Cesar Marquez Perez La Salvacion
$55.99
César Marquez Perez has deep roots in Bierzo. His family founded the Castro Ventosa winery in 1752 and they still own it today. Thanks to that long history, he has access to many of the top sites in the region. He has grown up in the vines and wineries in Bierzo and has learned from his elders, including his uncle Raul Perez. And now he has his own project. He launched his solo project in 2015 with 4 wines. Today he makes 7 wines from 6 HA of 80 to 120-year-old vines.
He is a part of the new wave of Spanish vignerons who have a knowledge of the greater world of wine and also a respect for and connection to the land around him. He is finding old vines in unique sites and vinifying them separately to showcase the ability of Mencía to transmit terroir. He is structuring his lineup of wines in Burgundian fashion - appellation wine, village wine, single vineyard wines. He is farming organically. He is using partial whole cluster, reductive winemaking and low sulphur. He is making wines that are not just great for Bierzo or Spain, but that stand along with the best wines from any region or country.
Daydreamer Rose
$38.99
The grapes grown without systemic fungicides, herbicides and pesticides, small batch processing, with a sustainable approach is the mandate. They make limited-production wines from the best sites in the Okanagan Valley with a special focus on the wines of the Naramata Bench
This is not your typical light and crisp Rosé. Daydreamer's 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier are made from the Saignée of the winery's Amelia red wine. Saignée means that this pink juice was pulled from the red wine's tank just as it began fermentation. This Rosé had 18 hours of skin contact with the combination of Syrah and Viognier leading to a floral, fruity and silky wine with a touch of body to it as well.
Paltrinieri Saint Agata Lambrusco
$31.99
Paltrinieri is located in the heart of the Sorbara DOC by the historic Cru of Cristo di Sorbara. Since 1998, the estate has been run by the fourth generation Alberto Paltrinieri and his wife, Barbara, though the estate was founded in 1926 by Alberto’s grandfather, Achille. Historically the winery, as was the tradition, produced Lambruschi which were blends of grapes. Since Alberto Paltrinieri took the reins of the estate they began, more and more, to focus on mono-varietal wines from the Lambrusco di Sorbara grape which was gaining more and more recognition for its elegance and complexity compared to the many other Lambrusco varieties. They produce eight different bottlings – all made from 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara save the Solco which is 100% Salamino. Salamino produces a more fruit-forward style of Lambrusco with a darker colour relative to Sorbara.
Taylor White Port
$26.99
The team behind the Taylor's Port house are pioneers of this exciting style, having introduced it in 1934. It is made in exactly the same way as conventional Port, but with white grapes rather than red. As the name suggests, it has a drier, fruity taste, and is best served chilled. White Port has a lovely fruity taste and makes an unusually good aperitif. Add one part white Port to one part tonic. Serve over rocks and add a crescent of thinly sliced lemon. Ahh!
Alvear Montilla Fino Sherry
$32.99
Delightfully easy to drink and a wonderful companion with hors d'oeuvres. Alvear has been in the family since 1729 and it is not far from the town of Montilla in the heart of Spain's sherry region, Andalucia. Olive and almond trees line the vineyards and you will get lovely subtle hints of these flavors in the wine, dazzled by notes of sea salt. A classic Fino that pairs beautifully with shellfish.
Radford Dale Pinot Noir
$54.99
An organic estate in Elgin, around 40 miles southeast of Cape Town. Elgin is a very different climate to Stellenbosch, where the rest of their wines are made, a particularly critical factor for organic farming. ‘Our biggest challenge is mother nature. Living on a knife edge in a high-rainfall, cool climate region such as Elgin is not good for the nerves.’ says Alex Dale. ‘It would have been safer to farm organically in warmer areas, such as the Swartland or even Stellenbosch. But for the style of wines we like – more refined, fresh and balanced – Elgin is where we want to be, so the risks are far higher. The next biggest challenge is financial, as your production and your financial viability is constantly threatened by weather incidents, throughout the year. We also do a lot of work manually, especially in our high-density vines, so the tougher the conditions meteorologically, the more manual labour involved in the vineyards.’
Lapierre Morgon Cru Beaujolais
$64.99
If you are more of a organic/biodynamic/natural/transparent wine fellow, Lapierre is a name you will know well. If you don't, not to worry because we will explain why this wine is important.
Marcel lapierre took over his father's vineyard in 1973, and started to challenge the norm. His mentor, Jules Chauvet was one of (if not) the first person to speak out about natural wine; a style of wine that is honest and true to what nature intended. With Lapierre joining Chauvet, his winery is one of the biggest names known to the natural wine world. Unfortunatley Marcel passed in 2010, but his son Mathieu and daughter Camille carry on his legacy, producing natural and delicious Beaujolais. This Morgon is one of their flagship wines. It's stony, it's flinty, it's dark plum, it's cherry, it is complex. A wine that can age, but also is showing well in its youth. Sit back, relax, and experience Lapierre.
Jose Palacios Bierzo Petalos
$37.99
Wow, major praise for the 2015 vintage from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, which gave it 92+ points! The review: "The entry level 2015 Pétalos del Bierzo, their regional wine, in the new official category that will start working in the appellation from the 2017 vintage, a blend of many different vineyards planted with field blends, where the breakdown might come to some 5% white varieties (Valenciana/Doña Blanca, Godello and Palomino/Jerez) and around 1% other reds (Pan y Carne, Negrada and Gran Negro), all from vines ranging between 40 and 90 years of age on slopes (half of the grapes around the village of Corullón and the remainder in the rest of Bierzo). It's a showy, approachable, aromatic and open version of Pétalos, and as I tasted it later on in the season, it felt more polished and round, with a lush texture. It's extremely aromatic, in a way similar to the 2012. This is always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain." From one of Spain's top winemakers, Alvaro Palacios.
Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz
$39.99
This alluring and unashamedly bold Shiraz has hints of spiced plums, blackberry jam and cherry all at the fore and finishes with coffee cream, licorice and vanilla. Full bodied with vibrant berry fruit characteristics, yet elegant with restrained tannins, resulting in a soft mouthfeel. This Boxer is sure to be a knockout!