Showing 46–60 of 73 results

• White Wine

  2020 `Reed` Marlborough Chardonnay, Blank Canvas

  £2995

  A complex and layered single vineyard Chardonnay from Waihopai Valley in Marlborough, made by the Blank Canvas duo Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker Thomson.  It shows fleshy white nectarine and orchard fruit, alongside a flint-focussed precision on the palate, with a grainy and honeyed richness. It shows crystalline purity, with powerful savoury oak, and layered complexity.

  The Reed vineyard is home to growers Pete and Anne Reed. Situated at the mouth of the Waihopai Valley, they first planted vines on their land in 2001. The soil is low-vigour clay, with a naturally dry micro-climate. The vineyard is planted solely with Clone 95 Chardonnay, a Burgundian clone that Matt Thomson thinks is ideally suited to Marlborough. It is flavour ripe at modest sugar levels, and retains its acid, a balance that Matt likes.

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• Red Wine

  2016 Zinfandel ‘Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard’, Peterson Winery

  £3295

  This Mountain-grown Zinfandel opens in the glass with tempting notes of opulent dark berries, spicy black pepper and a rich mineral essence, underpinned by beautifully integrated oak nuances through to a long, elegant finish

  The grapes are ‘Estate Grown’ from the Bradford Mountain Estate vineyard. Overlooking the western edge of Dry Creek Valley, the vineyard spans six and a half hectares on the very top of the 385-metre peak that Fred cleared and planted in the 1980s. The well-drained, red-clay soil, combined with sunny days and cool nights, produces small, intensely flavoured grapes. This wine encapsulates all of the best qualities found in mountain-grown Zinfandels from the Dry Creek Valley appellation: the poorer soils and cooler nights harness and preserve more of the bright acidity and freshness in the grapes. More sunlight hours at the higher elevation means thicker-skinned fruit which translates as darker, richer fruit. The key characteristics of mountain-grown Zinfandel are that it has a peppery quality and more intense black fruit characteristics.

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• Red Wine

  2019 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, Leeu Passant

  £3300

  This aromatic Cabernet shows notes of cassis, tarragon, graphite and cedar on the nose. These continue on the palate which has a silky texture and great structure from the fine tannins. The richness and power of the wine are balanced by freshness and finesse. The finish is dry with lingering blackcurrant and blueberry flavours.

  Grapes for this wine is a blend of parcels from the cooler parts of Stellenbosch. One parcel is from 39-year-old, dry-farmed bush vine Cabernet Sauvignon, planted on deep alluvial soils of Firgrove. A further two parcels are planted on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, while the final parcel is sourced from the Polkadraai Hills, where the soils are decomposed granite.

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• White Wine

  2020 Taihoa Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Astrolabe

  £3300

  This is a unique New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the fruit for this wine is grown by Paddy and Anna Trolove at Taihoa Vineyard on Marlborough’s southern Kēkerengū coast.  It is an outlier, both geographically and in a winemaking sense, to the typical sauvignon blanc wines of Marlborough; it is all about complexity, texture and age-worthiness.

  In the glass, it is a lemon gold colour with aromas of guava, lime rind, papaya and light leesy nuances.  The palate is powerful and concentrated with a tight mineral texture and flavours of melon, green peach and limoncello.  This wine is already drinking well, but it will continue to evolve, increasing in complexity and roundness over several years.  A natural partner for seafood —particularly oysters as well as soft white cheese, chicken and tarragon pie, and smoked eel.

  Winemaker, Simon Waghorn describes the process of making this beautiful as such: “The grapes for my Taihoa Sauvignon blanc are grown with organic management and a low-cropping regime on a beautiful little terrace, high above the sea. We expose the fruit more to the sun by taking leaf away from around the bunches. When it gets to the right stage of ripeness, it’s hand-picked and taken as whole bunches back to the winery, where we press it in the champagne-style method to delicately get the free-run juice away.   Cuvée juice is wild fermented in old 500-litre oak puncheons that have seen several years of chardonnay and then retained in barrel for extended maturation. I find that the wild yeast from this site has a very unique character. This sauvignon blanc is all about the wild yeast, high solids ferment, aging on yeast lees and a little bit of the nuances that come from the Kēkerengū area. I am crafting a wine with a very linear, focused structure around which I can build beautiful textures.”

   

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• White Wine

  2021 Chardonnay ‘Reserve Selection’, Raymond Vineyards

  £3500

  Steeped in rich family history, Raymond vineyards can trace it’s origins in winemaking back to the days of the ‘old’ Napa Valley.   Founded in 1970, Raymond vineyards produce high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

  This 2020 Chardonnay ‘Reserve Selection’ has fragrant aromas of tropical and stone fruits that lead to notes of honeysuckle, accentuated by a touch of toasted almonds. This is a beautifully balanced wine with bright acidity and a creamy texture with a hint of minerality on the finish.

  The grapes come from the estate vineyards in Jameson Canyon and selected Napa Valley growers. The estate vineyards are planted on rolling hills at the southern end of Napa Valley. The growing conditions in the Jameson Canyon are very similar to Carneros, the neighbouring appellation just west of the Napa River. Winds flow through Jameson Canyon, bringing the cooling influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean and providing a long, cool growing season which enhances and concentrates the intensity of the varietal characteristics. A proportion of grapes are harvested from vineyards in Carneros and the Napa Valley which lend more texture and structure to the blend.

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• White Wine

  2009 Grésy Chardonnay Langhe DOC, Marchesi di Grésy

  £3595

  Piemonte produces some of the finest, most Burgundian, examples of Chardonnay in Italy. This is one of the best – a complex barrel-aged style, and one of Italy’s finest examples of the grape. The Chardonnay grapes are sourced from two parcels of vines. One is in Barbaresco, just below Martinenga, facing south-west at an altitude of 230m. The second is on the north-east side of Monte Aribaldo in the commune of Treiso, 370 metres above sea level.

  This delicious 2009 Chardonnay shows aromas of nectarine, Mirabelle plum, fresh herbs and minerals, with a suggestion of exotic fruits. Sweet, suave and expansive, with an exotic botrytis hint to the nectarine and sexy oak flavours. This wine spentt 21 months in lightly toasted new Allier barrels, with the lees being stirred regularly for the first 12 months.

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• Red Wine

  2019 Rosehill Shiraz, Mount Pleasant

  £3795

  Mount Pleasant, based in the Hunter Valley, was established in 1921 by the legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea, from 16.3 hectares of adjoining parcels of land, which he named Mount Pleasant.

  An elegant and refined Shiraz, with an abundance of raspberry and cranberry fruit layered with perfumed notes of violet, spice and plum. The red fruits drive through the palate with intensity and focus supported by subtle oak.

  The Shiraz vines were planted in 1946 in a single vineyard plot named ‘Rosehill’. These low-yielding, old vines have deep and complex root systems. Maurice O’Shea purchased the land during World War II and the site is now regarded as one of the elite vineyards of the Hunter Valley. Once the site of volcanic activity, the Rosehill Vineyard is located at one of the Hunter Valley’s highest elevations. This 22-hectare parcel of volcanic loam soil, with patches of limestone and eroded basalt, is fertile and ideal for producing full-flavoured red grapes. O’Shea devoted it to solely planting Shiraz. The vineyard is cultivated using sustainable techniques, such as employing mulch to nourish the vines and growing cover crops to increase the biodiversity in the soil.

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• Red Wine

  2019 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine de Montille

  £3895

  The wine has bright, crunchy red and forest berry fruits, with light spice on both nose and palate. The palate is well balanced with chalky tannins and modest depth. A supple minerality and attractive red fruit core leads to a vibrant finish.

  The fruit for this wine comes from 3.28 hectares of vineyards, including one Volnay plot by the name of ‘Les Longbois’ and various other sites within Puligny-Montrachet. The Domaine has practised organic viticulture since 1995 and was certified organic in 2012. Since 2005, it has also converted to biodynamic viticulture.

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• Champagne & Sparkling Wine, English & Welsh Sparkling Wine, Festive Fizz, Sparkling

  2017 ‘White Cliffs’ Blanc de Blancs, Simpsons Wine Estate

  £3950

  Classic, vibrant aromas of citrus and green apple are balanced with subtle brioche notes and distinctive English minerality and finesse.  White Cliffs 2017 is the first release of a Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from Simpsons’ Wine Estate, created from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay

  Simpsons Wine Estate is situated in the Elham Valley; an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil are excellent for viticulture. The intensely lime-rich chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England through Champagne and on to Burgundy. The grapes come from the Roman Road vineyard, named after the route the Romans first marched when invading England in AD 43.  They are grown on south-facing slopes, ensuring heat accumulation in the day and cold air drainage at night. The vineyard is less than eight miles from the coast, providing a crucial maritime influence insulating the fruit against intense temperature variations.

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• White Wine

  2019 Croft Chardonnay, Henschke

  £3995

  Seductive aromas of pear skin, grapefruit, white stone-fruit, citrus blossom and white flowers are complemented by hints of apple, lemon curd, clove spice and toasted almonds. Intense and focussed, the palate shows layer upon layer of pear and white peach, tightly wound by a deliciously creamy texture, and perfectly balanced with nectarine acidity and subtle oak nuances, for a powerful yet elegantly restrained, lingering finish.

  Fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke and his wife Prue purchased the Lenswood property in the Adelaide Hills in 1981. At 550 metres above sea level, the Lenswood vineyard offers not only magnificent views over the traditional vine country but also higher rainfall and humidity, cooler temperatures to retain high natural acidity, yet still enough sunshine to fully ripen the grapes. The chardonnay vineyard, which consists of seven clones, has taken its name from Frederick Croft, an orchardist who took up a neighbouring property in 1938.

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• Champagne & Sparkling Wine, English & Welsh Sparkling Wine, Sparkling

  2018 ‘Flint Fields’ Blanc de Noirs, Simpsons Wine Estate

  £3995

  This exceptional top-tier English Sparkling wine was created from estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes.  Burnished gold and with a delicate mousse, this wine has a luxurious, vanilla cream and fine pastry nose, with flavours of fresh Alpine strawberry, toasted brioche and a smooth elegant finish.

  Simpsons Wine Estate is situated in the Elham Valley; an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil are excellent for viticulture. The intensely lime-rich chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England through Champagne and on to Burgundy. The grapes come from the Roman Road vineyard, named after the route the Romans first marched when invading England in AD 43.  They are grown on south-facing slopes, ensuring heat accumulation in the day and cold air drainage at night. The vineyard is less than eight miles from the coast, providing a crucial maritime influence insulating the fruit against intense temperature variations.

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• Red Wine

  2018 Shiraz, Tahbilk *Magnum*

  £4000

  Tahbilk Shiraz is sourced from nearly 30 hectares of vines planted at various times from the 1930s through the early 2000s. Made using traditional Tahbilk techniques; fermentation takes place in 150 + year old open vats, before maturation in French and American oak for 18 months before bottling. The resultant releases are noted as being fruit-driven wines of much flavour and substance, proven over the years to develop added character when cellared. Varietally expressive with ample plum and blackberry fruits, there is warm earth and spicy savouriness that immediately appeals with a backbone of fine, opulent tannins and a rich, persistent finish.

  Tahbilk’s vineyards are grouped along the banks of the Goulburn River, a branch of it which flows through the estate. The vines are grown at around 134 metres elevation of gently undulating and flat terrain. The soils are sandy loam with ferric oxide content, which vary from very fine sand near the anabranch to denser loams on the plains. Tahbilk has Shiraz vineyards dating back from the 1860s to the 1990s. The oldest surviving block is the ‘1860 block’; planted on its own roots in sandy soils, which has made it impossible for phylloxera to colonise the vine roots.

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• White Wine

  2019 St Romain, Maison de Montille

  £4295

  This chardonnay from the standout vintage of 2019 exhibits a pretty bouquet of fresh pear, citrus oil and white flowers, the 2019 Saint-Romain is medium to full-bodied, supple but lively, with a bright spine of acidity and a gently chalky finish.

  Fruit for this Chardonnay is sourced from 2 lieu-dits in Saint-Romain, 80% from `Sous Roches` and the remaining 20% from `Jarrons`, located at the bottom of the village. The 30-year-old vines are planted on rocky soils with excellent drainage which allow the grapes to ripen at a steady pace and retain their vibrant flavours.

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• White Wine

  2019 Lovedale Semillon ‘1946 Vines’, Mount Pleasant

  £4500

  Mount Pleasant, based in the Hunter Valley, was established in 1921 by the legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea, from 16.3 hectares of adjoining parcels of land, which he named Mount Pleasant.

  Expressive aromas of lemon, lime and concentrated lemongrass are layered with delicate floral overtones. The perfectly balanced palate has gorgeous acidity providing drive and cut, with intense citrus notes found throughout.

  O’Shea selected the Lovedale vineyard site on the flats of the Pokolbin region of the Hunter Valley in 1939. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Second World War saw O’Shea’s plans curtailed as the land was reclaimed by the Australian Government for use as an emergency landing field as a part of the war effort. O’Shea eventually planted his first Semillon vines on the site in the spring of 1946. Over the years, Lovedale has proven to be another brilliant choice by Maurice O’Shea, as the sandy aggregate loam soils help to capture the perfect tightness and acidity for making quality Semillon. The vineyard is cultivated using sustainable techniques, such as employing mulch to nourish the vines and growing cover crops to increase the biodiversity in the soil. This sustainable approach has resulted in some of the healthiest vines on the estate in recent years; the vines have developed plentiful canopies which have assisted in preventing sunburn of the fruit. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal maturity.

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• White Wine

  2019 Meursault Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Florent Garaudet

  £5700

  2019 has been cited as an outstanding vintage and one of the best in recent years. The dry, warm conditions produced low yields of impeccably balanced, concentrated wines with searing freshness and remarkable purity.

  In the glass this wine opens with elegant aromas of brioche, fresh butter and delicate citrus notes which lead to a rich, opulent palate of ripe citrus fruits through to a long, rich and satisfying finish.

  The 60-year old vines are grown in a Hospice de Beaune parcel, just under the Meursault 1er Cru vineyard of ‘Les Santenots’ and are planted at a density of 10,000 to 11,000 per hectare. The clay-limestone soils are formed on alluvial stones and produce rich, textured wines. The vines are sustainably cultivated to respect the equilibrium of the environment, with the objective of limiting treatments to what is strictly necessary to obtain a harvest in the best possible condition.

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