The ‘Petit Ours’ Côtes-du-Rhône, meaning ‘little bear’, is 100% Syrah sourced from vineyards planted on clay and gravel soils surrounding the village of Visan, next to Vinsobres. The vineyards are north-facing and are all farmed organically and worked using biodynamic methods, in keeping with Matthieu’s philosophy. The wine has a very expressive nose with layers of blackberry and black cherry fruit. The palate has smooth and well-integrated tannins with juicy black fruit and a touch of black pepper on the finish.

Viognier (1984-85) from 1.1 hectare on Côte Châtillon at Condrieu, raised 50-60% 22 hl large oak barrel and 40-50% steel vat, malo completed. "fine yellow robe; the nose is very elegant, composed of peach, aniseed, white plum, has an excellent floating style, grace. This is top tack! It has much suavity of texture, with very assured persistence, is refined and gliding throughout. It’s real good Châtillon, bang on the money as it should be. It bears neat iron touches, has a pear-buttery flavour, and butter-floral late moments, a dab of petrol also. Much refinement here." Jonathan Livingstone-Learmonth

Classic southern Rhone white, made from Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier. Fresh and floral with full, round stone fruit flavours and a lithe lick of minerals. Delicious.

Superb Cornas from the brothers becoming known as masters of the region. The 2018 Cornas Premices comes from the brothers' young vines, but it is a concentrated, stony example in its own right. Dark in hue, it offers up scents of red plums and crushed stone, plus subtle herb and floral shadings. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture and a refreshing hit of licorice on the lengthy finish, it's approachable now, yet should drink well for at least 5-6 years.

A new cuvee debuting in 2019 form the Le Mollard leu-dit which is elegant, refined and with Burgundian in style. Very fine wine indeed. For those that love lifted Syrah with real class and elegance. Bravo Xavier!

"Robust and fruity. Hot, but sumptuous. Though there is some dried fruit (prune, etc.) identifiable, it is not overpoweringly so. If anything this adds complexity. The acidity gives the wine beautiful poise."

Franck Faugiers 12 hectares of old vine Syrah are planted on the stony, red-clay and sandy soils of Les Châssis, one of the most prized plots of land in all of Crozes-Hermitage. He works his vines as naturally as possible, utilizing Biodynamic farming methods to ensure the health of his soil and plants. From these stony soils, Franck is able to craft expressive, juicy Syrah that drinks with fabulous freshness, complexity and fruit intensity.

Excellent producers Eric and Joel come from an old mixed farming family who went into making their own wine commercially in the late 1980s. They still grow apricots. The brothers have plenty of drive, and are making fruit-filled wines that can be enjoyed from an early stage.

Delightful Rhone Rose from the fabulous Clavel estate. Wild Strawberry and grape jelly make this the perfect wine to sip in the sunshine. Provence might be all the rage at the moment but this is every bit as elegant and delicious.

Bright, primary fruit with some decent ripe tannins for structure and some crisp acidity. Stylistically like a Chateauneuf du Pape. Extremely consistent and well made.

Superb deep-purple colour. The powerful and complex nose develops notes of 'Garrigue', cocoa and black fruit. Its rich and smooth mouth offers aromas of blackberry and violet with a slightly minty finish and great length.

Dense.herbal and oaky aromatics unfold elegantly onto a full-bodied, powerful and lush palate. It is full of plush fruit and muscular, thunderous power in an old-school style. There is a lot to enjoy here all the way to a long finish lengthened by fine tannins and piercing acidity. 98 points Decanter Magazine

Parker 96/100 "Hints of violets and lavender appear alongside mixed berries on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige. While not overwhelmingly concentrated or dense, it's beautifully balanced, being medium to full-bodied on the palate, smooth and supple in feel and fresh on the cooling and silky finish, where it adds hints of mocha and darker fruit while retaining a sense of etherealness. It should drink well for a decade, perhaps a bit longer." Robert M. Parker, Jr (the world’s most influential wine reviewer), who awarded their 1988 vintage a perfect 100 rating, the first Chateauneuf-du-Pape so honoured, has this to say about Domaine Roger Sabon: “This estate has been at the top of its game for many years and any partisan of Rhone Valley wines (especially the southern Rhone) who has not yet tried a wine from Domaine Roger Sabon should make every effort to do so. …the finest back-to-back vintages I have ever tasted from this 42-acre estate run by the large Sabon family, in this case, Jean-Jacques (recently deceased), Julien, Gilbert and Denis (Note: the helm is currently being turned over to the succeeding and equally capable generation, Didier Negron, Delphine and Julien Sabon). They own 15 parcels spread throughout the appellation, most of them concentrated in the western and eastern sectors north of the village. The domaine occupies about seventeen hectares of prime vineyards in some of the best sites of Chateauneuf - Les Cabrieres, La Crau, Courthezon and Nalys, and all with "galets roules" the sizeable stones that soak up the sun and release the warmth to the vines at night. The vines are a minimum age of 50 years, with 90-year-old vines for the Cuvee Prestige. They are mainly Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre, but Muscardin, Terret, Vaccarese and Counoise are also included in their Cuvee Prestige. This estate has been making exceptionally high-quality wines for years, but recent vintages seem to have risen to a new level

An absolute classic. Parker 94-96/100. Vinous 93-95. Suckling 98. Richard Hemming, jancisrobinson.com 17+. John Livingstone-Learmonth 4.5*

Made from a majority of Grenache, this most impressive wine is powerful and truly mouth watering. Red fruit notes with a long palate and lingering mature tannins. An absolute must for Rhone wine experts, from a true flagship wine grower.

Parker "The superstar of Rasteau… drop-dead delicious red wines." Tiny yields, 100% hand picked. This is a beautiful, perfect expression of plump juicy warming Grenache.

Lovely soft fruit with spice, plums, herbs and a touch of leather behind. Quite forward in the mouth with soft, ripe tannins, great length and a luscious finish. This is the second wine of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe.

"Oak evident. More aromatic - almond, white pear, white peach. Versatile. Lovely, rich, vibrant. Soft sweetness on the finish. Fruit, acid, and oak all in balance. Will develop." AA, January 2021

Has to be one of the best-value most impressive French red wines on the UK market. Special edition made for us by famed Chateauneuf grower Roger Sabon, the wine-maker is esteemed Didier Negron. Charmingly honest, hearty (15%!), herbal, dense and punchy, juicy red from the classic southern varieties of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault & friends. What a beauty, what a bargain. Although full-bodied the wine has soft tannins and a silky texture - this is the beauty of Southern Rhone reds, ready to enjoy as soon as they're made, unlike Bordeaux or Burgundy. Grenache in this hot sunny heaven gives ripe raspberry and black cherry notes and depth, Syrah gives a classic black pepper spice and dark-chocolate grip. A cool fennel / mint edge and lift. 'Declassified' as Vin de France, but this is not a 'negoce' wine made from bought-in grapes: all the grapes come from Sabon estates, and winemaking is by Didier Negron, as per their top wines. About Roger Sabon: Domaine Roger Sabon came into being in 1952 when the family vineyards were split into three distinct entities (the other two being Domaine Chante-Cigale and Clos Mont Olivet). Robert Parker, who awarded their 1988 vintage a perfect 100 rating, the first Chateauneuf-du-Pape so honoured, has this to say about Domaine Roger Sabon: “This estate has been at the top of its game for many years and any partisan of Rhone Valley wines… who has not yet tried a wine from Domaine Roger Sabon should make every effort to do so... This estate has been making exceptionally high-quality wines for years, but recent vintages seem to have risen to a new level of quality.”

Authentic baby wine from Chateauneuf's 1st Parker-100 grower. Unfiltered/unfined, supple, herbal, warming, a cracking value quaffer.

100% Gamay (mid-1980s) from galet stone on red-brown clay soils at 350 metres at Givors, 50-100% destemmed, 15-16 day vinification, a little pumping over, then cap punching, aged 1-6 year 228-litre casks 12 months, unfined. A real charmer. Wine to enjoy with friends. Dark red, purple tints; has a strawberry jam aroma. This has a good, firm attack, holds dark red, mulberry fruit with life in it, and a late saline note. There’s crunch in the tannins (this is 50% whole bunch) and it’s very drinkable, shows a touch of late power, is good for la table. Its length sustains on red fruit, raspberry, is good and upbeat.

Pretty floral nose with apricot expressing the majority Viognier in the blend. Elegant and soft palate with more apricot fruit.

Made from a majority of Grenache, this most impressive wine is powerful and truly mouth watering. Red fruit notes with a long palate and lingering mature tannins. An absolute must for Rhone wine experts, from a true flagship wine grower.

Reminiscent of a Provençal street market (which I always get from classic Gigondas), it has ultra-fine tannin, excellent concentration and a rocking finish. Drink this beauty through 2029

A blend of 65% Grenache 15% Syrah 15% Mourvedre and a small proportion of white varieties and Cinsault. 30% whole bunches from the old vines Grenache were included in the 2013 blend. All from the fine La Crau vineyard in the Bedarrides commune from vines averaging 60 years old. The grapes are part de-stemmed and after fermentation the wine is aged for ten months in concrete vats followed by ten months in wooden foudres. This gradually opens up on the nose and the palate is svelte but serious. Wonderful brightness and clarity. Harmonious, self-assured and complex without ever being heavy or cumbersome. The palate offers bright sweet, small sweet berry flavours flecked with minerals, gentler and easier than usual but with a certain gravitas nonetheless and a nice, moreish touch of austerity.

Of the "Chateauneuf satellite" villages, Cairanne is the most recently-elevated, and most undervalued, sharing a ridge with Rasteau and a plateau with Gigondas et al. This star stood out for us as truly exceptional value, with such character and depth of plummy fruit, a classic black olive and herby edge. Quite a piece at the price, it's easily the peer of its neighbours. From the superb 2021 vintage, top producer, organic, no added sulphites. Thoroughly recommended.

Cracking value Chateauneuf from Chateau Fargueirol, whose single varietal Chateauneufs are rightly praised as some of the most exciting wines from the region. Easy to drink young and made in a fruit forward, accessible Grenache-y style.

Excellent producers Eric and Joel come from an old mixed farming family who went into making their own wine commercially in the late 1980s. They still grow apricots. The brothers have plenty of drive, and are making fruit-filled wines that can be enjoyed from an early stage.

Owned by the Mestre family, Domaine de la Côte de l'Ange has been run since 1988 by Corinne Mestre and her husband Yannick Gasparri, who were joined in 2017 by their son Jules. The vineyards are situated in plots around Châteauneuf du Pape with a small parcel of Côte du Rhône. The estate runs to 13.5 hectares of vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape and an additional 2.5 hectares of vines located in the Cotes du Rhone appellation. 1.5 hectares are devoted to the growing of white wine grapes. The remaining 12 hectares are used in the production of red Chateauneuf du Pape wine. This Tradition wine is superb, being ripe and friendly but with some concnetration and acidity necessary for ageing. Highly recommended

Nice nose with notes of red fruit and Morello cherries. Very fresh, with soft tannins, it offers a nice balance and great complexity in the mouth and a long finish.

Baby wine from the LEGENDARY J-L Chave, and the great 19 vintage. Jancisrobinson.com of '15 vintage "Up there with the best of them! An absolute delight and Very Very Good Value" Richard Hemming MW Vibrant nose, crushed strawberry, liquorice and damson. Nicely layered and chewy palate, leather, garrigue and rounded red-fruit character. A well-judged palate and simple well put-together Côtes du Rhône. 2021-25 16/20 Jancis Robinson MW

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!

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 Syrah leading the way backed up by Carignan and then Grenache. Beautiful balance and real elegance. Vigneron Frederic Julien has some talent!

Fruit! Glorious fruit! Oh my, what a delicious wine made up of Alicante Bouschet 70% and Grenache Noir 30%. The very friendliest Alicante we have ever tasted. Dreamy, sweet blueberry and fresh blackberry fruit that is pleasingly aromatic, juicy, seamless that sits just right on the palate. Perfect for when you want the pleasures of gorgeous fruit with nice depth and presence but with a delightful lightness of touch because of the moderate alcohol (only 12% abv) and pleasingly light, soft tannin. Utterly great on its own or with lighter meat dishes. Wonderful and unique. "Rhonejolais", if you will.

50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Clairette (planted 1950) from 0.9 hectare on very stony alluvial soils at Sablet and 10% Roussanne on Gramiller at La Montagnette at Rasteau. The wine sees ferment in 80% steel vat, 20% old oak cask. Then bred for 6 months. 2,500 bottles produced. The nose is all freshly cut juicy pears and gorgeous white flowers - so pretty, utterly charming. More fruit and flowers to the palate's silky juice. This is medium-bodied, elegant and long Southern Rhone white wine with fine acid. Really jolly drinking and great with delicate fish or simply as the classiest aperitif.

Deep, juicy, weighty but fresh and textural 100% old vine Clairette fermented and bred in clay amphora with no additional sulphites at any stage. Really pure and elegant - pears, honey and white flowers on this full bodied Southern Rhone white wine. A triumph. A future classic. Bravo Frederic Julien!

Wonderful Rose made from a direct pressing of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Frederic Julien seeks a balance between the aromatic purity of the fruit and freshness. The grapes come from a place named "La Giraude" in Sainte Cécile les Vignes. The soils can be likened to "nourishing" garrigues. The wine shows pink grapefruit, red fruits and flowers, gorgeous texture and perfect weight and freshness. Fine length. Unique and wonderful. Can be drunk on its own or will match well at the table with grilled vegetables, fish and light meat dishes.

For several generations, the Clavels have run this estate, founded in 1934 on the right bank of the Rhône, whose vast area (80 ha) allows them to offer a wide range of wines. Today, it is Claire who has been at the helm of this organic estate since 2008. Very consistent in quality and best known for its Côtes-du-Rhône and its Saint-Gervais villages. Juicy, fruity and versatile Southern Rhone red from Claire Clavel whose vineyards lie in Saint Gervais, one of the 'Villages' of the Cotes du Rhone.

For several generations, the Clavels have run this estate, founded in 1934 on the right bank of the Rhône, whose vast area (80 ha) allows them to offer a wide range of wines. Today, it is Claire who has been at the helm of this organic estate since 2008. Very consistent in quality and best known for its Côtes-du-Rhône and its Saint-Gervais villages. Juicy, fruity and versatile Southern Rhone red from Claire Clavel whose vineyards lie in Saint Gervais, one of the 'Villages' of the Cotes du Rhone.

Laure Dubois runs this excellent estate with her husband Romain and started conversion to organic farming in 2019. The wines they produce are consistently good and elegant, mainly from the Lirac appellation, north West of Chateauneuf-du-Pape but also this Cotes du Rhone from just outside. The 2019 is the second year in a row that the wine has won a coveted Coup de Coeur top award in the Guide Hachette, the 'bible' of French wine. Charming, 'irresistible' and ready to drink it also offers outstanding value for money.