Staff Picks
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Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity RedRecently purchased by the Tinazzi family, Pian del Gallo is located in Greve, one of the eight communes that form the Chianti Classico DOCG. Certified Organic for over 20 years, 2022 marked the first vintage from Pian del Gallo under the Tinazzi stewardship, making it one of Tinazzi's flagship names. Their Merlot Toscana is a wine with great fruit structure, fine tannins and a complex aromatic profile full of black fruits; the wines of Pian del Gallo are ones to follow. Taste A Merlot Toscana wiRegular Price£18.95Christmas Sale - 25% off£14.22 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Canon FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - La Revue du Vin de France. Located on South Facing slopes overlooking the Dordogne River, Chateau Barrabaque is located in the appellations of Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac. Cuvee Hugo is a fruit forward Merlot dominated wine with barrel ageing in French oak, bringing a beautiful structure. Rated an impressive 90 points by La Revue du Vin de France and hailing from the wonderful 2019 vintage, Cuvee Hugo offers exceptional value for money. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points / Silver Medal - IWSC. The Morgenster Lourens River Valley is an exquisite wine artfully crafted from classical varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Inspired by the Bordeaux style, the winemakers set themselves apart by choosing extended ageing, which elevates the wine's complexity. On the palate, a harmonious blend of cassis and raspberry fruit flavours mingles seamlessly with impeccably balanced cedar oak, while a subtle undercurrent of smoke and s -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Blaye-Cotes de BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedGold Medal Winner - Challenge International du Vin. From the fabulous 2019 Bordeaux vintage, this lovely wine from the Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation is on the eastern side of the Gironde estuary on the opposite bank to the prestigious appellations of Margaux & St Julien. Benefiting from the cool sea breezes and river minerals from the Gironde, this superb Merlot-dominated wine is beautifully fresh with layers of exotic spices. A real gem from an under-valued appellation and fantastic
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Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedBronze Medal Winner. 2021 was a glorious year for Bordeaux and the vintage’s quality filtered down to the petit chateaux as the Bois de Rolland Cuvee Prestige 2021 shows. A year of extremes that saw everything from drought to deluges, hail to heat waves, all set against the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a vintage where winemakers needed to be on their guard. Those who were watchful saw reduced harvests of exceptionally ripe grapes that produced wines of wonderful quality. Awards Bronze Medal - DecanRegular Price£19.45Christmas Sale - 25% off£14.59 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PomerolGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Clement Fayat set up his construction business in the 1950’s. Having grown it to the 4th largest in its sector (just behind Bouygues – owners of Chateau Montrose) he decided to follow his passion and began to invest in properties in Bordeaux. A lover of Pomerol, he purchased Prieurs de la Commanderie in 1984 and has begun to achieve the potential quality that rough diamond always promised. Dusty garnet colour. Aromas and flavours of mocha, toasty pistachio, and berry -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PomerolGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedClement Fayat set up his construction business in the 1950’s. Having grown it to the 4th largest in its sector (just behind Bouygues – owners of Chateau Montrose) he decided to follow his passion and began to invest in properties in Bordeaux. A lover of Pomerol, he purchased Prieurs de la Commanderie in 1984 and has begun to achieve the potential quality that rough diamond always promised. Dusty garnet colour. Aromas and flavours of mocha, toasty pistachio, and berry tart with a supple, bright, -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Canon FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - Jeff Leve. Château Vrai Canon Bouché hails from Canon Fronsac and since 2005 it has become one of this commune’s leading wines. Its single vineyard is planted with a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and is hand-tended like it was a garden. The owners have steadily reduced the use of chemicals and have deployed natural methods to restore the soil’s vitality. 2017 was a particularly successful year for the property. Writing in the Wine Insider, Jeff Leve awarded it 90 points -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PomerolGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Jeff Leve. Even in the context of Pomerol, Clos l’Eglise is a tiny property. In an average year, its 5.98-hectare vineyard (which isn’t a walled ‘clos’) yields only 2,800 cases of wine, and given its rising popularity, stocks are quickly exhausted. The secret to its success – alongside the huge investment by its owners the billionaire Garcan-Cathiard family – is its sandy-gravel topsoil, hard-pan subsoil and climate which is drier in the summer and winter than further west in the Med -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EstepheGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Chateau Petit Bocq made the most of its scattered Saint Estèphe plots and selected only the finest fruit for its Grand Vin in 2017. This Cru Bourgeois Supérieur is made up of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot from vineyards that border the likes of Cos d’Estournel and Montrose. Known as one of the best value wines in all of Saint Estèphe, it’s been described as a ‘…seriously structured wine. It also has density and solid black fruits that are r -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points - International Wine Report. Surrounded by prestigious chateaux and sharing an exceptional terroir, Chateau d’Esteau Cuvee d’Eyssan delivers one of the best price-quality ratios in the region. This gorgeous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc is a lightly wooded, fruity, and lively Haut-Médoc. It offers inviting aromas of cherries and plum, woven together with cedar, spices, and hints of dried tobacco. A well-balanced, elegant, medium-bodied Médoc, it is ready to be -
Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedGold Medal Winner. Château Bois de Rolland is situated just 17 kilometres from Saint Emilion, famous for its World Class wines like Château Angelus. This cuvée, made from old vines (Vieilles Vignes) benefits from the same clay and limestone soils, perfect for the Merlot grape to show its full potential. 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, this estate bottled wine has a lovely cherry red colour with an elegant nose of cinnamon, vanilla and red fruits. Nicely rounded with a good structure and -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity RedRecently purchased by the Tinazzi family, Pian del Gallo is located in Greve, one of the eight communes that form the Chianti Classico DOCG. Certified Organic for over 20 years, 2022 marked the first vintage from Pian del Gallo under the Tinazzi stewardship, making it one of Tinazzi's flagship names. Their Merlot Toscana is a wine with great fruit structure, fine tannins and a complex aromatic profile full of black fruits; the wines of Pian del Gallo are ones to follow. Taste A Merlot Toscana wiRegular Price£18.95Christmas Sale - 25% off£14.22 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedIn the heart of the minuscule 1000 hectare Fronsac appellation, tucked in between Châteaux Dalem, Haut Carles and Beausejour, lies this hidden jewel on the banks of the ambling Dordogne river. The microclimate here, created by the rolling hills of clay and chalk situated by the mineral rich river have an effect on the Merlot grapes which gives them stunning acidity. Plump, soft plummy black fruit flavours, medium to full bodied and a gorgeous satisfying mouthful. A must try great quality and val -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - International Wine Report. Château d’Esteau is located in Saint Sauveur in Bordeaux, France and surrounded by prestigious Chateaux - sharing an exceptional terroir - and delivering one of the best Price / Quality ratio in the region. This gorgeous wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Cuvee d’Eyssan is a lightly wooded, fruity, and lively Haut Medoc. The 2018 Cuvee d'Eyssan offers inviting aromas of cherries and plum are woven together with cedar, spices aRegular Price£20.95Christmas Sale - 25% off£15.72 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MedocGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedDelicious and incredible value for money - a must-try. This 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux was awarded the highest level of HVE environmental accreditation. Château Meilhan is vinified and bottled by Guy Bailly, owner of Château le Bourdieu in the Médoc. Located near the village of Valeyrac, his chateau was built in 1830 by Phillipe Delacourt, known as the Lord of Bourdieu. This wine has a lovely nose of black fruits and toasted notes with the structure and balance yo -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PomerolGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe second wine of Château Rouget. The terroirs dedicated to Le Carillon de Rouget are slightly higher than the ones selected for Château Rouget. This, combined with the relative youth of the vines, compared to the ones of the Grand Vin, result in earlier ripening and give the wine its roundness and appealing character. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Oct 2024) Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc Taste With a burst of cherry and blueberry flavors, the taste is rich and concentrated, with youthful tannins -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Canon FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - La Revue du Vin de France. Located on South Facing slopes overlooking the Dordogne River, Chateau Barrabaque is located in the appellations of Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac. Cuvee Hugo is a fruit forward Merlot dominated wine with barrel ageing in French oak, bringing a beautiful structure. Rated an impressive 90 points by La Revue du Vin de France and hailing from the wonderful 2019 vintage, Cuvee Hugo offers exceptional value for money. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings -
Country: France, Bordeaux, FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 15%Style: Smooth Fruity RedBronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. In the heart of the minuscule 1000 hectare Fronsac appellation, tucked in between Châteaux Dalem, Haut Carles and Beausejour, lies this hidden jewel on the banks of the ambling Dordogne river. The microclimate here, created by the rolling hills of clay and chalk situated by the mineral rich river have an effect on the Merlot grapes which gives them stunning acidity. Plump, soft plummy black fruit flavours, medium to full bodied and a gorgeous satisfying -
Country: France, Bordeaux, GravesGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedGold Medal - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. 90+ point Graves Bordeaux is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot from an historic listed Château on a terrace overlooking the Garonne River. Spiced red hedgerow fruit with well balanced tannins and a fresh finish. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Jun 2024) Awards / Wine Press Ratings Gold Medal - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (2020) 90 Points - Decanter (2019) "An intensely fragrant nose of bramble fruits and fresh strawberries. Immediately alive and s -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points / Silver Medal - IWSC. The Morgenster Lourens River Valley is an exquisite wine artfully crafted from classical varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Inspired by the Bordeaux style, the winemakers set themselves apart by choosing extended ageing, which elevates the wine's complexity. On the palate, a harmonious blend of cassis and raspberry fruit flavours mingles seamlessly with impeccably balanced cedar oak, while a subtle undercurrent of smoke and s -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Decanter. Hailing from the exceptional 2020 vintage, the Chateau les Vimieres le Tronquera 2020 is that rarest of jewels: an affordable fine Bordeaux. This tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Decadently rich, yet supple and elegant, this offers Grand Cru levels of complexity with Margaux’s signature finesse. Produced by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite, this is your -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedChâteau Haut-Boutisse is one of the wines of Château Palais Cardinal, a family property that has existed since the middle of the 19th century and neighbour to the Grand Cru Classé Château Monbousquet. An average vine age of over 40 years and from the fabulous 202 vintage gives a wine full of concentration, structure and classic Saint-Émilion traits. Taste Nose of coffee and plum with some velvety tannins on the palate. A wine full of charm and surprises brought by the vintage. Wine Press / AwaRegular Price£26.95Christmas Sale - 25% off£20.22 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Cotes de BourgGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedBronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. Vincent Mercier bought Château Tertre de Samonac in 2005, and is a self made Château owner. He has been making organic wine since the early 2000's, and this lovely 100% Merlot from 25-30 year old vines has a deep concentration of fruit and a great balancing acidity and tannins. A robust, yet balanced wine on the palate with good acidity, great tannins which will soften as the wine breathes. A wine with wonderful character and elegance. Vivino Rating: 4 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EstepheGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 12.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe Arnaud family, owners at the magnificent Château Pomys, have been making great Saint-Estèphe since the 18th century. This classic Saint-Estèphe - formally owned by Estournel, maker of multiple 100 points wines - marry traditional winemaking techniques with state of the art equipment allows the wine to express the characteristics of its terroir. Château Arnaud is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, well structured and rounded, aged in oak barrels in a state of the art undergroun -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Blaye-Cotes de BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedGold Medal Winner - Challenge International du Vin. From the fabulous 2019 Bordeaux vintage, this lovely wine from the Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation is on the eastern side of the Gironde estuary on the opposite bank to the prestigious appellations of Margaux & St Julien. Benefiting from the cool sea breezes and river minerals from the Gironde, this superb Merlot-dominated wine is beautifully fresh with layers of exotic spices. A real gem from an under-valued appellation and fantastic -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Cotes de BourgGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedThis delightful Merlot-Cabernet blend is built on centuries of Bordeaux tradition. This prestigious estate, boasting six generations of craftsmanship, offers exceptional value. The Lafons, honouring tradition and utilising modern techniques, produce a stunning 2019. This medium bodied red offers a beautiful balance of fruit and acidity. Fresh florals, ripe cherry, and a mineral finish with hints of tobacco create a classic Bordeaux experience, all at a great price point. Vivino Rating: 4.0 (DecRegular Price£14.45Christmas Sale - 25% off£10.84 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedAt the end of 2011, Peter Kwok (Owner of Chateau Haut Brisson and Enclos de Viaud) acquired Château Tour Saint Christophe with his daughter Karen and La Croix Saint Christophe is the second label of the Château. Traditional farming, Guyot pruning with natural grass between the rows combined with working the soil under the vine, de-budding, leaf removal and green harvest if necessary to maintain the environmental balance. 40-year-old vines, and 15 months in French Oak Barrels (60% new). A beautif