Terra Alta's BEST Garnacha Blanca, as awarded 2019. Fans of white Burgundy will find pleasures old and new in this rich and complex wine from the up-and-coming Terra Alta region, inland from Barcelona. Fruit laden and floral on the nose, with graphite notes. The natural acidity has been retained, enabling the wine to be fresh and moreish rather than cumbersome and tiring on the palate, as seen in other Garnacha Blancas. From the century-old farm Benufet, located in Serra Xalamera, on calcareous, clayey soils, which are poor in organic matter. Grapes are manually harvested and selected then fermented in concrete barrels. Batonnage of fine lees for 2 months brings texture, depth, and a slight smokey hints. A final 'rest' in large, old oak brings the recipe together. A very gastronomic wine, with volume and poise. 

Bright peach, pear and lemon flavours are supported by an elegant flinty backbone and just a touch of spice in this pure and charming Austrian white, made with minimal intervention and employing biodynamic methods at a small family winery. So clean, precise and rivetting. A new favourite.

This is a real achievement in English winemaking. A textural and complex wine made with 15% Chardonnay blended into the Bacchus. The Bacchus brings Sauvignon-like aromatics of cut-grass and gooseberry, whilst the Chardonnay brings a little richness and depth. Fruit sourced from different vineyard sites brings further complexity.  A zesty wine, but with enough breadth and softness to keep well back from the 'austere and green' element of may English wines. The beautiful label evokes an English garden in summer, which is, arguably, what this wine tastes like. 

 Grapes are sourced from the Lugana and Peschiera del Garda areas (north-west of Verona). The grapes
are softly pressed with a short maceration on the skins and fermented at a low temperature in stainless
steel tanks. The wine rest for a few months in stainless steel before being bottled. A subtle and restrained white with delicate stone fruit and lightly nutty aromas. The palate is textural
with more nutty characters and good concentration, all beautifully balanced by peachy fruit, a dash of
lime, and taut acidity on the finish.

The vineyards of L'Enfant are owned and controlled by one family, and are located in the La Seca region of Rueda. Head-trained bush vines range in age from 35 to 55 years and are hand harvested.A dry, tasty and perfectly balanced wine. Bright and mouthwatering, typical of the Verdejo grape, but it is also rounded with plush volume. Falling somewhere between a Sancerre and a Chablis stylistically, but with more (very appealing) leesy character that brings a savoury, lactic weight. Superb concentration whislt retaining a lightness of foot. Moreish!Pairs well with rice dishes, white meat and fish.

Vineyards are in the Hautes Côtes, at the top of the slopes just above Domaine de la Motte's Chablis classified plots and so achieve good ripeness. The soil is Portlandian, which is less chalky than Kimmeridgian, and typically produces wines which are less mineral and more fruity, well suited to earlier drinking. Having said that, Motte’s wine has real finesse with good fruit character – very much their house style. Cool-fermented in stainless steel, malolactic fermentation is also in stainless steel and the wine is unoaked.

Fairly restrained on the nose, savoury herbs and citrus on the palate. Well balanced with a suggestion of "hot stone" minerality. Old school, lean, and steely.

A harmonious blend of Chardonnay & Carricante from the slope of Mt Etna.

Chardonnay has adapted well to the Sicilian pedo-climate in areas with significant temperature variability and without excessive heat, such as the mid to high hills and the slopes of Etna. In these conditions it matures gradually, improving its complexity and enriching the variety of its aromas.

Carricante, a rare vine which is native to Etna, is widespread at the highest altitudes of the volcano, where it achieves otherwise unattainable freshness. As a late variety, if grown as a small tree and properly vinified, it produces white wines of great stature, with a fresh and complex nose of apple, yellow fruits, orange blossom and anise, as well as a typical acidity that gives it structure and longevity. Harmonic, refreshingly acidic, with a finish of anise and almond. Wonderful stuff.

The lesser-known white grape of Burgundy, Aligote is a hidden gem that performs very similarly to Chardonnay in the glass, with rounded nutty tones, creamy notes and a fresh acidity. As classic Burgundy gets more expensive, Aligote offers brilliant value for money from the same terroirs. And terroir is what Burgundy is all about.

Sumptuous and refreshing and absolutely en-pointe for the coming months (cue; sunshine). Made from traditional Muscadet grape Melon de Bougogne, showing that trademark touch of salinity we know and love, enlivened with a touch of Sauvignon blanc for added ‘lift’ and aromatic quality. 

12% abv

Monte del Frà translates as ‘Hill of Monks’ and is in the heart of the Bianco di Custoza DOC. It now consists of over 65 hectares of vineyards is owned and run by brothers Eligio and Claudio Bonomo. It is one of the most progressive and dynamic producers in the region and has been particularly innovative in its adoption of modern viticultural techniques.

The Custoza Superiore "Cà del Magro" by Monte del Frà is a white wine with an extraordinary quality/price ratio. We are on the famous hill of Custoza above Lake Garda and just 15 km from the centre of Verona. Produced from a blend of local varieties (Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Cortese and Incrocio Manzoni), the wine is aged for 4 months in oak, giving its rich, opulent texture. It pairs well with fish, white meat, and Asian spice.

Very taut and with real zing, this northern outlier reflects the more skeletal form of its native Chablis, as opposed to the more familiar, richer expressions further south. The commune of Préhy is the only one in Chablis where the "Bourgogne" appellation is permitted. The principle reason relates to the subsoil (Portlandian rather than Kimmeridgian). Despite its lean profile, full malo has given this skeleton a luxury cashmere sweater that softens and rounds out those angled edges.

Biodynamically farmed and 100% organic. A delicious blend of Sauvignon Blanc 57%, Chenin Blanc 39%, Semillon 4%. The Sauvignon Blanc aromas are prominent on the nose, with beautiful lime and prickly pear notes. Intense flavours, with great balance. A tight mineral core and creamy mid palate from the Chenin Blanc allows for great complexity and a persistent finish. The Sauvignon Blanc lends lovely, fresh acidity to the wine. The wine is made as naturally as possible with no added acids or enzymes. Quite frankly this is really outstanding value for a wine from low yieding vines, hand picked and transported to vinification on pack horses!

This is a stunning Chardonnay. Bursting with Californian sunshine, this certainly doesn't hold back, in fact it reaches out and smothers you in a warm embrace! Wonderful ripe fruit flavours include orange, nectarine and ripe peach. There is a subtle spice and notes of hazlenut and honey. This will go really well with roast chicken and any butter cooked fish.

Monte del Frà translates as ‘Hill of Monks’ and is located in the heart of the Bianco di Custoza DOC. It now consists of over 65 hectares of vineyards is owned and run by brothers Eligio and Claudio Bonomo. It is one of the most progressive and dynamic producers in the region and has been particularly innovative in its adoption of modern viticultural techniques.

A fresh and aromatic white from near lake Garda, crafted with a blend of local grape varieties, namely Garganega (used in Soave), Cortese and Trebbianillo. Great with hors d'oeuvres and fish dishes.

Tasting Note:
Ripe stone fruits and exotic spice touches on the nose followed by a lightly waxy and slightly oily texture on the palate yet with a pleasingly clean finish

50% Procanico, 50% Grechetto

Mario Soldati used to define the Orvieto as “… unique and treacherous. Treacherous because nowadays the occasions to find the authentic one in great shape are significantly less numerous than the ones in which it is found altered and weakened … ” (Vino al Vino, 1975 trip).
“Tragugnano” unquestionably belongs to the group of the “less numerous”, that is the one of the “authentic” and “in great shape” Orvieto wines. It is a living testament to the winemaking tradition of the proud and placid Umbria, a land of mysticism and battles. Tasting it is like listening to an old traditional song in which every note is perfectly in its place, a song you never want it to end.

This is such a great Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. Absolutely classis Loire restraint and class. Crisp with medium acidity and lovely depth of ripe fruit flavours. The perfect mid week tipple.

Very bright yet ripe with plenty of citrus pith. Clean as a whistle, that lip smacking acidity will ensure that first bottle will disappear pretty quickly.

To say this wine is made from some of the world's best Chenin Blanc terroir is no overstatement, although only labelled an Anjou Blanc this is purely down to French wine politics. In fact, it comes from vineyards designated Charme for sweet wines that surround the famous Grand Cru Quarts de Chaume where some of the world's greatest sweet wines come from. Because this is a very rare dry wine from those vineyards it is not allowed to use those illustrious badges. Working biodynamically owner Vanessa Cherruau believes that really good dry Chenin Blancs can also be made from this top terroir, and so she has proved. Ripe aromas of peach, nectarine and apricot lead onto a medium-full bodied soft palate with honeyed notes and balanced acidity. This is an elegant wine that is really rather moreish.

 Only a very small amount of this wine is produced and after a lot of cajoling we have managed to snaffle a parcel! Produced from 60 year old vines this is a really intriguing wine from a declassified Marsannay vineyard.