2021 Vintage Wines
2021 Vintage Wines
Staff Picks
-
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga NacionalABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedRoquette & Cazes Douro Tinto, born from the collaboration between Jorge Roquette, proprietor of Quinta do Crasto, and Jean-Charles Cazes, co-owner of Château Lynch-Bages, seamlessly melds Bordeaux winemaking expertise with the distinct character of the Douro region. This exceptional wine showcases a remarkable intensity of vibrant red fruit flavours interwoven with subtle hints of delicate spices, all held together by an impressive structure characterised by luxuriously smooth tannins. VivinRegular Price£26.95Special Offer£22.95 -
Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS. A wonderful Burgundian style Pinot Noir from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. An aromatic, savoury nose with notes of damson plum, dark berry, forest floor, nori, peppercorns, salami and salted, black liquorice. Medium-bodied, with plush fruit but still a seriously structured wine with layered tannins. Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS (2021 Vint -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Another star of our great value Bordeaux wine list, the Chateau les Vimieres 2021 was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. The tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Created by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite in the challenging 2021 vintage, it’s rich, velvety, loaded with black fruits and supported by a fine structure. An awful lot of wine for the -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet FrancABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - The Wine Independent. Bolgheri is a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation located on the Tuscan coast just to the south of Livorno, home to exceptional wines. It is known mainly for deeply coloured, supple yet age worthy red wines, usually based on the Bordeaux grape varieties, which this wine is no different (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec). A classic, elegant Bordeaux style blend with round and silky tannins thatRegular Price£31.95Italy Special - Save 10% off£28.76
Members Price
-
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Petite Sirah, Syrah / Shiraz, GrenacheABV: 15.4%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Decanter. Orin Swift Machete, an iconic Californian red, artfully blends Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache from Napa and Sonoma, aged for 10 months in French oak for vanilla-spiced depth; and layer upon layer of complexity. A full-bodied lover's delight with dominant dark fruit aromas, raspberry-plum-chocolate flavours, medium tannins, and a smooth, lasting finish—perfectly paired with grilled meats, cheese, and charcuterie. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 92 Points -
Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14%Style: Smooth Fruity Red93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS. A wonderful Burgundian style Pinot Noir from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. An aromatic, savoury nose with notes of damson plum, dark berry, forest floor, nori, peppercorns, salami and salted, black liquorice. Medium-bodied, with plush fruit but still a seriously structured wine with layered tannins. Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS (2021 Vint -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Primitivo / ZinfandelABV: 15.2%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Wine Spectator. One of the most amazing Californian Zinfandels you can find in the UK. Big flavours, big body, big abv content, but everything is in harmonious balance. “Juvenile” comes from young vines (6-25 years old), interplanted, from several of their old vine designated vineyards – including Hayne, Ueberroth, Pesenti, Salvador and Vineyard 101. Whilst it offers sumptuous, joyous fruit, it also gives more than a glimpse of Turley’s single vineyard wines. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Jan -
Country: New Zealand, MarlboroughGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedNew Zealand Pinot Noir stands among the finest of the New World, and the Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir is a prime example. Located in the Fairhall Valley, Marlborough, this hillside site’s microclimates and clay soils create a complex flavour profile with intense dark cherry and berry notes. Traditional Dijon clones are handpicked, cold-soaked, and wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches for added complexity. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak, 55% new, enhancing -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: Chardonnay, Viura / MacabeoABV: 13.5%Style: Classy Complex WhiteThe Casa La Rad wines are made from their most valuable vineyard, the La Rad vineyard, with vines older than 35 years of age. The grapes are handpicked and carefully selected before spending 14 months in new French oak barrels and aged on its lees. This wine has an appealing mid-body that shows fresh and vibrant aromas of white peach, citrus, white flowers with mineral notes. Elegant and well balanced with a creamy texture. A gorgeous white from Rioja - a must try! Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedChateau les Vimieres le Tronquera is that rarest of jewels: an affordable fine Bordeaux. This tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Decadently rich, yet supple and elegant, this offers Grand Cru levels of complexity with Margaux’s signature finesse. Produced by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite, this is your chance to try a superstar wine at a down-to-earth price. Wine Press Ratin -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - The Wine Independent. The best grapes make the best wine" is the philosophy applied by the Winery's founder, Louis M. Martini. Implemented at the estate since its creation in 1938, this exacting philosophy has enabled the winery to become one of the leading names in Californian wines. With its vineyards in the sumptuous Sonoma and Napa Valleys and its many award-winning wines, the estate is now world-renowned for its great Cabernet Sauvignons. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Dec 2024) Wine PressRegular Price£49.75Bin End Sale - 25% off£37.32 -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet FrancABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Wine Spectator. The Jayson Red Wine was produced from grapes from a selection of prime sites in and around Atlas Peak in eastern Napa. Hailing from the outstanding 2021 vintage, a year noted for its opulence, this blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderfully full and plump. The grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted before undergoing fermentation in stainless steel tanks to enhance its fresh fruit profile and retain its bright acidity. The wine was then racked into -
Country: Spain, Ribera del DueroGrapes: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Tim Atkin MW. When a producer’s ‘entry-level’ wine scores 92/100 from leading Spanish wine critic Tim Atkin MW and 93+ from Robert Parker, you know it’s something special. But then everything about Pago de Carraovejas Tinto is special. From its exceptionally well-sited high-altitude vines to its meticulous hand production, and the input from Pingus’s and Vega Sicilia's winemakers it’s a remarkable wine, one that every lover of fine Spanish red wine needs to try. Produced from a blend -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Wine Spectator. The Pahlmeyer Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit from Pahlmeyer’s mountain-grown vines. It’s a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, so a classic Bordeaux blend. 2018 was an outstanding vintage, the unusually cool growing season saw the grapes ripen more slowly and gave them the opportunity to develop even more complexity. Once deemed ready, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve their freshness and ensure the aromas -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93-95 Points - The Wine Independent. Pahlmeyer made the most of the glorious 2021 Napa Valley Merlot vintage – a year that seems destined to rival or even eclipse the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 havests. The grapes for the Pahlmeyer Merlot 2021 were grown on high-elevation blocks and were hand-harvested, allowing for rigorous vineyard selection and gentle handling. Once in Pahlmeyer’s state-of-the-art winery, they were given a further hand sort and destemmed, with only perfectly ripe frui -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, MalbecABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red96+ Points - The Wine Advocate. The profoundly successful 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage - a year that seems destined to eclipse even the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 vintages – allowed Katie Vogt and her team to create a masterpiece. The Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2021, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Malbec, is the product of high elevation sites at Upper Range, Waters Ranch, and Vagone. The grapes were hand-harvested at night to pres -
Country: Chile, Curico ValleyGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red96 Points - Patricio Tapia - Descorchados. A true standout from Chile, Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia 2021 is a rich and expressive red that blends power with finesse. Sourced from the warm Curicó Valley, this wine is bursting with ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, and spice, all wrapped in velvety tannins. Crafted by Valdivieso’s innovative Caballo Loco project, this Grand Cru captures the essence of its terroir while delivering depth, complexity, and a long, satisfying finish. Drink no -
Country: France, AlsaceGrapes: RieslingABV: 12.5%Style: Aromatic Floral White96 Points - James Suckling. The largest, oldest, and most famous of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards, Schlossberg has all the noble Alsatian grapes planted on its steep, lofty slopes, but most producers favour Riesling owing to the spectacular results that can be achieved here. The south and south-easterly aspect of the vineyard means the vines benefit from long exposure to the sun which imparts generosity, while the topsoil’s unusual mix of coarse granitic sand gives the wines their minerally backb -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red94 Points - The Wine Independent. It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals. But, for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheet unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 94 Points - The Wine Independent (2021 Vintage) 90 Points - -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full RedIt’s a bold claim to say a wine – especially a Shiraz – is unlike anything you have ever tasted, but in the case of the De Toren Black Lion Shiraz, it happens to be true. As De Toren puts it, ‘The Black Lion wine is the heirloom of years of winemaking in De Toren’s continuous quest for perfection’. Planted on ancient soils with specially selected vines and nurtured by hand manicuring and individual attention, nothing is left to chance. Irrigation is kept to a minimum and the vines are treated or -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: MalbecABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNothing is left to chance with the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec. Taking its name from the Latin for ‘patron’, this is a wine where winemaking is turned not just into an art form, but into an obsession. The tiny harvest goes through an incredibly stringent selection process with only the finest old Malbec vines on the property being considered for use. Once chosen, individual bunches are selected at harvest and then, post-destemming, individual grapes. Following a long, yet cool, ferme -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga NacionalABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedRoquette & Cazes Douro Tinto, born from the collaboration between Jorge Roquette, proprietor of Quinta do Crasto, and Jean-Charles Cazes, co-owner of Château Lynch-Bages, seamlessly melds Bordeaux winemaking expertise with the distinct character of the Douro region. This exceptional wine showcases a remarkable intensity of vibrant red fruit flavours interwoven with subtle hints of delicate spices, all held together by an impressive structure characterised by luxuriously smooth tannins. VivinRegular Price£26.95Special Offer£22.95 -
Country: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: SemillonABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Fruity White94 Points - Descorchados. The El Enemigo Semillon is a rare find, a great Argentinean Semillon. Plantings of Semillon in Argentina have plunged over the last half century, with just 578 hectares of the once 5,500 hectares remaining in production. The innovative and quality-obsessed team at El Enemigo have seen the potential of this noble variety and have plantings in their high-altitude, 70-year-old vineyard in Agrelo in the Mendoza sub-region of Lujan de Cuyo that are producing exceptional wine -
Country: Argentina, MendozaGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red91 Points - Descorchados. Over the last few years, Argentinean Cabernet Franc has got a lot of wine critics very excited. One taste of the Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc and it’s easy to see why. Argentina’s pioneering Catena family could be set to do for Cabernet Franc what they did for Malbec. Made from fruit sourced from the family´s historic high-altitude vineyards (1,090m/3,576ft above sea level) in San Carlos, the sandy loam soils are perfect for Cabernet Franc, delivering sm -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14%Style: Juicy Lively Red90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. This 90+ point Rioja from a modern style, family run winery is incredible value for a wine with this amount of complexity and style. The Solarce Tinto is a blend of Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo & Graciano and is aged for 8 months in American and French oak barrels. Full-bodied and silky smooth with layers of fruit and spice. Fantastic Value for money for this superb Rioja. Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Tim Atkin MW (2021 vintage) Taste Intense ruby-red colour wit -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNo South African wine is as revered or acclaimed as the Book 17 of De Toren Private Cellar. This Western Cape wine is produced from a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The vines are planted on poor, free-draining soils which force them to dig deep into the sand and granite soils in search of nutrients, reducing the vines’ vigour and imparting complexity. Once they have reach optimum ripeness, the grapes are hand-harvested and rushed to the press house. Here -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The Cuentaviñas Alomado 2021 is another wonderful wine from of this extraordinary Rioja bodega. Produced from a single vineyard which is home to vines that are over 60 years old, it marries tradition with innovation to startling effect. It’s planted with a mixture of Tempranillo grapes alongside the white varieties of Viura, Malvasía Riojana and Calagraño in what’s now known as a ‘field blend’. Innovation continues in the winery where the wine is barrel fermented in sm -
Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedBronze Medal Winner. 2021 was a glorious year for Bordeaux and the vintage’s quality filtered down to the petit chateaux as the Bois de Rolland Cuvee Prestige 2021 shows. A year of extremes that saw everything from drought to deluges, hail to heat waves, all set against the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a vintage where winemakers needed to be on their guard. Those who were watchful saw reduced harvests of exceptionally ripe grapes that produced wines of wonderful quality. Awards Bronze Medal - Decan
