Guy's Wine Club Tasting Notes

Welcome to Guy's Wine Club Tasting notes.

Please click the month to see the tasting notes and receipt ideas.

Month 7

Getting into stew season, I'll be bring in some more reds but still having a wide mix of wines.

The Wines

Smalltown Vineyards The Next Big Thing Chardonnay

Country

Australia

Grape

Chardonnay

Vintage

2022

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

With the faintest whiff of biscuity oak this bright, tangy Barossa Chardonnay is an absolute delight. It has that classical Barossa charm, elegance, poise, tang and naggingly more-ish elusive something-or-other which makes one wonder why there isn't more Australian Chardonnay.

Food Matching

Anything with chicken, pork, prawns, seafood... Brilliant as a quaffer or perfect with a lovingly cooked meal.

Vinification

Grapes are hand-harvested from an old block on the Binder family Barossa vineyards. Small batches of Chardonnay are picked and pressed through a tank press with some skin contact. 25% is fermented in French puncheons and American hogsheads for 6 months, aged on lees then blended with the 75% unoaked juice, settled, and bottled. Into the main Barossa blend a small component of Eden Valley Chardonnay is blended and the whole sees a tiny bit of secondary use oak for some fine structure.

The Wines

Passitivo Primitivo Appassimento

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitivo

Vintagb

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Ruby-red, with a complex bouquet reminiscent of cherries, raspberries, and redcurrants. The particle aging adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma.

Food Matching

Great with cheese and hearty meat dishes.

Vinification

A Primitivo grape variety that has been dried slightly using " il giro del picciolo" technique where the stems of the grape bunches are twisted so that they no longer receive nourishment. They are left for about 12 days and in that time they lose 25-30% of their weight, which concentrates the juice and natural sweetness of the grapes.

Ciliegiolo Organic 18 Tenuta Santa Lucia

Country

Italy

Grape

Ciliegiolo

Vintage

2018

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Tuscan red, light and fruity, a cascade of cherry and raspberry on the tongue plus a whiff of herbs on the nose.

Food Matching

Tuscan bean soup and crusty bread dipped in olive oil.

Vinification

This wine is fermented for 10 days in stainless steel tanks and further settled for 4 months before being bottled.

Murviedro Series Old Vine Bobal

Country

Spain

Grape

Bobal

Vintage

2019

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of dark fruits and light spice. Plum and bramble fruit balanced by toasty characters on the structured palate. The tannins are nicely woven in, there is a chunky texture but good fruit intesity which balances this wine out nicely.

Food Matching

Enjoy with roast lamb or beef dishes and robust enough to partner quite spicy food.

Vinification

Made exclusively from low-yielding, old vine Bobal fruit grown in the area known as ‘Medio Dia’ - where the soil is chalk/clay with little organic content. This, together with long hours of sunshine, and large variations between day and night temperatures, result in very low, yet high quality, yields. The grapes are destemmed and gently pressed followed by a long maceration at controlled temperature. Malolactic fermentation takes place, and then the wine is aged in new French ‘Allier’ barrels for eight months.

Traminer Aromatico DOP Friuli, Puiatti

Country

Italy

Grape

Traminer

Vintage

2022

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Bright color with a fresh herbaceous aroma mixed with hints of peach and apricot. The taste stays smooth and balanced, ending with a long, satisfying finish.

Food Matching

Makes an excellent aperitif. Ideal with fish dishes, shellfish, and seafood.

Vinification

Romans d’Isonzo, specifically Zuccole area, is made entirely from aromatic traminer grapes. soil is alluvial, layered with gravel and reddish clay rich in ferrous oxide. The vines are cultivated using the double-arched Guyot system, with 4600 vines per hectare. Harvest yields around 95 quintals per hectare from 15-year-old vines. Following careful vinification, the wine is aged for four months in stainless steel tanks. This meticulous process results in a wine that captures the essence of its terroir, showcasing the unique characteristics of the aromatic traminer grape.

The Wines

Passitivo Primitivo Appassimento

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitivo

Vintagb

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Ruby-red, with a complex bouquet reminiscent of cherries, raspberries, and redcurrants. The particle aging adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma.

Food Matching

Great with cheese and hearty meat dishes.

Vinification

A Primitivo grape variety that has been dried slightly using " il giro del picciolo" technique where the stems of the grape bunches are twisted so that they no longer receive nourishment. They are left for about 12 days and in that time they lose 25-30% of their weight, which concentrates the juice and natural sweetness of the grapes.

Ciliegiolo Organic 18 Tenuta Santa Lucia

Country

Italy

Grape

Ciliegiolo

Vintage

2018

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Tuscan red, light and fruity, a cascade of cherry and raspberry on the tongue plus a whiff of herbs on the nose.

Food Matching

Tuscan bean soup and crusty bread dipped in olive oil.

Vinification

This wine is fermented for 10 days in stainless steel tanks and further settled for 4 months before being bottled.

Murviedro Series Old Vine Bobal

Country

Spain

Grape

Bobal

Vintage

2019

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of dark fruits and light spice. Plum and bramble fruit balanced by toasty characters on the structured palate. The tannins are nicely woven in, there is a chunky texture but good fruit intesity which balances this wine out nicely.

Food Matching

Enjoy with roast lamb or beef dishes and robust enough to partner quite spicy food.

Vinification

Made exclusively from low-yielding, old vine Bobal fruit grown in the area known as ‘Medio Dia’ - where the soil is chalk/clay with little organic content. This, together with long hours of sunshine, and large variations between day and night temperatures, result in very low, yet high quality, yields. The grapes are destemmed and gently pressed followed by a long maceration at controlled temperature. Malolactic fermentation takes place, and then the wine is aged in new French ‘Allier’ barrels for eight months.

Ladies who Shoot their Lunch, Shiraz

Country

Australia

Grape

Syrah-Shiraz

Vintage

2020

Style

Medium to Full Bodied

Tasting Notes

Superb Shiraz smells invitingly of juicy ripe blackberries and black cherries, with slightly resinous, spicy, incense notes, toasted oak, and raspberry jam. In the mouth, it is irresistibly delicious, with gorgeously pronounced black fruit, black pepper, and liquorice notes, alongside subtle, suave oak. The tannins are beautifully rounded and velevety and there is fabulous freshness.

Food Matching

Served perfectly alongside juniper berry rubbed roast Venison fillet with red wine jus.

Vinification

10% of the must was held cold prior to inoculation to encourage aromatic intensity. Wine was fermented at around 24C in stainless steel tanks and matured in a combination of old and new, small and large, English and French oak. One third of the wine was matured in 140 year old 5000L English oak casks.

The Wines

Passitivo Primitivo Appassimento

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitivo

Vintage

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Ruby-red, with a complex bouquet reminiscent of cherries, raspberries, and redcurrants. The particle aging adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma.

Food Matching

Great with cheese and hearty meat dishes.

Vinification

A Primitivo grape variety that has been dried slightly using " il giro del picciolo" technique where the stems of the grape bunches are twisted so that they no longer receive nourishment. They are left for about 12 days and in that time they lose 25-30% of their weight, which concentrates the juice and natural sweetness of the grapes.

Ciliegiolo Organic 18 Tenuta Santa Lucia

Country

Italy

Grape

Ciliegiolo

Vintage

2018

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Tuscan red, light and fruity, a cascade of cherry and raspberry on the tongue plus a whiff of herbs on the nose.

Food Matching

Tuscan bean soup and crusty bread dipped in olive oil.

Vinification

This wine is fermented for 10 days in stainless steel tanks and further settled for 4 months before being bottled.

Murviedro Series Old Vine Bobal

Country

Spain

Grape

Bobal

Vintage

2019

Style

Medium-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of dark fruits and light spice. Plum and bramble fruit balanced by toasty characters on the structured palate. The tannins are nicely woven in, there is a chunky texture but good fruit intesity which balances this wine out nicely.

Food Matching

Enjoy with roast lamb or beef dishes and robust enough to partner quite spicy food.

Vinification

Made exclusively from low-yielding, old vine Bobal fruit grown in the area known as ‘Medio Dia’ - where the soil is chalk/clay with little organic content. This, together with long hours of sunshine, and large variations between day and night temperatures, result in very low, yet high quality, yields. The grapes are destemmed and gently pressed followed by a long maceration at controlled temperature. Malolactic fermentation takes place, and then the wine is aged in new French ‘Allier’ barrels for eight months.

Month 6

And just like that we’re in autumn, transitioning into reds rather than white wines – including some big ones!  

The Wines

Alpha Box & Dice ‘Golden Mullet Fury’

Country

Grape

Vintage

Style

Tasting Notes

Food Matching

Vinification

The Wines

Mountain Red Blend, Thelema

Country

South Africa

Grape

Merlot 28%; Grape Cabernet Sauvignon 28%; Grape Petit Verdot 21%; Grape Grenache 21%; Grape Shiraz 1%; Grape Cabernet Franc 1%.

Vintagb

2020

Style

Medium bodied

Tasting Notes

Spicy aromas of black pepper and mulberry mingle with the plum flavours in this soft and approachable wine. 

Food Matching

Particularly good with light and medium flavoured meals, such as pizza and braai (BBQ). 

Vinification

Vineyard: Portions of Thelema's younger vineyards are selected for this fruit-driven yet complex wine  Vinification: All components 18 months in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fill barrels.

Cuma Organic Malbec

Country

Argentina

Grape

Malbec

Vintage

2023

Style

Medium-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich, thrilling Malbec, full of black cherries and black plums, topped off with a scattering of spice.

Food Matching

Match it with grilled pork tenderloin and rosemary-roasted potatoes.

Vinification

Both practices in the vineyards and the winery have followed strictly certified organic processes. In the vineyards, the fertilisers are waste of sheep, ants are fought with diatom earth and weed control is with machetes, all of them are natural elements. In the winery the sulphur levels are lower than with conventional wines. The expression of the wine is empowered, flavours and tastes are more intense, fresher, and more natural. The grape expresses itself in the most genuine way.

Domaine la Font de notre Dame Gigondas

Country

France

Grape

Grenache Noir 80% , Syrah 10% , Mourvèdre 10%

Vintage

2021

Style

Medium

Tasting Notes

Garrigue aromas with a slight mint note on the nose. Silky and balanced, with good fruit character and ripe tannins. 2019 is considered as one of Gigondas’ finest vintages.

Food Matching

Venison casserole, roasted duck leg and a selection of root vegetables would pair well, with ratatouille or pan fried wild mushrooms ideal meat free options.

Vinification

Based at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Domaine Font de Notre Dame is run by two brothers, Frédéric and Boris Roux. They produce only red wines from their 30 hectares of vineyards, which are spread over six southern Rhône appellations: Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Villages Sablet, the cru of Lirac and Rasteau and 7ha in Gigondas where they both live. One of the higher southern Rhône appellations (along with Vaqcueras and Beaumes de Venise) Gigondas was, in 1971, the first Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation to be awarded Cru status. Its vineyards rise from the Ouvèze river to the west, the Trignan to the north and up the rocky ridges of the Dentelles de Montmirail (to the East and South) to an altitude of 500m. Soils vary greatly but can be broadly grouped as limestone scree over marl (as in the Roux’s vineyards), various sandstones and clays on the mid-slopes and gravel stones and alluvial silt towards the river-bank. The stonier topsoils allow easy run off for rainwater to be retained in the red clay subsoils which nourish the vines in the drier months. Most vineyards are bathed in morning sun; sheltered by the Dentelles and with a mainly northerly aspect. Grapes mature more slowly and the harvest is later than other appellations; the extra time being highly suited Gigondas’ dominant variety of Grenache Noir. Font de Notre Dame’s Gigondas is a blend of Grenache (of course) with a small proportion of aromatic Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in traditional 20hl concrete vats (the winery houses 8 in total). The wine is matured for 12 months in French oak before release in the regulation appellation bottle, embossed with a coat of arms featuring the 15th century hunting horn of the family of Orange (past patrons of Gigondas) and an olive branch marking the return of plots, planted after phylloxera with olive groves, to vineyards once more.

Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Country

New Zealand

Grape

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage

2022

Style

Tasting Notes

This wine is quintessentially Marlborough in profile with bright aromas of guava, citrus fruits, and sweet crushed herbs. The palate is elegantly proportioned with lovely soft acid carrying the fruit flavours to a long, pure finish.

Food Matching

Enjoy with fresh seafood, Summer salads and fine Asian cuisine.

Vinification

Sourced predominantly from grower vineyards in the Fairhall, Renwick and Waihopai sub regions of Marlborough. Clean juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeast strains to maintain aromatic purity. The wine was allowed to build additional interest and texture through extended lees aging post fermentation.

The Wines

Mountain Red Blend, Thelema

Country

South Africa

Grape

Merlot 28%; Grape Cabernet Sauvignon 28%; Grape Petit Verdot 21%; Grape Grenache 21%; Grape Shiraz 1%; Grape Cabernet Franc 1%.

Vintagb

2020

Style

Medium bodied

Tasting Notes

Spicy aromas of black pepper and mulberry mingle with the plum flavours in this soft and approachable wine. 

Food Matching

Particularly good with light and medium flavoured meals, such as pizza and braai (BBQ). 

Vinification

Vineyard: Portions of Thelema's younger vineyards are selected for this fruit-driven yet complex wine  Vinification: All components 18 months in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fill barrels.

Cuma Organic Malbec

Country

Argentina

Grape

Malbec

Vintage

2023

Style

Medium-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich, thrilling Malbec, full of black cherries and black plums, topped off with a scattering of spice.

Food Matching

Match it with grilled pork tenderloin and rosemary-roasted potatoes.

Vinification

Both practices in the vineyards and the winery have followed strictly certified organic processes. In the vineyards, the fertilisers are waste of sheep, ants are fought with diatom earth and weed control is with machetes, all of them are natural elements. In the winery the sulphur levels are lower than with conventional wines. The expression of the wine is empowered, flavours and tastes are more intense, fresher, and more natural. The grape expresses itself in the most genuine way.

Domaine la Font de notre Dame Gigondas

Country

France

Grape

Grenache Noir 80% , Syrah 10% , Mourvèdre 10%

Vintage

2021

Style

Medium

Tasting Notes

Garrigue aromas with a slight mint note on the nose. Silky and balanced, with good fruit character and ripe tannins. 2019 is considered as one of Gigondas’ finest vintages.

Food Matching

Venison casserole, roasted duck leg and a selection of root vegetables would pair well, with ratatouille or pan fried wild mushrooms ideal meat free options.

Vinification

Based at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Domaine Font de Notre Dame is run by two brothers, Frédéric and Boris Roux. They produce only red wines from their 30 hectares of vineyards, which are spread over six southern Rhône appellations: Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Villages Sablet, the cru of Lirac and Rasteau and 7ha in Gigondas where they both live. One of the higher southern Rhône appellations (along with Vaqcueras and Beaumes de Venise) Gigondas was, in 1971, the first Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation to be awarded Cru status. Its vineyards rise from the Ouvèze river to the west, the Trignan to the north and up the rocky ridges of the Dentelles de Montmirail (to the East and South) to an altitude of 500m. Soils vary greatly but can be broadly grouped as limestone scree over marl (as in the Roux’s vineyards), various sandstones and clays on the mid-slopes and gravel stones and alluvial silt towards the river-bank. The stonier topsoils allow easy run off for rainwater to be retained in the red clay subsoils which nourish the vines in the drier months. Most vineyards are bathed in morning sun; sheltered by the Dentelles and with a mainly northerly aspect. Grapes mature more slowly and the harvest is later than other appellations; the extra time being highly suited Gigondas’ dominant variety of Grenache Noir. Font de Notre Dame’s Gigondas is a blend of Grenache (of course) with a small proportion of aromatic Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in traditional 20hl concrete vats (the winery houses 8 in total). The wine is matured for 12 months in French oak before release in the regulation appellation bottle, embossed with a coat of arms featuring the 15th century hunting horn of the family of Orange (past patrons of Gigondas) and an olive branch marking the return of plots, planted after phylloxera with olive groves, to vineyards once more.

The Dog Strangler Mataro, Teusner

Country

Grape

Vintage

Style

Tasting Notes

Food Matching

Vinification

The Wines

Mountain Red Blend, Thelema

Country

South Africa

Grape

Merlot 28%; Grape Cabernet Sauvignon 28%; Grape Petit Verdot 21%; Grape Grenache 21%; Grape Shiraz 1%; Grape Cabernet Franc 1%.

Vintage

2020

Style

Medium bodied

Tasting Notes

Spicy aromas of black pepper and mulberry mingle with the plum flavours in this soft and approachable wine. 

Food Matching

Particularly good with light and medium flavoured meals, such as pizza and braai (BBQ). 

Vinification

Vineyard: Portions of Thelema's younger vineyards are selected for this fruit-driven yet complex wine  Vinification: All components 18 months in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fill barrels.

Cuma Organic Malbec

Country

Argentina

Grape

Malbec

Vintage

2023

Style

Medium-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich, thrilling Malbec, full of black cherries and black plums, topped off with a scattering of spice.

Food Matching

Match it with grilled pork tenderloin and rosemary-roasted potatoes.

Vinification

Both practices in the vineyards and the winery have followed strictly certified organic processes. In the vineyards, the fertilisers are waste of sheep, ants are fought with diatom earth and weed control is with machetes, all of them are natural elements. In the winery the sulphur levels are lower than with conventional wines. The expression of the wine is empowered, flavours and tastes are more intense, fresher, and more natural. The grape expresses itself in the most genuine way.

Domaine la Font de notre Dame Gigondas

Country

France

Grape

Grenache Noir 80% , Syrah 10% , Mourvèdre 10%

Vintage

2021

Style

Medium

Tasting Notes

Garrigue aromas with a slight mint note on the nose. Silky and balanced, with good fruit character and ripe tannins. 2019 is considered as one of Gigondas’ finest vintages.

Food Matching

Venison casserole, roasted duck leg and a selection of root vegetables would pair well, with ratatouille or pan fried wild mushrooms ideal meat free options.

Vinification

Based at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Domaine Font de Notre Dame is run by two brothers, Frédéric and Boris Roux. They produce only red wines from their 30 hectares of vineyards, which are spread over six southern Rhône appellations: Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône-Villages Sablet, the cru of Lirac and Rasteau and 7ha in Gigondas where they both live. One of the higher southern Rhône appellations (along with Vaqcueras and Beaumes de Venise) Gigondas was, in 1971, the first Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation to be awarded Cru status. Its vineyards rise from the Ouvèze river to the west, the Trignan to the north and up the rocky ridges of the Dentelles de Montmirail (to the East and South) to an altitude of 500m. Soils vary greatly but can be broadly grouped as limestone scree over marl (as in the Roux’s vineyards), various sandstones and clays on the mid-slopes and gravel stones and alluvial silt towards the river-bank. The stonier topsoils allow easy run off for rainwater to be retained in the red clay subsoils which nourish the vines in the drier months. Most vineyards are bathed in morning sun; sheltered by the Dentelles and with a mainly northerly aspect. Grapes mature more slowly and the harvest is later than other appellations; the extra time being highly suited Gigondas’ dominant variety of Grenache Noir. Font de Notre Dame’s Gigondas is a blend of Grenache (of course) with a small proportion of aromatic Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in traditional 20hl concrete vats (the winery houses 8 in total). The wine is matured for 12 months in French oak before release in the regulation appellation bottle, embossed with a coat of arms featuring the 15th century hunting horn of the family of Orange (past patrons of Gigondas) and an olive branch marking the return of plots, planted after phylloxera with olive groves, to vineyards once more.

Month 5 –

A mixture of wines for this month's box, a lot of Europe and a little hello from Chile! An array of lovely summer vibes and something to go with grilled lamb or BBQ.  I visited the De Martino vineyards in Chile in February to see how the family have grown and adapted to produce a lower intervention style of wine. Gallardia comes from Muscat of Alexandria grapes grown in the Itata valley (5 hours south of Santiago) that's really far south for growing grapes! Hand harvested then a spontaneous fermentation, for wild yeasts, French oak for softness and then lees ageing for depth curates a wine that is superbly match with bright summer salads or oily fish dishes. You’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.

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The Wines

Gallardia Old Vine White, De Martino

Country

Chile

Grape

Muscat of Alexandria

Vintage

2019

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

A distinctive wine that shows the intensity and character arising from the fruit of old, dry-farmed vines. The nose displays typical floral and zesty notes of Muscat with a complex smoky mineral hint. The dry palate is very well balanced between crisp acidity, intense fruit and a soft texture, and the finish lingers beautifully.

Food Matching

Wonderful with a wide array of fresh Chilean seafood, summer salads and cheeses, or simply on its own, fresh and chilled to perfection.

Vinification

Bunches are destemmed and the berries pressed. Spontaneous fermentation in used French oak barrels. The wine does a partial malolactic fermentation and is aged on its fine lees for 6 months prior to bottling.

The Wines

Ontañón Rioja Reserva 2015

Country

Spain

Grape

Tempranillo

Vintagb

2015

Style

Heavy

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit with spice and lightly floral notes. On the palate plum and ripe blackberry fruit flavours combine with ample acidity, minerality and earthy notes. Tannins are smooth and supple as you would expect from an eight year old wine, and it is drinking beautifully

Food Matching

Drink this Reserva with lamb, roast pork or mushroom risotto.

Vinification

Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards. The Tempranillo is sourced from La Pasada, and the Graciano from La Montesa vineyard. After a long maceration the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak (both used and new), followed by 24 months in bottle.

Rippa Dorii Ribera del Duero Crianza

Country

Spain

Grape

Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo)

Vintage

2020

Style

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit, vanilla, nutmeg and sweet spice. The palate is rich and complex with blueberry and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and good length.

Food Matching

Great with lamb chops, dishes with chorizo, and hearty vegetable casseroles.

Vinification

100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) grapes are selected from a number of different plots near Fuentecén, at 900m altitude. Soils here are a combination of stone, clay and white limestone and vines are over 25 years in age. A first selection of grapes takes place in the vineyard, where those from the highest and coolest areas are chosen, which have experienced a slower and smoother ripening of the berries. A pre-fermentation maceration of the grapes takes place at 10ºC for 3 days, followed by alcoholic fermentation over 18 days at 22-26ºC - with pumping over and daily pumping-down. Malolactic fermentation takes place in batches, both in tank at the start of fermentation and also in barrel at its end. The wine matures for 12 months in oak barrels - 70% French (with different levels of toast) and 30% American. Between 25-30% of the barrels are new, with the rest coming from 2nd, 3rd and 4th use oak.

Cubardi Primitivo

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitvo

Vintage

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich and warm on the nose, with raisin and prune notes and fresher red berry fruits. Very sweet and fruited on the palate, this is a big, rich, and warming wine, with gentle ripe tannins and enough acidity to balance it.

Food Matching

Great wine to pair with sweet and savory sauces on grilled meats, also pairs well with dishes featuring tomato sauce such as pizza, and pasta with Bolognese.

Vinification

Grapes are harvested by hand and 6 months in French oak and 8 months in bottle.

Loureiro, Vinho Verde

Country

Portugal

Grape

Loureiro

Vintage

2023

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Loureiro from northern Portugal, as floral as its name, with a mouthful of green apples and white currants and a fine, long finish.

Food Matching

It pairs perfectly with mussels, squid, octopus & oysters.

Vinification

Fermentation takes place in stainless tanks at a low temperature between 12- 14ºC for around three weeks, followed by a period of aging on its lees.

The Wines

Ontañón Rioja Reserva 2015

Country

Spain

Grape

Tempranillo

Vintagb

2015

Style

Heavy

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit with spice and lightly floral notes. On the palate plum and ripe blackberry fruit flavours combine with ample acidity, minerality and earthy notes. Tannins are smooth and supple as you would expect from an eight year old wine, and it is drinking beautifully

Food Matching

Drink this Reserva with lamb, roast pork or mushroom risotto.

Vinification

Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards. The Tempranillo is sourced from La Pasada, and the Graciano from La Montesa vineyard. After a long maceration the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak (both used and new), followed by 24 months in bottle.

Rippa Dorii Ribera del Duero Crianza

Country

Spain

Grape

Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo)

Vintage

2020

Style

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit, vanilla, nutmeg and sweet spice. The palate is rich and complex with blueberry and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and good length.

Food Matching

Great with lamb chops, dishes with chorizo, and hearty vegetable casseroles.

Vinification

100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) grapes are selected from a number of different plots near Fuentecén, at 900m altitude. Soils here are a combination of stone, clay and white limestone and vines are over 25 years in age. A first selection of grapes takes place in the vineyard, where those from the highest and coolest areas are chosen, which have experienced a slower and smoother ripening of the berries. A pre-fermentation maceration of the grapes takes place at 10ºC for 3 days, followed by alcoholic fermentation over 18 days at 22-26ºC - with pumping over and daily pumping-down. Malolactic fermentation takes place in batches, both in tank at the start of fermentation and also in barrel at its end. The wine matures for 12 months in oak barrels - 70% French (with different levels of toast) and 30% American. Between 25-30% of the barrels are new, with the rest coming from 2nd, 3rd and 4th use oak.

Cubardi Primitivo

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitvo

Vintage

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich and warm on the nose, with raisin and prune notes and fresher red berry fruits. Very sweet and fruited on the palate, this is a big, rich, and warming wine, with gentle ripe tannins and enough acidity to balance it.

Food Matching

Great wine to pair with sweet and savory sauces on grilled meats, also pairs well with dishes featuring tomato sauce such as pizza, and pasta with Bolognese.

Vinification

Grapes are harvested by hand and 6 months in French oak and 8 months in bottle.

Domaine de la Motte Chablis

Country

France

Grape

Chardonnay

Vintage

2022

Style

Tasting Notes

The flavour profile of this sits somewhere in between the Chablis and Petit Chablis from Domaine de la Motte. It has a restrained savoury, citrus and herbal nose followed by greater intensity on the palate. Cooked lemons, green apples and a stoney minerality are complemented by a nice citrus acidity to the end with a lovely clean finish.

Food Matching

Anything that calls for a clean, crisp Chablis.

Vinification

Grown on Kimmeridgian soils, on south and south-eastern facing slopes in the commune of Beine. This 1.5 hectare plot of vines with an average age of 40 years old only produces about 9000 bottles per year. After traditional vinification and fermentation at 18 degrees, the wine is aged for 9 months with 66% in steel tanks and 33% in 600l oak vessels.

The Wines

Ontañón Rioja Reserva 2015

Country

Spain

Grape

Tempranillo

Vintage

2015

Style

Heavy

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit with spice and lightly floral notes. On the palate plum and ripe blackberry fruit flavours combine with ample acidity, minerality and earthy notes. Tannins are smooth and supple as you would expect from an eight year old wine, and it is drinking beautifully

Food Matching

Drink this Reserva with lamb, roast pork or mushroom risotto.

Vinification

Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards. The Tempranillo is sourced from La Pasada, and the Graciano from La Montesa vineyard. After a long maceration the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak (both used and new), followed by 24 months in bottle.

Rippa Dorii Ribera del Duero Crianza

Country

Spain

Grape

Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo)

Vintage

2020

Style

Tasting Notes

Aromas of bramble fruit, vanilla, nutmeg and sweet spice. The palate is rich and complex with blueberry and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and good length.

Food Matching

Great with lamb chops, dishes with chorizo, and hearty vegetable casseroles.

Vinification

100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) grapes are selected from a number of different plots near Fuentecén, at 900m altitude. Soils here are a combination of stone, clay and white limestone and vines are over 25 years in age. A first selection of grapes takes place in the vineyard, where those from the highest and coolest areas are chosen, which have experienced a slower and smoother ripening of the berries. A pre-fermentation maceration of the grapes takes place at 10ºC for 3 days, followed by alcoholic fermentation over 18 days at 22-26ºC - with pumping over and daily pumping-down. Malolactic fermentation takes place in batches, both in tank at the start of fermentation and also in barrel at its end. The wine matures for 12 months in oak barrels - 70% French (with different levels of toast) and 30% American. Between 25-30% of the barrels are new, with the rest coming from 2nd, 3rd and 4th use oak.

Cubardi Primitivo

Country

Italy

Grape

Primitvo

Vintage

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Rich and warm on the nose, with raisin and prune notes and fresher red berry fruits. Very sweet and fruited on the palate, this is a big, rich, and warming wine, with gentle ripe tannins and enough acidity to balance it.

Food Matching

Great wine to pair with sweet and savory sauces on grilled meats, also pairs well with dishes featuring tomato sauce such as pizza, and pasta with Bolognese.

Vinification

Grapes are harvested by hand and 6 months in French oak and 8 months in bottle.

Month 4 –

Well, maybe I spoke too soon about ‘summer’ wines! Hopefully we do better in July! I’m starting with a rosé to try and manifest some sun and Chateau Leoube, Provence, France produces some of the best. The wine maker, Romaine Ott has been making wine of this crisp clean style for years. Soft strawberries, bit of pear and a lovely acidity. Hand harvested, direct pressing, natural yeasts along with the organic growing, make this a real winner for me!You’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.

No PDF uploaded yet.

The Wines

Côtes de Provence Rosé Léoube, Château Léoube

Country

France

Grape

Grenache 40%, Cinsault 40%, Syrah 10% and Mourvèdre 10%

Vintage

2022

Style

Light

Tasting Notes

There's a lovely freshness reminiscent of white fleshy fruit, that combines with the delicate red and dried fruits with a hint of spices. This is a drinkable and elegant style of rosé.

Food Matching

Antipasti, Red & white meat, BBQ, Asian food, Mediterranean dishes, and just By the Glass

Vinification

Hand harvested and direct pressed. Natural yeast are used for fermentation, full malolactic fermentation. Stainless tank.

The Wines

Are You Game? Pinot Noir

Country

Australia

Grape

Pinot Noir 85.1% - Sangiovese 14.9%

Vintagb

2021

Style

Light to Medium Bodied

Tasting Notes

Pinot Noir with a leavening dash of Mourvèdre from Victoria, south-east Australia, delivering baskets of cherry and strawberry to the mouth, complemented by bracken, fresh earth, and a touch of oak on the nose.

Food Matching

Pair with wild game but especially dishes including duck.

Vinification

The wine was fermented in sweep arm fermenters between 25C to 28C in stainless steel tanks to maximise flavour and colour and to preserve primary fruit flavours. Matured using new French oak with a small component aged in old French oak.

Ramnista, Kir-Yianni, Naoussa

Country

Greece

Grape

Xinomavro

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Savoury, aromatic Xinomavro from its best-known home region, perfumed with rose petals, strawberry, cherry, and vanilla, yet the sweetness is kept in check by notes of tomato, olive tapenade, and pleasant fumes of tobacco.

Food Matching

An excellent pair for red meat, such as lamb and game.

Vinification

The grapes are handpicked, chilled overnight, and sorted on a conveyor belt before crushing. After a six-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8-10°C, they must undergo a 12-15 day vinification at controlled temperatures. Fermentation temperature does not exceed 25°C. Roughly one-third of the wine ferments in open-top tanks with pigeage. The final blend is made five months after harvest and the last racking takes place about six months later. Matured in both French and American oak, new oak up to 25%, and about 25% 500-litre casks. Filtered lightly before bottling.

Madach, Painted Wolf, Cape Hunting Red

Country

South Africa

Grape

Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot, Grenache and Mourvedre

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

A herby nose with black pepper spice. Full-bodied with warm rich fruits of forest flavour. Perfect to enjoy with family, friends, and great food!

Food Matching

Red meats, BBQ and hard cheeses.

Vinification

Keith Tulloch Latara Semillon

Country

Australia

Grape

Semillon

Vintage

2021

Style

Medium bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromatically the wine has signature Semillon perfumes of lemongrass, lime, and wet stone. On the palate, chalky, zesty intensity is layered with the bold flavour of lemon, green apple, and sherbert, finishing with softness and length of white melon and lime.

Food Matching

Perfect with light and delicate fish dishes, prawns, and freshly shucked oysters.

Vinification

This single vineyard on Deasys Road, Pokolbin was established in 1978 on volcanic, clay, and limestone soils. The site has a gentle rise with a Western aspect, providing plentiful sunlight for consistently outstanding fruit. This vineyard was purchased by Keith Tulloch Wine in 2018 as it was proven to express the zesty characters of the great Hunter Valley Semillon. Latara Semillon grapes were hand-picked, destemmed, and then pressed in late January, before fermentation in a stainless steel tank.

The Wines

Are You Game? Pinot Noir

Country

Australia

Grape

Pinot Noir 85.1% - Sangiovese 14.9%

Vintagb

2021

Style

Light to Medium Bodied

Tasting Notes

Pinot Noir with a leavening dash of Mourvèdre from Victoria, south-east Australia, delivering baskets of cherry and strawberry to the mouth, complemented by bracken, fresh earth, and a touch of oak on the nose.

Food Matching

Pair with wild game but especially dishes including duck.

Vinification

The wine was fermented in sweep arm fermenters between 25C to 28C in stainless steel tanks to maximise flavour and colour and to preserve primary fruit flavours. Matured using new French oak with a small component aged in old French oak.

Ramnista, Kir-Yianni, Naoussa

Country

Greece

Grape

Xinomavro

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Savoury, aromatic Xinomavro from its best-known home region, perfumed with rose petals, strawberry, cherry, and vanilla, yet the sweetness is kept in check by notes of tomato, olive tapenade, and pleasant fumes of tobacco.

Food Matching

An excellent pair for red meat, such as lamb and game.

Vinification

The grapes are handpicked, chilled overnight, and sorted on a conveyor belt before crushing. After a six-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8-10°C, they must undergo a 12-15 day vinification at controlled temperatures. Fermentation temperature does not exceed 25°C. Roughly one-third of the wine ferments in open-top tanks with pigeage. The final blend is made five months after harvest and the last racking takes place about six months later. Matured in both French and American oak, new oak up to 25%, and about 25% 500-litre casks. Filtered lightly before bottling.

Madach, Painted Wolf, Cape Hunting Red

Country

South Africa

Grape

Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot, Grenache and Mourvedre

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

A herby nose with black pepper spice. Full-bodied with warm rich fruits of forest flavour. Perfect to enjoy with family, friends, and great food!

Food Matching

Red meats, BBQ and hard cheeses.

Vinification

Soave DOC Sereole, Bertani

Country

Italy

Grape

Garganega

Vintage

2022

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Pretty, fragrant Soave, with a nose that's sweetly scented with pear blossom, apricot, and pineapple, and fruit dusted with spice in the mouth.

Food Matching

Has body and a lick of oak making this the perfect accompaniment for anything from roast pork to fish in complex sauces.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested late, around the middle of October to capture the benefits of extended hangtime. After destalking and gentle crushing, the wine is macerated with partial skin contact. Fermentation is carried out in 75hl French oak vats at a temperature of around 16C. The wine is kept in the same vats after fermentation for six months of maturation on the fine lees. The wine is kept in the winery for three months of further aging after bottling.

The Wines

Are You Game? Pinot Noir

Country

Australia

Grape

Pinot Noir 85.1% - Sangiovese 14.9%

Vintage

2021

Style

Light to Medium Bodied

Tasting Notes

Pinot Noir with a leavening dash of Mourvèdre from Victoria, south-east Australia, delivering baskets of cherry and strawberry to the mouth, complemented by bracken, fresh earth, and a touch of oak on the nose.

Food Matching

Pair with wild game but especially dishes including duck.

Vinification

The wine was fermented in sweep arm fermenters between 25C to 28C in stainless steel tanks to maximise flavour and colour and to preserve primary fruit flavours. Matured using new French oak with a small component aged in old French oak.

Ramnista, Kir-Yianni, Naoussa

Country

Greece

Grape

Xinomavro

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-Bodied

Tasting Notes

Savoury, aromatic Xinomavro from its best-known home region, perfumed with rose petals, strawberry, cherry, and vanilla, yet the sweetness is kept in check by notes of tomato, olive tapenade, and pleasant fumes of tobacco.

Food Matching

An excellent pair for red meat, such as lamb and game.

Vinification

The grapes are handpicked, chilled overnight, and sorted on a conveyor belt before crushing. After a six-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8-10°C, they must undergo a 12-15 day vinification at controlled temperatures. Fermentation temperature does not exceed 25°C. Roughly one-third of the wine ferments in open-top tanks with pigeage. The final blend is made five months after harvest and the last racking takes place about six months later. Matured in both French and American oak, new oak up to 25%, and about 25% 500-litre casks. Filtered lightly before bottling.

Madach, Painted Wolf, Cape Hunting Red

Country

South Africa

Grape

Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot, Grenache and Mourvedre

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

A herby nose with black pepper spice. Full-bodied with warm rich fruits of forest flavour. Perfect to enjoy with family, friends, and great food!

Food Matching

Red meats, BBQ and hard cheeses.

Vinification

Month 3 –

Summer wines for BBQ’s, fresh salads and long evenings spent outside... Or weekend lunch's... This month I’ve picked out a few of my favourites from the last few years which are forever in my top draw of our wines balanced with a couple newer characters to the shelves. Whites, Assyritiko – a native Greek grape, not often seen but something we absolutely love.Bright, green grassy with a great almost Chalbis-esk minerality. BBQ? - Bogle Chardonnay. Big buttery Californian Chard, it's a belter. Red’s hailing from Italy and Spain finishes this month's line up bolder in styles but still perfectly summery. Tasting notes and more information can be found on the Guy’s Wine Club page and you’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.You’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.

No PDF uploaded yet.

The Wines

Assyrtiko, Ktima Kir-Yianni

Country

Greece

Grape

Assyrtiko

Vintage

2022

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Lovely, stony white wine from this admired Greek grape variety, perfumed with citrus and flowers and rounded out by flavours of white peach.

Food Matching

Assyrtiko is a wine ideal for food pairings: roasted or poached fish fillet, fried cod, oven-roasted stuffed squid, pasta in white sauce, white cheeses.

Vinification

The grapes are chilled overnight and cold soaked in order to maximize the extraction of aroma precursors into the must. Following racking, the must is inoculated with selected yeasts. At the end of the fermentation, the wine matures for a period of 4-5 months on its lees, gaining more volume and complexity.

The Wines

Juan Gil Yellow Label

Country

Spain

Grape

Monastrell

Vintagb

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

The nose has rich plum and bramble characters, with delicate vanilla spice and cedar. The palate has layers of ripe fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, spicy plum and cherry, and fine tannins balanced by bright acidity.

Food Matching

Hearty meat and vegetable stews, roast pork.

Vinification

Grapes come from 40 year old bush vines. Vineyards are 700 metres above sea level to the north east of Jumilla, on sandy, chalky, rocky soil. The grapes were hand-harvested. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged in French and American oak for around 4 months.

Plumbago" Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC, Planeta

Country

Italy

Grape

Nero d'avola

Vintage

2021

Style

Tasting Notes

Named for a pretty, purple Sicilian flower, this is a lovely, purple wine, its aromas of ripe plums, wild blackberries, and jasmine surpassed in the mouth by chocolate, forest floor, and black truffle.

Food Matching

Perfect for matching with grilled meat with its affinity for smokey tones and its natural sweetness which goes with any sauce.

Vinification

Plumbago – named after the beautiful purple wild flower that grows in the woods surrounding the farmhouse and vineyards of Ulmo – is a single-variety Nero d’Avola. It is produced from the old vineyard at Lake Arancio which gives us this soft fruity version of this great Sicilian grape variety. Rounded tannins and perfectly judged wood makes it an immediately pleasurable wine. Ideal for Mediterranean cooking based on vegetables and all types of meat. Vinification: "Vinification: after destalking and pressing, the grapes ferment in stainless steel vats and remain on the skins for 14 days at 25⁰C with repeated mixing; at the end of the period racking by soft pressing. The wine thus obtained undergoes malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, in January it is transferred to wooden barrels for 10 months. Maturation: barriques and tonneaux used 3 and 4 times. "

Alasia Barolo

Country

Italy

Grape

Nebbiolo

Vintage

2019

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

A fine, expressive style with Barolo's classic combination of mature, lightly floral aromas with richness and structure. Dark plum, leather and delicate violet aromas, plus notes of woodsmoke and brown spice. A full, firm and ripe red with rich, powerful flavours. All balanced by ripe tannins, complex savoury notes and a long finish.

Food Matching

Decant and drink with roasted red meats and game.

Vinification

Vines are trained on a low Guyot trellis at 4-5,000 vines/ha. The grapes were hand-harvested, de-stemmed and then crushed to small fermenters, for 12 days, with daily pumping-over. The wine was drained off at dryness, and the skins transferred to a small press. After pressing the wine was settled for two days, and then racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. After three years maturation in 50hl Slavonian oak casks it was racked from oak and gently fined.

Cicada Blanc by Chante Cigale

Country

France

Grape

Viognier (30%), Picpoul Blanc (30%) and Grenache Blanc (40%)

Vintage

2022

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Easy-drinking, unoaked and a classic french-style table wine. Citrus and pear on the nose with citrus flesh and nice weight on the palate, quite a ripe, round finish.

Food Matching

Coconut flavoured Thai and Vietnamese dishes, or as a delicious foil to barbecued or grilled mackerel.

Vinification

An unusual blend of Viognier (30%), Picpoul Blanc (30%) and Grenache Blanc (40%). Sourced from clay limestone soils in Richerenes in the Vaucluse for the Grenache Blanc and Picpoul, with the Viognier sourced in the Northern Rhône (so the wine is classified as Vin de France). Vinified in stainless steel, with a short maceration of one week. Alex Favier then puts the final blend together.

The Wines

Juan Gil Yellow Label

Country

Spain

Grape

Monastrell

Vintagb

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

The nose has rich plum and bramble characters, with delicate vanilla spice and cedar. The palate has layers of ripe fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, spicy plum and cherry, and fine tannins balanced by bright acidity.

Food Matching

Hearty meat and vegetable stews, roast pork.

Vinification

Grapes come from 40 year old bush vines. Vineyards are 700 metres above sea level to the north east of Jumilla, on sandy, chalky, rocky soil. The grapes were hand-harvested. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged in French and American oak for around 4 months.

Plumbago" Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC, Planeta

Country

Italy

Grape

Nero d'avola

Vintage

2021

Style

Tasting Notes

Named for a pretty, purple Sicilian flower, this is a lovely, purple wine, its aromas of ripe plums, wild blackberries, and jasmine surpassed in the mouth by chocolate, forest floor, and black truffle.

Food Matching

Perfect for matching with grilled meat with its affinity for smokey tones and its natural sweetness which goes with any sauce.

Vinification

Plumbago – named after the beautiful purple wild flower that grows in the woods surrounding the farmhouse and vineyards of Ulmo – is a single-variety Nero d’Avola. It is produced from the old vineyard at Lake Arancio which gives us this soft fruity version of this great Sicilian grape variety. Rounded tannins and perfectly judged wood makes it an immediately pleasurable wine. Ideal for Mediterranean cooking based on vegetables and all types of meat. Vinification: "Vinification: after destalking and pressing, the grapes ferment in stainless steel vats and remain on the skins for 14 days at 25⁰C with repeated mixing; at the end of the period racking by soft pressing. The wine thus obtained undergoes malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, in January it is transferred to wooden barrels for 10 months. Maturation: barriques and tonneaux used 3 and 4 times. "

Alasia Barolo

Country

Italy

Grape

Nebbiolo

Vintage

2019

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

A fine, expressive style with Barolo's classic combination of mature, lightly floral aromas with richness and structure. Dark plum, leather and delicate violet aromas, plus notes of woodsmoke and brown spice. A full, firm and ripe red with rich, powerful flavours. All balanced by ripe tannins, complex savoury notes and a long finish.

Food Matching

Decant and drink with roasted red meats and game.

Vinification

Vines are trained on a low Guyot trellis at 4-5,000 vines/ha. The grapes were hand-harvested, de-stemmed and then crushed to small fermenters, for 12 days, with daily pumping-over. The wine was drained off at dryness, and the skins transferred to a small press. After pressing the wine was settled for two days, and then racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. After three years maturation in 50hl Slavonian oak casks it was racked from oak and gently fined.

Bogle Vineyards Chardonnay

Country

USA

Grape

Chardonnay

Vintage

2021

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

A treat of a Chardonnay from California, with green apples, pears and pineapples on the nose and butterscotch and vanilla, balanced by fresh acidity, on the tongue.

Food Matching

Enjoy this wine with just about everything!

Vinification

Winemaking is both an art and a science, and Bogle winemakers have again hand-crafted a perfectly balanced, easy-to-drink Chardonnay. Using the techniques of barrel fermentation, surlies aging and partial malolactic fermentation, winemakers have layered flavour upon flavour, creating a complex wine with generous character. Fermentation takes place in 50% new American oak and also has sur-lies ageing. Once fermentation is complete the wine spends a further 9 months in new American oak.

The Wines

Juan Gil Yellow Label

Country

Spain

Grape

Monastrell

Vintage

2022

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

The nose has rich plum and bramble characters, with delicate vanilla spice and cedar. The palate has layers of ripe fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, spicy plum and cherry, and fine tannins balanced by bright acidity.

Food Matching

Hearty meat and vegetable stews, roast pork.

Vinification

Grapes come from 40 year old bush vines. Vineyards are 700 metres above sea level to the north east of Jumilla, on sandy, chalky, rocky soil. The grapes were hand-harvested. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged in French and American oak for around 4 months.

Plumbago" Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC, Planeta

Country

Italy

Grape

Nero d'avola

Vintage

2021

Style

Tasting Notes

Named for a pretty, purple Sicilian flower, this is a lovely, purple wine, its aromas of ripe plums, wild blackberries, and jasmine surpassed in the mouth by chocolate, forest floor, and black truffle.

Food Matching

Perfect for matching with grilled meat with its affinity for smokey tones and its natural sweetness which goes with any sauce.

Vinification

Plumbago – named after the beautiful purple wild flower that grows in the woods surrounding the farmhouse and vineyards of Ulmo – is a single-variety Nero d’Avola. It is produced from the old vineyard at Lake Arancio which gives us this soft fruity version of this great Sicilian grape variety. Rounded tannins and perfectly judged wood makes it an immediately pleasurable wine. Ideal for Mediterranean cooking based on vegetables and all types of meat. Vinification: "Vinification: after destalking and pressing, the grapes ferment in stainless steel vats and remain on the skins for 14 days at 25⁰C with repeated mixing; at the end of the period racking by soft pressing. The wine thus obtained undergoes malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, in January it is transferred to wooden barrels for 10 months. Maturation: barriques and tonneaux used 3 and 4 times. "

Alasia Barolo

Country

Italy

Grape

Nebbiolo

Vintage

2019

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

A fine, expressive style with Barolo's classic combination of mature, lightly floral aromas with richness and structure. Dark plum, leather and delicate violet aromas, plus notes of woodsmoke and brown spice. A full, firm and ripe red with rich, powerful flavours. All balanced by ripe tannins, complex savoury notes and a long finish.

Food Matching

Decant and drink with roasted red meats and game.

Vinification

Vines are trained on a low Guyot trellis at 4-5,000 vines/ha. The grapes were hand-harvested, de-stemmed and then crushed to small fermenters, for 12 days, with daily pumping-over. The wine was drained off at dryness, and the skins transferred to a small press. After pressing the wine was settled for two days, and then racked to stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation. After three years maturation in 50hl Slavonian oak casks it was racked from oak and gently fined.

Month 2 

Spring has finally sprung and with that some great Spring wines and a couple inspired from a recent trip to Portugal. This month we still have the big hitters but with the warmer weather we also welcome lighter fresher flavours along with a couple of brand-new wines to us.You’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.

No PDF uploaded yet.

The Wines

Barão da Várzea do Douro Colheita Branco, DOC Douro

Country

Portugal

Grape

Gouveio 40%, Viosinho 30%, Arinto 30%

Vintage

2023

Style

Light

Tasting Notes

Citrus aromas with delicate floral notes and hints of white peach. A crisp white with apple and lemon peel characters, juicy acidity, and a refreshing finish.

Food Matching

Enjoy with tuna empanadas

Vinification

The Gouveio, Viosinho and Arinto grapes, indigenous to the north of Portugal, grow in fine soils with some schist. The vineyards are situated near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley, south of the river. Some of the vines are over 50 years old, and they enjoy a warm and dry climate. After harvesting the grapes are fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperatures.

The Wines

Barão da Várzea do Douro, Colheita Douro Tinto

Country

Portugal

Grape

Touriga Franca 50%, Touriga Nacional 25%, Tinta Roriz 25%

Vintagb

2022

Style

Medium- bodied

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of wild blackberry and spice. The palate has ripe bramble fruit, supple tannins and juicy acidity.

Food Matching

Perfect with a hearty bean and lentil casserole, with or without sausages.

Vinification

The local grapes - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz - grow in fine soils with some schist in vineyards near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry, and some of the vines are over 50 years old. After harvesting fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with a small portion (around 10%) ageing for 4 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.

Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon

Country

USA

Grape

Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Glorious California Cabernet Sauvignon, reminiscent of a red apple dipped in dark chocolate, with additional strawberry, blueberry and spice.

Food Matching

Superb with your favourite steak, red sauce pastas, or a juicy burger!

Vinification

The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, undergoing a cold soak for 3 days. Gentle pumping over occurs during fermentation in stainless steel followed by malolactic fermentation. 50% of the wine spends 9 months in French oak while the other 50% is aged in American oak for 11 months before blending and bottling.

Château La Croix Romane, Lalande de Pomerol

Country

France

Grape

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Very ripe black fruits and soft spices with a discreet oak note in the background.

Food Matching

Roast beef, lamb. Cheddar, Camembert. Pepperoni pizza or amatriciana pasta. Duck breast and roasted vegetables.

Vinification

Grapes are sorted after picking, alcoholic fermentation, and maceration (3 to 4 weeks in total) in temperature-controlled stainless vats, 12 to 18 months ageing in French oak barrels (30 % new oak barrels).

Domaine Ménard-Gaborit Pour l’Histoire

Country

France

Grape

Melon de Bourgogne

Vintage

2021

Style

Light bodied

Tasting Notes

Bright and vivid stone fruit with racy acidity, brimming with vim and attitude.

Food Matching

Prawns, salmon, grilled sea bream or goat cheese.

Vinification

45 year old vines from a selection of the best plots, vinified in underground concrete tanks, matured on lees for 10 months.

The Wines

Barão da Várzea do Douro, Colheita Douro Tinto

Country

Portugal

Grape

Touriga Franca 50%, Touriga Nacional 25%, Tinta Roriz 25%

Vintagb

2022

Style

Medium- bodied

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of wild blackberry and spice. The palate has ripe bramble fruit, supple tannins and juicy acidity.

Food Matching

Perfect with a hearty bean and lentil casserole, with or without sausages.

Vinification

The local grapes - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz - grow in fine soils with some schist in vineyards near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry, and some of the vines are over 50 years old. After harvesting fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with a small portion (around 10%) ageing for 4 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.

Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon

Country

USA

Grape

Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Glorious California Cabernet Sauvignon, reminiscent of a red apple dipped in dark chocolate, with additional strawberry, blueberry and spice.

Food Matching

Superb with your favourite steak, red sauce pastas, or a juicy burger!

Vinification

The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, undergoing a cold soak for 3 days. Gentle pumping over occurs during fermentation in stainless steel followed by malolactic fermentation. 50% of the wine spends 9 months in French oak while the other 50% is aged in American oak for 11 months before blending and bottling.

Château La Croix Romane, Lalande de Pomerol

Country

France

Grape

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Very ripe black fruits and soft spices with a discreet oak note in the background.

Food Matching

Roast beef, lamb. Cheddar, Camembert. Pepperoni pizza or amatriciana pasta. Duck breast and roasted vegetables.

Vinification

Grapes are sorted after picking, alcoholic fermentation, and maceration (3 to 4 weeks in total) in temperature-controlled stainless vats, 12 to 18 months ageing in French oak barrels (30 % new oak barrels).

Haute Pistes Chardonnay, Aubert and Mathieu

Country

France

Grape

Chardonnay

Vintage

2022

Style

Medium-full bodied

Tasting Notes

Young bright straw colour. Discreet and youthful nose offering some chalky hints, hazelnut, ripe citrus and fine oak underneath. Good bite on the palate, medium weight, with a digest salty presence, chalky with pale stone fruit and nutty flavours leading to a long pure finish.

Food Matching

Sushi, cod fillet, goats cheese

Vinification

Fermentation is done in barrels for 3 weeks. Then aged for 6 months in 500L oak barrels

The Wines

Barão da Várzea do Douro, Colheita Douro Tinto

Country

Portugal

Grape

Touriga Franca 50%, Touriga Nacional 25%, Tinta Roriz 25%

Vintage

2022

Style

Medium- bodied

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of wild blackberry and spice. The palate has ripe bramble fruit, supple tannins and juicy acidity.

Food Matching

Perfect with a hearty bean and lentil casserole, with or without sausages.

Vinification

The local grapes - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz - grow in fine soils with some schist in vineyards near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry, and some of the vines are over 50 years old. After harvesting fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with a small portion (around 10%) ageing for 4 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.

Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon

Country

USA

Grape

Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2019

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Glorious California Cabernet Sauvignon, reminiscent of a red apple dipped in dark chocolate, with additional strawberry, blueberry and spice.

Food Matching

Superb with your favourite steak, red sauce pastas, or a juicy burger!

Vinification

The grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, undergoing a cold soak for 3 days. Gentle pumping over occurs during fermentation in stainless steel followed by malolactic fermentation. 50% of the wine spends 9 months in French oak while the other 50% is aged in American oak for 11 months before blending and bottling.

Château La Croix Romane, Lalande de Pomerol

Country

France

Grape

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Very ripe black fruits and soft spices with a discreet oak note in the background.

Food Matching

Roast beef, lamb. Cheddar, Camembert. Pepperoni pizza or amatriciana pasta. Duck breast and roasted vegetables.

Vinification

Grapes are sorted after picking, alcoholic fermentation, and maceration (3 to 4 weeks in total) in temperature-controlled stainless vats, 12 to 18 months ageing in French oak barrels (30 % new oak barrels).

Our first month! Welcome

Month 1 – You trail blazers! You’re all marvellous and thank you for joining. Each month you’ll enjoy my selection of seasonal goodies from around the world and a few recipe ideas to go with them too. This first month I've draw inspirations from a few different angles, some brand-new numbers to our list and one from a recent trip to Chile on my honeymoon...You’ll be able to add favourites into you “cellar” now as well so you can remember the wines enjoyed the most.

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The Wines

Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc

Country

South Africa

Grape

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage

2023

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Delicate pale gold with hints of lime green. Aromas of bell pepper and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, dry palate with mineral notes, sub-tropical fruit, and grassy gooseberry flavors merging seamlessly. Crisp lime finish adds elegance and length. A youthful, aromatic delight.

Food Matching

A very refreshing glass by itself, or pair it with fresh crustaceans or white fish. Copes beautifully with spicy Eastern dishes.

Vinification

The grapes were de-stalked, crushed and pressed before cold settling and racking from the gross lees. A cool fermentation followed at 14 degrees C and the wine was allowed a period of ageing in steel before bottling and release.

The Wines

Cotes du Roussillon Villages "Chimeres", Chateau Saint-Roch

Country

France

Grape

Grenache, Carignan, Syrah

Vintagb

2020

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Amplified aromas of squeezed black cherries, with just a touch of prune juice. It is vibrant, sumptuous, honest, and delicious, with a wealth of fruit character and hints of cured meat and rusty nails underneath. There is fresh acidity to balance all the concentration and ripeness, bringing about a well-proportioned whole.

Food Matching

Vinification

Hand-harvested into small crates with a first selection as the bunches are cut, and then a second sorting of grapes at the cellar door. The fermentation is kept between 20-23°C to maximise the fruit expression and the wine is macerated for 4 weeks with both pumping over and pigeages. 60% of the wine is matured in newand one wine oak barrel during 6 months.

Single Vineyard Carmenere 'Alto de Piedras', De Martino

Country

Chile

Grape

Carménère

Vintage

2021

Style

Red, Warm and Spicy

Tasting Notes

Complex aromas of dark berry fruit, tobacco and black pepper, joined by a smoky minerality and cedar notes coming from the well integrated use of oak. Enjoyable while young, it has sufficient structure to develop greater complexity over the next 15-20 years.

Food Matching

Superb with red meats such as lamb or beef, pasta dishes and some Indian meals that are not too hot and spicy. Also a perfect partner with cheese.

Vinification

The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed. A pre-fermentation maceration of 4 days was carried out at below 10°C. Spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts at a moderate temperature (25-27°C). After 12 days, the alcoholic fermentation was completed and the wine underwent an extra 7 days of maceration. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in tank before racking the wine to 5,000-litre Austrian (Stockinger) foudres for ageing.

Finca Bancales, Care

Country

Spain

Grape

Garnacha

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of clean blackberry fruit accompanied by mocha and spice. The palate displays sweet fruit characters dominated by blackberry and plum, complimented by cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg characters. The wine is full-bodied with natural tannin and oak maturation adding texture and complexity to the wine.

Food Matching

Roast lamb and game dishes.

Vinification

Traditional method, beginning with a pre-fermentative cold maceration. Fermentation is induced at 25ºC with native yeast. A maceration is carried out for 2 weeks, seeking a selective extraction of tannins in truncated cone-shaped deposits of 20,000L. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 2nd use French oak barrels.

A Descoberta Branco, Casa da Passarella

Country

Portugal

Grape

Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Verdelho

Vintage

2023

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Pale, smoky, and mineral on the nose. The searing acidity comes from the Encruzado, which is fleshed out by the Verdelho's slight tropical grapefruit characteristics

Food Matching

Vinification

This wine is a blend of the Encruzado, Malvasia and Verdelho grapes which are hand-picked once ripe, and partially vinified together. After a slight skin contact, the grapes and very lightly pressed and left to settle. The fermentation is in stainless steel with controlled temperature, where it then ages on the lees for 6 months to add flavour and texture. It also stabilises the wine, allowing minimal intervention.

The Wines

Cotes du Roussillon Villages "Chimeres", Chateau Saint-Roch

Country

France

Grape

Grenache, Carignan, Syrah

Vintagb

2020

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Amplified aromas of squeezed black cherries, with just a touch of prune juice. It is vibrant, sumptuous, honest, and delicious, with a wealth of fruit character and hints of cured meat and rusty nails underneath. There is fresh acidity to balance all the concentration and ripeness, bringing about a well-proportioned whole.

Food Matching

Vinification

Hand-harvested into small crates with a first selection as the bunches are cut, and then a second sorting of grapes at the cellar door. The fermentation is kept between 20-23°C to maximise the fruit expression and the wine is macerated for 4 weeks with both pumping over and pigeages. 60% of the wine is matured in newand one wine oak barrel during 6 months.

Single Vineyard Carmenere 'Alto de Piedras', De Martino

Country

Chile

Grape

Carménère

Vintage

2021

Style

Red, Warm and Spicy

Tasting Notes

Complex aromas of dark berry fruit, tobacco and black pepper, joined by a smoky minerality and cedar notes coming from the well integrated use of oak. Enjoyable while young, it has sufficient structure to develop greater complexity over the next 15-20 years.

Food Matching

Superb with red meats such as lamb or beef, pasta dishes and some Indian meals that are not too hot and spicy. Also a perfect partner with cheese.

Vinification

The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed. A pre-fermentation maceration of 4 days was carried out at below 10°C. Spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts at a moderate temperature (25-27°C). After 12 days, the alcoholic fermentation was completed and the wine underwent an extra 7 days of maceration. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in tank before racking the wine to 5,000-litre Austrian (Stockinger) foudres for ageing.

Finca Bancales, Care

Country

Spain

Grape

Garnacha

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of clean blackberry fruit accompanied by mocha and spice. The palate displays sweet fruit characters dominated by blackberry and plum, complimented by cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg characters. The wine is full-bodied with natural tannin and oak maturation adding texture and complexity to the wine.

Food Matching

Roast lamb and game dishes.

Vinification

Traditional method, beginning with a pre-fermentative cold maceration. Fermentation is induced at 25ºC with native yeast. A maceration is carried out for 2 weeks, seeking a selective extraction of tannins in truncated cone-shaped deposits of 20,000L. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 2nd use French oak barrels.

Timorasso, Derthona DOC, Cantine Volpi

Country

Italy

Grape

Timorasso

Vintage

2022

Style

Medium Bodied

Tasting Notes

Intense nose with hints of white flowers, apricot, and peach. In the mouth it is savoury, and mineral, with a characteristic note of honey.

Food Matching

Vinification

Manual harvest around the beginning of September. Grape is desteemed and softly pressed. Fermentation in steel tanks at controlled temperature (12-15°C). Malolactic fermentation is not done. Maturation for 10 months in concrete tanks on its lees. Batonnage. Bottle aging around 3 months.

The Wines

Cotes du Roussillon Villages "Chimeres", Chateau Saint-Roch

Country

France

Grape

Grenache, Carignan, Syrah

Vintage

2020

Style

Dry

Tasting Notes

Amplified aromas of squeezed black cherries, with just a touch of prune juice. It is vibrant, sumptuous, honest, and delicious, with a wealth of fruit character and hints of cured meat and rusty nails underneath. There is fresh acidity to balance all the concentration and ripeness, bringing about a well-proportioned whole.

Food Matching

Vinification

Hand-harvested into small crates with a first selection as the bunches are cut, and then a second sorting of grapes at the cellar door. The fermentation is kept between 20-23°C to maximise the fruit expression and the wine is macerated for 4 weeks with both pumping over and pigeages. 60% of the wine is matured in newand one wine oak barrel during 6 months.

Single Vineyard Carmenere 'Alto de Piedras', De Martino

Country

Chile

Grape

Carménère

Vintage

2021

Style

Red, Warm and Spicy

Tasting Notes

Complex aromas of dark berry fruit, tobacco and black pepper, joined by a smoky minerality and cedar notes coming from the well integrated use of oak. Enjoyable while young, it has sufficient structure to develop greater complexity over the next 15-20 years.

Food Matching

Superb with red meats such as lamb or beef, pasta dishes and some Indian meals that are not too hot and spicy. Also a perfect partner with cheese.

Vinification

The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed. A pre-fermentation maceration of 4 days was carried out at below 10°C. Spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts at a moderate temperature (25-27°C). After 12 days, the alcoholic fermentation was completed and the wine underwent an extra 7 days of maceration. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in tank before racking the wine to 5,000-litre Austrian (Stockinger) foudres for ageing.

Finca Bancales, Care

Country

Spain

Grape

Garnacha

Vintage

2020

Style

Full-bodied

Tasting Notes

Aromas of clean blackberry fruit accompanied by mocha and spice. The palate displays sweet fruit characters dominated by blackberry and plum, complimented by cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg characters. The wine is full-bodied with natural tannin and oak maturation adding texture and complexity to the wine.

Food Matching

Roast lamb and game dishes.

Vinification

Traditional method, beginning with a pre-fermentative cold maceration. Fermentation is induced at 25ºC with native yeast. A maceration is carried out for 2 weeks, seeking a selective extraction of tannins in truncated cone-shaped deposits of 20,000L. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 2nd use French oak barrels.