Our Picks
Adam and Liam have made some personal choices of wines that are among their own particular favourites from the shop...
White wines
Adam
Colomba Bianca Vitese Zibibbo 2023 £12.95 (Sicily, Italy)
(Great value Sicilian white made from the Zibibbo grape, one of the Muscat family that is usually used for sweet wines. More producers are now making dry table wines with it too, like this fragrant, aromatic example, which has lovely peachy fruit, some subtle floral and orange zest notes, just a hint of off dry and a pleasing creamy texture, but still finishes light and fresh. Works well with all manner of Mediterranean food and even something lightly spicy)
Monte del Fra Custoza Superiore Ca' del Magro 2020 £21 (Veneto, Italy)
(Consistently excellent, complex, elegant white blend from vineyards close to the shores of Lake Garda. Orchard and stone fruits, floral spice and mineral notes, a slightly oily mouthfeel from lees ageing, a pleasing freshness and a persistent finish. Perfect risotto wine )
Gaia Estate Monograph Assyrtiko 2022 £18.50 (Nemea, Greece)
(Deliciously fresh and vibrant Assyrtiko, lighter than those from Santorini, but bursting with flavour. Bright and crisp with zesty citrus, tropical fruit and mineral notes. Great food wine)
Idaia Winery Ocean Thrapsathiri 2022 £22 (Crete, Greece)
(A stunning white from a little known native Cretan variety, rich and bursting with flavour of citrus and tropical fruit, but also bracingly fresh and mouthwatering, with a crisp, mineral finish. A taste of the Mediterranean, a must try!)
Liam
Palliser Estate Riesling 2022 £16.95 (Martinborough, New Zealand)
(Vibrant zingy very slightly off dry Riesling with great intensity and refreshing minerality to go with the lime tinged fruit flavours, finishing with a mouthwatering freshness. Great with Thai or Vietnamese food.)
Finca Os Cobatos Godello 2023 £16.95 (Monterrei, Spain)
(Crisp and dry yet rich, textured and fruity, this is a superbly balanced Northern Spanish white made for tapas and seafood)
Moreau Naudet Chablis Vielles Vignes Les Pargues 2021 £34.50 (Burgundy, France)
(Fabulous Chablis with more rich fruit than most, lots of concentration and waxy, leesy texture, yet still crisp and dry. The finish goes on and on)
Rose
Adam and Liam
San Marzano Tramari Primitivo rose 2022 £13.95 (Puglia, Italy)
(Both of us singled this one out. Juicy, fruity rose from the Salento, with a great balance of sappy red berry fruit and fresh acidity, finishes dry and fresh)
Red wines
Adam
San Marzano Il Pumo Salice Salentino 2021 £12.50 (Puglia, Italy)
(One of the best value wines in the shop. Satisfyingly robust and fruity and yet dry and medium weight. Captures the Southern Italian sun in its ripe fruitiness, but has enough savoury character and lift of acidity to make it food friendly, as any good Italian wine should be)
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020 £27 (Tuscany, Italy)
(Fantastic example of Tuscan Sangiovese, from an exemplary producer. Fragrant and balanced: juicy black cherry and raspberry fruit, anise spice, fine, ripe tannins, earthy, savoury notes of tea leaf and a lift of fresh acidity)
Fuentenarro Ribera del Duero Crianza 2020 £18.95 (Ribera del Duero, Spain)
(A powerful yet elegant and complex Spanish red: lots of fruit, firm tannins, high acidity, earthy spicy notes, this is great with hearty food especially if decanted an hour or two in advance. Will also age well.)
Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Rosso Frappato/Nero d'Avola 2022 (Sicily, Italy) £26
(From a dynamic winemaker in Vittoria, South East Sicily. A wonderfully vibrant, juicy and delicious red. Light, distinctive and mouthwateringly fresh. Especially good lightly chilled. The Frappato gives red berry fruits, acidity and minerality, with darker fruit and body coming from the Nero d'Avola. Organic, biodynamic, low sulphite, unoaked, this is a wine that sings of purity, varietal character and a true sense of place. Natural in the best sense of the word.)
Liam
Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2019 £15.95 (Spain)
(soft, rich and mellow traditional Rioja with lots of savoury notes and vanilla oak to compliment the generous ripe fruit. 75% Tempranillo plus Mazuelo and Garnacha )
Les Clos Perdus Corbieres Cuvee 181 2021 £19.95 (Languedoc, France)
( A blend of 50% Carignan with Syrah and Grenache, this is a brambly, hearty red from Southern France, with excellent balance between fruit, fresh acidity, tannins and savoury notes. Medium to full bodied but very drinkable and not at all heavy on the palate)
Herdade do Rocim Amphora red 2018 £22.50 (Alentejo, Portugal)
(both of us were bowled over by the elegant loveliness and distinctive flavours of this gorgeous and unusual red blend from Southern Portugal. Aged in amphora.)
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Contrada Santo Spirito 2020 £42 (Sicily, Italy)
(another Sicilian wine, this time from the exciting Etna region. This is a fabulous powerful, complex, single vineyard expression of Etna, from one of the most influential producers in the region. Fruity, smoky, spicy, rich, structured, and yet balanced and elegant)
Sparkling
Adam
Davenport Limney Estate Sparkling 2018 £35 (Sussex, England)
(great quality English sparkler, can give vintage Champagne a run for its money. Sophisticated, dry, fruity, biscuity, complex, lovely fine mousse, long finish)
Liam
Meinklang Prosa Frizzante 2022 £16.95 (Burgenland, Austria)
(fun, and delicious lightly sparkling biodynamic pet nat rose from Austria. Perfect summer fizz)