Red Wine

The controlled drying (appassimento) of the harvested grapes, which lasts for a about one hundred days, brings with it the great aromatic intensity of dark fruit and undergrowth, together with spicy and tobacco notes. The impact on the palate is powerful and vigorous, with the wine gradually tapering on the acidic and savoury momentum, extending gently with a clean, dry finish.

Outstanding Chianti Classico Riserva from the cooler north west of Chianti. Grown on soils very similar to Felsina's vineyards in Berardenga, this cooler terroir in Argiano helps produce a wine of great energy, elegance and inherent harmony. La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano is the personal project of Giampaolo Chiettini. Giampaolo spent a good number of years working alongside Paolo di Marchi at Isole e Olena where he fell deeply in love with Sangiovese and honed his skills and became a very highly regarded winemaker of the region. Antinori and Ca' del Bosco have also used Giampaolo's services over the years. He still consults and makes wine for the outstanding Castagnoli and brilliant newcomers Ejamu amongst others. This personal project comes from a beautiful, tiny (1ha!) vineyard in Argiano in the San Casciano Val di Pesa commune. Organic Sangiovese grapes are destemmed and gently crushed then undergo wild fermentation with natural yeasts. The wine is bred in used tonneaux. Giampaolo's trained, light hand in the cellar has helped produce a really rather wonderful Chianti Classico Riserva. This 2021 knocked us out. Immense energy and focus to the wonderful fruit and character. Only 2,000 bottles produced. This wine proves utterly marvellous drinking now, but shall age gracefully and beautifully for many years. We can't wait to follow the evolution! The Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 was one of only a handful of wines to scoop the score of 17.5/20 from Walter Speller on jancisrobinson.com in the "Chianti Classico Riserva 2021" section of his full report on 2021 and 2020 Riserva and 2021 Gran Selezione, published earlier in 2024.

Part of the world-famous Hess Collection of Napa. Inky, lifted, jewel-bright, no hint of over-sweetness, proper meat wine. Vegan, sustainable.

Ibizkus Wine, founded in 2007, has now established itself as one of the finest wineries on the island of Ibiza. They produce wine from nearly half the island’s registered vineyards, all originally planted for auto-consumption, of which the vast majority is the black grape, Monastrell. Seen as one of the founding and iconic grapes of Ibiza’s long winemaking past, Ibizkus use it to produce fine reds and flagship rose. About 40% of its production is dedicated to national and export markets, and to promoting its fabulous wines, quality and winemaking potential of this famous Balearic Island across Europe. The grapes are destemmed, inoculated with indigenous starter yeasts and fermented in concrete then aged in second and third use 500 l. French oak barrels for 5 months. The Can Basso Tinto is an brilliant, intriguing wine with savoury, smoky aromatics and a touch of florality reminiscent of Nebbiolo. Full-bodied but not heavy, with lots of dark black fruits and spice, with a wonderful earthiness and well-defined but soft (surprising for Monastrell) tannins.

Here’s something you don’t come across everyday…a Nebbiolo/Cabernet blend that is fermented and aged in concrete egg. The choice of fermentation vessel aids circulation during teh ferment which imparts depth, volume and texture to the resultant wine. This fabulous wine not only has a cool, egg-shaped label, but drinks beautifully, showing bright acidity and a lovely balance between sweet blackcurrant fruit and something altogether more savoury and herbal. The finish is clean and multi-layered. It has a purity of fruit that allows the drinker to experience the flavours of BNebbiolo without the normal oak influence tasted in Piemontese versions.

First planted in 1860, the ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard has been in the Henschke family since 1891, with Cyril Henschke producing its first single-vineyard Shiraz in 1958. Planted at 400 metres above sea level, this 4-hectare vineyard is named after the Gnandenberg Lutheran Church opposite (‘Gnadenberg’ translates to ‘Hill of Grace’ in German). The site’s original ‘Ancestors’ vines are now approximately 160 years old and remain at the heart of the ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard, alongside a small selection of ungrafted ‘Centenarians’ (vines over 100 years old), ‘Survivors’ (vines over 70 years old) and ‘Old Vines’ (over 35 years old). The 2019 vintage was aged for 18 months in oak hogsheads, of which 20% was new and 80% seasoned (90% French and 10% American). 19.5+ points – Matthew Jukes, March 2024,MatthewJukes.com 97 points – Sarah Ahmed, March 2024,Decanter.com 19.5 points – Jancis Robinson MW, March 2024,JancisRobinson.com 97 points – Erin Larkin, April 2024,WineAdvocate.com 99 points – Dave Brookes, April 2024,WineCompanion.com.au 97 points – Huon Hooke, February 2024,The Real Review

Museum release of the iconic Hill of Grace. First planted in 1860, the ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard has been in the Henschke family since 1891, with Cyril Henschke producing its first single-vineyard Shiraz in 1958. Planted at 400 metres above sea level, this 4-hectare vineyard is named after the Gnandenberg Lutheran Church opposite (‘Gnadenberg’ translates to ‘Hill of Grace’ in German). The site’s original ‘Ancestors’ vines are now approximately 160 years old and remain at the heart of the ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard, alongside a small selection of ungrafted ‘Centenarians’ (vines over 100 years old), ‘Survivors’ (vines over 70 years old) and ‘Old Vines’ (over 35 years old). 20 points – Jancis Robinson MW, March 2024, JancisRobinson.com 19.5 points – Matthew Jukes, March 2024,MatthewJukes.com 96 points – Sarah Ahmed, March 2024,Decanter.com 97 points – Erin Larkin, March 2024, WineAdvocate.com 98 points – Dave Brookes, April 2024, WineCompanion.com.au 99 points – Huon Hooke, February 2024,

Lovely little property turning out ripe fruity claret at a good price. More of these please!

An icon of Napa Valley, the Frog's Leap style is much more elegant and less monumental that the usual Napa output... Fine-boned, classy and long lived.

The legend that is Scavino - one of the top growers in Barolo.

Kate McIntyre is the queen of Mornington, consistently turning out the most critically acclaimed wines from this famous area near Melbourne. "A real treat of a wine, with rhubarb, beetroot, strawberry and spice flavours. A showboater, and while the stemmy character is a strong influence, I think it works brilliantly." 17.5 jancisrobinson.com (2014 Vintage)

Robert Oatley Wines is a family owned winery, now managed by Sandy Oatley who continues his late father’s legacy. Directing this winemaking empire is the much-admired vigneron Larry Cherubino, alongside a team of acclaimed winemakers. Together, the team keep focus on their primary mission: to produce wines reflective of their roots, showing the importance of provenance, using modern techniques and machinery to achieve premium results. The Finisterre range is an impressive element of the Robert Oatley offering. Finisterre, meaning ‘the end of the earth’, is an inspiring collection of single- varietal, single-region wines from Australia’s finest wine-making locations. These small batches of wine are packed with character and personality, highlighting the importance of carefully selecting sites within the very best regions and sub-regions Australia has to offer. Each wine demonstrates the unique soil and climate conditions which enrich the vines, producing high quality wines layered with flourish and finesse. Hand harvesting, fruit sorting and a considered winemaking approach, gives purity and clean flavour expression to this highly desirable range of wines.

Second label from Paul Valade's Castillon estate. Pale garnet. Mature nose. Sweet start and rich in flavour. Still quite a bit of tannin so this is not going to fall over. Lots of personality - Justerini & Brooks.

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This classic Cabernet shows inviting flavours of blackberry, with hints of cocoa, almond and cedar. A full-bodied wine with excellent balance on the palate and a smooth lingering aftertaste, it just cries out for some lamb or beef steak. Really delicious.

2nd Wine of Ch Laroque, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. Made of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc from vines more than 50 years old, the medium to deep garnet-purple coloured 2019 Les Tours de Laroque opens with pretty raspberry coulis, black cherries and warm plums scents with underlying fungi, black loam and cracked pepper hints plus a touch of beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and fresh, with a firm line of grainy tannins, it delivers a graceful, earthy finish.

"Elegant, with well-defined cedar spice notes to the bright cherry, raspberry and currant flavors. The creamy finish lingers, with an interesting mix of cocoa and juniper berry accents. ” Wine Spectator, 90 pts

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

An elegant and restrained Pinot Noir from Alsace, typically youthful and filled with summer berries, cherries and slightly warmer notes. This carries over to the palate with refreshing acidity balanced by the quality of fruit and the ever so soft tannins.

Produced exclusively from Gamay grapes harvested from vines around 45 years old, and the vineyards are situated in a natural amphitheatre around the Château. It's matured in large oak vats before bottling, and the fruity, floral wine is an excellent pairing with cheese. The grapes are hand picked, sorted and de-stemmed before being put into temperature controlled stainless steel vats for a long (2-3 week) maceration period during which the chapeau de marc -the cap of the grape skins- is regularly pushed down into the juice (pigeage), to enhance the aromatics, colour and body of the finished wine. After pneumatic pressing, the malolactic fermentation takes place gently and slowly throughout the winter after which the wine is bottled in the spring. The wines are always aged for several months at the chateau before release.

This natural wine is chocca block packed full of bramble fruit notes with raspberry and blackberry dominating the aroma, smooth and juicy with complex notes of blueberry and moderate acidity and smooth tannins on the finish.

Explosion of red fruits on the nose, including raspberry, cherry and ripe strawberry. The palate is smooth and rich with very soft tannins and clean acidity. This is medium bodied with a pleasing finish.

Very light ruby colour, impressive aromas of dark cherry and wild berries with flavours bursting deep and pure on the palate. Intense and balanced with fine tannins and an expressive juicy finish. A delicious refreshing, light and juicy red that can be enjoyed lightly chilled.