Staff Picks
-
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points - International Wine Report. Surrounded by prestigious chateaux and sharing an exceptional terroir, Chateau d’Esteau Cuvee d’Eyssan delivers one of the best price-quality ratios in the region. This gorgeous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc is a lightly wooded, fruity, and lively Haut-Médoc. It offers inviting aromas of cherries and plum, woven together with cedar, spices, and hints of dried tobacco. A well-balanced, elegant, medium-bodied Médoc, it is ready to beRegular Price£21.95Spring Sale - SAVE 35%£14.27 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Pessac LeognanGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedA lesser-known Bordeaux property, the Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary 2013 was rated highly by Decanter's former Consultant Editor, Steven Spurrier, who said it possessed, 'Fresh crunchy fruit, (a) good lifted Pessac-Léognan with character and charm. Now mature, it's taken on that lovely smokey, undergrowth character that is so attractive in mature red Bordeaux. Enjoy this on its own or with roast pork, venison, or cheeses. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Apr 2025) About the Producer Château Le Thil Comte ClaryRegular Price£34.95Spring Sale - SAVE 35%£22.72 -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: SangioveseABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Decanter. Cava d’Onice Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino 2017 is a sophisticated single-vineyard Brunello, offering layered fruit, mineral complexity and seamless structure. Produced by a passionate family estate committed to micro-terroir and quality, it has attracted both critical and consumer acclaim and stands as a benchmark for small-production Brunello with unmistakable character. TasteA vivid, deep ruby-red in the glass, the 2017 Cava d’Onice Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino reRegular Price£74.95Spring Sale - SAVE 35%£48.72 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Montagne Saint-EmilionGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedSavvy Saint-Emilion lovers often look to the neighbouring commune of Montagne Saint-Emilion. Tasting the Clos de Bouard Dame de Bouard Montagne Saint-Emilion 2017, the second wine of it's easy to see why. Packed with juicy red and black berries, black cherries, chocolate, and a touch of clay minerals to the finish, it's a lot of wine for sensible money. Drink now with cured meats, pizza, pasta or meatballs. Vivino Rating: 4.0 (Apr 2025) Blend: 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet SauviRegular Price£29.95Spring Sale - SAVE 35%£19.47
-
Country: France, Bordeaux, Canon FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe nose needs to be decanted. It reveals notes of spices, pepper and more of the fresh/varietal flowers that are associated with small touches of cassis as well as a fine toasted tip. The palate is fruity and offers a tangy structure, juiciness, flavour, a fine salinity, roundness, a good finesse of the texture, freshness, as well as a certain tension in finesse. This wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, juicy/pulpy cassis, and more red berries with touches of pulpy / tangy plum, hints of -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Cotes de BourgGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedThis 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 2019. 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 experience, all at a great price point. About the Producer Six -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedAt the end of 2011, Peter Kwok (Owner of Chateau Haut Brisson and Enclos de Viaud) acquired Château Tour Saint Christophe with his daughter Karen and La Croix Saint Christophe is the second label of the Château. Traditional farming, Guyot pruning with natural grass between the rows combined with working the soil under the vine, de-budding, leaf removal and green harvest if necessary to maintain the environmental balance. 40-year-old vines, and 15 months in French Oak Barrels (60% new). A beautif -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Cotes de BourgGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe Chateau Tertre de Viaud 2022 highlights the quality of both the Cotes de Bourg and the 2022 Bordeaux vintage. Inky purple with a charming pink rim, the nose offers ripe notes of plum, cherry, kirsch, baked earth, spices, and blueberries. In the mouth, it's medium-bodied with a lovely purity to the bramble, red and black berries, and damson fruit. Supporting notes of tobacco, green peppers, and flowers make for a mesmering and complete drinking experience. Bravo! 92 Points - Wine EnthusiaRegular Price£17.45Spring Collection - Save 15%£14.84 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points - Wine Enthusiast. 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 -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points / Silver Medal - IWSC. The Morgenster Lourens River Valley is an exquisite wine artfully crafted from classical varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Inspired by the Bordeaux style, the winemakers set themselves apart by choosing extended ageing, which elevates the wine's complexity. On the palate, a harmonious blend of cassis and raspberry fruit flavours mingles seamlessly with impeccably balanced cedar oak, while a subtle undercurrent of smoke and s -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedHandcrafted – Traditional – Unhurried. Grangehurst Winery is a boutique wine cellar on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, aged for 15 years in their own cellar before release, this particular wine is a must try, medium-bodied barrel matured red wine with smooth, ripe tannins, especially if you like a great quality Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot / this wine has the benefit of not having to age in the bottle yourself. Typically, Jeremy only releases his wines once they are beauti -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Another star of our great value Bordeaux wine list, the Chateau les Vimieres 2021 was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. The tiny (0.45-hectare) estate is home to seventy-year-old vines that produce minuscule quantities of super-concentrated grapes. Created by Eric Boissenot, consultant to Chateau Latour and Chateau Lafite in the challenging 2021 vintage, it’s rich, velvety, loaded with black fruits and supported by a fine structure. An awful lot of wine for the m -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points - International Wine Report. Surrounded by prestigious chateaux and sharing an exceptional terroir, Chateau d’Esteau Cuvee d’Eyssan delivers one of the best price-quality ratios in the region. This gorgeous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc is a lightly wooded, fruity, and lively Haut-Médoc. It offers inviting aromas of cherries and plum, woven together with cedar, spices, and hints of dried tobacco. A well-balanced, elegant, medium-bodied Médoc, it is ready to beRegular Price£21.95Spring Sale - SAVE 35%£14.27 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, GravesGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedGold Medal - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. 90+ point Graves Bordeaux is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot from an historic listed Château on a terrace overlooking the Garonne River. Spiced red hedgerow fruit with well balanced tannins and a fresh finish. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Apr 2025) Awards / Wine Press Ratings Gold Medal - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (2020) 90 Points - Decanter (2019) "An intensely fragrant nose of bramble fruits and fresh strawberries. Immediately alive and s -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Cotes de BourgGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedBronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. Vincent Mercier bought Château Tertre de Samonac in 2005, and is a self made Château owner. He has been making organic wine since the early 2000's, and this lovely 100% Merlot from 25-30 year old vines has a deep concentration of fruit and a great balancing acidity and tannins. A robust, yet balanced wine on the palate with good acidity, great tannins which will soften as the wine breathes. A wine with wonderful character and elegance. Wine Press Ratin -
Country: France, Bordeaux, FronsacGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedIn the heart of the minuscule 1000 hectare Fronsac appellation, tucked in between Châteaux Dalem, Haut Carles and Beausejour, lies this hidden jewel on the banks of the ambling Dordogne river. The microclimate here, created by the rolling hills of clay and chalk situated by the mineral rich river have an effect on the Merlot grapes which gives them stunning acidity. Plump, soft plummy black fruit flavours, medium to full bodied and a gorgeous satisfying mouthful. A must try great quality and val -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EstepheGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 12.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe Arnaud family, owners at the magnificent Château Pomys, have been making great Saint-Estèphe since the 18th century. This classic Saint-Estèphe - formally owned by Estournel, maker of multiple 100 points wines - marry traditional winemaking techniques with state of the art equipment allows the wine to express the characteristics of its terroir. Château Arnaud is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, well structured and rounded, aged in oak barrels in a state of the art undergroun -
Country: France, BordeauxGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedBronze Medal Winner. 2021 was a glorious year for Bordeaux and the vintage’s quality filtered down to the petit chateaux as the Bois de Rolland Cuvee Prestige 2021 shows. A year of extremes that saw everything from drought to deluges, hail to heat waves, all set against the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a vintage where winemakers needed to be on their guard. Those who were watchful saw reduced harvests of exceptionally ripe grapes that produced wines of wonderful quality. Awards Bronze Medal - Decan -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint JulienGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedSituated in an enviable small enclave among the classified growths of Saint-Julien, 5 hectares of vines are surrounded by the grand crus classés of Leoville Barton, Gruaud Larose, Beychevelle and Talbot. "The Château Moulin de la Rose Saint-Julien is a wonderful showing. It instantly starts off with aromas of red and dark berries woven together with flowers, spices, new leather and toast all unwinding in the glass. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied with excellent structure and wonderfu -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: SangioveseABV: 15%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - WinesCritic.com Produced exclusively with hand-picked Sangiovese grapes from the company's oldest vineyards, after careful fermentation at a controlled temperature, the wine matures in French oak barrels. Subsequently the wine spends a period of refinement in the bottle, essential to guarantee the pleasantness and complexity that have made Brunello di Montalcino famous throughout the world. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - WinesCritic.com (2019 Vintage) "L -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - VertdeVin. The 2,5 hectare parcel producing just 10,000 bottles of this confidential wine stand in a mythical triangle of vines surrounded by Château Palmer, Rauzan Segla and Cantenac Brown, just the finest terroir one could hope for in the appellation. "Generous nose showing fruits in brandy, dried fruits and fine oakiness. Warm, expressive attack echoing the nose beautifully. The mid-palate and finish are firmer and bolder in this characterful wine." The wine is the epitome of the -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Chantelune sits on the highest hill in Margaux and is a truly distinctive property. Named for its former owner’s belief in felling trees by moonlight (“sing to the moon”), the estate is now owned by José Sanfins of Château Cantenac Brown. Production is tiny at just 400 cases. Rounded tannins give the wine a confident, inviting structure, while elegant Merlot brings balance to the Cabernet. A genuine jewel in The Perfect Cellar collection. Vivino Rating: 4.3 ( -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red90 Points Decanter - 'A thousand Roses'. Named after his mothers love for roses, Owner David Faure has aimed to create aromatic, rich and smooth wines, just like roses. An intense and deep purple colour, the nose is fresh, carrying floral notes and light notes of vanilla, with a subtle hint of strawberries. The palate is very fresh, lively and reveals a medium to concentrated structure. Located in the Southern Médoc with prestigious Grand Crus Classé neighbours, this Château is 100% Organic and -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint JulienGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. St Julien is the commune in Bordeaux with the highest proportion of Classed Growths, and its superlative wine growing land make it a go to destination for high quality Bordeaux. Château les Ormes is made up of 2 principal parcels of vines. One touching the western border of Château Léoville Barton (in fact Anthony Barton sold this parcel to Chateau les Ormes in 1989) and the second further south and juxtaposed between Château Gruaud Larose, Saint Pierre and Beychevel -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet FrancABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedIn 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 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Haut MedocGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red91 Points / Gold Medal - Tastings.com. Owner Jose Sanfins is also the Director at the 3rd growth Château Cantenac Brown. 100% aged in oak barrels, this beautifully complex wine with a velvety finish is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and can be aged for up to 20 years. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby colour. Richness and density are both apparent in a wine that will eventually turn into bold ripe black fruits. A wine for both the present and the future. "Well-delivered slice of Médoc with cl -
Country: Italy, PiedmontGrapes: NebbioloABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Raffaele Vecchione. A great Barolo from the cru Ravera, close to the villages of Barolo and Novello, from the extraordinary 2019 vintage. This Barolo from Cagliero is pure and authentic, beautiful structure with a bouquet of violets, ripe fruit (plums) and spices. Layered and round in the mouth and beautifully balanced, young but pleasant tannins on the tongue, resulting in an endless finish. Already very good today, this wine will age beautifully for years to come! Wine Press Rating -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, MalbecABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Decanter. One of Saint-Émilion's most prestigious Grand Cru's, located right next door to the famed Château Cheval Blanc. From the oldest surviving wine producing château in Saint-Émilion comes this incredible Grand Cru Classe wine from a fabulous vintage. A sensationally moreish, fragrant and textured wine created by the renowned Olivier Decelle. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Jun 2024) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - Decanter "Wonderfully floral cherry notes on the nose here - ripe, vibrant an