Recent Reviews
Press
Planeta, Santa Cecilia 2007
Complex, with evident ripeness; powerful but with minerality and restraint. Still relatively youthful, with firm backbone. Stylish example of modern Nero d’Avola. 5* 19/20
Planeta, Carricante 2010
Bright fruitiness, with a touch of minerality and steel. Crisp, fresh palate, revealing stone furit and medium weight. Modern expression of Carricante. 5* 18.5/20
Peter McCombie - Decanter Magazine, Italy 2012, February 2011
Press
MandraRossa, Fiano 2010
This is stronger at 13.5 per cent but has a mouthwatering citrus-zest scent and refreshing kick of tangerine and grapefruit. Drink with grilled white fish and seafood.
Susy Atkins - Sunday Telegraph, January 2012
Press
Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2007
2007 received the highest score out of more than 100 Chianti tasted by James Suckling: 95 / 100.
Blueberry and sandalwood aromas, with loads of subtle fruit. Full body, with super velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is classy and focused. Gorgeous wine. Best Chianti Classico ever from here. Drink now or hold.
100 Chianti tasted by James Suckling - 19th December
Press
Domaine Yves Cuilleron, St. Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2009
Yves Cuilleron is a great winemaker, especially renowned for his fine St Joseph. 2009 was a good northern Rhone vintage and sthis superb Syrah comes from selected vineyards and b ursts with gordeous, inky, oaky yet velvety, bramble and violet-perfumed fruit. Great with light game birds, including guinea fowl and partridge, for an alternative festive centrepiece.
Joven, Pago de los Capellanes 2010
This low-yielding, unfiltered red bursts with terrific, lively, leafy, spieced black fruits and dark chocolate flavours. Perfect with everything from roasted red meats to strong cheeses.
Trinity Hill, 'Hawkes Bay' Syrah 2010
Hawkes Bay, the source of some of New Zealand’s finest reds, is also a prime spot for Syrah. Give good Syrah grapes, topped up with a dash of perfumed viognier, as top Rhone producers do, to a great winemaker such as John Hancock and even at this sub-£12 level drinkers are in for a treat. What you get, along with 14 percent alcohol, is oodles of bold, creamy, violet-scented, briary, black peppered fruit that is just the ticket with strong game dishes.
Jane MacQuitty - Saturday Times - 10th December
Press
Leyda Sauvignon Gris Kadun Vineyard Leyda Valley 2010
Further proof that coastal Chilean Sauvignon Gris has the potential to be a world-beater. Gentle spice and beguiling richness underscored by juicy lemony acidity. Delicious. 18/20
Skillogalee Liqueur Muscat NV
Best Buy for Christmas: Will find great flavour, packed as it is with figgy, toffee pudding notes and flavours of raisons, dried fruits, coconut, spice and caramel; opulent and a guilty pleasure.
Domaine de la Janasse, Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2008
Sleek, rich, generous and complex with a juicy balance. A nice, herby mineral wine with hints of cigar box and Indian spice. Has a grippy, ripe structure. Lots of density, lots of finesse.
Vina Leyda, Lot 5 Chardonnay, Leyda Valley 2009
Best Buy for Christmas: Is a smooth, tropical-tinged, rounded wine, with lovely purity and touches of creamy oak. 17/20
Ridgeview, Bloomsbury, Sussex 2009
Best Buy for Christmas: Its stylish, biscuity nose. This is bright and inviting, with a restrained feel to its dainty but concentrated citrus fruit palate. 17.5/20
Decanter - January 2012
Press
Ridgeview, Bloomsbury Cuvée Merret 2009
Top25+ fizzes. English fizz gets better and better and Ridgeview is leading the charge. Neutral nose but some real depth. Light hazelnut flavour. Tight texture. Very respectable.
Jancis Robinson - Financial Times - November 2011
Press
Reserva, Pago de los Capellanes 2007
Perfumed violet, red and black berry, toffee, butter, chocolate, liquorice, vanilla and balsamic nose. Enormous fruit and tannins but the fruit is winning. It's rich, hot, spicy and long. A fully, layered and attractive wine with a rich fruit length. 5* 19/20
Vintage Rose, Champagne Henriot 2002
A delightful salmon-gold to old-gold colour, this enchanting rosé is marked by gorgeously slow-evolving, toasty richness that flits in and out of gently rich and pure Pinot fruit to provide a long, sumptuous finish. 19/20 5*
Santadi, Pedraia Nuragus 2010
Nuragus is one of Sardinia's most ancient varieties. Seeing no oak, this is supple and inviting, with a host of flavours to be enjoyed - ripe apples, lychee, honey, pear and herbs. This shows fine balance throughout, and a beautifully fresh feel. 17.5/20 4*
Decanter - December 2011
Tre Bicchieri 2012 – winners!
Planeta, Plumbago Nero d'Avola 2009
Santadi, Terre Brune 2006
Colli di Lapio, Fiano di Avellino, Clelia Romano 2010
Anselmi, Capitel Croce IGT 2009
Prosecco, Ruggeri, Riserva Giustino Bisol DOC 2010
Conterno Fantino, Barolo Sori Ginestra DOC 2007
Nicola Bergaglio, Gavi di Gavi, La Minaia 2010
La Crotta di Vegneron, Fumin Esprit DOC 2009
Ottella, Lugana Superiore DOC Molceo 2009
Gambero Rosso
Press
Leyda Pinot Noir Cahuil Leyda Valley 2009
Winemaker Viviana Navarrete makes a number of good Pinots, yet this is the one to buy. It’s quite a concentrated style – there’s more than a hint of Central Otago here – but there’s opulence and freshness in equal measure, with toasty oak, some wild strawberry and a stylish, blackberryish finish. 92 points
Falernia Carmenere Reserva Elqui Valley 2007
All the reds from this brilliant, Italian-owned winery are first class, so take your pick. My favourite (just ahead of the Syrah) is this intensely aromatic, peppery, clove-scented number, with its fresh acidity, balance, length and impressive poise. More than any wine, this has changed my mind about Carmenère. 94 points
Tim Atkin - www.timatkin.com
Press
Quinta Do Crasto, Douro Superior 2009
Imagine the structure of a claret, dripping with juice and loaded with thicker layers of spice, liquorice, alcohol and berries and you can almost taste this red, made in the Douro Valley from a blend of port grapes.
Daily Telegraph - Victoria Moore, October 2011
Press
Kooyong Beurrot Pinot Gris Mornington Peninsula 2010
Lees-ageing and wild yeast fermentation in old barels fine tune remarkable texture and menerality. Exactingly crafted, it's one of Australia's most complex wines. 18.5/20 5*
Decanter - Tyson Stelzer - November 2011
Press
Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2006
A strong candidate for Australia's most distinguished single-vineyard Shiraz, laced with signature black pepper and nutmeg. Vibrant black fruits are underlined by textural tannins. 19/20 5*
Decanter - Tyson Stelzer - November 2011
Press
Skillogalee Hand Picked Riesling 2010
Skillogalee cleans up in Decanters Riesling tasting achieving 5 stars. The panel said is was 'Delicious, complex and multi-dimensional,'.
Decanter - 2011 September Riesling Tasting
Press
Decanter Wine Awards 2011
Another great haul for the Great Western Wine portfolio, with awards for Trimbach, Vina Falernia and Champagne Henriot amongst others.
