All Wines

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 me) 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: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Mourvedre

ABV: at the delicious level.....13%

Biodynamic

A vibrant red wine with aromas of dark cherry, rich red forest fruits and floral notes of lavender and violet. The palate has hints of white truffle, hazelnut, and warm spices with glimpses of anise and clove, rounded off with herbaceous undertones. The finish is gripping, velvety and lingering.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Mount Lebanon and Bekaa Valley

Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre

ABV: 13.5%

Produced at the historic Monastery of St Jean, whose building dates back to 1696. 75% of the grapes are from the Monastery’s own vineyards in Khenshara & Ajaltoun at 1000m altitude on the Maritime side of Mount Lebanon. The remaining 25% is Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bekaa Valley.

A serious Rose with a strong personality.

Beautiful pale salmon colour with an appealing lemon & herb nose followed by flavours of warm southern herbs & rich, rounded fruit.  Very much a food wine with a powerful character & a delicious dry finish.

Country: France

Region: Provence

Grapes:  65% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, 15% Cinsault

ABV: 14%

Organic

Vegan/Vegetarian

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 10 ha of vines on the famous red clay soil of Bandol.  The estate nestles in and is protected by the hills of the Cadière d'Azur and benefits from a maritime climate. The estate works organically and the yields are kept extremely low. Domaine Lafran Veyrolles reds have made it one of the star performers of the appellation … but don’t overlook the rosé wines as they deserve attention too!

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

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....

An elegant rendition of this normally unruly varietal. Features raspberry, dark fruit and herbal notes whilst an almost meaty, wild aroma can be detected on the nose. Typical vigour expected from this varietal, with a high concentration of fine tannin and a surprising lightness of touch helped by the lower alcohol.

Country : South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Mourvèdre

ABV: 12.5%

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including: soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Mourvedre is from a single, windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) block 250-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Mourvedre is one of the few varietals with enough wind-resistance to plant as bush-vine on Waterkloof. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bunches are sorted and whole-bunch fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing take place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in old 600 litre barrels then ageing for 16 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additons other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine. 6 barrels made.

This is a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape serious and brooding and benefits from a little time to breath and open up. The palate is complex with herby, tapenade flavours and ripe textured tannins balancing the significant 15% alcohol which is expertly managed and integrated.

Country: France

Region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape

ABV: 15%

Grapes: Grenache 65%, Syrah 20%, Mourvedre 10%

A rich and opulent wine with ripe blackcurrant aromas layered with notes of the herbs and flowers. Full bodied but with a soft texture on the palate; this wine retains the estate's characteristic elegance whilst embracing a modern style of winemaking. Ripe fruits combine with notes of cocoa and cherry and a hint of liquorice on the finish. Excellent example!

Country: France

Region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone Valley

Grapes: Grenache 50%, Syrah 25%, Mourvèdre 15%, Cinsault 10%

ABV: 14.5%

This dry rose from South Africa is bursting with cool raspberry flavours alongside strawberry and even a hint of thyme. Provence style but packed with more flavour and a summer tang.

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl, Western Cape

Grapes: Mourvedre

ABV: 13%

Food Pairing: Plaice and buttered new potatoes 

Smokey bacon, butterscotch, vanilla and sweet black fruit with spice followed onto the palate a savoury mix of fruit and mocha with silky tannins to finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grapes: Shiraz 20%, Mouvedré 19%, Viognier 1%

ABV: 14%

Food matches: great with rich meaty stews - potjie kos especially