Big Flower Merlot, Botanica Wines
Really good Merlot from Ginny Povall at Botanica Wines, one of South Africa’s most respected boutique wineries. Plummy and smooth (as you would expect) but with an extra juicy dimension (called ‘deliciousness’?) that makes it stand out and makes you want to drink more of it!
A really good all-rounder, and like all Ginny’s wines, it has a lovely pretty label, so great for gifts.
Vallisto Malbec
Vallisto is one of the most exciting projects to come out of Argentina in recent years. Pancho Lavaque is on a mission to show the world what makes the remote and beautiful Cafayate Valley in Salta in the far north of Argentina, so special. Discovering long-forgotten vineyards with very old vines and often rare grape varieties.
This single vineyard Malbec from represents pretty much everything you need to know about what makes Cafayate so good and so special. For those who like their Malbec painted with a decadent splash of inky purple fruit this delivers in spades.
A special wine for the best, and biggest, steak you can find. Grilled over coals would be perfect!
Southend Chardonnay, Newton Johnson
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.
Southend is a single vineyard that is owned and farmed by Newton Johnson's neighbours, the Pringle
family. It is a notably cooler slope, a stone’s throw across the river from NJ, with less sunshine
and consequently slower ripening. It produces wines with sparkling clarity, high-toned fruit
flavours, compact structure, and vibrant acidity. They preserve these features by fermenting in
larger format casks that often ferment slowly in to the winter.
The oak is barely noticeable here, the wine is just fresh and juicy; such an elegant style of Chardonnay by one of the New World's best Chardonnay producers. If you know people who are adamant that they do not like Chardonnay, get them to taste this!
A great all-rounder, suiting simple fish and shellfish dishes as well as salads and grilled vegetables.
JCB No21 Cremant de Bourgogne, J.C.Boisset
40% Pinot Noir , 35% Chardonnay, 20% Gamay, 5% Aligoté
Jean-Charles Boisset was born into a winemaking family in Burgundy and now makes wine all over the World.
Pale and vibrant in colour, this Crémant boasts aromas of citrus fruits, almonds and white flowers on the nose. The palate has refreshing and lifted acidity, coupled with a lovely, rich texture from the lees ageing.
A great value alternative to Champagne, showing
Monteleccio, Sesti
The Sesti family are one of the best producers of Brunello di Montalcino. Based at the beautiful Castello di Argiano, they have the most beautiful property imaginable and they make wines in a thoughtful and balanced style; traditional in the best sense of the word. The grapes for this wine are selected because they are felt to be best for drinking young; so they could become Brunello but they are aged for less time. More character than many actual Brunello and for half the price, this is one of Montalcino’s best buys. Great with hard cheeses (Cornish Kern or Old Winchester?), as well as roast lamb with lots of garlic and rosemary, pasta with meat sauces and stews.
‘La Gloire de mon Pere’ Bergerac Rouge, Chateau Tours des Gendres
Bergerac is often overlooked in favour of it's more famous cousin Bordeaux but there is great wine being made there, and you pay a fraction of the price!
Chateau Tour des Gendres is one of the best producers, making wines of real class.
Owner and winemaker Luc de Contoi is a true Vinarchiste, looking for purity and intensity, the maximum expression of the potential of the grapes. In the vineyard the soil is nourished with seaweed and silica treatments to encourage microbial activity.
This vigneron even riddles the grapes on the vine, giving them a quarter turn (at least that’s what he tells us – difficult
to know when you’ve been hoaxed by Luc).
A great wine for roast beef of lamb and perfect with strong hard cheeses; Montgomery Cheddar springs to mind..
Domaine Mapliers Rose ‘Preferences’
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...
Rochebouet ‘Cave Extreme’ Extra Brut Rose NV
50% Chardonnay and 50%Pinot Noir
French born Jean-Edouard de Rochebouët is a man who knows a thing or two about sparkling wine; he helped pioneer 'méthode champenoise' wines from Argentina in the early days of Domaine Chandon in Mendoza. What's not to love about this? Deliciously fruity and finely balanced with superb brioche and shortbread notes on the nose due to its spending 12 months on the lees in bottle, very pale pink in colour with tiny bubbles.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Panizzi
Situated in the picturesque medieval town of San Gimignano in Tuscany, Panizzi produce lovely organic certified, Vernaccia di San Gimignano wines of typicity and excellent value.
Vernaccia diSan Gimignano is a historically important Italian DOC, Italy’s first DOC in fact, and home to Tuscany's
leading white wines. Typically dry, fresh, crisp, and mineral, with a slightly bitter after note, these wines
are predominantly made from Vernaccia, but also permit small portions of other white varietals to be
included in the blend.
Established in 1989 Panizzi work with 60 hectares of vines spread across four vineyard sites in the San
Gimignano area; Lazzaretto, Santa Margherita, Montagnana, and Larniano. Born from research
undertaken by Giovanni Panizzi, into Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the terroir, ageing techniques and
sustainable agriculture, the company is run today by Simone Niccolai, who continues Giovanni’s legacy
and research. Sustainability is a principal focus for Panizzi. No pesticides, herbicides, or chemical
fertilizers are used during the production of their wines, from the 2020 vintage onwards they are
certified organic, though they have farmed using organic practices for many years, they also do as much
as possible by hand to limit the use of machinery and their environmental impact. All their wines are
vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Driven by identity, typicity, and quality, these wines show real focus, terroir expression, and varietal
purity.
This is the perfect, elegant wine to accompany simple grilled fish with really good olive oil.
St. Chinian ‘La Laouzil’, Thierry Navarre
Carignan/Grenache/Syrah
Thierry Navarre has a dozen hectares of vines planted on dark brown schist terraces around Roquebrun. The achingly beautiful countryside is an amphitheatre of small mountains clad in a sea of green, a forest of small trees and bushes and the familiar clumps of fragrant rosemary and thyme which captures the scented spirit of the high Languedoc. The culture in the vines revolves around the respect for the soil, the cycles, the seasons. No chemical products are used, simply composting, natural preparation, plant infusions and working the soil. The harvest is manual and carried out by a small team.
This wine is full of red fruits, liquorice tones and plenty of herbs and spice, yet is unforced, supple and fresh.
A proper southern French wine to accompany roast lamb or great with some good sausages or a hearty stew.
Merlot 006, Aniello
A beautifully ripe and pure Merlot from Patagonia in the south of Argentina.
Aniello are one of the rising stars of Argentinian wine and are showing that Patagonia can produce World class wines. This has all the rich, ripe, plummy fruit you would want from a good Merlot, with a long smooth finish.
Really well-made; a good all-rounder and a safe bet for a gift.
Friuli Sauvignon, Fondo Indizeno
Fondo Indizeno is a new project from renowned winemaker Christian Patat, one of Friuli’s most faithful advocates and a man who has done so much to promote this area. Fondo Indizeno's vineyards are spread over three villages in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, which were chosen due to their excellent quality terroir; Buttrio, Prepotto and Premariacco. They works with 15 hectares of very old vines, between 30-40 years, planted on marl based soils (locally known as “Ponca”). The vines benefit from a Mediterranean climate, with continental influences, hot summers, cold winters and dry autumns. The vineyards are planted with Ribolla Gialla, Chardonnay, Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco and Malvasia.
The idea of this project is an introduction to Friuli’s best wines, to showcase the quality achievable and the area's potential. Each wine is dedicated to a producer whose wines have brought prestige to a particular grape variety, for example Ribolla Gialla is named after Stanko Radikon, who spent his life promoting this variety. While Chardonnay is dedicated to Nicola Manferrari who is one of the best interpreters of this grape. As with all Christians wines, they are impeccably executed, expressive styles, which are exemplary of Friulian wine and really showcase this areas potential.
This is a food-friendly example of Sauvignon Blanc, less of the intense nettle and gooseberry flavour and more subtle, herbal notes.
A really refreshing take on the grape; here it's all about balance and creating a wine that will enhance your meal, not stamp all over it!
Delicious with sushi, or simple grilled white fish. It would also work well with seared tuna steak.
Dehesa La Granja, Castilla y Leon
Cremant de Loire, Chateau des Cosse NV
Three Lions Chardonnay, Plantagenet
Soave Classico, Monte Tondo
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.
Fantasia Malbec, Mauricio Lorca
Mauricio's high density, high altitude vineyards are in his beloved Vista Flores in the Uco Valley; and his ever expanding, though still relatively small, winery is situated in Luján de Cuyo. It's a no-frills operation with the energy and solid work ethic of every employee channelled into getting the job done.
100% Malbec from Mauricio Lorca's own vineyards in Vista Flores in the Uco Valley, 30% of which is lightly oaked. High density, high vertical vine training, just under 7,000 vines per hectare, approximately 2 bottles of wine per plant, this is the Fantasia philosophy.
A really expressive, dark and rather serious Malbec for the money with masses of plush black fruit on the nose and the all freshness on the palate that the Uco Valley will give to the right winemaker. Superb, great value Malbec.
A great wine for BBQ's or any grilled meat!
Herdade Sao Miguel Tinto
This is a family run winery, in the heart of Redondo, in the Alentejo region, with a deep love and understanding of the viticultural heritage of their region. Alexandre Relvas started in 1997, and his two sons Alexandre Jr and António now run the show, ably supported by Head Winemaker Nuno Franco.
Herdade São Miguel is the original, flagship estate which comprises 35 Ha of vineyard as well as Cork forest and olive groves and a heathy flock of Merino sheep.
A blend that changes slightly each year, the last few vintages of this wine have been on fire. Beautifully defined dark fruit (there always seems to be a generous lick of cassis in this wine, even when the Cabernet component is actually quite modest), just a frame of toasty oak (although that roasted Alentejo character amalgamates with that too), and just enough Alicante crunch to keep it all fresh and energetic.
Older vintages are still drinking well, and with the improvements in this great value wine, there's no reason more recent vintages won't last even longer.
A great wine for a hearty roast or BBQ.
Lavradores de Feitoria Tinto
Grapes - Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca
Lavradores de Feitoria is a unique project, created in 2000. Resulting from the union of owners of 18 Quintas spread throughout the best terroirs in the 3 sub-regions of the Douro region (Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior). Together, they have a total area of vineyard of more than 600 ha.
The aim was to show the best of what the Douro can offer and to offer great value; this wine really sums up the Douro for me.
A typical Douro blend of grapes offers real character, and the modern winemaking creates a smooth rich wine. Together, we have a wine of great balance and finesse.
Goes well with grilled meats and vegetables and can handle a bit of spice!
‘La Magendia’ Jurancon Moelleux (37.5cl), Clos Lapeyre
Jean-Bernard Larrieu makes some of the best wines in Jurancon at Clos Lapeyre. This isolated area lies inland in the foothills of the Pyranees and is home to some of the best sweet wines France has to offer (without paying Sauternes prices). Petit Manseng is the main grape for producing these delicious, honeyed wines and it's bright acidity is what makes it so successful; no matter how rich and unctuous the wine, it still feels fresh and mouth-watering on the finish. In case you were wondering, La Magendia means 'the best' in the local Occitane dialect; very fitting, as this is truly stunning.
Perfect with fruit desserts (rhubarb or apple crumble...?) and is a star with blue and rind-washed cheeses.
Durvillea Sauvignon Blanc, Astrolabe
Soave Classico, Monte Tondo, Veneto, Italy
Beautiful, elegant Soave from a great, family-run, organic estate in the volcanic hills of Veneto. The grape variety here is Garganega, and this is an expression with great precision of flavour. Unoaked, light and elegant, it is a very versatile food wine; a great match for all light pasta dishes, salads or simply grilled fish.
Le Carillon de Vendome, Cave Co-op du Vendomois
The Vendomois region is located along the banks of the river Loir (a tributary of the Loire proper) to the north of Touraine.
This Co-operative makes great value wines and this Chenin Blanc is a great example. It comes from a single vineyard and has all the lovely Chenin qualities of food-friendliness and complexity.
A great wine for fish pie or fish and chips!
Niepoort LBV Port (Half bottle)
Dirk Niepoort is often lauded as Portugal’s best winemaker, making some of Portugal’s best table wines. However, Port is always at the heart of what he does and year after year, this LBV is one of the very best. Despite it’s power and richness, it stands out from the crowd with it’s real drinkability!
...and these half bottles look cute.