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Wines » Top 10 Wines
This is a list of our finest wines. Expect the very best and enjoy it with somebody special.
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'Rubicon', Meerlust |
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Meerlust are real pro’s at making excellent South African wine, in operation since 1756 and now the eight generation of the family makes wine at the estate. The estate is situated 15km from Stellenbosch.
The micro climate here provides an excellent environment for producing wines of immense complexity. Be warned these wines are very complex and rarely provide immediate fruit palates, one for the Bordeaux fans!
The Rubicon has been in production since 1984 and is an homage to the Bordeaux style. The Cabernet (69%) comes from low yielding vines planted on a quartz topsoil with a loamy clay subsoil. The Merlot (27%) is planted on clay rich soils and the Cabernet Franc (12%) on stony / clay.
Green harvesting is practiced in the vineyards, after harvesting and sorting the wines are fermented separately in stainless steel. After malo-lactic the parcels are blended and aged in oak barrique for 24 months.
Rich cassis palate with hints of liquorice, musky oak and classic cedar, very complex, excellent persistence. A real scorcher.
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| Price: £24.95 |
6 Case: £144.00 |
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'The Red', Virgin Hills |
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The vineyards of Virgin Hills were first created by the eccentric Hungarian born sculpture Tom Lazar, initially he planned to plant 300 acres of Australian bush land with black cherries! This however failed to materialise due to the soils being unsuitable. Plan B. Create a wine to rival the great Chateaux of Bordeaux. Planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Malbec and Merlot he came across his second problem, he had no idea how to make wine. With acquisition of Owen Redman (viticulture expert) he produced and award winning wine in 1974 then continued to produce Bordeaux beating vintages! Rather good for a vineyard of chance.
Some years on consolidation of knowledge and a brief stint under corporate ownership and Virgin Hills is still producing amazing wines. Yields are frighteningly low (0.5 – 1.5 tons per acre) due to tough climatic conditions. The terrior is clay topsoil with fine sandstone sub soils allowing for excellent drainage. At 600 meters above sea level grapes can ripen for prolonged periods and develop the subtle complexity the wine is renowned for.
On the nose raspberry and ripe plum with a little vanilla spice on the palate ripe berries followed by chocolate, nutmeg and pepper. The finish is slightly minty with generous French oak.
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| Price: £19.95 |
6 Case: £117.00 |
12 Case: £228.00 |
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‘Gran Opalo’, Mauricio Lorca |
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Based in the Uco Valley Mauricio Lorca crafts some very special wines. One of the best Agentinian wine makers around he can express a balance of both power and elegance in his wines. He thinking is very European in style, he wants to plant his vines in soils that promote varietal character or ‘Terrior’.
The Opalo wines are very exciting propositions indeed. This is the big daddy and really shows just how amazing Lorca is. Often when a winemaker produces a ‘super cuvee’ the ‘splinter factor’ (oak) goes through the roof. The wines tend to be so reductive and overly concentrated that it’s hard to see their appeal when drinking more than a glass. This however is un oaked, pure elegant fruit with amazing concentration.
A blend of 30% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot. With 1,500 bottles produced and planted at 6,850 plants per hectare this is a very serious T.L.C style wine.
Get a bottle whilst it lasts. This is going to be mentioned among the greats one day soon.
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| Price: £25.99 |
6 Case: £150.00 |
12 Case: £288.00 |
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Barbaresco, Bricco Asili Bricco Asili, DOCG, Ceretto |
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The Ceretto family are one of the leading producers of Barolo and Barbaresco and one of the most innovative producers of Piedmonte.
The purpose build the 'Bricco Asili' winery to produce their single vineyard 'cru' Barbaresco's (they have another winery for their single vineyard Barolo's!)
Bricco Asili Bricco Asili is the vineyard right next to the winery and only a couple of hectares in size.
It produces magnificent Barbaresco of outstanding depth, power and finesse which are some of the very finest produced.
The 2001 vintage was one of the most successful vintages in Barbaresco and this Bricco Asili Bricco Asili will continue to develop and gain complexity for at least another 15 years, however it is spectacular drinking with the 'right' foods now.
Magnificent
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| Price: £53.95 |
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Barolo 'Bussia', Boroli MAGNUMS |
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The farm of Brunella is the focal point of Boroli's production of Cru Barolo within the 10 hecatres that surround the farm include holdings in many of the famous site Villero and Bussia.
The winery next to Brunnella is exclusively dedicated to the production of Barolo. It's external walls were made exclusively from old casks that were no longer suitable for maturation.
Bussia is a cru Barolo site located in Montforte d'Alba and Boroli's La Brunnela parcel supplies the grapes fruit this majestic cuvee.
The colour is bright ruby red and on the nose it offers notes of raspberries, cherries preserved in alcohol and spicy nuances such as pepper and nutmeg. On the palate it is particularly pleasant, a wine with plenty of body, with a long and persistent finish. It is a long-tasting wine, matured in cask and barriques for 24 months and refined in bottle for 24 months. |
| Price: £100.00 |
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Barolo, Bricco Roche 'Brunate' 1997, Ceretto |
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Bricco Roche is the epicenter of Cerreto's finest Barolo production. The winery lies in Castiglione Falletto and is supplied by four grand cru sites Brunate at La Morra, Prapo at Serralunga, Cannubi at Barolo and the vineyard that sits next to the vineyard. The total production for the winery is 40,000 bottles a year.
The Brunate vineyard has a perfect south easterly aspect with a soil composition of 52% clay, 32% silt and 16% sand. The vines here have a average age of at least 30 years old making the fruit high in phenolic complexity.
Fermentation occurs with a floating cap lasting 7 - 10 days in stainless steel. Maceration occurs for one week and the wine is then aged in 300 liter barrels for 30 months.
This wine will age for 15 - 20 years after vintage moving into roses and violets and showing great complexity. |
| Price: £75.00 |
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Billecarte Salmon 'Brut Rose', N.V Champagne |
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By far my favourite Champagne House!
In a world where image seems to be more important than substance, Billecarte shines out like a beacon to contradict this school of thought.
We are talking understated, subtle, finesse, elegance and solidity here; a company I admire and products that I adore.
The rose is the epitome of finesse and elegance in a Champagne.
Pale and elegant in colour with superb balnced fruit and acidity on the palate.
Devine Champagne. |
| Price: £44.95 |
6 Case: £267.00 |
12 Case: £528.00 |
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Cabernet Sauvignon "Helena Dakota Vineyard" Anakota |
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A different expression of Anakota's Cabernet from the 'Helen Dakota vineyard' situated at 750 ft above sea level. Volcanic ash and gravel are the key ingredients in producing this mineral style of cabernet that shows vibrant fruit with a cherry and violet nose. The palate offers lots of fruit to immediatley impress with oak, truffle, chocolate, coffee and soft tannins to finish. A strong example of why North American Cabernet is so good. |
| Price: £41.50 |
6 Case: £240.00 |
12 Case: £470.00 |
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Cabernet Sauvignon 'Helena Montana', Anakota |
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The typography of the Montana vineyards is one of steep slopes (30 degrees are regular) and the advantage of cool westerly winds. Numerous hills, knolls and trees maintain a protective barrier around the vineyard preventing damage. The soils are hard, sandy, gravel loam and the roots do not penetrate deep into the ground producing vines that unlike in the opposite Dakota vineyard are squat and stressed.
Bob Parker (wine guru) gives this a prized 92 points!
High concentration in both nose and palate with aromas of dark brooding fruit and a palate of the same with espresso and coffee also apparent. A seriously classy wine for those who love their cabernet.
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| Price: £41.50 |
6 Case: £240.00 |
12 Case: £470.00 |
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Zepelin Vineyards |
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WERE 19.99 NOW 14.99!! = £5.00 OFF A BOTTLE (LIMITED OFFER)
Exclusive to us in the U.K. the Zepelin wines are excellent expressions of Hawkes Bay's more complex viticulture.
The tiny Zepelin Estate only makes a few thousand bottles each year of this wine.
A foward cabernet with plenty of baked redcurrant and cassis, a little cigarbox and some leather on the nose. The palate focuses on dark plums and mocha with a splash of cedar. A very well made international style of wine.
If you've never tried really good Hawke's Bay Cabernet it is a 'must' for lovers of the softer styled, 'Bordeaux inspired' reds.
Great Wine! |
| Price: £14.99 |
6 Case: £87.00 |
12 Case: £168.00 |
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Chardonnay 'Five Soldiers', Rustenberg |
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An excellent graduation from the entry Rustenberg Chardonnay, drinking very much like a Grand Cru Chablis. Well structure with an excellent mineral nature and aged in bottle 18 months before release to allow the proper marriage of its components. Drink now to enjoy it's more fruit focused personality and cellar for evolving complexity. |
| Price: £26.50 |
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Chardonnay 'Moutere', Neudorf |
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A very small estate that produces some of the finest wines in New Zealand. Their range from the Nelson region offers an affordable yet excellent introduction to the highly skilled Neudorf winemaking team.
One of the great chardonnay’s of the new world and listed as one of the 1001 wines to drink before you die! The moutere wine is a blending of two vineyards Home and Beuke which sit in close proximity to the winery itself. Fermentation occurred using indigenous yeasts and the conversion process spanned over a length period. This was followed by complete malolactic and lees stirring.
Majestic, mineral, toffee and a balanced creaminess with some peach and lemon. An absolutely magnificent wine. If you’re a fan of chardonnay and enjoy the white wines of burgundy this is a must.
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| Price: £28.99 |
6 Case: £168.00 |
12 Case: £282.00 |
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Chateau Duhart-Milon 2007 Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac (IMPERIAL) |
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Bought in 1962 by the Lafite's in a state of desolation thanks to the usual ravages of war, poor economy and greneral neglect. All of the vines were grubbed up and re planted to Lafite's own spec (thus it's a cab domintaed affair). Quality really began to show in '82 and from there on (with a few blips) things got really really interesting.
Interestingly enough there is no chateau at Duhart and the wines are made in a rather drab looking winery in Paulliac. This said if you are ever to pass by you might see the flashes of genuis that go off like fireworks inside (something about books and covers comes to mind).
18 -25 day fermentation in steel before transfering to oak (from the Lafite cooperage) with racking ever three months and fining with egg whites. You may wonder if the chickens are owned by Lafite seen as everything is done in house here. On a recent buying trip whilst tasting the '04 Lafite Rothschild we posed the question. They are not. And no they don't have blue and yellow feathers (although I'm sure it's actually true, but a closely guarded secret). I digress.....
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond.
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| Price: £275.00 |
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Chateau Haut-Batailley, 2000 'Cru Classe', Pauillac |
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Less than a case in stock, this is an excellent oppertunity to try one of the most well known Pauillac estates. Owned by the enviable Jean-Eugene Broie (of Ducru-B and GPL fame). One of the few Chateau in Pauillac that can mature fully by the time it's a decade or so old. However the 2000 has quite a few more years left in it! Drink now - 2020. |
| Price: £44.50 |
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Chateau Lascombes 1999, 'Cru Classe', Marguax MAGNUM |
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Owned by Alex Lichine 1951-71 (an eminent wine writer / producer) and popularised because of his amazing efforts to bring the chateau to fruition. A wave of fine vintages followed '62, '66, '70, '71, '75 and '83. Now under the consultation of Mr. Rolland (since 1998) the wines have a distinctly more 'extracted' nature to them due mainly to a complete refit of the winery and the adoption of cold maceration, gravity fed vats etc.
The new style of Lascombes is fully into its stride with a nose of complex vanilla, blackcurrant and tobacco. The palate shows rich, sweet cassis / raisin that fills the mouth. A fine persistent length on the finish. |
| Price: £85.00 |
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 'Villes Vignes', Chateau du Beaucastel 1996 |
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One of the all time great Chateau's and certainly the greatest of the barrage of Chateauneuf's availible today. The Perrin brothers (who own the estate) are often at the fore of critisim and acclaim for their great wines and unusual methods of production including the boiling of the must before fermentation.
A little esoteric but rich, slightly nutty with a hint of fig and as complex as it gets. A stunning wine for enthusiasts of white Chateauneuf. |
| Price: £35.00 |
6 Case: £200.00 |
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Corton Charlemagne 2004 Grand Cru, Bonneau du Martray |
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One of the greatest Burgundies and often when on top form it can rival the sheer genius that is Montrachet. The vines are planted on steep slopes making harvesting a painstaking task, if it rains and the precious soils are washed down the hill it must be manually hauled back up again. It opens with an elegant nose of white flower, green apple and wet stone notes. What follows shortly are fresh and wonderfully intense flavors that are exceptionally clean and bright, culminating in a bone dry finish replete with superb minerality. |
| Price: £85.00 |
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Descendant, Torbreck |
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This single vineyard wine was produced from hallowed cuttings from the Run Rig Vineyards by Dave Powell in 1994 (some of the oldest genetic material in Australia). The Barossa's first co-fermented Shiraz/Viognier, Descendant has been joined by many more in the last couple of years - a testament to its success.
Shiraz is crushed straight on top of Viognier, which has been lightly pressed for RunRig. The blend of fruit is then co-fermented and later the wine is matured for 18 months in barrels that had been previously used for RunRig.
The deep red clay soils in this vineyard produce fruit which is very savory, textured and rich, a satin-like texture and a glorious perfume. Of all the Torbreck releases this is one that really needs patience. Its immediate charm can be enjoyed upon release with a few hours breathing, but after the first 6 months, the rest should be locked away for at least 5 years.
An absolute beast! Ideal for anyone who needs convincing that Australia can make majestic wines. Equally anyone who claims to be a Shriaz fan and has not tried this wine needs it in their lives!
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| Price: £79.00 |
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Gevrey-Chambertin 2004 1er Cru 'au closeau', Drouhin Larose |
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Drouhin-Laroze is a great domaine re-born. Set up in 1919 when Suzanne, the daughter of Jean-Baptiste Laroze, married Alexandre Drouhin. Her father’s Gevrey-Chambertin and her husband’s Chambolle-Musigny estates were united to form Drouhin-Laroze, a domaine that has been exploiting the Côte de Nuits’ best vineyards ever since. After sharing the winemaking with his father in 2000, Philippe Drouhin took full control of the vineyard and winery from the 2001 vintage, beginning the re-incarnation of this great Burgundian domaine.
Au Closeau is 0.52 hectares. A tiny vineyard but one that is well sited - just under Mazis-Chambertin. Almost the exclusivity of Drouhin-Laroze (0.44ha). This is the first vinatge from the vineyard (previously the wine was blended with other vineyards).
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| Price: £33.95 |
6 Case: £197.00 |
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Grans Muralles, Torres |
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Grans Muralles is the jewel of the Torres vineyards cultivated since the 13th century. Of the 94 hectares 32 are dedicated to the production of the wine that bears its name.
Made exclusively from indgenous varietals that since 1984 have been recovered and revitalised. Thus the vines are ancient and produce mind blowing concentration. The grapes used are Monastrell, Cariñena, Garnacha Tinta, Garró and Samsó.
A very dense and complex wine with exotic spice and vanilla. This really is the business truly knocking the spots of just about everything else spain has to offer.
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| Price: £49.95 |
6 Case: £290.00 |
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Hugel 'Selection de Grain Nobles' 1998, Gewuztraminer |
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The very highest and exhaulted wines in the Hugel range. To produce such rare wines, certain factors have to coincide : an exceptional vineyard, old vines, perfect maturity, early-morning mist followed by maximum sunshine, to encourage the development of "noble rot" (botrytis cinerea). The shrivelled grapes are then carefully harvested, one by one, then vinified with utmost care. The resulting nectar has unbelievable finesse and complexity, and its lifespan is practically unlimited.
All of the fruit for these wines is hand selected from the heart of the Grand Cru Sporen slope. The SGN is a perfect example of a wine that is grown and not made. With very little intervention in the winery the quality is in the fruit not a science kit.
This is utter heaven in a glass and a whole raft of flavours that stretch for what seems like an eternity on the palate. It doesn't get much better than this........
Drink this with Foie Gras. Please. |
| Price: £56.49 |
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Merlot ‘Columbia Valley’, Northstar |
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Located in Walla Walla (!!!!) Washington (not Australia) Northstar’s aim is simple, produce the best Merlot in the world. America has a strong affinity with the wines of Pomerol and this has bred winemakers with the aim to produce ‘Bordeaux beaters’. The winemaker David ‘Merf’ Merfeld has nearly 24 separate blocks of Merlot at his disposal which through rigorous selection whittles these down to a dozen or so which make it fro the final blends. Each vintage provides different blocks and therefore quality and individuality can be maintained.
At harvest, grapes were held separately, destemmed and crushed with 25% whole berries remaining. Grapes fermented on the skins for five days with daily punch downs to extract flavor, colors and fine tannins. The wine was placed into French (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation. The barrel rotation included 70% new barrels. The lots aged separately for 18 months with barrel-to-barrel racking occurring at three month intervals.
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| Price: £33.50 |
6 Case: £192.00 |
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Pierrer Joulet 'Le Belle Epoque' Vintage 2002 |
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One of my favourite stories concerning Belle Epouque was that Oscar Wild ordered bottles of the 1874 vintage to his prison cell. Regardless though of tall tales this is indeed one of the great champagne houses producing excellent wines.
2002 saw warm weather and ripe fruit creating wines of great expression and yet still elegant. Cotes des Blanc supplied the Chardonnay and Montagne de Reims for Pinot with additional pinot from Ambonnay and Ay.
A super refined and elegant champagne comming into its more classic bready stage of evolution. |
| Price: £95.00 |
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Pierrer Joulet 'Le Belle Epoque' Vintage Rose 2002 |
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One of my favourite stories concerning Belle Epouque was that Oscar Wild ordered bottles of the 1874 vintage to his prison cell. Regardless though of tall tales this is indeed one of the great champagne houses producing excellent wines.
2002 saw warm weather and ripe fruit creating wines of great expression and yet still elegant. Cotes des Blanc supplied the Chardonnay and Montagne de Reims for Pinot with additional pinot from Ambonnay and Ay.
The palate is refined berry notes with wild strawberry and a silky texture showing excellent aging potential.
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| Price: £129.50 |
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Pinot Gris, Dry River |
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In 1979 Neil and Dawn McCallum planted a vineyard a few kilometres from Dyerville in a very dry and free-draining area now called the 'Martinborough Terrace' and they took the name Dry River for the vineyard and wines in what was to become another chapter of Martinborough's farming history. Their dream was to produce individual, high quality regional wines which faithfully reflect the 'terroir', vintage and are suitable for cellaring.
Neil McCallum insists on tiny yields at the Dry River vineyards. Prior to harvesting severe pruning and crop thining are employed. This allows the winery to see the least human intervention possible when the wines are made.
At present we are the only uk stockists of this awesome Pinot Gris, a rare bottling indeed and magnificent. This is the first vintage to be shipped to outside of New Zealand.
The colour of fresh-cut straw. Its nose is of honeysuckle, quince and yellow peach along with fresh yeast aromatics. The palate is sleek, concealing the phenolic structure necessary for long term cellaring. It is varietally precise, tasting of fresh quince, juicy yellow peach and vanilla custard. To me it is attractive as a young wine but inevitably the greatest reward from fine Pinot gris is to be attained after appropriate cellaring, not when it is first released – we have found that our Pinot gris gain a lot of benefit from at least 4 years in a good cellar, and it is worth noting that our 1986 vintage is still alive and remains an interesting wine.
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| Price: £29.95 |
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Pinot Noir 'Moutere', Neudorf |
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A miniscule amount of this wine produced (224 cases) and as always (when winemakers Tim and Judy Finn are concerned) expressive, fine and elegant.
At the Moutere Valley shallow sandy loam topsoil overlays a draining clay subsoil based on the weathered gravels of an ancient river system. The gravelly virgin soil is of naturally low fertility and retains enough moisture to support grapevines through the dry summer months.
This is more akin to a top flight Burgundy that just NZ Pinot Noir. For my money one of the best if not the best Pinot’s in the New World. There’s the black mouth filling fruit you’d expect but behind it loves the lovely leathery, savoury, gamey palate with fine acidity. Buy one. I implore you. This is amazing.
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| Price: £26.50 |
6 Case: £153.00 |
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Pinot Noir 'Prince Hills Vineyard', Erath |
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Pioneers of Oregon wine production Erath were the first winery to be established in 1968 at Dundee with 49 acres and a log cabin serving as a home. Some years later in ’82 his pinot noir inspired others to move to Oregon and cultivate Pinot Noir. Whilst traditional values of ‘wine is grown and not made’ hold true, the winemaker combines this with cutting edge methods using micro oxygenation and cross flow filtration.
This wine comes from a single vineyard series of bottlings the ‘Prince Hills’ is 1.5 miles west of Dundee Hills the 34 acre site is renowned for its rich, deep and complicated wines. Mocha, praline and dense black fruit with beautiful mouthfeel.
A really stunning wine with lots of potential for the future if there was any doubt of the quality of Oregon wines then this is the business.
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| Price: £33.50 |
6 Case: £192.00 |
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Pinot Noir Hartford |
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The Hartford Winery's bottling under the name Hartford Court show the most exclusive selections of pinot noir. The fruit is sourced from single vineyards in the Sonoma County. The Land's Edge Vineyard cuvee is composed of fruit from the Annapolis Vineyard which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The cool climate reduces crop levels drastically and picking often occurs as late as November! The pay off comes in the retention of acidity levels, complexity and firm tannin helping the wine to age.
A highly expressive pinot with a complex nose of ripe cherries, violet and cedar. The palate has firm black cherries, mixed red and black berries with spice and coffee leading to a finish of complexity and length. A very fine pinot.
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| Price: £27.50 |
6 Case: £162.00 |
12 Case: £320.00 |
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Pouilly Fume 'Baron de L' Chateau Nozet, Ladoucette |
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The largest and most famous Pouilly-Fumé vineyards have been in the hands of the Comte Lafond and Ladoucette families since 1787 when the Comte Lafond purchased the estate from the illegitimate daughter of the French king, Louis XV. The estate is now owned by Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, a descendant of the Comte Lafond, and Pouilly Fumé has earned a reputation as one of the world’s great white wines. The Baron de L is widely considered to be the best Pouilly Fumé available. This Grande Cuvée of Pouilly Fumé is produced exclusively in the best years and from the first pressing of the estate’s grapes. The wine is matured on natural lees from three to six months, followed by the blending of the wines from the two main soils. The wine is then left to rest on the lees in glass tiled vats for eight to ten months. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The colour is pale gold with green tints. The nose is delicate with ripe fruit such as pear and white peach. It also has complex notes of beeswax, vanilla and flint. The mouth has a fresh fruity beginning, is fleshy and robust, and has good structure. It is balanced between a fruity roundness and mineral firmness. A very long finish. Will gracefully age over the next 8 to 10 years.
In short ,the bee’s knees.
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| Price: £51.00 |
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Puligny-Monrachet 'Chalumeaux' 2002 1er Cru, Domaine Martelet de Cherisey |
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A great new find for us, this domaine produced its first commercial vintage since 2000 and has already secured itself as one of the stars of Burgundy. On the top part of the hills between Puligny and Mersault benefiting from a cooler micro climate and thus encouraging a racy minerality that its neighbours struggle to achieve. It is fantastic to see Ms Martelet denying Maison Louis Latour her fine grapes and bottling herself.
The Chalumeaux show a fantastic balance between buttery richness and piercing mineral notes. The fruit is opulent and engaging, truly a wine of excellent class.
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| Price: £44.95 |
6 Case: £261.00 |
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Rioja 'Blanco', Remelluri |
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With 105 acers under vine La Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri dates back to the 15th Century when the chaps very kindly donated 30 large pitchers of wine a year to the town!
More importantly Remelluri pioneered the idea of single estate vineyard. Even today this idea is very unusual, often Rioja houses hold a number of different vineyard spread over the appellation (most of which are contracted rather than owned. With one singular area under vine the quality of the grapes can be kept at an excellent level. There are a number of vines that date back to 1876 (pre-phylloxera) however the average age is around 30 years.
This is seriously rare, seriously good and seriously mad in its composition. The resulting wine is very refined, subtle and delicate but with an almost etheral presence on the palate. Amazing. |
| Price: £39.95 |
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Rioja 'Gran Reserva 904', La Rioja Alta |
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La Rioja Alta have built quite a reputation for producing some of the best Rioja’s in the world. The holdings of the company now total 473 hectares making them a formidable and sizeable operation. There are two wineries one at Haro and the second more experimental facility at Labastia. All of the vineyards are located in the prime limestone sites of Rioja Alta with the exception of 60 hectares of Grenache sourced from the Rioja Baja (better suited to the grapes needs). Yields are constantly well under permitted levels often as much as 24% ensuring quality and fruit concentration.
This is one of the worlds great Rioja's from a very fine estate. The 904 is only produced in years that are deemed to be excellent. This wine spends 7 years (!) at the estate before release comprised of 5 in barrel and then 2 in bottle. Considered to be the better of the two exceptional years in Rioja ( '94 was brilliant as well ). Bob Parker called this 'an absolute gem' of a wine. A must for Rioja fans.
A ruby colour with hints of tile red. An intense '97, penetrating and complex aroma with overtones of spices, leather and ripe fruit.
In the mouth, strong flavoured yet round and silky with good balance between fruit and acidity. The aftertaste is complex and persistent with hints of liquorice.
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| Price: £33.50 |
6 Case: £195.00 |
12 Case: £372.00 |
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Rioja 'Vina Ardanza Reserva', La Rioja Alta |
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Considered to be the sister wine of the 904 Gran Reserva, Vina Ardanza is a blend 80% Tempranillo with the rest comprising of Garnacha. The 20% addition of Garnacha (better known as Grenache) has an amazing perfume to it. Wild berries with hints of coconut, cinnamon, tobacco and leather. The palate is as you would expect from Rioja, big, silky with enveloping tannin. |
| Price: £22.95 |
6 Case: £132.00 |
12 Case: £258.00 |
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Romanee Saint Vivant ‘Grand Cru’ Domaine Confuron 2001 |
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The Domaine Confuron is based at Premaux-Prissey, south of Nuits, and is run by Alain Meunier and his wife, Sophie Confuron. They have vineyard holdings in many parts of the Cotes de Nuits, several of which can boast vines of a good age. The grapes are grown organically and, to maximise the fruit, all the grapes are de-stemmed before vinification.
This is a real show stopper of a Burgundy and fantastic example of what the Grand Cru’s can produce when they are on form. The full ripe fruit of the Confuron style gives way to unbridled complexity on the palate that leads in turn to an explosive and long-lasting aftertaste. A rarity, but well worth searching out.
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| Price: £135.00 |
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Rouge 1995, Mas de Daumas Gassac |
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Drinking very well now and showing exactly why Daumas Gassac is the greatest estate in the Languedoc. With around 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest made up from Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Tannat, Nabiolo, Dolcetto.... (the list goes on).
It is however only with bottle age that it shows the qualities of the other grapes.
Ripe cassis sits among woodland floor, leather, spice and truffle.
One of the great wines of the Languedoc.
(Very limited availablity) |
| Price: £64.95 |
6 Case: £375.00 |
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Rouge 2000, Mas de Daumas Gassac |
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Another very fine offering form Mas de Daumas Gassac. In its youth it drinks very much like a claret with more upfront and concentrated cassis fruit.
With around 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest made up from Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Tannat, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto.... (the list goes on). It is however only with bottle age that it shows the qualities of the other grapes.
Very limited availability.
One of the 'great's' of the Languedoc. |
| Price: £44.95 |
6 Case: £261.00 |
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Royal Tokaji 'Essencia' 2000 |
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The pinicale of Hungarian wine production Tokaji hails from near the Carpathian Mountains on a plateau elevated at 475m above sea level. The soils are volcanic with high concentrations of iron and lime. The main grape variety of choice here is Furmint which possesses a unique ability to regrow a second skin under climatic stress preventing rot and oxidization also concentrating the grapes sugars.
The Puttonyos indicate the sweetness of the wine (a 25kg basket) that contains a dough of botrytised grapes added to a barrel containing must. The ranking ranges from 3 - 6 (with the other two levels of sweetness given specific names).
The Royal Tokaji company have a number of '1st growth' vineyards from which they source their grapes. The blue label is a selection of both classified and un classified sites with a base comming from Nyulaszo one of the prime sites.
This is the utter zenith of desert wine. Made only in great vintages, with no initial must and fermented for two years! A reminder of mortality, this wine will outlast me and subsequent generations that follow. Breath taking. |
| Price: £350.00 |
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Sancerre 'Les Montes Damnes' 2001 Domaine Pascal Cotat |
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Along with Didier Dageuneau the Cotat's are unique winemakers, their methods are ancient and they strive for utter perfection. The vineyards are positioned on very steep slopes and it has been often said that tying a cushion to the postirer and sliding down the slopes with an outstreched bucket is the only way to get the grapes! These wines can age for at least 30 years and are truly amazing. Harvesting occurs 10 days later than anywhere else in the area to retain more sugar and concentration in the grapes.
The damned hill 'cue goulish laugh' is one of the Cotat's prime single vineyards and produces fantastic fruit. Brooding stony character, flint smoke and gripping limestone fruit. A real beauty. There aren't many sauvignon's that taste like this. |
| Price: £26.75 |
6 Case: £149.00 |
12 Case: £288.00 |
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Sauvignon Blanc 'Lady A', Domaine A |
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Domaine A is owned by Peter and Ruth Althaus and was originally a 0.5 ha vineyard. Although it has grown significantly the wines are still produced with painstaking care and attention the holdings of 11 hectares are now planted with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Lady A is the permium cuvee from the domaine, the vines selected are planted at high density with green harvesting and strict selection praticed. The wine is barrel fermented then racked and returned to barrel adding further complexity.
Creamy mint with a lovely texture and bredth on the palate. Lots of racy acidity with citrus, but more opulent nectarine and pineapple notes through the mid-palate. Very long and excellently balanced. Warning this is a beast of a wine! |
| Price: £29.95 |
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Shiraz '1860 Vines', Tahbilk |
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One of 'the' Australian producers, renowned for quality and excellence. 200 hectares of vines are at Tahbilk's disposal including the French Rhone Valley whites of Marsanne, Viognier & Roussanne; the Rhone reds - Shiraz, Grenache & Mourvedre; along with traditional varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc & Verdelho.
Vineyard plantings extend back to Tahbilk's founding with original pre-phylloxera Shiraz vines still surviving from 1860. There also further "old vine" plantings including Shiraz from 1933 (the prime source for Tahbilk's Reserve Shiraz releases), Cabernet Sauvignon back to 1949 and Marsanne from 1927 (a "sister" white release to the 1860 Vines Shiraz produced from them).
Wine and Spirit Magazine consider this to be one of the great 25 wines of the world. Cedar, spice, berried fruit both on the palate and the nose lead to a long balanced finish with firm tannin. Exceptional shiraz. |
| Price: £46.95 |
6 Case: £273.00 |
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Shiraz 'Langi', Mount Langi Ghiran |
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Mount Langi Ghiran’s finest expression of Shiraz, a benchmark for the cool climate Australian style. The 2000 harvest was picked with perfect ripeness after 10 weeks of hang time from veraison. Aged for 15 months in 38% French oak from 4 different coopers and 62% American oak.
The resulting wine is one of the finest Shiraz's known to man.
It has complex red and black fruit characteristics, ripe oak and well integrated, fine grained tannins.
Superb quality.
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| Price: £26.95 |
6 Case: £156.00 |
12 Case: £300.00 |
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The Aviator, Alpha Domus |
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The top cuvee from a very popular Hawkes Bay producer, there wines show great appeal and user friendly fruit. The Aviator is the very zenith of this philosophy. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (38%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Malbec (18%). Incredibly concentrated with good extract and a core of super ripe sweet fruit, now with seven years of bottle maturation the tannin has rounded and soften to reveal a structured and delightful style of Hawkes Bay red. |
| Price: £25.49 |
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Vintage 2007, Dow's Port |
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2007 was undoubtedly one of the best years we have ever seen for Touriga Nacional, a variety that can suffer from excessive heat. The cooler temperatures registered during the final growing period paved the way for ideal maturations, lending the Nacional excellent
sugar/acidity balance and ideal phenolic ripeness. We therefore decided on a final blend that
comprised of 54% Touriga Nacional. The latter was sourced from low-yielding parcels of the
Bomfim vineyard, which produced wines with Dow’s typically austere character and also
from Senhora da Ribeira which by comparison delivered slightly richer wines.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond.
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| Price: £37.50 |
6 Case: £199.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Gould Campbell Port |
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The grapes for Gould Campbell Ports are drawn from vineyards in the Alto Douro area, where the yields are very low (about one pipe - 550 litres - per 1,000 vines) but the wines have immense complexity and depth. The winery is situated at Pinhão, where a proportion of the wines are made in modern temperature controlled fermentation tanks. However, a significant proportion of Gould Campbell Ports are still made in small quintas in the hills around Pinhão, using the ancient method of treading the grapes by foot in stone tanks called lagares.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond. |
| Price: £23.50 |
6 Case: £129.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Graham's Port |
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Graham’s has a reputation which is second to none as a producer of outstanding Vintage Ports. These wines are renowned for their remarkable richness, concentration and firm tannic structure, all of which combine to yield impressive longevity. Graham’s Vintages consistently attain the highest ratings in tastings and invariably attract very high bids at the fine wine auctions.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond.
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| Price: £40.00 |
6 Case: £219.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Quarles Harris Port |
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Another of the Symmington's smaller estates that offers exceptional value for money, earlier drinking potential and ripe forward fruit.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond. |
| Price: £23.50 |
6 Case: £134.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Quinta do Vesuvio |
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Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond. |
| Price: £37.50 |
6 Case: £197.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Smith Woodhouse Port |
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Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port is made exclusively from one harvest at our vineyards in the Rio Torto, one of the finest vineyard areas in the Douro Valley.
Following 2 years in oak, we transfer the wine unfiltered to bottle, where it can mature for decades. It is during this long bottle ageing that the young wine is transformed into a magnificent Vintage Port.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond. |
| Price: £27.50 |
6 Case: £138.00 |
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Vintage 2007, Warre's Port |
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2007 is the first Warre’s Vintage made entirely
from non co op vineyards. For nearly a century a pivotal component of Warre’s Vintage Port has come from Quinta do Retiro in the Rio Torto which we acquired in 2006. In that same year, the symingtons also purchased a very fine Douro Superior vineyard of perfectly matureTouriga Nacional and Franca vines: Quinta da Telhada. The magnificent wines from this 32 ha property have for the first time contributed to a Warre’s Vintage, adding even more breadth and complexity. The outstanding wines selected from Retiro, Telhada, as well as the main estate of
Cavadinha have come together to make what is one of the finest Warre’s Vintage Ports ever made. 65% of the grapes that make up the final blend were sourced from ‘vinha velha’ (old vines: 50 years +) from Retiro and
Cavadinha. The Touriga Nacional (from Cavadinha and Telhada), is sensational and
contributes a further 23%, whilst the balance is comprised of Touriga Franca (primarily
from Telhada) which delivered elegant floral aromas – a hallmark of the Warre’s style.
Following the recent declaration of 2007 as a 'Vintage' year we are pleased to offer this fine Port for delivery around Christmas 2009.
Price is 'In-Bond' UK and so does not include UK Duty or VAT which are payable on release from Bond. |
| Price: £35.00 |
6 Case: £185.00 |
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Vouvray 'Le Haut-Lieu' Sec, Domaine Huet |
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The original vineyard of the Huet Domaine 'Huet-Lieu' is rich in brown clay and limestone that gives the wines a rounded, supple and approachable quality.
Intense and complex with lots of honeysuckle, straw and mineral on the nose. The palate although dry has a core of sweet fruit around a slightly 'green apple' acidity and a very long and evolving finish.
A great Vouvray from a master craftsman of Chenin Blanc.
As with all the wines made by Domaine Huet, it is produced Biodynamically to ensure the most 'natural' of wines is achieved. |
| Price: £17.49 |
6 Case: £100.00 |
12 Case: £195.00 |
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