To quote Allen Meadows; ‘the quality of these wines is nothing short of phenomenal compared to the usual quality of the respective appellations’. Claude Marechal makes his wines as naturally as possible, taking his inspiration from his late friend Henri Jayer who he trained with early in his career. In common with Jayer he makes wines above and beyond the expectations of his terroirs. His wines are pure and sleek with vibrant fruit and great potential to age. In the vineyard ripeness is the watchword and the vines are maintained in order to maximise phenolic maturity every vintage whatever the conditions. No chemical fertilisers are used and the harvest is hand picked each vintage, Claude says he is usually the last in each appellation to pick which shows on the ripe fruited nature of his wines. After harvest the bunches are sorted by hand and gently de-stemmed before vinification using natural yeasts. The fermenting must is pumped over twice daily and once alcoholic fermentation is finished the wines are placed into oak barrels where they mature for between 10 and 15 months. From tastings of back vintages at the domaine it is clear these are wines that are built to age well. Claude has not changed his prices for the 2021 vintage.

Honey, lemon, quince, mineral, faultless. 'Consistently producing pristine wines' Wine Enthusiast. I think them the best winery in Austria. Since 1171, getting the hang of it now.

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.

Great vintage and a really good small Barsac property that is next door neighbours with Ch Doisy Daene, the excellent Grand Cru.

Intense red ruby with black and violet tonalities. Red mature fruits with spicy notes of eucalyptus, figs and menthol. Chocolate and vanilla aroma from the french oak barrels. Intense and sweet entry due to the mature and firm tannins. Medium and high entry with a naturally balanced acidity. Long finish. With its structure its a wine that can be stored for 12 years Tim Atkin 92pts

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.

Old vines from the Grand Montmirail, high altitude vineyards (400 to 520 meters). The foot of the vineyards consist of a red marl that brings the muscle and virility. In middle and higher slopes limestone bedrock is increasingly present, this transmits the wines tension and raciness. Direct, pure wines. 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault in 2022. 70% grapes destemmed, crushed and a short infusion follows. Wildly fermented and only matured in concrete tank to expose the complexity and natural tension of the wine. This is a full, broad wine, but elegant and still vibrating. The originality and beauty of the site is transmitted with energy. This Gigondas shows you this character, this minerality - water of rock, wine of rock. 94/100 Decanter Magazine, tasted by Matt Walls (at Rhône Valley, 18 Sep 2023) as Part of Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2022: Report and top-scoring wines. "Hugely aromatic at the time of tasting, with exuberant blackberry pâte de fruits notes. So juicy, lively and energetic, with balanced alcohol, fairly burly but buffed tannins and good length. Dark-fruited and beguiling. 30% whole bunch, aged 14 months in concrete". Drinking Window: 2026 - 2032

Super high acidity, really sharp suggesting a good future. Lemon and vanilla and good density.

Long-standing single-vineyard classic from the outstanding Allegrini family. I've always loved this wine. Somewhat like a 'deployable' version of Amarone, but so much more interesting than most Ripasso. Plays a sexy line between juicy silky, lush and chewy tannin and oak. Intriguing notes of blossom and ripe citrus fruits.

Great vintage and a really good small Barsac property that is next door neighbours with Ch Doisy Daene, the excellent Grand Cru. The wine shows a lovely pale golden color with deep golden highlights. Round and well-balanced offering complex aromas of candied fruits backed up by a hint of exotic fruit (mango, guava) and white flowers. On the palate, it is ample and fleshy, leading into a silky and long finish.

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.

Jancis Robinson MW 18.5/20 "Electrically reverberant... Very complex and uncompromising...Dense and savoury. Intellectual wine!" Wine Advocate 97/100 "Showing superbly, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet that mingles confit citrus, peach and dried papaya with nuances of iodine, brioche and honeycomb. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a rich and layered core that's underpinned by serious structure and tension, concluding with a long and precise finish. This is one of the finest wines Billecart has released in the last decade, and it is well worth seeking out".

Les Enseignères is one of those stealth values in the complex world of Burgundy. Its western border forms the eastern edge of Batard-Montrachet, and it is one of the rare spots in the Cote d’Or where a grand cru slopes directly down into village-level territory with no premier cru in between. The Prudhons own just shy of a hectare of quite old vines here between 30 and 80 years of age.

From its plush, refined tannins to its rustic undertones, this alluring Merlot offers juicy layers of black cherry, raspberry and plum. On the palate, the flavors are pure and polished, with a mouth-coating texture that carries the wine to a luxurious, fruit-filled finish. Established more than 30 years ago by legendary vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, our roots run deep at Decoy. This California Merlot showcases the elegance of Merlot and highlights the bold fruit flavors. Reflecting the character of each growing season and the diversity of our vineyard sources, Decoy has established itself as a wine of distinction. From vine to bottle, we craft our wines to the highest standards, only using grapes from exceptional vineyards.

Cool climate freshness and fragrant sweet, ripe cherry and blackberry flavours, with firm, ripe tannins. Blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Mouvedre, Viognier. Drinking well now and suitable for cellaring for at least 10 years.

A refreshing, dry white with citrus lemon/lime notes, flinty minerality, and crisp finish. In the mouth the wine is rich and textural, from the time spent on lees in the barrel. This is a great match with shellfish of any kind, or richer white meats such as turkey or duck.

Moorooduc Estate is a family-run wine business, established in 1982 by Richard and Jill McIntyre. The McIntyre vineyard sits on a gentle north to north-westerly facing slope, around 80 metres above sea level, where the vines are planted on clay soils with sandy topsoils. The oldest vines in the vineyard were planted in 1983. Deep ruby colour and a rich nose of blackcurrant leaf and blackberry pastilles, fragrant violets, licorice, black pepper, cloves and nutmeg. More red fruited on the palate, with plum, red berries and a touch of the spice notes from the nose. The tannins are firm but fine and are in happy balance with some tangy red berry acidity. The finish is long and juicy, and the wine is a delightful match to boeuf en daube, or any slow cooked beef dish with tomatoes, onions, red wine and plenty of black pepper in the gravy.

Remi Jeanniard is a hands on grower working just over 7 hectares of vines in and around Morey-St Denis. When asked who helps him at harvest time, the answer is simple: he does. The vines are much older than average, with all of his Vieilles Vignes village bottlings being at least 50 years old. This gives a natural concentration to the wines which are both well structured and elegant. Remi is a firm believer that wines are made in the vineyard and this shows through in the pure, concentrated style of the wines and the cautious use of new oak. Remi practices partial whole bunch fermentation, keeping 20% of the stems for Villages wines, 30% for 1er Cru wines, and 50% for Grand Cru.

Strawberries and blackberries aromas slowly rise out of the glass. Overtime, more of the anise and clove will mix with these other aromas. Currently, the wine is young with mouth filling intensity and suppleness. Complexity will increase as the wine ages, but this wine should stay “fresh” for 6 or 7 years. In its youth, match this wine with lamb or dried meats. After a few years, as the flavors coalesce, it will pair better with salmon or mild red sauce with pasta.

Aromas include a charming mix of fresh red fruits along with intriguing spice notes of anise and lavender. The palate has a creamy, round texture with refreshing redcurrant, raspberry and cherry flavours.

Natural, Organic, Biodynamic Macabeu, fermented and aged in barrels, racy and minerally with soft texture and generous fruit.

This is the most grown up Cornish Point yet. It has all the classic components (vibrantly fruited, voluptuous and rounded mouthfeel...), but with a structural complexity we have rarely seen before. Indulgent but serious tannins demand a thoughtful conversation in this 15th rendition. Baritones and altos all in harmony leading to a crescendo of a finish.

96 Pts - Tim Atkin This wine has an intense red-violet colour. The nose is delicate, with aromas of violet flowers, menthol, spices and black fruits. In the mouth, ripe and structured tannins, and liquorice notes. Long and persistent finish. Exceptional specimen! In 2008, Fabian Valenzuela – chief oenologist at bodega Tapiz – was selecting the components of Tapiz Seleccion de Barricas. This consisted on tasting the contents of the oak barles (225 lts capacity each) where the wines harvested in 2006 from the best plots of land were being aged for almost two years by then. This is done every year, and Seleccion de Barricas is a blend of the barriques selected in this process. That particular year, when he tasted one of the Malbec barrels, he was in awe with the deep dark colour of the wine, and the amazing concentration of flavours it presented. When pouring it in a glass and swirling it a direct image came to his mind with the drops of wines that were produced: black tears (lágrimas negras). It was at that point that he decided to make a single variety top end wine from this wine. He identified the plot of land the grapes came from, and created a new product which became iconic: Black tears Malbec

"Intense with a luminous ruby colour and garnet nuances, the nose reveals elegant notes of ripe black fruits and fresh red fruits, notes of black cherries and raspberry. Complex spicy notes and fine mineral smoky touches, a light and elegant infusion at low temperature. The palate is soft and light, the fruity and gourmet flavours dominate. Mineral and smoky touches bring freshness and highlight beautiful tender and perfectly integrated tannins. The result is balanced with a persistent long finish. " Dominique Laporte, Meilleur Sommelier de France, Meilleur Ouvrier de France Sommelier De-stemmed harvest - Natural vinification without the addition of sulphur - Very light extraction - Infusion, at low temperature - 15 days maceration before pressing - Only the free-run juice is kept. Soil type: Gneiss. The Commune: Cassagnes, Roussillon Aged in concrete eggs for 9 months.

Domaine Gramiller's Les Marcels is from a single vineyard (Les Marcels) planted to 85% Grenache (1.9 ha, planed in 1901 and 1960), 15% Mourvèdre (0.3 ha, 2011) from south west facing yellow marl soils on Les Marcels behind Les Girasols. The bunches are 70% destemmed and see a 3-4 week vinification at 25°-26°C. Both varieties are vinified separately. The wine sees small daily pump overs and no press wine added. The wine is then bred in concrete vat for six months. Bottled unfined and filtered. Certified organic. Only 2,000 bottles produced. A wonderful mix of rich ripe fruit that is so pure along with garrigue herbs, spices and fine dark chocolate, but with more freshness than one may expect. The wine still carries good matter and shall age very well, but Gramiller are top tier Rasteau that drink from the off.

What happens when you make an 'orange wine' with Pinot Gris. Watermelon pink in colour with pink rose petals, violets, fennel and hints of pickled ginger, rhubarb and red plums. Tangy red berries and Moroccan spice on the palate. Fresh and crunchy with just the right amount of tannin to clean the palate.

Maranges has got to be one of the best value wines in Burgundy, and one of her best secrets. In the hands of a great producer as Bertrand Bachelet it only goes to extend these opinions. A striking nose, with an aroma of red fruit, blackcurrant. Lovely tannic structure, peppery notes and hint of florality.

The house style at Deutz inclines towards the more elegant end of the spectrum as opposed to the rich and robust. Peach, apricot and lemon zest on the nose; biscuits and honey on the palate. A wine with great balance and poise.

Ripe red fruits combine with interwoven oak to give touches of spice, cherries and a hint of licquorice. A beautifully elegant, lasting finish. 12 months in French oak & 6 months in American oak

96/100 An intense, inviting nose with lots of spicy liveliness and layers. Rich and quite bold in style but never heavy. Plenty of red and black fruits. Rounded, supple and mouthfilling, with lovely spice, dried herbs and sweet fruit. Fine, firm tannins drive the length; good acidity, too. An interesting, sophisticated... Points 96 Decanter magazine

A vivid nose of deep florals: dark roses, violets, and an undertow of ripe red fruit. The palate really shows the best of each vineyard that makes up the cuvée. A pure but powerful drive of fruit on a perfect cusp of ripeness, with complexing notes of sandalwood and spice. This is all about harmony and balance with the transparency of fruit allowing the detail to shine through. Silken tannins finish the package. Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Felton Road...consistently reviewed by this publication since the 1997 vintage... pacesetting biodynamic producer." "I almost feel like Felton Road should need no introduction by now. If two decades of excellence isn't enough to convince you to try these wines, what more can I say?" The Wine Society "...legendary status for making some of New Zealand's, and the world's finest pinot noir" Berry Brothers and Rudd "Superb Pinot Noir wine, one of the best examples from outside Burgundy..." Jamessuckling.com Felton Road: The Handsome Prince of New Zealand Pinot. “If Central Otago was the Cote de Nuits, then Bannockburn would be likely be the Vosne Romanee, and I’m ging to hang it right out and say that Felton Road would be the top gun, the DRC.” Decanter Top Scoring Wines of 2021 Felton Road the only NZ 100/100. Wine Spectator Felton Rd no. 12 in the Top 100 Wines of the Word 2018. Drinks International 2023 19/100 World’s most-admired wine brands. Felton Road was the second New Zealand company to join International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) and is a Gold Member.