£30 or more

Les Cailloux is a very stoney and limestone 40 year old vineyard of 1 hectare. Sitting at 340m above sea level on a plateau, the stones here are larger and not only provide a great mineral backbone to the wines, but also keep the grapes warm into the evening. The 2019 is excellent, very green, lean and with a hint of the grassy green notes. Great acidity and structure and should age very nicely. 15 months ageing in 228L barrels.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes:  Chardonnay

Food Match:  Wonderful with rich lobster linguini

Red forest berry and bramble berry fruit, red cherries, rose perfume, fragrant sumac and cumin spice on the nose. Red forest fruit, beetroot earthiness, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin and crisp acidity, medium bodied on the palate.

Country: South Africa

Region: Hemel-En-Aarde

 Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard is situated just 12 km from the sea and lies at 300 m above sea-level. The soils are granite origin with a significant portion of clay. Pinot noir clones are 115 and 667. The vineyard was planted in 2006

Beautiful label art by Isabella Kuijers.

Gorgeous, toasty and rich. Biscuity brioche on the nose with delicate white flower and full fruit. Citrus, red apple and 'Leesy' characters add complexity to the palate.  

Country: England

Region: West Sussex

ABV: 12%

Grapes: 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 

Nestled in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in West Sussex, one of the UK’s most stunning landscapes, Highweald Wine Estate is an exciting new project from a team of highly qualified and passionate young individuals, with the goal of making the best quality wine possible from their unique area of land. And it’s been a strong start for this newly established winery, winning Best English Sparkling and Best Wine in First Year of Production (World-Wide) at the International Wine Challenge 2022.

A stunning Pinot Noir from Otago in New Zealand. Handmade with care and love.

Beautiful aromatics; cherries and bright berry fruits mixed with some darker fruit notes plus hints of herb and spice. On the palate there is that same purity of fruit expression and a smooth and silky texture with just enough tannin to support the the depth and weight of the flavours

Country: New Zealand

Region: Otago

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes:  Pinot Noir

There are many characters in New Zealand winemaking and one of the largest is Duncan Forsyth. Maverick or genius, planting vines in the cold of Otago takes some nerve. These vineyards are on the edge of what is possible, the climate is so marginal. With a biodynamic approach and the reassuring chaos of a smallholding full of pigs and chickens the wines win awards and praise worldwide proving that we should all try to be little bit different. Mount Edward's winemaking approach is traditional, using natural yeasts and minimal intervention at all stages to produce wines which reflect the vintage from which they came. The Central Otago climate and soils are unique with the parent rock being glacially derived schist. Most of the soils having been cultivated only a few times in the 100 years before the viticulturists arrived, and some not at all. The growing season is warm and dry with cool nights. It is a short season however, with a risk of frost early and late and they actively restrict crop levels managing the vine canopy to achieve balance and uniform ripeness regardless of variety

Very deep, opaque colour with purple highlights. Great aromatic intensity dominated by matured blueberries and balsamic notes. Perfectly integrated wood with a sweet fruit and spice finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Petit Verdot

ABV: 14%

Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2020
“Made by Gottfried Mocke of Boekenhoutskloof, but sold under its own label, this
stylish Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay is made with fruit that used to go into
Sumaridge. Marrying barrel- and concrete-fermented and aged portions, it has
jasmine and hawthorn aromas, pear and citrus fruit and very subtle wood spices.
2020-25” – 93 Points

Country: South Africa

Region: Hemel en Aarde Ridge

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

ABV: 13.8%

Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2021
“Spontaneously fermented, like sibling, 60% in new oak, rest concrete’eggs’ (vs
Pinot‘s 100% concrete vats). All-wholebunch 2018 is elegant, with pristine orchard
& stonefruit, hint of apple blossom, creamy vanilla. Dry, with, a grapefruit pith finish.
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge WO.”
– 4.5 Stars & 94 Points

Bright green-yellow with shimmering reflections. On the nose very aromatic, juicy  apricot and a hint of vineyard peach, some citrus; white pepper and fresh meadow herbs; very juicy and vibrant on the palate; the refreshing acid balances the wine perfectly; salty-mineral, structured and elegant with intense fruit aromas in the finish. Very long lasting; typical traits of the Achleiten.

Country: Austria

Region: Wachau

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 14%

Red berry fruit, full of spice, white pepper and floral notes. Supple, intense palate with fine tannin matched by plenty of fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Syrah

Food match

Braised lamb and blue cheese, pecorino with rosemary and sundried tomato gremolada!

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.

Fermentation was in oak barrels using the wild yeasts from the juice. The wine is creamy and textured; full of ripe stone fruit flavours and notes of acacia, nougat and citrus. Mineral finish.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Central Otago

Grapes:  Chardonnay (100%)

Food: serve with scallops and lobster in a beurre blanc sauce or grilled chicken.

ABV: 13.5%

Blue and black fruits, with meaty, spice notes and smoky oak complexity. Intense, savoury wine, with a dense ferrous palate, and sustained finish. Drink now or keep for up to 20 years.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Franca (99%)
Tinta Roriz (1%)

ABV: 14.5%

Quinta da Pedra Alta 'Rio' Tinto is an intense, savoury Douro red, made from parcels from the Quinta's lowest elevations close to the river (Rio).

Citrus and pear-drop notes are complemented by a delicious nuttiness, with elegant citrus on the finish. The Bateleur improves in dimension and complexity with age and under the correct storage conditions it can mature in the bottle for many years.

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%

The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is one of Africa’s most majestic birds of prey. This wine was named after an eagle that is rare in both its beauty and occurrence as a tribute to the power and grace of a creature synonymous with our great continent.

Stylish nose with lovely dark cherries and complex tobacco aromas with hints of savoury notes. Velvety textured tannins and lingering finish.

Grape: Nero di Troia

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14%

Food pairing: red meats, stews, and aged cheeses.

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%

Fresh floral aromas combine with characteristic sweet brioche overtones, balanced by peach skin and baked biscuit flavours with a crisp citrus finish.

Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Country: France

Region: Champagne 

Food match: Drinks very nicely well chilled on its own of course (but not on your own - this is the sociable drink par excellence after all!), but also recommended with light nibbles, salads and simple fish dishes.

Garnet red in colour. Perfumed notes of sweet spices, undergrowth, game, dried fruit and leather.
Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

13.5% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food match: game, red meats, cheeses and cured meats

Service temperature: 18 ° 

This wine has the ability to evolve over 15 + years

Sarah Jane Evans MW: Gloriously mature fruit profile, giving a fine autumnal feeling, with neat darts of acidity. Red fruits, vanilla and cumin, and a long, elegant finish. Made for enjoyment over many years.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo (80%), Mazuelo (15%) and Graciano (5%).

Food Match:

Great on it's own everyday drinking or with grilled red meats and hearty sausage or lentil casseroles.

The 2004 vintage, classified as “Excellent” by the Regulatory Council of the Rioja
denomination of origin, was one of the Rioja’s historic vintages.

The abundant rainfall, snow and absence of frost during the winter allowed for a good
fruit set. The weather was ideal along the entire vegetative cycle of the vine, especially
from mid-September on through to the end of the harvest.

The wines obtained of this vintage have offered the best quality parameters in recent
years.

Made with destemmed grapes following a long maceration. In 2004, the wine making
incorporated micro-oxygenation processes with which from the very first phases of the
winemaking it was possible to improve the work of the yeasts, avoid reductions and
stabilize the colour. Micro-oxygenation was also used between alcoholic and malolatic
fermentations in order to stabilize the colour. Aged for 36 months in second-use
American oak barrels and further 36 months in the bottle prior to market release.

This cool climate Aussie Pinot punches above its weight.

Surprisingly restrained and elegant for what was a warm ripening season. There are layers of complexity here. Lifted aromatics of tart cherry, fresh tobacco leaves and candied ginger, the palate is supported by a fine acidity, gentle tannins & alluring savoury characteristics of dried red earth, leather and pencil shavings.

Country: Australia

Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

A luminous and lifted red blend from Mr Badenhorst. Predominantly Shiraz, with Grenache, Tinta Barocca and some Cinsault from mostly old bushvines growing in the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg mountain. Very youthful, with a kaleidoscope of aromas - cherries, blackberries and redcurrant coulis, and multi-layered floral aromas-roses, lavender, pink peppercorns and violets.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca

ABV: 14.5%

Adi Badenhorst is DEFINATELY one the most exciting winemakers in South Africa - part of the Swartland revolution movement...

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux, Medoc

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

ABV: 13.5%

A rich and aromatic Sauvignon with wonderful complexity on the nose and palate. Ageing and maturation on the lees for 6 months, partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in large wooden barrels give this special Alto Adige Sauvignon Blanc a weight and structure that sets it apart from others.

Country: Italy

Region: Alto Adige 

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13.5% 

Food Matches: Chicken tagine or Thai green curry

Tasted blind this could be confused with a top Chateauneuf du Pape - no kidding. This is boutique winemaking at it's best

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grape: Shiraz

ABV: 14%

Intense Ruby Garnet in colour with an elegant nose expressing nutmeg, crushed black pepper, with subtle aniseed, ripe mulberry and dark chocolate. The palate has subtle smoky flavours, blackberries, plums and dark chocolate blending with dry ripe tannins showing a well balanced wine with silky smooth wood integration. 

Andreas only produce this wine - and they are good at it. The wine is aged for 18 months in French and American oak and bottle matured for another year.

Seriously delicious Bordeaux blend from SA. Full of black cherry, and blackberry along with warm notes of baking spice and vanilla pod. Subtle liquorice and seductive tobacco and hazelnut add a luxurious dimension. Long, silky finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc

ABV: 14%

Quinta da Pedra Alta 'Alto' Tinto is a perfumed, hedonistic Douro red, made from parcels from our highest (Alto) elevations on the Quinta.

Aromas of red and blue fruits, with lifted bergamot and exotic spice notes. This is a rich, hedonistic wine, with an Indian ink mid-palate, and an Earl Grey finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Nacional (92%), Sousão (7%), Fernão Pires (1%)

ABV: 15%

Pretty strawberry nose with elegance! Silky and smooth, perfectly balanced Pinot. Very Burgundian in style.

Country: Australia

Region: South Australia

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Complex bouquet showing typical rose nuances as well as layers of spice and woodland fruits. The palate is full-bodied, with hints of cherry, dark chocolate and prunes with firm sweet tannins on the finish. The sweet ripe berry fruit makes it approachable now or can be cellared for 10 years.

Region: Piemonte

ABV: 14% 

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food Match: red meats, fowl and hearty casseroles.

Barbaresco Tenuta Roncaglie is made from Nebbiolo grapes cultivated in Poderi Colla's vineyards in the Roncaglie area. As early as 1880, Roncaglie was already recognised as one of the best and most important areas for Barbaresco production, and mentioned in Lorenzo Fantini's important publication on Viticulture and Oenology in the Province of Cuneo. Several years on Daniel Thomasas, in the January 2005 issue of Wine Spectator, wrote: 'Roncaglie is acknowledged to be one of the best crus in the whole of Barbaresco.' The Poderi Colla vineyards have a southerly exposure and is situated at between 240 and 280 metres above sea level. Some of the vines were planted in 1970, some in 1980 and some in 1995. Vine density is around 4,000 to 5,000 plants per hectare and the average yield is 4,000 litres per hectare. Harvesting is usually done between 5th to 15th October. The Nebbiolo grapes (Lampia and Michet subvarieties) are destalked and pressed and the must is macerated on the skins for around 12 to 15 days at 30 degrees Centigrade. This if followed by a malolactic fermentation which is completed before the winter. The wine is transferred to some Slovinian and some French oak casks (partly new) and left to mature for 12 to 14 months. After maturation with wine is racked to stainless steel vats and clarified with egg whites before bottling.