{"title":"Press favourites","description":"Want to find the wines the journalists, and great and good wine writers are raving about? We've done the hard work for you - here's where you can find them all in one place!","products":[{"product_id":"distant-noises-cabernet-sauvignon-2019","title":"Distant Noises Cabernet Sauvignon 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn outstanding Cabernet for this price. We've tasted many at £25 to £35 that do come close.  A perfect mix of all the elements of beautiful \u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eCabernet: \u003c\/span\u003eblackcurrants, slight herbaceous notes, pencil, cedar, tobacco, and it's now getting velvety, but with just the right amount of grip on the finish that makes it good with food.  Lots of class and quality winemaking from Tom Carson, one of Australia's most awarded winemakers.  Just 13% alc. Will keep for a few more years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDistant Noises is Tom's (Yabby Lake Winemaker) own winemaking project. The fruit is sourced from Yarra, and the winemaking is as sensitive, precise, assured as befits Tom's name. The real beauty of Distant Noises though? It's the price! Tom has set himself the challenge of making premium Mornington Peninsula wine at a price that you rarely see for wines from this region. Why, in this venal old world, would he do that? Because he wants to. He's achieved pretty much everything else there is to achieve in wine. He's reached the summit several times over. Distant Noises is his chance to do that rare thing of making a cracking wine that is accessible to many, that gives as many people as possible the pleasure of the wines he makes. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DISTANT NOISES","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37559947329721,"sku":"AYABBYLAKR19B03","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/products\/DistantNoisesCabernetSauvignon.jpg?v=1758880668"},{"product_id":"weather-report-sands-cabernet-franc-2019","title":"Sands Cabernet Franc Weather Report 2019","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTotal production 294 bottles! Gorgeous sappiness to the nose, with ripe romano peppers, like walking into a green house on a hot day and white pepper too. There's a little celery salt and aniseed on the palate, soft leather and fresh acidity. Sands Cab Franc is from a small bush vine vineyard planted in the early 90s in the decomposed Table Mountain sandstone soils on the southern edge of Paarl.  We were utterly blown away on tasting Chris' wines on a rare Swig catch up day in late October 2022. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt's thanks to Alex Starey of Keermont estate that we had the introduction to up-and-coming young winemaker, Chris Keet Jnr of Weather Report. Whilst his day job sees him working at Bot River Gabrielskloof estate, Weather Report is his small-production own label, so far solely exploring Cabernet Franc from a handful of tiny sites across the Western Cape. Wine positively flows in Chris' veins. His uncle is Chris Keet of Keet wines, formerly winemaker at former SA icon, Cordoba. He made the 1995 vintage of their Crescendo, one of South Africa's first cult wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WEATHER REPORT","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42128148496569,"sku":"SWEATHERR19B02","price":19.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/products\/Sands2019.jpg?v=1648810786"},{"product_id":"mullineux-syrah-2019","title":"Mullineux Syrah 2019","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith fruit sourced from 7 sites - some on granite-based soils, some iron-rich and some schist, Mullineux's pure Syrah offers a wonderful snapshot of the diversity of the Swartland. The perfume is beautiful - high notes of violets, mulberries, spicy orange rind with star anise and clove, and a seamless palate with more dark fruits, black olives and cured meats, like walking into a fancy Italian deli and a sprinkling of pepper. So persistent in the mouth - this is not a big wine, but there's a great power and presence to it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFounding members of the Swartland Revolution, four times winner Platter Guide Winery of the Year, and The Wine Enthusiast's Winemaker of the Year 2016, Chris and Andrea Mullineux are one serious power couple. Based just outside of Riebeek Kasteel on their farm Roundstone, their ambition is bottle wines that are a true expression of the Swartland. Its granite, schist and iron soils, its wind swept sites, old vines, hot climate and long, dry Summers. With Chris in charge of the vineyards and viticulture, and Andrea at the helm in the cellar, it has been a joy to see the incredible quality coming out of the estate year on year. Are there any more talented duos in South Africa? I don't think anyone would question it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MULLINEUX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42694751879353,"sku":"SMUL01R7519","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/products\/syrah_23158aeb-4807-4545-a9bc-7c1b573ed5d6.jpg?v=1660820039"},{"product_id":"st-romain-la-perriere-domaine-buisson-2017","title":"St Romain La Perriere Domaine Buisson 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Certified organic, in conversion to biodynamic. 40-year-old vines. Hand-harvested. Natural fermentation. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCold, it has an exactitude, green apples and fennel, pebbles. But as it warms some smoky cream and caramel richness unfurls on the nose. Still more defined and muscular than their other two St-Romains, more linear, but mouth-watering with a salt-in-sea-glass sensation on the tongue. Carries the backbone through the length of the palate. Great drive. \" \u003cstrong\u003e17\/20, Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe climat of Les Perrières sits under an old pink marble quarry in the central part of the valley of Saint-Romain. The soil here is clay limestone with a significant amount of colluvial gravel. Les Perrières doesn’t seem to carry the same prestige as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSous la Velle, for example, but to some it’s the best site in Saint-Romain. Ageing for this wine is for around 12 months in a combination of 550l and 350l oak barrels, less than 10% of which were new. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BUISSON, H AND G","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43286712778937,"sku":"FBUISSONW17B02","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/saint-romain-perriere-domaine-buisson_grande_cc65b058-badc-47ae-b164-1a052a5efba1.webp?v=1768823584"},{"product_id":"tembela-wines-syrah-2022","title":"Tembela Wines Syrah 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"Tea leaf and savoury aromas on the nose follows through with white pepper as the wine opens. Notes of black fruit, a hint of fynbos and black pepper comes through on the palate. The wine shows good acidity and fine tannins, with violets and sweet spice coming through as the wine opens up. Pairs well with venison and ribeye.\" Banele Vakele, Winemaker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"article__sub-heading\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA man on a mission, Banele Vakele of Tembela’s journey into wine is nothing short of extraordinary. Growing up in the township of Khayelitsha outside of Cape Town, he earned a scholarship to a smart Constantia high school and it was here, and a vineyard that his classroom overlooked that Banele used to stare on to at particular moments of ennui mid-class that so drew him to wine. Today, he now works as assistant winemaker for Duncan Savage in Salt River, where he makes his own wines. In Xhosa, Tembela means to have faith, hope and belief, all sentiments that his mother had in Banele's decision to pursue a career in wine. The wine label pays tribute to the things that are most important to Banele: women wearing traditional Xhosa attire carrying wine barrels, infusing two matters that are most important to him: his culture and his love of wine. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TEMBELA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43286752886969,"sku":"STEM02R7522","price":34.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_49e3270e-8d86-4bed-b03a-60bb0d6f2f08.png?v=1699460269"},{"product_id":"restless-river-ava-marie-chardonnay-2021","title":"Ava Marie Chardonnay Restless River 2021","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points, Decanter - 96 points, Tim Atkin - 95 points, Jamie Goode (Wine Anorak) \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Restless River Chardonnay has come on leaps and bounds in the last few vintages. The 2020 was exceptional, and the 2021? Even finer. \"\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA true classic that is worthy of a place in any collector’s cellar …\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e lovely lemon butter and leesy aromatic complexity with hints of white toast, lemon rind, white citrus, melted wax and a mellow kiss of salted caramel. The palate is bright and fresh but also shows a generous mid-palate concentration and textural fleshy character.\" Greg Sherwood MW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRestless River is a rising star which has quietly achieved cult-status for its brilliant, Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and super fine yet intense Cabernet Sauvignon. Launched in 2012 by Craig Wessels, their farm is located in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It's home to some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vines in the region (planted in 1998). At Restless River, things are done in an unhurried way, with great dedication and attention to detail.  Their production is done by hand, resulting in limited quantities of each wine, and demand far exceeding supply. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRestless River is defined by its terroir, and Craig Wessels' thoughtful and careful winemaking allows it to be the star of the show. \"At its best, South Africa is increasingly terroir-driven. Craig Wessels of Restless River says that it’s about “building wines in the vineyard, not the winery”, trying to reflect a place rather than a style that’s imposed in the cellar.\" - Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2023.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"H\u003c\/span\u003eis Chardonnays offer real Burgundian allure and his occasionally Volnaysian Pinot Noirs.\" - Neal Martin, Vinous.com\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RESTLESS RIVER","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43530144710841,"sku":"A1616121","price":49.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/AvaMarie2020_f497dc26-992e-42d0-a5d0-bf6f7c0c7b09.jpg?v=1701165710"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-seelug-2022","title":"Seelug Chardonnay Blank Bottle 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees celsius. The next morning the grapes were pressed as whole bunches. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation in older French oak as well as 40% new barrels. Deep winter the wine received one sulfur addition. 10 months on the leese, blended and bottled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43545763348665,"sku":"A1466122","price":37.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_537054a9-426f-4d0b-98cc-1fc627dcf373.png?v=1742577025"},{"product_id":"bergianti-steve-terrevive-2022","title":"Bergianti Steve, Terrevive 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wine that is so playful and extremely drinkable, bright, fresh acidity and when drunk young, its tropical side emerges along with its quenching citrus fruits, this could very well be one of the best aperitif's. 100% Grechetto Gentile and label created by Andrea Saltini.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGianluca Bergianti is a star of Lambrusco. His is the only one on the list at Massimo Bottura's 3 Michelin Star restaurant in Modena, and as well as being a superbly talented winemaker, he's also a keen beekeeper, farmer of heritage grains and producer of hyper-seasonal biodynamic vegetables. His first harvest was just 10 years ago, after intensely researching the two indigenous grapes Sorbara and Salamino, and searching for ancient clones. He spent time studying biodynamics with leaders of the scene in Italy: Stefano Bellotti at Carlo Noro and Michele Lorenzetti, and has worked biodynamically since day one. The wines are thrilling to drink; nervy, tingly, incisive and exciting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TERREVIVE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43797309882553,"sku":"A3386122","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/rQVJiQqPSN2OPyehZbH9mQ_pb_x600_8c1c8e6a-4daf-4877-ae66-cb368d48386f.png?v=1712057046"},{"product_id":"syrah-apice-stefano-amerighi-2020","title":"Syrah Apice Stefano Amerighi 2020","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2020 NOW SOLD OUT\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStefano's Syrah echoes that of the Rhone Valley, showing rich, plush red fruits intermingled with fresh minerality and white pepper notes.  Incredibly well polished yet wild at heart all at the same time.  Hedge row berries and freshly picked herbs keep you fixated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStefano told us... “My farm was born from a wish that matured over the years, to be able to produce a grand Syrah through the farming traditions of my family, passion, knowledge in the world of wine and the practice of biodynamics. In order to reach this objective, I had identified an area of Chiuso di Cortona, named Poggiobello di Farneta, in the middle of which, as though it were a cru, there are two well exposed hills to south, south-east, closed within an old pebbly street to the west, a grove to the south and a ridge to the east to close the panorama. Today, my intention is to propose a natural practice as an alternative to conventional agriculture through the cultivation of cereals, vegetables and fruit to the breeding of animals, together with the production of a great Syrah!”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"STEFANO AMERIGHI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43797312143545,"sku":"A3546120","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/v7bRL19gRA6HxZ6Udunvkg_pb_600x600_df9fcaf1-725d-41e6-906e-0967e6700936.png?v=1712337107"},{"product_id":"chianti-classico-riserva-vigneto-branca-cigliano-di-sopra-2021","title":"Chianti Classico Riserva 'Vigneto Branca' Cigliano di Sopra 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 points, Decanter - 17.5\/20, Jancis Robinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Sangiovese, this rather seductive, layered Tuscan gem is pure elegance. It's in highest tier of Chianti quality. Absolutely beautiful.  It feels a bit like Soldera. With 14 months in French barriques, and the time and dedication this fine wine has received only lends to its opulence and refinement. Sensational and such tiny amounts produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLocated in the highest part of the Cigliano area, Cigliano di Sopra is a historic estate dating back to 1300, now in the capable hands of dynmaic friends Matteo Vaccari and Maddalena Fucile. Prior to taking the reins at Cigliano di Sopra, Matteo and Maddalena worked alongside Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr at Evening Land, Sandhi, and Domaine de la Côte. Even Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate likes Cigliano – “\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe most exciting discovery I recently made in Chianti Classico is Cigliano di Sopra, located in San Casciano Val di Pesa. The winery is run by two young friends, Maddalena Fucile and Matteo Vaccari.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cigliano di Sopra","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43861183234233,"sku":"A3296121","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/chianti-classico-riserva-vigneto-branca-cigliano-di-sopra-2021.jpg?v=1712333882"},{"product_id":"champagne-collard-picard-perpetuelle-12-annees-extra-brut-nv","title":"Champagne Collard-Picard Perpetuelle 13 Annees Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are now 13 vintages is this refined Champagne, very much in Krug territory. It resembles for its high percentage of old reserve wines, being at least 70% of the blend, and for being aged in wood. It opens up with time in the glass and becomes more expressive and the flavours go to another level, and it reveals even more how special it really is. The beautiful Grand Cru Chardonnay component gives this magnificent Champagne its structure, elegance and longevity and the Pinot Noir some satisfying deep berry fruit and the Pinot Meunier some pretty, lifted fruit aromas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCollard-Picard is one of the most exciting houses in Champagne today, who is definitely at the forefront of quality. Both Olivier and Caroline are from eminent Champagne families, and Olivier's grandfather Rene was a pioneer of organic farming in the region. They are what's known as an independent grower, based 15km west of Epernay. They have brilliant grand cru and 1er sites in Mesnil, where they grow Chardonnay and farm organically. It's also home to a couple of Champagne's most famous cuvees like Krug Le Mesnil and Salon Mesnil. In the Marne they have a site regarded as one of the best for Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Collard-Picard age this Champagne in wood, which is very unusual, and harks back to the more traditional way of making great Champagne in the past. They opt not to do malolactic fermentation on any of the wines to preserve their character, all yeasts are indigenous too.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"COLLARD-PICARD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44145584439481,"sku":"A40861NV","price":54.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/75clnewimage.jpg?v=1742383294"},{"product_id":"prosecco-asolo-superiore-extra-brut-bele-casel-nv","title":"Prosecco Asolo Superiore Extra Brut Bele Casel NV","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe Swig team promise to not consume all we have of this super fresh and vibrant number, we just love its light and almost delicate structure, fine pearl like bubbles keep you fixed to the glass. It’s all you need in a fine Prosecco, zesty and bright, tangy, grapefruit peel, freshly squeezed lemon juice, pear drops and elderflower. Very well balanced and lingers nicely, the perfect aperitif.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSituated in the Prosecco hills of Asolo, Bele Casel has significantly impacted the market by spearheading the ‘Colfondo Agricolo’ movement, dedicated to reviving the ancient method of producing sparkling wines in Veneto. Their straightforward goal is to create great wines, with every family member involved in each step of the process. From the vineyard to the winery, and from bottling to labelling, everything is done by hand, showcasing their dedication and passion in every glass. Bravo!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"BELE CASEL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44269873070265,"sku":"A33461NV","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Extra_Brut_1.jpg?v=1718110033"},{"product_id":"tesselaarsdal-chardonnay-2024","title":"Chardonnay Tesselaarsdal 2023","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFrom unirrigated vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, and this is just her fourth release! Crisp acidity and lean minerality underpin notes of melon and tangerine fruit and accents of lime blossom. A triumphant expression of terroir, this medium-bodied, cool climate wine is both silky and fresh and boasts a long, elegant finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBerene Sauls has probably the most unique story of all of our winemakers.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGrowing up in a small village in the Overberg, Berene admits that she came from a beer-drinking community, and wine was never really on her radar. Her first exposure was at the age of 19, when she began working for the trailblazing Hamilton Russell family as an au pair. Lasting only a month, her talents at childcare aside, Anthony Hamilton Russell recognised her drive and thought a job working in the winery office would better suit her. Thrown in at the deep end knowing really nothing about wine, she was soon exposed to every side of the business - assisting with exports, bottling and labelling, driving forklifts and picking during harvest too, as well as on the side, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"growing and developing a palate that wasn't there!\"\u003c\/em\u003e Her curiosity kept her rising through the ranks, and fifteen years after starting her career, Anthony offered her the opportunity to make her first wine, aided by proficient head winemaker Emul Ross. She leapt at the opportunity, and the rest is history. She named her business Tesselaarsdal for the small village that she grew up in, and if you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene and her grandmother.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TESSELAARSDAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44297278423225,"sku":"A3116123","price":39.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_89ff1982-c173-4fc3-996a-42b8bebe3d23.png?v=1718893325"},{"product_id":"lourens-family-wines-skuinskap-steen-2022","title":"Skuinskap Steen Lourens Family Wines 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSourced from Piekenierskloof, Lourens Family Wines Skuinskap Steen 2022 is  one of South Africa's finest fine Chenin's, renowned for its minerality and structure. Exciting to drink, with so much energy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFranco Lourens spent some years working with the great Chris Alheit before setting to focus entirely on his own range of wines. This is a breathtakingly self-assured range and in just a few vintages, places Franco into the very top bracket of top-end New Wave SA producers. Whilst still extremely modest, he is inevitably set to join the likes of Chris Alheit, Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage \u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eet alia\u003c\/i\u003e in the shimmering constellation of New Wave South African stars. Sharing cellar space with good friend Lukas Van Loggerenberg, Franco works with a variety of sites across the Western Cape including the country's oldest Verdelho vineyard, and two exceptional sites in Piekenierskloof.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FRANCO LOURENS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44366680654009,"sku":"A1576122","price":29.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Lourens-Skuinskap-Steen-Bottle-Shot.jpg?v=1742382848"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-empire-strikes-back-2022","title":"Empire Strikes Back Blank Bottle 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith its revolutionary influenced label, The Empire Strikes Back tells the story of Pieter leaping to the defence of Stellenbosch, the original old guard and ‘empire’ of South African wine, in its fightback against the trendy new kid on the block, the Swartland. Now here’s a white with plenty in the tank for the years to come. It’s subtle on the nose to start, offering sprays of spring apple blossom, tarte fine layered with pears and ground almonds, clementines, proper cloudy apple juice and a lingering anise note. As it opens up, there’s some lychee and pineapple too, and the palate is grippy and with more of that lovely apple juice character that’s persistent all the way through to the finish. Tasting it over several days gives a glimpse to its future –we’d say drink now-2028. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44373743829177,"sku":"A3776122","price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_16453188-4625-4433-a06f-4a04685854be.png?v=1742576982"},{"product_id":"st-romain-sous-la-velle-domaine-henri-et-gilles-buisson-2022","title":"St Romain 'Sous la Velle' Domaine Henri et Gilles Buisson 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is serious. The most gorgeous drop, with prodigious length and some serious va-va-voom. Toasted hazelnuts and baked grains, a hint of spearmint and smoky, pithy palate, with a flavour that carries on and on. Vines here are 60-90 years old, with a high ratio of clay-marl to limestone. Astonishingly classy, with a long life ahead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDomaine Henri et Gilles Buisson is a sensational producer. They are most definitely a feather in our cap. We don’t come across producers like this often, that aren't already being imported to the UK. In fact, it would be just a few like this in a lifetime, such is the quality of terroir they have, but more importantly what they’re doing with it. The Sous La Velle is one of 4 lieu-dits made by the Buisson brothers, each as good as the last.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BUISSON, H AND G","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44453289361593,"sku":"A3196122","price":56.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/products\/saint-romain-sous-la-velle-domaine-buisson.png?v=1637659547"},{"product_id":"jurancon-sec-tauzy-domaine-castera-2022","title":"Jurancon Sec Tauzy Domaine Castera 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a wonder. Ever been put off by disappointing Jurancon? Think again. So tantalising - dry but mellifluous, with apricot kernel, cooked bramley apple with a scattering of toasty, crunchy oats and cobnuts. An awful lot to sink your teeth into and ponder over, as you enjoy with some delicious salted almonds (our favourite pairing.)  It almost has something salted almond about it on the palate too, and with baked hay as well. The texture is phenomenal.  By now I am sure you'll be able to tell we really REALLY love this wine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrank Lihour is a young, fifth generation winemaker from Monein, who has lit a fire under this sleepy region with wines that sing with Jurancon purity and terroir. Franck has made wines for over 10 years around the world (including, it turns out, at our friends at Beaumont winery in South Africa) where he picked up many ideas to improve the quality of wine back home. He gingerly introduced them to his father, and now has taken over full throttle, and wow, these wines are superb!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DOMAINE CASTERA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53352425521538,"sku":"A4786122","price":37.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/tauzy.png?v=1683303854"},{"product_id":"rosso-no-1-coste-del-vivo-17-20-21","title":"Rosso No.1 Coste del Vivo 17 | 20 | 21","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen a wine journalist proclaims a wine as 'delicious, delicious' delicious' and with the ability to revive a flagging soul after tasting hundreds of wines, it's time to look sharp! This is Toby's third multivintage release. Unorthodox for the region perhaps, but when it's this good, who cares! It's medium-bodied, with gorgeous blood orange, pomegranate notes, hints of graphite, tea and soft leather. Just the right amount of polish, with wonderful freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCoste del Vivo is the personal project of winemaker Toby Owen. 20 years ago, he was manager of a wine shop in Scotland, dreaming of one day being able to make wine like the best of those he sold. In 2009 a chance meeting led to experience working with Brunello producer San Polino in Montalcino. Later, in 2012 he returned to Montalcino as winemaking assistant at Casa Raia. By the following vintage he was winemaker for micro-producer Hortulanus in the beautiful vineyards of Seggiano on Monte Amiata, and it's here he began producing his own range of fabulous wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"COSTE DEL VIVO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53364818510210,"sku":"A1216121","price":27.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_94cc78cc-8072-4cfa-a4cb-24450b030a05.jpg?v=1729766590"},{"product_id":"the-vineyard-party-im-your-huckleberry-2022","title":"I'm Your Huckleberry The Vineyard Party 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePitch perfect Semillon, although do not hesitate to give it a really good swirl. So very briar-y and brambley, with such piquancy, and tang - think the finest French creme fraiche with macerated yellow peppers, struck flint, tangerine and just a little tree bark and medicinal herbs. The weight is lovely - not quite that waxy lanolin character that Semillon takes on with age, but certainly on the path. It finishes with the merest hint of bitter pithiness, orange peel and some bruised rosemary. This is such a superb example of the ageing potential of Semillon. Only Jolette's second release, I'm your Huckleberry incorporates skin contact and whole bunches in the fermentation, but is a very mild version without too much grip.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFrom the Platter Guide's Newcomer of the Year 2022, The Vineyard party is one of South Africa's most exciting new micro-producers! Winemaker Jolette Steyn seeks out sustainably farmed vineyards that prioritise biodiversity, and works with avant-garde, low intervention techniques in the cellar. Both unusually named wines come with wonderful stories behind them too. \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"I'm your Huckleberry\" has two meanings: it is a phrase from a nineties Western, called Tombstone, and a particular scene where Val Kilmer's character shows up to a duel and delivers this line. It signifies acceptance of a challenge, saying 'I'm the one you're looking for'; 'Call me, I'll answer'; 'Tell me where, I'll show up\/I'll be there', 'I'm it'. So, in part, it's a chat between Sémillon and herself, saying 'Let's do this, let's be there, let's show up!' It was also the name of a black Labrador whom Jolette loved dearly, and part of the team of her favourite and most influential harvest team in a small town called Lompoc in California.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"THE VINEYARD PARTY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54863532589442,"sku":"A1226122","price":18.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_66b97ed9-68d9-4403-a4b2-01c59490712e.jpg?v=1742381985"},{"product_id":"the-vineyard-party-daisy-if-you-do-2022","title":"Daisy If You Do The Vineyard Party 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlatter’s Wine Guide 2022 - Newcomer Winery of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\"\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCool, refreshing and yet firm with a spine. On a hot day, at a well-laden outdoor table, this would be heaven. It’s so much more substantial than most Sauvignons. Well made! Should develop well.\"Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFrom the Platter Guide's Newcomer of the Year 2022, The Vineyard party is one of South Africa's most exciting new micro-producers! Winemaker Jolette Steyn seeks out sustainably farmed vineyards that prioritise biodiversity, and works with avant-garde, low intervention techniques in the cellar. Both unusually named wines come with wonderful stories behind them too. \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"I'm your Huckleberry\" has two meanings: it is a phrase from a nineties Western, called Tombstone, and a particular scene where Val Kilmer's character shows up to a duel and delivers this line. It signifies acceptance of a challenge, saying 'I'm the one you're looking for'; 'Call me, I'll answer'; 'Tell me where, I'll show up\/I'll be there', 'I'm it'. So, in part, it's a chat between Sémillon and herself, saying 'Let's do this, let's be there, let's show up!' It was also the name of a black Labrador whom Jolette loved dearly, and part of the team of her favourite and most influential harvest team in a small town called Lompoc in California.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"THE VINEYARD PARTY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54863538061698,"sku":"A1236122","price":19.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_5b62e6c0-6c5c-4ea0-ad9e-eb61d3f8e3f6.png?v=1733409789"},{"product_id":"amarone-monte-santoccio-di-nicola-ferrari-2019","title":"Amarone Monte Santoccio di Nicola Ferrari 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e2019 is a superb vintage for Monte Santoccio Amarone. Warm, gorgeous, with fine bitter sweet aromatics that define Monte Santoccio and Quintarelli. Chocolate dipped cherries, pot pourri, kirsch and sweet balsam-y herbs, soft leather, cherry blossom and Christmas spice. Long and quite lush, with sweet scents of tobacco drying in a kiln house. 3 months drying of grapes, 30 months in tonneaux.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormerly an assistant to the legendary Valpolicella producer Giuseppe Quintarelli, Nicola Ferrari and his wife Laura now make their wines from 7ha of organically farmed vines in Fumane.  The wines are nothing short of sensational. Each of these red wines is made from approximately 70% Corvina and Corvinone and then 30% of Rondinella and Molinara.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MONTE SANTOCCIO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54880685883778,"sku":"A4986119","price":54.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_41461df8-0ab4-4762-937e-8e808eeb92ba.jpg?v=1734627366"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-jaaa-bru-2023","title":"Jaaa-Bru!! Blank Bottle 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you translate the word “Mal” from Afrikaans to English, it means “crazy” and “Bek” means “mouth”. And that was quite clearly the inspiration behind this label! And as you guessed it, this is a 100% Malbec from the Helderberg, farmed by a fellow surfer and good friend's of Pieter. Dark chocolate dipped oranges, with some minty notes, violets and a sweet perfume akin to opening a box of chocolates on the nose. Medium-full bodied, and very much so showing the softer, prettier side of Malbec, with gentle tannins, good freshness, and a lovely rounded mouthfeel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":54913358201218,"sku":"A5146123","price":32.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_606083f2-f4f6-43ac-a24f-6e9c9de8b829.png?v=1743067156"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-b-bos-i-overberg-2023","title":"B-Bos I Blank Bottle 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e'...a Sauvignon Blanc\/Semillon blend from the southernmost tip of the country, Cape Agulhas, and it would make any Loire, Graves or Marlborough winemaker blush.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e Matthew Jukes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNamed after the sleepy little town of Baardskeerdersbos where the grapes are sourced and where the B-Bos spider creeps into your bedroom at night to steal your beard to build his nest .... From the most southerly tip of Africa, Cape L'Agulhas, Pieter makes this brilliant whites. A brilliant Sauvignon Blanc with a smidge of Semillon, this is his lovely B-Bos 1 you see here. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54913360888194,"sku":"A5156123","price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Blank-Bottle-S1-copy-e1569079482347.png?v=1743067113"},{"product_id":"escalada-do-sil-tinto-alberto-orte-2021","title":"Escalada do Sil Tinto Alberto Orte 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom parcels on the steep slopes of the Sil river entirely farmed by hand - no tractors here for how steep it is, and how remote! A blend of Merenzao (known as Trousseau in the Jura or Bastardo in Spain as well) with some Mencia and Garnacha Tinterora. It's rare to find Merenzao in this area now, but great reds have been produced here historically, and this wine is something of a homage to them. If you are a lover of Cru Beaujolais, we recommend that you try Escalada Do Sil - it's beautifully floral, with plum and a grating of dark chocolate, brush and raspberry leaf, with a liquorice-laced long finish. Concentrated but so pretty and well-balanced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA titan of the Spanish wine industry - introducing Alberto Orte! Oh, where to begin. He’s the guy, at the tender age of 24, who co-founded renowned US based Spanish specialist wine importer, Olé \u0026amp; Obrigado. A farmer, producer and historian all in one, he’s dedicated a huge portion of his life to exploring, identifying and preserving old varieties and clones, and has successfully identified a whopping 200+ old clones of Palomino Fino and Palomino Jerez and revived and re-planted over 20 grape varieties on the brink of extinction. As well as his projects in Jerez, Alberto also makes wine from extraordinary sites in Yecla, Rioja and as we have here, Valdeorras.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ALBERTO ORTE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54938095780226,"sku":"A1156121","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/products\/EscaladadoSilTinto.jpg?v=1658833948"},{"product_id":"lesprit-de-provence-rose-le-grand-cros-2024","title":"L'Esprit de Provence Rose Le Grand Cros 2024","description":"\u003cp align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThis is perfect, fresh, crisp, pale Provencal rose. From the upper stonier slopes of the domaine, well exposed to the sun, but with fresh nights, that makes this wine more mineral and dry than some rose. Taut raspberry and lavender notes on the nose and palate. Beautifully elegant. It will keep fresh for a quite number of days, so there's no need to tank through it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLocated in the foothills of the Massif des Maures, the stunning Grand Cros estate is like something out of a feelgood Romcom, with the old manor house and vineyards surrounded by pine trees, olive groves and dry stone terraces. Owned by the Faulkner family since 1989, they're a traditional family run outfit who bowled us over with their integrity and humble genius, foregoing the marketing bumph of some of their neighbours to produce honest and delicious wines. And we're not the only ones who think so, in 2015, Decanter magazine selected their 2014 rosé as best rosé in the world, as well as the range catching the attention of none other than the queen of vino herself, Jancis Robinson, who has included their wines in no less than 3 of her top 10 lists for the year. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LE GRAND CROS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55016807760258,"sku":"A3756124","price":19.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_0a0c801d-43e0-47d4-835e-66dd43d67f00.jpg?v=1778750392"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-familiemoord-2024","title":"Familiemoord Blank Bottle 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wine with quite the story behind it, based on the day that Pieter was close to being arrested for supposedly murdering his son! Panic not, it was nothing more than a simple misunderstanding, but Pieter wanted to preserve the story that made it into the local newspaper on a bottle of wine. This wine is now 100% Grenache from Piekenierskloof, a high lying ridge with some of the most fabulous old vine Grenache in South Africa. You can tell in this wine - it's hauntingly beautiful, with oh so pretty aromatics and delicate flavours, but certainly not short on flavour. Think of the Garnachas from Gredos, and dial down the tannins a little. Redcurrant coulis and raspberry ripple swirls across the palate with bruised herbs, gentle spice, soft leather, freesias, and a silken, seamless palate with just the right amount of crunch. As Pieter says, \"it was the most beautiful Grenache we could find.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55036377891202,"sku":"A5136123","price":29.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Familiemoord23.jpg?v=1760452757"},{"product_id":"yabby-lake-single-block-2-pinot-noir-2022","title":"Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Release Block 2 Yabby Lake 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandpicked on 18 March from Block 2. Hand sorted and gently destemmed into a traditional French oak cuve. Following a five day soaking the natural yeast fermentation proceeded, peaking in temperature at 32ºC. The wine was pressed off skins after 16 days into tight grain French oak 500L puncheons for malolactic fermentation and maturation. It remained in oak until February 2023. Intense black cherry, Asian spice and a perfumed floral note highlight the aromas. The palate is finely poised, rich and concentrated. The silky texture and volume of fruit carries the long finish. Cellar for 8 - 12 years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe philosophy of Yabby Lake and their Single Block wines is to craft single vineyard wines of great purity and character, reflective of the site and the season in which it was grown. It’s the attention and care in the vineyard that is most critical to allowing this expression. When a parcel stands out for its individual personality, they take a small amount of that parcel and bottle it separately under their Single Block label. \u003cspan\u003e2022 was a vintage of tiny yields, the lowest in our hitory.  This was due to severe storms during flowering.  However, the positive is the wines are of exceptional quality - they are intense, with incredible balance and persistence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YABBY LAKE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55048067252610,"sku":"A2266122","price":68.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/YabbyLake_SingleBlockReleaseBlock2PinotNoir2022.jpg?v=1742385429"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-aasvoel-2023","title":"Aasvoel Blank Bottle 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTiny production and not made every year, 100% Verdelho, from the oldest vineyard of the variety in the country. I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003encredible concentration and energy here and what a great nose - swaggering out of the blocks! Concentrated lime peel and a little chalkiness too, with a super zingy palate - apples and sherbert, gloriously mouth-filling, broad and long, with a very biscuitty finish and saline streak. Pieter is becoming more and more of a fan of Verdelho, and the proof is in the bottle - the different bottlings get better each year. Perhaps you're wondering about the name? It means vulture in Afrikaans - click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/blankbottle.co.za\/blank_bottle_wines\/aasvoel-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e to read more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55071933792642,"sku":"A1446123","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Aasvoel_8b8a9125-d3cc-4b04-9d7f-e9854f218038.jpg?v=1743006649"},{"product_id":"escalada-do-sil-tinto-alberto-orte-2022","title":"Escalada do Sil Tinto Alberto Orte 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom parcels on the steep slopes of the Sil river entirely farmed by hand - no tractors here for how steep it is, and how remote! A blend of Merenzao (known as Trousseau in the Jura or Bastardo in Spain as well) with some Mencia and Garnacha Tinterora. It's rare to find Merenzao in this area now, but great reds have been produced here historically, and this wine is something of a homage to them. If you are a lover of Cru Beaujolais, we recommend that you try Escalada Do Sil - it's beautifully floral, with plum and a grating of dark chocolate, brush and raspberry leaf, with a liquorice-laced long finish. Concentrated but so pretty and well-balanced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA titan of the Spanish wine industry - introducing Alberto Orte! Oh, where to begin. He’s the guy, at the tender age of 24, who co-founded renowned US based Spanish specialist wine importer, Olé \u0026amp; Obrigado. A farmer, producer and historian all in one, he’s dedicated a huge portion of his life to exploring, identifying and preserving old varieties and clones, and has successfully identified a whopping 200+ old clones of Palomino Fino and Palomino Jerez and revived and re-planted over 20 grape varieties on the brink of extinction. As well as his projects in Jerez, Alberto also makes wine from extraordinary sites in Yecla, Rioja and as we have here, Valdeorras.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ALBERTO ORTE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55238662914434,"sku":"A1156122","price":42.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/EscaladadoSilTinto.jpg?v=1748607380"},{"product_id":"atlantida-tintilla-alberto-orte-2021","title":"Atlantida Tintilla Alberto Orte 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e100% Tintilla, a little-known grape indigenous to Jerez that was one of the most interesting varieties in the region prior to phylloxera. Alberto is a firm believer it is is the ideal grape variety to transport the mineral-laden, salty, chalky characteristics of the albariza soil in which it is grown in the coastal terrain of Jerez. This is a single vineyard wine from the Pago Balbaína, a small site right on the sea. The brilliant 2019 sees 18 months in large, old French oak barrels, before patiently waiting in bottle for release. Deeply coloured and powerful, with polished coffee bean, dark berries, bonfires and toffee, with five spice and umami too. Really unique and hugely impressive. 94pts from Suckling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA titan of the Spanish wine industry - introducing Alberto Orte! Oh, where to begin. He’s the guy, at the tender age of 24, who co-founded renowned US based Spanish specialist wine importer, Olé \u0026amp; Obrigado. A farmer, producer and historian all in one, he’s dedicated a huge portion of his life to exploring, identifying and preserving old varieties and clones, and has successfully identified a whopping 200+ old clones of Palomino Fino and Palomino Jerez and revived and re-planted over 20 grape varieties on the brink of extinction. As well as his projects in Jerez, Alberto also makes wine from extraordinary sites in Yecla, Rioja and as we have here, Valdeorras.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ALBERTO ORTE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55239127826818,"sku":"A1326121","price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_4d931b5f-0e84-4245-8b3f-f99610130a93.jpg?v=1748610013"},{"product_id":"rasteau-gramiller-domaine-gramiller-2022","title":"Rasteau 'Gramiller' Domaine Gramiller 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e80% old vine Grenache, 20% Syrah with 30% kept as whole bunches, from a parcel with extremely diverse soils - sandstone, sandy-clay marl, blue clay and pebbles. With decent elevation and these fascinating soils, the Grenache has beautiful purity and a really unique character. As is  Frédéric's way, no oak is used here, instead maturation is 9 months in concrete create a clean and really nicely textured wine. This is pure, low yield Rasteau with bright red fruit, raspberries and juniper, garrigue herbs and a long, hyper-silky finish. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVigneron Frédéric Julien used to be Vice-President of the Cooperative Cellar of Rasteau and started his own domaine in 2017 in the village of Vaucluse. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe estate takes its name from a part of the AOC called Gramiller – a terroir of many soils where they have 2.5 ha of vines. With 15 ha of vines spread across five lieu-dits, s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eince his beginnings in vine growing some twenty years ago, Frédéric Julien has always been a big supporter of organic farming and a strong believer in the importance of  farming with nature, rather than against it. Frédéric's wines are very precise, with as little external input as possible: just a minimal dose of SO2 at bottling for the estate’s wines and nothing at all for the Cuvées Natures. It’s all about the fruit! His no added SO2 cuvees are a masterclass in purity and consistency, and would convince even the most staunch critic of nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GRAMILLER","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55255937581442,"sku":"A3646122","price":19.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/bouteille_Gramiller_domaine_gramiller_rasteau_nature.jpg?v=1749128574"},{"product_id":"ar-guentota-malbec-belasco-de-baquedano-2019","title":"Ar Guentota Malbec, Belasco de Baquedano 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConcentrated nose of cocoa-dusted redcurrants and blueberry, and a very subtle touch of mint which adds to the vibrancy and freshness. Silky and generous on the palate with more juicy, ripe, dark berry fruits all wrapped up in warm undercurrent of subtle spice from the oak ageing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMade from vines that are over 100 years old and aged for a year in french oak then a year in bottle, the utmost care has gone into this delightfully classy iteration of a Swig favourite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoe betide the wine merchant that ignores a tip from Jancis Robinson MW. It was her that first pointed us in the direction of Belasco de Baquedano with their cracking AR Guentota Malbec. It was then made by Bertrand Bourdil, the former winemaker at Mouton-Rothschild and co-founder of Opus One.  Their wines are far from your average Malbecs down the local pub: making the most of their high elevation and centenarian+ vines in the 'golden mile' best terroir of Mendoza.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BELASCO DE BAQUEDANO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55275442700674,"sku":"A5566119","price":19.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_faed4e4a-e78c-464f-93ca-7c62263aa6fa.png?v=1749547716"},{"product_id":"scipio-tenuta-sette-cieli-2020","title":"Scipio Tenuta Sette Cieli 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e100% Cabernet Franc Classic, leafy, cassis, excellent concentration. Fine, with good acidity. Will age well. Most people would prefer this to Masetto, Ornellaia's trophy wine, which is £1000 a bottle. 900 cases made. All Elena's wines are getting more refined as the new vineyards mature. As Elena Pozzolini adapts to how she raises them (elevage) in the cellar. This is the wine that a famous winemaker said to Elena it reminds him of Cheval Blanc. It's released only in the best years and is produced in tiny quantities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eScipio is named after the famous Roman military general who defeated Hannibal in the second Punic War. Sette\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eCieli\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e arrived on the Tuscan scene a few years after the boundary lines of the Bolgheri appellation had been drawn. At the time the boundary was set, no one thought someone would plant above the woods on the next hillside over from Sassicaia, but actually above Gaja's Bolgheri property, Ca' Marcanda. But they did. Originally intended as a place to breed horses and a family retreat. Wine-loving f\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eriends came to visit and pointed out Sassicaia’s original vineyard, under the castle, that you see when you look over your right shoulder, and then a bit to the left of that, the Masseto vineyard. So they started to plant vines in 2000, and since 2012, the young Ambrogio Cremona Ratti who inherited the domain has been at the helm. He brought in winemaker Elena Pozzolini who came back to the area after several years of international experience in Argentina and California, and they share some of the viticultural team of Ornellaia. As Matthew Jukes says \"this estate is a superstar in the making.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SETTE CIELI, TENUTA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55301926191490,"sku":"A3036120","price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_a8fdcadf-79da-4ab2-99b8-1c0aa58248e1.png?v=1750235722"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-luuks-2024","title":"Luuks Chardonnay Blank Bottle 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e'...a cool-climate, ripe, and dramatic Chardonnay with perfect oak augmentation, and it is breath-takingly delicious.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e - Matthew Jukes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuuks - it keeps getting better and better! Now in its forth release, this is at first smoky and tense, coupled with just the right level of opulence - clotted cream, crunchy biscuits and chiffon cake, white flowers and buttered toast too. Very broad and long. So well-balanced, and with a long future ahead of it. The name comes from the barrel it was aged in: the first ever new barrel that Pieter bought. Luuks roughly translates from Afrikaans to 'lux' or 'luxury' in English and it became a bit of a nickname for this wine aged in their fancy new barrel.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55348595229058,"sku":"A6536124","price":37.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_fe6fcb91-227d-4e85-bd3e-58e7388e7a22.jpg?v=1751276120"},{"product_id":"thamnus-chardonnay-2022","title":"Thamnus Chardonnay 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The Thamnus Chardonnay was one of the discoveries of my 2023 report, so I'm delighted that it's every bit as good this year. Sourced from a single vineyard on Shaw's Mountatin, it's light on its feet yet very well structured, with stylish 38% new wood, effortless minerality and a medley of citrus, pear, vanilla and clementine. Drink 2025-2029\" 95pts, Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Thamnus wines are a real product of their environment. 10ha of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, nestled on the north-facing slopes in Overberg, overlooking the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This is cool climate, cool plots and old, unique soils. Even the wineries imagery, using the rare ‘fynbos’ mountain rose as their labelling, shows the affinity for this special spot in South Africa. Style wise, winemaker PJ Geyer is certainly inspired by old-world styling. The deliberate placement of the plots is focused around retaining structure, acidity and gaining minerality in the wines. Very quickly, Thamnus is charming and bewildering highly regarded critics who follow SA closely. We are thrilled to have scooped them and can't wait for them to be sampled!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"THAMNUS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55428715872642,"sku":"A6766122","price":44.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_3b0f3350-4284-4778-969f-82011535aa34.png?v=1752746710"},{"product_id":"bergianti-bzz-terrevive-2022-37-5cl","title":"Bergianti Bzz, Terrevive 2022 37.5cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Sparkling Rose is, well, rather bonkers! \u003cspan\u003eA unique project in itself. The Lambrusco di Sorbara grapes are withered for approximately 15 days in beehives. \u003c\/span\u003eThe bees keep the grapes clean and propolis them. When the drying process is finished, the grapes are pressed. Fermentation stops naturally with the first cold weather and the wine is bottled with residual sugar. Spontaneous fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, then the wine has 6 months of bottle ageing before release. There is no clarification nor filtration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGianluca Bergianti is a star of Lambrusco. His is the only one on the list at Massimo Bottura's 3 Michelin Star restaurant in Modena, and as well as being a superbly talented winemaker, he's also a keen beekeeper, farmer of heritage grains and producer of hyper-seasonal biodynamic vegetables. His first harvest was just 10 years ago, after intensely researching the two indigenous grapes Sorbara and Salamino, and searching for ancient clones. He spent time studying biodynamics with leaders of the scene in Italy: Stefano Bellotti at Carlo Noro and Michele Lorenzetti, and has worked biodynamically since day one. The wines are thrilling to drink; nervy, tingly, incisive and exciting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TERREVIVE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55511493181826,"sku":"A3416122","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_f1a850f9-bfab-45dc-aa26-e6f5b6998b63.png?v=1753969027"},{"product_id":"ramey-russian-river-valley-chardonnay-2022","title":"Ramey 'Russian River Valley' Chardonnay 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"A bright straw color, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is fresh and aromatic with notes of flinty, ripe, fresh apple, candied lemon, a savory, lightly herbaceous touch, and a hint of wet stone. Medium to full-bodied, it’s elegant and long on the palate, with a delicate saline touch and a balanced feel throughout. It is phenomenal wine and shows off the versatility of this vintage with ease. Drink it over the next 10 or more years.\" 95pts, Audrey Frick for JebDunnuck.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThroughout his career, David Ramey's wines have been some of the most sought-after in the world. Learning his craft from luminary Christian Moueix at Château Pétrus, his roots remained in California, and he returned home to put these techniques into practice. In his richly varied career, he has helped establish wineries that have become household names, including interstellar Napa institutions Dominus and Rudd Estate. Whilst still at Dominus, he produced his first wine in 1996 under his own label using fruit from the Hyde Vineyard, produced in partnership with his good friend and fellow Cali icon, John Konsgaard. Just over 20 years on, in an interview with Stephen Tanzer of Vinous, David is convinced that the wines he is making today are better than ever before and will age even more consistently and profoundly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RAMEY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55537659183490,"sku":"A3426122","price":59.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Ramey_RussianRiverValley_Chardonnay2021_1e58eae2-04ac-4eb1-ab1e-e0edc4af8828.jpg?v=1761297786"},{"product_id":"syrah-stefano-amerighi-2022","title":"Syrah Stefano Amerighi 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eStefano's Syrah echoes that of the Rhone Valley, showing rich, plush red fruits intermingled with fresh minerality and white pepper notes. Incredibly well polished yet wild at heart all at the same time. Hedge row berries and freshly picked herbs keep you fixated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStefano told us... “My farm was born from a wish that matured over the years, to be able to produce a grand Syrah through the farming traditions of my family, passion, knowledge in the world of wine and the practice of biodynamics. In order to reach this objective, I had identified an area of Chiuso di Cortona, named Poggiobello di Farneta, in the middle of which, as though it were a cru, there are two well exposed hills to south, south-east, closed within an old pebbly street to the west, a grove to the south and a ridge to the east to close the panorama. Today, my intention is to propose a natural practice as an alternative to conventional agriculture through the cultivation of cereals, vegetables and fruit to the breeding of animals, together with the production of a great Syrah!”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"STEFANO AMERIGHI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55554619113858,"sku":"A3486122","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/stefano-amerighi-cortona-syrah-2022_57375_1_397fedec-c652-43d8-b97f-ab7a72d42ec2.png?v=1755250232"},{"product_id":"prosecco-colfondo-agricolo-bele-casel-2023","title":"ColFondo Agricolo Bele Casel 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat is Prosecco Col Fondo? The term translates to \"with its bottom,\" meaning the wine is bottled with lees, completing fermentation in the bottle. This results in a nicely cloudy wine with crisp flavour and a delicate effervescence. The wine has a delicious, mouth-filling texture, best described as a gentle foam rather than a mousse. Its packed with notes of nashi pears and fresh, bready aromas, with a touch of savoury elements reminiscent of honey on toast, fennel, and a subtle salty finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSituated in the Prosecco hills of Asolo, Bele Casel has significantly impacted the market by spearheading the ‘Colfondo Agricolo’ movement, dedicated to reviving the ancient method of producing sparkling wines in Veneto. Their straightforward goal is to create great wines, with every family member involved in each step of the process. From the vineyard to the winery, and from bottling to labelling, everything is done by hand, showcasing their dedication and passion in every glass. Bravo!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BELE CASEL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55558609994114,"sku":"A3326123","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/colfondobt2023scontIMG_0011.png?v=1756199962"},{"product_id":"yabby-lake-single-vineyard-chardonnay-2024","title":"Chardonnay Single Vineyard Yabby Lake 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eA beautifully layered Chardonnay, coiled and concentrated, yet with an effortless elegance. White stone fruits, grapefruit pith, citrus blossom and flinty, nutty complexity. There’s intensity here, but it’s tightly wrapped, with a piercing line of acidity and chalky structure that promises a long future ahead. A go-to for lovers of finessed, mineral-driven  Chardonnay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTom Carson is a true winemaker's winemaker, an uber-geek known for his forensic attention to detail Lured to join Yabby Lake by the incredible efforts and attention to detail that were put into establishing the vineyard in terms of site and soil analysis, it's here that winemaker Tom has truly become known as a don of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YABBY LAKE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55656383152514,"sku":"A1356124","price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_d661b94e-3959-4033-9ceb-fb6c144f9615.png?v=1757503752"},{"product_id":"kortpad-kaaptoe-blank-bottle-2024","title":"Kortpad Kaaptoe Blank Bottle 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of Pieter's most unusual cuvees, so-named for the Kortpad Kaaptoe, or cut through road close to the vineyard that Pieter took when having to rush back to Cape Town one day. With its bling ACDC style label, this wine is as stand out as its label. Ripe pineapple, tangerine, stem ginger and spice with a pithy, lightly grippy palate and slivers of bitter sweet orange peel, apricot and long stoney finish. Great acidity keeps it all in check. Drink with coronation chicken (trust us), tandoori dishes or a Persian feast of spiced lamb, stuffed aubergine and jewelled tahdig.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55657326150018,"sku":"A4476124","price":24.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_b87f0c78-fec0-4639-b664-de8056e358fc.jpg?v=1757515349"},{"product_id":"chardonnay-tesselaarsdal-2024","title":"Chardonnay Tesselaarsdal 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom unirrigated vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, and this is just her fourth release! Crisp acidity and lean minerality underpin notes of melon and tangerine fruit and accents of lime blossom. A triumphant expression of terroir, this medium-bodied, cool climate wine is both silky and fresh and boasts a long, elegant finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerene Sauls has probably the most unique story of all of our winemakers.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowing up in a small village in the Overberg, Berene admits that she came from a beer-drinking community, and wine was never really on her radar. Her first exposure was at the age of 19, when she began working for the trailblazing Hamilton Russell family as an au pair. Lasting only a month, her talents at childcare aside, Anthony Hamilton Russell recognised her drive and thought a job working in the winery office would better suit her. Thrown in at the deep end knowing really nothing about wine, she was soon exposed to every side of the business - assisting with exports, bottling and labelling, driving forklifts and picking during harvest too, as well as on the side, \u003cem\u003e\"growing and developing a palate that wasn't there!\"\u003c\/em\u003e Her curiosity kept her rising through the ranks, and fifteen years after starting her career, Anthony offered her the opportunity to make her first wine, aided by proficient head winemaker Emul Ross. She leapt at the opportunity, and the rest is history. She named her business Tesselaarsdal for the small village that she grew up in, and if you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene and her grandmother.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TESSELAARSDAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55657423012226,"sku":"A3116124","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Tessel24_Chard.jpg?v=1760519861"},{"product_id":"pinot-noir-tesselaarsdal-2024","title":"Pinot Noir Tesselaarsdal 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The 10th vintage Pinot Noir classically displays the pristine fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge with lifted notes of cranberries, sour cherries and hints of clove spices. This is an elegant age-worthy wine.\" Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerene Sauls has probably the most unique story of all of our winemakers.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowing up in a small village in the Overberg, Berene admits that she came from a beer-drinking community, and wine was never really on her radar. Her first exposure was at the age of 19, when she began working for the trailblazing Hamilton Russell family as an au pair. Anthony Hamilton Russell recognised her drive and thought a job working in the winery office would better suit her. Thrown in at the deep end knowing really nothing about wine, she was soon exposed to every side of the business - assisting with exports, bottling and labelling, driving forklifts and picking during harvest too, as well as on the side, \u003cem\u003e\"growing and developing a palate that wasn't there!\"\u003c\/em\u003e Her curiosity kept her rising through the ranks, and fifteen years after starting her career, Anthony offered her the opportunity to make her first wine, aided by proficient head winemaker Emul Ross. She leapt at the opportunity, and the rest is history. She named her business Tesselaarsdal for the small village that she grew up in, and if you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene's mother and her grandmother who went each week to trade with the nearest town, Stanford.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TESSELAARSDAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55657440379266,"sku":"A3106124","price":42.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Tessel24pinot.jpg?v=1760519716"},{"product_id":"au-bon-climat-wild-boy-chardonnay-2023","title":"Au Bon Climat Wild Boy Chardonnay 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWild Boy is always a little bold, just like Mr Clenenden was! Medium to full-bodied, not shy and unashamedly Californian, with lots of ripe fruit, vanilla cream notes and the merest tease of oak mingling with stone fruits, baking spice and even a little apple crumble.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeeding little introduction, we are delighted to now have the wines of the late Jim Clendenen available. Deeply influenced by his love of Burgundy, Clendenen set up ABC with Adam Tolmach in 1982 with the ambition to make wines that spoke of their place, which emulate the restraint and finesse of Europe but with a magic touch of New World flair. The vineyards ABC source their grapes from reads as a ‘who’s who’ of Central Coast vineyards with Bien Nacido and Jim’s own “Le Bon Climat” as the biggest contributors. He passed away in 2021 and is remembered as one of the most charismatic and influential people of his vinous generation. \u003c\/span\u003eFermented and aged for 11 months in French oak barrels from Francois Freres, with a small proportion of new oak. Most of the fruit is picked at optimum ripeness but a little is picked early for natural acidity while some is picked late to add an extra flavour dimension.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AU BON CLIMAT","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55719354368386,"sku":"A1250123","price":36.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_0a0b818d-af00-4916-b4d3-f0161b15b064.jpg?v=1758793735"},{"product_id":"savage-white-2024","title":"Savage White 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA maximum of 2 bottles per customer.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'...the peerless SBS which just seems to get finer and finer as the years drift by'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e - Matthew Jukes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-teams=\"true\"\u003e'This is the fifteenth vintage of Duncan Savage's icon white and it's up there with his best releases. Combining Sauvignon Blanc and 21% Semillon from three different sites, it's an effortlessly complex, self-assured blend with fine lees, layers of blackcurrant leaf, seaweed and lime, subtle wood and a savoury, salty undertone. Sublime stuff. 2027-32. 97 points.' Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe may have made his name as a Sauvignon Blanc specialist at the illustrious Cape Point Vineyards where he stacked up a very impressive roster of awards, but Duncan is a winemaker with many strings to his bow, and winemaking capacities that go far beyond Sauvignon Blanc. He has been on very fine form for the last few years, but right now? Oh boy, he's on fire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Duncan Savage thinks he hasn't hit his full potential yet. Heaven help his rivals when he does.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAwarded winemaker of the year twice in 2023! \u003cbr\u003eDuncan Savage was awarded 'winemaker of the year' by Tim Atkin MW, and by the editor of Platter's Guide to South Africa Wines in 2022. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAVAGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55824759259522,"sku":"A1076124","price":39.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_b385076c-09b8-4ab8-849a-52aa91146582.jpg?v=1760537087"},{"product_id":"savage-red-2023","title":"Savage Red 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA maximum of 3 bottles per customer.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e96 points - 'Duncan Savage is a fan of the \"purity and elegance\" of the 2023 vintage, comparing it to 2017 and 2021. His eponymous red is now a delicious, pure Syrah from the Langverwagt farm in Kuils River on the edge of Stellenbosch, showing aromas of tobacco leaf, incense and clove, spicy 50% whole bunches and a core of blackberry, plum and tapenade. Drink 2027-2034.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuncan Savage is at the top of his game and this 2023 showcases what South Africa is capable of. To pinpoint one word for these wines it would be purity. Within the wine trade there are few more sought after wines from the New World, and for the price, it represents truly outstanding value. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAVAGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55824778527106,"sku":"A1086123","price":42.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_e8081c24-cf04-4fa2-ae79-c798311b5852.jpg?v=1760537268"},{"product_id":"thief-in-the-night-savage-2024","title":"Thief In The Night Savage 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA maximum of 2 bottles per customer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'...the weightless, amaro-soaked Grenache'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e- Matthew Jukes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'96 points\u003cstrong\u003e - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black;\"\u003eDesigned to show what Duncan Savage calls the \"purity and power\" of Grenache from remote Piekenierskloof, this is a superb dryland red that was fermented wit14.h 20% whole clusters. Zesty, refined and intensely stony, it has the freshness of a cool site at 704 metres, fynbos and potpourri aromas and layers of bramble, pomegranate and red cherry. 2026-33.' \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;\"\u003eTim Atkin MW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuncan Savage is at the top of his game and these 2024s showcase what South Africa is capable of. To pinpoint one word for these wines it would be purity. Within the wine trade there are few more sought after wines from the New World, and for the price, it represents truly outstanding value. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAVAGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55825166729602,"sku":"A1106124","price":39.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_1c9ab8d1-9c4e-4191-8956-ef6bc8c861ea.jpg?v=1760541524"},{"product_id":"secateurs-chenin-blanc-aa-badenhorst-2025","title":"Secateurs Chenin Blanc AA Badenhorst 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy is this wine so special? Why does it win so much rapturous admiration? Because it \u003c\/span\u003esurprises\u003cspan\u003e people with its quality. You just don't expect to find an organic, old-vine Swartland chenin (yields as low as 4 tons\/hectare - about the same as much premier and grand cru Burgundy), with this much character, texture and interest, at this price level. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe wines spends time on its lees in concrete tanks and old casks, which gives incredible texture and palate weight to the wine.  Flinty, citrus, pear and white stone fruits that will develop with honey and orange blossom with time.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe firmly believe that Adi Badenhorst is the most exciting winemaker in South Africa. He is also the most frustrating. His laid back, self-deprecating, playful manner keeps you guessing and makes you wonder whether he has any idea what he is actually doing, whether he just chucks some grapes into a vat and hopes for the best, but we know full well that there is a huge amount of expertise that goes on behind closed doors, when no one is around to witness his skill and diligence ...and spoil his reputation!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BADENHORST","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55832506827138,"sku":"A2756125","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_8be0a579-808f-4813-a841-3de5f5b97346.jpg?v=1760689856"},{"product_id":"champagne-collard-picard-perpetuelle-13-annees-extra-brut-nv-magnum-150cl","title":"Champagne Collard-Picard 'Perpetuelle 13 Annees' Extra Brut NV Magnum 150cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are now 13 vintages is this refined Champagne, very much in Krug territory. It resembles for its high percentage of old reserve wines, being at least 70% of the blend, and for being aged in wood. It opens up with time in the glass and becomes more expressive and the flavours go to another level, and it reveals even more how special it really is. The beautiful Grand Cru Chardonnay component gives this magnificent Champagne its structure, elegance and longevity and the Pinot Noir some satisfying deep berry fruit and the Pinot Meunier some pretty, lifted fruit aromas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollard-Picard is one of the most exciting houses in Champagne today, who is definitely at the forefront of quality. Both Olivier and Caroline are from eminent Champagne families, and Olivier's grandfather Rene was a pioneer of organic farming in the region. They are what's known as an independent grower, based 15km west of Epernay. They have brilliant grand cru and 1er sites in Mesnil, where they grow Chardonnay and farm organically. It's also home to a couple of Champagne's most famous cuvees like Krug Le Mesnil and Salon Mesnil. In the Marne they have a site regarded as one of the best for Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Collard-Picard age this Champagne in wood, which is very unusual, and harks back to the more traditional way of making great Champagne in the past. They opt not to do malolactic fermentation on any of the wines to preserve their character, all yeasts are indigenous too.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"COLLARD-PICARD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55920195993986,"sku":"A4086813","price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/75clnewimage_1024x1024_ba02df8b-7dec-474d-be40-2556b718621a.webp?v=1762258443"},{"product_id":"yantra-tenuta-sette-cieli-2023","title":"Yantra Tenuta Sette Cieli 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuper sleek with silky fine tannins, very dark fruits like blackberries and blackcurrants with interesting notes of graphite, liquorice and asphalt finishing with a herbal bittersweet note. The description of aromas and flavours would make you think of something like a big meaty St Estephe but this has a beautiful lightness of touch which makes it nuanced and very intriguing. Since\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2019, it contains a higher proportion of grapes from young vines of Sette Cieli and an amount of the off-cuts of Indaco. It needs time to open up - so a good decant is helpful - and kept for 3 or 4 years, it should really be superb. But it will keep longer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eSette\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eCieli\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e arrived on the Tuscan scene a few years after the boundary lines of the Bolgheri appellation had been drawn. At the time the boundary was set, no one thought someone would plant above the woods on the next hillside over from Sassicaia, but actually above Gaja's Bolgheri property, Ca' Marcanda. But they did. Originally intended as a place to breed horses and a family retreat. Wine-loving f\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eriends came to visit and pointed out Sassicaia’s original vineyard, under the castle, that you see when you look over your right shoulder, and then a bit to the left of that, the Masseto vineyard. So they started to plant vines in 2000, and since 2012, the young Ambrogio Cremona Ratti who inherited the domain has been at the helm. He brought in winemaker Elena Pozzolini who came back to the area after several years of international experience in Argentina and California, and they share some of the viticultural team of Ornellaia. As Matthew Jukes says \"this estate is a superstar in the making.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SETTE CIELI, TENUTA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55932023308674,"sku":"A4026123","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Yantra_1024x1024_2a64bf7f-7770-4d38-b6bd-1ddb8d1f9410.webp?v=1762422204"}],"url":"https:\/\/swig.co.uk\/collections\/press-favourites\/region-darling.oembed","provider":"Swig Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}