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Most of us know Roald Dahl's novels, I for one have read them countless times. Firstly to my eldest and now, once in while I try with the middle one, even though he is still a bit young for those books. He is only 4 my wife says! They are just fun to read. To my surprise, after deciding to bring Château Méaume Bordeaux Supérieur to our Pinto Wines portfolio I came across that it was Roald Dahl's favourite wine and per his own words ''simply delicious''. Well I could not put it better myself. It is a fantastic wine, with superb quality at this price point and what some would call a ''Big little wine.'' Unpretentious especially being French and carries a lot with it. It has a warm, expressive black fruits with a serious, rustic, spicy structure. A hint of exotic perfume on the nose, with a luscious, very ripe blackberry and damson palate.80% merlot, with cabernets franc and sauvignon adding a rich, chewy texture. Very more-ish, with freshness, and great balance.Château Méaume, owned by English couple Alan and Sue Johnson-Hill since 1980, is an historic property just 10 miles from the famous vineyards of St-Emilion and Pomerol. The 2016 Vintage is one of the best produced after the 2000's and critics were fast to praise the 2018. Cheers Roald! -
Easy to drink and Portuguese through and through. Great companion to any celebration and can easily keep up. People pleaser is the word that comes to mind. Would suggest this one for weddings or any events, as it will deliver. Well priced and won't empty your pockets. Get it, enjoy it....responsibly obviously! Easy meals, canapes and cured meats with soft cheeses will go down well with this wine. Keep it confidential and do NOT tell anyone about this wine. It's our secret. -
Gruner Veltliner is Austria’s most important indigenous grape and up until the 1990s it was relatively unheard of. Gruner Veltliner has many charms, one of them being the consistency of the quality and the flavour profile; it always delivers what it says on the tin. Ferdinand Mayr is a musician turned winemaker and his organic wines are singing with flavour and intensity. Whoever says Grüner Veltliner says Austria and vice versa. This version of Ferdinand Mayr is accessible and it charms you right away. Exuberant, lively nose of citrus, apple and white pepper. On the palate, the ripe fruit and spiciness create a pleasant tension with the acidity. Crispy and ripe, as if you were biting into a juicy apple. Flavor and spiciness characterize this wine. Fantastic with Japanese or Thai cuisine. -
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Craig and Carla Hawkins launched Testalonga in the north of Swartland, South Africa in 2008. They are part of a revolutionary ground swell taking place in South African wine, where traditions are being challenged and brave new territory is being explored. The painfully small amount of wine that this duo produces gets snapped up in short order the world over. Known for their striking intensity and nervy energy, Craig and Carla's wines are on the cutting edge of the natural wine movement in their country.This is the lightest, daintiest version of Carignan one could imagine. It's got more in common with, say a Jura rouge or something Cab-Franc-like out of the Loire Valley than a classic Rhone red.It's fresh, racy, filled with character and seasoned with a little wildness. Great with on summer afternoon, first courses, seasoned vegetables. Enjoy -
The Champagne grower-producer Gaston Chiquet has made a name for itself as one of the best. In a region with thousands of small producers, it is a credit to owners Antoine and Nicolas Chiquet. Based in the evocatively named Dizy, the family first planted vines in 1746 but did not produce Champagne until 1935, when brothers Ferdinand and Gaston Chiquet took the bold step of setting up their own label, rather than merely selling grapes to the larger houses. Today they produce 15,000 cases a year. This is a classic aperitif Champagne. Deliciously light, crisp citrus and apple orchard flavours mingle with sundry red-berried fruit. It is beautifully plumped out in the middle, courtesy of Premier Cru Pinot Noir fruit from the evocatively named village of Dizy, ending with delicate toasty notes. -
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Keep On Punching is Swartland Chenin, but not in the conventional sense. No buttery oak, this is all 100% stainless steel tank to keep that citrus twang just as clean as a whistle. Stylistically this wine fits more closely with the Chenins of the Loire valley - the fruit is apple and pear with some nice zippy white peach. The grapes come from old bush vines that yield small clusters of grapes with great concentration and acidity year on year. Craig's wines have a keen following, and for good reason.After travelling extensively in Portugal and Austria learning his craft, Craig Hawkins returned to South Africa and became the winemaker at top Swartland estate Lammershoek. Craig now makes his own wines from various small, organic vineyard sites in Swartland and makes his wine naturally, with as little intervention as possible.If you like a bit of skin contact (& don't we all), try this! -
Anyone that has been to Greece or has interest in wines have come by the grape Assyrtiko . In the last few years, wines from Greece, in particularly this indigenous grape, have gotten the status as a world-class wine and prices have begun to rise especially from the Santorini region. This Vegan Assyrtiko from the Lyrarakis estate is one of them and it is still in the affordable range and fortunately, your everyday Assyrtiko needs can still be catered for. Being from east Crete rather than Santorini means prices are still competitive. Think down the lines of getting a wine from the Touraine region rather than the heart of the Loire Valley. Lyrarakis on Crete are a brilliant winery with a focus on indigenous Greek varieties. Their rendition of Assyrtiko is broader and more approachable than some of the tightly-wound examples on Santorini, but it's no less drinkable for that. It is in fact an ideal place to grow the white grape Assyrtiko. Both the Mediterranean breezes and the altitude of the Lyrarakis vineyards allows the grapes to have a much longer ripening period, preserving the grapes aromatics and acidity resulting in a wine with wonderful floral freshness, crisp citrus notes and a delicate mineral finish. Yamas! -
This is a fantastic blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo sourced from younger vineyards within the area of production of the villages of Barbaresco and Barolo given the Langhe Appellation. Fragrant, lifted fruits of the forest overlaid by notes of dried herbs, some leather and aniseed. This is a medium bodied wine, very well balanced with plush fruit character, sandy tannins and a lovely fresh clip of acidity delivering excellent Italian drinkability. Very approachable wine that will match brilliantly with food as well being great on its own. I can only think of Pasta, pasta and Pasta. Pizza would work perfectly too! . -
Michel Chapoutier created these wines to honor his great grandfather, Marius Chapoutier. Marius once said, “A good wine is one that beckons us to take another sip” and that is what Michel has accomplished with these wines. Marius Red is a wine that combines power, complexity and elegance. The Syrah endows it with warmth, robustness and a lovely bluish red hue. The Grenache brings a natural sweetness, balancing the whole structure of the wine. The harvest is done during the day: the natural summer heat by the beginning of the autumn is a great benefit for the maturity of the wine. The complexity, the elegance and the gourmet touch of Marius rouge are then revealed by their wine blending know-how. Serve it as an aperitif or with chicken liver on toast, beef carpaccio, roasted vegetables, lamb kebabs, veal, swordfish steak or goat cheese and dark chocolate at the end of the meal. Salut Marius! -
Picaro means 'rogue' or 'rascal'. I have always called it the young lad, as they also have 'El Recio' (the middle aged man) which is Matsu's idea for a reserva wine and the Gran Reserva, 'El Viejo' (old man just in case you didn't know). Bodegas Matsu is situated in the Toro region, right beside the Rueda region (known for the famous Verdejos). Toro wines are predominantly made of Tinta de Toro (tempranillo in this area of Spain) and are well known to be a mouthful of strength and personality due to its poor soil and hot summers. These vines in particular are 90 years old and are cultivated using the biodynamic techniques. Although the more conventional wines of this region are quite sharp, Matsu's wine range has achieved smoothness and elegance. Additionally, the clever thinking behind the labels means that they cater to a wide audience. I would recommend this red any day of the week. -
Mesta is a range of organically and sustainably grown single varietal wines, which stylishly showcase the Spanish wine revolution under the symbol of the Mesta. Mesta was a powerful alliance of sheep ranchers in medieval Castile, who controlled the cañadas: the traditional rights of way for migrating sheep. To this day the cañadas are protected from being blocked or built upon, a reminder of ancient rights and a model of coexistence with nature. This modern range, from the fashionable DO Uclés in central Castile, offers wines of great purity and varietal typicity.A versatile wine which accompanies spicy dishes perfectly, Asian curries, seafood risotto or a light salad with grilled prawns. Rosé wines are in fashion not just in the summer but also throughout the year, and this beautiful Mesta Rosé is a serious contender in the Rosé world. Especially at this price!!! -
Palacio del Camino Real winery is located in the Najerilla Valley in Rioja. Isolated by the absence of railways and therefore the big wineries, the Najerilla Valley has maintained a tradition of small vineyards, consistently producing fruit of extraordinary freshness and quality. Palacio del Camino Real Crianza is a return to the essence of Rioja wines from the beginning of the 20th century in which Garnacha was the protagonist and a small percentage of white grapes could also be found. They are fresh, elegant, round and friendly wines. Palacio del Camino Real Crianza, is a red wine with an attractive ruby red color that impresses with its complex nose in which the nuances of its aging are perfectly integrated with the freshness and intensity of its chosen grapes. In the mouth it is a wine, it is a fresh, friendly, balanced wine with a long aftertaste. -
Matsu, the Japanese word for 'wait', pays homage to the generations of devoted wine makers. The images of the real-life wine-producers decorate the bottle and represent the essence of each of the wines. Picaro means 'rogue' or 'rascal', and this rapscallion of a wine is a youthful interpretation of the Toro region's style. El Recio translates as 'the tough guy', and is a more serious, mature wine, made from the product of some of Toro's oldest vines. 'The Old One' of the Matsu range, made from the fruit of selected Tinta de Toro vines, averaging 110 years of age - presented in an original gift box. -
Producing quality wines since 1920, Pegos Claros Estate Farm was responsible in the 90s for the production of wines which became national and international references of the best wines produced as DOC Palmela. Harvesting done manually followed by fermentation with traditional foot treading in open “lagar”, oak ageing and exclusively from old vines. Produced from autochthonous red grapes of Castelão from Palmela Region, Pegos Claros Reserva is a red wine that reveals itself with defined maturity, with well-marked black fruits aromas in its aromatic bouquet, balsamic notes, and spices. It is a complex red wine with good acidity and a very elegant structure. Pairs well with grilled meat and roasted fish and meat. -
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The Region of Rias Baixas is located in Galicia, Spain. All of their coast is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean giving huge impact on it's climatic characteristics, being very humid and fresh comparing to other parts of Spain. These conditions are perfect for a native grape of this northern area of the Iberian Peninsula(in Portugal is known as Alvarinho, mainly used for Vinho Verde), to thrive and deliver a fantastic wine. The Viña Almirante winery it's one of the most influential Bodegas in the region, whom had the foresight to start producing this grape over 70 years ago in the area of Val do Salnés. It's name(Pionero), comes from this vision ahead of their time producing this energetic and intense wine. With Jose Estevez at its helm, he drove sales up by focusing on the international market. The story of Viña Almirante begins with Jose’s grandfather, who owned a farm in Cuba which was taken by Crasto after the revolution. The grandfather and his son fled to Spain in the 1960s. Jose grew up in Rias Baixas and though working as a labor lawyer, always loved the farm and was a very talented home winemaker for years. So talented that people kept telling him to make it his full-time vocation. In 2002, when a beautiful hillside vineyard, owned by 2 spinster sisters, came up for sale, he found a partner and bought it. This was the realization of his dream, to go back to the land stolen from his family. He said it was a scary moment to dive into this new venture but he felt propelled by his family history, his dream and his love of the land; call it fate. He now owns 35 ha of vines, all on the slopes. Jose is totally hands on, producing about 7500 cases per annum. -
There's a lovely off the beaten track mountain wilderness (salvaje means wild) to this old-vine Garnacha (aka Grenache), one of six under the the creative Vintae's Proyecto Garnachas banner that showcase the grape variety from old vineyards in different areas of the Ebro Valley in northeast Spain. Like Gamay and Zinfandel, the old vines of Grenache are a timeless wonder. They are the Clint Eastwood of vitis vinifera: gnarled by age with a tough-as-nails exterior and no sign of retirement on the horizon. What they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality: grape clusters from old-vine Grenache (think 60-100 years old) can create wines of supple fruit, spicy character and rocket-fueled energy. This one is no exception, the Salvaje vineyards lie on rocky soils at 820m above sea level, on the north face of the Moncayo massif mountain chain, where Navarra and Aragón meet and the Atlantic influence brings mouthwatering freshness and clarity to the generous raspberry, wild herb and pepper flavours this wine induces. It doesn't need food, but it's very accommodating: spot on with roast peppers, aubergine, tomatoes and onions and with spicy sausages such as chorizo. It would be equally good with roast root vegetables, slow-roast lamb or pork, baked spiced duck legs or a ham joint and would make a good barbecue all-rounder. -
Some of you may have been lucky enough to visit Italy and have seen the amazing art and the cities and villages steeped in history. Italy is, and will always be that kind of destination where everything is out of this world. The art, the cities, the food (OMG, the food) and last but by all means not least, the wine!!! Yes of course we all have had a few Italian wines that weren't up to scratch, but generally they are hard to find unless you don't read the labels or you are really at a loss with them. As per anything Italians do, their culture and often their wine are connected to their history and the Italians take great pride in this (rightfully so). Torre dei beati is a pure example of that, as it translates as “Tower of the Blessed”, and takes its lead from a section of the large 14th century fresco adorning the church of Santa Maria in Piano at the base of the town’s hillside. The fresco features an interpretation of the Judgement Day, where a tower is the final goal for souls who have reached the after-life. And so it came to pass that the team at Torre dei Beati imagined this mythical tower to symbolise all that they aim to achieve in their efforts to create a wine typical of its locale and honestly made: though the journey may be tough and at first seemingly impossible, the end more than justified the means. The winery is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Adrianna Galasso and Fausto Albanesi. Fausto’s father-in-law, Rocco, planted the first Torre dei Beati vineyard in 1972 and handed over control in 1999 to the young couple who quickly converted the estate to organic farming in 2000, long before it became the hip thing to do. Although you can find in every Irish Restaurant Montepulciano(Grape) d'Abruzzo(The Region), most of these wines are somewhat of inferior quality due to the majority of the local winemakers focusing on quantity rather than quality. Here is quite opposite, with only the best bunches are hand-picked from the Loreto Aprutino vineyard to make this elegant Montepulciano. The wine is aged for 12 months, half in 3000l Slovenian oak casks, half in second-use French oak barriques. Showing complex fruit, lightly touched by spicy oak. Full bodied yet smooth; the finely balanced tannins work well with natural minerality and measured acidity for a lingering finish. -
Imported from nearby Dalmatia, Susumaniello is one of the most important indigenous grape varieties of Brindisi. Its name (there are several theories) is due to the fact that, at a young age, in not recent times, the Susumaniello plant was particularly productive, so much so that it was overloaded with bunches as if it were a donkey. The name Verso Sud indicates the position of the vineyards, located in the southernmost area of the Ítria Valley, arriving in the province of Brindisi. Verso Sud Susumaniello has an intense ruby red color, with violet reflections when young that tend to garnet with aging, with a persistent aroma with hints of blackberry and cherry and sweet toasted notes. The flavor is soft, harmonious, long finish. Red 'Clássico', ideal to accompany red meats, roasts, game. Excellent with aged cheeses, cured meats, sauces and parmesan. A very decent and great value alternative to the more northerly Amarone style of wine. -
This lovely organic red is made from 100% Malbec (called Auxerrois in Cahors), ferments with indigenous yeasts, and ages in cement. This is a fruit-forward, easy-drinking style made for immediate consumption. And as soon as you pop a bottle, you'll see why "immediate" is the term they use. It's too tasty to wait, so enjoy it! -
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"I love you but I am thirsty" Great name that sticks to my mind with new grape varieties as a link between maritime freshness and southern exoticism. An explosive blend that gives an immediate and charming cuvée. The nose captivates with its aromas of white fruits and spices. The palate is round, full-bodied, generous. She lovingly embraces our taste buds for a tender moment of happiness and conviviality. Lovingly white, Lovingly good !! -
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The Chatelain family has worked the vineyards of Pouilly-sur-Loire since the 1630s. Today the family farm is run by Jean-Claude and Geneviève Chatelain, the 11th generation of winemakers from Domaine Chatelain. The grapes for Les Chailloux are grown on the St. Andelain Hill with its clay and siliceous soils strewn with pebbles and flint; the wine is aged ‘sur lie’ prior to bottling in the spring. Light yellow-gold; the wine is vivid, aromatic and minerally on the nose, followed by a spicy flint (silex) character on the palate. -
Five generations of traditional winemaking from the estate of Roger Champault, modern thermoregulation techniques, and carefully chosen soil matching, have produced a Cuvee that is subtle at first, like the rising of a summer breeze, building in its complexity with wispy herbal notes and abundant florals that dance across the taste buds like wind through an apple orchard. Delicate, yet so very alive. This wine drinks with a lovely, masterfully structured liveliness and sweet, concentrated finish.Thanks to its abundant fruitiness, it is suitable not only for seafood and crabs but also for more abundant fish dishes; fried salmon, pike perch etc. Also suitable for light meat, especially poultry dishes.Curious note, Sancerre Les Pierris 2008 wine was served at the wedding dinner of Princess Victoria and Daniel of Sweden. -
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The Carminucci company, with its 90 years of history, is inserted in the wonderful wine landscape of the Marche, a region that gives powerful emotions thanks to its landscapes and a geographical conformation that allows it to have very particular climatic excursions. Kissed by the Adriatic and pampered by the hills, this region, rich in native vines and wine culture, offers a wine obtained from a blend rich in charm such as Rosso Piceno, which we tasted in its "superior" version. Montepulciano, combined with Sangiovese, ages in small and large barrels to bring to the table a product with marked minerality and softness, strength and structure, always sweetened by fresh notes that make it unique in its characteristics. The color is rich in anthocyanins, the light is unable to penetrate the richness of color of this red wine, but the first impact on the nose makes it less austere than you might imagine. Ample in its aromas of red fruit and slightly spicy in sweet notes, Carminucci's Rosso Piceno is a pleasant wine from the first sip for its authenticity and balance. If you leave it in your mouth for a moment, warm Mediterranean flavors emerge combined with a pleasant note of licorice, a balanced alcohol that has a strong but never invasive structure. Its harmony is given by the set of sensations and gustatory touches, a frank and very balanced wine, it combines the sapidity of the area with an acidity that leads it to be a long-lived wine with excellent resistance over time. Excellent with red meats or game. -
Pecorino We will play with the Flowers of Torre dei Beati born in the vineyards located on the hills at the foot of the Gran Sasso, in the heart of the Abruzzo region.It is produced exclusively with Pecorino grapes, recently recovered in Italy as an ancient grape. The Pecorino is a native vine of poor productivity and great enological interest, which is deserving the attention of the fans. Torre dei Beati uses traditional and non-intrusive winemaking techniques. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature, the wine ages in steel before being bottled. It is characterized by a straw yellow color with golden reflections. The nose is fine and elegant, with hints of pear and white flowers, rounded by pleasant honeyed notes and hints of medicinal herbs. On the palate it is soft and with an excellent balance between alcohol, acidity and minerality. The wine has a long lasting and stimulating finish. Perfect to accompany aperitifs, appetizers and fish dishes, it is ideal in combination with white meats and first courses.
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