De Martino Cuvee 2021 75cl
£117.01
One sniff, and you re hooked Drawn in by beguiling hints of the spice cabinet, a woodland walk, sesame oil with soy sauce and sun-dried seaweed at the tide line, there s no way back You take a sip, and are struck by how downright deliciously drinkable it is—all subtlety, mellowness, harmony and balance, with understated concentration and exquisite integration of everything Crafting wine of this calibre that has the wherewithal to cellar for decades, and yet is 100% ready to enjoy young is a remarkable achievement The culmination of 85 years of experimentation, Cuvee is composed of the finest fruit from the Vinedo Santa Ines, owned by the family since 1934 It is an old, massal selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by a small proportion of Malbec and Petit Verdot It is the epitome of the De Martino style As Sebastian says, We don t think you need to show your best with power Finesse and gentleness, instead
De Martino Old Vine VIGNO Carignan 'La Aguada' Field Blend 2022 75cl
£35.48
Highly aromatic and complex with notes of sweet crushed blackberry, truffle, earth and smoke From a low-yielding, dry-farmed old vineyard, planted in 1955 A field blend, principally of Carignan, with a little Cinsault and Malbec, all grown on bush vines
De Martino 'Las Cruces' Old Vine Malbec and Carmenere 2021 75cl
£34.98
With an impressively deep, vibrant ruby colour, Las Cruces has intense aromas of ripe blackcurrant, whipped cream and hints of woodsmoke There s a subtle scent of crushed leaves, a seasoning without excess, which enhances freshness and complexity On the palate, juicy acidity merges harmoniously with satisfyingly chewy tannins This is great - comparable to top Cahors in both style and quality It s ready now, although decanting is recommended to bring out the best, and it will drink well for at least another 5-10 years From a 28 hectare vineyard on weathered granite and sand soil at Pichidegua, Cachapoal, planted in 1957 to 75% Malbec and 25% Carmenere
Crasto Superior Douro Red Magnum 2020 150cl
£44.12
Magnum The wine has beautifully perfumed fruit and spice aromas, reminiscent perhaps of Cote Rotie or even of Chateau Cos d'Estournel It's intense and vibrant, with velvety texture and so-subtle oakiness Enjoy it immediately with grilled lamb or steak, or tuck it away for up to four years Yum!
Ixsir El IXSIR 2016 75cl
£51.83
A deep purple-ruby colour A complexity of aromas with red fruits, blackberry liqueur, touches of incense, and notes of mint and cedar sap The palate is enriched by a suave and intense personality of rich mineral tension that is characteristic of high altitude and limestone terroirs A fresh finish and an extended length reveals a mature aging aptitude From the vineyards Hadath Baalbek (1,180m elevation), Yammouneh (1,375m) and Ainata (1,800m)
Contratto Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2019 75cl
£38.36
Intense, deep bouquet of white flowers, apple and citrus with purity and precision
Swinney Farvie Grenache 2022 75cl
£78.74
This smells very like fine red Burgundy, with rosehip and red cherry character on the nose In keeping with all 'even' vintages to date, 2022 was a warmer year, and this shows in the relative richness of texture - super-supple, refined, with subtle, integrated acidity and an extra layer of sophistication It has potentially a long life ahead of it, but it s pretty much irresistible already People told Matt Swinney that he was insane when he planted Grenache in the Frankland River region The 'Albany Doctor' wind blows along the river valley direct from the Southern Ocean, meaning that summertime afternoons and evenings can be distinctly chilly Combined with reliable sunshine, this promotes the long, slow ripening shared by many of the world's finest wine regions Was Matt right? Does the Grenache ripen? Absolutely, and reliably so: under cool but dry and sunny conditions, and helped by the impoverished ironstone gravel soils, well-drained hilltop sites and established bush vines Farvie Grenache is the result of a ridiculously painstaking selection effort, involving visiting each vine three times to pick out the fruit that has reached the 'sweet spot' of optimal ripeness - neither too exposed to the sun, nor too shaded
Swinney Farvie Syrah 2022 75cl
£78.50
The Swinney label wines represent the top 2% of the family's vineyard production, and Farvie is the utmost pinnacle - with only a few hundred cases made each year This is an awe-inspiring wine with cool-climate Syrah aromas and the ethereally sumptuous texture of Le Musigny The fruit of a very special vineyard site, painstaking viticulture ensures that the bunches are protected from direct exposure to the sun's rays, helping to ensure a wine of vibrancy and finesse Scents of wild blueberry, damson, clove, star anise, freesia,and white pepper greet the nose, while in the mouth, it is super-refined, intense and concentrated in flavour; with gorgeoust succulence of texture There is a sprinkling of powdery tannin - discernible but utterly delicate This harnonious wine is exceptional to drink already, and it should age effortlessly for 15 years or longer
Bodega Maranones Pena Caballera 2020 75cl
£38.35
It is the expression of the Garnacha from the point of view of the floral, the acidity, the length, the finesse, the delicacy, the elegance of the wine
Antinori Tignanello 2020 75cl
£167.60
Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn t use white grapes Tignanello is a milestone It s produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which about 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines Two of the estate s prized vineyards are on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils that originated from marine marlstone from the Pliocene period rich in limestone and schist The vines enjoy hot temperatures during the day and cooler evenings throughout the growing season The estate s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture According to Marchesi Antinori, Solaia and Tignanello are an ongoing challenge and a never-ending passion
Chateauneuf-du-Pape 10 Chateau Rayas 75cl
£1,516.45
Chateau Rayas epitomises the mystique of perfection in simplicity - 100% Grenache grown on 10 hectares of old vines on poor, sandy soil, in a secluded forest glade The fruit is vinified simply, aged in ancient casks, and the result is the most gloriously pure expression of both Grenache and Chateauneuf du Pape, rated by the pundits and sought-after by aficionados
Frescobaldi Lamaione 2020 75cl
£70.85
The ruby-red colour with tinges of purple is intense and impenetrable The bouquet offers a wonderful array of aromas Fruit is the star of the show, with pervasive hints of blueberry balanced out by fresh balsamic and minty notes The fragrance of the fruit seems beautifully crisp Lamaione 2016 has a pleasant tannic attack when tasted The level of alcohol and freshness are perfectly balanced, and the finish is long and persistent
Orin Swift Palermo 2021 75cl
£49.96
Deep and alluring aromas of raspberry and ripe cherry are intermingled with accents of star anise, five spice and freshly steeped black tea The entry is smooth with a combination of cassis and blackberry with a satiating suppleness Ultra round and soft, the wine finishes with reverberating length
