Showing all 8 results

• Red Wine

  2019 Middle Of Everywhere Shiraz, Larry Cherubino

  £2200

  Aromas of red earth, ground black spice and dark berries lead to a palate of fine, silky tannins. Juicy fruit flavours of blueberry and dark cherry combine with undertones of spice.

  The fruit was selected and hand-picked from sites across Frankland River, Western Australia. The vines were planted in 1997 to a density of 1,650 vines per hectare and have a northern orientation, which maximises the exposure to the sun. Careful irrigation ensures the vines are healthy. The soils are granite, which are known for their heat retention properties and for promoting the even ripening of the berries.

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• Red Wine

  2019 Somesay Shiraz, Harry Hartman

  £3350

  Harry Hartman wines are new to these shores and we are delighted to be among the first to list these fabulous wines in the UK.  Made in tiny quantities these wines are going to be highly sought after very quickly!

  The 2019 Somesay Shiraz is an extraordinary wine made from small parcels of Syrah from the Cederberg and Stellenbosch regions.

  Syrah is known to perform well across the diverse wine regions of South Africa, offering the robust fruit expression of a typical Shiraz or the genteel savouriness of a Syrah. Ancient soil plays a pivotal role in the wines’ ability to express the essence of a place, and the decision of blending regions presents a multi-layered wine, executed with flair and finesse.

  In the glass, the wine introduces itself with delicate notes of potpourri, violets, and sandalwood, balanced with the comforting aroma of cranberry shortbread and warm French patisserie. The palate is a vibrant expression of young plum, red currants, cherry, and dried fig with a subtle savoury edge of thyme and cedar.  The wine was aged in large Foudre and older oak barrels which complements the fruit as well as adding a textured mid-palate.   This is a beautifully executed wine that honours both the Old and New World.

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• Red Wine

  2012 Syrah Le Pousseur, Bonny Doon

  £3500

  Bonny Doon Vineyards’ 2012 Syrah, “Le Pousseur,” is made from Syrah grapes grown in some nice Central Coast spots – 48% Alamo Creek Vineyard, 18% Bien Nacido Vineyard, 18% Spanish  Springs Vineyard and 16% Ventana Vineyard. These are cool-climate sites and the website states that with “a fair amount of whole clusters included, this is a savory Syrah of great restraint.”

  Randall Grahm writes that he finds Le Posseur “enchanting and captivating rather than overpowering.” He labels it as a “feminine” Syrah. I don’t make it a habit to argue with a winemaker about his wines, but I was taken to task once for the use of the term “feminine” as a sexist way to describe a wine. PC or not PC, it does not strike me as feminine. Maybe it’s feminine in a masculine way. Or masculine in a feminine way. Maybe it’s just a wine having a crisis of sexuality. Or maybe it’s just a Syrah of great restraint. It retails for $26 and 2,126 cases were produced.

  Under the screw cap is a wine which is opaque indigo. Big blueberry fruit dominates the nose with a savory undercurrent. It is possibly the fruitiest nose I’ve experienced from a Bonny Doon red, which usually lean savory. The palate shows dark fruit too, with just a hint of that black olive note Grahm’s wines often exhibit. Very nice acidity and a good tannic grip top off an entirely enjoyable experience. The oak touch is nice, just right in fact.

  90 points from PlanetGrape.com: “Seductive notes of red rose, lilac, raspberry and cherry mingle with earthy notes of game, bacon and underbrush. Smooth and silky. Decant to let oxygen do its thing.” (02/2015) According to the winery: “We’ve been in a nice aromatic groove of late with Le Pousseur, largely in virtue of the string of very cool vintages, and sourcing our fruit exclusively from cool climate sites. The ’12 Pousseur (who is to say why) is still in a Marlon Brando-like bit of a sullen funk, but there is no question that underneath that brooding exterior, there beats the heart of a Wild One. The Alamo Creek component (possibly in virtue of its extremely gravelly soil) seems to add a strong mineral/earthy/bloody note, not utterly unreminiscent of Cornas. With more air, you begin to gradually discern the characteristic anise/licorice character that typifies Syrah. On the palate, the wine has a refreshing acidity, tannins well-resolved and is remarkably savory with an exceptionally long finish. This wine is still amazingly young and will benefit from several years of ageing (if you can wait). If you can’t wait, decanting is well advised.”

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• Red Wine

  2020 Syrah, The Language Of Yes, Randall Grahm

  £4350

  Randall Grahm is a legend of California winemaking, renowned for his trailblazing work with Rhône Varieties in the Central Coast. ‘The Language of Yes’ is his latest project, an attempt to capture the essence of Old World wines through the ‘uniqueness of the vineyards and the (mostly) sunny disposition of California’.

  This is a deliciously complex Syrah, marked by its lively acidity and layers of vivid pepperiness, black olive, violets, liquorice and white flowers. Smooth and textured with a long finish.

  The Syrah and Viognier grapes come from the single vineyard ‘Rancho Réal’, in the Santa Maria Valley which is one of the coolest sites where vines are successfully grown in California. Here, the vines enjoy a particularly long growing season, thus developing an impressive degree of complexity and articulation. For example, the formation of ‘Rotundone’, the molecule that imparts the peppery quality to wines, is favoured by cooler climates, lower light conditions and a long hang-time on the vine.

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• Red Wine

  2018 ‘Secret de Schistes’, Château de l’Ou

  £4500

  An aromatic bouquet of red and blue fruits, enhanced by graphite, crushed stone, pepper and herbal notes of the garrigue. Rich, with an elegant texture, polished tannins and superb length.

  The Syrah vines are grown in the High Agly Valley, where the vineyard is situated at 325 metres. At this elevation the vines benefit from the coastal breezes sweeping up from the Mediterranean Sea, which help to temper the scorching summer heat. The mountainous foothills of the Pyrenees provide good diurnal temperature differences, with cooler evenings offering the vines gentle respite from the heat, resulting in balanced fruit with natural freshness. The soils are made up of a mosaic of schist soils, which date back to the Cretaceous period. The schistous marl produces shallow black soils, forcing vines to put down deep roots in search of water and nutrients. The vineyard is certified organic.

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• Red Wine

  2016 Côte-Rôtie, Blonde du Seigneur, Georges Vernay

  £7250

  Although Domaine Georges Vernay has built its reputation around its excellent Condrieu white wines, its reds should not be neglected, especially ones from the Côte-Rôtie. From a 5 ha plot of vines, Vernay’s Côte-Rôtie is amongst the most exceptional wines from the same appellation. Thanks to a perfectly mastered elegant wine style, Christine Vernay successfully expresses the elegance and depth of syrah; never over maturing or over ageing.

  2016 has been hailed as one of the great vintages and only 1200 cases were made in 2016 of the Blonde du Seigneur, so demand is high.   In the glass this 2016 vintage is a dark deep wine offering a mineral nose with notes of smoke, black fruit, black olive, and pepper – always enhanced by a floral component. It is aromatic on the palate, with firm but smooth tannins, and a beautiful lingering finish. Its aromatic mouth, with well-built but smoothed tannins, continues in a beautiful final length. An immediate pleasure that slowly, over the years, grows to be the most typical expression of the Syrah from Cote-Rotie.

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• Red Wine

  2014 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge, Georges Vernay

  £11000

  Although Domaine Georges Vernay has built its reputation around its excellent Condrieu white wines, its reds should not be neglected, especially ones from the Côte-Rôtie. From a 5 ha plot of vines, Vernay’s Côte-Rôtie is amongst the most exceptional wines from the same appellation. Thanks to a perfectly mastered elegant wine style, Christine Vernay successfully expresses the elegance and depth of syrah; never over maturing or over ageing.

  The name of the wine refers to a small red house situated at the foot of this impressively steep “lieu dit” or registered plot of ‘Maison Rouge’. The vineyards are made up of two hectares of sandy, granite terraces located in the southern part of the appellation. Trained according to the Guyot simple method, the vines have an average age of 50 years and they have been planted to a density of 10,000 vines per hectare.

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• Red Wine

  2015 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge, Georges Vernay

  £12500

  This Côte Rôtie is characterised by its combination of power with elegance. Pure, deep red fruits from old vines are supported by spicy aromas. Beautifully structured on the palate with silky, smooth tannins and toasted notes on the long, persistent finish.

  The name of the wine refers to a small red house situated at the foot of this impressively steep “lieu dit” or registered plot of ‘Maison Rouge’. The vineyards are made up of two hectares of sandy, granite terraces located in the southern part of the appellation. Trained according to the Guyot simple method, the vines have an average age of 50 years and they have been planted to a density of 10,000 vines per hectare.

  Purchase & earn 125 points!Add to Basket