Wine Tastings
| Style | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Grape | Merlot |
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Excelsior Merlot
£10.50
This delicious Merlot comes from the Robertson region, 100km east of Cape Town; Classic plum and blackberry flavours and a lovely smooth finish. Yum!
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Mas Saint-Louis
Mas Saint Louis, located at the centre of the appellation, has been in the Geniest family since 1890. The cellar is located on the ancient route from Avignon, on the edge of the town. There are 30 hectares of vines planted on a combination of gravel sand and galets, with an average age of 40 years. The oldest Grenache vines make up 80% of the red cuvée. Syrah, which is planted in the heart of the village, accounts for around 8% of the blend. Cinsault and gobelet pruned Mourvèdre make up the balance. Everything is hand-harvested and sorted in the vines, before being delivered to the cellar.
Very drinkable and complex. Old fashioned, but in a positive way. The 2014 shows real freshness and has a lovely fruit profile. Drawing comparisons to the wines produced by the family Reynaud might be dangerous, but that is what comes to mind. It certainly shows Pinot-like character.Proper Chateuneuf-du-Pape from a great producer, miles away from the dreary, disappointing bottles often sold in supermarkets.Perfect with roast lamb with all the trimmings.
Pinot Noir, Heirloom Vineyards
Heirloom Vineyards make wines from various regions, carefully selecting grapes from organically farmed vineyards. This Pinot Noir from Adelaide Hills, is a great example of really well-made Australian Pinot. It has the perfect balance between rich, red fruit flavours and more serious savoury characteristics. It has a long, juicy finish and exudes quality that would put many a more expensive Pinot to shame.
If you are a Pinot Noir fan, you can drink this with just about anything (I do), but it goes particularly well with grilled lamb chops!
Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Safres’, Le Clos du Caillou’
The much-lauded Le Clos du Caillou produces classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines that just keep getting better, year-on-year. The domaine is situated on the edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is unique in that, in 1936, the owner (who was then away at a hunting retreat) refused to allow the experts who were drawing up the boundaries of the appellation to visit his domaine. Thus, it was not included in the delimited area and remains to this day an enclave within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The domaine practices biodynamic farming techniques and was certified "Agriculture Biologique" in 2010 and "Vin Biologique" in 2012. Their trademark style lies in full-bodied wines with rich red fruit flavours, velvety texture and fine tannins.Les Safres is 95% Grenache with the rest Mourvedre, Cinsault & Vaccarese. Not too heavy for a Chateauneuf but great intensity of pure spicy dark fruit. Really impressive.
Albarino, Newton Johnson
Newton Johnson are famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but this new addition to their range has won them huge plaudits. The Spanish grape Albarino, is taking off all around the World as more and more people fall in love with it. Less intense than Sauvignon but still crisp and fresh, this is a variety you need to try.
This version is very well-made (as you would expect from Gordon Newton Johnson), perhaps slightly fleshier and juicier than it's Spanish relatives, but still elegant and food-friendly. Delicious.
Perfect with shellfish, BBQ prawns, lobster mayonnaise, grilled fish with olive oil.
Henschke ‘Keyneton Euphonium’
Available to pre-order for delivery/collection from Thursday Oct 7th66% Syrah/Shiraz , 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet FrancThe Henschke family have been making wine at their estate in the Eden Valley since 1868. Fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke took over running the winery in 1979. Through a combination of great viticulture from Prue, named ‘Outstanding Viticulturalist 2020’, who is at the forefront of re-introducing native plants into their vineyards to improve biodiversity, and winemaking from Stephen, they have built upon their inheritance and turned this traditional producer into one that is celebrated all around the world.Keyneton Euphonium is a beautiful composition of Shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from selected vineyards in both regions, some of which were planted by Cyril Henschke at his Eden Valley property in the 1960's. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the early settlers, and was home to the Henschke Family Brass Band, founded in 1888. It featured wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, a large brass wind instrument, which has been lovingly restored and remains in the Henschke family.While the Hill of Grace and Mount Edlestone Shiraz fetch high prices, i think this wine is the jewel in the Henschke crown; The depth of fruit and complexity is incredible and it is affordable!A wine for big steaks, roast beef and classy barbecues!
St. Chinian ‘La Laouzil’, Thierry Navarre
Carignan/Grenache/SyrahThierry 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.
‘Bucerchiale’ Chianti Rufina Riserva, Selvapiana
Bucerchiale is the name of Selvapiana’s finest vineyard in the small Rufina zone of Chianti. Organically farmed by the Giuntini family since 1827. 100% Sangiovese but more powerful than the Cepparello; still balanced with great complexity and a fine match for the best steak (Bistecca alla Fiorentina…)
