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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 121–135 of 143 results

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  • 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella, Roccolo Grassi Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2016 Amarone della Valpolicella, Roccolo Grassi

    £8500

    A rich and opulent wine, showing intense aromas of ripe dark berried fruits with a hint of bitter almond. Beautifully concentrated deep fruits are layered with nuances of elegant oak and savoury notes, through to a smooth palate, with supple tannins and a fine, lingering finish.

    Roccolo Grassi’s Amarone della Valpolicella is produced from a four-hectare, southeast facing vineyard in the heart of the DOCG, from vines with an average age of 40 years. The vines are grown at 200 to 250 metres above sea level in volcanic-basaltic soils. The vines are trained on a pergola system, at a density of 3,000 vines per hectare and yield 1.5 to 2.0 kilograms per vine. The grapes are manually harvested at the end of September into trays to preserve the quality of the fruit.

    Purchase & earn 85 points!Add to Basket
  • Sparkling Black Shiraz, Rockford Wine Republic Heros Sparkling Red

    Sparkling Black Shiraz, Rockford

    £8500

    We are delighted to have secured a small parcel of these truly iconic wines.

    This Sparkling Shiraz is widely considered to be the benchmark of Australian Sparkling Shiraz.  This traditional method of bubbly has spent 9 months ageing on its lees.

    It is a wonderfully elegant sparkling red wine packed with juicy blackberry and black plum fruit, refreshing acidity and a tiny touch of balancing sweetness.  The delicate, soft tannins add structure whilst the finish is lifted by the smooth, lively mousse.

    *2023 Disgorgement*

    Purchase & earn 85 points!Add to Basket
  • 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena

    £8650

    This is an incredible vintage of Chateau Montelena’s flagship Chardonnay.

    In the glass it has a bright gold in colour and is incredibly aromatic, the ripeness of the vintage is most pronounced initially; melon, perfume, and orange blossom slowly give way to fresh peach, honeysuckle and apricot. There is very little overt oak influence on the nose, although it comes across subtly in the background as pie crust and toast.

    On the palate, it’s the suppleness and silky mouthfeel that strike first, although there’s abundant mango and citrus with Meyer lemon here as well. The minerality is chalky and distinct, a beautiful contrast that layers in with the acid adding both complexity and depth.

    The finish is exceptional: There’s slightly more wood on the transition to the finish, surfacing as baking spice and crème brûlée. However, they’re handily overwhelmed by notes of Asian pear, mango and pineapple— absolutely delicious. In time, expect hazelnuts and almonds to appear.

    Purchase & earn 87 points!Add to Basket
  • 2013 Tillington Single Vineyard, Nyetimber Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine, English & Welsh Sparkling Wine

    2013 Tillington Single Vineyard, Nyetimber

    £9500

    Pale gold with fine bubbles, the nose is full of wild strawberries and raspberries, reminiscent of British summer fruits. On the palate, this delicate fruit is accompanied by complex flavours of toasted almonds, pastry and praline. The wine balances elegance and richness in perfect harmony, with refreshing acidity and a textured, decadent finish.

    The Tillington vineyard is located in the middle of the South Downs National Park, on the narrow greensand strip formed during the Cretaceous Period. The geology is of prime importance here since it has determined the characteristics of the shallow soil above – excellent underlying drainage, low natural fertility – and influences the development of the vine roots. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines grow on a south-facing slope, ranging between a 5% and 10% incline to capture the sunlight. Every operation from pruning to picking is carefully performed so that the grapes reveal the site’s uniqueness. Winemaker Cherie Spriggs describes this plot as “something really magical.”

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  • 2014 Chardonnay ‘Durell Vineyard’, TOR Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2014 Chardonnay ‘Durell Vineyard’, TOR

    £9500

    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.

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  • 2014 Dolce, Far Niente Wine Republic Heros Dessert Wine, Port & Dessert Wine

    2014 Dolce, Far Niente

    £9750

    Dolce 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.

    Purchase & earn 98 points!Add to Basket
  • 2014 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge,  Georges Vernay Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2014 Côte-Rôtie, Maison Rouge, Georges Vernay

    £11000

    Although 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 Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Il Marroneto

    £11200

    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.

    Purchase & earn 112 points!Add to Basket
  • 2009 Reva Syrah, Alban Vineyards Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2009 Reva Syrah, Alban Vineyards

    £12000

    Established 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.

    Purchase & earn 120 points!Add to Basket
  • 2000 Tokaji Aszu Eszencia ‘Imperium’, Chateau Dereszla, 375ml Wine Republic Heros Dessert Wine, Port & Dessert Wine

    2000 Tokaji Aszu Eszencia ‘Imperium’, Chateau Dereszla, 375ml

    £12000

    Château 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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  • 2015 Valpolicella Superiore, Romano dal Forno Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2015 Valpolicella Superiore, Romano dal Forno

    £12500

    Legendary 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.

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  • 2020 Blanc Etc, Domaine Didier Dagueneau Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 Blanc Etc, Domaine Didier Dagueneau

    £12700

    Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre are the global benchmarks for Sauvignon Blanc, and there is no bigger name or more highly regarded producer in the area than Domaine Didier Dagueneau. Now under the guidance of Didier’s talented son Louis-Benjamin, the wines still follow his ethos that authentic Pouilly Fumé requires healthy fruit from low yielding, old vines to produce the purest, and most intense and vibrantly fresh wine. That’s not to say these wines are typical of the appellation. Given the severely low yields and approach to élevage, Dagueneau wines emphasise a creamy texture rather than bracing acidity, and combine mineral flavours with exotic fruits to supreme effect.

    Previously labelled as Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, now reborn as Blanc Etc… and looking better than ever. Generally speaking this is the most approachable wine in the range, and since Louis-Benjamin came aboard the wine is now far closer in quality and class to the other releases. While each of the other wine focus on a single soil type or terroir, Blanc etc… blends some young vine parcels on their Saint-Andelain hill with two parcels planted on flinty clay and limestone white clay soils nearby. It was fermented in a mix of new and three-four year old barrels and then matured in both wood and tank.

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  • 2001 Riesling Auslese, Ürziger Würzgarten Goldkapsel, Dr. Loosen Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2001 Riesling Auslese, Ürziger Würzgarten Goldkapsel, Dr. Loosen

    £14500

    The Ürziger Würzgarten vineyard is blazing red and insanely steep, it fills a picturesque amphitheatre formed by a dramatic bend in the Mosel river. Although it is directly adjacent to the vineyards of Erden, this site produces a completely different kind of wine, with exotic, spicy aromas and a mesmerizing earthiness. No other vineyard on the Mosel produces wines so bursting with tropical fruit flavours. Many of the Dr Loosens estate’s oldest vines are found here.

    This Auslese is which means selected out of the harvest is a luscious, medium-sweet wine made from clusters of very ripe grapes that have been partially affected by botrytis.   This classic example is now 20 years old and in majestic condition.  Stored since purchase many moons ago in our cellar and last sampled in 2019 with its sister the 2001 Riesling Auslese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr – both were extraordinary.

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  • 2020 Pouilly Fume Pur Sang, Domaine Didier Dagueneau Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 Pouilly Fume Pur Sang, Domaine Didier Dagueneau

    £14900

    Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre are the global benchmarks for Sauvignon Blanc, and there is no bigger name or more highly regarded producer in the area than Domaine Didier Dagueneau. Now under the guidance of Didier’s talented son Louis-Benjamin, the wines still follow his ethos that authentic Pouilly Fumé requires healthy fruit from low yielding, old vines to produce the purest, and most intense and vibrantly fresh wine. That’s not to say these wines are typical of the appellation. Given the severely low yields and approach to élevage, Dagueneau wines emphasise a creamy texture rather than bracing acidity, and combine mineral flavours with exotic fruits to supreme effect.

    Pur Sang is a superstar in the Dagueneau cellar, and is widely considered one of the great white wines of the world.

    Pur Sang translates as thoroughbred, this wine coming from a densely planted, 30-year-old vineyard called La Folie, five kilometres north of Saint-Andélain. Hidden between two parcels of woodland, the vineyard – whose name literally translates as `madness` – is named for the local farmers who thought Didier Dagueneau was crazy when he purchased the land, which was not a vineyard and was full of huge boulders. It was not even registered as part of the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. But Didier had done his homework, as not only was La Folie an historical Pouilly vineyard, but its vein of pure flint, as well as its gently sloping, south/south-east exposure, made it potentially one of Pouilly’s finest. Very pale colour, aromas recall grilled pink grapefruit with a hint of white peach – beautifully expressive. Palate is full, having a rich, floral, complex, aromatic core, creamy texture, and a satisfyingly long finish.

    Purchase & earn 149 points!Add to Basket
  • Champagne Collet Cuvee No. 21 Wine Republic Heros Champagne & Sparkling Wine

    Champagne Collet Cuvee No. 21

    £14950

    Champagne Collet, established in 1921 as part of the oldest Champagne cooperative in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, is proud to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. To celebrate its centenary, Champagne Collet has made a commemorative bottling called “Cuvée n°21”. It is a blend of 21 of the Champagne House’s best years dating back to 1961. Aged for 7 years in Collet’s century-old chalk cellars, this wine is exclusively sourced from the Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages of Cramant, Ambonnay, Mailly, Avize, Hautvillers, Villers Marmery, Vertus, Verzenay and Chouilly. This one-of-a-kind Champagne was made in very limited quantity and will never be seen again.

    Disgorged and blended in 2021 this rare Champagne is comprised of the 21 best vintage which includes: 1961, 1969 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, & 2012.

    Refined bouquet of fresh honeysuckle, buttered toast and almonds. Incredible aged characteristics in this blend. Tiny, delicate bubbles with rich and decadent flavours of caramel, roasted nuts, nectarine and candied ginger. A very long, elegant and silky Champagne.

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