Austria - Recent Arrivals

We have just received new shipments from Wieninger, Vienna and Angerer, in Kamptal - 2007 is an excellent vintage for white wines in most of Austria.

Burgundy En Primeur 2006

After the huge demand and high universal quality of the 2005 vintage, we now have the follow-up; let's get this straight: 2006 is NOT another 2005. it is not of the same universally high quality, although there are some very good wines that in some cases are the equal of and maybe even surpass those of 2005. THE VINTAGE 2005 was perfect and easily managed - it was just a case of deciding when to harvest. 2006 was considerably more complicated: following a late flowering in ideal conditions, June was dry and sunny, while July was very hot and dry. A hailstorm at the end of July complicated matters, causing considerable damage around Chambolle and Gevrey. However, August was the real problem month, being cool and wet, but thankfully the region was blessed with a marvellous September. Still, even with drying winds from the north, rot...

Comte Lafon

Little introduction is needed for Comte Lafon, arguably the finest producer of Meursault there is. Our allocation is its typically atom-sized so attempting to find the best way to sell them all fairly is hard. We have decided to just offer the 2005 Meursault's as a mixed dozen, and there are only 2 available! We do have a good selection of his outstanding reds available to buy under bond.

Dog Point, New Zealand Pre-Release

We are delighted to offer these stunning which we have sold out every year since their 2002 debut. Since the debut 2002 vintage, ex-Cloudy Bay winemakers James Healy and Ivan Sutherland have been fashioning some of Marlborough’s finest wines under their label Dog Point and the 2006's are consistently excellent and may be the best yet. . Sadly our alloctaions are tiny. We are also offering 5% off 12 bottles mixed in any split - please call to order that way.

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Gaja 'Conteisa' & 'Sperss' 2004 + Rossj-Bass & Gaja & Rey Offer

Angelo has produced scintillating 2004s and we can now complete the set with a first time offer with the two legendary single vineyard wines, Sperss & Conteisa. For those unfamiliar with the wines, Sperss & Conteisa hail from the communes of Serralunga and La Morra in the Barolo production zone. As with their equivalents in Barbaresco, Angelo has long since dropped the commune name as he prefers to be able to add a little Barbera into the wine, a practice that does not conform to the rules and regulations of the DOCG for Barolo. Such an approach is typical of Angelo’s independent streak, a characteristic that has enabled him throughout his long career to consistently push the boundaries and to challenge the status quo, with the end result of dragging Piedmont back to the top of the quality charts and establishing iconic wines that are...

Harlan & Bond 2004 Pre Release

We are delighted to make a pre-release offer of the 2004 vintage wines from Harlan Estate and Bond. Both have produced stunning 2004s, from an excellent, warm growing season. The wines are relatively forward and will drink well early on, but have the necessary attributes and balance to improve for years to come. PLEASE NOTE THAT HARLAN MUST BE PURCHASED IN COMBINATION WITH BOND. The wines will be shipped in the cool of the Autumn

International Wine Challenge 2008

Another massive competition, and the most professionally run yet in my opinion. The results have been announced, and of most interest the Trophy winners. Of over 9000 wines entered, just 267 received a gold medal, and of those only 90 went on to be awarded one or more of the 116 Trophies awarded. The following wines are all Trophy winners that we currently stock or are about to stock - they are very fine wines and well worth a go - we think the International Wine Challenge throws up some great wines, and this is an excellent way to choose some new wines. All the wines are offered at a 10% discounted case price, and by the bottle - alternatively, select a mixed 12 bottles (or more) yoirself and we'll apply a 10% discount. Keep checking the website as more wines will be added as they are tasted and become available.

Isabel Estate New Zealand New Releases

We have pleasure in offering these delicious new releases from Isabel Estate in Marlborough, who have long produced some of Marlborough's best wines. We have not tasted the wines yet but the winemakers notes are available on the website www.nywines.co.uk - click on New Releases and find Isabel. The wines are due March.

Jim Barry Australia, New Releases Offer

Some stunning wines here. We are delighted to have the McRae Wood Museum Release Shiraz, the 1998 was really popular and the new 1999 is considerably better. Also The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2006, fresher and better than the super ripe 2005. Lastly ‘The Florita’ Riesling, from very old vines.

Kracher Collection 1998 - 10 Years Later

In 1996 the late Alois Kracher started a program called Kracher 10 years on keeping back 15% of Trockenbeerenauslese production. This was released late in 2005. As the Kracher’s say “For our wine friends – and for ourselves as well - the development of our own particular style of TBA wines should not only be documented, but must actually be proven“ 1998 was the third great vintage of the 1990’s. 1995 and 1991 the others. It’s a year that produced rich wines. Botrytis was plentiful and early making for sensational quality. These are now firmly into the secondary stage. The wines have settled down becoming richer, more honeyed and rounder. However you will still be able to drink most of these in another 10 years. Prices are remarkably fair despite the pounds weakness against the Euro. The quality of these wines is unbelievable and is...

Pacific Northwest USA Pre-Arrival Offer

In early March this year I spent 8 days touring the wine regions of Oregon, and Washington State. It was a fantastic trip. I tried some fabulous wines and met some great people. Both regions were typified by having really friendly wineries, genuine people with passion but also respect for their fellow wineries and a real collective spirit. Oregon is a really lovely region. Rolling hills and spectacular mountains in the distance. It’s a very clean, quite rural, agricultural place. The emphasis is on sustainable farming, and there is a move to organic and even biodynamic practices. Oregon really exhibited a sense of place. Specialising in Pinot Noir, with Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling being the main white varieties. For years we have heard of Oregon as being the ‘next big thing’ when it comes to Pinot Noir, but in reality we, in...

Penfolds Premium Wines New Releases Offer

A chance to grab some of the best wines Penfolds offers, with the always spectacular Grange included. Allocations will be confirmed at the end of this month hopefully.

Peter Lehmann 'Stonewell' Shiraz, Australia Offer

We are delighted to be doing an offer on one of Australia’s icon Shiraz, and a wine that has a great track record of aging. First made in 1987 it has become a much lauded and awarded wine. Stonewell comes from a number of low yielding old vine vineyards. Every year it is just the finest lots of Shiraz that are used to make Stonewell. Here we are doing an offer on the brand new 2002, which may be the best yet. 2002 was a long cool vintage and has produced a stunning complex wine. We also are doing an offer on the delicious Gold Medal winning 2001. The real feature here is a marvellous six pack of 'Stonewell’ which of course can easily be a ‘Twelve Pack!’ We also have a very small quantity of Stonewell 1989 Magnums available £99 each This wine approaching full maturity swept the board domestically. Winning the prestigious Jimmy...

Rhone 2006 En Primeur

Customers who value classic, pure, sensual, balanced, "European" wines with clearly defined terroir characters, will derive enormous pleasure from the 2006 vintage from both the Northern and Southern Rhone. After a very hot June and July, producers could have been forgiven for thinking that they were going to be faced with another 2003 vintage. However, August was cool and dry and when some welcome light showers fell in early September, any hydric stress was alleviated and the sugar and phenolic levels were able to develop evenly. In the north, Syrah was very successful and some wonderful, classic wines have been produced. The whites are rich and concentrated, with fine aromatic freshness and good acidity. The Southern Rhone has produced some fantastic wines, combining all of the attributes of the 2004 and 2005 vintages. It was...

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia & Guidalberto Offer

The Tenuta San Guido estate lies close to the coast some 100 kilometres south of Pisa. It combines a unique patch work of soils, altitudes and varietals to produce one of the world’s greatest and most individual wines. Operating under organic principles, strict vineyard selection and minimal handling Sassicaia (and equally for its baby brother Guidalberto) is a natural wine highly expressive of its terroir and grape origins. For example, it is firm policy that only a maximum of 30% new oak will ever be used on Sassicaia in a vintage and aging in cask is restrained in order to promote greater development in bottle. The wines are due at the end of July

Zind-Humbrecht 2006 Pre-Release

Another year, and another vintage that has no comparison in the past! 2006 will be remembered as vintage of extremes. The specific climate, not always easy, has shaped up wines with strong character and various styles. Most people do not realize that in fact, end of September, grapes actually were riper in 2006 than in 2005! If some grapes were sometimes not ripe enough in 2006, it was always the result of poor viticulture and bad decisions. The weather was complicated and did put more pressure on wineries, but it was possible to obtain high quality grapes. April and May were wet and cold, June and July extremely hot and dry, allowing an early development of the vines and a fast growth. Harvest was forecasted to be very early. Thanks to the spring rainfalls, there was no drought in 2006, even though lots of winegrowers feared a...