Red Wine
Dominio de Punctum Tempranillo/Petit Verdot 2018 (Organic)
Dominio de Punctum Tempranillo/Petit Verdot 2018 is new to our list this year. it is both organic and biodynamic and it has very attractive violets, blackberry, spice and date aromas. The flavours are fresh and layered with black cherry fruit, pomegranate and hints of liquorice and cinnamon spice. It is structured and savoury with ripe tannins that are smoothing. Overall, this is an interesting medium-bodied red with excellent length and balance. What stands out … Read More
Almaraz Tempranillo 2017
Almaraz Tempranillo from Bodegas del Medievo in Rioja, was one of our most popular new wines over the last couple of years. An appealing, soft and very lightly oaked Rioja. It has berry fruit aromas coupled with a touch of vanilla oak and a juicy berry fruit, spicy palate. Made from 90% young tempranillo grapes from the 2017 vintage and 10% of tempranillo grapes from Medievo Crianza 2015, the latter have spent 12 months … Read More
El Escoces Volante La Multa 2015
La Multa 2015 is a smooth, concentrated red with a huge berry fruit nose and palate. This wine has character, lots of spicy well balanced damson/plum fruit and a sweet oak finish. It has scored very highly for a wine of this price, in the independed Spanish Penin Wine Guide. Made with grapes from gnarly old bush vines by talented Scots wine maker Norrel Robertson in collaboration with Bodega San Gregorio in DO Calatayud, … Read More
El Abuelo 2017 (Organic)
El Abuelo 2017 (Organic) comes from Bodegas Piqueras in DO Almansa and joins our increasing number of organic wines. A blend of one of our favourite, indigenous Spanish grapes, Monastrell with Tempranillo. It has smoky, cherry and plum aromas coupled with spice and sage hints. Plums and cherry fruit flavours predominate with juicy tannins and it has a nice smooth balance with good intensity. If the label intrigues you, please read on and find … Read More
Dominio de Punctum Roble 2015 (organic)
Dominio de Punctum Roble 2015 is an appealing blend of Tempranillo and Petit Verdot made from organic grapes, using biodynamic practices. The 2015 vintage shows intense and creamy blackcurrant aromas laced with a touch of cedary oak. This is followed by attractive and fresh blackcurrant and cherry fruit flavours with cinnamon spice coupled with a smooth, almost creamy texture and lovely mouth feel. This is a a terrific blend, showing some complexity and well … Read More
Dominio de Punctum Roble 2016 (Organic)
Dominio de Punctum Roble new vintage has just arrived. A Gold medal winner and sporting a new label this year. Like 2015 vintage it is an appealing blend of Tempranillo and Petit Verdot made from organic grapes, using biodynamic practices. The 2016 vintage shows intense and spicy blackberry aromas laced with a touch of damsons and vanilla, cedary oak. This is followed by attractive and fresh blackberry and damson fruit flavours with cinnamon spice. … Read More
Medievo Selección Especial 2015
Medievo Selección Especial 2015, from a very good vintage, is immediately appealing on the nose with spicy blackberry fruit with cedary notes. On taste it has an expressive blackberry and cherry palate which is succulent and fruity with excellent structure. This wine has a great balance of fruit and oak from its 6 months in American oak barrels. A modern Rioja Roble which is the equal of many Rioja Crianzas with a smooth texture, … Read More
Bodegas y Vińedos Merayo Mencia 2018
Merayo Mencia 2018 is an inviting young red made from the lovely Mencia grape with aromas of violets, cherries, blueberries and mushroom hints. It has a smooth, cherry fruit and spice palate with ripe tannins and structure. It has been described as the Pinot Noir of Spain, and it has similar character of fresh, refined fruit, smoothness and light structure. This is something different and very distinctive in character from the widely planted Tempranillo … Read More
Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell 2016
Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell 2016 is immediately inviting with aromas of black cherries and hints of mediterranean herbs, spice, toast and cocoa. This is followed by rich cherry fruit flavours and nice savoury, ripe tannins. It has a lovely silky texture and very good length. Made from the Monastrell grape which is known as Mourvedre in France, where it plays a starring role in Chateauneuf du Pape. It has spent 6 months in … Read More
Gran Colegiata Lágrima Roble 2015
Gran Colegiata Lágrima Roble is a typical example of a sumptuous and approachable red wine from the Toro area in Northern Spain. Aromas of cinnamon spice, plums and cherries intermingle with subtle vanilla oak. These are followed by juicy blackberry and plum fruit flavours and attractive minerality. A full-bodied red, with warm, ripe and soft tannins and good length. This wine gets it’s name Lagrima (Spanish for Tears) because it is made from the … Read More
Bodegas Olarra Cerro Añon Crianza 2015
Cerro Añon Crianza has a very inviting blackberry/blackcurrant nose with hints of spice and vanilla. It is classic Rioja with a warm, moreish and elegant palate showing blackcurrants, plums and lighter hints of strawberries, herbs and mocha on the finish. The 2015 vintage of this Crianza is sporting a new label, but the contents are just as good, if not better than earlier vintages. This is a consistent Rioja Crianza year on year and … Read More
Extreme Vineyards Bonfire Hill Red 2016
An intriguing blend of grapes from Extreme Vineyards produces the rich and juicy Bonfire HIll Red. Spicy plums and blackcurrant aromas lead you into an appealing palate of blackcurrant, ripe plum and raspberry fruit with a touch of maraschino cherry and spice. This is a rich and opulent red, with well integrated ripe and slightly creamy tannins which make for a very approachable, well-balanced wine with great length. It displays a touch of toasty … Read More
Mil Historias Bobal 2017 (Organic)
Mil Historias Bobal is a rich and deep red wine. It arrests the senses with Intense aromas of ripe, black fruit with rosemary herb hints and a touch of black pepper. The flavours are equally intense, there is blackcurrant, cherry fruit together with peppery, liquorice and chocolate hints. This full-bodied red has a lovely full, savoury and complex finish. Wines made from this widely planted grape, the Bobal, mainly found in the Levant area … Read More
Strandveld First Sighting Shiraz 2017
This aptly named Strandveld First Sighting Shiraz comes from the Southern most winery in South Africa. The vineyards are just 9 kilometres from the sea, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean off Cape Agulhas. Your attention is immediately drawn by fresh blackberry and blackcurrant aromas tinged with spicy black pepper and fynbos notes. It has juicy black fruit flavours with savoury tannins, subtle toasted oak and a long spicy finish. This is … Read More
Mil Historias Malbec 2016/17 (Organic)
Mil Historias Malbec is our second wine from this terrific Bodega in off-the-beaten-track Manchuela, in Spain. It has intense aromas of mulberries, blueberries and hints of dark chocolate, leather and spice. The flavours are equally intense, there is blueberry and dark cherry fruit together with dark chocolate, espresso, liquorice and black pepper hints. This full-bodied red has a lovely full, savoury and very complex finish. It is structured with ripe tannins and excellent fruit … Read More
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2016
Bags of smoky blackberries and hints of leather on the nose in Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2016. This draws you in to savour the succulent, spicy black fruit flavours coupled with good structure and length; very moreish, fresh and full-bodied at the same time! This is a terrific example of Cabernet Franc with a tiny addition of Malbec. The result is a like a succulent Loire, or even a light Bordeaux, that is stylish, … Read More
El Escoces Volante Manga del Brujo 2015
Manga del Brujo has a complex, rich, spicy damson and plum nose with hints of garrigue and chocolate. These are followed by rich strawberry, plum fruit flavours and pepper notes. This is a big wine which is superbly concentrated, elegant and yet burly at the same time! 5 months in oak barrel has given this intensely flavoured wine a perfect balance and great length. Hand-picked grapes from selected, very low-yield vines give this wine it’s … Read More
Bodegas Urbina Crianza 2011
Bodegas Urbina Crianza 2011 oozes the classic, elegance and charm of a mature Rioja. This is a beautifully refined wine in perfect balance – this is what mature Rioja is all about! We are enjoying the 2015 Rioja Crianzas at the moment, but this is something different to discover. The 2011 vintage which has attracted 92 points from Tim Atkin MW in his 2019 Special Rioja Report! Intense strawberry, blackberry and vanilla aromas immediately … Read More
Trizanne Signature Wines (TSW) Syrah 2015
TSW (Trizanne Signature Wines) Syrah is a refined, poised and complex wine. From your first sniff you will find inviting aromas of fresh blackcurrants and red berries coupled with spice, black pepper and hints of cardamom. The flavours of abundant blackcurrant and red fruit are laced in fine grained tannins. The flavours keep building in the mouth, providing a lovely concentration and complexity without being heavy. Overall the palate is elegant, smooth and enigmatic. … Read More
Luis Cañas Crianza 2015
Luis Cañas Crianza has rich blackcurrant and raspberry aromas with hints of creamy oak with enticing balsam hints. This leads you into its concentrated, rich fruit flavours and complex, savoury layers. It is such an elegant, yet appealing Rioja Crianza, with great structure, excellent balance and smooth round tannins. We are always impressed by the quality and price of this stylish Crianza which is more like a Reserva in elegance, complexity and depth of flavours. … Read More
Medievo Tuerce Botas Crianza 2015
Medievo Tuerco Botas Crianza gets your attention with its appealing aromas of almonds and wild berries with toasty cedary notes. It has a powerful, complex and creamy textured palate with mature, ripe cherry and blackcurrant fruit. It is both savoury and elegant with well integrated tannins and a very long, fresh finish. One of the few Riojas made totally from the lovely Graciano grape and aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Graciano … Read More
Ramon Bilbao Edición Limitada Crianza 2015
Ramon Bilbao Edición Limitada Crianza has rich aromas of black fruit and inviting black pepper and spicy notes on the nose, coupled with complex aromas of cocoa and chocolate mingled with oak hints. Intense black and damson flavours develop with a silky warmth and combine with liquorice nuances and toasty oak. This is a full-flavoured, complex limited edition Rioja Crianza. It has a velvety mouthfeel, ripe tannins coupled with excellent structure, balance and brilliant … Read More
Cuvee de Cair 2015/16
Cuvee de Cair is a Roble (oak aged wine) from Dominio de Cair. Tempranillo is blended with a touch of Merlot and aged in oak for 9 months. The result is complex, layered aromas of black fruits, chocolate and mocha coupled with a rich, intense, highly structured palate of savoury black fruit with creamy oak notes and excellent length. It has a beautiful balance of tannins and fruit. A special wine, and if you … Read More
Wairau River Reserve Pinot Noir 2016
Wairau River Reserve Pinot Noir hits the spot for quality Pinot Noir at a competitive price. With aromas of dark fruits, plums, cassis entwined with layers of a touch of savoury richness and subtle toasty oak. The complexity continues into the palate with generous fruit weight and fine, ripe tannins. The result is a refined, textured Pinot Noir with a long, persistent finish. A dry, medium bodied Pinot Noir with excellent balance, structure and … Read More
Astrolabe Pinot Noir 2014
Astrolabe Pinot Noir is another consistently excellent wine from this small, top Marlborough producer. It has such an Inviting, ripe plum, berry fruit nose with added complexity of toasty oak. The palate has a terrific texture with mouth-filling plum, cherry and dark berry fruit. This full-bodied Pinot is well-structured with silky tannins and a very long, elegant finish. A complex, savoury Pinot Noir with mineral hints and beautifully integrated oak. Made by one of … Read More
Luis Cañas Reserva 2013
Luis Cañas Reserva is a beautifully balanced, special wine from one of the top Rioja Bodegas. It has a spicy, blackcurrant nose with a touch of creamy oak. The flavours show flavourful dark berry fruits together with layers of cocoa, oak and balsam hints. It displays leafy tannins, good structure, real elegance and length. Overall a lighter style than Muga Reserva Especial but a step up on the very good Luis Cañas Crianza 2015. … Read More
Cillar de Silos Torre Silo 2007
Elegance and finesse shine out from Cillar de Silos wines. The nose is complex, with dark cherry, blackberry fruit laced with leather, balsam, liquorice and mineral undertones. This leads on to complex layers of ripe mature brambly fruit, with hints of coffee and chocolate. An intense, robust, yet elegant wine with terrific structure, perfect balance and brilliant length. Their 48 hectare vineyard in the heart of Ribera del Duero is run by Oscar, Roberto … Read More
Bodegas Urbina Gran Reserva 2004
Urbina Gran Reserva 2004 is a wonderfully mature Rioja which seduces you immediately with its very attractive, complex aromas of black fruit, leather and cedary oak. These lead you into layers of rich, savoury blackcurrant and berry fruit flavours that are in complete harmonious balance with oak. This is a wine of great finesse, velvet smoothness and wondrous length. Tim Atkin MW in his special Rioja report in 2018 waxes lyrical about Urbina Gran … Read More
Mas D’en Gil Coma Vella 2010
2010 VINTAGE HAS ARRIVED – EVEN BETTER VALUE From family-run vineyards in the steep hills around Sierra del Montsant, one of the top producers in Priorat, produce consistently fine wines year on year. The secret of Priorat wines is undoubtedly the amazing slate and quartz rocky soils which convey a wonderful mineral complexity to the wines. Cherry colour, with powerful ripe plums and fig nose coupled with balsamic notes. The palate is intense, complex, … Read More
Dominio de Cair Crianza 2013
Dominio de Cair Crianza is a full-bodied wine. It is so appealing, elegant and refined, with intense and complex aromas of blackcurrant fruit, leather and dark chocolate and a wonderfully complex and succulent palate of blackfruits with well integrated oak. This wine demonstrates how power and finesse can be brilliantly combined; the flavours really do go on and on. A consistently excellent Ribera Crianza. In 2013 despite a cool start to the growing year, … Read More
Muga Selección Especial Reserva 2011
Muga Selección Especial Reserva 2011 is a stunning, limited edition Reserva which is only made in very good years. Dark, brambly and red fruit together with subtle oak aromas are coupled with balsamic, mint and liquorice notes. The mature berry fruit flavours are intense and complex with peppery spice, and coffee hints coupled with excellent balance and length. This is more like a really fine Gran Reserva in style with beautifully integrated oak; rich … Read More
Schubert Marion’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014/15
Schubert Marion’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 is typical of Schubert’s wines which are always truly elegant and complex. This vintage displays an refined, berry and bramble fruit nose; at the same time it is smoky with classic hints of the “forest floor.” This is followed by complex layers of raspberry, blackcurrant and cherry fruit with hints of spice coupled with terrific finesse. Beautifully poised and well structured Pinot Noir with brilliant length, silky and … Read More
Schubert Block B Pinot Noir 2014
Powerful, intense, complex multi-layered aromas wake up the senses when you first open Schubert Block B Pinot Noir 2014. This is an exceptional wine. The aromas remind you of blackberries, spice and cherries, with leather with hints of coffee and chocolate and the “forest floor.” It has a wonderfully rich, ripe, and complex palate, with morello cherries, plums, spice and mineral nuances. There are firm but balanced tannins, and the terrific savoury flavours go … Read More