Grown on the lower hills above Kurtatsch. They write: ‘Lagrein is Alto Adige’s oldest grape variety. It flourishes best in the deep, warm soils in Bolzano (the suburb of Gries) and the South Tyrolean Lowlands (Kurtatsch) that are made up of clay and sand as well as gravelly deposits from rivers and streams that break […]

Clayey vineyard in Glen, in the commune of Montan. Sunny days and cool nights. No information given on the winemaking. Light cherry red. Subtle red fruit on the nose with a very slight rubbery note that I think is just a touch of youthful reduction that will disappear with aeration. Juicy, fresh and lively on […]

The name Caliz apparently derives from the Latin terms calix (calyx) und calx (limestone). Caliz grows exclusively on light gravelly soil with a high share of limestone at 250–500 m. The yield is reduced to 65 hl per hectare (modest for the region). Fermented in tank and aged on lees in large oak. Inviting, rather […]

Some viognier is heady and creamy in style; this one is more of an aperitif, more refreshingly green and clean, though still with a honeysuckle scent. I found it needed decanting to open it out: just pour it vigorously into a jug and give it a good swirl around your glass. in , 17th July […]

Although this does have the comforting richness so typical of Saint Emilion it’s more towards the perfumed than the dense, spicy, tannic spicy fruitcake end of the scale. I loved it. in , 11th July 2020

In Piedmont, where this is from, dolcetto loses out because everyone wants to talk about nebbiolo. A criminal shame when a wine is as attractive as this one: deep purple, a silky tease of dark cherries and violets. in , 11th July 2020

Haynes, Hanson & Clark says this red bordeaux has been flying out of its stockroom and it’s easy to see why. Made in an excellent vintage from mostly (80%) merlot, it’s juicy and moreish while retaining a sense of place. in , 11th July 2020

Romania is a secretly good source of everyday drinking (as opposed to sublimely hedonistic) pinot noir and this one shows why: it sings of summer with scents of red berries and cherry blossom, with a gentle rosewoody spice in the background. in , 11th July 2020

From one of the Sancerre satellites in the Loire, this white is a very classy sauvignon blanc that is thick with flavours of grass and nettles with an elderflower lift. So good at the end of a hot day. in , 11th July 2020

The great thing about Italian whites is that – unlike some others – they don’t taste sweet and blowsy when you start eating. Verdicchio is the grape and the flavour is cool and hydrating, with nips of green and a herbaceous background. in , 11th July 2020

When Piemonte Dolcetto is as good as Ca’ Viola Vilot, it’s an absolute treat, living up to its name ‘little sweet’, although it’s most definitely a dry red wine. It’s a grape variety that can have rather dry, sandpapery tannins (perhaps that’s why it’s been losing out to Barbera in the vineyards), but it doesn’t […]

An extremely good, shimmeringly pale pink made up in the hills of the Var department of Provence. The blend is syrah, grenache and cinsault with 20 per cent cabernet sauvignon. Has a gentle, red-berry-scented nose with a crisp structure and herbaceous twist. in , 29th May 2020

This is scintillating Sauvignon Blanc comes from a village called Quincy, which is just down the road from the more famous town of Sancerre. One of the most nerve-tingling and luxuriously appointed Sauvignons of the year so far, it is made by the finest estate in the region, and it is a cracker with the […]

A superb trio of recommendations from Matthew Jukes on SheerLuxe’s podcast: I have a £100 spend split up into three different bottles …and they are all utterly world class… Gatinois Brut Tradition, Grand Cru Aÿ NV 2017 Pouilly-Fuissé, Domaine Dominique Cornin 2012 Château Laroze, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé on the , May 2020

Corbières, in the south-west of France, is famous for its hearty red wines, but this amazing, keenly-priced rosé with hints of wild fennel and aniseed, intertwined with refreshing raspberry tones, is nothing short of beautiful. A perfect wine with the Black bean moussaka, this is one of the rosés of the year. in , 16th […]