France

The nose is aromatic. It reveals woody notes, cassis cream, blackberry and slight notes of violet associated with touch of spices, chocolate, Sichuan pepper (discreet) as well as a very slight hints of tea and an imperceptible hint of bell pepper. The palate is fruity, mineral and well-balanced. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, plum and slight notes of cassis associated with hints of redcurrant, toasted oak, chocolate and sweet spices. Tannins are fine and well-built. The finish is slightly suave.

Château Feytit-Guillot offers rich flavours of dark fruits such as plum and black cherry, with layers of spice, earth, and fine tannins. The wines typically have a silky, smooth mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish, making them both elegant and deeply satisfying.

Château La Gurgue Margaux 2020 is a beautifully balanced blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. Aged for 12 months, with 60% in barrels and 40% in vats. Described by owner Claire Villars-Lurton as "a wine of great freshness and irresistible charm," this vintage boasts a deep, intense red hue, elegant tannins, and the freshness of an exceptional season. Highly praised by critics, it's ready to enjoy now and perfect for those seeking a refined Margaux experience. Bursting with aromas of dark fruits, it's full-bodied with a vibrant, fresh finish.

Dark in colour, with a powerful nose of ripe black fruits and violet notes. An elegant and complex palate. A dense bouquet with a beautiful tannic base, fruity and fresh on the finish, well balanced.

Well-structured, concentrated, and full-bodied, it offers a classic southern Rhone aromatic display of ground pepper, garrigue, cherry liqueur, plums, and cedar with sweet, expansive, and pure fruit flavours and excellent delineation

The wine sets an incredibly high bar for Sancerre rouge, if not Pinot Noir in the entire Loire Valley.

Bright ruby colour with garnet hues, this wine opens with a refined nose of red cherry, wild strawberry and a subtle forest floor earthiness. Floral hints, perhaps violet, peek out alongside soft spice and delicate mineral undertones. On the palate it is elegant, medium-bodied: fresh acidity supports polished tannins with clean red fruit flavours complemented by subtle herbal or underbrush notes. The finish is of good length, showing purity of fruit and a graceful mineral thread. While very enjoyable now, it still has capacity to evolve for several more years.

This lesser known village, just above Aloxe Corton, produces great value red Burgundy, particularly by Monsieur Cornu.

Pale straw with green tinged highlights. On the nose there is an elegant mix of white flowers, lemon zest, green apple and a thread of crushed stone or slate minerality backed by subtle oak spice—vanilla, a touch of toast. The palate is medium to medium full with fresh citrus and orchard fruit (pear, apple) framed by creamy texture from lees ageing. The oak is present but well integrated: it adds depth without overwhelming. A crisp, mineral acidity lends lift and the finish is long, clean with lingering stone fruit and citrus peel alongside a gentle salinity and a subtle nut/almond note. Lovely balance; enjoyable now but capable of further development over a few more years.

The 2019 Givry Crausot 1er Cru has an intense bouquet, the fruit darker than the à Vigne Rouge, very well defined with a touch more spiciness. The palate is well balanced with sappy red fruit, fine acidity, quite fleshy towards the finish with cranberry and raspberry lingering on the aftertaste. This remains a quality Givry from one of Givry’s best producers.

Exhibiting aromas of rich currant fruit and creamy new oak, the 2019 Siran is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully chewy finish. This is a flavourful, nicely balanced wine that will reward a bit of bottle age. Robert Parker 22/02/22

Located in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise, Domaine Jacqueson’s 18 hectares of vines are spread across some of the region’s best growing sites, including Mercurey, Rully, and Bouzeron. The estate farms their vineyards without herbicides and highlights the importance of keeping yields low. This varietal Chardonnay is more floral and less opulent than most Côte de Beaune bottlings, marked by flavors of mandarin, lemon skin, crushed rocks, and white blossom. Great quality to price ratio!

Note: This is a Magnum (150cl) This tantalising blend of Grenache, Rolle, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvedre is one of the most exciting cuvees from Cotes de Provence. A supremely drinkable Rose.

Like other Bordeaux wine chateaux in the Saint Estephe appellation, Chateau Cos Labory takes the first part of their name from the famous hill of COS. On average, the vines are 35 years of age & the terroir of Cos Labory is gravel and limestone soil with patches of clay typical of the St. Estephe appellation. A charming Saint-Estèphe worthy of its classification... The Château, a domaine ranked fifth in the Médoc, in the Saint-Estèphe appellation is managed by the Audoy family, who make balanced and sincere wines that respect the land. Crisp, fragrant, with solid but well coated tannins, this vintage is impressive.

A minute 0.48-hectare parcel from vines with an average age of 30-years-old. The vineyard is situated to the north of the appellation and is without doubt one of the best parcels in Beaune, little surprise it was revered by the by the dukes of Burgundy and is where the parcel takes its name. Dark and concentrated aromas of black and bramble fruits with added toasted oak spice. Powerful and intense, yet retains excellent vibrancy from the silky, soft tannins and forward, ripe fruit that combine to keep everything in check. Further dark black fruits fuse with toasted cedar and black pepper spice.

Gentle, yet sophisticated, with highly complex red cherry, spice and freshly ground pepper flavours.

Pale gold in the glass with a bright, slightly green tinged rim. On the nose it offers crisp orchard fruit; green apple, white peach with lemon zest and a whisper of stone fruit. There’s a mineral undercurrent, crushed limestone, faint flint and a subtle floral lift (something like acacia or white blossom) plus a soft background of toasted oak or warm vanilla. The palate is medium to full with vibrant acidity that brings freshness. Fruit is clean and pure: citrus and peach maybe a touch of apricot. The oak is present but well integrated adding creaminess without overwhelming the fruit. The minerality cuts through, giving a chalky texture, and the finish is long, elegant with saline tension and lingering citrus and stone notes. This is a wine with both immediacy and capacity to evolve over a few years.

Garnet red in colour. The nose is extremely refined with good vivacity, opening with smoky notes evolving to black fruit, gingerbread and humus that weave together in an intricate complexity. Immense verticality and integrity in the mouth, with the same black fruit aromas evocative of blackcurrant and blackberry, followed by expressive notes of garrigue, cinnamon and pepper, all underpinned by an incredible freshness that is characteristic of the Domaine’s terroirs. The tannins are exceptionally fine-grained, but their presence and their persistence are astounding. A superbly balanced wine that promises remarkable ageing potential. Drink in 5 years time!

This is 1er Cru quality, unsurprising since it comes from three plots of 70 year old vines just below premier cru Les Saint Georges. Dense and backward but with a core of intense, concentrated fruit, this requires patience but will age magnificently.

Strawberry fruit balanced with silky tannins, perfectly weighted and structured. A great example of Pinot Noir at its most appealing.

The nose has wonderful grapefruit zest bitterness, with some gentle floral influenced honey. The palate in bright and clean acidity, and a voluptuous depth of stone fruit on the mid-palate. with subtle smokiness. It is a highly complex village wine that should evolve well for many years.

From the named vineyard of “La Justice” in Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine René Bouvier has 3 plots with a total of 2 ha of 50-year-old vines on stony clay soils. This is an exceptional wine from Rene Bouvier - with an aromatic and tannic intensity specific to the appellation, the grapes acquire aromas of heated rock, pepper, red capsicum and ripe black fruits. It is concentrated but fine with enveloping tannins in the mouth. A note of fresh herbs is revealed in a lingering saline finish that completes this elegant side of the town's wines

Domaine Felettig began in 1965 when Henri Felettig’s parents gave him 2 hectares of vines and 1 hectare of cassis (currants). In 1992 Henri and his wife Reine purchased additional vineyards bringing the total of their land to 9.72 hectares. More vineyards were purchased in 1995 including Vosne-Romanée Village, a Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, and a Gevrey-Chambertin “La Justice”. The year 2001 saw the addition of a vineyard in Nuits St. Georges which meant their vineyards now spread from Gevrey-Chambertin to Vosne-Romanée, plus Hautes Côtes des Nuits and Beaune; a total of 10 hectares in the most prestigious appellations. This is certainly a domaine on the rise! Today the domaine is run by Henri’s son and daughter, Gilbert and Christine.

Bright garnet in the glass with hints of crimson, the nose opens with a blend of dark red cherry, plum and luxurious brambly fruit layered with forest floor, subtle leather and spiced oak. On the palate, it shows medium to full body, fresh acidity and a fine structural core: ripe fruit is cushioned by smooth, polished tannins. Notes of clove, underbrush and a touch of earth give it depth. The finish is persistent and elegant with the fruit lingering alongside a whisper of spice and minerality. A wine that is approachable now but also has the bones to reward several years of ageing.

It has been 15 years since Vincent Boyer took the reins from his father and put his stamp on Domaine Yves Boyer-Martenot. His tenacity in the vineyards and dedication to balance and freshness has led to wines of increased terroir clarity and chiseled Meursault typicity