Wines £15 - £30

Alpha Estate is located in Amyndeo, North West Greece. This pristine estate in the cool highlands of Western Macedonia comprises 220 hectares of privately owned single block vineyards, which are certified sustainable, and employs the most up to date vineyard techniques.

The Malagouzia grapes come from a single vineyard site, known as "Turtles" because it is a nesting site for the local turtle population. The vineyard covers 36.35 hectares in the Amyndeon plateau. The vines are grown at an altitude of 620 to 710 metres above sealevel. Planted at a density of 5,900 vines per hectare, they yield 65 hectolitres per hectare, following green harvest and selection. The soil is sandy to sandy-clay over limestone which offers the vines excellent drainage. When the grapes have reached optimal maturity, they are hand-harvested in 15 kilogram baskets, to preserve the quality of the fruit.

The grapes were destemmed, carefully sorted and then lightly crushed, before being cold soaked with skin contact. The must was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and was then maintained on its fine lees or "sur lie" for two months with regular stirring, imparting a creamy texture and added complexity to the wine

A lively nose of grapefruit, nectarine and hints of almond blossom leads to a richly textured palate, has superb length, balance and plenty of finesse. Bright and zesty on the finish.

91 Pts, Robert Parker, 2023 16.5 Pts, Jancis Robinson , 2023 91Pts, Decanter, 2023

Fiona and Niall Shiner had been living in Hong Kong for 18 years when they returned to Britain to take on Niall's parents' property at Amberley. Niall continued with his career, but mother-of-three Fiona decided to plant some vines at the property following a comment by her mother-in-law that the Romans could have grown vines there. The first acre was planted in 2007, with the acquisition of an old cattle farm on the (really quite steep) hill opposite and converting an old barn into a winery in 2016. A third vineyard side since been acquired taking the current area under vine (but not all producing grapes yet) to 58 acres (23ish hectares), still firmly in the ‘tiny’ bracket.

Made only in exceptional years and from the oldest parcels of Bacchus the Orpheus is a richer and heavier proposition than most UK produced Bacchus. Aromatic with gooseberry and elderflower on the nose and hints of tropical fruits, on the palate it builds from rich, creamy lemon to subtle tropical fruits. It has great flavour length and structure, lingering long on the finish which is dry and well rounded.

Parker Estate

Dark scarlet with purple hues in colour. Aromas of dried herbs, wisps of sage. Bramble and blackcurrant, with some red fruit notes of pomegranate and cranberry. Hints of nutmeg and clove. Balanced and complex. On the palate it is intense and vibrant up front, leading with black fruits, sarsaparilla and clove. Mid-palate is full and balanced with fine silky tannins and notes of of mocha and umami.

Parker Estate

The grapes from the Helderberg region stem from an old vine block dating back to 1974. Aromatic on the nose, yet soft and smooth on the palate. Lightly tinted and medium bodied, this wine greets you on the nose with aromatic floral notes which follow through onto the palate with ripe strawberries, cherries, sweet spices and soft tannins on the mid palate.

Accolades.

NEW RELEASE 92/100 Tim Atkin MW 2017; 4 ½ * – Platter Wine Guide 2018

Longridge Wine Estate

Chenin vines grown on sandy clay and limestone soils. Natural fermentation lasts 2-3 months. Aged in used oak for 4 months.

Green apple with sherbert citrus notes and tight, clean acidity.

Francois et Julien Pinon

Maison Roche de Bellene

Maison Roche de Bellene

45% Cabernet Sauvignon/47% Merlot/8% Petit Verdot

Deep intensity and very dark colour with purple hints. The nose is very open and complex with smooth oak aromas and notes of ripe fruits. On the palate, the attack is silky and fresh. The tannins evolution is very nice giving a full bodied wine with a round feel. The fruity aromas along with some light oaky notes are very elegant and increase the beautiful aromatic length of the wine.

Chateau Beaumont

An extraordinary barrel-fermented wine from ancient, pre-phylloxera vines.

Intense aromatics of ripe melon and pears balanced by leesy, yeasty notes. The palate is broad, textural and intense with well-integrated, toasty oak characters, kiwi and grapefruit acidity and impeccable balance. A deliciously bitter twist on the finish maintains the complexity of this fine Spanish white.

Vines grown on limestone and clay soils, vinified and aged in concrete.

Deep, earthy, incredibly tight in its youth this will certainly benefit from a few hours in a decanter. Upon opening up the herbaceous, spicy notes and elegant shapes come to the fore.

Simon of Domaine Capmartin has dusted off the historic traditions of Madiran and Pacherenc de Vic-Bil into a new, more progressive age.

He has set about significant changes amongst the vines and in the winery leading to his own unique versions of these truly exceptional AOP wines. Certified organic for the best part of a decade, Simon is now striving further with his sights firmly set on Biodynamic certification. Natural, low intervention winemaking are the watchwords. No added sulphur, all wild ferments and aiming for light tannins makes for previously unknown modern, fresh and delicious Madiran Tannat.

Wonderfully aromatic and pungent Sauvignon Blanc. From just outside the Sancerre region. Crisp and dry with a distinctive flavour of gooseberries and asparagus.

Vignobles Bertier

A single vineyard Pinot Noir from the cool Elgin region near Grabouw. Elegant and light in style, with an abundance of ripe red berries, juicy strawberries and subtle spices on the nose which follow through on the palate where it marries perfectly with a savoury meatiness.

Longridge Wine Estate

Maison Roche de Bellene

Nose: Powerful nose dominated by red berries and delicate oak aromas.
Palate: Powerful attack. Round and supple tannins.

E.Guigal

Maison Roche de Bellene