Wine

"I should have to admit approaching our meeting with Arendsig with a degree of scepticism as Robertson still struggles to command the respect afforded to Stellenbosch and Hermanus but my doubts proved to be totally unfounded as these were some of the most exciting wines that we tasted during our visit. Lourens Van Der Westhuizen's winery may lack the grandeur and, let's be honest, size of some of his peers to the west but this is a property that just screams ‘authenticity’. We had been fortunate to visit some stunningly beautiful wineries over the previous 10 days, many with stylish restaurants and showpiece cellars but this is the reality of winemaking for so many – battling against shortage of space and ferments that won't do as they're told, to create wines of unbelievable class.

All the wines are very site specific with the block no. stated on the label together with the (frequently tiny) number of bottles produced. Neutral vessels are used for maturation such that the character of the vineyard is allowed to shine through and only natural yeasts are used for the fermentation. Elegance and balance are the keywords here, together with length; these are wines that just beg to be drunk.

Wasn't looking forward to this as I find so much Viognier just too intense but this is really lovely. Great minerality, everything is restrained and toned down – beautiful balance and very, very food friendly." - Chris Connolly

Fresh and dry with a persistent with foam. Soft and approachable with red berry charaters on the nose and palate.

The name of this unusual Bourgogne Pinot Noir refers to the latitude of Burgundy, and it is a blend of out best Bourgogne Rouge, Cote de Nuits Village, Marsannay and Vosne-Romanee.

Fresh and dry with a persistent with foam. Soft and approachable with red berry charaters on the nose and palate.

Modest and passionate about his vineyards, Abel and his wife Maite have been making understated wines in San Vicente since 1988.

Lying in the shadow of the Sierra Cantabria, Abel has vineyards in the finest parts of the Alavesa. His knowledge and understanding of the soils is enthralling and to taste in his cellar can be an education on the effects different soils have in different years. He wants only to express the fruit and the soil and unlike many Riojans, he leaves it more or less at that. He does not want to stamp the wines with any particular style or mark of his own other than his respect for the very natural quality of the grapes and for the magical places that they were grown.

Straw yellow. Intense aromas, floral, very perfumed, with good fruit expression in the foreground, and well integrated wood notes of balsamic and dried grass. In the mouth it has superb acidity with a bright, smooth, silky and pleasant finish.

Modest and passionate about his vineyards, Abel and his wife Maite have been making understated wines in San Vicente since 1988.

Lying in the shadow of the Sierra Cantabria, Abel has vineyards in the finest parts of the Alavesa. His knowledge and understanding of the soils is enthralling and to taste in his cellar can be an education on the effects different soils have in different years. He wants only to express the fruit and the soil and unlike many Riojans, he leaves it more or less at that. He does not want to stamp the wines with any particular style or mark of his own other than his respect for the very natural quality of the grapes and for the magical places that they were grown.

Modest and passionate about his vineyards, Abel and his wife Maite have been making understated wines in San Vicente since 1988.

Lying in the shadow of the Sierra Cantabria, Abel has vineyards in the finest parts of the Alavesa. His knowledge and understanding of the soils is enthralling and to taste in his cellar can be an education on the effects different soils have in different years. He wants only to express the fruit and the soil and unlike many Riojans, he leaves it more or less at that. He does not want to stamp the wines with any particular style or mark of his own other than his respect for the very natural quality of the grapes and for the magical places that they were grown.

Cherry red, purple and traces of violet. Subtle notes of cocoa, liquorice, and balsamic. It enters the mouth dry and structured.

Modest and passionate about his vineyards, Abel and his wife Maite have been making understated wines in San Vicente since 1988.

Lying in the shadow of the Sierra Cantabria, Abel has vineyards in the finest parts of the Alavesa. His knowledge and understanding of the soils is enthralling and to taste in his cellar can be an education on the effects different soils have in different years. He wants only to express the fruit and the soil and unlike many Riojans, he leaves it more or less at that. He does not want to stamp the wines with any particular style or mark of his own other than his respect for the very natural quality of the grapes and for the magical places that they were grown.

A very classy and compelling wine. Deeply coloured with a pure, intense bouquet of crushed fruits, spice and oak. Elegant oak aging enhances the wine’s complexity and class.

The nose has jasmine tea notes with white pepper held together by a fine sandy structure. On the palate there are bright floral and mineral nuances with a lingeringly spicy, ginger and exotic finish. A hugely and broadly appealing and accessible Gewürz.

Lifted aromas of blackcurrant and blueberries. The palate is bright and well-defined with layers of black cherry, plum and dark spice, over ripe tannins.

Bacalhoa

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.

Araldica

The 2018 is sourced from a very special parcel of over 100-year-old vines in Nezingnan l'Eveque (east of Beziers). This "Old Vines Series" release Carignan is a real treat. Large pudding stones cover the floor of the vineyard; gently warming the fruit, ensuring full ripeness and flavours. a combination of handpicking, extremely low yields, minimal traditional winemaking techniques and time in a combination of American and French oak produces this wine of fantastic concentration.

Great, deep, royal purple-black colour, fresh nose of blackcurrants, with thyme and mint notes, intense dark red and black fruits, as well as dark chocolate, joined by the addition of chocolate and treacle toffee on the palate. Very focussed, backed by a strong backbone of rich tannins and a long peppery and savoury finish.

Alchemy Wines

Sourced from highly selective parcels of 100-Year-Old Vines in central Spain. These low yielding vines bare fruit with the most wonderful natural balance. The vineyards sit approximately 600 metres above sea level with a warm continental climate. The grapes mature over the growing season to their optimal ripeness, they are hand-picked and then the bunches are hand selected before fermentation. This 100-Year-Old Vine Tempranillo has spent 6 months in French and American oak giving it some lovely layers of complexity. Garnet red in colour, hints of spice and summer fruits on the nose, with a lengthy finish with apparent tannins and integrated acidity.

Alchemy Wines

This is a marriage made in heaven! It is made from a field blend of Argentina’s most iconic and widely planted varietals. Though these grapes mature at different times, the Malbec three weeks before the Bonarda, we harvest both together (the Malbec ten days later than typical, the Bonarda ten days early). Planted in alternating rows, the Malbec brings luscious sweetness while the Bonarda provides firm acidity. This 1946 vineyard blend was designed with this in mind, even though it took us many years before we realized what our predecessors were aiming to achieve.

Smoke, blueberries and deep structured fruits fill the nose. The palate is full bodied with crunchy black cherry, currants and toasty oak flavours.

Intense ruby colour with violet reflections. The aromas express the varietal typicality with ripe plum and violet flower with smoky notes obtained from the barrel. The palate is juicy, fruity and delicate with sweet tannins, while flavours envelop the palate highlighting the aftertaste. It is an elegant wine with a fruity and toasty finish.

Immediate nose of beetroot juice poured over graphite shavings sets you up for quite a journey. The palate shares the same dense minerality and graphite texture as the nose with a quiet but growing presence of forest floor and frozen berries. On opening, this fruit thaws to release fresh summer pudding and cream served in a pencil case. Bonkers!

Alpha Box & Dice

The "other" wine made by Ch. Palmer, first made 1998 the grapes come from different plots than those of Ch. Palmer and with a different blend Alter Ego is produced (and marketed) as very much it's own thing alongside Ch. Palmer. Generally the Alter Ego has slightly more Merlot than "normal Palmer, but the 2020 vintage is actually the other way round, with this being the Cabernet Sauvignon dominated version.

"Chocolate shavings and smoked coffee bean on the nose, it's a vintage where you can't get away from the tannins, but here they have sinew and juice, like the best translation of the tannins in the year. This has real purity of fruit (very low SO2 addition at Palmer), together with the gourmet touch that you want in Alter Ego. 45% of overall production. 3.73pH. Survived mildew better than in 2018 because of experience in dealing with the conditions. August 15 to 29 for the harvest. A yield of 31hl/ha." Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

One of my favourite white discoveries of last year; crisp, fresh and elegant with classic varietal character and a mouthwatering finish. - Chris Connolly

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.

Montressor

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.

Montressor

It presents an intense ruby colour with a red fruit and black tea flavour along with soft tannins and a balanced acidity. - Filipe Sevinate Pinto & Susana Correia, winemakers

Herdade da Figueirinha

A gorgeous ruby red colour. The nose is intense and deliciously seductive. Red fruit such as cherry and redcurrant stand out, then spicy notes dominate the very agreeable finish. Supple, well-balanced, with extremely fine tannins and good length, its individual touch and its notes of garrigue underline the fresh fruitiness of the palate. This is a vintage and a blend that perfectly matches our vision of what a red Languedoc should be: Mediterranean in character, bright, fruity, and lip-smackingly delicious.

Calmel & Joseph

The rare Slarina grape is native to the Monferrato hills of eastern Piemonte and almost disappeared due to low productivity. A handful of estates, including Il Cascinone, are reviving the variety which combines the fresh, juicy character of Barbera with fine, fresh red fruit and slightly leafy notes somewhat reminiscent of Cabernet Franc

Rich smoky black fruit aromas, with star anise, clove and a touch of spicy oak, lead on to a complex palate. Ripe bramble fruit and plum flavours are backed by well-structured tannins and a touch of dark chocolate - all lifted by balancing acidity.

Aromas of ripe berry and plum. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh raspberry and black fruits, supple tannins, and well-balanced acidity.

Bacalhoa

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

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.

Araldica

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

Damilano Barolo

Dominique Romy and his son Nicolas cultivate their vines naturally according to the Terra Vitis requirements, so as to preserve the biological balance of the soil. Vines are grown in an old fashioned manner, with grass between rows and Green Harvest being practiced to lower yields and to increase the quality of the grapes.

A wine that offers delicious wild strawberry fruit aromas with berry flavours backed up by a touch of savoury liquorice providing complexity and a lasting finish.

A light aromatic wine with an abundance of juicy red fruit aromas. Bright and flavoursome with supple tannins that are beautifully integrated. The acidity is just right to keep the wine lively and refreshing.

Domaine de Colette

Maison Roche de Bellene

Maison Roche de Bellene

From the eastern shore of the Neusiedlersee comes this beautifully botrytised blend of Welschriesling and Chardonnay. By affording the grapes an autumnal stay of execution whilst the early morning mists roll in off the lake to meander, untrammelled through the vineyard, growers are rewarded by the sight of their previously ripe, healthy grapes shrinking and shrivelling on the vine as the moisture is drained from them and they end up resembling a cross between a sun-dried tomato and Keith Richards. The trade-off of this risky procedure is to concentrate the sugars within the grape resulting in naturally sweet wines that combine a honeyed sweetness with refreshing acidity. Trust me, you are going to adore this.

Bela is the latest project by Rioja legends, C.V.N.E. Situated in the heart of Ribera del Duero with high altitude vineyards at 800m they are already creating something of a stir. Significant investment has gone into both vineyards and winery and little expense is being spared as they strive to recreate the magic they have been weaving in Rioja for 140+ years

Hand harvested, fermented and then aged in cask for 9 months, this is generously flavoured, full of red fruit notes underpinned with a splash of oak and a spicy, toasty finish.