Pick and choose from a great selection of every day wine drinking. You can mix your own case with any wine you like in this section. We will deliver it to your door, office or friend as a gift within days. Our standard delivery rates are £10.00 for first case (be it 6 or 12 bottles) and each additional case whether 6 or 12 bottles is only £5.00. Please note minimum order case of 6 or £100.00. All prices in this section are duty paid. We hope you enjoy these wines and please let us know about your experience. (Prices exclude vat).
Beaucastel’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more.
One of the great estates of the Rhone Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family, beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died in 1978), then the brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois, and now their sons Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu. Beaucastel has nearly 200 acres in vine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and they have branched out with an impressive operation under the Perrin et Fils label, purchasing grapes and acquiring land (in Vinsobres and Gigondas, for example). Their goal is to become the most recognized name for high quality wines in the southern Rhone. As shrewd consumers know, one of the best values in under $10 a bottle wine is La Vieille Ferme. The Perrin et Fils cuvees include wines made from purchased grapes as well as their new acquisitions in Vinsobres, Gigondas (25 acres), and the Cotes du Rhone village of Cairanne (35 acres). The Perrins enjoyed tremendous success with their 2008 red wines, largely because yields ranged between 18 hectoliters per hectare for Beaucastel, to only 20 hectoliters per hectare for Coudoulet. The mildew that affected everyone was the culprit. The entire family acknowledged there was an extraordinary triage and culling out of the grapes at the sorting tables.
As I stated last year, there is no Hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006, but Beaucastel’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin, this explosively rich Chateauneuf is a stronger effort than the 2005, 2004, or 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028.
Beaucastel and its subsidiary wines marketed under the Perrin et Fils moniker are consistently among the bright shining stars of France. I have been visiting this estate for nearly thirty years, and over that time I have seen all the elements of what makes wines great – an incredible respect for the vineyards, a conscientious, uncompromising work ethic, and extraordinary passion for gentle handling of fruit from their sites. Brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin seem to be gradually inching closer to retirement as their sons take more and more of a front row seat in the running of this outstanding estate. This is a marvelous portfolio of wines, from the extraordinary values, to the top-end world classics. While one could say this is as traditionally run estate as can be found in western Europe, the Perrins are remarkably flexible if they sense that quality can be improved. Quality rises dramatically with the Perrin et Fils cuvees. The Cotes du Rhone Reserve wines are produced primarily from the estate vineyards at Grand Prebois and Vinsobres, with some purchased fruit from such Cotes du Rhone appellations as St.-Gervais. Marc Perrin, who is responsible for winemaking at Perrin et Fils, seems to go from strength to strength with this line of wines, which includes negociant bottlings as well as some from estate vineyards in Vinsobres.
The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc Vieilles Vignes, it was a tiny crop due to several vineyard diseases, and the result is a wine that is almost off the charts in terms of intensity. Gorgeously rich aromas of roasted raisins, white currants, lychee nuts, exotic fruits, brioche, and spice soar from the glass of this decadently rich, luxuriously concentrated, fabulous dry white. Who can ignore it for the next 3-4 years? It is difficult to find a better white Chateauneuf du Pape than Beaucastel. Much like their reds, their whites are made in a style that is atypical for the appellation. It is put through full malolactic, and one-third is barrel fermented, then blended with the two-thirds that is aged in tank. Extraordinarily rich and honeyed, it is ideal for drinking with intensely flavored culinary dishes.
The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc Vieilles Vignes, it was a tiny crop due to several vineyard diseases, and the result is a wine that is almost off the charts in terms of intensity. Gorgeously rich aromas of roasted raisins, white currants, lychee nuts, exotic fruits, brioche, and spice soar from the glass of this decadently rich, luxuriously concentrated, fabulous dry white. Who can ignore it for the next 3-4 years? It is difficult to find a better white Chateauneuf du Pape than Beaucastel. Much like their reds, their whites are made in a style that is atypical for the appellation. It is put through full malolactic, and one-third is barrel fermented, then blended with the two-thirds that is aged in tank. Extraordinarily rich and honeyed, it is ideal for drinking with intensely flavored culinary dishes.
"The debut vintage of the Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, the 2006 (nearly all Grenache) has totally closed down. It possesses a Chateauneuf du Pape style with a Bordeaux structure. Dense ruby/purple to the rim, it displays a hint of new oak along with sensational levels of kirsch liqueur, licorice, lavender, and loamy soil. Full-bodied and powerful, with high tannin, it is built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2044.
This estate, owned by the Jaume family, has been on fire over the last decade. The wines are made in a polished, civilized, modern style, but they do not lack Provencal or Chateauneuf du Pape typicity. In 2006, they added a third cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape, an old vine cuvee that was mostly all Grenache in 2006, but a different blend in 2007. The real bargain among the Chateauneuf du Papes is their traditional offering. Over the last 4-5 years, Grand Veneur has produced a bevy of terrific Cotes du Rhones, and the following two cuvees are indicative of what they are capable of achieving."
A prestigious wine of international renown, sourced from the famous Chianti DOCG region. Made from carefully selected blend of the best Sangiovese grapes, with a touch of Ciliegiolo, a long and careful ageing gives this Chianti Riserva a rich, fruity structure which is soft and velvety on the palate. A perfect match with red meats, game and matured cheeses. Best served at 18°C. Alcohol by volume: 13%