The Wine

Serious white Burgundy for the price and drinking now. Lemons, oranges, white flowers. Carefully oaked, zesty but with richness and complexity.

The Domaine

A family estate of 15 hectares based in the village of Auxey-Duresses. The estate was taken over by cousins Alexis and Simon from their respective fathers in 2018. This marked a notable change in terms of cultivation and winemaking styles and has made them a producer to watch in this up-and-coming appellation. The estate produces 75% red and 25% white.

The Appellation

The Hautes-Côtes de Beaune vineyards cover the south facing slopes above the Côte de Beaune proper. The aspect and extra 100 - 200m of altitude means a later harvest and gives the wines a freshness as as well as plenty of fruit. This AOC is a an excellent source of fine red and white Burgundy at good prices.

Offered: March 2026

Alcohol: 13%

Drinking window: Drink now through to 2029.

Food matching: A great match for soft creamy cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin, roast chicken or seafood pasta.

'Grower' Champagnes offer some of the highest quality and best value drinking in the region, but are still something of a well kept secret in the UK.

Made from grapes grown by the producers themselves (not bulk bought like the big brand equivalents), these are hand-crafted, single estate wines that would sell for a lot more if they could match the marketing power of the big Champagne houses.

The Fresne Ducret 'Les Nouveaux Explorateurs' Premier Cru NV is an outstandingly good example, with that perfect balance of ripe fruit, rich, brioche-like yeastiness and crisp (but not too crisp!) acidity.

The Fresne family have been growing grapes in Champagne for 7 generations. Their vines are in the 1er Cru village of Villedommange, near Reims, and today it is Pierre Fresne who oversees the whole operation - from vineyard management through to the dosage, riddling and final corking.

The resulting Champagnes are a testament to the family's meticulous production methods and the quality of the domaine's Premier Cru terroir.

Offered: November 2025.

Alcohol: 12%.

Drinking window: 2025 – 2032.

Food matching: Excellent as an aperitif but even better with smoked salmon or potted shrimp.

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.

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 Wine.

The La Folie 2018 comes from the best plot on Gonzague's estate, where 30 - 40 year old, low-yielding Merlot vines surround a small 18th century architectural 'folly'.

The wine was aged in French barrel for 12 months before release. It is fresh and finely balanced with plump cassis and plum fruit, silky tannins and notes of sandalwood and tobacco.

It is perfect for drinking now while the vibrant fruit stands up nicely to the oak, but can certainly age too if you favour a more savoury, mature style of Claret.

The Estate.

Following years of training at respected châteaux around Bordeaux and in the Loire Valley, Gonzague bought his winery and a first plot of 3.2 hectares of vines back in 2005. Extensive repairs to the chai and vineyard were undertaken and slowly, slowly he has established the domaine as a greatly respected producer in the area. He has been farming the land organically since 2010 but does not seek certification and the bureaucratic hoop jumping that that entails.

Offered: February 2025.

Alcohol: 14.5%.

Drinking window: 2025 - 2030.

Food matching: Roast red meats. Mushroom risotto. Hard sheep's cheeses.

The Wine.

A blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in a mixture of new and once used oak barrels. Expect pure crunchy fruit (cassis, raspberry), smooth tannins, freshness, notes of cedar, tobacco and eucalyptus.

The Estate.

Château Brehat is a lovely little estate that straddles the border of St-Emilion and Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. This particular cuvée comes from their 5 hectares of Castillon vineyard and brings all the delicious, silky charm of St-Emilion at a very manageable Castillon price.

The Château has been in the Monteil family since the 17th Century and is today run by Béatrice and Jérome de Monteil. The 5 hectares of vines that they own in Castillon cover south facing slopes a stone's throw from the estate's St-Emilion vineyards. The terroir as you can imagine is very similar. The estate has been undergoing conversion to organic since 2019.

Offered: November 2024.

Alcohol: 14.5%.

Drinking window: 2024 – 2028.

Food matching: Roast beef, roast lamb, hard sheep’s cheeses such as an aged Manchego or Pecorino.