Showing 1–15 of 27 results

• White Wine

  2011 Le Cigare Blanc ‘Beeswax Vineyard’, Bonny Doon

  £2995

  Le Cigare Blanc is the white wine of Bonny Doon’s Le Cigare Volant series, which pays homage to the complex Rhones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.   The great white Cigare is not unlike the great white whale; rarely seen, difficult to catch, yet its name is legend. It’s a rich, savory wine with greater power and extraction than one typically finds at Bonny Doon.

  In the glass it is pale gold with green-gold highlights,  a very strong impression of melon, along with Asian pear, pineapple and grapefruit pith, and in the mouth, very rich, sporting a certain modicum of tannin; this bodes exceptionally well for great longevity. The wine’s unique flavours will pair exceptionally well with hard cheeses, seafood (lobster especially), roasted poultry, and savoury vegetarian strudels or gratins. Paired with sushi served with freshly grated wasabi will also be a profound revelation.

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• Red Wine

  2011 Columbia Valley Merlot, Woodward Canyon

  £3650

  Merlot is a noble grape variety and at its best it is a magical glass of fine wine.  Merlot really has found a home in Washington State and none more so than at Woodward Canyon who produce some of the finest examples in the the ‘New’ World.  This 2011 Merlot is produced from grapes grown at several of the finest vineyards in Washington State. These include Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley and Klipsun Vineyard in the Red Mountains.

  Plush and dusty, this splendid Merlot offers unusual depth and texture and has clearly benefited from it’s 9 years of sleeping.   Along with black cherry fruit come highlights of herb and olive, spicy oak and rich earth. The density and detail carry through a long finish.

  Purchase & earn 37 points!Add to Basket
• White Wine

  2019 Linda Vista Chardonnay, Matthiasson

  £3750

  Steve Matthiasson is a bit of a legend in Napa Valley and this wine is made from the Linda Vista Vineyard in the Oak Knoll region of Napa Valley.  Oak Knoll is regarded as one of the classic Chardonnay spots in Napa as the cool winds and clay soils preserve zesty acidity and freshness, while the Napa sun provides richness and ripeness.

  Steve leased the vineyard in 2011 and set about making a classic Napa Chardonnay.  To get complexity, completeness and balance in his Chardonnay, Steve harvests grapes a number of different times during the ripening period to achieve a diversity of ripeness, the earlier harvests contribute acidity and minerality, and the later harvests contribute flesh and richness.

  This 2019 Linda Vista Chardonnay has an exotic nose of Golden Delicious apples, yellow peaches, musk melon and honey that leads through to the palate. The medium acidity is balanced by pleasant fleshiness, finishing very clean with a hint of minerality. Refreshing and with moderate alcohol, this wine is all about pleasure, begging to be drunk up, with some oysters or a roast chicken and a big smile.

   

  Purchase & earn 38 points!Add to Basket
• White Wine

  2013 Central Coast Viognier, Alban Vineyards

  £3850

  John 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.

  The Central Coast Viognier from Alban has always been fantastic value and rarely overshadowed by its big brother, the Estate Viognier.  This 2013 vintage has aromas of ripe peach, flowers and exotic honey.  It’s rich, unctuous and concentrated on the palate, offering the classic Alban richness and texture. The finish is a heady rich blockbuster.  Brilliant when young but exceptional when it has a few years of age, like this now 7-year-old beauty.

  Purchase & earn 39 points!Add to Basket
• White Wine

  2012 Central Coast Viognier, Alban Vineyards

  £3950

  John 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.

  Aromatic and floral. Forward and fruity with notes of lychee, pear and stone fruit. North County fruit brings rich texture and body while estate fruit adds floral notes, minerals and balancing acidity. It is 25% barrel fermented in a mixture of new and used French oak. This is an intense, full-bodied style with considerable weight, luscious and delicious.

  Purchase & earn 40 points!Add to Basket
• Red Wine

  2010 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, L’Ecole No.41

  £4550

  L’Ecole Nº 41 has been producing premium, handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 in the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington.

  Linseed oil, blackberry, cassis and leather aromas, flavours of ripe plum, currants and dark chocolate, very soft tannin indeed with a silky texture and an earthy, spicy finish.

  The winemakers at L’Ecole recommend the age-ability of this wine to be between 10 to 20 years, so at 10 years this 2010 is really starting to show at its best. Delicious now and for many more years yet! Basically we have done the hard work for you!

  Purchase & earn 46 points!Add to Basket
• Red Wine

  2011 Patrina Syrah, Alban Vineyards

  £6500

  John 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.

  A deliciously rich and complex wine, the 2011 Patrina hits the ideal balance between the New and Old World ways of winemaking. Dark and brooding in the glass, the bouquet is understated with earthy notes of blackberry and cherry. As it moves across the palate it reveals an array of dark berries, plum, cassis, and Indian spices. The finish includes dark cocoa delicately balanced on a framework of silky tannins.

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• Red Wine

  2010 Patrina Syrah, Alban Vineyards

  £6500

  John 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.

  The 2010 Patrina boasts gorgeously pure aromatics of cassis, raspberry, flowers and spice, full-bodied richness and an overall layered, fresh profile that’s hard to resist.

  It offers a rare and affordable glimpse into the craft of one of the Central Coast’s most enduring pioneers of Rhone varieties.

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• Red Wine

  2009 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee, L’Ecole No.41

  £6950

  L’Ecole Nº 41 has been producing premium, handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 in the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington.

  Apogee is an iconic Washington State Bordeaux blend and is one of 3 incredible single vineyard wines from L’Ecole No.41, the other 2 being Perigee and Ferguson. (see bottom of this page) Apogee comes from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, planted in the terraced remnants of ice age flood silts, is one of the Walla Walla Valley’s most reputable vineyards.  L’Ecole was the first winery to produce a wine from Pepper Bridge.  Unique site characteristics shine through in Apogee’s distinctive spicy aromas, dark fruit flavours, robust tannins, and rich structure.

  This 2009 Apogee is boldly aromatic with aromas of nutmeg and clove, earthy hints of tobacco and leather, smoky dark fruit packed with chocolate and mint with a cherry finish.  Full-bodied with a rich structure and a long finish.

  The winemakers at L’Ecole recommend the age-ability of this wine to be between 10 to 20 years, so at 11 years this 2009 is really starting to show at its best. Delicious now and for many more years yet!

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• Red Wine

  2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Perigee, L’Ecole No.41

  £6950

  L’Ecole Nº 41 has been producing premium, handcrafted varietal wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983 in the historic Frenchtown School in Lowden, Washington.

  Perigee is an iconic Washington State Bordeaux blend and is one of 3 incredible single vineyard wines from L’Ecole No.41, the other 2 being Apogee and Ferguson. (see bottom of this page)

  The grapes for Perigee are sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard, one of Washington State’s most illustrious. L’Ecole has been producing wines from the Seven Hills Vineyard since 1993. They hand-select their oldest and most distinguished blocks to produce this flagship wine.   The Seven Hills Vineyard is planted in wind-blown loess of geologically young and mineral rich soils.  In 2004, it was named one of the “Ten Great Vineyards of the World” by Wine & Spirits Magazine. 

  Perigee exemplifies this vineyard’s characteristic cedary, black cherry, richly structured elegance. Perfumed aromas of dark spice, blueberry and silky plum fruit are accented with earthy, graphite minerality, exuding power and grace on a velvety, chalky tannin finish.

  The winemakers at L’Ecole recommend the age-ability of this wine to be between 10 to 20 years, so at 12 years this 2008 is really starting to show at its best. Delicious now and for many more years yet!

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• Red Wine

  2017 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sanford

  £7200

  The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is where it all began. In 1971 this was the first vineyard planted in what became the world-class, cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills appellation.

  Bright, ruby red, the 2016 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir entices with aromatic spicy red fruits, complemented by notes of wet stone and dried herb. The palate delivers earthy raspberry flavours with lush, silky texture. The bright acidity and supple tannins give the wine great structure and length. To allow the vineyard to shine through, the winemakers take a gentle approach in the cellar, using traditional Burgundian techniques.

  The wine was aged in French Oak barrels (35% new) for 14 months where it gained concentration, while allowing the tannins to soften. This wine is drinking well now, but has the balance and structure to age beautifully for the next 12 to 15 years.

  Purchase & earn 72 points!Add to Basket
• Red Wine

  2007 Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah, Bedrock Wine Co.

  £7500

  A sexy, room-filling bouquet of black raspberry, boysenberry, potpourri and incense. Broad, palate-staining dark fruit flavors are impressively deep and pure, picking up violet and rose pastille character with air. A tangy graphite note builds on the finish and adds energy to the deep, seductively sweet fruit.

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• 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.

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• Red Wine

  2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, Chimney Rock

  £9200

  The Chimney Rock Estate is blessed with a diversity of soil and topography that breeds complexity into the wines. To the east, steep hills and shallow soils bring density and power. On the north end, the proximity to the Palisades brings with it ripeness and purity of fruit. To the south, proximity to the bay brings breezes that add the nuance of cooler climate – adding hints of dried herbs and mint. It is this diversity that has enabled the winemakers to represent the quintessence of Stags Leap District – the tension between grace and power, the balance of finesse and muscle.

  This the 35th vintage of this wine, opens in the glass with abundant aromas of blackcurrant and cherry, with hints of mocha, vanilla and floral. On the palate it is rich and savoury with plum and black cherry flavours and hints of dried fig, vanilla, and floral. On the palate this wine is smooth and viscous in the midpalate, full-bodied, and the tannin structure is firm but very polished. Recommend decanting.

  Purchase & earn 92 points!Add to Basket
• White Wine

  2013 Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay, Flowers

  £9500

  Flowers 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.

  The 2013 Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay is sourced from the organically and biodynamically farmed Camp Meeting Ridge Estate Vineyard.  Planted in 1991 these ‘older vines’ produce Flowers most interesting and exciting Chardonnays.   In the glass, it has aromas of chamomile and lemongrass combined with flavours of ripe stone fruits, dried apricot and lemon. On the palate, it has subtle notes of custard and caramel along with the classic sea-salt minerality that is typical of the Camp Meeting Ridge vineyard.  The finish is long and salivating with refreshing acidity.

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