Staff Picks
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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: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Greg Sherwood MW. Inspired by the world-renowned wines of the famed ‘Right Bank’ of Bordeaux’s Garonne River, the vision of De Toren Z originated, followed by the maiden vintage release in 2004. The exact same quality, precision and winemaking philosophy that De Toren is so well known for, would be used to craft an equal for the Left-Bank, De Toren Fusion V. This complementary Right-Bank Bordeaux styled wine is today better known as the eminent, De Toren Z. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Apr 20 -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.5%Style: Dry Refreshing White90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. From the modern style Casa La Rad, highly regarded by wine supremo Tim Atkin, comes this exceptional value white Rioja. A blend of Virua, Verdejo Chardonnay, and Malvasia, the Solarce Blanco is partially fermented in large oak barrels and aged on fine lees to give an elegant and beautifully fresh wine with body and texture to boot! Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Tim Atkin MW (La Rioja Special Report) (2020) "Solarce is an unusual blend of mostly Viura with 47% Verdejo,Regular Price£14.95New Years Sale - 25% off£11.22
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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, ChampagneGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Complex Sparkling91 Points - Cellar Tracker - There is Champagne, and then there is Grand Cru Champagne, the pinnacle of Champagne excellence. This Grand Cru Champagne from the vineyards of Chouilly is not only significantly more affordable but also more refined than many big household names. The result is a stunning Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) Grand Cru Champagne with complex toasty and citrus notes that are perfectly balanced, offering fantastic value. It has a golden yellow colour with aromas of pastrieRegular Price£37.95Producer Focus - 15% off£32.26 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MedocGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Located in the district of Saint-Yzans, Château Haut-Maurac faces the Gironde estuary, similar to the best hillsides in Medoc. A low yield of 35hl/ha, this Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux has a muscular but balanced palate which is well structured and has a core of lovely polished fruits from the Merlot dominant blend. Owned by Olivier Decelle, who also has property in Saint-Émilion, Burgundy and Roussillon, this estate has produced a ripe, juicy wine. It shows a fine poise b -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity White90 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard. The stunning 2022 vintage benefited all the wines of Chablis, but more so to the vineyards of Sylvain Mosnier who took full advantage of the opportunity to produce this crisp Petit Chablis which is drinking beautifully now. Balanced aromas of citrus and wet stones are followed by a fruity, tangy palate, with a subtle tang of salinity and apple skin freshness towards the finish. Perfect on its own or to enjoy with white fish or meats. This exceptional Petit ChabliRegular Price£22.45Sara Cox Collection - 15% off£19.09 -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Greg Sherwood MW. Inspired by the world-renowned wines of the famed ‘Right Bank’ of Bordeaux’s Garonne River, the vision of De Toren Z originated, followed by the maiden vintage release in 2004. The exact same quality, precision and winemaking philosophy that De Toren is so well known for, would be used to craft an equal for the Left-Bank, De Toren Fusion V. This complementary Right-Bank Bordeaux styled wine is today better known as the eminent, De Toren Z. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Apr 20 -
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 beRegular Price£21.95Sara Cox Collection - 15% off£18.66 -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.5%Style: Dry Refreshing White90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. From the modern style Casa La Rad, highly regarded by wine supremo Tim Atkin, comes this exceptional value white Rioja. A blend of Virua, Verdejo Chardonnay, and Malvasia, the Solarce Blanco is partially fermented in large oak barrels and aged on fine lees to give an elegant and beautifully fresh wine with body and texture to boot! Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Tim Atkin MW (La Rioja Special Report) (2020) "Solarce is an unusual blend of mostly Viura with 47% Verdejo,Regular Price£14.95New Years Sale - 25% off£11.22 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity White94 Points - Gilbert & Gaillard. The Chablis masters at Sylvain Mosnier took full advantage of the excellent 2022 vintage and produced wines that are full of freshness, ripeness, and complexity. Classically styled, their Chablis 2022 has great intensity and energy, with its ample fruit kept in check by the clean, balancing acidity. This is a delight now but it will develop over the next 3 years or so. Wine Press Ratings 94 Points - Gilbert & Gaillard Decanter Magazine. "Very precise and f -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 14.5%Style: Classy Complex White92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck. Patz & Hall is one of California’s most highly regarded wineries with a celebrated portfolio of single-vineyard wines. Chardonnay from a selection of parcels across Sonoma showing great balance and depth. On the nose are notes of apricot, lemon zest, brown sugar cookie, dried lavender and heavily roasted hazelnut, and on the palate, mouthwatering, vibrant and fresh with sleek acidity supporting flavourful pulses of spicy pear, green apple, marzipan and orange-clove.Regular Price£52.95New Years Sale - 25% off£39.72 -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13%Style: Rich Fruity White95 Points - International Wine Challenge. Thelema consistently produce wines of stunning quality and value and this Chardonnay is no exception. 10 months in French oak barrels have given this wine a complex profile of ripe fruit, toasty oak with a lovely texture. Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - International Wine Challenge (2020) 94 Points - Tim Atkin (2020) Taste Winemakers tasting notes: Aromas of ripe peach, grapefruit marmalade, blossoms and complex yeasty flavours complement the toasty oak -
Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - Decanter. No ordinary Bordeaux Superieur, Chateau Lagrave Paran is nestled on a micro-property spanning approximately 3.5 hectares, this under-the-radar winemaker lavishes each vine with the utmost care, resulting in excellent wines year after year. The wine's soft, maturing black-currant fruits reflect the vintage's relative lightness, while oak aging gracefully smooths the tannins and imparts a final, juicy character. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Aug 2024) Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Dec -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity White91 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard. The Sylvain Mosnier Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy 2021 is a classic example of Chablis. The Beauroy site, designated as a Premier Cru ‘climat,’ features limestone-rich soils that produce fresh, clean, and mineral-rich wines. Sylvain Mosnier's traditional approach avoids new oak, resulting in wines that are delightful when young but also have the potential to age and develop beautifully in the bottle. Wine Press Ratings 91 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard | Double Gold Meda -
Country: France, ChampagneGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Crisp Classic Sparkling92 Points - Vertdevin - This Rose Champagne is simply gorgeous! From Grand Cru producer Genet, the name 'Redblend 9208' denotes the blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Pinot Noir grapes used to produce this delicate feminine style Rose Champagne. Beautiful pale salmon colour and orange hints. Nice effervescence with a fine string of bubbles. On the nose, delicate floral aromas of violet, rose, peony and iris followed by red fruits, such as redcurrant, cherry, raspberry and apricot. On the palate, smoRegular Price£42.15Producer Focus - 15% off£35.83 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Chardonnay, Pinot NoirABV: 12%Style: Crisp Classic Sparkling90 Points - Decanter. The Albert Bichot Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve is a seriously impressive sparkling wine. It’s made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from fruit grown in Burgundy’s southern Cotes Chalonnaise and Cote Maconnais regions. Produced using the champagne-style methode traditionnelle which involves a secondary fermentation in the bottle after which it rests for 18 months before release. With 10% of the wine being given 6 months of oak-ageing and with 15% reserve wines bei -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.5%Style: Classy Complex White90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The Casa La Rad wines are made from their most valuable vineyard, the La Rad vineyard, with vines older than 35 years of age. The grapes are handpicked and carefully selected before spending 14 months in new French oak barrels and aged on its lees. This wine has an appealing mid-body that shows fresh and vibrant aromas of white peach, citrus, white flowers with mineral notes. Elegant and well balanced with a creamy texture. A gorgeous white from Rioja - a must try! Vivi -
Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - International Wine Report. No ordinary Bordeaux Superieur, Chateau Lagrave Paran is nestled on a micro-property spanning approximately 3.5 hectares, this under-the-radar winemaker lavishes each vine with the utmost care, resulting in excellent wines year after year. The wine's soft, maturing black-currant fruits reflect the vintage's relative lightness, while oak aging gracefully smooths the tannins and imparts a final, juicy character. Vivino Rating: 4.0 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratin -
Country: France, ChampagneGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Complex Sparkling93 Points - The Champagne Sommelier. This exceptional Vintage Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Michel Genet is truly the work of an Artisan. 100% Chardonnay from the Grand Cru Vineyards of Chouilly, expect dense aromas of pastries, freshly baked bread and almond croissant, followed by candied fruit, pineapple and smokey nuances of tea, dark rum and tobacco. Complex, elegant and simply superb! Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - The Champagne Sommelier "The aroma is mineral, refined, and liveRegular Price£73.65Producer Focus - 15% off£62.61 -
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, 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, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Fonroque produced an excellent wine in 2017. The 2017 vintage was unusual and not without its challenges. A hard (-6°C) frost on the 28th of April reduced the potential crop significantly as did a lack of rain in the spring. Happily a dry summer and sunny autumn allowed Fonroque to bring in a relatively small, but healthy harvest. The grand vin is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, a mix that played to the vintage’s strengths. Typically powerful and -
Country: France, ChampagneGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Complex Sparkling90 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard. Champagne Bonvalet began with a wild dream: to create a Maison de Champagne from scratch. In 2012, Guillaume created his first cuvée, which took two more years of patience to distribute the first 2000 bottles of Champagne Bonvalet. Kosmos Blanc de Blancs is a 100% Chardonnay cuvee with 3 years maturation showing generous citrus and floral aromas with a lovely effervescence. Taste: "The nose of this Champagne is generous, with citrus and floral aromas. The palateRegular Price£45.25New Years Sale - 25% off£33.94 -
Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 14%Style: Classy Complex White96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater. A wonderful Burgundian style Chardonnay from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. A polished, complex nose that leaps from the glass. Bursting with appealing grapefruit and peach aromas with complex notes of toasted sourdough, popcorn and white pepper lees influence. The most impressive thing about this wine is the poise, balance and restraint on the palate. It' -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13%Style: Classy Complex White92-95 Points - Jasper Morris MW. A rare chance to savour the stunning Meursault Cuvee Charles Maxime 2021 from Meursault masters, Domaine Latour Giraud. 2021 was a lovely but hugely challenging vintage in Burgundy. The little wine that was made offers a delicious combination of freshness, elegance, and harmony. The Cuvee Charles Maxime is a wonderful example of how good 2021 white Burgundy can be. Boasting generous quantities of citrus, almonds, lemon confit and just a hint of butter, it’s powe