Superstars

The 2018 vintage has a deep garnet colour in the glass with dried cherries and mature red fruits on the nose. The palate is rich and concentrated with cranberries, raisins, and dates; there is good acidity with fine tannins. It has an enticing smoky, dusty fruit with soft liquorice undertones and at 6 years of age upon release, it is already developed and mature.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: An equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan

ABV: 14%

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.

Elegant and refined, with stone fruit and toasted brioche notes. On the palate , it is oily and voluptuous, balanced by fresh acidity. Persistent finish.
Limited quantity, individually numbered and signed by the winemaker: only 2,202 bottles made.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro

Grapes: Folgazao and Rabigato 

ABV: 13%

A stunning example of Hunter Semillon.

Cut grass and lime zest nose with a clean and zippy palate and fresh fruit flavours of sherbet, lemon, passion fruit and lemon. Lovely long finish.

Country: Australia

Region: Hunter Valley

ABV: 11%

Grapes: Semillon

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!

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.

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

“Brda” by Kristian Keber is an intense, articulated and deep orange wine that represents the traditions and the typical grape type from the homonyn area in Slovenia. It is born from a maceration on the skins for 12 days, a spontaneous fermentation and an aging for 2 years in big oak barrels. Mediterranean scents of herbs, fruits and flowers are enriched by mineral and salty notes, with a long persistence. A Deep and brooding wine with marmalade and saffron notes.

Country: Slovenia

Region: Brda

Grapes: Ribolla Gialla,  Friulano,  Malvasia Istriana

ABV: 13%

Bracing aromas of red currants, blue berries and violets to start, further opening with time to reveal tones of cassis and wet slate. The palate enters focused and seamless, laced with tensile black and blue fruit tannin and extreme poise and persistence.

Country: Australia

Region: Margaret River, Western Australia

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Match: Rump steak

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%

A nose of raspberry, cranberry, black liquorice, and exotic tea notes. The palate has red cherry, plum, and boysenberry, subtle hints of espresso and cocoa nib underpin notes
of spice and toast. Firm yet integrated tannins and bright acidity drives a long finish.

Country: USA

Region: Sonoma County, California

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

An extra degree of alcohol compared to it's younger sibling, and a bit richer too. Complex and ripe with a hint of carefully judged touch of new oak. Mineral soaked, thoroughly delicious and a properly serious red wine.

Country: Italy

Region: Valtellina, Lombardia

Grape: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

Intense nose, full of beautiful ripe fruit. Bold, mature and elegant, with excellent tannin structure and length. Very complex.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Grapes: Merlot: 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon: 17%, Cabernet Franc: 16%, Petit Verdot: 7%

ABV: 14.5%

Food match: Game meat and wild mushrooms

Dry, clean and minerally with lemony cream richness. Perfectly balanced and poised.

Country: Germany

Region: Baden

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV:13%

Troken

Wonderful accompaniment to shellfish or Tuna steak.

Made only from a selection of the best grapes from organic vineyards. A rich and complex Rioja with a true sense of place; a serious and sophisticated wine that ages fantastically.

Country: Spain 

Region: Rioja Alavesa

Grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Maturana, Graciano andMerlot

ABV: 14%

Ripe, intense black cherry, this wine has a pleasant juiciness that keeps it balanced in the glass. A firmness of acidity supports the well-integrated tannins and lithe fruit, while the finish brings a hint of cinnamon and vanilla.

Country: Chile

Region: Valle del Limari

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food Match: Beef Wellington with all of the trimmings

Deliciously layered aromas of black cherry and raspberry lift out of the glass, followed by exotic spice notes and a dark, rich loamy quality. This wine is like satin in the mouth—so supple. It toes the line between ethereal and ponderous in the most delightful way.

Country: USA

Region: Chehalem Mountains, Oregon

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

A complex wine with lovely toasty notes and aromas of hazelnuts and savoury buttery characters. The palate has more lovely toasty complexity, hazelnuts and cooking apples. This wine is still fresh balanced with tight, nutty acidic structure and good length.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 14%

Vegan/ Vegetarian

This property has historical importance, being farmed by a pioneering family of the wine industry in the Uco Valley. The Italian José Zingaretti immigrated to Argentina at the beginning of the 20 th century, bringing along his knowledge of vine growing and winemaking from his homeland. He was one of the first settlers of Tupungato, which at the time was a remote and nearly inaccessible area. This wine comes from vines of more than 80 years old. Aged for 18 months in a combination of new, second and third use French oak barrels. 50% of the wine underwent full malolactic and 50% partial. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only 400 cases made. Drinking beautifully now or hold for up to 6 years.

Stunning old-vine chardonnay shows beautiful density and concentration Precise with a round, creamy texture. It’s full- bodied, refined, soft and fluffy. Fresh and bright. Intense, yet subtle with notes of pear and cherry blossom. Wonderful white with unique character.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Chardonnay

After visiting Argentina in 1989, Californian trail-blazer Paul Hobbs became deeply interested in both the terroir and Argentine culture, noticing the unique potential for Malbec and other varietals in the region. After meeting two kindred spirits, Andrea Marchiori and Luis Barraud, they founded Viña Cobos in 1997 and since then there has been no looking back. Utilising gnarly old vines, careful vineyard selection, very low yields and an unerring empathy for the raw materials, Viña Cobos craft intense yet balanced wines that showcase the elegance and beauty of this region. The wines from Cobos have branched into four different brands – Felino, Bramare appellation, Bramare Single Vineyard and the super premium Cobos. Binding all of the wines from Viña Cobos is the true identity of each variety and the unique terroir of Mendoza, truly world class wines from a world class producer.

Carema is high on the northern border of the alpine region Aosta in northern Piedmont. It is made of Nebbiolo grown on glacial soil in this high altitude region which creates powerful, perfumed wines with delicate fruit. 

Luigi Ferrando's Carema white label, the Nebbiolo is fermented in steel tanks with a 10 day maceration. The wine then spends 30 months in oak barrels. 

Elegant, spicy, fruity notes with fine  aromas of dried flowers and roses. On the palate it has a round, tannic mouthfeel with warmth and minerals on the finish. 

Country: Italy

Region: Alto Piedmont

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

Aromas of red fruit such as currants, blackberries and black cherries together with
violetty floral hints and notes of cedar wood. Beautifully balanced on the palate with a freshness that compliments the sweetness of fruit and robust tannins. The finish is intense and long.

Drinking window: 2024-2044 probably at it's best between 2025 and 2030

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Sangiovese

Food Match: fine cuts of red meat and intense, non-fatty food. Perfect between meals with mature cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or very old pecorino.

 Organic

Special Limited parcel wine from talented young South African winemaker Izele Van Blerk. Drinking window 2024- 2035. Only 1000 bottles made!

Full-bodied and explosive with aromas of strawberries, red cherries and raspberries with hints of tobacco. The palate is focussed and precise with undertones of cloves, dried fig and leather. The grippy tannin structure and zippy acidity is well integrated and delivers an intense, concentrated, long finish. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grapes: Tempranillo

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Enjoy on its own or with rack of lamb, barbecue grilled-meats.

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%

The Petrus of Tuscany! Superb, silky, plummy Merlot of note. 
Ripe red plums and strawberries, lifted by roasted hazelnuts nuts, dried cranberries and a hint of cocoa.

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 100% Merlot

Intense, long, persistent, floral, fruity, with a warming sensation on the palate. Soft, elegant, and concentrated. Very typical of Timorasso, mineral with notes of chamomile, ripe yellow plums, and toasted almond in the finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmonte, Colli Tortonesi,  Sarezzano

Grapes: Timorasso

ABV: 14% 

Food Match: Poultry, seafood, soft cheeses, and grilled vegetables.