We taste between 50 – 100 wines a month either re-tasting wines we currently stock or tasting new wines in search of worthy additions to the shop and/or restaurant. From these tastings, only 6 wines are chosen for the Somm 6 and the criteria? That they be the wines we want to take home ourselves.
“The Somm 6” is for wine lovers who are searching for variety and new wine experiences as well as anyone who appreciates authenticity and value.
We have created a diverse selection of artisanal wines with detailed information on each bottle.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a fellow wine lover, here’s what’s in the Somm 6:
2018 Givry 1er Cru Rouge L’Empreinte, Domaine Joblot, Burgundy, France: One of the greatest producers in Southern Burgundy, the Joblot family has been producing fine wines for over four generations. These sought after wines have limited availability. L’Empreinte means ‘Footprint’ in French and this cuvée is the result of the best parcels of Domaine Joblot’s four Givry 1er Cru vineyards: Clos Maroles, Clos Du Cellier Aux Moines , Bois Chevaux and clos de la Servoisine.
2019 Coracle, Harry Hartman, Stellenbosch, South Africa: Harry Hartmans’ flagship wine, Coracle is a classic Bordeaux style blend and we are delighted to be among the first to list these fabulous wines in the UK. Made in tiny quantities these wines are going to be highly sought after very quickly! Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from selected Stellenbosch vineyards. This is a powerhouse of a wine, the 4 grape varieties are united in an intriguing and authoritative wine that casts a net of attractive aromas to reel you in. Its hedonistic charm of plum, mulberry, cassis, and blackberry is underpinned with masculine notes of English leather, cedar, tobacco, truffle, and cured meat. The palate is delicious and mouth-filling.
2018 Middle of Everywhere Shiraz, Larry Cherubino, Frankland River, Great Southern, Western Australia: Larry Cherubino is a truly great winemaker and one of our wine heroes here at Wine Republic. Larry and his wife Edwina started Cherubino wines in their spare bedroom in 2005 after buying a small parcel of land in Frankland river in 2004. They released one wine! A lot has happened since. The range has grown, and along the way, critical acclaim has flowed, particularly noteworthy is being honoured as the Winery Of The Year by respected wine critics such as James Halliday. Expect aromas of red earth, ground black spice and dark berries that lead to a palate of fine, silky tannins. Juicy fruit flavours of blueberry and dark cherry combine with undertones of spice.
2018 Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc, Lismore, Greyton, South Africa: 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. We love barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc at Wine Republic and this beauty is made in an “oxidative” style using old 500-litre barrels for 70% of the fermentation and maturation bringing forward richness, intense fruit and complexity. 30% of the wine is fermented and aged in 1500-litre concrete egg tanks to enhance the rich palate texture and minerality. In both the barrels and the eggs, extended less contact contributes further to the rounder mouthfeel and creaminess of this elegantly textured wine.
2020 Painter of Light Chardonnay, Blackbook Winery, England: New limited edition wine from the urban winery Blackbook, based under a railway arch in Battersea, South London. Grapes are sourced the single Clay Hill Vineyard in Essex and harvested in mid-October. Whole-bunch pressed and fermented in Burgundy barrels with the grapes’ indigenous yeast is a low intervention and characterful method of winemaking. 20% is new oak, the rest old. The wine is finally aged for 11 months prior to bottling. The result is an aromatic white wine with citrus, honeydew melon and stone fruits over hints of ginger and almond. Peach, zippy lime and a smoky, flinty finish make up a palate that’s both intense and refreshing. A real testament to quality English winemaking.
2015 Wigan Riesling, Peter Lehmann, Eden Valley, South Australia: From the shallow rocky soils of the Eden Valley, the Wigan Riesling has become one of Australia’s most celebrated wines.
Named after its winemaker, Andrew Wigan who until his recent retirement had a hand in every Peter Lehman vintage from its first in 1980, it is only released after 5 years from vintage to capture the wine’s full potential.
Andrew ‘Wigs’ Wigan revolutionised white winemaking and championed the Riesling grape and his eponymous wine has been named IWSC ‘Best Riesling in the World’ six times and accumulated more than 80 trophies since its inaugural vintage.
