£15 to £20

Really bold, ripe and smokey Pinot Noir oozing loads of ripe cherries and mulberry characters. A Cellar Door Wines customer favourite!

Country: USA

Region: California

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

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.

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.

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

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.

One of the hidden secrets of the wine world - Gruner Veltliner. A must try if you haven't before.

Dry, refreshing, with citrus and green apple aromas. The palate is wonderfully tight and pure with mineral acidity flowing around the apple and peach flavours. Delicious with roast pork and apple sauce. 

Country: Austria

Region: Niederosterreich

Grapes:  Gruner Veltliner

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Fish and chips on a Friday or roast chicken and potatoes on a Sunday!

Mittelbach Gottfried

Pure, organic elegance. Sangiovese in this blend gives sophistication in the form of a backbone of acidity and Montepulciano makes this wine bold without being unbalanced.

Country: Italy

Region: Marche

Grapes: Montepulciano, Sangiovese

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Tomato based red meat or bean stews or grilled lamb.

https://www.tenutasantigiacomoefilippo.it/?utm_source=google_maps&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=mybusiness

Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo is an ancient 18th century village, nestled on the rolling hills of the Marche region, brought back to life thanks to thoughtful and skilful restoration by owner Marainna Brucoli. The Tenuta is a beautiful oasis in the green heart of Montefeltro, between the ancient cities of Urbino and Pesaro.

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

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%

Very few places are capable of making high quality Pinot Noir. This one is exceptional.

Bitter dark cherry and ripe mulberry on the nose. Juicy red fruit and red plum skin flavours on the palate, super soft tannins. Light and easy drinking, perfect summer red for sipping on the verandah. 

Country: Austria

Region: Ried Windleutehn, Niederosterreich

ABV: 12%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food Match: Will match well with just about anything because of soft tannins and fruitiness, even slightly spicy dishes.

Mittelbach Gottfried

Ripe, rich and complex red. Intense ruby-red, with a bouquet reminiscent of cherry, dried fruit, chocolate and prune; the palate is full-bodied, soft and round, with a  toasted spice and lingering finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Primitivo

ABV: 14.5%

Bright and crisp, with aromas of nettles, blackcurrant leaf, melon, grapefruit and white pepper. Hooray for quality English Wine!

Country: England

Region: West Sussex

Grapes: Bacchus

ABV: 11.5%

Delicately sweet and elegant Riesling from the Speck family in Ontario. Peach, apricot and honey blossom notes with a long mineral finish.

Country: Canada

Region: Niagara Peninsula

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 11.5%

Food Match: Sweet Potato Curry

A pretty pale-yellow gold tints. Floral aromas and a touch of citrus come through on the nose, which develops buttery and brioche-like notes with age. Full and supple on the palate, long finish.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Jaffelin Wine

Food match: Great with smoked salmon and cream cheese canapés

Youthful looking, pale lemon yellow in colour with a watery white edge. On the nose, aromas of freshly squeezed lime and fresh cut pineapple with hints of granny smith apple. The palate is bone dry as the name suggests! Exceptionally bright, fresh and lively with distinct flavours of lime following through from the nose, yellow peach and apricot, balanced by an edge of flinty minerality on the finish.

Country: Germany

Region: Pfalz

Grapes: Riesling

ABV:12%

What an amazing wine!

Wonderfully rich and fleshy Chenin from hand harvested bush vine grown grapes in Paarl. Wild Yeast fermented and zero intervention this wine develops in the glass. We suggest not to over chill this wine and, if you can resist finishing the bottle, definitely give this a try on the second day of opening for an ethereal experience! 

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc

ABV: 13%

https://www.wildeberg.co.za/

Dry and clean with crunchy green and red apple flavours with juicy peach, mango and melon adding roundness and some lovely lemon to keep it all fresh 

Country: Spain

Region:  Rías Baixas

Grapes: Albariño

ABV: 13%

Food match: Calamari or fish and chips

Classic and classy Californian Zin. 

Smooth and supple with notes of blackberry mingled with gentle spice and soft vanilla. A lovely soft finish. A great wine to partner with charcuterie or cheese platters.

Country: USA

Region: Lodi

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Zinfandel

Crushed laurel on the nose with more than a nuance of residual seaside salt.... or if you want a less pretentious description...bl**dy delicious!

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

Vegan, Vegetarian friendly

Biodynamic

Waterkloof Wine

This has a big and textured palate with stone fruit and fennel hints – it is rich and minerally, showing even a slight rocky quality about it. As bracing as the wind through the vines at Waterkloof.

Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004 this majestic and fully-fledged biodynamic estate is perched high on top of hill overlooking the Western Cape’s False Bay and produces delicately fine wines with a real sense of place.

A brilliant Petit Chablis - ripe and untouched by oak. May well become your new go-to wine.

Showing all the characteristics of the terroir, as well as lemony freshness and vivacity, underpinned by light minerality.

Country: France

Region: Chablis

ABV: 12%

Grapes:  100% Chardonnay

Family Story

A boutique French winery, Domaine Besson, is family owned and operated by Camille Besson and her brother Adrien, fourth generation winemakers. The estate has 21 hectares of vines that make wines for four Chablis AOC appellations: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru. Adrien is the viticulturalist and vineyard manager while Camille is the winemaker.

In the early 1990s, Magpie identified this special site - a single vineyard of Grenache and Mourvèdre. After an olympic blending exercise one night with the wine from here, they name the vineyard 'Clovella'. This wine is a heady embrace of dark spice; it's no coincidence that there’s a distinct clove note in this wine. Bright, fresh, textural in spite of 22 months ageing in older French oak. Soft, moreish and foody.

Country: Australia

Region: Barossa

Grapes: Grenache and Mourvedre

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Slow cooked lamb shanks or Fillet of Beef for a special occasion.

The label design inspiration is all about the meeting of mouths, that energy before lips meet, whether meeting a glass of wine or each other. Two varieties blending into one....

Lemon yellow colour which is clean and bright. A very expressive aroma with citrus and grapefruit, spices and vanilla scents. A fresh and very well balanced wine with balanced acidity and a long citrus finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Viura

ABV: 12.5%

This Rioja winery, Ontañón, has called the wine "Kaori" (meaning "aroma" in Japanese) and is known for its Viura and Tempranillo blends, which are well-suited to Japanese cuisine, especially sushi and sashimi. 

The floral aromas and white peach flavours are complimented by vanilla, toasty notes, a lovely creamy texture and mineral tones through to a classy finish. An absolute must buy for any lover of elegant French Chardonnay, at a fraction of the price you’d pay for village Macon.

Country: France

Region: P Haute Vallée de L’Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Chardonnay