Grown on Schistose marls resting on the southern limestone foothills of the Massif des Corbières limit between the Pyrénées Orientales and the Aude. Altitude 220m. A majority of Carignan, very little Grenache Noir, even less Syrah from a 70 year old plot of vines. Manual harvest, wild ferment. Whole bunch maceration for a period of fifteen days, conservation of the cap of damp marc by daily wetting. Very little extraction, rather an infusion. This makes a beautiful light-footed wine. Amazing, bright and red-fruited vigorous Carignan. Like nothing we've tasted before. An utter marvel.

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. His Nebbiolo d'Alba is from a single 50 year old vineyard just a few hundred yards from the renowned Barolo Cru site of Monvigliero and is only labelled a Nebbiolo rather than Barolo due to not following the rather exacting rules required to do so! Aged in Austrian oak and clay amphora for around 1 year this is a refined, fresh and perfumed expression of Nebbiolo. The palate is filled with very pure ripe, juicy red and dark fruits with touches of spice and herbal notes, ripe tannins which balance nicely with the fresh acidity on a lovely long finish. Drinking well now though will have the capacity to age and develop for the rest of the decade. Try with red meats, roasted root vegetables, and mature hard cheeses.

Natural, organic Grenache Noir from a beautiful vineyard in Baixas, Roussillon blended half and half with some beautiful Grenache from Vincent's friend Remi from Chateau de Rey near the coast. The name is inspired by their joint passions - to travel, work, enjoy good tables of fine food, drink and people. This is a beautiful Grenache Noir homage to such things. A real one-off. Vincent Carreras has been working in wine industry for 13 years. For nine years he worked for a winery in the south of the Roussillon – Andy Cook’s Mas Cristine and Coume del Mas. Working in the vineyard, cellar and commercial activities – the whole shebang! For four years now he has been employed by a family winery based in Maury - Clos des Vins d'Amour. Who work 25 hectares organically in the west of Roussillon. Mostly in commercial activities, but also working in the cellar. Alongside this, in 2016, Vincent started a new project - Domaine Odyssée. The 3.5ha of vineyards are in Calce and Baixas, in a heart of Roussillon. The sites are small, but unquestionably some of the most beautiful we have seen. Vincent draws on the experiences mentioned above and his time in New Zealand (2011), Argentina (2012) and Bordeaux 2011 to help fully realise what he has there in his exceptional terroir. Vincent works organically, using no weedkillers, no chemical products. He works by hand and with organic fertilizer (he is in conversion right now). He harvests his parcels by himself with friends and family. In the cellar, Vincent’s philosophy is a minimum of intervention – “To keep the fruit and the terroir”. The wines are extracted gently with just a little pump over. No filtration, no fining. The only preservative is a little dose of sulphites in very low quantities at bottling “It is important for me the stabilise the wine in respect of the future customers”.

"Gritty, granular, savoury. The sunflower seeds and meadow hay on the nose fold into pear puree and gem squash and roasted marrow on the palate – gentle, comforting, subtle with the warm, rounded, wholesome embrace of roasted white and green squash, a sprinkle of spice, a drizzle of olive oil. But there is also a pickled-jalapeño bite that builds into a salty tang-tempered clamp on the finish." (TC) 17/20 Jancis Robinson, May 2021, Grenache Gris 2018 "Bright straw yellow colour with silvery nuances, the nose offers a beautiful aromatic intensity around elegant fruity notes, white fruits, citrus peel, fresh floral touches and a slightly smoky mineral hint. The mouth is pleasant and pure, marked by a superb tension which brings freshness, saline touches and ample flavours brought by a magnificent aging on lees which prolong the persistence with harmony and elegance. Altogether a beautifully well-balanced wine leaving you with a compelling sensation of freshness." Dominique Laporte, Meilleur Sommelier de France, Meilleur Ouvrier de France Sommelier. Field selection and picking in small crates – Whole bunch pressing – Light racking – Natural vinification without sulphites in concrete egg tank and 500L barrels. Soil Type: Calcareous clay / Commune: Opoul-Périllos, Roussillon Ageing on full lees for 9 months – Racking off lees for clarification in tank – Bottled at the Domaine.

Outstanding Chianti Classico Riserva from the cooler north west of Chianti. Grown on soils very similar to Felsina's vineyards in Berardenga, this cooler terroir in Argiano helps produce a wine of great energy, elegance and inherent harmony. La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano is the personal project of Giampaolo Chiettini. Giampaolo spent a good number of years working alongside Paolo di Marchi at Isole e Olena where he fell deeply in love with Sangiovese and honed his skills and became a very highly regarded winemaker of the region. Antinori and Ca' del Bosco have also used Giampaolo's services over the years. He still consults and makes wine for the outstanding Castagnoli and brilliant newcomers Ejamu amongst others. This personal project comes from a beautiful, tiny (1ha!) vineyard in Argiano in the San Casciano Val di Pesa commune. Organic Sangiovese grapes are destemmed and gently crushed then undergo wild fermentation with natural yeasts. The wine is bred in used tonneaux. Giampaolo's trained, light hand in the cellar has helped produce a really rather wonderful Chianti Classico Riserva. This 2020 knocked us out. Immense energy and focus to the wonderful fruit and character. Only 2,000 bottles produced. This wine proves utterly marvellous drinking now, but shall age gracefully and beautifully for many years. We can't wait to follow the evolution! This Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 was one of only four wines to scoop the top score of 17.5/20 from Walter Speller on jancisrobinson.com in the "Chianti Classico Riserva 2020" section of his full report on the 2019 and 2020 vintages published earlier in 2023. Our Senior Buyer, Stewart Travers, had met and tasted with Giampaolo the month before the reports were published and similarly benchmarked the wine and then realised we were on to something very exciting indeed. Make sure you get on the allocation list early! And also make sure you grab a bottle of his immense Vin Santo 2017, here in tiny quantities!

There are many delightul Northern Rhone whites from 2021 and this is very much one of them. Performing very well in Crozes-Hermitage tastings in both Terres des Vins and La Revue du vin de France, well up amongst the big boys and girls of the appellation. 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne - half from loess soils on l'Homme at Larnage, half from loess soils on Les Pinets at Crozes-Hermitage. 90% steel vat, 10% new 600-litre oak cask fermented, raised 9 months, assembled just before bottling, malo completed. John Livingstone Learnmouth on Drink Rhone - "Fine yellow robe; the nose is neat, offers lime cordial, peach airs, hints of salt and spring flowers, a note of varnish. This drinks with direct purpose, has a restrained, firm content, gathers depth and tannin into the solid, slightly pushy finish. There is more weight than at first appears, turning it towards a table wine, up for pork dishes, vegetarian pasta, courgettes, Brie de Meaux, cheddar. Decant it. From mid 2023 until 2029-31" Rated 3.5/5 stars.

Wow. A literal "Wow". We were completely knocked out with this cuvee upon discovery back in January, at an organic wine fair in Southern France. Across from d'Ourea's stand was the stand of one of our longest standing and most successful producers who also makes a similar style of lifted, elegant Grenache. I passed him a glass of d'Ourea's Vacqueyras 2021 to which the winemaker put under his nose, "Wow". He continued "This is beautiful, the perfect balance in the aromatics of Grenache, a lovely use of wholebunch". "The stems (of the grape bunches) are the most beautiful part of the grape - they bring freshness and aromas of garrigue, herbs, and complexity to the wine". Adrien Roustan, Vigneron at d'Ourea The selection in 2021 is 85% Grenache Noir, 5% Cinsault, 5% Carignan Noir and 5% Mourvèdre. An outstanding Vacqueyras from a selection of Adrien's finest terroir. Being a blend of "Hautes Garrigues" (a red clay gravel) and "Pendants" (a blue and yellow marl). Each terroir brings its original personality. The "Garrigues" finesse and minerality. The "Pendants" the power and depth. Vineyards planted in 1950. "The Grenache here is at the northern end of its ripening range, and that means its wines have finesse and elegance". We could not agree more. A truly charming wine and a real "Wow". John Livingstone-Learnmouth of Drink Rhone on the 2021: 4/5 stars "Red robe, pale top; the bouquet has a herbal tone, smoke and red cherries, almost a cordite aspect. The palate gives red cherry, redcurrant fruit, stands out of the loop with its quiet, pure fruiting and lightweight presence. The finish brings in some Grenache floral notes with a green pepper manner on the aftertaste. It's a hands-off, spiced Vacqueyras, drinks fluidly now, carries a little late tannic depth, has subtle appeal. 13.5°. Drink until 2027-28" "There is marked promise here, a name to note".

Topsoil of schistose marls (less than 40 cm) resting on deep schist rock that are planted to ancient vines of Grenache Noir and Lladoner Pelut for the most part with a a small parcel of Carignan. The yield hardly exceeds 20 hl/ha, vines planted at 1.50 m square. The grapes are partly de-stemmed, followed by maceration for a fortnight with light daily pumping over. Aged in old casks of 20 HL. A seamless, gorgeous Grenache-led beauty. An extraordinary dry red Maury that has a texture from heaven, wonderful depth and with a delightful lightness of touch. Utterly delicious.

"2020 was a very good year for whites, and they harvested very early. The 2020 Ultreia Godello shows restraint and very low pH (3.2!) with high acidity (6.6 to 6.8). None of the whites go through malolactic, and this is the freshest vintage of this wine so far. This is now made with mostly own grapes from Cacabelos and Ponferrada (in 2022 they will own around 80% of the vineyards used for this wine), matured in a mixture of barriques, oak foudres and some concrete. It's super tasty, mineral and finishes dry. There are some 30,000 bottles of this wine. Drink 2022-2026." 93/100 Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, January 2022 "The enigma that is Raúl Pérez continues to enthral wine lovers the world-over with his own-brand of inspiring, light touch winemaking. Having almost single-handedly put Bierzo on the map, Raúl’s guru-like status (and appearance!) has inspired a whole new generation of dynamic winemakers across the entirety of Spain." "As new vineyards come in to production the main white of the project is now produced from majority estate fruit, mostly from the eastern part of the Bierzo zone, on schist and clay soils, from vines averaging 30-35 years old. Harvest here takes place a full 20 days later than in Valtuille, yielding grapes with high natural acidity and only 11-12% potential alcohol, which provides excellent blending material. 25% is sourced from Cacabelos on deeper clay-stony soils, and the final 25% from Valtuille where the vineyards have a higher percentage of sand in the soils. All plots are fermented in oak tank and assembled just before bottling. Aging takes place in barrels of various sizes and ages. The 2020 has a really good freshness and bright, zingy personality – moreish but with plenty going on, it is always on the youthful citrus, white fruit and flowers."

Super-rare unfiltered special edition, available while stocks last. A wonderful and understated wine. Made without clarification or filtration, Tio Pepe En Rama seeks to emulate the experience of tasting Tio Pepe straight from the cask and is super-fresh and super-charged with flavour. Initially approached as an experimental bottling, the success of Tio Pepe Fino En Rama has pioneered a whole new sherry category, in which Tio Pepe played a key role.

Produced from a blend of Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Gris this is a kaleidoscope of exotic flavours. Passionfruit, lime, bay leaf, pear, Turkish delight, lychee and rosewater. Interestingly complex yet refined, softly textured but refreshingly minerally on the finish. A wonderful aperitif, however would equally be lovely when enjoyed with lightly spiced Asian cuisine or herby chicken/vegetable dishes.

THE NOSE The nose is full and varied, mingling flowers with fruit, and the vegetal with the mineral. The bouquet is tactile, subtly enticing us along a trail of powdery white flowers and nectareous apricot, followed by the freshness of rhubarb and mint and the minerality of ash. White pepper. THE PALATE Energy dominates on the palate. After a welcoming opening, the wine quickly becomes vibrant and then literally explodes with a surge of effervescence and tonicity. Focused by acidic and bitter notes, the finish brings a penetrating tautness marked by ginger, tobacco and toasted accents. PLEASE NOTE: We call this one 'naked' because it doesn't come with the jazzy gift box shown in the image.It's just a a bottle of gorgeous fizz on its own.

Best in Show 97 Points - Decanter Our Best in Show journey across Northern Spain continues with a 2020 Bierzo, grown just across the provincial border from Galicia into Castilla y Léon. It’s another zone of steep slopes and old vines – the variety in this case being Mencia (known as Jaen in Portugal’s Dão region). This wine is deep black-red in colour and vivacious and urgent in aroma: wild plums mingled with the woodland scents of leaf, copse and forest floor. The palate is fruit-packed and vibrant, vigorous with an energy derived both from ripe acidity and fresh though smooth tannins; look out, too, for a stony, bitter-edged finish perhaps derived from the region’s slate soils. Wonderful drinking now in the flush of youth, but fruit of this quality will hold well for a few years yet.

Soft pink tones and a floral bouquet belie the nuance and subtley of this delicious rosé. Harvested from La Liviniere plantings of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache. Certified Organic and aged on lees for three months. 90/100 Decanter Magazine "Light and softly framed, this wine shows juicy stone fruit with red fruit highlights. The palate has plenty of ripe peach and apricot, fresh cranberry and intense grapefruit pith, with a saline and succulent finish. Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault grapes are all sourced from the La Livinière area in the Minervois". Drinking Window 2022 - 2023

Gold 96 Points “Very modern and intense with captivating black pepper, wild herb and violet aromas. Powerful and energetic with some chalky tannins and searing fresh acidity. Really really classy. Offers a lot within the price band.” Decanter An incredible quality wine from Bodegas Alceño, which caught the Decanter Wine Awards judge’s attention … an authentic 85% bush vine Monastrell and 15% Syrah blend, which reflects not only their long family tradition but also a modernity being seen more and more across this fascinating DO. “Aromas of black pepper, dark ripe fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and wild herbs encapsulate this ‘roble’ style. Expressive and beautifully balanced, the palate has ample fruit, a structured frame, lifted notes of cherry, dark spice, and a supple length. Immensely appealing and incredible quality at the price point.” Jean Wareing MW