Like rioja, classic claret is a must for many at the Christmas table, and this is a fine example from a highly regarded vintage. It’s at a lovely moment in its evolution, when the fruit (graphite-edged cassis) is still bright but the nimble tannins are softening up beautifully. David Williams, The Guardian, 19th Nov 2024

Forget white burgundy, scoop up this tongue-tingling, lemon twist and citrus blossom La Chauvinière charmer. Jane MacQuitty, Friday 8th November 2024. Jane MacQuitty, Friday 8th November 2024

Soft, mellow, Loire Valley Pinot Noir that knocks spots off many a red burgundy. Jonathan Ray, The Field, Christmas Edition 2024

Jean-Yves, fifth generation of the Perraud family at Domaine de Forétal, makes Juliénas of unalloyed purity and charm up in the hills in Vauxrenard. The 2023 has a luminous raspberry fragrance, succulent, fleshy, red fruit, rock-pool minerality and coolness and very light, chalk-dust fine tannins. It’s vinified traditionally, in cement, and Jean-Yves works the densely […]

Also available in half bottles, this is my pick of the fireside clarets. Victoria Moore, www.telegraph.co.uk, 24th Oct 2024

Christophe and Martine Réthoré’s 42-hectare domaine is in the Pays des Mauges, located between Muscadet to the west and Anjou to the east. Unoaked. Complete and creamy. Nothing like white burgundy but this would make a please-all house white. GV (JR) 12.5% Drink now–2025 Score – 16 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 14th Oct 2024

40% Neuberger and 60% Weissburgunder fermented and matured for nine months in large, old wooden casks. Certified organic. Not much nose but good grip and savoury conviction on the palate. Real substance to this wine. (JR) 13% Drink now–2028 Score – 16.5 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 14th Oct 2024

18-hectare domaine, of which five are planted with Pinot Noir. This cuvée is a blend of Pinot from several plots around the village on soils with a high limestone content. 25% whole-bunch fermentation, aged for 10 months in large-format, old oak vats. Transparent cherry red. Light nose and just a tad reduced on the nose […]

Brothers Francesco and Luca Guermani run this Piedmont property, whose 9 ha of vines lie in the hills outside the village of Treiso. Aged for 6 months in a mixture of stainless steel and large, old Slavonian oak vats. Certified organic. Deep, bright purplish crimson. Really racy and full of bright fruit. Great drive with […]

60% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah from the 1.25-hectare Les Pigières on the western edge of Gigondas, close to its border with Vacqueyras. Aged in concrete tank for 10 months. Deep crimson. Very sweet and polished with no shortage of alcohol but very fresh and accessible under the rather meaty, ripe Grenache nose. Really […]

2022 Gigondas Les Pigières, Domaine Font Sarade […] a bright, fresh, herbal-red-fruited version of the typical grenache-led blend from the region’s south: Domaine Font Sarade’s Les Pigières is a gloriously lithe, elegant, solar-powered example of the wines of Gigondas. David Williams, The Guardian, 13th Oct 2024

2022 Gouttes d`O Chardonnay, Château de Bousval, Jardins de Wallonie Complete, fresh nose indicates some delicacy of fruit. Very pretty and well judged with some floral notes and a very appetising dry finish with a great texture. Very long. A fine novelty. 2022 Tout Cru Chardonnay, Château de Bousval, Jardins de Wallonie Rather riper and […]

…made from a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon, it has robust ingredients, and its tension and presence are in no doubt. But add to this a wistful wildflower and red cherry perfume and a thrillingly refreshing palate, and you have a truly magical elixir. I have bought this wine every year since […]

What makes this Muscadet different from mass-market labels is the wonderful depth of flavour that unfolds behind the ocean-fresh buoyancy and lightness of touch, opening up a world of delicate spritz and nutty, creamy richness, salty freshness and subtle lime and grapefruit. The more you sip, the more you discover… Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 6th Jun […]