Rhone

A beautiful peachy expression of the viognier grape grown on the sand and granite steep terraced slopes of the northern Rhone.

Fermentation is at low temperatures, a third in new barrels and the rest in stainless steel tanks. The wine undergoes 100% Malolactic fermentation and is aged in 100% new oak.

Brilliant clear golden yellow in the glass with a nose that is Intensely floral and fruity; violets, apricots, peaches and citrus.

The palate is fresh, round and unctuous with lighter acidity and round fleshy fruits.

100% Syrah from the legendary slopes of Hermitage above the town of Tain in the Northern Rhone. 

The soils here are a fabulous mix of limestone, clay, silt soil and sandy gravel and the vines have an average age of over 30 years. The wine matures in barrel for a whopping 36 months with 50% new oak.

Deep ruby red with violet tinges on the eye opening into a spicy nose with red berries and delicate oak aromas. The palate is powerful and tannic with flavours of blackcurrant, vanilla, licorice and spice

80 % Grenache and 20% Syrah. Nice freshness in the nose with herbal and wild blackberry notes. The palate is fruity and spicy with wild raspberry, rosemary and thyme notes. This is a balanced, well-structured and mineral Rhone red.

This cuvee is made up of a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, from the Garrigues plateau located near the village of Sarrians. This wine is highly perfumed with aromas of ripe red berries and smoky minerality. The generous palate offers intense red berry and lavender flavors and a touch of white pepper.

Excellent value red from Domaine De La Charbonniere, with Grenache leading the way in this full bodied beauty, which is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah.

The Domaine de la Charbonniere is owned by Eugene Maret, who owns 19 hectares in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, nearly six hectares in Vacqueryas and two hectares in the Cotes du Rhone appellation.

This is an outstanding Cotes du Rhone red with body to burn and flavours of approachable, soft and smooth spicy red fruit notes supported by a tannin structure of impressive velvet smooth framework and complex savoury, clean notes on the finish.

This is a bright purple-red Syrah. On the nose, aromas develop with finesse and complexity with notes of blackberry jam, liquorice, a hint of toast and spice. The palate is full and generous with notes of ripe fruit and a hint of smokiness. Tannins are dense and intense, but with great finesse, giving the wine excellent structure and a long finish. 

Decant if drunk immediately. It may be cellared for 10 to 15 years.

Domaine de Beaurenard is family owned and operated (over seven generations) and is one of the leading estates of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Coulon brothers, Daniel and Frederic, have taken over from Paul and Regine, and craft some of the most fruity, charming and supple wines of the whole Appellation. With the modernization of the cellars in the late 80s, the quality of the wines has gone from excellent to often exceptional - and the vineyards are now organic and biodynamic.

All 13 of the permitted grape varieties are used here including some vines so old they?re not sure of the variety. Terrific stuff.

This is a great expression of the Rhône Valley, showing typical black fruits, cherry and mint on the nose. The wine is silky and soft, with ripe berry and herb notes on the palate. 

Sang des Cailloux Vacqueryas is a labour of love and tastes like it. It's a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourv?dre and Cinsault and named after the daughters of Serge F?rigoule: Floureto, Doucinello, and Azala?s. 

All grapes are hand harvested and fermented with natural yeasts in cement cuves with daily pumpovers then moved into 450 litre barrels for 12 months' maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

This is a delicious, full bodied dry red from one of the great appellations of the Southern Rhone Valley in France. 

Yann Chave's Hermitage vines are over 40 years old and are rooted in a soil of loess that faces South-West that enjoys abundant sunshine throughout the year.

After 100% destemming, vinification is as gentle as possible with a twice-daily pumping over and vinification temperatures of under 28?C.

The wine is then placed in new and one-year-old demi-muids. Malolactic fermentation takes place in these barrels, and wine is kept here for 12 months. After this maturing phase, the wine will then spend 6 months in a vat to decant naturally prior to bottling.

The nose shows complex aromas of blackberry jam, liquorice sticks and spice leading to a full and generous palate. Mid-palate reveals rich aromas of ripe fruit and a hint of smokiness. The tannins are dense and intense, but with great finesse, giving the wine imposing structure and a long finish. A truly superb wine.