Showing 1–15 of 33 results

• Red Wine

  2016 Whole Cluster Syrah ‘Las Madres Vineyard’, Benevolent Neglect

  £5650

  Benevolent Neglect is two winemaking friends who make some of our favourite small-scale wines.  This is classic cool-climate Syrah from one of the most well regarded Syrah vineyards in Sonoma Carneros, the Las Madres vineyard. Similar to the main-release Las Madres Syrah, the Whole Cluster is a special edition of the same wine made entirely with whole cluster fermentation, resulting in a style that comes closer to true Northern Rhône. The nose is blood oranges and dark spices, with a woodsy, umami character that brings to mind wild mushrooms and herb-roasted game. Bacon fat, too. The palate is gutsier, with a forward punch of dark berries accented by a savoury vanillin lick from the Hungarian oak treatment. The finish is sustained, with an elegance and silky texture that totally overshadows its relatively high alcohol content.

   

   

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• 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.

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• 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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• Red Wine

  2012 3D Pinot Noir, Clifton Brewer

  £7950

  This is an outstanding Pinot Noir from the renowned Brewer-Clifton.  The 3D vineyard is nestled between Lafond and Ampelos in the Santa Rita Hills and was the first vineyard planted by the Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton in 2007.     It is pure and elegant on the nose with expressive aromas of red cherries, candied raspberry and strawberry.  The palate is expansive with flavours of sweet fruits, tea leaf and fine spices.  Lovely structure and precision here. Incredible finesse and purity.

  At Brewer Clifton they strive to remove the winemaker’s signature, allowing the voice of the vineyard to be the overriding expression.  Only neutral barrels are employed and they strive for whole cluster fermentation, interestingly the fruit from each vineyard is handled identically from harvest to bottling, allowing the true essence of each site to be expressed.

  They also farm with a focus of ripening the stems of the bunch alongside the fruit, allowing the cluster to be in harmony. Working with the stems allows for wines that are structured, earthy and balanced with the exceptional Santa Rita Hills fruit. The analogy they use is roasting fish or meat on the bone, the bone offers complex flavours very different than taking it off of the bone to cook it.

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• White Wine

  2020 Chardonnay, Senses

  £7995

  A beautifully textured Chardonnay with bright crunchy fruit notes complemented by hints of honeysuckle, lime blossom and beeswax through to a gingery kick on the finish.

  2020 shows excellent concentration and very clean fruit, which makes for age-worthy Chardonnay with high acidity and ripe fruit characteristics.

  The grapes come from three different vineyards within the Russian River Valley AVA, but predominantly from Bush Vineyard, near Dutton Ranch where the clones are mainly Old Wente and Hyde. Renowned as being one of California’s coolest and foggiest AVAs, the microclimate creates the perfect conditions for producing highly acclaimed Chardonnay, with warm days and cool nights. The warm climate is tempered by the cool, coastal breezes and the trademark fog that lingers over the vineyards, brings moisture and has a cooling effect on the vines. The result is a long hang-time, during which the vines slowly build aromatic complexity, concentrated flavours, superbly balanced by natural, crisp freshness.

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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.

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• 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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• Red Wine

  2001 Old Vine Zinfandel, Seghesio

  £9500

  The Seghesio family-owned winery started in the year 1895 when Edoardo Seghesio, an Italian immigrant and winemaker, planted the first Zinfandel vineyard in the Alexander Valley located in Sonoma County.

  In the glass this 21 year old Zinfandel has lost none of its sleek smoothness, bursting with black cherry and raspberry aromas with a core of flavours that includes black cherry, cassis, cocoa, coffee, blackberry, spice and anise. Lush, harmonious, and penetrating.

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• 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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• 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.

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