【Pre-order Special】12 bottles of Year of the Snake Cabalié for just $1,388, plus you'll receive 3 extra bottles and two engraved glasses (view details)
Black Saint Peter comes to you from California’s premium Lodi district, the self-proclaimed ‘Zinfandel Capital of the World’. This grape thrives in the very warm temperatures of this inland region, particularly when grown on gnarly, old, low-yielding vines, some dating back to the 1880s. Zinfandel was brought to California in the 1850s by incomers from the East Coast attracted by the Gold Rush. Some of the first vines were called ‘Black Saint Peters’ until, 20 years later, they were identified as the same grape as Zinfandel.
This weighty, velvety red uses grapes from vines over 50 years old, making for deep and complex flavour in the glass. At a generous 15.5%, it’s a splendid food companion. Serve with barbecued spare-ribs or spicy tagine.
How do you make Zinfandel Blush? There’s no punchline, just a rosé style that’s California’s signature pink. The name, Pink Darner, refers to the delicate dragonfly you can see skimming over the vineyards in sunny California, and on the label! Easy-going Pink Darner is made from fruit sourced in the Central Valley’s Lodi. This region has long been considered the spot where the quality to value ratio is at its best.
Home to some of California’s oldest Zinfandel plantings, you can be sure Pink Darner is going to be a fruity, oh-so-refreshing wine. The kind of off-dry rosé you can enjoy as a treat at any time of the year. Pour yourself a glass and revel in the strawberry, watermelon dream that’ll whisk you straight to the Sunshine State.
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Here, in the UK, we don't get to drink much Californian Zinfandel - 95% of it is consumed locally. And Lodi is one of the elite regions for growing it, its wines gorgeously rich, dark and swarthy. This is a special parcel from one of Lodi's finest cellars, so good we aren't allowed to name them. That's part of the hush hush deal that ensured an exceptionally good price on this wine. It won't surprise you that sales for super-premium wines have slowed, so the winery was keen to shift some stock. And with Zin-focused customers, we were more than delighted to oblige.
Small grapes ensure intense colour and a big lift of super-ripe black fruits, rippled with vanilla and spice. Open and decant an hour beforehand. Great with roast red meats.
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There has been a phenomenal rise in the number of artisan Champagne makers in recent decades as more grape growers have risen to the challenge of crafting their own wines. And, as The Independent wrote, “Champagnes made by local growers are not just affordable, but in many instances superior to the better known big brands”. Didier and Karine Chopin are based in the Marne Valley. They bottled their first Champagne in 1989, made from grapes grown on Karine’s family’s estate. Today they have their own property.
This Brut rosé is made from the two black grapes of Champagne, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Six years on, lees have lent it considerable richness and complexity. Chilled it's as excellent with seafood and canapés as it is on its own.
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