FINE WINE LIST – Rest of the World
This is a list of limited production wines from around the world, but excluding French wines. They are mostly wines for current drinking and though not cheap, their quality still gives value for money. Wines we particularly recommend are highlighted in red. Please note that all stocks are limited but where we have less than 12 bottles, the wine is marked Ø.
AUSTRALIA
AU1273R Fermoy Estate Merlot 2003, Margaret River £12.95
Intense lifted aromatics of plum, Christmas pudding and chocolate complemented by subtle, spicy oak characters. The palate is soft and fleshy with plum, chocolate and blackberry flavours, fine tannins and notes of Asian spices. Good persistence on the finish with aromatic lift and a lingering savoury spiciness. ‘The 03 Fermoy Merlot is a ripper! It’s one of the best Merlots I’ve seen all year.’ Huon Hooke To 2013
AU1852R Bethany Wines Schrapel Family Cabernet Merlot 2002, Barossa £13.99
Bethany Wines is a family owned producer, based just outside the town of the same name, in the Barossa Valley. Their best wines go under the Schrapel Family label and are quite outstanding. The 2002 has a bouquet of lifted fruit and spice with overtones of oak. Medium bodied with elegant fruit flavours. The well balanced finish displays restrained acid and oak characters and lingering fruit flavours. This 2002 vintage is currently being sold at the cellar door for $38, which is over £20 a bottle! Enjoy to 2012
AU1840R Bethany Wines, Schrapel Family Vineyards Shiraz 2000, Barossa £13.99
Lovely complex aromas followed by typical Barossa flavours of rich, ripe blackberry and plum. Full-bodied and luscious with great depth of flavour, whilst the long finish displays seamless rich fruit, soft tannins and integrated natural acidity. 'Lifted eucalyptus and restrained berry fruit. Ripe fruit and tannins provide roundness and are lifted by balanced acidity. Should last. 4*' Decanter Magazine To 2011
AU1228R Stonehaven Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, Coonawarra £14.95
Each vintage Stonehaven’s renowned winemaker Susanne Bell reserves the very finest grapes from the Terra Rossa soils for the Limited Release Cabernet. Dense concentrated appearance with smoky cassis and cedar aromas. Intense berry fruit flavours with tannic grip and liquorice and raspberry on the finish. Powerful, uncompromising wine that is best decanted to give it time to open up. Enjoy to 2012+
AU0535R Shaw and Smith Shiraz 2005, Adelaide Hills £16.99
This vibrant, pure and elegant Shiraz is made exclusively from grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills, one of Australia's coolest regions. 'Bright, lively and distinctive for its peppery, spicy plum flavours, which remain zesty and finish with refinement and class. Has impeccable balance. Not as rich and round as other Shiraz, but harmonious and ageworthy. 92 points' The Wine Spectator Best from 2010 to 2018
AU0350R Rolf Binder Wines ‘Heysen’ Shiraz 2000, Barossa Valley £17.99
Inky purple colour as well as a terrific nose of jammy black fruits intermixed with liquorice, new saddle leather, and pepper. Full-bodied and seamless, with exceptional concentration and purity, this large-scaled yet well-balanced wine should drink well for 10-12 years. Great wine-making. Drink now to 2012
AU1946R John Duval Wines 'Plexus' 2006, Barossa Valley £18.99
 John Duval was the winemaker responsible for Penfold's Grange from 1986 to 2002. He then left to set up his own operation John Duval Wines in the Barossa Valley. 2006 is now the fourth vintage of Plexus a blend of around 50% Shiraz, 30% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre and as he has refined his style the wine has got better each time. The 2006 is a truly astonishing wine and compared with the price of Grange, a real bargain. 'Purple-colored, it offers up an exotic concoction of underbrush, violets, leather, black cherry, and blueberry pie. On the palate, this sexy effort is opulent, succulent, incipiently complex, and altogether hedonistic. It should perform well for a decade. In the scheme of things, it is also a terrific value. 95 points' Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate To 2019
AU0545R Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz 2005, McLaren Vale £20.95
'Deep ruby/purple-hued effort displaying beautiful blackberry, white pepper, liquorice, and toasty oak notes. Rich, full-bodied, and intense, with blueberry and blackberry flavours, sweet tannin, and excellent purity, it is a tour de force in winemaking. 95 points' Robert Parker. Drink now to 2015
AU0924R Woodstock ‘The Stocks’ Shiraz 2004, McLaren Vale Ø £22.95
This is Scott Collett's finest red from very low yielding, century old vines, matured two years in oak and only just released. Oak characters of spice and smoky vanilla support ripe fruit flavours of intense blackcurrant, plum and prunes. Additional notes of spice, black pepper, earth, leather and liquorice add complexity and lift. Outstanding length with a powerful aromatic dimension. Drink to 2016
AU1469R Wild Duck Springflat Shiraz 1999, Heathcote Ø £27.95
‘The 1999 Springflat Shiraz has dense, opaque purple colour, a real intense, minty, creme de cassis nose, with some spicy new oak. The wine is certainly not shy at 15.3% alcohol, but the power is well-harnessed, and the wine is primarily a big, full-bodied, thick, juicy fruit bomb with plenty of texture, purity, and length. 92 pts’ The Wine Advocate Enjoy to 2010+
GERMANY
DE0357W Guntrum Niersteiner Rehbach Riesling Spatlese 2007, Rheinhessen £12.49
If there was one Guntrum wine to try then this impressive Spatlese from the Rehbach’s slate soils would be it. Peach, pear and ripe nectarine flavours with savoury mineral notes and a lovely subtle acidity. The balance and ripeness of fruit gives an off-dry impression despite the high sugar levels. To 2017 Off-dry
DE0127W Leitz Rudesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spatlese 2007, Rheingau £12.95
'It would be hard to argue that German Riesling is no longer a good value when you can still buy Magdalenenkreuz Spatlese from one of the country’s top vintners for under $25. As usual, this site offers a veritable fruit fest, with pineapple pear and cherry taking the lead. Polished in feel, with subtly oily slickness, this will give enormous pleasure over the next 5-7 years. 89 pts.' Wine Advocate Medium
DE0227W Leitz Rudesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2007, Rheingau £13.95
Just dry Riesling from the famous Bishop’s vineyard in Rudesheim. 'A little sous-bois note of damp vegetation, with some waxy nectarine skins and pear skin notes. On the palate it is smooth and savoury, with a bite of lemon and lime pithy acid fruit… finishes dry and crisp.' Tom Cannavan To 2017 Just dry
DE0296W J.L. Wolf Riesling Wachenheimer Belz 1er Cru 2006, Pfalz £14.99
The Belz vineyard with its naturally chalky soils is considered ‘Premier Cru’ quality by Ernst Loosen, though the designation is not recognised by the German authorities. Technically a Spatlese Trocken, the Belz is a real step up in quality from the Village wine. Good intensity of guava and exotic fruit flavours, lemon and minerals. Lovely balance of fruit and acid with a very long finish. Drink now to 2014. Just dry
DE0196W Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spatlese 2006, Rheinhessen £19.95
 Rothenberg is the finest vineyard in the Rheinhessen and without doubt, one of Germany's grand crus. 'Intriguing spice and mineral aromas and flavours highlight the apricot, passion fruit and pineapple core notes. Concentrated, yet light and lively, with a long, resonant, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2025. 92 points' Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator Medium sweetness
DE0407W Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2007, Mosel £19.99
'Fresh apple in counterpoint with lemon- and vanilla-cream characterize Loosen’s 2007 Wehlener Sonnenuhr, which preserves terrific refreshment on the palate even as it slathers on cream. This is another one of those seemingly levitating, where’s-the-alcohol wines. Bitterness of vanilla bean grapefruit zest along with wet stone add further interest to a long finish. 91pts' Wine Advocate To 2017 Medium
ITALY
IT1081R Tenimenti Angelini ‘San Leonino’ Chianti Classico Riserva 2001, Tuscany Ø £16.95
The Angelini family own this premium estate north of Siena and are focused on producing the very best possible wine from their densely planted vineyards. This Riserva is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo and is aged 18 months in oak barriques. Intense aromas with red cherry, bramble fruits and vanilla spice. Rich, powerful and textured on the palate with firm tannins and long, savoury finish. Drink to 2012
IT1014R Cantina Gigi Rosso Barolo Arione 2004, Piemonte Ø £19.95
Arione is a Barolo cru of just 3.5 hectares and famous for its ethereal bouquet and rich, complex flavours. Cantini Gigi Rosso produced just 1600 cases of this dense but elegant Barolo in the excellent 2004 vintage. The ideal ripening conditions mean that the wine is more accessible young than many Barolo's though still dense and tannic in late 2009. Just about approachable now but best from 2010.
IT0273R Falesco Montiano 2003, Lazio Ø £21.95
 Recipient of Italy's coveted "Tre Bicchieri" or 3 Glasses award - for ninth year running. Made from 100% Merlot aged in new oak barriques, this is a majestic wine, full of plum, raspberry and dark chocolate scents with a dense, deep, and velvety palate. World class quality that ages like Pomerol. Drink to 2018
IT0685R Alpha Zeta Amarone della Valpolicella 2005, Veneto £24.95
Made by Kiwi flying winemaker Matt Thomson at Quinto di Valpantena. Cherry and kirsch aromas with notes of black pepper, prune and exotic spices. Very rich and full-bodied with vibrant, mouth-filling fruit flavours that mask the significant alcohol. Long, raisiny finish with some aromatic character. To 2014 |
