100% Godello wine 

CRDO Monterrei Characteristics

Cimate:

• D.O Monterrei´s territory belongs to river Duero´s basin because river Tamega, which crosses the D.O from North to South, flows into it.It has a mild Mediterranean climate with continental tendency with Atlantic influence. Its summers are hot and dry while winters are cold. The zone has many temperature differences, up to 20ºC in ripening period.

Soil:

• Monterrei has three types of soils: slated and schist, ideal in draught periods that provide aromas to the red wines, granitic and sandy; that come from granitic rock erosion, they have low pH, appropriate for white wines. Sedimentary; complex due to the mixture of materials.

Fraga do Corvo has vineyards in all 3 soil types lending incredible complexity to their wines.

Appearance:  Precise yellow color with greenish iridescence, steely rim, clean and bright, with very good dense tears.

Nose:  Juicy tart green and yellow apples, with intense floral aromas (jasmine, mimosa, orange blossom), subtle hints of lemon and clementine zest, boxwood, freshly cut grass, tea leaf, delicate fragrant aromas.

Palate:  With a creamy and voluminous entry, enveloping, leaving a sensation of intense freshness, fruity notes of white plum, lime peel zest, subtle minerality, rich in elegant nuances, with intensity, glyceric, long.

Ripe and supple Grenache from Paarl blends seamlessly with the elegant and spicy berry fruit of Franschhoek Syrah.

PRODUCTION Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is handharvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 8 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm.

TASTING NOTE A warm, spicy nose with freshly cracked black pepper, allspice and ripe plum. Good concentration of sappy red berry and dark fruits are balanced by fresh acidity. The varietal characters of each cultivar complement each other well in this subtle and fragrant Coastal Region compote.

FOOD MATCH Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes.

The most recent addition to the Domaine Peyrassol family, Lou is a rosé de fête. Put on your togs and head the sun with a few bottles of Lou, it’s here for those wanting to explore Provence and the wonderful culture of the region. Soft white sand beaches are conjured after the first sip then with the next warm summer breezes and the smell of salt air. Your summer wine.

Grape Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah

It’s not often we come across wines that date back to 1398 but Chianti is no everyday wine, especially when it's labelled Isole E Olena. All grapes in this wine were hand picked. It's a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 5% Syrah, which balance each other nicely with their ripe red berry flavours of cherries and raspberries which sit alongside complex notes of spice, smoky leather and a hint of cedar. This wine's lively acidity adds a freshness and gives length to the wine. 

This great red will benefit from ageing thanks to stellar winemaking and viticulture from Paolo di Marchi, one of the kings of the Sangiovese grape, who took over the winemaking in 1976. He ended decades of sharecropping and focussed on fine tuning work in the vineyards and pioneered Tuscan reds made entirely from the Sangiovese grape, such as the great Super Tuscan, Cepparello; now one of the region’s most iconic wines. 

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico is one of the great Tuscan reds.Try it. 

THE CHIANTI CLASSICO APPELLATION

Chianti Classico is the heart of the wider Chianti production zone and its wines are distinguished by a trademarked black rooster on their labels. The wines of Chianti Classico are higher in quality and noticeably so in taste than wines labelled Chianti, which come from a broader area in Tuscany. The wines taste better because the vines are planted on hillsides with a higher degree of  iron rich soils and a greater diurnal temperature range, which provides more powerful, riper fruit flavours, which are balanced by higher acidity thanks to the cooler night time temperatures. 

The Sangiovese grape must make up 80% of all wines labelled Chianti Classico compared to 70% Sangiovese for wines labelled Chianti. 

Chianti was first defined as a wine producing sub region within Tuscany in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III, whose wanted to protect the integrity of the wines and prevent fraud. The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium was formed in 1924 with the distinctive Black Rooster trademark chosen to feature on the labels. 

More famous for The Godfather than for blood coloured red wine, Francis Ford Coppola has forged a name for both and this big red is an opulent, dark, plush, soft wine with flavours like black plums, black pepper and a spicy note. Deliciously smooth and easy to love.
The mysterious origins of the Zinfandel grape were uncovered in 2002 when DNA fingerprinting confirmed that Italy’s Primitivo and the slightly trickier to pronounce, Crljenak Kastelanski, an ancient Croatian variety, are genetically identical to Zinfandel. One grape, three different names and countries. And innumerable styles of different wines made from it - variety is the spice of life and of the wine lover's choice.

Les Jamelles Clair de Rose is a blend of two red grape varieties, Grenache and Cinsault. The combination creates a clean, dry and refreshing southern French rose with floral and fruity flavours in a rounded, medium bodied style. Cool temperature fermentation in stainless steel tanks retails fruity flavours and is finished in a dry style. 

The grapes in this wine come from two distinctly different areas; the Herault Valley's sloping vineyards where the warm Mediterranean climate provides consistently sunny conditions and outstanding ripeness, along with the Narbonne, where sandier soils provide rich flavours and balance. 

Drink with a classic food match of melon and prosciutto on a sunny day or serve alongside salami and antipasto any time of year as a refreshing aperitif wine. 

* Les Jamelles is owned by winemakers Catherine and Laurent Delaunay, who founded their wine brand in the early 1990s.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah

Planted 60km from Beirut on the alluvial plains of the Bekaa Valley at the foot of Mount Barouk with an altitude that touches 990 metres, Château Marsyas’ 35 hectares of vineyards are steeped in history, dating back to the ancient civilisations. Owned by the Saadé family, Château Marsyas believes that ‘wine is rooted in the earth’ and staying true to this philosophy, Sandro Saadé produces superbly elegant wines with a unique character.

Winery Notes (2016 Vintage)
"Blending finesse and minerality, B-Qā de Marsyas is defined by rounded tannins created by 8 to 10 months of gentle barrel aging. It is made with the same philosophy and attention to detail as its "big brother" Château Marsyas. Cited by Strabo & Pliny the Elder, Marsyas was the ancient name of the Beqaa Valley."

This is one of our favourite Côtes du Rhône villages wines, thanks to being a great producer and a complex blend of grapes, including 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. This lovely blend provides this wine with its dark colour, deep rich concentrated fruit flavours and impressive structure. All of which makes Cassagnes de la Nerthe a wine to age as well as to enjoy right now.

It is made from grapes grown in Sérignan du Comtat, 20 kilometres north of Châteauneuf du Pape. 

This is a top wine from an excellent producer - worth keeping or enjoying. Better still, buy a case of it and do both. 

Ever heard of Pelaverga?

It's not exactly a household name, even in the households of wine lovers. It is the name of a red grape grown in Piemonte in north west Italy. Even in its homeland there, it's pretty rare, and best known for making light, smooth fruity reds, such as this one, which is an interesting different take on northern Italian red wine.

This fabulous Italian red is old school Barolo with a modern twist; clean, bright and fresh with savoury, earthy flavour notes and a truffly overtone that says Piemonte and Nebbiolo in every lingering sip.

Castellero is a 0.4 hectare vineyard, situated between Bussia and Cannubi, which produces wine full of earthy freshness and flavours of roasted mushrooms, porcini supported by a firm backbone of refreshing floral notes and firm acidity, which provides this wine with its long finish. 

The winemaking is considered traditional. Long macerations of up to 40 days see the wine go through a natural fermentation without added yeast in steel tanks. It was then aged for 30 months in Slavonian oak barrels. It's old school with a modern twist; clean, bright and fresh with savoury, earthy flavour notes and a truffly overtone that says Piemonte and Nebbiolo in every lingering sip.

What the critics say

Wine Enthusiast - 94 points

"Rose, wild berry, baking-spice aromas mingle with whiffs of menthol. Linear and structured, the vibrant palate delivers raspberry, orange zest, cinnamon and tobacco set against tightly knit, refined tannins while bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. Drink 2024–2036."

Vinious Media - 93+ points

"The 2016 Barolo Castellero captures so much of what makes this site special. Mint, lavender, blood orange, raspberry and chalk notes give he 2016 striking aromatic brightness to play off its translucent, mid-weight feel. A wine of tremendous fascinating complexity, the Castellero will delight readers who enjoy classically-built Barolos. The Castellero is perhaps not quite as deep as the most complete wines in this lineup, but that is really splitting hairs at this level."

James Suckling - 93 points

"Aromas of strawberries and spices and hints of wet earth follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a long, driven finish, Better after 2022."

Giacomo Fenocchio's winemaking philosophy

Giacomo Fenocchio is regarded as one of the best Barolo producers today. Here's a piece that sums up why he is so highly respected and what makes his wines an authentic expression of Piemonte as a wine region.

"Claudio Fenocchio took over from his father Giacomo in 1989 – probably the moment of greatest pressure to follow the ‘modern’ winemaking path of short fermentations and aging in new barriques. In fact, it’s difficult now to understand how much pressure was exerted – from peers and neighbors, old and young, from the press, importers, customers, and that mysterious thing called “the market”. It took a strong will to resist, and a strong devotion to tradition. Lucky for us that Claudio stuck with the best of tradition – organic farming, long fermentations, and aging in large Slavonian oak casks. Easy for us too, since we get to drink his wines. Here’s a rare group of Fenocchio bottles spanning the generations, and ending with the beautiful 2016s."

From Chalmers Street Wine

Shiraz Cabernet Blend

Deep crimson with ruby hues. Intensely perfumed aromas of raspberry, blackberry, black plum, violets and almond blossom, with nuances of bay leaf, vanilla pod, black pepper and dried herbs. The palate leads with dark forest fruits, supported by baking spice,  sage and Dutch cocoa, balanced by fine-grained tannins and refreshing acidity for a  long, lingering finish.

100% Graciano

Grapes were selected from the best plots to make this wine. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 25-28 °C, with automated pumpover control to ensure that aromatic and colour compounds were extracted.

Great aromatic complexity and intensity. Outstanding notes of red and dark berries, chocolate and cream, together with toasty and balsamic notes, all of these well-integrated by their passage through barrels.

Tasty in the mouth, well-structured and powerful. The tannins are noble and mature, and the wine has is full bodied, providing a very full mouthfeel. Jammy notes with toasty and cocoa hints.

Tasting Notes:

It displays a deep ruby color and reveals expressive aromas of ripe red and black fruits, with floral undertones. On the palate, it stands out for its elegance and freshness, with polished, well-integrated tannins. The finish is persistent, with a strong presence on the palate.

About the producer:

In 1933, Clemente da Silva, recently arrived from Brazil, fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a producer of premium wines that would lead to the international expansion of his business: C. da Silva – an abbreviation of his own name. A year later, he registered the Dalva brand, a contraction of “da Silva”. Simple to pronounce and very Portuguese, the brand achieved rapid success in its different markets.

A Duoro DOC wine combining Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) grown on the slopes of the Douro (Ervedosa), Pinhão and Varosa rivers. The Douro Valley is characterised by very hot days & cool nights, high altitudes & deep schist soils which leads to red wines with robust tannin & fruit & white wines with poised acidity & lots of aroma.

Harvest & Vinification:

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were fully destemmed, macerated, and fermented under temperature control, in order to highlight the primary fruit aromas and deliver a fresh, lingering palate.

Technical Analysis:

Alcohol: 13,5% vol. 

Total Sugar: <0,6 g/l

 Total Acidity: 4,9 g/l 

(Tartaric Acid) pH: 3,73

From Val do Salnes in Rias Baixas grown on Quartz Rich granite sandy soils & trained on traditional emparrada pergola's. on 20-25 year old vines. 

Fermented for 14 days in stainless steel. 

A brilliant expression of Rias Biaxas Albarino

Tasting Notes
This Albariño is a very lively pale gold, with green reflections. Pazo Cilleiro has an intense nose, with pronounced notes of citrus and white fruit (pears, apples and white peaches), as well as floral hints. The palate is vibrant and fresh, with the fruit from the nose filling the mouth. It has the typical intense texture of a well-grown Albariño, with a round, persistent and pleasantly refreshing finish.

Vineyards
The grapes are selected from small vineyards around the winery in Salnés Valley, which is the heart of Rias Baixas, along Spain’s northwest coast. The soil is granitic, rich in quartz, with a sandy texture, and the average age of the vines is between 20 to 25 years. The climate is Atlantic, with moderate temperatures and an abundance of rain.

Winemaking
The grapes were destemmed, gently pressed and then transferred to stainless steel vats, where they were fermented over 14 days. The finished wine rests in bottle for an average of two months before release.