Lion’s Tooth Shiraz/Riesling, Dandelion Vineyards

£17.95

Dandelion Vineyards is the venture of self-titled ‘typist’ Zar Brooks and his winemaking wife Elena, with wines made from the Barossa and Eden Valleys, Fleurieu, the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.

Nick Stock, one of Australia’s leading journalists, has described Dandelion as follows: “Brooks has teamed up with his winemaking wife Elena, a woman whose talents are outweighed only by her tolerance, in an exciting new venture called Dandelion Vineyards. The approach is remarkably simple and sees Elena making wine from a suite of beautiful old vineyards across that blessed curve that runs from the Barossa, up through the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills and down into McLaren Vale.”

From this vineyard, Elena co-ferments an almost forgotten but timeless blend of Shiraz and Riesling to enhance the wine's perfume and palate. This has always been one of our most popular wines, year after year it delivers amazing value for money. Rich and intense, it is impressive without being too much. There is balance which makes it very, very drinkable.

Soave Classico, Monte Tondo

£16.95

Monte Tondo is a family estate located in the beautiful hillside vineyards of Soave. Here the soils range from volcanic to chalky, which alongside the varying microclimates, gives the wines distinct flavour characteristics and individualistic style.

Alongside his family, winemaker Gino Magnabosco is part of the third generation to run the estate. They believe that hard work, drive, and determination are key to obtaining the best results from their land. Maintaining, nourishing, and cherishing the land of their ancestors is of utmost importance. And although not certified, they farm using organic practices and an environmentally friendly approach to both viticulture and vinification. No chemicals are used in their production and they recycle everything excess coming from the vineyard (stems as fertilizers, skins for grappa, pruned branches for heating and fertilizer).

Small proportions of other varieties are allowed in the production of Soave, but Monte Tondo focus their concentration purely on Garganega. Garganega is a variety so versatile and easily culinary matched but also with the ability to produce complex wines with age-ability.

A very good example of Soave at a very good price. This over-delivers.. Perfect with salads and light fish and shellfish dishes.

Terlaner Cuvee, Cantine Terlano

£27.95

Cantina Terlano is well known in Italian wine drinking circles for producing Italy’s longest lived white wines. Many memorable wines from the 1950s and 1960s, which rank amongst the greatest white wines of the world, were made here.

Located in the heart of the Terlan wine-growing region and founded in 1893, it is one of the oldest Alto Adige cooperatives. At that time, 24 growers set themselves the goal of joint production and sales marketing. Recognition and prosperity blossomed from there. Today Terlano has approximately 100 members, it farms 150 hectares and has an annual production of roughly 1.2 million bottles.

Under the expert eye of winemaker Rudi Kofler, the wines are sold and marketed according to three different quality categories. Furthermore, special older vintages have been stored in the valuable 'vinotheque', so that today roughly 12,000 bottles from 1955 to the present day are stored and some date back to even earlier days. This wine collection of older vintages is absolutely unique in Italy and proves that Terlano’s wines are able to age harmoniously for decades.

Brilliant pale yellow colour with green nuances. On the nose green apple and white peach combine with fine nuances of lemon balm and mint to create the typical aroma of the classic Terlano. On the palate the peach is very strong, too, lending the Terlano its lively but at the same time very mellow character. The multifaceted, well structured flavor derives from an interplay of freshness and minerality and also has a wonderfully persistent finish.

Great now, but this wine will gain richness and complexity with ageing. A perfect match for grilled fish and asparagus but this very food-friendly wine is remarkably versatile and can stand up to strongly flavoured dishes.

Newton Johnson Walker Bay Pinot Noir

£24.95
This family farm was founded in the mid-1990s by Cape Wine Master, Dave Johnson and his wife, Felicity (Née Newton) and within the past twenty years has built a reputation for producing some of the Cape’s best Pinot Noir. Dave’s CWM thesis was on the variety. Right from the outset, Dave and Felicity’s offspring were involved and today it is very much Gordon, partnered by his wife, Nadia, who are responsible for the winemaking, with brother Bevan looking after the commercial side. Offering a lively introduction to the premium quality and unique characteristics of this grape variety in  the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Made from younger vines and on the lower slopes of the well appointed Newton Johnson farm. The Walker Bay Pinot Noir shows a more flirtatious and fruit assertive character. Delicious with grilled or roasted vegetable dishes as well as pork and lamb.

Niepoort Colheita Port 2004- 1/2 Bottle

£29.95
An amazing aged Vintage dated Tawny Port (Colheita) from one of the world's best winemakers. Mature and amazingly complex, this is the perfect accompaniment to a cheese board.

Chateau Filhot 37.5cl

£24.95
The quality of this second growth estate has improved markedly since the mid 1980s. The location is just to the north of the village of Sauternes on gravelly hillside beds with a southwest orientation. Yields are low (about 15hl/ha) and the blend is Sémillon (55%), Sauvignon (40%) and Muscadelle (5%). This high proportion of Sauvignon and the refusal to use any new oak (the wine is aged in stainless steel and 5+yr old oak barrels for 24-36 months) gives Filhot a fruitier, more aromatic quality than some of the bigger-boned Sauternes. That said, the bottle age here gives real depth of flavour and considerable complexity. Delicious with classic French desserts such as Tarte Tatin, as well as the perfect match for Blue Sheep's milk cheeses such as Lanark Blue, Beenleigh Blue or Mrs Bell's Blue.

The Liberator Syrah

£12.95
Over the past 25 years, Richard Kelley MW (aka The Liberator!) has become one of the most respected authorities on South African wine in the UK and beyond. Between 1995 and 2002, he lived and worked in the Cape, witnessing the renaissance of the post-apartheid wine industry. Throughout this fruitful period, he established a healthy rapport with the great and the good of the local wine scene, affording him access to their distinguished cellars. These wines are often some of the most interesting, and best value, wines to come out of South Africa. Ask Richard which wine The Francophile Syrah most resembles and he’d probably compare it to a young Crozes-Hermitage. Full of vibrant red-black fruit and with an aromatic nose reminiscent of Saint-Joseph lilies, the result is a thrilling young red that is free of the constraints and manipulated flavour profile that come with barrel-ageing. This is a very pure and naked example of the Syrah grape. Great value and a good wine to go with most meaty dishes.  

Domaine Mapliers Rose ‘Preferences’

£19.95
A blend of Grenache and Cinsault, this wine delivers a simple yet precise bouquet of fresh raspberries and vine peach. Superbly refreshing and delicate, the palate is charming and ethereal. Fermented in stainless steel from a direct and light pressing,  a classic Provencal style that everybody will enjoy… day and night. Delicious! Sun's out, salads in the garden, you know what to do...

Cullen Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon

£32.00
Cullen Wines is a certified biodynamic, carbon neutral and naturally powered estate, with their philosophy summed up in three simple words; ‘Quality, Integrity and Sustainability’. It is one of the oldest and most awarded family wineries in Western Australia’s famous Margaret River region. First established in 1971 by Dr Kevin and Diana Cullen and now run by their daughter Vanya, the winery has built an outstanding reputation for fine certified biodynamic wines that receive critical national and international acclaim. In 2019, celebrating 30 years at the helm, Vanya received double Winemaker of the Year honours at both the Australian Women in Wine Awards and the Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Although best known for their red blends and top Chardonnay, I have always been a fan of this Bordeaux blend. It has an elegance and balance that is usually lacking in pure Aussie Sauvignon Blanc. It has the freshness and crunchy, zingy flavours but the Semillon reigns it in and adds subtle savoury complexity. As such it is a beautiful wine to drink with fresh seafood and salads; it doesn't overpower the food but creates an experience which is more than the sum of it's parts - the magic of great wine. Although completely delicious right now (it has 4 years age), it is a wine that rewards cellaring. I have kept these for 5 years or so and they develop more complex, savoury, mineral layers and turn into truly exceptional wines.  

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir

£72.00
Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ is owned and managed by Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. In 1980 Clive planted the bare, stony, home paddock at the edge of Martinborough, becoming one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Ata Rangi’s first vineyard covered less than five hectares on deep, free-draining alluvial gravels – the original course of a local river which flows from the hills that flank the eastern side of the valley. Today they are joined by a strong team including winemaker Helen Masters, who in 2019 was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, as recognition of her 16 years’ work at Ata Rangi. Ata Rangi is renowned for its Pinot Noir and is widely regarded as New Zealand’s top Pinot Noir producer. They were awarded Five Stars in the ‘2019 Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification’ by Matthew Jukes and Tyson Stelzer for the consistent gold medal standard of their wines. At the 2010 International Pinot Noir Conference, Ata Rangi Pinot Noir was one of two producers granted the title of ‘Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa’ (which translates from Māori as ‘Great Growth of New Zealand’ or ‘Grand Cru’), in recognition of their unique site and of the family’s commitment to evolving and developing New Zealand Pinot Noir. The oldest Pinot Noir vines, which include a clone allegedly smuggled from Burgundy, were planted in 1980. This is one of my favourite Pinot Noirs from anywhere! I love the slightly savoury style of Martinborough Pinot and no-one does it better than Ata Rangi. I would drink this with anything but roast pork belly with fennel seeds springs to mind as a match made in heaven.

Niepoort ‘White Rabbit’ White Port

£21.95
One of the best white Ports available. Like all of Dirk Niepoort's wines, this is at the top of the tree in terms of quality. Drier than most and with real depth of flavour; rich and nutty with a long lingering finish. Great to drink chilled on it's own, or with olives and salted almonds, or mix with tonic and ice for Portugal's answer to the G&T! A great aperitif.