- Abruzzo
- Alentejo Region
- Amarone DOCG
- Aude
- Bardolino DOC
- Barossa Valley
- Bordeaux
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- Castilla y León
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- Aglianico
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- Aragonês
- Bobal
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- Corvina
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- Malvasia Nero
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- Molinara
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- Nebbiolo
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Prieto Picudo
- Rondinella
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
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- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
- Abruzzo
- Alentejo Region
- Amarone DOCG
- Aude
- Bardolino DOC
- Barossa Valley
- Bordeaux
- California
- Casablanca Valley
- Castilla y León
- Chianti DOCG
- Clare Valley
- Colchagua Valley
- Coonawarra
- Dao Region
- Douro Valley
- IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
- Maipo Valley
- New South Wales
- Pays du Gard
- Piedmont
- Rapel Valley
- Rioja
- Sicily
- South Australia
- Tuscany DOCG
- Valpolicella DOC
- Victoria
- Vin de France
- Western Cape
- Aglianico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Aragonês
- Bobal
- Bonarda
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Carmenère
- Cinsault
- Corvina
- Frappato
- Glera
- Grenache / Garnacha
- Malbec
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Mourvèdre / Mataró / Monastrell
- Nebbiolo
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Prieto Picudo
- Rondinella
- Roussanne
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Tempranillo
- Tinta Roriz
- Touriga Franca
- Touriga Nacional
- Trincadeira Preta
- Zweigelt
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Primordial Soup Red Blend N/V
Regular price £7.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%At the Western Cape’s Pinnacle Point, evidence remains in maritime caves of our earliest known ancestors - a primitive culture that combed the beaches and fished in the same rock-pools from whence they came. Our aim with Primordial Soup is to introduce South African wine in its most accessible form, red and white familial twins made up of multiple classical cultivars, named without variety. The design inspiration is from the illustration’s of Ernst Haeckel, German naturalist, who identified then drew some of the simplest forms of life on Earth. We then use these to relate to Darwinism and the subject of Creation and evolution as a whole. It’s the story of everything.
Tasting Notes
A rich and bloody bouillabaisse of the Western Cape’s classical cultivars, packed with juicy life, red in tooth and claw. It has a nose of creamy summer pudding and a palate of crushed cherries with a cranberry tang and texture. It’s the Natural Selection.
Production
This cultured concoction is derived from the Western Cape’s classical cultivars, blended to represent nature’s selection and packed with juicy life. An artful mix of classic South African varieties chosen and blended by our winemaker Ryno Booysen.
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, terroir. Our home-grown South African winemaking team of JD Rossouw, Ryno Booysen and Pierre Louw 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
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Blend |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan Friendly |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
A fantastic match to a huge variety of dishes from steak and chips, bangers and mash, juicy pink sunday roast, to beef stirfry. |
Origin | Swartland |
Appellation | Western Cape |
2022 Borgia by Borsao Tinto Garnacha
Regular price £7.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Campo de Borja is considered the 'Empire of Garnacha' - the most prevalent grape in the region, which just thrives here. Borsao have years of experience crafting ripe and appealing wines, such as this, from the variety.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright plum and berry fruit aromas
Palate
The palate is rich and welcoming with ripe cassis and bramble characters and soft, approachable tannins on the finish.
Production
Garnacha grown on alluvial soils in the foothills of the Moncayo mountain. Grapes are typically harvested in the first two weeks of October. Temperature controlled fermentation takes place in stainless steel at 22ºC - 25ºC, with a 15 day maceration period.
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 rain water from the vast roof is collected and recycled. Planned new offices will also be equipped with solar panels and other energy saving mechanisms.
Awards
- Silver - IWC 2020 (2019 vintage)
- Silver - Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2017 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Garnacha |
Country | Spain |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
|
Origin | Campo de Borja |
Appellation | D.O. Campo de Borja |
2019 Chateau Montelena Estate Calistoga Zinfandel
Regular price £59.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Chateau Montelena shot to fame in 1976 at the iconic Judgement of Paris that shook the wine world to its core when their 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay won first place against an enviable line-up of top French Burgundies. The result was a shock to the wine trade all over the world and changed the history of California wine - and Chateau Montelena - forever.
Tasting Notes
Zinfandel is California’s heritage grape, and as anyone who has tasted long-lived examples from the 1970s, it can produce wines of tremendous quality, both immediate pleasure and age-worthiness, and all in a rich and spicy berry profile that is unique in the world of wine. Like every wine they produce, Montelena looks first and foremost to take the tremendous fruit they work with and transmit it in a complex, balanced package.
Colour
Beautiful and dark garnet in colour.
Nose
This Zinfandel opens with aromas of bright raspberry and floral top notes; followed by cedar, dried berries, dried plums, and the classic Zinfandel briar-berry along with hints of pipe tobacco and dusty cocoa.
Palate
The palate opens softly, with exceptional balance, and builds nicely into a good full finish. Dried fruit notes are perfectly complemented by fresh, red currant and mature black fruit flavors. Very juicy on the palate, it is ripe and sweet, with good length and just a hint of herbs on the finish. It shows good weight and velvety tannins throughout – very fleshy without being overbearing.
Vintage Weather
Not a hot or incredibly early vintage like ‘96 or ‘87, respectively, the weather cooperated and helped us produce wines of finesse, elegance, and balance – aspects that are critical for wines that exhibit a purity of expression and our wonderfully unique growing site.
Producer
Established in 1882 and located in Calistoga, California– the Montelena Estate is one of the oldest and most notable wine-producing properties in the Napa Valley. Click below to explore our beautiful grounds and see for yourself.
Chateau Montelena Winery, originally called A.L. Tubbs winery after its founder Alfred Tubbs, was constructed in 1888 and intended as a barrel-aging facility. The Chateau was unique in materials, plan, size, and style for its era. In nineteenth-century Napa Valley, the majority of wineries were constructed of wood. Instead, the Chateau is made of stone with walls three to twelve feet thick, which provides natural insulation against outside heat or cold. Similarly, the structure built into a hillside, to further regulate temperature - something necessary for producing quality wines but uncommon at the time. Also rare among Napa Valley wineries, the Chateau resembles an English Gothic castle gatehouse complete with rusticated stone walls, battlement with crenels and merlons, narrow arched windows, large arched door in the place of a portcullis, and bartizans with faux arrow slits.
Accounts of the stone winery’s designer, masons and source of materials vary. The design has been attributed to Hamden McIntyre, the well-known local winery designer; however, McIntyre relocated to Vina in 1887 where he took charge of the vineyard and winery of Leland Stanford. The building is unlike McIntyre's other wineries, none of which were designed in a Gothic style. Some sources also suggest that while in Europe, Tubbs hired a French architect to draw plans for the building, brought back French masons to build it, and imported European stone for the walls. Other accounts suggest the design was inspired by the Cellar of Chateau Lafite in France.
Originally, the interior was one large space with a second-story crushing floor, but in 1960, a second-floor apartment was inserted so the Chateau could be used as a home. The space was then converted into our current Tasting room though parts of the private residence remain and are used on occasion today for family guests and private events.
Vineyards
The vineyard is comprised of varied terrain, from flat to steep hillsides. Extending out from the Napa River is the alluvial soil, the most prevalent type on the property. In the back and outside areas of the vineyard are volcanic soils, formed by ancient lava flows caused by tectonic uplifting. The decades-old Zinfandel, planted in craggy volcanic soil, combined with 10-year-old vines in cobbly alluvial soil, produces a wine with complex character.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Zinfandel |
Country | USA |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle |
10.5units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | The Chateau Montelena Zinfandel can stand up to the big, meaty flavors, such as barbeque pork ribs, leg of lamb or a well-seasoned beef dish. The spicy notes of the wine will also complement dark chocolate dishes quite well. |
Origin | California |
Appellation | Napa Valley |
2018 Hartenberg 'The Stork' Shiraz
Regular price £54.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Home of the Worlds Best Shiraz"
'This shows depth and power. The stewed black fruits and blueberry crumble flavours show brilliantly with nothing stopping it from delivering pleasure. Sublime and evolving.' – Decanter World Wine Awards, 96/100 (Gold)
Nose
The Stork shows a complex bouquet of ripe black cherries, violets, sweet spice and sandalwood.
Palate
The palate is richly textured and well rounded with a continuation of the sweet spice note from the nose ending in plush and fine tannins.
History
The Stork Shiraz honours the late Ken Mackenzie, pilot, businessman, farmer and benefactor. Stork was Ken’s Second World War nickname (as he was tall with long thin legs and a Spitfire pilot) and Shiraz was his preferred red wine.
This limited volume wine represents a vineyard selection of Shiraz from a specific site that is planted solely on clay–rich "terra rossa" type soils. The vineyard ripens a full month later than our Gravel Hill Shiraz site.
Shiraz is the cultivar that has made Hartenberg famous, and The Stork will ensure this reputation continues.
Accolades
'The Stork comes from deep, red clay soils and always has a slightly ferrous, dried blood character to it. Perfumed and concentrated, with blackberry, plum and tangerine fruit, lots of minerality and the structure to age in bottle. Drink 2024-32.' – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2021, 94/100
'Shiraz off deep, clay-rich loam soil, reflected in plush mulberry & plum fruit which absorbs 20 months in 90% new oak & coats firm tannin structure. 2017’s savoury, clove & white pepper will add complexity for many years. Also in 1.5L, as red siblings.' – Platter's Guide, 4.5* (93/100)
'The 2017 The Stork has a concentrated nose of blackberry, iodine and wild heather scents, revealing more red fruit with aeration while retaining admirable delineation. The smooth palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity and a hint of melted tar toward the finish. Quite bold, but a well-crafted Stellenbosch wine. Drink 2022-2034.' – Neal Martin, Vinous, 91/100 (Nov 2021)
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14 %alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.6 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 15 years |
Barrel Ageing |
20 months in 90% new French oak barrels, 10% second fill
|
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Dijon & herb-crusted rack of Lamb served with a simple jus. |
Origin | WO Western Cape |
Appellation | Stellenbosch |
2017/18 Ataraxia Pinot Noir
Regular price £26.40 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The wine has an intriguing luminous hue that reflects rather than absorbs light. The svelte nose offers up a fine blend of red cherries, pomegranate, delicate forest floor and a hint of spice and new oak.
Palate
On the palate the wine is sensual and embracing, with a captivating mid-palate depth, lovely transparency and excellent focus on a suavely tannic finish.
In the Cellar and in the Vineyards
Grapes were hand-picked into small crates and then sorted, destemmed and gently crushed at the cellar. A 10 day pre-fermentation cold soak period in open fermenters was followed by a temperature-controlled ferment, peaking at 28°C for a total cuvaison of 22 days. The cap was gently punched down twice a day during alcoholic fermentation. The wine was then pressed and racked to carefully-selected French oak barrels, 22% of which were new and where 100% malolactic fermentation occurred.
History
Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.
In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13.39 alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 5-10 years |
Ageing |
Aged 11 months in 225L French oak barrels |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Crispy duck pancakes, grilled quail, pulled or char siu pork, tuna. |
Origin | WO Western Cape |
Appellation | Hemel-en-Aarde |
2020 Ataraxia Serenity
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.
Nose
A wine that possesses a finely scented, vibrant nose with hints of red berry fruit and intriguing mineral and spicy notes.
Palate
Mouth-watering and polished grape tannins are wrapped in an elegant structure that subtly occupies all corners of one’s palate. Intriguing, unusual and lingering.
History
Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.
In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.
Production
The fruit used to make this wine was sourced from radical and individual vineyards sites with one goal in mind – to have the confidence to “whisper” style through the true expression of these sites rather than “shout” brashness through winemaking excesses. This wine is a seamless blend of three varietals, Pinot noir, Cinsault and cool-climate Pinotage. However, the emphasis of this blend remains entirely on style rather than cultivar make-up. Cultivars are after all merely vehicles to express terroir and not the expression of a wine itself.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Pinotage |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | 5 to 10 years |
Ageing |
Careful maturation in tight-grain French oak barriques, 21% of which were new, for a period of 11 months followed before the wine was blended and bottled in January 2018. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Beef and Venison |
Origin | WO Western Cape |
Appellation | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge |
2016 Quinta da Garrida Dão Reserva
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A single estate combining classic Portuguese character with polished, modern winemaking.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lifted aromas of wild black fruit, off-set with some spicy, smoky notes.
Palate
The palate has black cherry, mocha and some grip - well-balanced by fruit acidity - to give an elegant yet structured wine with a fresh herbal, black fruit finish. Some savoury development on the palate adds complexity.
Production
This estate at Vila Nova de Tazém, in Gouveia county, has poor quality, granite soils. Matured for 12 months in French (80%) and Russian (20%) oak barrels.
Producer
One of Portugal's largest and most progressive producers with 600 hectares spread across estates in five regions from Douro in the north to Alentejo in the south. Winemaker Francisco Antunes oversees what must be one of the most diverse ranges in Europe, from the 3rd largest Portuguese rose brand (Casal Mendes) to some of the country's most impressive premium reds from estates in Douro, Dao, Bairrada and Alentejo. Arguably, Francisco's greatest achievements lie between these extremes, a range of mid-priced wines from native varieties, full of character, quite distinctly Portuguese, but at the same time approachable and with fresh, modern fruit.
Sustainability
Although not accredited, since 2015 the Bacalhôa group is regularly audited for the scope of its ethical, social and environmental work, always with a green result. In 2020, it is planning a SEDEX Membership Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) audit of its labour and health and safety policies. It is also planning to fully convert one its vineyards to organic viticulture as soon as possible.
Awards
- Silver at the 2017 IWSC (2013 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 85% Touriga Nacional & 15% Tinta Roriz |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan and Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Excellent warming winter wine with robust stews and roast meat. |
Origin | Dao |
Appellation |
DOP Dao |
2022 Alabastro Alentejo Red Blend
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A fruity, spice Portuguese red - generous, fresh and approachable!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lifted aromas of blackcurrant and blueberries.
Palate
The palate is bright and well-defined with layers of black cherry, plum, and dark spice, overripe tannins.
Production
A combination of hand and machine-picked grapes are sourced from Alianca's own vineyards in the Alentejo region in the south-east, not far from the Spanish border. Here low yielding, old vines are tended traditionally from plantings on clay soils. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats controlled at 30 degrees for 6 days with extended maceration on the skins to extract sufficient colour, fruit and tannins. The wine is matured in tank for a few months before bottling.
Producer
One of Portugal's largest and most progressive producers with 600 hectares spread across estates in five regions from Douro in the north to Alentejo in the south. Winemaker Francisco Antunes oversees what must be one of the most diverse ranges in Europe, from the 3rd largest Portuguese rose brand (Casal Mendes) to some of the country's most impressive premium reds from estates in Douro, Dao, Bairrada and Alentejo. Arguably, Francisco's greatest achievements lie between these extremes, a range of mid-priced wines from native varieties, full of character, quite distinctly Portuguese, but at the same time approachable and with fresh, modern fruit.
Sustainability
Although not accredited, since 2015 the Bacalhôa group is regularly audited for the scope of its ethical, social and environmental work, always with a green result. In 2020, it is planning a SEDEX Membership Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) audit of its labour and health and safety policies. It is also planning to fully convert one its vineyards to organic viticulture as soon as possible.
Awards
- Silver at the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards (2016 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
60% Aragonês, 30% Trincadeira Preta, 10% Alicante Bouschet
|
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features |
Vegetarian, Vegan and Sustainable
|
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Drink with lamb stew or slow-cooked ratatouille drenched in fruity olive oil.
|
Origin |
Alentejo
|
Appellation |
Vinho Regional Alentejano |
2017 Barolo DOCG Antario
Regular price £22.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nobody knows with certainty when humans began to grow wines, but we do know that for thousands of years they have looked to the sky and the stars for guidance in making the best choices. Antario takes its name from Antares, the brightest star of the Scorpio constellations, and is a selection of iconic wines coming from the best vineyards in Piedmont.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby red with a bouquet of violet, spices and pepper. Great depth of character on the palate with classic damson fruit flavours and a good amount of spice.
Vineyard
The grapes are selected from the sunny vineyards located on the Langhe hills.
Harvest
The grapes are carefully picked by hand in the second half of October.
Vinification
After picking the grapes are immediately destemmed and crushed. Fermentation takes place exclusively with indigenous yeasts, naturally reaching around 30˚C. Frequent remontage is carried out during fermentation for optimum extraction of colour and tannins. Malolactic occurs naturally.
Ageing
The wine is aged for 6 months in stainless steel, then for 30 months in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nebbiolo |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Ideal with roast meats and aged cheeses. |
Cellaring Potential | 2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Piedmont |
2020 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Carménère
Regular price £17.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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
Deep cherry red with violet hues.
Nose
The nose has black fruits with blackberries, blueberries and black cherries that are mixed with notes of pepper and spices, additionally damp earth with minerals such as graphite.
Palate
In the mouth, is a vibrant body, which is fresh and very tense. It starts soft with firm and velvety tannins, a fresh acidity with a long and persistent finish.
Oak treatment - 18 months Oaked
Vinification
Just 50% of the grapes were crushed. A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at 8°C for 5 days. When the temperature began to increase, pumping-over started and the must fermented at between 22°C and 26°C. The wine was tasted daily to determine the level of pump-overs. The wine spent a total of 32 days in the tank and was then decanted into oak barrels, where the malolactic fermentation took place.
This is part of the ageing process for Grey and is key to achieving harmony between the fruit and the oak. 100% of this wine matured for 18 months in extra fine-grain French oak barrels, 34% of them first-use, 66% second- and third-use. Then the wine was aged in the bottle for 8 months. It was racked three times.
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 that continues to this day.
Alans' Personal Tasting Notes
"Well – with the label showing 14% alc by volume you would expect this to be a big, brooding monster of a masculine wine – and it is – but it certainly shows it’s feminine side on the palate – where it slips down like silk knickers!!
Full flavoured and full-bodied with lots of rich, dark black fruits – think black cherries and blackberries – with lots of layers and textures of flavour!! Spending 18 months in oak has also given it some spice and creaminess – but more importantly – must help deliver the silky and velvety tannins that make this such a big, smooth, satisfying mouthful. Quite simply, one of the best reds I’ve tasted in a long time!"
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Carménère |
Country | Chile |
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | This wine pairs well with gamey meats such as deer, wild boar, and also pork and lamb. |
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Maipo Valley |
2019 Ventisquero 'Grey Glacier' Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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
Deep red color, with ruby color.
Nose
With a characteristic fruitiness characteristic of Maipo Costa, red fruits such as fruitllas, raspberries and cassis are mixed with aromas of black pepper, some moist soil and tobacco.
Palate
Of elegant and smooth body, of balanced structure, good acidity that increases the complexity. Tannins present and soft at the same time, ending with a
prolonged end-of-mouth sensation.
Vinification
A pre-fermentative maceration was carried out at low temperatures between 8°C and 10° C for 5 days in order to achieve greater extraction of color and aroma from the skins. The wort was then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Once the fermentation was finished, post-fermentation maceration was achieved, thus achieving a higher concentration and structure of the wine. 100% of this wine was allowed to stand for 18 months in French oak barrels of extra fine grain (33% new) to remain in the bottle for 8 months.
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 that continues to this day.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, & 3% Carménère |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | It is recommended to drink at a temperature between 16-18°C. Accompany mature cheeses and grilled red and well-seasoned meats. It is recommended to decant 30 minutes before consuming. |
Appellation | Maipo Valley |
2021 Nicosia Frappato Bio
Regular price £11.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A really pretty and perfumed example of the Frappato grape from south-eastern Sicily.
Tasting Notes
This organic red has delicious floral and red berry characters and is surprisingly fresh and delicate given the hot climate.
Nose
Delicate and lightly floral aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and wild berries, with hints of aromatic herbs.
Palate
The palate has vibrant red berry characters balancing fresh acidity.
Producer
Is there a more dynamic place to make wine in Italy than on Mount Etna in Sicily? Cantine Nicosia is based at the foot of Etna, on the east coast of Sicily, where Carmelo Nicosia, along with his sons Franceso and Graziano (5th generation), have developed their family business into one of the area's most important wine producers. Their Trecastagni winery is where tradition meets ultra-modern technology.
Trecastagni, at the base of one of the extinguished craters dotting Mount Etna and at an altitude of around 700m, is home to the ancient vineyards of Monte Gorna, with their distinctive lava terraces. The vineyards have been completely restructured and replanted, focusing on the native varieties used for Etna DOC wines: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio for the red, and Catarratto and Carricante for the whites. The extraordinary wealth of minerals found in Etna's volcanic soils can be credited with the very rich flavour and unique character of the wines produced here.
Just a few miles from the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula is the lively agricultural center of Vittoria and the Contrada Bonincontro district - home to the large and impeccably groomed Cerasuolo di Vittoria vineyards planted exclusively with Nero d’Avola, Frappato and Syrah.
Production Method
Frappato grapes are grown on sandy soil situated at approximately 200m above sea level. Grapes are hand-picked in September. The grapes undergo maceration and fermentation for approximately 10-15 at a controlled temperature of between 22-24°C. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats and 2 months in the bottle.
A Note on Sustainability
A proportion of Cantine Nicosia’s vineyards are certified organic by SIDEL, and its wines are certified as vegan by the Istituto Certificazione Etica e Ambiente.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Frappato |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic |
Food Matches | Pairs very well with vegetable tempura, couscous, tabbouleh and Caprese salad. Or enjoy with pasta alla Norma - a classic Sicilian pasta dish with aubergine, ricotta, basil and tomatoes. |
Origin | Sicilia |
Appellation | Terre Siciliane IGT |
2018 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino
Regular price £46.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
This prized Brunello from San Felice's distinguished Campogiovanni estate is a complex, richly-flavoured and robust wine that will evolve beautifully.
Nose
Offers up aromas of well-ripened wild berry fruit, plum, aromatic cedar, tobacco leaf and tanned leather.
Palate
An expansive, generous palate displays rich fruit and mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins; developing into a long, persistent and fruit-filled finish with notes of graphite.
Producer
The Tenuta Campogiovanni is a sister estate to Agricola San Felice, and is located on the southern slope of the Montalcino hill, near San Angelo in Colle.
This 65ha estate comprises 19ha of vineyard across three separate parcels - amongst olive trees, woods and fields. Production here (and 14ha of vineyard) is strongly focused on Brunello, with the remainder largely used for Rosso di Montalcino. Campogiovanni Brunello is amongst the very best in the region.
1990 saw the first production of a Riserva, entitled Il Quercione, made from fruit rigorously selected from the vineyard of the same name and made only in exceptional years.
Production Method
Campogiovanni's 12-hectare vineyards are on the south quadrant of the Montalcino hill, where weather conditions and a particular combination of soils allow optimal ripening of the grapes. Harvesting is in late September. The grapes then undergo a 20-day maceration at 28-30 degrees C, and malolactic fermentation in steel. Maturation is for 36 months in large Slavonian oak botti, followed by a further 12 months in bottle.
Awards
- Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2013 vintage)
- Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2012 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Brunello |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14%alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Pairs well with rich meats such as game and boar. |
Origin | Toscana |
Appellation | DOCG Brunello Di Montalcino |
2017 Amarone della Valpolicella ‘La Colombaia’
Regular price £25.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A richly flavoured and approachable Amarone with layers of ripe plum and cherry fruit, mocha and spice.
Nose
Ripe, warm and generous on the nose with abundant plum and cherry aromas, roasted coffee beans and hints of dried fruits.
Palate
Full-bodied and richly flavoured with rich berry and plum fruit, supple tannins and a spicy finish, with the characteristic dry bite of good Amarone. A balanced and very approachable style.
Producer
The illustrious Montresor family moved from France to Italy at the start of the 19th Century and settled in the Veneto region near Lake Garda. In 1892 Cantina Giacomo Montresor was established in Verona, and remains family-owned to this day.
Giorgio Montresor produces a portfolio of wines which increasingly rival the offerings of the region's more fashionable names - harnessing modern technology to craft the best wines from each site, across their 100ha of vineyard, in Valpolicella and Garda.
Production Method
Made from a blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. The grapes are hand-harvested at the end of October. The late harvested grapes are dried for four months (until January following the vintage) and then crushed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel for four months followed by maturation in Slavonian oak casks and small barrels for 2 years.
A Note on Sustainability
At the end of 2019, Montresor received its organic certification. 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.
Over the next two years, solar panels will be installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process. Alongside this, Montresor is about to install a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.2 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | Perfect with mature hard cheeses and blue cheeses. Also excellent with game and mature beef. |
Origin | Veneto |
Appellation | DOCG Amarone Della Calpolicella |
2020 Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Mourvèdre
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A juicy characterful Mourvèdre which comes from Cline’s original Contra Costa ranch. It’s here where the 100-year-old bush vines thrive on the sandy soils.
Tasting Notes
Distinct and luscious. Flavours of dark plum and chocolate leads to a medley of integrated oak spice and a smooth and juicy finish. A blockbuster of a wine that has plenty of earthy soul and character.
Producer
Cline Cellars is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Sonoma’s Carneros Valley. Established in 1982 by Fred Cline, a descendant of Italian US settlers, he originally founded the winery in Oakley, Contra Costa County, cultivating Rhône varieties and Zinfandel on vines dating back to 1906.
In the 1990s, the family moved their winemaking operation to a 350-acre ranch in Carneros Valley, adopting sustainable farming in 2000, and building the largest solar paneled winery in California. While others in California were focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Fred Cline saw the potential of Rhône varieties and Zinfandel in his vineyards and continues to produce focussed terroir-driven wines.
Production Method
The Ancient Vines Mourvèdre draws from some of our oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing vineyards. These blocks produce fruit of stunning concentration as a result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terroir, and a unique cooling band of air that flows in from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. By naturally restricting yields to only 2 to 3 tonnes per acre, we achieve a sublime expression of the Mourvèdre fruit. These grapes hold characteristics of dark, dusty berry fruit that makes their Ancient Vines Mourvèdre so lustrous. Individual lots of grapes were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. Grapes undergo total de-stemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks with select cultured yeasts. It was then maintained at the ideal temperature to aid in the extraction of flavor and colour. The wine was pressed off its skins at dryness before being racked to dark toasted American Oak (approximately 30% new) where it was gently aged for 10 months and then stored in neutral cooperage.
A Note on Sustainability
Cline is proud to be a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. The program acknowledges a long-term commitment to continual improvement in the field of sustainable winegrowing and business practices, from grape to glass. It is located in Sonoma County, which is committed to becoming the first 100% sustainable wine region in the US by 2019.
Fred Cline and Bob Cannard founded Green String Farm and the Green String method of sustainable farming in 2003. Green String Farm is a 57-hectare natural process, sustainable farm near Petaluma, California. The Green String method meets the highest standard of environmental sustainability practices, which is different from certified organic. The methods reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency, and loss of biodiversity; and increase resistance to natural predators.
In 2005, Cline was one of the first wineries to fully adopt solar energy. In 2018 it upgraded the original array with the latest technology, designed to offset 100% of its winery’s electrical consumption.
Instead of herbicides, Cline has 1,500 sheep and 500 goats that roam its vineyards, tasked with removing invasive weeds and instead of harmful pesticides, Cline provides owl boxes and raptor perches in the vineyard. These birds of prey are the predators of gophers and mice and help to maintain ecological control.
Cline composts and re-uses all digestible organic waste and materials from its winery, including 3,000 tons of grape pomace per year, prunings from trees and vines, plus chipped materials from the landscape. This waste is turned into a biological stimulant and food for the soils. Cline also grinds its own volcanic rock and then spreads the crushed cinder onto the soil. Having a wide spectrum of mineralogy, these cinders provide the vineyards with a complex array of nutrients and trace minerals, ensuring that the vines have all the necessary components to build fullness of character in the wine.
Awards
- Bronze from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 (2014 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Mourvèdre |
Country | USA |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | This scrumptious and unusually delightful wine goes exceptionally well with grilled lamb or pork, sautéed asparagus and curried deviled eggs. Also, fab with rack of lamb, duck confit and steak tartare. |
Origin | California |
Appellation | Contra Costa |
2022 Ananto Organic Bobal Tempranillo
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A juicy, fruity organic red from Utiel-Requena, showcasing the region's increasingly fashionable, indigenous, Bobal variety.
Nose
Vibrant aromas of blueberry and blackberry
Palate
The palate has juicy plum and spice notes wrapped in supple tannins, offering a smooth, harmonious finish.
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.
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 pre ferment whole bunch maceration before temperature-controlled tank fermentation.
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 | 65% Bobal, 35% Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic, Sustainable |
Food Matches | Superb with roasts and stews, red meat dishes, small game, cheese or cold meats. |
Origin | Utiel Requena |
Appellation | DOP Utiel Requena |
2022 Domaine Mas Barrau Cabernet Franc
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Cabernet Franc is much under-rated and rarely cultivated outside its traditional habitats of Bordeaux and Loire. At Domaine Mas Barrau in the Gard region of Southern Rhône, Boutinot’s Guillaume (Letang ) and Samantha (Bailey) have worked together with the family of this organic estate near Nîmes to produce a wine that sets new standards for Cabernet Franc.
Textured and luxurious this is a sophisticated Cabernet Franc from Gard. There is a wild 'after the rain' woodland perfume. The palate is incredibly long and layered with bramble fruit, bay and a touch of sweet prune on the finish.
Production Method
Guillaume Letang looked specifically for vines that are south-facing and can achieve the most sunlight to source the Cabernet Franc grapes for this wine. The terroir is full of limestone which gives rich yet soft and lightly acidic wine – this, in turn, gives the drinker a pleasantly sweet sensation on the palate.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot 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 domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Franc |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic |
Food Matches | Juicy lamb shanks, rich tomato-based dishes laced with roasted garlic and pepper, marinated steak with mashed potato and green beans or savour it at the end of the meal over a good cheeseboard. |
Origin | Gard |
Appellation | Pays du Gard |
2021 Cave de Tain Exploration Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
Regular price £12.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
From Syrah experts Cave de Tain, whose vineyard and winemaking practices easily lend themselves to making a low sulphites wine, comes this IGP Syrah to complement their Crozes-Hermitage Sans Sulfites.
This has the intense dark berry fruit of the very ripe 2020 vintage with smooth tannins but still the edge and freshness of proper northern Rhône Syrah.
Production Method
For Cave de Tain making a 'Sans Sulfites' Syrah isn’t just an experiment or attempt to keep up with trends; it is the epitome of Tain’s philosophy. Syrah, a variety in which Cave de Tain excel, is sourced from vineyards in the hills (collines) of the northern Rhône. All growers practice reasoned (or even organic) viticulture as part of the strict sustainable practices laid down by the Vignerons en Development Durable (VDD), which Cave de Tain has followed since 2007. Vine health is paramount with practices such as 'epillonnage' (removing secondary shoots to aerate the grapes, increasing the vines restistance to humidity without the use of treatments) regularly monitored in each plot. All vineyards are within 15km of the cellar, meaning the grape harvest is delivered quickly and in prime condition, negating the need to add sulphur. In the winery (which benefitted from considerable investment in 2014) hygiene control measures are impeccable, another key factor in making a wine ‘sans sulphites’.
Producer
At the foot of the famous hill of Hermitage, the Cave de Tain co-operative produces five appellation d'origine contrôlée wines: Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas and St-Péray. Cave de Tain also owns a 21 hectare domaine within the prestigious Hermitage appellation where the head winemaker, Xavier Frouin, supervises every stage of vinification from grape sorting to bottling.
The Cave has established an enviable reputation for authentic wines that express the full character of their individual terroirs, thanks to careful and non-intrusive vinification methods. Over the years, traditional techniques have been enhanced by the latest developments in modern winemaking. Cave de Tain's new cellars were completed in late 2014; a total investment of €10m has dramatically reinvigorated winemaking facilities, increasing the Cave's ability to produce top-quality wines.
A Note on Sustainability
Cave de Tain is a dynamic and forward-thinking co-operative, proud of its sustainability programme and a certified member of Vignerons en Développement Durable since 2009. Natural means of improving vine health such as épillonnage and pheromone sprays to disrupt insect pests’ breeding patterns are employed, and they are committed to using organic viticultural practices wherever possible. This also serves to increase the biodiversity of the vineyards, further boosting vine health, reducing the need for chemical phytosanitary treatments and improving the quality of the fruit.
They work to reduce their carbon footprint by utilising natural sources of energy, e.g. by fitting farms with solar panels, by the methanisation of grape marc to generate electricity, and by grinding up and composting the vine prunings instead of burning them so as to improve the quality of the soil and to hold onto the carbon trapped within them. Currently, up to 75% of their production waste is recycled, rainwater is captured for use on the estates, and a collective “river contract” has been drawn up to prevent the pollution of the local groundwater. Water usage in the cellar has been reduced by 90% simply by re-examining all of the ways in which it is used.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | As an aperitif, grilled meats or duck terrine. Try with Saint-Marcellin and Picodon cheeses. |
Origin | Rhône, France |
Appellation | IGP Collines Rhodaniennes |
2021 La Chapelle de Marin, Côtes du Rhône
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%All you want from a proper Côtes du Rhône.
Tasting Notes
With attractive, bramble fruit and floral aromas, the palate is up-front and fresh with warm spice and real depth. This is a classic southern Rhône red; ripe and characterful with smooth supple tannins. Soft and Southern.
Production Method
We source La Chapelle de Marin from three parcels - La Combe d’Antide, Les Sablières and La Beraude – owned by Patrice, a Cairanne neighbour of Domaine Boutinot Rhône. His 40ha of vines, like ours in Cairanne, see plenty of sunshine throughout the year and benefit from both the Mistral wind – which keeps things cooler and disease-free – and higher than average rainfall. Soils are poor with a high limestone content and sandy soils on lower slopes, hence the name of the lower parcel ‘Les Sablières’.The three parcels comprise of 4ha of Grenache Noir, 2ha of Syrah and 1ha of Carignan, 7ha in all. Here vieilles vignes (old vines) are between 60 and 70 years old and, in their old age, are achieving low but concentrated yields of 45hl/ha. Handpicked bunches are carefully destemmed and vinified using traditional ‘minimal intervention’ techniques. This wine is made without the use of oak to retain the pure fresh fruit character.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot 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 domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Lovely with BBQs; grilled meats, halloumi and vegetables. Herby sausages, pasta with Mediterranean vegetables. |
Origin | Rhône |
Appellation | Côtes du Rhône |
2023 La Reine de l’Arenite, Fleurie la Madone
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pretty, floral, elegant and aromatic. Spot on Fleurie!
Tasting Notes
Very pretty indeed, a heady perfume of freshly picked irises and peonies drifts above the crushed berry fruit nose. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity support a palate of Morello cherries, strawberries with a wonderful savoury finish.
Production Method
'Arenite' is the terroir of pinky, crumbly sandstone of the La Madone vineyards, rated as one of the best vineyards in Fleurie. At up to 450m altitude and with soils still untouched by phylloxera, goblet trained vines on the east and southeast facing vineyards lie below the Chapel of the Madonna at the top of the hill. Gamay Noir vines range from 40 to 90 years of age. Grapes are hand-picked and whole-berry fermented for 8-10 days (traditional maceration carbonique) followed by a further 2 or 3 days on the skins to assist with aromas. No use of cultured yeasts. Pressed after an 8-10 day cuvaison. First press wine was returned to vat and left for 8 months before bottling.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot 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 domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
Country | France |
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
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Food Matches | In winter, match with a roast leg of lamb. During the summer, chill lightly and serve with roasted or barbecued chicken or pork. |
Origin | Beaujolais / Maconnais |
2019 Signos de Origen 'Los Morros' Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Genuine non-interventionist winemaking from Emiliana, this matches up to all levels of the natural wine criteria. A lovely example of cabernet sauvignon with beautiful purity.
Colour
Ruby red in colour
Nose
A bright nose that offers aromas of ripe blackcurrant and licorice along with cedarwood notes.
Palate
The palate recalls black currants and red cherry fruit with star anise spice, ripe tannins and a full juicy finish.
Production
Soils are alluvial with good porosity and drainage. The land is flat, rich in minerals with a loamy-clay and muddy texture, irrigated by water coming from snow thaw in the mountains. The season 2014-2015 in the Valley of Maipo was characterized by being warm. The spring was favourable as there were no rains in flowering, which gave rise to a healthy and good harvest. The few frosts that occurred did not affect cabernet sauvignon since they were prior to sprouting. The rains, following the trend, were and concentrated in winter with a total of 230 mm fallen. The temperatures during maturation were high with maximum averages of 30 ° C in January and February and averages of 12.5 ° C for the same months. This led to an early harvest, together the oscillation thermal helped maintain natural acidity. The reception included a triple selection using conveyor belts before and after passing through the destemmer-crusher. The grapes then dropped gently (by gravity) into the fermentation tanks, where they underwent a 5-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8ºC. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks using only native yeasts at 24º–26ºC with a program of pump-overs determined by enological criteria. The new wine remained on its skins for an 8-day post-fermentation maceration at 22º–24ºC, for a total maceration (skin contact) time of 28–30 days. Malolactic fermentation took place naturally in barrels. The wine was then aged for 12 months. The wine is stabilized naturally, without treatments, and is only very lightly filtered at bottling with a 3–5 micron (absolute) cartridge. The wine was aged for 12 months, 48% in French oak barrels, 28% in concrete eggs, and 24% in a 2,000-liter French oak foudre.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | An interesting wine with meat-based dishes and stews. Ideal with oven-roasted pork ribs, grilled beef, or slow-cooked lamb. It is also excellent with duck magret and with strong, aged cheeses such as Emmental or rich, creamy cheeses such as Camembert. |
Origin | Maipo Valley |
Appellation | D.O. Valle del Maipo |
2021 Adobe Reserva Malbec
Regular price £9.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Sumptuous organic Malbec!
Colour
Deep ruby-red in colour
Nose
Vibrant aromas of redcurrant and blackberries, elegantly combined with mild notes of white pepper.
Palate
Medium-bodied on the palate with silky ripe tannins and a long, broad finish. An elegant wine that is easy to drink.
Production
The Rapel Valley lies with the Pacific Ocean to the West, to the east the Andes Mountains, and to the south the province of Colchagua. The climatic characteristics of this valley include frost-free springs and warm summers that allow the grapes to ripen well. Riverbed associated soils, deep alluvial clay loam. Clay provides water retention, which contributes to good grape ripening. 20% in French oak barrels for 6 months.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Awards
- Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2016 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content
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13.5% alc vol
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | This is a great choice to serve in a cheese and wine dinner party, particularly next to Cheddar, Roquefort, Emmental and Gouda. It’s also an excellent option to accompany different kinds of meats, especially beef, lamb, and wagyu. |
Origin | Rapel Valley |
Appellation | D.O. Valle Del Rapel |
2021 Adobe Reserva Carmenère
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Carmenère at its best with bags of fruit balanced by impressive structure.
Colour
Purplish-red colour
Nose
Intensely fruity nose, with standout plum and redcurrant aromas and hints of toast and blackcurrants.
Palate
Smooth, ripe, velvety tannins and good density. An enjoyable and persistent finish.
Production
The Colchagua Valley extends from San Fernando in the north to Chimbarongo in the south. The climate is Mediterranean, and the area receives winds from the south and morning fog. Springs are frost-free, and summers are very warm, which encourages proper ripening. Summers are hot but with cool night temperatures. The soils are medium to very deep, of alluvial origin, and have a silty-loam texture that allows for good vine development. The grapes were handpicked in late April and early May and submitted to a week-long pre-fermentation cold treatment at 8ºC (46ºF) to extract more fruit characteristics. Alcoholic fermentation took place at 25º–28ºC (77º–82ºF) with pump-overs determined by daily tastings through the end of the process. A post-fermentation maceration followed, and then the wine was de-vatted, separating the free-run wine from the skins. Malolactic fermentation took place naturally. 20% of the wine was aged in French oak for 6 months and then blended for a more complex character.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017, and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Awards
- Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 (2017 vintage)
- Silver - Sommelier Wine Awards 2016 (2015 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Carmenère |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content
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13.5% alc vol
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Ideal served with barbecued red meats and stews, and well-seasoned white and game meats. Also, excellent paired with pasta, such as rigatoni, and ripe cheeses. |
Origin | Colchagua Valley |
Appellation | D.O. Valle Del Colchagua |
2021 Salvaje Syrah
Regular price £14.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep violet-red.
Nose
The nose is very fruity with a predominance of black fruits such as blackberries and blueberries on the forefront followed by light notes of blackcurrants and violets.
Palate
The fruity intensity is present at all times and pairs with the very velvety, elegant palate to make this wine very easy to drink.
Production
The Syrah and Rousanne grapes were picked into bins, transported to the winery and immediately chilled. The reception process begins with a double selection system on conveyor belts both before and after being destemmed. The grapes are then crushed and deposited into stainless steel tanks, where they undergo a 3-day cold maceration at 6º–8ºC. The temperature was then raised for the alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts at temperatures controlled to 24º–27ºC with a pump over program managed according to enological criteria. The new wine remained on its skins for an additional 6–7-day post-fermentation maceration and a total vinification of approximately 20 days. Malolactic fermentation took placed naturally in stainless steel tanks, where the wine was aged for 12 months. The wine was the stabilized naturally without treatments. It was filtered with a 1-micron cartridge filter prior to bottling. The wine is aged for 5 months in stainless steel tanks.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Awards
- Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards 2019, 2018 Vintage
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 97% Syrah, 3% Roussanne |
Country | Chile |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | A great match with lamb, sirloin, or other red meats. |
Origin | Casablanca Valley |
Appellation | D.O. Valle De Casablanca |
2016 Krohn LBV Port
Regular price £17.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Late Bottled Vintage Ports are an increasingly popular style, and this, unfiltered, wine from Krohn is no exception. LBVs are produced from just a single year's crop (but not every year), and with the vintage specified on the bottle, each LBV will express the particular characteristics of that vintage.
Colheita Ports are Tawny Ports from a single year and specify the vintage on the bottle. A Tawny Port matures for many years in small (600 litre) casks, becoming more complex and taking on a broad, silky mouthfeel and brick-red colour through slight oxidation. They typically age for a minimum of 7 years, but often longer. For the first 10-15 years, the casks are racked every year, but this becomes less frequent as they age and throw less sediment. As maturation happens in this way, in barrel rather than in bottle, decanting is not normally required. They are bottled to order and will stay fresh in the bottle for several weeks after opening. Krohn is particularly renowned for the quality of its Colheita Ports.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby colour
Nose
Spicy black fruit aromas
Palate
The palate has vibrant plum and blackberry characters layered with more spice, fresh acidity and firm tannins. A full and rich style with impressive length.
Production
Traditional Port grapes are sourced from Krohn's Quinta do Retiro Novo estate, and from long-standing relationships with neighbouring growers. After fermentation the wine is aged in barrel for 4-6 years before bottling. Krohn's LBV Ports are neither fined nor filtered and may thus throw a sediment. We recommend to decant them before serving.
Producers
Wiese & Krohn was founded in 1865 by two Norwegians - Theodor Wiese and Dankert Krohn - shipping initially to Scandinavia and Germany. In the century and a half since its foundation, Krohn has built up an outstanding reputation. Long renowned for the quality of their sublime Colheitas (single vintage tawnies), they produce a remarkably complete range for a small house, and each wine excels in its category. Much of the secret lies in the high quality of their vineyards - the magical combination of terroir, locality, aspect, incline and low-yielding vines. Their Quinta do Retiro Novo estate in Sarzedinho, in the Rio Torto valley (where vinification takes place), is all A grade vineyard. Indeed Krohn only work with grapes from A-graded vineyards across all of their ports, and their top wines are still trodden by foot. Since 2013 Krohn has been part of the Fladgate Partnership - alongside Taylor's, Fonseca and Croft.
Accolades
- 2013 Vintage - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 Bronze Medal
Alan's Personal Notes
"Delicious! The perfect way to end a meal. Rich fruit, wee bit of nutmeg and spice, a wee bit sweet and only 20% alc - just half of a whisky, rum or licquer - what’s not to like? Fire on, the dog relaxed at the fire - all I’m missing is a wee cigar for ultimate pleasure." Jan 2022
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa,Tinta Barroca |
Country | Portugal |
Alcohol content | 20% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 15 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Perfect with blue cheeses, a decent mature cheddar or a slab of dark chocolate. |
Origin | Douro Valley |
Appellation | DOC Porto |
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 |
2019 Mantlepiece Cinsault
Regular price £7.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
This is a deep yet pretty Cinsault being generous of fruit yet full of life. The nose is alluringly aromatic with heady aromas of fresh damsons, plum sauce, hoisin and star anise.
Palate
The palate reflects these with its bright, fresh and gently textural notes that marry together with delicate finesse. From 35-40-year-old, unirrigated vines in Paarl, this old dame is remarkably light on her feet and says so much about why Boutinot has championed Cinsault from SA for over 10 years. This is just plain posh!
Production
Cinsault has bewilderingly been overlooked in the Cape for too long but is a grape variety Boutinot has proudly been championing for years - so it's great that this voice of the Cape's cool Atlantic vineyards is finally finding favour with wine drinkers. The 35-40 year old, dry-grown, Cinsault bush-vines are grown on Paarl’s deep sandy loams where only the fittest of the fit survive these harsh, dry growing conditions. Due to the age of the vines, yields are naturally restricted and very little crop control is required in these unirrigated vineyards. The climate is perfect for viticulture with the low rainfall in summer months, tempered by cool Atlantic afternoon breezes, and the cold winters allowing the vines to rest and build up reserves. All grapes are picked by hand at optimal phenolic ripeness (polyphenols are the source of wine's colour, flavour and mouthfeel), followed by fermentation using delestage, a process whereby the juice is racked off and pumped back over the cap, facilitating the extraction of colour and flavour. This process along with being stored in older 500lt French oak barrels to gently shape the wine further, oxygenates the wine which reduces tannin concentration and boosts esters, key compounds that allow the fruit characters to be expressed. Along with the Cinsault, we've added around 5% Franschhoek Cabernet Franc which releases subtle fragrant herbal notes, minerality and freshness, along with a tiny blob of Swartland Malbec for its smooth lushness. The result is a wine full of lovely juiciness in which ripe red fruit dominates.
Producer
What’s this then? The Strange Komanjie Unlimited, SKU, is a casual band of happy ferments. A circus tent of the Cape’s stranger grapes and blends. We will champion the unfashionable, experiment with the known and express the found before it gets lost. Mistakes are likely, fun certain. Welcome to Strange Kompanjie, a Kultivar Club for the Underdog!
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 95% Cinsault 5% Cabernet Franc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Anything driven by hoisin and plum sauce flavours, duck, goose and other dark meats. |
Origin | Coastal Region - Paarl, Franschhoek and Swartland |
Appellation | WO Coastal Region |
2007 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
Regular price £130.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Penfolds RWT Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured only in French oak. The initials RWT stand for 'Red Winemaking Trial', the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a 'Trial'!
RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.
"Now into its second decade of release, the 2007 vintage excels. It encapsulates what is now the RWT style... defined with its own personality and style territory." Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Colour
Dark Red
Nose
Opulent glaceed fruits - saturated blueberry and satsuma plum elude from a freshly mixed summer berry compote. Stylish cedary oak marries with mixed spices and an element of (Gorgonzola) blue-vein cheese. Aromatically decries Barossa, and Shiraz - but not separately, as per these words!
Palate
Firm, lively & vibrant. Cola and a flavour sensation not dissimilar to a generous longitudinal slice of Blackforest cake, replete with fruits. Tight, finely-grained harmonious oak and lacy, mouth-coating tannins induce a multidimensional 3D palate, tempered by crisp acidity. Awash with flavour, depth & extract. The essence of Barossa Valley Shiraz... oh, and balanced! Convincing ... and out of 2007!
Reviews
Please Note
A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!
Specifications
Year | 2007 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
|
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2030 - Penfolds Rewards of Patience VI Edition, 2008. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Duck, red curry 'ice cream', split rice porridge, lychee, tamarind and pineapple |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2007 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £400.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Bin 707 is Penfolds' Cabernet Sauvignon version of Grange: ripe, intensely flavoured fruit; completing fermentation and maturation in new oak; fully expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Named by an ex-Qantas marketer, Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 when fruit was directed to other wines, nor in 1981, 1995, 2000 or 2003 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 has a secure place among the ranks of Australia's finest Cabernets.
"Twenty vintages after winning the inaugural Adelaide Trophy with the 1987 Bin 707, this new 2007 Bin 707 release continues to demonstrate the advantage & wisdom of multi-regional blending in difficult years. Boldly Bin 707. Unmistakable!" Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Tasting Notes
Colour
Dense, deep-red, with a dark purple / black core.
Nose
Brooding, with a selective & slow aromatic release - firstly wafts of black olive (tapenade), then the faintest suggestion of sardine/anchovy - or maybe soy / Worcestershire - or could it be...? More confidently, familial barrel-ferment, cedary oak, and formic notes share the stage with blackcurrant & blackberry fruits. Inviting, tempting.
Palate
Cassis/blackcurrant varietal fruits and savoury oak stake an immediate (style) claim. Sarsaparilla and choco-mint flavours mould together to create the next layer, followed by a more savoury (Chinese mushroom/oyster sauce mix) immersion structurally impregnating any layering. Gripping tannins complete the offer.
Please Note
A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!
Specifications
Year | 2007 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14.4% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2025 |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Venison, foie gras toast, capsicum 'linguine', almond, date and liquorice emulsion |
Origin | Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra |
Appellation | South Australia |
1997 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £319.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Penfolds Bin 707 is the quintessential Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaking philosophy of Bin 707 is similar to that of Grange, that is ripe full flavoured grapes, completion of fermentation in barrel and new American oak maturation. The result is a wine of great richness, power, harmony and concentration with the structure and strength to age for the long term.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Opaque, deep red.
Nose
Ripe red berries together with varietal, leafy cassis fruits. Stylish integrated oak, hints of smokiness and subtle cedar aromas.
Palate
Rich and ripe with dark cherry and raspberry fruit flavours, some dark chocolate and integrated smoky oak.
Please Note
A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!
Specifications
Year | 1997 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Australia |
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2020 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Beef, Lamb and Cheese |
Origin | Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway, Robe and Bordertown |
Appellation | South Australia |