Autumn Feasts
Includes two bottles of each of the below wines
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Inside the case you'll get...
Goedverwacht Great Expectations, Chenin Blanc, Robertson, 2026
A classic, dry-but-fruity South African Chenin that doesn’t disappoint. Generous ripe pear, pineapple and red apple fruit with just enough weight on the mid palate. The sort of white that is delicious on its own (this is a brilliant wine for openings and exhibitions when you need to entertain a crowd) or with seafood. Steamed salmon with lemon and butter would be ideal. Now-2028
ColourWhite
RegionRobertson
Grape VarietyChenin Blanc
Vintage2026
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
ClosureScrewcap
CodeGDV726
Chenin Blanc
Origins
- Anjou in the Loire, where documented in the 9thC
- Also known as Pineau in the Loire, Steen in South Africa
Characteristics
- Naturally productive and high yielding
- Huge range of styles: bone dry (e.g. Savennières); off-dry (e.g. old fashioned South African "Steen"); medium dry (e.g....
Mes Lies Melon, Vin de France, 2025
Muscadet maestro Jérémie Huchet is the brains behind this winning white that blends equal parts of two grapes in plentiful supply in the Loire: Melon de Bourgogne and Sauvignon Blanc. It combines the best of each grape: the crisp, lemon freshness of the Melon and the zesty lime and gooseberry of the Sauvignon. It goes superbly with half-shelled mussels topped with garlic butter and breadcrumbs and thrown under the grill. Now-2027
ColourWhite
RegionLoire
GrowerJeremie Huchet
Grape VarietySauvignon Blanc & Melon de Bourgogne
Vintage2025
ABV12%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodeMEL125
Loire Valley
In early February I undertook our annual visit to the wine fair in Angers, escaping the snow which engulfed much of the UK during that week.
This is the yearly opportunity for the vast majority of vignerons in the Loire valley to show off their latest offerings to the rest of the world. The early season’s weather in 2008 was not kind, with variously frost, hail and torrential...
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Sauvignon Blanc
Origins
- Probably in Bordeaux region
- Parent of red grape Cabernet Sauvignon (established by DNA analysis)
Characteristics
- Vigorous plant, so can be too leafy and overproductive
- Aromas and flavours described as: herbaceous, grassy and nettley; Gooseberries; but can also show more tropical fruits...
Pandolfi Price, Larkun Chardonnay, Valle del Itata, 2022
A pot roast pheasant is the time efficient autumnal Sunday dinner with bird, veg and gravy all in one pot; the wine and/or stock ensuring the lean meat stays juicy. Unwooded Chardonnay fits the bill here possessing the weight to match the meat without any overpowering oak. This is a cracking Chilean example as this Jancis Robinson review confirms:
"Quite a bit of struck match on the nose – though not excessive. Masses of rich fruit on the palate but not at all heavy. So...
ColourWhite
RegionItata
GrowerPandolfi Price
Grape VarietyChardonnay
Vintage2022
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodePAP122
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most-widely planted varieties in the world.
Arguably not the most characterful grape, hence its common ageing in oak, yet at its pinnacle in Burgundy it produces some of the greatest (and certainly most expensive) white wines in the world. Look out for unoaked Chardonnay, it can make a pleasant change, and usually goes down very well with all those people who...
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Jancis Robinson
We get super excited when Jancis Robinson (or one of her team) write about our wine!
Voted the world's most influential wine critic in polls in the US, France and internationally in 2018, Jancis views herself as a wine writer rather than a wine critic.
She writes daily for JancisRobinson.com and weekly for the Financial Times. She is founder-editor of The Oxford Companion...
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Aromo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Maule, 2022
We always look for blackcurrant pastilles when tasting Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon at this level – and this wine has them in spades. Alongside those pastilles there are notes of damson and spice with just a hint of something leafy. Will be very good with a simply cooked lamb chop. Now-2027
ColourRed
RegionMaule
GrowerAromo
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
Vintage2022
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
ClosureScrewcap
CodeARO722
Cabernet Sauvignon
The most prestigious red grape?
Origins
- Bordeaux region, as a natural cross of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc (established 1997 by DNA analysis)
- Was known as Vidure or Petit-Vidure
- Spread throughout left bank of Bordeaux, supplanting white grapes
Characteristics
- Fairly easy to grow: hardy, buds...
Chateau Les Combes, Lussac-Saint-Emilion, 2020
100% unoaked Merlot from a single vineyard with thin soils over limestone located at one of the highest points in the appellation. A long term SVS favourites from grower Frédéric Borderie, it has fresh blackberry and plum fruit and there is a stony note on the finish. Fine tannins give structure and support the fruit. Balanced and refined, this is a smart claret for all occasions. Now-2027
ColourRed
RegionBordeaux
GrowerFrederic Borderie
Grape VarietyMerlot
Vintage2020
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
ClosureCork
CodeGRC420
Frederic Borderie, Chateaux Les Combes and Les Gravieres de la Brandille, Bordeaux, France
Frederic Borderie, in his late 30s, is one of our stars, making delicious, perfumed whites and a range of reds which he fairly views as the equals - both in quality and longevity - of more expensive wines from grander appellations.
Modestly he ascribes their success to his vineyards being on gravelly river terraces of the Isle river, an underrated terroir with some similarities to the...
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Merlot
Origins
- Bordeaux region. Known by 18thC
- Now much more widely planted in Bordeaux than Cabernet Sauvignon
Characteristics
- Productive - high yielding …but early budding, so vulnerable to frost (e.g. 1956)
- In comparison to Cabernet Sauvignon: higher sugars and appealing...
Chateau de la Liquiere, Faugeres Rouge, 2022
One of the richest of any braised game dishes, Jugged Hare needs a wine that can stand up for itself. An old fashioned claret feels, well, old fashioned so why not head to Faugères, home of some of the Languedoc’s most elegant reds. This is consistently one of our most undervalued wines. Made from unoaked Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, it is powerful and ripe with deep, blackberry and violet fruit alongside hints of rosemary and black olive. Supple tannins and a lifted freshness complete...
ColourRed
RegionFaugeres
GrowerChateau de la Liquiere
Grape VarietyGrenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
Vintage2022
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
MethodOrganic
CodeLIQ422
Grenache / Garnacha
Grenache / Garnacha
Grenache grows well in hot, dry regions, though it can develop very high (15 degrees+) alcohol.
As such it is grown principally in Southern France and Spain (as Garnacha). It is usually blended with other varieties in the Southern Rhône and Languedoc (Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsaut and others).
Its flavour usually encompasses the...
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Here’s the full tasting note for...
Autumn Feasts
Includes two bottles of each of the below wines
Great choice of good-value wines in the January sales. The website is really easy to use to make up an order. Delivery, as is often the case, was within 24 hours and, as usual, was well-packed.Read More
I've bought a couple of cases recently, and many more in years gone by, and have really enjoyed their selection. They have a good range of interesting wines from some classic and some more…Read More
Judging by the wines I have had, someone is doing a very good job in selecting the wines to put before the public, and at a very fair price. Delivery from online purchases as also been quick and…Read More
Great company with good service and good prices. Highly recommended.Read More
One of my favourite independents. Been enjoying these special wines for more than 10 years. Always interesting choices, and always great value in the sales!Read More
This was yet another quick and painless transaction, as I have come to expect from SV&S.Read More
