"I like wines that are direct, with tension, a vertebral column, for both the reds and the whites". Romain Delhome A brilliant, fresh and invigorating Crozes Hermitage Rouge from young Romain. 100% Syrah grown on soils composed mainly of loess and some granite scree mixed with loess at elevation at Gervans and Larnage in the northern sector. Average age of vines is 35 years old. The grapes are gravity fed into the winery after destemming. The grapes are then crushed and left to macerate at a very low temperature for a few days before fermentation takes place in the truncated temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The must macerates for twenty days with very gentle spray overs (like a pump over, but gentler). The juice is then left on its own in tank for seven months. A nose full of red/black fruits. flowers and peppery notes. The palate is fresh, direct and red-fruited. Vibrant and joyful. The finish continues with finesse, with a lovely pepper note. Great tension and balance. It's a natural tasting Crozes full of life and energy. We feel it's one to drink younger and with a slight chill. It's tremedously tasty stuff for Syrah lovers.

A deliciously soft and fruity wine with lots of juicy, plummy flavours. This is nursery slope vino with no hard edges and a very moreish quality that gets you back for another bottle!

A delightful, stylish blend of Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul. This wine has a bright straw yellow colour. On the nose, it reveals subtle aromas of citrus, melon, peach, with delicate notes of infused white flowers. The palate is rich and deep, both smooth and juicy, offering a beautiful balance and a cool, mineral and persistent finish. Lovely stuff.

Le Due Porte is 540 metres above sea level. Budbreak is later here, often avoiding issues with late frosts and snow. Ripening is slow and constant. The soil profile preserves humidity; important when making a wine such as Brunello that does not contemplate irrigation. Alberese has high levels of calcium carbonate which favors acidity, aided and abetted by the slower ripening and later harvest due to the exposition and altitude. We generally pick Le Due Porte as much as two weeks after our vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate and are often amongst the last in Montalcino to harvest. The grapes develop organoleptic complexity from that extra hang-time and from the pronounced difference between day and night temperatures. In fact the altitude guarantees extreme thermal excursion even in hotter years which is wonderful for aromatic development. Over the last two decades we have seen, year after year, a pronounced character emerge in the fruit from this vineyard, a wine that maintains the typical structure of a Brunello vecchio stampo and epitomises finesse and elegance."

A stylish baby 'Super Tuscan' from Parri. For the style, a faily classical blend of equal parts Sangiovese and Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon also. Deep, silky, seamless and satistying. For those who like a nice glossy, rich wine but one that still has good tension and bite. Very satisfying indeed. Fattorie Parri is a family winery, started when Novello Parri bought the first estate, called Tenuta Corfecciano in 1950. In the following two decades, the family successively bought Tenuta Ribaldaccio, Tenuta Il Monte and finally in 1971 Il Urbana, where the winery is now located. Of the total of 180 hectares of estate, 60 are planted with vineyards, 35 with olive trees, grain is produced and the rest is planted with forest. All in all, a classic Italian company whose roots literally lie deep in the soil of the Tuscan landscape. The daily management of the 3 companies is in the hands of Luigi Parri, together with his nephew Andrea and niece Paola Cantini. Oenologist Giorgio Tarzariol has been responsible for making the wines since 1972.

Great Pinot Noir from Sancerre. Lovely cherry aroma, along with light oak, has a vibrant fruity palate and soft finish. Delicious on its own and with lamb.

A beautiful and pure expression of young Nebbiolo from one of the most exciting winemakers in Italy. After Gian Luca completed his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology after 11 years of study and worked as a wine consultant across Italy in 2011 he started his own small winery in the heart of his native Langhe. Within 3 years he won the Gambelli award for Young Winemaker of the Year. His small Segni di Langa estate is located in Roddi in Barolo country and working sustainably he takes a very minimal interventionist approach allowing each vintage to showcase itself. Making his wines in the 'garage' beneath his house he typifies the small scale, high quality, personal style of winemaking. Roddi, 220 m. South./South East facing. Two small vineyards planted by Gian Luca to Pelaverga Piccolo. Fermented wild and raised in clay Amphora. Something really rare! Verduno Pelaverga is the smallest DOC in the Barolo region in the far north, where the indigenous variety Pelaverga Piccolo grows. Quite a light colour, pale but brilliant and bright and oh-so fragrant with floral aromas dominated by roses, violets and super pure raspberry - both the berry and the leaves. Vibrant, charming and simply a wonderful, curious drink.

After Gian Luca completed his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology after 11 years of study and worked as a wine consultant across Italy in 2011 he started his own small winery in the heart of his native Langhe. Within 3 years he won the Gambelli award for Young Winemaker of the Year. His small Segni di Langa estate is located in Roddi in Barolo country and working sustainably he takes a very minimal interventionist approach allowing each vintage to showcase itself. Making his wines in the 'garage' beneath his house he typifies the small scale, high quality, personal style of winemaking. 60% Barolo village, 370m. 40% Dogliani Village, 350 to 550m. North / North-East facing. From north facing vineyards that are well-protected from the hot sun. After fermentation with only natural, wild yeasts the wine is then aged in amphora and large Stockinger barrels. Gian Luca is a bit a dab hand with Pinot Nero, having started producing it prior to turning his hand to Nebbiolo and the rest. Truffley, with the scents of sous bois and woodland earth. Leading to spicy cinnamon and clove and piercing fruit - cherries, redcurrants and pomegranate. Fine, long, pure and vibrant Pinot Nero.

After Gian Luca completed his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology after 11 years of study and worked as a wine consultant across Italy in 2011 he started his own small winery in the heart of his native Langhe. Within 3 years he won the Gambelli award for Young Winemaker of the Year. His small Segni di Langa estate is located in Roddi in Barolo country and working sustainably he takes a very minimal interventionist approach allowing each vintage to showcase itself. Making his wines in the 'garage' beneath his house he typifies the small scale, high quality, personal style of winemaking. Magliano Alfieri village, 290m, 88y-old vines. Roddi village 200-250m, 45 to 60y-old vines. Part of this wonderful Barbera d'Alba comes from a vineyard by Gian Luca's house. The wines has so much lovely fruit and richness with such vibrant freshness. It isn't in the least bit 'blockbuster'. No heaviness, no 'make up'. Simply a beautiful drink that delivers sheer class and great pleasure. Not blockbuster, but it is knock-out good.

A beautiful, precise Rasteau wine. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre woven together to produce a very elegant style. A complex nose of baked plums, blackberry, garrigue herbs and hibiscus flowers. Very fine balance on the mid-weight palate. Simply irresistible and utterly moreish. Bravo!

Really tasty. Full colour, but light on it's feet. Lots of staisfaction here. This wine is soft pressed after five hours of skin contact to produce a light pink wine. Fermentation occurs under controlled temperatures in stainless-steel tanks. Five days resting on the lees are followed by two days of cold settling. The vines that produce this wine are grafted from Argentine Malbec, which of course comes originally from Cahors in France. The wine maker is Argentine, and he searched all over the Languedoc for a place that would produce the characteristically bright and intense Malbec of his home country. He found this possibility in partnership with winegrowers from the Coteaux d’Ensérune, who follow a 1,000-year-old viticultural tradition marked by an historically un-French willingness to develop varieties from other horizons. The unique soils on the Montandy plateau outside Béziers are red, chalky and acidic with traces of iron. This combined with the classic Mediterranean climate, make the area an ideal home for Malbec The nose is intense with concentrated red berry aromas mixed with hints of springtime flowers. The expressive palate is bursting with gorgeous, ripe fruit followed by a bright, tangy finish. Pair with Mediterranean cuisine like fish with Provençal sauce and seafood paella or try with grilled chicken and fish. Also delightful as an aperitif.

The nose reminds of the aromas in the vineyard during flowering. It expresses delicate flowers, some fruits, never overpowering, just like a very delicate perfume. The palate follows perfectly with a delicate structure, almost aerial and lingers on for a long time. Dry finish with the classic varietal tannic structure but also a certain roundness induced by the fruity flavour of the wine. The mouth feels like soft velvet and is already so easy to enjoy. This wine will go with seafood, salads, crab, fish dishes.

A wine from an amazing single site with vines older than 90 years. Carignan on black schistous marl. Aged for 20 months in barrels. Possibly Roussillon's most elegant expression of the grape? Outstanding wine.

70 % Sangiovese, 30% Syrah, is amongst the very best in the Languedoc. Intense color, pretty aromas of white flowers. With a nice roundness with a touch of juicy residual sugar that really works in this 20th harvest celebration wine. So much sheer joy and fun here. Emotional stuff.

Malvasía, vertical trellis, planted in 1964 – La Arboleda, Uco Valley Direct pressing of 70% of the grapes, that fermented at 13°C in contact with a stems infusion. The other 30% fermented partially with skins. In both cases by tasting, we decide when to remove them to continue fermenting without these, a part in barrels of new French oak until its completion. REST TIME IN BARRELS: Aging on lees with frequent batonnages in both, barrels and tank, for 4 months before blending and bottling.

This beautiful Margot 2023 (named after FX's little girl, Margot) is utterly divine modern, natural Roussillon Rose. The make up in this organic wine is 50% old vine Grenache Noir (grown on schist) seeing whole bunch and maceration on skins for 7 days and 50% direct press Carignan Noir (grown on clay). The naturally fermented juices are blended after malolactic fermentation. Tank aged for five months. A very low dose of sulphites at bottling. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Coming in at a delightful 12% alcohol. A beautiful label drawn in school by young Margot also!

6 months in stainless steel tanks moving its own fine lees. Attractive yellow colour with golden highlights. Very interesting on the nose, notes of tropical fruits such as passion fruit are perceived. As it opens, lactic notes like butter, or baked bread are discovered.

This wine comes from two complimentary vineyards within a close proximity of our vineyard and winery. Each parcel of chardonnay was direct-pressed then cold settled before racking to French barrique and puncheon barrels (10% new) for fermentation and maturation for 9 months. Some battonage was used during maturation. There is a tight freshness here, with white stone fruits and a healthy dose of lemon on both the nose and palate. Gorgeous length too, helped by a touch of gentle oak and lees complexity. It all adds up to a beautiful, understated wine, but with plenty going on under the hood. Serve at 12c. "This is a combination of a Balhannah vineyard and a Piccadilly vineyard; an ‘off estate’ wine. It has the right pluck and charm to take you on a journey while satisfying your itch for fine chardonnay. Depth, vigour, excitement, drinkability all in the right spots. Quite a bit of honey-nougat in the wine though the coursing push of brine and crushed rock minerality elevates things and pierces the palate. There’s nectarine, white peach, green pear in the mix too. It’s marries the seasoning of the winery impeccably in apt, medium bodied fruit flavours. In all this, ticking many boxes." 93/100 Winefront Review by Mike Bennie "Fruit from two vineyards in the Piccadilly and Balhannah districts, crafted in a light and delicate style, focused on a citrus zest influence to the regional white stone fruit characters that are the core flavour note. A touch of grapefruit juice as well. There’s a 10% new oak regime with battonage in the winemaking, which gives the wine the lightest textural weight. Very easy to pour again and again. 12.4% alc Drink now - 2028" 92/100 Review by Tony Love at Winepilot 2025 SA Wine Guide "The 2023 were such a protracted vintage - something more of the 80s than most these days being warmer and earlier. They are really starting to show nicely now". Sholto Broderick

The 12 hectare vineyard of Chateau Faizeau is planted to 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. The entire vineyard is one large block of vines. The terroir is a mix of sand, clay and limestone soils. On average, the vines are close to 50 years of age. However, the vineyard has some of the oldest vines in the Right Bank. The oldest vines survived the devastating frost of 1956. In fact, they have vines that are more than 100 years of age, as they were planted all the way back in 1911! More than just old vines, their hillside terroir is on perhaps the highest elevation in the appellation. The vineyard, located on the hill of Calon hits 89 meters at its peak.

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.

We've found another Syrah-led, Southern Rhone wine that astounds with its interest and punches way above its price tag. From Drink Rhone: 80% Syrah (1982-1990s-1997), 20-25% Grenache (1960s-1985-86) from 3 hectares on very stony clay-limestone soils on lightly north facing slope on Bois Lauzon with Champovin (Orange). Destemmed, 4 week steel vat vinification at up to 28°C, daily pumping overs, cap punching, half the Syrah aged new (33%)-4 year 600-litre oak casks, Grenache & half the Syrah vat raised 12 months. Certified organic wine, **** for the 2022 from John Livingstone-Learnmonth on Drink Rhone "Dark red; the nose has an earthy intensity, a brewed blue and black fruits air. The palate carries appealing, gourmand dark berry fruits, prune flavouring, extends into a spiced corridor late on, notes of tea leaves and mineral there. It gives a well filled Côtes that lasts well, digs in, has interest". From mid-2024. to 2030-31. Tasted Oct 2023

Deep purple, almost opaque in colour with an expressive nose of black fruits, pepper, cinnamon, spice and violets. A seductive palate of dark hedgerow fruits, very open and welcoming with an explosion of fruit and spice. Mineral undertones.

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. Attractive, complex fruit nose. Black fruits and some toasty oak, cocoa. Ripe and juicy flashy, plump, well built but not OTT. Chocolate oak nose. Dark deep purple in colour. Underlying earthy cocoa initial taste that builds to plum. Well balanced, not too dry considering its strength. Good longevity with the slightest touch of pepper