2021 Vintage Wines
2021 Vintage Wines
Staff Picks
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Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga NacionalABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedRoquette & Cazes Douro Tinto, born from the collaboration between Jorge Roquette, proprietor of Quinta do Crasto, and Jean-Charles Cazes, co-owner of Château Lynch-Bages, seamlessly melds Bordeaux winemaking expertise with the distinct character of the Douro region. This exceptional wine showcases a remarkable intensity of vibrant red fruit flavours interwoven with subtle hints of delicate spices, all held together by an impressive structure characterised by luxuriously smooth tannins. VivinRegular Price£26.95Christmas Special£22.95 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Another star of our great value Bordeaux wine list, the Chateau les Vimieres 2021 was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. The tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Created by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite in the challenging 2021 vintage, it’s rich, velvety, loaded with black fruits and supported by a fine structure. An awful lot of wine for the -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - The Wine Independent. Bolgheri is a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation located on the Tuscan coast just to the south of Livorno, home to exceptional wines. It is known mainly for deeply coloured, supple yet age worthy red wines, usually based on the Bordeaux grape varieties, which this wine is no different (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec). A classic, elegant Bordeaux style blend with round and silky tannins that -
Country: Italy, SardiniaGrapes: VermentinoABV: 14%Style: Dry Refreshing WhiteBorn from a shared passion for wine and a touch of Sardinian wisdom, Sabresenò—meaning "don’t be in a hurry" in the local dialect—embodies a philosophy of patience and care in winemaking. This ethos shines in their debut wine, Argeste, named after the powerful Mistral wind that sweeps across Gallura. As Sardinia’s only DOCG wine, Argeste Vermentino di Gallura Superiore is a true labour of love. Crafted with perseverance, dedication, and a fair share of sacrifices (not to mention the wine-stretchRegular Price£19.95Boxing Day Sale - 25% off£14.97
Members Price
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Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - The Wine Independent. The best grapes make the best wine" is the philosophy applied by the Winery's founder, Louis M. Martini. Implemented at the estate since its creation in 1938, this exacting philosophy has enabled the winery to become one of the leading names in Californian wines. With its vineyards in the sumptuous Sonoma and Napa Valleys and its many award-winning wines, the estate is now world-renowned for its great Cabernet Sauvignons. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Dec 2024) Wine Press -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet FrancABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Wine Spectator. The Jayson Red Wine was produced from grapes from a selection of prime sites in and around Atlas Peak in eastern Napa. Hailing from the outstanding 2021 vintage, a year noted for its opulence, this blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderfully full and plump. The grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted before undergoing fermentation in stainless steel tanks to enhance its fresh fruit profile and retain its bright acidity. The wine was then racked into -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Wine Spectator. The Pahlmeyer Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit from Pahlmeyer’s mountain-grown vines. It’s a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, so a classic Bordeaux blend. 2018 was an outstanding vintage, the unusually cool growing season saw the grapes ripen more slowly and gave them the opportunity to develop even more complexity. Once deemed ready, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve their freshness and ensure the aromas -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93-95 Points - The Wine Independent. Pahlmeyer made the most of the glorious 2021 Napa Valley Merlot vintage – a year that seems destined to rival or even eclipse the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 havests. The grapes for the Pahlmeyer Merlot 2021 were grown on high-elevation blocks and were hand-harvested, allowing for rigorous vineyard selection and gentle handling. Once in Pahlmeyer’s state-of-the-art winery, they were given a further hand sort and destemmed, with only perfectly ripe frui -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, MalbecABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red96+ Points - The Wine Advocate. The profoundly successful 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage - a year that seems destined to eclipse even the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 vintages – allowed Katie Vogt and her team to create a masterpiece. The Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2021, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Malbec, is the product of high elevation sites at Upper Range, Waters Ranch, and Vagone. The grapes were hand-harvested at night to pres -
Country: Chile, Curico ValleyGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red96 Points - Patricio Tapia - Descorchados. The Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia is an exciting wine made by Valdivieso in their Sagrada Familia vineyard in Chile’s prestigious Curicó Valley. The Curicó Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate and its volcanic and limestone allow for the production of exceptional quality noble grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are at the heart of the Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia 2021 with Carmenere adding freshness and juiciness. Aft -
Country: France, AlsaceGrapes: RieslingABV: 12.5%Style: Aromatic Floral WhiteThe largest, oldest, and most famous of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards, Schlossberg has all the noble Alsatian grapes planted on its steep, lofty slopes, but most producers favour Riesling owing to the spectacular results that can be achieved here. The south and south-easterly aspect of the vineyard means the vines benefit from long exposure to the sun which imparts generosity, while the topsoil’s unusual mix of coarse granitic sand gives the wines their minerally backbone and steely edge. Low rai -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full RedIt's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals. But, for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheet unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. Vivino Rating: 4.4 (Oct 2024) Tasting Notes The dark crimson core and brick rim sets the stage, as aromas of currant, blackberry, blue fruits, -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full RedIt’s a bold claim to say a wine – especially a Shiraz – is unlike anything you have ever tasted, but in the case of the De Toren Black Lion Shiraz, it happens to be true. As De Toren puts it, ‘The Black Lion wine is the heirloom of years of winemaking in De Toren’s continuous quest for perfection’. Planted on ancient soils with specially selected vines and nurtured by hand manicuring and individual attention, nothing is left to chance. Irrigation is kept to a minimum and the vines are treated or -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: MalbecABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNothing is left to chance with the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec. Taking its name from the Latin for ‘patron’, this is a wine where winemaking is turned not just into an art form, but into an obsession. The tiny harvest goes through an incredibly stringent selection process with only the finest old Malbec vines on the property being considered for use. Once chosen, individual bunches are selected at harvest and then, post-destemming, individual grapes. Following a long, yet cool, ferme -
Country: Italy, VenetoGrapes: Corvina, RondinellaABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedItalian wine insiders know that a good Valpolicella Ripasso can offer a great wine that’s exceptionally good value for money, and this is certainly the case with the Tinazzi Ca’ de’ Rocchi Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Montere. Ripasso – ‘repassed’ in Italian – involves adding the skins and seeds left over after making Amarone wines to Valpolicella to give it greater depth, nuance and alcohol content. When done well, these wines can be seen as baby Amarone’s that drink well young and have suffi -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga NacionalABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedRoquette & Cazes Douro Tinto, born from the collaboration between Jorge Roquette, proprietor of Quinta do Crasto, and Jean-Charles Cazes, co-owner of Château Lynch-Bages, seamlessly melds Bordeaux winemaking expertise with the distinct character of the Douro region. This exceptional wine showcases a remarkable intensity of vibrant red fruit flavours interwoven with subtle hints of delicate spices, all held together by an impressive structure characterised by luxuriously smooth tannins. VivinRegular Price£26.95Christmas Special£22.95 -
Country: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: SemillonABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Fruity White94 Points - Descorchados. The El Enemigo Semillon is a rare find, a great Argentinean Semillon. Plantings of Semillon in Argentina have plunged over the last half century, with just 578 hectares of the once 5,500 hectares remaining in production. The innovative and quality-obsessed team at El Enemigo have seen the potential of this noble variety and have plantings in their high-altitude, 70-year-old vineyard in Agrelo in the Mendoza sub-region of Lujan de Cuyo that are producing exceptional wine -
Country: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red91 Points - Descorchados. Over the last few years, Argentinean Cabernet Franc has got a lot of wine critics very excited. One taste of the Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc and it’s easy to see why. Argentina’s pioneering Catena family could be set to do for Cabernet Franc what they did for Malbec. Made from fruit sourced from the family´s historic high-altitude vineyards (1,090m/3,576ft above sea level) in San Carlos, the sandy loam soils are perfect for Cabernet Franc, delivering sm -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14%Style: Juicy Lively Red90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. This 90+ point Rioja from a modern style, family run winery is incredible value for a wine with this amount of complexity and style. The Solarce Tinto is a blend of Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo & Graciano and is aged for 8 months in American and French oak barrels. Full-bodied and silky smooth with layers of fruit and spice. Fantastic Value for money for this superb Rioja. Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Tim Atkin MW (2021 vintage) Taste Intense ruby-red colour wit -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNo South African wine is as revered or acclaimed as the Book 17 of De Toren Private Cellar. This Western Cape wine is produced from a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The vines are planted on poor, free-draining soils which force them to dig deep into the sand and granite soils in search of nutrients, reducing the vines’ vigour and imparting complexity. Once they have reach optimum ripeness, the grapes are hand-harvested and rushed to the press house. Here -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The Cuentaviñas Alomado 2021 is another wonderful wine from of this extraordinary Rioja bodega. Produced from a single vineyard which is home to vines that are over 60 years old, it marries tradition with innovation to startling effect. It’s planted with a mixture of Tempranillo grapes alongside the white varieties of Viura, Malvasía Riojana and Calagraño in what’s now known as a ‘field blend’. Innovation continues in the winery where the wine is barrel fermented in sm -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga NacionalABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red91 Points - Robert Parker (2020). The Quinta do Crasto Superior Red Douro D.O.C. is a highly-rated red wine hailing from Portugal's Douro region. Skillfully blending the classical red grapes of Portugal, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz – it offers freshness and balance on both the nose and palate, along with a robust body, ripe firm tannins, and complex notes of dark berried fruits and cocoa that linger towards a long and elegant finish. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (July 2024) Taste Dee -
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£19.45Boxing Day Sale - 25% off£14.59 -
Country: Australia, VictoriaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteA medium bodied Chardonnay (with a dash of Sauvignon Blanc) with flavours of fresh nectarine, grapefruit and pear, with a soft, creamy palate complimented by textural oak. Fowles Wine vineyards are situated on a similar latitude to renowned wine regions like Gisborne in New Zealand, Sonoma and Napa Valleys in the USA, Mendoza in Argentina, Sicily in Italy, and Jerez in Spain and as the southernmost and coolest state on mainland Australia and has gained fame for its diverse wine regions and refreRegular Price£18.95Boxing Day Sale - 25% off£14.22 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteChâteau Vitallis only made a tiny amount of wine in 2021, but they are ones lovers of white Burgundy should have. The Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Les Vignes du Château’ 2021 is a blend of grapes from Château Vitallis’ historic 13th-century plots. The vines, with an average age of 35 years, are planted on clay-limestone Jurassic soils, and bring richness to their wines. In line with owners Denis and Maxime Dutron’s winemaking philosophy, great care and attention are lavished on the vineyards using organic meRegular Price£36.95Burgundy Sale - 15% off£31.41 -
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, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Another star of our great value Bordeaux wine list, the Chateau les Vimieres 2021 was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. The tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Created by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite in the challenging 2021 vintage, it’s rich, velvety, loaded with black fruits and supported by a fine structure. An awful lot of wine for the -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga FrancaABV: 12%Style: Smooth Fruity RedNiepoort’s Redoma Tinto is an outstanding example of the Douro’s new style of red wines. While produced from a blend of traditional Port varieties - Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz – this is a thoroughly modern wine. Intervention in the winery is kept to a minimum and while it does receive oak ageing, this is in old Port casks. The aim is to allow the character of the vineyards and their organic fruit to shine through. Full of concentrated black fruits, its freshness stops it from
