WINES

LARRY CHERUBINO

Origin: Margaret River, Australia
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Chardonnay
ABV: 12.5%

Incredible bargain Chardonnay, which Erin Larkin named "Biggest Surprise" in her value wine tasting of over 700 Australian wines. Pronounced aromatics of melon, unripe pineapple, yellow apple, sweet citrus fruit. On the secondary front, there's a lot of gorgeous lees notes in forms of biscuit, yeast, fresh bread, vanilla. Palate is energetic and offers a ton of complexity. Expressive of the region and grape variety to the fullest. KIller value for money!

DOMAINE DE RAPATEL

Origin: Languedoc, France
Type: Red
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Merlot
ABV: 14%

The color is deep garnet here. The nose is fine, complex, on stewed plum, leather, dried orange peel…and lots of other things (including a hint of VA that brings things up nicely). The palate is just as fine, tense, with a silky and fresh material gradually gaining in density, and a decadent aromatic, marrying a vibrant fruit with tertiary notes. The finish delivers a fine tasty chew, with a return to the plum enhanced by citrus peel and spices.

NICOLA GATTA

Origin: Lombardy, Italy

Type: Traditional Method

Grape(s): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

ABV: 12%


When Nicola Gatta fell in love with natural wine he decided to renounce the Franciacorta DOCG as they tried to restrict and control too much of his production. The fascinating thing about this winery is that the soils of Gussago are very similar to those of Champagne, so Chardonnay and Pinot Noir give exceptional expressions. Lovely aromas of dried meadow flowers, apple chips, lime curd, lime zest and fresh peach. Medium-bodied with quite some energy.

HOFGUT FALKENSTEIN


Origin: Mosel, Germany
Type: Light
Grape(s): Riesling
ABV: 9%



In addition to the fine minerality, the nose reveals a lot of fruit in the form of yellow apple, peach, lemon, as well as a floral fragrance, white flowers and a little acacia honey. Everything is delicately and elegantly packaged to really get going on the palate. The radiant Riesling fruit shines together with tart herbal spice, then the expressive acidity follows, fizzes on the tongue, creating a wonderful balance with the playful fruit sweetness.

CHALARI

Origin: Frankland River, Australia

Type: Light

Grape(s): Riesling

ABV: 12.5%


Alexis Christidis makes one of our favourite Rizzas from Australia. We are loving his 2023 releases and think they will pair phenomenally with the food you’re having today. Lime, ginger, a saline and savoury input too, some aniseed, green melon and apple. It’s juicy, but fleshy, something of a salted pistachio character, a dusty white peppery texture, with a tight mint and green apple finish of excellent length. A bit Germanic, in a way, and very good too.

MITJA SIRK

Origin: Friuli, Italy
Type: Light
Grape(s): Tocai Friulano
ABV: 13.5%



Marzipan meets floral. Bright, lifted and cleansing bouquet – seems frisky, edgy. Smooth glide of flavour across the palate, a touch of waxiness to texture but underpinned with glossy acidity. It’s sort of juicy and yet crisp, and the finish has a likeable citrus freshness and sweet-sour pucker with a trail of marzipan nuttiness. Delicate, in a way, but has curves, and importantly great drinking.

LARRY CHERUBINO

Origin: Margaret River, Australia
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Chardonnay
ABV: 12.5%

Incredible bargain Chardonnay, which Erin Larkin named "Biggest Surprise" in her value wine tasting of over 700 Australian wines. Pronounced aromatics of melon, unripe pineapple, yellow apple, sweet citrus fruit. On the secondary front, there's a lot of gorgeous lees notes in forms of biscuit, yeast, fresh bread, vanilla. Palate is energetic and offers a ton of complexity. Expressive of the region and grape variety to the fullest. KIller value for money!

CASCINA DEGLI ULIVI


Origin: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Cortese
ABV: 12%


A distinct seaside white wine vibe here. Sea spray whiffs, fennel, lemon blossom, green apple and green almond scents feel inviting and voluminous. The palate, more saline elements, crisp green apple, green pear, faint nougat and an aniseed meets salt bush finish. It’s even, as the name suggests, and feels thirst-quenching and readily drinkable. It nails the variety, and delivers much charm. Good stuff.

DOMAINE LEFORT

Origin: Burgundy, France
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Chardonnay
ABV: 13%


From a tiny appellation in Burgundy called Rully. As always this is a neat, well-composed and well-made wine but with this 2020 we see an increase in sheer intensity of fruit flavour. This release really does have a power to it. Citrus, grapefruit, green pineapple, pear and cedar notes take full command of the palate before pushing confidently through the finish. It’s taut but not too much; everything here feels perfectly placed.

PETER RADOVIČ

Origin: Friuli, Italy
Type: Light
Grape(s): Malvazija Istriana
ABV: 12.5%

Bright amber in the glass. Nose is explosive, with scents of candle wax, lemon balm, green melon and some savoury, salty-nutty notes faintly there too. Also, dried flowers, a kind of rosy pot pourri. Slippery texture with a light, chalky pucker to close. Sensual, perhaps. It feels righteous. Deliciousness of flavour in all that fruit and savoury character, the nutty-yeasty notes amplified a bit. Complex, intriguing, brilliant wine.

BUTUL

Origin: Istria, Slovenia

Type: Medium

Grape(s): Malvazija

ABV: 13.5%

Koza Nostra takes you on a journey through the senses: it spends two years in stainless steel, one year in wooden barrels, and one year in glass demijohns. Along the way, a delicate ‘flor’ yeast cap developed, similar to what you’d find in sherry or vin jaune. This subtle oxidation creates a beautifully nutty flavour, with hints of fresh almonds and raw nut kernels. An incredible food wine that will go really well with the entire menu we have on for today.

DOMAINE BRAND & FILS

Origin: Alsace, France
Type: Full
Grape(s): Gewürztraminer
ABV: 12.5%

One of our favourite orange wines on the list. Great with food, great by itself. Very floral and aromatic, lots of peach, nectarine, lychee, cumquat, frangipani, jasmine, yet feels well balanced and appealing in scents and flavours, particularly with the chalky pucker in texture and core of zingy, minerally acidity going on. Flows well, frisky and bright, refreshing and quietly complex. Smart wine.

BURJA

Origin: Vipavska Dolina, Slovenia

Type: Full

Grape(s): Pinot Gris

ABV: 14.5%

In the heart of the stunning Vipava Valley, just a stone’s throw from the Italian border, lies Burja. Spanning 7 hectares of carefully tended vineyards, this historic estate carries its legacy since 1499. A true reflection of the land’s beauty and tradition. Really nice orange peel aromas, green mango, peach, apricot, wild flowers. A lot going on here. Palate is grippy on the tannic front, rich on the fruit front, long finish. Such an enjoyable wine.

DOMAINE MĂMĂRUTÁ

Origin: Languedoc, France
Type: Light
Grape(s): Syrah, Carignan, Macabeu
ABV: 12%


A blend of two black grapes and one white. From a producer that we really love and whose wines you will see often on our list. Peach tea, melon, a herb and floral perfume, fennel seeds, strawberries too. It’s juicy, but balanced, lots of fresh strawberry and raspberry, bright acidity, with a chalky and dusty texture. A glycerol slipperiness, though it finishes tight, with a twist of blood orange and excellent length. Nice.

DOMAINE MOSSE

Origin: Loire Valley, France
Type: Light
Grape(s): Cabernet Franc, Grolleau Gris, Gamay
ABV: 12%

If it’s your first time trying Domaine Mosse, you will be blown away, we guarantee it. This is incredible juice. Wonderful complexity right on the nose - dark berry fruit, some ripe, some freshly picked. Plum, licorice, white pepper, hibiscus, and some Middle Eastern spices. Hints of bell pepper in the background. Light on its feet with a sleek texture. Has this beautiful lightness that just makes you want to drink it like cranberry juice. Flawless balance, with a long, juicy and refreshing finish. Stunning all around, one of the best wines we’ve tried this year.

JEAN-PIERRE ROBINOT

Origin: Loire Valley, France
Type: Light
Grape(s): Pineau d’Aunis
ABV: 12.5%

This is a new cuvée for Robinot and it reflects the obsession that Jean-Pierre has long had with the lights and sights of the city of Venice. There is a real spiciness on the nose that is typical of Pineau d’Aunis and there is the characteristic slight bitterness at the end which is so endearing. The tannins in this wine are restrained and there is a streak of acidity which will ensure that the wine will continue to provide pleasure for any dish you throw at it.

NICOLAS CHEMARIN


Origin: Beaujolais, France
Type: Light
Grape(s): Gamay
ABV: 13%


This is tightly wound and compact with a slight haze to texture and a pleasing balance of sweet-sour-bitter of red berry fruit and herbal elements. It’s quite zesty as a red wine, succulent in texture too, a refreshing, if not crisp finish. Tart cherries, rose hip tea, a faint ginger element, dried basil and cardamom spice are the quarry. It feels very modern and bright and drinks suuuuper well.

KOERNER

Origin: Clare Valley, Australia
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Sangiovese, Grenache, Sciacarello, Malbec, Carignan
ABV: 12.8%

Corsican-inspired blend. An edgy and energetic wine with its vivacious acid profile and general pluck and crunch. Red cherries galore at the crisper edge of their profile. Strawberry in there too. A bitter-tartness amongst that more recognisable flavours. There’s a faint slosh of cola, a faint lick of liquid cinnamon/clove spice too. Tannins are firming, stony and proper. It feels a bit on the leaner side. Get some red sauce meatballs happening and watch it work its magic.

DOMAINE DAVID BEAUPÉRE

Origin: Beaujolais, France
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Gamay
ABV: 13%

This is a slightly aged, but still extremely fresh, jubey and juicy red from David Beaupére. Some crisp edges, lots of sappy red cherry, a bit of white pepper, some green herbs and a touch of dried cranberry tang. It’s a fun drink, a little spritzy on entry as well (gets shrugged off), lively, bright therefore and generally just a barrel of fun. Nothing too cerebral, but well made, good fruit, great thing to guzzle with lots of friends.

PETER WETZER

Origin: Sopron, Hungary
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
ABV: 13%


This is an interesting Pinot Noir from an “exotic” region. It’s certainly complex, which is always a good starting point. It tastes fresh, almost frisky, but then it has good ripe notes too, the latter courtesy of macerated red berry flavours, combined with subtle woodsmoke infusions, and rounds of twiggy herbs. Reduction has been used to positive effect and the wine’s tannin has a gummy softness. A very pretty red wine.

RONGO WINES

Origin: Yarra Valley, Australia
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Syrah
ABV: 13%

Blackberry compote leads the charge here, followed by delicate notes of lilac and rose petals. Hints of bay leaves and cloves add another dimension to this wine. There's a distinct stylistic thread here, unmistakably reminiscent of Ray's formative years in the Northern Rhône - an homage to that region's balance of fruit purity and savoury depth. We always serve this slightly chilled for a brighter, more vibrant expression of the fruit.

PETER JAKOB KÜHN

Origin: Rheingau, Germany
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
ABV: 13%

We’ve been drinking Kühn’s Rieslings for the longest time and now it’s time to showcase his flawless red. Aromatic, spicy, black cherry, cinnamon and earth, grilled meat and dark chocolate. Red fruit and black fruit. Plush tannin, firm but stony, has an almost primal earthy character to it combined with dried herb, orange peel, chicory and beetroot/seaweed. Lots of cinnamon and beefy red fruit through the finish, and a little oak. A distinctive and good wine.

PETER WETZER

Origin: Sopron, Hungary
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Kékfrankos
ABV: 13.5%

Perhaps you might already know this grape by its better-known name, Blaufränkisch. Cherry juice, peat and pencil shavings, dried herbs and spice. It’s medium-bodied, sour dark cherries with an earthy fungal quality, bright sappy acidity, distinct ‘mineral’ character mathcing both the acidity and tannin. All silty and rich, with a glassy and juicy finish of excellent length. It’s kind of an ‘off-road’ wine, but really interesting and good to drink.

SMITH & SHETH

Origin: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Type: Medium
Grape(s): Syrah
ABV: 12.5%

An outstanding vintage from a classic Syrah region. What a gem. Very fresh on the nose with ripe black fruit that comes in forms of both fresh and jammy blueberry, blackcurrant and plum. Hints of tar, black pepper and stewed meat. Medium-bodied, but packs an enjoyable fruit concentration - like stuffing your mouth with licorice that's beautifully sweet and refreshing at the same time. Ripe tannins, followed by an acidity that's still well and kicking. Pair with lamb and let your senses take you into another dimension.

DOMAINE DE RAPATEL

Origin: Languedoc, France
Type: Full
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Merlot
ABV: 14%

The color is deep garnet here. The nose is fine, complex, on stewed plum, leather, dried orange peel…and lots of other things (including a hint of VA that brings things up nicely). The palate is just as fine, tense, with a silky and fresh material gradually gaining in density, and a decadent aromatic, marrying a vibrant fruit with tertiary notes. The finish delivers a fine tasty chew, with a return to the plum enhanced by citrus peel and spices.

DARIO PRINČIČ

Origin: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Full
Grape(s): Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 13%

This is a more quiet expression of your typical Bordeaux blend. Pencil shavings and subtle earthiness, tobacco. Some notes of blue and black fruit perfume, light spicy and nutty oak in play, a little mint, menthol and green herb. It’s medium-bodied, savoury but with brightness and energy, tannin has something of a graphite grip, and the wine feels very composed and comfortable in its skin. Finishes long, red-fruited, cocoa-dusted and fresh.

POWELL & SON

Origin: Barossa Valley, Australia
Type: Full
Grape(s): Grenache, Mataro, Shiraz
ABV: 14.5%

A slightly different take on the typical Rhone blend, the Powell & Son Riverside GMS offers notes of black raspberries, kirsch and mulberries layered with spicy notes. The palate is soft, richly fruited and delivers plenty of pure, uncomplicated flavors with great harmony. It’s complex, it’s slightly sweet, it’s floral and it’s smoky; it’s also threaded with tannin but, then, it’s so concentrated flavour that you barely notice the dryness. A great wine on its own or with rich dishes.

L’ARCO

Origin: Veneto, Italy
Type: Full
Grape(s): Rondinella, Corvina, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Molinara

ABV: 16%



A savory beast, with a burst of smoke and crushed rocks giving way to white pepper-tinged black cherries and wild herbs. It sweeps across the palate with silky textures and polished wild berry fruits, propelled by zesty acidity as salty mineral tones saturate toward the close. It finishes saline and youthfully tannic yet still quite fresh, leaving rosy inner florals and a chalky sensation that lingers on and on.