-
Adega de Penalva wines are delicious everyday examples of one of Portugal’s most intriguing appellations — the Dão. Perched above the Dão river itself as it snakes through its granite valleys, the Adega de Penalva is one of the leading cooperatives in the area, boasting around a thousand member growers. It’s important to note, though, that the average holding per member amounts to barely over a hectare—a figure that reminds us how tenaciously much of rural Portugal clings to its old ways. (On that note, all fruit destined for the ‘Indigena’ bottlings is hand-harvested.) Since its founding in the 1960s, the Adega has been collecting its members’ grapes and producing clean, characterful wines with a minimum of fuss that showcase real regional typicity while remaining extremely attractively priced. Adega de Penalva Indigena Dao Tinto is made with 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and 30% Jaen (Mencía). Hand-harvested, fully destemmed and aged in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tank. Aromas of leather and blueberries lead to a palate full of dark fruits with cherry and raspberry notes. Pairs well with beef and lamb. -
Adega Cooperativa dos Biscoitos was founded in 1999, in the Parish of Biscoitos, on the island of Terceira, Azores. In the century In the 16th century, the Biscoitos wine took on a notable importance when supplying the Caravelas on the Indies and Spices route. Among the products supplied to supply the fleets, there was Verdelho wine. This micro-region Biscoitos, is volcanic to the core, made from Verdelho grape variety. The location is part of UNESCO World Heritage. Wine is currently produced here only on a mere 9 hectares. The vineyards are planted in the so-called ‘curraletas’ of Biscoitos, part of the landscape and heritage of the Terceira Island. The vines grow on volcanic soils, surrounded by magma rocks that protect them from the strong winds of the Atlantic, originating a unique and special wine. Stunning wine that is worth every penny. -
Bardos Verdejo is a wine made from 100% Verdejo from vineyards that are 20-25 years old, located in Rueda, at more than 700 metres of altitude on stony soils. The harvest is carried out at night, at temperatures below 15ºC. The fermentation is done with local yeasts at a controlled temperature and the wine rests on its lees for at least 4 months, gaining complexity and texture. On the nose, the intense aromas of fruit such as white peach combine with cut grass, citrus, balsamic and mineral notes. In the mouth it has a good volume and persistence, well integrated acidity and a characteristic aniseed aftertaste, typical of the grape. Really a high quality example of this native Spanish variety. Excellent with light bites, starters, salads and white fish. All of the wines by De Bardos are crafted by hand in a fully artisan manner. -
The winery was founded by Didier Belondrade who came to Rueda and was inspired to apply Burgundian winemaking techniques to create exceptional white wines from the local Verdejo grape. What began in the mid-1990s as a tiny project using rented vines and a small corner of a friend’s winery quickly blossomed into Belondrade’s own winery on the La Seca plateau some 760 metres above sea level. Here Belondrade has some 30 hectares of vines planted on pebbly soils over a sub-layer of clay and sand. The exact character of the soil varies greatly from plot to plot, allowing Belondrade to select the precise personality of each wine to reflect the vintage and the micro-terroirs of his vineyards. Enjoy it with Aperitif, Cow´s or sheeps cheese, Grilled vegitables, Grilled whitefish, Light hors d´oeuvres, Mushrooms, Pica Pica or local traditional tapas, Poultry, Roasted red meats, Smoked foods. -
The Ott family has been growing and producing wine in the region of Wagram in Lower Austria since 1889. Bernhard Ott is of the fourth generation and has managed the winery since 1993, when he took the helm from his father. When he came home to the winery as a 21 year old, he was interested in producing wines of the highest quality. Bernhard wanted to prove that elegant and long lived wines could be produced from Grüner Veltliner grown on loess soil, specifically from Rosenberg vineyard. Bernhard replaced the old wooden casks with stainless steel and began working the vineyards with an aim for the highest high quality. In 2004 Benhard began composting, using organic cow manure from a friend in the region. In the past four years he’s used so much manure that the EU contacted him; “they didnt think it was possible to use 100,000 Euros worth of manure – they thought there was some accounting mistake. In 2006 he took a trip to the legendary biodynamic property Domaine La Romanée Conti in Vosne, with his best friend, Hans Reisetbauer. There, after a marathon tasting in the cellars with Aubert de Villaine, Bernhard committed to move to biodynamic viticulture. In 2007, with Johannes Hirsch, Fred Loimer and a group of like-minded producers, Respekt was formed. In 2014, after a very difficult harvest in which Bernhard didn’t bottle any single vineyard wines, he decided to work whole cluster saying “the stem is part of the grape. If you work without stems, you get more sweetness, more round fruit.” Today, Bernhard is looking back to previous generations for inspiration and to inform both his work in the vineyard and in the cellar. Grapes are picked at full ripeness, but thanks to biodynamic farming and composting, the sugar ripeness stays very moderate. “The compost helps with water regulation. Healthy soils give water when the weather is dry and take it back when there is too much. This also means no irrigation at all.” says Bernhard. In addition to working the soils with compost, Bernhard is a firm believer in not disrupting the eco-sysytem under the soils too much, preferring to plowing only 8cm deep. Harvest is done 100% by hand, something that is very important to note in a region who’s rolling hills and flatter landscape allow for machine harvesting. After picking and a strickt selection, the fruit is crushed in the press and maceration is done inside the press. The length of the maceration depends on the vintage, but also on the vineyard and the quality of the fruit. Bernhard uses closed pneumatic presses and has several different sizes. “This is how the press used to operate – there was only one pressing per day, so there was a maceration in the press.” explains Berhard. The juice is “browned” and racked into stainless steel where it is fermented by native yeasts without temperature control. Minimal amounts of sulfur are used at harvest and bottling and the cellar is very cold, inhibiting the development of malolactic. The single vineyard wines from the three Erste Lagen – Rosenberg, Spiegel and Stein – are on the full less until June or July before racking and bottling. The resulting wines are some of the very finest in Austria, straddling a juicy character with strong soil signatures. -
A wine that expresses the characteristics and grape varieties of the Vinho Verde region. It's a light and refreshing wine, for all occasions. -
An exceptional Kadarka from the Vida winery's 100 year old vines. The history of the name for this wine is also peculiar. One day, Peter Sr. was presenting his winery to one of his Japanese partners. When they were about to approach the vineyards, the gentleman noticed this little vine and jumped off the car and started shouting “BONSAI!” pointing at them. The tiny appearance of these stocks resembles a Bonsai, which in Japanese culture represents wisdom, a wish for long life and is also a symbol of good luck. A small curiosity is that Kadarka is a grape that was widely available before the Soviet union and well praised. With the Iron Curtain nearly fell into extinction, it's delicious but takes a huge effort to grow and is best from old vines. Reminds you of any other grape with certain similarities? -
The late Bruno Sorg and his son François are responsible for some of the finest, richest and most concentrated wines in Alsace. The Sorg family have been producing wine in the Alsace since the 18th century, with this particular branch of it established in the late 1960s by Renée and the late Bruno Sorg. Alsace is becoming better known for and offering superb value in comparison to some Pinot from Burgundy. A complex Pinot, that has good fruit density, freshness along with a savoury dimension. Fantastic value! -
Great Ripasso wine here, any wine enthusiasts will see it as an honest to the point wine on it's Ripasso process. Otherwise known as a ‘Baby Amarone’. The term “Ripasso” means “repassed” referring to the production process whereby regular, fermented Valpolicella (which is a blend of three regional native red grape varieties – Corvina, Rondinella and occasionally Molinara) is added to a cask containing the skins and lees left over from recently fermented Amarone wines. The process of adding (or “repassing”) the lighter Valpolicella wine over the remainders of the “bigger” Amarone wine imparts additional color, texture and flavor to the Valpolicella wine. The “Appassimento” process is an ancient wine making technique used in Northern Italy to make Amarone – the Daddy of Italian wine and its by product Recioto della Valpolicella (a sweet red wine). Grapes are air dried on racks for a period of at least a couple of months and often as many as six, before being pressed. Also, it induces a second fermentation of the wine that increases the wine’s alcoholic content. The end result is a wine that retains the vibrancy of Valpolicella but is darker in colour, bigger and more flavourful and complex than the original Valpolicella. Ripasso wines are rich, full-bodied and share some of the same aroma and flavor profiles as Amarone wines, just less so. Since Ripasso wines are more approachable and less expensive than Amarones they can be enjoyed more regularly. The land is at an altitude of 450 meters above the see level and the soil is made by the alteration of calcareous-fossilized formations, in particular the red flake and biancone marble.After harvesting by hand, the Valpolicella, before aging, is macerated a second time on the mark of the Amarone just drawn and left to rest for about 15-20 days. Then a maturation in oak barrels of 500/1000 LT for 18 months takes place. Ageing in bottles follows that lasts until optimal maturity. It matches perfectly with mushroom risotto, red meat such as barbecue steak or white meat such as stewed rabbit, perfect with cheese of medium maturing. -
Celler del Roure is making very interesting wines with local grape varieties in the Valencia area. Many of these old, indigenous varieties are largely forgotten and Cullerot highlights three of them (Verdil, Tortosina, and Merseguera) together with Pedro Ximénez, Macabeo, Malvasía, and others. In addition to their focus on indigenous grape varieties, Celler del Roure is employing traditional vinifications methods: hand harvesting, fermenting with native yeasts in stone lagars, and aging in very old clay amphorae. Cullerot has a bit of skin contact, and is medium bodied with notes of stone fruit, tropical notes, apple skin, and clay-y minerality. A great, truly interesting, "almost-orange" skin contact white wine, for less than €20. -
In 1888, the Touma Family established one of the first wineries and distilleries in Lebanon in the small town of Kab-elias of the Bekaa Valley (45 kilometers from Beirut) , to produce wine and Arak Touma, which is now perhaps Lebanon’s leading arak brand. Historically, the settlement goes back to the time of the Phoenicians, but the name was later changed to “Kaber Elias” (tomb of the prophet Elias), as it was believed that the prophet Elias was buried here. The Bible reports of the Prophet’s ascension to heaven in a fiery chariot at the point where John the Baptist is said to have baptized Jesus later, but the tradition of the Elijah tomb has been preserved to this day, not only among Christians, but also among the majority of the Muslim residents. During the Lebanese civil war, many Christians left Kab Elias, as they did elsewhere in Lebanon. The Touma family also had to choose to stay or leave. It was decided to stay and continue to fight and work for a presence of the Christians on the ground. In 1997, an old school building from 1932 was bought and converted into the new winery. The attempt was made to preserve the character of the original architecture in the center of Kab Elias despite all the necessary refurbishment and renovation work and alterations. Bekaa Valley is a 40-mile-long and 7-mile-wide fertile valley which is protected from rain by the Mount Lebanon mountain range to the west, and from the desert heat by the mountains on the Syrian border to the west. It lies around 1,000 metres above sea level allowing for a significant diurnal swing between the hot summer days and cool nights. The treacherous road to Beirut over the top of Mount Lebanon is frequently closed in winter due to snow. The majority of Château Héritage's vines are on the lower south-east facing slopes of Mt Lebanon, just above the winery, which ensures they're well drained with great exposure to sunlight, while being slightly cooler than the valley floor vineyards. The estate’s top wine, from their best parcels of vineyard. FOOD PAIRING: Duck, red meats, and raclette. -
Since 1994, the Montcountour vineyards are owned and controlled by the Feray family. These wines are currently produced from six high-quality wine estates located across the Loire Valley. The vines that were grown on the steep slopes of the valley were covered with hard rocks and caves to protect the history and maintain the mystery of these impeccable vines. These terroirs are known for their exceptional climatic conditions and diverse soils. The Feudal building has survived the centuries and has seen many personalities from the court and the arts stay there, a dependency of the Bishopric of tours under Saint-Martin in the 4th century. The current building dates from the renaissance and was erected by King Charles VII who offered it to Agnès Sorel, his lady of Beauty. Partly burnt down during the French Revolution, the building was rehabilitated; then, in 1846, the Touraine writer Honoré de Balzac wanted to buy it, wanted it in vain, to live there with his fervent admirer and wife Evelyne Hanska. On June 10, 1846, he wrote to his wife and one could read in this letter the still famous formula: "Moncontour is my predilection". -
Dominated by Carignan, this is a Minervois which will wow the senses and really impress with its value for money. The fruit for the Ramel Grand Cuvee were sourced from the Domaine de la Baquiere Estate, within the heart of the Languedoc Wine Region. From 23 hectares of vineyard on the slopes of the Montagne Noire where the Ramel-Mazard family winemaking dates back to 1726, forming traditional methods of production, with the fruit harvested by hand and each grape variety vinified separately in stainless steel. This is a medium/full bodied with bright ruby edge. Interesting and attractive nose, sweet blackberry, plum notes with a smoky, meaty complexion. Cherry notes too. Medium weight palate with sweet blackberry fruit, mocha and cherry tones. Tannins are grippy but well balanced and the 14% alcohol well integrated. Would suit Duck very well, or slow cooked meats stew style dishes. -
The grapes come from our single vineyard located in Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Uco Valley at 1054 m.a.s.l. (3428 ft). We have a sandy loam soil in the higher levels of the vineyard and stones in the lower parts so we can divide the vineyard into parcels thus generating greater diversity. This allows us to produce a greater variety of wines from the same vineyard. The drip irrigation system in our vineyard sources from the snowmelting of the high peaks -
Manchuela is the spiritual home of the Bobal grape. Clos Lojen made by Bodega y Viñedos Ponce is a biodynamic and pure 100% Bobal from limestone soils, fermented in big oak casks. Bobal is the 2nd most planted red variety in Spain yet so little of it reaches the heights of which it’s undoubtedly capable. With a naturally deep colour, high levels of tannins, high acidity and an ability to be exciting as either a blending partner or a mono-varietal wine, momentum needs to be gained with Bobal, till then we seek winemakers that do exciting things and produce wines that are fun to drink. As per Juan Antonio Ponce own words “I want my wines to be bought by any ordinary person. We must be able to reach consumers in a straight-forward manner otherwise beer will cannibalize our markets.” -
This blend of Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Tinta Roriz, and Alicante Bouschet lives up to its name. With an intense rubi colour, this wine presents itself with a great concentration in the nose. Extremely rich aroma with predominance of red ripe fruits and some floral notes, well integrated with notes of spices coming from the ageing in French and American oak barrels. In the mouth it shows great complexity with notes of plums and blackberries. The finish is rich and elegant. Excellent wine for hearty spiced meals with red grilled or roast meat, lamb and game dishes. Enjoy! -
Combel La Serre has been certified organic since 2013, though farmed without chemicals for several decades up to that point. 100% Malbec (known in Cahors as Auxerrois). The vines are 40 years old, grown on clay and limestone soils at an elevation of 320m. Fermentation and aging take place in small tanks."The Splendid Antidote to the Heat of the Causse" is the amusing and appropriate name of this refreshing rosé. (The Causse is the high limestone plateau around Cahors, which gets brutally hot in the summer.) The wine shows a pretty pink/orange color and aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry and cassis with citrus and spice. There are creamy cassis, raspberry and citrus flavors on the palate which shows lovely ripeness and density, with hints of orange peel, earth, smoke and brown spice that continue in the long finish. This is quite delicious and a great value - as are all the wines from Jean-Pierre and Julien Ilbert at Combel-la-Serre. Great Value -
Since 2011 Herdad da Lisboa(name of the Qunta), has been the place of the Cardoso Family in Vidigueira, in the Baixo Alentejo sub-region. A place where the modernity of the winery intersects with the tradition of the Alentejo cellars and where the diversity of viticulture is added to the permanent evolution of oenology. The Serra do Mendro, located to the north of Vidigueira, creates a natural barrier that favors the retention of fresh winds from the Atlantic Ocean, causing greater rainfall and large thermal amplitudes. Cold mornings and nights and hot days promote a balanced maturation of the grapes, preserving their freshness and natural acidity. The gentle slopes and elevations of the landscape, as well as the clay-schist soils bring minerality, freshness and diversity to the wines of Herdade da Lisboa. The approximately 100 hectares of vineyards at Herdade da Lisboa express the producer's deep respect for nature, integrating several sustainable practices, which allow optimizing the consumption of essential resources, such as water and energy. Natural grass, mechanical weed cutting to avoid the use of herbicides, close surveillance of pests, use of solar panels, its own weather station and probes for measuring soil humidity and temperature are some of the techniques and equipment used. It goes very well with fish and seafood dishes, salads or Asian dishes. -
With his diploma in oenology, Denis Wurtz has been reviving since 1998 the estate of his grandparents in Beblenheim, whose name evokes the profession of one of his ancestors. Installed in a 16th century half-timbered house in the heart of the gorgeous Alsatian vineyards. The Vieille Forge Estate runs 10 acres where 1/3 is dedicated to the production of Grands Cru wines. To the south of Riquewihr, the vineyard is situated in a natural circus oriented gently towards the south-east. Its clay-marly soils are favorable to gewurztraminer. This enchants with the intensity and finesse of its aromatic palette. A sensational wine, it will assert itself with spicy dishes from other continents, cheeses and even desserts. -
The 50-hectare Domaine des Roches Neuves is run by Bordelais Thierry Germain who originally was from Bordeaux and is situated in the appellation of Saumur-Champigny. The winery has existed since 1850, and since purchasing the estate in 1991, Thierry run it with such incredible will and tenacity that turned Domaine des Roches Neuves into one of the finest wineries/farms in France. Not to forget it wasn't without the help of his mentor and spiritual father Charly Foucault of Clos Rougeard The estate is run strictly along biodynamic lines, harvesting is manual and yields are low. This stunning wine pairs well with pork rillettes, lamb shank confit, grilled artichokes. Try it with just cheeses and charcuterie -
Domaine du Grand Montmirail Gigondas lies in the foothills of a limestone escarpment in a remote part of Gigondas. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, this wine has real depth of flavour with concentrated black fruits balanced by fresh acidity and a rich warm finish. In Gigondas, cultivating grapes to make wine and olives to make oil stretches back to ancient times. As long ago as the 1st century, Julius Caesar established a colony of veterans on this site. One is said to have been so jovial that he was nicknamed Jucundus, 'the joyful', and his village became known as Jocundatis, which later became Gigondas. Domain du Grand Montmirail covers more than 35 Ha, planted exclusively on the hillsides and terraces located south / south-east side of the Dentelles de Montmirail, forming a superb amphitheater dedicated to the vine and the wine. The altitude of the vineyard varies between 300 and 350 meters and enjoys natural protection against the wind dominating the mistral. The vineyard is composed of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre parcels, aged between 15 and 65 years. The harvest begins with Syrah, the quickest grape to ripen, and then the Grenache in the highest spots. The Mourvèdre is the slowest ripening and usually the last grape to be harvested. The entire harvest is picked by hand, and yields are never more than 35 hl/ha. Among the old vines on the terraces, they generally fall to a maximum of 30 hl/ha. The recently picked grapes are transported quickly to the winery situated off to the side of the vineyards. Pair it with Beef, Casserole, Lamb, Mushrooms -
Domaine la Fourmone is a multi-generational domaine and is currently run by sister, Florentine and brother, Albin Combe. The property dates back to the mid-1700’s when it originally producing wheat. Wine began to be grown in the last 19th century and thent became the crop after Julien Combe purchased the property in 1910. The domaine cultivates 41 ha (104 acres) of vineyards of which, 20ha are in Vacqueyras, 10ha are in Gigondas and 7ha of Côtes-du-Rhône and IGP and 4ha of vines on the southern edge of the Dentelles hills that reside in the Ventoux appellation. “Les Ceps d’Or” comes from a blend of mainly Grenache and Mourvèdre. It expresses the imprint of the 50 years of our goblet-pruned vines. The berries are delicately harvested on the northern and eastern limits of the Vacqueyras appellation. The plots come from two islands located on the plateau of the appellation at the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, a massif well known for its geological richness. The first islet is located in the Piedmont de Beauregard region. The soil is made up of dark beige marly silts, cut by broken slabs of Miocene molasses at a depth of one meter. This terroir requires a lot of effort from the vines to slide their rootlets into the cracks and deploy meters of roots. This effort gives the wine a singular complexity and aromatic richness. The second islet is located at the northern limit of the Cône de la Font des Papes terroir. A surface of light beige clay-sandy silt with small limestone fragments with a well-developed root profile up to two meters deep. The materials from this terroir have all the criteria favorable to the vine: freshness and good water reserve.
All wines will be delivered within 3 working days. Call us if urgent. Thank you for your business
