74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Low yields of 17 hl/ha following the hail storm in June and the deep gravels the Cabernet is planted on. 14.0% ABV. 40% new oak. What is made is very good, clean and long with precise extraction and ripe but not overripe fruit. It derives from a gravel "croupe" near Calon-Ségur. "Beau-Site" means beautiful site and lies just behind Grand Cru Château Calon-Segur on one of Medoc's highest points with fantastic views over the river Gironde. It was originally classified as a Cru Bourgeois Superieur in 1932 but in 1966 Beau Site was reclassified as a Cru Grand Bourgeois Exceptionnel. The Castéja family, who also own Château Batailley and Château Trotte Vieille, bought the château in 1955. The château has nearly 100 hectares of vines with an average age of 35 years. Beau-Site's 18th century underground cellar is one of the oldest in the Médoc and presents the perfect maturing conditions for a wine that is vinified with the same care and technique as a Grand Cru Classé. Beau-Site's wine is full of power and temperament, a typical Saint-Estèphe with tannins allowing for keeping this wine for some years.

CWM Ranking - High 2:1 The best wine I have tasted from this usually reliable estate, an improvement even on the 2016 vintage. Packed with ripe fruit the extraction is well controlled, allowing the palate to build and remain fruity to the finish.

The Guimberteau family has owned the Château Franc-Baudron estate since 1923. This is a vineyard on a human scale where each generation has left its footprint on the family heritage. Since 2010, the new generation of Château Franc-Baudron, Charels and Sophie Foray, have embarked on an environmental approach by converting the entire vineyard to organic farming. The area hosts bee-hives, uses plants for treatments (horsetail, nettle and ferns) and seeds flowers to encourage biodiversity of wildlife in the vines. They have begun implementing new winemaking techniques by using minimal inputs to express at its best the nature of the grapes and the type of soil. Most of the family’s plots of Montagne Saint-Emilion are located on a clay-limestone plateau. Certified Organic. 14.5% ABV Deep ruby. Pretty aromas of cherry and blackberry, vanilla. Medium -bodied and appealing, good light extraction leaves the fruit and acid to the fore and will be accessible young. Excellent value.

High praise indeed for this genuine, superstar Burgundy domaine: “If I see his name on a wine list, I don’t give it a second thought and simply order his wine.” – Jean-François Coche (of £500-£1000 a bottle Meursault fame, ranked by Parker as one of the best winemakers in the world).

High praise indeed for this genuine, superstar Burgundy domaine: “If I see his name on a wine list, I don’t give it a second thought and simply order his wine.” – Jean-François Coche (of £500-£1000 a bottle Meursault fame, ranked by Parker as one of the best winemakers in the world).

A top class Bourgogne from vines on the slopes north of Marsannay near Dijon. The soils here are gravelly, rather like those of Beaune Greves. 30% whole bunch fermentation, the whole estate is farmed organically. At 14.5% the long hot summer is evident - deep colour, plenty of stuffing and grip, just beginning to open nicely, after a few hours bags of deep fruit come through, like a young Gevrey in style. A cracking example of vibrant Cote De Nuits. Since 2012 Château de Marsannay has been owned by the Halley family, at the same time they bought the Château de Meursault. They own 34 hectares of superbly situated vines, and as with Château de Meursault, have invested heavily in realising the estate’s huge potential. The Domaine is managed by Château de Meursault’s Stephane Follin-Arbelet, who is overseeing a quality revolution, but Château de Marsannay have their own winemaking team, lead by the fantastic, and award-winning, Sylvain Pabion. Winemaking is classic and adaptive, largely de-stalked but with whole bunches when necessary, a cold-soaked prior to fermentation and then ageing in a mixture of new and used oak barriques for over a year. Alongside Château de Meursault, this is on course to become one of the largest organic certified estates in the Côte d'Or.

A pure fruited, natural wine without additional sulphites. Shimmering fruit backed up by gorgeous savouriness and delightful floral notes - this is a real star for those who like a little restraint and class in their glass (only 13% abv). This is an utterly delicious take on Côtes du Rhône with Grenache leading the way backed up by Carignan and then Syrah. Beautiful balance and real elegance. Vigneron Frederic Julien has some talent!

The bouquet is open and rich yet also wonderfully fresh. It offers an explosion of ripe, delicate fruit with intense notes of mirabelle plum from the Pinot noir, complemented by sweet lemon meringue pie and delicate notes of jasmine from the Chardonnay. The nose opens up to reveal autolytic characters and evolves towards smoky, roasted notes and freshly baked pastries. The palate is deep and dense with a big, well-structured backbone. The texture is simply mesmerising with its fleshy mouthfeel from the Pinot Noir that coats the palate before giving way to an incredible saline freshness with a pleasant hint of bitterness. This wine combines the strength, intensity and power of the delectably ripe Pinot Noirs which are balanced to perfection by the chalky freshness and density from the Chardonnay which forms the majority of the blend. This 244th blend from the Louis Roederer Champagne House is based on the finest successes of the 2019 harvest, a year of record-breaking temperatures brought by particularly intense heat waves. Dry and continental and of magnificent maturity, this year gave us wines that were dense and fresh, with a masterful balance, conducive to bringing out the powerful and luscious Collection character in the blend.

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.

Certified organic grapes from Roussillon. Long with light bitterness with some saltiness. Nice tension, medium body and real structure.

An unusual, but terrific, blend showing off Alsace's grape varieties in a supergroup line up. The spiciness of Gewurz; the grapiness of Muscat; the body of Pinot Gris; the backbone of Riesling; and the refreshing character of Sylvaner. The resulting wine is fresh and characterful. Aroma and flavours of lemon, tropical fruit and white peaches, floral notes and petroleum. Additional flavours on the palate of pineapple and ground white pepper. Dry medium plus bodied wine. Good length. A super complex wine and fabulous value. Vegan, Biodynamic agriculture

Another outstanding Mourvedre-led Languedoc Rose. Yves Falmet has spent time selecting the best plots on his single slope of vines in Creyssian Saint-Chinian for the production of a fresh (12.5% abv) Rose. Pale pink colour, with classic, deep and full Mourvedre aromatics leading to a medium bodied, fresh palate that is citrus led with tangy tamarind, stony deliciousness and good minerality. This is an utterly outstanding bargain. A very serious, utterly drinkable Rose.

Proper Crozes-Hermitage style Syrah - nice bright berry fruit, a bit of a dark chocolate bite, nice crisp acidity and tannin, tastes almost cool/minty. A satisfying meat wine.

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.

Opulent blackcurrant and black cherry nose, with admirable elegance. Lavish and concentrated, an imposing wine, with a long, spicy, intense finish refreshed by a touch of mint. It may be an atypical Graves but it has terrific length and a polish that the previous owners never quite achieved.

18/20 Jancis Robinson "Minty, marmalade, really complex aromatic range – smoke, toasted nuts, ripe apricots, red apples. Wonderful, magical stuff. "

Jean Christophe Meyrot, ex La Violette (one of the top properties in Pomerol) . Full on but good structure. Juicy palate. Certainly ripe. Warm, good acid, persistent. More powerful than elegant. Forthright. Dark ruby color with black fruit notes like blackberries and black cherries, violet and dry herbs, leather and black pepper, nice minerality and French oak, some vanilla and tobacco. Nice balance and structure with a long finish.

Intense, concentrated bouquet of yellow fruit (white peach, mirabelle plum) combined with a delicious concentrated toastiness in the form of roasted hazelnut and almond aromas. Almond, wheat and sweet pollen notes from the Chardonnay with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot noir. Concentrated, energetic and vibrant on the palate with soft flavors of candied citrus and iodised spices. The salivating finish is underpinned by slightly oaky, sappy and saline notes. 2015 is remembered for its classic growth cycle. The particularly mild winter gave way to a varied spring with a period of freezing temperatures followed by intense heat. The vines reached full bloom at the usual times, during a sunny and dry month of June. It was a glorious summer with plenty of sunshine and little rain. The ripening of the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays was given a boost at the end of August by some long-awaited rainfall. The crops were harvested in mid-September under the cool autumnal skies, giving rise to elegant, fresh and fruity wines, worthy of labelling as true “classics”.

Victoria Moore writes (of the 2013 vintage) "a favourite all-rounder red. It’s merlot made precisely à point; there’s a juicy generosity, but also a refreshing leafiness: redcurrant leaves and lightly stewed damsons."

Another cracking vintage of this fresh and aromatic - easy drinking - white from the Languedoc-Roussillon with delicate fruit and a bright finish. The Vermentino is concentrated and characterful with delicate aromatics.

100% Chenin Blanc from the slate and shale of Savennieres. Light golden colour, pretty white flower aromas, juicy pear flavours on the palate with a subtle toastiness, and mouthwatering acidity on the finish.

100% Carignan Gris that was raised in older barrels. It offers that classic cold steel-like character I always find in Carignan Gris, as well as plenty of citrus blossom, bright apple fruit - steely and penetrating. A real one-off. Utterly beautiful wine. This 2023 is simply thrilling, honey. Simply ELECTRIC! Buy now. That's the only advice you need.

Natural, biodynamic and vegan. Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre from 80 year old vines, Made without filtering or fining. Pale but gorgeous mid red colour. At first on the nose, you are like "What even is that?". Whatever it is, you know that you like it. Elegant, subtle fruit is intermixed with gentle herb, earth and savoury characters. Deep and wonderful. On the palate the wine is elegant and deep again, but not heavy in the slightest. Ruffled fruit and savoury notes with minerality and real finesse. These wines are like no other from the Roussillon. Outstanding.

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.

A blend of Genache Blanc, Gris and Noir, from ancient 90 year old vines in the ancient and quite amazing 'C|os des Escounils' that the brothers are developing and working on re-establishing it's other potential vineyard areas. This is beautiful, racy, elegant wine that is softly textured and very ‘modern’ in its freshness and balance.

Energy is a word used a lot by the finest Roussillon growers. We don't think there has been a finer example than this extraordinary wine from the freres Danjou. The 2021 is a thrilling wine.

Stop press! 2015 cellar release of Estaca Rouge 2015!!!! Only 30 bottles available. Be quick. Old vine Grenache grown on decomposed black schist with a limestone sub soil with some quartz, that produces something amazing. Ethereal, sublime and fresh, this achieves a level of finesse akin to fine red Burgundy. Remarkable, special, very good indeed.

Natural, biodynamic and vegan. Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre from 80 year old vines, Made without filtering or fining. Pale but gorgeous mid red colour. At first on the nose, you are like "What even is that?". Whatever it is, you know that you like it. Elegant, subtle fruit is intermixed with gentle herb, earth and savoury charachters. Deep and wonderful. On the palate the wine is elegant and deep again, but not heavy in the slightest. Ruffled fruit and savoury notes with minerality and real finesse. These wines are like no other from the Roussillon. Outstanding. Magnum sized.

An elegant and restrained Pinot Noir from Alsace, typically youthful and filled with summer berries, cherries and slightly warmer notes. This carries over to the palate with refreshing acidity balanced by the quality of fruit and the ever so soft tannins.

"The medium lemon-colored 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is full-bodied and rich. Swirling the glass unfurls enticing spring flower, yellow apple, orange peel and white peach aromas with a tropical splash of melon. This oily-textured 2021 is framed by moderate levels of bright acidity, keeping everything balanced. It shows superb purity and concludes with a complex finish." [Nicolas Greinacher, 29/06/2023]

This Loire Valley sweet wine has a lovely golden colour with rich aromas of peach and pear giving a "chewing the fruit" sensation. A very complex, persistent and well balanced wine.

A very special wine from ancient plants of two of the rarest and very best vines for Soualnes terroir, Grenache Gris and Carignan Gris. This really does have everything. It's floral, honeyed orchard and citrus fruits added to its sumptuousness, its layers of texture and bright but not too spiky acidity. Very long with great balance and so much interest. Divine stuff that is here in tiny quantities.

New cuvee from Soulanes. 100% younger vine Grenache Gris in 100% new oak barrel. Reductive, classy, Burgundian and wonderful, A measly 24 bottles available for the UK in this debut.

All of our parcels of land are scattered up to 300m in the foothills of the Montagne Noire whose cool summer winds have a positive effect on the maturing of our grapes. The ground is a mixture of compact limestone and limestone marl. The appellation AOP Minervois La Livinière was the first premier cru to be created in Languedoc, in 1999. It covers 6 villages, 40 wineries and 350 hectares scattered within the garrigue of the foothills of the Massif Central. The terroir is a stony mix of limestone, pebble sand sandstone and the region has a particularly dry climate with large temperature variations between day and night. Of our 17 hectares of land, six are currently producing Grenache, Syrah, Carginan, Cinsault and Mouvèdre with vines ranging from 20 to 70 years of age. The vines are either bush vines or Cordon de Royat and are planted on rock strewn limestone. Our vineyards are certified organic and produce a low yield. We have a further three hectares of newly planted vines and the remaining hectares are filled with olive and fruit trees and the wild plants of the garrigue. This encourages biodiversity and offers soil protection. Our wines, Les Parcelles, are created from our parcellaire vineyards. At the very essence of our wines is the concept that we create individual wines that reflect the best combination of grapes for any particular year from across the 15 different unique parcelles. This means each year our wines will always be unique and original. Our production is limited because of our desire to make only the best wine each year. Each Parcelles release will have a different combination from within our vineyards. #5 is 70% Grenache Noir and 30% Syrah raised in older foudre and large sandstone jars. Our labels reflect our vineyards and the coloured area the parcels that are used in the wines each vintage.

All of our parcels of land are scattered up to 300m in the foothills of the Montagne Noire whose cool summer winds have a positive effect on the maturing of our grapes. The ground is a mixture of compact limestone and limestone marl. Of our 17 hectares of land, six are currently producing Grenache, Syrah, Carginan, Cinsault and Mouvèdre with vines ranging from 20 to 70 years of age. The vines are either bush vines or Cordon de Royat and are planted on rock strewn limestone. Our vineyards are certified organic and produce a low yield. We have a further three hectares of newly planted vines and the remaining hectares are filled with olive and fruit trees and the wild plants of the garrigue. This encourages biodiversity and offers soil protection. Our wines, Les Parcelles, are created from our parcellaire vineyards. At the very essence of our wines is the concept that we create individual wines that reflect the best combination of grapes for any particular year from across the 15 different unique parcelles. This means each year our wines will always be unique and original. Our production is limited because of our desire to make only the best wine each year. Each Parcelles release will have a different combination from within our vineyards. #6 is 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Mourvedre raised in older foudre and large sandstone jars. Our labels reflect our vineyards and the coloured area the parcels that are used in the wines each vintage.

Another great but unsung white wine of the Roussillon. A blend of Grenache Blanc and Maccabeu. Outstanding wine that is intense and tangy from the high elevation vineyards. This cuvee ages gracefully for 10++ years. A bargain bottle from breath-taking vineyards that are beautifully worked by the master Eric Laguerre.

Very rare, very low production. One of the legendary white wines of the Roussillon grown at elevation (500m) in a vineyard called 'Le Soula' (the name adopted by the neighbouring estate Eric Laguerre was once involved with) high in Saint-Martin-de-Fenouillet, on granite soils. Mineral, taught, fine and long with beautiful texture. A blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, Rolle, Grenache Blanc and Maccabeu. Outstanding wine which can age gracefully for 25++ years. Beautiful vineyards that are beautifully worked by the master Eric Laguerre. After first visiting the vineyard back in September 2009, we are very happy to now be importing the wines from Domaine Laguerre exclusively to the UK market. The Rhône cannot make white wines like this, although they carry a far higher price which somehow, wrongly, implies that they are somehow better, more valuable. This wine. Spliced by acidity that is so laser focused yet so gentle that it feels like the fall of spring petals through sunlight and falls like a blade of obsidian leaving a cut so fine that only the air drew breath in its wake. This wine. Tastes of Reine Claude plums so sweet the flesh has turned liquid to honey inside the green-gold skin, of cardamom husk caught in the pot of cream coddling slowly on the stove; of pink grapefruit and sucking on a twist of aromatic peel. Exquisite freshness; nacreous beauty; and yet almost shockingly bare of winemaking tricks. It's beautiful. Complete. A lunar cycle in the glass; waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, waning crescent. GV (TC)