- Albariño
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Fiano
- Frappato
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Godello
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Grüner Veltliner
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Muscat
- Negroamaro
- Parellada
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Riesling
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tinta Barroca
- Torrontés
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trebbiano
- Tripat
- Verdejo
- Viognier
- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
- Xarel-lo
- Zweigelt
- Albariño
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Fiano
- Frappato
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Godello
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Grüner Veltliner
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Muscat
- Negroamaro
- Parellada
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Riesling
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tinta Barroca
- Torrontés
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trebbiano
- Tripat
- Verdejo
- Viognier
- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
- Xarel-lo
- Zweigelt
An 'Aladdin's Cave of Wines await you here!
2023 MOKOBlack Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Regular price £12.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
Zesty citrus with white stone fruits.
Palate
Luscious, abundant gooseberry aromas follow through onto the palate where it explodes with a full on citrus zing that is balanced by fantastic texture. The finish is clean, crisp and refreshing.
Production
The wine is dominated by 50% Awatere Valley fruit, with vineyards located on both sides of the river in three sub-regions. Soils on the south bank are deep silt loams and fertile, while the north bank sites are stony, shallow silt loams, and lighter in structure.
A dry and windy climate in this valley leads to small, thick-skinned berries with an emphasis on herbal intensity. Wairau Valley sites in the Rapaura district and the Southern Valleys make up much of the rest of the blend. These are warmer areas, and the soils vary between deep fertile loams, gravelly alluvium and clays. Fruit from these sites is often more tropical, with some ripe citrus characters.
Vines are all managed with vertical shoot positioning, and pruned to leave balanced bud numbers and crop levels consistent with individual site capacity. Picking decisions are made entirely on flavour, skin-contact is minimised and cool fermentations with neutral yeast in stainless steel tanks preserve the crisp, fresh varietal nature of the fruit.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | New Zealand |
|
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches |
The bright, crisp Sauvignon is a perfect match with all sea beasties from delicate freshly caught seafood to rich and meaty barbecued king prawns. |
Appellation | Marlborough |
2023 Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Colour
Pale yellow in color with light green hints.
Nose
This Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc wine has complex and elegant nose offers up aromas of lime, grapefruit, pineapple and pear complemented by floral and mineral touches.
Palate
In mouth it is fresh, well-balanced with a rich acidity and soft body, where citric and tropical fruits reappear with mineral finish that delivers complexity and elegance.
Background
Ventisquero began making wine in 2000. Today, the winery is led by a young, creative team of entrepreneurs who guide us to a single purpose: creating distinctive, high quality wines. They look for innovative ways to communicate with their target audience and to market our products around the world.
Under the guidance of head winemaker Felipe Tosso, the winery was built in the Coastal Maipo Valley, where grapes for their first wines were produced. Three years later, they ventured into the Casablanca Valley and the prestigious Apalta Valley, the source today for Vina Ventisquero's premium wines.
With estate-owned vineyards in Chile's top wine producing areas – Coastal Maipo, Casablanca, Leyda and Colchagua – and extensive research to uncover the secrets of the country's unique terroir, Vina Ventisquero seeks to produce wines of the highest quality and consistency.
Awards
- 2017 Vintage: Commended – International Wine Challenge
- 2016 Vintage: Bronze – International Wine Challenge
- 2007 Vintage: Commended – International Wine Challenge
- 2008 Vintage: Silver – Mundus Vini
- 2006 Vintage: Commended – Decanter World Wine Awards
- 2005 Vintage: Gold – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Chile |
|
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
This wine is ideally paired with salads, shellfish, cebiches and mild, white fish in lime or lemon preparations. It goes wonderfully with fresh cheese or cream-based dishes and white meats, but can also be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif. |
Appellation | Valle De Casablanca |
2021 La Pagliaia Chianti Classico DOCG
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh, approachable style of Chianti Classico with vibrant, juicy red fruit. Villa la Pagliaia lies in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, adjacent to sister property San Felice.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure. A juicy finish with a touch of black pepper.
Production
The grapes come from the estate's own 350-400m altitude vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone, near Castelnuovo Berardenga. The vines are on average 25 years old (yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine) - 'guyot' trained and planted in rocky clay soil. Fermentation and maceration on the skins lasts for 8-10 days (at 28-30ºC) followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 10-12 months.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 95% Sangiovese 5% Merlot |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | A good match for spicy pasta dishes, sausages and red meat. |
Cellaring Potential | 3-5 Years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Tuscany |
Appellation |
DOCG Chianti Classico |
2019 Michael Opitz Buddy Talk White
Regular price £17.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%No Tricks, Just Wine
Buddy Talk White is a wine for every occasion. Unobtrusive, adaptable and flattering. Organic.
Tasting Notes
The quintessence of the Seewinkel region. Combines the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. A companion for hot summer days, which also gives pleasure in the winter. Simply casual.
Buddy Talk is made from a unique combination of Muskat Ottonel, Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is made with minimal intervention and is the quintessence of the Seewinkel region, combining the typical white grape varieties of the region in one harmonious, fruity, charming cuvée. Tart, crisp and nice citrus and tropical fruit.
Producer
Modest Michael Opitz feels passionately about sustainability and quality and so decided to take the small family winery into being organic and as natural as possible on every level. All the wines are defined by their environment. The Neusiedlersee or Seewinkel is a saltwater lake that, in this flat, warm part of Austria, brings tempering breezes, freshness and protection from disease. The wines as a result are tremendously pure, fresh, fragrant and yet salty.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 50% Muskat Ottonel 35% Gelber Muskateller 15% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Austria |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Certified Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian approved, Biodynamic
|
Food Matches | As an aperitif with baked cod and a potato salad or simply on its own! |
Origin | Burgenland |
2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Grenache Syrah
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 8 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards for 2022 Vintage
- Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 67% Grenache, 33% Syrah |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes. |
Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2022 Vina Almirante Vanidade Albariño
Regular price £14.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A crisp dry and elegant wine.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vanidade Albarino is a straw yellow wine with an alluring complexity and depth.
Nose
Experience the bright, greenish glints and ripe citrus & peach aromas, followed by a crisp start and broadness that will leave you captivated.
Palate
Those fruits also feature on the intensely flavoured palate, fresh and zesty, no shortage of acidity, with a slightly salty tang, plus the starting fruit all the way through to a clean and refreshing finish.
History
In 2000, a group of winegrowers dreamed up what is today, Vina Almirante, a winery made up of 80 partners and families with 45 hectares. Located in Portas in the Umia Valley of Galicia, on the banks of the Chaín River, Vina Almirante sits in an enclave with its own geographical and meteorological conditions that largely mark the character of the vineyards. Portas is synonymous with history, origin and culture. In the 12th century, history reveals that King Ferdinand II of León donated the first known Albariño plantation to the Cistercian monks, the 'Paradisus' estate, in Santa María de Portas.
Vinification
A marriage of musts obtained by direct drawing off, balanced by grapes subjected to a process of cryomaceration. This method adds sumptuousness in the mouth and a notable aromatic complexity. Good balance of acidity and the natural persistence of the Albariño grape. Full destemming, partial cryomaceration, pneumatic pressing, static racking by cold decanting and then fermentation in stainless steel vats at 17ºC.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Albariño |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol |
9.4 units
|
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Seafood & White Fish |
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
Region | Rias Baixes, Galicia |
Appellation | Rías Baixas |
2021 Viña Almirante Caiño Blanco, Rias Baixas
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A rare bird in its geographical area. A white caíño from La Capellanía de San Juan estate. A personal labour, full of character, from a plot that belonged to the Count of Canillas and later the priest of San José. A vineyard with a history that gives us just a few kilos of grapes every year.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Yellow with greenish glints, dense, voluptuous.
Nose
Complex nose with ripe fruit aromas, intense apricot and peach tones as well as acid, fleshy fruits, but retaining prominent floral tones and natural fragrances.
Palate
Dense, enveloping, fragrant, with plenty of breadth in the mouth and a lingering aftertaste. Its crispness and moderate acidity give it a rich-tasting process and a long finish.
History from the Producer
In the year 2000, a group of wine growers dreamed up what is today Viña Almirante, a winery made up of 80 partners and families who live by and for wine. We were inspired by the historic past of Portas (Galicia / Spain) and the legacy of geographer Domingo Fontán, an illustrious local figure who helped us to realise that on the basis of emotional cartography, we could make outrageously personal wines.
When going out into the world was not a priority, we made it one. Today we have a presence in more than 20 countries. It excites us to think that at any time, somewhere in the world, our wines are a part of someone’s life. Nothing motivates us more.
On the basis of exploration we have understood our region and our vines. We have always believed in the distinctiveness of our terroir, in nature and in the meaning of hard work. Every day in the vineyard is an opportunity to try to improve the next harvest.
We’re in A Peroxa (Portas), in the Umia Valley, beside the river Chaín. A place with its very own geographical and meteorological conditions, which largely determine the character of our vineyards. We also have a small percentage of vines in the heart of the Val do Salnés, giving us lots of possibilities to work with to make highly personal wines.
We don’t have a magic formula like that brand you’re thinking of, just hard work, exploration, analysis and confidence in the 45 hectares of vineyards we have dotted about the whole area. Every year is an adventure, a challenge packed with uncertainty, effort and one sure thing: that no two harvests are the same, and that inspires us.
Portas is synonymous with history, origins and culture. That of Galicia, and that of our local ancestors. History tells that in the 12th century, King Ferdinand II of León gave the Cistercian monks the first plantation of albariño grapevines on record, the Paradisus estate in Santa María de Portas.
In the bronze age, the land we work today was the home of the Gallaecian Cileni, and much later it was the home of different lineages of illustrious figures. Traits of its identity remain alive in the form of stone, monuments and memories. We appreciate our present while admiring our past.
Vinification
Must obtained by direct drawing through gentle pressings. Grapes from the Capellanía de San Juan estate in Portas (Val do Salnés). Identity, strength and expression. Aged for 12 months in vat, 3 months in bottle. Wine with a long evolution and excellent ageing. Destemming, gentle pneumatic pressing, static racking by cold decanting. Fermentation in stainless steel vats at 17ºC.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"At first I was a bit dubious about this one - at £15 a bottle and a slightly questionable label I was concerned about its ability to follow through. However, it’s a stonker - the most obvious character it has breadth of flavour - a real broad appeal with lovely stone fruit flavours, delicious acidity and a real complexity, all with no oak involvement. Absolutely delicious from a relatively unknown grape variety - Caino Blanco." Tasted December 2023
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Caiño Blanco |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12% |
Units of Alcohol |
9 units
|
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Enjoy with Thai Food, Cajun Food, Sushi, Ceviche, Soft chesses (like Chèvre, feta, cotija, burrata and brie) as well as fish, seafood, chicken and tofu dishes. |
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
Region | Rias Baixes |
Appellation | Rías Baixas |
2022 Bodegas La Val 'Orballo Albarino'
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The rain in Spain falls mainly in Galicia, especially fine misty 'orballo'! This is a fresh and zesty Albariño from this region of north-west Spain.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh citrus aromas on the nose.
Palate
A bright and textural palate with peachy fruit and notes of galia melon, a refreshing saline edge, and mouth-watering zesty finish.
Production Method
This is a blend of grapes from two estates in the south of DO Rías Baixas in Galicia, north west Spain. Taboexa is a 13ha estate at 300m above sea level, with sandy and granitic soil typical of the region. The Arantei estate is at just 30m above sea level - with clay and pebbly soil. Harvest typically begins in the middle of September - grapes are hand harvested and collected in 20 kilo crates. 70% of the grapes are macerated before pressing for 6 hours at a controlled temperature. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel using natural yeasts, and maturation on the lees is also in stainless steel. The mineral and fruity charcter from the Arantei grapes is balanced by the freshness of the Taboexa grapes.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Albarino |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
A perfect match for white fish and seafood.
|
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Origin | Rias Baixas |
Appellation | Rias Baixas |
2021 Rivera Scariazzo Fiano
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A pleasant and fresh wine that goes well with seafood cuisine.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Intense straw yellow in colour
BouquetIntense and complex bouquet with notes of white flowers and minerals typical of the variety.
PalateThe sip is complex and rich, with a savory finish.
Vineyards
Scariazzo is made from Fiano grapes, a variety native to Irpinia that has long since found a suitable terroir to express its characteristics in northern Apulia. In 2005, the de Corato family decided to plant a Fiano vineyard on the calcareous-tufa soil facing the winery to produce a complex white wine from indigenous grapes vinified according to Casa Rivera's experience and style attentive to varietal and terroir expression. The Scariazzo was first released in the 2010 vintage. The grapes come from vineyards located in the foothills of the Murgia in the province of Bari.
The grapes, harvested at the end of August, are vinified for 20% in new barriques, the remaining quantity in steel. After blending, the wine ages in cement tanks on its lees for 3 months, followed by 3-4 months in the bottle.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Fiano |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alcohol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Vinification |
Maceration for 7-8 days at 25°C with frequent pumpovers. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Serve with fish, shellfish, poultry and fresh cheeses. Serve at between 10-12C |
Aging Potential |
5-10 years |
Origin | Puglia |
2021 Domaine Félix Bourgogne Aligoté
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An underrated French vinous gem worth rediscovering.
Tasting Notes
Soft citrus and mineral notes are followed by riper citrus on the palate, with good body and some chalky textural elements coming through. Very moreish on the finish with refreshing acidity to the end.
Method of Production
Produced from grapes grown on clay-limestone and Kimmeridgian Portlandian soils, Aligoté is an early-ripening and high-acid grape variety. Traditional winemaking methods are employed to produce a fresh and delicately fragrant white.
Producer
Energetic and charismatic, Hérve Félix has a small estate where he passionately produces a range of artisan wines. Founded by his ancestors in 1690, the estate remained in its 11 hectare form for three hundred years. In 1991, new plots of vines were purchased and the family now owns a total of 32 hectares mainly in Saint Bris Le Vineux, 8km south of Auxerre and 16km west of Chablis. A series of further investments in cellar equipment over the subsequent years has shown that, in winemaking, tradition does not exclude dynamism or modernism.
"This place may look a little chaotic, but the whites go into bottle young and fresh... This is one of Saint-Bris's oldest families, Nicolas Félix having been second alderman in the revolutionary year 1789". Burgundy, Anthony Hanson.
A Note on Sustainability
Although an advocate of reasoned agriculture since 1996, Domaine Félix is not as yet officially accredited.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Aligote |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Recommended for an apéritif, espcially mixed as a Kir but delicious too with grilled or steamed white fish and simple salads. |
Origin | Burgundy |
Appellation | Bourgogne |
2022 Ginestet Classique Lussac-Saint-Émilion
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Good value satellite Saint-Émilion.
Tasting Notes
A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a pleasingly long finish for such a good value wine.
Producer
For over a decade Boutinot has been in partnership with leading Bordeaux négociant Ginestet, to offer high quality wines from a selection of châteaux in key appellations as well as consistently fine, benchmark Bordeaux wines.
Production
Lussac is a village to the North West of Saint-Émilion, granted appellation status in 1936. Predominately Merlot vines averaging 25 years of age grown on gravelly/clay soil. Grapes are carefully harvested before being destemmed and crushed and transfered to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation last around 10-15 days, with 7 days maceration.
Sustainability
As both a négociant and a producer of its own wines, Maison Ginestet has long been convinced of the need to work the land in a viable manner and it places substantial emphasis on partnerships with sustainable agriculture-accredited winegrowing estates. Some growers are fully organic, and Ginestet is certified to bottle wines made from organically grown grapes.
In 2006, Maison Ginestet set up an international wine school at its Carignan-de-Bordeaux site. Through the Ginestet Wine Academy, Maison Ginestet shares with its commercial partners the expertise it has gained over more than a century of producing and marketing Bordeaux wines.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 5% |
Country | Bordeaux France |
Alcohol content |
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Fantastic with a classic Sunday roast and also good with lamb dishes.
|
Origin | Montagne de Saint Émilion |
Appellation
|
Saint-Emillion Grand Cru |
2021 Château de Belleverne Beaujolais Villages
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Beaujolais Villages made in the traditional way to give classic red fruits with savoury undertones.
Tasting Notes
Appealing with lots of depth of fruit and concentrated aromas of ripe raspberry and soft summer fruits.
Production Method
Château de Belleverne is owned by the Bataillard family – Didier, his brother Alain and nephew Michael. Founded on just 8ha in 1969, the family’s vineyards now total 36ha with plots in four of the ten Beaujolais Cru - Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent and Saint-Amour. Belleverne’s Beaujolais Villages vines are planted on light, sandy soils surrounding the domaine and village of La Chapelle de Guinchay, 3km east of Chénas. Viticulture conforms to the ‘High Environmental Value’ (HVE) principles; a certification Belleverne gained in 2018 to ‘a guarantee that the pressure applied to the environment by farming practices (on air, water, soil, climate, biodiversity and landscape) is kept to a minimum.’
In Beaujolais vinification traditionally includes carbonic maceration, where the weight of the grapes naturally crushes the thin-skinned Gamay. Didier and Alain prefer a semi-carbonic maceration and have mastered the technique of cooling the grapes in each tank to slow the process down. This slower fermentation, of 8-9 days for their Beaujolais Village parcels (they vinify each separately), achieves a greater expression of fruit character in the final wine. Their relationship with Boutinot’s Samantha Bailey stretches back to 2014 and now they allow her exclusive ‘first’ access to their cellar to taste each cuvée and create the blend for the fresh and approachable style she seeks for Château de Belleverne Beaujolais Villages.
Producer
Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.
Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian |
Food Matches | This Beaujolais Villages offers a fresh, herbaceous core which is a wonderful match to a platter of charcuterie, grilled sausages and tangy goats cheese. |
Origin | Beaujolais / Maconnais |
2020 Sunny with a Chance of Flowers Sauvignon Blanc (Zero Sugar and Low Cal)
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%85 Calories | Zero Sugar | 9% Alcohol | Gluten Free | Vegan Friendly | Certified Sustainable
Moderation has never tasted so good! Sunny with a Chance of Flowers is a balanced lifestyle wine created to make you feel good inside and out. Zero sugar, low alcohol, low calorie and positively delicious, it seems too good to be true. But Sunny is the real deal – better for you and mindfully made. Sustainably farmed and produced by our family-owned winery in Monterey County, California, moderation has never tasted so good!
Tasting Notes
Like a genuine smile, our Sunny Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing, joyful and carefree.
Our Positively Sauvignon Blanc bursts with flavors of guava, crushed pineapple and ruby grapefruit. It’s as refreshing as a genuine smile and as carefree as a summer breeze.
Winemaking
Winemaker Casey Di Cesare likes to say that flavours are made in the vineyard. That’s why our grapes are left to hang on the vine to reach full maturity and flavor development before harvesting. Upon arrival at our estate winery, the grapes are crushed and fermented to dryness, resulting in zero residual sugar. Using proprietary technology, the alcohol is gently pulled from a portion of the wine. The result? A mindfully made wine that is zero sugar, 9% alcohol and 85 calories per serving (about 30% fewer calories than an average serving).
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"One of the best low-calorie wines I've ever tasted!" August 2022
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | United States of America |
Alcohol content
|
9% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 6.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Calories |
85 |
Sugar |
0g |
Food Matches | Perfectly pairs with vibrant summer salads, goat cheese crostini, cauliflower crust Hawaiian pizza and the sunny moments in life. |
Origin | California |
Appellation | Monterey County |
2022 Marras Los Tros Chenin Blanc
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
This wine is bursting with aromatic notes of lemon, apricot and pear.
Palate
On the palate, stone fruit and pear skin flavour characteristics are complemented by a crisp acidity and a round mouthfeel with a refreshing finish.
Winemakers Notes
Marras is the small but mighty label by talented young winemaker Martin Lamprecht, who brings fresh ideas to his current home in the Swartland. This area is a melting pot for hot new talent and South Africa's leading region for liberal winemaking and experimentation. This Chenin Blanc was handpicked and spent 6 months ageing on its fine lees in old 300-litre 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 Notes
"This is really good!! Warm rich stone fruits with wonderfully exhibitive mineral notes and fresh acidity to make it incredibly rich but perfectly balanced with great length and complexity!! Much better value wine than its cape cousins!!"
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Chenin Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Mezze, cold meats and salads |
Origin | Swartland |
Appellation | WO Swartland |
2023 Cave de Turckheim Tradition Gewurztraminer
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Textbook Alsace Gewurztraminer - elegant and harmonious.
Tasting Notes
A fantastic balance of ripeness, varietal character and finesse, with a fragrant rose water and lychee nose, lemon aromas and a slight steely character. The palate is the ideal balance of richness and freshness, with notes of rose petal, honey and faint hints of lemon.
Production
Produced traditionally by winemaker Michel Lihrmann - pneumatic pressing, temperature controlled fermentation, no fining and light filtration before bottling - to preserve the fruit, aroma and elegance of the grapes. His philosophy is to make wines with good acidity and fruit balance whilst retaining freshness and harmony.
Producer
Widely regarded as one of the best co-operatives in the world, Cave de Turckheim lies at the mouth of the Munster Valley. Working closely with 180 partners, its vineyards span the full breadth of Alsatian terroir and grape varieties. Cave de Turckheim only produces wine from the grapes of its member growers, it is a récoltant not a négociant.
Substantial investment in the winery has enabled the team to vinify many parcels of grapes separately, offering Michel Lihrmann (senior winemaker for 25 years) the chance to highlight each wine's nuances in his signature dry, yet fruit forward, style.
Committed to producing the highest quality wines, growers are encouraged to keep yields low - for example, Cave de Turckheim voluntarily caps yields for its Grands Crus vineyards at 45hl/ha rather than the permitted 55hl/ha - and to pick the grapes by hand. This is part of a long term and innovative strategy of sustainability that includes developing the largest holdings of organic vineyards in Alsace, using natural alternatives to chemical treatments, and a green overview of all vineyard practices. Alongside some great organic wines, the extensive range runs from the excellent value Tradition wines right through to individual Grand Cru bottlings, plus fantastic Crémants d’Alsace and Vendange Tardive dessert wines.
Sustainability
An awareness of social and environmental concerns has always been high on the agenda for the Cave de Turckheim’s growers. They were among the first in France to practice integrated agriculture, an approach that combines the best of modern tools and technologies with traditional practices, lowering the consumption of energy and other resources, reducing environmental pollution, conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainability. In 2014, all the members of the co-operative obtained Agri Confiance Volet Vert (Green Section) certification and in 2015, they all obtained High Environmental Value Level 2 certification. The growers are aiming for HVE Level 3 certification in late 2019.
In 2008, a number of growers decided to commit to the rigorous standards of organic viticulture. As part of Alliance Alsace, approximately 70 hectares of vines are now cultivated organically, having obtained organic certification in 2011, with a further 30 hectares in transition. These vignerons have revived ancestral practices, tilling the soil and undertaking work that facilitates the elimination of weeds and the combat against the two major diseases: powdery mildew which is tackled with sulphur and mildew which is treated with copper sulphate. Natural fertilisers are also used (nettle, horsetail, comfrey, and dandelion), fortifying the vines and increasing their natural resistance. Organic winegrowers meticulously observe their vines, enabling them to intervene in the right place and at the right time, rather than treating the plants systematically.
Turckheim’s commitment to the environment extends to the winery where it strives to conserve natural resources. Sorting waste for recycling, reducing its carbon footprint, using solar panels, and preventing pollution are just some examples of how environmental considerations are present in every aspect of its daily work. Committed to both the environment and its customers, Cave de Turckheim also plays an important role in the local economy.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gewürztraminer |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable farming |
Food Matches | Try with blue cheeses, exotic cuisine such as the lemongrass flavours of Thai food or fish/chicken curries featuring ginger, mustard seed and spice. |
Origin |
Alsace, France
|
2022 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Rose
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £12.30 Save 12%Production
THE CELLAR Fermentation - In stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks Fermentation temperature - 16 to 18°C Malolactic - No Wine maturing - For 4 months in tanks. Maturing potential - 2 to 3 years.
Producer
Lurton Family is one of the largest wine Dynasty in the world. Vignovles Andre Lurton is a family estate, established in the 1950's by Andre Lurton, and one of today's largest and most important producer of the Bordeaux region. A visionary and force of nature, Andre Lurton founded the AOC Pessac- Leognan in 1987, pioneering its aromatic white wine style. Today both reds and whites from Pessac Leognan have earned a reputation for great value. Today one of his son's is leader of the company.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Cabernet sauvignon 51%, Merlot 45%, Sémillon 4% |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Rose Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | Perfect as an aperitif followed by a buffet of cold meats, pizza, and a refreshing summer salad. |
Appellation | AOC Entre-deux-Mers |
a
2021 Brotte Esprit Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Regular price £12.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great wine with character, elegant and typical, honouring the historic grape variety and king of the southern Rhône Valley: Grenache Noir.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Medium intensity with aromas of small berry fruits and delicately spicy hints of pepper, thyme and garrigue.
Palate
Supple, silky, full-bodied and elegant with very fine tannins. Notes of undergrowth and liquorice accompany the aromas of wild red fruits and black cherries on the finish.
History
Since 1880, five generations of the Brotte family have been making wines with passion and authenticity. The fruit for this wine comes from selected small wine producers in the Rhône Valley, all of whom have been partners of Maison Brotte for several decades. The vines are planted on a very beautiful clay-silt terroir and which benefit from a lot of sunshine. The hot and dry climate therefore favours the ripening of the grapes and the good health of the vineyard.
Critics Review
- 89 points James Suckling | Very fresh red-cherry and floral aromas for this appellation, together with some healthy tannins on the full-bodied, but lively palate. Slight warmth from alcohol at the supple finish.
- 89 points Wilfred Wong of Wine.com | The 2021 Brotte Esprit Cotes du Rhone is rustic and savoury with lovely berries. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavours of ripe berries, rustic spices, and earthy notes. Pair it with a slow-cooked lamb stew. (Tasted: October 17, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Enjoy with a fresh mushroom omelette, beef tenderloin, homemade burger, veal blanquette or couscous. Or with a creamy cow's cheese such as Romans d'Isère. |
Origin |
Southern Rhône |
2019 Caravinserail 'Cascavel' Luberon Monts et Vertige Ventoux Rouge
Regular price £14.99 Sale price £12.69 Save 15%Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby red color.
Nose
The nose is dominated by fresh black fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), with notes of undergrowth, delicately spicy, finishing with mineral notes.
Mouth
The palate is tense, with a dominant fruity (cherry) and a finish of sweet spices (licorice).
Background
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Carignan, Grenache, Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2021 - 2025 |
Food & Serving Information |
Delicious with red meat in a sauce, stew of boar, deer, duck breast. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved, mostly Organic |
Origin | Rhône, Ventoux |
Appellation | AOC Ventoux |
2023 Doña Paula Unique Organic Malbec
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Moments, stories and shared drinks are Unique. This wine knows the only way is that of sustainability, is Unique.
Nose
Unique is an organic wine of intense red fruit aromas and herbal notes reminiscent of peppermint and wild herbs, with some spice.
Palate
In the mouth, it’s a medium-bodied wine, with fine-textured tannins and balanced acidity.
Vinification
Wine fermented with native yeasts and aged in concrete vessels for 10 months. It has not been aged in oak barrels, which accentuates the fruity character of this Malbec.
The Estate
Trellised, 15 years old, with traditional irrigation and grapes harvested by hand.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
Country | Argentina |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Aged | Oak aged |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian, Sustainable practices |
Food Matches | Pairs well with both red and white meat. Cheese, nuts and sauces. |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2023 Tiki Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury
Regular price £14.79 Sale price £13.31 Save 10%Colour
A delicate, pale green/gold.
Nose
Passionfruit driven on the nose, this wine presents with soft acidity across the palate, showing tropical notes of lemongrass and grassy flavours.
Palate
A rich and complex wine with a lovely balanced finish, range of flavour and length.
Vintage
The La Niña weather pattern was the dominating influence of our 2023 growing season, which brought less hot North-westerly winds, normally a mainstay of our season, and replaced them with regular cooling Easterly winds. The start to spring was cool with temperatures below average. Despite that, as the season progressed, temperatures picked up and we experienced good flowering conditions, resulting in a healthy and balanced crop. Summer saw us experience 30+ degree days mixed in with considerably colder spells. Over Autumn we experienced more of the same, with temperatures fluctuating between spells of beautiful warm sunny days, followed regularly by cold southerlies.
These weather patterns, while presenting a challenge, meant the team started picking later allowing for sugar levels to rise. Minimal rain over this time meant the fruit could be held on the vine allowing it to reach our desired levels of ripeness.
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested at maximum flavour as assessed through frequent tasting in the vineyard by the winemaker. We picked across the vineyard at different times and degrees of ripeness to allow the individual cuvees a range of site expression. Extended skin contact time was used prior to crushing to enhance extraction of the aromatic compounds. The fruit was then very gently pressed to avoid harsh phenolic extraction and the juice allowed to cold settle. The clear juice was fermented at low temperatures using a range of yeast renowned for their ability to enhance the Sauvignon Blanc aromas. A balanced amount of residual sugar was left in the wine to complement the acidity and to add palate weight and structure.
Awards & Accolades
- 17/20 Jancis Robinson
- 5 Stars (94 points) | Sam Kim Wine Orbit
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.38 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
2023-2025 – will continue to develop for a further 5 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Fresh grilled fish like calamari or swordfish, this wine is lovely with salmon flavoured with dill and recipes that include fresh herbs like basil, coriander, rocket and mint. |
Appellation | Waipara Valley, North Canterbury |
2020 MOKOBlack Pinot Noir Marlborough
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
This Pinot Noir reveals a bright nose of fresh cherries and raspberry jelly.
Palate
On the palate, there's dark cherry flavours with a lick of oak.
Production
Our Pinot Noir came from 2 vineyards - 87% Rapaura Gravels and 13% Omaka Valley clay soils which included a number of clones, 667,777,115, Abel and Clone 5. Both vineyards were pruned to 2 cane VSP and yields were naturally around the 7T/Ha mark. After green thinning on the vine the fruit was harvested over a period of 10 days from late March through to early April. Each parcel was kept separate and fermented in small open-top tanks and hand plunged up to 4 times daily. Post pressing, wine was sent to a mixture of stainless steel and French oak for Malo and ageing.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches |
Serve slightly chilled with delicate, rich and aromatic food such as duck dim sums, tempura fried vegetables and oriental salads. |
Appellation | Marlborough |
2021 Tohu Awatere Valley Unoaked Chardonnay
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
Untouched by oak, this richly textured Marlborough Chardonnay displays aromas of ripe nectarine, melon and bright citrus underpinned by complex nutty butterscotch gained from both extended time on lees and malolactic fermentation.
Palate
On the palate fresh flavours of peach and tropical fruit are balanced with subtle creaminess and great length; leading to a smooth, fresh and focused finish.
Viticulture
The grapes for this wine were sourced solely from the Rothay vineyard located in the Marlborough’s Rapaura sub-region of the Wairau Valley. Trained using a spilt-canopy trellising system, the vines were managed throughout the growing season with practices including shoot thinning, trimming and leaf plucking, allowing for an open canopy and reduced disease pressure. The vineyard’s warm daytime temperatures and stony free-draining soils helped the grapes to ripen in a difficult season, with pristine, ripe fruit was harvested earlier than average on the 30th April 2018.
Vinification
Machine harvested and fully fermented and aged in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, this wine has been created to allow the fresh complexities of the fruit to shine through without the need for any oak influence. After harvesting the grapes for this wine were transported a short distance to the winery before being gently pressed. Cold settled over 48 hours, the resulting clear juice was racked into tanks for inoculation with yeast carefully selected to retain fruit purity. After fermentation at reasonably cool temperatures, the wine then underwent secondary malo-lactic fermentation before being aged in tank. Lees stirring was employed to build texture and complexity while still retaining fruit freshness, before being filtered and bottled in February 2019 without the need for any fining.
Producer
Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in our breathtakingly beautiful, Awatere Valley vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world's first Maori-owned wine company. Since then we’ve grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | New Zealand |
|
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches |
Sweet chilli-spiced fishcakes with coriander hollandaise sauce |
Appellation | Marlborough |
2022/2023 Anthonij Rupert 'Protea' Chenin Blanc
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £11.99 Save 14%
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
About the Harvest
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
Year | 2022/2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Food Matching | Perfect with White Fish, Soft Cheese, Seafood and Salmon |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Paarl |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Cinsault Rosé
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A delicate free run Rosé of serious quality from a 30 year old bush-vine vineyard in Paarl, whose appetisingly savoury bite offsets the gentle, creamy texture.
Tasting Notes
A pale, lightly savoury Rosé of depth and purity. The older oak wraps this dry, mineral wine in a delicate creamy veil leading to a bright, structured and fine finish.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards
-
2022 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Silver
- 2021 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 - Silver
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12,5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Rose Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Drink chilled on its own or serve with fresh seafood, a quinoa and pomegranate salad or herb marinated grilled chicken tenders. |
Origin | WO Coastal Region |
2022 Waterkloof Circumstance 'Seriously Cool' Cinsault
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Vibrant red fruits on the nose with a savoury, fynbos finesse. On the palate it has ripe, black cherry fruit offset by cranberry freshness and texture with taut acidity on the finish.
Production
Seriously Cool Cinsault is crafted from 30 to 35 year old bush-vine vineyards on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar, where the bunches are hand-sorted and fermented whole-bunch in large wooden fermenters. Alcoholic fermentation starts spontaneously inside the berry from the naturally occurring yeast. After around 3 days of this intracellular fermentation the grapes are punched down twice daily with feet to ensure that the berries are broken slowly and softly and not over extracted. The wine is kept on the skins for a minimum of 30 days. ‘Powered’ through gravity alone, the wine runs down to a tank below. The remaining berries, fall into the basket press where they are gently pressed. The soft pressing and the free-run are then placed together in second and third fill 600L French oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and the wine is then aged for 8 months. This wine expresses the grapes in their purest form and no fining agents were added. Only sulphur was added and no other additions, such as tartaric acid or enzymes were allowed.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.
In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This is divine - lots of vibrant soft attractive fruits - but are they black or red or a combo of both? There’s also a lovely savouriness to the palate plus prominent herb notes - all kept fresh with a beautiful balancing activity. Real quality winemaking and lots of moreish flavour for the price. Fabulous value. It is seriously cool and serving it cool sounds attractive. It’s more a bright, vibrant lunchtime summer red than a heavier, warm, rich autumnal style." tasted August 2024
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Would pair nicely with duck, pigeon and also a rack of lamb. Lightly chilled it's a great match with a plate of spicy charcuterie. |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | South Africa |
Mas Macià Cava Brut Rosat NV
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
Generous aromas of wild berries and gentle creamy notes.
Palate
Full, fruity and concentrated on the palate with persistent bubbles and delicate red fruit on the finish.
Production Method
Made predominantly from the indigenous Trepat red variety on the 35 hectares of vineyard at the Can Macia estate, in the Anoia river basin in Odena. Made using the traditional method with secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine is matured for an extended period of 18 months before disgorgement to enhance the complex, fruity aromas.
The Estate
At 450m in altitude, the estate is the second-highest winery in the region and at the very limit of Cava production. Some of their vines are over 50 years old.
Mas Macià’s vineyards are now certified organic and the Bohigas family is planning to produce organic still wines initially before focusing upon organic Cava production.
Specifications
2022 Pazo de Monterray Godello
Regular price £13.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Aromatic and sophisticated Godello from the intriguing Monterrei region.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A crisp, aromatic white with a lifted nose of apricot blossom, citrus fruits and a touch of honey.
Palate
Very fresh acidity and mineral notes balance rich, ripe fruit characters of apple and pear on the palate. The finish has a touch of white spice and good length with a lightly bitter twist.
Production Method
Monterrei is an area rich in grape-growing and wine-making tradition, combined with a quite unique microclimate. Pazo de Monterrey takes its name from the fortressed palace that dominates the landscape - the oldedest part dating back to the 12th Century. The Godello vines grow on clay / granite soils at around 700m altitude on the slopes of the Verin valley. Grapes are typically hand harvested in late September and gently pressed. After clarification, the juice is transfered to stainless steel tanks for temperature-controlled fermentation.
Producer
The Val de Monterrei is an area of unique microclimates in south-east Galicia. It is the only Galician region that lies in the basin of the river Duero. The river Támega, a well-known tributary of the Duero, cuts through the region from north to south, moulding its slate and granitic landscape.
Pazos del Rey owns 25 hectares of vineyard on the valley’s slopes, and it's from here that Susana Pérez produces stunning wines from the local grapes: Godello, Treixadura and Mencia. She and her team dedicate themselves to teasing out the very best from these complex and exciting grape varieties.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Godello |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Salmon, seafood, chicken and crisp salads |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian, Vegan, |
Origin | Monterri |
Appellation | DO Monterri |
2023 Brotte Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun 'Bord Elegance'
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
This wine is a luminous golden yellow, it is complex, with a viognier signature.
Nose
Apricot first dominates and evolves towards green apple and sweet almond. Ripe mango and floral rose hints give it an elegant and exotic character.
Palate
The initial freshness is followed by harmonious smoothness and elegance. The wine has a good aromatic complexity, with long lasting citrus and white peach aromas.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand at maturity early in the morning. . After a strict cold settling (10-12°C), Grenache is vinified with the aim to extract most of their freshness (very low fermentation temperatures, numerous rackings …). The cuvée is aged on fine lees to bring smoothness and elegance, which are in perfect harmony with the aromatic freshness.
History
Since 1880, five generations of the Brotte family have been making wines with passion and authenticity. The fruit for this wine comes from selected small wine producers in the Rhône Valley, all of whom have been partners of Maison Brotte for several decades. The vines are planted on a very beautiful clay-silt terroir and which benefit from a lot of sunshine. The hot and dry climate therefore favours the ripening of the grapes and the good health of the vineyard.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier, and Roussanne |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 14% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
Enjoy with fish brochettes, seafood and lime, oven grilled lobster with salted butter, grilled or creamy poultry with cèpes, fresh goat cheese and mixed salad leaves, mango soup with its red fruit coulis. |
Origin |
Southern Rhône |
2021 Dornier Cocoa Hill Ruby Red
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.”
Tasting Notes
Aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is full, fresh and lively with a subtle and well-balanced tannin structure.
History
Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.
Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.
Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity.
Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.
Fermentation & Aging
All components of this blend were fermented separately in vineyard specific batches with pump-overs for colour and tannin extraction being performed five times daily. The wine was barrel matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and a small un-oaked component was used to provide a fresh and lively character.
Vintage Conditions
The vines are planted on our Groenkloof farm on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The soil is composed of coffee coloured decomposed granite. The vines get full sun which allows for optimum development of rich berry characters in the grapes.
Accolades
- 4.5 John Platter Stars
- TOP 100 SA Wines
- Veritas Silver Outstanding
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Merlot (34%), Shiraz (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (19%), Malbec (14%) and Petit Verdot (3%) |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Up to 5 years |
Food Matching | Braised oxtail, Boeuf bourguignon, charcuterie platter and smoked kudu Carpaccio. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £12.49 Sale price £10.99 Save 12%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes from the Stellenbosch and Elgin area. The wine has an attractive green tinge in the glass with intense aromas of gooseberry, ripe passion fruit and lime. The mouthfeel is lively with tastes of green melon and lemon with a lingering aftertaste.
Dornier aims to make a wine that is fresh, youthful and abundant. Balance between the fruit, alcohol and acidity is of utmost importance.
History
Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.
Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.
Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity.
Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.
Fermentation & Aging
Grapes were harvested between 19° and 23° Balling to ensure fresh acidity and riper flavours in the wine. Fermentation was at 14° Celsius with further time on the lees to add to complexity and texture.
In the Vineyard
Growing conditions during the 2022 season were almost hassle-free. The cold and wet winter season was followed by a cool spring and early summer that led to excellent flavour development in the grapes.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Up to 2 years |
Food Matching |
With its refreshing character this wine pairs well with salads, seafood and other Mediterranean dishes. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Stellenbosch & Elgin |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Cave de Turckheim Baron D'Alsace Gewurztraminer
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great introduction to the heady delights of Gewurztraminer.
Tasting Notes
Intensly perfumed Gewurztraminer with a rich palate of honeyed and rose-scented flavours.
Production
Produced in the traditional manner by winemaker Jean Michel Lihrmann in Cave de Turckheim's gravity fed cellar - pneumatic pressing, temperature controlled fermentation, no finings and light filtration before bottling - all to preserve fruit and aromatic qualities and elegance. His philosophy is to make wines with good acidity and fruit balance, based on the belief that all the qualities of the wine are already present in the grapes.
Producer
Widely regarded as one of the best co-operatives in the world, Cave de Turckheim lies at the mouth of the Munster Valley. Working closely with 180 partners, its vineyards span the full breadth of Alsatian terroir and grape varieties. Cave de Turckheim only produces wine from the grapes of its member growers, it is a récoltant not a négociant.
Substantial investment in the winery has enabled the team to vinify many parcels of grapes separately, offering Michel Lihrmann (senior winemaker for 25 years) the chance to highlight each wine's nuances in his signature dry, yet fruit forward, style.
Committed to producing the highest quality wines, growers are encouraged to keep yields low - for example, Cave de Turckheim voluntarily caps yields for its Grands Crus vineyards at 45hl/ha rather than the permitted 55hl/ha - and to pick the grapes by hand. This is part of a long term and innovative strategy of sustainability that includes developing the largest holdings of organic vineyards in Alsace, using natural alternatives to chemical treatments, and a green overview of all vineyard practices. Alongside some great organic wines, the extensive range runs from the excellent value Tradition wines right through to individual Grand Cru bottlings, plus fantastic Crémants d’Alsace and Vendange Tardive dessert wines.
Sustainability
An awareness of social and environmental concerns has always been high on the agenda for the Cave de Turckheim’s growers. They were among the first in France to practice integrated agriculture, an approach that combines the best of modern tools and technologies with traditional practices, lowering the consumption of energy and other resources, reducing environmental pollution, conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainability. In 2014, all the members of the co-operative obtained Agri Confiance Volet Vert (Green Section) certification and in 2015, they all obtained High Environmental Value Level 2 certification. The growers are aiming for HVE Level 3 certification in late 2019.
In 2008, a number of growers decided to commit to the rigorous standards of organic viticulture. As part of Alliance Alsace, approximately 70 hectares of vines are now cultivated organically, having obtained organic certification in 2011, with a further 30 hectares in transition. These vignerons have revived ancestral practices, tilling the soil and undertaking work that facilitates the elimination of weeds and the combat against the two major diseases: powdery mildew which is tackled with sulphur and mildew which is treated with copper sulphate. Natural fertilisers are also used (nettle, horsetail, comfrey, and dandelion), fortifying the vines and increasing their natural resistance. Organic winegrowers meticulously observe their vines, enabling them to intervene in the right place and at the right time, rather than treating the plants systematically.
Turckheim’s commitment to the environment extends to the winery where it strives to conserve natural resources. Sorting waste for recycling, reducing its carbon footprint, using solar panels, and preventing pollution are just some examples of how environmental considerations are present in every aspect of its daily work. Committed to both the environment and its customers, Cave de Turckheim also plays an important role in the local economy.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gewürztraminer |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable farming |
Food Matches | A classic match for spicy dishes (especially Thai) but can also be served as an alternative to red wine with strong cheeses. |
Origin |
Alsace, France
|
2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £12.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvées that are go into Coterie by Wildeberg. Semillon from Franschhoek is barrel fermented in 600 litre French and Austrian oak then aged for 10 months in barrel. Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel and kept on the gross lees for 10 months. Once the blend is decided the wine is allowed to marry in tank for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling. Semillon is aged in 36% new barrels, 44% 2nd fill, 20% stainless steel.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards
- 2022 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 Vintage)
- 2023 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2022 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Semillion, 20% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
13% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | Great with white fish, roast chicken dishes, or tiger prawns with chilli. |
Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Chardonnay
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.
Luckily, this story is true.
The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone
Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.
Tasting Notes
Floral honeysuckle, peach and pear make up the aroma, with a smooth palate of lemon, nashi pear and nectarine before a long lingering finish.
Winemaking
After crushing and gentle pressing, the juice was clarified by flotation. The pressings were oxidatively handled as juice while the free run was treated anaerobically. The fermentations were carried out by wild yeasts and took place over 18 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine remained on yeast lees for 8 months
Region
The chardonnay grapes for this dry white were harvested at 12.5° Baumé on the 26th February and 14th March 2019 in Mudgee and Orange, New South Wales. The chardonnay vineyards were 46 and 19 years old respectively.
The 2019 growing season was warm and very dry in the NSW Central Ranges, however enough well-spaced rain events across the season allowed the grapes to progress through to ripeness without suffering undue stress. These conditions resulted in a compact harvest period with clean fruit and yields per vine a little lower than average. Ripeness occurred at low sugar levels resulting in generally low alcohol in the wines.
One vineyard is trained to Geneva Double Curtain Trellis type, with the other being Vertical Shoot Position (VSP).
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Mudgee & Orange Regions |
Origin | Australia |
2021 Domaine de la Rochette Touraine Gamay
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This is Gamay Noir with white juice. The vines resulting from massal and clonal selections are between between 10 and 30 years old. Planting density is 6500 vines per hectare. Average yields are 50 to 55 Hl/Ha, barely a liter of grape juice per vine.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Ruby-red colour, bold, garnet red highlights.
Nose
Aromatic, elegant, subtle violet aromas, intense fresh fruit aromas, subtle strawberry aromas, generous raspberry aromas, subtle cinnamon aromas.
Palate
Elegant, delicate, smooth, violet overtones, generous fresh fruit hints, vanilla hints, fresh tannin, round, slightly mineral, light body, good intensity, long length.
Soil
The soil type "Perruche" is made of flint clay with more or less silica and gravel. Most of the plots are on the first Cher's hillsides, with good exposure and a fairly large slope allowing the flow of excess water.
Vinification
The berries are picked and sorted for quality. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, which allows a natural micro-oxygenation of the juice. The fermentation is of “semi carbonic” type, which is to stay shielded from air and in an environment of carbon dioxide, making it possible to obtain more elegant and fruity aroma.
The history of Domaine de la Rochette en Loire
Domaine de la Rochette has been in Vincent Leclair's family for four generations. Taking over his father's fifty hectares of vines in 2014, Vincent Leclair has made a few changes to the management of the vineyard, adding his own touch. For example, he keeps the grass in the rows to enrich the soil via other types of plant, and he has also stopped using insecticides, preferring instead sexual confusion hormones: a highly effective means of combating insects harmful to the vines. He then invested in new equipment, much more precise in its application.
These include new tanks and new tractors. Although he is an enthusiast of organic viticulture, he admits that it is rather difficult to implement because the Touraine region experiences a lot of rain throughout the year, resulting in a higher risk of disease. With his new equipment, he has nevertheless managed to reduce his treatments by around 50%. Treatments against mildew and powdery mildew, two diseases that are rampant in the vineyards, are therefore carried out as little as possible. The estate is HVE certified.
Accolades
- Silver Medal - Concours des vins des Vignerons Indépendants 2023
- Gold Medal - Concours international Gilbert et Gaillard 2023
Specifications
Vintage | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 75cl |
Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12% alcohol |
Units of Alcohol per bottle | 9 units of alcohol |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Drink within 3 years at a temperature of around 8-10°C. |
Food Matching |
Enjoy with red meats, cold cuts, and goat's cheese |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Origin | Loire Valley |
Appellation |
AOC Touraine |
NV Krohn Ruby Port, DOC Porto
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Rich and full Ruby Port, with a smooth, soft finish. Krohn's 'entry-level' is in a different category to most Ruby Ports - mature and versatile.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep red colour.
Nose
Fresh, plummy fruit aromas with a hint of spice.
Palate
The palate has plenty of lively cherry and curranty black fruit - rich and full with a soft finish
Production
Traditional grape varieties are sourced from Krohn's own vineyards, and supplemented by fruit from neighbouring farms working in partnership with Krohn. Here old vines are planted in schistous soils. Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, which is interrupted by the addition of grape spirit to preserve a certain degree of natural sweetness. This wine is a blend of different grapes, vineyards and vintages. Maturation - aged for 2 to 3 years in large, old oak barrels.
Producers
Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category. Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is an grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.
Sustainability
The Krohn estate - which is part of the Taylor Fladgate portfolio has long been committed to the ecological well-being of their vineyards and the Douro valley. To this aim they have developed a model for sustainable vineyard cultivation designed for the steep hillsides of the Douro, where 28,000ha of vineyard (62% of the vineyard area of the region) is planted on hillsides with a gradient over 30%. This involves the construction of narrow terraces inclined at 3º to the horizontal – to allow the perfect balance between rainwater run-off and its penetration of the soil. This avoids top soil erosion which is a key challenge in mountain viticulture.
These terraces each support just one row of vines, and alongside the vines a temporary carpet of selected plant species is sown. This flourishes between November and late spring, preventing invasive plants from taking hold, and eliminating the need for herbicides to control unwanted vegetation.
The cover crop dies back naturally with the onset of summer, when the vines are active. The terrace system leaves tracks between the single row of vines and the foot of the bank, allowing access for machinery to mow any unwanted vegetation into a natural mulch. The mulch reduces water loss and restores natural organic matter to the soil. The absence of herbicides means that vegetation can regenerate easily and naturally each year. They also work hard to ensure the correct selection of vine varieties and their distribution within the vineyard, so that varieties can thrive naturally in each location, developing their own unassisted natural resistance to drought, disease and vineyard pests.
Alongside this Sustainable viticulture model the estate produces renewable energy with photovoltaic panels and has robust energy, water and waste management policies.
This vineyard model earned the Partnership the prestigious BES Biodiversity prize in 2009 (recognising achievement in the fields of conservation and environmental sustainability).
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa,Tinta Barroca |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content | 20% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 15 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Serve after a meal as a digestif with hard cheeses, chestnuts, cashews and hazelnuts. Works as a perfect accompaniment to berries, summer pudding and chocolate too! |
Origin | Douro Valley |
Appellation | DOC Porto |
2022 Finca Ambrosia Casa Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%It is a lively and easy-going red wine, with fine-grained tannins that give it a smooth mouthfeel.
4,800 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
The Casa Cabernet Sauvignon is lively and easy-going on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that give it a smooth mouthfeel. It delivers aromas of delicious juicy red and black fruit notes and an underlayer of grilled green pepper. It offers a clean fruit profile and bright acidity, making it an approachable and enjoyable unoaked red wine for any occasion.
Vintage
2022 was a long and dry growing season of outstanding quality. Veering on the cooler side of average temperatures, yields were still plentiful, and grapes achieved ideal ripeness throughout a very long cycle. Rainfall was limited, but abundant glacial water and sporadic showers were timed perfectly to help the vine’s balance. After cooler autumn and ideal growing conditions in February and March, we were able to produce wines with remarkable quality.
History
It was the year 2002 when a group of friends decided to invest in Argentina. They knew little about wine production, but all were passionate wine lovers and excited about the vision of bringing Argentine wines to the world stage. They bought the land that would become Finca Ambrosia and set about turning their idea into reality. At this time, the Gualtallary district began to attract the interest of wine producers, primarily because of its outstanding soil and climate characteristics. Encouraged by the positive forecasts, the friends bought 3 more plots over the years, from which the current winery emerged. Today, Gualtallary is considered the best terroir for producing premium wines in the province of Mendoza.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Aging | Concrete vats |
Dietary Information | Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Gualtallary, Uco Valley |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2022 Rivera Castel del Monte Bombino Bianco DOC Marese
Regular price £13.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%100% Bonbino Bianco grown in Adria in Castel del Monte, the wine is delicious, aromatic and refreshing.
The advanced degree of ripeness of the grapes is balanced by the good acidity typical of this variety, resulting in a wine with intense and complex aromas and excellent drinkability and freshness.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale straw yellow colour
Nose
On the nose emerge hints of white flowers such as jasmine, and fruity white peach and green apple
Palate
On the palate it is full, fresh and fruity, well balanced by a pleasant acidic note.
Producer
Marese Rivera is produced from native Bombino bianco grapes in the territories included in the Castel del Monte Docg recognized in 2011, to seal the great quality of the wines that are produced there. The grapes are harvested at the end of September with an advanced degree of ripeness, in order to balance their natural acidity and express the varietal character to the maximum. The aromas are fresh and fruity with notes of rennet apple and the same sensations are found on the palate where the acidic note makes the sip very pleasant.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Bombino Bianca (aka Trebbiano) |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2-3 years |
Food Pairings |
Well expressed in combination with appetizers and fish-based dishes.
|
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Puglia
|
Appellation | Castel del Monte DOCG |
2024 Iona Monipole, Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An elegant, well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc - Iona's Wine Making Philosophy - 'The Winemaker is the Custodian of the fruit'
Tasting Notes
Beautiful purity of limes and ripe gooseberry, with tropical, floral and fine herbal notes, ruby grapefruit and white pear drop on the finish. This is cool climate Sauvignon Blanc – vibrant, mineral, elegant, balanced and delicate, with a long, layered and complex finish.
Producer
At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape. In a country where cool climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. There is an extremely long growing season, allowing Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The approach is hands off and the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices with a particular focus on ensuring the health of the soils whilst pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.
Production
"We aim for elegance, balance and to express the unique terroir of the Elgin Highlands. Grapes were hand-picked into crates early in the morning to ensure that the grapes stayed cool. Each of the 9 blocks are harvested and vinified separately. After gentle pressing, the must was settled, maintaining a temperature of 6-8°C. Fermentation occurred at 14-16°C, using different commercial yeast strains particularly suited to Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was kept on the gross lees for 5 months and stirred regularly to enhance the richness of the mid-palate. The Sémillon component was fermented naturally in 2nd and 3rd fill 500L French oak barrels to enhance the mid palate weight and to add complexity to the wine. A selection of different Sauvignon Blanc vineyard sites were naturally fermented in 500L French oak barrels. The barrel fermentation component made up 4% of the final blend.
Accolades & Awards
Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2024 91 Points
Iona's spectacularly sited parcels are some of the highest and most dramatic in Elgin, producing a quintessential cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. Perfumed, salty and stony, this has layers of lime and grapefruit, a touch of vanilla and a briney finish. 2024-27. 91 Points, TA, 2024.
Specifications
Year | 2024 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 96% Sauvignon Blanc, 4%Semillon |
Country | South Africa |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units per bottle |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matching | Fresh asparagus complements chicken and seafood dishes beautifully, yet it's also delightful on its own. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Elgin |
Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2024 Stella Bella Muscat (375ml)
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The wine has an immensely appealing bouquet of rosewater and Turkish Delight, intertwined with orange blossom and musk. The spritzy palate is brightly fruity, displaying fresh strawberry and Turkish Delight flavours, combining zesty fresh acidity with around 80g/l of residual sugar to deliver a supple, fresh and delicate finish.
Producer
This boutique winery in the heart of Margaret River creates idiosyncratic named ranges like Suckfizzle in a low interventionist and organic way keeping their approach as simple as possible to allow their cherished vineyards to show their quality.
It is not merely in the names where these wines are memorable, as once you have tasted them you will see why Luke Jolliffe, the winemaker, continues to receive recognition and awards from around the world for wines that have that wonderful Margaret River restraint and elegance, but are bound together with a fruit purity that makes them delectable.
Production
The Muscat grapes are hand picked then cooled before crushing in the press and remain on their skins for around 6 hours to extract colour and flavour. After pressing, the juice is settled bright, and then fermented at approximately 12 degrees c with an aromatic yeast strain. When the desired alcohol level is reached, the fermentation is stopped by rapid cooling in order to maintain the natural grape sugars and the carbon dioxide gas evolved during the fermentation process. Bottling occurs in May of the vintage year, in time for a spring release.
Specifications
Year | 2024 |
Bottle Size | 375ml |
Cultivar | 100% Muscat Rose à Petits Grains |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
7.3% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 2.7 units |
Type | Sweet Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic |
Food Matches |
Indulge in a silky panna cotta adorned with a vibrant raspberry jelly or savor the rich flavors of creamy blue cheese paired with sweet, dried muscatels.
|
Origin | Margaret River |
2020 Lurton Chateau Bonnet Reserve Blanc
Regular price £15.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
In the cellar, fermentation follows skin contact and settling, taking place in oak barrels. The fermentation temperature is maintained between 18 to 23°C. Malolactic fermentation does not occur. The wine matures in oak barrels with a potential maturing period of 1 to 5 years. The maturation process continues in oak barrels for 9 months.
Producer
Lurton Family is one of the largest wine Dynasty in the world. Vignovles Andre Lurton is a family estate, established in the 1950's by Andre Lurton, and one of today's largest and morst important producer of the Bordeaux region. A visionary and force of nature, Andre Lurton founded the AOC Pessac- Leognan in 1987, pioneering its aromatic white wine style. Today both reds and whites from Pessac Leognan have earned a reputation for great value. Today one of his son's is leader of the company.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Semillion |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
13% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | The ideal accompaniment for a shrimp-based starter, grilled fish, or even goat's cheese would be a wine that complements the flavors. A crisp white wine or a light-bodied red, avoiding those with heavy tannins, would pair beautifully with these dishes. |
Appellation | AOC Entre-deux-Mers |
a