Valencay, Sebastien Vaillant
This has long been one of our most popular wines, a delicious blend of Sauvignon Blanc with a dash of Chardonnay. The Chardonnay adds a lovely texture and a tiny bit of weight to the wine but it still retains that classic Loire Sauvignon character. Sebastian Vaillant is a great winemaker and this is a great value alternative to the neighbouring wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.
Sauvignon de Touraine, Guy Allion, Loire
This domaine with its beautiful Touraine-style house made out of tufa produces first class Sauvignon from vines grown on
perruche (sandy-clay) soil.
The estate is managed according to the Terra Vitis programme, a codified system which posits
not only respect for the environment but knowledge of the land, parcel by parcel. This sensitivity to the environment
means that natural rather than chemical solutions can be pursued in the vineyard.
The grapes are picked at maximum ripeness and immediately transported to the winery to prevent oxidation.
This Sauvignon de Touraine, which in previousyears has garnered high praise from the Guide Hachette, has lifted aromas of elderflower cordial, Victoria plums and hints of grass. The palate is filled with gooseberry fool infused with elderflower and hints of summer fruit.
A great budget alternative to Sancerre & Pouilly-Fume; perfect with light fish and salad dishes.
Poire Authentique, Eric Bordelet
It was Didier Dagueneau who convinced Eric Bordelet, former sommelier at Paris’s three-star Arpège restaurant, to
develop a new, artisan style of cider, a natural product of character and thirst-quenching ability, which would also work
with a wide range of different food. And so Eric refurbished his family’s ancestral orchards and ciderworks and would
use his knowledge of viticulture to push for the highest level of quality.
The biodynamically farmed orchards – covering roughly nineteen hectares – are situated in southern Normandy where
the Domfrontais extends between the boundaries of the Mayenne and the Orne.
Treat this Pear cider/perry as you would a wine, it's delicate yet complex flavours, complement shellfish dishes such as grilled prawns or scallops wonderfully. Of course, it is also utterly delicious on it's own!
Falerio ‘Oris’, Ciu Ciu, Marche, Italy
Ciù Ciù winery was established in 1970 by husband and wife Natalino and Anna Bartolomei. It is located right out of Offida a medieval tiny little village full of events and traditions. The hills near Offida and its surrounding villages between the rivers Tesino and Tronto allow for the production of top quality wines thanks to their beautiful location. Seabreezes coming from the east blow on the vines to create conditions for even ripening fruit. Ciu Ciu‘s organic wines are the pure expression of care and tradition. They are the result of research and quality both in vineyards and cellar.
This wine is produced in the hilly territories of the Ascoli Piceno province, approximately 300 metres above sea level. The autochthon vines, Pecorino and Passerina, blended with Trebbiano, create a characterful wine that can be enjoyed soon after the vintage is released.
Perfect with light fish dishes and spring risottos
Valpolicella, Alpha-Zeta
Alpha Zeta was started in 1999 to produce a range of modern, fruit-driven wines from the hills outside Verona. Leading New Zealand winemaker Matt Thomson works with growers (rather than buy bulk wine, which is standard among most wines from Verona at this price) to obtain ripe grapes (by reducing yields and picking later) and then, using Matt’s expertise, preserve these flavours in the finished wines. This has resulted in wines that offer great value, quality, balance and typicity.
The Valpolicella has bright, black cherry fruit and velvety tannins; a delicious wine that is perfect with pizza and light pasta dishes.
Hacienda Grimon, Rioja Blanco Sauvignon Blanc
Hacienda Grimón is run by the Oliváns, a family with a long winemaking tradition in Rioja. Grimón was established by Paco
Grimón who runs the bodega and his brother Eliseo who takes care of the viticulture. Their 25 hectares of vineyards are
based in the Valle de Jubera, a secluded and little-known corner of Rioja Alta with a great viticultural history. Viticulture is
organic – “always has been here, why do I need certification?” – with no use of herbicides and pesticides, sheep manure is
used as fertilizer. Hand harvesting is employed for all their vineyards. Great care is taken to provide the healthiest grapes of
the highest quality.
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is aged in old 225-litre barrels following fermentation for a short period before bottling, giving up a floral and aromatic white with a lovely texture on the palate.
Goes particularly well with grilled shellfish.
Ditcheat Hill
Prosecco ‘Chloe’, Althea, Veneto, Italy
Picpoul de Pinet, La Mirande
Picpoul is having something of a fashionable moment right now, everyone seems to have woken up to the fact that this is one of the most refreshing, delicious, reliable and affordable wine styles around.
This version, from the organic La Mirande estate is pure pleasure, offering real depth and flavour (more than most), whilst still retaining that fresh zippyness that we all love. A versatile food wine and a good fridge stand-by, it goes well will most seafood and salad dishes.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Amoterra
Great value organic wine from the Abruzzo region (Adriatic coast East from Rome).
Trebbiano can be a bit bland but in the right hands can make wines of real character. This has good depth of citrus and apple flavours and a long, pure finish.
A great wine to always have in the fridge in case you fancy a quick glass of something light and refreshing.
Goes well with light salads and sitting in the garden on a sunny day...
Ciconia Tinto, Casa Relvas
Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Aragonez plus others.. The Alentejo region of Portugal (North of the Algarve), produces some of the county's best value wines. This is a great example from Alexandre Relvas Jr and his team at Casa Relvas. It is rich and juicy blend with a long smooth finish, that tastes much more expensive than it is. Perfect for BBQ's and a really versatile wine to have on hand, complementing pizza, meaty pasta, pork chops...
Chateau Bellecroix
Château Bellecroix has a long and rich history dating back to the late 1800's. It was purchased in the 1970’s by owner of Château Haut Calens, Albert Yung. Albert has since embarked upon a programme of modernising the entire estate, replanting the vineyards and rebuilding the winery and cellars. Located on the right bank of the Garonne, the clay and gravel soils are ideal for growing Merlot and Cabernet. The 35 acres of vines average 25 years of age and yield healthy, richly flavoured grapes. This wine from the superb 2015 vintage is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a silky-textured, medium bodied Bordeaux with blackcurrants, black cherry, violets and a hint of Cedar box. Finely balanced by lively acidity and smooth tannins.
Great value Claret! Goes with roast beef and lamb of course...
Organic Macabeo, Castano, Yecla
This is a great value certified organic wine from the Castano family in South East Spain. This Macabeo (known as Viura further north in Spain and Macabeu in France) is a lovely light, fresh wine with good depth of citrus flavours. A versatile food wine with enough flavour to stand up to some spice but also delicious on it’s own!
Monbazillac ‘Jour de Fruit’ 37.5cl, Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure
Monbazillac has a long history (known as early as the 14th century) and is one of the world’s great sweet wines; similar in style to Sauternes but usually offering better value for money. Here, Christian Roche is one of the best winemakers and his attention to detail and organic practices shine through in the wines.
Light and juicy, with the sweetness balanced by good acidity, this is a great introduction to dessert wines; perfect as an all-rounder with a cheese board or with fruit desserts.
‘Hecula’ Monastrell, Castano, Yecla
Based in Yecla, Familia Castaño is known for its huge efforts to promote one of Spain’s native varieties: Monastrell. Castaño embodies the best of what southern Spain has to offer, producing rich, warm-climate wines, with almost Syrah-like complexity, which overdeliver in terms of value year after year. Castaño began bottling characterful, single-varietal Monastrell in the 1980s, when the variety was used exclusively for bulk wines and blending. Today, in the expert hands of Daniel Castaño and his family, the variety maintains high quality even at moderate to generous yields. 80% of the family’s 600 hectares of vineyards are dedicated to Monastrell, with smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Macabeo and Chardonnay among others.
This is a big, rich, full-bodied wine made from the Monastrell grape in the Yecla region of south west Spain. Really over-delivers for the price; so tasty! Has always been one of our favourites, and now it's certified organic! Win Win
A great steak wine, but also just one of the best all-round wines on the market. Seriously good.
The Liberator Syrah
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.
Niepoort Ruby Dum 1/2 bottle
Named after the Alice in Wonderland characters Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dee, these wines offer a great introduction to Dirk Niepoort's wines
The Ruby Dee is dark red in colour with a fresh vibrant aroma of dark fruits which follows through on the palate along with an almost mineral character, a youthful wine with good extract and great balance, offering superb "drinkability".
Ready to drink now after a meal on its own or with a selection of cheeses.
Cotes de Gascogne, Duffour Pere & Fils,
This family producer based in central Gascony (South-West France), is considered one of the best in the area. Their wines have a depth of flavour which is often lacking here; their philosophy is firmly quality over quantity! This is a blend of Colombard, Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc (quite a mouthful!); It’s clean, fresh and modern in style, aromatic with a long, dry finish. Very quaffable and great value.
Roqueterre Carignan ‘Vieilles Vignes’
Deya Steady Rollin’ Man Pale Ale 5.2%
Deya from Cheltenham are making beers that are really creating waves in the beer world...the new coolest brewery??
Anyway, this is fantastic, a really fresh and tasty Pale Ale but with a subtle savoury side that makes it that little bit more interesting than most.
Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
