Wine

The Chenin, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay are fermented separately. After blending refermentation takes place in the bottle and the wine is then aged on its lees for over a year.

Crisp and refreshing, vibrant and delicate, this sparkling wine is worth going out of your way to try. Light straw colour, minerally aromas with notes of apple and peach on the nose. Lemon, apple and pink grapefruit on the palate. The mousse is elegant and refined and there is plenty of crisp acidity. The finish is long and dry with attractive biscuity notes.

This is a bit of an eyebrow raising red (ish) wine from Argentina’s Uco Valley. 50% of the blend is the pale skinned Criolla Grande with the balance being Moscatel Rose, Torrontes and Pedro Gimenez. Think of it more as a rose with bright rose petal and lychee aromas to the fore. The youthful Paso a Paso team describe their work as the conjunction of art, adrenaline and contemplation which you could easily dismiss as pretentious bull were it not for the way that this scores on the drinkability stakes. It may not be for everyone but serve it with seafood or as an aperitif and I think you might warm to it.

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.

Enticing notes of crisp and refreshing citrus and green fruits are beautifully balanced with subtle peach and hints of minerality. The barrel fermented Ortega gives great texture and balance. A delicious, dry white with a clean and pleasing finish.

A single vineyard Pinot Noir from the cool Elgin region near Grabouw. Elegant and light in style, with an abundance of ripe red berries, juicy strawberries and subtle spices on the nose which follow through on the palate where it marries perfectly with a savoury meatiness.

Longridge Wine Estate

A spectacular blend of indigenous and international varieties. With a combination of Grasevina, Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Gris this giant white pleases a multitude of palate types. A fresh and light white, fruit forward, with a touch of meadow flowers. Top-quality wine with protected geographical indication Zagorje – Medimurje. A real treat for the adventurous wine lover!

Straw green hues, expressive freshness & rich fruity tones. This citrus & peach bomb also has mingling notes of celery and pine trees. Thus adding a more savoury element to this tangy white. Bursting with minerality, a harmonious crisp acidity and a beautifully long length. A truly fascinating, happy white!

Bolfan Vinski Vrh

This Pinot Noir is a blend of parcels from our own vineyard at Pipers River, Coal River Valley and our growers at Swansea and Ouse. Each of these sites is unique with distinctive individual terroirs, building complexity into the final wine blend.

Each of the different parcels of fruit from across the vineyard sites were picked on their merit. Fermentation started after 2-3 days with plunging of the cap to extract colour and tannin from the skins. The wine was pressed at completion of fermentation and settled before being placed into French oak barriques, where malolactic fermentation took place, prior to filtration and bottling.

Evidence of a warmer vintage is immediately apparent; with the generous red berry fruit aromas, hints of fresh cut plums and fine oak spice. The entry onto the palate of soft red fruits with ripe tannin structure support the sense of a warm vintage. Savoury notes of dried meats and provencal herbs add to the complexity after opening, and will become more integrated with bottle age. The 2016 will reward cool cellaring for 3 – 5 years.

Dalrymple Vineyards

Daschbosch is one of the country’s oldest wineries, dating back to 1754 and this is one of my favourites from the estate. From 60 year old vines, it’s on the intense side – the fruit has been worked pretty hard to give a real richness and texture with bags of stone fruit flavours balanced by a taut acidity on the finish.

A project between sisters, Ruth & Ana de Andres, Garganta del Aguila is produced from selected parcels of high altitude Garnacha, grown on the distinctive decomposed granite soils of the Gredos Mountains (west of Madrid).

Vines scratch out an existence in these once abandoned vineyards, up at 1,007 metres close to the walled town of Avila, dotted amongst huge granite outcrops, with roots sunk deep into the sand-like soils. With a long standing fascination for the wines from this region, it was just a matter of finding the right vineyards and the right people. After speaking to various contacts Ruth & Ana came across a small winery, with 8 partners (the youngest of whom was 70 years old!), who had access to incredible old plots of bush vine Garnacha on these very particular soils. All of the plots are smaller than 1 hectare; yields are super low, and currently they hand-harvest from across 90 different sites in order to produce this wine. The idea was to produce a youthful wine from these old vines; with a focus on purity and an unencumbered expression of the variety and terroir. Ruth describes this as a ‘down-to-earth wine’ ... it’s not over manipulated in the winery and is more commercial and approachable in style than some. Ruth & Ana are now on their fifth vintage and the collaboration is going from strength to strength.

Raspberry and wild strawberries, together with herb like aromas such as origano and thyme. In the mouth, it is soft and velvety. Fresh and vibrant, it leaves a fine aftertaste reminding the same herbal aromas as in the nose.

de Andres Sisters

From Chris- "Pinotage has a reputation of being something of a “Marmite” variety and, in truth, I still blow pretty hot and cold with it. It’s very much a South African speciality - a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir that’s been around for 80 or so years. At its best it’s all about lush, brambly fruit – loganberries and blackberries, at the other end of the scale it reeks of acetone and burnt rubber. I remember a tasting with Andre Van Rensberg, then winemaker with Vergelegen, who responded to a question with the retort “I’ve never killed anyone, never stolen from anyone and never planted Pinotage.” Any road up, I think this is rather good. Delheim were the first to produce a rose Pinotage in 1976 so they’ve had plenty of time to finetune their act. This is elegant and clean-as-a-whistle with more than a hint of strawberry fruit. Proper summertime rose."

The grapes from the Helderberg region stem from an old vine block dating back to 1974. Aromatic on the nose, yet soft and smooth on the palate. Lightly tinted and medium bodied, this wine greets you on the nose with aromatic floral notes which follow through onto the palate with ripe strawberries, cherries, sweet spices and soft tannins on the mid palate.

Accolades.

NEW RELEASE 92/100 Tim Atkin MW 2017; 4 ½ * – Platter Wine Guide 2018

Longridge Wine Estate

60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Gris. The Chardonnay is aged in Hungarian and French oak barrels for 6 months whilst the Pinot Gris is aged and fermented in stainless steel prior to blending.

Clear and bright pale yellow in colour, the nose is pronounced stone fruit and lemon sherbert characters. The palate is zesty with delicious fleshy nectarine fruit underpinned with good acidity and minerality.

Kovacs Nimrod Winery

Simon of Domaine Capmartin has dusted off the historic traditions of Madiran and Pacherenc de Vic-Bil into a new, more progressive age.

He has set about significant changes amongst the vines and in the winery leading to his own unique versions of these truly exceptional AOP wines. Certified organic for the best part of a decade, Simon is now striving further with his sights firmly set on Biodynamic certification. Natural, low intervention winemaking are the watchwords. No added sulphur, all wild ferments and aiming for light tannins makes for previously unknown modern, fresh and delicious Madiran Tannat.

Simon of Domaine Capmartin has dusted off the historic traditions of Madiran and Pacherenc de Vic-Bil into a new, more progressive age.

He has set about significant changes amongst the vines and in the winery leading to his own unique versions of these truly exceptional AOP wines. Certified organic for the best part of a decade, Simon is now striving further with his sights firmly set on Biodynamic certification. Natural, low intervention winemaking are the watchwords. No added sulphur, all wild ferments

Beautiful purple color, bright and clear; the nose is rich and intense underlined by hints of black fruit, pepper and floral aromas; the palate is smooth rounded with supple tannins and very silky for an easy drinking red Ventoux.

Domaine de la Font-Sane

We're on the Loir here, not the Loire, about an hour south of the racing town of Le Mans. Jasnières is a tiny appellation with just 70ha declared, Domaine Gigou have 8 of those. Ludovic is using old vines grown on silex-flecked clay soils to prouduce outstanding and ageworthy Chenin Blanc.

The wine is split into thirds to age in steel, barrel and concrete egg for 10 months. Richer than you might be expecting, saline minerality and a red-apple ‘bite’, lots of thirst-quenching acidity lead to a very moreish quality.

In 2009 there were only 400ha of Pinot d'Aunis in France - it's a rare grape variety from a tiny appellation providing a nice alternative to very fine Pinot Noir. A separate plot about 5km north of the Loir (not the Loire, it lies just under an hour South of Le Mans). Grapes from 120 year-old vines are given a very long 12 week maceration in stainless steel. A 3 month ferment is followed by 6 months in amphora followed by minimal fining and filtration. Very fine and elegant with beautifully supple, chalky tannin. Black cherry fruit in abundance with a liquorice twist.

DR. LO Riesling has just the right amount of fruitiness to balance the crisp acidity. On the palate it is clearly Riesling, but it walks the line between a fruity and drier style. The characteristic acidity of Mosel Riesling helps it finish fresh and clean. If shown blind it may not be recognized as alcohol-free.

Single vineyard wine from the Helderberg region with notes of cinnamon and sweet spices. Barrel matured with ripe yet soft tannin.

Accolades.

4 * – John Platter Wine Guide 2017, South Africa; Top 100 SA Wine Awards; 93/100 Robert Parker – Wine Advocate 2017; Top 100 & Double Platinum Awards 2017

Longridge Wine Estate

Harvested from Grenache Gris. Skin fermented (naturally) until dry. The wine was then pressed and matured in 400 litre Ceramic eggs for 7 months. Considering the skin contact fermentation here, it takes a great deal of skill to produce a wine with such clarity and brightness. Beautifully pale pink in colour, the palate is initially one of fresh strawberries before a very smart pithy finish.

Maison Roche de Bellene

Is this a slightly blush orange wine, a rose made using orange wine methods or a bit of both? Who knows and, frankly who cares - when a wine is this deliciously drinkable who cares what label we bup on it.

Made from Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, fermented on skins and aged in 1000L Amphorae, this is an orange wine with a definate pink hue (OK, so maybe we do care what label we put on it). Seriously cool and refreshing and packed with stone fruits, mineral rocks and a hint of anise.

Altolandon

A big, robust Bulgarian red made in a very opulent Bordeaux style by master winemakers. This wine shows a deep purple colour whilst the nose explodes with vanilla and menthol aromas, followed by blackberry and raspberry strong nuances.

Intense, bright and ripe raspberry Grenache fruit balanced by peppery, savoury characters from the Syrah and Mourvèdre. Generous but properly balanced and underpinned with smooth, ripe tannins.

This wine displays an intense ruby red colour with violet hues. The nose reveals aromas of red fruit and black fruit with balsamic tones, which complements with notes of vanilla, chocolate, cherry and plums. It has a soft palate, fine-grained tannins, and refreshing acidity.

On the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc displays citrus aromas, of lime and tangerine. The palate features aromas of mandarin, tropical fruits and herbal notes. A wine with a refreshing acidity, great depth and persistence.

The Eschenhof Holzer winery is located in Großriedenthal, in the Wagram wine region. On the ~19 hectare estate, the innovative wine maker, Arnold Holzer, draws on the unique bounty of nature, with a great deal of creativity, a distinctive style and a sense for delicious creations.

This is Müller-Thurgau like you've never seen it before! The skin contact gives exotic tropical fruit aromatics: mandarin, passion fruit, with gentle tannins on pallet.

Notes of baked apple, peach, citrus and honey are to the fore whilst on the palate it is dry with a mouthfilling richness. Following fermentation the wine is left on its lees for a period of 9 months to add concentration and depth and you can really feel this additional texture in the mouth.

Selected from selected blocks from the best and oldest of Esk Valley's vineyards, the "Great Dirt" collection are veru much chief winemaker Gordon Russell's pet passion, made to age gracefully and showcase the terroir of the different sites

This is dark-fruited wine and complex wine. Flavours tend towards red fruits, plum, dark cherry and spice. Earthy tobacco and cedar notes add further complexity. The wine is soft and mouth-filling with well-ripened tannins and although approachable as a young wine should continue to develop complexity for many years to come. Decant before serving.

Selected from selected blocks from the best and oldest of Esk Valley's vineyards, the "Great Dirt" collection are veru much chief winemaker Gordon Russell's pet passion, made to age gracefully and showcase the terroir of the different sites

Aromas of rose petal, red berries and grilled meats are compelling. The wine is round and mouthfilling with a red fruited profile, but a firm tannic backbone provides complexity and length

This a very aromatic and intensely flavoured wine true to its Marlborough origins. Its flavours are a mix of ripe tropical fruits, citrus and cooler notes of green fruits and fresh herbs. It is rich and full-flavoured style with a crisp dry finish which provides freshness and length to the palate.

Esk Valley

Pronounced and complex nose with savoury, nutty aromas and hints of fennel, ginger and white spice. The palate is fine, concentrated and textural, with crisp citrus and lightly honeyed stone fruit balanced by minerality and sappy acidity.

Cantine Nicosia