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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 91–105 of 166 results

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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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  • 2011 Piccadilly Chardonnay, Grosset Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2011 Piccadilly Chardonnay, Grosset

    £4850

    Since the first release of Grosset Piccadilly in 1993, these wines have made a powerful statement about the potential of the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, a sub-region so cool that it is often considered marginal for table wine. ‘It’s a sub-region that takes time to understand’, says Grosset, ‘and the wines can be exquisite’.

    There’s a delicacy about the 2011 Grosset Piccadilly Chardonnay that is rare with Australian chardonnay: it is delightfully fragrant with white flowers and fresh herbs. The palate is fresh, vibrant and tangy with intense white peach and nectarine flavours that show depth and purity. There’s succulence, a taut structure, and bright zesty acidity to finish. Although restrained, the wine builds in the glass.

    Only 600 dozen produced

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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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  • 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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  • 2020 Guidalberto, Tenuta San GuidoRed 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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  • 2009 Piccadilly Chardonnay, Grosset Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2009 Piccadilly Chardonnay, Grosset

    £5500

    Since the first release of Grosset Piccadilly in 1993, these wines have made a powerful statement about the potential of the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, a sub-region so cool that it is often considered marginal for table wine. ‘It’s a sub-region that takes time to understand’, says Grosset, ‘and the wines can be exquisite’.

    Followers of the Grosset Chardonnay will notice a consistency of style especially between the most recent three vintages of the wine. Jeff sees these as a return to the clearly defined style that he made in the 1990s: finer, lean, tighter and slightly lower in alcohol. Often shy and restrained on release and needing patience and time to reveal themselves, the Piccadilly Chardonnays come into their own by being more age-worthy than most of their peers.

    The 2009 Grosset Chardonnay is exuberant with tangy white peach and nectarine flavours, vibrant, juicy fleshy texture and zingy acidity that cleanses. There’s impressive integration of oak and fruit at a young age, the richness and concentration you’d expect, plenty of weight and a lively raciness that binds it all together.

    The Grosset Piccadilly Chardonnay is handpicked, barrel fermented in French barriques and then left to mature in those barrels for nearly twelve months, followed by a further twelve months in bottle before release.   After 11 years in bottle this wine is singing from the rooftops and just shows the magnificence of the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills.

    Only 590 cases produced.

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  • 2014 Blanc de Blanc, Nyetimber Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine, English & Welsh Sparkling Wine

    2014 Blanc de Blanc, Nyetimber

    £5500

    This Blanc de Blancs is from the amazing 2014 vintage and shows the classic signature of delicate floral and citrus aromas followed by subtle vanilla and toast flavours, but now with a pure crystalline core thanks to the inclusion of incredible parcels of Chardonnay from Nyetimbers Hampshire vineyards. A long, complex finish.

    This is meticulously made, with the best performing parcels of Chardonnay hand-picked and fermented separately for optimal blending. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation for a richer, fuller style.  It is also aged for a longer time on the lees to develop classic brioche and vanilla aromas that are so apparent.

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  • 2005 Shiraz ‘Savitar’, MitoloRed Wine

    2005 Shiraz ‘Savitar’, Mitolo

    £5500

    Savitar, the flagship Mitolo Shiraz, is a tightly structured wine produced in very limited quantities. Powerful yet elegant Savitar is opulent, brooding and intense.

    The wine name ‘Savitar’ refers to a mythical dragon-like monster.  The fruit for Mitolo Savitar Shiraz comes from the Lopresti vineyards Chinese Block, which is located in the Willunga district at the southern end of McLaren Vale. Savitar Shiraz is sourced from a particularly unforgiving, skeletal soil patch in the North-Eastern corner of the block, where the vines are pushed hard to create very low yields of outstanding depth of flavour and quality.

    In the glass this outstanding Shiraz has a rockstar level aromas with a mocha top note followed by liquorice, spice and vanilla finishing with a blackberry end note. Mouthfilling palate, great concentration of flavours – strong black pepper and spice palate flavours, with white pepper rolling out on the back palate. Fine grained perfectly balanced tannins. Very long aftertaste of liquorice, blackberry and vanilla.

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  • 2013 Blanc de Blanc, Nyetimber Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine, English & Welsh Sparkling Wine

    2013 Blanc de Blanc, Nyetimber

    £5500

    This Blanc de Blancs is from the amazing 2014 vintage and shows the classic signature of delicate floral and citrus aromas followed by subtle vanilla and toast flavours, but now with a pure crystalline core thanks to the inclusion of incredible parcels of Chardonnay from Nyetimbers Hampshire vineyards. A long, complex finish.

    This is meticulously made, with the best performing parcels of Chardonnay hand-picked and fermented separately for optimal blending. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation for a richer, fuller style.  It is also aged for a longer time on the lees to develop classic brioche and vanilla aromas that are so apparent.

    Purchase & earn 55 points!Add to Basket
  • 2018 Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockford Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockford

    £6200

    The nose on this elegant cabernet is generous, rich and ripe with plenty of classic blackcurrant fruit with cocoa and tobacco notes. The palate is fresh and herbal with thyme notes that lift the concentrated black fruit. Smooth, silky tannins and a wonderful freshness on the finish.

    Rifle Range Road which runs parallel to Krondorf Road, is in the heart of the Valley Floor and winds its way up the hills to Kaiser Stuhl National Park. The old rifle range is long gone, but the farming land and vineyards that have long been part of the landscape are still there.  “Because most of our Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vineyards adjacent to Rifle Range Road, it seemed the most appropriate name for this wine which has been part of Rockford since the very beginning.”

    2018 was the kind of vintage winemakers look forward to. They were able to pick some parcels early and some later across a three-week period, ensuring a complex, naturally balanced wine that will reward cellaring for a further 6-8 years and we suspect much longer for those able to resist!

    Purchase & earn 62 points!Add to Basket
  • La Rioja Alta Discovery Gift Box Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    La Rioja Alta Discovery Gift Box

    £6495

    A beautifully packaged wooden gift box containing 3 award-winning wines from the iconic La Rioja Alta.

    An ideal Christmas present for those discovering the wonders of Spain.

    Lagar de Cervera Pazo de Seoane 2021 – 90 points, James Suckling

    Finca San Martin Rioja Crianza 2018 – 91 points, James Suckling

    Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva 201892 points, Tim Atkin MW

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