Red Wine

High up the ‘slopes of schist’ in the rugged mountainous terroir of Séguret lies a single vineyard so predominantly planted with Grenache Noir (intermingled only here and there with some Syrah) that the resulting wine – Les Coteaux Schisteux – comes close to being one of the purest expressions of Grenache Noir in the southern Rhône valley.

Deep ruby red with a subtle garnet rim, it opens with vibrant aromas of cherry and red plum enriched by notes of liquorice and a faint trace of violet. The palate is medium bodied and silky showing juicy fruit at the front, balanced by polished tannins and a fresh seam of acidity. There’s a savoury edge, minerality, a touch of iron or earthy stone that gives complexity. The finish lingers nicely on red fruit and spice, soft but well-structured. A wine that’s enjoyable now but has enough backbone to benefit from short-term ageing.

Opaque, perfumed with fragrant black cherry, cassis and spice. Full bodied, intense with countless layers of flavour including blackcurrant, cedar and graphite. Dense fruit on the palate is bound by a structure of fine grained tannins and a lively acidity. This wine shows great depth and character and yet is refined with a long, elegant finish.

This Cotes du Rhone was harvested at night to prevent oxidation and avoid the use of SO2, this keeps the freshness and protects the natural aromas of the grapes. The wine was then vinified without the addition of any sulphites. A deep ruby in colour, the palate is elegant and well balanced with red fruits, spice notes and soft tannins.

A light bodied, fruity red with aromas of strawberry jam with tart flavours of cherries and raspberries and ever so light savoury notes. Very Classy!

Rich and concentrated wines in the area of Rasteau come from perfectly ripe Grenache & Syrah grapes and low yields. The wine boasts a deep ruby sustained, shimmering bright purplish colour. Sweet aromas of stewed fruit: cherry, blackberry, prune, fig and wild raspberries on a background of licorice form a complex, focused and enjoyable nose. The palate confirms the beautiful ripeness and is well coated with sweet notes of cherry, prune and fig. The finish is long, powerful and generously spiced. A pleasant, smooth wine with an aromatic character, splendid value too, better than many a cheap Chateauneuf Du Pape.

The bouquet is dominated by notes of ripe fruit. In the mouth it is full and silky with soft, supple tannins.

Since the elevation of Cairanne to a southern Rhône cru, this first release of 'La Côte Sauvage' continues to be characterised by its finesse and finely-grained texture, due in part to the famous ‘argilo-calcaire’ of hilltop vineyards such as La Pauline and Les Six Terrasses, slow wine making methods and gentle maturation in different sized barrels of old French oak.

Powerful and full bodied wine, mainly coming from a sandy and pebbly soil.

A classic claret. Cherry red colour with an intensive floral nose followed by a rich fruity palate dominated by crunchy red fruit notes. A very aromatic, well-balanced but robust wine.

Deep ruby with purple tinges, the nose opens with vivid red fruits; cherry, raspberry alongside notes of wild strawberry, underbrush and a subtle hint of graphite. There’s also a spicy peppery note typical of Cabernet Franc. On the palate it is medium bodied, juicy and fresh: the fruit is vibrant supported by fine grained tannins and balanced acidity. Earthy minerality shows through, giving depth with a touch of herbal notes and a whisper of oak. The finish is long, persistent with red berry tones and a salty, mineral edge lingering. It’s expressive now but has enough structure to improve with a few more years.

A fine, elegant wine with plump red berried fruit and delicate hints of oak spice. Smooth and supple on the palate, with fine tannins and a long, persistent finish.

A nose of violets, raspberry, elderberry and blackcurrant leads to a palate of black fruit and subtle spices. A great summer drink.

A top notch wild Bandol!

A deep ruby red with garnet reflections, this wine offers an opulent nose of ripe cherry, fresh fig and strawberry, complemented by mocha, chocolate and earthy humus notes. On the palate, it presents a magnificent concentration of flavours, including yellow plum, fig and tobacco, leading to a finish that re-emphasizes the cherry characters and combines elements of liquorice, peppermint and aniseed. The tannins are fine and melting, contributing to a harmonious and elegant structure.

Great finesse on the nose, wich releases a mixture of red fruit, fig and soft spicy note. On the palate, the wine shows great elegance and a lovely weave of red fruit and very fine tannins.

The Bertrand Ambroise Bourgogne Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes 2022 shows a bright ruby colour with aromas of ripe red cherry, raspberry and subtle floral notes underpinned by gentle spice and earthy hints. The palate is medium bodied with juicy red fruit at the core balanced by fresh acidity and fine, silky tannins. A touch of oak adds nuance without overpowering leading to a smooth, elegant finish with lingering red berry and spice tones. This is a supple yet structured Burgundy, approachable now but capable of a little short term cellaring.

Made only when our assemblage tastings of La Côte Sauvage reveal two outstanding barrels - 'Deux Barriques' - that merit bottling in their own right. Presented in a wooden gift box vintages include the celebrated triumvate of 2010, 2011 and 2012 with vintages from 2015 onwards released as cru Cairanne AOC.

The Mercurey V.V. from Raquillet is made from 60-year-old vines and offers a ripe, spicy, and densely fruited nose of violets, dark berries and dried herbs. In the mouth, dense, delicious and velvety flavors with fine complexity on the impressively long finish.

Wonderfully complex nose, with aromas of cassis and plums, swathed in savoury nuance with hints of truffle, roasted meats coffee and fresh leather. Rich yet graceful with succulent, soft, velvety tannins. At its peak right now, this delicious red still possesses plenty of life and will continue to drink for a few more years yet.

A full, firm, ripe left-bank claret that shows style and richness. Superb vintage.

The 2018 Rully Rouge has a slightly smudged, savoury nose. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little hardness to contend with at first, but there is a fine structure on the finish. Drink over the next four to five years.

Cranberries, cassis, lavender, fine blackberry confit with a touch of tobacco in the background. Medium-bodied, fine tannins, fresh structure, mineral and accessible.

In the glass this wine is a deep cherry red colour. Vibrant, ripe Pinot on the nose, with cherry, raspberry and a touch of herbs. On the palate, the wine is supple, finessed, fruit forward, with a slightly savoury finish.

Château Maucoil Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Rouge Organic wine is delightful and intense, with lovely balance and great elegance. Made from organically grown grapes, the wine has lovely ripe spicy fruit, red berry flavours with a herby edge and so is a classic CNP very much of its place, warm and rich but well balanced too with a nice lift to the finish. Absolutely delicious with beef casserole or mushroom risotto.