Wines for Lamb

Bright ruby colour. Vibrant red fruit with spicy peppery aromas which flows on to the palate. The palate has a lovely freshness, great length and fine grippy tannins. The wine is ever evolving in the glass.

Country: South Africa

Region: Piekenierskloof

Grapes: Grenache

ABV: 14%

This limited release wine demonstrate the distinctiveness of specific vineyard sites
and represents Neil Ellis's finest quality. The mountain vineyards of Piekenierskloof are
known to produce outstanding Grenache.

Wild fermented Merlot and Syrah - beautiful medium intensive red colour with brick nuaces. Lovely bouquet of fruit and spicy aromas dominated by plum, cherry, a touch of cardamon and nutmeg. Fruity, juicy and elegant body with good structure. Leather and loquoric notes, finishing with fine and intriguing aftertaste of blackcurrant and tobacco leaves.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: South Sakar

Grapes: Merlot & Syrah 

ABV: 14,5%

Intense bramble fruit aromas on the nose. The palate is supple and round with delicious sweet blackberry, cherry and plum notes combined with chocolate and a herbal
character. Chewy tannins and a fresh acidity give structure to the wine which finishes long and fruity.

Country: Spain

Region: Extremadura

Grapes: Garnacha

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Jamon Iberico or spicy chorizo in red wine.

Red forest berry and bramble berry fruit, red cherries, rose perfume, fragrant sumac and cumin spice on the nose. Red forest fruit, beetroot earthiness, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin and crisp acidity, medium bodied on the palate.

Country: South Africa

Region: Hemel-En-Aarde

 Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard is situated just 12 km from the sea and lies at 300 m above sea-level. The soils are granite origin with a significant portion of clay. Pinot noir clones are 115 and 667. The vineyard was planted in 2006

Beautiful label art by Isabella Kuijers.

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.

Liquid golden honey in a tiny bottle - a very special, hard to make wine.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Black Sea Coast

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 13%

Garnet red in colour. Perfumed notes of sweet spices, undergrowth, game, dried fruit and leather.
Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

13.5% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food match: game, red meats, cheeses and cured meats

Service temperature: 18 ° 

This wine has the ability to evolve over 15 + years

An elegant Grenache from the Piekenierskloof hills showing aromas of raspberry,plumb, white pepper and red berries. The restrained use of oak holds the juicy ripe fruit flavours and powdery tannins together in a gentle and sumptuous glass of wine

Country: South Africa

Region: Piekenierskloof

Grapes: Grenache

ABV: 13.5%

Inky, dark purple in colour. The nose is pure and concentrated with aromas ripe dark fruit, violets and blackberry. Very well balanced palate with fresh acidity, ripe and supple tannin,  dark stone fruits, juicy yet concentrated with a very long finish. This wine will age well for 5-10 years if you can keep it that long!

Country: Argentina

Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes:   Malbec

ABV: 13.5% 

Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.

Pretty strawberry nose with elegance! Silky and smooth, perfectly balanced Pinot. Very Burgundian in style.

Country: Australia

Region: South Australia

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Aromatics of dark fruits such as plum and cherry. The dark fruit characteristics carry onto the palate, delivering flavours of boysenberry and fig with a hint of warm baking spices. This wine finishes with round, smooth tannins.

Country: USA

Region: San Francisco Bay, California

Grapes: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 9% Petite Sirah, 4% Barbara

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Beef short rib, Portobello mushrooms and lamb Bolognese.

Fermented in stainless steel tanks and pumped over twice daily. Aged for 18 months in 40% new and 60% second and third use French oak barrels.

Estate Grown Wetmore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is named after one of the Livermore Valley’s most prominent pioneers, California’s first agricultural commissioner renowned for planting vine cuttings from many of Bordeaux’s top Châteaux in the temperate Livermore Valley in the 1880s. The descendants of vines Wetmore brought from France thrive today in the gravelly loam soils of our certified sustainable estate vineyards between the Arroyo del Valle and the Arroyo Mocho, streams flowing from the southern hills of the Livermore Valley. From their origins in Margaux in the 19th century to the present, only the best of these Cabernet Sauvignon vines have been selected for each new generation planted. And they are prized for making wines with intensity, depth of flavour, and rich, lush body.

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.

Rich, and robust with plenty of grip and some nicely mature, savoury, spicy notes on the long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13.5%

Perfect with any dish that contains even a hint of truffle, great with braised red meat and porcini. Perfect with Spring Lamb too.

Rich, concentrated, dark and brooding red.

Country: Argentina

Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes: Malbec  and Carmenere

ABV: 13.5% 

Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.

Expressive nose displaying blueberry, red plum, red and sour cherry. In the mouth, the delightful notes of cacao, plums and caramel, with a hint of vanilla (6 months in oak) make it very elegant. The palate is fleshy, with good entrance, balanced acidity, soft tannins and a lasting finish.

Country: Argentina

Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes:   Malbec

ABV: 13.5% 

Patricio Pereyra Pato is the owner and visionary of Bodegas Don Rosendo, Lujan de Cuyo A small estate with organic vineyards in some of the best sub-regions of Mendoza (including La Consulta and Agrelo) and with the superb Gabriela Zavala leading the winemaking, the quality is astonishingly high.

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!

A very lovely expression of Carignan showing hints of spice and smokiness.  Notes of saline water, cassis and bitter cherry with layers of complex minerality. The palate is fresh, and elegant but intense with characters of black plum, dried cranberry notes and a long structured finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 14.5%

Grape: Carignan

Food Match: Rack of roast lamb with all the trimmings

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

Full-bodied, masculine 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, bold, concentrated and 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.

A stunning, focussed and polished red from highly accomplished winemaker Andres Vignoni at Viña Cobos. Full bodied, super concentrated, notes of sage and thyme.  Bold, elegant and refined. Drinking window now to at least 2035.

Country: Argentina

Region: Valle de Uco, Mendoza 

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes:  100% Malbec

ABV: 15% 

One of the distinctive features of this vineyard, located in the Los Árboles district of Valle de Uco, are the native forests of Chañar trees, preserved in a nature reserve for the indigenous species of flora and fauna in the region. This Estate is characterized by poor, yet free-draining, stony and alluvial soils. Combined with the favourable climatic conditions of the 2018 vintage, makes this an extraordinary wine indeed. Aged for 18 months in a combination of new and second use French oak barrels, bottled unfined and unfiltered.

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.

Offering great enjoyment in its youth, especially once decanted for a couple of hours, but BOREAS has a long future ahead and will develop in complexity over the next 10-15+ years.

Complex aromas of redcurrant, plum and red cherry with cedar  and spice notes with a hint of pencil shaving. The predominance of Cabernet Franc gives a wine an elegance with lifted berry fruit and a supple, finely structured mid palate. Firm yet fine tannins frame the spicy, long finish.

Country : South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Cabernet Franc 51%, Merlot 25%, Petit Verdot 14%

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Beef short rib, roast lamb or t-bone steak

Waterkloof Wine

'A serious, refined and age worthy Cabernet Franc-based South African red that is excellent value' - Jancis Robinson Feb 2024

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%

This Barolo is delightfully fresh and elegant. Along with its full and deep bodied centre it shows notes of  violets, menthol, warm spices like cardamom and dried fruits all rounded off with fine tannins and minerality that leave you wanting another glass.

Country: Italy

Region: Barolo, Piedmonte

14% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food match: cheeses, cured meats, stewed and grilled meats

This wine has the ability to evolve over 15 + years

Notes of plums, dark chocolate and raspberries. Yum!

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Merlot

ABV: 14.5%

 https://backsberg.co.za/

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. 

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