Red Wine from Other Countries over £12.00 per bottle
Other Countries includes wines that did not have a country specified when we added them to our database - so may include countries originally listed in the menu.
Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz 75cl - £90.00
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £15.00 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz 75cl
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £15.00 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz 75cl
Barolo Rocca Ripalta 75cl - £91.14
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £15.19 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Barolo Rocca Ripalta 75cl
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £15.19 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Barolo Rocca Ripalta 75cl
Domaine Pere-Papite 2003 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Low-yielding vines at this small, family-owned estate on the region's famous plateau produce intensely rich, dark, flavoursome grapes, which were harvested at perfect ripeness to give a remarkably dense, complex Chateauneuf. Dark ruby, with rich aromas of fruit and spice. Multidimensional Chateauneuf that's delicious now, with roasts and rich dinner party fare.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Low-yielding vines at this small, family-owned estate on the region's famous plateau produce intensely rich, dark, flavoursome grapes, which were harvested at perfect ripeness to give a remarkably dense, complex Chateauneuf. Dark ruby, with rich aromas of fruit and spice. Multidimensional Chateauneuf that's delicious now, with roasts and rich dinner party fare.
Domaine du Vieux Calcernier 2005 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Brimful of the exuberant, spicy richness that crowns Chateauneuf-du-Pape King of Rhone reds, Domaine du Vieux Calcernier 2004 is a real and RARE treat. It is one of a handful of old-vine Chateauneufs that marries top-quality with a great price. Made by the De Courten family, proprietors for nearly 3 centuries, this wine comes from some of the region's oldest vines producing tiny quantities of super-concentrated fruit. Gorgeous deep ruby colour in the glass with captivating aromas of spicy red fruits and a mass of chewy, raspberry and spice flavours in the mouth. Decant an hour before serving to really 'wow' guests.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Brimful of the exuberant, spicy richness that crowns Chateauneuf-du-Pape King of Rhone reds, Domaine du Vieux Calcernier 2004 is a real and RARE treat. It is one of a handful of old-vine Chateauneufs that marries top-quality with a great price. Made by the De Courten family, proprietors for nearly 3 centuries, this wine comes from some of the region's oldest vines producing tiny quantities of super-concentrated fruit. Gorgeous deep ruby colour in the glass with captivating aromas of spicy red fruits and a mass of chewy, raspberry and spice flavours in the mouth. Decant an hour before serving to really 'wow' guests.
Fincas de Ganuza Reserva 1998 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Deliciously mature, lavishly oaked Reserva from the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region and the ''classic'' (John Radford) 1998 vintage. Rioja at its most complex.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Deliciously mature, lavishly oaked Reserva from the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region and the ''classic'' (John Radford) 1998 vintage. Rioja at its most complex.
Christian Moueix Lalande de Pomerol 2003 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Among the many leading names that recognise the good taste and loyalty of their followers is Christian Mouiex, owner and maker of Chateau Petrus - mature vintages of his superlative Bordeaux can reach #10,000 a case or more at auction. And as a reward for your loyalty, Monsieur Mouiex has made this special selection of Private Reserve clarets from 2003, a year in which ''some of the most famous names have produced stunning wines that are in considerable demand'' The Independent. Christian's winemaking philosophy is simple - ''I believe all wine should be made for the enjoyment of winelovers - whether the name is Petrus, Trotanoy, Magdelaine, or these my own pride and joy Private Reserves''. Deep purple with intense bramble fruit and cedar wood aromas. Dark fruit flavours, savoury notes and the irresistable charm of world class Pomerol.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Among the many leading names that recognise the good taste and loyalty of their followers is Christian Mouiex, owner and maker of Chateau Petrus - mature vintages of his superlative Bordeaux can reach #10,000 a case or more at auction. And as a reward for your loyalty, Monsieur Mouiex has made this special selection of Private Reserve clarets from 2003, a year in which ''some of the most famous names have produced stunning wines that are in considerable demand'' The Independent. Christian's winemaking philosophy is simple - ''I believe all wine should be made for the enjoyment of winelovers - whether the name is Petrus, Trotanoy, Magdelaine, or these my own pride and joy Private Reserves''. Deep purple with intense bramble fruit and cedar wood aromas. Dark fruit flavours, savoury notes and the irresistable charm of world class Pomerol.
Luis Ca?as Reserva de Familia 1999 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Classic Rioja from the multi award-winning, family-owned Bodegas Luis Ca?as set in the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region. The Bodega dates back to 1928, although the Luis Ca?as family have been growing vines for more than 2 centuries. The vines are on average 30 years old, low-yielding and consequently the fruit is intensely rich. The wine is aged in a blend of high-quality French and American oak for over a year - sufficient time to soften the fruit and add structure without dominating the ripe cherry flavours. Intense spice and oak on layers of velvety cherry fruit, and a slight hint of liquorice. Well balanced, lasting rich fruit flavours with smooth, round tannins, and an elegant, long, aromatic finish.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Classic Rioja from the multi award-winning, family-owned Bodegas Luis Ca?as set in the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region. The Bodega dates back to 1928, although the Luis Ca?as family have been growing vines for more than 2 centuries. The vines are on average 30 years old, low-yielding and consequently the fruit is intensely rich. The wine is aged in a blend of high-quality French and American oak for over a year - sufficient time to soften the fruit and add structure without dominating the ripe cherry flavours. Intense spice and oak on layers of velvety cherry fruit, and a slight hint of liquorice. Well balanced, lasting rich fruit flavours with smooth, round tannins, and an elegant, long, aromatic finish.
Poupille Laithwaite 2000 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This 2000 vintage claret - ''one of the greatest vintages Bordeaux has ever produced'' (Robert Parker) - is made from 100% Merlot by Philippe Carille, our good neighbour at Chateau Poupille. We then take the deliciously velvety, smooth wine and age it in expensive oak barriques our very own cellars to add depth and structure. Full of ripe plum and black berry fruit, with a delicious chocolatly roundness and a hint of toasty oak. Wonderful with traditional roasts.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This 2000 vintage claret - ''one of the greatest vintages Bordeaux has ever produced'' (Robert Parker) - is made from 100% Merlot by Philippe Carille, our good neighbour at Chateau Poupille. We then take the deliciously velvety, smooth wine and age it in expensive oak barriques our very own cellars to add depth and structure. Full of ripe plum and black berry fruit, with a delicious chocolatly roundness and a hint of toasty oak. Wonderful with traditional roasts.
The Black Stump Durif Shiraz Magnum 2006 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Black Stump is handcrafted by John Casella, who practises his 'dark art' behind closed doors at his family's remote estate. The wine owes its name to an Aussie expression meaning 'the back of beyond', but its remote origins has not stopped it from winning medals at prestigious competitions around the world. The 2006 vintage is guaranteed to delight more than ever! That's because extreme heat during the vintage ''slowed ripening ... and enhanced flavour intensity'' (Australian Wine Corporation), which pushed concentration to levels we never thought possible. Inky-black, brambly Durif is given a spicy, blueberry edge by dark chocolate Shiraz and sweet oak. Velvety, voluptuous, and irresistible served in generous glasses with char-grilled steak or Sunday roasts.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Black Stump is handcrafted by John Casella, who practises his 'dark art' behind closed doors at his family's remote estate. The wine owes its name to an Aussie expression meaning 'the back of beyond', but its remote origins has not stopped it from winning medals at prestigious competitions around the world. The 2006 vintage is guaranteed to delight more than ever! That's because extreme heat during the vintage ''slowed ripening ... and enhanced flavour intensity'' (Australian Wine Corporation), which pushed concentration to levels we never thought possible. Inky-black, brambly Durif is given a spicy, blueberry edge by dark chocolate Shiraz and sweet oak. Velvety, voluptuous, and irresistible served in generous glasses with char-grilled steak or Sunday roasts.
Luis Ca?as Reserva de Familia - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Classic Rioja from the multi award-winning, family-owned Bodegas Luis Ca?as set in the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region. The Bodega dates back to 1928, although the Luis Ca?as family have been growing vines for more than 2 centuries. The vines are on average 30 years old, low-yielding and consequently the fruit is intensely rich. The wine is aged in a blend of high-quality French and American oak for over a year - sufficient time to soften the fruit and add structure without dominating the ripe cherry flavours. Intense spice and oak on layers of velvety cherry fruit, and a slight hint of liquorice. Well balanced, lasting rich fruit flavours with smooth, round tannins, and an elegant, long, aromatic finish.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Classic Rioja from the multi award-winning, family-owned Bodegas Luis Ca?as set in the heart of Rioja's premium Alavesa region. The Bodega dates back to 1928, although the Luis Ca?as family have been growing vines for more than 2 centuries. The vines are on average 30 years old, low-yielding and consequently the fruit is intensely rich. The wine is aged in a blend of high-quality French and American oak for over a year - sufficient time to soften the fruit and add structure without dominating the ripe cherry flavours. Intense spice and oak on layers of velvety cherry fruit, and a slight hint of liquorice. Well balanced, lasting rich fruit flavours with smooth, round tannins, and an elegant, long, aromatic finish.
Chateau la Clariere Laithwaite 2005 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''When I was a student, picking grapes in Castillon, I dreamt of the day I'd see a serious fine wine with my name on the label. Still can't quite believe it! In four decades I've been grape growing in Castillon (bang next door to Saint-Emilion) I can't recall a finer vintage than 2005. It gave Jean-Marc - our Haut-Brion-trained winemaker - a near-perfect harvest of flavour-packed, old-vine Merlot to 'play with'. And boy has he done good! For extra body and structure, he added a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, before ageing the wine for a year in fine French oak. Imagine our delight when it won Gold at the Concours des Grands Vins de Macon - one of the top wine contests in all of France. Best thing is it's so affordable - a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently ''If it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Happily, the price tag isn't! Laithwaite's 2005 is dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. As a Laithwaite's customer you have exclusive access to this claret - and it's mighty fine if I do say so myself! Please hurry - there's very little to go round.'' - Tony Laithwaite
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''When I was a student, picking grapes in Castillon, I dreamt of the day I'd see a serious fine wine with my name on the label. Still can't quite believe it! In four decades I've been grape growing in Castillon (bang next door to Saint-Emilion) I can't recall a finer vintage than 2005. It gave Jean-Marc - our Haut-Brion-trained winemaker - a near-perfect harvest of flavour-packed, old-vine Merlot to 'play with'. And boy has he done good! For extra body and structure, he added a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, before ageing the wine for a year in fine French oak. Imagine our delight when it won Gold at the Concours des Grands Vins de Macon - one of the top wine contests in all of France. Best thing is it's so affordable - a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently ''If it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Happily, the price tag isn't! Laithwaite's 2005 is dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. As a Laithwaite's customer you have exclusive access to this claret - and it's mighty fine if I do say so myself! Please hurry - there's very little to go round.'' - Tony Laithwaite
Chateau du Bourg Laithwaite 2003 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau du Bourg seems quite an unassuming village house from the outside but on closer inspection you realise that every aspect of this flagship estate is finished to a very high specification. Not least of all the wine ... Hand-harvested, old vine Merlot fruit is pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The heat of the day is kept at bay by massively thick, centuries-old limestone walls of the chai. This is the sister wine to Laithwaite's La Clariere and displays the same, classic characteristics as fine Saint-Emilion - which after all is just a mile or two down the road. Deeply coloured and fragrant thanks to a massively ripe vintage. Full and smooth with juicy black fruit, a hint of liquorice and well-integrated clove-scented oak. No surprise this wine has scooped three top, internationally recognised Silver medals ...
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau du Bourg seems quite an unassuming village house from the outside but on closer inspection you realise that every aspect of this flagship estate is finished to a very high specification. Not least of all the wine ... Hand-harvested, old vine Merlot fruit is pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The heat of the day is kept at bay by massively thick, centuries-old limestone walls of the chai. This is the sister wine to Laithwaite's La Clariere and displays the same, classic characteristics as fine Saint-Emilion - which after all is just a mile or two down the road. Deeply coloured and fragrant thanks to a massively ripe vintage. Full and smooth with juicy black fruit, a hint of liquorice and well-integrated clove-scented oak. No surprise this wine has scooped three top, internationally recognised Silver medals ...
Christian Moueix Lalande de Pomerol 2005 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Exclusive fine wine bargain from 'Monsieur Merlot' Christian Moueix: the man who makes Chateau Petrus, ''the undisputed king of Pomerol and probably the most famous red wine in the world'' (Robert Parker). What's more, this seductively smooth, opulent claret was crafted in the majestic 2005 vintage, ''the best in 10, 50 ... even 100 years'' (Wine Spectator). Christian's father Jean-Pierre ''single-handedly established the reputation for Pomerol'' (Parker), now the world's most expensive appellation. Neighbouring Lalande de Pomerol was once an insider's tip for those seeking Pomerols chocolaty opulence and berry charm ... at a fraction of the price. However, ''today's Lalandes are of an equal quality to Pomerol, with the same opulent richness'' (Decanter) and prices now reflect that, unless you're an old friend of Christian! Deep, dark ruby colour, with seductive, smoky, red-berry aromas. Layers of ripe, velvety fruit fill the mouth - they call Christian 'Monsieur Merlot', and this is a beautifully smooth and rounded expression of the grape with classic Pomerol opulence. Partners roasts, and game dishes perfectly.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Exclusive fine wine bargain from 'Monsieur Merlot' Christian Moueix: the man who makes Chateau Petrus, ''the undisputed king of Pomerol and probably the most famous red wine in the world'' (Robert Parker). What's more, this seductively smooth, opulent claret was crafted in the majestic 2005 vintage, ''the best in 10, 50 ... even 100 years'' (Wine Spectator). Christian's father Jean-Pierre ''single-handedly established the reputation for Pomerol'' (Parker), now the world's most expensive appellation. Neighbouring Lalande de Pomerol was once an insider's tip for those seeking Pomerols chocolaty opulence and berry charm ... at a fraction of the price. However, ''today's Lalandes are of an equal quality to Pomerol, with the same opulent richness'' (Decanter) and prices now reflect that, unless you're an old friend of Christian! Deep, dark ruby colour, with seductive, smoky, red-berry aromas. Layers of ripe, velvety fruit fill the mouth - they call Christian 'Monsieur Merlot', and this is a beautifully smooth and rounded expression of the grape with classic Pomerol opulence. Partners roasts, and game dishes perfectly.
Chateau Haut Beychevelle Gloria 2001 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Keenly priced, well endowed 2nd wine of ''gloriously delicious Chateau Gloria'' (Robert Parker). At its velvety peak after 7 years' ageing ... and drinking beautifully.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Keenly priced, well endowed 2nd wine of ''gloriously delicious Chateau Gloria'' (Robert Parker). At its velvety peak after 7 years' ageing ... and drinking beautifully.
Jean Jacques Girard Domaine du Clos Magistere 2005 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Burgundy fans prize Savigny for offering very fine, very affordable Pinot Noir and Decanter's Steven Spurrier advises readers to ''look no further than Jean-Jacques Girard for splendid Savigny!'' But then his family has been making the stuff since 1529. Clos Magistere is a tiny vineyard next to Savigny Premier Cru. Jean-Jacques raves about the powerful raspberry character of its Pinot. Hauntingly fragrant, lovely texture and length. Delicious! To 2011.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Burgundy fans prize Savigny for offering very fine, very affordable Pinot Noir and Decanter's Steven Spurrier advises readers to ''look no further than Jean-Jacques Girard for splendid Savigny!'' But then his family has been making the stuff since 1529. Clos Magistere is a tiny vineyard next to Savigny Premier Cru. Jean-Jacques raves about the powerful raspberry character of its Pinot. Hauntingly fragrant, lovely texture and length. Delicious! To 2011.
Chateau du Bourg Laithwaite 2001 - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''In Bordeaux, lesser right-bank clarets from the Cotes de Castillon frequently knock the spots off swanky left-bank names'' says 'The Times'. Chateau de Bourg sister to 'La Clariere' lies in a particularly sheltered part of the village. The additional clay in the soil gives the fruit an extra dimension of silkiness and the old vines (some of them planted in 1890) makes glorious, concentrated wine. From the critically acclaimed 2001 vintage the wine gets the same high level of attention as every wine from 'La Clariere'. 80/20 Merlot Cabernet it spends 12 months in new oak developing complexity and great depth of flavour. Blackberry and mocha aromas followed by a dense mouthful of rich, ripe forest fruits. A sustained finish, with swathes of vanilla from the oak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''In Bordeaux, lesser right-bank clarets from the Cotes de Castillon frequently knock the spots off swanky left-bank names'' says 'The Times'. Chateau de Bourg sister to 'La Clariere' lies in a particularly sheltered part of the village. The additional clay in the soil gives the fruit an extra dimension of silkiness and the old vines (some of them planted in 1890) makes glorious, concentrated wine. From the critically acclaimed 2001 vintage the wine gets the same high level of attention as every wine from 'La Clariere'. 80/20 Merlot Cabernet it spends 12 months in new oak developing complexity and great depth of flavour. Blackberry and mocha aromas followed by a dense mouthful of rich, ripe forest fruits. A sustained finish, with swathes of vanilla from the oak.
Chateau La Clariere Laithwaite - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted by Jean-Marc Saboua - our Haut-Brion-trained winemaker - from a perfectly ripe harvest of old-vine Merlot - we couldn't be prouder of this delicious 1996 vintage! For extra body and structure, Jean-Marc added a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, before ageing the wine for a year in fine French oak. And what a result! Succulent and rich with bags of fruit-laden flavour. Best thing is it's affordable too ... a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently, ''if it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. Excellent on it's own or with roast beef and hearty stews.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted by Jean-Marc Saboua - our Haut-Brion-trained winemaker - from a perfectly ripe harvest of old-vine Merlot - we couldn't be prouder of this delicious 1996 vintage! For extra body and structure, Jean-Marc added a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, before ageing the wine for a year in fine French oak. And what a result! Succulent and rich with bags of fruit-laden flavour. Best thing is it's affordable too ... a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently, ''if it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. Excellent on it's own or with roast beef and hearty stews.
Chateau du Bourg Laithwaite - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''In Bordeaux, lesser right-bank clarets from the Cotes de Castillon frequently knock the spots off swanky left-bank names'' says 'The Times'. Chateau de Bourg sister to 'La Clariere' lies in a particularly sheltered part of the village. The additional clay in the soil gives the fruit an extra dimension of silkiness and the old vines (some of them planted in 1890) makes glorious, concentrated wine. From the critically acclaimed 2001 vintage the wine gets the same high level of attention as every wine from 'La Clariere'. 80/20 Merlot Cabernet it spends 12 months in new oak developing complexity and great depth of flavour. Blackberry and mocha aromas followed by a dense mouthful of rich, ripe forest fruits. A sustained finish, with swathes of vanilla from the oak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''In Bordeaux, lesser right-bank clarets from the Cotes de Castillon frequently knock the spots off swanky left-bank names'' says 'The Times'. Chateau de Bourg sister to 'La Clariere' lies in a particularly sheltered part of the village. The additional clay in the soil gives the fruit an extra dimension of silkiness and the old vines (some of them planted in 1890) makes glorious, concentrated wine. From the critically acclaimed 2001 vintage the wine gets the same high level of attention as every wine from 'La Clariere'. 80/20 Merlot Cabernet it spends 12 months in new oak developing complexity and great depth of flavour. Blackberry and mocha aromas followed by a dense mouthful of rich, ripe forest fruits. A sustained finish, with swathes of vanilla from the oak.
Chateau du Bourg Laithwaite - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau du Bourg seems quite an unassuming village house from the outside but on closer inspection you realise that every aspect of this flagship estate is finished to a very high specification. Not least of all the wine ... Hand-harvested, old vine Merlot fruit is pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The heat of the day is kept at bay by massively thick, centuries-old limestone walls of the chai. This is the sister wine to Laithwaite's La Clariere and displays the same, classic characteristics as fine Saint-Emilion - which after all is just a mile or two down the road. Deeply coloured and fragrant thanks to a massively ripe vintage. Full and smooth with juicy black fruit, a hint of liquorice and well-integrated clove-scented oak. No surprise this wine has scooped three top, internationally recognised Silver medals ...
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau du Bourg seems quite an unassuming village house from the outside but on closer inspection you realise that every aspect of this flagship estate is finished to a very high specification. Not least of all the wine ... Hand-harvested, old vine Merlot fruit is pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The heat of the day is kept at bay by massively thick, centuries-old limestone walls of the chai. This is the sister wine to Laithwaite's La Clariere and displays the same, classic characteristics as fine Saint-Emilion - which after all is just a mile or two down the road. Deeply coloured and fragrant thanks to a massively ripe vintage. Full and smooth with juicy black fruit, a hint of liquorice and well-integrated clove-scented oak. No surprise this wine has scooped three top, internationally recognised Silver medals ...
Chateau la Clariere Laithwaite - £15.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''Chateau La Clariere Laithwaite ... leading estate in the Cotes de Castillon'' (Decanter) - not bad for a chap who started out in a van from underneath a railway arch! The excellent 2004 vintage was lavished with paternal care and attention ... tiny yields, hand harvesting and the best French oak (to our accountant's horror!) produce super ripe berry fruit flavours with hints of spice and cassis. Best thing is it's so affordable - a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently, ''if it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Happily, the price tag isn't! Dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. Excellent on its own or with roast beef and hearty stews.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''Chateau La Clariere Laithwaite ... leading estate in the Cotes de Castillon'' (Decanter) - not bad for a chap who started out in a van from underneath a railway arch! The excellent 2004 vintage was lavished with paternal care and attention ... tiny yields, hand harvesting and the best French oak (to our accountant's horror!) produce super ripe berry fruit flavours with hints of spice and cassis. Best thing is it's so affordable - a real poke in the eye to our illustrious neighbours. Because as Wine International wrote recently, ''if it wasn't for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same''. Happily, the price tag isn't! Dark and smooth with deeply concentrated ripe, rich black fruit. Toasty vanilla flavours give way to deeper, more complex violet, plum and damson. Excellent on its own or with roast beef and hearty stews.