£24.80
Dark plum, leather and delicate violet aromas, plus notes of woodsmoke and brown spice. A full, firm and ripe red with rich, powerful flavours. All balanced by ripe tannins, complex savoury notes and a long finish.
£16.75
Straw yellow in colour, the nose shows aromatic white flowers mixed with citrus notes as well as pear and pineapple. Dry on the palate this is fresh and mineral like.
£45.00
A complex nose showing notes of black cherry, plum, violets, coffee and raisins. The palate is smooth and rounded, with a richly-textured mid-palate and a medley of spice, dried fruit characters and supple tannins. The wine remains elegant, being so beautifully integrated and sweetly rich, but with a long and complex, dry finish.
£18.50
A complex nose showing notes of black cherry, plum, violets, coffee and raisins. The palate is smooth and rounded, with a richly-textured mid-palate and a medley of spice, dried fruit characters and supple tannins. The wine remains elegant, being so beautifully integrated and sweetly rich, but with a long and complex, dry finish.
£15.35
Fruity with hints fo ripe cherry and red fruit on the nose. On the palate this is full-bodied and round with more red fruit and a poised acidity
Azienda Agricola Marco Porello£11.19
The palate is rich and generous with juicy cherry and more plum fruit, and meaty, spicy notes beneath. Soft oak tannins offer an extra dimension to the texture. A refreshing smack of fruity acidity on the finish gives plenty of definition to the ripe fruit.
£16.87
A complex nose combining mulberry, ripe strawberry and brown spice with delicate floral and violet notes. Robust on the palate with chunky bitter cherry and plum fruit and structured tannins.
£47.75
£95.80
Barolo Liste is a signature wine of Piedmont, cultivated in the small, prestigious zone of Liste within the Barolo zone.
Nebbiolo grown in calcareous-clay soil gives this pure expression of Barolo its intense, garnet red color, with a few orange highlights. Its nose is moderately intense with notes of wild fruit, liquorice, tobacco and cocoa.
The vineyard carries its 35 years well and enjoys ample sunshine from the east.
On the palate it is dry and full-bodied with a velvety persistence that marries well with the great Piedmont culinary tradition. It is an ideal accompaniment to braised meats and truffle dishes.
95/100 - The Wine Advocate
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This natural wine packs a punchy nose of crisp apple aromas. Crunchy green apple and a bit of lime lead on the palate which is rich in texture and a lemon drizzle cake finish.
£13.30
A warm spicy nose with lightly smoky aromas, which mingle with plum, red berries and a hint of chocolate. The palate is finely structured with supple tannins and bright balancing acidity. Ripe plum and blackberry fruit lead to long, savoury finish with a typically Italian bitter cherry twist.
£15.75
£12.75
£28.30
Purple red color. Intense red and black fruit character – ripe cherries and blackberries dominate, with interesting notes of exotic spices and well integrated oak notes. The palate has a beautifully juicy and elegant structure with an important tannic backbone that gives length to the wine and will make it age gracefully.
£13.35
A sophisticated, elegant 100% Bellone wine that embodies its terroir. It is named after one of the mythical Dioscuri, venerated in the ancient Temple of Castor and Pollux, whose imposing ruins are among Cori’s archaeological treasures.
Brilliant straw yellow colour; delicate fruity nose, yellow peach, hawthorn; fragrant, fresh palate with mineral notes.
£20.09
Aromas of honeyed, ripe stone fruit with citrus and lightly spicy notes. The palate is complex with lime, citrus characters balanced by a spicy minerality, structure and length. Showing some development, but with the potential to age for 5 years or more.
£36.75
The Monte Bernardi estate covers 53 hectares, 15 of which are under vine. 4.8 of these hectares are held on a long lease, which was taken out in 2011. The vineyards are situated in the hilly, southern-most region of Panzano, an area long acknowledged as one of the Grand Crus of Chianti Classico.
Michael Schmelzer and his family bought the estate in 2003, and have invested heavily in it ever since. The vines are planted on a soil of a high rock content mixture which, depending on the vineyard, consists of shale (Galestro), sandstone (Arenaria) and limestone (Alberese). The vineyards are perfectly situated at an altitude of 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by forests and enjoying a southern exposure, with the river Pesa flowing just a few hundred metres to the south.
The estate has been certified organic and biodynamic since 2004. Grass and cover crops are grown in alternate rows: composted cow manure and biodynamic preparations are used. Harvesting is by hand, usually from late September until mid-October.
For their Sa’Etta Chianti Classico Riserva (100% Sangiovese) the best grapes are selected from Sa’Etta, a single vineyard which benefits from the best position, exposure and terrain on the estate – highly reflective sandstone (Arenaria-Calcare-Pietraforte) rich with quartz inclusions. After natural fermentation, in large oak casks, the wine is placed in a combination of German and Austrian oak where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. The wine remains in oak for at least 24 months, followed by finishing in bottle for another 12 months.
£15.95
£16.29
£31.75
100% Timorasso. Five generations of Massas laboured tirelessly to keep the Timorasso flame alight whilst cheap Pinot Grigio and Prosecco rolled past by the truckload. It’s not difficult to see the origins of Walter’s frustration. Here on the steep hills just east of Tortona grow the last few hectares of Timorasso in the world. An ancient variety with thick skins, low yields, high disease susceptibility and immense concentration, it ought to be served by the glass in every restaurant with even the slightest aspirations to a decent wine list. The Timorasso ‘Derthona’ is initially shy in the glass but develops red apple, apricot and tangerine with time. Extended lees contact gives it a creamy mouthfeel often mistaken for oak (there is none) and the acidity will keep it developing in bottle for ages.
£14.55
Abruzzo's Pecorino grape is one of Italy's fastest growing white varieties. It's a perfect accompaniment to the fantastic seafood of the region. This is a great example from one of its leading proponents. Ripe honeyed nose with aromas of white peach and citrus fruits, and gently nutty, savoury notes. The palate is full and textured with pronounced minerality and delicate ripe fruit flavours leading to a long, spicy finish.
Contesa£28.45
£20.15
Pronounced and complex nose with savoury, nutty aromas and hints of fennel, ginger and white spice. The palate is fine, concentrated and textural, with crisp citrus and lightly honeyed stone fruit balanced by minerality and sappy acidity.
£11.40
This wine is a rediscovery of the old tradition of using partially-dried grapes to add richness and concentration. Following the traditional passito technique - a portion of ripe Barbera grapes (around 20%), left on the vine for nearly a month after the main harvest to sun dry, were blended with fresh Barbera grapes before fermentation. This sweetens, enriches and softens the resulting acidity.
A fleshy and juicy red with aromas of sweet ripe plums and cherries. The palate shows ripe fruit-forward characters of cherry and wild plum and the ripe rounded finish is balanced by fresh bramble acidity.
£15.00
£14.79
An enticing nose of white peach and pear with hints of fresh lime and gooseberry. Fresh and light zesty citrus notes and crisp acidity lift a textured, medium-bodied palate.
£13.65
La Battistina, situated in the north west region of Piedmonte, is an estate situated around the town of Gavi, and considered one of the best sites in Gavi. The vineyards are south facing with chalky and mineral soils, which allow the Cortese grape to ripen to its fullest. The wine is aromatic, with zesty citrus, lime and pineapple notes with a hint of minerality. The weighty fruit gives this wine an immensely long finish.
£10.55
Grecanico is the Sicilian incarnation of Garganega. Here it serves up a characterful and lively drop, full of tropical fruits, smooth and fresh.
£21.25
With the grapes harvested at the end of Ocotber the long ripening season ensures a brilliant, luminous, deep golden colour with flashes of gold and green. An outstanding, elegant and balanced wine with captivating fragrances of white flowers, minerals, citrus, white fruit, pear and apple overlaid by subtle honey. The fine acidity melds well in the richness of the body and in the long aftertaste of mineral and fruit.
£29.35
Ripe, warm and generous on the nose with abundant plum and cherry aromas, roasted coffee beans and hints of dried fruits. Full bodied and richly flavoured with berry and plum fruit, wild cherry acidity and a hint of dark chocolate. Supple tannins lead to a spicy finish, with the characteristic dry bite of good Amarone.
£12.55
Pretty pale pink in colour. The nose is lifted with cherry, raspberry and gently floral notes. The palate balances tangy cherry and red berry fruit with crisp, incisive acidity. A delicious style of pale rosé which has plenty of summer fruit character balanced by great texture.
£17.49
Medium ruby red colour with a pure nose of ripe dark fruits, cherry, plum and sweet spices like ginger and aniseed supported with discreet oak. The palate is round and textured with a well balanced freshness, ending with a long and broad spicy finish.
£16.50
Il Gruccione (The Bee-eater) is possibly the wine that best represents the essence of Nunzio Ghiraldi's wines and of their interpretaion of Lugana, starting from the interaction between the local terroir and the Turbiana grape varietal.
100% Turbiana grapes, carefully selected in the vineyard, picked rigorously by hand and pressed whole. The yield per hectare is kept below 9 tonnes and only the free-run just is used, giving the wine elegance and great typicity, together with the ability to mature gracefully for years.
The nose exhibits fine and elegant citrus and mature fruit nuances; the bouquet is completed by thyme and sage aromas. The finish has almond nuances and spicy hints that complete its character.
£10.95
£26.00
The Azienda Agricola Il Borghetto do things differently in this most well-known and prestigious of Italian wine regions. By treating Sangiovese more like Pinot Noir, winemaker Antonio manages to explore new and thrilling nuances of the variety through harnessing all the vivacity of organically and biodynamically cultivated fruit. The wines are then bottled in burgundy-shaped bottles as it’s his firm belief that this aids the wine’s development, as opposed to the region’s more traditional bordeaux-shaped bottle. But such bold divergence from the norm has resulted in the wines being declassified to IGP status. Yet with a plethora of top accolades from the well regarded L’Espresso guide and praise from the likes of Jancis Robinson, their approach has been unequivocally validated.
The wine undergoes a natural fermentation in concrete tank with native yeasts and is racked off the skins very early, followed by 8 months ageing in concrete tank for beautiful integration whilst retaining all the life and freshness of the wine.
A delightful pale garnet red wine with lifted aromas that instantly charm with delicate wild strawberry and tangy cranberry fruit. The palate is complex, the finish is long, and the tannins are fine, supple and effortless. A rare expression of Sangiovese showcasing its versatility.
£16.95
Harvested several weeks before its bigger, richer sibling Villaia, this is leaner and more taut with poise and elegance. Same vineyard, totally different style.
£16.79
£31.02
A blend of Corvinone, Corvina, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense ruby red turning to garnet with ageing. Bouquet is spicy with hints of cherry, black cherry and plum compote. fine and velvety palate, persistent, with soft tannins at the end.
£7.75
Palazzina vineyard is on the Il Cascinone estate. Vine yield is 3000 litres per hectare. The fruit is hand harvested in the second half of October (about one month later than the usual Moscato harvest). The grapes are dried on ‘graticci’ - a traditional Italian rush mat. During this time 40% of the fruit's weight is lost by water evaporation. In mid-December the whole bunches are pressed and then a slow fermentation is undertaken in oak barrels for 2 months followed by 12 months ageing prior to bottling.
A nose of intense lemon curd, marmalade, and citrus peel with lightly floral notes. The palate has lots of ripe apricot and acacia honey characters with honeyed sweetness, well-balanced by a citrus zest bite on the lingering finish.
£17.00
£11.49
An ambrosial nose of wonderful floral aroma's, on the palate there's an abundance of tropical fruit, melon, guava and peach supported by zippy acidity making it mouth-tinglingly moreish. A light refreshing wine for any occasion.
£9.29
A classic Italian Pinot Grigio, smooth and easy-drinking, light in body, with subtle floral notes and citrus flavours.
£16.99
On the west side of Sicily close to Marsala, is where Rallo Azienda Agricola calls home.
Working organically, the Vesco family focus on creating fragrant crisp Catarratto and perfumed fresh Nero d'Avola from their hillside vineyards. These vineyards are certified organic and are nestled high up in the hills south of Alcamo to take advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures and greater diurnal differences. The vines look down on the town of Marsala where, when the grapes have been harvested, they are taken. Here Andrea Vesco treats them with respect, utilising modern technology to ensure the freshness is retained for the final wines and creating elegant examples of the varieties that are anything but what you would expect from such a hot land.
A heady mix of citrus, grapefruit and tropical fruits, this is well rounded and complex with a long mineral finish.
£10.05
Fresh and appealing on the nose with plenty of ripe red fruits and a hint of spice. Fresh and juicy sour cherry characters on the palate, richly-flavoured, with supple and abundant red fruit balanced by vibrant acidity and ripe tannins.
£12.75
Fabrizio Vella is a passionate winemaker living and working in Sicily.
Proud of the island that he calls home he wanted to create a wine range that was personal to him, that reflected where he was from. Working with indigenous varieties of Cattaratto and Nero d’Avola he conjured four wines using an organic approach and careful winemaking to create wines that are fresh, exciting, moreish and true to their origin. A Sicilian wine through and through.
A natural wine with a complex nose, which is spicy and packed full of punchy liqouirice, chocolate, and dark fruits. Crisp, pleasant and persistent in the mouth.
£12.79
Not posh or sophisticated but very appealing - warm earth and herbs with a meatiness right in the middle!
Vibrant and youthful colour with cherry jam and red berry fruit characters. The palate is warm and generous, packed full of polished berry fruit, a touch of spice and a bitter plum twist on the finish. Tannins are gentle and add structure to this substantial, spicy red.
£17.79
An absolutely classic Soave - from one of the region's master producers, and dedicated to the memory of Graziano Prà‘s beloved Border Collie. Fresh and subtly peachy nose with elegant honeysuckle and pear aromas. The palate is attractively textured and juicy, lightly honeyed, with vibrant citrus and stone fruit, appealing pithy notes and a hint of almonds. Fine, linear and concentrated with a crisp, incisive and mineral finish.
£25.75
It opens fresh, mineral, deep, with fragrant field flower notes (camomile, elderflower, iris). On the palate is rich, complex and multidimensional with a finish of almond. With time, these notes transform into more complex notes of pollens, dried flowers.