Wines £15 - £30

This is the first production of Orange wine from Domaine des Tourelles. Winemaker Faouzi Issa has been mentored by a couple of Georgian winemakers who have been teaching him their methods of producing Amber wines.

The native Merweh grapes come from 150 year old vines which grow wild in the mountains of Lebanon. Fermentation takes place in Terracotta jars where the wine spends 4 months on skins. Light amber in color. Rich in flowers, orange blossoms, jasmine, and tea on the nose. On the palate we can discern some smooth elegant tannins that come from the maceration with the skin, while displaying a taste of apricot, pears, and hints of saltiness and minerality.

Domaine des Tourelles

The d'Annona vineyard is a fantastic single vineyard site with vines in excess of 60 years old. The grapes selected for this wine are grown on 2 small parcels totalling 3.5 ha. The grapes are hand-picked, destemmed and crushed, and innoculated with selected yeasts. The must undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel with pumping over four times per day. The wine is then racked to a mixture of new (two thirds) and one year old (one third) French oak barriques where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for 18-20 months. It spends a further 18 months in bottle before release.

Azienda Agricola Il Cascinone

The estate covers 11 hectares near Chiusi, on the border of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. Maria Sole follows the principles of Rudolf Steiner (Biodynamics) and Masanobu Fukuoka (“do-nothing” farming), using biodynamic preparations and avoiding weeding to maintain a balanced, self-sustaining vineyard ecosystem

Grown on sand and clay in vineyards between 17 and 32 years. The grapes are hand harvested and undergo one night of skin contact to extract the perfect amount of flavour. The wine then undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve the natural characteristics of the grapes. After this the wine spends approximately 7 months of aging in a combination of steel and concrete tanks. Maria Sole bottles “Noble Kara” without fining or filtration, and with a minimum of sulphur.

The wine is made from the traditional Kisi grape grown in the villages of Akhmeta district. Whole bunches are fermented in underground qvevri, lending the wine it’s amber colour, distinctive flavour and mildly tannic structure.

Kisi is a native Georgian grape with sweet spice notes and great acidity, perfect for maintaining freshness. Fermentation in Qvevries adds great complexity and texture.

Teliani Valley

Grown on the centuries-old terraces of the best vineyards, vinified according to the philosophy of Daniel Fries- minimal intervention, spontaneous fermentation and long lees contact. Exclusively terraced, handcrafted year-round, pure slate, this Riesling embodies everything that makes Winningen so unique. Fermented with wild yeasts in large wooden barrels and stainless steel, and aged on the lees.

The highlight of the Wine GB tasting, and indeed the day, was this Pinot Noir Precoce (an early riprning variant of Pinot Noir) from just outside Ledbury.

A good depth of garnet and a slight tone of terracotta in colour. Black cherry and sweet spice with hints of chocolate and smoke on the nose. A rich and almost full-bodied palate with silky tannins from time in barrel. Dark fruits, clove and vanilla spice are followed by earthy forest floor undertones on the finish

120 year old ungrafted Semillion vines from a single cineyard in the Itata Valley. Fermented in Large French oak barrels followed by 13 months aging in a both new and used oak barrels.

A wide range of aromas, such as honey, peach, green herbs, dried fruit and gunpowder. It is a structured Semilón, medium bodied with mineral and a saline touch on the palate. A balanced and complex wine with a long and elegant finish.

Bright and tangy with a nose of freshly picked limes, lemon meringue and lifted floral aromas. The palate shows great fruit purity with a juicy natural acid line. Lots of citrus flavours intertwined and a waxy minerality. Slight fruit sweetness balances the acidity and allows for good length on the finish.

Semillon, Muscat and Pinot Gris were vinified separately. They are picked in the morning, destemmed, fermented on skins for 10 days, pressed gently, and aged in old barrels and steel.

With up-front aromatics and florals, it starts out all skinsy and tropical with notes of tangerine and stonefruits. Refreshingly dry on the end for an easy-drinking finish. Textural and interesting, fun and chewy.

50 % whole berry and 50% whole bunch carbonic maceration. Wild yeast fermentation. Aged exclusively in 2nd/3rd use Hungarian 500L barrels for 6-8 months

Aromas of violet flora and raspberry. Raspberry fruit continues on the palate, together with strawberry, cacao and white pepper. Tannin is subtle and integrated, weaving through fruit and lightly toasted oak.

You may be more familiar with Carménère as a Chilean wine, but the variety actually originated in Bordeaux. After phylloxera, its temperamental nature and difficulty in reaching full ripeness meant it wasn’t replanted and, for all intents and purposes, became extinct in France.

Fortunately, some vines had already made their way to Chile, where, during the 1980s and ’90s, cracking wines labelled as “Chilean Merlot” began appearing in the UK. These wines were clearly different from true Merlot — at first this was put down to clonal variation or climate — but later research revealed they were, in fact, Carménère. Since then, the grape has been making a quiet comeback in its homeland.

Michel planted a small vineyard of Carménère around 12 years ago. In particularly hot years, enough grapes ripen fully to produce a single-varietal wine. The previous release was in 2018 (they’re keeping rather quiet about the possibility of a 2025). After four weeks of maceration during fermentation, the wine rests on its lees for 12 months in steel, developing an inky dark colour, loads of forest and dark fruit on the nose, silky tannins, and a touch of liquorice on the palate. It really is excellent — rich and complex, far beyond what its modest 12.5% ABV might suggest.

Soft and supple with all the full ripe fruit flavours you would expect, apricot, greengage along with a hint of licquorice. Very mouth-filling, rich and well constructed and really juicy on the finish.

Produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil "Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.

Hugel

Predominantly Sangiovese with 10% Petit Verdot, all from vines cultivated on gently sloping vineyards just 20km from the coast. Wild bramble and ripe plum fruit on the nose, warm and spicy with notes of mint and Mediterranean herbs. Fresh red berry and cherry characters combine with with supple tannins and juicy acidity on the palate.

6 years is, by anyone’s standards, a long apprenticeship but having graduated as an oenologist in 1992, Marco Puyo then worked both within Chile and internationally before bringing all of that experience to bear in setting up his own winery in partnership with cork producer, Patricio Gomez-Barris in 2015; 3 years later he gave up his various other commitments to dedicate himself entirely to Dagaz Wines. This is really classy and a measure as to how far the Chilean industry has come over the past 25 years or so. Oozing elegance and balance it marries red fruit flavours of raspberry and cherry with cedar and spice. Add 10 months of ageing in French oak and you have one of the best value reds I’ve tasted all year

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.

Cavit

Sub Aqua Club is predominantly a Viognier plus some other whites (mainly Riesling) that were accidently planted in a vineyard in Moppa Springs in the furthest Northern vineyard in the Barossa Valley. The vines are dry-grown, and all the fruit is harvested before sunrise to keep the grapes as cool as possible. With 5-7 days skin contact and 5 months lees aging in barrel makes it fresh apricot in hue, delightfully almost equally furry on the palate. It’s at once marmalade and marble being all rich, sinewy, aromatic, and textural. Finely grained for a skin-contact wine, it should not be served too cold

From one of the leading growers of Chianti Classico this is a kind of “baby Chianti” – mostly Sangiovese (obv) with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot thrown in. Full of raspberry and cherry fruit it’s a lighter style which is ideal with white meats or summer salads.

This light red wine has plentiful red fruit aromas, cherries and raspberries. Its is fleshy and soft with juicy fruit and a lively acidity. The supple tannins are ripe and light, the finish is silky and persistent.

Domaine de Colette

It’s called Austrian Pepper as you’ll find plenty of peppery spice in it. Perhaps the hottest thing from Austria. It’s not just wine. It is just the most peppery-fruity Grüner Veltliner on the block. Spice up your life!

Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure.

Villa La Pagliaia

Cracking Pet Nat made from Verdelho, suatainably produced with wild yeast fermentation and a further 4-5 months on lees before disgorgement

Aromas of lime, crisp apple with freshly baked pastry, and toasted almonds on the nose. The palate is ripe and full flavoured with bright citrus fruit offset by vibrant acidity and a soft creamy mouthfeel.

Tangible proof of elegance, balance and constancy characteristic of the Marques de Murrieta Winery and its surrounding vineyards situated in the Ygay Estate, it is a red Reserva wine with a balanced aging of two years in new and partly new American oak barrels and a year and a half in bottle. The result is an elegant wine that combines complexity and fineness, summing up the best attributes of our identity and actuality. Marqués de Murrieta is more than a brand in the international market, it represents age-old wisdom expressed in one of the most recognized wines of Spain. With our daily work, respect and love for our land, the selection of the best grapes and the attention to detail throughout its almost four years of production, Marqués de Murrieta is a safe and constant value of the best quality.

In the mouth the wine is harmonious, fresh and it has polished tannins that provides the wine with a pleasant texture. Its fruity long finish keeps an extraordinary freshness.

Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta

Revealing fresh fruit flavours of wild strawberry, this rosé has gentle acidity showing a smooth elegance and intensity with a plump finish.

Made following organic pricciples but not certified, this is a lovely wild yeast fermented Negroamaro. Ruby red, with a nose of flowers and berries. This is full-flavoured with youthful fruits, distinctive acidity with a nice persistence through the palate.

Picpoul Jim but not as we know it. Extended lees ageing blesses this with a disarming richness; it’s all honeysuckle and peach but just beautifully balanced with great acidity.

Old Grenache and Carignan vines grown at altitude provide the fruit which is harvested slightly earlier than the norm to give balance to a wine which could otherwise risk stumbling into clumsy territory. The Grenache provides the driving beat pushing things forward with an intensity of dark fruit whilst the Carignan plays the accompanying harmony. No oak just small concrete tanks. Flippin, flippin gorgeous.,/P>

Christophe Cordiers estate comprises of 30-odd hectares over a number of village appellations in Mâconnais region, including Mâcon-Fuissé Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint Veran. The full bunches undergo a gentle pressing then fermented without decantation using native yeasts. Exotic and spicy aromas this is well-balanced, with herbaceous and floral notes. This wine is light, charming and fresh.

The wine on which Domaine J.Laurens built it’s reputation and a delicious and serious alternative to Champagne. In the glass, this Crémant is brilliant with a pleasantly gentle fizz. Bright and citrusy, with just a hint of yeasty savouriness overlaying the lovely sweet fruit.

COLOUR. from garnet red to mahogany according to the age.
NOSE. powerful, balancing between black fruits and stewed fruits subtly brought by cocoa aromas.
MOUTH. sumptuous balance between the solar strength of the wine and the fineness of its tannins. It has a great persistency with sweetness which develops greedily.

Domaine de Bila-Haut

Love a bit of Saumur Champigny. The town may be more famous for its sparkling wines from the likes of Gratien & Meyer, Ackerman and Bouvet-Ladubay, not to mention its Disneyesque chateau which looks down over the town but this Cabernet Franc from 9 neighbouring villages is definitely worth getting to know. Bright, crunchy and perfect with most red meats, I think you’re really going to like this.

Serve chilled as an accompaniment to an entire meal or with pâtés, grilled fish, red meats, game, cheeses or red berry desserts.

Arboleda is a relative newcomer to the Chilean wine market but its founder, Eduardo Chadwick, has been around for a while as the fifth generation of the family behind the Errazuriz label. With the confidence that comes of so much experience and a multi-million dollar bank account he set up Arboleda as more of a niche producer, crafting vineyard specific wines from sustainable vineyards. Syrah probably isn’t the first variety you think of when considering Chilean wine but I think it’s got a great future here, particularly at the mid to higher end of the market. This is gloriously full with ripe, soft tannins but still retains a classic Syrah acidity on the finish to add freshness.

This is a wine with delicate fruity aromas, typical notes of white flowers, some herbal notes and tropical fruits. Its freshness reminds of just-picked grapes. This is followed by a fruity acidity, and no oak, resulting in a good mouthfeel to be enjoyed now. Los Poetas Semillón is an elegant and approachable wine, making it ideal to accompany simple food.

Yellow with a greenish sheen. The aromas on the nose offer a complex but subtle perfume of orange blossom, nutmeg and dried orange peel. Dry and refreshing in the mouth, with a pleasing texture – a fine, fresh line of mineral acidity here reinvigorates the palate and invites a second sip.

A subtle and restrained white with delicate stone fruit and lightly nutty aromas. The palate is textural with more nutty characters and good concentration, all beautifully balanced by peachy fruit, a dash of lime, and taut acidity on the finish.

Not your usual Muscadet, Francois Menard has crafted this single vineyard cuvee as part of his expressions series- somewhat experimental one-off wines from vary small parcels of vines showcasing how varied Muscadet can be. Coming from a Gneiss terroir on the Févrie plot in Maisdon, this single-vineyard cuvée of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie has benefited from a short skin maceration before pressing the grapes in order to give this wine the aromatics, complexity and structure that characterize it. Wild yeast fermentation and with 8 months lees aging in glass lined concrete tanks. Overt and very ripe apricot notes make up a rich full bodies wine with a generous texture and incredibly long finish.

Chateau de L’Escarelle of one of the most prestigious wine estates in the heart of Provence, with 100 hectares of organically certified vineyards set in 1,000 hectares of beautiful woodland.

In the past year this property has made impressive steps to establish itself as a major player of sustainable agriculture in France. In 2016 the estate achieved Haute Valeur Environnementale certification (France’s most stringent environmental certification scheme, level 3), demonstrating their deep-rooted commitment to protecting the natural world. Their vines are planted at up to 500 metres above sea level, hugging the slopes of the Montagne de La Loube and adapting to the estates' clay and limestone soil profile. The terroir’s distinctive character is perfect for creating highly-expressive, elegant Rosé wines.

Chateau de L'Escarelle

Stéphane Bourret and his team have improved La Bastide wines’ quality beyond recognition. Despite the pressure of the many tourists ready to buy almost anything at any price, he has chosen a path of quality and hard work. All of the 28 hectares estate is now run using biodynamic methods and the results are a joy to behold, with many of their wines awarded great accolades in the national and international wine press. ‘Estagnol’ is produced from their best vineyards and improves after 3 or 4 years cellaring.