Certified organic, hand-harvested, made in concrete vats and bottled in early 2022. Good, but not quite as exciting as the top dry Chenins of the Loire. But probably no hurry to drink. 12.5% Drink 2022–2025 16 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

Grown at 800 m above sea level in sand and loam soils with quartz and dolomite. Fermented in stainless steel, with a short ageing on fine lees. Exciting depth of white-currant fruit. Really great balance of ripe fruit and acidity. 13.5% Drink 2022–2025 16.5 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

Certified organic and cultivated biodynamically. Les Bruyères is a north-facing slope of blue schist. Matured for 12 months on fine lees in stainless-steel vats, with no fining and a very light filtration. Broad and rich but with good acidity and chew. Serious and a proper Mâconnais character. 13% Drink 2022–2025 16+ Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th […]

From the south-east-facing Premier Cru Côte de Léchet slope. Mealy, chewy wine that’s quite a way from the ideal drinking window. Still quite astringent. 13% Drink 2025–2034 16++ Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

This 7-ha estate lies just north-east of St-Émilion. A blend of 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Aged for three months in old French-oak barrels. Certified organic. Straight, pure, lively petit château at a decent price, though still pretty young. 13% Drink 2023–2027 16+ Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

Domaine de Foretal lies in the village of Vauxrenard, up in the hills above Juliénas. The vines are an average of 45 years old. Smells as though carbonic maceration was employed. Correct and light. Flirtatious. 13.5% Drink 2022–2025 16 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

Situated in the commune of Martillac, this 20-ha property was purchased by Eric Perrin of Château Carbonnieux in 1987. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot. Aged for 12 months in barriques, 20% of which were new. Good price! Ready, round and full of flavour. Classic Graves with freshness. GV 13.5% Drink 2022–2028 […]

From vines on the slopes leading into the hills from Nantoux, at 377 m elevation. The fermentation included 10% whole clusters. Aged for 12 months in 30% new oak. Certified organic. Subtle, fresh and classic without being at all fusty. Great stuff! 13.5% Drink 2022–2028 16.5 Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 7th Oct 2022

Established in 1997, the 7-ha Scorpo Family Estate is located in Merricks North, in the heart of Mornington Peninsula. The fruit for this Estate Shiraz was chilled, de-stemmed and open-vat fermented with ambient yeasts. The cap was plunged as required. Maturation was in new (25%) and used (1–3 years old) tight-grained French barriques for 18 […]

I cannot fault the flavour or energy in this smashing wine. It is a cut above every Muscadet I can think of, and the case price ducks under a tenner – phenomenal. Keen, lively, racy and pure, this is your go-to light white for all-day glugging this season. Note that 30% of the fruit goes […]

Look at the price! Knockout quality, from this little-known appellation, this is the wine to take to a dinner party as it pairs exquisitely with a vast array of dishes. Shaped like a Premier Cru Chablis but with mellow and more welcoming tones of pear and apple, this is an organically-grown beauty and a Burgundy-obliterating […]

One has to pay up for serious white Burgundy these days, so the wines I recommend from this region are truly world-class and worth every penny. Of course, the Anjou is more appropriate for everyday duties while not dropping your standards of taste and elegance, but when the time comes to show off, please be […]

A new find for HH&C, I dived into the 2020 stock and went crazy, so I was anxious to see how this 2021 performed. This was, by far and away, the finest value ‘light red’ of the 70 wines on show. Certainly edgier and more youthful, this is another gem of a Gamay, made from […]

This is a model cool-climate Aussie Shiraz with more perfume and bright fruit than an ocean liner of Crozes-Hermitage and more silkiness and allure than a battleship of red Burgundy. The wines from Mornington tend to tread an invisible line between the Rhône and Burgundy, whether they are made from Shiraz or Pinot Noir. Scorpo, […]