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.
Chapoutier Les Meysonniers 2005 - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Old vines (between 40 and 60 years) make all the difference here. And with punching down of grape skins into the fermenting juice, twice a day, full yet gentle extraction has been achieved: it's a deep coloured, aromatic and beautifully balanced wine. A worthy younger brother for La Sizeranne. Drink 2007-2015
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Old vines (between 40 and 60 years) make all the difference here. And with punching down of grape skins into the fermenting juice, twice a day, full yet gentle extraction has been achieved: it's a deep coloured, aromatic and beautifully balanced wine. A worthy younger brother for La Sizeranne. Drink 2007-2015
Chateau L'Etoile de Viaud 2005 - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The vineyards of Chateau L'Etoile de Viaud lie close to Pomerol (home to some of the world's most expensive reds - Petrus, Le Pin etc) and enjoy a similar superb terroir. Very low yields of Merlot are grown here by the Chevalier family, whose fine estate wins regular plaudits in La Revue du Vin de France, and their claret boasts a sumptuous palate of layered, velvety damson. It confirms Robert Parker's opinion that the best Lalandes rival good Pomerol. Pure, deep and concentrated with copious black fruit flavours, chocolaty notes and a gorgeous, chewy texture. Like most 2005s it will drink beautifully on release but will continue to develop.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The vineyards of Chateau L'Etoile de Viaud lie close to Pomerol (home to some of the world's most expensive reds - Petrus, Le Pin etc) and enjoy a similar superb terroir. Very low yields of Merlot are grown here by the Chevalier family, whose fine estate wins regular plaudits in La Revue du Vin de France, and their claret boasts a sumptuous palate of layered, velvety damson. It confirms Robert Parker's opinion that the best Lalandes rival good Pomerol. Pure, deep and concentrated with copious black fruit flavours, chocolaty notes and a gorgeous, chewy texture. Like most 2005s it will drink beautifully on release but will continue to develop.
Don Cayetano Carmenere (magnum) 2007 - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Delightfully smooth, plummy and moreish, native Bordeaux variety Carmenere was mistaken in Chile for Merlot until the 1990s due to its rarity, but since its rediscovery, it has gone from strength to strength. The abundance of sunshine in Chile's Colchagua Valley allows the grape to thrive ... combined with the expertise of Luis Felipe Edwards and his team at Don Cayetano - ''one of Colchagua Valley's strongest projects (Wine International) - the resulting wines are deliciously full yet soft, bursting with ripe, dark fruit flavours. Rich and smooth, with plenty of red and black berry fruit flavours which linger on and on ... finishing with a hint of spic, this great value red is a winner with garlic-roasted lamb, spicy empanadas (a Chilean version of pastie) ... or simply enjoy on its own!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Delightfully smooth, plummy and moreish, native Bordeaux variety Carmenere was mistaken in Chile for Merlot until the 1990s due to its rarity, but since its rediscovery, it has gone from strength to strength. The abundance of sunshine in Chile's Colchagua Valley allows the grape to thrive ... combined with the expertise of Luis Felipe Edwards and his team at Don Cayetano - ''one of Colchagua Valley's strongest projects (Wine International) - the resulting wines are deliciously full yet soft, bursting with ripe, dark fruit flavours. Rich and smooth, with plenty of red and black berry fruit flavours which linger on and on ... finishing with a hint of spic, this great value red is a winner with garlic-roasted lamb, spicy empanadas (a Chilean version of pastie) ... or simply enjoy on its own!
Chateau Les Moines Medoc 2000 - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Outstanding millennium vintage of this award-winning claret. Family-owned since 1956, Chateau les Moines is located alongside top estates near the Gironde. Current owner and winemaker Claude Pourreau has an enviable reputation in Bordeaux and has won countless awards for his wine, including a top Gold-medal for this vintage! Perfectly mature with abundant cassis, cherry and menthol notes. Deep and complex, this silken claret is highly concentrated with bags of ripe fruit character. Delicious with lamb chops or mature cheeses.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Outstanding millennium vintage of this award-winning claret. Family-owned since 1956, Chateau les Moines is located alongside top estates near the Gironde. Current owner and winemaker Claude Pourreau has an enviable reputation in Bordeaux and has won countless awards for his wine, including a top Gold-medal for this vintage! Perfectly mature with abundant cassis, cherry and menthol notes. Deep and complex, this silken claret is highly concentrated with bags of ripe fruit character. Delicious with lamb chops or mature cheeses.
Chateau la Clariere Laithwaite - £12.99
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! 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 fantastic 2001 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 - absolutely delicious! ''Bright garnet hue, dark fruit aromas and flavour, medium-bodied, well-judged extraction of fruit. Firm, fresh finish. '' (Decanter)
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! 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 fantastic 2001 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 - absolutely delicious! ''Bright garnet hue, dark fruit aromas and flavour, medium-bodied, well-judged extraction of fruit. Firm, fresh finish. '' (Decanter)
Muritai Pinot Noir - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''At its best New Zealand Pinot compares very favourably with Premier Cru Burgundy'' (Scotland on Sunday) ... and look at the price of this exquisite 2006. It's made on a very small scale by Jon Harrey and his family at the Te Mania winery in Nelson. Nelson vies with Marlborough in having the highest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand and with warm days and cool nights to boot, its perfect for growing quality Pinot Noir fruit. This excellent Pinot is named Muritai after the cooling sea breeze which refreshes the vineyards of Nelson. Rich, ripe raspberry character - very smooth and moreish. Serve with roast chicken, veal, tuna steaks.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''At its best New Zealand Pinot compares very favourably with Premier Cru Burgundy'' (Scotland on Sunday) ... and look at the price of this exquisite 2006. It's made on a very small scale by Jon Harrey and his family at the Te Mania winery in Nelson. Nelson vies with Marlborough in having the highest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand and with warm days and cool nights to boot, its perfect for growing quality Pinot Noir fruit. This excellent Pinot is named Muritai after the cooling sea breeze which refreshes the vineyards of Nelson. Rich, ripe raspberry character - very smooth and moreish. Serve with roast chicken, veal, tuna steaks.
Chateau Muret Haut Medoc 1999 - £12.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Bordeaux fans take note. It's not every day we can offer you beautifully mature, nine-year-old claret of such acclaimed quality ... and at such a bargain price! Chateau Muret 1999 is plum-drenched Merlot and silky, cassis-rich Cabernet from some of the best vineyards in the Haut-Medoc (they overlook #40-a-bottle Chateau Sociando-Mallet), aged a year in fine French oak ... and now drinking perfectly after a further eight years in bottle. France's wine bible Le Guide Hachette was so impressed with its ''powerful and long finish'', they awarded it their highest honour - a Coup de Coeur! Only 5% of any vintage wines receive such an accolade. Classic cassis, plums, spice box and tobacco with great body, structure and elegance. A textbook mature claret, drinking perfectly now or for years to come!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Bordeaux fans take note. It's not every day we can offer you beautifully mature, nine-year-old claret of such acclaimed quality ... and at such a bargain price! Chateau Muret 1999 is plum-drenched Merlot and silky, cassis-rich Cabernet from some of the best vineyards in the Haut-Medoc (they overlook #40-a-bottle Chateau Sociando-Mallet), aged a year in fine French oak ... and now drinking perfectly after a further eight years in bottle. France's wine bible Le Guide Hachette was so impressed with its ''powerful and long finish'', they awarded it their highest honour - a Coup de Coeur! Only 5% of any vintage wines receive such an accolade. Classic cassis, plums, spice box and tobacco with great body, structure and elegance. A textbook mature claret, drinking perfectly now or for years to come!
El Bombero (Magnum) 2005 - £13.15
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Never mind El Cid, Spain's other legend is back and this time in double-the-fun, 1.5 litre magnums! El Bombero's army of fans have waited eagerly for the 2005 vintage in large format bottles so now doubt there will now be a rush for the 'order button'. Don't hang about! It's the ancient Garnacha vines of remote Cari?ena, their lower-than-Grand-Cru-Burgundy yields (fewer grapes, more concentration of flavour) and the sheer brilliance of winemaker Javier Domecque that provide 'El Bomb' with its rich, velvety fruit and power. Red berry, bramble and raspberry aromas with extravagantly mouthfilling blackberry and plum flavours. Deliciously warm and smooth thanks to its exceptional 15% volume.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Never mind El Cid, Spain's other legend is back and this time in double-the-fun, 1.5 litre magnums! El Bombero's army of fans have waited eagerly for the 2005 vintage in large format bottles so now doubt there will now be a rush for the 'order button'. Don't hang about! It's the ancient Garnacha vines of remote Cari?ena, their lower-than-Grand-Cru-Burgundy yields (fewer grapes, more concentration of flavour) and the sheer brilliance of winemaker Javier Domecque that provide 'El Bomb' with its rich, velvety fruit and power. Red berry, bramble and raspberry aromas with extravagantly mouthfilling blackberry and plum flavours. Deliciously warm and smooth thanks to its exceptional 15% volume.
Chateau Bellegrave du Poujeau 2003 - £13.19
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
A special oak aged cuvee from the Cantelaube family's tiny 10ha property situated in the south of the Haut Medoc. From the heatwave 2003 vintage, which brought rich flavour to wines from the Right Bank, this elegant claret is rich and complex. Ripe, succulent red fruit and bramble flavours complemented by toasty oak and a long, elegant finish. Enjoy with pheasant, lamb and wild mushrooms.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
A special oak aged cuvee from the Cantelaube family's tiny 10ha property situated in the south of the Haut Medoc. From the heatwave 2003 vintage, which brought rich flavour to wines from the Right Bank, this elegant claret is rich and complex. Ripe, succulent red fruit and bramble flavours complemented by toasty oak and a long, elegant finish. Enjoy with pheasant, lamb and wild mushrooms.
Ross Estate Shiraz 2004 - £13.19
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Utterly indulgent, blockbuster Shiraz that's packed with masses of silky smooth bramble flavour, bathed in spicy oak. But you'd expect nothing less from Rod Chapman, the legend behind Australia's most famous red, #100-a-bottle Penfold's Grange! Ross Estate is based in the sun-drenched plains of the famous Barossa valley. Blessed with a scorching hot climate, ancient bush vines and a long winemaking history - Barossa is Australia's prime region for top class reds like this. Dark and dense, this luxurious Shiraz shows a magnificent display of aged, spicy characteristics. Brimming with mouthfilling cassis, coffee and chocolate flavours - it would be the perfect partner to char-grilled steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Utterly indulgent, blockbuster Shiraz that's packed with masses of silky smooth bramble flavour, bathed in spicy oak. But you'd expect nothing less from Rod Chapman, the legend behind Australia's most famous red, #100-a-bottle Penfold's Grange! Ross Estate is based in the sun-drenched plains of the famous Barossa valley. Blessed with a scorching hot climate, ancient bush vines and a long winemaking history - Barossa is Australia's prime region for top class reds like this. Dark and dense, this luxurious Shiraz shows a magnificent display of aged, spicy characteristics. Brimming with mouthfilling cassis, coffee and chocolate flavours - it would be the perfect partner to char-grilled steak.
Ross Estate Shiraz - £13.19
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Utterly indulgent, blockbuster Shiraz that's packed with masses of silky smooth bramble flavour, bathed in spicy oak. But you'd expect nothing less from Rod Chapman, the legend behind Australia's most famous red, #100-a-bottle Penfold's Grange! Ross Estate is based in the sun-drenched plains of the famous Barossa valley. Blessed with a scorching hot climate, ancient bush vines and a long winemaking history - Barossa is Australia's prime region for top class reds like this. Dark and dense, this luxurious Shiraz shows a magnificent display of aged, spicy characteristics. Brimming with mouthfilling cassis, coffee and chocolate flavours - it would be the perfect partner to char-grilled steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Utterly indulgent, blockbuster Shiraz that's packed with masses of silky smooth bramble flavour, bathed in spicy oak. But you'd expect nothing less from Rod Chapman, the legend behind Australia's most famous red, #100-a-bottle Penfold's Grange! Ross Estate is based in the sun-drenched plains of the famous Barossa valley. Blessed with a scorching hot climate, ancient bush vines and a long winemaking history - Barossa is Australia's prime region for top class reds like this. Dark and dense, this luxurious Shiraz shows a magnificent display of aged, spicy characteristics. Brimming with mouthfilling cassis, coffee and chocolate flavours - it would be the perfect partner to char-grilled steak.
Chateau la Begude 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Next door to Chateauneuf, Gigondas - ''the powerlifter of French reds'' (The Independent) - makes the Rhone's richest, most warming reds. And at this Parker-rated, 300-year-old estate, Edmond Guigues uses classic Chateauneuf grapes for mouthfilling, brambly results. Guests will love it (if you're kind enough to let them)!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Next door to Chateauneuf, Gigondas - ''the powerlifter of French reds'' (The Independent) - makes the Rhone's richest, most warming reds. And at this Parker-rated, 300-year-old estate, Edmond Guigues uses classic Chateauneuf grapes for mouthfilling, brambly results. Guests will love it (if you're kind enough to let them)!
Chateau Gardour 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Hugely sort-after 2005 has been described as ''the best vintage in 10, 50 ... even 100 years'' (Decanter). This superb Lalande de Pomerol is filled with velvety damson flavours and complex oak characters.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Hugely sort-after 2005 has been described as ''the best vintage in 10, 50 ... even 100 years'' (Decanter). This superb Lalande de Pomerol is filled with velvety damson flavours and complex oak characters.
Muritai Pinot Noir 2006 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''At its best New Zealand Pinot compares very favourably with Premier Cru Burgundy'' (Scotland on Sunday) ... and look at the price of this exquisite 2006. It's made on a very small scale by Jon Harrey and his family at the Te Mania winery in Nelson. Nelson vies with Marlborough in having the highest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand and with warm days and cool nights to boot, its perfect for growing quality Pinot Noir fruit. This excellent Pinot is named Muritai after the cooling sea breeze which refreshes the vineyards of Nelson. Rich, ripe raspberry character - very smooth and moreish. Serve with roast chicken, veal, tuna steaks.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''At its best New Zealand Pinot compares very favourably with Premier Cru Burgundy'' (Scotland on Sunday) ... and look at the price of this exquisite 2006. It's made on a very small scale by Jon Harrey and his family at the Te Mania winery in Nelson. Nelson vies with Marlborough in having the highest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand and with warm days and cool nights to boot, its perfect for growing quality Pinot Noir fruit. This excellent Pinot is named Muritai after the cooling sea breeze which refreshes the vineyards of Nelson. Rich, ripe raspberry character - very smooth and moreish. Serve with roast chicken, veal, tuna steaks.
Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz 2004 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Here's proof from the Sheedy family that if you only make a little wine (4,000 cases a year) you can ensure it's fantastic! Traditionally fermented and barrel aged for 2 years, the 2004 Dry Bore has ''beautiful texture ... loads of blackberry and cassis fruit with hints of pepper and chocolate'' (Parker).
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Here's proof from the Sheedy family that if you only make a little wine (4,000 cases a year) you can ensure it's fantastic! Traditionally fermented and barrel aged for 2 years, the 2004 Dry Bore has ''beautiful texture ... loads of blackberry and cassis fruit with hints of pepper and chocolate'' (Parker).
Chateau Monturon 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Astonishing find! A beautifully crafted Saint-Emilion Grand Cru at a very reasonable price - especially considering its credentials. For starters, the estate's vines lie directly opposite those of #40-a-bottle Chateau Monbousquet. The quality of the terroir is first class. The wine is 100% Merlot, hand-harvested from rare 55-year-old vines so offers fabulous concentration and impressive, rounded structure typical of this most noble Saint-Emilion variety. As for expertise and experience, no one can question the Saby family who have been working the vineyards here for 10 generations. One third of the wine was barrel-aged for 15 months in a mix of old and new oak. The result is a spectacularly rich and smooth claret with deep colour and classic plum, blackberry and liquorice character. In a year of fierce competition, it managed a Bronze medal at the International Wine Challenge in London - a great achievement!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Astonishing find! A beautifully crafted Saint-Emilion Grand Cru at a very reasonable price - especially considering its credentials. For starters, the estate's vines lie directly opposite those of #40-a-bottle Chateau Monbousquet. The quality of the terroir is first class. The wine is 100% Merlot, hand-harvested from rare 55-year-old vines so offers fabulous concentration and impressive, rounded structure typical of this most noble Saint-Emilion variety. As for expertise and experience, no one can question the Saby family who have been working the vineyards here for 10 generations. One third of the wine was barrel-aged for 15 months in a mix of old and new oak. The result is a spectacularly rich and smooth claret with deep colour and classic plum, blackberry and liquorice character. In a year of fierce competition, it managed a Bronze medal at the International Wine Challenge in London - a great achievement!
Les Mines 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
World-famous wine expert Robert Parker writes of Priorat that it was ''an historic but forgotten region until twenty years ago'' when a ''new wave'' of winemakers claimed back the region's hillside vineyards and began to carve out a reputation for its rich, deeply fruited wines. The secret to Priorat's recent success is its soil, which is not really soil at all but a dense slate and quartz mix called ''Llicorella''. Years ago, this tough, mineral-rich land was mined - hence the name 'Les Mines' - but this rugged terroir also proves perfect for growing grapes ... the vines have to struggle through it to find moisture, and in doing so pick up traces of mineral and nutrients that help the grapes achieve such intense flavours. A complex blend of Garnacha, Carignan and Merlot, Les Mines counts Hugh Johnson among its many fans: ''deep-coloured and flavoured like spicy plums, roundly fills the mouth, then tweaks the palate with juicy freshness. A bargain for a region in high demand. Excellent.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
World-famous wine expert Robert Parker writes of Priorat that it was ''an historic but forgotten region until twenty years ago'' when a ''new wave'' of winemakers claimed back the region's hillside vineyards and began to carve out a reputation for its rich, deeply fruited wines. The secret to Priorat's recent success is its soil, which is not really soil at all but a dense slate and quartz mix called ''Llicorella''. Years ago, this tough, mineral-rich land was mined - hence the name 'Les Mines' - but this rugged terroir also proves perfect for growing grapes ... the vines have to struggle through it to find moisture, and in doing so pick up traces of mineral and nutrients that help the grapes achieve such intense flavours. A complex blend of Garnacha, Carignan and Merlot, Les Mines counts Hugh Johnson among its many fans: ''deep-coloured and flavoured like spicy plums, roundly fills the mouth, then tweaks the palate with juicy freshness. A bargain for a region in high demand. Excellent.''
The Homestead Barrel Aged Shiraz 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Big and juicy with waves of plump blackberry fruit underpinned by hints of spice, smoke and liquorice. ''Australia's best Shiraz comes from Victoria'' (Decanter) ... better still: ''an outstanding 5-star winery'' (James Halliday) is behind this mighty offering - their wines normally sell around the #20 a bottle mark. Then there's the year - ''2005 is the vintage of the century'' says Aussie guru Huon Hooke.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Big and juicy with waves of plump blackberry fruit underpinned by hints of spice, smoke and liquorice. ''Australia's best Shiraz comes from Victoria'' (Decanter) ... better still: ''an outstanding 5-star winery'' (James Halliday) is behind this mighty offering - their wines normally sell around the #20 a bottle mark. Then there's the year - ''2005 is the vintage of the century'' says Aussie guru Huon Hooke.
Miranda Leone Barossa Valley Shiraz 2006 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Barossa Shiraz is one of the world's most iconic wines - big, brooding, blockbuster reds often with similarly bruising price tags, up to #50-a-bottle! So this exceptional value beauty from the ''very good Miranda estate'' (James Halliday) comes with our highest recommendation. Ancient Shiraz vines, the famed Barossa red earth and Mother Nature's bounty in 2006 combine with astonishing power in this blistering red. ''Dense, smoky black fruit and spice, with BIG smooth flavours of blackberries, chocolate and soft oak. A wine tailor-made for the biggest, juiciest steaks.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Barossa Shiraz is one of the world's most iconic wines - big, brooding, blockbuster reds often with similarly bruising price tags, up to #50-a-bottle! So this exceptional value beauty from the ''very good Miranda estate'' (James Halliday) comes with our highest recommendation. Ancient Shiraz vines, the famed Barossa red earth and Mother Nature's bounty in 2006 combine with astonishing power in this blistering red. ''Dense, smoky black fruit and spice, with BIG smooth flavours of blackberries, chocolate and soft oak. A wine tailor-made for the biggest, juiciest steaks.''
Chateau Gigault, Cuvee Viva 2005 - £13.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Robert Parker calls this ''one of the best choices for maximum value'' - and we couldn't agree more! Packed with ripe brambly fruit and subtle hints of mocha and mint, this luxurious gem has won a stack of awards and commendations - including a top 91-point score from Wine Spectator! ''Ripe cherry and berry, with a melange of fresh herbs, olive and a hint of coffee and chocolate on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, intense and silky, with loads of fruit pushing through the long finish. Delicious even now. This is always excellent value.'' Wine Spectator
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Robert Parker calls this ''one of the best choices for maximum value'' - and we couldn't agree more! Packed with ripe brambly fruit and subtle hints of mocha and mint, this luxurious gem has won a stack of awards and commendations - including a top 91-point score from Wine Spectator! ''Ripe cherry and berry, with a melange of fresh herbs, olive and a hint of coffee and chocolate on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, intense and silky, with loads of fruit pushing through the long finish. Delicious even now. This is always excellent value.'' Wine Spectator