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Wine Heroes

This page is dedicated to our wine heroes – the wines, winery, winemakers that have shaped our vinous journey over the past 20 years.
We followed, bought and collected all the wines that feature on this page for many years and their quality vintage upon vintage is without question.
In short, these are the wines we drink, and we hope you will love them as much as we do.

Wine Heroes

This page is dedicated to our wine heroes – the wines, winery, winemakers that have shaped our vinous journey over the past 20 years.
We followed, bought and collected all the wines that feature on this page for many years and their quality vintage upon vintage is without question.
In short, these are the wines we drink, and we hope you will love them as much as we do.

Showing 1–15 of 66 results

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  • 2019 Kydonitsa, Monemvasia Winery TsimbidiWhite Wine

    2019 Kydonitsa, Monemvasia Winery Tsimbidi

    £1350

    Kydonitsa is Greek for quince and this wine is true to its name showing ripe quince and elegant aromas of tropical fruits. Creamy and full flavoured on the palate with a mouthwatering freshness and a long aromatic and sweetly spiced finish. Perfect with seafood, especially fresh lobster or grilled fish.

    Kydonitsa ( pronounced Ki-do-NI-tsa) is a rare, old local variety and one of the components of the legendary wine Malvasia. The vineyard is located on the peninsula of Maleus at the foothills of the Parnonas Mountain range at an altitude of 80 metres above sea level. Surrounded by the Myrtoo Sea to the North West and by the Laconian Gulf to the South West, the vineyard is influenced by a Mediterranean climate with high sunshine hours and coastal sea breezes. The soils are clay loam and rich in minerals. All these factors contribute in creating a unique terroir and the climatic conditions present an ideal environment for healthy vines, which are cultivated with minimal intervention.

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  • 2020 The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc, d’Arenberg Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc, d’Arenberg

    £1595

    A flashy sauvignon blanc offering lashings of tropicals such as passionfruit and gooseberry on the highly aromatic nose, boosted by an undercurrent of fresh cut grass and asparagus. The palate is refreshingly crisp and mineral. Vibrant citrus-like acid is a real feature. But this is accompanied by the generosity in flavour and a hint of added texture through some very light-handed oak treatment and a small dose of wild ferment. Balanced and long, served chilled this wine will hit the spot on a warm, sunny day.

    Despite being a good match for fish, the name has nothing to do with them! A fishplate is a term for the nylon plates that collect grape bunches on a harvester and often break when navigating around the steep, windy vineyards.

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  • 2021 The Money Spider Organic Roussanne, d’Arenberg Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 The Money Spider Organic Roussanne, d’Arenberg

    £1695

    There’s a real ‘standing in a field during spring’ vibe to this wine. Lots of golden sunshine, cut-straw, and yellow peach flavours. It’s round, and generous, with substantial palate weight and mouthfeel. It’s rich, toasty, and opulent.

    The name of the wine originates from the fact that the first crop of Roussanne from the 2000 vintage was covered in tiny ‘Money Spiders’. Popular belief is that kindness to these creatures will bring good luck, so Chester refrained from sending the spiders to their death. By the next year, the Money Spiders had relocated, making the first release of this wine in 2001.

    Purchase & earn 17 points!Add to Basket
  • 2022 ‘Origin’ Sauvignon Blanc, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2022 ‘Origin’ Sauvignon Blanc, Saint Clair

    £1795

    Tropical aromas of passionfruit, guava and blackcurrant combine with nettle and subtle chalky mineral notes. The rich, full palate with grapefruit and blackcurrant leaf is enveloped in green notes of nettle and pepper and a delicate sea salt character, through to a long, mineral finish.

    The grapes was sourced from a selection of vineyards located predominantly in the lower Wairau sub-region. This is what Saint Clair regards as Marlborough’s best subregion for Sauvignon Blanc, producing wines with heightened expression. These vineyards sit on alluvial, silt soils. Each vineyard block was harvested when it reached maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

    Purchase & earn 18 points!Add to Basket
  • 2012 Fiano, Chalmers Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2012 Fiano, Chalmers

    £1995

    The high acid, bold flavoured Campanian grape Fiano has really found it’s second home in Australia, especially in Heathcote where it regularly outshines the red grapes on the same site in a traditional red-wine growing region. Chalmers have a museum of Fiano wines dating back over a decade with even the older wines still singing. The 2012 Chalmers Fiano is no exception, melding delicate stone fruits and almond blossom with savoury lees contact characters and minerality, displaying texture and power in the mouth whilst retaining a fine, fresh finish.

    Chalmers Fiano is whole bunch pressed and fermented on solids, 10% in old French oak barriques, 90% in stainless steel tanks without yeast addition. The temperature of fermentation is limited to 15 degrees. After fermentation is finished the wine rests on lees in tank for 6 – 9 months before being bottled.  The Fiano is then aged in bottle for a further 24 months before release allowing the wine to develop in richness and texture.

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  • 2011 The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne, d’Arenberg Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2011 The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne, d’Arenberg

    £1995

    The 2011 Hermit  has an Incredibly fragrant nose full of sweet apricot and gingery spice. The palate is luscious and generous but has great acid which tightens the wine, adding freshness and a clean crisp finish. Slight pithy feel which builds on the spice notes. Lovely as a fresh stand-alone drink that still exhibits some mouthfeel, or equally well adapted to enjoy with a range of foods from freshly shucked oysters through to spicy Thai style dishes.

    Many of McLaren Vale’s vineyards are on free-draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that inhabits the cast-off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale’s first-ever blend of Viognier and Marsanne. “Hermit” is also an abbreviation for the French appellation of Hermitage, where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.

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  • 2017 Smuggler’s Boot Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Kershaw Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2017 Smuggler’s Boot Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Kershaw

    £2100

    In 2014, The Smuggler’s Boot wines were first released. The name derives from the time of trade embargoes in South Africa when growers & winemakers smuggled grapevine material into the country by hiding the cuttings in Wellington boots. The Smuggler’s Boot range celebrates that ingenuity.

    This 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon is a classic white Bordeaux-style wine.   Light lotus yellow-green in colour, the nose has pristine aromas of elderflower, lemon and mandarin segments. A clean, seamless palate with vibrant fruit definition balanced with a taut natural acidity, this linear structured wine unfurls to lime, rose and pear softened by a creamy texture and lingers long after the first sip.

    Its fresh, citrus profile and mineral texture make it perfect with seafood dishes, fish and spring vegetables. Winemaker Richard enjoys it with tuna sashimi with a delicate lime and ginger or Asian dipping sauce.  Oysters; asparagus and peas in a pasta primavera work well or goats cheese, white asparagus and chorizo (lightly spiced) pizza. Alternatively, a ‘posh’ fie pie or poached salmon with peas and frothy hollandaise, Cod and chips, or beer-battered haddock. For meat lovers, Gammon on the bone with broad beans in a parsley sauce. A light Thai green curry with pork or chicken (but go easy on the curry spice).

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  • 2021 Riesling, Skillogalee Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Riesling, Skillogalee

    £2100

    The grapes for this dry Riesling are grown on low-yielding vines, along the contours on the highest slopes of the Skillogalee Estate at about 500 metres above sea level.

    In the glass the nose has a perfumed lift of jasmine, orange blossom spice and lemon zest. The palate is full-flavoured with excellent fruit concentration and texture. Flavours of lemon, lime zest and pith prevail, with hints of citrus spice and succulent, juicy acidity emerging thereafter. Structurally, this wine has impressive length, a lively natural acid backbone and a mouth-wateringly powerful finish.

    Drink now with fish, seafood or white meat dishes, or cellar for 5 years or more.

    With cool and dry weather, the 2021 vintage in the Clare Valley produced lovely fruit with excellent varietal character and natural acidity. The cool growing season was preceded by late-winter and early-spring rains which allowed for good spring growth on the vines. This was followed by below average rainfall and dry conditions for the remainder of the season, resulting in a vintage that produced beautiful and classic Clare wines with smaller bunches and grapes therefore reducing Riesling yield.

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  • 2018 Riesling, Skillogalee Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2018 Riesling, Skillogalee

    £2100

    The grapes for this dry Riesling are grown on low-yielding vines, along the contours on the highest slopes of the Skillogalee Estate at about 500 metres above sea level.

    In the glass this lovely ageing Riesling has intense lime and citrus aromas that dominate the nose with green apple, orange rind and talc also chiming in. Richly textured mouthfeel with concentrated lemon and lime flavours flooding the mouth. Underlying orange rind, talc and mineral characters follow on. Finishes dry with vibrant crisp acidity and a long powerful aftertaste of lime, citrus, orange rind, talc and spice.

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  • 2021 ‘Hen & Chicken’ Chardonnay, Larry Cherubino Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 ‘Hen & Chicken’ Chardonnay, Larry Cherubino

    £2200

    The Ad Hoc range of wines from Larry Cherubino is designed to be your ‘go-to’ wines – dependable, high quality and fit for any occasion.  This 2021 Chardonnay is an inviting and creamy wine with green apple, melon and citrus aromas enhanced by buttered brioche and a lovely freshness on the finish.   The fruit was handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts and aged in new two year old French oak prior to bottling.

    Purchase & earn 22 points!Add to Basket
  • 2021 Gewurztraminer, Skillogalee Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Gewurztraminer, Skillogalee

    £2250

    Skillogalee crafts their Gewurztraminer in the classic style – textural, aromatic and spicy with a crisp finish.

    The grapes for this wine come from vines on the Skillogalee Estate that are grown using minimal intervention and sustainable farming practices to minimise the impact on our environment. The wine exhibits distinctive Gewurztraminer flavours, with wonderful aromas of ginger and cinnamon mixed with floral perfumes of rose petals, Turkish Delight and lychees.

    A fantastic food matching wine, spanning most genres, top of the list should be lightly-spiced, contemporary Asian food, fresh summertime salads and flavoursome white meat dishes.

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  • 2021 Hunter Valley Semillon, Brokenwood Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Hunter Valley Semillon, Brokenwood

    £2295

    Established in 1970 by Tony Albert, John Beeston and wine critic James Halliday, Brokenwod has evolved from a weekend venture for hobby winemakers into one of the Hunter’s leading estates renowned for producing some of Australia’s most long-lived Semillons.

    Brilliant water-like colour with a faint greenish tinge to the edges. The nose displays punchy aromas of lime zest, lemon and Granny Smith apple followed by some flinty mineral notes. Crunchy lime and green apple fruits are underpinned by crisp, lemony acidity with wet steel and mineral characters flowing onto the zesty aftertaste.

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  • 2020 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Barrique’, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Barrique’, Saint Clair

    £2300

    The wine displays complex aromas of green coffee bean, vanilla pod and maple syrup are complemented by notes of wildflowers, crushed herbs and just a hint of gunflint. The palate is rich and unctuous with layers of ripe papaya, nectarine, cocoa powder and toasted hazelnut with hints of red berry and cassis.

    The grapes come from three rows of vines in one of Saint Clair’s best vineyards in the lower Wairau sub-region of Marlborough. The vineyard soils are nutrient-rich and free draining. The maritime climate and close proximity to the sea create a high diurnal temperature difference resulting in a long ripening period, concentrating the fruit flavours while retaining refreshing acidity. The fruit is left to hang a week longer than the fruit for Saint Clair’s traditional Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are hand-harvested, with only the highest quality bunches being selected.

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  • 2021 Block 3 Sauvignon Blanc ’43 Degrees’, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Block 3 Sauvignon Blanc ’43 Degrees’, Saint Clair

    £2375

    This Sauvignon Blanc is distinctively Marlborough with green notes of gooseberry, nettle and blackcurrant bud. The fresh, vibrant palate layers blackcurrant with tropical passion fruit, white peach and a mineral, slightly salty richness which leads to a long, lingering finish.

    The fruit was sourced from the fertile, deep, free-draining silt-loam soils of the lower Wairau Valley. The rows are planted north-east to south-west at a 43-degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north-facing side. The resulting wine is multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavour is of crushed herbs – which is one often associated with the coastal Awatere region. Careful monitoring during ripening and harvesting in the cool of the evening ensures fruit of maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

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  • 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Pioneer Block 1 Foundation, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Sauvignon Blanc Pioneer Block 1 Foundation, Saint Clair

    £2375

    This Sauvignon Blanc is a powerful and intense wine with an aromatic nose of white currant, capsicum and fragrant tropical fruit with a hint of thyme. Luscious ripe blackcurrant and lime flavours envelop the palate, which has a chalky texture. This is a pure and focussed Sauvignon Blanc with a long, lingering finish.  Drinking beautifully now and best enjoyed over the next two to five years.

    This vineyard site has been the foundation for some of Saint Clair’s finest wines. This is the vineyard where Saint Clair Family Estate first discovered the fruit to make their flagship Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the lower Wairau Valley. The Block One site was previously part of the Wairau flood plain and is renowned for its deep, highly fertile, free-draining soils, which have been built up over time and help to produce the intensity of flavour in the resulting wine. The vineyard has a flat profile and is situated approximately three metres above sea level. It is now protected from flooding by a stopbank. Located in a slightly cooler site than the majority of the Marlborough Valley, the vines have a slower annual ripening period. The fruit is carefully monitored during the ripening stage and is harvested during the cooler evenings, at maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

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