Staff Picks
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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 SauvignonABV: 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 that
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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 Press -
Country: Spain, Ribera del DueroGrapes: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full RedWhen 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 of Tinto Fino, Cabernet S -
Country: Chile, Curico ValleyGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red96 Points - Patricio Tapia - Descorchados. The Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia is an exciting wine made by Valdivieso in their Sagrada Familia vineyard in Chile’s prestigious Curicó Valley. The Curicó Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate and its volcanic and limestone allow for the production of exceptional quality noble grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are at the heart of the Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia 2021 with Carmenere adding freshness and juiciness. Aft -
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. Vivin -
Country: Spain, Ribera del DueroGrapes: TempranilloABV: 15%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 2021 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 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteChâteau Vitallis only made a tiny amount of wine in 2021, but they are ones lovers of white Burgundy should have. The Pouilly-Fuissé ‘Les Vignes du Château’ 2021 is a blend of grapes from Château Vitallis’ historic 13th-century plots. The vines, with an average age of 35 years, are planted on clay-limestone Jurassic soils, and bring richness to their wines. In line with owners Denis and Maxime Dutron’s winemaking philosophy, great care and attention are lavished on the vineyards using organic me -
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: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga FrancaABV: 12%Style: Smooth Fruity RedNiepoort’s Redoma Tinto is an outstanding example of the Douro’s new style of red wines. While produced from a blend of traditional Port varieties - Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz – this is a thoroughly modern wine. Intervention in the winery is kept to a minimum and while it does receive oak ageing, this is in old Port casks. The aim is to allow the character of the vineyards and their organic fruit to shine through. Full of concentrated black fruits, its freshness stops it from -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteMontagny, an appellation in the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy only make white wines and are a fuller style and offer great value for money. This Multi award winning wine from Domaine Feuillat-Juillot is from a small 1 hectare parcel of 28 year old vines, which are carefully hand picked to ensure selection of only the best quality fruit. Beautifully balanced wine with a mineral, chalky nose with a touch of oyster shell and floral notes. Delicious on its own or paired with shellfish and fis -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Rich Fruity White91 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard. The Sylvain Mosnier Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy 2021 is a classic example of Chablis. The Beauroy site, designated as a Premier Cru ‘climat,’ features limestone-rich soils that produce fresh, clean, and mineral-rich wines. Sylvain Mosnier's traditional approach avoids new oak, resulting in wines that are delightful when young but also have the potential to age and develop beautifully in the bottle. Wine Press Ratings 91 Points - Gilbert et Gaillard | Double Gold Meda -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 13%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteA rare chance to savour the exquisite Pouilly Fuisse Vieilles Vignes 2021 from Burgundy great, Vincent Girardin. 2021 was a lovely but hugely challenging vintage in Burgundy. The little wine that was made offers a delicious combination of freshness, elegance, and harmony. The Vincent Girardin Pouilly Fuisse Vieilles Vignes typifies this, offering mouth-watering citrus, green apple and white peach fruit that’s given richness and depth by barrel fermentation. Sublime now, it will continue to deve -
Country: France, ProvenceGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Smooth Fruity RedThe most elegant wines of the Domaine, imbued with the terroir of the Saint Tropez peninsula, Cuvee Bastide Blanche Rouge is an intense, yet elegant and aromatic red with beautiful balance and a refreshing quality, presenting itself as a powerful wine with slightly spicy tannins. Vivino Score: 4.1 (Sept 2024) Taste Deep red, this wine boasts an intense, elegant, and aromatic nose. On the palate, it reveals a beautiful balance and refreshing quality, presenting itself as a powerful wine with sli -
Country: France, ProvenceGrapes: RolleABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Fruity WhiteDomaine de Margüi can trace its roots back to Roman times through ruins and amphorae discovered in 2002. In 2017, the Domaine was fully renovated and became part of the Skywalker Vineyards collection. Château Margui, the Domaine's emblematic Cuvée, boasts a nose of white cherries and vine peaches, punctuated by light floral touches of honeysuckle. Dry in profile, it is smooth and silky on the palate with a polished texture, while the acidity is juicy, offering a wonderful sensation of freshness. -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Primitivo / ZinfandelABV: 15.2%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Robert Parker. The Zinfandel Old Vines is a blend of declassified wine from Turley’s old-vine vineyards. A great buy and one of the best old-vine cuvees the Turleys have produced, rich full-bodied, and unctuously textured, it explodes from the glass revealing black fruits, earth, kirsch, licorice, pepper, and underbrush elements. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - Robert Parker "The 2021 Zinfandel Old Vines has a medium ruby color and plush red and black c -
Country: Spain, Ribera del DueroGrapes: TempranilloABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Guia Penin. Established in 1996, Pago de Los Capellanes is a renowned winery producing highly acclaimed wines through meticulous vineyard management and modern winemaking techniques. Broad, fresh, balanced, and silky, yet with a lot of structure and power, it features sweet tannins resulting from the 12 months of ageing in French Oak. A wonderful wine reflecting the high quality wines from the Ribera del Duero. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93 Points - Guia Penin -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14.3%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - James Suckling. Located in the heart of Los Carneros, Napa Valley, summer temperatures are tempered by the cooling fog rolling in off the nearby San Pablo Bay, providing perfect conditions for producing beautifully balanced and complex wines that showcase the vineyard-driven character of this cool-climate estate. 10 months in French oak barrels (33% new) gives this Pinot Noir a spectrum of bright red and black fruits, notes of lilac and ginger weave into the fresh berry, cherry and p -
Country: France, Rhone ValleyGrapes: GrenacheABV: 15%Style: Smooth Fruity Red95 Points - La Revue de France. Le Télégramme comes from the younger vines of Vieux Télégraphe, from 30 years old wines, with a blend is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 4% Cinsault. Ageing is in vats for 10 months followed by foudres for a further 7 months before bottling. The result is a delicious fruit driven Châteauneuf du Pape which drinks very well in its youth. Exceptional value for the property. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - La Revue de France "Th -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 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 that -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. A jewel located on top of the highest hill in Margaux, Château Chantelune is a unique property. Its previous owner, Mr. Soubrane was a carpenter who believed in felling his trees by moonlight, claiming this gave the best quality wood. His practice gave the property its name, meaning “sing to the moon.” The current owner is the world renowned José Sanfins, director at third growth property, Château Cantenac Brown and produces only 400 cases. The rounded tannins add a