James Suckling – Outer quote mark Tons of forest berries and damson plums, but also dried herbs. An extremely expressive wine with great fruit, very fresh and slightly crunchy tannins, plus energy that makes it leap and bound across the palate. Stunning licorice and mineral finish that proves Chateauneuf can be an exciting and elegant wine. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. Inner quote mark (2/2022)
The Wine Front – Raspberry jubes, cocoa and aniseed, fair perfume of dried herbs and flowers. Medium-bodied, choc-liquorice, juicy red berries, hazelnut, something a little more steely, saline, and ferrous, though that’s as yet more latent as the vibrant fruit is currently front and centre. A light graininess to tannin, freshness too, with a juicy finish of excellent length. It’s fun and bouncy now, though I reckon it will be better again in a few years when it settles down a bit. Tasted: Jan 23 14% alc. $28 Screwcap Drink: 2024 - 2030 - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
James Halliday – The 22nd release of this particular grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre blend (this year 45/30/25%); from vines up to 90-plus years of age across Trial Hill, Light Pass, Nuriootpa, Seppeltsfield and Vine Vale. And it's a good 'un! Bright, perfumed and detailed with super-pure plummy fruit, layers of spice, earth, florals, gingerbread and roasting meat goodness. Driven by a vivid line of lacy acidity and framed with powdery tannin, it seems like it is a good place and will provide great drinking over the medium term. - Dave Brookes Published 06 July 2023
Wine Spectator – A ripe, lush style, with warm and inviting plum, fig and boysenberry confiture notes gliding through. Offers a beautiful polished feel, with suave anise and black tea flavors filling in on the finish while the fruit just sails through. Relies primarily on fruit, and you can't blame it for that. Drink now through 2030.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – La Nerthe's 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes is a blend of approximately one-third each Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Eighty percent of the wine spent a year in new oak barrels, but much of that has been absorbed into the wine, and I see that my notes don't make reference to overt oak descriptors. Scents of raspberry and spice lead the way, followed by a firm, full-bodied palate. The tannins are present from front to back, but they're ripe and silky, lingering elegantly on the finish.
Wine Spectator – Features linzer torte, boysenberry and blueberry coulis flavors allied to ample, silky and seamless structure and backed by a gorgeous perfumy finish of black tea and incense. Offers a beguiling, Pinot Noir-like profile, with lovely length and mouthfeel. Best from 2015 through 2030.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Starting with the 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon, it shows the sunny character of the vintage with its perfumed kirsch and red fruits, herbes de Provence, licorice and ground spices. A big wine, it possesses full-bodied richness, fine tannin and a seamless, elegant style that will allow it to evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.
James Halliday – It took me a while to reach a conclusion on this wine. It's big and ripe and concentrated with a mass of cedar, spice, dried red fruit, tobacco and black plum. And there's big grainy tannins that coat the mouth from the middle back, but under it all is a core of succulent fruit, waiting. Patience the key here. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Rose petal and tea leaves add nuance to the oodles of blueberries and cherries that form this wine's core, while the dense, rich palate carries those flavors on a velvety blanket of ripe tannins. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The 2019 Salanques is powerful, seamless and quite complete, from a year of good ripeness and powerful wines but with balance. This has a lot of everything, starting with 15% alcohol (as stated on the label), black fruit, graphite, power and Priorat character. It's the same blend of 65% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 10% Syrah, with a pH of 3.28 and integrated oak after fermenting part of the volume in a large oak vat in their new winery - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Red wine, with its deep hues and multifaceted flavors, has been a cornerstone of many cultures for centuries. Made primarily from black grapes, the range of tastes and aromas these wines can exhibit is truly astounding, all thanks to varying grape varieties, fermentation processes, and aging techniques.
One of the most celebrated aspects of red wine is its ability to evolve in the bottle. Over time, flavors meld and mature, transforming a young, fruit-forward wine into a more nuanced, complex delight. This aging process, whether it takes place in oak barrels or in the bottle itself, gives enthusiasts the thrill of experiencing a wine's evolution.
Regions play a crucial role in defining the characteristics of red wines. The temperate climate of Bordeaux produces structured wines like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, while the sun-baked vineyards of Tuscany yield the Sangiovese grape, forming the backbone of the renowned Chianti.
Tannins, those compounds that can lend a puckering sensation to the mouth, are another signature feature of red wines. These natural preservatives are what allow some wines to be cellared for decades, emerging more refined and harmonious with age.
Beyond just being a beverage, red wine is a journey, a reflection of the land and climate, the grape variety, and the vision of the winemaker. It's a testament to nature's bounty and human innovation intertwined in every bottle.
Red wine is a type of wine made primarily from dark-colored (red or black) grape varieties. The actual color of the wine can range from intense violet, for young wines, to brick red for mature wines, and even brown for older red wines. The juice from most purple and red grapes is greenish-white; the red color comes from anthocyanin pigments present in the grape skins. The winemaking process involves fermenting grape juice in contact with its skins, allowing the liquid to extract color, flavors, and tannins from them. Red wines typically offer flavors of dark fruits like cherries, blackberries, and plums, often accompanied by notes of tobacco, leather, and spices, influenced by grape variety and aging techniques.
Red wine is produced globally, but certain regions have earned accolades for their signature reds. Bordeaux in France is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Burgundy, another French region, is celebrated for its world-class Pinot Noir. Italy's Tuscany region produces iconic wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, primarily from the Sangiovese grape. Napa Valley in California is famed for its robust Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Spain's Rioja offers superb Tempranillo-based wines, and Australia's Barossa Valley is known for its bold Shiraz.
The world of red wine has several stars. Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its deep color and complexity, is globally recognized. Pinot Noir, with its delicate flavors and versatility, has a vast following. Merlot, Shiraz (or Syrah, depending on the region), and Zinfandel also hold significant positions in the market. Popular brands range from Bordeaux's Château Margaux, Burgundy's Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, to Napa's Opus One and Australia's Penfolds.
For those seeking excellent value, regions like Chile's Central Valley and Spain's La Mancha offer top-quality red wines at very accessible prices. Malbec from Argentina, particularly from the Mendoza region, consistently over-delivers in terms of quality to price ratio. South Africa's Western Cape and parts of southern Italy, like Puglia, are also treasure troves for value-driven, quality red wines.
Red wines, with their robust flavors and tannic structure, pair wonderfully with red meats. Think of a juicy steak with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or lamb chops with a Shiraz. Pinot Noir, being more delicate, pairs brilliantly with dishes like roasted chicken, duck, or salmon. Spaghetti Bolognese and other tomato-based pasta dishes go hand in hand with Italian reds like Chianti. For spicy barbecued dishes, a fruity Zinfandel or Grenache can be a match made in heaven. The key is to match the wine's intensity and flavors with those of the dish for a harmonious pairing.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.