from Séguret and Sablet.
Production Method
Common practice in the Côtes du Rhône is to bottle the best cuvées as a single, named, village wine and the rest as more basic Côtes du Rhône Villages. Boutinot’s philosophy, on the other hand, is to start with the intention of making the very best Côtes du Rhône Villages possible by sourcing wine from the vineyards of named villages, and enriching them with a small proportion of barrel-aged wine from Sablet and Séguret.
Boutinot's Côtes du Rhône Villages 'Les Coteaux' is therefore a selection of the best Grenache Noir and Syrah from some of the 17 named Côtes du Rhône Villages. We source wine from a number of growers with exceptional terroir and so have the flexibility to select only the very best fruit each vintage (rejecting parcels which do not meet our high standards). Mostly unoaked, a small proportion (15%) is part-aged for up to 20 months in a few new, but mostly older, oak barrels to bring depth and subtle notes of complexity.
Producer
Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.
Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.
Awards
- A Bronze Medal in the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegan, Vegetarian
|
Food Matches | A delicious accompaniment to hearty food: grilled meats, meaty sausages with mash or, as would be served in France, with puy lentils; shepherd's pie, mushroom ragoût or simply a good pizza. |
Origin | Rhône |
Appellation | Côtes du Rhône Villages |
2022 Off The Record Syrah
Regular price £31.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"One of those serendipitous discoveries that puts a smile on your face for the rest of the day, this is a remarkable new release from Bobby Wallace that rates among the best Syrahs in South Africa." 95 Points | Tim Aitken
Tasting Notes
Colour
The wine has an attractive deep red hue.
Nose
The nose leads with appealing spicy aromas – white pepper supported by notes of both red and black berries, some violets and a hint of fynbos.
Palate
Dark fruits follow through onto the palate with an appealing juicy entrance supported by savoury white pepper notes, a touch of salinity and rounded off with fine subtle tannins. A wonderful example of high altitude Syrah. A wine, whilst still youthful, displays the finesse we expect from cool climate, high altitude wines yet shows enormous maturation potential should you be patient enough to cellar the wine.
Background
Seizing the opportunity when it presented itself has culminated in this remarkable wine.
This is the second vintage of the Off the Record Syrah, produced from a small parcel of Shiraz grapes, sourced from a truly unique site. This vineyard, situated on the Ceres Plateau, is planted in fertile Bokkeveld shale soils at an astounding altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. Not many vineyards in South Africa can boast that they are covered in snow over the winter months.
Only 1 540 bottles were produced from the 2021 release.
Vinification
This wine was 100% whole-bunch fermented in two small batches before being pressed and undergoing maturation in 4th fill barrels for a period of 10 months. No commercial yeasts, enzymes or fining agents were used in the production of this wine. The wine received a light filtering prior to bottling.
Accolades
-
95 Points | Tim Aitken
-
One of those serendipitous discoveries that puts a smile on your face for the rest of the day, this is a remarkable new release from Bobby Wallace that rates among the best Syrahs in South Africa. Showing the freshness and perfume of its high altitude terroir on the Ceres Plateau, it’s graceful and refined, with rose petal and fynbos aromas, undertones of fennel and blood and a juicy, refined, silky, red-fruited palate. An awesome début. 2023-29. Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz/Syrah |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Drink 2023-2029 |
Food Matching |
Beef, lamb, poultry, and game. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Ceres Plateau |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Eikendal Charisma
Regular price £16.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The Shiraz (Rhône Valley) lends a tight, fresh structure with aromatic and seasoned undertones. Petit Verdot (Bordeaux) contributes a rich berry character and the Sangiovese, in true Italian style, adds fruity flavours with flair on the palate. The result is a bold, charming, seductive and ultimately elegant wine.
Vineyards
Shiraz (Eikendal): 20 year old block planted at the top of the farm overlooking False Bay, planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha, under irrigation. Petit Verdot (Eikendal): 12 year old block planted next to the Shiraz. Planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha, under irrigation. Sangiovese: 19 year old block from a producer in Stellenbosch. Planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha.
Vinification
All three cultivars are handpicked and cooled down. Only destemmed and not crushed. 10-15 day cold soaking before spontaneous fermentation. Shiraz: one pump over per day. Petit Verdot: two punch downs per day and Sangiovese: one walk through per day. After fermentation the wine is allowed to settle clean. Shiraz and Petit Verdot go into 500ℓ old Burgundian barrels and the Sangiovese will be blended into the previous vintage Charisma. All three cultivars are handpicked and cooled down.
Only destemmed and not crushed. 10-15 day cold soaking before spontaneous fermentation. Shiraz: one pump over per day. Petit Verdot: two punch downs per day and Sangiovese: one walk-through per day. After fermentation the wine is allowed to settle clean. Shiraz and Petit Verdot go into 500ℓ old Burgundian barrels and the Sangiovese will be blended into the previous vintage Charisma – meaning, for example, in Charisma 2018 the Shiraz and Petit Verdot are 2018 vintage but the Sangiovese is the 2019 vintage. The idea with this is to blend that beautiful freshness and Italian passion into the wine.
Accolades
92pts | Tim Atkin
"In its way, this is every bit as impressive as the Janina Chardonnay and could be viewed as its value-for-money twin. Made from the unusual trio of mostly Syrah with 17% Petit Verdot and 30% Sangiovese, it’s floral and refined with red cherry and raspberry fruit and filigree tannins. 2022-28"
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
67% Shiraz, 32% Petit Verdot, and 1% Sangiovese |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential |
Up to 6 years if cellared correctly |
Food Matching | Serve between 18ºC-20ºC. Pair with Mushroom & Chorizo Risotto, Veal, Chocolate Truffles |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2019 Doña Paula Altitude Series 1100
Regular price £21.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are blended to create this complex and balanced wine of a deep violet color. In the nose, it has floral aromas – such as violet and rosehip – typical of the Malbec variety. The Syrah contributes spicy notes, good volume in the mouth and silky tannins, whereas the Cabernet Sauvignon complements the blend with a great structure.
Vineyards
Doña Paula 1100 comes from 3 blocks in our Los Indios Vineyard, which is located in El Cepillo, San Carlos, Uco Valley, at 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. The sandy loam soil here has great drainage; in some sectors, there are gravel and stone deposits of colluvial origin, always bound by a thick, 70 cm (27.5 in) deep layer of black caliche. Days are warm and nights cold; the average temperature variation is 16 °C (60.8°F), and the average annual rainfall reaches 300 mm (11.8 in). The vines yield 7 to 9 tons per hectare. At Doña Paula, our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agricultural practices.
Vinification
The harvest starts with Syrah in the first week of April, it continues with Malbec by mid-April, and it finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the same month. The grapes are hand-picked and then they are destemmed gently, without breaking the berries. Each variety undergoes cold maceration separately, in stainless steel tanks, to extract the primary aromas. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, the blend is made, and the aging process is carried out in 20% new French oak barrels, for 16 months.
Awards
- 92 points in the Tim Atkin Argentina Report
- 92 points James Suckling
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
60% Malbec, 30% Syrah & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Suggested Serving Temp | Between 15°C and 18°C. |
Food Matches | Beef tenderloin, blue cheese and spinach wrapped in pastry, and served with sweet potato purée and roasted pepper coulis. You cannot think of peppers without thinking of Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Dietary Information | Gluten-free and Vegan & Vegetarian Friendly |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation |
Los Indios, El Cepillo, San Carlos, Uco Valley
|
2017 Painted Wolf Swartland Syrah
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Background
The Vineyards
Our partner Billy Hughes grows organic grapes at Kasteelsig vineyard in the Swartland region. The grapes are dry farmed. Soil in the vineyard is primarily Glenrosa, a composite soil of decomposed shale with a little granite. Vines are 14 years old and the yield in 2015 was around 6 tons to the hectare.
Winemaking
The grapes were handpicked over a few days in late February 2013 into small baskets and taken to our cellar where they were destalked and gently crushed. We fermented the Syrah in small open bins where it was hand punched four times a day. We prefer the native yeast from the vineyard. The wine matured in French and Hungarian oak for a total of 20 months. We filled 10051 bottles.
Awards
- Platter’s Wine Guide 2020: 4 stars
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz / Syrah |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.76% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
This Syrah is drinking well now but will improve in the bottle till 2022 and beyond. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
A savoury and spicy wine which is great with French country dishes such as Cassoulet or a Beef Daube Provencal. It is also delicious with grilled regional sausages like Toulouse sausages. Amazing with simply prepared dry-aged rump or ribeye steak, seasoned with a little sea salt and crushed black pepper, served with a few sautéed mushrooms, ideally cepes or porcinis and a dash of the best extra virgin olive oil. |
Appellation | W.O. Swartland |
2016 Emiliana Gê Organic Wine
Regular price £42.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Considered the highest expression of biodynamic agriculture in Emiliana - its name comes from the Greek root meaning 'Earth'. Biodynamic agriculture considers the farm to be a living organism. This is a unique wine with great personality that faithfully expresses the characteristics and attributes of its terroir.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A complex but delightfully varied nose showing a mix of herbaceous, fruit and spice notes. Green pepper, eucalyptus and rosemary combine with juicy blackcurrant and ripe blackberry fruit.
Palate
The palate is bright and assured with great intensity of weight and flavour. Bold blackcurrant and blackberry fruits are plentiful along with pepper spice, vanilla and gentle clove notes. Dark chocolate character is also evident which adds to the complexity. The wine has serious structure with firm yet ripe tannins and a long more-ish finish with good acidity. Wondrous stuff from Emiliana’s biodynamic Los Robles paradise.
Production
This wine is made from a blend of 53% Syrah 36% Carmenère, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. The season in Colchagua presented average maximum temperatures that were higher than those of the previous season. Rainfall was lower than in other years, with a total of 395 mm, concentrated in the winter. The spring and summer were very dry, which benefitted fruit set. The harvest season arrived two weeks early, and despite being a hot and dry year, the decision to harvest early and a good selection of the bunches allowed us to make a Gê that is not overripe and remain faithful to its characteristic style.
The first stage of reception includes placing the fruit on a conveyor belt to select the fruit and eliminate any leaves or damaged bunches. The clean bunches are destemmed and placed on a second belt where the individual grapes are selected by size and then pass on to a vibrating table to achieve a perfect selection. The grapes then drop gently into the tanks by gravity and undergo an 8º pre-fermentation cold maceration for 5-7 days. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and begins spontaneously with native yeasts. Temperatures are maintained at 24º–26ºC and extraction is managed through pumpovers determined by enological criteria. The new wine then remains on its skins for a 10-day post-fermentation maceration at 22º–24ºC, for a total maceration time of 30–35 days. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in oak barrels, where the wine ages for 16 months, 80% in French oak barrels (50% new, 50% with one prior use), and the remaining 20% was gained in an egg-shaped concrete tank. The process concludes when the wine is fined and stabilized naturally without treatments and then prepared for bottling by lightly filtering.
Producer
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 53% Syrah, 36% Carmenere, 11% Cabarnet Sauvignon |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 14.5 alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 5 - 10 years + |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | This wine has tremendous personality, character, and longevity. It is ideal with complex dishes such as grilled boar, venison, and wagyu beef. Vegetarian options include roasted bell peppers, aubergine bake, and mushroom dishes. |
Origin | Colchagua Valley |
Appellation | D.O. Valle Central |
2020 Smalltown Vineyards The Black Craft Shiraz
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Germans were the first free immigrants into Australia in the 1850s onwards. They planted Shiraz in Barossa. Germans also invented letterpress in the 1500s. The suspicion around the “magick” of a printing press coupled with the inky hands of the printers meant that the art became known as the Black Craft. The wine is an homage to both the German influence of the oldest wine-making in Australia, as well as the letterpress.
Tasting Notes
A compelling, dark and rich chocolately beast. A classic Barossa Shiraz with intense savoury flavours of thick blackberry compote, black pepper and typical iron-rich beefy flavours. Not a hint of jam here, no sweetness, this is serious Shiraz for grown-ups with balanced acidity, a touch of cocao powder in the finish and tremendous length.
Production Method
This Shiraz is sourced from the finest available vineyard sites across the premium Northern Barossa Valley including for the most part Greenock, Western Ridge and Ebenezer. Aged 11 months in a variety of oaks, all American and French, new and old, around 35% new. All oaks were AP John, Barossa coopered. As usual withSmalltown, it was fermented in open fermenters. They don’t set the blades too close together during crushing so a fair bit of whole berry in the ferment which gives the wine generous fruit and soft tannins.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | As the name implies, black is the key - anything chargrilled would be superb here, so think griddle pans and barbecues! |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa |
2020 Glaetzer Bishop
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Icon's of Barossa
Glaetzer Bishop is a true expression of Barossa Shiraz that is elegantly structured with a long finish.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep inky red with purple hues.
Palate
An explosion of brooding dark tones with bright cassis and coffee bean
hints. Subtle richness with flavours of dark plum and blackberry intermingled with dark chocolate and dried spice. Generous yet restrained tannin provides exceptional palate length and persistence
Background
Bishop is the family name of Colin's wife' Judith. Fittingly the sign of Venus, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the Bishop label. In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – a nod to Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, site specific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2019 Bishop from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Review
"The 2019 Bishop Shiraz is all Shiraz and all from the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley. Aged almost exclusively in second, third and fourth use oak (mostly French), it features slight herbal overtones to the black cherry and black olive notes. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, supple, generous and reasonably concentrated, folding in hints of peppery spice and mocha shadings on the velvety, mouthwatering finish." 91 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is a real delight - loads of dense fruits with spice, herbs and vanillin in support. Super smooth tannins give it great complexity, structure and length. A real triumph Barossan beauty. Well worth double the retail price!" January 2023
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | Great drinking now but this wine will also benefit from 10—12 years of careful cellaring. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz
Regular price £57.80 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Amon-Ra Shiraz is an iconic wine that epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full flavoured, multi layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced.
Tasting Notes
In Egyptian mythology, Amon-Ra is considered to be the king of all gods. The temple of Amon-Ra was believed to be the first temple to ever plant a monoculture vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple.
The eye on front of the label is the all-seeing eye of Horus or wedjat ("whole one") - a powerful Egyptian symbol of protection. It is represented as a figure with six parts, corresponding to what Egyptians regarded as the six senses; touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought.
Ben created Amon-Ra Shiraz to appeal to all these six senses.
Colour
Deep purple in youth, will evolve to a lovely dark red hue with maturation.
Nose
Blood plum showing hints of dark cherries and dried garden herbs.
Palate
Rich and mouthcoating yet with the balance, finesse and elegance that epitomises Amon-Ra. An earthy spice complements the brooding dark fruit flavours.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—130 years old. Yield 2 tonnes per hectare.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, site-specific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley.
Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80 - 110-year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
Reviews
"The 2019 Amon-Ra Shiraz is 100% Shiraz and 100% from the 2019 vintage, as Ben Glaetzer felt it – unlike many previous vintages – didn’t need to be freshened with a small proportion of younger wine. From old vines in the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley, it offers classic notes of blackberries and spice, framed by hints of cedar and vanilla (it’s aged in 100% new oak hogsheads, mostly French). It’s full-bodied yet crisp, supple but tight and really long. Offering lovely dark fruit, hints of espresso and black olive, it finishes mouthwatering and firm. Give it some time in the cellar and drink it from 2025 – 2040." 96+ points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 15.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.6 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | 2025-2040 |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2022 El Ninot de Paper Tinto (Garnacha, Shiraz, Monastrell)
Regular price £7.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Bright and fruity Spanish red with - the eyecatching label design and 'El Ninot de Paper' name are inspired by the 'paper dolls' of the Las Falles de Valencia festival.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of ripe black fruits with a hint of spice.
Palate
The palate is bright and juicy - blackberries and plums are balanced by soft tannins, juicy acidity, and a touch of pepper.
Awards
- Bronze at the 2020 Sommelier Wine Awards for the 2018 Vintage
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is a bit of a revelation. Loadsa ripe, juicy black fruits with more a touch of herbs than spice I think? Really soft tannins and a touch more serious than I expected. Overall a real pleasant surprise. Medium-bodied, soft, juicy & fruity, and would be really versatile with food although it drinks really easily on its own. Value but also decent quality for a crowd pleasing easy-drinking style." June 2022
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 33% Garnacha, 33% Shiraz 33% Monastrell |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Great with all manner of grilled meats and pasta dishes. |
Origin | Valencia |
Appellation | DOP Valencia |
2022 Soldier’s Block Shiraz
Regular price £9.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Soft supple Victorian Shiraz, dangerously moreish by the glass.
Tasting Notes
Bright, aromatic and juicy on the nose with just a touch of naughty bacon fat. True to the varietal, the tiny proportion of Malbec in this blend gives a flowery perfume. This vintage is our brightest, most dangerously drinkable Shiraz to date due to its fine, bright fruit and soft silky elegance.
Production
Our Shiraz is sourced from ancient Victorian soils in order to achieve a wine with greater finesse, purity and structure as well as typical eucalypt flavours and saline finish associated with the area. Picked at night and crushed within an hour of picking before being sent to the fermentation tanks. The Shiraz grapes were fermented in temperature-controlled tanks maintained at 22 - 25ºC to avoid extracting any harsh tannins, with the fermentations pumped over to extract good colour. 20% of the final blend is barrel aged. The winemaker also added 5% Malbec at the end of the whole process - a sneaky technique that gives a mulberry fruit twist on the finish.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2020 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Drink with Moroccan lamb tagine, roast vegetables and hard cheeses. |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Origin | Victoria |
Appellation | South Australia |
2020 Château Maucoil Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Rouge
Regular price £29.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A distinctive, intense and organic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, rich and concentrated yet with lovely balance and great elegance.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Made from organically-grown grapes, this very deeply-coloured red offers aromas of dried fruit and dark roast coffee on the nose.
Palate
Typically bright and fresh despite its full body and intense colour, the palate shows ripe berry fruit, subtle savoury spice, and bright, upright tannins. Both savoury and fruity, with a very long finish.
Production
Château Maucoil’s vineyards are located in the northwest of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape area (on the left bank of the River Rhône) on the appellation’s four soil types: pebbles, clay-sandstone, Urgonian limestone and, more unusually, sand. Unlike the famous pebbles of the area, sand doesn’t retain and transfer heat during the night, resulting in slower ripening and more finesse. The youngest vines average 40 years old, so roots run deep to sustain the vines during the hot summer months.
For the Tradition Rouge, four main grape varieties are selected solely from sandy soils - Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Yields are around 25 hl/ha and harvesting is carried out by hand, with the grapes individually sorted by variety and by parcel before vinification in concrete tanks. After around 30 days in vat, with pumping over, rack-and return and punching down, the wine is matured separately for different lengths of time, in tanks and in 2-3-year-old barrels. The wine is then blended and bottled.
Producer
Château Maucoil (pronounced “moh-kwahl”) in Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a longer history than most estates we represent. It served as a base for Roman legions who were attracted by the spring that runs through the property and by the proximity of the Via Agrippa; it was the home of Joseph de la Pise, archivist to the Dutch royal family; and from the 17th century onwards it was owned by a succession of winegrowing families. The Arnaud family, who already owned vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, decided to purchase the estate in 1995 and devoted a great deal of energy and passion to Château Maucoil.
The estate's old vines (the youngest are merely 40 years old; the oldest date back to 1895!) grow on the appellation’s four soil types: pebbles, clay-sandstone, Urgonian limestone and, more unusually, sand. Unlike vineyards littered with the famous pebbles of the area, the fine, sandy soil doesn’t retain and transfer heat during the night, resulting in slower ripening and giving wines with more finesse.
Bénédicte, the Arnauds’ youngest daughter, and her husband, Charles Bonnet, took up the torch in 2009, with a strong desire to secure the future of the estate and to manage it in an environmentally responsible manner. They began the process of converting to organic viticulture in 2011, becoming fully certified in 2014. Along the way, in 2013, they partnered with Frédéric and Benoît Lavau and the four now run the estate together.
Maucoil is one of the few Châteauneuf-du-Pape estates that has conserved all thirteen of this famous appellation's original grape varieties, and grapes must pass through three rigourous stages of manual sorting before being deemed of high enough quality to be made into wine.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.25 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 20 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Delicious with beef casserole or mushroom risotto.
|
Origin | Rhône, France |
Appellation |
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
|
2019 Ventisquero Vertice Carménère Syrah
Regular price £23.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%At the highest point of our Roblería vineyard in the Apalta Valley, a meeting between John Duval and Felipe Tosso gave birth to a unique blend of Carménère and Syrah. Two visions, just one spirit. In a process that delivers the best of each element.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep red with violet hues.
Aroma
The nose reveals black fruit, such as blackberries, intermingled with gentle spices, such as black pepper, damp earth, notes of native forest and a hint of graphite and soft spices.
Palate
This wine has a firm structure and silky tannins. Its black fruit and spicy flavors, together with medium to high acidity lend it balance in the mouth and persistence in the finish.
Fermentation
The grapes first underwent a low-temperature pre-fermentative maceration to bring out the maximum colour and aromas. Then the must was fermented in small stainless steel tanks and open tanks. The management of the tannins in this wine is very important.
Aging
The wine was aged for 22 months in 300-litre ultra-fine French oak barrels, 40% of them new and the rest second and third use. Then is was bottle aged for at least 14 months.
Producer
Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.
Accolades
Wine Advocate, Robert Parker – 90 points
Reviewed by Luis Gutierrez
The 2017 Vertice Apalta Vineyard is from a riper and more concentrated crop with lower yields and comes through as riper and rounder, with more fruit and concentration. There is more tannin and more power. Part of the wine now matures in oak foudres, and that is helping with the integration of the oak. 38,000 bottles produced.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 51% Carménère & 49% Syrah |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Aging Potential | This wine can be enjoyed now, but it has the potential to be aged for at least 15 years. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
This wine is superb paired with spicy food, such as Indian, Thai, Mexican and Spanish cuisine and other more complex dishes. It also goes well with semi-ripe cheese and strongly flavoured meat such as wild boar and venison. |
Origin |
La Roblería Vineyard, Colchagua Valley |
2020 Boutinot ‘La Côte Sauvage’ Cairanne AOC
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A rich, savoury satisfying mouthful!
Since the elevation of Cairanne to a southern Rhône cru, 'La Côte Sauvage' continues to be characterised by its finesse and finely-grained texture, due in part to the famous ‘argilo-calcaire’ of our hilltop vineyards such as La Pauline and Les Six Terrasses, slow winemaking methods and gentle maturation in different sized barrels of old French oak.
Tasting Notes
A serious, restrained and complex example of cru Cairanne. This is rich, intense and drenched in dark red fruits. With morello cherry and a touch of cinnamon spice on the nose, soft dark plummy fruit, liquorice, chocolate, a hint of black tea on the palate, this wine is full-flavoured and smooth with supple tannins.
Method of Production
The cru of Cairanne lies in the heart of the Southern Rhône valley, northeast of Orange. For this La Côte Sauvage, fully ripe Grenache and Syrah grapes are hand-picked from old bush vines on selected hillside slopes within Cairanne. The vineyards have the classic argilo-calcaire soil of limestone pebbles over clay and the vines are harvested by hand. Vinified traditionally with only the natural yeasts present on the grapes, followed by a long cuvaison period with gentle remontage and manual pigeage. A blend of four varieties (Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre) matured for 22 months in French old oak barrels and demi-muids to develop great concentration, complexity and finesse in the wine.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | The perfect match for red meat dishes and rich stews. |
Origin | Rhône |
Appellation | Cairanne AOC |
2015 Ventisquero Pangea Syrah
Regular price £38.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%250 million years ago, there was only one continent, one ocean, one valley. This is Pangea. The experience, philosophy and creativity of two winemakers -John Duval and Felipe Tosso- joined forces to make an exceptional Syrah.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Purple-red
Aroma
Pangea is a well-rounded, distinguished wine with an intense, dark color. It has delicious, complex aromas which come through in the mouth with soft notes of red and blueberries, harmoniously intermingled with spices like black pepper, dark chocolate and subtle notes of vanilla and caramel.
Palate
This wine has an exceptional combination of concentration, flavors and aromas. Pangea is in essence a Syrah from the Apalta Valley that faithfully expresses its terroir of granitic soils with high quartz content, properties that are reflected in every glass. This is a well-structured wine with plenty of acidity and ripe, firm tannins.
Fermentation
The grapes first underwent a pre-fermentative low-temperature maceration for 5-7 days to bring out the maximum colour and aromas. Then the grapes were fermented in small 3-5-tonne stainless steel tanks and open 1-2-tonne vats. The fermentation took place at between 22°C and 26°C. Next came a post-fermentative maceration for at least 15 days. The malolactic fermentation took place in barrels with native yeast, to lend greater complexity to the win.
Aging
This wine had extended ageing, maturing for 22 months in extra-fine French oak barrels - half in new barrels and the other half in second-use. Each component of the wine was kept separate until the blend was made 2 weeks prior to bottling. The wine was then bottle-aged for at least 18 months. Pangea is neither clarified nor filtered, so over time sediment may appear.
Producer
Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership that continues to this day.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Not at all like a 2015 Penfolds Shiraz would taste like! Attractive, ripe, upfront black fruit aromas and flavours, very soft, smooth, with no tannins whatsoever.
Lots of power and complexity in the background and excellently balanced. Not sure how long it will last but it’s absolutely delicious at the moment! Will definitely try another bottle in a couple of years to see how it’s developing." August 2021
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Aging | This wine can be enjoyed now or stored for at least 10 years in the right conditions (12°C to 18°C, without light). |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Pangea pairs well with grilled meat, lamb and game. We recommend decanting it prior to drinking. |
Origin |
Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley |
2019 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Cuvée des Cadettes
Regular price £75.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The pleasure of hedonists... or, quite simply, one of the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape cuvées!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep garnet with crimson hues.
Nose
Powerful nose with notes of spices (black pepper), black fruits (blue and blackberry), black olives, leather, kirsch liqueur.
Palate
Hint of menthol keeps the wine well balanced. Plush tannins dominate the mid palate; they are ripe and remarkably elegant at this young age. Long finish led by an overall impression of freshness and elegance. Showing its restrained power today, the 2019 Cuvée des Cadettes will last for decades. A worthy successor to the acclaimed 1998 vintage.
A blend of Grenache 17%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 55% and other varieties 3%, this special cuvée comes from ten different plots of old vines. The backbone of the blend is from Grand Plantier, a single vineyard with 70-yearold Mourvèdre vines. The Syrah comes from the Clos des Jeunes parcel and the famed walled vineyard directly in front of the Chȃteau.
Producer
Ch. la Nerthe is a stunning, 500-year-old property that has become one to watch over the past few years. Working organically since 1998, its impressive range of 57 parcels on various soil types and expositions helps to produce wines that are not only a seamless and complete expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape but also have wonderful complexity. The noticeable care and attention taken in both the vineyards and cellar has, over the past few years, resulted in seriously impressive wines here. This property is, in every way, a worthy rival to the likes of Ch. de Beaucastel.
Vintage
The 2019 vintage was challenging here, as it was across the Rhône Valley, given the multiple heatwaves in the summer months and the extreme drought between May and September. But these tricky conditions have revealed the true magic of vines which are so perfectly adapted to manage the majority of nature’s whims; 2019 ended up becoming an exceptional vintage here.
Key to its success this year is the remarkable terroir at Ch. la Nerthe. The mix of rocky, clay and sandy soils, as well as the natural springs at the property, bring a wonderful freshness and minerality to the wines. The very special top white cuvée, Clos de Beauvenir, comes from a single, walled plot – an old castle garden, right in front of the historic château.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Grenache 17%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 55% and other varieties 3% |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Can be enjoyed now and over the next 15-20 years. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Certified Organic & Biodynamic
|
Food Matches | Hearty dishes such venison casserole or coq-au-vin, griddled steak or roast beef . Also works well with an oozingly ripe cheese. |
Origin | Rhône, France |
Appellation | Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
2019 Te Awanga Estate 'Wildsong' Organic Syrah
Regular price £16.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%What strikes us is the beautiful lifted floral notes and a lovely punchy mouthful of fruit and earth on the palate. Bright and vibrant in colour, with aromas of raspberries , violets and nutmeg. The palate is silky with great balance and a fine structure. A wine styled for approachability.
Vinification
From a mix of French clones the Syrah was handled similarily to the Wildflower Organic Pinot Noir with a cold soak and hot ferment.
Viticulture
Our Maraekakaho Vineyard is planted on an ancient river terrace that was formed by the Ngaruroro River which now flows around 60 meters below the vineyard. With its headwaters in the Kaweka Ranges to the west of Hawkes Bay, the river has created the landscapes through glacial melts, floods and droughts over the last few hundred thousand years. The old terraces that remain are made up of greywacke (a compressed sandstone) boulders and gravels from the ranges, and a topsoil borne of windblown loess, volcanic ash and humus created by ancient forests and vegetation.
The arrival of the New Year brought with it the long, hot, sunny summer days with moderate-cool nights for perfect ripening conditions, whilst preserving fresh acidity. Superb harvest climatic conditions provided the luxury of optimal picking decisions not hurried by the threat of rain. The result is an outstanding year for our Hawke’s Bay wines. Yields are slightly down, but with exceptional quality across all varieties. Full flavour and tannin ripeness in reds, with moderate alcohol levels. Acid retention and exciting flavour spectrums in whites.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 86% Syrah & 14% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Grilled Meats and Vegetables, Wild game |
Appellation | Hawke's Bay |
2020 Anthonij Rupert 'Protea' Shiraz
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Appealing plum-, black fruit- and spice aromas with a soft smoky nuance. Bright, juicy entry to the mouth with the same black fruit, plum and spice flavours apparent. The subtle brush of smoke is also discernible. Easy drinking and soft-textured, the wine is medium-bodied and eminently quaffable.
In the Vineyard
About the Harvest
The Shiraz grapes were harvested by hand at 24,5 Balling.
In the Cellar
After de-stemming and crushing, the wine is transferred into 10 000L French oak tanks and 10 000L stainless steel tanks. Fermentation on the skins takes place at 26°C for about 15 days. The wine is drained from the skins and the skins pressed. The free-run and press-wine are aged separately and blended after 8 months. Maturation takes place in tanks with tight-grain French oak staves and 3rd-fill barrels for about 10 months.
History
Anthonij Rupert Wyne was founded on the farm, L`Ormarins in Franschhoek. Originally owned by the late Anthonij Rupert, who passed away in 2001, the farm was eventually taken over by his brother Johann Rupert in 2003 and the brand named after him. It was Johann Rupert who constructed a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, catapulting the farm into a prestigious wine estate and the beginnings of what is now a sprawling enterprise.
The focus is on terroir specific wines and therefore it would seem obvious that the brand is made up of an impressive portfolio of farms representing the best in grape producing locations. The portfolio is made up of L`Ormarins situated in Franschhoek, Rooderust in Darling, Riebeeksrivier in the Swartland and Altima in isolated Elandskloof. Individually each site offers optimum varietal specific growing conditions, allowing Anthonij Rupert Wyne to adhere to the requirements of their different brands.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 3-5 years after release |
Food Matching |
Black pepper steak with brandy cream sauce. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Franschhoek Valley |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz
Regular price £31.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Typical medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz from a great year that will reward for many years.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Superb colour with dark red and purple hues.
Nose
Lifted aromas of red fruit and ginger spice. While there is some oak, it is very much in the background.
Palate
Soft entry on the palate, fine tannins and perfect acid carry through to the finish. A typical medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz that will give drinking pleasure now and over the long term.
Vinification
Winemaker Comments
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Very enjoyable over the medium term, and will reward long term cellaring |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Veal, duck and cheese. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2019 Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
Regular price £18.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Excellent colour and mid-density.
Nose
Being 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Shiraz it is more of the classic Aussie blend Cabernet/Shiraz. Lifted dark fruit and cedar notes on the nose. Riper dark fruit aromas than previously vintages, due to a warm year in McLaren Vale.
Palate
The vanillin oak background adds extra lift to the dark cherry/plum aromas, and finishes with a ripe tannin mouthfeel. Turkish delight and dark chocolate from the Shiraz component, makes this a very enjoyable Cricket Pitch blend.
Vinification
Winemaker Comments
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and highquality expressions of Australian terroir.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Shiraz, 11% Merlot |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Pairs well with rich seafood, pasta and light meat dishes. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2022 Borsao Selección Tinto
Regular price £8.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world, this is an unbelievable wine … any wine retailer worth his weight should be stockpiling this wine next to the cash register ...I don’t understand how anyone can make wines this good to sell at this price… 90 points.” Robert Parker, the Wine Advocate #203.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Rich, plum and red berry fruit with a touch of spice on the nose.
Palate
Balanced yet concentrated red fruit mingles with darker spice and chocolate characters to give weight and layers to the palate. Plump ripe tannins add grip to this classic style of Garnacha.
Production
From selected 15 to 30-year-old vines grown in low yielding hillside vineyards around 600m above sea level. Soils are stony with some sand. The Tempranillo and Syrah grapes are trellised, but Garnacha is bush vine. Harvest usually takes place in the first two weeks of October. Varieties are vinified separately (22-24º C) in stainless steel with 10-15 days maceration.
History
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimium acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi-award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. All new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water. Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
Awards
- 2019 Vintage - Silver at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards
- 2016 Vintage - Silver at the 2017 Sommelier Wine Awards
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 85% Garnacha, 10% Syrah & 5% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.2 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Food Matches | A perfect accompaniment to chicken dishes, paella or chorizo. |
Allergy Information | Contains Sulphites & Egg |
Features | Vegetarian Approved |
Appellation | Campo de Borja |
2018 Skillogalee Basket Pressed Shiraz
Regular price £23.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Aromas of blue fruits, leather and tobacco on the nose, segue into a myriad of flavours on the palate, including plum, blackberry, spearmint and dark chocolate, all solidly conveyed atop a smoky persistence. The palate is bold, fleshy and yet medium-bodied.
Vinification
The fruit was vinified in open fermenters, then gently basket-pressed to create a wine that is fruit-driven and concentrated with velvety tannins, needing no fining. Maturation in a combination of French and American oak hogsheads has added considerably to the wine’s character, balance and complexity. The wine will cellar well for at least 10 years but, for those without that kind of patience, enjoy sooner with red or game meats, rich pasta dishes and fantastic company. This Shiraz is vegetarian and vegan friendly.
Winery
A family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of the Clare Valley in South Australia, Skillogalee is known for the exceptional quality of their red and white wines and is widely recognised as one of the region’s top estates. They also lead the way in responsible farming, having practised sustainable methodologies in the vineyard and the winery for many years. The original Skillogalee vineyards were planted in the early 1970’s on stony soils and steep, eastern-facing slopes at almost 500 metres above sea level.
The first wines were released in 1976 and quickly gained acclaim: the 1978 Dry Riesling won major trophies at the Adelaide Wine Show and the National Wine Show, putting Skillogalee firmly on the Australian winemaking map. Aware of the exceptional quality of the vineyards and their potential to produce world-class wines, current owners David and Diana Palmer acquired the property in 1989. In 2002 they purchased next-door neighbour Waninga Vineyards, with 30 hectares of 30-year-old vines, bringing the size of the estate to 60 hectares.
While production increased, the Palmers have taken great care to maintain the quality and characteristic style of the wines. Deciding to avoid the bureaucracy of organic or biodynamic certification does not stop a producer from holding soil health and sustainability as a top priority, and this is the case at Skillogalee. Every effort is taken to ensure the best quality grapes are harvested each year, the vines are hand-pruned, and the fruit is mainly hand-picked, with yields kept extremely low. All wines are produced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Clare Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz
Regular price £27.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Directors’ Cut is Heartland’s most powerful expression of Langhorne Creek’s classic varietals. Only the best fruit makes the “cut”.
Tasting Notes
In appearance, an opaque mulberry core softens to a thin crimson rim. The nose is blackberry jam with complimentary aromas reminiscent of a Turkish spice bazaar. The palate offers purple fruit with hints of refreshing rosewater and rich aniseed. The finish is long and refreshing.
Vinification
The grapes are selected from some of the best Shiraz vineyards in the region. These vineyards are chosen for the consistent intensity and texture of the fruit. The strictest pruning techniques are used. The fruit for Directors’ Cut Shiraz was harvested at night and then crushed to small open top stainless-steel fermenters. After 24 hours of skin contact fermentation was commenced with our Rhône isolate yeast. Following 10 days of cool fermentation on skins and pumped over 3 times daily, the wine was transferred to French and American oak hogsheads for 12-14 months maturation. In the 2019 vintage we have limited ourselves to 40% new oak to ensure the fruit remained the focus.
Vintage
Ben reckons this might be the finest vintage he has ever seen from Langhorne Creek. Only time will tell. Harvest was more generous than the previous few years, with above average quantity and quality. Total degree days were up from the last three years, with wonderful ripeness levels recorded leading to amazing fruit intensity. This may supersede the 2012 vintage for overall quality and has led to a very happy winemaker.
Information on Heartland Wines
Heartland Wines is a joint venture from industry veterans and lifelong mates Ben Glaetzer (of Glaetzer Wines fame) and Nick Keukenmeester in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. From its inception in 1999, Heartland’s ethos has been to create wines of balance, texture and a distinctive Australian identity, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Langhorne Creek’s exceptional terroir is the soul of Heartland. One of Australia’s oldest viticultural regions, the area is unique in South Australia due to its cool maritime climate and significant diurnal range. The resulting long growing season, along with ancient alluvial soils, makes it particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Many local growers have been cultivating the variety for generations, which explains the prevalence of old vines; Langhorne Creek boasts the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world. In addition to purchasing old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from the region’s top growers, Heartland has also experimented successfully with plantings of Dolcetto and Lagrein, which make up a few of their unique blends. Sustainability is the cornerstone of Heartland’s approach to viticulture: they encourage plantings of indigenous trees, grasses and bushes, practice rational water management, and eschew chemical treatments in the vineyards. They even have a herd of goats to keep the weeds down. Heartland’s wines are made at Ben Glaetzer’s Barossa Vintners winery in Tanunda, Barossa. Completed in 1995, Barossa Vintners is a purpose-built, pioneering solar-powered and gravityfed winery. Here Ben Glaetzer takes his characteristic minimum-intervention approach, with gentle handling and long, cool fermentations to guarantee freshness, elegance and drinkability in the wines. The whole range truly reflects the terroir of the region and demonstrates the stylistic differences that can be achieved in this beautiful area of Australia
Accolades
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Infomation | Contains Sulphites |
Cellaring | 15 years + |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Langhorne Creek |
Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Glaetzer Anaperrenna
Regular price £45.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Glaetzer Anaperenna is a seamless fusion of the two varieties Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Voluptuous, opulent and yet refined, with a very long and satisfying finish.
Tasting Notes
The name Anaperenna has been inspired by Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the New Year. Anna Perenna symbolises the year's cycle and her name translates as 'enduring year'. Romans honoured Anna Perenna with a festival held on the first full moon of the Roman calendar. On March 15th they would ask Anna to grant them longevity, and a healthy year for each glass of wine they drank on that day.
The symbol on the label is the Egyptian Ankh (pronounced: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.
Colour
Impenetrable black with a hint of purple.
Nose
A spectrum of spicy yet plummy fruit, intense notes of liquorice and mixed herbs.
Palate
Displaying dense dark flavours yet with freshness and drive.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 30—100 year old Shiraz and 30—130 year old Cabernet. Yield 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Vintage Conditions
A wet winter and spring coupled with cooler than average spring temperatures resulted in slower yet balanced canopy development and healthy flowering and fruit set. A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed allowing the fruit to be in no rush to mature, perfect for consistent ripening. Harvest commenced a few weeks later than recent years. The 2017 wines are of excellent quality exhibiting purity and lift with firm tannins and exceptional length.
Vinification
Fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times daily. Matured for 16 months in 100% new oak hogshead barrels (92% French and 8% American) and matured on lees to maintain fruit profile and animation. Bottled unfiltered to ensure minimal intervention with the wine’s natural characteristics.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, sitespecific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2018 Anaperenna from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 82% Shiraz and18% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 15.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.6 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | A wine that will mature extremely well with long term cellaring up to 20 years. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2021 Glaetzer Wallace
Regular price £19.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vibrant purple with bright red hues.
Nose
Wild cherries with a hint of blueberry and rose petal.
Palate
Upfront red berry fruit, midpalate richness and brightness from the Grenache. Finishes fresh and long.
Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way. The Shiraz brings backbone, flesh and body to the wine with the Grenache adding a soft, vibrant juiciness.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—80 year old Shiraz and 50—100 year old Grenache. Yield 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
Vintage Conditions
A wet winter and spring coupled with cooler than average spring temperatures resulted in slower yet balanced canopy development and healthy flowering and fruit set. A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed allowing the fruit to be in no rush to mature, perfect for consistent ripening. Harvest commenced a few weeks later than recent years. The 2017 wines are of excellent quality exhibiting purity and lift with firm tannins and exceptional length.
Vinification
Old vine Barossa Grenache has a liveliness and structure that does not benefit from oak maturation—oak contact was thus minimised for the Grenache component to preserve the purity and animation of the fruit. The Shiraz was matured for 16 months in 2—3 year old oak hogshead barrels (80% French / 20% American).
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, sitespecific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2018 Wallace from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 72% Shiraz and 28% Grenache |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | A wine to enjoy in its youth that will also develop additional complexity over 6 to 8 years of cellaring. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Marras Shiraz Cinsault
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
Showing complex aromatic nuances of rose petals, violets and sappy grilled herbs.
Palate
The palate is supple and fleshy yet also displays a weightless concentration of red berry fruit, plum spice and savoury woodsmoke.
Winemakers Notes
Handpicked grapes, cooled overnight. 10% whole bunches. Grapes were cold soaked and partially natural fermented while minimal extraction was done. Maturing separately in older oak barrels.
Vineyards
If you can talk to a grape, it will tell you that the Piekenierskloof region is the ideal spot for a tough top class wine-producing grape, as it’s exposed to extreme conditions. Piekenierskloof is the mountain pass between Piketberg and Citrusdal, over the Olifants River Mountains. With warm inland temperatures rising from the Swartland during the day and cool Atlantic sea breezes rolling in overnight, these grapes grow in a dryer soil with just enough water to produce grapes that add depth and complexity to every single sip.
The Region
The Swartland begins some 50 kilometers north of Cape Town and consists of the regions between the towns of Malmesbury in the south, Darling in the west, Piketberg in the north and the Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel in the east. It is so called because of the endemic Renosterbos that appears dark mainly when it rains in winter. The Swartland area is mainly known for wheat, but the crown prince in this area is the small concentrated berries of the vines that produce well-balanced and exceptionally ripe and deep-flavoured wines.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Very soft, supple and juicy for a Shiraz-dominant wine. Red berry & plum fruits - herby more than spicy and reasonably long. Had it opened for an hour before serving which helped enormously. Medium to full-bodied and good value shiraz. It’s long, soft and smooth and everything you’d expect from a wine such as this. Fruit definitely starts to open up and come to life with time in the glass." December 2022.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Cinsault, Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring | 2019 - 2024 |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Duck, lamb and mushrooms |
Origin | Swartland |
Appellation | WO Swartland |
2016 Hartenberg 'The Megan'
Regular price £41.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A Southern Rhone styled red - juicy & bursting with flavour that finishes with a very moreish, lingering aftertaste.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Cherry, raspberry, perfumed fruit notes with subtle pepper and spice on the nose.
Palate
The elegant palate reveals dark choc and supple, cedary notes, underpinned by vanilla oak flavours. Incredibly soft on palate entry.
History
The Megan is a tribute to Megan Mackenzie, wife of Ken "Stork" Mackenzie whose family still owns Hartenberg Wine Estate. Megan met Ken whilst still at school and once time passed, they got married and so started a twenty-four year love story. Initially assisting in the family business, but also a celebrated harpist, Megan sowed the early seeds for the decision to later buy Hartenberg Wine Estate, whilst on their honeymoon vacation to the Cape in 1952. Megan sadly passed away in the prime of her life and Ken never remarried.
The Estate
On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.
We are passionate about preserving our natural wealth as evidenced by our sustainable farming practices and conservation programs. We are proud members of Biodiversity and Wine (BWI) and Integrated Production of Wine (IPW), and the estate is home to plentiful wildlife and over 120 species of birds – inspiring us to combine the best of nature with fine wine. Our stated intention is for a pristine environment where nature thrives.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre Blend |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 10 years from vintage |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Slow roasted shoulder of pork, lamb rogan josh, caramelized roasted root vegetables, rib-eye steak or nutty hard cheeses
|
Origin | WO Western Cape |
Appellation | Stellenbosch |
2019 Hartenberg Shiraz
Regular price £20.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Home of the Worlds Best Shiraz"
As luck would have it, Shiraz grapes love poor, gravelly soil - just the kind of soil Hartenberg has in abundance on parts of the farm. The kind you need to produce world-beating Shiraz.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Initially the nose shows an abundance of black fruits and sweet spice aromas, later opening up to a more savoury, umami character.
Palate
The palate continues this profile with enchanting, voluptuous biltong flavours and fine, grippy tannins that allow for a lingering spicy finish.
The Estate
On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.
We are passionate about preserving our natural wealth as evidenced by our sustainable farming practices and conservation programs. We are proud members of Biodiversity and Wine (BWI) and Integrated Production of Wine (IPW), and the estate is home to plentiful wildlife and over 120 species of birds – inspiring us to combine the best of nature with fine wine. Our stated intention is for a pristine environment where nature thrives.
History
This was another excellent vintage for the growing of red wines in Stellenbosch, with hot, dry weather resulting in small and concentrated berries. Grapes were hand-picked and, after crushing, only 20% of the juice was drawn off for use in this wine. This juice was cold-soaked overnight, then two Rhone-sourced yeasts were inoculated. The oak component was made up of 100% French.
Once again, Nature has smiled upon us because the very same vineyards on Hartenberg with the perfect soils for Shiraz, also have the perfect weather for it.
All we have to do to make our award-winning Shiraz is harness what we already have, and stick it in a bottle. To be absolutely honest, it would be more difficult for us to produce a poor Shiraz on Hartenberg than a good one.
Accolades
‘Hartenberg's estate Shiraz is made with grapes from The Stork and Gravel Hill blocks that didn’t make it into the single-vineyard bottlings, so no wonder it's so impressive. Big and bold - what Carl Schultz calls a "lurker" - with iodine, cooked meat and spicy oak notes and plenty of grip. 2023-30.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2021, 93/100
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 12-14 years from vintage |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Great pairing with Karoo lamb, a delicious homemade beef burger with grilled cheddar topping or mushroom risotto.
|
Origin | WO Western Cape |
Appellation | Stellenbosch |