Superstars

Round and elegant wine with classic, subtle buttery notes balanced by juicy acidity. A top quality white Burgundy with more than 10 year aging potential.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 12.5%

One of the most delicious wines in the shop! Bold aromas of white peach and lemon zest with subtle spice and honeycomb notes. Absolutely wonderful.

Country: Germany

Region: Baden

Grapes: Pinot Gris

ABV: 13%

The perfect match with Turkish chicken shish, taboulet and warm crushed potatoes with spring onions.

Located between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Burkheim produces lush and mineralic wines that are ideal companions to a wide range of modern cuisine. Bercher
produces Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris). All the wines go through extended lees-aging and have a wonderful aging potential.

Hunter Semillon at its very best!

This wine possesses intensely flavoured, pristine fruit with a clean and zippy palate and fresh fruit flavours of sherbet, lemon, passion fruit and pineapple. Fresh cut grass notes too.

Country: Australia

Region: Hunter Valley

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Semillon

Amaaaaaazing sweet wine from one of New Zealand's top producers. Rich, concentrated botrytis Sauvignon from heaven...

Country: New Zealand

Region: North Canterbury

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

Subtle, lifted, fragrant black pepper, blueberry and rose petal nose with ripe cherry and plum fruit characters. The palate has a beautiful silky texture with fresh red berry fruit and a fine savoury tannin finish. Drinking well now and for the next 10-15 years.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland,

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Syrah

The Syrah grapes come mainly from the Porseleinberg vineyard - one of the best sites in the world to grow the variety. Renowned winemaker and viticulturalist Callie Louw farms the land. The 'brutal' soils (according to winemaker Marc Kent) are made up of Mica and Schist. 10% of the grapes are from the Goldmine vineyard which has brown schist soil.

Tim Atkin MW

97 points. Given that 90% of its raw material comes from Porseleinberg - the other 10% comes from Boekenhoutskloof's Roundstone property - it's no surprise that this is such an impressive Syrah. Fermented with 65% whole bunches, it combines fynbos, lavender and Asian spice aromas with a palate of white pepper, barbecued meat, oregano and blackberry framed by sappy, granular tannins. World class. 2025-35.



James Suckling

94 points. Lovely fragrance with thyme, cracked pepper, iron, coriander and black berry fruit. Medium-bodied, peppery and compact, with vibrant acidity and a focused finish. Long and persistent. Drink or hold.



Neal Martin – Vinous.

93+ The 2021 Syrah was picked later than the 2020. It contains more whole bunches than prior vintages (65%) and matured for 18 months, 90% in Stockinger foudre and Stockinger demi-muids. This is quite concentrated on the nose with dark berry fruit, bay leaf and white pepper, perhaps less floral than some of its peers. The aromatics feel tightly coiled at the moment. The palate is smooth and harmonious on the entry, with a fine structure. It is compact at the moment with cracked black and white pepper and garrigues notes flourishing toward the persistent finish. Much more backward than expected. I would cellar this for three to five years before cracking open as it’s a serious Syrah.

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%

96 Points from Tim Atkins - this says it all! This landmark South African red by David Trafford is slowly but surely gaining cult status amongst wine collectors.

Concentrated aromas of red berries, sweet liquorice, red berries and minerality. Rich and textured palate full of almond and smoky flavours. Complex, layered with mulberry and savoury, meaty notes with a long, dry finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Malgas, Swellendam, Western Cape

Grapes: Syrah , Touriga Nacional, Mourvédre, Trincadeira and Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14,5%

Sijnn is prounounced 'sen', or 'seine'

Certified IPW sustainable

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.

Salmon in colour, this is a Rosé that immediately captures your imagination. On the nose it has notes of pomegranate and hibiscus. On the palate, it is vibrant and zesty, revealing its great, fresh acidity, with a long and fresh aftertaste.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro

Grapes:  Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca and other varieties

ABV: 13%

A delicious, concentrated blend of berries and plums,  subtle liquorice aromas a flavours with a hint of cherry tobacco aromas followed by lively and finely structured tannin.

On a picturesque hillside overlooking a dam, where Golden Delicious and Granny Smith
Orchards once stood, 12 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malbec and Pinot Noir can now be found.

Paul Wallace, who has worked as a viticultural consultant to many of South Africa’s top
estates, finally had his dream come true in 2003 - he purchased his family farm in Elgin
and, alongside his wife Nicky, put his life’s work to the test. Based on his belief that Elgin
would become one of South Africa’s premium cool climate regions, he threw caution
to the wind and pulled out groves of apple and pear trees, replacing them with vines.
As always, his advice proved sage, and Paul Wallace is now producing some incredibly
exciting wines that show exceptional finesse and clarity.

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

Grapes: Malbec

ABV: 14%

Stunning, white Burgundy at its best! 

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Chardonnay

Burgundy is renowned for a jigsaw of small plots, fitting side by across the rolling cotes and cru with many different owners - the result of equal inheritance. While some heirs want to make wine, others prefer to live their lives elsewhere, meaning their plots go unloved. Enter Patrice du Jeu, a Parisian restaurateur with the dynamism and energy to revive such plots. Together with family and friends, he managed to buy several parcels in excellent terroirs of the Côte de Beaune including Santenay, Chassagne Montrachet and Mercurey. Joining with white Burgundy expert Jean-Baptise Alinc the wines of these heirs - Les Héritiers - are both technically competent and beautifully crafted.

Crisp, vibrant, lemon citrus with intense buttery, toasted vanilla notes. Fermentation was carried out using a mix of wild and Burgundy yeasts in 2 year old French oak and stainless steel, adding a rich mouthfeel, excellent body and notes of ripe stone fruit, brioche and honey. Wonderful lingering finish.

Country: England

Region: Devon

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Co-founded in 1990 by wine writer Hugh Johnson, Royal Tokaji has quickly become one of the most important wineries in Tokaj, producing sweet and dry wines. This crisp, dry white is made from 100% Harslevelu grapes and is part of the limited edition "By Appointment" portfolio. It's intensely dry with a citrus acidity, minerality and lovely length.

Country: Hungary

Region: Tokaji

Grapes: Harslevelu

ABV: 14%

From Teliani’s more experimental ‘Winery 97’ project, this amber wine is a blend of four varieties that you can’t pronounce – luckily the rich dried fruit and nutty flavours and long dry refreshing finish are much easier to get your mouth around! Don't chill it, you'll just bring the tannins forward at the expense of the lovely flavours - serve cool, not cold!

Beautiful amber, golden coloured wine. Aromas of vanilla,tropical fruit, ripe stone fruit, with hints of orange zest and orange peel. On the palate, lovely dried fruit (apricot) flavours with nutty hints. The finish is fresh with soft, grippy tannins.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane, Khikhvi and Kisi

ABV: 12.5%

Food Pairing: Kakhuri N8 is a The wine pairs especially well with fish dishes and cheeses. Serve cool, not cold.

A blend of 4 Georgian indigenous grape varieties – Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane, Khikhvi and Kisi, harvested in Kakheti, east Georgia. Grapes are exclusively hand selected and only the highest quality, fully ripe grapes are used for production. The wine is made using old Kakhetian traditional winemaking method with skin contact. Fermentation on skins takes place for 7-10 days, once the fermentation is finished the grape skin remain with the wine for 6 months.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

Wow, great privilege to have 23 year old Grüner Veltliner in the shop...proves that the grape really does have ageing potential.

Country: Austria

Region: Wachau

Grapes: Grüner Veltliner

ABV: 13.5%

Achleiten is a legendary vineyard in the Wachau village of Weissenkirchen. It is famous for wines with inimitable mineral character. Dry stone walls dating back to the 12th century. The silicate-rich soil commands this vineyard’s landscape. On the upper terraces, gneiss is the prevailing subsoil, the lower terraces are dominated by dark, schistous amphibolites.

The Domäne Wachau is deeply rooted in the Wachau region of Austria. Close to 440 hectares of vineyards are cultivated by the members of this quality-oriented cooperative – that makes 30 percent of the entire Wachau vineyard area. These vineyards are found on steep terraces reinforced by old dry stone walls and are part of a World Cultural Heritage. Famous names like Achleiten, Kollmitz, Loibenberg and Tausend-Eimer-Berg are found on the Domäne Wachau’s vineyard map and make it the only winery in the Wachau with wines from all of the most prestigious sites in the region.

Domäne Wachau strives for the highest quality and as a member of the Vinea Wachau Nobils Districtus quality association, produces wines in the categories Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd. Grapes are sourced from our own vineyards in the Wachau; the purchase of grapes, must or wine from outside the Wachau is not permitted.

Dark 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.

Concentrated aromas of red berries, sweet liquorice, red berries, tobacco, forest floor and minerality. Rich and textured palate full of almond and smoky flavours. Complex, layered with mulberry and savoury, meaty notes with a long, dry finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Malgas, Swellendam, Western Cape

Grapes: Syrah , Touriga Nacional, Mourvédre, Trincadeira and Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14,5%

Food match: Grilled lamb chops, ratatouille

Sijnn is prounounced 'sen', or 'seine'

Certified IPW sustainable

David and Rita Trafford discovered the Sijnn land in Malgas in 2000. The soil and landscape reminded them of Portugal and they were immediately intrigued. A purchase agreement and 200 soil profiles later, 10 hectares were planted and the name Sijnn Wines was appropriated fittingly so as the word Sijnn; is derived from the Khoisan word meaning riverbank. Sijnn is on a plateau of slate and pebbles, about 15km from the southern oceans of Africa. A new winery was built at Malgas in time for the 2015 harvest. Most vineyards are on alluvial deposits on the Bokkeveld shale base – balancing intensity, structure and aromatic complexity and finesse. These very poor, complex soils encourage a deep root system, and low growth/ low yield giving intense, complex wines of character. “Low Profile” refers to 200+ profile holes dug to
determine the best sites to plant vines, and is a blend of earlier drinking vats.

Made by traditional Burgundian winemaking methods: the various blocks were picked at different stages. Approximately 1/3 of the grapes were put at the bottom of the fermentation vats as whole bunches, with the balance being destemmed on top. When fermentation completed, the grape remnants were left to steep in the wine for up to a week, followed by gentle pressing and transfer to oak barriques (40% new). Following a natural malo-lactic fermentation, and maturation for 18mths, the batches from the many
different plots and clones were carefully blended. The bouquet evokes black cherries, raspberries and mulberries, interlaced with savoury hints of grilled mushrooms, barbequed meats and wood-smoke.

Country: New Zealand

Region: North Canterbury

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Rich, 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

Powerful and concentrated on the nose. This may only be a village wine, but it has has the opulence and stature of a 1er Cru.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

One of two releases of Kortpad Kaaptoe in 2021! One of Pieter's most unusual cuvees, so-named for the Kortpad Kaaptoe, or cut through road close to the vineyard that Pieter took when having to rush back to Cape Town one day. With its bling ACDC style label, this wine is as stand out as its label. Ripe pineapple, tangerine, stem ginger and spice with a pithy, lightly grippy palate and slivers of bitter sweet orange peel, apricot and long stoney finish. Great acidity keeps it all in check. Great example of skin contact wine!

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Fernao-Pires

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Drink with coronation chicken (trust us), tandoori dishes or a Persian feast of spiced lamb, stuffed aubergine and jewelled tahdig.

Winemakers don't come much more creatively brilliant than the genius that is Pieter Walser. He's the sort of man that's had more fantastic ideas before breakfast than we manage in a whole week and that talent shines through in his wines. Each comes with a story often as captivating as they are mystifying so we've asked him to record a few to give you an insight into the magic behind the vino!

Saperavi is often compared to Malbec, Cabernet Franc and even Gamay depending on how it is made. This is dark, juicy and fresh, dee black in colour, rich and full but finishes really freshly with a gentle grip. Delicious.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Pairing:  Sausage caserole, a juicy burger and barbecued meats.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

Light, delicate and floral with notes of crushed wild strawberries. Delicious! 

Country: Germany

Region: Pfalz

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Black cherries, earthy tones and hints of tanned leather. Soft, supple in texture with a ripe berries and savoury notes, juicy acidity, silky tannins. Dry, minerally, structured and very long finish . Gorgeous. Drinking window: now - 2028

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Sangiovese

As seen in the movie 'Letters to Juliet' starring Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal and Vanessa Redgrave. The Carpazo vineyard is the real deal!

Eric Guido, October 2022

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino La Casa has a vivid ruby colour. It shows no decline, with a remarkably fresh bouquet of dusty rose, wild strawberries, rosemary and hints of worn leather. There’s a pleasant inner sweetness that blends with its soft contours and ripe wild berry fruits to create a jovial and energetic character within. The tannins are still slightly grippy and drying, yet this maintains wonderful momentum, finishing with hints of liquorice and balsamic spice. There are many years of positive evolution in store here, yet there’s also no harm in enjoying the 2012 today. While not indicated on the label, La Casa is a high-elevation vineyard on the hill of Montosoli.