Gatinois is one of the most extraordinary wines imaginable – with the faintest of pink hues coming from its dominant red grape (it is an 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay blend), and the mesmerising perfume, palate creaminess, depth of flavour, and nobility make this one of the most indulgent, and certainly one of the best […]

2016 Pierre Vaudon Grand Cru Champagne (£50.35, reduced to £44.75 each by the case)is extraordinarily elegant and layered, providing a moment of exquisite calm and elegance after the fabulous Gatinois fanfare. Again, this wine represents staggeringly serious value for money… Matthew Jukes, MoneyWeek, 13th Dec 2024

This 14.5% vol delight is crammed with gorgeously juicy autumnal damson fruit. Jonathan Ray, The Field “Elevenses”

A fine, delicate blend of chardonnay and aligoté, this crémant delivers gentle notes of citrus and a clean finish. Will Lyons, Wednesday 27th November 2024

A blend of the little-seen Neuberger (40%) with Weissburgunder, aka Pinot Blanc, producing gentle, creamy, nutty aromas with a hint of apricot and a palate of rounded texture, nutty, slightly spicy depth and stony freshness. Organic, unusual and full of interest. Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 21st Nov 2024

Perfumed, fruity and spicy with a touch of black pepper and the intensity, energy and acid tang to cut through slow-roast belly of pork or to accompany a meaty, tomatoey bolognese. Organic Barbera of impressive purity. 14.5%. Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 21st Nov 2024

Generous, rich, sweet-fruited and spicy, but with precision, freshness and a perfumed lift that Gigondas sometimes lacks. Les Pigières is a 1.25-ha parcel within the Burle family’s 37-ha estate and the blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah is aged in concrete. 14.5%. Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 21st Nov 2024

Light, bright colour, raspberry-accented fragrance and fruit, gossamer-fine texture and fine-boned structure. Sleek, very appealing Sancerre Pinot Noir. 13.5%. Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 21st Nov 2024

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