Spring 2020 brought lockdowns and heavy rain, followed by a long hot Summer. Our vines thrived, producing beautiful fruits that was ripened by some of the highest temperatures ever recorded in this region. Blackcurrant and black cherry notes, a touch of spice, and gentle tannins make this a versatile and easy drinking red Bordeaux blend.

Rich, red fruit flavors of redcurrant and cherry, with subtle plum notes. Gentle acidity and modest tannins provide refined balance to the wine, with excellent potential for cellaring.

Rich, red fruit flavors of redcurrant and cherry, with subtle plum notes. Gentle acidity and modest tannins provide refined balance to the wine, with excellent potential for cellaring.

Arrowsmith, 2020 Petite Sirah (Petite Syrah – Santa Barbara, California) Vegan 

THEY SAY: The long, hot summer of 2020 gave us perfect Tommy Town fruit again, the result was a wine with the deep, dark berry flavors for which Petite Sirah is renowned. Reminiscent of home-cooked blackberry pie, or the slow-cooked berry confitures of Southern France, this is a rich, full and intense wine. Acidity and tannins are gentle and well balanced, and the wine exhibits subtle licorice notes.

WE SAY: Very deep, very dark, very lovely.

The Dom Jacques Girardin Santenay Clo Rousseau 2019, a Premier Cru Burgundy made entirely from Pinot Noir, features a deep garnet color and aromas of ripe black currants and red plums. It offers a layered texture, ripe tannins, and a round, satisfying finish, making it an ideal pairing with food. With an aging potential of 8 to 10 years, this wine stands out for its accessible yet richly structured style.

Domaine Dozon Clos Du Saut Au Loup, 2020 (Cabernet Franc – Chinon, France)            

THEY SAY: Vibrant purple color. Traditional notes of plum skin, raspberries and capsicum abound. Manageable tannins and herbal notes underscore a direct fruitiness.

WE SAY: Tim can’t stop talking about this wine, he is crazy for it. I like t too, but he just won’t shut up about it. A subtle, beautiful alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.

A real favorite of ours: a delicate rose petal pink in colour with a fine prolonged mousse, lemon sherbet on the nose with hints of blackcurrant, rosehip and wild strawberry on the palate.

The Ferraton Père et Fils 'Calendes' Crozes-Hermitage 2016 is a medium-plus-bodied red wine from France, celebrated for its complex blend of ripe dark berry, underbrush, blueberry, black raspberry, and earthy notes, complemented by hints of smoke and burnt sugar. This well-regarded wine, with its balance of fruitiness and mineral midpalate, has received ratings around 89 to 92 out of 100 from critics, making it a rich and intense choice for wine enthusiasts.

Gusbourne 2018 (Pinot Noir - Kent, England)  

THEY SAY: Smoke, peony petal, a touch of vanilla and ripe, red cherry notions all combine on the youthful nose. The aromas hover between oak and richness and far more tender and shy flowers and fruit. The body is smooth and sonorous, essentially lithe but imbued with the generosity of subtle, smoky oak. 

WE SAY: This is very rare in the USA! We tried very hard to get an English Pinot. We won’t have it for long…

A real favorite of ours: a delicate rose petal pink in colour with a fine prolonged mousse, lemon sherbet on the nose with hints of blackcurrant, rosehip and wild strawberry on the palate.

Domaine Dyckerhoff, 2019 (Petit Gris Rose – Reuilly, Loire, France)

THEY SAY: Pale salmon color, fruity nose. Great length and freshness in the palate with flavors of wild strawberries, peach skin and mineral.

WE SAY: A deliciously soft rose, done in the subtle way only the French can. Lovely!

Bastide Miraflors 2018 (Grenache-Syrah - Roussillon, France)

THEY SAY: A fabulous minerality as well as terrific kirsch, black raspberry, wild fennel, white pepper, and hints of black licorice aromas and flavors. Pure, medium to full-bodied, silky, and seamless on the palate, it's perfectly balanced, and way over-delivers.

WE SAY: You’ve tried local GSM, so now try the French’s take on it. Interesting and established.

Domaine Dozon Clos Du Saut Au Loup, 2020 (Cabernet Franc – Chinon, France)            

THEY SAY: Vibrant purple color. Traditional notes of plum skin, raspberries and capsicum abound. Manageable tannins and herbal notes underscore a direct fruitiness.

WE SAY: Tim can’t stop talking about this wine, he is crazy for it. I like t too, but he just won’t shut up about it. A subtle, beautiful alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lubanzi 2020, 355ml Can (Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre – Swartland, S. Africa)    

THEY SAY: an old-school Rhone blend with contemporary style, we make this wine to showcase the red champion of South Africa, shiraz. Black fruit and spice with barley sugar, lemon iced tea, and hints of cracked black pepper. Deliciously floral, fruity, and earthy. (Fair Trade and Fair For Life Certified).

WE SAY: We are so surprised how much canned wine has come! A solid red blend in a handy can, lovely with your lunch.

Clendenen Family Vineyard, "The Pip" 2017 (& 2018) (Nebbiolo - Santa Maria, California)

THEY SAY: A deep red, oaky wine with aromas and flavors of plums and dried roses. Tastes of plum, blackberry, dried roses and earth. Balance between the richness, the bright acidity, and moderated tannins, make this wine an all-around food wine.

WE SAY: Made by a local legend, it’s like Piedmont in a glass, and takes us right back to North West Italy.

Intense ruby red colour with violet hints, very clear. Very intense, fresh and immediate aroma with notes of ripe red fruits and vegetables. Dry and smooth to the palate, good structure and nose-palate persistence.