£20 to 30

Brick red appearance, with a very rich aroma of very ripe fruit (grapes and overripe figs) as well as dried fruits (nuts and almonds),caramel and coffee. On the palate fresh and elegant with good acidity. The long finish is dominated by dried fruits.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Tinta Roriz,Touriga Franca,Touriga Nacional,Tinto Cão,Tinta Francisca,Tinta Amarela,Sousão

ABV: 20%

Remember what a great warm summer 2022 was in England? Well, the lovely sunshine helped to perfectly ripen Bolney's Pinot Noir crop and the result is just wonderful. A red wine vintage for us to be proud of for sure, this Pinot shows ripe strawberry and crushed raspberry characters and has a long and pure finish.

Country: England

Region: Sussex with grapes from Essex too

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 11.5%

With the colour of arterial blood, the nose reveals wild berries, rhubarb and custard. The palate is dense, concentrated and brooding opening to a rich mid-palate with cherry-stone fruit and bitter plum and a long finish with a gentle brick-like texture.

Country: Australia

Region: Adelaide Hills

Grape: Barbera

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Gamey meats or delicious on its own.

Light, delicate and floral with notes of crushed wild strawberries. Delicious! 

Forest aromas and concentrated fruit aromas of blueberries and cherrys mark this red wine. Its elegant ruby colour is the feature of the filigree nature that one then finds on the palate. Lively fruit, ripe tannins and a long sophisticated finish are the strong characteristics of this delightful variety and the wine it produces.

Country: Germany

Region: Pfalz

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Powerful aromatics are redolent of ripe citrus fruits. While the palate has concentrated lychee, honeysuckle, nectarines and pineapple.

Country: USA

Region: Oregon

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Gris

The Proposal Hill Cap Classique Brut Rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir grown on the western slope of the Tygerberg hill on De Grendel, overlooked by the original homestead built by the first baronet Graaff, the vines enjoying the same view that Sir De Villiers and Lady Graaff treasured all those years ago.

Country: South Africa

Region:  Durbanville Hills, Tygerberg

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food Match: Oysters, fresh from the sea or antipasti.

De Grendel Wine

De Grendel Brut Rosé has all the hallmarks of a traditional, meticulously constructed Cap Classique, with the added allure of being playful and exciting, Hopkins said. Complex and with a weightier palate than the average sparkling wine, this bone-dry rosé has a fine and persistent mousse introducing hints of oyster shell and fresh lavender on the nose. Intense strawberry coulis and black cherry flavours are well-balanced by firm acidity and linger in the exceptionally long finish.

WOW! What a stunning wine. One of the best wines from South Africa.

A full and rich wine with great depth of flavour and character. There are aromas and flavours of ripe apricots, honey and tropical fruit with a touch of vanilla oak and crisp citrus fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch (nestled between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountains

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Chenin Blanc

Food Match: Fish dishes, shellfish and sushi

David Trafford is one of South Africa’s most individual winemakers. David is completely self-taught, save for a few months working a vintage in St Emilion. By trade he is an architect but in 1983 he decided to plant a small vineyard for fun. In 1991 David turned his part-time hobby into a full-time career. More than twenty years on, he is one of South Africa’s most decorated winemakers.

Label by Rita Trafford: 'Helichrysum Dreaming'

“About as good as Marlborough gets” according to Tim Atkin. We concur!

Very pale straw with a slight green hue. On the nose, ginger, green apple and crisp highlights of lime. Citrus focussed palate with quenching acidity and varietal elegance.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 14 %

Zephyr Wines is a family winery based in Dillon’s Point, Marlborough and was started by the Glover family in 1985 after being inspired by other mavericks in the region to convert their farm to vine. They've never looked back and Owen and Wendy Glover, along with son Ben, one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed and talented winemakers, now produce award-winning wines from what has become one of the most established single vineyards in the region.  The critics are proving what we’ve known for a long time: that the Glover’s are styling something special out of Marlborough vines that no-one else has.

Vibrant notes of ripe black fruits, combine with earthy hints, nut, spice and fine herbal notes that are characteristic of Valle del Maule . Elegant and complex on the palate with supple tannins and a savoury finish.

Country: Chile

Region: Valle del Maule

Grapes: Carmenère

ABV:13.5%

A traditional Chianti - none of the 'new' invaders of Cabernet or Merlot in this blend. Pure and traditional. Stunning! 

Aromas and flavours of cherries, plums, spices, tobacco and liquorice - everything a Chianti should be.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo

Castellare di Castellina does not follow fashion. While many Chianti wineries have lost touch with their Tuscan roots and experimented with blending French varieties and local grapes over the past few decades, the wine made at Castellare keeps a strong commitment to the traditional Tuscan variety of Sangioveto, the original local name for Sangiovese.

Kleinboet (‘little brother’) is a Cellar Door all time favourite.  Bright red and purple fruit such as raspberries and blueberries on the nose, savoury notes of dried herbs too. A delicious, rich, bold, earthy, but fruity Bordeaux blend.

Country: South Africa

Region: Sondagskloof, Hemel en Aarde

Grapes: Bordeaux Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec

ABV: 12.5%

You might have heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s
famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In
1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing
letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof (they produce 90% of WO Sondagskloof wine), which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region. This area is perfectly suited to Bordeaux varietals and, with the exception of Shiraz, is exclusively planted with them.
The Afrikaans wine names might look like a bit of a mouthful, but they are good fun;
Bloos (‘blush’), Kaalvoet Meisie (‘barefoot girl’), Kat Met Die Houtbeen (‘cat with the
wooden leg’), Posmeester (‘postmaster’), Kleinboet (‘little brother’) and Swartskaap
(‘black sheep’).

A deliciously complex Chardonnay from the iconic Springfield Estate in South Africa. 

This fresh white wine has flavours of pineapple and pear drops. Deliciously complex in style.

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

ABV:13%

Variety: Chardonnay

Springfield Estate goes against the grain in order to make sure the drinking experience is perfect at the consumer end and sustainable at its end. The wines are all about the rocky, unforgiving terroir of Robertson, and stand head and shoulders above most producers for sheer quality.

Springfield Estate

A top notch wild and organic Bandol!

Mourvèdre at its best! Wild flavours of fresh earth, black pepper, cinnamon, bay, cloves and blackberry. The finish is fresh and quite dry. A great way to discover Mourvèdre-dominant wine.

Country: France

Region: Bandol

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Mourvèdre 70%, Grenache 20%, Cinsault 10%

Organic

Domaine Lafran-Veyrolles is an estate with a superb terroir and is widely recognised as one of the top three producers in the appellation. Jean-Marie Castell runs this small, traditional estate with just 10ha of vines on the famous red clay soil of Bandol. The estate is nestled in the protective hillsides of the Cadière d'Azur and benefits from a maritime climate. The domaine works with minimal intervention: extremely low yields, organic viticulture and and natural winemaking including very limited sulphur dioxide.

Gorgeous, deep golden colour. Rich, sweet and nutty nose. Softly sweet and wonderfully balanced palate. Perfect chilled as an aperitif.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Malvasia

ABV: 20%

A very classy Nebbiolo from Alba with an affordable price tag.

Delicious lifted aromatics of liquorice, redcurrant and ripe red fruit on the nose, mingling with sour cherry, blossom and notes of leather on the palate. A richly flavoured and multi-layered wine combining vibrant acidity, perfectly poised tannins and rich spicy fruit. 

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

ABV: 14% 

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food Match: Serve with grilled steak and red meat, or alternatively robust pasta dishes with wild boar or rabbit ragu

Perfectly balanced, toasty yeast aromas, apricot and red apple. Intense toasty, creamy palate and a vibrant, long finish. This is just sooooo yummy!

Country: France

Region: Loire

Grapes: Chenin Blanc

ABV: 12.5%

St Laurent is a beautiful little-known grape variety. Very similar to low yield Pinot Noir but more tannic and full bodied. Delicious.

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 veranda. Will match well with just about anything because of soft tannins and fruitiness, even slightly spicey dishes.

Country: Austria

Region: Thermenregion, Lower Austria

ABV 13.5%

Grape Variety: St Laurent

Food Match: This wine works well with game bird or roast duck. Enjoy with venison sausages or tagliatelle with chicken liver and porcine.

ORGANIC

Now in its fourth generation of winemakers, the 40 hectare estate is run by Johann Reinisch's three sons: Hannes, Michael and Christian. With a 2,000 year legacy of wine growing in the region, the Reinischs maintain traditions with vineyards planted with 65 % red and 35 % white vines. The winery is best known for their excellent Pinot Noir and St. Laurent grown in vineyards from both the stony, alluvial gravel soils of Tattendorf (rich in both chalk and lime) near the winery and the elevated, nutrient rich soils of Gumpoldskirchen.

Massaya Rose is made with 100% Cinsault, grown on hillside vineyards in the Beqaa Valley, at an altitude of around 1000m. This beautifully balanced and expressive rosé has lovely freshness, due to the altitude and is aged in stainless steel vats for 8 months. It is bottled in late spring the following year after harvest.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Cinsault

ABV: 13%

Food match: Mediterranean chicken or fish dishes with grilled vegetables, tabbouleh

Ripe red cherries, blue berries, bramble, pencil shavings, tobacco, spice and cedar on the nose and palate. Complex and rich, will age nicely for at least another 5 years. If drinking now, do decant.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux, Medoc

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

ABV: 13.5%

An all time staff favourite! This is the wine that will spark a lifelong interest in Nebbiolo and lead you to discover the beautiful wines of Piedmont.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: A classic Piedmontese starter: vitello tonnato, which is thinly sliced, cold veal with a rich tuna sauce.

Expressive fresh red fruit. Round, juicy, fruit-driven palate. This is almost silky with perfectly wrapped up tannins.

Country: Spain

Region: Ribera del Duero, Castilla Y Leon

Grapes: Tempranillo

ABV: 14%

Cillar De Silos Wine

Walker Bay in South Africa is becoming a shining example of how Stellenbosch no longer holds the mantle of 'best region' in South Africa - there are now other contenders.

Abundantly fruity on the nose with fragrant white peach aromas mingling with a rich, creamy character. These follow well onto the palate and combine seamlessly with crisp minerality and natural acidity.

Country: South Africa

Region: Walker Bay

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Viognier

Since founding Creation in 2002, Jean-Claude and Carolyn have led conservation efforts for the area, becoming one of only nine wineries in South Africa to receive EnviroWines accreditation. It’s not simply an audit, but scientific measurement of every management practice.

It's not easy to make decent red wines in this country, but Bolney seem to have the secret of how it is done! 

This medium-bodied dry wine has aromas that consist of blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice. The palate shows ripe blackcurrant and red berry flavours with herbaceous character held together with good tannic structure. There is good acidity and a smooth, smoky and velvety finish.

Country: England

Region: Sussex

ABV: 11.5%

Grapes: Rondo, Regent, Triomphe

Intense red fruit aromas on the nose and palate, this medium-bodied nebbiolo beauty from Produttori del Barbaresco has hints of white pepper and liquorice supported by bright tannins and a fresh acidity. A great introduction to the fine wines of Northern Italy.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Antipasto, pasta dishes with tomato sauce or slow cooked red meat stews. Very versatile.

A natural, beautifully golden sparkling wine. The aroma is dominated by apple, quince and citrus fruit notes. Medium-bodied, with a pleasantly fresh fruit-forward finish.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Danube Plain

Grapes: Riesling 

ABV: 11,5 %

Food Match: Aperitif, shellfish, salads, fish & chips.