As we launch the new wine list at the Kingshouse, we have taken the opportunity to freshen up our list with new wines and a new structure which focuses on the grape variety and the regions where it features most. The wine drinking world is driven by its fascination for grapes and how they change stylistically in the different regions. Please enjoy the following pages.
SPARKLING WINES
Crémant du Jura Blanc de Blancs, Tissot-Maire, Jura, France
Pommery, Cuvée Louise
DESSERT WINES & PORT
Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest Joostenberg Estate, Paarl, South Africa
Corney & Barrow Sauternes, Maison Sichel, Bordeaux, France
Grapes - Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc & Muscadelle
Corney & Barrow Ruby Port, Wine & Soul, Douro, Portugal
Manoella 10 year old Tawny, Wine & Soul, Douro, Portugal
A warm palate of ‘christmas cake’ flavours & spice, with a beautiful length. The grapes are a ‘field blend’ of indigenous grapes grown together in the vineyard that will include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) & Touriga Francisca.
Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port, 2012, Douro, Portugal 8.50
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
WINES BY THE GLASS
Sanziana Pinot Grigio, Cramele Recaș, Banat, Romania
Floral | Fresh | Soft | Stone fruits
Los Camachos Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Valle Central, Chile
Crémant du Jura Blanc de Blancs, Tissot-Maire, Jura, France
Toasty | Fresh | Refined | Dry
Louis Pommery Brut NV, Hampshire, England
Citrus | Granny Smith | Dry | Elegant
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
WHITE WINE
SAUVIGNON BLANC Bottle
Without doubt, one of the most versatile and diverse of grape varieties. The grape can deliver dry, sweet, light to full bodied with a vast array of flavours and characteristics from zesty and tropical to herbaceous, green vegetable & leafy. The Loire valley would be the spiritual homeland. The wines are elegant & structured and with Marlborough versions, we have a more defined, fragrant and intense Sauvignon full of character. Acidity remains medium to high in most.
Los Camachos Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Valle Central, Chile
Ana Sauvignon Blanc, Michiel Eradus Marlborough, New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia Uitsig, Constantia, South Africa
From the oldest wine region in the Cape, an outstanding crisp, fresh & elegant Sauvignon that presents more ‘Loire styled characters’ (more Pouilly Fume than Sancerre) than most of its Southern Hemisphere versions. Sommelier notes – ‘peach, nettles, green peppercorn, elegant & rounded, citric finish.’
Sancerre Domaine Tissier, Loire, France [CH]
CHARDONNAY
Arguably the most revered of white grapes. In capable hands this is the grape that is responsible for the opulent and complex, oak-aged wines of White Burgundy. Yet within the broad spectrum of styles, Chablis delivers crisp unwooded minerality, in the Côte de Beaune we find the greatest examples of the grapes capabilities … power, finesse & structure all in one glass with the ‘new world’ (the Southern Hemisphere) delivering ripeness with sometimes more body.
Chardonnay, The Lane, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Bourgogne Blanc, Les Setilles, Olivier Leflaive, Burgundy, France [CH]
Super Burgundy from vineyards located just below premier cru sites in Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault.
Puligny Montrachet, François Carillon, Burgundy, France
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
WHITE WINE
OTHER WHITE GRAPE VARIETIES
A selection of grape varieties which may be of interest to the palate looking for something a bit different. From dry, saline, mineral, fresh and fruity Rieslings and Albariño to more complex, aromatic and textured Chenin Blancs and Viogniers, the textures and flavours are as fascinating as they are ‘gastronomic’.
Puertas Antiguas Viognier, Edwards Family Vineyards, Central Valley, Chile
Sanziana Pinot Grigio, Cramele Recaș, Banat, Romania
Fiano Mucchietto, Puglia, Italy
Riesling, Adam, Who? Eden Valley, Australia
Adam Who? - Enjoy the fruits of Eden. Off-dry in style with bright acidity and ripe fruit flavours.
Old Vines Chenin Blanc, Myburgh Bros. Paarl, South Africa [CH]
Crafted from 1984 dry-farmed bush vines. Pear, honey, citrus and racy acidity.
Grüner Veltliner, Weingut Frank, Weinviertel, Austria
Campo alla Casa, Enrico Santini, Tuscany, Italy [CH]
Vermentino & Sauvignon Blanc blend. Gregorio Santini hosted a memorable wine evening at the Kingshouse in 2024. An exceptional young winemaker who is beginning to make his mark in the region.
Naranjo Torontel Loncomilla, Maturana Wines, Maule Valley, Chile (org.) 39.00
An ‘orange’ wine produced by leaving the juice to receive more contact with the grape skins.
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
RED WINE
PINOT NOIR
Generally regarded within the industry as the most fickle and challenging of grape varieties yet it remains the darling of winemakers and wine drinkers alike.
Sanziana Pinot Noir, Cramele Recaș, Banat, Romania
Les Lys de Leon Pinot Noir, Loire Valley, France
Pinot Noir, Eradus, Awatere, New Zealand
Bourgogne Côte d’Or Maison Dieu Pinot Noir, Domaine Georges,
Glantenay, Burgundy, France [CH]
Nuits-St-Georges Aux Murgers 1er Cru Domaine du Couvent, Burgundy, France
SYRAH (SHIRAZ), GRENACHE & THE ‘RHONE BLENDS’
The Rhône blend is a fascinating mix of very individual grapes with the two main varietals, Syrah (Shiraz) & Grenache achieving huge successes throughout the world. Syrah (dominates the north of the Rhone valley) delivers textbook black fruit and peppery notes whereas Grenache (found more in the south) is more about red fruits, herbal & spiced notes and silky textures.
PAI-GAR Garnacha, Maturana Wines, Maule Valley, Chile (org.)
Klippe Kou Syrah Joostenberg Estate, Muldersvlei, South Africa (org.)
Joostenberg Wine Estate believe that great wines begin in the vineyard. By farming organically and keeping things simple in the cellar, they craft wines that are honest, expressive, and true to their origin. In Afrikaans “Klippe Kou” means “chewing rocks”, which is what the roots of the vines need to do in the rocky soils. This the finest Syrah on their property.
Bottle
Bottle
Double Trouble Shiraz/Cabernet, Barossa Boy Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia [CH] 48.00
Rasteau Vieilles Vignes, Tardieu-Laurent, Rhône, France 62.00
Grapes – Grenache, Syrah & Cinsault
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel 2020 Southern Rhône, France [CH] 110.00
Château de Beaucastel has long been regarded as one of the greatest wines in France. It is notorious for its elegance, balance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an exceptional terroir at the Northern limit of Châteauneuf du Pape, exposed to the Mistral wind. All thirteen varieties of the appellation have been organically grown since the sixties.
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
RED WINE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, MALBEC & THE ‘BORDEAUX BLENDS’
The ‘Bordeaux Blend’ is a term used to describe wines made from the main grape varieties used in making the great wines from the region of Bordeaux in South West France. The six main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (the most widely planted in Bordeaux), Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and surprisingly to many and grapes more recognised in South America, Malbec and Carménère. Colour and weight come more easily from these wines with a huge range of black and plummy fruit characters and structure more tannic, herbal and savoury.
Păsări Merlot Recaș Cramele, Banat, Romania
Anko Malbec Estancia Los Cardones, Salta, Argentina
Cabernet Sauvignon Domaine de Saissac, Languedoc, France
Moulis-en-Médoc, Ch. Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Bordeaux, France
Grapes – Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, topped up with Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc
St. Émilion Grand Cru, Ch. Barrail du Blanc, Bordeaux, France
Grapes - Merlot dominant, topped up with Cabernet Franc
Rubicon Meerlust Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa [CH]
Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
‘Classic Medoc’ [CH],
Ch. Potensac, Cru Bourgeois, 2015, Bordeaux, France
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and quite a high amount of Cabernet Franc. Potensac is ‘textbook’ Medoc and consistently one of the best in the AOC. The nose is restrained, but there’s no lack of fresh blackberry and blackcurrant fruit characters. Medium-bodied. The finish is dry, elegant, mineral and savoury and a beautiful example of ‘Classic Medoc’.
Bottle
Othello, Dominus, Napa Valley, USA 92.00
Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
Pomerol, Ch. La Grave à Pomerol, Bordeaux, France 97.00
From high on Howell Mountain, the wine gets its name from an incident where bears were found eating Merlot grapes in the vineyard. Intense black fruit, earthy tones, deeply concentrated on the palate, the wine offers richness without overextraction due to the altitude.
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
RED WINE
OTHER RED GRAPE VARIETIES Bottle
Another section of a diverse range of grapes predominantly from Europe. From fresh, spicy and intense Italian classics to oak infused Tempranillos of Northern Spain and the truly charming yet powerful wines of the Douro valley.
Mucchietto Primitivo, Puglia, Italy [CH]
Intense, silky and juicy Puglian Primitivo delivering super-ripeness and power.
Big and bold with baking spices, luscious dark fruit and a rich, rounded finish.
Pintas Character Wine & Soul, Douro, Portugal [CH]
From 45 year old, low yielding vines. The concentration of flavours is impressive. Made from almost 30 different indigenous grape varieties resulting in an intense wine bursting with black cherry, cassis and spice notes. The grapes are trodden by foot in traditional stone lagares and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.
Grapes - Corvina dominant, topped up with Rondinella, Corvinone, Croatina & Oseleta
Barolo, La Tartufaia, Guilia Negri, Piemonte, Italy
Grape – Nebbiolo
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
TUSCAN REDS
“The Veneto may be the Italian wine industry’s commercial centre, Piemonte may be the source of the country’s greatest gastronomic thrills, but in the forever medieval hills of Tuscany is Italy’s greatest concentration of ambitious, dedicated winemaking. Toscana, as it is known in Italian, is the land of the smallholder rather than the co-operative.”
Jancis Robinson
“I first visited Tuscany in 2017. Its charm, beauty, food and wine has had an immense influence since. I am fascinated by the region and its pace of life. It has taught me so much about the relationship between food and wine but more importantly, in a more personal way, how to relax. Hence my inclusion of a section dedicated to its wines. The Sangiovese grape remains ‘king’ in the hills of Chianti & Montalcino, however, moving down towards the coast into Maremma and Bolgheri in particular, the last 60 years have seen a significant rise of the Bordeaux grape varieties of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot along with Syrah (or Shiraz as it’s known in the Southern Hemisphere). The maritime influence has allowed these vines to deliver some of the most revered wines (Super Tuscans as they are known) in the world . At the invitation of our wine merchants, Corney & Barrow, I took a core of our wine team to the region in November 2025. We had such a memorable few days visiting Vignamaggio, Enrico Santini and on the last day, Tenuta di Biserno. I do hope that you enjoy the following wines.”
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
TUSCAN REDS
ENRICO SANTINI
BOLGHERI
This is very much a father/son operation & the ‘small, boutique/garagiste’ winery. Santini Vignaiolo is only 14Ha. The yard contains two small containers – one to refrigerate the grapes after harvest and one to store small farm machinery. There is a ‘prefab shed’ that manages to fit a crusher and squeeze as many fermentation tanks in it as possible and the barrels are matured under the house (Campo alla Casa) in their small cellar … a small Lamborghini (in the shape of a tractor) sits in the shade under a canopy. This is as opulent and as sexy as it gets at Santini! Apart from the wines that is …
Poggio Al Moro Enrico Santini, Bolgheri, Italy (org.) [CH]
The blend is 30% each Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese plus 10% Syrah and the wine sees as little as possible oak influence allowing the wine’s purity, freshness and charm to shine. This vintage saw three months in oak. A beautiful core of dark fruits, plums & spice throughout. Such beautiful intensity, fresh and rounded with a nice ‘grip’ on the tannins. We’ve had Poggio as one of our ‘pouring’ wines since March 2025.
I Montali IGT Enrico Santini Tuscany, Italy [CH]
A wonderful wine that delivers such power and finesse in equal measures. The blend is 30% each Cabernet & Merlot and 20% Sangiovese & Syrah and is aged in oak for 12 months. A powerful nose of dark fruits, really pure and brooding with a mix of spices & herbs leading to a wonderful palate of silky, rich and muscular fruit and texture. A very polished, luxurious wine. Great length, chocolate and slightly herbal/mineral on the finish.
VIGNAMAGGIO
CHIANTI
40.00
58.00
Situated halfway between Florence and Siena, the Vignamaggio estate, in its quintessentially beautiful Tuscan setting, was built by the Gherardini family at the beginning of the 15th century. Rich in history and intrigue, it is said that the Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci’s celebrated portrait was born here! It was also in relation to a Vignamaggio wine, that the term ‘Chianti’ was first used in 1404, spawning Italy’s most successful wine ‘brand’.
The estate is certified organic, and is now owned by South African billionaire, Koos Bekker who also owns Babylonstoren (in the Cape) and the Newt (a 2000 ha. working farm in Somerset) but historically, it has had a huge reputation in Chianti Classico.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Monna Lisa Vignamaggio, Tuscany, Italy [CH]
One of the stars of our tasting with one of the winemaking team and the estate’s flagship wine. Bold and fragrant with plum & cherry fruit and bags of spice and violets. The palate is warm, fresh with silky opulence.
Bottle
62.00
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
TUSCAN REDS
RIDOLFI
MONTALCINO
Brunello is a local strain of Sangiovese, super-concentrated by the warmer climate, the grape thrives in the area and produces potentially one of Italy’s greatest wines, Brunello di Montalcino. Rosso di Montalcino is often referred to as the ‘younger brother ’. I have really enjoyed the wines of Tenuta Ridolfi and wanted to show what they describe as their ‘calling card’ – the introduction to a very fresh, perfumed and ripe style.
Rosso di Montalcino Ridolfi, Tuscany, Italy [CH]
A mix of red and dark berries with little touches of floral & spiced notes on the nose. The palate is elegant, medium bodied with ripe red fruit and sour cherry freshness finishing with a medium weight length.
Bottle
60.00
Il Pino di Biserno Tenuta di Biserno 2017, Tuscany, Italy [CH] 98.00
Full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend from Tuscany (Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot). Complex notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, spice, and tobacco.
Insoglio del Chingiale 2023, Tuscany, Italy [CH]
Wild Boar’s Hollow’ This is a nod to the wild and rather rugged terrain of the Maremma and an introduction to a project launched by Marchese Lodovico Antinori after he sold his iconic Ornellaia estate.
A spicy, peppery wine that is just fabulous with game and stews.
A significant wine in Tuscany’s history, Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with nontraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone. First production was in 1971, they left the ‘historical disciplinary of the Chianti Classico DOCG wines’ and for this reason it lost the name DOC and retained the only generic indication of table wine (Vino di Tavola) until 1994 when it could boast of the Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT). This is a majestic wine.
La Generosità, Tenuta dell Ornellaia 2021, Tuscany, Italy [CH]
“La Generosità” (Generosity) captures the opulence and finesse of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia’s flagship Super Tuscan. A powerful, Bordeaux-style blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Find sheer exuberance on the nose followed by a complex palate of black cherry, cassis, and espresso all wrapped in velvety tannins and a distinctly Mediterranean finish of cypress and wild herbs. This limited edition label by artist Marinella Senatore is part of the Vendemmia d’Artista series and highlights the “generosity” of the Bolgheri terroir.
55.00
210.00
Manager’s recommendation as outstanding in its class [CH]
