Red Wine between £8.00 and £12.00 per bottle
Val de Oron 2005 - £8.79
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you are a fan of Spain's modern, richly fruity, oak-aged reds you simply have to try this beauty from a new, go-ahead cellar in Ribero del Duero - ''the Spanish region to drink'' (Decanter). Oron is made from the famous Rioja grape Tempranillo, known in these parts as Tinta del Pais and is named after the river that flows nearby to the estate. Winemaker Miguel Lopez aged the wine for 6 months in American oak to achieve that classic vanilla character found in the all the most popular Spanish reds. But this wine has more than that - it has real depth, complexity and class too. Well worth discovering.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you are a fan of Spain's modern, richly fruity, oak-aged reds you simply have to try this beauty from a new, go-ahead cellar in Ribero del Duero - ''the Spanish region to drink'' (Decanter). Oron is made from the famous Rioja grape Tempranillo, known in these parts as Tinta del Pais and is named after the river that flows nearby to the estate. Winemaker Miguel Lopez aged the wine for 6 months in American oak to achieve that classic vanilla character found in the all the most popular Spanish reds. But this wine has more than that - it has real depth, complexity and class too. Well worth discovering.
Castillo de Valdestrada 1997 - £8.79
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Castillo de Valdestrada is a 1997 masterpiece! It's aged for 30 months in oak barrels (six months longer than Rioja Gran Reserva), followed by a five year siesta in the historic family cellar. Such attention to detail - Alfonso Schlegel tastes his grapes on a daily basis to decided exactly when to harvest - explains why this old-vine Tempranillo has been awarded a host of medals and offers such great value for money. ''Brick red, with intense berry and vanilla aromas. Soft, long-lasting strawberry, plum and spice flavours are cradled by a rich seam of toasty oak.'' Ageworthy rarities like these always cause a flood of orders - so snap yours up now!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Castillo de Valdestrada is a 1997 masterpiece! It's aged for 30 months in oak barrels (six months longer than Rioja Gran Reserva), followed by a five year siesta in the historic family cellar. Such attention to detail - Alfonso Schlegel tastes his grapes on a daily basis to decided exactly when to harvest - explains why this old-vine Tempranillo has been awarded a host of medals and offers such great value for money. ''Brick red, with intense berry and vanilla aromas. Soft, long-lasting strawberry, plum and spice flavours are cradled by a rich seam of toasty oak.'' Ageworthy rarities like these always cause a flood of orders - so snap yours up now!
Casa Donoso Clos Centenaire 2004 - £8.79
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Treat yourself, and indulge your wine-loving dinner party guests with this Cabernet-rich Chilean rarity. As you'll taste, absolutely no expense spared, with handpicked parcels from the extraordinary fruit of 100-year-old vines. Intense ruby colour with captivating aromas of coffee, chocolate and blackberries. Full of lavish, velvety, ripe forest fruit flavour, superb balance and a delicious almond twist. Roast coffee, cedar and spice with old-vine concentration and layers of flavour and finesse.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Treat yourself, and indulge your wine-loving dinner party guests with this Cabernet-rich Chilean rarity. As you'll taste, absolutely no expense spared, with handpicked parcels from the extraordinary fruit of 100-year-old vines. Intense ruby colour with captivating aromas of coffee, chocolate and blackberries. Full of lavish, velvety, ripe forest fruit flavour, superb balance and a delicious almond twist. Roast coffee, cedar and spice with old-vine concentration and layers of flavour and finesse.
Massivo Nero d'Avola 2006 - £8.79
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Fans of BIG reds are in for a treat with this NEW 15% alcohol release from our old friend Giorgio Flessati. Key to the dense fruit flavour is ''Sicily's finest red grape'' (Jancis Robinson MW), Nero d'Avola, which Giorgio sourced from high-altitude vineyards planted with gnarled 50-year-old vines. Even in average vintages, old-timers like these produce really concentrated fruit, but during the near-perfect conditions of 2006, the results were truly breathtaking. Hand harvesting ensured only the best grapes made it to the crush to produce this deeply coloured, warming wine. If you like Shiraz, you're going to love Massivo. Unoaked to let the fruit shine through, this complex, velvety red has the inviting aromas and flavours of gently spiced blackcurrant and blueberry. Juicy and very moreish, this robust Italian is a fine accompaniment to rich casseroles and tomato pasta.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Fans of BIG reds are in for a treat with this NEW 15% alcohol release from our old friend Giorgio Flessati. Key to the dense fruit flavour is ''Sicily's finest red grape'' (Jancis Robinson MW), Nero d'Avola, which Giorgio sourced from high-altitude vineyards planted with gnarled 50-year-old vines. Even in average vintages, old-timers like these produce really concentrated fruit, but during the near-perfect conditions of 2006, the results were truly breathtaking. Hand harvesting ensured only the best grapes made it to the crush to produce this deeply coloured, warming wine. If you like Shiraz, you're going to love Massivo. Unoaked to let the fruit shine through, this complex, velvety red has the inviting aromas and flavours of gently spiced blackcurrant and blueberry. Juicy and very moreish, this robust Italian is a fine accompaniment to rich casseroles and tomato pasta.
Castello d'Albola - £8.95
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Castello d'Albola estate, dating back to the 12th century, sits high in the Tuscan hills. Here the vineyards rise up to 1600 feet giving this Chianti Classico excellent freshness to accompany its enticingly full flavours. ''Classic ruby-red in colour, the scent of violets combines with delicious red fruit. Thanks to careful barrel-aging, the wine is brimful of elegance and power. A superb accompaniment to rich dishes.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Castello d'Albola estate, dating back to the 12th century, sits high in the Tuscan hills. Here the vineyards rise up to 1600 feet giving this Chianti Classico excellent freshness to accompany its enticingly full flavours. ''Classic ruby-red in colour, the scent of violets combines with delicious red fruit. Thanks to careful barrel-aging, the wine is brimful of elegance and power. A superb accompaniment to rich dishes.''
Jacobs Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - £53.81
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £8.97 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Jacobs Creek Reserve Caberne T Sauvignon
For 6 bottles - equivalent to £8.97 per bottle. Price on 22-Nov-08 from Tesco.
Case of 6 Jacobs Creek Reserve Caberne T Sauvignon
Gran Bombero 2006 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If Bombero owes much of its flavour intensity to Cari?ena's gnarled, bush-trained old Garnacha vines (among the very oldest in all of Spain!) - imagine what the concentration would be like if you picked fruit only from the very oldest of these - vines of up to 95 years old! In 2006, the vintage that won El Bombero Best in Class at the London's IWSC (the toughest show of all!) Xavier Domeque did just that - selecting his most prized, lowest-yielding Garnacha vines, and only the smallest, ripest bunches from these ... just how deep could flavour concentration go, he wondered ... The meticulously selected fruit was treated to months in soft, vanilla oak (American oak best complements velvety Garnacha) and the wine was rounded to perfection ... barrel-matured, reserva-style - what a triumph! Generous aromas of ripe dark cherries and plummy richness. Lovely, mouthcoating concentration with dense bramble fruit flavours, edged in cassis and polished with a touch of sweeter oak. Gorgeous, so smooth and very memorable! Delicious with the classic, spicy Aragonese lamb dish 'Ternasco.'
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If Bombero owes much of its flavour intensity to Cari?ena's gnarled, bush-trained old Garnacha vines (among the very oldest in all of Spain!) - imagine what the concentration would be like if you picked fruit only from the very oldest of these - vines of up to 95 years old! In 2006, the vintage that won El Bombero Best in Class at the London's IWSC (the toughest show of all!) Xavier Domeque did just that - selecting his most prized, lowest-yielding Garnacha vines, and only the smallest, ripest bunches from these ... just how deep could flavour concentration go, he wondered ... The meticulously selected fruit was treated to months in soft, vanilla oak (American oak best complements velvety Garnacha) and the wine was rounded to perfection ... barrel-matured, reserva-style - what a triumph! Generous aromas of ripe dark cherries and plummy richness. Lovely, mouthcoating concentration with dense bramble fruit flavours, edged in cassis and polished with a touch of sweeter oak. Gorgeous, so smooth and very memorable! Delicious with the classic, spicy Aragonese lamb dish 'Ternasco.'
Schroeder Estate Pinot Noir - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
When our buyers heard a whisper about an international medal-winning Argentinian estate beginning to make Pinot Noir in Patagonia, they just had to check it out. So they caught the first plane they could to Buenos Aires and then made the long trek down to the very south of the country ... where they found Pinot Noir wines to rival any New Zealand, and even Burgundy, offerings! The reason for such quality? Despite its reputation for an inhospitable climate, Patagonia boasts extremely long sunshine hours - perfect for ripening - and cold nights that lock in fresh, intense flavour. In these extreme conditions the Pinot Noir berries are bursting with hugely concentrated colour and flavour. And in the hands of top winemakers Roberto Schroeder and consultant Leonardo Puppato, the resulting wine is groundbreaking. ''Rich red with powerful aromas of raspberry, plum and light, spicy oak. Full and rounded in the mouth, with smooth, ripe tannin and fresh red fruit flavours. Wonderfully balanced, a great choice for game and rib of beef.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
When our buyers heard a whisper about an international medal-winning Argentinian estate beginning to make Pinot Noir in Patagonia, they just had to check it out. So they caught the first plane they could to Buenos Aires and then made the long trek down to the very south of the country ... where they found Pinot Noir wines to rival any New Zealand, and even Burgundy, offerings! The reason for such quality? Despite its reputation for an inhospitable climate, Patagonia boasts extremely long sunshine hours - perfect for ripening - and cold nights that lock in fresh, intense flavour. In these extreme conditions the Pinot Noir berries are bursting with hugely concentrated colour and flavour. And in the hands of top winemakers Roberto Schroeder and consultant Leonardo Puppato, the resulting wine is groundbreaking. ''Rich red with powerful aromas of raspberry, plum and light, spicy oak. Full and rounded in the mouth, with smooth, ripe tannin and fresh red fruit flavours. Wonderfully balanced, a great choice for game and rib of beef.''
Pagos de Tahola Crianza 2004 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Two generations of the Chavarri family, father Francisco and daughter Ruth run the estate along with winemaker Miguel Lopez Nunez. The house style is based on exuberant fruit from vines grown in some of Rioja's highest vineyards, framed by careful maturation in high-quality French and American oak barrels. Painstaking care is lavished on this superb Crianza. Sourced from the family's own old vineyards, the grapes are hand-harvested to allow the intense fruit flavours to shine through. 12 months' ageing in a judicious blend of new and old French and American oak barrels has given a deliciously soft wine, overflowing with vibrant, succulent bramble and damson fruit. Superb value.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Two generations of the Chavarri family, father Francisco and daughter Ruth run the estate along with winemaker Miguel Lopez Nunez. The house style is based on exuberant fruit from vines grown in some of Rioja's highest vineyards, framed by careful maturation in high-quality French and American oak barrels. Painstaking care is lavished on this superb Crianza. Sourced from the family's own old vineyards, the grapes are hand-harvested to allow the intense fruit flavours to shine through. 12 months' ageing in a judicious blend of new and old French and American oak barrels has given a deliciously soft wine, overflowing with vibrant, succulent bramble and damson fruit. Superb value.
Chateau de Villenouvette Cuvee de Reserve 2006 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau de Villenouvette is the most beautiful chateau in Corbieres ... and its wines among the most highly prized. Super-critic Robert Parker described Villenouvette as ''excellent - crammed with layers of blackberries and roasted spices''. It's also BIG news in France ... Le Guide Hachette gave it the highest possible rating - 3 Stars and Coup de Coeur - calling it ''exceptional and complex''. The reason for such high acclaim? A classic blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from the chateau's antique vines was given extra depth by ageing in fine oak. ''Wonderfully rich, with layer upon layer of blackberries and spice. Delicious now, but will continue to improve for several years to come.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau de Villenouvette is the most beautiful chateau in Corbieres ... and its wines among the most highly prized. Super-critic Robert Parker described Villenouvette as ''excellent - crammed with layers of blackberries and roasted spices''. It's also BIG news in France ... Le Guide Hachette gave it the highest possible rating - 3 Stars and Coup de Coeur - calling it ''exceptional and complex''. The reason for such high acclaim? A classic blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from the chateau's antique vines was given extra depth by ageing in fine oak. ''Wonderfully rich, with layer upon layer of blackberries and spice. Delicious now, but will continue to improve for several years to come.''
Warburn Estate Oak-aged Merlot 2006 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Sam added premium Barossa fruit to this lavish Merlot for extra depth of flavour. Rich mouthfuls of plum and damson and creamy layers of oak. Fine tannins too - a Sunday table luxury.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Sam added premium Barossa fruit to this lavish Merlot for extra depth of flavour. Rich mouthfuls of plum and damson and creamy layers of oak. Fine tannins too - a Sunday table luxury.
Chateau Millegrand-Mourral Minervois Grande Reserve 2005 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you like southern French reds, help yourself to a brilliant vintage of a true ''Grand Reserve'' from the family-owned Chateau Millegrand. It's on Minervois' top estates. This stately chateau is the winner of an impressive range of accolades, and classified as one of the ''Premiers Grands Vins Classes du Languedoc Roussillon'' in the 2006 Dussert Gerber Wine Guide. There is real quality all around this wine which has been crafted with the same sort of attention to detail as a great claret. In fact, not only has winemaker Olivier Bayle had experience making wine at Chateau Lafite Rothschild, but consultant winemaker is none other than Georges Pauli - winemaker of cru classe Chateau Gruaud Larose.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you like southern French reds, help yourself to a brilliant vintage of a true ''Grand Reserve'' from the family-owned Chateau Millegrand. It's on Minervois' top estates. This stately chateau is the winner of an impressive range of accolades, and classified as one of the ''Premiers Grands Vins Classes du Languedoc Roussillon'' in the 2006 Dussert Gerber Wine Guide. There is real quality all around this wine which has been crafted with the same sort of attention to detail as a great claret. In fact, not only has winemaker Olivier Bayle had experience making wine at Chateau Lafite Rothschild, but consultant winemaker is none other than Georges Pauli - winemaker of cru classe Chateau Gruaud Larose.
Warburn Estate Oak-aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Meticulously handcrafted using premium parcels of Barossa fruit and given a l-o-n-g, lavish ageing in top-quality oak barrels - it's star treatment all the way for Trophy-winning Sam Trimboli's flagship Cabernet. You'll taste the care, attention and masterful touch in every sip! But then you'd expect nothing less! With over 1,100 awards in the last seven years, Sam is one of the greatest craftsmen Down Under, and the award-winning Warburn Estate label is his pride and joy. ''Ripe, red berry aromas and an astonishing depth of concentrated blackcurrant fruit, with lovely soft tannins thanks to a long slumber in fine oak.''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Meticulously handcrafted using premium parcels of Barossa fruit and given a l-o-n-g, lavish ageing in top-quality oak barrels - it's star treatment all the way for Trophy-winning Sam Trimboli's flagship Cabernet. You'll taste the care, attention and masterful touch in every sip! But then you'd expect nothing less! With over 1,100 awards in the last seven years, Sam is one of the greatest craftsmen Down Under, and the award-winning Warburn Estate label is his pride and joy. ''Ripe, red berry aromas and an astonishing depth of concentrated blackcurrant fruit, with lovely soft tannins thanks to a long slumber in fine oak.''
Dark Corner Oak-aged Durif 2007 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Dark Corner - a brooding giant of an Australian red takes centre stage during the wintry months, and is irresistible to all those lover's of BIG reds. Only real Durif devotees like Sam Trimboli can fulfill the huge potential of this grape variety that thrives on tender, loving care! Sam's devotion shines through in this great new vintage - barrel matured in the darkest receccess of his cellars for a whole year, emerging smooth and perfect to enjoy. Great intensity of inky dark colour, rich bramble fruit aromas and bags of concentrated black fruit. Complex toasty oak notes (Sam only uses the finest French and US barrels) and ripe, velvety tannins. Fantastic with peppered steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Dark Corner - a brooding giant of an Australian red takes centre stage during the wintry months, and is irresistible to all those lover's of BIG reds. Only real Durif devotees like Sam Trimboli can fulfill the huge potential of this grape variety that thrives on tender, loving care! Sam's devotion shines through in this great new vintage - barrel matured in the darkest receccess of his cellars for a whole year, emerging smooth and perfect to enjoy. Great intensity of inky dark colour, rich bramble fruit aromas and bags of concentrated black fruit. Complex toasty oak notes (Sam only uses the finest French and US barrels) and ripe, velvety tannins. Fantastic with peppered steak.
Warburn Estate Oak-aged Shiraz 2007 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Mighty Shiraz from the maestro Sam Trimboli. This barrel-aged Barossa beauty takes it classic, chocolatey power from ancient vines, grown by some of the valley's best growers ... and grapes once used in Penfold's #35-a-bottle reds. Deep purple with a mouthwatering red berry nose, larger-than-life slow-ripened fruit and white pepper hints ... makes roast beef a truly luxurious experience.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Mighty Shiraz from the maestro Sam Trimboli. This barrel-aged Barossa beauty takes it classic, chocolatey power from ancient vines, grown by some of the valley's best growers ... and grapes once used in Penfold's #35-a-bottle reds. Deep purple with a mouthwatering red berry nose, larger-than-life slow-ripened fruit and white pepper hints ... makes roast beef a truly luxurious experience.
Seigneurie de Salabert Vieilles Vignes 2005 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Top quality red from master winemaker Jean-Pierre Driey. This expensive-tasting gem comes from the great-value St. Chinian region - home to the most flavoursome reds of the Languedoc. 2005 was a fantastic year for French reds - and for Seigneurie de Salabert, it's the best vintage yet! Our buyers agree that this is one of the finest wines they've ever tried! But what else would you expect from France's most talented winemaker! Jean-Pierre has received more than 50 accolades in just 2 years confirms - including a GOLD-medal for this spectacular red. This is a luxuriously smooth, generously rich, barrel-aged rarity of assured Gold-medal quality. Packed with ripe berry flavours and hints of warming vanilla and spice - it would match well with a hearty stew or mature cheese.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Top quality red from master winemaker Jean-Pierre Driey. This expensive-tasting gem comes from the great-value St. Chinian region - home to the most flavoursome reds of the Languedoc. 2005 was a fantastic year for French reds - and for Seigneurie de Salabert, it's the best vintage yet! Our buyers agree that this is one of the finest wines they've ever tried! But what else would you expect from France's most talented winemaker! Jean-Pierre has received more than 50 accolades in just 2 years confirms - including a GOLD-medal for this spectacular red. This is a luxuriously smooth, generously rich, barrel-aged rarity of assured Gold-medal quality. Packed with ripe berry flavours and hints of warming vanilla and spice - it would match well with a hearty stew or mature cheese.
Scrimshaw Shiraz 2006 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Scrimshaw Shiraz is rich, barrel-aged classic that's deeper and smoother - that's ever thanks to winemaking legend, Philip Shaw. Philip is arguably the world's greatest living winemaker. With THREE Winemaker of the Year awards under his belt, he's renowned for pushing quality boundaries with his modern, vibrant, expressive wines. He began his winemaking at 15, and since graduating, has worked with practically all of Australia's biggest players, winning countless awards for his wines. For Scrimshaw 2006, Philip sought out the very best fruit from Australia's top cool-climate regions. McLaren Vale, renowned as ''Australia's Chateauneuf'' The Independent, and ''the best South Australian spot for Shiraz.'' The Times. PLUS, this year Scrimshaw boasts fruit from NEW fine wine hot-spot Orange, where Philip makes his home, known for its ''graceful wines'' (Canberra Times) Philip's boutique wines are ''epic ...collectors' pieces ... unmissable'' Matthew Jukes, and sell for #20-plus a bottle ... yet with Scrimshaw 2006 you'll enjoy a 'Shaw' masterpiece for much less!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Scrimshaw Shiraz is rich, barrel-aged classic that's deeper and smoother - that's ever thanks to winemaking legend, Philip Shaw. Philip is arguably the world's greatest living winemaker. With THREE Winemaker of the Year awards under his belt, he's renowned for pushing quality boundaries with his modern, vibrant, expressive wines. He began his winemaking at 15, and since graduating, has worked with practically all of Australia's biggest players, winning countless awards for his wines. For Scrimshaw 2006, Philip sought out the very best fruit from Australia's top cool-climate regions. McLaren Vale, renowned as ''Australia's Chateauneuf'' The Independent, and ''the best South Australian spot for Shiraz.'' The Times. PLUS, this year Scrimshaw boasts fruit from NEW fine wine hot-spot Orange, where Philip makes his home, known for its ''graceful wines'' (Canberra Times) Philip's boutique wines are ''epic ...collectors' pieces ... unmissable'' Matthew Jukes, and sell for #20-plus a bottle ... yet with Scrimshaw 2006 you'll enjoy a 'Shaw' masterpiece for much less!
Warburn Estate Oak-aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
From hand selection of the finest grapes from the best Warburn vineyards (with vines up to 100 years old!), to lavish barrel-ageing ... it's star treatment all the way for this terrifically rich Cabernet! But then again, you'd expect nothing less from Trophy-laden winemaker, Sam Trimboli. We've worked with Sam for years and every vintage (no matter what the weather was like) - is better than the last! Bright red in the glass, with magnificent blackcurrant, cherry and mint chocolate flavours. Velvety smooth with well rounded tannins - this is excellent on its own or with rare steak!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
From hand selection of the finest grapes from the best Warburn vineyards (with vines up to 100 years old!), to lavish barrel-ageing ... it's star treatment all the way for this terrifically rich Cabernet! But then again, you'd expect nothing less from Trophy-laden winemaker, Sam Trimboli. We've worked with Sam for years and every vintage (no matter what the weather was like) - is better than the last! Bright red in the glass, with magnificent blackcurrant, cherry and mint chocolate flavours. Velvety smooth with well rounded tannins - this is excellent on its own or with rare steak!
Warburn Estate Oak-aged Durif 2007 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Deep, dark Durif ''takes no prisoners'' according to Tim Atkin - and ripens to perfection in the Aussie sun. No wonder it's winemaker Sam Trimboli's favourite grape (his number plate even spells it out!). And 2007 is his best yet! Severe drought affected the size of the Durif grapes, resulting in small berries of intense flavour which pushed concentration to levels we never thought possible. Magnificently rich with oodles of smooth plum, black cherry and tantalising Syrah-like spice. Velvety, voluptuous, and irresistible served in large glasses with char-grilled steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Deep, dark Durif ''takes no prisoners'' according to Tim Atkin - and ripens to perfection in the Aussie sun. No wonder it's winemaker Sam Trimboli's favourite grape (his number plate even spells it out!). And 2007 is his best yet! Severe drought affected the size of the Durif grapes, resulting in small berries of intense flavour which pushed concentration to levels we never thought possible. Magnificently rich with oodles of smooth plum, black cherry and tantalising Syrah-like spice. Velvety, voluptuous, and irresistible served in large glasses with char-grilled steak.
Bovlei Centenary 2007 - £8.99
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
2007 saw Wellington's Bovlei winery reach its centenary year and to celebrate, they crafted just 665 cases of this majestic red ... and thanks to our longstanding friendship, Bovlei set some aside, just for you! Head winemaker Frank Meaker is a luminary figure in South African wine. His grandfather was Paul Sauer, political activist and founder of Kanonkop Estate, South Africa's finest winery. Frank's earliest memories are of walking the vines with his grandfather, dreaming of the day when he could make his own wines. To make this special, one-off blockbuster, Frank selected the finest parcels of fruit. He chose the ripest Petit Verdot for elegant, backboned structure. Then to add super-smooth depth, Frank drew on the Cape's fortified heritage, choosing two delightful old Port varieties - Souzoa and Touriga Nacional. A nine-month rest in fine oak adds a subtle vanilla layer to this delightfully unique wine. Gloriously complex combination of blackberry and mulberry fruit, claret-like structure and subtle oak. The Port grapes add a warm mouthfeel and sweet nuances ... great with roasts and chargrilled steaks.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
2007 saw Wellington's Bovlei winery reach its centenary year and to celebrate, they crafted just 665 cases of this majestic red ... and thanks to our longstanding friendship, Bovlei set some aside, just for you! Head winemaker Frank Meaker is a luminary figure in South African wine. His grandfather was Paul Sauer, political activist and founder of Kanonkop Estate, South Africa's finest winery. Frank's earliest memories are of walking the vines with his grandfather, dreaming of the day when he could make his own wines. To make this special, one-off blockbuster, Frank selected the finest parcels of fruit. He chose the ripest Petit Verdot for elegant, backboned structure. Then to add super-smooth depth, Frank drew on the Cape's fortified heritage, choosing two delightful old Port varieties - Souzoa and Touriga Nacional. A nine-month rest in fine oak adds a subtle vanilla layer to this delightfully unique wine. Gloriously complex combination of blackberry and mulberry fruit, claret-like structure and subtle oak. The Port grapes add a warm mouthfeel and sweet nuances ... great with roasts and chargrilled steaks.