Tasting Notes

A bright, vibrant style of Chenin with aromas of citrus, white flowers and a hint of honey. Ripe and full flavoured with a rounded mouthfeel thanks to long fermentation and extended lees contact. Nice concentration of stone fruit characters with hints of dried apricot and mango. Good balancing acidity on the clean, fresh finish.

Production

A fantastic terroir led Grillo, with crunchy green apple and lean minerality.

It’s made from Sicilian-grown grapes by Casa Vinicola Caldirola in Contra, a small hamlet in the Comune of Missaglia that’s about an hour north of Milan.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light straw yellow

Nose

Fruity & Characteristic

Taste

Fresh, sourish with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Specifications

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Another Coterie delight - you don’t see these 2 varietals together many places in the world - but this certainly works here to produce a stunning, textural white. I’m picking up some old vine vibes and malolactic creaminess. A very well balanced and interesting white - it’s also got a good dollop of oak in the finish." July 2024

Specifications

A scrumptious Languedoc blend - one of our fine feline tipples which can be lapped up on 4ts lonesome.

Tasting Notes

This textural dry white is bright and beautifully balanced. With fresh fruity flavours of citrus fruits, a touch of apricot, a twist of spice and aromas shining through, this is an easy-drinking wine that can be enjoyed all year round.

Production

Predominantly Grenache Blanc with Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Immediately after picking at optimum maturity the grapes are pressed and undergo cold fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is blocked in order to preserve the acidity in the wine.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.

Today, Boutinot’s French office has recently relocated to Macon, and has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don’t use any single model to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domains, as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Vérand. Drawing on the expertise of our four winemakers and a network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality-to-price ratio possible for every wine.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"Attractive French white made from white Rhône varietals. Medium-bodied with attractive dryness and acidity. The flavours really come to the fore as it oxidises in the glass. Pleasant and very easy drinking." January 2024

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light yellow with a hint of lemon. 

Nose

The aroma is elegant and intense. Aromas of white flowers and fruits with a spicy background.

Palate

The palate is crisp, with a creaminess of bread and butter complemented by ripe white flesh. Balanced, full-bodied, with a refreshing acidity on the finish that energises the whole. A joy to carry the aroma of the Rioja landscape.

Winemaking

With grapes from old vineyards in Viura de Rioja Alavesa, this wine recovers the classic way of making Rioja whites, which was to age them in barrels to extend their longevity. A careful process in which this white has been aged for 10 months on the lees in French oak barrels from different cooperages, to have more profiles of aromas and flavour nuances.

Producer

A man of his time, an essential figure in the political and social life of Bilbao at the end of the 19th century, in 1894 Cosme Palacio Bermejillo took over the reins of the family winery that his father founded in Laguardia in 1863 to turn it into the most advanced winery in the Rioja Alavesa. With his characteristic vision of the future and with his sights set on the main wine reference, Bordeaux, he introduced fundamental changes that laid the foundations for modern DO Ca. Rioja wine.

At the end of the 1980s, Cosme Palacio marked a before and after in the history of the wines of this land, creating a style of winemaking at the forefront of its time. Today, Cosme Palacio enjoys great international recognition for being considered the bridge between the Classic Rioja style and the Modern Rioja.

Specifications

A fabulous value, contemporary Chardonnay made with great care and focus. Really has the balance between Australian joy and Old World restraint for a really glorious glass of Chardonnay that shows contemporary Yarra Valley at its best.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A nose of toasted hazelnuts, cold butter and a slight struck-match lift over classic varietal stone-fruit notes. 

Palate

The palate is a delicious combo of hazelnuts, basil leaves, creme-fraiche acidity and the Mendoza-clone's signature clementine tang with a taut, structured finish.

Producer

Soumah of the Yarra Valley is a producer of fine wines from the region. A hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the cool Warramate foothills of Gruyere. Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the Yarra Valley. Situated an average of 120 meters above sea level, the vineyard is elevated above the valley floor. The ancient sandy-clay loams with broken sandstone shape the small yield and define the detail in these precise, focused expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Production Method

Chardonnay was early as we can to ensure a fresh line of citrus fruit and crisp natural acidity on the palate. Structure is developed in the wine by predominantly barrel fermenting the juice and allowing it to mature gracefully for eight months before bottling a wine with balanced weight and silky texture.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"This is good. It is cool climate-restrained chardonnay - but we are in Oz so it’s got a lot of ripe peach & apricot fruit for me - not as citric as the 'tasting note led me to believe. The strong oakiness masked it initially but through time the fruit exposes itself. Don’t get the hazelnuts in the tasting note but it is very toasty - I guess from the barrel ferment and maturation. Medium-bodied, medium to high acidity, good length, and altogether well made - but I’m guessing not as classy as the Mac Forbes Chardonnay (which is obviously at a different price point!) - but very good value indeed." April 2023

Specifications

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

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

Head Winemaker Felipe Tosso joined Vina Ventisquero in 2000. After seriously considering alternate careers as a tennis pro and classical guitarist, he elected to enter the wine business, describing it as “one of my big passions because it’s more than work – it’s a lifestyle.”

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Yellow-green colour

Nose

Citrus aromas, mixed with notes of green chili

Palate

Fresh and great volume, this is a wine structured in the palate and high in acidity that gives tension with a minerality in the mouth, granting a clean and persistent final where is left to feel slight saline touches, making this, a wine with high complexity in the mouth.

Vinification

The must first underwent a cold maceration for a period of between 6 and 8 hours. The must was protected from contact with the air throughout the process, the fermentation took place slowly at a constant low temperature of 120C to 150C so that the yeast activity could draw out the maximum varietal aromas and the expression of the northern Chile desert. After fermentation, the wine was aged over its lees for ten months and battonage was used to gently move it so as to maximize the contribution made by the wine coming into contact with the fine sediment.

Winemaker

Tosso’s winemaking travels have taken him to Napa, Sonoma, Argentina, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, back to Concha Y Toro in Chile and then finally to Vina Ventisquero. In 2003, Felipe began a close collaboration with John Duval (ex Penfolds) in the production of icon wines Pangea and Vertice, a partnership which continues to this day.

Specifications

A traditionally true lower alcohol Semillon from ancient vines in the Hunter Valley made by one of the great Australian Semillon producers.

Tasting Notes

Zesty lemon and lime-fruit characters are the hallmarks of this classic Hunter Style – the bright and delicate characters are beautiful when young and will sustain for many years of cellaring. A naturally lower alcohol wine at 10.5%. A naturally lower alcohol wine at 10.5%.

Production

This Semillon is sourced exclusively from Keith Tulloch’s own old-vine estate vineyards on Hermmitage & Deasys Roads in Pokolbin, where vines were established in 1968 & 1978 respectively. in 1968 at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. It is this deep and fine alluvial sandiness that makes the vineyard resource so significant – the vines consistently produce the purest and brightest signatures of Hunter Semillon. The Semillon was harvested then crushed, chilled and pressed immediately. Fermentation occurred using a selected pure yeast culture in stainless steel tanks, at cool to cold temperatures to maximise and retain varietal freshness.

Producer

“I cannot remember being more impressed with an initial release of wines than those”, said James Halliday when he first tasted Keith Tulloch’s wines.

These thoughtful, hand-crafted wines hail from the Hunter Valley with a nod in part to the great Rhône Valley wines of Hermitage and Cote Rôtie. For those who may have tasted any legendary Hunter Shiraz wines of the 40s, 50s and 60s, tasting many of the modern Hunter wines can be a depressing experience but Keith Tulloch is very different, adding to that great legacy with a series of wines that uniquely capture the exotic spice and hedonistic pleasure of dense and rich Shiraz fruit. These are sensuous, subtle wines with the velvety texture of fine burgundy.

Sustainability

Keith Tulloch have attained the CLIMATE ACTIVE certification by the Australian Government. This means that the winery, vineyard and offices are certified carbon neutral as well as its wines (including glassware, boxes, shipping, bottling). This carbon neutral certification is one of the most rigorous in the world. Every emission created by the vineyard and the winemaking process has been reduced where possible; and where emissions are unavoidable the pollutants have been offset through carbon abatement so that the business and its products have zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Keith Tulloch is also a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (previously known as Entwine) which requires wineries to report and reduce waste whilst promoting sustainable practices. A 65kw solar array has been installed, providing the vast majority of the estate’s power needs.

Keith Tulloch winery and vineyards are also officially sustainable under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification which was developed by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

In the vineyard Keith Tulloch engages in regenerative agriculture, minimising the use of chemical sprays and actively promoting soil health, life and biodiversity. It has started a program of revitalising native vegetation around the vineyard, which creates habitat for native insects, birds and animals which benefit the vineyard ecosystem. The business has eliminated single-use plastics and has instead moved onto biodegradable alternatives to prevent plastic waste. All Keith Tulloch wines have moved from heavy glass to lightweight eco glass, which considerably reduces greenhouse gas emissions from glass production and transport. The winery has enacted an array of water efficiency measures to eliminate water waste and to recycle waste water for use in the parks and gardens. The vineyard is now composted and fertilised only by organic fertiliser, re-using a product that would otherwise go to waste and reducing soil degradation and emissions from synthetic fertilisers.

The estate continues to uphold organic viticulture principles in the vineyard, and this is improving year-on-year. Investments in agricultural equipment in the next financial year will further reduce the use of some chemical sprays, however there is no plan at this point to certify these practices.

Specifications

Tight, bright, focused Chardonnay from Keith Tulloch.

Tasting Notes

Fruit from outstanding Hunter vineyards give this wine brightness of aroma and excellent length of flavour. It starts with a saline nose, slightly grassy, positive reduction, and struck match. Chardonnay signatures remain paramount revealing elements of nectarine, honeydew, and pineapple, all giving crisp energetic line and length. Fine vanilla oak-spices sit beautifully in the background, and sur-lees creaminess, adding beautiful personality and harmony in equal measure.ine vanilla oak-spices sit beautifully in the background, and sur-lees creaminess, adding beautiful personality and harmony in equal measure.

Production

The Hunter Chardonnay vineyard was planted over 20 years ago and is sited immediately adjacent to the Semillon block – so there is a clear link with regard to the low vine yield, the fine fruit presence, finesse, elegant structure and fresh acid balance. This Hunter Valley Chardonnay is 100% barrel fermented and matured in a mix of new and young deluxe French oak barriques for six months, contributing harmony from start to finish. Malo-ferment is minimised to retain the natural vibrant and racy acid balance and freshness. Elegant bright fruit needs elegant oak handling as well, so lightly-toasted barrels of fine-grained French oak are used. The unclarified wine is left on lees in barrel for only 3 months so that it remains subdued and subtle, preserving the fruit freshness and the maximizing its potential for cellaring.

Producer

“I cannot remember being more impressed with an initial release of wines than those”, said James Halliday when he first tasted Keith Tulloch’s wines.

These thoughtful, hand-crafted wines hail from the Hunter Valley with a nod in part to the great Rhône Valley wines of Hermitage and Cote Rôtie. For those who may have tasted any legendary Hunter Shiraz wines of the 40s, 50s and 60s, tasting many of the modern Hunter wines can be a depressing experience but Keith Tulloch is very different, adding to that great legacy with a series of wines that uniquely capture the exotic spice and hedonistic pleasure of dense and rich Shiraz fruit. These are sensuous, subtle wines with the velvety texture of fine burgundy.

Sustainability

Keith Tulloch have attained the CLIMATE ACTIVE certification by the Australian Government. This means that the winery, vineyard and offices are certified carbon neutral as well as its wines (including glassware, boxes, shipping, bottling). This carbon neutral certification is one of the most rigorous in the world. Every emission created by the vineyard and the winemaking process has been reduced where possible; and where emissions are unavoidable the pollutants have been offset through carbon abatement so that the business and its products have zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Keith Tulloch is also a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (previously known as Entwine) which requires wineries to report and reduce waste whilst promoting sustainable practices. A 65kw solar array has been installed, providing the vast majority of the estate’s power needs.

Keith Tulloch winery and vineyards are also officially sustainable under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification which was developed by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).

In the vineyard Keith Tulloch engages in regenerative agriculture, minimising the use of chemical sprays and actively promoting soil health, life and biodiversity. It has started a program of revitalising native vegetation around the vineyard, which creates habitat for native insects, birds and animals which benefit the vineyard ecosystem. The business has eliminated single-use plastics and has instead moved onto biodegradable alternatives to prevent plastic waste. All Keith Tulloch wines have moved from heavy glass to lightweight eco glass, which considerably reduces greenhouse gas emissions from glass production and transport. The winery has enacted an array of water efficiency measures to eliminate water waste and to recycle waste water for use in the parks and gardens. The vineyard is now composted and fertilised only by organic fertiliser, re-using a product that would otherwise go to waste and reducing soil degradation and emissions from synthetic fertilisers.

The estate continues to uphold organic viticulture principles in the vineyard, and this is improving year-on-year. Investments in agricultural equipment in the next financial year will further reduce the use of some chemical sprays, however there is no plan at this point to certify these practices.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

This golden, almost amber coloured wine has a very intense, appealing nose of sweet tropical fruits, peach, apricot, citrus fruits and some spice. The palate is packed full of white fleshed and stone fruits, with the medium body ending with a long sweet finish, supported by crisp acidity. Clean and fresh, very mineral, hints of honey and plenty of persistence.

Producer

Owner & winemaker, Rosalia Molina, makes organic wines in one of Spain's highest altitude wineries. Her mission is to make wines that express the typicity of DO Manchuela: the vineyard, the altitude and the varieties planted.

This is a climate on the edge of what is possible: at 1,100 metres above sea level, the grapes experience a large diurnal range that encourages even ripening and helps to retain natural acidity. Rosalia's vineyards are certified organic, she uses only natural fertilisers, promoting biodiversity by welcoming chickens, sheep and pigs from local farms to roam the vineyards freely. Grapes are hand harvested and vinified as naturally as possible with native yeasts and little other intervention. The wines are then aged in clay amphora and some in French oak to give texture and complexity.

Winemaking

Harvested in January, when the grapes have frozen due to temperatures remaining below minus five degrees for at least five days but never below minus 13 degrees. These weather conditions mark the beginning of the harvest, which is why it is only produced in exceptional years. A manual harvest of frozen but healthy grapes without any trace of rotting are quickly pressed in the same vineyard as the grape, with the ice crystals still in the grape causing s a high concentration of sugars in the must and plenty of acidity. Due to the dehydration, this improves the extraction of aromatic components.

As the water is first to freeze within the grape, an increased concentration of sugars are obtained from the must. The grapes must be pressed before the ice crystals break down. The yeasts for fermentation are native, providing much of the character and personality of the terroir. Fermentation is a very slow process, it can take 2 to 3 months and is carried out in small stainless steel tanks to provide a completely natural wine, with no added sulphites and the stabilisation and clarification are also a natural sedimentation process.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

100% Chenin Blanc, this has a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine is bursting with fresh fruit flavours ending with zesty citrus flavours, and has a long mineral finish. A very clean and satisfying hand-picked Chenin Blanc that's a versatile wine for food pairing.

Producer

After making wine around the world and honing his craft in the Cape, Bruwer Raats established Raats Family Wines in 2000, based on a policy of ‘excellence through specialisation’, focusing on two unfashionable grapes varieties at the time, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.Purchasing the only land he could afford, some relatively cheap and ‘undesirable’ plots in the Polkadraai Hills, it soon became apparent that the unique granite-based terroir was producing some incredible wines, and is now recognised as one of the finest wards in Stellenbosch. His Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and the iconic MR de Compostella hold a place as some of South Africa’s finest wines and sit comfortably amongst the best expressions of the varieties on the planet.

Production

From vineyards with an average age of 35 years. Vines are grown in both decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone soils. A combination of trellised and bush vines, irrigated as well as dry land that yield approximately 7 – 8 tons per hectare.

Grapes grown from the two soil types are fermented separately, the decomposed granite bringing a lime and mineral character, while the sandstone more topical fruit and structure. The juice was cold settled for 2 to 3 days, then cold fermented (14º - 16ºC) in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees for 6 months before bottling. No wood ageing.

Accolades & Awards

2022 – 89 Points Tim Atkin MW
2022 – 4.5 Star John Platter
2022 – 92 Points Winemag

Specifications

A delightful, fresh, and crisp example of Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

Bright lemon-green in colour. Intense and fruity, with lovely aromas of green apple and grapefruit. Very refreshing on the palate

Viticulture

Gascony is both wild and beautiful all at the same time... With its rolling countryside dotted with maritime pine and cypress trees, its luxurious vineyards and medieval hilltop towns, the area is one of the most preserved French treasures. Home to viticulture since Roman times, the IGP Côtes de Gascogne shares the same area of production as the Armagnac appellation. Gascony is also famous for its rich gastronomy and its “douceur de vivre” or easy-living atmosphere. The Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are predominantly produced in the Côte de Gascogne area of the South-West of France. The region has a fantastic reputation for fresh white wines. Capable of adapting to the hot climate, it provides nice acidity with lovely flavours. The resulting wines are crisp and fresh, with very intense aromas of lime, nectarine and grapefruit.

Production

The winemaking process is designed to preserve freshness and to enhance the aromatic potential of the wine. The berries are harvested at night, when temperatures are low, as soon as they have reached optimal maturity. The crop is then pneumatically pressed in order to extract only the premium juices. The fermentation process is carried out at a low temperature to preserve aromatic intensity. All these steps create a fragrant and refreshing white wine!

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

'This is an interesting wee find from a very good wine co-operative in the s of France. Dry, fresh and crisp with a dollop of citric & tropical fruit giving great mouthfeel, complexity and balance without breaking the bank. I reckon this will become a successful crowd pleaser for our community - so get your order in quick as stocks are limited - so says the wine doctor.

 A delightful easy drinking little number - perfect with any seafood or chicken dish - or salads.'  November 2024

Today marks the dawn of a new epoch, with Mád Moser at the helm, ushering in a 'new' grape onto the global stage. This initiative is set to revolutionize the wine industry, sparking a fresh enthusiasm, generating excitement, and allowing the distinguished quality of dry Furmint to carve out its own distinct niche.

Tasting Notes

This zesty dry Furmint leads the way with aromas of citrus fruits, jasmine and freshly cut pineapple. It has delightful flavours of apple, peach and quince with a nice amount of heft on the palate. There’s a great deal of minerality and the finish is creamy at the same time. Well balanced with a crisp, clean long finish.

Producer

Specifications

Made on the beautiful island of Sicily - the island breeze cools the vines at night to ensure the palate is fresh, rounded, dry and smooth.

Tasting Notes

A fruity wine with ripe apple and pear flavours. 

Specifications

Pure unoaked Chardonnay from the Western Cape.

Tasting Notes

Fresh, tangy stone fruit and pineapple on the nose. The fruit follows through on the palate with a ripe, juicy mouthfeel and crisp acidity. There is breadth and character in this wine that follows through to a refreshing finish.

Production

The Chardonnay grapes for this unoaked wine are sourced from long-established vineyards on the Wellington/Swartland borders of the Western Cape. This area receives little rainfall and the soil is a mixture of alluvial riverbed stones, decomposed granite, and shale. The vines are low-trellised and the grapes are picked by hand in the early hours of the morning to retain their freshness. On arrival at the winery, grapes are chilled and the juice settled in tank prior to fermentation. A proportion of the grapes are full bunch pressed, the rest are destemmed and cold fermented. We keep the wine on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for as long as possible prior to bottling.

From the Producer

Boutinot South Africa is driven by our passion for discovery and desire to capture the real essence of South Africa in every bottle. It was the simple love of Loire Chenin Blanc that first led us to South Africa in 1994, where we pioneered the wild ferment style that has now been adopted by many producers in this region.

Since then we have been exploring the country's amazing vineyards to make fabulous wines from specific sites and plots that scream location, location, and terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw and Ryno Booysen drive the energy and enthusiasm for expressing the loveliest wines from their country, along with Samantha Bailey's expertise in finesse. The key is knowing the characteristics of each plot, understanding the benefits each cultivar can bring, breaking rules and pushing boundaries. We use a combination of knowledge, a love of nature and science to create versatile, expressive and food-friendly wines from a country that has been making wine for 360 years.

Specifications

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

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

Tasting Notes 

Production

This Sauvignon Blanc comes from a premium single vineyard located in Oliver, in the south end of the Okanagan Valley. A small portion of the blend is barrelaged Semillon also from Oliver. Michael Bartier and Eric Monnin set out to create wines that are Boutinot France in style, but honouring and respecting the land, viticulture, climate and vineyard sites of the Okanagan Valley. This cuvée Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from a premium single vineyard. For a little extra magic it is blended with a thimble of barrel-aged Semillon for texture and finesse.

Producer

Boutinot’s Head Winemaker, Eric Monnin, has made it his mission to explore exciting New World regions and vineyards, from South Africa to Chile and Argentina. While exploring sites in Okanagan Valley he had an immediate connection with British Columbian Winemaker, Michael Bartier, and his deep understanding of the region’s strengths and potential.

Michael and Eric set out to create a wine that is Boutinot France in style, whilst honouring the land, viticulture and climate of the Okanagan Valley.

The first cuvée, Project B Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from a premium single vineyard in Oliver and is blended with a thimble of barrel-aged Semillon from the same site for texture and finesse. A classically French, New World wine.

The name is in reference to the fact that the letter ‘B‘ surfaced as a constant in this partnership: a Boutinot-Bartier team, our first harvest from Plot B and as a special nod to the Boutinot Rhone symbol of quality, the worker Bee… a common thread that connects all elements of this project.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"There’s no doubt that this is a serious quality Sauvignon blanc - well made, multi-layered with good complexity. Stylistically it sits in the middle of the mineral, citric styles of France and the riper, tropical fruit styles of the southern hemisphere. Will make me explore Canada further. Delicious - on its own or with food." January 2023

Tasting Notes

Bright yellow color with greenish reflections. Delicate hints of apple, citrus and nuances of white fruits. Fresh and salty, with a long and elegant finish.

Vinification

Specifications

An excellent and affordable representation of an underrated Italian classic, originating from the picturesque vineyards nestled in the heart of the Soave region.

Tasting Notes

An excellent example of good quality Soave Classico, fresh and lightly fruity with delicate floral aromas of honeysuckle, elderflower and a hint of spice. Crisp and refreshing on the palate with good depth of honeyed fruit, and a clean, lightly nutty finish.

Production

Montresor Soave Classico is made from a blend of Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave grapes cultivated in selected vineyards around the Soave hillsides. The vines are trained in the traditional trellis system, and grapes are picked by hand in September. The grapes are gently pressed in Bucher presses and fermentation in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 16 degrees after a short maceration. Malolactic fermentation is actively prevented. The wine is held on lees for a few months and given a light filtration before bottling.

Producer

One of Verona’s historic houses, founded by Giacomo Montresor in 1892, with a reputation built on high quality, affordable Valpolicella and Amarone. In recent years, the range has grown steadily with vineyards being developed in Friuli and northern Veneto, around Conegliano. Their portfolio also includes impressive Prosecco wines.

The winery was family-owned until 2018 when Montresor was acquired by Cevico, a co-operative group based in Emilia Romagna, with two highly regarded Veneto co-ops as co-investors. Since then, a major investment programme has transformed the company – with modern production facilities and a new winemaking team rejuvenating quality across the board, while access to high quality grapes from the Veneto co-owners has enabled some excellent new wines to be developed.

Sustainability

In 2021 Montresor launched its new organic project, a range of 'Montresor Bio' wines. Some of its wines are already bottled in a lighter weight glass bottle (less than 420g) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of glass to be manufactured.

Solar panels are being installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process; plus a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.

Specifications

Although famed for its red wines, white wines have a long heritage in the southern Rhône valley, where the locals enjoy an occasional glass at the start of a warm evening. La Fleur Solitaire is a solitaire amongst the rubies of our Boutinot Rhône range; a white Côtes du Rhône made from traditional southern Rhône white grape varieties.

Tasting Notes

Proper white Côtes du Rhône; fresh, medium-bodied, vinous. The nose is pretty and delicate, with a waft of fennel tops and hints of hedgerow flowers. The flavours are nuanced and refined rather than overt. Careful use of oak adds texture and structure without masking the freshness of this very drinkable white.

Production Method

Following an experiment with a micro cuvée crafted from seven barrels back in 2009, we now source grapes from selected vineyards in the southern Rhône. Each parcel is picked separately in the cooler early daylight hours for gentle pressing that same morning, and each is fermented at a low temperature. To a base of Grenache Blanc, we blend Viognier along with co-fermented pairs of Roussanne/Marsanne and Bourboulenc/Clairette. Over the years we have increased the proportion vinified in stainless steel, with just under a third of the wine now vinified and matured for 6 months French oak barrels (mostly 3rd fill but some new) to add complexity and creaminess.

Producer

Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.

Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.

Sustainability

In July 2021 Domaine Boutinot Rhône achieved the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE 3) certification This certification recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment with the focus on biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water.

Specifications

Specifications

a

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

Who knew Brotherhood of Man were so far ahead of their time when they won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisis for Me"?

Tasting Notes

Dry white wine is made from Kisi grape variety with the Georgian traditional method, fermented in Qvevri. The skin contact gives the wine its distinctive amber colour, and delivers pronounced flavor of apricot, dried yellow fruits, spices and honey. Serve cool - not chilled!

Production

The wine is made from the traditional Kisi grape grown in the villages of Akhmeta district in south west Kakheti. 100% Kisi grapes are grown in clay and stone soils, whole bunches are fermented in underground qvevri for 6 months, lending the wine it’s amber colour, distinctive flavour and mildly tannic structure. 6500 bottles were produced.

A lively, bright Touraine Sauvignon Blanc from one of the region's top producers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A pleasant aromatic and pithy blend of gooseberry, white flowers and citrus on the nose. 

Palate

Complemented by quite a rich peachy and lemon palate that has lovely texture and a moreish, slightly grippy finish.

Production

Grown on flint, clay and limestone soils, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes are destemmed and crushed in an pneumatic press. After controlled settling, the juice undergoes alcoholic fermentation at about 18-19°C with selected yeasts. Ageing then takes place on the fine lees with no malolactic fermentation.

Producer

Formed in 1973, Pierre Chainier is both a négociant and the owner of some 250 hectares of vines in the heart of Touraine, from which it sources classic Loire varieties. Its eight Touraine estates include Domaine de la Bruyère in the newly established appellation of Touraine-Chenonceaux. Conversely, Clos de Nouys, its 25 acre Vouvray estate, is one of the oldest in the appellation. Here, vines average 35 years of age in vineyards that were already listed amongst the best sites on geological maps dating from 1907.

Sustainability

A proper baby Chablis!

Tasting Notes

Aromatic fruit with the tiniest hint of sandalwood smoke on the nose. The palate has lovely weight with ripe, fleshy cooked lemons, a touch of stone fruit and a good mineral backbone. Far superior than the name "Petit" might suggest.

Production Method

Vineyards are in the Hautes Côtes, at the top of the slopes just above Domaine de la Motte's Chablis classified plots and so achieve good ripeness. The soil is Portlandian, which is less chalky than Kimmeridgian, and typically produces wines which are less mineral and more fruity, well suited to earlier drinking. Having said that, Motte’s wine has real finesse with good fruit character – very much their house style. Cool-fermented in stainless steel, malolactic fermentation is also in stainless steel and the wine is unoaked.

Producer

Domaine de la Motte is a 25 hectare, family-run winery handed down from father to son since 1950. Now under the stewardship of Bernard Michaut, an ex-chef, who works with his son Adrien. Their winemaking is meticulous and the wines are benchmarks for the region. They are fastidious about producing concentrated, mineral and very precise wines which reflect the particular terroirs of Chablis, with vines on both Portlandian and Kimmeridgian soils. Motte's wines are regularly chosen for the Tastevinage label, a rigorous selection by the Confrérie des Chevaliers de Tastevin of wines they regard as offering the best of the region in terms of quality and style.

Sustainability

Having been already committed to sustainable viticulture, Domaine de la Motte are HVE Level 3 certified. This underlines the quality of the work carried out by the teams to support the ripening grapes, whilst protecting the biodiversity of the vineyard.

Specifications

Fresh and zesty Pinot Grigio from the Pavia hills south of Milan, handily packaged in a 25cl can. Picnic Perfect!

Tasting Notes 

A richly flavoured yet very proper Sauvignon Blanc from a single Domaine in the south of France.

Tasting Notes

A wonderfully sunny style of Sauvignon Blanc, broad and quite tropical with delicate smokey notes, ripe citrus acidity and a richly-textured finish

Production

Domaine de Vedilhan (pronounced 'Domaine de Ved-ee-ohn') is the estate of the Fayet family based in the village of Moussan, close to Narbonne. Uniquely, a brook runs around the estate which provides much needed water in this very hot climate, giving the wines their freshness and appeal. Vines are managed using the 'lutte raisonnée' method and terroir is a combination of limestone, sand and sea shale, meaning the vines dig deep for their nutrients and thus produce excellent quality grapes. 50% of the production from this Domaine is used for Boutinot wines. Since 1999, our winemakers have been working closely with the Fayets on all aspects of the production, from when to harvest to the exact blend or style of wines.

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.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Single domaine Sauv Blanc from the South of France. More depth, complexity and texture than Bellefontaine - but with the same citric acidity and ripe fruit flavours. A good step up from Bellefontaine and bang on the money at under a tenner." Tasted June 2024

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Colour

Straw-yellow in colour

Nose

A fragrant and crisp aroma with unmistakable floral notes and hints of ripened pear. 

Mouth

Its taste is dry and minerally, acidic yet balanced, and is both intense and enduring.

Background

Specifications

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

A 50/50 blend of Merweh and Obeidi - indigenous Lebanese varieties from low yielding old vines. The Merweh vineyards are over 100 years old and have not been pruned for the last two decades, resulting in extremely low yields and concentrated flavours.

Tasting Notes

Colour

This blend of Merweh and Obeidi is golden in colour.

Nose

The nose has natural aromas of ripened grapes, apple skin and a mix of herbs and spices. 

Palate

Mineral and savoury on the palate, the wine shows notes of dried figs and fresh almonds on the finish.

Production

A blend of two indigenous Lebanese varieties that likey trace their lineage back to the Phoenicians, this wine is made from very old vines grown in altitude. Merweh vineyards are spread over the mountians of Bsharreh to the west of the Bekaa Valley at 1,400m altitude, in amongst the famous cedars of Mount Lebanon. Merweh is a resistant variety which has adpated very well to the Mediterranean mountain climate and ecosystem. Due to the wild nature of the Merweh vines, the ripening was uneven abd required several passes and a skilled team to select only perectly ripe grapes. Obeidi vineyards are grown on the hills of Zahleh - the capital of Bekaa Valley - at 1,100m altitude. These 50 year old vines are trained using a pergola system to ensure they enjoy the best sun exposure to reach maximum ripeness an balance on this late-ripening grape. Obeidi is a reliable and very resitant grape, considered to be the backbone of Behaa Valley's vines throughout its winemaking history. Both varieties were cold fermented separately, using wild yeast widely present in the winery. Once fermentation was complete, the wines we blended and stored for a short period of time in stainless steel tanks to keep the original freshness of the blend.

Producer

Domaine des Tourelles was founded in 1868 by French adventurer François-Eugène Brun and is one of the most highly acclaimed and oldest wineries still operating in Lebanon. It was also the first commercial cellar in 'modern' Lebanon to produce wines, arak and other spirits. This place has history! The Brun family owned and ran the winery up until the last descendant died in 2003 but luckily two local families - the Issa and Issa el-Khoury families - joined forces to buy the property and continue the fine tradition of winemaking.

Today, this Bekaa Valley estate is run by the three Issa children - twins Faouzi and Johanne and their sister Christiane, alongside Emile Issa-el Khoury, son of one of the co-owners. This young and dynamic combination have introduced a handful of practices in the vineyards and cellar including the use of indigenous natural yeasts, no fining or filtering, and only very small amounts of sulphur. These techniques along with fruit from 40 hectares of ancient, organically cultivated and dry-farmed vineyards (among the oldest in the valley) and a winery perfect for hands-off winemaking, make Domaine des Tourelles one of the finest boutique wineries in the Middle East.

Specifications

Widely considered to be one of the best producers in Slovenia, Edi Simčič’s wines are truly unique, stoically traditional and proudly Slovenian.

Malvasia, or Malvazija as it is known in Slovenia, is a classic Mediterranean grape variety that is perfectly suited to the warm conditions in the Gorizia Hills. The Simcics make their version in a rich, structured style which is in direct contrast to many lighter versions from more coastal regions.

Tasting Notes

Ripe peaches and apricots define the nose along with hints of cigar box spice, woodsmoke and dried herbs from the maturation period. The first sip reveals a robust medium body, subtle tannins and a bold structure which will help the wine age gracefully over the next few years.

Information about Edi Simčič

Three generations are still at work here, passing knowledge and experience from father to son every day. Edi himself is still very much a key character at the centre of the business, with his son Aleks working alongside him and taking the winery into a new era, while Aleks’ two sons learn their trade to take up the family mantle one day. Historically, Slovenia has experienced more than its fair share of hardships, re-shaping the lives of the whole population. In the case of Goriška Brda, the whole region was under fascist rule by Mussolini’s Italy up until the end of World War II, after which it passed into Communist rule as part of the reestablished Yugoslavia.

Like many other regions in the area, Goriška Brda’s whole agricultural industry suffered greatly under Communist rule, as all growers were expected to surrender a large portion of their grapes to the government, thus leaving growers with no resources to even consider quality growing and winemaking.

Upon independence and the formation of the Repubic of Slovenia in 1991, the family spared little time in pursuing their true calling as one of the leading winemakers of the country. Today their reputation is well-established, very deservedly so. Everything about Edi himself exudes gentleness, and this certainly comes across in the wines, thanks to patient growing, gentle handling in the cellar and utter perfectionism when it comes to ageing. Down in the cool cellars, none of the wines are rushed to be ready, and a masterful use of oak results in complex and slightly (but very attractively) oxidative wines.

Within Edi’s wheelhouse is a delicious Chardonnay, a wine he considers to be the first step everyone must take to fully understand his approach, after which comes the Sivi Pinot, the local name and style of Pinot Gris. The defining grape and wine of this project and indeed region is the indigenous Rebula, the true jewel in the Edi Simčič crown. Finally the range is rounded off with a red called Duet, a harmonious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. These wines are very special, and Edi and family have worked tirelessly to show the world what their region and country is capable of. This is Slovenia. 

Specifications