12-18

Organic black-grape skinned silkiness in a glass - should be a staple in every household!

This is a big and powerful red wine, dark red in colour. The nose has plenty of dark fruit aromas, plums, black cherries, chocolate, dried fruit and slight herbaceous notes. The palate is full, dense and rich with intense ripe fruit. There are more plum and spice flavours on the palate. The finish is has a touch of residual sugar, giving some natural sweetness, and is full, rich and lingering. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14 %

Grape: 90% Primitivo, 10% Merlot

Sourced from established vineyards in the world-famous Marlborough region. Fresh and vibrant with passion fruit, gooseberry and melon characters. Crisp, clean finish. Great stuff, great value.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 12.5%

Our most popular Prosecco and definitely one to keep in the fridge at all times should it be needed!

Bright straw yellow in colour, with a delicate and fine bouquet but with a fullness of flavour that sets it apart from other Frizzantes

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

AVB: 10.5%

Grapes: 100% Glera

The perfect celebration wine, or beautiful as an aperitif!

Casa Defra Wine

Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - sappy fresh, clean and easy drinking.

Perfumed with nettle and ripe tropical fruits with limey flavours and a rich minerality

Country: New Zealand 

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13%

Grapes:  100% Sauvignon Blanc

Sourced from vineyards in each of the sub­regions of Marlborough; the Awatere, Waihopai and Wairau Valleys. These valleys have their own micro­climates and terroir which give a unique personality to the vineyards, grapes and finished wine.

Put a steak on the griddle pan, prepare a fresh green salad and crack open a bottle of this delicious Malbec - Heaven! 

Irresistible pure blueberry fruit make this a particular favourite of ours. Made by legendary Californian Wine Maker, Paul Hobbs.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Malbec

Fresh, zippy and oh so easy drinking throughout the year! A burst of aromatic complexity: notes of citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon and lime), floral notes (white flowers, linden leaves, hawthorn blossom) together with mineral notes. Elegant and fine wine with a refreshing delicately saline finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc

Grapes: Piquepoul

ABV: 12.5%

A great example of well rounded Bordeaux wine at a reasonable price. Difficult to find!

An approachable style of Claret that has a ripe and round plummy nose with a hint of wood spice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Full­ bodied and well structured, this is a lean and quite austere wine with gentle tannins.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

ABV: 14%

Grapes:  60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Match:  Lamb, hard cheeses

Chateau Buisson ­Redon - The 41 hectare single block estate, owned by the Seze family since 1918, produces Chateau Buisson­ Redon and, with parcels sited within Fronsac AOC, Chateau Mayne­ Vieille. 

Piquepoul Noir has been grown in Southern France for at least 200 years, but is now rarely seen. Originally from the Languedoc, it is one of the 13 grapes permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pale pink colour, light bodied and clean with refreshing acidity, bright rose petal aromas and citrus notes on the finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc

Grapes: Piquepoul Noir

ABV: 11.5%

Foncalieu Wine

A classic New Zealand Sauvignon with vibrant and aromatic flavours. A delicious partner to all types of seafood.

Crisp and aromatic with peach, lemon and notes of freshly cut grass. A long refreshing and zippy finish gives this wine a wonderful character that will partner perfectly with simply cooked white fish such as sole or cod.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13%

Grapes:  Sauvignon Blanc

The Mayfly, so symbolic of the first warmth of summer, drift down New Zealand's crystalline streams and rivers providing food for the voracious trout that have made this a mecca for fly-fisherman the world over. The same pristine environment has proved to be the best place to produce the vibrant and refreshing Mayfly wines. We are sure that this crisp Marlborough wine will have wine drinkers hooked.

We and seemingly, most of our customers love this wine to bits!

Intense ruby red turning to garnet with ageing. Bouquet is spicy with hints of cherry, black cherry and plum compote. Fine and velvety palate, persistent, with soft tannins at the end. 

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes:  Corvinone 40%, Corvina 30%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%

Vegan/Vegetarian

The Biscardo Family have been making wine from their base in Soave for over 150 years and the operations are currently led by brothers Maurizio and Martino Biscardo. Renowned for their Proseccos and Corvina based reds in particular, they are also involved in a fascinating project in Puglia. During the course of Maurizio's long and illustrious career, he has consulted for well known wineries around Italy and in doing so he came across the vineyards that provide the grapes for their Puglian wines. Both the Pugliese and Veneto wines are characterised by a dangerous drinkability, aromatic purity and exceptional value for money

A classic Rioja Reserva with beautifully intertwined fruit and oak flavours.

Beautiful blackberry notes with spices, smoky and subtle nuances of vanilla, toffee and tobacco. An excellently balanced wine which offers layers of red berry fruits on the palate, laced with vanilla and hints of mocha.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo 80%, Garnacha 15%, Graciano 5%

 ABV: 13.5% 

This delicious wine has aromas and flavours of jammy red fruits, summer herbs, and a touch of violet. On the palate it is rich and refreshing.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Frappato and Nerello Mascalese

Caruso & Minini are a part of new revival in Sicilian wine. Smaller wineries have sprung up in the past decade with private investment and strong interest in the potential of the native grapes from Sicily. One example is Caruso & Minini. When Mario Manini met Stefano Caruso is sparked a long-held dream to produce a wine in the historical winemaking region of Marsala in Western Sicily.

From the Euganei hills in Veneto, Pinot Nero vines were planted by the Biscardo family over 20 years ago in volcanic soils, rich in minerals and clay. These characters are found in their Rosapasso: a smooth, fresh and structured rosé, light salmon-pink in colour.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape: Pinot Noir

ABV:12%

Really bold and smokey Pinot oozing loads of ripe cherries and mulberry characters.

Country: USA

Region: California

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Good Côtes du Rhône that are worth their money are few and far between. We’ve kissed a lot of frogs to find this one!

Elegant bramble fruit aromas such as blackberry and raspberry, backed with a cedar and spice, lead into dark flavours and soft, supple tannins.

Country: France

Region: Rhone

ABV: 14%

Grapes:  80% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah

Food Match: Cold charcuterie platters or meaty stews

Great In Their Own Right:  For centuries Rhone reds were used to improve the colour of weedy Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. It became so common that Medoc wines that had been hermitage had the highest price. Today the practice is completely illegal and the finest Rhone wines are finally receiving the respect they deserve.

Fresh, vibrant and pale pink in colour. Dry in style with aromatic rose petals on the nose, this wine follows through with notes of cranberry and strawberry fruits on the palate with a crisp, dry finish.

Country: France

Region: Provence

Grapes: Grenache 50% Cinsault 30%, Syrah 20%

ABV: 13%

Fleurie is the most perfumed of the Beaujolais Cru wines, which this example shows so clearly with its floral aromas and flavours.

A heady perfume of freshly picked irises and peonies drift above the crushed, berry fruit nose. The fleshy, luscious, cherry flavours and hints of rose are typically vivacious, backed up with a good touch of spice and good depth.

Country: France

Region: Beaujolais

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Gamay

'Arenite' is the terroir of pinky, crumbly sandstone of the La Madone vineyards, rated as one of the best vineyards in Fleurie. The South­ East facing vineyards are steep in places, below the Chapel of the Madonna at the top of the hill.

The original home of Malbec - Cahors in France. Argentina is the young upstart trying to take this regions crown! 

Intense berry fruit with plum, blackberry and lots of spice. Vanilla and soft oak as well as violets and a potpourri character add complexity, which is balanced by gentle tannins.

Country: France

Region: Cahors

ABV: 14%

Grapes: 85% Malbec, 15% Merlot

Food Match: Roast Spring lamb with rich red wine gravy

A fine pale-coloured rosé with delicate aromas of pomegranates and raspberry and a distinctive flintiness. There’s finesse and elegance on the palate with flavours of soft red fruits, a gentle silky texture and a lingering fresh acidity on the finish.

If you ask someone what is their favourite wine, most would mention a red or a white. Very few would give a rosé. But, (for us) South Africa has taken the 'common' rosé and turned it into an art form. 

Such a delicate and perfumed rosé. Take a bit of sophisticated Provence rosé, give it a little hint of international dynamic, a little bit of relaxed "take me as I am" S'African personality and the result is this deliciously drinkable rosé from Stellenbosch.

Country: South Africa

Region: Schapenberg, Stellenbosch

Grapes: Mourvedre

ABV: 13%

Biodynamic and Organic

Waterkloof Wines

Winemaker Nadia Barnard:

In October 2022 Penny had the great pleasure of visiting Waterkloof Estate on the slopes of the Schapenberg, Stellenbosch with a few colleagues from the UK wine trade. They spent the good part of two days being driven around this beautiful, sustainably managed piece of land by winemaker, Nadia Barnard. All of the vineyards on the estate are farmed following organic and biological principles. Here at Cellar Door Wines we've always been huge fans of Waterkloof wines. It is always lovely to taste Nadia's wines in Saint Albans, but to be able to do so at Waterkloof, with the woman herself, was extra special. Tasting wine at the place of its birth explains the why and the how of its individuality. The people behind the vineyard and winery are also key components in the equation. The Cape and Waterkloof has such diversity of wine style with a great price quality ratio.

Vibrant with ripe, tropical and gooseberry fruit flavours with a zingy finish and impeccable balance.

A great aperitif or seafood wine, made for drinking young.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 12%

Grapes:  85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon

Food Match:  Mussels, garlic prawns

Sileni Estates: The winery is named after the Sileni who featured in Roman mythology alongside Bacchus, the God of Wine. They celebrated good wine, good food and good company. The vineyards and winery are based near Hastings, Hawke’s Bay ­ the oldest wine region in New Zealand.

Only 5km from the coast, this cool climate vineyard produces fantastic Pinot Noir.

This wine is bright, aromatic and fresh with subtle oak playing a supporting role. The emphasis on the delicious red fruit flavours, drinkability and enjoyment. A seriously cool Pinot.

Country: Chile

Region: Aconcagua Valley

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Pretty and poised Pinot.

Classic cranberry and red current aromas giving us a wine with enough bite and texture to be foody but with enough generosity of fruit to be a delicious glass on its own. A touch of oak in the wine making lends a little soothing creaminess to the finish.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13% 

Grape: Pinot Noir 100%

Exceptional value right-bank Bordeaux from the village of St Emilion.

Rich plummy fruit throughout, this is a medium-bodied, food-friendly Bordeaux with an earthy, cocoa-dusted finish.

Country: France

Region: St Emilion

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 100% Merlot

Appealing aromas of citrus and white flower with a touch of white spice. The palate has orchard and stone fruit characters and a gently rounded, slightly nutty texture. Refreshing acidity balances underlying minerality.

Country: Italy 

Region: Piemonte

ABV: 12% 

Grape: Cortese 100%

This wonderful Piedmont wine is a fresh yet complex Gavi, made with established and old vine fruit. Made by winemaker Claudio Manera, the grapes are hand-picked, pressed and undergo temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel. The wine then remains on its lees for 3 months. 

Completely untainted example of Nero D'Avola - just as nature intended!

The wine has a deep purple-red colour & intense aromas of blackberries & blueberries. The palate is soft & silky, bursting with spicy flavours of black pepper, dark chocolate, wild berries & vanilla.  The tannins are elegant yet persistent.  The finish is long & lingering and offers a burst of wild cherries at the end.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 13.5 %

Grape: Nero D'Avola

Fun Fact: Zensa in Italian means “without” referring to the absence of any chemicals or pesticides in the winemaking process.