Red Wine over £12.00 per bottle
Domaine Saint Francois 2003 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Now is the time to get stuck into fine Rhone reds like this. Apart from great value for money and in your face fruit, they have a tremendous diversity of flavour when compared to Burgundy or Bordeaux. Indeed the Rhone is at the forefront of efforts to meet the New World challenge - and with wines like Domaine Saint Francois it succeeds. With a complex nose of ripe black fruits, a spicy character of fresh pepper, cumin and liquorice, it possesses all the warmth and strength of flavour that characterises good Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. Lovely velvety tannins too. Serve with meat in sauces, and wild boar stew!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Now is the time to get stuck into fine Rhone reds like this. Apart from great value for money and in your face fruit, they have a tremendous diversity of flavour when compared to Burgundy or Bordeaux. Indeed the Rhone is at the forefront of efforts to meet the New World challenge - and with wines like Domaine Saint Francois it succeeds. With a complex nose of ripe black fruits, a spicy character of fresh pepper, cumin and liquorice, it possesses all the warmth and strength of flavour that characterises good Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. Lovely velvety tannins too. Serve with meat in sauces, and wild boar stew!
Domaine Juliette Avril 2006 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Steeped in winemaking tradition since before the French Revolution and based in the village centre, this unassuming yet quality-driven estate is at the heart of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in every sense. Winemaker Xavier Vignon uses semi-organic vine management and lengthy fermentation to extract maximum colour and flavour from almost the full gamut of permitted grapes. Deep, complex and thrilling - your guests will love you for sharing this.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Steeped in winemaking tradition since before the French Revolution and based in the village centre, this unassuming yet quality-driven estate is at the heart of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in every sense. Winemaker Xavier Vignon uses semi-organic vine management and lengthy fermentation to extract maximum colour and flavour from almost the full gamut of permitted grapes. Deep, complex and thrilling - your guests will love you for sharing this.
Domaine Pere-Papite - £14.39
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.
Marc Sorrel 2005 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
'Crozes' offers a softer version of its meatier brother Hermitage at a third of the price. This beauty, from Hermitage specialist Marc Sorrel, has the hallmark cassis depth of 2005 allied with the peppery complexity from skilful barrel-ageing. Find out why ''2005 is the vintage of a lifetime'' (Decanter).
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
'Crozes' offers a softer version of its meatier brother Hermitage at a third of the price. This beauty, from Hermitage specialist Marc Sorrel, has the hallmark cassis depth of 2005 allied with the peppery complexity from skilful barrel-ageing. Find out why ''2005 is the vintage of a lifetime'' (Decanter).
Chateau Moine Blanc 2005 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This is great value for historic vintage Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, but perhaps more striking is the wine's exceptional pedigree. In 1982, the 14th century Moine Blanc became the first estate in Saint-Emilion to embrace the now famous biodynamic methods of viticulture thanks to the current owner Monsieur Courthe. The 2005 vintage was crafted under the auspices of the brilliant Jean-Luc Thunevin, consultant to the region's top estates. This is wonderfully pure claret - 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet France, aged in 30% new oak barrels. Smooth, complex and full of blackberries, liquorice and spice - a delightful claret.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This is great value for historic vintage Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, but perhaps more striking is the wine's exceptional pedigree. In 1982, the 14th century Moine Blanc became the first estate in Saint-Emilion to embrace the now famous biodynamic methods of viticulture thanks to the current owner Monsieur Courthe. The 2005 vintage was crafted under the auspices of the brilliant Jean-Luc Thunevin, consultant to the region's top estates. This is wonderfully pure claret - 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet France, aged in 30% new oak barrels. Smooth, complex and full of blackberries, liquorice and spice - a delightful claret.
Chateau Haut Milon 2005 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Situated a stone's throw from legendary Chateaux Lafite and Mouton-Rothschild, the 12 hectare Chateau Haut-Milon offers a taste of this world-famous terroir on exquisite vintage form - without costing the earth. Classic Pauillac flavours of tobacco and cassis with a gorgeous supple texture and savoury length. Haut Millon 2005 is a premium, 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The oldest vines are 65 - 80 years old adding impressive concentration to the flavours. The wine was then aged in new French barriques for nine months contributing rich, toasty oak flavours. The estate has been owned by the Breuil family for the last 150 years. As well as managing vineyards and making wine, they spend a lot of time rebutting enquiries from more prestigious chateaux and families who would like to buy their land!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Situated a stone's throw from legendary Chateaux Lafite and Mouton-Rothschild, the 12 hectare Chateau Haut-Milon offers a taste of this world-famous terroir on exquisite vintage form - without costing the earth. Classic Pauillac flavours of tobacco and cassis with a gorgeous supple texture and savoury length. Haut Millon 2005 is a premium, 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The oldest vines are 65 - 80 years old adding impressive concentration to the flavours. The wine was then aged in new French barriques for nine months contributing rich, toasty oak flavours. The estate has been owned by the Breuil family for the last 150 years. As well as managing vineyards and making wine, they spend a lot of time rebutting enquiries from more prestigious chateaux and families who would like to buy their land!
Chateau Mauvinon Bellevue 2005 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau Mauvinon Bellevue is a little-known Saint-Emilion estate that produces wines to rival those of neighbouring #40-a-bottle estates. The miserly yields of 50-year-old vines gives the wine its mouthfilling intensity and 18 months' barrel-ageing imparts classic Bordeaux elegance and structure. Get a glass in front of you and the purity and power of 2005 are immediately apparent. With ''unprecedented'' demand for 2005, once in a lifetime gems like these are usually very expensive - so you see why Chateau Mauvinon Bellevue has us so excited! ''Damsons, blackberries and plums vie with spice, vanilla and smoky notes. Full of classic St-Emilion power and Grand Cru complexity - plus the structure to age for a decade but the silky elegance to be enjoyed now. Opening a bottle will be a special occasion in itself!''
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Chateau Mauvinon Bellevue is a little-known Saint-Emilion estate that produces wines to rival those of neighbouring #40-a-bottle estates. The miserly yields of 50-year-old vines gives the wine its mouthfilling intensity and 18 months' barrel-ageing imparts classic Bordeaux elegance and structure. Get a glass in front of you and the purity and power of 2005 are immediately apparent. With ''unprecedented'' demand for 2005, once in a lifetime gems like these are usually very expensive - so you see why Chateau Mauvinon Bellevue has us so excited! ''Damsons, blackberries and plums vie with spice, vanilla and smoky notes. Full of classic St-Emilion power and Grand Cru complexity - plus the structure to age for a decade but the silky elegance to be enjoyed now. Opening a bottle will be a special occasion in itself!''
Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Their Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004 is yet another brilliantly concentrated, blackberry fruit and dark chocolate powerhouse that shows off the family's excellent wine making skills that have earned them a world-wide reputation for producing top quality wines. Lush blackberry fruit, dark plums and spicy oak aromas are joined by rich liquorice and dark chocolate flavours. Smooth and velvety, with a mouthfilling richness, this is just the thing to crack open and enjoy with a juicy, chargrilled steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Their Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004 is yet another brilliantly concentrated, blackberry fruit and dark chocolate powerhouse that shows off the family's excellent wine making skills that have earned them a world-wide reputation for producing top quality wines. Lush blackberry fruit, dark plums and spicy oak aromas are joined by rich liquorice and dark chocolate flavours. Smooth and velvety, with a mouthfilling richness, this is just the thing to crack open and enjoy with a juicy, chargrilled steak.
Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Quartage 2004 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Renowned wine expert Robert Parker is a big fan of their wines, and said of this one that it offers ''excellent value'', a ''full-flavoured, robust, South Australian red ... concentrated blackberry ... a long and heady finish''. Made using the classic claret combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it provides great depth and intensity, with full-on Aussie fruit flavours. If you like your red wines big and bold this is definitely one to try! Deep inky purple in colour, intense aromas of ripe berry and liquorice are joined by spicy oak and tobacco flavours. Very full and warming in the mouth, with a complex chocolaty finish that lingers on and on ... just the thing to enjoy with roast red meat and mature cheeses.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Renowned wine expert Robert Parker is a big fan of their wines, and said of this one that it offers ''excellent value'', a ''full-flavoured, robust, South Australian red ... concentrated blackberry ... a long and heady finish''. Made using the classic claret combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it provides great depth and intensity, with full-on Aussie fruit flavours. If you like your red wines big and bold this is definitely one to try! Deep inky purple in colour, intense aromas of ripe berry and liquorice are joined by spicy oak and tobacco flavours. Very full and warming in the mouth, with a complex chocolaty finish that lingers on and on ... just the thing to enjoy with roast red meat and mature cheeses.
Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz 2006 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Full-throttle Shiraz from the estate's oldest Shiraz vines (Block 3), coating the glass with a hefty lick of dark chocolate, leather and brambles - deliciously cloaked in succulent oak. A real treat for those who like their Shiraz weighty and smooth.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Full-throttle Shiraz from the estate's oldest Shiraz vines (Block 3), coating the glass with a hefty lick of dark chocolate, leather and brambles - deliciously cloaked in succulent oak. A real treat for those who like their Shiraz weighty and smooth.
La Curio The Nubile Grenache Shiraz - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Luxurious Shiraz has become the heart and soul of winemakers Adam Hooper and Elena Golakova and they've become true experts - winning the Australian Winemakers Trophy in 2005 for their efforts! The Nubile is their Aussie take on classic French wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as they added a portion of Grenache - made from wonderfully concentrated grapes grown on gnarled, 80-year-old vines - to their spicy, bramble fruit Shiraz. The result is a seriously powerful, blockbuster of a wine! Huge ripe bramble fruit and pepper mingles with spicy plum, clove and vanilla, finishing long, full and deliciously peppery. Open the bottle an hour before drinking and preferably decant to allow the flavours to open out fully.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Luxurious Shiraz has become the heart and soul of winemakers Adam Hooper and Elena Golakova and they've become true experts - winning the Australian Winemakers Trophy in 2005 for their efforts! The Nubile is their Aussie take on classic French wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as they added a portion of Grenache - made from wonderfully concentrated grapes grown on gnarled, 80-year-old vines - to their spicy, bramble fruit Shiraz. The result is a seriously powerful, blockbuster of a wine! Huge ripe bramble fruit and pepper mingles with spicy plum, clove and vanilla, finishing long, full and deliciously peppery. Open the bottle an hour before drinking and preferably decant to allow the flavours to open out fully.
La Curio The Nubile Grenache Shiraz 2006 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Luxurious Shiraz has become the heart and soul of winemakers Adam Hooper and Elena Golakova and they've become true experts - winning the Australian Winemakers Trophy in 2005 for their efforts! The Nubile is their Aussie take on classic French wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as they added a portion of Grenache - made from wonderfully concentrated grapes grown on gnarled, 80-year-old vines - to their spicy, bramble fruit Shiraz. The result is a seriously powerful, blockbuster of a wine! Huge ripe bramble fruit and pepper mingles with spicy plum, clove and vanilla, finishing long, full and deliciously peppery. Open the bottle an hour before drinking and preferably decant to allow the flavours to open out fully.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Luxurious Shiraz has become the heart and soul of winemakers Adam Hooper and Elena Golakova and they've become true experts - winning the Australian Winemakers Trophy in 2005 for their efforts! The Nubile is their Aussie take on classic French wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as they added a portion of Grenache - made from wonderfully concentrated grapes grown on gnarled, 80-year-old vines - to their spicy, bramble fruit Shiraz. The result is a seriously powerful, blockbuster of a wine! Huge ripe bramble fruit and pepper mingles with spicy plum, clove and vanilla, finishing long, full and deliciously peppery. Open the bottle an hour before drinking and preferably decant to allow the flavours to open out fully.
Gran Tarapaca Black Label Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is without doubt one of the New World's great bargains'' (Tim Atkin) - and judging by this intensely ripe star, they're absolutely delicious too! Virtuoso winemaker, Cristian Molina selects the most concentrated grapes for this top-flight Cabernet and insists on expensive ageing French barriques before release. The result? Fantastic intensity of vanilla-scented cassis. Think super-ripe, very smart claret. Mature gems of this class are incredibly scarce ... don't miss out!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
''Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is without doubt one of the New World's great bargains'' (Tim Atkin) - and judging by this intensely ripe star, they're absolutely delicious too! Virtuoso winemaker, Cristian Molina selects the most concentrated grapes for this top-flight Cabernet and insists on expensive ageing French barriques before release. The result? Fantastic intensity of vanilla-scented cassis. Think super-ripe, very smart claret. Mature gems of this class are incredibly scarce ... don't miss out!
Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz - £14.39
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Their Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004 is yet another brilliantly concentrated, blackberry fruit and dark chocolate powerhouse that shows off the family's excellent wine making skills that have earned them a world-wide reputation for producing top quality wines. Lush blackberry fruit, dark plums and spicy oak aromas are joined by rich liquorice and dark chocolate flavours. Smooth and velvety, with a mouthfilling richness, this is just the thing to crack open and enjoy with a juicy, chargrilled steak.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
The Thorn-Clarke family has been involved in making wine in the Barossa Valley for six generations and they fully intend to remain one of the region's premium producers for another six! Their Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2004 is yet another brilliantly concentrated, blackberry fruit and dark chocolate powerhouse that shows off the family's excellent wine making skills that have earned them a world-wide reputation for producing top quality wines. Lush blackberry fruit, dark plums and spicy oak aromas are joined by rich liquorice and dark chocolate flavours. Smooth and velvety, with a mouthfilling richness, this is just the thing to crack open and enjoy with a juicy, chargrilled steak.
Bodegas Primicia Rioja Magnum 2005 - £14.69
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This 'exceptional' 2005 vintage is ideal with lovers of silky Spanish reds. Hand-harvested and barrel-matured, this is classic Rioja at its most enjoyable thanks to a multi award-winning family bodega.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
This 'exceptional' 2005 vintage is ideal with lovers of silky Spanish reds. Hand-harvested and barrel-matured, this is classic Rioja at its most enjoyable thanks to a multi award-winning family bodega.
Conde Galiana Gran Reserva (magnum) 2000 - £14.69
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Powerful, perfectly mellow flavours - aged in premium American oak and brimming with dark fruit. Tempranillo comes in perfect harmony with Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha to create a fantastic centrepiece to any occasion.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Powerful, perfectly mellow flavours - aged in premium American oak and brimming with dark fruit. Tempranillo comes in perfect harmony with Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha to create a fantastic centrepiece to any occasion.
XV du President (1.5L) 2007 - £14.69
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you love smooth, power-packed reds of astounding quality and vigour then look no further than tremendous XV du President. As its fans will tell you (there are many) you simply cannot beat the rich colour, intense flavour and velvety texture of XV. High in the Pyrenees, officially France's driest region, the hot days and cool nights of 2007 produced a spectacularly flavoursome (but low) yield of Grenache and a magnificently opulent dark, luxuriously smooth wine. Dark and brooding fruit aromas mingle with velvety tannins and ripe plum and cherry flavours. Enjoy this fabulously dark XV with roast beef or pork - better still as locals do with wild boar!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you love smooth, power-packed reds of astounding quality and vigour then look no further than tremendous XV du President. As its fans will tell you (there are many) you simply cannot beat the rich colour, intense flavour and velvety texture of XV. High in the Pyrenees, officially France's driest region, the hot days and cool nights of 2007 produced a spectacularly flavoursome (but low) yield of Grenache and a magnificently opulent dark, luxuriously smooth wine. Dark and brooding fruit aromas mingle with velvety tannins and ripe plum and cherry flavours. Enjoy this fabulously dark XV with roast beef or pork - better still as locals do with wild boar!
XV du President Magnum - £14.69
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you love smooth, power-packed reds of astounding quality and vigour then look no further than tremendous XV du President. As its fans will tell you (there are many) you simply cannot beat the rich colour, intense flavour and velvety texture of XV. High in the Pyrenees, officially France's driest region, the hot days and cool nights of 2007 produced a spectacularly flavoursome (but low) yield of Grenache and a magnificently opulent dark, luxuriously smooth wine. Dark and brooding fruit aromas mingle with velvety tannins and ripe plum and cherry flavours. Enjoy this fabulously dark XV with roast beef or pork - better still as locals do with wild boar!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
If you love smooth, power-packed reds of astounding quality and vigour then look no further than tremendous XV du President. As its fans will tell you (there are many) you simply cannot beat the rich colour, intense flavour and velvety texture of XV. High in the Pyrenees, officially France's driest region, the hot days and cool nights of 2007 produced a spectacularly flavoursome (but low) yield of Grenache and a magnificently opulent dark, luxuriously smooth wine. Dark and brooding fruit aromas mingle with velvety tannins and ripe plum and cherry flavours. Enjoy this fabulously dark XV with roast beef or pork - better still as locals do with wild boar!
Barons de Rothschild Lafite Reserve 2003 - £14.95
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted by Chateau Lafite's Charles Chevallier - the genius behind the #300-a-bottle Grand Vin - this Reserve exemplifies the quality of classic Cabernet and Merlot ... cherry-picked from the finest Medoc sites to create a deep, dark claret with wonderfully ripe aromas. What a vintage too! 2003 was the hottest year since 1896 and skilled winemakers like Charles were able to add elegance to the innate power of the vintage to create extraordinary wines. This is his richest and fullest yet - and 12-for-10. Sure to fly! To 2011.
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Handcrafted by Chateau Lafite's Charles Chevallier - the genius behind the #300-a-bottle Grand Vin - this Reserve exemplifies the quality of classic Cabernet and Merlot ... cherry-picked from the finest Medoc sites to create a deep, dark claret with wonderfully ripe aromas. What a vintage too! 2003 was the hottest year since 1896 and skilled winemakers like Charles were able to add elegance to the innate power of the vintage to create extraordinary wines. This is his richest and fullest yet - and 12-for-10. Sure to fly! To 2011.
Murray River Estate Shiraz Viognier - £14.97
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Murray River Estate is situated at Buronga - a state of the art winery near Mildura on the banks of the mighty Murray River. Buronga make wine for some of the most well-known names in the Australian wine business - however it's their small 'project' wines like this that they're most passionate about! A heavenly mixture of 90% Shiraz and 10% Viognier (a blend that's normally used for #30-a-bottle Cote-Rotie), this wonderfully expressive red is brimming with richly perfumed fruit flavour. It also offers exceptional value - 'mate rates' as our friends by the Murray like to call them, so delighted are they by your enthusiasm for their wines Medium bodied with bags of ripe berry fruit and plum flavours and a touch of toasty vanilla oak. Deliciously soft with a luxurious, mouthfilling structure - it's the perfect wine to accompany char-grilled steak!
Price on 16-Jun-08 from Laithwaites.
Murray River Estate is situated at Buronga - a state of the art winery near Mildura on the banks of the mighty Murray River. Buronga make wine for some of the most well-known names in the Australian wine business - however it's their small 'project' wines like this that they're most passionate about! A heavenly mixture of 90% Shiraz and 10% Viognier (a blend that's normally used for #30-a-bottle Cote-Rotie), this wonderfully expressive red is brimming with richly perfumed fruit flavour. It also offers exceptional value - 'mate rates' as our friends by the Murray like to call them, so delighted are they by your enthusiasm for their wines Medium bodied with bags of ripe berry fruit and plum flavours and a touch of toasty vanilla oak. Deliciously soft with a luxurious, mouthfilling structure - it's the perfect wine to accompany char-grilled steak!