Video One: Ginestet Bordeaux Classique Sauternes 2005

For many, this is the home of great dessert wine. Botrytis (noble rot) has caused the grapes to shrivel and concentrate the natural sugars. The result is a rich sweet wine which can be enjoyed with dessert, instead of dessert or with cheese. It was awarded a Silver Medal at the 2008 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

For the following wines, click on the links provided for each to view videos.

Video Two: Sierra Grande Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

A food-friendly red sourced from organically grown grapes, the SG Cabernet is warm and rounded, with sweet dark fruit and an attractive herbaceous edge.

Video Three: Santa Alicia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

The Santa Alicia medal collection has swollen once again following the fantastic 2008 vintage. This inexpensive Cabernet picked up a Silver Medal at the International Wine Challenge and Gold at Mundus Vini.

Video Four: Tabalí Reserva Carménère 2007

If you’re yet to experience Chile’s adopted grape, Carménère, then what are you waiting for? This blockbuster-style red is brimming with black fruits and soft, chocolatey tannins. A masterful wine.

Video Five: Sierra Grande Merlot 2008

For an entry-level Chilean, this wine has a lot going on. Black fruit intermingles with some meaty characteristics and spicy overtones. A good, everyday drinking wine sourced from organically grown grapes.

Video One: Santa Alicia Reserva Carménère 2008

You’d be right in thinking there’s a whiff of chocolate of this gold medal winning Carménère, but we can assure you the only ingredient is grape juice. If you’re a fan of Merlot, you should like Carménère, and this is one of the best available at normal retail price, never mind with 20% off for the month of March.

For the following wines, click on the links provided for each to view videos.

Video Two: Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc 2009

A refreshing organic Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, with those trademark tingling aromatics, crisp acidity and fresh fruit flavours. Easy drinking and a real crowd pleaser. 20% off for the month of March.

Video Three: Last Stand Shiraz 2007

The fruity Last Stand would be on the slightly lighter end of the scale, and perhaps an easier drinking style of South Australian red. One customer observed, “It’s like sitting in the arms of someone warm”.

Video Four: Long Neck Chardonnay 2009

A well-made, inexpensive Chardonnay from South Africa. The winemaker has allowed the grape itself to do most of the work, rather than indulging in the overuse of oak. Rich texture and bursting of tropical fruits.

Video Five: Ginestet Bordeaux Classique Margaux 2005

A superb food wine, the Ginestet Margaux is drinking well now, but put it down for a year or two to see it at its best. Wine from Bordeaux ‘05, and this region in particular, won’t be around for too much longer!

Video One: Langmeil Hangin’ Snakes Shiraz-Viognier 2007

Don’t be scared, there were no snakes used in the making of this video. Hangin’ Snakes is another stunner from Langmeil, the winery who claimed the coveted 5 star accolade from wine critic James Halliday for the fifth year running. An old world style Shiraz-Viognier blend, which was awarded a Decanter Silver Medal last year. €13.99 each when you buy two or more (save €6) for the month of March.

For the following wines, click on the links provided for each to view videos.

Video Two: Santa Alicia Gran Reserva Carmenere 2006

Twelve months in French oak and a further twelve months in bottle before release, there is considerable investment which has gone into this full-bodied Chilean classic. 20% off for the month of March.

Video Three: Pouilly Fume Jean Paul Mollet 2008

Premium Loire Sauvignon Blanc from a family-owned estate and winery. Loire Sauvignon’s are generally a little more restrained and drier than New Zealand Sauvignon. Jean Paul Mollet’s is the perfect example.

Video Four: Heartland Viognier Pinot Gris 2007

“Clear-cut Viognier varietal character in a peach/apricot spectrum is cut slightly by fresh Pinot Gris; an odd couple who nonetheless get on quite well.” (James Halliday - 89 points) Wine Spectator - 91 Points.

Video Five: Sirius Bordeaux 2005

The 2005 vintage was exceptional. Sirius combines elegance, finesse and character, with great concentration and remarkable richness. A modern-style Bordeaux keeping a balance synonymous with the traditionals.

Video One: Chateau Bauduc Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This Bordeaux Blanc has been the house white at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants and a special selection at Rick Stein’s since the first vintage in 2000. It picked up a Silver Medal at the International Wine Challenge last year. To view our insightful interview with winemaker Gavin Quinney, click here.

For the following wines, click on the links provided for each to view videos.

Video Two: Santa Alicia Reserva Malbec 2008

Aged in French oak for eight months, followed by at least 8 months in the bottle, this Reserve Malbec is absurdly complex for the money. International Wine & Spirits Competition ‘09 - Silver medal (Best in Class).

Video Three: Romain Bouchard 1er Cru Chablis ‘Vau de Vey’ 2007

Pascal, and son Romain Bouchard, are the kings of old style Chablis. Their judicious use of old oak without gaining any of the associated fustiness is amazing. International Wine Challenge ‘09 Gold Medal.

Video Four: Château Cardinal Villemaurine Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2004

A quality blend of Merlot & Cabernet Franc from one of Saint Emilion’s finest winemakers, Jean Francois Carrille. A full bodied red, which serves as a good match to mushrooms, game birds and roasted lamb.

Video Five: Langmeil GCV Chardonnay 2008

All fruit for this single vineyard white is sourced from Greenock Creek Valley, which is Langmeil’s best plot for Chardonnay. This white is creamy and very fruit driven on the palate. Very classy indeed.

To replace our daily posts, I’ll be posting a weekly round-up of our tasting videos that we have been shooting and posting to the product pages during the week. Of course we’ll be continuing to post five every week, one of which will be the feature on the weekly Video Round-Up posts, and the other four you can check out on the individual product pages, for which links are provided. Enjoy!

Video One: Fairhall Cliffs Sauvignon Blanc 2009

From the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines in Marlborough, father of Brent Marris (The Ned), John Marris brings us the first vintage from Fairhall Cliffs. And an astonishing one at that.

Video Two: Mesoneros de Castilla Ribera del Duero Roble 2006

This roble is fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged for 6 months in American oak, and held a further 3 three months in bottle before release to the public.

Video Three: Tabali Syrah 2007

“Powerful cassis and garrigue flavours, well-balanced wood and good fruit extraction. Heavy body.” - Decanter, 2009. (Silver Medal at 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards)

Video Four: Ginestet Classique Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This dry Sauvignon Blanc is produced from grapes sourced from vineyards at the heart of Bordeaux. It’s a classic Bordeaux delivered it in a very modern way. (IWSC Bronze Medal 2008)

Video Five: Rincon de Navas Crianza Rioja 2005

These concentrated grapes from old, single vineyard vines, are processed with care and attention throughout every step of the wine making process, helping to produce a rich, complex red with a long finish.

The white grape Viura, also called Macabeo, is widely grown in the Rioja region of northeastern Spain. This 100% Viura of Rioja is cultivated in vineyards at an altitude of 400 metres above sea level and the vines are, on average, 20 years old.

To view product page and for more details, click on Valliciergo Viura.

From a single vineyard where mostly Merlot (70% in this blend), Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on clay and gravel slopes near the river Garonne. This classic Bordeaux blend was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The 2004 vintage received 91 points from Galway based wine critic Frank O’Brien.

To view product page and for more details, click on Chateau Bauduc Clos des Quinze.

An easy drinking, superb food wine with easily dissectable aromas and flavours that linger on and on. It’s been aged in American oak casks for 3 months prior to bottling. I’m quite a big fan of American Oak since trying this wine, for the unique vanilla and coffee flavours it imparts into the wine.

To view product page and for more details, click on Legado Muñoz Garnacha.

This is a fruit-driven Chardonnay from Barossa Valley. Despite no oak treatment, the wine is plump and buttery due to the process of Malolactic fermentation. Put simply, this is where the tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid, thus giving a fuller mouth-feel.

To view product page and for more details, click on Earthworks Chardonnay.

Our house red is made predominantly from a blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Vin de Pays de Vaucluse. Its easy-drinking and compatibility with food make it one of our most popular wines.

To view product page and for more details, click on Cuvee Jean Paul Rouge.