£20 to 30

The Meth`Imon Acacia Assyrtiko 2022 has seductive aromas of candied lemon, hay, mandarin zest and quince. Fresh and zesty in the mouth with a fleshy mid-palate with 1% of Sauvignon Blanc added to the blend.

Skin contact and 30% whole bunch fermentation gives this wine depth of flavour and a hint of tannin, while still retaining the typicity of Assyrtiko. This wine shows fantastic integration, spending ten months spent on lees in acacia barrels.

Drinking well now but will age up to 10 years.

Country: Greece

Region: Thessaly

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Assyrtiko

Food match: Pairs perfectly with Greek salads, shellfish and grilled white fish.

Dougos Winery was founded in 1991 by Thanos and Louiza Dougos. Thanos is the viticulturist and Louiza is the winemaker and together they make wines from indigenous Greek varieties as well as blends with international grapes. They also operate one of Greece's oldest vine nurseries, which was established in 1950. Production is small, peaking at around 70,000 bottles per year. The winery is located in the Tempi Valley, on the foothills of Mount Olympus, in what constitutes the PDO Rapsani, in the Thessaly region. The vineyards are planted in iron-rich schist soils at altitudes of 450-700 metres. These soils are hardy and the iron content is important as it helps regulate the water capacity of the soil. The vineyards are cultivated without the use of irrigation, at low yields, and are certified organic.

The wines are very true to their origin and are always elegant, refined and expressive, and never dominated by new oak. The 300 litre acacia barrels used for the Assyrtiko are always only lightly or not at all toasted, in order to not overpower the intricate qualities.

Wonderful aromas and flavours of dried fruit, vanilla pod , sweet spice and dried herbs.

Native botanicals used: wormwood (magical plant), bay leaves, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon balm, chamomile, hibiscus flowers, lemon pulp, sweet orange peel and bitter. Dark red hue with highlights of copper, this vermut awakens in the mouth a perfect combination between sweetness, acidity and bitterness. The nose has sweet fruity notes along with pastry, which are mixed with light spices and balsamic. It has great length and complexity on the palate.

Country: Spain

Region: Galicia

Grapes: Albarino

ABV: 15%

From an artisan, small batch producer of exquisite, craft vermouths. Based in Galicia and using Albarino wines as the base for their vermouths. The distinctive bottles are inspired by Salvador Dalí and handmade from porcelain.
Native botanicals used: wormwood (magical plant), bay leaves, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary,
thyme, sage, lemon balm, chamomile, hibiscus flowers, lemon pulp, sweet orange peel and bitter.
Dark red hue with highlights of copper, this vermut awakens in the mouth a perfect combination
between sweetness, acidity and bitterness. The nose has sweet fruity notes along with pastry, which
are mixed with light spices and balsamic. It has great length and complexity on the palate.

Bright gold colour. Floral notes of blossom and hawthorn, are joined by white fruits and delicate minerality. Well-rounded, fresh, and enveloping palate with good concentration.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy, Chablis

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13%

Food Match: White meat and fish with butter-based sauces.

Clay-limestone soil and subsoil of Portlandian to Kimmeridgian.

Three generations of Chablis winemakers stand before Vincent and Sophie Wengier, who today produce wines under Vincent's name. In the southwest of the appellation, in the village of Préhy, the Wengier couple decided to put their own name to their wines in 2018 when they bottled their first Chablis. An area previously overlooked for expressive Chablis, the Wengier wines have entered the world to much acclaim. Their careful attention to detail in the vineyards, which will be certified organic from 2023, along with long slow fermentations have resulted in a line-up of wines that is completely captivating.

Certified organic from 2023

Aromas of red fruits and berries with a hint of vanilla and sweet spice. Velvety and soft on the palate with a natural sweetness on the finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Racha, Khvanchkara 

Grapes: Aleksandrouli and Mudjuretuli

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Cheese board

Giuaani Winery is located in the historic village of Manavi, the heartland of Georgian wine producing region, Kakheti. The Manavi village, cradled by the southern slopes of the minor Caucasus, is a home to one of the 29 PDOs (Protected Denomination of Origin) of Georgia. Its unique soil composition and microclimate provides perfect conditions for vine cultivation, especially for Kakhuri Mtsvane grape variety, and for the production of Manavi PDO white dry wines.

One of the most delicious wines in the shop! Bold aromas of white peach and lemon zest with subtle spice and honeycomb notes. Absolutely wonderful.

Country: Germany

Region: Baden

Grapes: Pinot Gris

ABV: 13%

The perfect match with Turkish chicken shish, taboulet and warm crushed potatoes with spring onions.

Located between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Burkheim produces lush and mineralic wines that are ideal companions to a wide range of modern cuisine. Bercher
produces Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris). All the wines go through extended lees-aging and have a wonderful aging potential.

Fruity, nettly and mineral in equal measure, with a delicate balance of white fruits, summer elderflower and green apple, finished off with a dry but playful tang of minerality. Produced and blended from three top parcels of Aligoté in Bouzeron; Les Clous, Les Corderes and Les Corcelles.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes:  Aligoté

Food Match:  Roast Salmon, Goats Cheese salad with fennel

Stunning dry Riesling that really talks of its terroir. Floral on the nose. It is ripe, full of yellow plum fruit flavours. The Riesling that makes this "Melaphyr" wine are grown on the steep, south facing slopes of Schneider's estate that are rich in volcanic rock. The soil warms up quickly, providing perfect growing conditions.

Country: Germany

Region: Nahe

Grapes: Riesling

ABV:12%

Food Match: Fresh shellfish or Goat's cheese salads

Hunter Semillon at its very best!

This wine possesses intensely flavoured, pristine fruit with a clean and zippy palate and fresh fruit flavours of sherbet, lemon, passion fruit and pineapple. Fresh cut grass notes too.

Country: Australia

Region: Hunter Valley

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Semillon

Dark, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruit. Cocoa and chocolate notes on the nose, supple tannins, long black berry finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13,5%

Vegan

Food pairing: lamb, veal, deer, venison, mushrooms, mature and hard cheese

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

A silky and juicy red wine. An aroma of red berries with wild thyme that take you to notes of liquorice, raspberry leaf, cherry and herbs. 

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: BBQ meats and antipasto

Amaaaaaazing sweet wine from one of New Zealand's top producers. Rich, concentrated botrytis Sauvignon from heaven...

Country: New Zealand

Region: North Canterbury

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

Dry, zesty and super fresh. Wonderful with spicy middle eastern dishes or hot Indian curries.

Country: Germany

Region: Pfalz

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 13%

A pale ruby colour. On the nose aromas of Dão field blend and its terroir, with notes of
cherries and red fruit, floral nuances and hints of fresh herbs. Light and clean, with plenty of freshness as well as beautiful acidity and spice on the finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Tinta Pinheira, Alfrocheiro, Baga and Touriga Nacional

ABV: 12.5%

Geraldine's favourite! An aromatic citrus and floral nose with a crisp granny smith apple, clean palate and a long finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Vinho Verde

Grapes:  Alvarinho

ABV: 12.6%

Sandstone Merlot is supple with beautiful balance,  aromas of ripe red cherry and plum that are complimented by creamy oak notes of sweet caramel and vanilla pod. Additional notes of white pepper, cardamom, and graphite provide more complexity and continue to develop as the wine opens up in the glass.

Region: San Francisco Bay, California

Grapes: Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

 Vegan

Salmon in colour, this is a Rosé that immediately captures your imagination. On the nose it has notes of pomegranate and hibiscus. On the palate, it is vibrant and zesty, revealing its great, fresh acidity, with a long and fresh aftertaste.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro

Grapes:  Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca and other varieties

ABV: 13%

A fresh blend of Sauvignon Blanc and indigenous Obeidi. It is aged on its lees for 8 months in foudres and 500l oak barrels giving the wine some weight and texture. The vineyards are situated on the foothills of Mount Lebanon, around Faqra, at around 1400m altitude. Crisp and clean with a citrus character and an oriental twist, thanks to the local Obeidi. 

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc and Obeidi

ABV: 13%

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

This bone dry excellent example of Pouilly Fumé is elegant and well balanced with a light smoky aroma and a hint of gunflint and elderberry. It is wonderfully rich with aromas of nettles, gooseberry and minerals on the palate but balanced by good weight of lemony acidity and a full flinty finish. A wonderful Loire Valley white with layers of clean Sauvignon blanc fruit combined with added complexity due to the minerality derived from the soils.

Country: France

Region: Pouilly Fume

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Sauvignon

Food matches: Ideal with fish (salmon, grilled trout, cod), crab salad, clam
chowder, sushi, goat cheese... and even a panna cotta with passion fruit sauce.

This dark, almost black wine has enormous concentration, resulting in very ripe seductive fruits like roasted aromas of plums, cassis and dark cherries and currant, toast, coffee and mocha. Perfectly aligned alcohol and lively acidity with an elegant smooth finesse. The sugar level is attractive and well integrated and the wine shows serious soft and ripe red wine tannin structure.

Food Match: The relatively low sugar level (compared to other Sweet Reds like Banyuls or Port) allows this wine to pair with main courses like roast beef, game, roasted duck, stews, Steak or smoked fois gras... and any kind of bitter flavours like coffee, nuts, bitter chocolate, smoky, toasty aromas...and fresh and mature cheeses...and simply by itself.

Fermentation is halted with the addition of grape alcohol retaining a natural sweetness of 70 g/l. Fermentation is controlled at 27-29ºC with indigenous yeasts used. Maceration for 30 days, both varieties are vinified together in stainless steel tanks. Not cold stabilised but undergoes a light filtration.15 months in French Oak.

 Country: Spain

Region: Montsant

Grapes: Grenache 70% Carignan 30%

ABV: 16.5%

Food Match: Black Forest Cake or 70% fine dark chocolate

Nestled in the rugged hills of the Catalan countryside, in the tiny village bearing its name, is the well-respected Celler de Capçanes. It was this wild Montsant landscape which first captivated Jürgen Wagner back in the early 90s, but the huge potential he recognised in this unique village co-operative that determined what followed. Pouring all his efforts into working with the growers to nurture the best from their vineyards and the most honest expressions of their terroir, Celler de Capçanes has established itself as one of the most engaging wineries in the area.

Kosher

Full-bodied with intense cassis, red berry and fynbos notes. Cedar and spice from the oak maturation. Beautifully rounded, well integrated, tannins as a result of the extended ageing before release. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Handcrafted. Traditional. Unhurried. These three words epitomise Jeremy Walker’s
winemaking, with one notable omission - Delicious. By ‘Unhurried’, Jeremy is alluding to
the fact that he doesn’t release a wine until he believes it is ready to be enjoyed, which is
evident in the current vintages being 2008, 2009 and 2011!
Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash
court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make
his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.
Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one
of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his
place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.

Style: Full Bodied and Bold Red

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Grapes: 100% Merlot

Other: Organic, Vegan

Aged in barrel for 23 months

ABV: 14,5%

A delicious, concentrated blend of berries and plums,  subtle liquorice aromas a flavours with a hint of cherry tobacco aromas followed by lively and finely structured tannin.

On a picturesque hillside overlooking a dam, where Golden Delicious and Granny Smith
Orchards once stood, 12 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malbec and Pinot Noir can now be found.

Paul Wallace, who has worked as a viticultural consultant to many of South Africa’s top
estates, finally had his dream come true in 2003 - he purchased his family farm in Elgin
and, alongside his wife Nicky, put his life’s work to the test. Based on his belief that Elgin
would become one of South Africa’s premium cool climate regions, he threw caution
to the wind and pulled out groves of apple and pear trees, replacing them with vines.
As always, his advice proved sage, and Paul Wallace is now producing some incredibly
exciting wines that show exceptional finesse and clarity.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

Grapes: Malbec

ABV: 14%

This wine is luxuriously sweet and divinely tempting. Layers of coffee, After-Eight chocolates, black berries and prunes dominate but they are beautifully balanced with a firm structure of acid and fine grained tannins.

Country: USA

Region: Lodi

ABV: 15%

Grapes:  Mourvèdre

Food Match: It is a wonderful accompaniment to rich chocolatey desserts like chocolate mousse, brie with mango chutney, or salted caramel chocolate squares.

Crisp, vibrant, lemon citrus with intense buttery, toasted vanilla notes. Fermentation was carried out using a mix of wild and Burgundy yeasts in 2 year old French oak and stainless steel, adding a rich mouthfeel, excellent body and notes of ripe stone fruit, brioche and honey. Wonderful lingering finish.

Country: England

Region: Devon

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Co-founded in 1990 by wine writer Hugh Johnson, Royal Tokaji has quickly become one of the most important wineries in Tokaj, producing sweet and dry wines. This crisp, dry white is made from 100% Harslevelu grapes and is part of the limited edition "By Appointment" portfolio. It's intensely dry with a citrus acidity, minerality and lovely length.

Country: Hungary

Region: Tokaji

Grapes: Harslevelu

ABV: 14%