Wine

Domaine du Bosc

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Pay d’Oc

GRAPE VARIETY

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Exclusively blended for Cripps by the renowned wine maker Remi Sabatier we are pleased to offer this excellent wine as our house red.

Taking as a starting point the classic assemblage used to make some of the best Bordeaux wines like Saint Emillion, Cripps has worked with Remi to refine the character of the wine especially for weddings and events.

Domaine du Bosc offers lush, soft textures, richness, and concentration with flavours of plums, blackberry, liquorice, chocolate, and black cherry from the Merlot. Then we have added Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for structure, vanilla and a touch of peppery spice

Satisfyingly ripe & generous fruity & supple, a great food wine with wide appeal.

Château Labastide Haute Cahors

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Cahors (South-West)

GRAPE VARIETY

Malbec 80%, Merlot 20%

Philippe Bernède is the sixth generation of his family to make wine here. Plummy fruit, peppery spice and a great food wine, its style is fresher than many Argentine Malbecs. Labastide-Haute, also known as Clos La Coutale, has enjoyed a presence on the wine list of some of the great French restaurants, including Auberge d’Ill, Taillevent and Le Doyen. That’s some serious prestige for a wine at this price. The Malbec grape variety, popular in Argentina, is originally from the Cahors region where Philippe Bernède is the sixth generation of his family to make wine at Labastide Haute. He blends in 20% of Merlot to give extra aromatic dimension and suppleness. This produces a Malbec, that is a more approachable option for party drinking, whilst also exhibiting the plummy fleshiness of the Malbec fruit which we all love.

Château Mourgues du Grès

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Rhône (South East)

GRAPE VARIETY

Syrah, Grenache, & occasionally Mourvedre depending on the vintage

The Collard family preside over the estate, located just 5 miles west of the River Rhône. The clay and limestone soils are covered with large flat sandstones known as ‘galets’ that reflect the sun’s heat up on to the vine, typical of the soils of Châteauneuf Pape. Here though, despite being only a few miles away from that famous region, along with the dry cold Mistral (north wind), there is also the moderating sea wind that cools the vines on summer nights.
This climate and minerality contributes to the balance of the wine.

Fattoria Le Fonti

COUNTRY

Italy

REGION

Tuscany

GRAPE VARIETY

Sangiovese 100%

Situated in the rolling hills between Florence and Siena, Fattoria Le Fonti has been in the hands of the Imberti family for over 50 years. Certified organic, the same care and attention goes into this IGT Sangiovese as the estate’s more premium Chianti Classico (and Riserva DOCG). Replanted to Sangiovese in the 1990s this wine makes for a wonderful match with food, displaying enticing red and black Cherry, strawberry, raspberry, plum, clove and herbs. The soft fruits and balanced acidity it makes it a lovely easy drinking wine on the lines of Beaujolais.

Fattoria Nicodemi

COUNTRY

Italy

REGION

Abruzzo (SouthEast)

GRAPE VARIETY

Montepulciano 100%

Run by Elena Nicodemi & her brother, Alessandro. The estate was founded in early 20th century, 5 miles from Adriatic coast in a superior site. The hillside vineyard is 5 miles from the Adriatic coast in the superior sector of Colline Teramane. Under the Mediterranean sun the Montepulciano grape is slow to ripen on the limestone slopes and retains a fresh fruit acidity and minerality to sustain the vivid blackberry and plum flavours. A third of the wine spends a few months in small oak barrels before being added to the rest in vat, after which it all ages in large oak casks before bottling. The result provides an excellent accompaniment to barbequed lamb and other grilled meats. As with our Soave from Tamellini, the consultant oenologist here is Paolo Caciorgna.

Pago de Larrea

COUNTRY

Spain

REGION

Rioja (Central North)

GRAPE VARIETY

Tempranillo 100%

The Larrea family started this relatively winery in 2002 although they have been involved in winemaking for over 40 years. Ripe black fruit, integrated cedar spice. Notes of chanterelle, sweet leather & liquorice.

Father, Luis, along with his son Luis and daughters Rosa and Maria, produce wine strictly from their vineyards only (buying in grapes from other growers is common elsewhere in Rioja), and can therefore control every aspect of the winemaking process. Their aim is to produce a wine which combines the best of both classic and modern styles of Rioja, looking for the finesse of the former with the weight of fruit and intensity of the latter. Crianza is the quality level of the wine, based on strict local laws which dictate the minimum aging term prior to release. In this case the wine rests in oak barrels for a year, followed by a further year in bottle before being made available for consumption.

Contino

COUNTRY

Spain

REGION

Rioja (Central North)

GRAPE VARIETY

Tempranillo 85%, Graciano 10%, Mazuelo 2.5%, Garnacha 2.5%

Contino is the flagship, single vineyard estate, of the highly respect C.V.N.E group. A benchmark Rioja Reserva with a high Graciano (grape variety) content gives incredible freshness to the wine which is often found lacking in the bigger, more oaky, style of wine which is prevalent in the region. It is matured in a mix of French and American oak and bottled after two years before spending another two years in Contino’s underground cellars. Rich flavours of red & black fruits with cedar and tobacco aromas creates a beautifully balanced and harmonious wine. An exceptional match to grilled and roasted red meats.

The estate is steeped in history; ‘Contino’ was the officer in charge of a guard corps responsible for the protection of the royal family from the 15th century, and rumour has it that Saint Gregory, the patron saint of vineyards, passed through the land on which this property lies, hence his depiction in the winery’s logo.

Château Les Miaudoux

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Bergerac (SouthWest)

GRAPE VARIETY

Sauvignon Blanc 47.5% Semillon 47.5%, Muscadelle 5%

Gérard and Nathalie Cuisset acquired Château des Miaudoux in 1987 as an agricultural operation specialising in the production of pruneaux d’Agen, the finest of culinary prunes! It wasn’t long however before they saw the potential for vines and started the process of establishing their vineyards on the rolling Dordogne river at Saussignac.

This organic & biodynamic wine from southwest France is fantastic value because we buy directly from the estate. The white grape varieties of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon (blended in equal proportions with the addition of 5% Muscadelle) are planted on north facing slopes which allows for slower ripening and a fine balance of acidity. The result is a wine of fresh aromatic intensity with notes of white fruits, citrus and flowers, mineral base, and an appealingly ripe texture.

Domaine Baron

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Loire Valley (Stretching West to East under Paris)

GRAPE VARIETY

Sauvignon Blanc 100%

Jean-Pierre Baron was one of the first winemakers to plant Sauvignon in Touraine in 1946. The stony slopes descending to the River Cher in Touraine are so calcareous that walking between the rows of vines you almost trip over the fossils. This was once a sea bed, and the limestone rock formed of trillions of fossilised crustaceans imparts a notable mineral and saline character to this stunning old wine

Samuel Baron takes care of the vineyard he inherited from his father using biodynamic practices and opting for low yields that give concentrated fruit with typically fresh gooseberry and elderflower aromas, supported by appetising acidity and a deep mineral purity thanks to those obliging crustaceans

This top quality Loire Sauvignon is more than a match for many of the delicious Sancerre and New World Sauvignons we tasted in our quest for a top-class Sauvignon.

Tamellini Soave

COUNTRY

Italy

REGION

Veneto (North-East)

GRAPE VARIETY

Garganega 100%

Soave itself is an ancient walled town nestled in the stunning landscape between Verona and Vicenza in northern Italy, and it is close to the town that the best of the vineyards bearing its name are found. Garganega is an indigenous grape variety which the Tamellini brothers, Gaetano and Pio, grow organically on their 21-hectare estate. The Italian word ‘soave’, meaning ‘gentle’, is perfectly suited to the character of the wines they make; there is no use of oak at all, however the finished wine shows a lovely deep lemon gold colour, reminiscent of good white Burgundy in both appearance and palate-weight and structure.

During the harvest bunches of grapes are selected in the vineyard and collected in bins by hand. The press is done without destemming and with soft crushing to maintain the original rich aromas and taste. After fermentation the wine rests for 3-4 months before being bottled.

Colour, Nose, Flavour: straw yellow colour, intense, fragrant and floral nose, intense and velvety flavour with a note of almonds.

Weingut Haart

COUNTRY

Weingut Haart, Haart to Heart Riesling

COUNTRY

Germany

REGION

Mosel

GRAPE VARIETY

Riesling 100%

The Haart family has been producing wine at this prestigious estate since 1337, and since 1992 they have been a member of the VDP, a governing body which set very specific and high quality standards. The winery lies only a few meters from the Mosel river, the steep banks of which produce some of the highest quality Riesling to be found anywhere in the world. Johannes and Marcus run the estate today, following the family’s philosophy of a traditional, quality conscious and sustainable approach to wine making.

Riesling is the most famous grape variety produced in Germany. Invariably unoaked and high in acidity which is balanced by its sweetness. This wonderfully appetising off dry wine is a brilliant option for those who dislike very dry wines. Elegant notes of peach and pineapple, with a balancing acidity which underpins it all. This is a fabulous high end wine which goes exceptionally well with food.

Auntsfield, Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

COUNTRY

New Zealand

REGION

Marlborough (North-East of South Island)

GRAPE VARIETY

Sauvignon Blanc 100%

Auntsfield continues the proud heritage of Marlborough’s first vineyard and winery established in 1873. This Single Block wine display qualities distinctive to grapes grown within a defined area at Auntsfield Estate. Consistent quality and character over many vintages has separated these Single Blocks out as producing their Reserve Wines. South Oaks Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc is sellected from a small 2 hectare block situated at the very southern elevated corner of the vineyard next to some old Oak trees. It has a unique free draining soil made up of crushed Greywacke rock that has fallen from the steep hill behind. Auntsfield Estate was founded in 1873, making it the oldest vineyard in Marlborough, all thanks to the vision of a gentleman called David Herd. At a time when everyone else was thinking ‘sheep’ he looked at the landscape and thought ‘wine’. Auntsfield is now in the safe hands of the Cowley family, where Luc is the winemaker and his brother Ben is the viticulturist. Keeping true to the past they have uncovered David Herd’s original cellar – the very first of its kind – which is proudly displayed on their labels.

Chaâteau Mourgues du Grès

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Rhône (SouthEast)

GRAPE VARIETY

Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah

Fleur d’Eglantine owes its name to its delicate color, similar to that of the petals of the wild roses bordering the vines. Floral notes of Peony and red berries balanced with the minerality of the galet stones and a hint of sea salt

The stylish bottle and the pale blush wine brings a bit of the south of France to your table

Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Valdellõvo

COUNTRY

Italy

REGION

Veneto (North-East)

GRAPE VARIETY

Glera 90%, Bianchetta & Verdiso 10%

Owner Benedetto Ricci, assisted by his wife Clotilde, comes from a local family steeped in winemaking history, and, combined with technical expertise, is completely fanatical about quality in all respects (even the superb risotto he cooks is made from a rice matured for 8 years to develop the flavour).

Valdellovo, meaning ‘valley of the wolf’, is a private family domain of 10 hectares on the steep hillside vineyards in the heart of the best delimited sector. The winery was founded in 2000, hence the name Anno Zero for their Prosecco Extra Dry, a fresh and beautifully balanced wine with peachy and floral notes and deep underlying minerality that sets it apart from the cheap Prosecco DOC produced at lower altitude to the south and east.

Rosé Spumante Valdellõvo

COUNTRY

Italy

REGION

Veneto (North-East)

GRAPE VARIETY

Pinot Nero 100%

Benedetto introduces us to discover a new way to drink sparkling wine.

“With its intriguing aromas and seductive flavor, you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine with your friends anytime. An original shade of color to enchant the eyes before the other senses, a pink that is already a splendid emotion. It is a surprise for the palate to follow this sparkling wine in its floral and fruity notes, kept in perfect balance by a refined winemaking technique. The rosé color is very elegant and announces a rich personality, cheeky but with temperament. The character comes from the high quality of the grapes, the delicacy is the result of the soft pressing and of a long and slow fermentation of the must for the second fermentation. An absolutely fine sparkling wine that conquers for its aromas and seduces for its taste, an exciting interpreter of conviviality.”

The Grange Classic NV Hampshire

Under Burges Field’s thin cap of gravelly clay lies a deep layer of pure white chalk dotted with hard silica flints. Hundreds of metres deep, the chalk layer acts like a sponge, storing water from the winter storms for the heat of the summer. It also does something magical – it imparts a steely minerality, like rain on black flint, to the taste of the Chardonnay – a minerality that gives the wines their fine structure and should let them age beautifully.

The vineyard grows the classic Champagne grape varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, each gives its own character.

Pinot Noir brings raspberry fruit, body and a savour of earthiness. Chardonnay has green apple and citrus freshness and that briochey, vanilla butteriness that is so moreish. Pinot Meunier, rarely used on its own in a wine, brings an aromatic, fruit-filled roundness to the blends.

Champagne Camille Bonville

COUNTRY

France

REGION

Champagne (Central North, Above Paris)

GRAPE VARIETY

Chardonnay 100%

The Camille Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs cuvée combines the expression of the characteristic freshness of the Avize terroir, the aromatic richness of aging on the lees of Chardonnay, the precision and complexity provided by the vinification of Olivier Bonville. Apple, citrus, brioche a lovely mineral purity & depth, the wine is so well balanced with a long & elegant finish.

Grand Cru Champagne is a designation of the highest quality & these vineyards are some of the most valuable agricultural land in the world. It’s rare to find a relatively unknown Grand Cru Champagne of such high quality in the UK. Michael Edwards, one of the great wine critics, rates Franck Bonville amongst the top ten domains for quality in his book The Finest Wines of Champagne, mentioning its ‘distinguished expressions of great Chardonnay’. This family-owned estate was created in the years after 1945, and now the vineyards extend to over 20 hectares in the most sought-after villages of Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil. We have had the pleasure of working with Olivier Bonville (the third generation at the helm), for many years and, while all non-vintage Champagnes should be drunk in the year or two after release, we can vouch for the longevity of his vintage wines having sampled the extraordinarily rare 1959 at the estate.