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Five Geese Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
£58.45The stunning beauty of Sue Trott’s Five Geese estate can be appreciated from this short video.
APPEARANCE
A deep, ruby red colour in the glass.
NOSE
Ripe berry and mocha coffee oak aromas and a delicate whiff of mint.
PALATE
Sweet red and black fruits enhanced by the gentle use of Vanillian French oak. Soft cocoa and fine velvety tannins deliver a lingering, moreish finish.
Plucked from the vine in a dry, but not excessively hot vintage, carefully tended by Mike Farmilo and his team, the wine was put through a complex barrelling with new French, and used American oak barriques for a period of 20 months. The result is a wine with excellent cellaring potential, rewarding the patient Cabernet enthusiast.
James Halliday extract, ““the impact of the distinctly cooler Blewitt Springs area is immediately obvious, with fine spicy notes running through the black cherry and chocolate fruit”.
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Samuel’s Gorge Graciano 2019
£25.75Graciano is prized for its acidity, structure and intense aromatics. Our vines yield few bunches, but the fruit is exquisite. It is as at home here in McLaren Vale as it is in its native soils of Rioja; thriving in our arid landscape.
Generous dry spice notes of pimento, fresh bay leaves and dusty cocoa are perfectly balanced with pretty aromas of violets, mulberries and Turkish dried figs. Well-integrated tannins create a stage for the red plum and ripe cherry flavours to dance across the palate. In this complex and layered wine, vibrant fruit and fragrant spice find excellent balance.
Savour this with a meal that incorporates elements of both sweet and savoury, such as a Middle Eastern spiced lamb, on hummus, bejewelled with deep pink pomegranate seeds.
THE REAL REVIEW
Nick Butler
93 pts
“Indigo-purple colour in the glass. Lovely lifted violets and mocha with
oak-spice and red licorice. It’s slinky and finely-structured, albeit with
regional richness. Dark cherries and skin-spice. Classy and long.” -
out of stock
Maxwell, Lime Cave, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008
£23.95£15.95NEW STOCK AND NEW VINTAGE ARRIVING JANUARY!
The Maxwell Winery is located on the south facing slope of a solid limestone hill in the heart of the McLaren Vale. Next to the winery is a man-made cave, dug in 1916, tunnelled 40 metres into the hill. This is the Lime Cave.
Cabernet Sauvignon for this wine is sourced from vines planted in 1972 above the Lime Cave, on the crest of the estate vineyard. Identified as a Reynella Selection Cabernet vines, the first vines were brought into South Australia over 160 years ago. The estate vines, now into their 4th decade, continue to produce small parcels of remarkable fruit due to the minimal topsoil and solid limestone in which they grow.
Matured in French oak, the abundant mulberry, cassis and violet overtones are well integrated with spice oak. Long grained tannins provide balance and persistence. The elegant Cabernet Sauvignon is a reflection of the unique are of McLaren Vale in which it is grown.
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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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out of stock
Hugh Hamilton, The Bloodline Set
£175.00Hugh and Mary bring you their own unique trio of wines, a Grenache, a Shiraz and a Pedro Ximenez in honour of their forebear, Richard Hamilton.
Richard, a respectable tailor living on the high streets of Dover with his wife and 8 children, engaged in a second business under the cover of darkness – smuggling casks of Bordeaux wine across the English Channel. When Richard decided a change of scenery was needed he packed up his family and headed for the newly colonised South Australia. It was here that he started growing Grenache, Shiraz and Pedro Ximenez grapes for ‘the health of the family’. So started South Australia’s first wine dynasty that continues to this day.
Now, 180 years on, Richard’s legacy and secret are materialised in this beautifully crafted tailor’s crate – a trio of noteworthy wines smuggled beneath a limited edition cashmere throw both included in the order. Be one of the first to own a piece of genuine Australian Wine History.
HAMILTON 1837 GRENACHE 2016
There is an amazing duality that is fresh, perfumed and alive but there is also such amazing depth and length to the palate.
In part, the perfume is the result of the 30% whole bunch fruit included in the ferment but there is a very defined varietal lift that insists the whole bunch character is far from the whole story. The tremendous fruit character is carefully held in check by the assertive palate structure.HAMILTON 1837 SHIRAZ 2016
A necessary component was to add depth to the palate and to complement the high tone aromatics. The answer lay in the middle of the Church Block in the 21 rows of Shiraz that usually make Black Blood II. The generosity of the palate grounded the flightiness of the other two Shiraz, easing them into a satisfying whole.HAMILTON 1837 PEDRO XIMENEZ NV
Voluptuous, intense and sustained, the Pedro is a masterpiece made possible only by time and patience; so long in fact that the wine has long ago outlived the vineyard that made it. If given the chance it will outlive all of us as well.
Over many years the original base has been over-blended multiple times, with lengthy periods of rest between better known as the Solera system, building phenomenal depth of flavour and viscosity. The cumulative effect of many years of slow evaporation has concentrated and enhanced the character. A fitting respect for its rarity is achieved at the end of the bottle as you try to extract every last drop, knowing that there isn’t any more where this came from.This product includes a crafted tailor’s crate and a limited edition cashmere throw!
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Hugh Hamilton, ‘Black Ops’, Shiraz Saperavi, 2017
£18.95The Dark Arts is a range of wines from varieties that are not meant to go together, but work! They refuse to be part of the status quo; they are wine as art. Made off the grid in an unconventional style that is all about varietals in quirky combos.
The Name
From that irrefutable source of Gospel Truth: Wikipedia…
“A black operation or black op is a covert operation typically involving activities that are highly clandestine and often outside of standard military protocol or even against the law.”
Under these conditions, if you think you’re going to get lots of “Background” information, think again, Sunshine…Nose
Cherry wood and forest floor waft out of the glass, then give way
to cherry fruit and woody spice.Palate
The palate has the pleasing tartness of a morello cherry, and the pure allure of a fresh baked cherry pie. The richness of the palate gives a luxurious depth and
a finish that lasts long after you have emptied the glass. -
Samuel’s Gorge, Kaleidoscope Horizons , 2016
£49.95The 2016 Kaleidoscope Horizons is the more boisterous of the Samuel’s Gorge reserve blends. The wine is structurally supported by a tessellation of Tempranillo tannins, allowing Grenache to sing, Graciano to provide aromatics and acidity.
This beguiling blend will lead you down a path of smouldering cherry wood, marshy bogs, cured pancetta and cacao nibs. The wine grants the avid and willing taster a spice matrix accompanied by dark lifted aromatics of poached satsuma plum and polished mulga wood. Like clouds rumbling over the ocean, the elements of this wine gather and are then refracted like an ever-changing kaleidoscope, finishing with poise and structure.
The wine transcends one to Ho Chin Minh city night market; an intoxicating atmosphere, that like the wine, is wildly enticing. Crispy peking duck pancake with a dash of hoisin sauce.
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Samuel’s Gorge Mourvedre 2015
£25.50Its full bodied, and the palate has real weight and intensity. It fills the mouth first with dark raspberries, then dark plums, then spices, hints of spicy pepper, leather, chocolate, and much more. This Mourvedre is dominant early, but will settle into the wine with time, which is perfect for what this dense wine needs. Its closed and tight with real structure, some firm but ripe tannins, for a very long and firm finish.
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Rusty Mutt Mixed Case
£35.60On our quest for new and exciting wines we discovered this rather eye-catching label Rusty Mutt, a micro-winery in McLaren Vale, Australia, which produces 500 cases a vintage. Close friends and family persuaded Rusty Mutt’s winemaker Scott to make his own small batch of Shiraz in 2006. He skipped the ‘07, ‘08 and ‘09 vintages and returned to the fray in 2010; we are lucky to have our hands on some of his award-winning batch.
The case price of £35.60 includes a 5% discount. Price includes sale price.
The selection is as follows:
x 1 Rusty Mutt ‘Catnip Viognier’ 2017 RRP £14.75 SALE PRICE £9.50
x 1 Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2012 RRP £17.95 SALE PRICE £11.50
x 1 Rusty Mutt ‘Conejo Joven’ Tempranillo 2017 RRP £16.50
Click here to browse our entire Rusty Mutt range!
Suitable for vegans!
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Down The Rabbit Hole Wines 6 Bottle Mixed Case
£88.00Down The Rabbit Hole from McLaren Vale, Australia, is a winery which aims to inspire imagination with an attitude of adventure, inviting drinkers to join in on something special. Their team is built on creativity, energy and youthful spirit. It’s almost impossible not to want to share in their beautiful lifestyle (and cute campervan named Scout). They view wine as the ability to transform a seemingly ordinary day into something pretty special. On the back of every bottle is their poem, and each hand sketched illustration on the wine label represents a different line of that poem.
The case price of £88 includes a 5% discount off the RRP case price £92.70. The selection is as follows:
x 1 Down The Rabbit Hole ‘Friends & Lovers’ Sangiovese Rosé 2017 RRP £14.95
x 1 Down The Rabbit Hole Shiraz 2015 RRP £16.95
x 1 Down The Rabbit Hole Tempranillo 2016 RRP £16.95
x 1 Down The Rabbit Hole Sangiovese Cabernet 2015 RRP £16.95
x2 Down The Rabbit Hole ‘Joy & Bliss’ Chardonnay 2018 RRP £14.95
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out of stock
Hugh Hamilton ‘The Rascal’ Shiraz 2016
£17.95The Rascal Shiraz is just that – a bold, brash interpretation of McLaren Vale’s hero variety with a dense bouquet of black cherries, dark plums and mulberries. A nose of fresh liquorice and warm earth. Black-fruits fill the mouth with some spicy oak adding complexity while vigorous tannins wagging the wine’s long satisfying ‘tail. It’s the perfect wine to pair with dukkah crusted lamb – those hearty tannins quickly mopping up the lamb’s hit of protein and flavourful fat.
Suitable for vegans!
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Hugh Hamilton ‘The Scoundrel’ Tempranillo 2016
£17.95This Hugh Hamilton Tempranillo has savoury leather & cherry characteristics of the Spanish Tempranillo blended to add the mid-palate weight, balance & fruit of the other varieties.
With a medium body this wine is perfect with a paella, or any Spanish foods.
Suitable for vegans!
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Hugh Hamilton ‘The Mongrel’ Sangiovese Blend 2016
£16.95A decade ago, fresh young reds were rare, and rarely taken seriously. These days they are more common, and critics pay much more attention! Hugh Hamilton are not after attention per se; their aim is to take the best of Sangiovese – always the core of ‘The Mongrel’ – and build on it, in a perfumed, savoury, unchallenging style: fresh, bright and lively!
85% Sangiovese 13.5% Grenache 1.5% Sauvignon Blanc – Sangiovese is a grape that has a lot going for it. Think savoury, meaning it’s great with food; it has a cherry flavour which is a contrast to most other grapes we grow and it holds very good tannin structure. Its natural acidity means it always has an interesting and lively palate. However, if you really want to make this wine ‘sing’ it needs a little touching up with something else and in this vintage, that is a splash of Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc.
With a nose that is a fruity-earthy mix of tar, raspberry, and maple syrup and a palate of supple textured, muscular palate of length and mid-weight. The intense perfume ‘blooms’ across the palate. Crunchy. Shiny polished leather.
The Mongrel is best matched with a simple pasta e polpette (meat-balls) dish with grated parmesan and fresh parsley. In fact any rich, tomato-based dish will be a perfect match!
Suitable for vegans!
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Fox Creek ‘Red Baron’ Shiraz, 2016
£14.50Fox Creek’s eye-catching Red Baron’ Shiraz is a very easy drinking and made in a young, fresh and fruity style so it is approachable and ready to crack open.
NOSE
Plum and black cherry aromas jump out of the glass supported by blueberry muffin characters with a hint of cinnamon spice.
PALATE
Rich front palate of plums and black cherries lead into the coffee and cream mid palate which is complemented by hints of roasted nuts and dark chocolate (you’ll know this wine is from McLaren Vale). The youthful tannins complete the vibrant experience with an injection of subtle structural oak on the finish.
Suitable for vegans!
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Zerella, ‘La Gita’, Arneis, 2015
£16.50‘La Gita’ refers to ‘the journey’ and celebrates Jim Zerella’s Italian ancestry and honours his forefathers.
Attractive flinty citrus blossom aromas, spicy pear and almond notes. A rich bodied and intriguing style where mouth feel and textural elements are key. This well- balanced wine finishes with freshness and zest.
Vineyard Information:
Grapes sourced from Zerella’s Peters Creek Vineyard, Kangarilla which sits at an altitude of 330 metres above sea level creates this Arneis, which was grafted to 4.64 acres of Pinot Noir in 2011 and all fruit was hand harvested.
Jim Zerella’s Winemaking Notes:
Hand harvested at full flavor ripeness, gently whole bunch pressed straight into old large format oak barrels on full press solids, allowed to slowly begin natural fermentation, slow cool fermentation at 15-18ºC. Fermented to dryness and matured on press and fermentation lees for four months prior to being bottled.
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out of stock
Hugh Hamilton, ‘The Villain’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
£17.95With the luxury of drawing weighty, textured Cabernet from the cracking black soil of Hugh Hamilton’s Cellar block and blending this with the high tone perfume of the Black Sheep block, Hugh is able to produce a wine of both presence and elegance.
Nose
A compelling perfume of roses, cherry wood, and incense.
Palate
Char, roses and Darjeeling tea. A fine texture as of emery.Suitable for vegans!
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Hugh Hamilton ‘Stunt Double’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc 2017
£17.95Elusive and fiercely independent Black Sheep wines from Hugh Hamilton will not be pinned down. The Dark Arts is a range of wines from varieties that are not meant to go together, but work! They refuse to be part of the status quo; they are wine as art. Made off the grid in an unconventional style that is all about varietals in quirky combos.
There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing the unexpected triumph over the norm – no less spectacular than watching a man in a jumpsuit leap 19 cars on a Harley and stick the landing. What could easily be seen as no more than a publicity stunt is actually a true and death-defying leap into the unknown. It’s not as crazy as you may think, or maybe it is. Either way, it works.
Download the Tasting Note here.
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Down The Rabbit Hole Tempranillo, 2016
£15.95Juicy black cherries with liquorice and spice followed by earthy cocoa notes are held together with silky tannins which provided a lengthy finish. This wine keeps you coming back for more
The fruit for Down The Rabbit Hole Tempranillo is grown in South Willunga, McLaren Vale. Warm Summer days are cooled by evening sea breezes from St Vincent’s Gulf, which lies a close proximity to the West. The soil is rich loam over clay with patches of underlying limestone, giving the wine a rich and fullness of pallet. The Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale is well suited to growing this Spanish variety.
WINEMAKING NOTES, WALTER CLAPPIS
The 2016 Vintage was warm and dry throughout Summer producing intense colour and flavour. After spending 8 days on skins, the wine was pressed into seasoned oak to mature for 12 months.
COLOUR
Dark cherry red with plum hues
BOUQUET
Vibrant cherries and blueberries, plus liquorice & spice
PALATE
Dark cherries and licorice follow through onto the palate, while smooth cocoa tannins provide a lengthy finish.
Suitable for vegans!