A selection of Wines, Spirits & Natural Ciders shown at our Winter Tasting at Lansdown Hall.
For those of you that couldn’t join us, perhaps some inspiration for Christmas…
Showing 1–42 of 57 results
Great Rhone Valley wine from a fantastic Chateauneuf-du-Pape producer.
Bodegas Estraunza’s Rioja Alavesa offers amazing value for money. This wine exudes youthful exuberance, presenting vibrant red fruit, delicate floral nuances, and a subtle hint of liquorice. The palate is refined and generous with a luxuriously silky mouthfeel and great length.
This cider co-ferment builds on a passion to raise the profile of cider as a wine alternative, which combines winemaking techniques and grape bi-products with cider. Made from 100% not-from-concentrate fruit, from a single vintage of Dabinett and dessert apples, co-fermented over Pinot Noir grape skins. An all-natural fusion of red berry fruits and apple richness and a huge mouthful of fruit enlivened by a gentle spritz. The complex of soft grape and apple tannins give this co-ferment a grown up, sophisticated approach, with huge length and a soft dry finish.
Once Upon A Tree Dabinett Pinot Noir Co-Ferment is gluten free and vegetarian and vegan friendly.
The Villa Wolf Estate has been making wine since the 1800’s with Ernst Loosen from the Dr Loosen winery in Mosel taking over in 1996. The winery is currently in the process of getting organic certification, 2022 will be the first certified vintage.
Pinot Noir has a long history in the Pfalz region, where it is known as Spätburgunder. This is full of bright black cherry flavours with a little hint of spice and firm acidity. Ripe fruit is complemented with a smoky depth and earthy tannins from twelve months oak ageing. An excellent wine that’s great for everday dining – one that everyone likes!
Rich fruit forward characters of raspberry and plums tantalise the palate. There is a soft toasty oak influence that enhances the vanilla and spice. Subtle tannins leave the palate quite moreish and a delight to keep coming back to.
Lavradores de Feitoria is a unique project, created from the union of 15 producers with vineyards throughout the Douro. This is different to most cooperatives in that the growers all own the company together. Some of their vineyards are over 80 years old and contain varieties such as Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Boal, Malvasia.
This is a fresh, ripe style of Douro with blackberry, black plum and cherry flavours. A perfect everyday wine.
A small negociant project located in the Rhône Valley, Olivier & Lafont was founded in 2011 by two top consultant winemakers, Baptiste Olivier and Gerald Lafont.
This is a wonderfully fresh and floral white, with apricot notes with some peach and quince. Medium-bodied and fresh, with good fruit and texture.
Made from vines directly next to Pouilly-Fume vines. The refreshing, cooling, palate is delicious, with so much length for a wine at this price. It has a good dose of fruit too – pineapple, and grassy notes too, just a little of that gun-flint smokiness, that we like so much about wines from this region. The palate shines like diamonds. It’s shimmering with sparks of citrus, but then kept in check by that terroir that again brings you back to classic Fumé that comes from the chalky and slightly flinty soils here.
We first found this superb, Champagne method cider back in 2011, in a funky little wine shop near the National Trust’s Sheffield Park property, Sussex. After trying it we called the number on the back, met up with James Lane and we’ve been enjoying it ever since.
This is a wonderful blend of cooking and eating apples, the perfect alternative to Champagne. Next-level cider! Pure class.
It’s all about the fruit! This no added SO2 bottling is a blend of Alicante and and Grenache. Positively summer pudding in a glass! Explosive fruit – berries and cherries and floral notes too, hints of orange zest and violets and tea soaked fruit. Don’t be fooled by the wine’s deep purple colour, it’s juicy, fresh, with just a hint of herbs and light tannins.
The Mencia vines are for this wine are over 85 years old. No herbicides are used in the vineyards, the winery is in the process of organic conversion.
This wine is wonderfully fresh, with a medley of red fruits, including wild berries. Hints of smoke and liquorice, alongside balsamic and herbal hints. The palate is well structured, with good depth and a fruit-driven finish.
SIVIPA is the company name for all the wines produced by the Cordoso family, the vineyards are distributed between siblings and cousins as inheritance from previous generations. The main winery, Quinta do Piloto is in Palmela and is one of the only few producing Moscatel Roxo as a varietal wine.
Described as an entry-level fortified wine but this is so much more. There’s dried fruit, caramel, spices, florals and especially citrus orange peel. Sensational wine!
Brio is a wine made from Sangiovese grapes from estate vineyards on the gently sloping hills of Scansano, which expresses the freshness of this grape variety. The combination of altitude, south-westerly exposure, and rich volcanic soils in Scansano create one of Italy’s most unique microclimates.
Fragrant floral aromas, red berries and cherries, and a layer of aromatic herbs. This is a medium bodied wine with a long and fruity finish. Pairs fantastically with pasta with meat or mushroom ragù.
Classic tones of delicately exotic fruit, but balanced with a salinity thanks to the fresh, well-integrated acidity that suggests immediate drinkability, but promises a pleasant evolution over the next five years. Think Chablis but better than anything from that region at this price. Unoaked.
Works beautifully with a classic Veal Piccata, vegetable or seafood tempura and fresh salads.
Cantina Andriano was founded in 1893, which makes it one of the oldest cooperatives in Alto Adige. The village of Andrian is one of the three that can call their wines Terlaner Classico, a very famous wine in this part of the country.
Aromas of fruit in which the flavours of ripe, honeydew melons are particularly prominent; soft and full on the palate with a well balanced long finish.
I’m in Muscadet sur Lie territory. Green apples, light bready leesiness, white flowers, honeydew melon. There’s a crispness here that prevents the florality from slipping into soapiness. Simple, but clean-lined and fresh
In Rioja (Spain) this style would be classed as a ‘Joven’ style, meaning young and un-wooded, but being in the new world and Rutherglen in particular, this wine is lifted to an extra level. A fabulous new world interpretation of a long standing old world variety.
Dense red/purple. Complex with rose petal and dark cherry juice and cranberry aromas with some light cedary wood spices. A balanced palate profile with soft flavours of cherries, dark plums and a backbone of light tannins that extend through to a long and refreshing finish.
A delicately crisp, low-alcohol Riesling from the top-rated single-vineyard site that surrounds the Dr. Loosen estate.
Bernkasteler Lay is a Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard situated directly along the Mosel between the village of Bernkastel and the Dr. Loosen estate house. The rocky blue slate soil here produces richly textured, assertive wines. Kabinett is the German designation for the lightest, most delicate style of Riesling, produced from barely ripe grapes picked early in the harvest.
The fruit for this wine is sourced from Yarra Valley, south eastern Australia. It features the classic hallmarks of Cabernet Sauvignon; blackberries, blackcurrant on the nose and palate with aromas of blackcurrant intermingling with wood notes and cedar on the nose. Supremely drinkable at a refreshingly restrained 13% alcohol. We are big fans of this wine, a superb example of finesse and quality over the usual syruppy fruit bombs New World wines often produce. If you are a fan of mid-range Bordeaux, this is well worth a whirl. Delicious!
Pair with cured meats, mezze or paprika based dishes.
Mozart Chocolate Liqueur is an Austrian brand combining the best of two worlds: chocolate & spirit. A Full-bodied, creamy milk chocolate liqueur, handcrafted with only natural ingredients, gluten-free, and refined with Belgian chocolate. Handcrafted with love.
Orbello is a small village very close to the vineyard where this wine is produced, it is a traditional blend that Tenute Sella has been producing for more than 50 years. An attractive nose of mixed red fruits that leap from the glass, the palate is soft and mouth-filling, with the red fruits following through on a supporting spine of minerality.
A wine if great finesse, with a gentle and seemless quality. Pair with a wild mushroom risotto for a nigh on perfect pairing.
Ripe berry fruits complimented by savoury spice. The palate has sumptuous fruit and elegant supple tannins. Pinot Noir is still a relatively new variety for the Orange region, but it is showing excellent promise in this cool, mountainous, continental climate.
Albarino can be found growing in Galicia, in North West Spain. Six families have come together to make one winery which produces sustainable wines with the Albarino variety. Deliciously refreshing, with flavours of apple, peach and tropical fruit and lovely minerality. The marine influence of the Atlantic Ocean imparts a wonderful salinity that makes it the perfect match with seafood.
A wonderful, fresh, fruit-focussed expression of Touriga Nacional from the highlands of the Dao. Made without oak influence to maintain purity, it’s juicy and fruity, with lovely, soft tannin to add a little grip and interest.
This is the source of some of the finest, richest and most concentrated wines in Alsace. Superb Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris and perhaps the finest Muscat in Alsace, but also home to great Riesling. The late Bruno and his son François realised a dream ten years ago with the final purchase of a plot of steep ‘garrigue’ in the heart of the Grand Cru Pfersigberg. They now have amassed 1½ hectares in one plot. Bruno had secretly been buying parcels of this land for the last 30 years. Much hard work was necessary, in clearing the forest and then terracing the very steep slopes.
François Sorg makes beautifully balanced Crémant from 50% Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Pinot Gris and 40% Chardonnay.
Jean-Paul Balland has handed over the running of the domaine to his two daughters, Elise and Isabelle. It is said that Jean-Paul made the best wine in the village and was one of the first in Sancerre to vinify Sauvignon Blanc in oak. We certainly don’t believe that Isabelle is doing any less well – lovely wines. Their Sancerre Blanc comes from a mixture of limestone pebbly stones and calcareous-clay, and are fermented and aged in stainless steel and undergo regular bâtonnage.
Intense aroma, with scents of anise and mint associated to sweet quince and pineapple. On the palate mild ripe peachy fruits with hints of citrus and fresh herbs. The attack is lively, fresh and floral (honeysuckle, acacia).
This 100% Sauvignon blanc is made from grapes grown on Tokara’s Highlands farm in Elgin. This wine is blended from a handful of the top performing blocks on this property each chosen for their exquisite flavour and aromatic profile.
A fantastic example of single estate port wine. Traditionally made using foot-treading in granit lagars before fortification. They vinify by parcel and grape variety, before ageing for a short period in large, old oak. The final wine is an expert blend from across different parcels and vintages, bringing together grape varieties and soil-types to fully represent the character of the whole estate.
Its dark, concentrated fruit character comes from perfectly ripe grapes grown in the warmer Douro Superior. There’s some greener, stalky, herbaceous notes, plus lovely spice and warmth from oak. The sweetness is balanced by fresh acidity so there’s nothing too sticky, and the gentle foot treading leads to soft, fine tannin, and a velvety texture.
Utterly awesome champagne-method sparkling wine – all of the sensory indulgence, for a fraction of the price, and made by an ex Champagne producer. Delish bready notes – fresh baguettes smeared with good French unsalted butter and apricot jam. Apple compote, sugared almonds, ripe melon and delicately toasty notes that carry through to the palate with butterscotch and candied lemon and hint of vanilla cream, orange zest and long biscuit-accented finish. Zero dosage – a blend of 63% Chardonnay, 25% Chenin Blanc, 12% Pinot.
Soalheiro Mineral Rosé comes from a desire to craft a rosé in the light, dry style of southern France. This style is not common in Minho, and with this wine they hope to show the versatility of their Terroir. The wine owes its persistence to Pinot Noir and its elegance to Alvarinho. Soalheiro Mineral Rosé boasts minerality and a moderate alcohol content, without the intense sweetness often associated with rosés. It is the perfect companion for any occasion- by itself, at the bar, before and after a meal, or paired with the main course.
The ArnaldoRivera wines are a result of a collaboration between Terre del Barolo winery and a selection of their growers, with the aim to produce a range of top-quality wines, showcasing their best sites and highest quality fruit. In addition to their Nebbiolo-based wines, they also work with very small parcels of rare native grapes such as Pelaverga.
Pelaverga is native to Piedmont, this is a fragrant, floral red, with characteristic notes of white pepper and wild strawberries. The palate is fresh and delicate, with great structure and balance.
The Pormenor Branco wines are both sourced from higher-altitude vineyards in the village of Pombal, in the Northern Tua Valley. The 60 year old vines give freshness and minerality which Pedro enhances with partial use of stems during the fermentation and pressing.
It’s bottled young and vibrant, and it’s full fruit, medium body, and great freshness make it perfect for everyday mealtimes. A wonderful and interesting white.
A blend of several vintages, this wine shows Duckman’s link to the greatness of Bairrada’s Baga grape. The heritage of Joao Pato can be seen in this more classic style of baga, with dark cherry and berry fruit, pine resin spice, and a good smack of acidity.
A firm favourite, Umeshu is a liqueur made from plums, or “ume” in Japanese. Its sweet, fruity flavours make it a popular choice among many, with a full and bursting taste of plums, macerated in Ginjo sake for 6 months and aged for 2 years.
Fantastic balance, lovely mineral character and spice that will develop as it ages but drinking beautifully now.
Coming from 50 year old vines, this wine has a delicate nose of stone fruit and white flowers. The palate is pure and linear, with wonderful tension, leading to a pleasant round fullness with hints of white pears. The very mineral, almost saline finish is very typical of the limestone terroirs of the Mâconnais area. This is a very pure and expressive wine. We love it!
Château des Tours is a beautiful estate surrounded by its own vines. The Château itself dates back to the 14th Century and is the heart of the estate. During the harvest, as per tradition, an old bell is rung to signify the start of the day. This is a magnificent Gamay full of fruit, minerality and lingering tannins.
The Alvarinho grapes for this wine come from several small vineyards planted in granite soil, at high altitudes. This altitude maintains the freshness and aromatics in the wine.
Soalheiro’s vines are organically grown and environmental sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. We have been selling the wines of Soalheiro since the day we opened and they continue to amaze us every time we taste them. This sparkling Alvarinho is fruity, fresh and minerally with the perfect balance between acidity and alcohol.
Coming from the estate’s 35-year-old vines which are planted on the region’s revered Kimmeridgian soils, this imparts the wine with a driving mineral backbone which lifts the fruit and lingers ever so cleanly.
Floral notes of blossom and hawthorn, are joined by white fruits and a delicate minerality. A well-rounded, fresh, and enveloping palate with good concentration and length.
The Quaglia Italian Classics were created with the aim of rediscovering family recipes, handed down from generation to generation since the early twentieth century, drawn from the passion and experience of four generations. This Amaretto is made from an infusion of bitter almonds with alcohol, together with a selection of herbs and spices and sugar.
