This collection puts the much-deserved spotlight on some incredible female winemakers, estate owners and professionals in our industry.
Learn more about some of the women led wineries we work with in our International Women's Day article
2022 Domaine Bonnardot, HCDN Coup de Foudre Rouge
Regular price £26.40 Save £-26.40PRODUCER NOTES
Domaine Bonnardot is a family-owned vineyard with three generations of experience in soil working and a passion for producing high-quality wine while respecting the terroir and nature. They completed their conversion to organic farming in 2021 after three years of testing, and continue to experiment with sowing, tillage, and the use of herbal teas and essential oils. They also prioritize promoting biodiversity by maintaining dry-stone walls, hedges, woods, and bee hives
TASTING NOTES
"Coup de Foudre", meaning 'love at first sight', is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir, derived from several parcels in the Hautes Côtes de Nuits that average about forty years old. Maturation in 'foudres', or large old tanks, imparts the wine with a unique character. Expressive on the nose, this cuvée emanates a charming blend of floral (violet) and fruity (small red fruit) notes with a slightly peppery finish. The palate is both fresh and pleasant, marked by light tannins and a very good balance. Its thirst-quenching nature speaks to the playful maturity of the wine.
FOOD PAIRING
An adaptable partner to many dishes, this wine shines with grilled red meat such as flank steak with chimichurri sauce, or poultry dishes like roast chicken with Provençal herbs. Its light and fruity style also makes it a fascinating companion to spice-infused dishes like Thai red curry or Moroccan tagine. For an unconventional pairing, serve it as an aperitif with a platter of assorted hard cheeses and dried fruits.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
This "Coup de Foudre" cuvée is a testament to the Bonnardot family's unwavering commitment to showcasing the expressiveness and versatility of Pinot Noir. Its lightness, fresh fruitiness, and delicate tannins make it a beautifully unique addition to its portfolio. With its reasonable keeping potential of 2 to 5 years, this wine offers an accessible introduction to Domaine's range while also providing an interesting option for collectors and enthusiasts.
2013 Tenuta Fanti, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Macchiarelle
Regular price £406.40 Save £-406.40ABOUT THE WINE
Farmed by the Fanti family since the early 1800s, the Tenuta Fanti is a 300 hectare estate in a valley just south of Montalcino, complete with olive groves, fields of wheat and grain, and 50 hectares of vines, within the boundaries of one of the most highly regarded appellations in Italy, Brunello di Montalcino.
TASTING NOTES
Captivating; blackberry, dark plum and spice. Liquorice, black cherry, sawdust and rounded, silky tannins on the palate. Plenty of grip, open and expressive, with vanilla and cinnamon on the long, nuanced finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Best with grilled beef or lamb dishes with plenty of heft.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
Produced from a single vineyard on the estate, with vines over 40 years old.
2014 Chateau Fonplegade, Fleur de Fonplegade
Regular price £33.60 Save £-33.60See more wines from Chateau Fonplegade
ABOUT THE WINE
For centuries, the vine rows of Chateau Fonplegade have been the source for some of Saint-Emilion’s most coveted grapes. Since 2004, new owners from California, Stephen and Denise Adams, have invested time and passion to elevate the wines of Fonplegade to new heights.
TASTING NOTES
Easy-drinking red, dominated by red-berry fruit. Tannins are present yet unthreatening; a very pleasant wine from an excellent vintage for the chateau.
FOOD PAIRING
Roast beef, stews, lamb chops… very flexible, but rich, flavourful dishes are best.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A reliable wine for dinner parties, guests will not be disappointed.
2019 Domaine Bonnardot, Beaune 1er Cru Belissan Rouge
Regular price £55.50 Save £-55.50Domaine Bonnardot is a family-owned vineyard with three generations of experience in soil working and a passion for producing high-quality wine while respecting the terroir and nature. They completed their conversion to organic farming in 2021 after three years of testing, and continue to experiment with sowing, tillage, and the use of herbal teas and essential oils. They also prioritize promoting biodiversity by maintaining dry-stone walls, hedges, woods, and bee hives.
TASTING NOTES
Made from grapes grown in a Premier Cru parcel that was planted in 1966 on the lieu-dit called "Belissand" to the south of Beaune on the way to Pommard. It’s planted on deep clay-limestone soils. Despite being lightly woody, the 2019 vintage is very powerful and elegant. It boasts a beautiful aromatic complexity with red and black fruit aromas, liquorice, and chocolate flavours. It is a generous, supple, and concentrated wine that is sure to impress.
FOOD PAIRING
An exquisite match for roast or braised fowl, marinated rib roast, Epoisses or Chaource cheese, carrot cake, or chocolate dessert.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
The name of the parcel “Bellisand” could originate from the existence of a nearby spring called Béline, or it could have been the place of worship of Bélénos, a water goddess.
2019 Domaine Nudant, Ladoix 1er Cru 'Les Buis'
Regular price £47.20 Save £-47.20ABOUT THE WINE
Winemakers in Burgundy since 1453, the current generation of the Nudant family manages some 16 hectares of small parcels dotted throughout the Cote d'Or. Vineyard work is all carried out by hand, in the spirit of minimal intervention. The 1er Cru vineyard called Les Buis recalls a sacred tree of the Druids which grew on the site.
TASTING NOTES
An impeccable vintage, 2019 Burgundies show opulent and exuberant red and dark fruits, with a balanced zingy acidity still in play. Ladoix, being a more elegant village, offers the best of both worlds by providing the quintessential savoury notes of mushrooms and forest floor. But this time, the ripeness of 2019 makes this wine extra attractive to sip, even by itself. One to drink now or to age for another decade.
FOOD PAIRING
Excellent with honey-roasted pork shoulder and braised root vegetables as well as a lamb leg bourguignon.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
An off-piste appellation which offers excellent value from some very impressive vineyard sites.
2021 Saxenburg, Private Collection Pinotage
Regular price £26.90 Save £-26.90Adrian & 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 much lighter, but superbly elegant style than most commercial Pinotage, this wine truly represents the wonderful site on which the vineyard is planted. The fruit character is mixed with of red cherries, and raspberries, but also darker blueberries, and blossoms, with a faint whiff of damp soil earthiness.
Seared duck breast or duck confit is a true match for this complex elegant red.
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.