Fully mature claret at fifteen quid – has the world gone mad? Created from the excellent 2015 Right Bank vintage from grapes grown on clay-limestone soils, this red-fruited, silky-smooth stunner even includes some lusty, well-balanced oak details, which heighten its class and allure. HH&C is renowned for its claret collection and Belle Coline is a […]

This is a new discovery for me, and I love the delicacy and restraint on display. This organic wine is grown on the limestone terroir of La Livinière with a beautiful pale colour. Smooth Charentais melon and rhubarb stalk tones titillate the palate, and the delivery of perfume and flavour is stunningly restrained. Light in […]

The racy Picpoul grape has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in the last few years, however, many examples are skinny and undernourished. Racine is an elite example of a wine with an uncommon breadth of green apple flavour and length of citrus tangy. It is ideal paired with oysters and all shellfish. In fact, it […]

2021 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence Textbook stuff and excellent for the price, this pale-pink wine is from a winery close to La Mascaronne. Victoria Moore in The Telegraph, 16th July 2022

Champagne Henriet Bazin Blanc de Blancs, Premier Cru NV Not the tightest texture – in fact rather loose – but you can really enjoy the heart and soul in this wine. And the dosage is about right. I would happily go to a long reception where this was served. Need I say more? GV 12% […]

2020 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie, Domaine de la Chauvinière If you like dry whites with a salty, marine smell, forget picpoul and buy (better value) muscadet. This is a real treasure from a family domaine. 2020 Nero d`Avola, Rupe Secca, Sicilia Here’s another one that’s good drunk chilled, this time a more generous […]

Light and bright as a cherry swinging from a star. Divinely pure. on , 13th Mar 2022

A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, this spent five years on its lees, giving a full, intense and finely structured vintage Champagne with biscuity richness and youthful dryness. Could be cellared for 6 or 7 years. Joanna Simon in www.joannasimon.com, 9th Dec 2021

While prices for white Burgundy climb as every year passes and allocations seemingly shrink at an alarming rate, it is so life-affirming to find a hugely impressive Chardonnay from a fabulous Domaine, and it is priced so keenly I nearly dropped my glass when I tasted it. I was cruising through a line-up of posh […]

Rosemary George MW shares her thoughts on some of our Languedoc offerings at our recent Pall Mall Winter Tasting. 2020 Racine Picpoul de Pinet, Bruno Lafon & François Chamboissier from Bruno Lafon and François Chamboissier. Classic Picpoul, with quite soft salty fruit on both nose and palate and a dry finish. 2020 Viognier, IGP Pays […]

Sparkling Vouvray is one of the wine world’s undervalued treasures and it can age superbly. Made in old oak, Bernard Fouquet’s blend of Chenin Blanc is mainly 2018 with 15% of 2017. Really appetising baked-apple nose with very fine bubbles and a gorgeous toasty hint of toffee on the finish. Not trying to be champagne. […]

2020 Racine Pinot Noir, IGP Pays d`Oc, Bruno Lafon & François Chamboissier Made with Burgundian savoir-faiure, it has generosity, finesse and a subtle waft of lavender on the nose. 2019 Le Mas, Domaine Clavel, Languedoc A gorgeous, unoaked, smooth red that bursts with flavours of wild strawberries, fresh figs and blackberries, with skeins of dried […]

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is a cool-climate hot spot producing some of Australia’s best chardonnay and pinot noir. This exquisitely balanced white burgundy-alike – all clean lines and subtle creaminess – is one for smoked salmon or turkey. on , 14th Nov 2021

Burgundy is just one of many French regions to have upped their sparkling game in the past couple of decades. Fizz in the Loire, too, has arguably never been better, with wines such as Bernard Fouquet’s pristine chenin blanc and its crisp apple, honey and subtle buttered toast. on , 14th Nov 2021

Fiona Beckett describes a perfect match between this Savigny-Lès-Beaune and a delicious chicken & cep pie on her website, Matching food & wine. on , 8th Nov 2021