We have very carefully selected a varied list of wines from the ‘old world’. We have purposely stuck to ‘old world’ wines to reduce our carbon foot print and to explore all the fabulous wines available on our doorstep.
We have found consultants that work within our principles, creating a list of wines that you would struggle to find on the high street. Supporting smaller growers, which means we can offer an excellent selection of wine that has not been diluted by mass marketing.
Should you not find the wine you are looking for, we can source it!
House wines
L’attitude Sauvignon/Colombard, Côtes de Gascogne, France.
A crisp and dry but fruity blend of Sauvignon, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng. A delicious aperitif wine from a small family-owned vineyard.
Merlot, Les Celliers de Prieure, France.
A great wine; full of ripe, juicy plummy fruit.
L’attitude Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, Côte De Gascogne, France.
Delightful refreshing style with an abundance of summer fruits from a small, family-owned vineyard. Great aperitif or with spicy food.
White wines
Matra Hill Pinot Grigio, Nagyréde Estate, Hungary.
Fresh and zippy off dry style, with full flavours of apple and pear. A great accompaniment for fish.
Viognier, Les Terres Rousses, Vins de Pays D’oc, France*.
A light, fresh, peachy wine with aromas of honeysuckle and a long and soft finish. Another family-owned vineyard and one which closely follows organic and biodynamic vineyard practices. Great with spice and oily fish.
Sauvignon de Touraine, Le Haut Perron, Domaine Guy Allion, Loire France*.
A classy Loire Sauvignon made in a modern style and with bags of ripe fruit. An excellent food wine.
Chateau La Freynelle, Sauvignon/Semillon, Entre Deux Mers, Bordeaux, France.
This is a new discovery! Modern, fresh and refined with lifted fruit, softened by the waxy Semillon.
Los Pecadillos Envy Verdejo/Sauvignon, Rueda, Spain*.
“I’ll have what she’s having”. It would be a sin to miss this wine! Crisp, but soft and rounded and very quaffable. From the great white wine region of Spain.
Callaghan’s Furlong, Hendred Vineyard, Oxfordshire, England.
Made from the Madeleine Angevine grape and grown in Oxfordshire this wine has superbly clean minerally fruit with excellent green citrus flavours and a lively spritz. This is a new venture for the owners and one which is proving successful. Good match with seafood.
Petit Chablis, Justin Nocevin, France*.
Petit Chablis is really one of the 4 ‘appellations’ of the Chablis vineyard, with wines made exclusively from Chardonnay. With floral aromas and a lively taste our Petit Chablis is an enjoyable wine! To the nose it has aromas of linden, fennel and citronella. The palate conveys all these impressions with great regularity, freshness and vividness. It is perfect as an aperitif and goes very well with oysters, mussels or a nice paté!
Gentil, Hugel, Alsace, France.
Pale, elegant and aromatic, this fantastic Alsace white is fresh, crisp and clean with balanced flavours of grapefruit, lime and citrus plus a light floral character with just a hint of sweetness. Excellent with paté of all types.
Dőnnhoff Riesling, Nahe, Germany*.
Fresh, crisp mineral qualities with a long lingering ripe finish. “For the second year in a row Helmut Dőnnhoff has left me shaking my head in wonder. Having tasted the greatest wines in the world, year in and year out, as a wine merchant and as a critic, it did not prepare me for this awe inspiring experience of tasting…… they are magical, emotional, breath taking. Words cannot do them justice!!”. Wonderful with seafood and smoked fish.
Sancerre La Princesse, Henri Bourgeois, France*.
This is a traditionally-styled Sancerre grown on chalky soils that shows the typical Sauvignon Blanc characteristics of gooseberry and blackcurrant fruit backed up by fine minerality. Not to be missed!
Chablis 1er Cru, Côte de Lechet, Domaine de Malandes, France 2006.
The vineyards which produce the finer wines in Chablis are designated Premier Cru and the Chablis 1er Cru ‘Cote de Lechet’ is a very good example of such a wine. Its typical minerality and wonderful elegance are a reflection of the soil and subsoil of the region. This wine is ‘to the point’, delicate with a good progression of fresh aromas such as grapefruit and white fruit skins. Excellent choice for chicken or vegetarian dishes.
Albarino Do Fefinanes, Rias Baixas, Spain 2007*.
Fresh, clean style with lemony fruit and subtle hints of honey. A perfect partner for seafood.
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru, Clos de Pitangeret, Domaine Gérard Thomas, Burgundy, France 2006.
A sublime example of a village white Burgundy. Rich, yet zesty Chardonnay with aromas of citrus fruit and buttered toast! The palate is ripe with hints of smoky oak. Lots of concentration and ripe fruit in the Saint-Aubin. Delicious and well made from start to finish.
Condrieu, Les Ceps de Nebadon, Alain Paret, France 2006.
A top rate white Rhône from the Viognier grape made by Alain Paret who won the inaugural ‘Viognier Trophy’ at the International wine challenge. This is quite stunning wine with lovely peach and apricot flavours enhanced by subtle use of oak. Great with spice, oily fish and strong cheeses.
Mersault Les Narvaux, Yves Boyer-Martenot, Burgundy, France 2005.
A fresh, rich and complex classic Meursault with good concentration of bright, crisp, ripe Chardonnay fruit and buttery mouthfeel. Good with rich sauces, chicken and vegetarian dishes.
Red Wines
Borsao Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Spain*.
Good structure and balance with red fruit flavours. An award-winning wine – stunning on its own or, particularly with lamb.
Nero D’Avola, Terra Firma, Sicily, Italy.
Traditionally made, dry yet with sweet overtones, soft fruit and new oak. Good wine with a vegetarian menu or to quaff.
Syrah/Merlot, Les Terres Rousses, Vins de Pays D’Oc, France*.
Lovely soft fruit and rich plumy flavours, mingled with peppery spice. This is great as it is, but especially good with food.
Navajas Rioja Tinto, Spain.
This is Rioja at its precocious youthful best, with intense raspberry and black cherry fruit overlaid with a flourish of vanilla and coconut. It is beautifully balanced with medium weight and cushioned by fine grain tannins.
Domaine de la Souterranne Merlot, ‘Cuvee Guillaume’, France.
From the Oxford Wine Company’s own vineyards, this Merlot is superbly crafted; full of blackberry, blackcurrant and mint aromas, with great texture and luscious finish. A medal winner in its category and one of Oz Clarke’s top 250 wines for 2009. Good with grilled meats and vegetables.
Le Fou, Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays de l’Aude, France.
A classic Burgundy style with sweet strawberry fruit and a savoury twist. Excellent choice for poultry, game and offal.
Château Jouclary, Cuvée Tradition, Cabades, France.
Rustic semi mature nose showing good soft dried fruit flavours of dates and raisins. Open and easy to drink. Good with hearty soups and casseroles.
Dou Rosa, Douro, Portugal.
Made by the Bergqvist family at their beautiful estate in the heart of the Port production area in the north of Portugal. This excellent modern table wine is made from the traditional local grape varieties of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. It sends layers of ripe mulberries, damsons and raspberries coursing around your tongue. The mouth feel is fleshy, exuberant and balanced.
Chinon, Domaine de Beauséjour, Gérard & David Chauveau, Loire, France*.
A brilliant example of supple, juicy Cabernet Franc. Tobacco, lead pencil and deep very ripe fruit. Good with poultry, meaty fish and cold meats.
Domaine de la Souterranne Old Vine Carignan, ‘Cuvée Christophe’, France*.
Fantastic, rich full bodied red that justly deserves its prizes and inclusion in Oz Clarke’s top 250 wines 2009. Fabulous with meat dishes, especially game.
Chianti Fortebraccio, Tuscany, Italy*.
100% Sangiovese from very best of la Pieve’s vineyards, this is a monumental Chianti with powerful fruit and tremendous finesse. La Pieve make their wines in a very traditional manner (concrete vats and long macerations) and the results are wines of supreme quality that typify the best that Chianti can produce. Being their top cuvee, Fortebraccio is a wine that is delicious now and will continue to evolve in the bottle.
Riberal Crianza, Ribera Del Duero, Spain.
A good example of the traditional Spanish wine making style showing savoury fruit with notes of vanilla and redcurrant. Excellent with lamb, beef and grilled/roasted meats.
Barolo, Veglio Angelo, Italy.
A great value Barolo, light in colour with ripe fruit aromas and great concentration of flavours. Good with rich, meaty dishes.
St. Joseph, Les Larmes du Père, Alain Paret, France*.
In a style that would rival most Hermitage and demolish Crozes Hermitage, this is a big deep spicy wine with an almost inky black colour to it. Made from 100% Syrah, this is for the true wine lover. Great with BBQ’d foods and rich meat dishes.
Luis Canas Rioja Reserva 2003, Spain*.
A strong, elegant aroma with hints of raspberry, strawberry and blackcurrant married with cinnamon and coconut from careful cask ageing. In the mouth the wine is smooth and well balanced with a delicate touch of acidity so typical of the area. The aftertaste is long and most agreeable with persistence reminiscent of its maturation in oak.
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Le Roselle, Cantina di Negrar, Italy*.
Smooth, full-bodied, big rich red. Stunning!
Châteauneuf du Pape, Domaine Duclaux 2004, France.
The family can trace its history back to 1627 and its domain lies close to that of Jerome Quiot. The wine has a great concentration of colour and flavour, with a balance of fruit and tannin that ensures further maturation in the bottle for 10 to 15 years. Wonderful with beef and rich meat dishes.
Château St. Georges, St. Georges St. ́Ēmilion, 2001, France.
This beautiful Louis XIV Château has panoramic views of the village of St Georges St. Emilion. The estate is immaculately maintained and produces elegant, supple wines with jammy fruit and a spicy edge on the finish. Good with casseroles and most food.
Beaune Grèves, 1er Cru, Domaine Chanson Père et fils, Burgundy, France 2005*.
An elegant, rich and complex wine with great structure and finesse.
Château Dauzac, 5ème Cru Classé, Margauz, France 1995*.
A rich, full-bodied wine with a cedar wood and tobacco nose. Slightly sweet on the palate with good acidity. A delicious wine that is drinking well now but will continue to improve.
Rosé Wines
Merlot Rosé, Fresh de Valentin, Ile de Beauté, Corsica, France*.
This is a delightful, fresh and crisp rosé which not only tastes fabulous, but looks wonderful too. The unique bottle is in the shape of an old perfume bottle. So the story goes, when the wine was first made many years ago, there were no bottling facilities on the island and so the wine was put into bottles supplied by the nearby perfumery! Lovely aperitif, good for picnics and light bites.
Navajas Crianza Oak Aged Rosé, Rioja, Spain.
Soft and rounded rosé, full of fruit and texture, with a dollop of soft vanilla oak. Delicious!
Château Miraval, ‘Pink Floyd’, Côtes de Provence, France*.
Really well made, delicate, minerally and refreshing wine, made next door to the studio where the ‘Wall’ album was recorded.
Organic/Biodynamic wines
Wittman Riesling, Germany.
A dry organic Riesling from a very old 25 hectare estate not far from the Rhine. Superbly made and very well regarded.
Hermitage Monior de la Sizeranne, M. Chapoutier, Rhone, France 2003.
An organic and biodynamic wine from a top grower. Powerful, rich Syrah.
Sparkling wines
Varichon & Clerc, Blanc de Blancs, France.
Prosecco, Sacchetto, Italy
Vino Frizzante Rosato, Villa Domiziano, Italy
Crèmant de Bourgogne, Jacques Charlet, France
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, England
Champagne
Georges de Roualet NV, Champagne, France
Philippe Brugnon 1er Cru NV, Champagne, France
Philippe Brugnon Rosé 1er Cru NV, Champagne, France
Gosset Brut Excellence NV, Champagne, France
Gosset Grand Rosé NV, Champagne, France
Gosset Celebris Vintage 1998, Champagne, France
Dessert Wines
37.5cl Monbazillac, Château Poulvère, France
37.5cl Carmes de Rieussec, Sauternes, France
37.5cl Vin Santo del Chianti, Falchini, Italy
Château Suduiraut, 1er Cru Classé, Sauternes 1996, France
*Recommended
