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Price per bottle |
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Such is my enthusiasm for the wines of South Africa that I list them first. Why the enthusiam? It is because, for me, these wines combine the best of the "old" world and the best of the "new" in wine making terms. Many grape varieties seem to grow better in South Africa than they do anywhere else - Chenin Blanc being a prime example. Another would be the wonderful Mourvèdre which you can find as a single varietal wine in the south of France and, as Monastrell, in Spain but somehow it gains another dimension in Swartland (particularly but not exclusively). The selection here includes some truly great wines and I have seldom, if ever, encountered a bad bottle. Please give them a go |
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South Africa White |
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Percheron Chenin Blanc Viognier 2018 Swartland |
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I have been selling the red Percheron wines for a number of years. Currently unavailable |
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False Bay Wild Yeast Chenin Blanc 2016 Western Cape |
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8.20 |
7.35 |
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Possibly my favourite Chenin Blanc. Consistently good - rich and apricoty |
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False Bay Chardonnay 2017/18
Coastal Region |
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8.20 |
7.35 |
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Although unoaked this is made from sun ripened fruit, giving it much greater depth and flavour |
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New |
The Curator White Blend 2016
Swartland |
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8.60 |
7.75 |
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I've stocked this before - an exciting blend of Chenin, Chardonnay, Viognier by the formidable Adi Badenhorst |
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Signal Cannon Chenin Blanc 2013
Voor-Pardeberg, Paarl |
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9.75 |
8.80 |
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Drier and more austere than the False Bay with hints of Granny Smith (apples, one assumes) |
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Vondeling Chardonnay 2014
Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl |
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13.20 |
11.85 |
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Brilliant Chardonnay with perfectly balanced use of oak. Limited availability of this vintage |
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The Tea Leaf Chenin Blanc 2016
Piekenierskloof |
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13.25 |
11.90 |
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The Chenin vines are surrounded by Rooibos tea bushes which impart tea flavours to the wine |
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New |
Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc 2017
The Amos Block, Swartland
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13.40 |
11.99 |
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Truly intense, both on nose and palate. Real depth and zing. New vintage! |
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South Africa Red |
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Forge Mill Shiraz Cinsaut 2012
Western Cape |
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7.40 |
6.65 |
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Popular blend and the spelling of Cinsaut is not a typo (both spellings seem allowed!) |
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The Curator Red Blend 2013
Swartland |
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7.50 |
6.75 |
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Bargain of the year from Adi Badenhorst, when compared with the two previous vintages listed elsewhere |
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New |
Darling Cellars The Capeman SMG 2017
Darling |
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7.99 |
7.20 |
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A new blend (Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Grenache) for this popular wine - and a new label |
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Percheron Old Vine Cinsault 2018
Western Cape |
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8.40 |
7.55 |
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Slightly lighter than the wine below - really enjoyable |
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Percheron Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2017
Western Cape |
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8.20 |
7.39 |
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Still on great form - Rhône style wine with lots of fruit and real quality. Exceptionally good value for money |
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False Bay Pinotage 2016/17 Western Cape |
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8.30 |
7.45 |
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Very good 'modern' style Pinotage - not too heavy. Limited availability of this vintage |
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Barton Rouge 2013
Walker Bay |
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8.20 |
7.30 |
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An "almost Bordeaux" blend containing 40% Merlot - very well made and drinkable |
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The Curator Red Blend 2012
Swartland |
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8.45 |
7.60 |
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From the wonderful Adi Badenhorst - a joyful blend of Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Viognier |
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Withington Wines Malbec 2015
Darling
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Not, strictly speaking, a 'new' wine but a return for this non-Argentinian Malbec. Currently unavailable |
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Withington Wines Roan Ranger 2015
Darling |
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8.60 |
7.75 |
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Brilliant new wine, a Rhône blend of Cinsaut, Grenache and Mourvèdre |
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Darling Cellars Chocoholic Pinotage 2015 Darling |
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This is amazing! It really does taste chocolatey and almost more like a light port. Very moreish |
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Spice Route Grenache 2012 Swartland |
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11.70 |
10.55 |
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A great wine - really Rhône-ish. Limited availability |
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Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2014
Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl |
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12.20 |
10.99 |
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Don't be put off by the jokey name - this is a serious wine (or should that be 'cunning'?) |
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New |
Spice Route 2015 Mourvèdre Swartland |
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12.85 |
11.55 |
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Just one of my favourite wines on the entire list... New vintage |
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Barton Winemaker's Reserve 2012
Walker Bay |
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12.90 |
11.60 |
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Classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet. Really classy stuff. An absolute joy to drink |
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Donkiesbaai Pinot Noir 2013 Witzenberg |
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23.80 |
21.40 |
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OK, yes, it's expensive but this is serious wine, made from grapes grown in the highest Pinot Noir vineyards in South Africa. It will rival the best from Burgundy, without question, given time |
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White Vins de Pays (France...) |
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Maison de Vigneron Blanc Sec 2017
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne |
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7.65 |
6.90 |
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Made from Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes - crisp and fresh; easy drinking |
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New |
Joyau Gros Manseng Chardonnay 2017 |
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7.85 |
6.99 |
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Domaine de Vedilhan Viognier 2018
Vin de Paysd'Oc |
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9.20 |
8.30 |
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Classic 'peachy' Viognier with plenty of ripe fruit, exceptionally well made. Really classy new label, too |
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Les Volets Chardonnay 2018 Vin de Pays de la Haute Vallée de l'Aude |
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9.20 |
8.30 |
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We've seen this before but it's a worthy returner. Classy oaked Chardonnay at a stonkingly good price... |
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Domaine de Brumont Gros Manseng / Sauvignon 2017
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne |
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11.99 |
10.80 |
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Back again after a long absence - a combination that really works. Crisp and zingy |
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Red Vins de Pays (France...) |
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Maison de Vigneron Rouge 2016
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse |
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7.65 |
6.90 |
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Terrific quality for a humble VdeP - full flavoured, soft, easy drinker |
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Domaine Pontbriand 2016
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse |
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7.55 |
6.80 |
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Made from Caladoc (a Grenache/Malbec cross) producing a deliciously fruity wine. Very limited availability |
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Domaine Mas Barrau Cabernet Franc 2016
Vin de Pays du Gard |
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8.95 |
7.99 |
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Cabernet Franc doesn't often have such depth of flavour. Limited quantity of this vintage |
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Domaine de Boède Le Pavillon 2012
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Pérignan |
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10.60 |
9.55 |
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Concentrated fruit cake flavours - very rich. Delicious |
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Domaine de Brumont Tannat / Merlot 2014 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne |
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11.20 |
9.99 |
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Very soft and fruity. A great glugging wine. Has aged beautifully |
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Southern French Red |
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Roger Sabon 'Le Sabounet' NV
Vin de Table |
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8.99 |
8.20 |
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This is effectively de-classified Côtes du Rhône but don't tell anybody.... |
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Château La Bastide Vieilles Vignes 2011 Corbières |
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9.99 |
8.99 |
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The return of an old favourite. Properly made with a nice amount of bottle age |
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New |
Château L'Herbe-Sainte 2016
Minervois |
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11.75 |
10.60 |
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An amazing new find. Very deep colour with fantastic depth of flavour. Really "chewy" |
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Rosé wine |
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Borsao Rosado 2017 Campo de Borja, Spain |
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7.20 |
6.45 |
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Proper rosé with a decent depth of colour and strong strawberry flavours |
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Leccio Monferrato Chiaretto (Rosé) 2018 |
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9.20 |
8.30 |
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Alsace |
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Pinot Blanc Réserve 2014
Cave de Turckheim |
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9.99 |
8.99 |
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Crisp and steely but with richness of flavour too |
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Riesling Vieilles Vignes 2008
Cave de Turckheim |
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11.20 |
9.99 |
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Truly classic Riesling with all the intensity that great Riesling brings. Limited availability of this vintage |
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Gewürztraminer Tradition 2016
Cave de Turckheim
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13.40 |
11.99 |
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New vintage from an old favourite. Proper Gewürz like it should be. |
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Red Bordeaux |
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New |
Château Le Bedat 2015
Gensac, Bordeaux |
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11.75 |
10.60 |
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Deliciously soft, easy drinking claret. Lots of rich fruit - well balanced |
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Château Haut Rian 2014
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux |
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11.80 |
10.65 |
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Soft, easy drinking claret. Lots of rich fruit - well balanced. Limited availability of this vintage |
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