Showing 1–15 of 24 results

• Red Wine

  2016 Zinfandel ‘Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard’, Peterson Winery

  £3295

  This Mountain-grown Zinfandel opens in the glass with tempting notes of opulent dark berries, spicy black pepper and a rich mineral essence, underpinned by beautifully integrated oak nuances through to a long, elegant finish

  The grapes are ‘Estate Grown’ from the Bradford Mountain Estate vineyard. Overlooking the western edge of Dry Creek Valley, the vineyard spans six and a half hectares on the very top of the 385-metre peak that Fred cleared and planted in the 1980s. The well-drained, red-clay soil, combined with sunny days and cool nights, produces small, intensely flavoured grapes. This wine encapsulates all of the best qualities found in mountain-grown Zinfandels from the Dry Creek Valley appellation: the poorer soils and cooler nights harness and preserve more of the bright acidity and freshness in the grapes. More sunlight hours at the higher elevation means thicker-skinned fruit which translates as darker, richer fruit. The key characteristics of mountain-grown Zinfandel are that it has a peppery quality and more intense black fruit characteristics.

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• Red Wine

  2015 Old Vine Carignan, Calder Wine Company

  £3500

  The 2015 Carignane is built from two great sources in Mendocino County, both farmed by the father-son team of Don and Darrin Colombini. The primary source is the Rovera vineyard, planted in 1942 in the sandy, quartz-flecked soils of the eastern bench of Redwood Valley. The Rovera vines have incredibly small clusters and berries, with correspondingly low yields—less than 2 tons per acre in 2015. This gives the fruit tremendous intensity and depth, backed by lightning-rod acidity. The Cemetery vineyard planted 1954, is dry-farmed in almost pure gravel and contributes bright cherry fruit and aromatic lift.

  The resultant wine features vivacious blackberry and raspberry aromas inflected with iron-like mineral complexity. Carignane has an intensely savoury edge to its fruit: stones, smoke, and celery seeds, evoking the wild herbs and rocks of its homeland in the Priorat of Spain. The palate is rich and generous, with plenty of structure from Carignane’s characteristic acidity and tannin.

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• Red Wine

  2012 Syrah Le Pousseur, Bonny Doon

  £3500

  Bonny Doon Vineyards’ 2012 Syrah, “Le Pousseur,” is made from Syrah grapes grown in some nice Central Coast spots – 48% Alamo Creek Vineyard, 18% Bien Nacido Vineyard, 18% Spanish  Springs Vineyard and 16% Ventana Vineyard. These are cool-climate sites and the website states that with “a fair amount of whole clusters included, this is a savory Syrah of great restraint.”

  Randall Grahm writes that he finds Le Posseur “enchanting and captivating rather than overpowering.” He labels it as a “feminine” Syrah. I don’t make it a habit to argue with a winemaker about his wines, but I was taken to task once for the use of the term “feminine” as a sexist way to describe a wine. PC or not PC, it does not strike me as feminine. Maybe it’s feminine in a masculine way. Or masculine in a feminine way. Maybe it’s just a wine having a crisis of sexuality. Or maybe it’s just a Syrah of great restraint. It retails for $26 and 2,126 cases were produced.

  Under the screw cap is a wine which is opaque indigo. Big blueberry fruit dominates the nose with a savory undercurrent. It is possibly the fruitiest nose I’ve experienced from a Bonny Doon red, which usually lean savory. The palate shows dark fruit too, with just a hint of that black olive note Grahm’s wines often exhibit. Very nice acidity and a good tannic grip top off an entirely enjoyable experience. The oak touch is nice, just right in fact.

  90 points from PlanetGrape.com: “Seductive notes of red rose, lilac, raspberry and cherry mingle with earthy notes of game, bacon and underbrush. Smooth and silky. Decant to let oxygen do its thing.” (02/2015) According to the winery: “We’ve been in a nice aromatic groove of late with Le Pousseur, largely in virtue of the string of very cool vintages, and sourcing our fruit exclusively from cool climate sites. The ’12 Pousseur (who is to say why) is still in a Marlon Brando-like bit of a sullen funk, but there is no question that underneath that brooding exterior, there beats the heart of a Wild One. The Alamo Creek component (possibly in virtue of its extremely gravelly soil) seems to add a strong mineral/earthy/bloody note, not utterly unreminiscent of Cornas. With more air, you begin to gradually discern the characteristic anise/licorice character that typifies Syrah. On the palate, the wine has a refreshing acidity, tannins well-resolved and is remarkably savory with an exceptionally long finish. This wine is still amazingly young and will benefit from several years of ageing (if you can wait). If you can’t wait, decanting is well advised.”

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• White Wine

  2012 Columbia Valley Chardonnay, L’Ecole No.41

  £3500

  Aromas of butter and toast are joined by mango, poached pear and Spanish almonds. The wine underwent surlie aging and was stirred for six months, which accounts for the rich entry and buttery mid-palate, but there’s not as much of the oak flavours that were hinted at in the nose. Instead, the theme is carried by apricot and sweet pear with a bite of Golden Delicious apple in the finish.

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• White Wine

  2021 Chardonnay ‘Reserve Selection’, Raymond Vineyards

  £3500

  Steeped in rich family history, Raymond vineyards can trace it’s origins in winemaking back to the days of the ‘old’ Napa Valley.   Founded in 1970, Raymond vineyards produce high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

  This 2020 Chardonnay ‘Reserve Selection’ has fragrant aromas of tropical and stone fruits that lead to notes of honeysuckle, accentuated by a touch of toasted almonds. This is a beautifully balanced wine with bright acidity and a creamy texture with a hint of minerality on the finish.

  The grapes come from the estate vineyards in Jameson Canyon and selected Napa Valley growers. The estate vineyards are planted on rolling hills at the southern end of Napa Valley. The growing conditions in the Jameson Canyon are very similar to Carneros, the neighbouring appellation just west of the Napa River. Winds flow through Jameson Canyon, bringing the cooling influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean and providing a long, cool growing season which enhances and concentrates the intensity of the varietal characteristics. A proportion of grapes are harvested from vineyards in Carneros and the Napa Valley which lend more texture and structure to the blend.

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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.

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• Red Wine

  2009 Columbia Valley Syrah, L’Ecole No.41

  £3750

  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.

  This luscious and balanced Syrah presents fruity aromas of ripe blackberry, earth and spice. The wine shows rich black currant, kalamata olive and black peppercorn through a finely textured mineral finish

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• 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.

   

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• White Wine

  2021 Estate Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Talbott

  £3750

  Talbott Vineyards is defined by its iconic Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, where the conditions are ideal for exceptional, cool-climate Chardonnay.  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.

  A bright, elegant Chardonnay, with aromas of Pink Lady apple, juicy pineapple, pear and caramelised brown sugar. Unctuous and opulent on the palate, with refreshing acidity offering beautiful balance to the ripe tropical fruit.

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• 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.

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• White Wine

  2019 Chardonnay, Sanford

  £3900

  A luxurious and elegant Chardonnay with enticing notes of grilled peach, lemon and toasted hazelnuts. The palate of bright fruit and honeycomb is beautifully framed by crisp acidity and has a rich texture that carries through to the long, clean finish.

  The fruit comes exclusively from the two estate vineyards in the cool-climate area of Sta. Rita Hills AVA: the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and the La Rinconada Vineyard. The unusual east-west orientation of the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains, allows cooling maritime breezes from the Pacific Ocean- just seven miles away- to flow over the vineyards, bringing with them morning fog. Afternoon breezes dry out any residual moisture and reduce disease pressure on the vines and clusters. This distinctive mesoclimate promotes a long growing season. The vineyard is split into 52 blocks, each with individual soil composition and microclimate. Broadly, the marine-based soils in the ‘Sanford & Benedict Vineyard’ are a mixture of clay, loam, fractured shale and chert (rocky soil) which force the vine’s roots to dig deep into the soil for nutrients and hydration. The result is naturally low yields of small-berried, concentrated fruit delivering excellent minerality and acidity. The ‘La Rinconada Vineyard’ is made up of sandy, gravelly soil, which imparts precise minerality.

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• 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.

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• White Wine

  2018 Ribolla Gialla, Benevolent Neglect

  £4100

  Ribolla Gialla is an ancient variety that originated in Greece and is mostly found in northeastern Italy and across the border in Slovenia, where it is known as Rebula.

  This California version is sourced from the Bengier Family Vineyard, a hidden gem inside of the Napa Valley’s nested ava Oak Knoll District. Fermented traditionally on skins for 15 days, this wine takes on a completely unique character for white wine. Due to its time on its skin and in the barrel it shows quite a bit of minerality, citrus skin with a core of tropical fruit with much in between.

  Tasting Note: Light, bright and fresh lemon sherbet draw the nose in followed by almond and acacia. On the palate, the wine is mineral, with slight notes of sour pear drop. The finish is long and refreshingly sour. This is a perfect oyster wine, match it with foods equally as bright, like a fresh arugula salad with a racy vinaigrette.

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• White Wine

  2021 Chardonnay ‘Along The Palms’, Scribe Winery

  £4150

  Scribe Winery produces vibrant, terroir-driven wines from Sonoma, California. The winery was founded in 2007 on a property that helped pioneer pre-prohibition Sonoma Valley wine-making and is managed by fourth-generation California farmers and brothers, Andrew and Adam Mariani.

  In the glass, this is a fresh, textured and complex Chardonnay with expressive notes of pineapple and orange zest layered with a touch of jicama and sea spray, through to a long, exquisite finish.

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• Red Wine

  2016 Mourvèdre, Fore Family Vineyards, Benevolent Neglect

  £4200

  We’re absolutely in love with this Mourvèdre. From warm, sheltered Lake County (north of Napa) where the conditions for the late-ripening Mourvèdre are ideal. Slightly carbonic on the nose with aromas of blackberries and black cherries, violets and iris, mocha, mint, leather, earth, and game. Smooth, velvety tannins on the palate and vibrant acidity. Wonderfully fresh for a full-bodied wine – sophisticated yet extremely drinkable.   Mourvedre’s reputation of wildness is present in this wine if you look for it.  56 cases produced!

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