First-rate Grower Champagne from Domaine Fresne Dcuret.

The Wine.

100% old vine Garnacha from vineyards up at around the 900m mark. Aged for 6 months in old oak this fruity but fresh red shows bags of ripe raspberry fruit with delicate floral and herbal notes. It is silky smooth, beautifully balanced and just so good for the price. 

The Vineyard.

The wine comes from Castejon de Alarba, a remote village with just 80 or so inhabitants at the foot of the Sierra de Pardos mountains. Here Mark Schiettekat and his team tend 80 year old vines which, though low yielding, produce wonderfully characterful reds.

The Appellation.

Calatayud is an up-and-coming D.O. in Northern Spain, just to the south of Rioja. Essentially a high altitude valley ringed by mountains, it has a fantastically harsh climate with very hot summers and very cold winters. The native Garnacha Tinta grape though is well suited to the conditions and it is here that it produces some of its finest expressions. Especially so in recent years as ambitious winemakers have set up shop, attracted to the region by its exceptional terroir and winemaking history.

Offered: November 2025.

Alcohol: 14.5%.

Drinking window: Drinking perfectly now but can age through to 2032.

Food matching: A great match for roast meats.

The Wine.

A vibrant, fruit forward and complex Bordeaux from the great 2018 vintage. Expect cassis, blueberries, cedar and leather; fine grained tannins and a fresh, more-ish finish. Seriously delicious now but can age through to 2030.

The Estate.

The estate was founded by the Bernaleau family in 1983 and covers 8 hectares in the heart of the Haut-Médoc. It was awarded Cru Bourgeois status in 2003 and more recently the family's dedication to sustainability was recognised with the HEV certification (High Environmental Value).

The Appellation.

The Haut-Médoc lies on the Left Bank of the Gironde estuary and is home to the famous Bordeaux communes of St-Estèphe, St-Julien, Margaux and Pauillac. Within these smaller appellations you will find some of the world's finest wines, but if you are looking for serious Left Bank Claret at a more manageable price, the Haut-Médoc appellation itself is the place to look - here you will find some of the best value wines in Bordeaux.

Offered: October 2025.

Alcohol: 13.5%.

Drinking window: 2025 – 2030.

Food matching: Sunday roasts and hard sheep’s cheeses such as Brébis Napoleon or aged Pecorino.

The Wine.

A zesty, minerally, citrus fruit filled dry white with a wonderfully long finish. 12% abv, very easy drinking and a very refined example of this famous style of Loire white. Drink 2025 - 2027. 

The Estate.

The Papin brothers, Damien and Vincent, are fifth generation winemakers with 27 hectares of vines on the Clisson/Saint-Crespin-Sur-Moine border. The estate is certified as HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) in recognition of their commitment to enriching the environment, and this year they were awarded the 'Grand Prix Regional du Muscadet Sur Lie'.

The Appellation.

The Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie A.O.C. is an Atlantic influenced appellation just to the east of Nantes. It is named after the rivers Sèvre and Maine that flow though it before joining the Loire. Melon de Bourgogne is the only grape allowed under the A.O.C. rules and the wines must be aged sur lie (on the dead yeast cells) until filtering and bottling in March - November of the year following harvest. This lees contact can give the wines a slight yeasty richness.

Offered: October 2025.

Alcohol: 12%.

Drinking window: 2025 – 2027.

Food matching: Ideal as an aperitif or with smoked salmon, smoked trout paté or shellfish.

The Wine.

A rich but zesty, bottle-aged Muscadet from the hallowed granite vineyards of the Clisson Cru. 12.5% abv, with quince and ripe citrus fruit, mineral notes and a long, clean finish. This is serious, mature Muscadet, perfect for drinking now, and a revelation to those who have only tried the younger styles.

The Estate.

The Papin brothers, Damien and Vincent, are fifth generation winemakers with 27 hectares of vines on the Clisson/Saint-Crespin-Sur-Moine border. The estate is certified as HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) in recognition of their commitment to enriching the environment, and this year they were awarded the 'Grand Prix Regional du Muscadet Sur Lie'.

The Appellation.

The Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie A.O.C. is an Atlantic influenced appellation just to the east of Nantes. It is named after the rivers Sèvre and Maine that flow though it before joining the Loire. Melon de Bourgogne is the only grape allowed under the A.O.C. rules and the wines must be aged sur lie (on the dead yeast cells) before filtering and bottling in March - November of the year following harvest. This lees contact can give the wines a slight yeasty richness.

Clisson is a small 'Cru Communal' in the south of the Sèvre et Maine region. Yields here are lower and the grapes are harvested at a riper stage of development. On top of this, in order to qualify for the A.O.C. the wines must also be aged on the lees for at least 2 years before bottling. This gives them added complexity and ageing potential.

Offered: October 2025.

Alcohol: 12.5%.

Drinking window: 2025 – 2029.

Food matching: Delicious with fish pie.

The Wine.

100% Pinot Noir, unoaked and bursting with vibrant raspberry and cherry fruit. Silky smooth, easy drinking at 12.5% abv but with a tension and freshness that makes it incredibly more-ish.

The Domaine.

Established in 1950 by Jean Lemoule, Domaine Lemoule is now run by his grandson Steve along with his father and two siblings. The family own some of the best 'lieu-dits' in the appellation and manage the estate along sustainable lines. Since Steve took over 20 years ago, he has perfected a style of vinification that aims to bring roundness and fruit to the wines, without losing their crucial freshness - not always easy in these cool northern climes.

The Appellation.

Coulanges la Vineuse is one of the most northerly villages in Burgundy, located just to the west of Chablis. Vines have been cultivated here since the 2nd century, and, pre-phylloxera, covered some 1000 hectares with no less than 247 vintners and 17 coopers. Today just 150 hectares remain planted, with ten growers in operation. The terroir though is outstanding and as such this relatively unknown appellation produces some exceptionally good value reds.

Offered: July 2025.

Alcohol: 12.5%.

Drinking window: 2025 – 2029.

Food matching: Delicious with roast turkey, roast duck, or mid-strength hard cheeses such as Brebis Napoléon.

The hills of the Coteaux Varois produce some superb rosés. The extra height is the key. The cooler nights in the vineyard help the grapes to maintain their acidity, whilst also slowing their maturation. This means more ‘hang time’ on the vine (about two weeks compared to the lowland vineyards) and results in more characterful grapes.

Château Margillière is one of the most exciting estates in the appellation. They have been working organically since 1999 and their vineyards cover 25 hectares. The results are superb thanks to a combination of traditional vineyard techniques, top-spec winery equipment and painstaking attention to detail throughout the production process. 

Offered: April 2025.

Alcohol: 12.5% abv.

Vintage report: A hot, dry year resulted in concentrated, flavoursome grapes. Harvest was early in most cases in order retain the grapes' acidity and to stop alcohol levels getting too high. Quality was good to very good.

Tasting Notes: Beautifully balanced, crisp and elegant with soft, ripe red fruits, floral notes and a silky smooth finish.

Drinking window: At its best 2025 - 2027.

Food matching: Excellent as an aperitif but would also be a good match for grilled asparagus, Salade Nicoise, seafood risotto and cured meats (among others).

The Wine.

An unoaked blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah made from the family vines around the village of Suzette. Clean and cool with strawberry and cherry aromatics, a silky smooth texture and a long finish.

The Estate.

Château Redortier was established in 1956 by Etienne and Chantal de Menthon, grandparents of Isabelle and Sabine who run the estate today. It sits in the shadow of the Dentelles de Montmirail with Mont Ventoux not far to the east. They have 1 hectare of Ventoux A.O.C. vines at an altitude of 500m. These are hand harvested and the juice is fermented using wild yeasts.

The Appellation.

Ventoux is an up-and-coming appellation in the southeast Rhône. It offers much of the quality of the more established appellations of the area (Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape et al), but at much more manageable prices. Its key attribute is altitude. The high vineyards mean plentiful sun during the day but also cool nights. This range in temperature results in ripe fruit with good acidity - the latter bringing a crucial vibrancy to the wines.

Offered: May 2025.

Alcohol: 14.5%.

Vintage report: A light and fruity vintage that, as a rule, has produced fresh reds for earlier drinking. April frost damage meant yields were relatively low but there is excellent quality to be found.

Drinking window: 2025 - 2027.

Food matching: An excellent match for hard sheep's cheeses, roast chicken and barbecued steaks.