Superstars

Wow, we love this wine, and not just for it's pretty label! On the nose: creamy black cherry, wood smoke, dried rose petal, incense, wild spice. On the palate: seductive, lush, minerally, layered and complete, with a multidimensional core, considerable concentration and energy. This is a serious Beaujolais with the finesse and structure of a fine Burgundy.

Country: France

Region: Beaujolais

Grapes: Gamay

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: grilled Saucissons or roast Turkey

Deep red colour. Lifted aromas of fruitcake and tomato paste, cinnamon, cloves and smoky blackberry emerging too. Syrah spice complimenting the Bordeaux varietals and new oak component nicely integrated. Elegant dry tannin running with the complex spicy fruit from beginning to end of a long fine finish. Best 2023 to 2030.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch, Helderberg

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 31%, Merlot 19%, Shiraz 32%, Cabernet Franc 18%

ABV: 14.5% 

One 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

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

93 points, Tim Atkin
The Fynbos Vineyard has well drained soils with north facing slopes that result in a rich, fleshy, generous wine. This wine was 100% wild fermented in a selection of 228L and 300L French oak barrels (25% new, the rest in 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill barrels). It remained on the lees for a total of 12 months with no battonage. Nuanced and multi-layered – this vineyard produces wines with depth and weight, and great structure that allows for significant ageing potential. Sandstone is the dominant soil type in this north-facing vineyard on Iona's spectacular farm. More open and aromatic than its stablemate Kloof, it has top notes of fynbos and aniseed, flavours of honey and stone fruit and attractive patisserie spices from 25% new oak. TA

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Chardonnay

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.

Forest fruits such as raspberry and blackcurrant, followed by spice, pepper, wild herbs, and tobacco. An elegant, well-integrated wine, which is complex, harmonious, and persistent.

Drinking window 2023 - 2030

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Meat stews, pasta alla ragù and aged cheeses

One of Tuscany’s leading, most historically important estates, Castello di Ama is responsible for some of the regions key innovations and has an extensive reputation for the production of premium quality wine. Located in Gaiole, in the sub region of Chianti Classico, the estate consists of 76 hectares under vine. Today it is run and owned by Lorenza Sebasti, descendant of one of the original four families and Marco Pallanti, one of Italy’s top winemakers. Together they have reinvested in the property, replanting old vineyards and built a state-of-the-art winery.

Intense, 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%

Super-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

Country: USA

Region: Paso Robles California

Grapes: Counoise

ABV: 13%

Food Match: 

Ruby red in colour and beautifully fresh and fruity on the nose and palate. Velvety tannins and a long, elegant finish. The Dão region of Portugal is known as their Burgundy - when you taste this lovely wine you will understand why.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Alfrocheiro and others (field blend)

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Lamb tagine

A bold inky Graciano, with burst of black current cherry and raspberry with delicious savoury notes of herbs and added depth of cocoa.

Country: USA

Region: Paso Robles California

Grapes: Graciano

ABV: 13%

Food Match: barbecue meats and mature cheese

Crafted with 30% whole-cluster fermentation and aged for nine months in neutral barrels, this wine retains its natural vibrancy. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur, it offers a pure and textured expression of this rare Spanish varietal.

It pours an intense ruby red with hues of garnet, with an intense aromatic range: blackcurrant, tobacco, coffee and graphite. This wine has a lingering taste and is warm, powerful, spiced, with balanced and velvet-smooth tannins.

Country: Italy

Region: Umbria

Grapes: Sagrantino

ABV: 15%

Food Match: Game, roast, stewed and braised meat, aged cheese

Made from the best selection of grapes grown exclusively in a vineyard on the hills of Colcimino. The oldest vineyard in Bevagna (Pg) situated in Colcimino at 350 m heigt, exposure West on sandy clay-calcareous. Plant density: 4000 per hectare.

Aromas of crushed, black fruit, damson, mint, oak and mocha.

Rich, almost succulent black fruit which has great purity and exuberance. Impressive concentration and elegance.

 Country: France

Region: Pomerol. Bordeaux

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

ABV: 13.5%

This tiny property of 1.3 hectares has seven parcels spread throughout the Pomerol appellation, positioned between Clos René, Château Trotanoy, Château Nénin, and next to Château Le Pin.
Château Feytit-Guillot truly benefits from these wonderful plots on the plateau. The vines have an average age of forty years and are always entirely hand-picked before undergoing traditional fermentation and aging in oak barrels for 14 months. The wine is pure and understated for a Pomerol, with a fresh nose and floral aromas on the palate. It is also one of the best value Pomerols on the market.

Pomerol is a much respected red wine appellation in the Bordeaux region of South­Western France. Both historically and physically, it stands apart from other Bordeaux appellations. It does not conform to the accepted image of a Bordeaux wine­ district as being a wealthy, Chateau-­laden area with an all ­important classification system. Pomerol is none of these things, yet has managed to earn itself a place among the world's most revered wine region.

A 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. 

Gorgeous, silky red made from native Portuguese grapes. Leathery, leafy nose, bramble berry fruit, with a long, rich finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Setubal

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Castelao and Touriga Nacional

ABV: 12%

Fertilize with seaweed

Fermented in large clay tanks

The nose is delicate, restrained and elegant with its grapefruit, greengage, chamomile and apple blossom aromas and whiffs of exotic spice. The floral character of the nose follows through onto a richly textured mid-palate, showing yellow peach, poached pear and nectarine against a backdrop of fresh mandarin and green fig flavours with integrated acidity and a full body. The ripe stone fruit character adds to the complexity on the palate and the spicy finish with hints of fenugreek, black cardamom and Cape fynbos complements a very balanced wine.

Country: South Africa

Region: Franschhoek Valley

Grapes: Semillon (97%), Muscat d'Alexandrie (3%)

ABV: 13.5%

Great with Cape Malay dishes such as beef baboti - a well-known South African dish consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping.

Tim Atkin MW
96 points. Boekenhoutskloof's world-class Semillon uses grapes from three distinct blocks in Franschhoek, planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942, combining these with 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Showing more acidity and restraint than the stunning 2020, and less of the struck match character, it has notes of lemongrass, custard and beeswax and a core of chiselled acidity. Drinking 2024-32

Rich, complex and voluptuous Chenin stony soils, with a warm, dry climate and sea breeze unique to the Malgas region of South Africa. Fresh fruit and complex mineral  flavours, this wine carries on for a long time on the finish. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Malgas, Swellendam, Western Cape

Grapes: Chenin Blanc

ABV: 14%

Sijnn is prounounced 'sen', or 'seine'

Certified IPW sustainable

Gorgeous, natural, silky red made from native Portuguese grapes, the nose could be mistaken for Pinot Noir with it's elegant floral perfumed notes with hints of herbs and ripe crushed strawberry.

Country: Portugal

Region: Bairrada

Grapes: Baga

ABV: 12%

94 Pts Neal Martin “The 2023 Cuvée Blanc Reserve is from a vineyard planted in 2016 that burned in the fire three years later. The vines were cut back and, fortunately, regrew. This is a blend of 90% Roussanne, 5% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier, oxidatively handled and fermented on the lees for 11 months in 500-liter barrels. It has a vibrant bouquet with honeysuckle, Clementine and a touch of chamomile, blossoming in the glass. Gorgeously textured and slightly waxy on the finish, this will mature with style. Highly recommended.” Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040

Country: South Africa

Region: Greyton, Western Cape

Grapes: 90% Roussanne, 5% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier

ABV: 14%

Lismore Wine

Californian wine pioneer, Samantha O'Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir in Greyton, Western Cape, South Africa. Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range in Southern Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born alongside her family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 metres, which are chilled by cold winters and nourished by the African sun, produces classic, cool climate wines which are rich, complex and hand crafted with care.

From the Quinta do Cruzeiro winery. Made with hidden gem grape varieties Encruzado and Malvasia Fina -  famous grapes in Portugal and should be world famous in my opinion!

Aromas of lime, green apple and toast. This wine is clean, precise and has great depth of richness and minerallity with a long, complex finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Mangualde, Dão

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Encruzado and Malvasia Fina

Aromas and flavours of citrus fruit, passion-fruit and greengages, cut grass with a hint of dried herbs. It has a crisp, dry finish and a lingering after-taste on the palate.  

Country: Australia

Region: Margaret River

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

Passel Estate, founded by Wendy and Barry Stimpson, is in the heart of the spectacular Margaret River region. Their 6Ha vineyards are surrounded by a impressive granite
outcrop and pristine bushland of ancient flora. Sea breezes from the Ocean nearby provide calming relief in the hot summer months and this special location not only produces some of the region’s finest wine grapes, but also provides sanctuary to the endangered Western Ringtail Possum, whose collective noun is a "Passel”!

Food Match: We love this wine for its complexity of aromatics and concentration of flavours on the palate. White fish with fresh asparagus or Samphire is a great pairing.

Fruity nose often expressing notes of rhubarb. Full mouth with lots of fat on the finish and notes of toasted almonds.

Country: France

Region: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%

Perfect Pinot Noir! Only 24 barrels made of this, so snap it up while you can!

Ripe in dense black cherry, blueberry and raspberry. This wine has a delicious 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 swirl of cinnamon, baked red apple and vanilla. 

Country: USA

Region: Russian River Valley, California

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

A rare and unique wine from the Spanish island of Tenerife. Rich and ripe with rustic notes of meatiness, green capsicum and juicy red wild berries.

Country: Spain

Region: Valle del Orotova, Tenerife

Grapes: Listán Negro

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Game, roast, stewed and braised meat, aged cheese

7 times MORE fun a regular sized bottle with 6 litres of this silky red from Bordeaux! Concentrated cassis with a hint of liquorice. Bright and elegant Bordeaux red.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux, Haut Medoc

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

ABV: 12.5%