Staff Picks
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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: New Zealand, WaihekeGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Cam Douglas MS. The Man O' War Dreadnought 2018 is a classically styled Syrah with really lifted spice and floral notes overlaying a more savoury umami character. Underneath the aromatic lift is a layer of red berry fruit characters which lead into a soft and supple palate following with a clear focused acidity and fine tannins, all finishing with a trademark long persistence that is fresh and slightly salty. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Aug 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - Cam Douglas MS -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedGivry is known as one of the best value wines in Burgundy, but few – if any – can match Domaine Masse for quality and value. Produced from the family’s old vine Pinot Noir in the exceptional 2022 vintage the this is a red Burgundy lover's dream. The Domaine’s policy of rigorous pruning meant yields were low and the tiny amount of Givry Premier Cru they made is concentrated, complex and well-structured. It is wines like this that have seen demand for Domaine Masse’s wines soar in recent years. Ta -
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
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Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirStyle: Savoury Classic RedNew Zealand Pinot Noir stands among the finest of the New World, and the Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir is a prime example. Located in the Fairhall Valley, Marlborough, this hillside site’s microclimates and clay soils create a complex flavour profile with intense dark cherry and berry notes. Traditional Dijon clones are handpicked, cold-soaked, and wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches for added complexity. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak, 55% new, enhancing -
Country: South Africa, Western CapeGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - IWSC. The 2022 Off the Record Syrah marks the third vintage of this remarkable wine, crafted from a small parcel of Shiraz grapes grown on a truly exceptional site. Nestled high on the Ceres Plateau, this vineyard is rooted in nutrient-rich Bokkeveld shale soils and thrives at an extraordinary altitude of 1,000 metres above sea level. One of the rare South African vineyards blanketed by snow in winter, it produces grapes of remarkable character and intensity. With only 3,960 bottles -
Country: France, BeaujolaisGrapes: GamayABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. The Yohan Lardy Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes Moulin-a-Vent 2020 is everything you could wish for from a serious Moulin à Vent from an outstanding vintage. Full-bodied, ripe, weighty, crammed with black fruits and Beaujolais’s signature granite minerality. This small appellation is home to some of Beaujolais’s greatest wines. Yohan’s winemaking philosophy is refreshingly simple in that he looks to aid nature, not direct it. Techniques like hand ploughing between rows, o -
Country: Spain, PrioratGrapes: Grenache, Carignan, MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full RedThe Bodegas Mas Alta Els Pics Priorat is one of the stars of their impressive line-up of Priorat wines. The Els Pics Priorat is a blend of Grenache, Merlot and Syrah with the grape being drawn from several small, high-quality sites across the plateau and coastal-influenced slopes. The mixture of slate and clay-limestone soils imbues minerality and richness, while the myriad of complex micro-climates imbues it with nuance and delicacy. After being hand-picked and given a long, slow fermentation, -
Country: Chile, Maipo ValleyGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 14%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The Garage Wine Co Pirque Vineyard Cabernet Franc Lot 90 is a classic example of what this innovative winery is all about. The fruit for this comes from a high-altitude (600 metres above sea level) vineyard which was established in the 1980s. Sadly, for a combination of reasons it was subsequently abandoned leaving the vines to grow wild and old. The team rejuvenated it by deploying regenerative practices and since 2016 it has become one of their most acclaimed wines. -
Country: France, ProvenceGrapes: GrenacheABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Complex RoséDamaged Label Product. Rock Angel is partially barrel fermented in large oak barrels and made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino). This rosé bears a more complex and structured taste profile than Whispering Angel bringing it into a more premium realm giving rosé lovers a bigger and richer wine that is fabulous as an aperitif or paired with a broad range of fine cuisine. If you like the minerality of a Sancerre, you will love this wine. Although the label is either stained or torn, theRegular Price£34.95Bin End Sale - 35% off£22.72 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedIn common with all the leading properties in Saint Emilion, Chateau Palais Carindal produced an exceptional 2022. Given 92/93 points from James Suckling, the 50-year-old vines allow Nicolas Ballande to produce an outstanding wine. In many ways the 2022 was the result of work that was started in 2008. It was then that this ancient estate was given a new lease of life after years of underperformance. The winery was completely overhauled with outdated presses and vats being replaced by state-of-the -
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Chile, Colchagua ValleyGrapes: CarmenereABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe Caballo Loco Grand Cru Apalta 2022 is one of the best Chilean red wines you can buy. The flagship brand of multi-award-winning Valdeviso winery it is crafted from a blend of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Syrah in the renowned Apalta region of Chile's Colchagua Valley. Apalta grapes are highly prized by fine wine producers. The region’s Pacific-cooled Mediterranean climate is ideal for producing grapes that are complex, aromatic, fresh-tasting and well-balanced. The poor (apalta -
Country: Portugal, DouroABV: 19.5%Style: Sweet and FortifiedNiepoort is recognized as one of Portugal’s leading wine producers, and the Ruby Dum & Tawny Dee Gift Set showcases the best of Portuguese port in two 375ml bottles. Ruby Dum is bold and fruity, bursting with fresh berry notes, while Tawny Dee is smooth and nutty, with hints of caramel and dried fruit. Together, they make a perfect pair for sipping or sharing, whether you’re new to port or a longtime fan. It’s a great gift for anyone who loves a little luxury in their glass! About the Produc -
Country: South Africa, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNikela is a “Cape Blend” of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz & Roobernet. The word “Nikela” (pronounced “Ni-care-la”) is a Nguni (Xhosa/Zulu) word meaning “to offer a gift of dedication, respect or a tribute to one’s ancestors” - this wine being a tribute to winemaker Jeremy Walker’s late parents, Eddie and Betty, who contributed greatly to the establishment of Grangehurst, which was named after their childhood homes - “The Grange” and “Hurst Close” - in England. Wine Press Ratings 91 Po -
Country: England, SussexGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 12%Style: Crisp Classic Sparkling92 Points - Decanter World Wine Awards. Quintessentially English, only the very best fruit grown at Roebuck's Sussex vineyards is carefully selected for the Classic Cuvée. Crafted from a harmonious blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, this wine displays wonderful notes of baked apples and stone fruits layered with a biscuity richness. The 2017 growing season started well in the spring with an early budburst, followed by dry, sunny weather in May and June, and a very early flowerin -
Country: Portugal, AlentejoGrapes: Alicante BouschetABV: 14.5%Style: Smooth Fruity RedThe Cartuxa Evora Colheita Tinto 2020 is a glorious wine from a sublime vintage that is now at its drinking peak. It was produced from a blend of old, low-yielding Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Casteloa grapes, sourced from the estate’s vineyards in the prized Evora sub-region. The fruit was hand-picked, sorted, and de-stemmed to achieve the perfect tannic structure. Following a long, temperature-controlled fermentation – something of a rarity in the region – it was aged for 12 m -
Country: Australia, South AustraliaGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.9%Style: Classy Complex White92 points - Falstaff. The Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley 2020 Chardonnay is a wonderful example of the new wave of cool-climate Australian wines. Produced in the Piccadilly Valley, a sub-region of Adelaide Hills, it’s made from thirty-year-old vines that enjoy a long, slow ripening period on poor, rain-leached sandy loam soils. Once ripe the grapes were harvested by hand and chilled to 2oC before pressing to preserve the aromas and freshness. Using innovative air-bag presses, the juice was fermente -
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: SagrantinoABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe Barossa’s tiny 2020 vintage – yields were 50% lower than the ten-year average – tested the winemaking mettle of all producers. The Lou Miranda team routinely take a fanatical approach to vineyard care, but in 2020 daily assessments were undertaken to ensure grapes were picked at the optimum moment. This turned out to be up to three weeks earlier than usual. The rarely seen Sagrantino grapes loved the hot, dry conditions and performed spectacularly well. The tiny harvest was sorted, pressed a -
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red95 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit. Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (SGM) is an Australian wine classic, and the Lou Miranda Estate Fierce III SGM is one of the very best. 2019 was an outstanding year for the Barossa Valley and the family made the most of the conditions to produce a truly beautiful Australian red wine. The Shiraz gives it its wonderfully deep colour and black berry fruit, the Grenache adds plump, overripe cherries and the Mataro provides the backbone. It was aged for 15 months in seasoned -
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe Barossa’s tiny 2020 vintage – yields were 50% lower than the ten-year average – tested the winemaking mettle of all producers. The Lou Miranda team routinely take a fanatical approach to vineyard care, but in 2020 daily assessments were undertaken to ensure grapes were picked at the optimum moment. This turned out to be up to three weeks earlier than usual. The tiny harvest was sorted, pressed and fermented in stainless steel for nine days. The team watched fermentation like Goshawks to ensu -
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red95 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit. Hailing from the exceptional 2019 Barossa Valley vintage, the Lou Miranda Estate Fierce III Shiraz is an outstanding example of super-premium Australian Shiraz. Grown on the family’s vineyards at Rowland Flat and Lyndoch in the southern Barossa Valley on single wire trellises, the grapes ripened to perfection, harmoniously balancing fruit, tannin, and acidity. Following a careful fermentation with regular pumping over to maximise extraction, it was matured in Ame