Jaime Quendera, our favourite Portuguese winemaker, has made a juicy, fruit-forward red, aged in a very special cask. Enjoy Alicante Bouschet’s smooth texture in this red from rare, ancient vines that oozes rich flavours of black cherry and pepper.
Can you imagine buying 1,008 bottles of wine in one year? That’s 200 gallons to be exact – the same amount that each American household was allowed to make for ‘personal use’ during Prohibition. And the go-to grape during this DIY time wasn’t Cabernet or Merlot, it was the bold and juicy Alicante Bouschet - widely planted in California but originally from Portugal. Today, award-winning winemaker Jamie Quendera has crafted a mighty, Reserva-quality red, from rare 100-year-old vines. And the unique twist? Jamie aged the wine for 12 months in custom double casks. The top and bottom are French oak (imparting subtle spice) while the long side planks are American (for vanilla notes). The result is an ultra-smooth, cherry-ripe, well-spiced drop!
Lovers of fine Portuguese reds, get ready for this amazing offer. The one-case buy is already an exceptional deal. The two-case buy is a frankly AMAZING deal!
In true Portuguese style, this is a BIG, velvety, power-packed red with plenty of black cherry and deep spice. It has a great story too. During Prohibition in America, each household was allowed to make 200 gallons a year – around 1,008 bottles – for personal use.
Home winemaking became very popular, and grape growers started freighting boxes of grapes all over the country. They chose Alicante Bouschet (a Portuguese variety that was widely planted in California) because it survived the trip better than the more delicate varieties.
When winemaker Jaime Quendera discovered a vineyard with prime fruit from rare 100-year-old Alicante vines, he couldn’t wait to pay tribute to this Prohibition-style wine. And now we can’t wait to get it into your glass at this incredible price.
Look forward to more Tuscan treasures in the extraordinary 99pt Vecciano 2020 “One of the all time Super Tuscan greats” (Luca Maroni) and the lovely 90pt Murracio 2022 showing “dark berries, chocolate wafers and sweet spices” (James Suckling). From France, there’s a lavish twice Gold-winning 91pt Côtes-du-Rhône and a stunning Southern French star with THREE Gold and loads of top critic points. Aluado 2023 is a velvety Portuguese great with SEVEN Golds and 92pts, and there’s a Double Gold & 90pt Chilean Merlot beauty you must try.
Look forward to more Tuscan treasures in the extraordinary 99pt Vecciano 2020 “One of the all time Super Tuscan greats” (Luca Maroni) and the lovely 90pt Murracio 2022 showing “dark berries, chocolate wafers and sweet spices” (James Suckling). From France, there’s a lavish twice Gold-winning 91pt Côtes-du-Rhône and a stunning Southern French star with THREE Gold and loads of top critic points. Aluado 2023 is a velvety Portuguese great with SEVEN Golds and 92pts, and there’s a Double Gold & 90pt Chilean Merlot beauty you must try.
You couldn’t hope to find Sauvignon of this quality for the price in any of the Loire’s more famous regions, like Sancerre or Pouilly. Blended from the year’s tastiest vats, this wine is as subtle and complex as it is refreshing and zingy. It’s made exclusively for us by our trusted friend Franck Chatelain at Noël Bougrier’s renowned cellar in the Touraine. The original Abbesse was one Louise de Bourbon of the nearby Abbaye de Fontevraud and a major figure in Loire history. This delicious expression of the region’s reigning grape, Sauvignon Blanc, is a fitting tribute to her. With its appealing, crisp, lemony fruit and zippy freshness, it’s delicious on its own any time and goes ever so well with goat’s cheese and lighter fish dishes.
Provence remains supreme for classy pinks. Not always cheap, but our Buyer Jean Marc knows that Aix offers quality with value. Using Provence’s classic grapes, the cellar there has captured the berry fruit, stony citrus notes and savoury riff.
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The Times wrote: “Sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne is impeccable value for money”. The fine mousse, creamy fruit and elegant zing of this fizz made by the same method and using the same grapes as in the Champagne region.
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