There are 118 products in this category
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Domaine Gayda
Winemaker Vincent Chansault is particularly happy with this release of Gayda's top, single vineyard Syrah from a beautiful site high up in La Liviniere. Extrememly limited. One for Cote-Rotie lovers. The 'Dream House' in question was built by the owner in the vineyards for his ailing wife to spend her last days. She miraculously recovered and her story inspired Vincent to make his dream wine from Syrah in La Liviniere.
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Iona
Cool climate freshness and fragrant sweet, ripe cherry and blackberry flavours, with firm, ripe tannins. Blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Mouvedre, Viognier. Drinking well now and suitable for cellaring for at least 10 years.
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Domaine Delhome
"I knew our terroirs very well, and knew that we could exploit them to the full. With Romain’s experience of vinifications all around the world, I was happy to launch the domaine". Gérald Delhome "This is an interesting newcomer to the ranks in the northern sector of Crozes-Hermitage, with vineyards in the communes of Crozes itself, Larnage, Gervans and Erôme. There are almost 11.5 hectares of Crozes across 20 plots, Romain is the fifth generation; his great-grandfather Flavien Delhome had vineyards, while, on his mother’s side there were vineyards under her family in the shape of Severin Habrard, so there are two old roots at play here. Father Gérald took over the domaine in 1993, and concentrated on apricots and vines, the grape harvest sent to the Cave de Tain. Son Romain came on to the domaine in 2018; he had worked locally at Gigondas and in the Ventoux at Chêne Bleu, as well as in Virginia in the USA. The cellar was built in 2019. The domaine is HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) registered, a green credential, and the 2022 harvest will be officially organic. 100% Marsanne (1950s-late-1990s) from sandy-loess soils on Les Védias at Erôme & Gervans, hand harvested, whole bunch pressing, 3-4 day pre-fermentation maceration at 6°-8°C, vinification in steel vat until 1060-1050 specific gravity, then transferred to 3-10 year 228-litre oak casks, lees stirred at the end of fermentation, raised 9-10 months. 5,500 bottles produced". Wonderfully idiosyncratic. A lovely delicacy and intricacy, one is almost unsure the varietal is Marsanne, such is its elegance. The aftertaste is really delicious and where the wine really comes into its own - savoury, saline, nutty with a note of marzipan and, oddly, a touch of aromatic hops. Brilliant from the young star Romain!
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Tesselaarsdal
Berene Sauls has a very unique story. Growing up in a small village in the Overberg, Berene admits that she came from a beer-drinking community, and wine was never really on her radar. Her first exposure was at the age of 19, when she began working for the trailblazing Hamilton Russell family as an au pair. Lasting only a month, her talents at childcare aside, Anthony Hamilton Russell recognised her drive and thought a job working in the winery office would better suit her. Thrown in at the deep end knowing really nothing about wine, she was soon exposed to every side of the business - assisting with exports, bottling and labelling, driving forklifts and picking during harvest too, as well as on the side, "growing and developing a palate that wasn't there!" Her curiosity kept her rising through the ranks, and fifteen years after starting her career, Anthony offered her the opportunity to make her first wine, aided by proficient head winemaker Emul Ross. She leapt at the opportunity, and the rest is history. She named her business Tesselaarsdal for the small village that she grew up in, and if you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene and her grandmother. From unirrigated vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, and this is just her third release! Crisp acidity and lean minerality underpin notes of melon and tangerine fruit and accents of lime blossom. A triumphant expression of terroir, this medium-bodied, cool climate wine is both silky and fresh and boasts a long, elegant finish.
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MollyDooker
A wine that wraps your entire palate in a ‘Velvet Glove’ of exquisite, everlasting fruit flavours. This is the pinnacle of Mollydooker winemaking.
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Domaine les Pallieres
Not only is the magnificent Gigondas estate 500 years old, it's owned by Daniel and Frédéric Brunier. Know the name? They are behind Châteauneuf's leading estate, Vieux Télégraphe. Meting out the same care, they produce this rich, old-vine Gigondas. And Daniel reckons that 2019 is his best vintage to date. A perfectly balanced wine, finely poised and with great length.
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Vondeling Wines
The Vondeling Babiana is predominantly made from old chenin blanc vines planted in 1986. Their age and low yield ensure consistent quality and concentration, which is why it forms the backbone of this blend. The fullness of the Chenin Blanc is tempered by the verve and high aromatics of the Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne. Platter's 2021 South African Wine Guide, 5 stars - Regular quartet, chenin with viognier, roussanne & grenache blanc, difference lies in vintage variation. Glorious 2019 symphonic assembly of honeyed spice fragrance, weighty silk texture, the layered complexity gaining futher depth from fine acid line. Natural ferment in oak, 8 months on lees, 4 months as a blend. 2018 (92 points) also gorgeous.
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Jon. Joh. Prüm
Light, very fresh, clean nose. Green apples and light spritz. Lots of very clean acidity. Seems lighter than 10%. Stony finish with medium persistence. Strongly stony character. Already a joy to taste. 17/20 Jancis Robinson MW
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Greywacke
A seductive combination of white nectarine, pink grapefruit and candied orange rind mingles with the more savoury aromas of roasted chestnuts and hot buttered brioche – an elaborate concoction infused with linseed and woodsmoke. The savouriness carries through onto a wonderfully dry palate that has great texture and concentration, with distinct flintiness, tight structure and terrific ageing potential.
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Greywacke
Right from the get-go, this sets itself apart from the rest of the pack with a level of polish, complexity and balance. The nose has ripe peach and mango fruits; gentle savoury, yeasty complexity adds biscuity aromas too. The palate has an immediate sense of concentration and the textural richness builds in smooth layers; there’s pear and nectarine, and a juicy, precise finish. Scents of a summer orchard: juicy nectarines, plump sun-dried apricots and tree-ripened lemons mingled with musky oriental spices. The palate is silky and sumptuous – warm honeyed stone fruit with almonds and shortcake. A lithe, textural wine of intense richness, laced with a citrusy, sherbet-like zest.
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Dow's
This famous Port house's best vineyard makes great wines with distinctive aromas of mint and violet with intense concentration and fine peppery tannins. Dow's is owned by the Symington family, Port producers for five generations since 1882,
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Luis Canas
Ripe red fruits combine with interwoven oak to give touches of spice, cherries and a hint of licquorice. A beautifully elegant, lasting finish. 12 months in French oak & 6 months in American oak
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Cantina di Negrar
Colour is ruby red, dense and compact. Nose has big intensity and persistence, ethereal, fruity with hints of cherries and dried prunes, dried flowers, sweet spices. On the palate, the wine is densely structured and smooth, perfectly balancing its rich endowment of velvety tannins.
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Ricossa
Smells like LUXURY! Super-low yield Barbera from the best sunny spots, some serious winemaking and a lick of posh new oak. What a beauty. What a bargain. Dark, silky, last time I had a Barbera this rich and lush was in California, and it cost 3 tines as much! Nizza is a new top-end DOCG created to separate the best plots of Barbera - great success.
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Vina Cobos
"A wine that has changed in style in recent vintages, with less reliance on oak and greater fruit focus, this combines grapes from Gualtallary, Los Chacayes and Villa Bastías. Pear and lemongrass flavours are complemented by a hint of cream from 10% malolactic." Tim Atkin MW, 91 points
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Vega Sicilia
2013 is a subtle, elegant, fresh, vertical, complex, silky, and well-defined vintage. This wine is a true paradox, enjoyable to drink now, but timeless when allowed to age in bottle. The rainy end to the harvest left its imprint on the wine from this vintage. 2013 was a year to spend time in the vineyard, tend to it with care, and not rest on your laurels during harvest. A more elegant, subtle, and complex profile. The grapes are harvested from the 40 hectares used to produce Unico, a wine that ages at least ten years between barrel and bottle, representing one of the world's longest ageing processes. For the first phase, we used 225-litre French and American oak barrels to start to structure the wine; the second phase involved using 22,000-litre wooden vats. A long, complex, yet wonderful wine construction, during which they obtain endless nuances, definition, texture, and depth over time. This incredible terroir and the unique ageing process make our wines timeless when they aged.
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Domaine Comelade
Lionel Comelade produces this stunning wine from ancient vine Macabeu and Grenache Gris grown on amazing black and white schist soil vineyards between Estagel and Latour de France in the Roussillon. Both white grapes were harvested later in the season in 1990 with high sugar levels. The grapes were partially fermented in concrete vats and then neutral brandy was added to stop fermentation and keep natural sweetness in the wine. Then the wine was passed to second use oak barrels and left in the cellar for 32 years before bottling (to order). No ‘topping up’ of the barrels occurred in the 33 years. The wine is tremendous, possibly surpassing the 1988. It is ‘ambre’ in colour. A bright, wild nose with orange rind, orange oil and warm spices. The palate is thrilling with great complexity and depth with thrilling, wild acidity which really charms. Astonishing and quite unique. The wine is one of the best value fortified wines in the world. 33 years of age, so interesting and delicious. A steal at this price.
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R. López de Heredia
López de Heredia - Viña Tondonia is particularly well-known and admired for its white wines, and Viña Gravonia is a very good option for getting to know its good work, a first step, and obviously much more affordable and accessible. Just its appearance, its colour, demonstrates clearly this winery’s exceptional work as true masters in the art of ageing wine: notice how little this white has been evolving; aged for four years in American oak barrels, with a long maturation in bottle until now, and yet it appears a lovely gold colour without evolution. Viña Gravonia is the house's most modest wine but its complexity is quite remarkable. The first impression on the nose is one of maturity and moisture: wet stones, sea breezes, gentle whiffs of iodine, which come as a surprise to anyone accustomed to lighter, younger whites, but which immediately captivates lovers of mature, complex whites. Swirling it round a little, straightaway it offers a blend of fresh, citrus aromas, with lactic notes (cheese) and ripe fruits, of ripe pear skin and lime blossom tea, with a very pleasant freshness once it becomes still in the glass. It is dry on the palate: don't expect a sweetish wine with this sort of maturity; its acidity is extraordinary and will enable it to continue evolving over time. The notes suggesting moisture and other aromas discerned on the nose are repeated now on the palate: evolved fruit, raw almonds and notes reminding us of cheese. It is an easy wine to drink, fluid, medium-bodied, a perfect companion for aperitifs and less complex dishes, mushrooms, full-fat cheeses and any mild dish combining these ingredients. Tondonia white wines relate extremely well to food and should be served at virtually the temperature of a red, remember: at about 14-16 degrees, or you will miss out on all its richness!
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Von Hovel
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Paololeo
Beautiful deep purple garnet. Nose of chocolate, cherry, violet and vanilla. Some liquorice. . Bitter chocolate, liquorice and vanilla. Some plum, blackcurrant and black cherry. The tannins are balanced yet well pronounced. It’s a proper Primitivo.
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Savage
Duncan Savage matriculated at Rondebosch Boys High School in 1995. In 2016. Savage Wines was set up in the heart of Cape Town in Salt River. Vineyards for his wines are leased and grapes sourced from around the Western Cape, maritime in nature where possible. Granitic soil is the focus. From Duncan Savage: Grapes sourced from the Langverwagt farm in Kuils River on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Decomposed granite soils overlooking Table Bay and False Bay, a perfect home for maritime Stellenbosch Syrah. Three parcels of vines, all trellised but farmed as a sprawl canopy - a trellised bush vine of sorts. Soils are poor, vigour is low and grapes are scarce, all a perfect recipe for classically styled Syrah. All the fruit is sorted as whole bunches before spontaneous fermentation in conical foudre and open top fermenters. 30% of the fruit is fermented as submerged cap with regular aeration, the balance as a normal fermentation with 2-4 aerated pump overs per day. 2-3 weeks on skins is followed by basket pressing and aging in old 500L barrels for 13 months. The wine then spends a further 10 months in foudre prior to bottling. 2021 is a classic vintage. Obviously I’m slightly biased, but I do feel that this wine may be one of the best Savage Reds we have made to date. Plums, lavender, cola, violets and the characteristic Langverwagt white pepper. The palate is taught and focused compliments of the granitic soil tannin structure and a classic vintage. A wine that will drink well for the next 10-15 years
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Gian Luca Colombo
A beautiful and pure expression of young Nebbiolo from one of the most exciting winemakers in Italy. After Gian Luca completed his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology after 11 years of study and worked as a wine consultant across Italy in 2011 he started his own small winery in the heart of his native Langhe. Within 3 years he won the Gambelli award for Young Winemaker of the Year. His small Segni di Langa estate is located in Roddi in Barolo country and working sustainably he takes a very minimal interventionist approach allowing each vintage to showcase itself. Making his wines in the 'garage' beneath his house he typifies the small scale, high quality, personal style of winemaking. Roddi, 220 m. South./South East facing. Two small vineyards planted by Gian Luca to Pelaverga Piccolo. Fermented wild and raised in clay Amphora. Something really rare! Verduno Pelaverga is the smallest DOC in the Barolo region in the far north, where the indigenous variety Pelaverga Piccolo grows. Quite a light colour, pale but brilliant and bright and oh-so fragrant with floral aromas dominated by roses, violets and super pure raspberry - both the berry and the leaves. Vibrant, charming and simply a wonderful, curious drink.