2020 Tres Palacios, Family Vintage Merlot
Regular price £19.50 Save £-19.50ABOUT THE WINE
The 'Tres Palacios' winery is a family business, founded in 1996 by Don Patricio Palacios and his wife, Maria Inés Covarrubias. With patience—and much passion—they began their search for an area that had never before been used for winemaking.
They settled on the Cholqui sector of the Maipo Valley, 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Melipilla. The unique location of the vineyard protects them from extremes of heat and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely. In a setting reminiscent of the crater of a volcano, this terroir is unlike any other in Chile’s Central Valley.
This wine has 10 months in oak barrels and a further 7 months in bottle before release.
TASTING NOTES
Intense red with violet tints, this wine has aromas of black pepper and cloves, along with notes of mocha and toasted coffee which are integrated into a base of black fruit. The fruit continues on the palate. Overall a round, velvety, easy to drink, complex and balanced wine with a long and spicy finish. Has potential to age for up to 7 years and is best served at 16 - 18 degrees.
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal to accompany pasta, semi-ripe cheeses, chicken, stews and casseroles.
2020 Tres Palacios, Family Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £19.50 Save £-19.50ABOUT THE WINE
The 'Tres Palacios' winery is a family business, founded in 1996 by Don Patricio Palacios and his wife, Maria Inés Covarrubias. With patience—and much passion—they began their search for an area that had never before been used for winemaking.
They settled on the Cholqui sector of the Maipo Valley, 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Melipilla. The unique location of the vineyard protects them from extremes of heat and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely. In a setting reminiscent of the crater of a volcano, this terroir is unlike any other in Chile’s Central Valley.
This wine is made from some of the oldest vines on the vineyard, producing a low yield of high quality grapes.
TASTING NOTES
Aged in oak for 10 months, with a further 12 months in bottle before release, this wine has an intense red colour, with aromas of red fruits. The oak is well integrated, leading to a smooth and complex wine with some freshness on the palate.
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal to accompany red meats, stews, and cheeses.
2020 Tres Palacios, Family Vintage Carmenere
Regular price £19.50 Save £-19.50ABOUT THE WINE
The 'Tres Palacios' winery is a family business, founded in 1996 by Don Patricio Palacios and his wife, Maria Inés Covarrubias. With patience—and much passion—they began their search for an area that had never before been used for winemaking.
They settled on the Cholqui sector of the Maipo Valley, 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Melipilla. The unique location of the vineyard protects them from extremes of heat and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely. In a setting reminiscent of the crater of a volcano, this terroir is unlike any other in Chile’s Central Valley.
This wine has 10 months in French oak barrels and has aging potential for up to 7 years.
TASTING NOTES
An intense purple colour, the nose is intense and attractive with ripe black and red fruits, mixed with spicy notes and touches of chocolate and tobacco. The wine has a rich structure with a thick, yet balanced body and soft velvety tannins that give it great volume and persistence. Best served between 16 to 18 degrees.
FOOD PAIRING
Best served with pasta dishes and semi-ripe cheeses.
2020 Saxenburg, Guinea Fowl Red
Regular price £18.10 Save £-18.10Adrian & Birgit Bührer took ownership of Saxenburg in 1989, trading their familiar surroundings of Switzerland for the Cape Winelands. They changed their familiar surroundings of Switzerland for a dilapidated homestead in the Cape Winelands. Today, the estate is run by the second-generation Bührer Family custodians: Fiona and Vincent. Their ambition is to shine a light on the Polkadraai Hills appellation in Stellenbosch, as it is one of the most exceptional terroirs in South Africa. Together with a passionate team, they produce thought-provoking wines.
TASTING NOTESA blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 19% Cabernet Franc & 18% Merlot. This classic Bordeaux blend shows an abundance of dark fruit aromas like blackcurrant, plums, and crushed blueberries, supported by whiffs of freshly roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate. The palate is beautifully weighted, with a dense but finely grained tannin structure. A delightful New World red blend with elegance and balance.
FOOD PAIRINGSouth African Biltong may be an obvious choice, but game meat such as venison as well as grilled t-bone steak will be compatible with this ripe but elegant blend.
FRIARWOOD SAYSFound in great numbers in the region, the guinea fowls that adorn the Saxenburg emblem have become symbolic of their winemaking philosophy, and it’s now the heart, the mind and the soul of Saxenburg.
2020 Solar das Boucas, Loureiro Vinho Verde
Regular price £17.90 Save £-17.90ABOUT THE WINE
The first references to the estate date back to the beginning of the 17th century – although the Manor House was practically in ruins just over 50 years ago when the property was bought by Albano Castro Sousa. He transformed it into one of the most respected producers of Vinho Verde and the Solar das Bouças brand quickly became synonymous with quality. In recent years the estate has been under the stewardship of Quinta do Noval and one family member – Fernando Van Zeller – undertook a new phase of restoration which encompassed both the Manor and estate houses as well as the planting of new vines (including new varietals). Today Solar das Bouças belongs to an investment company led by António Ressurreiçáo and this ‘purchase of passion’ has seen them continue to develop the potential of the estate. Produced and bottled on the estate the Vinho Verde Solar das Bouças uses - exclusively - grapes grown on the property.
TASTING NOTES
The embodiment of a summer wine this light, fresh and fruity style has aromas of lemon peel with floral green fruit - apple blossom - notes and a delightfully playful little sparkle. In the mouth you have fresh white fruit (nectarines & peaches), green apples and pears plus citrus of all kinds; hints of cut grass and a gently spicy minerality. A lovely balanced wine with good structure and a pleasant finish.
Great pairing for fresh seafood in the likes of lemon squeezed oysters or grilled Tuna with zucchini fritters. Smoked pulled pork tacos with piri-piri sauce would also pair quite nicely.
2020 Baglio Inca, Nero D'Avola
Regular price £16.90 Save £-16.90A family-owned winery, founded in 1940 by Antonio Casano, located in the far west of Sicily, in the town of Marsala. The history and vine-growing heritage of the region is reflected in the nature of the vineyards, the soils and the historic buildings in which the wines of Baglio Inca are vinified. Most of the wines produced are from indigenous varieties.
TASTING NOTES
Aromas of ripe plum, cocoa, wild fruit, and a hint of spice, typical of this variety. Full-bodied on the palate, with rounded, plush tannins and juicy fruit, with a hint of mocha on the finish from the portion which was aged for 6 months in French oak barrels.
FOOD PAIRING
Pairs well with risotto, red meats, lamb and savoury, hard cheeses. It pairs perfectly Spaghetti alla Norma, a traditional Sicilian dish with eggplant and smoked ricotta cheese.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Over time, as the popularity of the Marsala fortified wines has waned, vine-growers in the area have turned to indigenous red wine varieties.
2020 Tres Palacios, Gran Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.00 Save £-16.00ABOUT THE WINE
The 'Tres Palacios' winery is a family business, founded in 1996 by Don Patricio Palacios and his wife, Maria Inés Covarrubias. With patience—and much passion—they began their search for an area that had never before been used for winemaking.
They settled on the Cholqui sector of the Maipo Valley, 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Melipilla. The unique location of the vineyard protects them from extremes of heat and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely. In a setting reminiscent of the crater of a volcano, this terroir is unlike any other in Chile’s Central Valley.
TASTING NOTES
Intense red in colour, on the nose you'll find red fruit and rasberries, as well as delicate touches of pepper, cassis and slight notes of tobacco. On the palate, the fruit and pepper return, along with a good presence of tannins leading to a long finish. This is an easy drinking wine with potential to age for up to 8 years. Best served around at 18 degrees.
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal with red meats, stews, semi-ripe cheeses and spicy dishes.
2020 Tres Palacios, Gran Reserve Carmenere
Regular price £16.00 Save £-16.00ABOUT THE WINE
The 'Tres Palacios' winery is a family business, founded in 1996 by Don Patricio Palacios and his wife, Maria Inés Covarrubias. With patience—and much passion—they began their search for an area that had never before been used for winemaking.
They settled on the Cholqui sector of the Maipo Valley, 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Melipilla. The unique location of the vineyard protects them from extremes of heat and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and completely. In a setting reminiscent of the crater of a volcano, this terroir is unlike any other in Chile’s Central Valley.
TASTING NOTES
A deep and intense violet red colour, this wine has aromas of black and red fruits, along with spicy notes that mix harmoniously with touches of chocolate and tobacco. This is a silky, round and exceptional Carmenere.
2020 Charles Deloire Pouilly Fume
Regular price £12.70 Save £-12.70ABOUT THE WINE
The vineyards of Deloire are spread out over the slopes bordering the right bank of the Loire. The rich limestone soil is particularly well-suited to vineyards, and an ideal south-western exposure ensures a perfect ripeness, while exposing the vineyards to the winds blowing up the valley from the Atlantic, which convey the classic 'gin-flint' minerality to the wines of Pouilly-Fumé.
TASTING NOTES
Citrus and soft, sweet gooseberry aromas, with an odd hint of blackcurrant. A crisp, mineral wine with a complex yet genteel palate and a long lingering aftertaste. The mineral edge of Pouilly-Fumé serves only to add freshness to this exceedingly enjoyable Sauvignon blanc.
FOOD PAIRING
Very much an aperitif wine - there is sufficient minerality for white fish, but this is best enjoyed as a refreshing treat on a warm day.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Pouilly-Fumé tends to exhibit a more bracing character than its neighbour Sancerre; in this wine, however, that edge has been toned down to create a more subtle, palate-pleasing experience.
Also available in 2022 75cl Bottle.