How is it possible to roll all these flavours into one affordable wine? Ask the Famille Perrin, one of the great winemaking families in southern France, who create this complex, fruity, earthy and fresh Cotes du Rhone from a blend of Grenache (mainly from their Pr?bois vineyard in Orange), Syrah from further north in Vinsobres and Mourv?dre. While many less interesting Cotes du Rhone are made from a straightforward blend of Grenache and Syrah, the addition of the dark, mocha-like flavours of Mourv?dre add depth, richness and smooth soft velvet mouthfeel. 

The grapes in this wine were destemmed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks between 150hl and 190hl. Extraction is done by pumping over and the frequency is determined by tasting. The separate component wines are transferred partly to oak barrels and partly to stainless steel vats for a year's maturation, prior to blending. 

The result is outstanding dry red wine flavours with rich soft fruit appeal and a long finish; all to be hoped for from the family who own Chateau de Beaucastel.

This is a great young red with medium term ageing ability and especially fresh and consistent thanks to being sealed with a screw cap.

This outstanding Malbec is made from grapes grown high altitude vineyards in Mendoza, which were fermented with wild yeasts for 12 days with post ferment maceration for 19-22 days followed by 12 months aging in barrel, including first, second and third use barrels. It tastes smooth, dark, full bodied, fleshy, succulent and complex… An incredible red wine.

Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec, was introduced to the country’s biggest wine region, Mendoza, by Frenchman Michel Pouget in the mid 1850s, but it has since been discovered that not all Malbec vines brought into the country were exactly the same. And the family that has done more to advance the understanding, high quality expression and understanding of Argentinian Malbec is the Catena family, whose Zapata Malbec is one of our favourite wines in store; big, bold and full bodied but with elegance to burn, thanks to its silkiness. 

The Catena family has arguably done more for the quality and reputation of both Malbec and the Argentinian wine industry than any other company, advancing the understanding of growing grapes at altitude, high up in the foothills of the Andes where hot days, high sunshine hours and cool nights ripen the grapes and retain elegance.

Great value organic Lambrusco Grasparossa Castelvetro DOP from Cantina Settecani, this is frizante (meaning lightly sparkling) example of Lambrusco.

Ripe black cherry into a hint of caramel then a black pepper finish.

Great for a barbecue, as an apertif, or a cool weather celebration!

The Cuvée Royale Brut is a superbly intense champagne with depth of flavour and complex tastes of white peach, floral notes of white flowers giving way to the fruity ones and dialled up yeasty freshness, derived from 36 months aging with 20% reserve wines in the blend. The cepage is 35% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier and grapes come from over 20 different top ranking vineyards, including at Cumières, Damery, Hautvillers and Verneuil.

What the critics say

“Vanilla shortbread seems seductive on the nose. Slender but fine palate majors on the lemon, spice, and hints of honey in a soothing and gentle fashion. Lovely aperitif. Drinking Window 2020 to 2025.” 

Decanter - 90 Points

This Lazio Vermentino IGT from Castello di Torre in Pietra is aged in steel tanks for about 3 months and offers a crystalline, vibrant and organic expression of the aromatic Vermentino grape.

A straw yellow colour in the glass opens with a nose of white fruit and ripe peach, broom and aromatic herbs. The palate it is full-bodied, fresh, savoury and with typically marine mineral traces.

Tornatore’s Etna Bianco is a white wine made from vines terraced on the north slope of the volcano. Mentholated hints of white fruit and citrus on the nose, from the background of herbs. The palate is pleasantly savoury, mineral, with juicy freshness and pleasant aromatic returns.

VARIETY Carricante

AREA OF PRODUCTION ETNA, northern slope in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia

CULTIVATION SYSTEM Counter-espalier

PRUNING SYSTEM Spurred cordon

YIELD PER HECTARE 70 qli.

TIME OF HARVEST - October

Organoleptic Characteristics
Pale straw yellow with intense greenish reflections on the eye; pleasant hints of green apple, grapefruit, white peach and aromatic herbs mark the nose of this wine, which shows its true identity on the palate with a very pleasant savoriness and freshness complemented by an extraordinary minerality; exclusive notes that invite the second glass.

Vinification
Grapes harvested by hand in small crates are brought quickly to the winery and undergo manual selection on a belt. De-stemmed and lightly crushed they arrive at the press where they are softly pressed. The resulting must is cold clarified and placed to ferment at a temperature of 15/16°C. Once fermentation is finished, the resulting wine rests on the fine lees for about three months.

The Tempranillo (78%) comes from 30-year-old vines in our Cuesta (Cenicero) and Montecillo (Fuenmayor) vineyards. The Garnacha (22%) comes from La Pedriza vineyard in Tudelilla (Rioja Oriental). This 70 hectare property offers unbeatable conditions for growing this variety. Its nutrient-poor soil, covered with boulders, results in great varietal typicity, rich in aromas, with a pleasant, elegant structure. We started picking these plots in mid-October. 

The grapes were harvested manually and transported to the winery in refrigerated vehicles. Alcoholic fermentation took place spontaneously. Malolactic fermentation concluded at the end of the year. In March 2013, the selected wines were put in barrels to start ageing separately: the Tempranillo for 36 months with six manual rackings, in American oak barrels averaging 4 years in age and the Garnacha for 30 months with five manual rackings, in barrels with two and three wines. The final blend was bottled in March 2016.

Outstandingly bright, lively and intense garnet red, with an incipient cherry red rim. The first nose is very intense, with spicy, balsamic and ripe fruit notes. After swirling, aromas of black pepper, sweet liquorice, nutmeg, coffee, vanilla and cinnamon make their appearance. Mouth full of flavours, with a pleasant acidity and balance, and very polished tannins that enhance the harmonious structure. Complex and elegant aftertaste with spicy and balsamic hints. 

To enjoy right now, but with a long life ahead.

If Cotes du Rhone reds haven't made their way onto your wine drinking radar yet, then now's the perfect time because many of the 2016 wines are still available on the market and it's a vintage that rocks. This wine is made by the Sabon family, who have carved a name for themselves as high quality producers of great Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This red is made from the hills of the surrounding southern Rhone Valley from a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.
This crowd pleaser drinks beautifully now but undoubtedly has eight to nine years of aging and evolution up its vinous sleeve.

The Domaine des Espiers is located in the heart of Vaucluse, between the banks of the Ouv?ze and Dentelles de Montmirail. This is an excellent value Cote du Rhone with smooth tannins, warm berry fruit flavours and a medium body. 

Classy unoaked Chardonnay from the Coteaux Lyonnais just north of the Rhone Valley and made by a well respected Rhone producer in the shape of Clusel Roch.

A bright fresh and energetic wine with citrus, white stone fruit and floral notes.

Chateau Thivin is the oldest estate on Mont Brouilly, which has remained in family hands for several generations. Grown on steep slopes, harvested manually and vinified using low intervention techniques so as to maximise terroir expression. 

The Brouilly appellation is capable of producing excellent and complex wines, quite unlike the maligned Beaujolais Nouveau. Brouilly produces fruit forward, medium bodied wines, typically from the Gamay grape. 

Le Sept Vignes is a blend of the seven plots of Chateau Thivin, in an effort to represent the region's terroir. This is a delicious, medium bodied red, with slight tannins and a persistent, juicy red-fruit character. Complex yet easy-drinking in it's youth. This wine will grow in elegance given a few years age. 

Château Rieussec’s Carmes de Rieussec is a Semillon dominant sweet wine from the Sauternais region of Graves, Bordeaux. The nose is jammy and complex with charming  marmalade notes. The palate is powerful and balanced, with great acidity complimenting notes of pineapple, honey and delicate spice. An excellent desert wine.