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Do you know about #Rueda? Well you should. We're going to be talking about them a lot over the next few weeks so you can become more comfortable with it.
It's very much worth your time.
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Not a new one for you today but a beauty for sure. Greywacke are not only an amazing company but they produce some of the best Sauvignon Blanc I have ever come across. You'll see why in a moment!
Greywacke was created in 2009 by Kevin Judd, chief winemaker at Cloudy Bay from its inception for 25 years and instrumental in the international recognition which Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc enjoys now. The name 'Greywacke' was adopted by Kevin for his first Marlborough vineyard located in Rapaura in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the soils of the vineyard, a sedimentary rock which is widely found in Marlborough. Kevin Judd is also New Zealand's finest wine photographer and has recently published a book 'The Landscape of New Zealand Wine'.
Greywacke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 @ £16.95 - Buy it here!
A delicious fusion of ripe summer fruits and delicate floral perfume, citrus blossom and elderflower entwined with nectarines and white peaches, mandarin and cantaloupe with a twist of lemon. Intensely flavoured, succulent and crisp with a delicate herbal infusion.
Sounds wonderful doesn't it? It really is worth every penny. Cheers!
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Good morning! We are back in the shop again and ready to fulfil all of your wine needs. If you're after a pinot noir, for example, we have this. Let me preface this by saying that there are very few wines which match up to this.
Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errázuriz in 1870. With his great vision for the future and his innovative, pioneering spirit, he planted the first French grape varieties in the Aconcagua Valley. His initiative and creativity were handed down to future generations and, in just over a century, his descendants consolidated the winery and positioned their wines among the world’s most noteworthy. Here, we invite you to get to know some of the main landmarks that have shaped the history of this family vineyard, currently one of the best examples of successful winemaking in Chile.
This year, Viña Errázuriz is proud to celebrate its 148th anniversary, carrying on the tradition in the same innovative and visionary spirit that has been its inspiration since the winery was founded in 1870.
Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2017 @ £14.95 - Buy it here!
Aromas of cherries, roses and a light touch of mushrooms, all framed by soft smoky tones. The palate is round showing lifted and fresh red fruit. Lovely spicy notes are complemented by hints of oak.
You can't go wrong with a bottle of this. Warming but easy going. Cheers!
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As the sun's out I thought that a quick chat about a refreshing bottle of white might be a good idea. The Izadi Blanco is possibly the best choice for a day like today.
Owned and run by Lalo Anton and his family, 'Izadi', which means 'nature' in the Basque language, is a project established from a passion for gastronomy and wine. The estate was founded in 1987 by Gonzalo Anton, Lalo's father, who at the age of 37 and with a background in restaurants, decided to create his own winery with the aim of producing modern, perfumed, food friendly wines that are true to their roots and a natural expression of the area. As well as the winery, the family also run the Michelin-starred restaurant, Zaldiaran, in nearby Vitoria.
The winery sits in the small village of Villabuena in the Rioja Alavesa, the highest part of the region, at 400-600 metres above sea level. Izadi own 178 hectares of vineyards but also source from an additional 108 hectares. Importantly, whether leased or owned, the old vines have an average age of 45 years. They are located in the triangle formed by the three villages of Villabuena, Samaniego and Abalos. Due to the high altitude, there is a dramatic difference (up to 20°C) in temperature between night and day, which encourages the development of aromatics in the grapes. The distinctive white calcareous soils are mainly planted with old Tempranillo vines, traditionally bush trained for better exposure to the sun and ranging from 30-100 years old. Once picked, the grapes arrive at the bodega, which is on a steep slope with 50 metres of incline. This allows for a gravity-flow winery, ensuring less pumping, which can stress the wines.
Izadi Rioja Blanco 2018 @ £13.95 - Buy it here!
This wine is straw yellow in colour with youthful tones. With succulent citrus and yellow stone fruit on both the nose and the palate, this well-balanced wine has good structure and acidity.
Come and get it. Itll make your weekend, I assure you. Cheers!
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New new new! We love an English wine and whenever we can add a new beauty we will leap on the opportunity. This is something we've been after for a while and now we can find out all about it!
Hush Heath Estate, situated in Kent, dates back to 1503. At the heart of the property is a Tudor manor surrounded by 162 hectares of perfectly manicured gardens, vineyards and apple orchards. Forward thinking Richard Balfour-Lynn first planted vineyards on the property in 2002, with the aim of making England's finest sparkling Rosé, Balfour Brut. Today, Hush Heath's 15 hectares of vineyards and 8 hectares of apple trees are meticulously and sustainably managed by a family of viticulturists.
They recently launched a non-vintage, Leslie’s Reserve, and the Hush Heath range comprises of still wines, Skye's English Chardonnay, Manor Pinot Noir and Nanette's English Rosé. Their orchards also produce Jake's Kentish cider and, a unique new product, a Sparkling English Apple Wine. These are all made from estate grown fruit by winemakers Owen Elias and Victoria Ash. Owen Elias, both winemaker and cider maker, is a four-time winemaker of the year by the UK Vineyards Association and has nearly 20 years experience making English wines.
Balfour Hush Heath Estate Luke's Pinot Noir 2018 @ £21.95 - Buy it here!
Bright ruby red, with a very clean and aromatic nose. Classic cool climate Pinot Noir characteristics with cherry, violets and blackberry. The palate is light and fresh, ripe red berry and cherry flavours supported by a touch of sweet spice.
This stuff will keep the Burgundians on their toes. The quality is just amazing. Cheers!
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Today we look at a brand new white which we are already massive fans of. A great producer working with a fantastic grape will always make an awesome final product.
Rapitalà, much like Sicily itself, is a mosaic of influences that comes together to create its unique identity. A marriage of Sicilian soul and French know-how, Rapitalà showcases the power and personality of Sicilian terroir with an elegant, French winemaking style.
In 1968, the French-born Count Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais, and his wife, Gigi Guarrasi from Palermo, inherited this estate from the Guarrasi family after it was destroyed by an earthquake. The winery was soon rebuilt and vineyards were replanted to include not only indigenous varieties, but beloved French varieties as well. At the forefront of the quality revolution in Sicily, Rapitalà was one of the first five producers on the island to offer estate bottled wines, starting with the 1976 vintage.
Today, Rapitala’s over 550 contiguous acres are divided into 180 unique vineyard parcels. Each parcel is managed, harvested and vinified separately, crafting optimal terroir expressions. As a result, Rapitalà has one of the longest harvest seasons, starting in August and ending in November, to ensure that each variety and parcel is picked at the right moment.
Tenuta Rapitala Grillo 2018 @ £11.95 - Buy it here!
This is a classic Sicilian style with aromas of citrus fruit, wildflower blossom and herbs, and a hint of barley sugar on the nose. It’s perfect with light pasta dishes, fish and poultry.
We have a few bottles available for you so don't miss your chance to grab one before it disappears. Cheers!
