Staff Picks
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Country: Spain, GaliciaGrapes: AlbarinoABV: 12.5%Style: Dry Refreshing White90 Points - Decanter World Wine Awards. The iconic Mar de Frades Albariño is the pure expression of the unique characteristics of the Albariño grape variety, whilst reflecting the importance of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Lively and intense aromas reveal juicy pear and apricot, white gardenia flowers, and hints of tropical lychee and pineapple, with a lovely delicate streak of salinity. Vivino rating: 4.1 (July 2024) Wine Press Ratings 90 Points (2023) - Decanter World Wine Awards "Elegant herbacRegular Price£19.95Christmas Special£16.99 -
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: MalbecABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The El Enemigo Malbec 2020 is the product of one of Mendoza’s finest estates in a superb vintage. Crafted from Malbec with a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot adding further colour, it’s shaping up to be a classic Argentinean Malbec. Quite reserved – it contains a relatively modest 13.5% alcohol – it’s a wine with a real taste of place, with dusty minerals reinforcing its structure. Given 92/100 from both James Suckling and Robert Parker, this limited release wineRegular Price£25.95Christmas Special£21.90 -
Country: France, ProvenceGrapes: GrenacheABV: 13%Style: Elegant Crisp RoséHaving scored 17/20 from Jancis Robinson MW it’s arguable that Whispering Angel has achieved its goal of making “the greatest rosé on the planet”. Has it been hyped? Definitely. Does it live up to the hype? Undoubtedly. With the Whispering Angel Rose 2023, you seem to get a little bit more of the good stuff. A little more strawberry and cherry fruit. A little bit more power and concentration. A little bit more refinement and a smile that’s a little bit wider after the first sip. Global demandRegular Price£21.95Christmas Special£16.95
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Country: France, Rhone ValleyGrapes: Viognier, Grenache BlancStyle: Dry Refreshing WhiteA blend of 70% Viognier and 30% Grenache blanc, this Côtes du Rhône Blanc is a delightfully fresh and food friendly wine with plenty of ripe stone fruit character. Pale golden colour with aromas of peach and cherry plum, this is a fruity wine with hints of marzipan and vanilla aroma gently oaked. With a smooth palate and a very soft attack that give a good length. Serve not too chilled at 12 to 14°C and try with Goats cheese or Comté. Taste Winemakers tasting notes: A fresh and fruity white wine -
Country: France, Rhone ValleyGrapes: GrenacheStyle: Savoury Classic RedA favourite Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer of Robert Parker, Domaine Roger Sabon, established in 1952 produces a modern style of wine, with the Cuvée Les Olivets a stunning fruit forward Cuvée from vines over 50 years of age. A bright ruby colour. Toasted, furry, brothy and undergrowth nose. Ripe tannins are assorted with ripe black cherry on the palate. With previous vintages rated as high as 99 points by Robert Parker - it shows the remarkable consistency of Roger Sabon's wines. Wine Press Ratin -
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: Spain, GaliciaGrapes: GodelloABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteFrom the renowned Pago de Los Capellanes, this 100% Godello from the cool, northern appellation of Galicia showcases the delightful lime and stone fruit characteristics inherent to Godello. Crisp and refreshing, with a creamy textured finish, a highly rated white from an established winery making world class wines. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Nov 2024) Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Decanter (2020 Vintage) "Layered complex aromas of marzipan, almond, candied lemon and lees undertones. Refreshing with a -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedThis is a gorgeous cabernet sauvignon from Dornier in South Africa. Located in the 'Golden Triangle' area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention. Their Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon has an exuberance of concentrated fruit, intense black cherry colour with a full bouquet of cassis, black berries, cigar box, pencil shavings and subtle oak and a hint of mint to ensure freshness. Stunning -
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: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: SangioveseABV: 15%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - WinesCritic.com Produced exclusively with hand-picked Sangiovese grapes from the company's oldest vineyards, after careful fermentation at a controlled temperature, the wine matures in French oak barrels. Subsequently the wine spends a period of refinement in the bottle, essential to guarantee the pleasantness and complexity that have made Brunello di Montalcino famous throughout the world. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Nov 2024) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - WinesCritic.com (2019 Vintage) "L -
Country: Italy, SicilyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteThe Planeta Chardonnay has become an illustration of the changes in Sicilian wine. It was created from a wish to compete in the world production of this noble and widespread variety. After a long process beginning in 1985, today Planeta’s Chardonnay is an icon for the whole of Sicily. A rich light gold colour, deep but transparent, the pleasing contrast of creaminess and crunchiness. A soft white wine supported by a refreshing note of acidity, with a slight mineral touch which harmoniously combi -
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: Spain, GaliciaGrapes: AlbarinoABV: 12.5%Style: Dry Refreshing White90 Points - Decanter World Wine Awards. The iconic Mar de Frades Albariño is the pure expression of the unique characteristics of the Albariño grape variety, whilst reflecting the importance of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Lively and intense aromas reveal juicy pear and apricot, white gardenia flowers, and hints of tropical lychee and pineapple, with a lovely delicate streak of salinity. Vivino rating: 4.1 (July 2024) Wine Press Ratings 90 Points (2023) - Decanter World Wine Awards "Elegant herbacRegular Price£19.95Christmas Special£16.99 -
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: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Chenin BlancABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteThis exquisite Chenin Blanc is the fruit of a solitary hilltop vineyard nestled in the Polkadraai Hills, celebrated for its exceptional Chenin Blanc. Here, ancient vines flourish in rocky granite soils, caressed by the invigorating Cape South Easter winds, resulting in a Chenin Blanc that is not merely a wine but a vivid, mouthwatering revelation, brimming with vitality and charm. Tasting Note This vintage open in body and tight in texture: kelp, citrus creams and apples jump forth. The palate i -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: RabigatoABV: 12%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteNiepoort’s Redoma Douro Branco is one of a new wave of delicious, high-altitude Portuguese whites. It's produced from a blend of native grapes - Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Viosinho, Donzelinho and Gouveio - from old vines that are up to 80 years old. Careful vinification ensures that the wine’s freshness and vibrancy are preserved and that the complex blend of white fruits, green herbs, hints of vanilla, and mineral tones are kept in balance. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Nov 2024) Taste White gold, wit -
Country: Chile, Limari ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe Valdivieso Caballo Loco Grand Cru Limari is another of Valdivieso’s flagship wines, one that utilises fruit from their best plantings of Syrah, Carmenere, Malbec, and Pinot Noir grapes. While Limari is one of the finest of Chile’s wine regions, it’s also one of the most inhospitable. Annual rainfall of around 90mm (3.5 inches) combined with poor clay and chalk soils mean that vines struggle and the resulting fruit can be superb. A blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Malbec and Pinot Noir may not soun -
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: 14.5%Style: Aromatic Floral WhiteTrimbach’s Geisberg Riesling is one of the jewels in this ancient house’s crown. Geisberg is one of the smallest of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards and is famed for producing fine, fresh and long-lived Rieslings. Geisberg is a steeply sloping vineyard which rises to 320m (1050ft) above sea level but as it is south-facing, the coolness of the altitude is offset an abundant sunshine. Combined with a unique phenomenon called the "Tahlwendala", an overnight local wind which helps cool the grapes overn -
Country: France, AlsaceGrapes: RieslingABV: 13.5%Style: Aromatic Floral WhiteThe Trimbach Riesling Brand Grand Cru 2020 was produced from fruit grown on the Grand Cru Brand vineyard which sits above the village of Turkheim. Brand sits on steep slopes at the beginning of the Vallée de Munster and its aspect is south/southeasterly, bringing the vines excellent exposure to the sun. Its name comes from the German for fire, a reference to the legend that a dragon and the sun once did battle here and how the sun warms its fine granite soils quickly. One of the driest sites in -
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: Italy, VenetoGrapes: TurbianaABV: 13%Style: Rich Fruity White"Francesco Montresor left a legal profession to take over the family estate, converting it from mixed agriculture to viticulture. The property, one of the oldest in Lugana, has 95ha in various plots in the Veronese part of the DOC, including vineyards directly overlooking Lake Garda. Creete is a toothsome late-picked, single-vineyard selection with a hint of tropical fruits and candied peel on the nose then a rich palate sustained by succulent acidity and a long, dry finish." Le Creete has aroma -
Country: Italy, PiedmontGrapes: CorteseABV: 13%Style: Dry Refreshing WhiteGavi is one of the most fashionable white regions in Italy and the Cortese grape is king. Bergaglio's Gavi di Gavi La Minaia from the sub-zone of Rovereto is 100% stainless steel fermented and left to rest in the bottle before being released. White peach and acacia aromatics, with soft honeyed richness, a cool mineral streak, beautifully balanced and fresh through to the long finish. The palate is crisp and dry, with a hint of ripe pears and a complex array of red and green apples, the finish is -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 14.5%Style: Classy Complex WhiteJ Vineyards bright and appealing Russian River Valley Chardonnay showcases the best of this classic cool-climate region. Aromas of citrus and orange blossom open with every swirl. Smooth and beautifully balanced, notes of yellow apple, meyer lemon and pear layer with suggestions of toasted macadamia and creamy almond. Hints of light toast and spice lift the fruit characteristics. The palate is rich, full and beautifully textured before finishing with a crisp and delicate flourish. Wine Press Rat -
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