If Britain has a reputation as the centre of fine-wine knowledge, it is in no small part due to the dynamic independent wine merchants who brilliantly serve the ever-adventurous British wine lover. Some of the best-known names belong to an association called “The Bunch.” The group was established in 1993 to champion the independent wine […]
Although it just tips over the £10 mark (it’s £11 a bottle if it’s bought as part of a case of 12 bottles), London merchant Haynes Hanson & Clark’s southern French find is the best-value pinot noir I’ve tried in a long time, and one of the best versions of the variety I’ve ever tried […]
16.5 + Full bottle 1,318 g. This producer used to be called Decelle-Villa but has restyled itself as a domaine. Winemaker for this wine was Jean Lupatelli, taken on for the 2021 harvest by Dom Georges de Vogüé. Certified organic. Transparent garnet. Good grunt on the nose with a light orange hint and very gentle […]
While I have a few rather expensive wines this week, I have two bargains for you, and this is my red pick! Il Colle is a tremendous estate, but it is not a spotlight-seeking producer so you can be forgiven if you have not come across it before. I have yet to taste the Brunello […]
A very well-made sparkling white, this is luminous and crisp with flavours of apple snow and croissant. Victoria Moore in The Telegraph, 27th Sept 2021
A family domaine based in the village of Mauves, which was part of the ‘original’ St Joseph appellation, before the appellation was expanded in 1969. It’s a lovely wine, offering both finesse and fruit, as well as a scent of violets, a beautiful example of dark-fruited Rhône syrah. Victoria Moore in The Telegraph, 16th Sept […]
This is the kind of wine that gets pigeon-holed as a summer wine, usually as an alternative to Beaujolais, but it’s absolutely delicious and deserves to be drunk all year, cool in winter, cooler still in summer. Like Beaujolais, it’s made from Gamay, but in the small Côtes du Forez appellation in the Auvergne to […]
This is one of the finest value red Bordeaux of the year and I cannot believe that the price dips under a tenner if you buy a case. Packed with bright blackberry fruit and with a decent amount of class, too, this is a genuinely amazing wine, especially with Ed’s Roast beef with Yorkshire puddings. […]
Very pale salmon. Peach, apricot, spice and red berry flavours. Airy, fresh and supple; a sophisticated but approachable Loire rosé made from the estate’s youngest Cabernet Franc vines. 13% on www.joannasimon.com , 7th Jul 2021 Stylish organic Loire rosé with lovely apricot, spice and red berry flavour. in Platinum Magazine , Aug 2021
Gosh, this is an amazing Cabernet Franc and the fruit is wonderfully floral and juicy on the nose and palate and then bracingly dry and refreshing on the finish. This is a benchmark summer red wine that responds brilliantly to being chilled, too, yum. on www.matthewjukes.com , 3rd Jul 2021