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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

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  • 2013 Alea Riesling, Grosset Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2013 Alea Riesling, Grosset

    £2950

    The Alea Riesling comes from a narrow corridor of hard red rock with poor, orangey, red loam vineyard reminded Jeff of the great German rieslings that were not fully dry, he decided to take a very different approach to the creation of Alea. With moderate baumes, high acidity and low pH, the aim was to make a wine with a generous palate balanced by zippy natural acidity on the finish.

     The 2013 Grosset Alea Riesling is delightfully floral with white flowers and a whisper of lemon blossom and fresh garden herbs. There are lime juice flavours, a hint of lemon and a beautifully balanced long generous palate that leads to a gentle grip and zingy dry finish. “The Alea has come of age” says Jeff. “This vintage is a fraction drier than previous releases and is wonderfully complex while remaining delicate and perfectly balanced. We put this down to equal measures of vineyard maturity and experience.”

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  • 2021 Chardonnay, Lismore Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Chardonnay, Lismore

    £3200

    Lismore Estate is based in Greyton within the Overberg region of the Western Cape of South Africa.  It’s here with the Sonderend mountains as a backdrop that winemaker & proprietor Samantha O’Keefe makes her fabulous wines.   ‘ I had a farm in Africa….’  The opening line of Karen Blixen’s classic memoir Out Of Africa comes to mind when you hear Samantha’s amazing story.  A native Californian, Berkeley educated, Sam realised her dream and bought a mountain in Africa.

    In December 2019 Samantha’s farm, home, cellar and just-opened wine cellar was all lost in a bush-fire. Samantha has proven herself to be one of the winemaking stars of South Africa and gaining respect from all around the world. The day this tragedy took place Samantha was receiving calls from winemakers all around the Cape, giving her some of their top grapes and asking her to make the wine in their cellars in order for her to continue making wine and not miss a harvest. A remarkable woman making remarkable wines.

    The 2020 Lismore Chardonnay is delicious in the glass.  The nose is a complex, expressive bouquet of citrus and tropical fruits layered with brioche, honey and walnut. The palate is carried through by a distinct minerality and crisp acidity through to a lingering citrus finish.

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  • 2021 Bishop Shiraz, Glaetzer Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2021 Bishop Shiraz, Glaetzer

    £3275

    Bishop is a true expression of Barossa Shiraz that is elegantly structured with a long finish.

    Made from exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. These old vines are between 35-120 years old.

    In the glass there is an explosion of brooding dark tones with bright cassis and coffee bean hints. The palate has a subtle richness with flavours of dark plum and blackberry intermingled with dark chocolate and dried spice. Generous yet restrained tannin provides exceptional palate length and persistence.

    Peak Drinking: Great drinking now but this wine will also benefit from up to 10 – 15 years of careful cellaring.

    Bishop is the family name of Colin’s wife’ Judith. Fittingly the sign of Venus, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the Bishop label.  In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – a nod to Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna.

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  • 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva, La Rioja Alta Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva, La Rioja Alta

    £3350

    La Rioja Alta’s Viña Ardanza Reserva is one of the finest Reserva’s available and a benchmark for the region.  Every vintage is outstanding and never fails to elicit a smile upon drinking.    La Rioja Alta is the gold standard for traditional bodegas: a winery that ages their wines the old-fashioned way, meaning three years in barrel with two rackings a year, followed by three years in bottle.

    Outstanding aromatic intensity on the nose, with spicy and balsamic liquorice, clove, nutmeg and black pepper notes, enveloping a subtle hint of ripe red fruit: brandied cherry and raspberry jam. The palate is well-balanced and fresh, with a broad range of flavours and soft, round tannins, leading to a spicy, balsam-like aftertaste on the finish.

    A Viña Ardanza in its prime and with a long life ahead of it.

    The 2016 vintage comprises 80% Tempranillo from Fuenmayor and Cenicero blended together with 20% Garnacha from the famous ‘La Pedriza’ vineyard in Tudelilla.

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  • 2021 The Florita Riesling, Jim Barry Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 The Florita Riesling, Jim Barry

    £3350

    Jim Barry’s iconic and outstanding single-vineyard Riesling, The Florita, stands tall at the top of the tree for Clare Valley Riesling.

    Located fifteen kilometres south of Clare township in the tiny village of Watervale, Florita – Spanish for ‘little flower’ – comes from a famous Riesling vineyard planted to Palamino in 1946 for making Fino Sherry but was replanted to Riesling in 1962. This was the birthplace of Leo Buring Watervale Riesling and the Florita vineyards, where legendary winemaker John Vickery sourced his grapes for his great Watervale Rieslings of the 1960s and 1970s.

    The 80-acre vineyard was bought by Mark, Peter and John Barry in 1986. First released as the ‘Florita Riesling’ in 2004 by Jim Barry Wines, this micro-batch Riesling is made from grapes hand-selected from individual rows. Its best fruit comes from vines planted in shallow loamy soils and the vineyard has good air-drainage which alleviates the risk of frost. A wine with a reputation second to none for consistency and a true benchmark wine.

    The 2021 is a simply astonishing incarnation that Riesling lovers would be remiss to not have in their cellar. Drink 2027 – 2050 +

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  • 2017 ‘The McRae Wood’ Shiraz, Jim Barry Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2017 ‘The McRae Wood’ Shiraz, Jim Barry

    £3500

    This Shiraz honours the vision of pioneer Clare Valley winemaker Jim Barry. In 1964, Jim purchased 28 hectares of prime land from Duncan McRae Wood and planted his first vineyard with Shiraz. It was an inspired choice of both grape variety and location.

    This wine displays lovely red and purple tones in the glass.  Red and purple fruits carry onto the palate supported by a rich, earthy undertone and fine silky tannins giving the wine terrific structure, great length and persistent flavour.  Rich, vibrant aromas of blackcurrant and briary fruits with hints of vanillin oak and spice.

    Made using the ‘Jim Barry’ method and as such can be enjoyed upon release, but would equally benefit from cellaring to allow the wine to show some mature characteristics that come with age.

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  • 2020 Barbera d’Alba, Bruno Giacosa Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2020 Barbera d’Alba, Bruno Giacosa

    £3500

    Bruno Giacosa is considered to be one of Piedmont’s most highly regarded producers, their wines are some of the most highly sought after in the world.

    Bruno Giacosa’s Dolcetto d’Alba is an immediately appealing wine produced from grapes grown on exceptional hillside vineyards. The bouquet is full of vibrant red cherry and cassis notes and there is lovely depth of pure, ripe fruit on the palate. Dark strawberry and red cherry fruit flavours mingle with wild herbs and juicy, ripe tannins.

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  • 2021 Hunter Valley Shiraz, Brokenwood Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2021 Hunter Valley Shiraz, Brokenwood

    £3500

    Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz is an icon of the region, it typifies the excellence of the Brokenwood winery.    This 2021 is a stunning example of young Hunter Shiraz, fresh, supple with impressive length. Dry herbs and unctous dark fruits are completed by a lovely texture in the mouth.

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  • Champagne Collet Brut NV Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine

    Champagne Collet Brut NV

    £3750

    A bright golden Champagne with a fine stream of bubbles and complex aromas of white flowers, lemon zest, quince and white peach. Delicate hints of spice, anise and herbs are layered with rich notes of puff pastry. A refreshing palate with gentle bubbles, a balanced texture and a wonderful crunch of freshness on the finish.

    A blend of over 100 Crus, this cuvée is a true voyage of the senses across the terroir of Champagne, from the Marne Valley to south of the Aisne. The composition was completed with 35% reserve wines in order to preserve the consistency of the Champagne Collet house style, year after year. This cuvée reached full maturity after a minimum of three years of bottle ageing in the historic, limestone cellars in Ay, which are centuries old.

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  • 2019 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken GG, Selbach-Oster Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2019 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken GG, Selbach-Oster

    £3850

    With a rich history that traces it back to the 17th century, Selbach-Oster is a family-owned wine estate based in the Mosel Valley. They produce a full range of Rieslings, from bone-dry expressions to sweet styles. This release from the 2019 vintage is made with grapes grown in one single vineyard, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr.

    This 2019 opens with a haunting nose of floral notes, herbs, slate spice, minerality and a hint of honey and apricot. On the palate, there is a lot of texture, gripping, feisty extract and enormous density, integrated acidity, mineral and long

    The GG in the title of the wine stands for Großes Gewächs and is a mark of quality.  A wine from one of the best producers and from one of the best vineyard sites making dry wines.

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  • Demi-Sec, Champagne Collet Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine, Dessert Wine, Port & Dessert Wine

    Demi-Sec, Champagne Collet

    £3995

    This delicious sweet style champagne has light aromas of meringue and praline that are swirled in delicate notes of violet and stewed fruits, through to a beautifully balanced palate with sustained freshness and fine, sweet flavours. Notes of candied citrus and candied strawberry are complemented by a warm touch of white pepper in this light Champagne which develops on the palate over time.

    An assemblage of over 100 Crus, this cuvée reveals a broad array of aromas reflecting the diverse terroirs of the Champagne region. The composition is completed with 35% reserve wines in order to preserve the Collet style year after year. The blend comprises 50% Pinot Meunier from the villages of the Marne Valley and the Ardre Valley, which brings tonicity, richness and tension to the wine. The Crus of the Aisne make a tender and round wine and punctuate the assemblage with exotic fruit notes. 30% Chardonnay from the Sézannais region adds enjoyment and harmony and the Crus of southern Epernay contribute tonic citrus notes. 20% Pinot Noir from the Côte des Bar contributes structure and tension.

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  • 2018 Pesquera Reserva, Alejandro Fernandez Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 Pesquera Reserva, Alejandro Fernandez

    £3995

    Pesquera is one of the most foremost and respected wineries in the Ribera del Duero.  Highly sought after and each release is eagerly anticipated by fans around the world.

    This, their superb Reserva made from 100% tempranillo, is aged for 24 months in oak barrels before bottling. It has a whole array of aromas from black cherry and raspberry to vanilla and sweet oak spice. Rich and smooth on the palate it has abundant silky tannins and plenty of ripe fruit that mingle wonderfully with the sweet spice flavours picked up from the time spent in American oak barrels. While full bodied and well structured it also has a good freshness from the well judged acidity.

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  • Offer 2022 Estate Reserve Cuvée Blanc, Lismore Estate Vineyards Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2022 Estate Reserve Cuvée Blanc, Lismore Estate Vineyards

    Original price was: £4995.Current price is: £3995. 20% saving

    Lismore Estate is based in Greyton within the Overberg region of the Western Cape of South Africa.  It’s here with the Sonderend mountains as a backdrop that winemaker & proprietor Samantha O’Keefe makes her fabulous wines.

    This incredible blend of Roussanne, Chardonnay and Viognier has fragrant aromas of yellow plum, spice and orange blossom that lead to a beautifully balanced palate, with crisp acidity, saline mineral notes and a lemongrass embroidered finish.

    The grapes come from the Greyton ward in the Western Cape, which has been designated by SAWIS in recognition of the special terroir of this region. The vineyards are planted on steep slopes in decomposed shale over clay at 300 metres above sea level, in the foothills of the Sonderend Mountain Range. Here the climate plays an important role: the low mean February temperature lends to an extended ripening period that results in a harvest that takes place three to four weeks later than traditional wine growing regions in South Africa. The Cuvée Blanc is a blend of 90% Roussanne, 5% Viognier, 5% Chardonnay; the Roussanne vines were grafted onto the trunks following the estate fire which destroyed vines in 2019. The roots are from 2016 and are planted on the coolest slope on the farm, which makes it the last variety to be picked. The intense citrus notes and the lingering finish are consistent hallmarks of Lismore’s specific terroir.

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  • Offer 2020 Pinot Noir, Sanford Red Wine

    2020 Pinot Noir, Sanford

    Original price was: £5150.Current price is: £4050. 21% saving

    This Pinot Noir is dark ruby in colour and is very spice-driven on the nose with fresh cherry, wild strawberry, spice cake that are complemented by white pepper and rose. The palate delivers spice and savoury, dark fruits, espresso, and leather with balanced acid and suave tannin structure, which carries the lovely finish. The wine was aged in French Oak barrels (25% new oak) for 11 months where it gained complexity and elegance.

    The grapes come exclusively from the two estate vineyards in the cool-climate area of Sta. Rita Hills AVA: the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and the La Rinconada Vineyard. The unusual east-west orientation of the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains allows the cooling maritime breezes from the Pacific Ocean- just seven miles away- to flow over the vineyards, bringing with them cooling morning fog. Afternoon breezes dry out any residual moisture and reduce disease pressure. Temperatures rarely exceed 27°C, which suits the delicate Pinot Noir vines. The vineyard is split into 52 blocks and each block has an individual soil composition. Broadly, the marine-based soil in the ‘Sanford & Benedict Vineyard’ is a mixture of clay, loam, fractured shale and chert (a rocky soil), which forces the vine’s roots to dig deep for nutrients and hydration. The result is naturally low yields of small-berried, concentrated fruit delivering excellent minerality and acidity. The ‘La Rinconada Vineyard’ is made up of sandy, gravelly soil which imparts precise minerality to the wine. There are 33 different Pinot Noir clones planted across the vineyard and 40% of the vines are from the original 1972 ungrafted plantings

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  • 2011 Chardonnay, Dog Point Vineyard Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2011 Chardonnay, Dog Point Vineyard

    £4100

    This 12-year-old Chardonnay was recently released by Dog Point as a part of their museum release program.  It’s simply stunning, liquid gold in a glass.  Aromas of limestone, lemon and white flowers waft from the glass.  The palate is full of flavour, layered and intense.  Spicy with a buttery feel.   The finish is long and intense.  This will continue to age gracefully for another 10 years.  Simply magnificent.

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