Spring Selection 2021

Fresh, zippy and oh so easy drinking throughout the year! A burst of aromatic complexity: notes of citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon and lime), floral notes (white flowers, linden leaves, hawthorn blossom) together with mineral notes. Elegant and fine wine with a refreshing delicately saline finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc

Grapes: Piquepoul

ABV: 12.5%

Piquepoul Noir has been grown in Southern France for at least 200 years, but is now rarely seen. Originally from the Languedoc, it is one of the 13 grapes permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pale pink colour, light bodied and clean with refreshing acidity, bright rose petal aromas and citrus notes on the finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc

Grapes: Piquepoul Noir

ABV: 11.5%

Food Match: Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels with watermelon and mint salad or tabbouleh.

Foncalieu Wine

What an amazing wine!

Wonderfully rich and fleshy Chenin from hand harvested bush vine grown grapes in Paarl. Wild Yeast fermented and zero intervention this wine develops in the glass. We suggest not to over chill this wine and, if you can resist finishing the bottle, definitely give this a try on the second day of opening for an ethereal experience! 

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc

ABV: 13%

https://www.wildeberg.co.za/

The best vintage of Wimbushes so far! I know we said that last year, but this is even better! Very limited stock, so order while you can (but please don't be greedy). We are limiting purchases to one case of 6 per household.

The first vines planted in St Albans since Roman times - how very exciting! This very local Solaris is clean, dry and crisp with green apple and ripe pear aromas and flavours. Lingering, minerally finish. 

Country: England

Region: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Grapes: Solaris

ABV: 13%

Estate grown by Wimbushes Vineyard, St Albans

Produced by the winery at Thurston Place, Suffolk

This is as local as it get for wine folks! Wimbushes Solaris 2019 is precise, clean, dry and crisp with green apple and ripe pear aromas and flavours. It has a lingering, minerally finish.

Country: England

Region: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Grapes: Solaris

ABV: 12.5%

Estate grown by Wimbushes Vineyard, St Albans

Produced by the winery at Thurston Place, Suffolk

Wimbushes Vineyard St Albans

Andy and Karina Harrison decided to plant an acre of vines on their beautiful Chiswell Green property about 9 years ago, as a hobby. In 2018 they appointed Suffolk winemaker (and ex-surgeon) Michael Rhodes to turn their Solaris and Rondo grapes into wine.  In recent years, due to careful vineyard management by David Savage and the vines maturing healthily, the fruit and their talented winemaker, they have produced some seriously good English wine. These wines are produced in very small quantities, so we do tend to limit the amount of bottles purchased by any one household.

Succulent black cherry aroma, bright but delicate and hints of forest floor, with underlying floral and spicy notes. On the palate, the wine is powerful, with silk-textured length.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food match

Beef Bourginon with mushroom or braised lamb shanks.

In early 1997, Andrew Gunn, an engineer by training was contemplating his next career move. Having always loved the outdoors, the prospect of farming appealed to him and feeling young and energetic enough to start a new career, left the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg to begin the search for the ‘perfect’ farm.

After months of searching and 40 farm visits later, Andrew and a very tired estate agent stumbled upon a solitary run down apple farm on a mountain top overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The prospect of a suitable farm in Elgin intrigued Andrew and on driving through the valley, he became excited by the beauty of the area. Surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere and Forestry the property had no agricultural neighbours. The rolling hills and the drive up the mountain to where the farm was situated, 420 meters above sea level, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was love at first sight.

As he drove in and stopped in front of a rather run down Herbert Baker homestead, he felt, “this is where I would like to live”, and the view from the front of the house overlooking the Elgin Valley below, made up his mind.

Garnet, with ruby reflections. An elegant and layered nose of black pepper, red currant, walnut kernel, star anise, rhubarb, with blood orange blood orange and sweet notes given by the toasting of the wood. Fresh, medium body and intensity. Hints of small red fruits alternating with citrus, red currant, blood orange, pink grapefruit, but also medicinal herbs such as dandelion. Full bodied, muscular, intense, juicy, tannic, the wine has great potential to age.

Country: Italy

Region: Alto Piemonte, Boca

Grapes: Nebbiolo: 80%
Vespolina: 20%

ABV: 13,5%

Food Match: Risottos, ravioli, aged cheeses, red meats.