In common with all the leading properties in Saint Emilion, Chateau Palais Cardinal produced an exceptional 2022. Given 92/93 points from James Suckling, the 50-year-old vines allow Nicolas Ballande to produce an outstanding wine. In many ways the 2022 was the result of work that was started in 2008. It was then that this ancient estate was given a new lease of life after years of underperformance. The winery was completely overhauled with outdated presses and vats being replaced by state-of-the

Chateau Laroze Labatisse is a relatively modern estate that builds on ancient winemaking roots. The passion project of Gérard Bougès, it started life in 1983 when Gérard decided to develop some family-owned land in Fournas, in the town of Saint Sauveur, just inland from the prized commune of Pauillac. Seeing the land's potential for producing top-flight wines, he began assembling small, high-quality plots and released his first vintage in 1988. Ever the perfectionist, as the vines grew older and

90 Points - Jeff Leve. Situated on the banks of the Barbanne river which separates Lalande from Pomerol, this is some of the finest terroir and one of the best-performing properties in the appellation. This medium-bodied red displays a fantastic structure with lovey fine tannins that provide plenty of structural backbone. A supple, sensual red Bordeaux with instant appeal and a long path of pleasure ahead. Wine Press Ratings 90 Points - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2022 Vintage) "Black ch

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. This  delightful Merlot-Cabernet blend is built on centuries of Bordeaux tradition. This prestigious estate, boasting six generations of craftsmanship, offers exceptional value. The Lafons, honouring tradition and utilising modern techniques, produce a stunning wine from the legendary vintage 2022. This medium bodied red offers a beautiful balance of fruit and acidity. Fresh florals, ripe cherry, and a mineral finish with hints of tobacco create a classic Bordeaux ex

A favourite Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer of Robert Parker, Domaine Roger Sabon, established in 1952 produces a modern style of wine, with the Cuvée Les Olivets a stunning fruit forward Cuvée from vines over 50 years of age. A bright ruby colour. Toasted, furry, brothy and undergrowth nose. Ripe tannins are assorted with ripe black cherry on the palate. With previous vintages rated as high as 99 points by Robert Parker - it shows the remarkable consistency of Roger Sabon's wines. Vivino Rating: 4

94 Points - Platters Guide. This rich and expressive Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged for 12 months in a combination of new (40%) and older oak barrels. It boasts a vibrant bouquet, with elegant notes of exotic fruits such as starfruit and dragon fruit, intertwined with tropical accents of passionfruit and ripe pineapple, and subtle hints of yellow peach. Herbal nuances and a touch of exotic spice add depth to its pronounced fruit profile. With bright acidity and a lingering finish, this wi

The Valdivieso Caballo Loco Grand Cru Limari is another of Valdivieso’s flagship wines, one that utilises fruit from their best plantings of Syrah, Carmenere, Malbec, and Pinot Noir grapes. While Limari is one of the finest of Chile’s wine regions, it’s also one of the most inhospitable. Annual rainfall of around 90mm (3.5 inches) combined with poor clay and chalk soils mean that vines struggle and the resulting fruit can be superb. A blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Malbec and Pinot Noir may not soun

The Caballo Loco Grand Cru Apalta 2022 is one of the best Chilean red wines you can buy. The flagship brand of multi-award-winning Valdeviso winery it is crafted from a blend of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Syrah in the renowned Apalta region of Chile's Colchagua Valley. Apalta grapes are highly prized by fine wine producers. The region’s Pacific-cooled Mediterranean climate is ideal for producing grapes that are complex, aromatic, fresh-tasting and well-balanced. The poor (apalta

Bonarda, or Douce Noir in Eastern France, is a great alternative to Malbec that you must try. Argentina's second most planted variety, it is a lovely easy drinking, fresh and fruit driven wine with great colour and notably soft tannins. Taste Deep and bright colour, juicy dark fruits with a soft and supple finish with great structure. About the Producer Durigutti Family Winemakers: Brothers Hector and Pablo are passionate about expressing the characteristics of Argentina’s various terroirs along

Orin Swift Palermo, a captivating blend with a core of Cabernet Sauvignon that mirrors Napa Valley's spirit, unfolding intense aromas of dark fruit and blackberry pie, leading to a velvety palate of black cherry, vanilla, and spice, all embraced by seamlessly integrated tannins, delivering a gratifying finish - making it your ideal companion for hearty delights like grilled steak or braised beef, sure to leave a lasting impression on your wine journey. Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Oct 2024) Tasting Note

92 Points - Decanter. Orin Swift Abstract is a meticulously crafted red wine known for its rich and complex character. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah, creating a harmonious symphony of flavours. The wine exhibits a deep, visually striking hue and a captivating aroma profile that ranges from fruity to floral, with subtle notes of dark chocolate and spice. On the palate, it offers a full-bodied experience with robust tannins and a bold, fruit-forward taste. The finish is long a

It is no wonder that this is the former domaine of the Lacoste family who owned Petrus. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, Château Lys de Maisonneuve begins with aromas of red fruits and exotic spices which are joined together with tobacco and herbs. Full-bodied with notable fruit tannin structure and a core of bright black cherries that lead up to the long juicy finish. Appealing now, and should continue to develop in bottle over many years. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Apr 2025) Awards / Win

Produced from vineyards that lie at altitudes of over 500m, the Tenute Ca' Botta Rubicondo Rosso blends freshness with power. Created using a hand-picked mix of traditional Venetian grapes including Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella, this moreish wine is well-structured and delicious. Expert winemaking, including a long, slow fermentation, and ageing in small, 225-litre barrels has created a wine of admirable complexity that’s fit to rank alongside some of Veneto’s best (and far more expensive) r

The La Spinetta Ca' di Pian Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2022 is one of those all-too-rare gems, an affordable great Piedmont wine. Produced from the excellent but incredibly small 2022 harvest, it takes Barbera’s natural intensity and complexity to new heights. Made from 100% Barbera grapes, it was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels rather than the more usual Slavonian oak ones, a luxurious treatment that adds a further dimension to the wine. Like most Barbera’s, the La Spinetta Ca' di Pian B

Nicknamed by the winemaking team as their ‘Buddy’ wine, the Chateau de Gourdon 921 Le Coq Rouge Cotes du Rhone was created to be a joyous, easy-going wine. Produced from a blend of Grenache with a little Syrah, Cinsault and other local varieties, it’s a pet project only made in relatively small quantities. Fermented in concrete and stainless-steel tanks, it is fruit-driven yet has admirable depth and complexity. A cold maceration and long, slow fermentation giving a well-extracted wine that’s ro

A traditional blend of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%), Chateau de Gourdon Vase de Pierre Cotes du Rhone is unusual in being so elegant and refined. Despite boasting an impressive 15% alcohol, its structure is fine and complex. This is achieved by de-stemming the Syrah, giving both grapes long (30 day), cool fermentations and keeping oak ageing to a minimum. The result is an impressively intense, but beautifully rounded wine. Taste Deep purple, the bouquet is dominated by fresh black fruits – blu

The Chateau de Gourdon Terrasse a L'Ombre is made under the relatively rarely seen Côtes du Rhône Village "Suze-la-Rousse”. A blend of old vine Grenache and Syrah, each plot is harvested individually and several ‘tries’ may be attempted to ensure only perfectly ripe grapes are picked. To ensure the wines reflect the character of the vine and vineyard, they are fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. Vivino Rating: 4.4 (Mar 2025) Taste With its wonderfully deep, saturated colour and bo

Bourgogne Aligoté an can be produced throughout Burgundy. Domaine Albert Bichot prefer to use fruit that’s gives its wines the freshness and minerality that makes Bourgogne Aligote such an interesting wine. Their wines are produced from selected vineyards in Auxere, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Nuits and the grapes are hand picked. The wines is made in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks to preserve it freshness and bite, and are given 8 months ageing on their

This Montagny Premier Cru is round and delectable on the palate with lovely vivacity and minerality. With notes of oak, vanilla and brioche. It is round and delectable on the palate with lovely vivacity and minerality. The finish is long and fragrant with flowers of almond and both raw and cooked apple. "Very attractive nose of fresh pineapple and yellow grapefruit with delicate oak and a touch of something floral. Medium-bodied with nice creaminess from sur-lie aging, which complements the live

The Viré-Clessé appellation, located between Tournus and Mâcon, is the most recent of the Mâconnais region’s village appellations (1999), exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards, for the most part, are planted on hillsides, where a local type of soil derived from white limestone called “cray” can be found. This delicious Vire-Clesse is from one of Burgundy's finest. Predominant aromas of fine intense fruit, the nose reveals a touch of lemon, mango and subtle floral notes. The pala

The exceptional quality of this wine is evident from the off. We were absolutely delighted to secure a small quantity of the Chateau de la Maltroye Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos du Chateau Monopole 2022.  For us this is the signature wine of one of Chassagne’s greatest producers, and the fact that it’s come from the glorious 2022 vintage aswell was a massive bonus. Being the sole owners of the Cru Clos du Chateau vineyard allows Jean-Pierre Cornut to showcase his immense talents with this wi

You may not have heard of the Champeaux Premier Cru, but once you've tasted it you'll wish you had sooner. Champeaux is the northernmost Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru vineyard. Its rocky limestone and clay soils are nutrient-poor and free draining which makes it ideal for growing Pinot Noir. The vineyard faces east which means vines are exposed to morning sunshine but shaded in the afternoon. This, and the soils, gives wines of great structure and longevity. The glorious 2022 vintage imparted an

Fixin doesn't get much better than this! The Domaine du Clos Saint Louis Fixin Entre Deux Velles Monopole Rouge 2022 has Fixin’s famed power and intensity, but it is so complex and nuanced.  Produced from a single vineyard planted exclusively with old vine Pinot Noir, it has begun to shed some of its youthful stiffness and reveal its underlying beauty. 2022 was a lovely year for red Burgundy, and it’s given the Domaine du Clos Saint Louis Fixin Entre Deux Velles Monopole even greater concentrati