Ed Durell planted the first vines in the rock-strewn, windy hills in 1979. Today, Durell Vineyard spans three AVAs: Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. The block TOR sources from lies in the famed Sand Hill section of the vineyard, which overlooks the Sonoma Valley. This 2014 Durell Chardonnay ranks among the best they have ever produced. “This has the classic seamless, almost oily palate weight and texture to it that the best Durells have but with a thread of focus that helps to pull the intensity of the palate together. This shows mandarin oranges, stone fruits and an almost cut wet grass note to it.
Wine Heroes
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2014 Dolce, Far Niente
£9750Add to BasketDolce is Napa’s true Sauternes-style dessert wine. Dolce embraces the pursuit of perfection in the art of late harvest winemaking. Created in 1985 by the partners of Far Niente, Dolce stands as a standard-bearer for this type of wine in America. With a classic blend of late harvest Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc inspired by the Sauternes region, Dolce is the only American winery dedicated to producing a single late harvest wine.
After nearly three years in French oak, this luxurious vintage shows lifted and youthful aromas of orange zest, vanilla bean and butterscotch with subtle notes of minerality and oak-derived spices. The entry is juicy, and Dolce’s signature texture is lively and enduring on the palate leading to a mouthwatering finish. Flavours of orange, pear and dried apricot mingle together with rich caramel notes and hints of minerals that make this vintage a delicious expression of the season’s exceptional ripeness.
Dolce’s 20 acres of vineyard are located in Coombsville, east of the city of Napa, and are situated at the base of the Vaca Mountains, which define the eastern border of the valley. The volcanic soil is loose and well-drained, and the west-facing vineyard is protected from the prevailing winds so that the damp, morning fog of autumn (a very important factor in the development of Botrytis cinerea) hangs longer amongst the vines, often until midday. A combination of high humidity followed by drying conditions encourages, but does not guarantee, the growth of Botrytis. As it develops, its coverage is seemingly random with individual berries succumbing to Botrytis at different rates, if at all.
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2008 Côte-Rôtie, Blonde du Seigneur, Georges Vernay
£9900Add to BasketAlthough 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 2008 Blonde du Seigneur is wonderfully refined. Seductive nose with smoked lard, pepper and juicy notes. Magnificently dense on the palate, with great depth, style and longevity. A very elegant, classic wine
Côte Rôtie is a prestigious red wine appellation at the northern tip of the Rhône Valley wine region, where the vineyards are situated on steep slopes (the Côtes). Due to these steep slopes the 30-year-old vines are maintained manually, without the use of weed killers and all treatments use organic products.
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Ribera del Duero Gift Box
£9999Add to BasketA beautifully packaged wooden gift box containing 3 award-winning wines from the iconic La Rioja Alta’s Ribera del Duero Winery, Aster.
An ideal Christmas present for those fans of the wines of Ribera del Duero.
2x Áster Crianza 2019 – 90 points, Decanter Awards 2022
Áster Finca el Otero 2018 – 96 points, Tim Atkin MW
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2017 Condrieu, Chaillées de l’Enfer, Georges Vernay
£10500Add to Basket“I liked the wines that came from the slopes, I found those from the plains very average”. These words of Georges Vernay sum up his contribution to Condrieu. Thanks to Georges, the abandoned, steep slopes here were given new life in the 1960s. In fact, this determined man had the genius intuition to cultivate vines on the “chaillées”, or terraces, aptly known as the “chaillées de l’Enfer” (terraces from hell)!
On the nose, the 2017 reveals exquisite floral notes, like old rose and peony, as well as a fruity side. The palate shows finesse and elegance, with the floral character of the nose accompanied by hints of spice. This is a balanced Condrieu with beautiful length, complexity and pureness. Drink now to 2030
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2014 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge, Georges Vernay
£11000Add to BasketAlthough 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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2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Il Marroneto
£11200Add to BasketIl Marroneto produce some of the purest and most perfumed expressions of Sangiovese made anywhere. Part of the secret lies in their prime location within Brunello’s traditional top class territory, situated at 450m above sea level with a cool northern exposure. Combined with the much lauded talents of gifted winemaker Alessandro Mori, and it’s clear to see why Il Marroneto are so highly coveted by Montalcino fans worldwide.
Alessandro Mori has always adopted a traditional approach, aiming for elegance and purity, without sacrificing depth or impact in his wines. Organic practices have been used in the vineyards since 1988, while natural fermentation occurs and there is neither fining nor filtration before bottling.
Both the Brunello and the Rosso start their life back at the winery as Brunellos, but during their maturation journey, Alessandro will make the decision to ‘declassify’ several bottis, resulting in a small release of Rosso di Montalcino. Prior to fermentation, the grapes spend around 2 days in steel with regular stirring followed by a slow fermentation and maceration for 3 weeks. The fruit is moved into large Slavonian and French Botti for 24 months then racked off and left to settle in steel for a brief period before bottling and release into the market.
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2000 Tokaji Aszu Eszencia ‘Imperium’, Chateau Dereszla, 375ml
£11800Add to BasketChâteau Dereszla is world-renowned for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as “noble rot”. The wine is made from hand-picked grapes from Chateau Dereszla’s finest plots and made into a paste, which is then added to a base wine for fermentation for 14 days. The wine is then aged in French oak for more than 2 years prior to bottling. The elegant label replicates a design created by Carl Faberge for Dereszla’s centenary in 1907.
This is a sensational Tokaji Aszu Eszencia from Dereszla. Only produced in the very finest years, (made twice by Dereszla in the last 22 years), and now a defunct classification, this is a very rare slice of history in a bottle. Incredibly sweet yet with perfectly poised acidity, the wine has a complex apricot and Seville orange marmalade fruit character mingled with spice and gingerbread notes. With an impressive 252 grams per litre of sugar, it is no wonder the wine is syrupy and very rich, but the constant freshness provided by the acidity keeps the wine balanced and makes it a wonderful match to dark chocolate desserts, good quality cheeseboards and rich pates.
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2010 Reva Syrah, Alban Vineyards
£12000Add to BasketEstablished in 1989, Alban Vineyards represents California’s first winery and vineyard dedicated exclusively to the varietals of the Rhône. Pioneered by John Alban at a time when anything that was neither Cabernet nor Chardonnay was barely grown in California, Alban was a groundbreaking project and has gone on to be regarded as one of the U.S.A’s best and most influential producers.
It is the Syrah releases from Alban which, justifiably, receive the most attention. Reva Syrah is Alban’s much-coveted, hard to come by top release; a 100% single vineyard Syrah which is aged in oak for 42 months before release.
“The 2010 Syrah Reva is magnificent. Blue and blackish tone fruits, smoke, tar, liquorice, cloves and menthol all flesh out in a supple, exotic wine endowed with superb depth and polish. An explosive finish rounds things out beautifully in this impeccable, opulent Syrah. The 2010 spent 44 months in oak, 70% new, all of which it has handled with grace. Of the three 2010 Syrahs, this is the wine I would personally reach for more often, as it is truly stellar.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous: 95-97pts.
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2011 Reva Syrah, Alban Vineyards
£12000Add to BasketJohn Alban is more than a wine producer: Robert Parker has described him as the “spiritual and qualitative leader of the Rhône Ranger movement”: his impact on wine production in California is not to be understated. Established in 1989, Alban Vineyards represents California’s first winery and vineyard dedicated exclusively to the varietals of the Rhône at a time when anything that was neither Cabernet nor Chardonnay was barely grown in California, Alban was a groundbreaking project and has gone on to be regarded as one of the U.S.A’s best and most influential producers.
It is the Syrah releases from Alban which, justifiably, receive the most attention. Reva Syrah is Alban’s much-coveted, hard to come by top release; a 100% single vineyard Syrah which is aged in oak for 42 months before release.
This 2011 is a superb offering from the Reva Vineyard boasting gorgeous aromas of blackberry liqueur, creosote, graphite, and a hint of smoky oak. It is an intense, dense, stunning effort with huge tannin, beautiful freshness and a blockbuster finish.
Incredibly decadent Syrah
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2009 Reva Syrah, Alban Vineyards
£12000Add to BasketEstablished in 1989, Alban Vineyards represents California’s first winery and vineyard dedicated exclusively to the varietals of the Rhône. Pioneered by John Alban at a time when anything that was neither Cabernet nor Chardonnay was barely grown in California, Alban was a groundbreaking project and has gone on to be regarded as one of the U.S.A’s best and most influential producers.
It is the Syrah releases from Alban which, justifiably, receive the most attention. Reva Syrah is Alban’s much-coveted, hard to come by top release; a 100% single vineyard Syrah which is aged in oak for 42 months before release. Upfront and highly varietal on the nose, this cult wine exudes aromas of cassis, wild herbs, violet, earth and smoke. The palate is incredibly full-bodied and decadent with immense depth and wonderful freshness. Flavours of dark fruit, coffee, toasty oak and perfumed spice build on an intense mid-palate before continuing on a long, momentous finish. We believe that this is California’s greatest example of this grape variety and will age gracefully over the next 20 years and beyond.
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2002 Shiraz, Standish
£12000Add to BasketThe 2002 Shiraz from Standish Vineyard is a remarkable wine with a rich history and a complex profile. The grapes were sourced from 89-year-old vines, which is quite significant as older vines tend to produce fruit with more concentrated flavours. This Shiraz spent 30 months aging in French barriques (barrels), specifically ones that were 3-5 years old. This aging process contributes to the complexity and depth of the wine’s flavour. It has a very deep garnet colour, indicating its maturity and concentration. The wine offers intense aromas of dried plum and warm blackberries, layered with notes of dusty earth, menthol, coffee, tree bark, black truffle, tobacco, and liquorice. This combination of aromas suggests a rich and savoury character with a balance of fruit and earthy elements. The 2002 Standish Shiraz is highly regarded and reflects the quality of the Barossa Valley region in South Australia, known for producing some of the world’s finest Shiraz wines.
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2008 Moon Select Chardonnay, Flowers
£12500Add to BasketFlowers are pioneers of the Sonoma Coast region and make extraordinary Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Perched on top of soaring coastal ridges that border the Pacific Ocean, Flowers’ estate vineyards were some of the first planted on the “extreme” Sonoma Coast in 1991. Flowers’ vineyards rise up just two miles from the rugged Pacific Ocean cliffs at elevations of 1,150 to 1,875 feet. The maritime breezes and coastal fog cool the vineyards during the heat of summer allowing fruit to fully mature with fresh, complex flavours and lively acidity resulting in wines with a distinct coastal minerality and bright natural acidity.
Moon Select is the ultimate expression of the vintage and showcases the best barrels from the Camp Meeting Ridge vineyard. Only 280 cases produced were produced of the 2008 vintage. The 2008 is now mature and developed. On the nose, it has aromas of butter, lemongrass and ripe apricots. Caramel and brioche are abundant on the palate – that coastal acidity is still present as is the precise structure. Very rich and textural. The finish is savoury and long. It’s a stunning glass of wine.
Grapes were harvested in the early morning hours to ensure the fruit arrived at the winery at cool temperatures. The grapes were pressed as whole clusters and the juice allowed to settle for 24 hours before a gentle gravity transfer to French Oak barrels. After 100% native yeast fermentation, the wine continued to mature in-barrels: 100% French oak, 35% new for 14 months to allow the true expression of the vintage and varietal to stand out.
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2015 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge, Georges Vernay
£12500Add to BasketThis 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.
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2015 Valpolicella Superiore, Romano dal Forno
£12500Add to BasketLegendary Romano Dal Forno has made wine at his family estate since 1983. His Amarone is the pinnacle of his production, but he uses the same care and attention to his Valpolicella, which is superior to many other producers’ Amarone. A traditional Corvina-based blend, fermented in steel before 24 months in oak barrique.
It is an Amarone in all but name, made entirely from appassimento berries – grapes dried for 20-25 days. The 2015 vintage was exceptional for Valpolicella, as in much of Northern Italy, bringing incredible levels of concentration to the wine. The wine has a deep crimson, rim-staining colour. The nose is rich, full of high-toned aromatics, neroli floral scents, dried cherry, raisins and sweeter vanilla tones. The palate is impressively structured, the oak tannins melding with the rich red cherry fruit, bringing great depth to the palate. There is a great balance of flavours beyond the sweet, dried fruit, with savoury fresh tobacco and sweeter almond pastry notes. Despite the immense concentration, there is plenty of acidity keeping the palate vibrant. With such richness and structure, this will give a good 10-15 years’ drinking pleasure.
