Chateau Montelena shot to fame in 1976 at the iconic Judgement of Paris that shook the wine world to its core when their 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay won first place against an enviable line-up of top French Burgundies. The result was a shock to the wine trade all over the world and changed the history of California wine - and Chateau Montelena - forever.

Tasting Notes

Zinfandel is California’s heritage grape, and as anyone who has tasted long-lived examples from the 1970s, it can produce wines of tremendous quality, both immediate pleasure and age-worthiness, and all in a rich and spicy berry profile that is unique in the world of wine. Like every wine they produce, Montelena looks first and foremost to take the tremendous fruit they work with and transmit it in a complex, balanced package.

Colour

Beautiful and dark garnet in colour.

Nose

This Zinfandel opens with aromas of bright raspberry and floral top notes; followed by cedar, dried berries, dried plums, and the classic Zinfandel briar-berry along with hints of pipe tobacco and dusty cocoa.

Palate

The palate opens softly, with exceptional balance, and builds nicely into a good full finish. Dried fruit notes are perfectly complemented by fresh, red currant and mature black fruit flavors. Very juicy on the palate, it is ripe and sweet, with good length and just a hint of herbs on the finish. It shows good weight and velvety tannins throughout – very fleshy without being overbearing.

Vintage Weather

Not a hot or incredibly early vintage like ‘96 or ‘87, respectively, the weather cooperated and helped us produce wines of finesse, elegance, and balance – aspects that are critical for wines that exhibit a purity of expression and our wonderfully unique growing site.

Producer

Established in 1882 and located in Calistoga, California– the Montelena Estate is one of the oldest and most notable wine-producing properties in the Napa Valley. Click below to explore our beautiful grounds and see for yourself.

Chateau Montelena Winery, originally called A.L. Tubbs winery after its founder Alfred Tubbs, was constructed in 1888 and intended as a barrel-aging facility. The Chateau was unique in materials, plan, size, and style for its era. In nineteenth-century Napa Valley, the majority of wineries were constructed of wood. Instead, the Chateau is made of stone with walls three to twelve feet thick, which provides natural insulation against outside heat or cold. Similarly, the structure built into a hillside, to further regulate temperature - something necessary for producing quality wines but uncommon at the time. Also rare among Napa Valley wineries, the Chateau resembles an English Gothic castle gatehouse complete with rusticated stone walls, battlement with crenels and merlons, narrow arched windows, large arched door in the place of a portcullis, and bartizans with faux arrow slits.

Accounts of the stone winery’s designer, masons and source of materials vary. The design has been attributed to Hamden McIntyre, the well-known local winery designer; however, McIntyre relocated to Vina in 1887 where he took charge of the vineyard and winery of Leland Stanford. The building is unlike McIntyre's other wineries, none of which were designed in a Gothic style. Some sources also suggest that while in Europe, Tubbs hired a French architect to draw plans for the building, brought back French masons to build it, and imported European stone for the walls. Other accounts suggest the design was inspired by the Cellar of Chateau Lafite in France.

Originally, the interior was one large space with a second-story crushing floor, but in 1960, a second-floor apartment was inserted so the Chateau could be used as a home. The space was then converted into our current Tasting room though parts of the private residence remain and are used on occasion today for family guests and private events.

Vineyards

After the success of our first Adventurers Case showcasing some wonderful 'different' white grape varietals, we'd like to tell you about our Adventurers Case of Red! Six wines - different varietals - a new experience. We'll even deliver it for FREE!

This is our Red Case - Blauer Zweigelt, Carmenère, Corvina, Frappato, Tempranillo, Nero d'Avola ... and each case will come with its own tasting guide. Learn how to pronounce them when you next order at a restaurant or bar and find out which meal to best pair it with.

Life is one big adventure - not all who wander are lost!

Each case contains a bottle of: 

• 2021 Nicosia Frappato Bio
  
• 2021 Adobe Reserva Carmenère
• 2020 Cortese Nostru Nero d'Avola
  
• 2019/20 Sepp Moser Classic Style Organic Zweigelt
• 2017 Artesa Rioja Crianza
• 2018 Montresor 'Urban Park' Appassimento

Click on the wine names above for info on each wine - but remember you will receive tasting notes in the case itself. Have some fun, step outside your comfort zone and try something new!

Enjoy FREE DELIVERY (worth £9.99)! Automatic at checkout.

Tasting Notes

Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.

Nose

A wine that possesses a finely scented, vibrant nose with hints of red berry fruit and intriguing mineral and spicy notes. 

Palate

Mouth-watering and polished grape tannins are wrapped in an elegant structure that subtly occupies all corners of one’s palate. Intriguing, unusual and lingering.

History

Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.

Production

The fruit used to make this wine was sourced from radical and individual vineyards sites with one goal in mind – to have the confidence to “whisper” style through the true expression of these sites rather than “shout” brashness through winemaking excesses. This wine is a seamless blend of three varietals, Pinot noir, Cinsault and cool-climate Pinotage. However, the emphasis of this blend remains entirely on style rather than cultivar make-up. Cultivars are after all merely vehicles to express terroir and not the expression of a wine itself.

Specifications

The rivers of Australia help to irrigate the vineyards. Although water is important; the drier the river the better the concentration of flavours in our wines. We are working in close partnership with a family-owned winery, which prides themselves on producing consistent and good quality wines. After harvest, our wine buyer traveled to Australia to specially select these wines for this range.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light straw in colour

Nose

Dry River Chardonnay displays an enticing nose of peach, citrus and lemon aromas. 

Palate

The tropical fruit flavours and luscious mouth feel mid-palate complement each other to deliver a deliciously rounded wine with a crisp and clean finish, balanced nicely by acidity.

Oak Treatment - Aged with French and American Oak Chips

Specifications

Nobody knows with certainty when humans began to grow wines, but we do know that for thousands of years they have looked to the sky and the stars for guidance in making the best choices. Antario takes its name from Antares, the brightest star of the Scorpio constellations, and is a selection of iconic wines coming from the best vineyards in Piedmont.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red with a bouquet of violet, spices and pepper. Great depth of character on the palate with classic damson fruit flavours and a good amount of spice.

Vineyard

The grapes are selected from the sunny vineyards located on the Langhe hills.

Harvest

The grapes are carefully picked by hand in the second half of October.

Vinification

After picking the grapes are immediately destemmed and crushed. Fermentation takes place exclusively with indigenous yeasts, naturally reaching around 30˚C. Frequent remontage is carried out during fermentation for optimum extraction of colour and tannins. Malolactic occurs naturally.

Ageing

The wine is aged for 6 months in stainless steel, then for 30 months in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels.

Specifications

Native Assyrtiko combines with a dash of Sauvignon Blanc to create a wine of great aromatic purity, fermented and matured in large Acacia barrels.

Tasting Notes

The Meth`Imon Acacia has seductive aromas of candied lemon, hay, mandarin zest and quince. Fresh and zesty in the mouth with a fleshy mid-palate. Skin contact gives this wine depth of flavour and a hint of tannin. This is a very subtle `orange` wine which still retains the typicity of Assyrtiko and shows fantastic barrel integration.

History

Alan's Tasting Notes

"This is different and absolutely delicious. Honeyed candied fruit, some pleasant minerality, enough acidity and length you just don’t expect from white wine - even at this price! An organic Greek triumph without a doubt. One of these truly great finds you sometimes get when you wander off the well-worn wine paths." August 2021

Accolades

• Julia Harding for Jancis Robinson - 17.5 Points

'Pale gold. Layered aroma that makes me think of gold bars (though I realise they probably don't smell), but there's a rich, seductive oily-mineral spice with ripe pear and citrus fruit. Intense flavours of citrus and cedar, and a creamy texture from the barrel ageing and lees. Fabulous acidity is a counterpoint to the power, and all at such a modest alcohol level. Long, layered finish. Really impressive. Drink 2023 - 2030.' Julia Harding

Specifications

Fresh and zesty with aromas of yellow pepper as well as exotic influences suggesting guava and passion fruit.

Vinification

The grapes are pressed gently and the juice cold fermented with selected yeasts at 16-18°C in stainless steel tanks. No malolactic fermentation or oak.

Producers

As one of the largest and most modern wineries in Germany, Reh Kendermann has a reputation for producing high-quality, premium wines. 

Specifications

A great value for money Californian Chardonnay, fruit-forward with notes of pineapple, honeysuckle and a hint of vanilla. 

Tasting Notes

Nose

This fruit-forward Chardonnay has aromas of pineapple and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, this wine has fresh flavors of green apple and citrus with a hint of vanilla. 

Palate

The finish is crisp and clean. 

Winery

Stone Barn Cellars Winery, is located right off Route 100 in northern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The winery and tasting room are housed in a historic 150-year-old stone German bank barn overlooking the beautiful French Creek.

The California-based family company has been a tradition for over 90 years. The third generation of the Delicat family is involved in the family business and continues the family’s innovative work on wines. Delicato Family Vineyards is a pioneer in the development of environmentally friendly cultivation methods and production methods and their wines are enjoyable, well-made, and represent the best place to produce their place of production. The family-owned company owns 4,000 hectares of vineyards from Monterey’s famous cool San Bernabe vineyard to the sunny mountain roots of Lodi. All the vineyards of the Delicato Family Vineyards are cultivated according to sustainable development methods for sustainable wine growing practices.

It has earned a name for itself in the premium wines category. Their wines are true representations of the flavour and character of the grapes and the quality of soil in which they are cultivated. You need to taste these wines to understand the richness of the wine-growing regions of California.

Specifications

The wines of Deux Roches are in pure Mâconnais style – fresh, incisive, pure, and marked by minerality.

Tasting Notes

This wine represents the roots of its Mâconnaise lands. Dressed in a blond suit, the wine exhales toasted cereals and white peach wrapped in a creamy texture. On the palate, it is juicy, chewy and savoury with a good length for an intense pleasure.

In the Cellar

After harvest, the grapes are loaded by gravity into pneumatic presses. The presses are slow and long in order to delicately extract the juices and thus preserve the aromatic finesse. Then the musts are cooled and decanted. The vinification takes place in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature or in wood (20%, including less than 10% new barrels). Depending on the vintage, malolactic fermentation is desired or not. The aging takes place on fine lees until spring. From picking to bottling, we limit the use of inputs such as SO2 as much as possible.

Producer

The rugged terrain that is home to our vines is dominated by the limestone crags of Solutré and Vergisson, vestiges of a prehistoric era, and by Mont de Pouilly, more rounded but just as high, culminating at some 485 metres.

Our Domaine sits in the heart of the picturesque Mâconnais landscape, and our vines extend around the villages of Davayé, Prissé, Vergisson, Pierreclos, Charnay-lès-Mâcon, Chardonnay, Chevagny and Hurigny. A total of 63 hectares de vines, of which around 24 are in the Saint-Véran appellation, 25 in Mâcon-Villages, Mâcon or Mâcon Chardonnay, and Mâcon La Roche Vineuse, and 2,300 square metres in Pouilly-Fuissé, all producing white wines, plus a little under a hectare of Mâcon rouge.

Our white wines are all pure Chardonnay. The vines have the benefit of all the geological treasures to be found in these well-exposed limestone clay soils, as well as a favourable climate. The wines of Deux Roches are in pure Mâconnais style – fresh, incisive, pure, and marked by minerality.

They are created by blending different parcels, an art that we have been perfecting for 30 years. 

Alan's Tasting Notes

"Now I’m not a big Chardonnay fan but this is lovely. Lovely summer fruit salad flavours are wrapped up in a creamy aftertaste with lovely fresh acidity keeping it fresh from start to finish. Really interesting, fruity and well-balanced and a great starter white for people that say they don’t like white wine." January 2022

Specifications

Same old same old ... do you find yourself standing in front of the wine aisle always choosing the same wines? How about stepping outside of your comfort zone ... go on, we dare you - say yes to our Adventurers Case! Six wines - different varietals - a new experience. We'll even deliver it for FREE!

This is our White Case - Picpoul, Cortese, Catarratto, Grüner Veltliner, Torrontés and Xarel-Lo ... and each case will come with its own tasting guide. Learn how to pronounce them when you next order at a restaurant or bar and which meal to enjoy it with. And if you a more a red wine drinker, we have one just for you! Click HERE...

Life is one big adventure - not all who wander are lost!

Each case contains a bottle of: 

• 2021 Cave de l'Ormarine Duc de Morny Picpoul de Pinet 
• 2019/20 La Battistine Gavi (Cortese)
• 2020 Cortese Nostru Catarratto Lucido Organic 
• 2020 Franz and Friends Grüner Veltliner
• 2020 Finca La Linda Torrontés
• 2022 Mas Macia Xarel-lo

Click on the wine names above for info on each wine - but remember you will receive tasting notes in the case itself. Have some fun, step outside your comfort zone and try something new!

Enjoy FREE DELIVERY (worth £9.99)! Automatic at checkout.

The Moscato d’Asti is light and refreshing with well-balanced sweetness and acidity. Fresh citrus fruit characteristics accompany warm honeyed notes.

Tasting Notes

Light, lemony citrus flavour with a honeyed finish.

Production Method

Whole ripened bunches; the must is kept in steel tanks at a temperature of 0° C. After fermentation at a temperature of 16° C, it is microfiltered and bottled in order to maintain freshness and aromaticity.

Producer

For more than three generations the Tacchino family has produced superb fresh and vibrant wines in Castelletto d'Orba in Monferrato, Piedmont. This is perfect wine country as the hills provide a natural amphitheatre which protects the vineyards from the northerly winds.

Today brother and sister duo Alessio and Romina run the Tacchino estate, blending a respect for tradition with modern winemaking methods and rigorous attention to detail to produce a range of wines of outstanding elegance and purity. Tacchino's vines are spread over 25 hectares, about half of which benefit from a south/southeasterly aspect. Great care is taken to restrict yields. The Araldica winemaking team of Claudio Manera, Lella Burdese and Carlo Manera oversee all production.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

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

Colour

Pale gold in colour

Nose

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

Palate

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

The Winery

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

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

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

Specifications

The Domaine de Cantagrils Picpoul de Pinet, a refreshing example of the signature white variety of the Languedoc.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The Domaine de Cantagrils Picpoul de Pinet begins with aromas of grapefruit, flowers and sea salt on the intriguing, enticing nose. A hint of nuttiness also appears with some time in the glass.

Palate

The wine tastes clean, fresh and lively with a bit of chalky, salty minerality running underneath. The primary fruit flavors are melon, citrus, white peach, grapefruit and lime. It ends with good length and lingering tropical fruit flavors. 

Producer

Domaine de Cantagrils were among the first to plant and cultivate Piquepoul in 1983. When the terroir became AOC Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet in 1985, they then began converting to wine production. Winemaker Claude Jourdan works the estate her mother started.

The terroir of the domaine is characterised by beautiful red soils, with plots originally planted amongst an orchard of almond trees. Situated in the north of Picpoul de Pinet AOC, there is a strong continental rather than maritime influence with more humid morning fog, higher rainfall, warmer temperatures, which has a pleasant ripening impact on the fruit.

Picpoul de Pinet is the uniquely Languedoc white grape with stern minerality and zippy clean acidity. Here, one finds a classically austere style, deceptively golden colour, and light, clean minerality. An easy choice for oysters and all briny shellfish. 

Specifications

Do you love to fire up the grill? Come rain or shine, this collection of premium wines will delight all.

We have carefully curated a selection of six wines from some of the best wine regions around the world to perfectly complement your BBQ meals.

And to make it even sweeter, get FREE DELIVERY (worth £9.99)!

The case includes:

• 2022 Orballo Albariño (Spain) - This is a fresh and zesty Albariño from this region of north-west Spain
• 2021 Castel del Lupo Pinot Grigio 'Della Ginestra' - fresh stone fruit and lemony characters leading to a gentle, textured mid-palate and an attractively crisp, saline finish.
• 2021 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé'- South Africa - Delicate aromas of peach, spice and herbs are prominent on the nose. This rather grown-up wine makes a wonderful partner to almost any dish you care to prepare.
• 2022 Waterkloof 'Circumstance' Sauvignon Blanc - South Africa - a big and textured palate with stone fruit and fennel hints. It is rich and minerally, showing even a slight rocky quality about it.
• 2020 Adobe Reserva Malbec - Chile - an elegant wine that is easy to drink, from sustainable producer Emiliana. Perfect with red meats and cheeses.
  
• 2016 Vega del Rayo Rioja Reserva (Spain) - A traditional Rioja Reserva from vineyards in Rioja Alta with a nose of warm black fruit, spice and vanilla notes.

A hand-harvested organic wine for special occasions!

Tasting Notes

Colour

Ruby Red

Nose

The nose is intense and very complex with combinations of ripe fruit, wood, herbs, leather.

Palate

Powerful taste with a lot of finesse: fine acids, integrated alcohol and clearly present but noble tannins.

Production

The Riserva is produced with the fully ripe grapes that arrive at the end of the harvest. The fermentation is wild (indigenous yeasts) and thanks to the good quality of the grapes the use of additives is minimal. Maceration on the skins lasts three weeks and the wine is matured in oak barrels previously used to ferment Chardonnay. A wine for special occasions: it grows in elegance with the refinement in the bottle and waits six to ten years from the harvest to get to its fullest expression.

Notes from the Producer

The vineyards are the beating heart of the estate. They occupy only 14% of the land but account for over two-thirds of our working hours throughout the year. The diversity of the varieties grown in the vineyards and the variety of recently planted Sangiovese clones are the palette from which we compose the 'colour' of our wines, with labour-intensive harvests during which we pick the various types of grapes separately. The structure of the plantations has changed a lot over the past forty years. Until the 1960s there were few vineyards: most of the grapes were produced in the rows separating the small fields typical of sharecropping. The hectares planted as vineyards came later, with the end of share-cropping and the spread of tractors in the Tuscan countryside. A further change took place in the mid-1980s, when we abandoned the quantity targets for which the plantations had been designed and focused instead on improving product quality. We adopted less potent fertilisers, changed from the traditional guyot pruning to the less productive Cordone Speronato technique, and selective harvesting. Finally, for the plantations in recent years, we returned to Guyot pruning and decided to continue our policy of planting Tuscan vines rather than turning to international varieties such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The only exception is Chardonnay, which we use with the Tuscan Malvasia white grape to produce Spareto.

In the more recent vineyards, we have planted various Sangiovese clones and complementary red varieties (Colorino, Malvasia Nera, Foglia Tonda, Abrustine and Pugnitello) to have a wider choice when creating our wines. When we introduced organic farming techniques in 2001 we also began to sharpen our focus on managing the vineyards. Indeed, the physiological balance of the plant is a crucial aspect of using organic fertilisers, which are milder than chemical ones, and products such as sulphur and copper, which offer less protection than synthetic pesticides. We harvest the grapes by hand, in several passes, so that the grapes can be taken to the cellar while they are still healthy and at various stages of ripening. The first grapes to be harvested are used in the simpler wines, while the second, riper batch is earmarked for the wines that are finished in the bottle, such as Chianti and Chianti Riserva.

More about Italian Chianti

The most commonly consumed wine in Italy, and interestingly, the most commonly consumed Italian wine in the world, Chianti is emblematic of what Italy means to the world of wine. Fermented primarily from Sangiovese, fresh cherry, strawberries, and red plum pleasure the senses when enjoying this wine.

Winemakers have spent the last couple of decades trying to change the old image of Chianti: Wine bottles in wicker basket, interestingly also called ''fiascoes". They've done so by producing very nice wines through state of the art growing and fermentation techniques. 

Chianti is a red wine that comes from Tuscany, but can contain small amounts of white grapes during blending. This is not the case with Chianti Classico, which must be solely made from red Sangiovese grapes. 

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Grange is arguably Australia's most famous wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Penfolds Grange displays fully ripe, intensely flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world's great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy.

Colour 

Deep, dark garnet

Nose

At once Grange - a tightly wrapped projection from the glass of dark-berried Barossa fruits coupled with a myriad of barrel ferment complexities. Thereafter, a burst of honey-cured jamon/pancetta aromatically thrust above, with a rich mix of generously basted roasted meats, peat & nutmeg anchored beneath.
Upon sitting/air these characters descend, revealing beguiling elements of freshly turned volcanic earth and an innocent suggestion of old growth forest floor underlay.

Palate

The flavour pool primarily highlights Satsuma plum conserve alongside rhubarb/aniseed/fennel, with liqueur chocolate shyly awaiting mid-palate. Oak absorbed and hidden, not so the muscular tannins, power/extract. Nevertheless balanced, firm, polished. 

Remarks

The first sip welcomes, the second sip asserts, the third... submission!

"A small 2005 vintage Grange make - understandably no quality compromise."
"With its DNA at 88% Barossa, this Grange belies most 2005 vintage-chart implications."
Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
(The 2005 Penfolds vintage also saw Bin 389 win The Great Australian Red of 2008, Bin 707 take gold at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards and St Henri reach number 24 in Wine Spectator's 2009 Top 100.)

This 2005 may not be the most profound Grange but, oh my goodness, is there some complexity tucked into its crevasses! This is a great vintage for Grange, as exuberant and expressive as any young Grange I have seen. This is a wine with a plethora of layers. The bouquet is particularly lifted and spicy this year, with violets and mixed spice hovering over fruit mince and dark chocolate oak. In time, coal, black olive and Satsuma plum aromas unravel. The palate is powerful, with lifted violets and exotic spice ushering in a cavalcade of stewed plum, rhubarb and plum pudding fruit in the wake of a wave of signature Grange tannins. A Grange that is both seductive and brooding. Score 97 points. Source: Tyson Stelzer, WBM Wine 100, April 1, 2010

Please Note

A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!

Specifications

Biodynamically Farmed & Vegan Approved

Our lively wines have subtle corners and edges. And it’s good this way, because we love natural, authentic wines. Each one has a characteristic soul, which develops from the natural flavours of the grapes and the terroir. All this comes to fruition thanks to our biodynamic cultivation. We also work gently and reductively in the wine cellar.

Tasting Notes

The grapes for this Natural Zweigelt come from two particularly old vineyards in Ried Weisleiten on Vienna`s Nussberg. This bright, polished Zweigelt is quite dark and intense, with aromas of black cherries and plum fruit, as well as a subtle touch of herbs and spices. Fine texture and freshness on the palate with an engaging spiciness that leads to a fruity, cool finish.

In the Cellar

Zweigelt from old vines on the Nussberg forms the basis, maceration and longer storage on the skin (9 weeks) leads to an intense and dark berry fruit, as well as a lively tannin structure.

The wine is then not aged in wood, but in concrete eggs, which can breathe in the same way as wooden barrels, but do not bring those typical oak tones nor toasty aromas. Of course, the wine is neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfurized, just as we do with the mash-fermented white wines of the NATURAL series. After about 6 months of storage, the wine is put together and bottled, and after several months of aging in the bottle, the NATURAL Zweigelt goes on sale in September immediately before the next harvest.

Specifications

The modern era has brought us to a point where we live in an over-stimulated, demanding, success-oriented whirlwind, with no time to enjoy the everyday pleasures of life. That is why Vistmar wines were created, wines that offer a new approach to life, a new mood, an attitude that will lead you to venture out and enjoy the simple things that surround us every day. 

Tasting Notes

Colour

A straw-yellow wine with golden highlights

Nose

It has great aromatic intensity, with hints of white flowers, white peaches, apricots and quinces.

Palate

In the mouth, it is silky, juicy and fresh. Its flavour is reminiscent of recently picked grapes, blended with figs and dried peaches. It has a long, pleasant and persistent finish, excellently balanced by its natural acidity.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Vibrant black cherry and plum aromas with a hint of tomato plant and dark chocolate. The wines has instant appeal with soft, squish, succulent dark fruit with a light tobacco leaf edge. Ample plum and cherry with spice highlights and deeper earth- and cocoa notes below. Softly textured but with a supportive structure and frame. Lovely, generous ripe-fruited finish.

In the Vineyard 

After de-stemming and crushing the wine is transferred to 10 000 French oak tanks and 10 000 L stainless steel tanks. Fermentation on the skins takes place at 26°C for about 15 days. The wine is drained from the skins and pressed. The free-run juice and press juice are aged separately and blended after 8 months. Maturation takes place in 225 L 2nd- and 3rd –fill French oak barrels and also on new French oak staves in tanks for about 8 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

Following on from our Summer White we are launching our Summer Rosé Selection.

And yes... for a crazy £60 for 6 bottles of super sippers! Our accountant is not talking to us as we've slashed these prices so low... you are saving a whopping £18!!

Each case contains the following wines -

• 2022 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé' - Pale in colour and discreet of fragrance, yet with a palate weight and texture that makes it a decidedly gastronomic rosé. Perfect with Sushi, Spicy Foods and even Steak!

• 2023 Mirabello Pinot Grigio Rosé, IGT Provincia di Pavia - "An enticing summer red with lots of upfront strawberry fruit together with more serious red berry notes from the Barbera and Pinot Nero components. Appealing freshness and acidity initially are tempered by a balancing creaminess in the mid and back palate. An altogether well-composed glass of summer rose with perfect balance and poise - enjoy with friends in the garden - perfectly at ease in its own company but will also stand up well with all garden foods."

• 2022 Domaine de la Vieille Tour Rosé - This is a perfect, pale, raspberry-pink wine that is very drinkable. Delicate aromas are followed by lovely sweet fruit from Grenache grapes. Clean and well balanced with good depth.

• 2022 Coral de Peñascal Ethical Rosé - a tempranillo rosé wine produced by Bodegas Peñascal, a delicate and elegant wine made in an ethical way from grapes grown using organic processes and with careful packaging made from ecological materials and an ultra-light bottle.

• 2022 Castello di Montepò JeT Rosé - This is a fresh and floral rosé - a definite crowd pleaser and a serious wine, with considerable power and body. It is representative of the new style of Rosé coming out of Europe which can be enjoyed young, but which have the capacity to age for the medium term.

• La Jara Organic Rosato Frizzante Prosecco NV (10.5% Vol) - An attractive, softly sparkling, organic Italian sparkling Rosé from Prosecco country. An irresistible bottle of bubbles - great to get the party started!

Raise a glass to Summer and save a whopping £18 | Double the fun and you'll score free delivery too!

Please note that no further discount applies on this special offer.

This wine showcases the strength of Margaret River for Chardonnay with a restrained, modern, elegantly structured wine from one of the great Margaret River vineyards.

Tasting Notes

Colour

The wine displays fresh green tinges on a pale straw colour. 

Nose

The nose exhibits aromas of fresh-cut pear and honeydew melon with some zesty citric notes. There are no overt woody or buttery aromas with the primary fruit characters expressed with clarity and definition. 

Palate

The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright. This is a restrained style of Australian Chardonnay and highlights how far we have come with this style of wine over the last decade.

Producer

We have worked with Michael Kerrigan for more than 25 years, and we are continually impressed with his talent and capacity for reinvention. Former winemaker at Howard Park and Madfish, Michael struck out on his own when his dream vineyards in the key quality region of Wilyabrup came up for sale. With more than 30 years of winemaking under his belt, and 12 years going solo with Hay Shed Hill, this man is one of the most experienced, respected and revered winemakers in Australia - and rightly so. He is also a strong purveyor of classically blunt Aussie pearls of wisdom: “It’s all in the detail - you quite simply visit the vineyard every day. I’m not interested in being epic, I just want to make wine I like to drink”. He likens Margaret River’s climate to “Bordeaux in a perfect year”, and attributes the region’s success to its maritime climate, meaning a low diurnal range, very important in a country that is known for its extremes in temperature, and pretty much everything else!

Michael produces wines under two labels - the entry-level ‘Pitchfork’ range and the estate, single vineyard ‘Hay Shed Hill’ wines. The Pitchfork range represents unprecedentedly good value considering that all of the grapes are grown in Margaret River – very unusual for a wine at the entry-level from this region, and yet another example of Michael’s commitment to quality over all else.

There are 4 lip smackingly good, everyday wines in this range. Everything under the Hay Shed Hill label is single-vineyard, which Michael explains: “I make single vineyard and single block wines because they express a particular character – otherwise what’s the point?” All of the vines are dry farmed and made from free run juice only. The vineyards are around 20 years old and they are all farmed organically, but without certification. The Chardonnay sees 25% new oak and represents the ‘modern Australian Chardonnay’, in the words of its maker.

Reviews

95 Points | James Halliday Estate-grown. The bouquet is very pure, pointing to the restraint of the palate, where white stone fruit, apple and grapefruit do the talking. It was barrel-fermented, which has left its imprint on both the bouquet and palate. The way the wine has developed to date makes me certain it will grow old with grace a long way down the track. Great value.

93 Points | Ray Jordan, Wine Guide 2020 Great fruit from this vintage has pumped some seriuos quality into this excellent chardonnay. Retains a bright and lively mouthfeel, but with layers of complex meal and grapefruit character. Oak is neatly judged, with the 11 months maturation adding further complexity. Rich middle palate with a fine edge of melon and pear to finish. Nice wine.

92 Points | Sam Kim, Wine Orbit Delightfully fruited and elegantly expressed, the wine shows white flesh nectarine, rockmelon, nougat and lemon zest aromas on the nose, leading to a beautifully rounded palate that’s succulent and creamy. It’s splendidly composed and styled, offering lovely drinking.

91 Points | James Suckling, UK This has an array of lemons, lime juice, pears and melon with quite a fine, pared-back and taut textural stance.

Specifications

97 Points | James Halliday Wine Companion 2021

Best of the Best by Variety in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Dense dark red to black colour of great intensity.

Palate

The Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon displays ripe berry aromas of brilliant intensity with underlying earthen nature along with typical characters well noted from Margaret River. There is a depth here that is hard to fault, in fact its downright breathtaking. The palate itself is quite substantial, even by Western Australian standards; displaying fully ripe, fleshy sweet fruit filling the mid-palate with great palate extension driven by the ripe and mature tannin.

Vintage

What a long, and strange vintage 2017 was. Every vintage is different; lessons learned from the previous year don’t always help the following year. 2017 vintage started late, two to three weeks later than the preceding couple of years. The reason for this was the mild, cool spring weather experienced all across the southern part of the state. During the middle and latter part of March the South-West region including Margaret River experienced a very unusual amount of rain and very cool weather, ripening over this period was very slow. The first suggestions of worry started to appear in growers eyes. Of recent history Margaret River has experienced very dry conditions in March and early April with the season breaking mid to late April, not a problem with all the grapes picked. But this year the concern was that if the season broke in mid-April all the red grapes would be still on the vine. However, anyone that lived though the late April and early May in the South-West of Western Australia will testify that never had we had a better, warmer early autumn. It was simply perfect; cool crisp mornings and evenings but beautiful warm and sunny days; not too hot, textbook conditions for great ripening especially for the red varieties.

Winemaking

The grapes from Block 2 were de-stemmed into open-topped vessels for fermentation on skins with traditional pump over cap management. At the completion of fermentation the wine was left on skins for a further 10 days to maximize the development of the mature tannin. Maturation in French oak barriques for 18 months added further complexity and structure without dominating the fruit. The wine was matured in bottle for six months prior to release.

Vineyard

BLOCK 2 on the Hay Shed Hill vineyard was planted in the early 1970’s to the Houghton clone of Cabernet Sauvignon. These old dry grown vines have sunk deep roots into the gravelly loam soil profile providing the nutrient basis they need. Block 2 has a steep northern facing aspect maximizing the sunlight interception by the vines providing ideal ripening conditions.

Reviews

97 Points | James Halliday Wine Companion 2021 Best of the Best by Variety in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion. Block 2 has the oldest vines on the vineyard, reflected in the depth of varietal fruit aroma and the palate. It has been singularly well made, drawing out the full array of blackcurrant, bay leaf and black olive fruits. The texture, structure and balance rest on ripe tannins, making a complete wine.

95 Points | Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine Magnificent wine here - power and grace, elegance and tension, super tannins and a suite of delicious berry, herbal, oak character woven wonderfully through the wine. It feels very ‘of region’ with its bay leaf herbal detail. Offer delicious, sweet but gently bitter cassis character, draws long and lingers well. Class Stuff.

92 Points | Nick Bulter, The Real Review Rated #21 of 33 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River Vibrant, dark cherry red. Charry oak, red and blueberries, a tease of cedar - a classic nose for the variety. Very dry and savoury when sipped, firm and imposing, black olive and dark soy. Built to reward a decade in the cellar. Plenty of class.

91 Points | James Suckling, UK Assertively herbal with mint, boysenberries and redcurrants, as well as cassis. The palate has a juicy feel, combined with some very ripe tannin. Compressed, dark-berry and cassis flavors. Drink or hold. 

Specifications

The third in our Summer Selection Trio - our Case of Reds!

And yes... a crazy £60 for 6 bottles of crowd pleasing sizzlers to enjoy outside during the summer months with friends and family.

Each case contains the following wines -

• 2021 McManis Family Vineyards Zinfandel | USA - Powerful and jammy with refreshing acidity. Each mouthful is redolent of raspberries, strawberries, cherries, watermelon and blackberries laced with vanilla, caramel and hazelnuts. Delicious but not for the faint-hearted! Perfect with burgers and grilled ribs
• 2016 Vega Rayo Rioja | Spain - ' This is good! Everything I would expect from a well made, traditional Rioja - bright fruit - some vanillin and spice from good oak integration and soft, smooth tannins giving a very well balanced and long finish' Alan April 2024
• 2023 Camerada Malbec | Argentina - "Wow - this is stunning. If ever a wine was needed to demonstrate ‘bang for buck’ - this is it!! Delicious red and black fruits with great balance, complexity and length." Alan Noc 2022
• 2022 Miopasse Appassimento | Italy - The bouquet is very intense, with deep notes of dark cherries, damsons and blackcurrants.  The palate is powerful, yet approachable, with silky smooth tannins, great depth of flavour and layers of complexity. Pair with meat based pasta dishes!
• 2022 Showdown 'Man with an Axe' Cabernet Sauvignon | California - Outstanding - really easy on the palate with loads of smoky blackcurrant fruit, a hint of spice and a glug of vanilla from the oak ageing giving a really well balanced, smooth drinking red!
• 2018 Chateau Mayne-Vieil Fronsac | France - Packed with intense black, mulberry-flavoured fruit, coffee and a twist of toast from the barrel, the ripeness makes this very drinkable now and it will continue to develop more complexity over the next 5 years. Serve with roasted or grilled red meats and mature cheeses.

Raise a glass to Summer and save a £12 - thats a whole bottles worth of wine! | Double the fun, or add the White Wine Case or Rosé Case in your basket and you'll score free delivery too!

Please note that no further discount applies on this special offer.

Tasting Notes 

Covered, intense and elegant. Great aromatic complexity, velvety and with a long balsamic and spicy aftertaste.

Terroir

Vinification process

Traditional production method based on a selection of the best grapes of the estate, harvested by hand at its optimum ripeness, and after selecting the fruits in perfect condition. Harvested by hand in boxes of 12 Kgs. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aged in Alliers and Nevers French oak barrels of medium toasting and 18 months of aging. It is only made in years of exceptional quality.

About Marques de la Concordia

Don José Abascal (1743-1821) was crowned Marqués de la Concordia in Peru in 1812 by King Fernando VII of Spain, was also recognized for his personal merits in the 24th Viceroyalty of Peru (1806-1816) Man of his time (The Enlightenment), was an intellectual in the army and made an important public work in Peru. he also pursued reform in society and an advance of knowledge in the vast territory and cities that he ruled in the name of the King, making the Creoles and the metropolitan Spaniards work together. This is the origin of the word "Concordia" in its title.

Did you know?

This is the most prized Rioja reserve today is the crown jewel of the Marqués de la Concordia family.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

Salmon pink, with fine and persistent perlage.

Nose

Fresh and mineral, with notes of red berries and brioche.

Palate

Elegant, clean and juicy, with savory aromas.

History

The Moncuit family has been making superb champagne in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, for more than 100 years. Pierre Moncuit had recognised the intrinsic quality of his terroir and, together with his wife Odile, strove to make the best possible champagnes from his grapes. Nicole Moncuit and her brother Yves, along with her daughter Valérie, are now in charge of the domaine and make sublimely complex, delicate wines from 20 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards. The palate of the Cuvée Pierre Moncuit Delos Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is delicate and refined with citrus fruit and yeasty notes. It is perfect as an apéritif. The vintage Cuvée Millésimée Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is an outstanding wine, truly representative of the perfect vintage conditions and expressing the full potential of the terroir and the grapes. The Vintage wines are always aged for between 5-10 years. The Grand Cru Brut Rosé is made from 75% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil and 25% Vin Rouge d’Ambonnay

Awards

• The Champagne Brut Rosé Grand Cru by Pierre Moncuit won the Silver Medal at the Concours Mondial du Rosé 2015

Specifications

Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

The wine has an intriguing luminous hue that reflects rather than absorbs light. The svelte nose offers up a fine blend of red cherries, pomegranate, delicate forest floor and a hint of spice and new oak.

Palate

On the palate the wine is sensual and embracing, with a captivating mid-palate depth, lovely transparency and excellent focus on a suavely tannic finish.

In the Cellar and in the Vineyards

Grapes were hand-picked into small crates and then sorted, destemmed and gently crushed at the cellar. A 10 day pre-fermentation cold soak period in open fermenters was followed by a temperature-controlled ferment, peaking at 28°C for a total cuvaison of 22 days. The cap was gently punched down twice a day during alcoholic fermentation. The wine was then pressed and racked to carefully-selected French oak barrels, 22% of which were new and where 100% malolactic fermentation occurred.

History

Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.

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 

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

It has an intense nose with dominant ferns, linden and elderberry.

Palate

The aromatic complexity is expressed on dried fruits, elderberry and toast. Very long persistence.  Very nice taste balance, around a round and silky attack, with no noticeable acidity.

Vinification

After a manual harvest after two sorting, vinification in oak barrels of 400 liters, aged 2 to 4 years, for 1 month. Then aging on fine lees for 6 months, with a weekly batonnage.

Soil

Shale and Phtanite. This cuvée is made exclusively with grapes from the fabulous plot "La Chapelle", the most qualitative of the Fesles vineyard.

Alan's Personal Notes

''A fuller flavoured, bodied dry white wine.  The 14% alcohol is a framework for the constituent parts to wrap themselves around.  Lovely citric and elderberry fruits are supported by firm acidity and oak creaminess.  Dry white Anjou at its best with a long life in it yet and look forward to it developing in bottle over a few years.  A big bold white style with loads of flavour and structure. I now understand what they call Angevin sweetness - this has it in spades - the weight, body and depth of dessert wines without the sweetness.  A strong challenge and alternative to big bold white burgundies such as Meursault, Montrachet". July 2023

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense black fruit aromas, blackberries along with notes of herbs and spices such as cinnamon and cloves.

Palate

The palate is rich in fresh red-fruit flavours with notes of tobacco and white pepper. Unoaked. 

Accolades

Specifications

Expressive, tropical fruit, white pepper & a touch of richness. A limited production wine, with only small amounts produced each year.

Tasting Notes

Our iconic Blanc de Noirs masters an average of 28 Pinot Noir reserve wines from our library, many from our very earliest plantings, to create a complex and sophisticated sparkling wine. Favoured by gourmets and gastronomes, Exton Park’s Blanc de Noirs is a true showcase for the precision of sparkling Pinot Noir.

Colour

Pale gold in the glass

Nose & Palate

The Blanc de Noirs opens with notes of freshly baked brioche and a touch of lime tree blossom, moving to rich rounded fruit and a long, delicately spiced finish.

Made from 100% Pinot Noir from our single vineyard, this expressive and fruity wine is precise, charming and English to its core.

The Winery

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

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

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

Specifications

Elegant, fruity and more velvety than a classic Xinomavro - awarded 17/20 from Jancis Robinson! Delicious with tomato based dishes.

Tasting Notes

The Rapsansi exhibits a perfume of roses and red fruit compote with hints of peppery spice and tobacco; and subtle herbal undertones. Fresh and lively on the palate with a fruit profile of macerated cherries and red plums. This is an elegant and medium-bodied red with moderately firm but fine tannins, reminiscent of powdered cocoa.

History

Specifications

 La Cantina's Prosecco DOC fizzy organic and vegan certified wine!

Tasting Notes

Colour

Straw yellow with greenish hues and brilliant.

Nose

Harmonious, with notes of acacia flowers.

Palate

Fresh, rustic, delicate with hints of golden apple and honey.

Vinification

The first phase includes a soft pressing and a traditional white vinification, keeping low temperatures to preserve quality. In a second step the natural fermentation is performed in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature for at least 20 days. 

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Colour

Palate

Production Method

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Penfolds RWT Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured only in French oak. The initials RWT stand for 'Red Winemaking Trial', the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a 'Trial'!

RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.

"Now into its second decade of release, the 2007 vintage excels. It encapsulates what is now the RWT style... defined with its own personality and style territory." Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Colour 

Dark Red

Nose

Opulent glaceed fruits - saturated blueberry and satsuma plum elude from a freshly mixed summer berry compote. Stylish cedary oak marries with mixed spices and an element of (Gorgonzola) blue-vein cheese. Aromatically decries Barossa, and Shiraz - but not separately, as per these words!

Palate

Firm, lively & vibrant. Cola and a flavour sensation not dissimilar to a generous longitudinal slice of Blackforest cake, replete with fruits. Tight, finely-grained harmonious oak and lacy, mouth-coating tannins induce a multidimensional 3D palate, tempered by crisp acidity. Awash with flavour, depth & extract. The essence of Barossa Valley Shiraz... oh, and balanced! Convincing ... and out of 2007!

Reviews

Specifications

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.

Biodynamic & Vegan Approved

Our lively wines have subtle corners and edges. And it’s good this way, because we love natural, authentic wines. Each one has a characteristic soul, which develops from the natural flavours of the grapes and the terroir. All this comes to fruition thanks to our biodynamic cultivation. We also work gently and reductively in the wine cellar.

Tasting Notes

Piquant and firm on the palate, this full-bodied Traminer is rich, tight and powerful but also finessed. The wine opens with a pure, spicy and aromatic bouquet of apricots and roses. Months of skin-on fermentation result in a strong flavour profile and delightful orange wine.

The Winemaker and Winemaking

Hajszan Neumann Natural Traminer is a natural, biodynamic and organic orange wine made with the Traminer variety by Hajszan Neumann in Weinland Österreich, in the heart of Vienna (Austria). Hajszan Neumann is synonymous with quality Austrian white wines. Wines which are made in the city of Vienna itself, in the Grinzing district and which defend biodynamic precepts.

Managed by the prestigious winemaker Fritz Wieninger, this winery produces fresh, elegant and very expressive wines. Hajszan Neumann Natural Traminer originates from vineyards located at the foot of Nussberg, a mountain composed of limestone, clay and high chalk content soils. According to anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner, 100% biodynamic agriculture is practiced and the harvest is hand-selected after a meticulous selection process.

In the cellar, the crushed grapes for making Hajszan Neumann Natural Traminer ferment in concrete eggs with their skins, without any additives, for 5 months. The wine is then separated from the skins and racked in used 500-liter barrels for 6 weeks. It's bottled without clarifying or filtering. Made with the indigenous red and yellow Traminer varieties, Hajszan Neumann Natural Traminer is presented as an urban orange wine which is also sustainable. A very natural wine made in an authentic urban environment.

Specifications

Dust off the BBQ and sun loungers - warmer days are on their way! And in celebration we are delighted to launch our Spring Special Mixed Case full of firm favourites - tried & tested.

Each case contains a bottle of:

Save £16.87 on each case of 6 bottles or push the boat out and buy 12 bottles and save £33.74 PLUS free P&P!

Tasting Notes 

Fresh enticing aromas of apple, white pear and summer fruits are supported by gentle floral notes that invite you in for more. The palate is clean and refreshing, with succulent flavours of white peach and kiwi fruit vying for dominance. Crispy apple, pear and nectarine flavours are also present and beautifully balanced with a firm, fresh acidity which lingers seamlessly in a long finish

In the Vineyard 

The wine spent time on the lees in stainless steel tanks, before being blended and bottled.

In the Cellar

The grapes were handpicked during the early morning hours at optimal ripeness and transported to the cellar. The fruit was both de-stemmed and whole bunch pressed and the juice was settled overnight. All parcels were kept separate and racked into fermentation with selected yeast strain cultures.

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