2018 Chateau Figeac, Petit Figeac
Regular price £79.90 Save £-79.902018 Pierre Mayeul, Pommard
Regular price £72.10 Save £-72.10ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Pierre Mayeul is the story of three old friends united by the same passion for Burgundy and with a shared goal to produce high-quality wines where each cuvee beautifully represents the individual terroir and 'climat' of each appellation. Each with a long history of Burgundian winemaking they vinify their wines in an old castle in Ladoix and age the wines in barrels in cellars that date back to the 17th Century situated in the very heart of Beaune.
TASTING NOTES
Lovely complex nose of black fruit, lavender, cherry and cinnamon. The oak is subtle, adding a touch of vanilla to the layers. As a classic Pommard, the tannins are silky smooth, followed by a medium-body palate with flavours of tart cherry, liquorice and a hint of menthol. Perfectly balanced style, ending on a slightly oaky, long finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Coq au vin would be an obvious choice! Also pairs perfectly with couscous and tagine or a succulent roast duck!
2018 Pierre Mayeul, Beaune 1er Cru “Les Sizies”
Regular price £72.10 Save £-72.10ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Pierre Mayeul is the story of three old friends with long-standing winemaking history in Burgundy. United by the same passion for this beloved region, they are committed to producing high-quality wines, where each cuvee beautifully represents the individual terroir and 'climat' of the appellation. Harvest is manual, followed by selective sorting to maintain quality control throughout production. Wines are vinified in an old castle in Ladoix and aged in barrels in cellars that date back to the 17th Century situated in the very heart of Beaune.
TASTING NOTES
Complex nose of figs, dates, strawberry, creamy chocolate and bitter cocoa. The mouth is persistent and full-bodied with ripe tannins. A refined palate that is perfectly balanced and richly layered with concentrated yet fresh fruit and cocoa - everything is there! A supreme example of a Beaune 1er Cru.
FOOD PAIRING
Succulent veal or rich boeuf bourgiognon would be excellent. A juicy steak with a herbaceous mushroom sauce would also make for an excellent pairing.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
If serving in its youth, we recommend decanting to enjoy its complexity fully. However, this wine is perfectly armed for ageing. Give it another few years for that extra wow factor.
2018 Chateau Gloria
Regular price £130.75 Save £-130.75ABOUT THE WINE
One of the better-known Crus Bourgeois of the Medoc, still at reasonable prices. Chateau Gloria is made up of holdings of classified Crus and would deserve to be classified in its own right. Recent vintages have found all their character again, in the tradition of the great Saint-Julien wines. A surprising wine if you are prepared to wait.
2016 Vintage also available
2018 Reva, Barbera d'Alba
Regular price £64.70 Save £-64.702018 Chateau Le Gay, Manoir de Gay
Regular price £63.85 Save £-63.85ABOUT THE WINE
Château Le Gay has a long history in Pomerol, with the estate dating back to the 1840’s. Shortly after World War I, Chateau Le Gay became the property of the Robin family, eventually passing down to the famous Robin sisters in 1946 who also owned the famous estate of Chateau Lafleur! In late 2002, Catherine Pere-Verge expanded her portfolio of quality-focused estates by purchasing Chateau Le Gay and immediately began to plant additional hectares of vines to grow the estate. In 2006, those vines were included in the Grand Vin for the very first time, and Mchel Rolland was brought in as a consultant, along with Marcelo Pelleriti as winemaker. The vineyard is tended to using sustainable farming technique and yields are kept low, producing opulent wines. This is a Pomerol property on the rise!
TASTING NOTES
As the second wine of Chateau Le Gay, Manoir de Gay opens up with a real explosion of fruit aroma. 90% Merlot gives body & fruit to the palate with the remaining 10% of Cabernet Franc providing roundness. Showing silky tannins with great depth and length on the finish. Excellent quality.
FOOD PAIRING
Serve with classic meat roasts from beef to lamb and game. For a vegetarian option, a rich mushroom pasta dish would make a fine pairing.
2018 Chateau L'Enclos
Regular price £53.30 Save £-53.30ABOUT THE WINE
Nestled in the heart of Pomerol and neighbored by Le Pin and Château Clinet, Château L'Enclos is an estate synonymous with classic opulence. With guidance from renowned oenologist Michel Rolland, continuous enhancements in both the vineyard and cellar have propelled this estate to ever-greater heights. The 2018 vintage showcases the exceptional qualities of this prestigious appellation.
TASTING NOTES
Indulge in the sumptuous, velvety notes of ripe blackberries, intertwined with nuances of dark chocolate and a hint of black cherry. The 2018 vintage presents an elevated expression of Pomerol, carrying the richness of its predecessor while exhibiting its own unique charm.
FOOD PAIRING
Superbly suited to dishes like rosemary-infused rack of lamb, duck confit, or a porcini mushroom risotto, Château L'Enclos pairs harmoniously with the depth and complexity of these culinary delights.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Approachable now, this Pomerol will continue to evolve and impress until 2033. Château L'Enclos remains a property to watch in the Pomerol appellation.
2018 Chateau Nouret Cru Bourgeois
Regular price £46.00 Save £-46.002018 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Petit Ducru
Regular price £43.55 Save £-43.55ABOUT THE WINE
The esteemed Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, a 2eme Cru classé, presents its distinguished second wine, the 2018 Petit Ducru. Owned by the Borie family, the chateau encompasses 50 hectares in the southeast of the St Julien appellation. The vineyards flourish on well-drained gravel, peppered with stones up to 2.5 inches in diameter, and in 2018, the vines' average age was 45 years.
ABOUT THE VINTAGE
Boasting a rich and captivating deep purple hue, the 2018 vintage of Petit Ducru showcases remarkable intensity and structure, reminiscent of the esteemed Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou. This elegant wine benefits from careful cellaring, allowing its character to gracefully evolve and develop over time. An exceptional choice for the discerning palate, this wine is poised to enchant for years to come.
TASTING NOTES
A harmonious blend of power and finesse, this wine reveals a bouquet of dark fruits, cassis, and delicate floral notes, underpinned by hints of earthy tobacco and smooth, velvety tannins. The palate is rewarded with a generous and refined fusion of blackberry, black cherry, and a touch of graphite, culminating in a long and captivating finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Savour this luxurious wine alongside a sumptuous beef Wellington, a decadent black truffle and mushroom pasta, or an extravagant cheese and charcuterie board to truly appreciate its exquisite qualities and depth.
2018 Domaine de la Croix Belle, Cuvee Cascaillou
Regular price £34.90 Save £-34.902018 Ribeauville, Riesling Grand Cru 'Osterberg'
Regular price £33.80 Save £-33.802018 Nittnaus, Blaufrankisch Altenberg Reserve
Regular price £33.80 Save £-33.802018 Chateau Chasse Spleen, l'Heritage de Chasse Spleen
Regular price £30.45 Save £-30.45ABOUT THE WINE
In 1822 the vineyards of Chateau Grand-Poujeaux were broken up to form four different estates, including what would become Chateau Chasse-Spleen. The origins of the name - which means 'dispels melancholy' - have been traced to both Byron and Baudelaire but are now lost to time and speculation. Purchased on the eve of World War I by a German family the outbreak of war saw the Chateau confiscated as an enemy property and it was subsequently sold at auction in 1922. Despite being nearly 65 years old in 1976 Jacques Merlaut decided to buy the estate and his family have remained at the helm ever since. Initially comprising 40 hectares of vines this has since been doubled, and the winemaking facilities have also seen significant improvement over the years. Thanks to their efforts, and those of consultant Emile Peynaud, Chasse-Spleen is now regarded as one of the finest unclassified properties in Bordeaux. Currently run by their daughter Celine Foubet and her husband Jean-Pierre the vintages regularly outperform many of the Medocs more renowned classed growths. This, the second wine of the Chateau, is every bit in keeping with that level of quality.
TASTING NOTES
Medium-bodied, with notes of warm oriental spice, vibrant blackberry & blackcurrant fruit and fresh rose followed by shortbread biscuit, vanilla and cocoa on the finish. Powerful yet balanced with firm, supple tannins.
FOOD PAIRING
An excellent wine for food, classically a pan-fried fillet of beef with wild mushrooms or za'atar roasted saddle of lamb. Other superb partners would be barbecued glazed pork ribs, Maroilles cheese or polpette di tonno.
2018 Tar & Roses, Nebbiolo Heathcote
Regular price £29.60 Save £-29.60ABOUT THE WINE
Born into a grape-growing family, Don Lewis spent 32 years working for the Mitchelton winery in Heathcote, where he forged an enduring partnership with Narelle King. In 2004 Don left Mitchelton to work as a consultant, most notably in Priorat, Spain. His time in Europe cultivated his fascination with the wines of Italy and Spain, and in 2006 he and Narelle set up Tar and Roses in order to show how these varietals could be grown in the diverse terroirs of Central Victoria.
TASTING NOTES
Eponymous tar and rose flavours on this bold Aussie expression of this Piedmontese grape. Black liquorice, leather and olive tapenade add a savoury character, with bright cherry and cranberry fruit.
FOOD PAIRING
Beef oxtail, New Zealand Rack of Lamb with mint sauce and beef ragu pasta with tomato sauce.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Australian growers are increasingly willing to experiment with new varietals from southern Europe, with Tar and Roses at the forefront of this new wave in winemaking.
2018 Tar & Roses, 'The Rose'
Regular price £29.60 Save £-29.602018 Domaine Ellevin, Chablis 1er Cru 'Vosgros'
Regular price £63.20 Save £-63.20ABOUT THE WINE
For as far back as they can trace their history, the Ellevin family has always been making wine. In 1975, Jean-Pierre Ellevin and his wife started to develop the family domaine; in 2003, their son Alexandre joined them. The estate covers 16 hectares, planted exclusively with Chardonnay.
TASTING NOTES
Delicate, floral aromas; light and fresh on the palate, with pleasantly ripe pear and red apple fruit. Stony minerality on the finish; this is sharper and more linear than its Vaucoupin stablemate.
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal with shellfish, salmon and white meats.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Classic Chablis, one for the purists.
2018 Domenico Fraccaroli,Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC
Regular price £61.10 Save £-61.102018 Kopke Late Bottled Vintage Port
Regular price £25.30 Save £-25.30ABOUT THE WINE
The history of the Kope Port House began in 1638, when Nicolau Kopke, Consul General of the Hanseatic League of Baltic states, began shipping wine to northern Europe. In 1781 a farm in the Douro was purchased, and the House began producing its own wines. The company remained in the hands of the Kopke family into the 1800s when the great-great-grandson of the founder was elevated to the title of Baron of Vilar. In 1922, the Quinta de San Luiz was purchased, an A-grade 125-hectare estate which would become the home of Kopke.
TASTING NOTES
Deep dark-purple colour with a vibrant and intense ruby rim. Aromas of ripe wild berries on the nose, combined with notes of violet, black pepper and hints of eucalyptus leaf. In the mouth, the firm tannins stand out, together with vibrant and crisp acidity. All aromas are perfectly combined, with aftertaste flavours of raspberry, blackberry and apricot, ending in a long and enduring finish, so characteristic of Kopke. Best served lightly chilled.
FOOD PAIRING
Beautiful on its own as a winter warmer, or with cheese, especially a creamy blue. Pairs well with light cakes, or with savoury snacks like nuts and olives in brine.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Kopke specialises in wood-aged Ports; this is produced in a more savoury style than mass-market examples, a superbly balanced, complex treat.
2018 Chateau Les Ormes De Pez
Regular price £25.20 Save £-25.202018 Kelman, Touriga Nacional
Regular price £25.10 Save £-25.102018 Domaine Devillard, Le Renard Chardonnay
Regular price £24.70 Save £-24.702018 Domaine des Masques, Chardonnay Cuvee Exception
Regular price £24.40 Save £-24.402018 Cave de Ribeauville, Gewurztraminer Collection Vendanges Manuelles
Regular price £23.00 Save £-23.002018 Nittnaus, Sauvignon Blanc 'Obere Wies'
Regular price £22.70 Save £-22.70ABOUT THE WINE
Gebrüder Nittnaus winery lies on the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl in the heart of Gols, at the centre of one of the largest wine-producing communities in Austria. The family has owned vineyards for more than 300 years and has been running their own winery since 1986. They cultivate 57 hectares in Gols, spread out over more than 70 different vineyard parcels. Almost two-thirds of this area is planted with red wine, primarily indigenous varieties. They cultivate their vines in accordance with organic agricultural principles. The latest generation of Nittnauses, Andreas and Hans Michael, is now responsible for running the winery.
TASTING NOTES
Bright lemon, grapefruit and gooseberry flavours, with a juicy palate and delicate spice on the finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Ideal with seafood or fresh, crumbly goat's cheese.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
The cool winds which blow from the eastern shores of the Neusiedler See provide an ideal climate for Sauvignon blanc, an increasingly popular varietal in this part of Austria.