Fine Wine

Founded by the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the great Douro estates. It has a total area of 326 hectares, of which 133 hectares are planted with vines. The rest has been conserved in its natural state. The property has great variations in altitude, from 130m at the riverside to 530m at the top of the ridge. It has vineyards that face north, south, east and west, providing a remarkable range of conditions. Being so far inland, only 30k from Spain, the Quinta experiences climatic extremes, reaching very high temperatures in summer and very low in winter. It is very dry, with an average of only 400mm of rain falling each year.

Quinta do Vesuvio experiencied a generally dry viticultural year in 2011, althought the previous autumn and winter rainfall had been above average; 312mm were recorded between November 2010 and February 2011, or 70% of the total rain during the entire viticultural year at Vesuvio. This replenished the water reserves in the subsoil and thus helped to offset the almost complete lack of rain during the early to mid-summer. As is the case in so many classic Vintage years, abundant winter rains are key to the develop of the vines during the spring and summer leading up to the harvest.

Founded by the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the great Douro estates. It has a total area of 326 hectares, of which 133 hectares are planted with vines. The rest has been conserved in its natural state. The property has great variations in altitude, from 130m at the riverside to 530m at the top of the ridge. It has vineyards that face north, south, east and west, providing a remarkable range of conditions. Being so far inland, only 30k from Spain, the Quinta experiences climatic extremes, reaching very high temperatures in summer and very low in winter. It is very dry, with an average of only 400mm of rain falling each year.

The very attractive bergamot and esteva (rockrose) aromas combined with spicy notes, so typical of Touriga Nacional, are very apparent in this wine due to the combination of the North-facing aspect and the altitude, both of which favour cooler temperatures and lend these wines incredible freshness and perfect levels of acidity. Conversely Touriga Franca is a variety that flourishes with heat and at Vesuvio is planted at relatively lower altitudes. In 2015 the finest Franca was harvested from the Vale da Teja vineyards, predominantly northwest facing and planted between 150 and 200 metres, some lying near the river. This Touriga Franca produced some of the finest examples of this variety, making beautifully floral wines with velvety ripe tannins. The combination of these two varieties was complemented by a small quantity of Sousão, drawn from a more granitic area of the Quinta, which brings acidity and minerality to the blend, beautifully balancing this powerful and structured Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port.

Fiona and Niall Shiner had been living in Hong Kong for 18 years when they returned to Britain to take on Niall's parents' property at Amberley. Niall continued with his career, but mother-of-three Fiona decided to plant some vines at the property following a comment by her mother-in-law that the Romans could have grown vines there. The first acre was planted in 2007, with the acquisition of an old cattle farm on the (really quite steep) hill opposite and converting an old barn into a winery in 2016. A third vineyard side since been acquired taking the current area under vine (but not all producing grapes yet) to 58 acres (23ish hectares), still firmly in the ‘tiny’ bracket.

A delightful sparkling Rosé with a pretty pale salmon colour, and a persistent, pale mousse. The aroma is inviting with delicate macerated strawberries and cream, so soft yet persistent presence on the palate, with minerality underpinning red berry fruit and orange zest

A delightful nose of honey and peaches, delicate and graceful on the palate with traces of citrus fruit and spice. Very elegant and perfectly balances with a refreshing crisp long finish.

Outstanding single-vineyard Sancerre from Bourgeois; intensely flavoured with a bone-dry finish.

Famille Bourgeois Sancerre

The name of this unusual Bourgogne Pinot Noir refers to the latitude of Burgundy, and it is a blend of out best Bourgogne Rouge, Cote de Nuits Village, Marsannay and Vosne-Romanee.

This wine has a subtle, pale gold color with fine, persistent bubbles. It is delicate, with aromas of peach, white flowers, vanilla pod, and brioche on the nose and flavors of fresh fruit and honey on the palate.

Champagne Taittinger

The Taittinger Vintage Brut is exclusively produced from first press wines, blended from 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. The Grands Crus make up a significant proportion at 70%, while the other selected villages are all classified as Premiers Crus. Ageing in the cellars for 5 years enhances complexity and helps the wine to flourish.

The vivid, lively nose exudes fruity and floral aromas, with a white blossom bouquet orchard flowers, lime blossom, honeysuckle) punctuated with aromas of fresh fruits (lemon, peach) giving way to almond notes with a hint of brioche. The palate is crisp and wonderfully precise. With citrus influences, it offers a truly excellent balance of structure and sophistication. The finish is complex, with both elegance and length.

Champagne Taittinger

Deep purple black with a narrow magenta rim. High notes of pure, intense woodland fruit with lively accents of green apple, fresh plum and raspberry. Around this core of bright, singing fruit is a heady aura of gumcistus and wild herbs. On a deeper register, exotic notes of cedarwood and jasmine provide an additional dimension of complexity. The wine has an attractive leanness and muscularity with sinewy, linear tannins that integrate seamlessly into the mid palate and then re-emerge to hold the wine in a confident grip. Energised by a racy acidity, the intense berry flavours continue to build into the long finish. Although the keynotes are refinement and poise, the wine displays the restrained vigour and stamina that are the hallmarks of the Taylor style.

OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor's I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power and intensity. So racy and ... - James Suckling, Score: 100

Sourced from elevated sites throughout the Barossa and Eden Valleys, The Struie reflects the cooler side of the region and showcases the subtle nuances that are gained from hillside viticulture.

The Struie is a wonderfully aromatic and deeply concentrated wine produced from the harmonious combination of both regions, delivering layers of dark chocolate characters and defining structure. Nuances of plum, blackberries, violets and hidden spice characters all further enhance the natural elegance and tension of the fruit quality. The Struie will certainly age tremendously well over the next decade.

Torbreck

Vat 9 is a blend of the best of Tyrell's old blocks that sit on the strip of red soil that runs through the winery.

The 2018 vintage, one of the earliest Shiraz harvests seen, was simply spectacular for Shiraz in the Hunter Valley. Warm, dry conditions kept cropping levels down, producing wines of great concentration and length of flavour. Intense purple in colour, the wine displays a pretty, red-berry nose with hints of subtle oak and lifted spice. The medium-bodied palate shows soft, sweet fruits and more of that subtle oak, all complemented by a fine, clean acid structure and long tannins. This is a classic Vat 9 that is destined to have a long life in the cellar.

Tyrrell's Family Winemakers

Maison Roche de Bellene

Made from low-yielding old vines of Grenache and Carignan Noir, with Syrah and Mourvèdre grown in the hills above the village of Cairanne in the southern Rhône valley. Hand-picked grapes are vinified only by naturally occuring yeasts, aided by manual pigeage and gentle remontage in open topped oak vats (tronconique). Les Deux Barriques is matured for 24 months in French oak demi-muid (600 litre barrels); the wine is neither fined or filtered before botting at Domaine Boutinot in Cairanne.

Only made in the very finest vintages, this is the fifth release of Les Deux Barriques and it embodies the phenomenal concentration and complexity of the 2015 vintage. Primary fruit and overt oak have evolved into rich, autumnal aromas of dried fruit, with flavours of blueberries and black tea on the finish.