Pikes Los Companeros Shiraz/Tempranillo 2022 75cl
£14.62
With appealing herby-peppery aromas and only the most subtle seasoning of oak, this is silky-soft with lovely perfume, nuances of basil and clove, and an irresistibly vibrant, juicy cherry and blackberry fruit character This has a surprising level of complexity, with an iron-like 'mineral' character behind the fruit, spice and herb elements Perfect companions, Tempranillo provides aromatic lift and a textural element to the soft richness of the Shiraz There is no new oak here, to allow the fruit to really sing
D Arenberg The Stump Jump GSM 2021 75cl
£12.90
GSM is a Cotes du Rhone style blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre Grenache sets the tone with a lovely sense of lusciousness, and pretty raspberry, blueberry and floral notes Shiraz contributes dark plum, mulberry and liquorice, as well as concentration, depth and velvety tannin Both varieties also give a little white pepper character is accentuated in cooler vintages and really acts as a point of interest Finally, the Mourvedre provides a perception of elegance and restraint through its red fruits with a hint of dried herb and fine chalky tannin
Swinney Frankland River Mourvedre Rose 2024 75cl
£36.34
Pale salmon colour Fresh strawberry and rose water notes combine with some subtle complexity including Mourvedre's signature Szechuan pepper character, oyster shell and beeswax A textural, full-flavoured yet finely-balanced rose, with rhubarb and pomegranate on the palate, combined with satisfying creaminess It has refreshing pithy acidity and a bone dry, briny finish Mourvedre from dry-grown bush vines on the rich gravelly-loam soils of the Swinney Wilson s Pool vineyard Careful canopy management, fruit thinning and selective hand-harvesting over multiple passes are employed to ensure as close to perfect fruit as possible A small percentage of Grenache and Vermentino are included for subtle complexity, and the fruit was whole-bunch pressed, filled directly to seasoned French oak barriques and then naturally fermented The wine rested on its lees for three months to preserve freshness and develop texture
Swinney Farvie Syrah 2023 75cl
£76.40
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
Swinney Farvie Mourvedre 2023 75cl
£76.20
Owner Matt Swinney and winemaker Rob Mann's ambition here is to produce a Bandol-inspired Mourvedre that displays the variety's splendid qualities This has fabulous, deep richness lent grace by a lovely, lilting spice and floral lift The palate has substance and texture, with layers of silky tannins, and yet a cleansing sense of lightness, delicacy and pin-point precision A wine of entrancing contrast, complexity and fidelity to its vineyard origins, the oak influence subtly fills out the corners without dominating its personality You can enjoy this immediately (decanting recommended), or it will age gracefully for many years
Swinney Farvie Grenache 2023 75cl
£76.45
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
D Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz Magnum 2020 150cl
£82.30
The heady aroma is both powerful and pretty with notes of fennel, purple flowers and blossom mingling with ripe, varietal purple fruits and black pepper The oak is hardly evident which allows fruit and soil complexities to emerge with edges of rhubarb and red mulberry and savoury characters of dried herbs, game and spice The palate opens with anise, black pepper, graphite and restrained dark cherries before it gives way to seductive mulberry, plum, liquorice and spice It has great power, depth and length with very vibrant, gritty fruit tannins providing immense structure Notes of anise and spice linger for a long time after the last sip The Dead Arm 2008 strikes a rare balance of power, complexity and finesse with impressive structure that will reward those with patience to cellar it
Fowles Wine Are You Game? Chardonnay 2023 75cl
£16.75
This wine has a youthful straw colour Aromas of peach and papaya play with subtle oak and yeasty notes Full bodied and fruity, the palate has a delightful creaminess as a result of ten months on yeast lees
Rob Dolan White Label Chardonnay 2023 75cl
£23.68
Mineral with waxy white flower, grapefruit and clove spice aromas Fine lined and textured on the palate with nectarine, raw cashew and toasted granola flavours A wine that will develop in bottle over the next 10 years
D Arenberg The Stump Jump Chardonnay 2024 75cl
£12.78
Very aromatic to start, lifted citrus blossom mix with white peaches and nectarines Fresh and zesty on the palate, the oak lends support and gives a lovely creamy mouthfeel with texture and spice
Chaffey Bros Wine Co Pax Aeterna Old Vine 'Barossa Nouveau' Grenache 2024 75cl
£22.73
Vivacious Barossa Valley Grenache: savoury and complex while also delicate and succulent, with red fruits including cranberries in the mouth and a nose-full of aniseed and spice Pure pleasure
D Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings GSM 2019 75cl
£38.93
On the nose we are struck by the typical dark fruits Plums, mulberries, fresh soil and more developed peaty like notes are all apparent, with an underlying lick of exotic Indian spice An abundance of fresh fruits on the palate marry well with the more complex characters of quince paste, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise and earthy beetroot Driving the core of the wine is that vintage trademark in the form of graphite and wet stone This wine, while appearing open and generous already, will continue to age well thanks to the lively line of acidity and the abundance of fine gritty tannins
Pizzini Wines La Volpe Nebbiolo 2023 75cl
£17.22
Garnet in colour with brick red tones The nose shows intital notes of blackberry and tar then as the wine opens up we see violets, dried rose petals and subtle earthy undertones The palate is full and generous The tar flavours comtinue as fresh raspberries fill your mouth, followed by red currants and star anise The finish is long with hints of dark chocolate and powerful tannins which linger
