2022 Bourgogne Cote d’Or ‘Les Parties’, Domaine Meunier

Chardonnay

Described by Gaelle Meunier as a 'Petit Puligny', the Les Parties is a delectable white burgundy that balances richness and depth with freshness and elegance.  The majority of the vines lie within Puligny itself and 50% of the wine is oaked, 30% of which is new, with the remainder fermented and raised in stainless steel.  Elegance and precision best describe this delightful wine from a generous, early to mid term drinking vintage.

£32.00

2022 Church House Chenin Blanc, Matawhero, Gisborne

Chenin Blanc

The Church House Chenin Blanc from Matawhero has a pale straw colour with golden highlights and the expressive nose shows blossom, orange zest and a gentle floral character.  Chenin Blanc hallmarks abound on the palate with stone fruit, lime and honeysuckle alongside perfecty poised acidity.

£18.95

2022 Clos Le Comte Cuvee Emilie, AC Sauternes

White Blend

The Clos le Comte is a tiny, organically farmed vineyard that produces wonderfully elegant Sauternes.  The grapes are harvested after several passages through the vineyard ensuring that only the very ripest grapes are selected.  Wonderfully ripe, concentrated and complex fruit aromas. The rich bouquet shows notes of dried fruits, almonds, apricots, fresh citrus and peach blossom. Well structured on the palate with a viscous density resulting from the high levels of botrytis. Beautiful acidity gives excellent lively freshness to the spicy notes on the long finish.

£40.00

2022 District 7 Pinot Noir, Scheid, Monterey

Pinot Noir

The District 7 Pinot Noir is a plush, approachable red wine from Monterey.  Silky red fruits and hints of toastiness lead to a fresh, balanced finish.

£17.95

2022 Follow The Line Cinsault, Duncan Savage, WO Darling

Cinsault

Duncan Savage is responisble for some of South Africa's most sought after wines.  The wines are usually made with minimal intervention from exceptional parcels of grapes and are elegant, sophisticated and above all, hugely drinkable.  Here's a few expert reviews:

£38.00

2022 Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu River, Half Bottles

Chardonnay

The 2022 Chardonnay Hunting Hill is an impressive, focused style. It has a sense of energy, being almost buoyant with the movement of a skimming stone across your palate. There's a powerful core of fruit here and it has plenty of substance within its no-more-than medium-bodied core before kerpow! It fires home with an almost spicy kick. Clever oak use, reminiscent of toasted nuts, meets restrained flavors of lemon and lime bitter and nectarine fruit. A wine that's still in its cocoon so give it time. It may even have the edge of Maté's... Big call. 2024-2035.

£29.00

2022 Kumeu Village Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

The Kumeu Village Pinot Noir is an excellent value introduction to the wonderful wines from this property.  Lifted red fruits on the nose lead to a fresh and fruity palate with a hint of chalky tannins. 

£18.95

2022 Les Creisses, Domaine des Creisses, IGP Pays l’Herault

Red Blend

The 2022 Les Creisses is an inviting blend of Syrah (30%), Cabernet (30%), Grenache (25%), Mouvedre (5%), Carignan (5%) and Marselan (5%).  Each variety is hand-harvested and vinified seperately before blending and ageing in a mixture of concrete vats and oak barrels for 15 to 18 months. The result is a simply stunning Languedoc red that is enticing, more'ish and a joy to drink. 

£29.95

2022 Lirac Rouge Cuvee Elie, Domaine La Loyanne

Rhone Blend

This relatively young family owned Domaine was created in 2001 by vignerons with 4 generations of vinegrowing and winemaking expertise under their belts.  They own some seriously old vines in superb sites in the Southern Rhone on a mixture of soils of red sand, clay and the classic 'Galet' pebbles associated with Chateauneuf du Pape.  As a result, their wines posess a wonderful depth and concentration.

£21.95

2022 Lomond Estate Syrah, Cape Agulhas

Syrah/Shiraz

The Lomond Syrah is a deliciously plush, well-rounded Syrah that shows plenty of violet-scented blackberry fruit with spicy notes of white pepper. Terrific value!

£19.95

2022 Malbec, Achaval Ferrer, Mendoza

MALBEC

The Achaval Ferrer Malbec is quite simply a wonderful expression of the grape variety.  Bold yet retaining amazing freshness and purity, this delicious red wine shows wonderful aromatics of blackberry, violets and plums.  The palate is fresh and rounded with impeccable fruit leading to a wonderfully balanced finish. 

£25.95

2022 Mont-Sur-Rolle Grand Cru, Maison Blanche, AOC La Cote

Chasselas

This is a delicious, more'ish white made mainly from Chasselas, the grape variety which is typical to the Canton of Vaud. Yves and Antoine de Mestral like to play around with it, making wine several different styles, of which this was our favourite.  Quite classic in style for Chasselas with a lovely balance of the creamy, fruity, floral and mineral palate. Rich and complex, this is a perfect wine to sip on its own, enjoy with fish and seafood.

£26.95

2022 Moulin-A-Vent, Domaine du Granit, Franck Bessone

Gamay

Classic Moulin, with violets and rich dark fruit on the nose. On the palate, plenty of crunchy brambly fruit, excellent structure and a hint of spice. Good with game and red meats.

£26.95

2022 Nebbiolo d’Alba Superiore Sterma, La Bioca, DOCG

Nebbiolo

The Nebbiolo d'Alba Superiore Sterma comes from a single vineyard that just missed out on being classified as Barolo in the original classification as it was deemed too cool. The wine is therefore terrific value, giving the character of Barolo for a fraction of the price.

£22.95

2022 Pianerosse Susumaniello, Paolo Leo, IGP Puglia

Susumaniello

Susumaniello is a rare Italian grape variety almost exclusively grown in the Salice Salentino region, with small pockets of vines in Brindisi. This new release from our friends at Paolo Leo is tremendous value and a really interesting wine.  It is packed with red fruits, plums and spice on the nose and palate with hints of pepper and dark chocolate on the finish. The tannins are quite firm, but very fine and there is a pleasant amaro bitterness and underlying savouriness.  Distincitve, (in a good way), and hugely enjoyable for the money.

£12.95

2022 Reserve du Couvent, Chateau Ksara, Bekaa Valley

Red Blend

The Reserve du Couvent from Chateau Ksara is a great value, approachable red from Lebanon's oldest winery.  The Gallic influence extends to both Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley, with 40% Syrah being blended with 30% each of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc.  The result is an approachable, medium to full-bodied red that shows dark cherry and blackberry fruit laced with savoury black pepper spice and a soft lik of vanilla.  Charismatic and great value.

£18.95

2022 Resonance Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

This beautiful wine is a blend of three prime vineyards in the Willamette Valley.  Packed with red fruits and touches of spice and wood on the generous, silky palate, this is a wonderful example of classic winemaking meeting superb quality fruit.

£38.00

2022 Rioja Crianza, Bodegas Luis Canas

Tempranillo

The Luis Canas Rioja Crianza is a lovely ruby red colour and shows a clean nose with notes of balsamic and fine nuances of redcurrants, strawberries and raspberries with clean oak. Smooth, fruit and spice flavours with toasted oak, velvety cherry fruit and a slight hint of liquorice. Lasting rich fruit flavours with smooth round tannins. Complex and structured. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.

£21.00

2022 Rioja Garnacha, Bodega Alegre Valganon, DOCa Rioja

Grenache/Garnacha

This 100% Garnacha is elegant, refined and a perfect representation of the winemaking philosophy at Bodega Alegre Valganon.  Medium-bodied with enticing red and dark fruit characters, including cherry and raspberries, alongside a whiff of wood and spice. The finish has well-integrated, delicate tannins and a beautiful lift.  Complex yet approachable, this wonderful expression of Garnacha from the high altitude vineyards of Rioja Alta is a great wine to try if you have had enough of the big, gutsy modern styles packed with fruit and oak that have become very popular in recent years.

£31.00

2022 Romans Bay S.M.V., Lomond Estate, WO Cape South Coast

Red Blend

An elegant blend offering notes of juicy red fruits with spice, floral, black fruits and a whiff of smoky complexity. Savoury tones on the palate mingle with dark chocolate and a touch of spice, though to a long, harmonious finish.

£14.95

2022 Saini Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Leo Steen

Chenin Blanc

This utterly delicious Chenin Blanc from Leo Steen deftly balances weight and richness with delicacy and drinkability.  Varietally precise with crisp green apple, pear and citrus fruit and hints of honeyed richness, this wonderful food wine is so enjoyable now, but will continue to provide drinking pleasure for years to come. 

£30.00

2022 Savagnin Blanc, Domaine Badoz, AC Jura

Savagnin

Domaine Badoz are 10th Generation winemakers in the Jura and know a thing or two about the unique, foodie wines of this part of France.  This Savagnin shows typical citrus and green apple characters mixed with a complex hazelnut and spice notes.  Ageing in old wood gives texture and body yet the acidity is keen and fresh, making this a fabulous food wine, especially with Comte Cheese and other regional dishes. 

£38.00

2022 Single Vineyard Sangiovese, Benegas, Mendoza

Sangiovese

The Benegas Sangiovese comes from ungrafted vines planted by the family in 1935 and represents the perfect blend of 'New' and 'Old' world.  Distinctly Sangiovese with an Argentine twist this deeply coloured red wine shows lots of wild red fruits with notes of vanilla and cocoa on the nose.  The palate is nicely structured with more red fruits, hints of spice and perfectly poised acidity.  The finish is long and balanced with herbal-tinged smoky notes.

£28.00

2022 Snapper Rock Pinot Noir, Marlborough

Pinot Noir

Pale, delicate and very easy drinking, the Snappe rRock Pinot Noir is a great introduction to the kiwi style and perfect for light lunches. Bright red fruits, cranberry and herbal tinges all mingle on the nicely balanced palate. 

£15.95