Mourvedre

A fine pale-coloured rosé with delicate aromas of pomegranates and raspberry and a distinctive flintiness. There’s finesse and elegance on the palate with flavours of soft red fruits, a gentle silky texture and a lingering fresh acidity on the finish.

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 us) 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: Schapenberg, Stellenbosch

Grapes: Mourvedre

ABV: 13%

Biodynamic and Organic

Waterkloof Wines

Winemaker Nadia Barnard:

In October 2022 Penny had the great pleasure of visiting Waterkloof Estate on the slopes of the Schapenberg, Stellenbosch with a few colleagues from the UK wine trade. They spent the good part of two days being driven around this beautiful, sustainably managed piece of land by winemaker, Nadia Barnard. All of the vineyards on the estate are farmed following organic and biological principles. Here at Cellar Door Wines we've always been huge fans of Waterkloof wines. It is always lovely to taste Nadia's wines in Saint Albans, but to be able to do so at Waterkloof, with the woman herself, was extra special. Tasting wine at the place of its birth explains the why and the how of its individuality. The people behind the vineyard and winery are also key components in the equation. The Cape and Waterkloof has such diversity of wine style with a great price quality ratio.

A vibrant red wine with aromas of tobacco, 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.

Food match: Moroccan lamb tagine

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 or Fillet of Beef for a special occasion.

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....

In the glass, the wine has a bright ruby colour with a fresh, herby, garrigue nose. A touch of liquorice is followed by full-flavoured and intense, typically southern flavours. Equal measures of Syrah, Carignan and Grenache and a dash of Mouvèdre provide youth, excellent balance and generous and gentle structure.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, St Chinian

Grapes:  10% Mourvedre SYRAH 30%, CARIGNAN 30%, GRENACHE NOIR 30%

ABV: 13.5%

Wonderfully balanced and rich concentrated notes of red cherry and cocoa. Silky tannins and a hint of liquorice on the finish. Named after the mulberry trees 'Les Amoriers' on the estate, historically cultivated to feed the silk worms.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac

Grapes: 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 20% Syrah

ABV: 14%

Food match: slow roast leg of lamb.

Domaine Les Caizergues

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: Châteauneuf - du-Pape

ABV: 15%

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

In addition to the black and red fruits also found on the nose there is a complex flavour of sweet spice and minerality followed by a fresh finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac

Grapes: Carignan, Mourvèdre,  Grenache Noir, Syrah

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Great with grilled meats and tomato based pasta dishes

Domaine Les Caizergues 

Complex nose with hints of dark chocolate, blackberry, lavender and mocha. Good structure with plum, vibrant red berry and mineral complexity and a lingering finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elim, Cape Agulhus

Grapes: Shiraz Grenache Mouvedre Viognier

ABV: 14% 

Old bush vine Cinsault forms the backbone of this 'proper' rosé. A pale, spicy and textural Rosé mostly sourced from bush-vine Cinsault with summer fruits on the palate and a lovely clean, savoury, dry finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Cinsault, Mourvedre

ABV: 12%

There is almost no food that fails to work with this wine. Perfect with Mediterranean dishes especially juicy pan-fried garlic prawns... or drink chilled on its own.

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 

Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, baking spices and heady whiffs of violets create complexity. Dark berry fruit, liquorice, notes of sweet tobacco and allspice follow through onto a vibrant mid-palate with bright, svelte tannins and a silky texture. The wine shows exceptional balance with fresh, integrated acidity. Dark plums, black olives and hints of tar and cigar box linger on an earthy finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Shiraz, Cinsault, Mouvedre, Grenache Noir, Malbec

ABV: 13.5%

Powerful, rich and full bodied with aromas and flavours of blackberries, baked plum and sweet spice. Concentrated, long finish. 

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

Food Match: Barbequed lamb with rosemary

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.

The nose has rich plum and blackcurrant pastille characters, with delicate vanilla, spice and cedars. The palate is ripe, smooth and opulent with layers of pure blackcurrant, juicy blackberry, lush spicy plum and cherry fruit, minerality and complex, fine tannins on the finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Jumilla

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

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.

Dark ruby/garnet in colour. Red berries with some mint, cedar and coffee aromas and flavours. A full-bodied, elegant barrel matured red wine with silky, ripe tannins. Recommended drinking up to 20 years from vintage. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 45% Pinotage 31% Shiraz 16% Merlot 7% Mourvèdre 1%

ABV: 14.5%

Food Matches: Enjoy with  yellow fin tuna ravioli, balsamic and pan seared chicken livers, grilled kabeljou (white fish) or slow-roasted lamb shanks.

Selected from prime Helderberg and Simonsberg vineyards in Stellenbosch. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards – especially those in the Helderberg.

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.

Sweet, 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.