7 June 2005
Almost exactly two years ago we released the first Cloof Cellar Blend – an outrageously concentrated wine made up of the bits and pieces of press wine randomly collected by our cellar hands. Following the success of this wine, especially in Germany, we produced a successor in 2004. It has now spent the requisite 12 months in French Oak (at least 25% new), was bottled last week, and will be available for sale from 16 June.

If you like your red wines big, bold and juicy, this is it; a wine to ward off evil spirits or an icy winter. Consisting mainly of press wine – the last drops pressed from the skins after fermentation – this blend is concentrated in the extreme. Its texture is thick and dense. Flavours cover the whole spectrum, with an exotic fruitiness on the mid-palate. While the spiciness of French Oak lends an air of sophistication, this is not a wine that will be revered for its subtlety. It's the Quentin Tarantino remake of Sideways.

Oscar Foulkes