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This wine is imported exclusively for Pinto Wines. The Durrmann estate is located in the municipality of Andlau, in Alsace, an ancient medieval village in which vines have been cultivated for more than a thousand years. The winery was created in 1979 with some vineyards owned by Yann's grandfather, who was a shoemaker. The lack of experience in the wine sector was a disadvantage as they had to start from scratch, but also a big advantage as they were able to immediately differentiate themselves from tradition and move towards the most natural agriculture possible with a push "of thought "very innovative. As André expanded the domain into what it is today and managed to collect a beautiful vineyard property (more than 8 hectares now), he been working completely organically since 1998, but he also applies permaculture principles to achieve the greatest possible biodiversity in the vineyards. For example, he planted trees among the grapes. He does not plow the vineyards, because he thinks that would disrupt soil life. At most he mows the grass. In winter he lets his own small flock of sheep graze the vineyards. To keep it within the vineyard, he has fenced off all his plots with mesh and fences; This also helps to keep wild boars - which appear to have a great preference for organic vineyards! - at bay. André cruises through the village in an electric car, powered by electricity he produces himself (because he refuses to use electricity from a nuclear power plant). His wife Anna cooks vegetables and potatoes on two large dishes in the courtyard that catch the sunlight and heat the pans. Anyway, you get the picture. Son Yann has now taken over the domain and more and more cuvées are now made completely naturally. Not filtered, and without added sulfite. They also still make some cuvées with sulphite, because they do not want to alienate the large private customer base that buys at the door. But most customers respond positively, so they will steadily expand the nature range. Even Rieslings from Grand Cru vineyards are now being marketed as natural wine. Taste this next to the sulfited version and you will notice that the terroir in the natural version comes out even better! Perfect at room temperature in the winter, slightly chill it in the summer. Serve with white meat or light nibbles or on its own!!Delicious and to come back for more -
Denis Clair, quick with a laugh and a textbook bon vivant, created the domaine in 1986. The Clair family had owned parcels in the area for generations but sold most of their production to negociants. Denis set out to bottle his own wine. His wife Françoise was born in Saint-Aubin, a neighboring AOC village 2 1/2 miles to the northwest (a bit longer by car). This is where the Clairs' winery is located. They have a son, Jean-Baptiste, who joined the family business in 2000 working the vines. Jean-Baptist eventually began making their white wines. Today the family owns 15 hectares, including parcels in Santenay and Saint-Aubin. They sell 75,000 bottles a year, with about 75% of that going abroad. Fantastic with lobster, langoustines, turbot, a fillet of Saint-Pierre with fine vegetables, all shellfish and crustaceans, sole... Also unique with fine white meats, including pheasant with a beautiful cream sauce. Stunning gift and a bucket list wine -
Located on the right bank of the Vienne Valley, between Tours and Saumur, Domaine Grosbois is an old fortified farm built in the 15th century which today covers 20 hectares of vines. Now run by two brothers, Nicolas and Sylvain, the family vineyards are located at a place called “The Pressoir” Panzoult in the Chinon appellation at the heart of the Loire Valley. The winemaking here is concentrated solely on the production of red wines made from the Cabernet Franc grape. Nicolas has been at the domaine since 2005 after returning from ten years working as a travelling winemaker, gaining experience in locations as diverse as the Minervois, Chile, Oregon (Adelsheim), Australia (Brokenwood) and New Zealand (Pegasus Bay). His first vintage was in 2006 where he worked alongside his father, Jacques (who had previously been more inclined to sell off the production in cubitainer). Jacques retired, or at least withdrew, in 2008 allowing Nicolas to develop the domaine in the way he intended to continue, converting to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winemaking philosophy at Grosbois is centred around the idea of micro-site specificity with the various Cabernet Franc bottling's reflecting the 19 unique plots of vines on the Panzoult Hill, all of which had been strategically planted according to their geological characteristics. Once in the cellar, Nicolas lets the grapes speak for themselves, keeping a light hand at winemaking. He ferments in open concrete tanks with indigenous yeast, uses no oak and minimal filtration, so what you find in the final wine is a pure expression of a teeny parcel of Chinon. Pair it with roast duck with peppers. Serve after slight aeration -
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. -
Vincent Dancer grew up in Alsace, where he inherited a love of wine and photography from his father. After studying engineering, his father suggested that Vincent spend some time in Burgundy, where his family owned some vines that were being rented out to cousins. Dancer was immediately hooked, and decided to settle in Chassagne-Montrachet and make wine from the five hectares of well-situated vineyards. The winery is small even by the standards of Burgundy, and despite Dancer’s reclusive nature, the wines are well known to a small circle of restaurateurs and wine-lovers who reliably take their miniscule allocation year after year. Dancer was the first producer in Chassagne to become certified organic, and there remains less than a handful of others. He is quietly individualistic, creating his own lean, bright, and savory style of wines, trusting his instincts and experience to make the best possible wine in his own way. Each cuvée, however, is truly a reflection of the terroir—from the rich, unctuous Meursault Perrières to the incisively fresh Chassagne Tête du Clos. It is not an exaggeration to say that the wines from Vincent Dancer are majestically unique, exceptionally delicious, and well worth the effort of seeking out. -
More and more wine producers are adopting organic winemaking as the way forward, and they are stunning wines out there. There are many reasons why people enjoy organic wines. For some, it became a way of life, for others it just “feels right”. The old fear ''I don't trust organic wines'' or ''They all taste the same'' is disappearing, with more people converting to organic wines as there is more knowledge, greater quality and a heavily regulated market that will certify these wines. We brought you a case for any occasion with easy drinking 6 bottles. They say natural wine can be tricky to understand, well no expertise needed with these wines. An essential mix of light, low sulphite, crisp fresh white and a soft, pleasurable red. All organic, all vegan, all tasty. No need to drown in the complexity of natural wine, just try these and enjoy. Bardos Rueda Verdejo - This artisan verdejo is part of the reason the Spanish Rueda region has become quite popular. Made unapologetically, you will find yourself like a true “Bard” drinking this wine. Delicious! Sepp Gruner Veltliner - All Sepp Moser wines have been organic (and all estate wines biodynamic) since 2007. Delicate aromas of pear, kiwi, apricot and white spice. On the palate stone fruit flavours and white pepper lead to a gently textured, mineral and citrus finish. Combel La Serre L'Epatant Antidote Rosé - 100% French Malbec (known in Cahors as Auxerrois). The vines are 40 years old, grown on clay and limestone soils. 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. It precedes a palate that is both fleshy, suave and savory, with formidable gluttony. Both easy and winey, it's an absolute delight! Roche-Audran, ‘Nature’ Còtes-du-Rhône - Vincent Rochette comes from a long line of grape growers rather than winemakers up until 1998 when he bucked that trend by investing in a cellar and the necessary equipment to allow him to vinify his own grapes . He uses only natural products in the vineyard and carries out all his work in keeping with the cosmic cycles of the earth, not only among the vines but also in the cellar. One of his most interesting cuvées is the Côte du Rhone ‘Nature’, which has had no sulphites added at any stage of the winemaking process. Due to the fact that sulphites are naturally present in grapes, there are still 9mg present (below the legal 10mg limit which is required to state that the wine contains sulphites), an insignificant figure compared to the conventional levels found in most wines. The result is a wine that is simply a pure expression of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Harvesting, racking and bottling are all carried out in accordance with cosmic rhythms. Pitti Pittnauer Red - High on the hills of Austria there is more than just a lonely goat herd – there is also a fantastic winery, considered one of the country’s best. Pittnauer has a long winemaking tradition in the region, and in 2006 moved to more biodynamic practices. The results are delicious, environmentally friendly wines with years of experience behind them. Now prepare yourself for some varieties you’ve probably never heard of – Pittnauer’s Pitti Red Blend is made from blaufränkisch and Zweigelt grapes with a small quantity of Merlot added to the mixture. Filipa Pato Dinâmica Baga 2019 - Filipa Pato is the confirmation of the old saying "son of fish knows how to swim". Although she followed the footsteps of her father Luís Pato, Filipa went on her own and started a project in 2001. The success was immediate, and soon she rose to the status of one of the most brilliant winemakers in Portugal. Her wines are the result of Filipa's innovative and brilliant spirit. They were quickly at the forefront of national and international criticism. Dinâmica Baga is a wine that, due to its proximity to the sea, presents an intense, complex and elegant aroma with a touch of fruit such as strawberry and plum, nuances of liquorice and notes of spices such as black pepper, bay leaves and thyme, and balanced acidity. In the mouth it is fruity, with a beautiful structure and velvety texture, with a very fresh and inviting finish. -
Dow’s is owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Symington family, Port producers since the 19th Century. The family, whose experience dates back over 100 years, supervises all the vineyards, winemaking and ageing of this wine. Dow’s owns two of the Douro’s finest Quintas, Senhora da Ribeira and Bomfim. They were acquired in 1890 and 1896, making Dow’s one of the first houses to invest in premium vineyards. Nirvana is a special Port made to complement chocolate. Port pairs wonderfully with many foods, but few as perfectly and pleasurably as chocolate. Dow’s wine making team set out together with the help of ‘The Flanders Taste Foundation’ in Belgium to craft a Port that would provide the ultimate match for chocolate. After a series of tastings supported by scientific analysis to identify the key flavour components of both Port and Dark Chocolate the blend was refined accentuating the floral aromas and the tannic structure o -
Mira do O produces expressive, concentrated wines. Despite the concentration, all the wines are fresh, elegant, well-balanced and shows great maturation potential. Dao region is valued by wine lovers for its expressiveness, freshness, concentration of taste and longevity of the wine. The region is a little further away from the Atlantic Ocean, but its cold winds still cool Dao vineyards. For this reason, the wine is high levels of acidity and great balance. The poor granite soil prevalent in the region gives the wines more texture, depth and spice. It is worth mentioning that here is a register and a large part of the old, local Portuguese grapes. Mira do O Druida Encruzado Reserva is made from a small vineyard located on a 500-meter plateau. This plateau provides protection from excess Atlantic moisture. At the same time, the temperature fluctuations caused by this altitude allow the grapes to ripen perfectly during the day, but they are more refreshing due to the cooling vineyards. The winemaker follows the principle of minimalist intervention: to change the wine as little as possible during its production. For this reason, the very characteristics of the grape stand out. Pair it with aperitif, roast white meats, sautee greens -
This wine is imported directly and only for Pinto Wines Riesling on Schist makes its terroir apparent with a livewire acidity and snap, rocky, chalky and mineral. Low yielding parcels. Long and driving, a little structure from 2022. The Durrmann family are making wine from their old family house in the middle of Andlau, a beautiful village nestled on the first slopes of the Vosges mountains south-west of Strasbourg. With a surface of only 1,5 hectare at the beginning in 1979, the domaine gradually reached a total surface of seven hectares after André decided to move back to farming and pieced it together from abandoned vineyard sites that were hard to work and no longer commercially viable, coming from his grandfather who made shoes to supplement the farm income. This lack of an established and family-based wine making tradition initially presented a weakness because the whole business had to be built, but it is also a strength because the company wasn’t limited to traditional customs, and therefore has always been oriented toward innovation. The vineyards are now scattered on about 30 spots around the village. They added parcels progressively when opportunities showed up and looked also for different soil qualities so that the cuvées express several terroirs. The Durrmans think that the quality of the wine is created by the work in the vineyard, that’s why their objective is its preservation. The wines are being disturbed as little as possible. They do not add any oenological product to change the natural taste of the wines. The production is partly vinified in inox tank and partly in old wooden casks. Son Yann has worked in the domaine since he was a child and officially took over the running of the business a year ago. André was among the first wave of organic winemakers in Alsace converting in 1998, Yann has then taken this a step further applying a more natural approach in the cellar. Selected cuvées are produced without sulfur addition since 2007. The Durrmanns are true eco warriors only having electric cars and using solar energy for hot water and heating. Pair it with Pork, Seafood, Curries, Spicy dishes -
Thomas Lynch was a descendant of the Tribes of Galway. His father John emigrated in 1691 from Galway, Ireland to Bordeaux, inherited an estate in the village of Bages through his wife, Elizabeth, in 1749. This year represents the foundation of Château Lynch-Bages, which Thomas passed on to his son, Jean-Baptiste, upon his marriage in 1779. Jean-Baptiste soon handed over supervision to his brother Michel who maintained responsibility for the Bages estate until 1824, when the family sold it to a Swiss wine merchant, Sebastien Jurine, who had recently moved to Bordeaux. Château Lynch-Bages remained in the hands of the Jurine family, followed by the Cayrou family, for over a hundred years. In 1934, Jean-Charles Cazes rented the property from its then owner, Felix de Vial, subsequently purchasing it in 1938. After Jean-Charles Cazes’ death, aged 95, in 1972, the estate has been largely managed by his grandson, Jean-Michel Cazes.[2] In the late 1980s, the AXA Millésimes group began to develop a portfolio of wine property holdings, and approached Jean-Michel Cazes for help (Claude Bébéar, the AXA President, was a long-time Cazes family friend). They established Châteaux & Associés, which Cazes ran until he reached 65, and which by the end of the twentieth century owned many vineyards across Europe. Ownership of Château Lynch-Bages, however, remains with the Cazes family. In 2017, the Cazes family has acquired Château Haut-Batailley, the 1855 Grand Cru Classé estate in Pauillac. In the interest of sustainable development, agriculture is in every way reasoned: fertilization methods defined precisely and adapted to soil, optimized phytosanitary control, use of sexual confusion against worms of the bunch, controlled grassing of plots for control the vigor of the vine, prolonged rest of the soil by flowering fallow land … The use of neutral products for the environment is everywhere privileged. -
The story of this wine told by Peter Hauptfleisch himself-''Today I'm standing up to defend the EMPIRE - STELLENBOSCH. Silently, she’s been re-aligning her troops and now strikes back at the Swartland to establish herself yet again as a formidable force. Just for the record - I am a huge fan of Swartland white blends. The image of South African wines has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and the Swartland played a huge part in this. Their wines, especially the Rhône-style white blends are top notch. They are fun, young, energetic and unique and started to gain international fame. Stellenbosch, however (where I studied winemaking), is the original EMPIRE of South African wine. Like most of us, I like to support the underdog, and in the case of white blends, the Empire became exactly that. So I created a white blend based on similar varieties - a combination that could give some of the Swartland white blends a go. The empire is therefore now striking back at the Swartland with a blend of an all-Stellenbosch Verdelho, Pinot blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Viognier. The label consists of two sections. On the left part of the label you will see a half star, which was the logo for the "Swartland Revolution". And on the right - stripes that represent a traditional and conservative EMPIRE. And the red brother of Empire Strikes Back is EMPIRE - not striking back but just being himself. With Cabernet Sauvignon as driver and bits of Merlot and Cabernet franc to compliment. The old style design label shows a combination crest. I combined the crest of Stellenbosch University and Elsenburg College - The 2 Empires when it comes to wine education - I studied at both...'' In another words this red was created to strike back at the popularity of the whites and with its quality to balance the market. I dont it was needed as the reds quality is a great as the counterparts. -
The historic Fritz Haag wine estate is located in the heart of the central Mosel River Valley. The earliest documentation of the estate dates back to 1605. At that time, the village in which it is situated was known as “Dusemond.” In 1925, this village was renamed “Brauneberg” (“brown mountain,” a reference to the color of the slate soil in this area of the Mosel) in an endeavor to further promote the reputation of its world-renowned vineyards “Brauneberger Juffer” and “Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr.” Like all the top Mosel producers, Fritz Haag produces a range of wines including some very rich, late harvest dessert wines. These wines put the region on the map for luxury wine in the 17 and 1800s, making some Mosel Riesling more pricey and coveted than first growth Bordeaux. But in truth the wines that the locals drank, especially in the summer, were generally off dry to completely bone dry. Fritz Haag's vineyards sit along the slopes of the Brauneberger hill and the vineyards of Juffer and Juffer Sonnenuhr. Brauneberger faces almost entirely south which makes it a bit easier to get fully ripe Riesling in the classically cold, wet Mosel. That has changed a bit recently of course, but this is still a prized site for wines that perfectly balance finesse and power, complexity and airy drinkability. This specific wine is a VDP GG or Grosse Lage which is equivalent to a Grand Cru. -
Nuno Mira do Ó is a one-man viticulture and enology powerhouse. A deep-thinking, well-traveled, generous person totally focused on expressing the great terroir of his native country. His peers look his way for guidance because his experience bringing forth wines of place covers almost every major wine region in Portugal. He launched his eponymous brand in the Dão wine region with Druida Encruzado. The wine is named for the ancient Celtic druids whose connection to the earth and plants drove their quest to achieve spiritual equilibrium through the balance of nature. As an enologist and viticulturist, Nuno is in constant search for balance between the soil, the climate, and the vines. Mira do Ó wines seek to attain perfect sensory balance with the utmost respect for nature. This is a pursuit driven by passion and a desire to share wines filled with freshness, elegance, and aging potential. These wines are handcrafted in the Dão from indigenous varietals with vineyards in granite soil sitting above 500 meters of elevation to capture the region’s cool climate. Store the bottles lying down in a cool place (15-17ºC). Drink at 11-12º C and pair with fine food. -
Since 1481, the Chave family has been lording the soils of the Hermitage. Probably they are amongst the best visionaries and observers of the French wines in general. The vineyards are cultivated organically, with methods that favor very low yields and full ripeness, followed by minimal intervention in the winemaking process. The family's pride and joy is the Syrah planted on the fabled hill of Hermitage, but their wines from Saint-Joseph, a small nearby village devoted to the same grape, are a close second and represent distinct value. Syrah here doesn't taste like the bombastic syrah of California or Australia; rather, it's smoky, savory, and tastes like blackberries and black pepper. -
The Champagne house JM Gobillard & Fils is based in Hautvillers, a picturesque wine town in the heart of Champagne. The monk and cellar master Dom Pérignon discovered the first Champagne pearls in the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers around 1681 and thus made the small town the birthplace of Champagne. All three grape varieties of Champagne are carefully cultivated by hand on 30 hectares of our own vineyards - mainly in the Premier Cru vineyards of Hautvillers - under the supervision of Thierry Gobillard, oenologist and patron of the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils". In addition, grapes from another 125 hectares of external vineyards are purchased from strictly controlled, quality-conscious top winegrowers. Committed to house tradition, Thierry Gobillard has full control over all of his grape requirements. With his name, he vouches for quality and uniformity, he is a guarantor of the highest perfection and a bastion in the fight against mediocrity. Thanks to the highest art of oenology, each champagne from the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils" has a unique personality, so rich in expressions and appearances that you will be amazed! A votre sante! - Cheers! -
It began with a vision. A belief in the possibility of something bigger and better – something that didn’t quite exist yet. In the early 1970s, Napa Valley was a sleepy agricultural town on the brink of a fine-wine awakening. Drawing on his construction experience, Joe set about establishing the building blocks of winemaking excellence. By embedding his no-compromise philosophy deep into the bedrock of the winery, Joe set the framework to push for greatness. In 1974, he had the idea to make a unique blend each year, one that would represent the finest wine he could make from each vintage. He didn’t necessarily think it would always be a Cabernet Sauvignon either. His only thought was to make one wine that represented the best of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Today, Insignia is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for Californian winemaking that has earned Joseph Phelps its longstanding reputation for excellence. The production has been scaled back to the point where all the fruit comes from estate vineyards, which is something of a rarity in California. This is now a brilliantly focused, dynamic producer that refuses to rest on its laurels. In our honest opinion in Pinto Wines this wine can compare easely with top Burgundy wines at this price point. We have aged some of these wines in store and are ready to be enjoyed. -
This wine is a gem in the middle of great wines produced in the renowned region of Napa Valley. Grapes are meticulously picked from the best parts of the different vineyards belonging to the estate. Great investment wine, with a fantastic long drinking window. The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was marked by cool, mild weather. The cooler than normal spring delayed bud break, bloom and veraison by two weeks compared to the previous five years. The mild weather patterns in August and September allowed for excellent overall phenological ripening and development of a complex aroma and flavor profile in the finished wines. Outstanding flavor development and color were key indicators of this exceptional vintage. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality. Every wine in the Joseph Phelps portfolio is 100% estate-grown, overseen from grape to bottle by our dedicated winegrowing team. The family owns and farms 390 acres of vines in Napa Valley on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, the Stags Leap District, the Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to their wines. Their commitment to the estate-grown model is their way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality that can be achieved. Having estate vineyards give the winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines. Only 12,400 cases were produced. -
The name Kanonkop is derived from a hillock (kop) on the Simonsberg mountain above the wine estate from where, during the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon (kanon) was fired to announce the arrival of sailing ships entering Table Bay. The roar of the cannon would be the signal to local farmers, who were waiting to make the 50-kilometer journey to the harbour, to load up their wagons with fresh fruit and vegetables to barter their produce. The first wines bearing the Kanonkop label were produced in 1973. To wine lovers familiar with the centuries old châteaux and domaines of Bordeaux and Burgundy respectively, the winemaking history of our estate may seem surprisingly young. For 1973 was the year in which Kanonkop’s contention for a place in the annals of South African wine greatness began, just three years before the death of the man to whom the wine estate owes everything it has achieved and all the recognition it has attained: Paul Sauer. -
Keermont Vineyards is a specialist wine estate set in the naturally-formed amphitheatre between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountain ranges. All grapes used in producing our wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. Most of the vineyard parcels grow on deep red clay rich soil derived from sandstone and granite and are surrounded by indigenous vegetation. They lie between 250 and 400 metres above sea level at the top of the valley, and have a variety of aspects from North East to West facing. In 2001, the Wraith family moved to the Western Cape from Gauteng and in 2003 bought two adjacent farms which today make up Keermont Vineyards. Keermont Syrah is a blend of three different Syrah vineyard sites growing on Keermont Vineyards: Steepside Syrah: Growing on a North facing slope in deep, red clay-rich soils; this vineyard generally produces powerful full-bodied wines with rich, spicy flavours. Topside Syrah: An unirrigated west facing vineyard planted at 400m above sea level on rocky sandstone-based soil. Topside Syrah is usually a more aromatic wine with good structure and natural acid. Sweetwater Syrah: Situated in a rocky valley below the Fleurfontein spring, this is the coolest of the three Syrah sites and ripens the latest. Sweetwater Syrah is normally lighter and elegant in style with a herbal aroma. Only produced 12 665 bottles and 145 magnums. Maybe one of these will be yours to enjoy! -
Kopke, a house specialising in aged tawny and aged white ports, is the oldest established port producer, in existence since 1638. There are special places in the world. Kopke found one of them. Quinta de São Luiz is located on the left bank of the river Douro, near Pinhão, in the parish of Tabuaço. It is an imposing estate, considered one of the most emblematic of the Douro region. The Quinta has gone through two major changes: on the one hand, the construction of the Bagaúste dam, with the consequent rise of the water level and the loss of vineyard land; on the other, the enlargement of the total area with the acquisition of several other properties in the area. The estate is made up of 125 hectares, 90 of which are planted with vines. The main grape varieties grown here are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão. There are also small plots of Tinta Barroca and Souzão. The vines are classified as A, the highest grade in the Demarcated Region of the Douro. Irresistible with a starter of foie gras with aubergine and walnuts. A great choice for an endless array of desserts, such as toffee brownies, chocolate and pistachio pavé, or crostini of walnuts with chèvre. When teh weather picks up or the height of the Summer, serving this Port slightly chilly is a must. -
The wine owes its name to the port city of Porto, but comes from the Douro Valley. Here you will find one of the most spectacular wine landscapes in the world with terraced vineyards on steep slopes. It is scorching hot in summer, freezing cold in winter. The Douro Valley was already demarcated in 1756, making it the oldest regulated area of origin in the world. Port itself is a fortified wine. By interrupting the fermentation by adding wine alcohol, the wine retains its residual sugars and also gets its relatively high alcohol percentage. Port does not stand for a single wine, but for a whole series of wines. Wines with very different styles and tastes due to differences in the blending and aging of the base wines. In 1636 Nicolau Kopkë settled in Portugal as 'consul general' (a kind of representative) of the Hanseatic League, a partnership between merchants and cities, during the Middle Ages. Two years later, the first bottles of wine were shipped to Northern Europe. And when Nicolau bought a farm in the Douro in 1781, he changed from buyer to producer. Port wine soon became the focus of the company. Kpke now is one of the oldest Port Wine House. Recognized by the variety and distinction of its Ports, Kopke represents in XXI century a symbol of quality and prestige. LBV stands for Late Bottle Vintage and is the result of single year's harvest of superior quality, aged in oak Vats. Balancing the intensity of flavours, the Late Bottled Vintage Port is the ideal choice to serve with main courses of meat, like filet mignon encrusted four peppers and veal cutlet with Bérnaise sauce. Its versatility knows no borders, being perfect to combine with an exuberant cheesecake of chocolate mint, a pear and chocolate mille-feuille or simply to enjoy with cheeses of medium intensity. -
Broc Cellars is an organic urban winery located in Berkeley, California. The owner/winemaker is Chris Brockway, a minimalist who produces the most natural wines he can. Grapes are sourced only from sustainably, organically, or biodynamically-farmed old vine vineyards. Fruit all comes from Green valley in Solano County right on the eastern edge of Napa Valley. Grapes are pitchforked whole-cluster into the fermenters, and fermentation is allowed to happen spontaneously in a blend of old wood barrels, steel tanks, and concrete. All wines are basket pressed with little/no sulphur used until bottling.. An extremely pretty and approachable red that has a fruity, floral nose, a fresh, light palate with a serious finish. Interesting Cabernet Franc approach, so easy to drink that is almost gulpable. Unusual but a must try, definitely one of our favourites -
The huge passion of Dirk Niepoort for Baga variety and the fantastic terroir of the Bairrada region led him to look for small parcels of Baga in very old vines, scattered throughout the Cantanhede region, over the past three years. These wines were light in color and alcoholic content, elegant and fine, soon after bottling, but with a huge ageing potential. With the acquisition of the Quinta de Baixo in 2012, it became possible to recreate the Lagar de Baixo brand, moving towards a classically-styled wine which highlights the nobility of Baga grown in Bairrada. The red Lagar de Baixo is the result of a combination of very old vines and younger vines: complex, serious, but with some youth and grip. The 2020 Lagar de Baixo is our most classic wine from Quinta de Baixo and the wine that best reflects the Bairrada terroir. It is fermented in lagares and aged in used barrels. Food Suggestion: Venison dishes (partridge, wild boar), pork and bean stew, baked cod. Vegetarian suggestions: dishes with legumes (red kidney beans, lentils).
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