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: England, KentGrapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierABV: 12.5%Style: Crisp Classic SparklingSilverhand Estate’s Silver Reign Brut is a multi-award-winning sparkling wine that offers exceptional value, making it a must-try for lovers of English fizz. Crafted using the Charmat method with traditional Champagne grape varieties, it delivers vibrant freshness and fine bubbles. Reflecting a commitment to sustainable farming, it celebrates the natural beauty of the land, evoking the silvery morning mists over the vines and the regal sparkle of a wine designed for all occasions. Vivino Rating: -
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: South Africa, Western Cape, Walker BayGrapes: Sauvignon BlancABV: 13%Style: Dry Refreshing White94 Points - Platters Guide. This rich and expressive Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged for 12 months in a combination of new (40%) and older oak barrels. It boasts a vibrant bouquet, with elegant notes of exotic fruits such as starfruit and dragon fruit, intertwined with tropical accents of passionfruit and ripe pineapple, and subtle hints of yellow peach. Herbal nuances and a touch of exotic spice add depth to its pronounced fruit profile. With bright acidity and a lingering finish, this wi -
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: 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: 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: 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: France, Loire ValleyGrapes: Sauvignon BlancABV: 13%Style: Aromatic Floral WhiteThe great Sauvignon Blancs from Pouilly-Fumé are known (much like their neighbours in Sancerre, Menetou-Salon and Quincy) for their complex minerality and the richness of facets that their respective micro-terroir brings with them. But while the wine prices on the Loire are skyrocketing in many places, this first-class Pouilly-Fumé from the young Domaine de la Croisée stands out as one to follow. Tasting Note The bouquet offers scents of white fruits, chamomile, and freshly mowed grass. Creamy o -
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: 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: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red94 Points - Descorchados. The El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2019 is a wonderfully exuberant wine that demonstrates how fine Argentinean Cabernet Franc can be. The brainchild of Adrianna Catena and soils engineer Alejandro Vigil, the winery is in Argentina’s wine capital, Mendoza. The El Enemigo wines are made from the grapes cultivated in the region from the vineyards of Tupungato on deep calcareous and rocky soils. To preserve the grape’s vital character, only natural yeasts are used in fermentatio -
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: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: MalbecABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red91 Points - Falstaff. The Catena Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 isn’t just one of Perfect Cellar’s best Argentinean red wine buys, it’s one of the best wine buys on our entire list. The Catena family are known for their pioneering work in high-altitude viticulture in Argentina and the Appellation La Consulta Malbec 2019 showcases the beauty of such wines perfectly. Produced from Malbec grapes sourced from the La Consulta region of Uco Valley, Mendoza, it manages to combine a huge weight of -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14.5%Style: Smooth Fruity RedCasa La Rad is a winery dedicated to the environment to sustain and improve its vitality and biodiversity. From the La Rad vineyard, the grapes are handpicked and carefully selected from bush trained vines 35 years or older, before malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels of 500 and 225 litres where it will be aged for at least 14 months. A highly rated wine by the international wine press, and gold medal winning wine at the Mundus Vini awards, Casa La Rad Tinto is a Rioja in the modern st -
Country: France, Loire ValleyGrapes: Sauvignon BlancABV: 12.5%Style: Dry Refreshing WhiteQuincy, the second appellation established in France (1936) and the first in the Loire Valley, has gained recognition for its exclusively Sauvignon Blanc white wines which are are renowned for their characteristic crispness and dryness. One of the best domaines in Quincy, Yves Lestourgie, who gave up cereal farming 20 years ago to make Quincy is also currently president of the Quincy growers’ association. Taste Aromatic, with citrus, pepper and floral notes, the palate is fresh, fruity with hint -
Country: Argentina, CatamarcaGrapes: BonardaABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity RedBonarda, or Douce Noir in Eastern France, is a great alternative to Malbec that you must try. Argentina's second most planted variety, it is a lovely easy drinking, fresh and fruit driven wine with great colour and notably soft tannins. Taste Deep and bright colour, juicy dark fruits with a soft and supple finish with great structure. About the Producer Durigutti Family Winemakers: Brothers Hector and Pablo are passionate about expressing the characteristics of Argentina’s various terroirs along -
Country: Italy, VenetoGrapes: Corvina, RondinellaABV: 14.5%Style: Smooth Fruity Red94 Points - Luca Maroni. This is produced using hand-picked Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes and the age-old Ripasso, double fermentation technique. It then receives length ageing in small French barrels, adding further complexity and depth. This Decanter World Wine Awards Silver Medal winner is the ideal partner for dark red meats, mushroom dishes, and strong cheeses. Wine Press Ratings 94 Points - Luca Maroni (2018 Vintage) 90 Points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Award -
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: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: PinotageABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedA blend of 89% Pinotage and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon selected from prime, cool vineyard sites in Firgrove, Helderberg and Simonsberg, the Grangehurst 2012 is one of the best they have ever produced. To gain the perfect balance between extraction and refinement, the crushed grapes were left on their skins for 7 days. Hand-punching down was practised which goes some way to accounting for the exceptional colour, rounded tannins and amazing array of flavours. Following a temperature-controlled ferment -
Country: Portugal, AlentejoGrapes: Alicante BouschetABV: 14.5%Style: Juicy Lively RedThe Cartuxa Foral de Evora Colheita Tinto celebrates tradition while embracing the best of modern winemaking technology to create a fascinating, hugely enjoyable red wine. It was produced from a traditional blend of old, low-yielding Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Aragone from the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida vineyards. Fermented in stainless steel to preserve the wine’s abundant fruitiness, it benefits from a year’s maturation in small French and American oak casks and 15 months of bottle agRegular Price£23.95Boxing Day Sale - 25% off£17.97