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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

Showing 76–90 of 132 results

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  • 2018 Chardonnay ‘G.P.S Series’, Kershaw Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2018 Chardonnay ‘G.P.S Series’, Kershaw

    £4750

    Restraint, minerality, freshness of fruit and a chiselled edge reflect limestone’s soil properties. This 2018 reveals clean, bright aromas of lemon blossom, wet chalk and powdered stones. Penetrating intensity, animated acidity with a rich mid-palate weight; this wine has purity of fruit – orange peel, yellow cling peaches and grapefruit peel – with complexing oatmeal and lemon cream biscuits to crème fraiche textures and a long finish.   Only 2128 bottles were produced.

    The G.P.S. (Grape Positioning System) series is made from exciting small parcels of fruit selected from carefully chosen vineyards outside the Elgin Valley. The Chardonnay grapes come from a small parcel of vines which are grown as a single vineyard block in Lower Duivenhoks River district, in the Western Cape. The pure limestone soil is something of a rarity in the Western Cape; it is a soil in which Chardonnay flourishes and produces elegant, fresh wines. The Dijon clone CY95 vines thrive in this warm Mediterranean climate, which is tempered by the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby Duivenhoks River. The wide diurnal temperature ranges create a long hang time during which the grape cluster stays connected to its roots for longer, developing complex characteristics and achieving physiological ripeness more gradually, balanced by natural acidity.

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  • 2017 Syrah ‘Clonal Selection’, Kershaw Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2017 Syrah ‘Clonal Selection’, Kershaw

    £4750

    A subtle, precise style of Syrah built on fine tannins that educe harmony and freshness with flavours of black fruits, iodine and ground white peppercorns.  Only 9253 bottles and 33 Magnums.

    The grapes come from five small vineyard parcels in several locations in the Elgin Valley. Elgin is the coolest wine region in South Africa and is situated on an inland, hexagonal shaped plateau, at an altitude of 300 metres. The region is surrounded by mountains and lies just over six miles from the Atlantic Ocean, which brings occasional sea-borne mists. February is the hottest month of the year, with daytime temperatures peaking at 23°C and night-time temperatures dipping to 14°C. The benefit of this cooler climate is that the grape cluster stays connected to its roots for longer, so it develops complex characteristics and achieves physiological ripeness more gradually, resulting in lower sugar levels and consequently lower alcohol levels.

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  • 2017 Syrah ‘G.P.S Series’, Kershaw Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2017 Syrah ‘G.P.S Series’, Kershaw

    £4750

    An outstanding Syrah and easily one of South Africas best examples.

    It is restrained, yet with intent and subtle power, wines from this vineyard are characterised by piercing black pepper flavours and powdery tannins complete with rich textures and a prodigious breadth of black-orientated fruit.  The 2017 shows a mid-ruby colour, a nose heady with aromas of black pepper, cinnamon stick, star anise and black cherry panna cotta.  Succulent in texture, this medium-bodied Syrah is voluminous with a core of juicy Morello cherries, liquorice and molasses complexed with gorse bush, baked plums, bay leaf and angostura bitters underpinned with fine grippy tannins and a long lush finish.  Only 1765 bottles were produced.

    The G.P.S. (Grape Positioning System) series is made from exciting small parcels of fruit selected from carefully chosen vineyards outside the Elgin Valley. The grapes for this wine come from the Klein River ward, which is one of the smallest wine wards in South Africa. Almost 20 years ago, the first Syrah vines were planted in an area that has traditionally been used for sheep and wheat farming. Three hectares were set aside for Syrah, on shale-derived Glenrosa soil. These soils are normally the hallmark of warmer areas, but these vines nestle against the Klein River Mountain range, which combined with the nearby Akkedis Valley, provide a portal through which the cool sea breezes from the Walker Bay penetrate, creating a mild meso-climate in summer.

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  • 2018 Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Talbott Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Talbott

    £4800

    Talbott Vineyards is defined by its iconic Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, where the conditions are ideal for exceptional, cool-climate Pinot Noir. Located in the northern area of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County, it has been designated one of California’s Grand Cru vineyards by Wine Enthusiast in 2016, for its ability to produce exceptional wines year after year. The vines were first planted in 1972 at an elevation of 168 metres and cover 228 hectares. Due to the proximity of the Pacific Ocean and the east-to-northeasterly exposure, cooling fog and frequent ocean breezes temper the warm sunshine, giving Sleepy Hollow one of the longest growing seasons in California and allowing each grape to develop concentrated flavours.

    This Pinot Noir offers a distinct earthiness, minerality with hints of nutmeg and clove mingling with notes of ripe black cherry, raspberry and vanilla bean to deliver a rich, mouth-filling texture through to a complex finish.

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  • Sotto di Ferro, Charles Melton Wine Republic Heros Dessert Wine, Port & Dessert Wine

    Sotto di Ferro, Charles Melton

    £4900

    Charles Melton is the only Australian producer of a vin-santo styled dessert wine, he calls it, Sotto di Ferro.   Made from Pedro Ximenez and Muscadelle grapes that are hung and dried in bunches under the rafter of old iron sheds on the Melton property.   From the trickle of juice gathered from the shrivelled grapes comes this wine showing rich, luscious dried apricot and nut characters.  This is not a wine to rush.   Take your time and allow it to impress you with its sweet complexity that develops in the glass.

    For those interested in the winemaking process this from the winery:  Pedro Ximenez and Muscadelle bunches are carefully hand-picked and placed in small crates before being taken to our ‘hanging shed’. There, an experienced team tie six to eight bunches of grapes onto strings which are then suspended from the rafters for up to eight weeks.  The grapes dehydrate naturally as they are exposed to air, and when the team at Charles Melton Wines deems the grapes to be concentrated enough, the bunches will be pressed in a basket press. The juice is then yeasted and fermented in small 60-litre old oak casks known as ‘Caratelli’ for 18 months. After fermentation completes, the wine will remain in barrel for a further four years before it is bottled.

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  • Brut Réserve Champagne, Charles Heidsieck Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine

    Brut Réserve Champagne, Charles Heidsieck

    £4900

    This is an extraordinary Champagne and in recent years the best non-vintage Champagne in the world.   This statement is backed up by dozens of gold medals, trophies and winemaker of the year awards it wins EVERY year around the world. In short this is what Champagne is meant to be – extraordinary.

    In the glass it has a radiant pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is characterised by complex pastry aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe apricot, mango and greengages, dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The palate begins with a silky-smooth sensation, developing into ripe fleshy apricot, melon and enticing plum pastry notes and delicate spice. There is a perfect balance of freshness and generosity.

    Charles Heidsieck has built exceptional relationships with the best growers across Champagne. Precise selection of grapes takes place from 60 specific sites. Vineyards which are integral to producing grapes that sustain the house style are Oger for Chardonnay for its texture, floral notes and ageing ability, Ambonnay for Pinot Noir for its power, vinosity and fruit, and Verneuil for Pinot Meunier for its acidity, body and aromatics.

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  • 2021 Rosso di Montalcino ‘Ignaccio’, Il Marroneto Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2021 Rosso di Montalcino ‘Ignaccio’, Il Marroneto

    £4950

    Il 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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  • 2011 Pinot Noir ‘Museum Release’, Dog Point Vineyard Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2011 Pinot Noir ‘Museum Release’, Dog Point Vineyard

    £4950

    Dog Point has since their first vintage in 2002, set aside a limited quantity of each vintage for later release, with this 2011 being the latest release from their museum.

    In its prime now this wonderful Marlborough Pinot Noir is a deep ruby in the glass, with aromas of spice and ripe red fruits imbued with hints of leather and mushroom, together with subtle spicy oak savouriness. On the palate, deliciously flavoured with intense red fruits, subtle sweetness and excellent balance. Well-integrated oak leads to a delicate lingering soft, supple finish.

    Dog Point Pinot is similar in production to some of the great houses of Burgundy and is made using 75% destemmed grapes and 25% whole bunches, which spends a total of 18 months in oak (30% new).

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  • Champagne Rosé 1er Cru, Champagne Gaston Chiquet Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine

    Champagne Rosé 1er Cru, Champagne Gaston Chiquet

    £4995

    Champagne Gaston Chiquet is one of finest grower estates in the Grand Vallée de la Marne.  Chiquet’s wines combine a generous depth of fruit with a pronounced character of place — if you want to know what the wines of the Grande Vallée should feel like, these are an excellent introduction.

    With a luminous pink-orange hue, the Gaston Chiquet Rosé 1er Cru is an elegant Champagne produced from a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir. Gaston Chiquet has been run by eight generations of the Chiquet family. Currently, the two brothers Antoine and Nicolas assure continuity while respecting their ancestral roots.

    In the glass it has aromas of fresh peach, red berries, mint, green apples, rhubarb and pastry cream. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, crisp and fleshy, with a charming core of fruit, racy acids and a lingering, flavourful finish.

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  • 2008 The Florita Riesling, Jim Barry Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2008 The Florita Riesling, Jim Barry

    £5000

    This legendary dry Riesling from Jim Barry has matured under optimum conditions and displays the complexities that fine Australian Riesling develops over time.

    The Florita Story

    This story is best told by famous Australian wine writer, Huon Hooke and head of the Barry Family, Peter Barry who below tell the wonderful story of Florita…..

    It starts in 1946, just after the war, when Leo Buring bought land at Watervale and planted Pedro ximénez for sherry – the preferred wine of Australians at the time. He named the vineyard Florita, which is Spanish for ‘little flower’ – a reference to the sherry flor (or flower), the film of yeast that covers the dry flor sherry as it matures in its ullaged casks.  Public tastes shifted, table wine became fashionable, and in 1962 Buring’s winemaker John Vickery began to remove Pedro and plant riesling. “He started to make riesling (wine), which began to be seen as the future of Australian white wine,” says Barry. Indeed, Vickery and the Leo Buring brand became almost synonymous with riesling.   “In 1986 Philip Morris (the tobacco company which owned the Leo Buring brand at the time) had six years supply of riesling in its cellars, and no-one was drinking it – chardonnay was the new fashion. They decided to sell the Florita vineyard.

    My brothers and I went to the auction. I was 24.  Mum said ‘You’re not allowed to buy it’. She said we already had plenty of vineyards. We told Dad he’d better buy it, and that would let us off the hook.
    Southcorp (the precursor of Treasury Wine Group) owned the Florita trademark at the time, and although the Barrys began using the grapes immediately, they couldn’t use the name.
    “I had to wait eight years until the registration period was up, but then Southcorp renewed it for another 10 years, so I had to wait 18 years all told, and I registered the name Florita two days after it lapsed.

    Eighteen years is a long time to wait for a drink.”

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  • 2020 Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido Red Wine

    2020 Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido

    £5000

    Sassicaia’s younger brother Guidalberto consistently offers incredible value from the Tenuta San Guido stable.   Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta, Tenuta San Guido’s owner, explains how Guidalberto came into being: “first of all, [there was] the desire to see what we could accomplish with Merlot, a grape that we had never used before; second, the desire to offer the consumer a wine which could be appreciated at a younger age compared to our veteran Sassicaia”.

    The 2020 Guidalberto has an increased percentage of Merlot (60%) that brings added freshness to a wine that is in great shape for one so young. This the 21st vintage of Guidalberto has a profound nose that offers ripe, fragrant fruit and sweet spice. Plum, strawberry, blackcurrant and forest floor reveal the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which constitute equal parts of the blend this year. The palate is juicy and supple, with admirable freshness given the warm vintage, framed by fine tannins. Drink 2022-2030.

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  • 2018 Pinot Noir ‘Clonal Selection’, Kershaw Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 Pinot Noir ‘Clonal Selection’, Kershaw

    £5200

    A world-class Pinot Noir from Richard Kershaw M.W and easily one of South Africa’s best.  This Pinot Noir is characterised by its captivating floral attributes underscored by purity, focus and freshness framed by fine powder tannins yet cushioned by a succulent texture and flavours of black cherry, pomegranate, rose petal and raspberry. Only 8056 bottles & 33 Magnums produced.

    The grapes come from 11 tiny vineyard parcels in several locations in the Elgin Valley. Elgin is the coolest wine region in South Africa and is situated on an inland, hexagonal-shaped plateau, at an altitude of 300 metres. The region is surrounded by mountains and lies just over six miles from the Atlantic Ocean, which brings occasional sea-borne mists. February is the hottest month of the year, with daytime temperatures peaking at 23°C and night-time temperatures dipping to 14°C. The benefit of this cooler climate is that the grape cluster stays connected to its roots for longer, so it develops complex characteristics and achieves physiological ripeness more gradually, resulting in lower sugar levels and consequently lower alcohol levels.

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  • 2018 Rod and Spur Shiraz-Cabernet, Rockford Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 Rod and Spur Shiraz-Cabernet, Rockford

    £5200

    This incredible blend of Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon is a uniquely Australian blend that pays homage to the great Aussie wines of yesteryear.    With plenty of sweet spice and brambly black fruit comes a concentrated blackcurrant and vanilla aroma following on to a rich, full-bodied palate. The flavour is full of crunchy black fruit with soft tannins, refreshing acidity and subtle vanilla sweetness.

    The name Rod & Spur acknowledges the contribution of Rockford’s growers who spend the cold Barossa winters hand-pruning their vines in the traditional rod and spur method. This wine is a return to the great Australian reds of the 1950’s and 60’s, when Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon blends dominated the premium market. This very Australian wine is not common in any other region of the world.

    Like all Rockford reds, the grapes for this wine go through a 1880’s Bagshaw de-stemmer, are open fermented and then gently basket pressed. All components are aged separately in a combination of seasoned American and French oak hogsheads and large oak casks for two years. This allows the tannins to soften and colours and flavours to consolidate, before being bottled under the highest quality cork.

    The 2018 vintage was described by Rockford’s winemaking team as ‘One of those years when things just fell into place. Despite the season being one of the driest in many decades, it lacked any prolonged heat waves or significant rainfall events. The Eden Valley Shiraz components, in particular, were standout in the warm dry conditions. The 2018 wines have striking colours, outstanding structure, richness and mouthfeel.

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  • 2015 ILR Reserve Semillon, Brokenwood Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2015 ILR Reserve Semillon, Brokenwood

    £5495

    This is, without a doubt, one of the best Semillons produced anywhere in the world.  Consistently regarded as the definition of Semillon and it has the ability to age for decades.

    At 6 years of age on release, the colour is just starting to show some development with yellow tints complimenting the green edges. Lifted lemon curd and floral notes heading to beeswax, brioche and toast. Lively lime juice, lime cordial characters are backed by a superb zesty acidity. The magic of Hunter Valley Semillon is on display with texture, fruit weight and great length from a wine that sees no oak. The ILR Reserve Semillon is only released from the best years and 2015 is a beauty. Drinking well now but will improve for many years to come.

    The fruit for the 2015 ILR Reserve is sourced from Murphy’s Vineyard on Wilderness Road, on the banks of Black Creek in Lovedale.

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  • Fleur de Champagne 1er Cru Brut, Champagne Duval-Leroy Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine

    Fleur de Champagne 1er Cru Brut, Champagne Duval-Leroy

    £5995

    This is the definition of an under the radar Champagne. A Champagne house with a storied history, top-quality vineyards and award-winning products, that no one really knows about!

    Refined with graceful effervescence and aromatic complexity of almond, toasted and white floral notes. Precise on the palate with a silky texture and notes of citrus and fig through to a savoury finish.

    In 1911, when the vineyard classification became official, Raymond Duval-Leroy had a desire to pay tribute to his predecessors and create an exceptional wine. He was the first to work on a Champagne which would bring together Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties selected only from villages classified as Grand Cru and Premier Cru within the Grande Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs regions. The first Champagne to be certified Premier Cru, this cuvée is composed of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Nor (30%); the blend has remained unchanged since it was created in 1911.

    During the first tasting sessions back in 1911, Raymond Duval-Leroy distinguished an aroma of white flowers evoking the scent of the ‘wine flower’ in June. This led to the creation of the cuvée named ‘Fleur de Champagne’

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