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Domaine des Perserons Saint Véran 2015
£17.50The picturesque Mâconnais countryside of rolling vineyards in southern Burgundy is peppered with Romanesque churches, many dating back to the medieval times, each with their own weathervane (‘girouettes’ in French) atop their spier and bell-towers.
The vineyards of Domaine des Perserons lie on some of the best southeast facing slopes of their small appellation of Saint Véran within the Mâconnais hills, looking out towards the landmark outcrops of Vergisson and Solutré.
Chardonnay vines of over 40 years old produce a wine rich in flavour with dashing citrus fruit streaked with minerality. The finish is elegant with underlying complexity and finesse.
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Ginestet Classique Sauternes (50cl) 2016
£14.85Grapes are sourced from vineyards within the Graves district of Bordeaux. Botrytis (noble rot) is allowed to affect the grapes, concentrating their sweetness and flavour. The grapes are hand-picked late in the vintage and, on average, it takes 3 passes through the vineyard to ensure that the maximum quantity of grapes have been beneficially affected by botrytis. The grapes are treated very carefully during pressing so as not to damage them and to maintain their delicate characteristics.
A classic botrytis nose; rich in honey and sweet floral tones with hints of citrus marmalade. The palate is rich and smooth with similar sweet floral and honeyed apricot flavours but with a faintly citrus note in the finish which makes it very moreish.
The ultimate dessert wine – serve chilled with a host of fruit or cream based desserts. Try also with blue cheeses such as Roquefort or Stilton. Or serve it as the French also do, as an apéritif, or with pâté-based canapes. SO much to choose from!
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Alberca Reserva Pinot Noir, Chile 2018
£10.15Coming from a single block of fruit in the Casablanca Valley, the Pinot Noir grapes benefit from alluvial soils, a long ripening season and optimum diurnal temperature variation (warm days cold nights.
Due to its proximity to the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean it is ideal for the production of exquisite Pinot Noir. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a low fermentation temperatures is used to avoid hard extraction. There grapes are fragile so there is lots of gentle pumping over help to avoid bad tannins.
Vibrant raspberry and red cherry fruit lifts effortlessly out of the glass. The palate is rich with raspberry and red berry fruit. The wine has a supple finish and displays classic Casablanca charm. The wine is aged for 3 months in French oak.
Goose and duck (and dare we say turkey) immediately spring to mind…
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out of stock
Walter Bressia Sylvestra Malbec 2019
£14.15Impeccably proper old vine Malbec from the brilliant Bressias.
From the Bodega of Walter Bressia, they seek a much brighter fruit expression. Very largely unoaked, this is 25 year old vine Malbec from the Agrelo district of Mendoza, 940 metres above sea level (altitude is such a positive feature in wine growing to lock in acidity and retain flavour).
The wine is hugely aromatic with violet notes. The violet characters follow through to a fine, cedary palate with bags of soft bramble and red cherry fruit.
A big, juicy steak is the perfect partner here!
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Alpha Box & Dice ‘Enigma” Barbera, McLaren Vale 2018
£19.50Riddle me this… What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end and the end of every race? It’s “E” of course.
The AB&D Enigma is a puzzle well worth solving, as a puzzle has many sides, only some visible at first, but the deeper you dig the more is revealed. Barbera is the grape variety here – thought to have originated in the hills of Piemonte, Italy, it’s high in natural acidity, low in tannin, tricky in the vineyard, tricky in the winery, but by the beard of Zeus does it ever shape-shift into a soifalicious drink in the glass when all the panels of the vinous Rubik’s Cube align. Barbera you saucy, puzzling little minx.
With the colour of arterial blood, the nose reveals wild berries, rhubarb and custard. The palate is dense, concentrated and brooding opening to a rich mid-palate with cherry-stone fruit and bitter plum and a long finish with a gentle brick-like texture.
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47 Anno Domini Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry D.O.C. Millesimato
£12.85In brief: Nicknamed the ‘Squiggly One’ in our office we appreciate that the market is flooded with Prosecco but we are always on the look out for small and interesting finds to import on an exclusive basis.
Appearance: A straw yellow in colour with hints of green.
Nose: Fruity green apple and white flowers.
Palate: Dry and velvety, fresh, vibrant and fruity, full-bodied, excellent acidity and long-lasting flavour.
What’s on the label: Millesamato simple means from a single vintage (at least 85% of the Glera grapes have to be from the same harvest).
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Hugh Hamilton Wines Mixed Case
£93.00As with all families one is a Black Sheep and Hugh is it. Hugh Hamilton wines are far from ordinary. Hugh has a clear vision about the way he sees wines and he produces accordingly. Hugh’s legacy continues as Mary is now the CEO of the family winery and brings insight, energy and enormous talent to this exciting winery. The black sheep is the master of a most reprobate flock – this is no ordinary line up.
The wines are not ordinary either. There is a fascinating range of very individualistic wines that have great character. They have such character and depth of flavour they can become a topic of dinner party conversation on their own.The case price of £93 includes a 5% discount from the RRP Case price £97.90. Price includes sale price.
The selection is as follows:
x 1 Hugh Hamilton ‘The Scallywag’ Chardonnay 2015 RRP £9.50
x 1 Hugh Hamilton, The Intruder, Sauvignon Blanc 2019 RRP £14.50
x 1 Hugh Hamilton ‘The Scoundrel’ Tempranillo 2016 RRP £17.95
x 1 Hugh Hamilton ‘The Mongrel’ Sangiovese Blend 2016 RRP £16.95
x 2 Hugh Hamilton, The Moocher, Mourvèdre 2018 RRP £19.50
Click here to browse our entire Hugh Hamilton range!
Suitable for vegans!
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out of stock
Naia Verdejo 2019
£12.95The grapes come from 98 acres of vineyards, the majority of which are 26 years old (and 5 acres of which are ungrafted 90 year old Verdejo vines) all located in La Seca. The wine undergoes four months lees ageing and daily battonage. 70% of the wine is aged in stainless steel, and 30% in French oak barrels of varying sizes (10,000, 600 and 500 litre).
Ripe stone fruit aromas with lightly savoury, herbal notes. The palate has flavours of ripe citrus, fresh nectarine and peach. Textural with a subtle bitter twist on the bright and long finish.
Great with a shellfish salad of crisp greens, olives and tomatoes.
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Agustín Lanús Sunal Icono Malbec 2015
£42.95In 2006 Agustin Lanus travelled to the upper Calchaqui
Valley Argentina for the first time with the specific goal of
learning more about the unique micro-terroirs found at
extreme altitudes. These terroirs, ranging from 1,650 to
3,100 meters above sea level, host some of the highest
vineyards in the world.“Many say that driving 9 hours into the mountains on
dangerous dirt roads just to check on our grapes is crazy, but
then they try the wine and they understand.” – Agustín LanúsVinification: The wine made using 100% native yeast, cold
pre-fermentation for 5 days, soft maceration of 30 days in
total and a natural malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged
for 24 months in a mix of French oak, 50% new and 50%
neutral used barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered before
aging 15 months in bottle before release.Tasting Note: The ultra-premium SUNAL Malbec wine is
made from grapes grown at the very limits of where grapes
can be grown. The length of time required for grapes to
mature at such extreme altitudes results in thick skins and
very low yields, allowing the winemaker to produce an
incredibly complex and full-bodied wine. The colour is a rich
purple, with the nose dominated by balsamic notes and black
fruits with floral scents and a long finish.Food Match: Cote de Boeuf, Tomahawk Steak, Charcoal roasted red meat cuts.
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Karim Mussi Wines Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec
£39.99‘Everything we do at Karim Mussi Wines – everything our
hands touch – is driven by terroir… We make wine that
speaks distinctly of the place it originates, which only makes
sense since Karim Mussi Wines are crafted in the finest
winegrowing region in Argentina……La Consulta, Uco Valley’
– Karim Mussi.Viticulture: Traditional vineyard techniques, later harvested
from older vineyards.Vinification: The grapes were carefully selected from
ancient vines (104 years old) and fermented at higher
temperatures to produce the traditional Argentine style
Malbec, long maceration and aged for twenty-four months in
new Burgundy oak to obtain an intense concentration of
colour, aromas and fruit flavours.Tasting Note: A rich, complex structure with dynamic smoky
oak combining beautifully with very ripe dark berry fruit, fine
grained tannins and a serious dry finish.Food Match: Perfect with steak but because of its savour
edge try with rich, earthy mushroom dishes and more
powerful cheeses -
out of stock
Fox Creek, ‘Arctic Fox’ NV
£16.95Fox Creek’s Arctic Fox is perfect for those seeking an alternative to Champagne.
A blend of three white varieties reflect all that is desirable from McLaren Vale’s climate and soils. Comprising of 55% Vermentino, 23% Verdelho, 22% Sauvignon Blanc.
The Vermentino’s crisp, structural and vibrant contribution is filled out by the Verdelho’s rich, tropical mid palate and yeasty lees stirred characteristics, while the Sauvignon Blanc twist gives the aromatics a lift and provides a herbaceous edge.
So how does it taste: A crisp and refreshing mix of lemon, lime, grapefruit and white nectarine flavours leading into a soft and fleshy mid palate of honeydew, green apple and lemon sorbet. The focused acidity combined with the voluminous mouth-feel finish the wine with crispness, persistence and length.
Suitable for vegans!
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Vegan Friendly Mixed Case
£50.70The reason that all wines are not vegan or even vegetarian-friendly has to do with how the wine is clarified and a process called ‘fining’. All young wines are hazy and contain tiny molecules such as proteins, tartrates, tannins and phenolics. These are all natural, and in no way harmful. Most wines, if left long enough, will self-stabilize and self-fine. However, traditionally producers have used a variety of aids called ‘fining agents’ to help the process along. Fining agents help precipitate out these haze-inducing molecules. Essentially, the fining agent acts like a magnet – attracting the molecules around it. Traditionally the most commonly used fining agents were casein (a milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein) and isinglass (fish bladder protein). These fining agents are known as processing aids. They are not additives to the wine, as they are precipitated out along with the haze molecules.
The case price of £50.7 includes a 10% discount off the RRP case price of £56.35. The selection is as follows:
x 1 Down The Rabbit Hole Friends & Lovers Sangiovese Rosé 2017 RRP £14.95
x 1 47 Anno Domini, Diamond Prosecco D.O.C. Spumante Extra Dry NV RRP £13.5
x 1 Hugh Hamilton ‘The Mongrel’ Sangiovese Blend 2016 RRP £16.95
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out of stock
K-Naia Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc 2019
£10.50The grapes come from 98 acres of vineyards, the majority of which are 26 years old (and 5 acres of which are ungrafted 90 year old Verdejo vines) all located in La Seca. The grapes are gently pressed and the juice settled for 24 hours. This is then racked to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation. The wine is aged on fine lees post ferment, for 3 months.
A nose of grapefruit, passion fruit, mandarin oil notes and lightly herbaceous characters. The palate is rich with minerality, racy lime zest acidity and a touch of stone fruit – giving a lovely texture and intensity, and tropical notes on the finish.
Fantastic with oily or grilled fish and seafood.
1 of the ‘10 best Spanish wines that will transport you to southern Europe with just a sip‘
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out of stock
Bouchon Granito Semillon 2019
£35.99It is hand harvested in the middle of March.
Grapes are pressed in a vertical press, followed by barrel
fermentation and then the wine is aged for 12 months in
French oak barrels.Bright yellow colour with golden highlights. An
arresting and complex nose of ripe lemon and pear fruit
flavours with well-integrated subtle oak notes, leads to an
extremely well-structured palate, revealing layer upon layer
of complex fruit and mineral notes, finishing long.Enjoy with sushi, white meats and antipasti.
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Bouchon Granito Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2015
£35.99Granito is a micro-terroir in a granitic soil which
is more than 120 million years old. They are old vines with
deep roots. It is minerality expressed in the bottle. This blend
is from Mingre estate, Maule’s Dry coastal area, 45Km from
the Pacific Ocean and 193 meters above sea level.Rich purple colour, dark berry fruit with
liquorice and warm spice, fresh and youthful in style but very
approachable; multi-layered and complex on the finish.Perfect with roast turkey, lamb, pork, grilled mushrooms,
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Poppy the Frenchie Grenache Rose 2019
£14.50Poppy the Frenchie wines are named after the family dog, Poppy. She is a beloved French Bulldog, who is bubbly, full of energy and as all dogs, loves a good pat!
Poppy grew up on the boutique family vineyard, visiting with Paggy and her Mum. She loves to seek shade in the vines, chase birds and during vintage receive many pats from the hand pickers, while she supervises the picking of the grapes.
The wines are all handpicked, with the vines also being hand pruned. Each barrel for the Grenache is chosen carefully with thought and consideration to taste. While with the Rosé, Paggy stood watching the grapes during skin contact, for the perfect blush colouring she desired. The Poppy the Frenchie Wines are also 100% vegan!
It was Paggy’s first time making a Rosé in 2017 and the wine made the Hot 100 Wines of SA!
Paggy is the winemaker of these small batch wines and also the daughter of the vineyard owner, Julie. Paggy and Julie love dry style French Rosé, so much so that Paggy requested to use the Grenache grapes on the vineyard to make a Rosé. Julie said she could however, their beloved Poppy had to be on the label, and so begun Poppy the Frenchie wines.
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out of stock
Hugh Hamilton, ‘The Ratbag’ Merlot, 2018
£17.95Hugh Hamilton is the 5th generation of a large wine dynasty and is regarded as the black sheep of the family. His daughter and 6th generation of the family, Mary, continues the legacy, making Hugh Hamilton winery Australia’s oldest wine family.
McLaren Vale is red wine heaven, with an ideal climate for bigger-bodied reds, but, with careful site selection, the region can grow pretty much anything. Merlot can be more difficult than some, with erratic yield and ripening habits; its unpredictability is sufficient reason for calling it ‘The Ratbag’. It certainly has a
character all its own.The Ratbag is always a reminder to Hugh that Merlot is so much more than just a soft red wine. Each year the fruit that grows in their Church Vineyard tenaciously produces the most varietal Merlot I have ever tasted – not only soft, but full of character and class.
Suitable for vegans!
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Old Git Gin NV
£24.95The Old Git returns! And this time he claims to know a thing or two about gin. Yes, he’ll drone on about how the nation’s favourite spirit ‘isn’t made like it used to be’, in fact for this Old Git nothing ever is… Well, this time he’s wrong, because here’s a gin that actually is! Old Git Gin is a gin made just as it should be. Traditionally double distilled in two-hundred litre copper alembic stills, with a handful of heady botanicals, for a racy gin packed with charm, that will delight even the stiffest of gin bores.
No corners were cut when it comes to the gin inside the bottle. Distilled by one of the the UK’s finest Master Distillers, using only the highest quality ingredients and diligent distillation methods. A small batch gin, made from scratch using English sugarbeet. Double distilled with its botanicals in 200l copper alembics for extra flavour and a exceptionally smooth finish.
Juniper led and refreshingly dry. Full of citrus notes, and summer berry richness, with a smooth cardamom finish.
Best served over ice as one part Old Git Gin to three parts good tonic. Garnish with a wedge of fresh orange or pink grapefruit.