Barón de Barbón Oak Aged Rioja
Vintage after vintage, Barón de Barbón proves to be our bestselling Rioja. It’s a lot to do with the wine’s enticing berry aromas, silky texture and luscious flavour. The talent behind this contemporary, fruit driven red is the young and infectiously keen Javier Murúa. His father Julián owns Bodegas Muriel (a winery Julián’s parents established in 1926) in Rioja’s superior Alavesa. We have a fabulous working relationship with the family, ensuring our Buyer Beth goes in straight after vintage and gets first refusal on the finest vats. With its easy going, ripe red berry flavours and fragrant vanilla character, this supple Rioja is great to drink on its own or with simple suppers such as lamb chops, char-grilled vegetable kebabs or chicken.
Palacio del Conde Gran Selección
As Robert Parker says, “Spain leads the world for sensational wine bargains of character and soul”, none more so than its mature reds. Nowhere else produces mellow, barrel-aged wines of such remarkable quality and price. Take Palacio del Conde – a gorgeously complex, oaky 2015 from Valencia. Part of this region is close to the coast, while the more southerly part is inland, up in the hills, and dry. It’s there that winemaker Marta Martínez selects the finest, hand harvested – from 50 year old vines – Tempranillo grapes for this Gran Reserva, then ages the wine for three years in oak barrels. A wonderfully fragrant, silky red with mature redcurrant and strawberry fruit and a rich, toasty character. Sublime with roast lamb or tapas. Its three recent Gold wins show its drinking beautifully now.
Finca Libertad Tinto
Conde de Cron Vino Tinto
Viña Bujanda Tinto Joven Rioja
Love red wines with easy fruit and elegance? This Joven (young) Rioja is a must-try. We’ve known the Bujanda family since 1984, when they completed their state-of-the-art winery. In fact, we were the first to introduce their wines to the UK. Four decades later, their cellar remains one of the finest in Europe, with a trophy cabinet full of awards and a top winemaker at the helm – Lauren Rosillo. This Joven is from the family’s beautiful Finca Valpiedra estate, whose vineyard is nestled in a bend of the Ebro river. Made entirely from estate-grown Tempranillo and aged for a year in bottle, it’s silky with bright strawberry and blackberry fruit. Smooth enough to sip solo, or pair with tapas, charcuterie or game.
St Huberts The Stag Tempranillo Shiraz
Just like the noble creature, The Stag wines represent elegance, grace and esteem. Quintessentially Victorian, they are made in a classic cool climate style. On the nose, a little rustic, with savoury spices, red berries, bright cherry and potpourri aromatics. Medium bodied and supple on the palate, with cherry, chocolate and tobacco notes. Tempranillo tannins have a powdery feel about them, leading to a savoury spice finish.
Tasca Regaleali Nero d'Avola
Bright, intense ruby red in colour, Tasca Regaleali Nero d'Avola is full flavoured with notes of sour cherry, mulberry, blueberry and vanilla. Herbaceous spice such as sage add further complexity leading into a beautifully balanced red wine.
Aluado Alicante Bouschet
They said he was 'aluado' ('loony') but the ever inventive José Neiva Correia has proved his doubters wrong. Alicante Bouschet produces some of the world's deepest coloured wines and is often used to enhance Portugal's top reds. Here you find it in its pure form thanks to José. A legend of Portuguese wine, he combines generations of tradition with an inquisitive spirit undimmed at 60+ years of age. Following on from last year's triple Gold medal triumph, José again used grapes from his own historic estate, Quinta de Porto Franco, which dates back to the 12th century and is thought to be the oldest vineyard in Alenquer. Thanks to a great season, Aluado 2017 is a big, rich wine best served with roast meats - try with pork or rack of lamb.
Freixenet Italian Sparkling Rose Piccolo
As with the white Prosecco, this Rose from the leading Spanish producer, Freixenet, is also available in the cute, yet extremely convenient size of just 200mls. An Italian classic, it also offers those delightfully refreshing notes of florals, apples and red berries in an extra-dry style. What picnic or lazy summer afternoon would not be made even better by a few of these chilled gems?