Wines in the Press

Wine Reviews

2019 Chardonnay Gouttes d`O, Château de Bousval

I tasted this immediately after the F & D Clair Puligny Garenne and this withstood [...]

23
Feb

Wine Reviews

2019 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge, Domaine Françoise et Denis Clair

35% of the Pinot Noir from above St-Aubin, 65% from near Les Maranges to the [...]

23
Feb

Wine Reviews

2019 Viognier, IGP Pays d’Oc, Domaine Gayda

Domaine Gayda Viognier Pays d’Oc 2019 *hellip; could be Viognier’s calling card. “It’s a blend [...]

12
Feb

Wine Reviews

2017 Amos Bianco, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

Amos is a terroir-focused blend from vineyards at 600m-900m. Non-aromatic varieties – mostly Pinot Bianco, [...]

05
Feb

Wine Reviews

2019 Viognier, IGP Pays d’Oc, Domaine Gayda

Textbook Viognier character from innovative Languedoc producer Gayda – unusual in a basic varietal range. [...]

06
Jan

Wine Reviews

2019 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie, Domaine de la Chauvinière

I rarely get this excited about Muscadet, but I truly believe that this is the [...]

15
Dec

Wine Reviews

Matthew Jukes Best Christmas Wines

2019 Côtes du Rhône, Domaine de Verquière This is another red which seems to be [...]

14
Dec

Wine Reviews

2018 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon Cuvée Guy Moreau, Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils

2018 white Burgundies are generally fleshy and forward by comparison to the upright 2017s and [...]

11
Dec

Wine Reviews

Scorpo Estate, Mornington Peninsula

Please welcome Scorpo wines to our shores! I have known Paul and Caroline Scorpo and [...]

09
Dec

Wine Reviews

2018 Montlouis sec Rémus, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups

Jacky Blot is the genius of Montlouis who demonstrated how beautiful its Chenin Blanc could [...]

05
Dec

Wine Reviews

2017 Amos Bianco, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

Next-level Italian wine. A rich, sleek beauty with subtle gingery spice. Outstanding with festive ham [...]

29
Nov

Wine Reviews

2018 Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano

The Biker Blinis present a rather interesting vinous challenge but this wine is up to [...]

28
Nov

Wine Reviews

2019 Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

Cask sample, tasted at the domaine. What a stunning nose! Piercingly fresh and expressive notes [...]

23
Nov

Wine Reviews

2018 Montlouis sec Rémus, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups

Jacky Blot is a revered producer in the Loire and this is a very special [...]

21
Nov

Wine Reviews

2017 Saint-Joseph, Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne

A vibrant and vital Syrah. I’ve placed my order! A world class wine. in YOU [...]

01
Nov
The Bunch

Wine Reviews

The Bunch Group Mixed Case

A case, selected by Victoria Moore, containing wines from the seven member wine merchants that [...]

31
Oct

Wine Reviews

2018 Schiava Sonntaler, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

I enthusiastically recommended the 2017 release of this wine, but I make no excuse for [...]

21
Oct

Wine Reviews

2018 Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano

There’s so much low-rent chianti around, it’s easy to forget how delicious – and brilliant [...]

16
Oct
The Bunch

Wine Reviews

Jancis Robinson – The Bunch 2020

HH&C represent the 120-year-old Cantina Kurtatsch in Alto Adige, and presented their Amos 2017 – [...]

14
Oct

Wine Reviews

2018 Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano

Ranuccio Neri founded his estate among the ancient farm buildings of his family home in [...]

12
Oct

Wine Reviews

2019 Ritou Syrah, Vin de France, Domaine Vallet

For under £15 Ritou Syrah is flipping brilliant. […] It’s all about crunchy, defined, fragrant [...]

10
Oct

Wine Reviews

2019 Kumeu Village Hand Harvested Chardonnay, Kumeu River

If Michael Brajkovich MW were a Burgundian rather than a New Zealander, he would be [...]

07
Oct

Wine Reviews

2018 Pleno Tempranillo, Navarra

Navarra lies along the northeast flank of Rioja and used to be known for its [...]

14
Sep

Wine Reviews

2018 Saumur-Champigny, Domaine des Sanzay

Just because you can drink the Cabernet Franc red wines of the Loire lightly chilled, [...]

10
Sep

Wine Reviews

2019 Pinot Bianco, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

Pristine and fresh as a sunbeam on a mountain meadow, this is next level vino [...]

30
Aug

Wine Reviews

2019 Dolcetto d`Alba Vilot, Ca` Viola

Sleek as a puma, finer than silk, this is light vibrant red with a splendid [...]

23
Aug

Wine Reviews

Olly Smith’s Hot Bottle Recommendations

I was knocked out by a recent tasting of wine samples kindly sent to me [...]

27
Jul

Wine Reviews

2019 Lagrein, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige
27th July 2020

Grown on the lower hills above Kurtatsch. They write: ‘Lagrein is Alto Adige’s oldest grape [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Blauburgunder, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige
27th July 2020

Clayey vineyard in Glen, in the commune of Montan. Sunny days and cool nights. No [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Chardonnay Caliz, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige
27th July 2020

The name Caliz apparently derives from the Latin terms calix (calyx) und calx (limestone). Caliz [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Viognier, IGP Pays d’Oc, Domaine Gayda
17th July 2020

Some viognier is heady and creamy in style; this one is more of an aperitif, [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château La Guérinière, Saint-Emilion
11th July 2020

Although this does have the comforting richness so typical of Saint Emilion it’s more towards [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Dolcetto d`Alba Vilot, Ca` Viola
11th July 2020

In Piedmont, where this is from, dolcetto loses out because everyone wants to talk about [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Paret, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
11th July 2020

Haynes, Hanson & Clark says this red bordeaux has been flying out of its stockroom [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Lautarul Pinot Noir, Cramele Recas
11th July 2020

Romania is a secretly good source of everyday drinking (as opposed to sublimely hedonistic) pinot [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Quincy Villalin, Domaine Jacques Rouzé
11th July 2020

From one of the Sancerre satellites in the Loire, this white is a very classy [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, Pontemagno
11th July 2020

The great thing about Italian whites is that – unlike some others – they don’t [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Dolcetto d`Alba Vilot, Ca` Viola
25th June 2020

When Piemonte Dolcetto is as good as Ca’ Viola Vilot, it’s an absolute treat, living [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

An extremely good, shimmeringly pale pink made up in the hills of the Var department [...]

29
May

Wine Reviews

2019 Quincy Villalin, Domaine Jacques Rouzé
23rd May 2020

This is scintillating Sauvignon Blanc comes from a village called Quincy, which is just down [...]

Wine Reviews

Matthew Jukes’ Recommendations on SheerLuxe’s Podcast

A superb trio of recommendations from Matthew Jukes on SheerLuxe’s podcast: I have a £100 [...]

20
May

Wine Reviews

2019 La Petite Muraille, Le Champ des Murailles, Corbières Rosé
16th May 2020

Corbières, in the south-west of France, is famous for its hearty red wines, but this [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château La Guérinières, Saint-Emilion
9th May 2020

…Haynes Hanson & Clark have long worked harder than most at sniffing out the bordeaux [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Barreyre, Bordeaux
4th May 2020

I taste up to 40,000 wines a year and I can tell you that it [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux, Domaine des Sanzay
2nd May 2020

Cabernet franc grown in the south-west facing vineyard of Les Poyeux: ample and plump like [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Paret, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
2nd May 2020

A superb specimen of an unassuming red bordeaux. Fresh, clean and unoaked, it is built [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Racine Picpoul de Pinet, Bruno Lafon & François Chamboissier
2nd May 2020

Haynes, Hanson & Clark is a London-based wine merchant whose buyers favour wines that are [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 La Fruitière Vignes Blanches, Val de Loire IGP, Famille Lieubeau
1st May 2020

Well-integrated ingredients make a most attractive whole with a bit more body than the simplest [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Paret, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
1st May 2020

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Close to the border with St-Émilion. Unoaked. Straightforward crimson. Very [...]

Wine Reviews

2015 Clos Sainte Anne, Côtes de Bordeaux
1st May 2020

From Marie and Sylvie Courselle, ‘vigneronnes épicuriennes’, daughters of Francis Courselle of Ch Thieuley. This [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

Very pale, distinctly orangey, salmon Provençal colour. Lightly smoky nose. Saline and fresh with some [...]

01
May

Wine Reviews

2017 Château Roc de Levraut, Bordeaux
29th April 2020

There is one merchant in the UK whose innate understanding of inexpensive red Bordeaux (as [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

I have written up and also bought this wine every vintage for well over a [...]

06
Apr

Wine Reviews

Gatinois Brut Tradition, Grand Cru Aÿ NV

I can remember sitting next to the venerable Madame Gatinois at a Bollinger Vins Clairs [...]

27
Mar

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Les Reuilles, Bordeaux Rouge

An absolutely lovely classic claret: fresh, gentle and so fragrant, as if there’s a waft [...]

23
Mar

Wine Reviews

2018 Pleno Tempranillo, Navarra
23rd March 2020

Tempranillo is the rioja grape but this wine is made in the adjoining region of [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Basa Blanco, Rueda, Telmo Rodriguez

Streamlined, elegant and very unshowy, this white wine made from verdejo and viura has all [...]

14
Mar

Wine Reviews

2018 Pinot Bianco, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

This is one of the most enchanting and remarkable wines of the year so far. [...]

07
Mar

Wine Reviews

2016 Léonides, Domaine du Météore, Faugères

This is a very dramatic wine, made from organic Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault vines which [...]

29
Feb

Wine Reviews

2018 Saumur-Champigny, Domaine des Sanzay

Saumur-Champigny is one of the most important red wine regions in the Loire Valley. I [...]

01
Feb

Wine Reviews

2016 Château La Freynelle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux

It is odd to taste a Bordeaux that is solely made from Cabernet Sauvignon because [...]

12
Dec

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Lion Noir, Côtes de Bourg

The inexpensive red Bordeaux category is a scary place but I found this wine a [...]

12
Dec

Wine Reviews

Gatinois Brut Tradition, Grand Cru Aÿ NV

This is one of my favourite Champagnes of all and it is made from such [...]

12
Dec

Wine Reviews

2018 Les Parcelles Chardonnay, Réthoré Davy

This demure wine, with its discreet label, does not jump off the shelf, so let [...]

12
Dec

Wine Reviews

2017 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley

Not the grandest of Burgundy appellations, but winemaker Thomas Bouley is from Volnay and the [...]

04
Dec

Wine Reviews

2014 Vieux Château Saint André, Montagne Saint-Emilion
30th November 2019

It pays to look outside the most famous appellations. And the less ambitious 2014s are [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Ritou Syrah, Vin de France, Domaine Vallet

There are some stunning north Rhône Syrahs around, thanks to a recent run of excellent [...]

30
Nov

Wine Reviews

2018 Le Bois Jacou, Touraine Gamay, Jean-François Merieau

This Loire wine’s morello cherry fruit is more charming than many a Gamay grown in [...]

30
Nov

Wine Reviews

2014 Vieux Château Saint André, Montagne Saint-Emilion
23rd November 2019

Vieux Château Saint André is the family winery of Jean-Claude Berrouet, who made Petrus for [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Ritou Syrah, Vin de France, Domaine Vallet

A glorious Rhône syrah, made by a St Joseph producer from vineyards that aren’t classified [...]

23
Nov

Wine Reviews

2018 Le Bois Jacou, Touraine Gamay, Jean-François Merieau

This is one of my favourite discoveries of the year! Made from the Beaujolais grape, [...]

23
Nov

Wine Reviews

2018 Les Parcelles Chardonnay, Réthoré Davy

This is beautifully expressive, unoaked cool-climate Chardonnay – both vibrant and generous, with citrus, white [...]

21
Nov

Wine Reviews

2015 Lirac, Baron Louis, Château de Montfaucon

The lirac made by Rodolphe de Pins is notably elegant for a red lirac – [...]

11
Oct

Wine Reviews

Cantina Kurtatsch, Sonntaler Alte Reben Vernatsch 2018 Alto Adige

16.5pts – Vernatsch aka Schiave/Tronllinger grown on sandy soils in Kurtatsch hills, at 300–400 m [...]

07
Oct

Wine Reviews

Dom de la Grosse Pierre, La Grosse Pierre 2018 Chiroubles

16pts – 100% Gamay Noir. East-facing, 4-ha vineyard at 350 m on deep granite soils. [...]

07
Oct

Wine Reviews

2017 Condrieu Rouelle-Midi, Domaine Vallet

17/20 Aged for 10 months, 70% in stainless steel, 30% in barrels. Buttery, creamy, toasty. [...]

16
Sep

Wine Reviews

2017 Cent Visages, Touraine Côt, Jean-François Merieau

A couple of years ago I wrote six columns for the short-lived, highbrow, erotic magazine [...]

13
Sep

Wine Reviews

2018 Ritou Syrah, Vin de France, Domaine Vallet

Domaine Vallet Ritou Syrah 2018 Vin de France is a gleaming syrah, with a plume [...]

07
Sep

Wine Reviews

2018 Ritou Viognier, Vin de France, Domaine

When it comes to white I naturally incline to dry, focused wines with a clean [...]

07
Sep

Wine Reviews

2018 Chiroubles, Domaine de la Grosse Pierre

Chiroubles is one of my favourite Beaujolais Crus (the 10 jewels in the Beaujolais crown [...]

29
Aug

Wine Reviews

2018 Lagrein, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

A wonderful example of northern Italy’s Lagrein grape – deep coloured and bathed in black [...]

01
Aug

Wine Reviews

Coates & Seely Rosé Brut NV

This sophisticated pink fizz has emerged as one of England’s finest. Its tantalising aromas of [...]

07
Jun

Wine Reviews

2018 Quincy Villalin, Domaine Jacques Rouzé

Quincy is one of the Sancerre satellites and typically a step above Touraine sauvignon but [...]

07
Jun

Wine Reviews

2018 Mas Bres Pinot Noir, Cévennes

Holiday pinot noir that seems to have a faint waft of lavender and blowsy florals [...]

07
Jun

Wine Reviews

2018 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

I hadn’t tasted this palest pink wine when I wrote my recent top rosés list [...]

07
Jun

Wine Reviews

2018 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

I was lucky to see a very early sample of this wine and it is [...]

13
Apr

Wine Reviews

2017 Pleno Tempranillo, Navarra

Tempranillo is the rioja grape, but this is from the northern Spanish region of Navarra. [...]

11
Mar

Wine Reviews

2017 Basa Blanco, Rueda, Telmo Rodriguez

It’s the streamlined shape of this elegant wine that makes it such a pleasure. It’s [...]

11
Mar

Wine Reviews

2017 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine de la Bergerie

…this is altogether sleeker and more refined – a real mini sancerre. Very finely delineated, [...]

11
Mar

Wine Reviews

2017 Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano

…I knew that ’17 Campriano was special and, of course, it is. This is one [...]

11
Mar

Wine Reviews

2017 Ritou Syrah, Vin de France, Domaine Vallet
1st December 2018

Made from vines that grow outside St-Joseph in the northern Rhône, this opens with a [...]

Wine Reviews

2017 Nero d`Avola Sicilia, Rupe Secca

Nero d’avola is Sicily’s signature red grape – here it makes a wine like a [...]

01
Dec

Wine Reviews

2017 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine de la Bergerie

A seriously impressive, refreshing Loire sauvignon blanc that is a delight to drink: lissom, with [...]

22
Nov

Wine Reviews

2017 Mas Bres Pinot Noir, Cévennes

If you are searching for an inexpensive Pinot Noir which actually tastes accurate and also [...]

23
Jun

Wine Reviews

2017 Nero d`Avola Sicilia, Rupe Secca

Here is another stunningly impressive Nero d’Avola and it is even more rounded and fruit-stuffed [...]

23
Jun

Wine Reviews

2017 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine de la Bergerie

This wine is class personified. If you would like to taste a wine which, to [...]

23
Jun

Wine Reviews

2016 Dolcetto d`Alba Vilot, Ca` Viola

An alternative red for chicken? Try a medium bodied, juicy, succulent Italian red such as [...]

03
Apr

Wine Reviews

2016 Pinot Bianco, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

…The cool, pure air of the Alto Adige has allowed these Pinot Bianco grapes to [...]

21
Mar

Wine Reviews

2016 Bourgogne Aligoté “Récolte du Domaine”, Olivier Leflaive

…Made by the highly popular Olivier Leflaive, this is a great example of the often [...]

21
Mar

Wine Reviews

2015 Stile di Campriano, Toscana IGT

…If it’s a partner to a meat dish, a bit weightier, but still shot through [...]

18
Feb

Wine Reviews

2016 Kumeu Village Hand Harvested Chardonnay, Kumeu River

Expressions of bright citrus and grapefruit that are verging on astringent. There are gently integrated [...]

07
Feb

Wine Reviews

2016 Dolcetto d`Alba Vilot, Ca` Viola

A little rustic but still very enjoyable drop that will go down nicely with your [...]

07
Feb

Wine Reviews

2015 Stile di Campriano, Toscana IGT

My ‘lighter’ red looks like it might be a Super-Tuscan given its name, and in [...]

08
Dec

Wine Reviews

2016 Pleno Tempranillo, Navarra

Solid, reassuring, slightly perfumed and reminiscent of hay, soft saddles and strawberries with a frisky [...]

25
Nov

Wine Reviews

2014 Château Tour Bel Air, Montagne-Saint-Emilion

At HH&C they like their wines fresh and clear-cut, so while this has the clovey [...]

21
Oct

Wine Reviews

2015 Château Le Joyeux, Bordeaux

A simple but vivid claret, this is a new find for HH&C and “sometimes we [...]

21
Oct

Wine Reviews

2015 Rosso di Montalcino, Il Colle

A rustic nose, with vibrant fruit, macerated black cherry, black olives, a hint of mocha [...]

16
Oct

Wine Reviews

2011 Cornas, Domaine Alain Verset

Cornas is of course made from syrah, which in the Rhône often tastes as if [...]

18
Aug

Wine Reviews

2011 Cornas, Domaine Alain Verset

Ah, there it is on the nose, the tantalising, shiver-inducing fragrance of blood, iron, spice, [...]

24
Jun

Wine Reviews

2016 Côte de Brouilly, Domaine Gilbert Chetaille

2016 is a good year for Beaujolais: the wines combine ripeness and freshness. This one [...]

24
Jun

Wine Reviews

2016 Viognier, Domaine Gayda, Pays d`Oc

Viognier can be heavy and drowsily luxuriant with exotic peach and honeysuckle scent. This is [...]

24
Jun

Wine Reviews

2015 Morgon Vieilles Vignes Cuvée des Délys, Raymond Bouland

Bright redberry fruit with a hint of violets spring from the glass. The palate delivers [...]

01
May

Wine Reviews

2015 Château La Rocaille, Graves Rouge

Made from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and boasting some mightily [...]

07
Apr