Staff Picks
-
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 -
Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater. A wonderful Burgundian style Pinot Noir from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. An aromatic, savoury nose with notes of damson plum, dark berry, forest floor, nori, peppercorns, salami and salted, black liquorice. Medium-bodied, with plush fruit but still a seriously structured wine with layered tannins. Wine Press Ratings 96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater (2
-
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedDamaged Label Stock. 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 American oak foRegular Price£29.95Bin End Sale - 35% off£19.47 -
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: 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: 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: 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, 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 seasonedRegular Price£29.95New Years Sale - 25% off£22.47 -
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 ensuRegular Price£29.95New Years Sale - 25% off£22.47 -
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 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points / Gold Medal - Tastings.com. Owner Jose Sanfins is also the Director at the 3rd growth Château Cantenac Brown. 100% aged in oak barrels, this beautifully complex wine with a velvety finish is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and can be aged for up to 20 years. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby colour. Richness and density are both apparent in a wine that will eventually turn into bold ripe black fruits. A wine for both the present and the future. "Well-delivered slice of Médoc with cl -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedOwner Jose Sanfins is also the Director at the 3rd growth Château Cantenac Brown. 100% aged in Oak Barrels, this beautifully complex wine with a velvety finish is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and can be aged for up to 20 years. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby colour. Richness and density are both apparent in a wine that will eventually turn into bold ripe black fruits. A wine for both the present and the future. "Well-delivered slice of Médoc with clear, dark cassis fruits from an estate -
Country: France, Rhone ValleyGrapes: GrenacheABV: 15.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe Chateau de Gourdon Terrasse a L'Ombre is made under the relatively rarely seen Côtes du Rhône Village "Suze-la-Rousse”. A blend of old vine Grenache and Syrah, each plot is harvested individually and several ‘tries’ may be attempted to ensure only perfectly ripe grapes are picked. To ensure the wines reflect the character of the vine and vineyard, they are fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. Taste With its wonderfully deep, saturated colour and bold bouquet of crushed plums, b -
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, MargauxGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedZédé de Labégorce is the second wine of Château Labégorce, one of Margaux’s oldest estates with a history dating back to the fourteenth century. The estate lies on the plateau to the northwest of Chateau Margaux and just to the north of Chateau Lascombes. In keeping with the rest of the commune, Labégorce produced exceptional wines in 2020. The Zédé de Labégorce shows all of Margaux’s style and elegance but has a powerful structure thanks to the heat and the high levels of Cabernet Sauvignon in -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EstepheGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Chateau Petit Bocq made the most of its scattered Saint Estèphe plots and selected only the finest fruit for its Grand Vin in 2017. This Cru Bourgeois Supérieur is made up of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot from vineyards that border the likes of Cos d’Estournel and Montrose. Known as one of the best value wines in all of Saint Estèphe, it’s been described as a ‘…seriously structured wine. It also has density and solid black fruits that are r -
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: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater. A wonderful Burgundian style Pinot Noir from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. An aromatic, savoury nose with notes of damson plum, dark berry, forest floor, nori, peppercorns, salami and salted, black liquorice. Medium-bodied, with plush fruit but still a seriously structured wine with layered tannins. Wine Press Ratings 96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater (2 -
Country: Italy, PugliaGrapes: Primitivo / ZinfandelABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red91 Points - Falstaff. Deep, dark and tempting, and seriously seductive, Papale Oro has aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. This is Puglian wine at its best, with great character and warmth, and a 'friendliness' sometimes lacking from its northern Italian cousins. It has delicious spiciness, complexity and pure fruit intensity, with ultra-plush, velvety texture. There are layers of ripe black cherry and blueberry fruit, and everythin -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, Walker BayGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 14%Style: Rich Full Red100% Cabernet franc and the only single block wine in the HPF portfolio. Swartskaap (Black Sheep) is recognised as one of South Africa’s best in what is considered a challenging cultivar. European in style and offering nuances of black olive, generous fruit and fynbos spice finishing with finesse & complexity. Vivino Score: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Taste Violet to ruby red, aromas of black olive, fynbos, spice, on the palate minerality, elegance, finesse & complexity. Maturation: New and 2nd fil -
Country: France, Rhone ValleyGrapes: GrenacheABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Decanter. Raspail Ay is one of the most celebrated, traditional Gigondas estates. Owner Dominique Ay has now been joined by his son Christophe and daughter Anne-Sophie. The vines average 40 years old and are a mix of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. The grapes are 100% destemmed, vinified in cement tanks and aged in a mix of foudres and “cuves béton”. The wines are never fined and rarely filtered. These are wines packed with fruit, and age admirably. Vivino Rating: 4.0 (Dec -
Country: France, ProvenceGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Smooth Fruity RedThe most elegant wines of the Domaine, imbued with the terroir of the Saint Tropez peninsula, Cuvee Bastide Blanche Rouge is an intense, yet elegant and aromatic red with beautiful balance and a refreshing quality, presenting itself as a powerful wine with slightly spicy tannins. Vivino Score: 4.1 (Sept 2024) Taste Deep red, this wine boasts an intense, elegant, and aromatic nose. On the palate, it reveals a beautiful balance and refreshing quality, presenting itself as a powerful wine with sliRegular Price£34.95New Years Sale - 25% off£26.22 -
Country: New Zealand, OtagoGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Smooth Fruity Red92 Points - Decanter World Wine Awards. Purity elegance combine with texture, concentration and length. A true reflection of the three Central Otago sub regions that contribute to this Peregrine Pinot Noir. Concentrated aromas of dried strawberries with notes of black cherry, vanilla and gamey scents. Fined-grained, mouth coating tannins, supported by a juicy and firm acidity. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Sept 2024) Taste Concentrated aromas of dried strawberries with notes of black cherry, vanilla and g