Cradle of Wine Kindzmarauli Semi-Sweet Saperavi 2020
Regular price £17.95Delicious, semi-sweet red from Georgia's largest wine region, Kakheti. The wine is supple and very easy drinking with lots of red berry, cranberry and black cherry aromas and flavours.
Country: Georgia
Region: Kindzmarauli, Kakheti
Grapes: Saperavi
ABV: 12%
Food Match: Goes perfectly with a cheese board full of hard, soft, fresh and aged cheeses accompanied by fruit preserves as well as dried and fresh fruits such as dried apricots and fresh green grapes.
Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.
Alpha Estate Hedgehog Single Vineyard Xinomavro 2021
Regular price £24.95An excellent example of Xinomavro with its complex bouquet of small berried red fruits, red cherry, leather, pepper, clove and sweet vanilla spice showing great typicity. Ruby red in colour. Structured and beautifully balanced with rounded tannins and well-integrated oak, with a touch of fennel on the finish.
Country: Greece
Region: Macedonia
ABV: 13%
Grapes: Xinomavro
Food match: Moussaka and Greek Salad
Charalaboglou Koiniariko in Anthesis 2021
Regular price £25.95A beautifully made medium bodied red from Greece from indigenous varietal Koiniariko. Aromas of sweet spice, black pepper and crushed strawberries. Black cherry and supple tannins on the palate with a long, soft finish.
Country: Greece
Region: Macedonia, Thrace near Drama
ABV: 13%
Grapes: Koiniariko
pronounced keen-ee-YAR-iko
Food match: This versatile, medium bodied red will go well with soft cheese and cured meats, salads and grilled meat or roast chicken.
We love these organic, low intervention wines from ancient terroir with a touch of New Zealand magic. Expressive and unique you've got to try them!
Familie Reinisch St Laurent Ried Frauenfeld 2021
Regular price £36.95Dark ruby colour with flecks of bright purple in the rim. Ripe, dark fruit character with, delicate herbal savouriness and hints of sweet cherry. On the palate, juicy, elegant, with fresh black cherry and fine tannic structure. A lingering red berry freshness which gives this wine a definite ageing potential.
St Laurent is a beautiful little-known grape variety. Very similar to low yield Pinot Noir but more tannic and full bodied.
Country: Austria
Region: Thermenregion, Lower Austria
ABV 13%
Grape Variety: St Laurent
Food Match: This wine works well with game meat or rich duck dishes. If you're veggie then enjoy with creamy mushroom or truffle risottos or pasta dishes.
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.
Il Valandrea Gutturnio 2021
Regular price £19.95A heady mix of Barbera and Bonarda grapes combine to produce a delicious and aromatic wine full of ripe plums and cherries that is really brought to life by a hint of anise and bright juicy acidity.
Country: Italy
Region: Emilia Romagna
Grapes: Barbera and Bonarda
ABV: 14%
Vignano Fratelli Fanucci Matrio 2016
Regular price £39.95Rich, concentrated and ripe with aromas of black berries with a hint of tobacco, full-bodied with a wonderfully rich finish of ripe red fruits, vanilla and chocolate. A super Super Tuscan made with 100% Malbec.
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
ABV: 13.5%
Grapes: Malbec
Don Rosendo Select Malbec / Carmenere 2019
Regular price £28.95Rich, concentrated, dark and brooding red.
Country: Argentina
Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Vegan/Vegetarian
Grapes: Malbec and Carmenere
ABV: 13.5%
Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.
Don Rosendo Malbec Roble 2022
Regular price £17.95Expressive nose displaying blueberry, red plum, red and sour cherry. In the mouth, the delightful notes of cacao, plums and caramel, with a hint of vanilla (6 months in oak) make it very elegant. The palate is fleshy, with good entrance, balanced acidity, soft tannins and a lasting finish.
Country: Argentina
Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Vegan/Vegetarian
Grapes: Malbec
ABV: 13.5%
Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.
Cradle of Wine Khashmis Saperavi 2018
Regular price £25.95Concentrated, warming aromas and flavours of blackberries, blueberries and bitter cherry on the nose with a secondary layer of meatiness and stewed fruit. Earthy and minerally on the finish. This is the perfect treat for Sunday roast lunch.
Country: Georgia
Region: Kakheti
Grapes: Saperavi
ABV: 13.5%
Food Match: Goes wonderfully with roast lamb or slow cooked pork dishes.
Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné 'Parallèle 45' Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2022
Regular price £15.95The signature red from legendary Northern Rhône producer Paul Jaboulet Aîné, this Côtes du Rhône is immensely pleasurable with notes of wild berries, white pepper, lavender and cherries.
Country: France
Region: Southern Rhone
Grapes: Grenache 53%, Syrah 37%, Mourvèdre 5%, Marselan 3%, Carignan 2%
ABV:14%
Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 and cultivates the iconic terroirs
from the northern Rhône Valley across seven appellations. Family owned by the Frey
family since 2006, talented winemaker Caroline Frey and her team implement heroic
viticulture techniques on the unique, heritage landscapes.
Prà Morandina Valpolicella DOC 2023
Regular price £21.95A 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
Kuzubağ Kalecik Karasi 2023
Regular price £19.95With its refined plum colour, a blast of forest fruit aromas on the nose and clove notes on the back palate, this wine’s tannins are balanced with a lively acidity, medium body and a long finish. The Kalecik Karası grape feels right at home in the terroir of Çal and has adapted to it with ease. Described as “Turkey’s answer to Burgundy Reds” by wine critics, its fragrant elegance perfectly complements Mediterranean and Anatolian cuisines.
Country: Turkey
Region: Çal, Aegean, Denizli
Vegan/Vegetarian
Grapes: Kalecik Karasi
ABV: 13.5%
Food Match: Lamb Kofta with roast Mediterranean vegetables
Prà Morandina Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2021
Regular price £35.95Aromas of plum, bramble leaf, and a hint of black pepper and spice. The palate is complex with ripe black fruits, prune, fig and an orange zest hint balanced by savoury characters of cloves and cedar. A rich wine with supple tannins and a graphite minerality, finishing long and elegant.
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%
ABV: 14.5%
Food Match: Sausages and rich stews
Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap 2019
Regular price £31.95Swartskaap (‘black sheep’).
Country: South Africa
Region: Hemel en Aarde
Grapes: Cabernet Franc
ABV: 13.5
You’ve probably 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’).
Caruso Minini Perripo Perricone 2021
Regular price £19.95A brilliant ruby red colour, the aromas hinting at currants and cassis with notes of herbs and bitter cherry whilst the palate is elegantly structured, with characters of red currant, and ripe cherries. A long, sophisticated finish. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but will evolve nicely over the next 2-5 years.
Country: Italy
Region: Marsala, Sicily
ABV: 13.5%
Grapes: Perricone
On the west side of Sicily close to Marsala, Caruso Minini have their 4th generation vineyards and winery.
Vachnadziani Winery Qvevri Otskhanuri Sapere 2021
Regular price £24.95Raspberry red in colour, this grape variety, Otskhanuri Sapere, gives enticing aromas of plums, ripe berries with herbal and floral notes and a hint of balsamic. Full bodied, with balancing fresh juiciness and a long, dry and slightly smoky, earthy finish.
Country: Georgia
Region: Imereti
Grapes: Otskhanuri Sapere
ABV: 12.5%
The grapes were carefully sorted in the vineyard and then again upon arrival at the
winery, berry by berry to ensure only the healthy, undamaged and best quality fruit was
vinified. Skin-contact fermentation took place using the traditional Georgian method of
clay jars known as Qvevri. These vessels have been recognised by UNESCO as a
process of important cultural heritage. The Qvevri in the Vachnadziani winery have a
950-litre capacity. The alcoholic fermentation lasted for one week, followed by a
maturation period of five months without skin contact.
Food Match: red meat dishes, stews and casseroles or mature cheeses
Georgia is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine', as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels. Vachnadziani was established in 1953 and is one of the oldest wineries in Georgia. During the Soviet years the vineyard fell into disrepair, but now the vineyards and cellars have received considerable investment. The aim is to preserve their ancient wine culture while combining it with cutting edge technology. With over 1,000 hectares of vineyard, covering the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia and the Imereti, Racha and Lechkhumi regions in western Georgia, Vachnadziani cultivates 25 vine varieties - the majority of which are indigenous. Their exciting and dynamic range reveals all the charm of this historic winemaking land.
Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.
Juan Gil Dulce 2015
Regular price £18.95Sweet, but balanced, powerful, rich and full bodied with aromas and flavours of blackberries, baked plum and sweet spice. Concentrated, long finish with notes of cocoa and baking spice.
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla
ABV: 11.5%
Grapes: Monastrell
Food Match: Dark chocolate mousse or Christmas pudding
The Gil family have been major wine producers in Jumilla since the early 20th Century. Bodegas Juan Gil is dedicated to producing powerful, yet approachable and modern wines, mainly based on Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) which is grown on about 80% of the vineyard.
The winery has invested heavily in its Organic and Sustainability programmes in recent years.
Vallet Freres Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge 2022
Regular price £32.95One of our Superstars from one of the best in Burgundy - Delicious, supple red berry fruit with elegance, integrated tannins and a long, pure, Pinot finish.
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
ABV: 12%
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Sella Coste della Sesia Nebbiolo 'Orbello' 2023 Magnum
Regular price £49.95Such an attractive, appealing nose of mixed red fruits, very bright and clean with floral hints. The palate is soft, supple and mouth-filling. Red fruits follow through with a touch of minerality. Great finesse, with a gentle and seamless finish.
Country: Italy
Region: Piedmonte
Grapes: Nebbiolo: 90%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 5%
Vespolina: 5%
ABV: 13%
Food Match: A wonderfully versatile red that is great just with simple antipasti or with roast lamb with all of the trimmings.
Orbello is a small village very close to the Tenuta Sella vineyard where this wine is produced from. A traditional blend that Tenute Sella has been producing for more than 50 years. Nebbiolo, Vespolina and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, all the grapes are hand-harvested. Once picked a cold maceration is carried out. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in stainless steel tank. Aging for 1 year in barriques, and 6 months refinement in bottle.
Petit Village Pomerol 2019
Regular price £120.00Deep-ruby in colour, red-fruit and cedar notes. The wine is fresh on the palate with the notes of redcurrant and cranberry. The finish is long.
Grapes: Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Pomerol
ABV: 14,5%
Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2015 Jaboulet
Regular price £44.95Intense, complex and aromatic with a blend of red berries. Powerful and fine, it is full-bodied with a well-balanced finish.
Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Grapes: 100% Syrah
ABV:13%
Chateau Ste Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Regular price £39.95Super-premium Cabernet from one of the oldest and most highly regarded estates in Washington State. Classic aromas of dark cherries, cedar, and pipe tobacco. Smooth and refined. Rich in dark fruit notes of blackberry, and cassis, as well as hints of vanilla and toasted oak. This full-bodied and rich, it has a lovely velvety texture supported by firm, ripe tannins and a long, complex finish.
Country: USA
Region: Washington State
ABV: 13.5%
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Prà Morandina Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2020
Regular price £46.95Rich, concentrated aromas of black, ripe fruit, candied peel, rose petals and sweet spice with a hint of tobacco leaf and menthol. The palate is complex with ripe plum, blackberry and black cherry, fine tannins and notes of black pepper. Elegant and long.
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Grape Variety: Corvina 35%, Corvinone 35%, Rondinella 25%
ABV: 14.5%
Food Match: Cumberland Sausage and mash or beef casserole
Twenty year old vines from their the Morandina vineyard near the Lessini mountains is at 450 metres altitude. Soils are limestone, calcareous and the site has a south-easterly exposure.It is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, plus a tiny bit of Oseleta, the vine shoots are cut allowing the grapes to dry for a month on the vine before harvesting. After fermentation the wine is aged for 18 months in barrel.
Prà Morandina Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017
Regular price £69.95This is a vegan wine with a potential to bottle age. A ripe red wine with the notes of dried herbs, plums and cherry. The tannins are ripe with the flavour of liquorice. A long and complex finish that leads to the notes of orange peel and ripe red fruit.
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Grape Variety: Corvina 30%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 30%
ABV: 17%
Food Match: game, roast beef, mature cheeses
Jesús Madrazo Selección Ribera 2019
Regular price £49.95A fresh and aromatic nose with red and black fruit (blackberries, cherries) and some vanilla notes. A fine tannic structure, elegant, yet bold and concentrated with a long and silky finish.
Country: Spain
Region: Aranda and Ribera Burgalesa, Ribera del Duero
Grapes: Tempranillo 88%, Garnacha 10%, Abillo Mayor 2%
ABV: 14.5%
Food Match: Slow roast leg of lamb with roast potatoes and Mediterranean vegetables.