Wines in the Press

Wine Reviews

2022 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée de l’Héronde, Domaine de Vavril

I could almost fall for Cuvée de l’Héronde’s glistening purple-ruby colour alone, but it’s the [...]

Wine Reviews

2008 Orpale, Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru

Figs, bruised apples and toasted nuts with a stylish, smoky quality. Elegant and complex, tension [...]

Wine Reviews

2020 Savennières Clos du Petit Beaupreau, Domaine des Deux Vallées

From the Loire’s most intense Chenin Blanc appellation. Interesting nuts and hay on the nose. [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Courtedune

A reminder of why the southern Rhône has such a reputation. There’s a fluency and [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Scorpo Noirien Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

This lot love good pinot noir from Australia or New Zealand and this, grown close [...]

Wine Reviews

2022 La Fruitière, Vignes Blanches, IGP Val de Loire, Famille Lieubeau

A calm but also bright and crystalline white, this blends the grassy freshness of sauvignon [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Courtedune

Gloriously lush, four-year-old chateauneuf that’s worth paying extra for. An ideal roast turkey wine. Fiona [...]

Wine Reviews

2020 Picnic Pinot Noir, Two Paddocks, Central Otago

Two Paddocks makes beautiful pinot noir in one of the world’s best pinot noir regions. [...]

Wine Reviews

2022 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée de l’Héronde, Domaine de Vavril

I have just returned from my annual pilgrimage to Piemonte, in North-West Italy, to taste [...]

Wine Reviews

2022 Esprit Rosé, Domaine Tour Campanets, Coteaux d`Aix-en-Provence

Bone dry, a pinkish cherry-blossom colour and with a faintly floral smell that is suggestive [...]

Wine Reviews

In Praise of Independents

Our Buying Director, Siobhán Astbury reports: Offering good value is an essential element of our [...]

Wine Reviews

Jancis Robinson reviews…

Ch Coustolle 2016 Canon-Fronsac Full bottle just 1,203 g. 70% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% [...]

Wine Reviews

2022 Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence

I have been buying this wine every year since it first landed on our shores [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Mâcon-Fuissé Les Bruyères, Domaine Dominique Cornin

Full bottle 1,327 g. Certified organic. From vines planted between 2011 and 2015. Unoaked and [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Mâcon-Chaintré, Domaine Dominique Cornin

Full bottle 1,326 g. Certified organic. From vines planted between 1968 and 1985. Unoaked and [...]

Wine Reviews

Matthew Jukes – Wednesday Wines – Ep 154

Matthew Jukes’ tasting notes on a selection of our 2023 spring shipments from Bordeaux. 2019 [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Château Frontenac, Bordeaux Superieur

Full bottle just 1,268 g. 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc grown on [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Château Les Marcieux, Haut-Medoc

Full bottle just 1,249 g. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot grown by the Listrac vignerons [...]

Wine Reviews

2016 Château Coustolle, Canon-Fronsac

Full bottle just 1,203 g. 70% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec. Fronsac owner Alain [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Scorpo Noirien Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

Australia also grows pinot noir that rivals sub-£30 Burgundy. Scorpo Noirien Pinot Noir 2021, Mornington [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Domaine de Gournier Rouge, Cévennes

Just sneaking under the £10 threshold when you buy a case, this merlot-syrah-cabernet sauvignon blend [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Nero d`Avola, Rupe Secca, Sicilia

Nero d’avola is a Sicilian speciality that makes beautiful, medium-bodied, juicy reds like this one, [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Pleno Tempranillo, Navarra

A bright incarnation of the Rioja grape. Think rose-hip helly, strawberries, autumn leaves and crunchy [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Givry Blanc Clos de la Brulée, Domaine Masse

A discovery for me and one that, for only twenty quid, is amazingly impressive. Sink [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet, Domaine Daniel Dampt

While 1er Cru Les Lys (same price) looked pristine, lively and crunchy, Côte de Léchet [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Gevrey-Chambertin Dix Climats, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze

I have tasted this wine several times this week, and it is a delicious creation. [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Blagny Rouge 1er Cru Sous le Dos d`Ane, Domaine Chapelle de Blagny

Wild, refreshing, elemental and superbly plush, this incredible Blagny Rouge has turned this vintage’s challenges [...]

Wine Reviews

2020 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet, Domaine Daniel Dampt

One has to pay up for serious white Burgundy these days, so the wines I [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée de l’Héronde, Domaine de Vavril

Stop everything and buy a case of this wine. It is one of the year’s [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol

Blend – 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. What a wine! The volume [...]

Wine Reviews

The Grange Classic, Hampshire, Dry English Sparkling Wine NV

I love introducing people to English wines they might not know, like this perfectly formed [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Château Haut-Vigneau, Pessac-Léognan

Sister property to Ch Carbonnieux. Good price! Ready and round and full of flavour. Classic [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Scorpo Estate Shiraz, Mornington Peninsula

Saline and minerally and recognisably varietal without any exaggeration. Not overpriced. Should interest any fan [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge Altitude 377, Boris Champy

377 m is the elevation of these organic vineyards. Subtle, fresh and classic without being [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Scorpo Noirien Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

Noirien’s price dips down to a mere £22.50 by the case, making this one of [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie, Domaine de la Chauvinière

An unusually characterful white based on a grape variety that’s a member of the greater [...]

Wine Reviews

Champagne Henriet Bazin Blanc de Blancs, Premier Cru NV

Not the tightest texture – in fact rather loose – but you can really enjoy [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Château Haut-Vigneau, Pessac-Léognan

A gorgeous claret from a small château that has the same owner as Château Carbonnieux. [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano

Textbook chianti: pure, delicate but intense. As good with ragu as with a roast. Fiona [...]

Wine Reviews

Diatomists Amontillado, Jerez de la Frontera, Singular Bota NV

The Amontillado is smoky, raspy, tangy and orange skin-soaked with invigorating freshness and natural balance. [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée de l’Héronde, Domaine de Vavril

Stop everything and buy a case of this wine. It is one of the year’s [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie, Domaine de la Chauvinière

From vines planted on the edge of Château-Thébaud, managed according to the principles of sustainable [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Anjou Blanc, Domaine Alexandre Cady

Certified organic, hand-harvested, made in concrete vats and bottled in early 2022. Good, but not [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Kerner, Kellerei Kurtatsch, Alto Adige

Grown at 800 m above sea level in sand and loam soils with quartz and [...]

Wine Reviews

2020 Mâcon-Fuissé Les Bruyères, Domaine Dominique Cornin

Certified organic and cultivated biodynamically. Les Bruyères is a north-facing slope of blue schist. Matured [...]

Wine Reviews

2020 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet, Domaine Daniel Dampt

From the south-east-facing Premier Cru Côte de Léchet slope. Mealy, chewy wine that’s quite a [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Château La Croix Blanche, Francs Côtes de Bordeaux

This 7-ha estate lies just north-east of St-Émilion. A blend of 85% Merlot with 15% [...]

Wine Reviews

2021 Juliénas, Domaine de Forétal

Domaine de Foretal lies in the village of Vauxrenard, up in the hills above Juliénas. [...]

Wine Reviews

2018 Château Haut-Vigneau, Pessac-Léognan

Situated in the commune of Martillac, this 20-ha property was purchased by Eric Perrin of [...]

Wine Reviews

2019 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge Altitude 377, Boris Champy

From vines on the slopes leading into the hills from Nantoux, at 377 m elevation. [...]