2021 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore, Ca dei Maghi

Red Blend

The grapes for this amazing Valpolicella Ripasso come from the Camparsi vineyard in Fumane.  Effectively a single 'Cru' wine, this enticing Valpolicella shows a delectable balance of freshness and elegance along with the power and structure courtesy of the addition of Amarone.  The nose is inviting with notes of rosehip, violets and red fruits, leading to a silky, mouthfilling palate and long, elegant finish with polished tannins.

£29.95

2021/22 Brachetto d’Acqui, Giacomo Bologna, Half Bottle

Brachetto

The Braida Brachetto d'Acqui is a semi-sparkling (frizzante) red sweet wine with a bright ruby colour. The nose is youthful and exuberant and bursts with aromas of red fruits like wild strawberry, raspberry & grape. The palate surprises with its fresh, refined and mineral notes, freshened by crisp acidity and fine, elegant fizz. The fruity notes are complemented by subtle hints of violet and rose.

£12.95

2021/22 Trousseau ‘Marnes Rouge’, AC Cotes de Jura

Trousseau

Domaine Badoz are 10th Generation vignerons in the hilly Revermont area of Jura.  Benoit is the current Badoz to be at the helm and, since 2003, has really got to grips with the vineyards and wine range.  This delicious Trousseau is wonderfully elegant with soft red fruits, a velvety texture and fresh finish courtesy of the alpine nature of the vineyards. 

£29.95

2022 ‘Les Chirats’ Syrah/Viognier, Aurelien Chirat, VDF

Syrah Blend

The Les Chirats Syrah/Viognier is a wonderfully floral and elegant blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier from vineyards around Saint Joseph.  The practice of adding a small proportion of Viognier to Syrah is common in Cote Rotie and helps to add softness and aromatics to the Syrah from this part of the Northern Rhone.  This wonderfully friendly and approachable red wine is fermented on Condrieu lees which gives the wine even more aromatics. Enticing blue and black fruits on the nose are joined on the palate by more savoury leathery notes and hints of peppery spice.  The mineral-tinged finish is finely poised showing evidence of the granite soils.   

£18.95

2022 Achaval Ferrer Cabernet Franc, Mendoza

Cabernet Franc

The cool mountain air and abundant sunshine of the Tupungato are perfect for the cultivation of Cabernet Franc.  The styles produced here are different to those of the Loire valley but still posess a wonderfully enticing perfume.  This delicious red wine from Achaval Ferrer is bold with rich, dark fruit character, well structured tannins and herbal notes.  Delicious now with some breating, this lovely red will continue to develop for up to 10 years from vintage.

£25.95

2022 Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, DOCG

Nebbiolo

Barbaresco DOCG is produced every year from the 100 hectares of vineyards controlled by the Produttori within the appellation, mainly in the Barbaresco village itself. In the best vintages, when the quality of the grapes is great everywhere, the historical crus are vinified separately and Barbaresco is then produced with the grapes from the remaining vineyards.

£45.00

2022 Barossa Shiraz, Elderton Estate, Barossa

Syrah/Shiraz

The Elderton Barossa Shiraz comes from 3 vineyard sites, each giving a different character to this benchmark wine.  Typically rich and open on the nose with spiced plums and red and dark fruits leaping from the glass.  The palate is vibrant and layered with more spice, rich dark fruits and beautifully integrated oak spice.  Juicy, more'ish and open now, this wine will continue to develop for up to 10 years from vintage.

£27.95

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 Chianti Classico, Castello di Volpaia, DOCG

Sangiovese

The Volpaia Chianti Classico shows wodnerful purity of fruit and is a very elegant, balanced wine.  The complex nose shows fresh cherry and strawberry fruit with typically earthy nose and whiffs of spice.  The palate is open with elegant, silky fruit and herbal notes mingling with a delicate floral character and perfectly poised tannins. Delicious now but with the ability to age, this is a wonderful introduction to the wines of this top notch Tuscan estate.

£29.95

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 El Chivo Merlot, Central Valley

Merlot

Round and pleasing wine with a fine aromatic persistence, highly supple tannins, silky and very fleshy.

£9.95

2022 El Chivo Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

This vineyard is located in  the Valle Central in Chile at the foot of the Andes, with a winegrowing area covering 114,000 hectares with very varied soils.  A very easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc with typical aromas of gooseberry and citrus fruits, lovely balanced acidity and a crisp clean finish. 

£9.95

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 Frankenstein Blend, Charles Frey, AC Alsace

White Blend

The Frankenstein white is a blend of Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Gris grown in granite rich Grand Cru vineyards of Frankstein.  Alsace wine law forbids blending for Grand Cru wines so this cracking wine is only classified as AC Alsace despite the quality of fruit going into it.  Exotic, bold and full of character, this complex and aromatic white blends floral notes, ginger spice and tropical fruits such as Mango, lychee and ripe pear.  Although naturally aromatic the finish is dry and mineral tinged with a surprising delicacy courtesy of the granite rich soils of Frankstein.

£32.00

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 Margaret River Chardonnay ’76 Series, Botham Family Wines

Chardonnay

£14.95

2022 Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Domaine de Durban

Muscat

Aromas of apricot, peach, Seville orange and ripe pear come to mind when sampling Domaine de Durban Muscat Beaumes de Venise, an exemplary dessert wine.

£13.95

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 Pinot Gris, Domaine Mader, Hunawihr

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio

Mader is a tiny, high quality wine producer based in Alsace, in the village of Hunawihr. All the vineyards are grown organically without the use of any chemical treatments and has been certified by Ecocert since 2007.

£24.00

2022 Pinot Noir Crepuscule, Idun, Elgin

Pinot Noir

The Crepuscule Pinot Noir by Idun in Elgin shows a very light ruby colour with bricky tints to the rim.  The delightful  nose shows Brambles, rose petals, ripe cherries and strawberries. The palate is wonderfully fresh with red fruits and cherries that are delicate and integrated.

£26.95

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 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