All Wine Info
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Growers and Winemakers
In the old-fashioned European model, the owner, grower and winemaker is usually the same man or woman. By contrast a big New World estate will be owned by a corporation, the vines may be looked after by a viticulturist, the winemaker will be a highly trained specialist (some of these guys...
“Demi-Gods Inevitably a short list: these are folk who usually own top vineyards and have demonstrated an absolute determination to make great wine and an ability to do it consistently: but beyond...”
Examples: Fourrier, Grivot, Helmut Dönnhoff, Kientzler, and Paul Draper at Ridge
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Quatre Tours
One of our best discoveries of 2008 was the superior rosé of Quatre Tours, which was praised by Jancis Robinson, MW in the Financial Times as “very attractive and good value” . We had found a bargain in Provence, a notoriously difficult thing to do in this perennially fashionable region.
“The group of producers working under the Quatre Tours banner farm around 270 hectares of land around the villages and towns of Venelles, Puyricard, Puy Ste Reparade and Aix en Provence, the...”
The Signature rosé is a blend of 45% each of Grenache and Syrah, with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Gentle handling and low temperature fermentation,...
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Saint Daumary
When I (Simon Taylor) visited the Languedoc and Roussillon in February 09, the single best tasting at any grower was with Julien Chapel at Saint Daumary. Julien is a short, neat man, with a little cellar in Valflaunès. His vineyards are nearby on the flanks of the plateau of Hortus, just to the...
“We have really found a star in this modest and amiable young man, who has taken over part of his father’s land and converted to organic cultivation: he is now in the process of becoming certified....”
First up is his elegant and refined white, La Boca Loca, 80% Roussanne with Grenache Blanc, about a third of which is lightly oaked. His red Pic St....
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Les Vignerons d’Estézargues
The youthful-looking, energetic and perky Denis Deschamps continues to be on top form at this mini co-operative in a small village in the Gard, just west of Avignon. From the land of just ten vignerons, he crafts wines from shared grapes - the great value cuvées such as the Vin de Pays du Gard and...
“With every visit to this mini co-operative - hugely admired within France - we seem to add another of their wines. This year it’s Domaine de Pierredon’s Côtes du Rhône Villages, unusual (and...”
Otherwise we offer: the latest vintage of Les Galets, a cheerful blend of Grenache, Cinsaut and Syrah which makes a really honest, daily drinking...
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Etienne Le Riche
Etienne Le Riche is hugely admired in the Cape, not least by top winemakers almost a generation younger who are fellow members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, a by invitation association of 38 winemakers.
“Formerly the winemaker at Rustenberg, in 1996 Etienne rented a house and unused cellar at Leef-op-Hoop (literally Living on Hope) in the Jonkershoek Valley to start his own winery. Turning out a mere...”
This year we have also shipped Etienne’s Chardonnay, a barrel-fermented wine of great balance and vivacity - Etienne chooses not to allow...
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Cederberg
Ever since we first started shipping from the Cape we have prized our friendship with David Niewoudt, one of the kindest, big-hearted, amusing and passionate winemakers we know. In April 2009 I again enjoyed his tour of this remarkable estate, which David took over in 1997, wondering at...
“The vineyards here are 1100-1150 metres up in the Cederberg mountains. Good natural rainfall, around 550-600mm, cool temperatures and occasionally snow-bound winters, with plenty of wind, mean that...”
As if David didn’t have enough to do at Cederberg, has bought land in Elim on slate and granitic soils. He has branded his wines from there Ghost...
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Vondeling
Vondeling (literally the “foundling”) is a long established farm producing grapes sold to KWV, Boland and, recently, Rustenberg. Hampshire man Julian Johnson took over in 2000, and with new investment, and, from the 2007 vintage, a really capable, well-travelled winemaker in young Matthew...
“We chose two blends here: the Petit Blanc, from thirds of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier; with plenty of lees contact to lend some weight; and the Petit Rouge, from just 55% Merlot and 45%...”
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Our Favourite Selection
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Product Code: SAP109
Bernard Santé, Chénas, 2009
“M. Santé admits that he prefers to make “bon vins à grands vins”, but what’s wrong with that, when the result is this lovely wine! Mid depth...”
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Product Code: COD109
Domaine Cordaillat, Reuilly, Tradition, 2009
“So lively and bright, with jasmine and lemon notes. Delightfully open and moreish, with ripe fruit countered by balancing acidity. Now-2012”
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Product Code: DGA509
Domaine du Grand Arc, Corbières Rosé, La Tour Fabienne, 2009
“As usual, a neon pink hue, almost bluish pink! So fresh and zingy, with delightful fraises des bois character, enlivened by stone fruit notes....”
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Product Code: BL510
Sauvignon Blanc Tasting Case
“A mixed case including two bottles of six different Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire, with a saving of at least 10% on the bottle prices.”
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Product Code: BAT609
La Battistina, Gavi, 2009
“Though Piedmont is a region renowned for its reds, the local white, made from Cortese grapes, is a firm summer favourite. Very pale, but with a...”
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Product Code: SER307
Le Clos du Serres, Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac, Les Maros, 2007
“This Grenache-based blend always shows raspberry and blackberry fruit, with an interesting gamey nuance and a hint of liquorice. Warming and...”
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Product Code: JIM307
Jim Barry, Cover Drive, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia, 2007
“We return to this old favourite, from vines planted near the old Penola cricket ground, hence the name. Most of the fruit is from the famed terra...”
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Product Code: SEVDOZ
Seven Hills Tasting Case
“A case including four bottles of each of the three wines, with a discount of just over 10%.”
Though Washington State has a coastline on the Pacific, Walla Walla, the heart of the state’s wine industry, is well inland, east of the Cascade...
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Product Code: CHX308
Cape Chamonix, Pinot Noir Reserve, Franschhoek, 2008
“Soft colour. Perfumed, with red fruit overliad by coffee oak. Both juicy and velvety, this is a really classy Pinot with (by Cape standards)...”
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Product Code: PRF609
Preignes Le Vieux, Tradition, Viognier, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2009
“New to the list this year, a really well-made Viognier, fresh but nicely rounded, with pretty white peach fruit. A lovely aperitif, or enjoy with...”
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Product Code: BEC306
Le Prieuré d’Arras, Saint Joseph Rouge, 2006
“Pale, but still youthful purple. Scent of raspberries and blackberries with a vanilla nuance; and the palate equally combines red and black fruit....”
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Product Code: MUD409
Mud House, Pinot Gris, South Island, 2009
“Neutral, Italianate scent, with just a suggestion of sandalwood. First impression on the palate is of attractive weight and waxy texture, enlivened...”
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