Fine Wine

What a joy, and a rare treat. Very old vine Pinot Gris is quite a rarity across Alsace. Mature Pinot Gris wines develop gorgeous nutty creamy flavours over time - but that's a long time to wait. Strangely such a wine, although quite young, made from ancient vines, seems to offer some of the same complexity. Ripe orchard fruits on the nose, oily creamy spicy flavours to follow. full bodied. What a food wine!

One of the best of Alsatian dry Muscats. Deftly crafted, lifted, lilies and blossom. Impressively concentrated and ripe, but so fine, so delicate.

Sangiovese 80%, Canaiolo 15%, Malvasia Nera 5%. Manually harvested in mid-September from all the company's organic vineyards, the Sangiovese from Rabizza and the Lago, the Canaiolo from Vertigne and the Malvasia Nera from Tombolo. The grapes are carefully destemmed and wild fermentation takes place with the grapes natural yeasts. Fermentation takes place In thermo-conditioned steel tanks with maceration on the skins for two weeks with gentle pumping over The wine is then bred in older French oak tonneaux (large barrels) until the spring following the harvest. The wine is put to bottle and rests for a further nine months. This is a real, authentic Tuscan bargain with wonderfully characterful fruit from beautiful established vineyards blended beautifully by the master Giampaolo Chiettini. Floral, earthy, brilliant and vibrant wine. The legendary and completely wonderful Giampaolo Chiettini helps the young (very young!) Rocco (24!) and his sister Meca (25!) on their beautiful estate in DOC Valdarno di Sopra. A very exciting estate to watch at this embryonic stage.

A quite unique expression of 100% Canaiolo from Jamu's organic vineyards. Ripening later than their Sangiovese in the latter half of September. The beautiful fruit (a selection of the very best bunches from the vineyard) is picked when perfectly ripe by hand and sorted in small crates. 100% destemmed and gently crushed, the wine is left to ferment on its wild yeasts. Macerated for two weeks with a little, very gentle pump-over daily. The wine is run off to older French tonneaux and left to rest for nine months then put to bottle for a further six months before release. Direct, long and pure wine. Some darker as well as brighter red fruits mix deliciously on a lovely savoury, fresh palate. A must try - think lamb rubbed in rosemary and salt cooked on the grill. Think Sangiovese with lighter tannins. Marvellous wine and a must-try this spring and summer. The legendary and completely wonderful Giampaolo Chiettini helps the young (very young!) Rocco (24!) and his sister Meca (25!) on their beautiful estate in DOC Valdarno di Sopra. A very exciting estate to watch at this embryonic stage.

Made from two lieu dits, high up on the slopes overlooking the majestic Rhone. The wine has classic Viognier nose of peach, apricot, toasted spice and honey. Medium-bodied with good fruit and texture and shows a more mineral character than the richer Le Chatillon Condrieu cuvee.

The Fargueirol estate is named after the area of land called Fargueirol in the northern sector of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which is known to have some of the best terroir. The Revoltier family have 15ha of vines in this lieu dit and a further 15ha in other plots. They have just 1 hectare of white grape vines planted to Clairette, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. The grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel vats at 15% without malolactic fermentation to retain freshness. The wine is bottled young and can be enjoyed in its youth or up to 5 years of age. Its pale yellow color opens with a bouquet of honey and acacia flowers, notes of apricot with aromas of peaches, anise and sweet spices. On the palate, flavors of gingerbread and a perfectly round and fresh palate take over.

The new second wine of Ch Haut-Batailley, a Grand Cru Classé in Pauillac. The nose is aromatic and offers intensity, a fine grain as well as a small sensation of tension. It reveals notes of wild cassis, fresh blackberryand small notes of fresh raspberry associated with touches of spices, bergamot, fresh vanilla, a subtle hint of pepper, fresh nutmeg and a very discreet hint of hazelnut. The palate is fruity, slightly tight, mineral and offers a fine acidulous frame, tension, a beautiful pulpy/ripe fruit and a fine fat. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cherry, pulpy/juicy raspberry and small notes strawberry associated with small touches of juicy blackberry as well as hints of tonka bean, toasted and a subtle hint of almond. Good length. A very fine hint of chocolate on the persistence.

Packed full of wild strawberry fruit with hints of raspberry, the palate adds a touch of spice to the sweet fruit and even a touch of coffee. This is a lovely approachable wine. Alain Gras is the reference point for St-Romain. This extremely steep village was considered part of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune until 1947. The vineyards are set back from the main Côte and mostly at higher elevation and have unquestionably improved in quality by the changes in climate and no longer struggle to reach full physiological maturity. The domaine covers 12 hectares with 8ha being planted with Chardonnay and 4ha to Pinot Noir. There are 42 separate parcels but Alain prefers to blend the grapes into one cuvée.

Château Palais Cardinal, a magnificent estate on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, takes its name from the sublime former residence dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, the remains of which are still visible. The property took the name of Palais Cardinal in the 14th century, when it was enlarged. Owned by the Louis Ballande family since 2018, Château Palais Cardinal is now one of the leading names in the Saint-Émilion appellation. From 2008 to 2018, Château Palais Cardinal has experienced unprecedented growth. From 4 hectares of vines in 2008, Château Palais Cardinal now boasts 22 hectares. Located in the commune of Saint-Sulpice de Faleyrens, Château Palais Cardinal is an exceptional vineyard planted on some of the finest terroirs in the Saint-Émilion appellation. Combining tradition and modernity, Château Palais Cardinal's ambition is to produce great wines that reflect the identity of the Saint-Émilion appellation, thanks to the constant attention paid to the vines, the monitoring of each plot and the appropriate vinification methods. The grape varieties planted in the vineyards reflect those found on the right bank. Merlot (71%) is the predominant grape variety, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Aged for a minimum of 12 months, the wines of Château Palais Cardinal offer an intense aromatic expression marked by fine notes of black fruit with hints of incense. Structured by a silky body, the palate evolves with suppleness, held together by a fine acidity.

A classic Northern Rhône Syrah, aged for 24 months in 10% new oak barrels. Full of dark fruits, black pepper and toasty spice.

Perhaps the best known vineyard in the Saint Romain appellation, this shows a little oak on the nose with very good concentration and flashes of citrus. The palate too shows some toastiness with a sweet frame and the whole is very juicy with good energy. Long and concentrated with a silky finish. Alain Gras is the reference point for St-Romain. This extremely steep village was considered part of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune until 1947. The vineyards are set back from the main Côte and mostly at higher elevation and have unquestionably improved in quality by the changes in climate and no longer struggle to reach full physiological maturity. The domaine covers 12 hectares with 8ha being planted with Chardonnay and 4ha to Pinot Noir. There are 42 separate parcels but Alain prefers to blend the grapes into one cuvée.

Blended from various terroirs of the appellation across just over 3 hectares, the 2022 White Saint-Romain Les Cinq Climats is a pure delight of mastery and indulgence. It's an evocative white wine, with notes of ripe fruits complemented by a slightly exotic touch, draped in beautiful freshness and, most notably, a generous mouthfeel. Its rich and opulent character makes it simply irresistible. Alain Gras is the reference point for St-Romain. This extremely steep village was considered part of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune until 1947. The vineyards are set back from the main Côte and mostly at higher elevation and have unquestionably improved in quality by the changes in climate and no longer struggle to reach full physiological maturity. The domaine covers 12 hectares with 8ha being planted with Chardonnay and 4ha to Pinot Noir. There are 42 separate parcels but Alain prefers to blend the grapes into one cuvée.

With a vineyard of 3.67 ha in an exceptional terroir, the Château Vray Croix de Gay is one of the top estates of the renowned Pomerol appellation, whose enormous potential and unique style has become world-renowned. The strength of Château Vray Croix de Gay lies in its vineyard. Located in the heart of the Pomerol gravel plateau, on the Right Bank of the Bordeaux region, the estate’s 9 plots are subdivided into micro plots and spread over 2 vineyards. One of these is located alongside Château La Fleur behind Pétrus, and the other is set just in front of the Château Trotanoy. 93/100 Wine Advocate "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Vray Croix de Gay opens with notes of warm blackberries, boysenberries and black raspberries with wafts of stewed tea, fragrant earth and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with expressive black fruit, framed by ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy."

From Liberty Wines, UK agent: Delicate in colour with youthful highlights, and a soft aroma of lime and floral notes combined with toasty characters. The palate shows great fruit purity, with intense lime cordial character mixed with lemon rind and a fresh, crisp, dry finish. This is one of the classic Wigan Rieslings from an exceptional vintage, which will age well. Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards 2022

The Crepuscule Pinot Noir by Idun in Elgin shows a very light ruby colour with bricky tints to the rim. The delightful nose shows Brambles, rose petals, ripe cherries and strawberries. The palate is wonderfully fresh with red fruits and cherries that are delicate and integrated. Idun is a small, boutique winery run by a French-Danish family originating from Mauritius. They produce excellent varietals which are well-balanced, concentrated, and elegant. They produce mightily impressive, French-inspired wines which you would no doubt pay a lot more for if the grapes were from France.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. They all carry the signature of Rolly-Gassmann, a certain shameless, velvety sweetness. The fruit is rich and manages to balance the fruit with a vibrant acidity to form wines that melt on the palate.

From its tempting aromas of ripe cherry and black raspberry to its sweet, dusty tannins and supple texture, this a lush and expansive expression of Napa Valley Merlot. Luxurious flavours of black plum, rhubarb crumble and chocolate-covered raspberry mingle with hints of graphite and clove on the long, vibrant finish.

Mineral and herbaceous aromas on the nose. Red fruits, mint and eucalyptus. A beautiful wine. This has got to be one of the best Malbecs I have tasted in a long time. Juan Pablo Lupa is such a passionate wine maker and the intensity shows in his wines. Rich and elegant, not too heavy, very smooth and silky. Lovely flavours with vanilla coming through on the lvery ong finish.

Warm ruby colour, bright with hints of mahogany. Fresh red fruits and notes of dried flowers on the nose and a smooth, fresh and full-bodied palate with fine and silky tannins. Long and aromatic. A vibrant easy-drinking Grenache-Syrah blend, named after the real-life lovechild of famed medieval lovers Abélard & Héloïse. Younger in age and spirit than its complex, collectible 'parents', it aims to deliver fresh fruit but also nice spice, concentration and length.

While this claret still has serious layers of tannins, it also delivers considerable ripe black-fruit flavours. The estate in the Figeac sector of Saint-Emilion has produced a powerful wine that is firm and that will age further. Drink from 2025 Deep ruby. Pronounced aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, black plum, smoke, cedar, mint, clove, violet, capsicum. The palate is dry, high acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, medium(+) body, pronounced flavours of black fruit, smoke, mint, cedar. The finish is long. This is an outstanding wine.

A testament to the ancestral terroir of Minervois La Livinière. This blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache highlights the characteristics of the appellation and the biodiversity of the terroir. Whilst respecting tradition, it is also in tune with the times. ‘La Petite Villa’ starts us off on the road to ‘Villa Mon Rêve’. On the nose, a bouquet of black fruit and spices reveals notes of black cherry, blackberry and clove. This initial nose is supported by fresh aromas of peppermint and sweet cocoa bean notes. On the palate, a fine structure emerges with a supple, intense attack, offering a pleasant velvety texture and a spicy finish with young but promising tannins. Aromas of black fruit, garrigue, cocoa, pink pepper and fresh tobacco unfold fully, offering a rich, complex taste experience.

Winemaker Vincent Chansault is particularly happy with this release of Gayda's top, single vineyard Syrah from a beautiful site high up in La Liviniere. Extrememly limited. One for Cote-Rotie lovers. The 'Dream House' in question was built by the owner in the vineyards for his ailing wife to spend her last days. She miraculously recovered and her story inspired Vincent to make his dream wine from Syrah in La Liviniere.