- Alicante Bouschet
- Antão Vaz
- Aragonês
- Arinto
- Bobal
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Durello
- Espadeiro
- Garganega
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Grillo
- Loureiro
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Muscat
- Palomino
- Pedro Ximénez
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Primitivo
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tempranillo Blanco
- Teroldego
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Verdejo
- Verdicchio
- Viognier
- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
- Alicante Bouschet
- Antão Vaz
- Aragonês
- Arinto
- Bobal
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Durello
- Espadeiro
- Garganega
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Grillo
- Loureiro
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Muscat
- Palomino
- Pedro Ximénez
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Primitivo
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tempranillo Blanco
- Teroldego
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Verdejo
- Verdicchio
- Viognier
- Viura Blanco / Macabeu / Macabeo
An 'Aladdin's Cave of Wines await you here!
Virtuoso Pink Zinfandel N/V
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Decanal Pink Zinfandel grapes are selected from low-yielding vineyards in the Salento Peninsula to the south of Puglia. Vines are trained with Spalliera method.
Tasting Notes
It has a lovely fresh bouquet of strawberries, with a lively palate awash with ripe summer fruits.
Vinification
Fermentation
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Primitivo |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 10.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.88 units |
Type | Rosé |
Food Matches | Ideal on its own or with light meat dishes. |
Cellaring Potential | 1 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Puglia IGT |
2023 Camarada Malbec
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A wine with a conscience! It was bottled using only clean and renewable energy. So you can drink this wine and know that it didn’t ‘cost the earth’ (in more ways than one).
Tasting Notes
Nose
Rich and vibrant with notes of blueberry and blackberry on the nose.
Palate
This Malbec is well-balanced with lush fruit flavours of boysenberry and brambles, complimented by hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and spice with a long, spicy finish.
Production
Grapes are hand-harvested at the beginning of March and delivered to the winery in the same day. Stems are removed, then traditional fermentation at 22-24C for 6 - 10 days. Grapes are crushed using gentle pneumatic bag presses. Malolactic fermentation takes place to give organoleptic complexity to the wine. 50% of the wine is aged in new inner-staves for 5 months (70% French Oak and 30% American Oak) and micro-oxygenation.
Did you know?
The province of Mendoza is larger than England!
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Wow - this is stunning - I bought it because it hits a price point between entry toro Pintado/ steakmaket and the more premium la Linda/quinde etc. if ever a wine was needed to demonstrate ‘bang for buck’ - this is it!! Delicious red and black fruits with great balance, complexity and length - this is close to knocking quinde off my ‘best Malbec’ trophy in our range - Almost but not quite but it is much better value!! 17/20 for taste/flavour but 20/20 for value!!" November 2022
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
Country | Argentina |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Suggested Serving Temp | Between 15°C and 18°C. |
Features | Vegan, Vegetarian approved & Sustainable practises |
Food Matches | It may be a cliché but this big red will go very well with a medium-rare sirloin steak, served with peppercorn sauce or other grilled meats, and pastas. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2021 Fildefere Syrah Rose
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Intense and bright pink in color.
Nose
The aroma of this wine is powerful and contains notes of red fruits and flowers.
Palate
In the mouth the wine is soft, round and fruity. The aftertaste is harmonious, fresh and pleasant.
Vinification
This rosé has first undergone a cold maceration of 18 hours. This is that the crushed grapes have been refrigerated for 18 hours. After this, Fildefere Syrah Rosé matured in stainless steel tanks that are thermo-regulated. This is done to allow the aromas to develop.
Soil
The soil of the vineyards where these grapes come from consists of gravel, clay and limestone.
Alan's Personal Notes
'Well - this is a true WOW! A serious rose with great depth, complexity and power driving beautiful red soft fruit aromas and flavours with not a hint of residual sugar in sight!'
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Rosé Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment - best enjoyed young. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Sauvion Fildefere Syrah Rosé is delicious as an aperitif. Also delicious at the barbecue. |
Origin |
Languedoc Roussillon |
Appelation | IGP Pays d'Oc |
2019 Borsao Blanco Macabeo
Regular price £6.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
Colour
A young wine with a pale straw colour.
Nose
Lightly floral aromas with peach and citrus.
Palate
The palate has stone fruit and textural, savoury characters with a fresh and fruity finish.
Production
100% Macabeo grown on alluvial soils in the foothills of the Moncayo mountain. After harvesting, pressing and chilling the must - a short period of skin contact is followed by long slow fermentation at controlled temperature of 22ºC - 26ºC in stainless steel tanks.
Producers
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes, vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimum acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi-award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. Much of its vineyard area is planted with Garnacha which traditionally has been bush trained. Until recently, newer plantings were wire trained for easier harvesting, but because of the greater exposure to sunlight of this training method the vines can require up to 50% more water. As a result, all new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water.
Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion; they contribute to a better soil structure, increasing its organic, nutrient and nitrogen content; they improve biodiversity in the vineyard since organic matter is a food source for several macro- and micro-organisms; they often increase the population of earthworms which are good indicators of soil fertility; they improve fauna above the soil, providing habitat and food for beneficial insects; they regulate vine growth, helping to control the yield and quality of grapes and wine; and they reduce the vegetative vigour of vines and thus their susceptibility to grey mould and downy mildew. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
The new cellar is well insulated to reduce the need for cooling systems and to minimise energy consumption; all the chambers are equipped with automatic LED lighting; all of the bottling lines have been designed to reduce noise and to minimise the need to move dry goods and floor stock items; all hot water installations are solar-powered; the greater part of the electricity used for illumination is produced by solar panels; and every single drop of rainwater from the vast roof is collected and recycled. Planned new offices will also be equipped with solar panels and other energy-saving mechanisms.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Macabeo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Features | Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Seafood dishes, tapas and salads and delicious with classic Spanish paella |
Origin | Campo de Borja DO |
Appellation | D.O. Campo de Borja |
Fontessa Prosecco Spumante Brut NV
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An appealing and very approachable Prosecco, and now with a more stylish and contemporary label!
Prosecco is a sparkling wine found in the northeast of Italy, located in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia wine Regions. The two regions are protected from the northern winds by the Alps and the Dolomites but are also influenced by their proximity to the Adriatic Sea.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and fruity Prosecco with aromas of citrus and green apple. The palate has ripe grapey characters, zesty acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.
Production
From selected parcels of Glera grapes grown northeast of Treviso. Hand harvested at optimum ripeness. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation in tank, lasting 4 weeks.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Producer
- Bronze at the 2019 Sommelier Wine Awards (N/V)
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Glera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Perfect aperitif wine, or serve with light salads and starters. |
Origin | Veneto, Italy |
Appellation | DOC Veneto |
2022 Ananto Organic Macabeo
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A beautifully packaged, organic, Macabeo from Manuel Olmo's meticulous vineyards in Utiel-Requena.
Gently floral and lightly tropical aromas lead to a palate with crisp citrus and white peach characters. A gentle and appealing white - well-balanced with fresh acidity.
Production Method
Vineyards are located in the north-west corner of Utiel Requena, 900 meters above sea level. Wines are made from organically grown grapes in vineyards cultivated using natural fertilisers, cover crops, biological control of pests and not using any chemical products that may damage the health of the environment. Grapes are cooled and undergo cold maceration for 12-24 hours and fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 15 days.
Producer
The 67 hectare Finca Fuenteseca estate lies in Utiel Requena, a high, rugged plateau, nearly 1,000 meters above sea level just inland from Valencia. The combination of hot, dry summers, cold nights and poor, limestone soil make the area relatively free of vine diseases and so ideal for organic farming. The entire estate is now dedicated to organic production and producing blends combining indigenous and international varieties.
A Note on Sustainability
Along with all its wines being certified organic and vegan, Sierra Norte is keenly involved in projects run by its D.O. that benefit local people and which defend the products of its region. In a wider environmental sense, Sierra Norte is developing a wastewater project by installing a treatment system plant to reuse water, as well as being involved in a photovoltaic solar panel installation project.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Macabeo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic, Sustainable |
Food Matches | Ideal to accompany pasta, fish, seafood and white meats. |
Origin | Utiel Requena |
Appellation | DOP Utiel Requena |
2021 Villa la Pagliaia Chianti Classico (375ml Half Bottle)
Regular price £7.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh, approachable style of Chianti Classico (in a half bottle) 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.
Production
The grapes come from the estate's own 350-400m altitude vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone, near Castel 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 last for 8-10 days (at 28-30ºC) followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 10-12 months.
Producer
The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cyprus trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.
Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 375ml |
Cultivar | 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 4.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | A good match for spicy pasta dishes, sausages and red meat. |
Origin | Toscana, Italy |
Appellation | DOCG Chianti Classico |
2021 Domaine Saint Paul Grenache Gris Rosé
Regular price £10.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This certified Organic & Vegan-Friendly rosé is possibly the prettiest pink we have!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale salmon pink color
Nose
It's delicate peachy colour reflects the exotic stone fruit and orange blossom on the nose
Palate
On the palate the wine has a softness and texture that some rosés lack, yet it retains a freshness to the finish. This wine fits perfectly into the centre ground between the more common summer fruit dominated rosés and the more textured white of the south of France.
Vinification
Direct pressing in a pneumatic press, settling after 48 hours at 8°C, alcoholic fermentation after yeasting at 14°C. Racking of wines and sulphating. No malolactic fermentation.
Estate
Domaine Saint-Paul is a fabulous organic estate, located close to Béziers in the commune of Colombiers in the heart of the Languedoc. Their focus is on traditional southern French grape varieties, with a huge amount of emphasis on work carried out in the vineyard to ensure the quality of grapes harvested is absolutely first class.
This hard work has resulted in a trio of exceptional wines.
Made predominantly from Grenache 'Gris' grapes that turn a pale pinky-grey colour when they ripen, this rosé is possibly the most attractive shade of pink of any we stock. Certified organic and vegan friendly.
Soil Type
The soil is mainly made up of limestone marl. There are traces of ancient fossilized mussels and oysters. These light soils allow a deep rooting of the vines which promotes the development and balance of the wines.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Grenache & Cinsault |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | 1-2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic and Vegan Approved |
Food Matches | It will be appreciated as an aperitif or with grilled meats and mixed salads. Serve chilled at 8C. |
Origin | Languedoc Roussillon |
Appellation | Pays D'Oc
|
2021 Dry River Chardonnay (187ml Single Serve)
Regular price £1.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The rivers of Australia help to irrigate the vineyards. Although water is important; the drier the river the better the concentration of flavours in our wines. We are working in close partnership with a family-owned winery, which prides themselves on producing consistent and good quality wines. After harvest, our wine buyer traveled to Australia to specially select these wines for this range.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Light straw in colour
Nose
Dry River Chardonnay displays an enticing nose of peach, citrus and lemon aromas.
Palate
The tropical fruit flavours and luscious mouth feel mid-palate complement each other to deliver a deliciously rounded wine with a crisp and clean finish, balanced nicely by acidity.
Oak Treatment - Aged with French and American Oak Chips
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml & 187ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Serve lightly chilled, it is an ideal accompaniment to smoked salmon or trout. |
Origin | Southern Australia |
2020 Monte da Ravasqueira 'Guarda Rios Branco'
Regular price £9.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fresh white blend of native Antão Vaz & Arinto grapes.
Tasting Notes
Made with the Antão Vaz and Arinto grape varieties by the Monte da Ravasqueira Estate, so typical to the region. Marked by fresh yellow fruits, mango, citrus fruits with a well-defined acidity and freshness.
In the wine cellar, these grapes were vinified at low temperatures in order to preserve the intensity of the aromas and flavours so typical of this region’s grape varieties. The wine was fermented in stainless steel vats and partially aged on fine fermentation lees.
Information about Monte da Ravasqueira
Located in the municipality of Arraiolos, about an hour’s drive from Lisbon, the Monte da Ravasqueira estate occupies a vast area of typical Alentejan landscape. The excellent geological conditions and the unusually cool climate are well suited to the production of some of the best wine that the Alentejo has to offer. A great deal has been invested in planting vines and acquiring sophisticated, modern winemaking equipment.
The vines are planted in clay limestone soil with granite outcrops which lend the grapes their distinctive minerality and freshness. This Guarda Rios Branco is a fresh white blend of native Antão Vaz and Arinto, grown on five hectares of clay limestone soil with granite. Hand-harvested, the juice remains on the lees with a little influence from battonage for 3 months before bottling. A bright example from this region reinvented.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Dry, fresh and clean with delightful Mango, Apple and Guava fruit aromas and flavours. A very pretty and effervescent light white - perfect as a crowd-pleasing aperitif - or great with light salads and fish dishes! Very attractive!!" Tasted September 2021
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Antão Vaz and Arinto |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.38 units |
Type | White Blend |
Food Matches | A good accompaniment for light dishes of medium-fat fishes and white meats, due to the freshness it displays along with its intense nature. |
Origin | Alentejo |
2022 Borsao Chardonnay Macabeo Seleccion
Regular price £9.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Stone fruit and limey citrus aromas; with nectarine, subtle pineapple characters and a creamy mouthfeel. Gentle and well-integrated oak.
Production
Selected grapes from vines grown on stony, sandy soils, at an altitude of 500 metres. Hand harvested mid–end September. Temperature-controlled fermentation of between 14º-18º C in stainless steel, then matured in French oak bordelaise barrels for three months.
History
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimium acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi-award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. All new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water. Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
Awards
- 2017 Vintage - Bronze at the 2019 Sommelier Wine Awards
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 50% Macabeo & 50% Chardonnay |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Food Matches | Perfect with creamy chicken and tarragon, or chicken and leek pie. |
Allergy Information | Contains Sulphites |
Appellation | DO Campo de Borja |
2020 PEMO Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of black cherries and violets on the nose.
Palate
A deeply characterful wine, it is really soft and velvety, with red berry fruits, and a smooth, gentle finish. It has noticeable, but subtle and well-integrated tannins which help give this wine a lovely structure and mouthfeel. The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.
Producers
The PEMO range of wines celebrates two grapes from Abruzzo – Pecorino (PE) and Montepulciano (MO). These two grapes have been growing in this region since 200 AD.
- Produced in a modern way, while respecting local wine making traditions.
- Eat anything from barbecued meats to stews to pizza with PEMO Montepulciano.
- Montepulciano is a native Italian grape variety from Abruzzo.
- Originates from the rugged, mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Medium bodied with red berry/cherry fruits. A bit of spice gives it an extra dimension. Low acidity gives it a real softness and smoothness - a real easy drinker.
No oak characteristics coming through so it’s a fruity, modern, stainless steel style. As montepulciano in this area is pretty prolific these wines were historically used for blending or ended up in the German market. Now production is cut back and wines recognised on their own merits! Got to be one of our best value reds right now!" October 2022
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Montelpulciano |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | Ideal with red meats, stews and pizza. |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 2 years |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Abruzzo |
2022 Portraits of America L.A. Zin, White Zinfandel Rosé
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Portraits of America is a range of classic Californian wines captured in classic and contemporary American art themes.
Tasting Notes
Luscious strawberry ice cream on the nose supported by a bright, berry-fruited palate and an off-dry finish.
Production
Selected from old vine vineyards in the region of central California. 100% zinfandel grapes, lightly crushed to create a pretty pink wine. Vinified in stainless steel tanks.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Zinfandel |
Country | USA |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Serve chilled and drink with friends. |
Origin | California |
2019 The Big Top Chardonnay
Regular price £8.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Classic Californian Chardonnay loads of ripe tropical fruit and a fresh clean finish thanks to no oak influence.
Tasting Notes
Bright and aromatic Chardonnay with notes of ripe tropical fruit. The palate is clean with a pure fruit driven expression. Mango and pineapple combine with green apple give a fantastically fruit driven style of Californian Chardonnay.
Production
The grapes are selected from Chardonnay vineyards in the Lodi region of central California. After being destemmed and crushed, the wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | USA |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type |
White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites and no other allergens |
Food Matches |
A versatile wine that goes well with anything from salads, seafood, pasta, chicken, pizza or just on its own. |
Appellation | Lodi, Central California |
2022 Melea Organic Tempranillo
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Background
The creation of Melea Organic was a labour of love for us all. William Long spent years searching for the right winery to supply the organic, vegan-certified and wild-fermented wines, his son Freddie handled the launch and the label features an original bee motif created by his wife, artist Barbara Long, from recycled threads.
Named after a rare species of bee, everything about the range is created with sustainability in mind, from the lightweight bottles to the stone paper labels, made from a by-product of the quarrying process using a lot less water than normal paper. Melea was also the first Spanish wine brand to become a member of 1% for the Planet. Melea has donated thousands of dollars to bee conservation charities since its launch in 2020. Melea Organic also has an Instagram page to share information on the brand’s sustainable values.
The Vineyards
Fruit comes from organically certified, bush-trained, dry-farmed vines in the Cuenca area of La Mancha. The vineyards were planted in 1999 and are at an altitude of 660m with sandy-clay soils, low in organic matter and high in chalk and limestone. This suppresses yields to just 3-4kg per plant, giving greater quality grapes and red wines with the structure to age well. The extreme continental climate means there is a high diurnal temperature range conserving freshness and increasing aromatic intensity. The lack of rainfall reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Production
Fermented with native yeasts, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in tank. Fined using vegan-friendly pea protein.
Producer
The family winery is located in Alicante and is a leader in the production of high-quality, organic wines. They are IFS-certified and produce wines with organic and vegan certification.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan, Vegetarian & Organic |
Food Matches | Simple Tapas dishes including olives, Manchego cheese and sundried tomatoes. |
Origin | Alicante |
Appellation | VdiT Castilla |
2021 Vega Piedra Rioja Tempranillo Tinto
Regular price £8.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Approachable, unoaked, young Rioja
Nose
On the nose, a young Rioja with lifted red berry fruit and hints of spice.
Palate
Bright red fruit with smooth tannins and a fresh finish
Production
The Tempranillo grapes are harvested in early October from vineyards in Rioja Alta. Vines on average 10-20 years old and the wine is unoaked.
Producer
Spanish wine has always played an important part in the Boutinot portfolio. We represent over 50 wineries that provide wines of great quality, value and interest from all corners of the country. For over 15 years we’ve worked in partnership with a handful of these wineries on ‘own label’ projects, combining their expertise and our passion for Spanish wines to bring our customers honest and eminently drinkable wines which we believe offer good value for money.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian. Vegan |
Food Matches | Drink with lamb kebabs, grilled chicken, stuffed peppers. |
Appellation | D.O.Ca. Rioja |
2022 Peacock Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fine example of South Africa's signature grape variety.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose is both savoury with stone fruits, pear, notes of the local fynbos and a distinct note of oregano.
Palate
On the palate it is delightful to find notes of wild honey often true to naturally fermented Chenin Blanc.
Production
The grapes for Peacock Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc are sourced from The Helderberg Ward on the coastal outreaches of Stellenbosch. Old bushvine vineyards (20 - 50 years old), planted in Chenin-friendly soils, have over time found their natural balance and it definitely shows in the wine. The Helderberg and Schapenberg are also known for the large expanses of indigenous flora (fynbos and proteas) and fauna such as caracal, bat-eared foxes, leopards and of course, peacocks.
In fact, four of South Africa's twenty WWF Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Champions (which includes Waterkloof amongst their number) are located on the Schapenberg and Helderberg alone. In addition to sourcing fruit from neighbouring vineyards, there is also a portion of wine from Waterkloof's biodynamic vineyard used in the Peacock Wild Ferment range.
Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand-harvested, then whole-bunch pressed in a horizontal basket press for only the finest juice. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with wild yeast in a combination of old 600litre barrels and concrete eggs. The wine then spends a minimum of 6 months on lees before bottling. No additions other than sulphur. Vegan friendly wine.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian & Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
A really versatile wine that will go with a variety of dishes. Try creamy chicken dishes, belly of pork, fresh pasta and carbonara. |
Origin | Western Cape |
Fedele Catarratto Pinot Grigio IGP
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The bouquet shows tropical fruit with hints of citrus. There is a perfect balance of pure tropical fruit on the palate, with a backbone of acidity. The Fedele is actually a blend of Catarratto, which gives some body, cream and some delicate pear and ripe melon flavours, whilst the Pinot Grigio brings some hints of peach and stoned fruit and an incredible freshness.
Vineyards & Winemaking
Grapes: 60% Catarratto 40% Pinot Grigio. Both grape varieties are grown in organic vineyards in the Trapani area. The two different grape varieties are vinified separately, temperature-controlled fermentations then blended and left on the fine lees until the end of the year.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Catarratto 40% Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% abv |
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matching | Enjoy with shellfish, Vegetarian foods, appetizers, and snacks |
Cellaring Potential |
For immediate enjoyment - best served chilled. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
Appelation | Sicily IGP |
2021 Smalltown Vineyards 'The Next Big Thing' Chardonnay
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
With the faintest whiff of biscuity oak this bright, tangy Barossa Chardonnay is an absolute delight. It has that classical Barossa charm, elegance, poise, tang and naggingly more-ish elusive something-or-other which makes one wonder why there isn't more Australian Chardonnay.
Production
Grapes are hand-harvested from an old block on the Binder family Barossa vineyards. Small batches of Chardonnay are picked and pressed through a tank press with some skin contact. 25% is fermented in French puncheons and American hogsheads for 6 months, aged on lees then blended with the 75% unoaked juice, settled, and bottled. Into the main Barossa blend, a small component of Eden Valley Chardonnay is blended and the whole sees a tiny bit of secondary use oak for some fine structure.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Anything with chicken, pork, prawns, seafood... Brilliant as a quaffer or perfect with a lovingly cooked meal. |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa Valley |
2020 Château Mazetier Bordeaux Rouge
Regular price £9.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Summertime Claret! This lovely Bordeaux blend pairs easy to meats, cheeses and flavourful vegetable dishes.
Tasting Notes
Colour
With the first pour, the wine is visually striking, with a dark ruby body and a scarlet rim.
Nose
On the nose, it is aromatic with fresh red fruit (think wild cherry and ripe raspberry) rising from the glass, mixed with notes of cassis and spice.
Palate
On the palate, more dark cherry and silky lavender fill the mouth with a light mineral presence and a soft, elegant finish.
Producer
This domaine is owned by Pascal Pallaruelo, a Frenchman with Spanish heritage who produces generous and enjoyable wines year after year. Part of a new generation of Bordeaux producers, Pascal runs his 20-hectare domaine with his wife Karine. The vineyards are in Entre-Deux-Mers, the village of Saint Andre-du-Bois and are farmed with “lutte raisonnee” methodology.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Simply textbook claret - loadsa summer fruits - think cherries and berries - with some underlying spice and soft silky tannins - a great drinker for a tenner - and looks the part to boot!" May 2022Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
70% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, grown on 30-year-old vines. |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Enjoy young! |
Food Matches |
This is one of the best to be enjoyed with a grilled burger. It will also go well with grilled steak with pommes frites. |
Origin | Bordeaux |
2021 The Landings Chardonnay Colombard
Regular price £7.40 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Andrew Peace wines is a family owned and operated business, comprising a modern winery and a 180 hectares wine grape vineyard. The Peace family’s achievements in creating a commercially successful vineyard/winery business in recent years have been little short of amazing, demonstrating a strong capacity to utilise technology, with enormous hard work and exceptional planning skills.
Tasting Notes
The Colombard and Chardonnay grapes are just made for each other and with the skill of a talented winemaker, we have developed a very refreshing white wine with lively citrus fruit characteristics and crisp, fresh acidity.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Chardonnay & 40% Colombard |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites, skim milk |
Food Matches | Chicken, seafood, summer salads. |
Origin | South Eastern Australia |
2021 Racovita Pinot Grigio
Regular price £7.99 Sale price £7.39 Save 8%Tasting Notes
Soft and refreshing wine with notes of lemon and subtle white blossom on the palate.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Grigio |
Country | Moldova |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | White meats and fish. |
Origin | Moldova |
2021 Artesa Organic Rioja
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Appealing black fruit aromas and hints of sweet spice lead to juicy plum, raspberry and liquorice characters on the palate. The finish is elegant and poised with ripe tannins.
Nose
On the nose, one finds really enticing sweet cherry fruit, with dry, fine tannins.
Palate
The palate is complex with juicy bramble fruit, black pepper, and lifted, savoury characters. There is a good amount of fruit-driven intensity with a vibrant, complex, spicy palate, and the oak provides some sweetness and a lick of vanilla and cream soda. An archetypal young rioja, just brilliant!
Estate
This large, family-owned estate draws from 800 hectares of elevated hillside vineyards in some of the best zones of Rioja Baja. Thanks to a combination of the high quality of the grapes from these vineyards and modern vinification cellars, the young, unoaked wines are fresh and vibrant with good richness of fruit for wines at this level.
200 hectares of estate vineyards near Alfaro provide the basis of the Artesa range and the best of these, at high altitude (500 to 600 metre), with mature vines and poor, stony soils, have been converted to organic production. Fermented in stainless steel, and matured for 6 months in new American oak barrels, the wine produces fresh redcurrant and cherry aromas together with woody, herbal notes.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Organic |
Food Matches | Drink with casseroles, red meat or manchego cheese or if you’re feeling adventurous, chargrilled mackerel! Also great with pasta, rice and veggie dishes. |
Appellation | D.O.Ca. Rioja |
2020 El Ninot de Paper Blanco
Regular price £7.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Zesty, light-bodied Spanish white - with an eye-catching label and name inspired by the 'paper dolls' of the Las Falles de Valencia festival.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lightly floral, citrus aromas.
Palate
The palate is gently fruity with citrus and green apple characters, and fresh acidity on the finish.
Production
Grapes are sourced from Murviedro's 300 hectares of vineyard, and a further 1500 that they control in the surrounding area. Produced predominantly from Viura grapes, blended with Sauvignon Blanc. The wine undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 70% Viura, 30% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.36 units |
Type | White Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Perfect with paella! |
Origin | Valencia |
Appellation | DOP Valencia |
2021 Kalkstein Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £10.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Fresh and zesty with aromas of yellow pepper as well as exotic influences suggesting guava and passion fruit.
Vinification
The grapes are pressed gently and the juice cold fermented with selected yeasts at 16-18°C in stainless steel tanks. No malolactic fermentation or oak.
Producers
As one of the largest and most modern wineries in Germany, Reh Kendermann has a reputation for producing high-quality, premium wines.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Germany |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches |
Fruity enough to enjoy without food but also makes a superb partner with a plate of goats cheese and crusty bread, a platter of sushi or a bowl of Thai chicken curry. |
Appellation | Pfalz |
2020 Borsao Selección Rosado
Regular price £8.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Grapes for Borsao's Selección range are sourced from the higher vineyard slopes of the Moncayo mountains, where soils have more sand and the grapes have greater complexity.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A delightfully pale Garnacha rosé with intense aromas of bright red fruits, raspberries and strawberries.
Palate
The palate has ripe red berry and cherry fruit characters, balancing acidity, and an appealing red fruit finish.
Production
Selected Garnacha grapes from 15-30 year old bush vines grown on stony, sandy soils, around 450 metres above sea level. 6-8 hours cold maceration on skins followed by gentle pressing. The free run juice undergoes long, cool fermentation of between 14º-18º C in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature.
History
The winery was established as a co-operative in 1959. In 2001 it joined with two other progressive, co-operative, cellars in the Campo de Borja region to become the Bodegas Borsao that we know today.
Grapes are sourced from over 375 member growers covering 2,400 hectares - nearly a third of the region's total. Vineyards lie in the undulating foothills of the Moncayo mountain, ranging from around 350m to 800m above sea level. At lower altitudes vines are younger and may require some irrigation, but higher up the slopes the vines are older, unirrigated bush vines.
The climate is rather severe and arid, with hot dry days, and cool nights - which allow optimium acidity levels to be maintained within the grapes. Garnacha thrives in these conditions and represents 65% of total production. The Cierzo wind from the Moncayo sweeps across the foothills of the mountain. This cold, dry wind reduces humidity levels and allows grapes to be picked a couple of weeks later in the harvest, at full maturity.
Borsao has access to a large number of vineyard plots at different altitudes, and hence to a wide selection of fantastic quality grapes. They are recognised for their entry-level varietals - as outstanding examples of easy-to-drink inexpensive wines - as they are for their premium wines, in particular the iconic, multi-award-winning Tres Picos.
Sustainability
With 2,400 hectares of vineyards, Bodegas Borsao is a substantially sized operation in a warm, dry region and as a result the availability and usage of water is a major issue. All new plantings have reverted to the traditional style of bush training to preserve water. Inter-row plantings are used to improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and protect it from erosion. These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
These cover crops mean that less spraying and tending of the vines is required, thus fewer passes are made by tractors which reduces the compaction of the soil and the consumption of diesel. Pheromone treatments are also employed to sexually confuse predatory insects, reducing their populations significantly.
Alan's Personal Notes
"Simple pleasures! Lots of summer fruits, some balanced acidity and only natural sugars. Refreshing and classy not sweet and pimped - a proper rosé! One of our most favourite Spring/Summer Rosés!"
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Garnacha |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Rosé |
Food Matches | Salads, cured meats, grilled salmon. |
Allergy Information | Contains Sulphites |
Appellation | Campo de Borja |
2022 Da Vero Biologico Nero d’Avola (Organic)
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Production
The Nero d'Avola grapes are sourced from the area around Salemi (Province of Trapani) in the north-west tip of Sicily. The vines are Guyot-trained, and grown at around 250m altitude on a combination of soil types. The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2007. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 8-12 days, then racked and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This wee beaut is destined to become one of our best sellers (cellars!) medium bodied with lots of juicy black fruits and a real easy drinking smoothness - absolutely no rough edges - a real crowd pleaser at a crowd-pleasing price. Watch this fly!" January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching | Pair with starters, seafood and risotto |
Cellaring Potential |
Rich pasta dishes, casseroles and grilled meats |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian, sustainable |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
Appellation | Sicilia DOC |
2022 The Myth of Motu Nui Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £9.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This label celebrates Chile’s farthest-flung outpost, Motu Nui, the tiny islet (or motu) just off the coast of Easter Island.
Adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and rich in Polynesian mythology, Motu Nui was the essential location for Easter Island’s legendary bird-man cult Tangata manu. Representatives from each island clan would wait for the visiting sooty terns to lay their first egg on Motu Nui, then swim across the shark-infested bay bearing that egg and climb the mainland cliffs of the Orongo volcano to claim rights of power and privilege for their clan for the following year. Many of the protagonists were devoured by sharks or fell to their deaths in this visceral trial of courage. These rituals have long since passed but their history is imprinted in the island’s history and archaeology. Today the sooty tern, depicted on our label, is protected and thrives peacefully on the island’s shore.
Tasting Notes
The wine is sourced from grapes equally shaped by the Pacific Ocean that grow in the Aconcagua region’s coastal Leyda Valley, grapes that achieve a pungency and aromatic profile redolent of New Zealand’s Marlborough region on the other side of the Pacific Rim. Bright, aromatic and crisply textural. The Myth of Motu Nui is a delightfully aromatic Sauvignon Blanc as rich as the myths that inspire the name.
Production
The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in three excellent sites across the Leyda and San Antonio D.O. The proximity of the vineyards to the Pacific Ocean (only 10km’s away) and its fresh coastal breezes ensures grapes ripen slowly. This allows the grapes to retain their natural citrus flavours and freshness but also to develop great aromatics. Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Leyda are some of the first to be harvested in Chile, and winemaking is simple to preserve this crunchy, bright fruit. Cool fermentation in stainless steel is followed by a couple of months on their fine lees which adds texture and depth. We bottle early to retain the primary characteristics, flavours and freshness of this enchanting fruit.
Producer
Our winemaking team has been building relationships across Chile over the past two decades, sourcing fruit and wine from across the Central Valleys. We work with a number of small family growers who pay particular attention to quality and ensure that our winemaking team has the best possible fruit to work with. Freshness and purity are the preferred hallmarks of Boutinot's Chilean wines.
Each vintage Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang travels the vineyards of our grower partners, blending that year's truest expression's of Chile's unique terroirs.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Simple fish cooked over coals with lemon or a goats cheese salad. |
Origin | DO Aconcagua |
2022 Coral de Peñascal Ethical Rosé
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%An Organic Wine, Ethically Sourced, Ethically Made, Ethically Committed, 100% Renewable Energy, Suitable for Vegans - oh and delicious too!
Coral de Peñascal is a tempranillo rosé wine produced by Bodegas Peñascal, a delicate and elegant wine made in an ethical way from grapes grown using organic processes and with careful packaging made from ecological materials and an ultra-light bottle.
Tasting Notes
Coral is a delicate and elegant pale rosé produced in Peñascal´s carbon-neutral winery from organically grown grapes, beautifully packaged with eco-friendly materials. Fully committed with the environment, Coral supports projects for the conservation and restoration of coral ecosystems”.
Colour
Pale bright satin rosé
Nose
Intense aromas of redcurrant and raspberry, alongside stone fruits such as peach, over a clean background of white flowers.
Palate
Fresh on the palate, with apricot and peach stone fruits, white flowers and citrus notes of pink grapefruit
History
Coral is an ecological rosé produced at Bodegas Peñascal, carbon-neutral, and presented in a lightweight bottle made of recycled and recyclable materials. Fully committed with sustainability and the environment, with each bottle of Coral you contribute to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs, which represent 25% of marine biodiversity.
Vinification
Awards
- Gold Medal in the Le Mondial Su Rosé 2021
- Silver Medal in Concours Mondial Bruxelles 2021.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan approved, Organic
|
Food Matches |
Perfect for drinking on its own, as an aperitif or with any kind of Mediterranean cuisine. Perfect with all sorts of rice and pasta dishes, seafood & white meats. |
Appellation |
Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon |
2022 De Bortoli WillowGlen Merlot
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Juicy, fruit focussed, and a crowd-pleasing Merlot - perfect for entertaining!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vibrant red with garnet edges.
Nose & Palate
This Merlot is full of ripe plum and berries, lead to a soft rounded palate chock full of juicy red fruit, spicy undertones and gentle tannin with just a touch of vanillin oak.
Producer
The De Bortoli family story is one of determination and triumph that started 90 years ago in war-torn Europe and is now told, generations later, across Australia.
Our heritage encompasses the universal story of immigrants making good in an adopted land, the rise and rise of the Australian wine industry and the tale of a hardworking and innovative family who considers good wine, good food and good friends to be among the true pleasures in life.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Merlot |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Pairing | This wine is excellent with beef or lamb dishes. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Riverina |
Appellation | Western Australia |
2022 Cape Heights Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £9.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Juicily tropical Sauvignon Blanc judiciously sourced from breezy coastal vineyards.
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc from the Western Cape displays fresh, ripe yellow fruit flavours with a hint of waxy lime, as well as some leafy herbal notes which make for a zippy, racy and deeply quaffable drop.
Production
Boutinot has been refining and redefining its Sauvignon Blanc vineyards over many years and works with numerous Coastal growers to best express the specific terroirs of this region that is influenced by that cooling Atlantic Ocean breeze. The soil type is a variety of decomposed granite, shale, and limestone and the plots are all unirrigated. The winery receives the grapes before midday. They are destemmed and crushed and go into strainers where the free-run is pumped gently to tank. The Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks between 11C and 13C. The ferment is likely to last around 10 days. The wine is racked after ferment and then kept on fine lees right up until bottling.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Not the honeyed fruit salad fruits of the wild house Chenin - this is much more citric fruit and searing acidity. Really crisp and fresh and bone dry. It’s got a good balance though for a cheapie - and length isn’t compromised either. A great example of entry-level Sauvignon Blanc." February 2022
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Delicious with brightly-flavoured seafood dishes, Thai salads, citrus dressings or indeed by the glass on its own! |
Origin | Western Cape |
2020 Cape Heights Pinotage
Regular price £7.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%South African Pinotage is definitely in vogue right now as customers flock to get their hands on amazing quality wines at what are still quite remarkable low prices. The Cape Heights Pinotage is no different. If we're honest, we think this wine outperforms many significantly more expensive French counterparts which makes it a complete bargain!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Medium-bodied red
Nose
Youthful, vibrant and packed with damson and dark berry fruit.
Palate
The palate is rich and full-flavoured with a hint of black pepper and star anise.
Production
Fruit is selected from vineyards in the Swartland, grown on rich granite and shale soils. Harvested at optimum ripeness to ensure fruit-driven notes and soft tannins, the grapes are crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at 17-22 degrees C.
Pump-over takes place twice daily to wet the cap and aerate the fermenting wine and once daily at the end of fermentation not to extract too many tannins. Wine is fermented down to 5 g/litre residual sugar and pressed before being pumped back into stainless steel tanks. This ensures soft tannins and no-over extraction of any harsh tannins. Malo-lactic fermentation follows and the wine is kept on the lees until bottling to ensure great mouthfeel.
This is a wine that will benefit from big wine glasses or a decanter and serve it at room temperature.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinotage |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Marinated lamb, chargrilled aubergine or portobello mushrooms. |
Origin | Western Cape |
2018 Stone Barn Chardonnay
Regular price £9.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great value for money Californian Chardonnay, fruit-forward with notes of pineapple, honeysuckle and a hint of vanilla.
Tasting Notes
Nose
This fruit-forward Chardonnay has aromas of pineapple and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, this wine has fresh flavors of green apple and citrus with a hint of vanilla.
Palate
The finish is crisp and clean.
Winery
Stone Barn Cellars Winery, is located right off Route 100 in northern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The winery and tasting room are housed in a historic 150-year-old stone German bank barn overlooking the beautiful French Creek.
The California-based family company has been a tradition for over 90 years. The third generation of the Delicat family is involved in the family business and continues the family’s innovative work on wines. Delicato Family Vineyards is a pioneer in the development of environmentally friendly cultivation methods and production methods and their wines are enjoyable, well-made, and represent the best place to produce their place of production. The family-owned company owns 4,000 hectares of vineyards from Monterey’s famous cool San Bernabe vineyard to the sunny mountain roots of Lodi. All the vineyards of the Delicato Family Vineyards are cultivated according to sustainable development methods for sustainable wine growing practices.
It has earned a name for itself in the premium wines category. Their wines are true representations of the flavour and character of the grapes and the quality of soil in which they are cultivated. You need to taste these wines to understand the richness of the wine-growing regions of California.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | USA |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Key Information | Sustainable farming methods |
Food Matches | Try with rich fish or roast chicken, cream based dishes. |
Origin | Chester County, Pennsylvania |
2021 Cantina Di Negrar Corvina
Regular price £10.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
This is a brand new single varietal from this co-operative, located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area, just a few kilometres from Verona. Corvina is usually blended with Molinara and Rondinella, but an increasing number of producers are making 100% Corvina wines. The result is light and fragrant with floral notes and some blackcurrant. It has an elegant structure.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Ruby red with garnet reflections
Nose
Spicy nose with notes of vanilla and hints of cherry and black cherry
Palate
Soft and round palate with sweet tannins that blend well with the wine's texture. The finish is long ending with spicy tones.
Winery
The Cantina di Negrar brand is the soul of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar and pays homage to the philosophy of cooperative production while also recalling the territory’s historical vestiges: the effigy of St. Mark’s Lion standing tall on a column in the centre of Negrar is testimony of the Venetian Republic’s domination in the sixteenth century.
The Cantina di Negrar wines are rooted in the wine-making tradition of Valpolicella and the Veronese wine-growing areas, with a modern reinterpretation to guarantee the best price/quality ratio.
Label
The catchy and interesting label depicts Ulysses’ 10-year journey home from Troye to Ithaca. Every facet of his journey captivates the sense of discovery, self-discovery, and world discovery Ulysses experiences in those enchanted 10 years.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Corvina |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
It pairs well with grilled and braised red meat. |
Allergen Information | Contain sulphites |
Origin | Verona |
Appellation | Verona IGT |
2022 Melea Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Background
The creation of Melea Organic was a labour of love for us all. William Long spent years searching for the right winery to supply the organic, vegan-certified and wild-fermented wines, his son Freddie handled the launch and the label features an original bee motif created by his wife, artist Barbara Long, from recycled threads.
Named after a rare species of bee, everything about the range is created with sustainability in mind, from the lightweight bottles to the stone paper labels, made from a by-product of the quarrying process using a lot less water than normal paper. Melea was also the first Spanish wine brand to become a member of 1% for the Planet. Melea has donated thousands of dollars to bee conservation charities since its launch in 2020. Melea Organic also has an Instagram page to share information on the brand’s sustainable values.
The Vineyards
Fruit comes from organically certified, traditionally managed, dry-farmed vines in the Cuenca area of La Mancha. The vineyards were planted in 1999 and are at an altitude of 660m with sandy-clay soils, low in organic matter and high in chalk and limestone. This suppresses yields to just 3kg per plant, giving greater quality grapes. The extreme continental climate means there is a high diurnal temperature range conserving acidity and increasing aromatic intensity. The lack of rainfall reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Production
Grapes were harvested after the second half of September, later than average to ensure full ripeness. Wild yeast fermented at a controlled temperature of 15ºC with clean musts. Fined with vegan-friendly pea protein.
Producer
The family winery is located in Alicante and is a leader in the production of high-quality, organic wines. They are IFS certified and produce wines with organic and vegan certification.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 90% Verdejo, 10% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan, Vegetarian & Organic |
Food Matches | Enjoy this wine chilled, on its own, or create a symphony by pairing it with light dishes such as shellfish, poultry or salads. |
Origin | Alicante |
Appellation | VdiT Castilla |
2021 Bellefontaine Merlot
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Vibrant and fruity Merlot from the Languedoc region.
Tasting Notes
Strong varietal French Merlot, deep garnet colour with vibrant plummy and blackberry fruit. Soft and supple on the palate with good intensity of fruit and a lovely juicy finish.
Production
This fruit-forward, easy-drinking Merlot is made from grapes sourced from sun-drenched Languedoc vineyards, vinified to showcase their fruit and varietal characteristics. By fermenting at lower temperatures than most reds to preserve primary fruit characters. The wine receives twice daily remontage to extract colour and tannins. Meticulous blending produced the ultimate approachable and fruit-driven style, which was bottled early to capture vibrant red fruit.
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% Merlot |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Soft and pliable red capable of matching with most foods. An easy choice for a devout red drinker. Enjoy with mushroom risotto. |
Allergy Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Languedoc |
Appellation | IGP Pays d'Oc |
2023 Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £8.45 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Sourced from a vineyard nestled into the Andes in the Curico region, this Sauvignon Blanc displays the vibrant fruit of Chile's Central Valley but with elegance from its mountain terroir.
Tasting Notes
A fresh and crisp wine with ripe citrus fruit. Packed with lime zest, lemon and kiwi fruit flavours. Think of cool glacial streams and enjoy the refreshing, racy acidity on the finish.
Producer
Our long-standing working relationships with growers enable us to source premium fruit, with the ultimate aim of making excellent quality Chilean entry-level wines with true style and character.
For the Sauvignon Blanc, we work with two families in two different locations for a blend with huge appeal. The first is the Martin Family who are nestled into the Andes Mountains in a western corner of Curico. Their vineyards sit around 500 metres above sea level (masl), a far higher altitude than the majority of Curico’s main valley which lies around 250masl. The higher altitude and proximity to the mountains means evening temperatures drop significantly, allowing Sauvignon Blanc grapes to retain crucial acidity as they ripen. This altitude also ensures there is minimal intervention in the vineyards ie. no chemical sprays or irrigation - only pure glacial streams.
Their old established vines planted on steep slopes means grapes can only be harvested by hand. Once the grapes are picked then crushed, cool fermentation is used to preserve the freshness and fruit aromas. We blend this wine from Curico with Sauvignon Blanc from the German Family in Cachapoal. Here, in a warmer location, the variety gains great aromatic expression and typically we see great varietal character thanks to the correct clones being used along with early harvesting. Wines from this warmer spot usually have a little more body, making the blend with the Martin Family wines a great combination of aromatics, fresh acidity and weight. Possibly the biggest strength of this blend is our ability to balance out warmer and cooler vintages with these two different profiles. The wine is settled in tank for a short period before being bottled early to preserve the wines youthful vibrancy.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Quaff with fish and chips, grilled fish and seafood. |
Origin | Chile |
Appellation | Valle Central |
N/V Marques de la Concordia Tapas Viura-Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £6.99 Sale price £5.99 Save 14%Tasting Notes
Yellow with greenish hues. On the nose, it is floral showing tropical fruits. On the palate is crisp and fresh with a pleasant finish.
Production Method
Clean must without the presence of lees, it has been fermented at a temperature no higher than 20C for 10 - 12 days.
Producer
Rioja Baja is where it all began. Hacienda Marqués de la Concordia, an old sugar factory turned into a wine estate, is where the company keeps tradition alive while breaking new ground. They have experimental status in the vineyard, as it allows the producer to experiment with different grapes varieties. They allow some “international” grapes into their “creole” wines, which is what makes their wines innovative and exciting.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 85% Viura & 15% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Unit of Alcohol | 8.25 units |
Type | White Blend |
Food Matches | Grilled Fish & Seafood |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment - serve between 6-10˚C. |
Allergen Information | Awaiting info |
Dietary Information | Awaiting info |
Origin | I.G.P. Castilla la Mancha |
N/V Marques de la Concordia Tapas Tempranillo Rosé
Regular price £6.99 Sale price £5.99 Save 14%Tasting Notes
Cherry colour, red fruits on the nose, especially raspberry. On the palate, it is crisp, refreshing and well balanced.
Production Method
Saignée is applied to the red grapes. Careful maceration ensures aromatic freshness. Fermentation takes place without the presence of lees under controlled temperatures of no more than 20C in stainless steel vats for 10-12 days.
What is the Saignée Method? From the French word for “bleeding”, the saignée method is a by-product of making red wine where a small amount of juice is bled off early in fermentation. This helps increase concentration of the remaining juice in the same way you'd reduce a sauce to intensify flavours!
Producer
Rioja Baja is where it all began. Hacienda Marqués de la Concordia, an old sugar factory turned into a wine estate, is where the company keeps tradition alive while breaking new ground. They have experimental status in the vineyard, as it allows the producer to experiment with different grapes varieties. They allow some “international” grapes into their “creole” wines, which is what makes the wines innovative and exciting.
Specifications
Year | n/v |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol | 9 units per 750ml |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Awaiting info |
Dietary Information | Awaiting info |
Origin | L.G.P. Castilla la Mancha |
Food Matches | Fish, seafood, white meats and cured meats |