Review Round-Up (August 2026)
Fortunate to have been born in the great city of Liverpool and to fall into the world of wine. More than 20 years later I'm Boutinot's marketing manager for much of Europe (mostly Italy and Spain) and more than content with my compact family, including 3 cats (sadly just the 11 legs) and a 1969 'Dark Star' (no, not a wine!)
We truly believe our wines are fantastic, but you already knew that – we wouldn’t sell them if we didn’t!
That said, it is always nice when someone else recognises the quality in our portfolio, even better when they write a lovely review in the press to tell everyone about it…
Here’s a round-up of what they’ve been saying about us recently!
Sileni Estates The Straits Grand Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2025: Aromas of fresh herbs, pea shoot and peach, then a bright, fresh palate that features a flow of lime and other citrus fruits. 88pts Decanter (August 2026)
Heaphy Sauvignon Blanc, Nelson 2025: Fresh herb, pear and nettle rise first, then quince and citrus. The palate feels bright, fresh and juicy, finishing clean-cut with lovely persistence. All charm. 89pts Decanter (August 2026)
Seriously Cool Cinsault, WO Stellenbosch 2023: Enjoyable smoky reduction on the nose, with some burnt herbs. Very juicy and expressive palate. Plenty of energy and red berry juice: fine tannins. Very good example of South African Cinsault. Dry farmed bush vines planted in 1964 and 1974. 93pts Decanter (August 2026)
CoPa Cinsault, Valle de Itata 2021: Full-bodied, concentrated, powerful with big fruit and flavour. Grippy, saline, not classically Cinsault in expression. Long finish, slightly oxidative, with gently warming alcohol. Dry farmed, ungrafted vines on granitic soils aged for 18 months in stainless steel and wood. 90pts Decanter (August 2026)
Wildeberg Terroirs Cinsault, WO Wellington 2024: Coal dust and strawberries on the nose. Really quite reductive, then lush with strawberry fruit. No great length, but enjoyable and good value. Old bush vines grown on granite, hand harvests. 88pts Decanter (August 2026)
Domaine Haut Marin, 6 Fossiles Colombard-Sauvignon-Gros Manseng 2025: Tropical nose bursting with mango, passionfruit and citrus. Nice pure fruit on the palate, with freshness balancing sweetness. 90pts Silver Decanter World Wine Awards 2026
Domaine Papagiannakos Savatiano Old Vines, PGI Markopoulo 2025: This highly productive variety – typically used for retsina – is having a comeback and manifests wonderfully in Papagiannakos’s Retsina of Mesogia 2025, from Attiki, a far cry from those crown capped bottles so popular in the 1970s and 80s. Made from 70-year-old vines in limestone soil, this shows lime and subtle pine flavours. The same producer makes a fresh unresinated old vine Savatiano too. Harpers (July 2026)
Seméli Moschofilero, PDO Mantinia 2024: Seméli in the Peloponnese produces the wonderful single vineyard, lees-aged Thea Mantinia 2023, a luxurious and rich take on the variety, with part ageing in acacia barrels ensuring the fruit isn’t overwhelmed. Harpers (July 2026)
Boutari Vidiano, PGI Crete 2024:Vidiano The Vivid 2024 is a solid take on the Cretan variety by Boutari, lean but with someappealing floral notes. Harpers (July 2026)
