Staff Picks
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Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedGivry is known as one of the best value wines in Burgundy, but few – if any – can match Domaine Masse for quality and value. Produced from the family’s old vine Pinot Noir in the exceptional 2022 vintage the this is a red Burgundy lover's dream. The Domaine’s policy of rigorous pruning meant yields were low and the tiny amount of Givry Premier Cru they made is concentrated, complex and well-structured. It is wines like this that have seen demand for Domaine Masse’s wines soar in recent years. Ta
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Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedChâteau Haut-Boutisse is one of the wines of Château Palais Cardinal, a family property that has existed since the middle of the 19th century and neighbour to the Grand Cru Classé Château Monbousquet. An average vine age of over 40 years and from the fabulous 2020 vintage gives a wine full of concentration, structure and classic Saint-Émilion traits. Taste Nose of coffee and plum with some velvety tannins on the palate. A wine full of charm and surprises brought by the vintage. Wine Press / Aw -
Country: Chile, Colchagua ValleyGrapes: CarmenereABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe 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 -
Country: Chile, Limari ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14%Style: Rich Full RedThe 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 -
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: Chile, Curico ValleyGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red96 Points - Patricio Tapia - Descorchados. The Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia is an exciting wine made by Valdivieso in their Sagrada Familia vineyard in Chile’s prestigious Curicó Valley. The Curicó Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate and its volcanic and limestone allow for the production of exceptional quality noble grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are at the heart of the Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia 2021 with Carmenere adding freshness and juiciness. Aft -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedGivry is known as one of the best value wines in Burgundy, but few – if any – can match Domaine Masse for quality and value. Produced from the family’s old vine Pinot Noir in the exceptional 2022 vintage the this is a red Burgundy lover's dream. The Domaine’s policy of rigorous pruning meant yields were low and the tiny amount of Givry Premier Cru they made is concentrated, complex and well-structured. It is wines like this that have seen demand for Domaine Masse’s wines soar in recent years. Ta -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93-94 Points - James Suckling. 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 (Sept 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93-94 Points - James Suckling "A dense and linear fruit. Gorgeous already." 91- -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Château Fonroque produced an excellent wine in 2017. The 2017 vintage was unusual and not without its challenges. A hard (-6°C) frost on the 28th of April reduced the potential crop significantly as did a lack of rain in the spring. Happily a dry summer and sunny autumn allowed Fonroque to bring in a relatively small, but healthy harvest. The grand vin is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, a mix that played to the vintage’s strengths. Typically powerful and -
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 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe vineyard of Nuits-Saint-Georges is recognised as an area producing some of the world’s greatest Pinot Noir wines, and the Premier Cru parcel of “Les Crots” is exposed at the top of the hillside, at an altitude of 275m on an escarpment which requires vine cultivation in terraces and handpicking. The unique features of this plot allows the vines to mature late and to produce grapes boasting exceptional concentration. This 2012 "Les Crots" is now reaching maturity, developing a complex bouquet -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe 45-year old vines are planted in complex soils comprising alluvial deposits, rich clay and iron oxide. This combination of factors produces a Nuits-Saint-Georges that is at once sophisticated and strong thereby setting it apart from the other less well situated terroirs within the appellation. Handpicked, the grapes are transported to the cellar in 15 kg crates before being sorted by hand so as to solely use perfectly ripened and healthy grapes. 100% de-stemmed, the grapes are then transform -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: MerlotABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Decanter. Like many leading properties in Saint Emilion, Château Fleur Cardinale produced an outstanding wine in 2019. A severe frost in May saw the loss of over 1.5 hectares of grapes, and the heat that followed further reduced yields leaving a small, exceptionally concentrated crop. Being a blend of 71% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet it will drink well young, but has the structure and abundant fruit to age and develop over the next two decades. Decanter awarded the Châ -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Daniel Blais. The 45-year old vines are planted in complex soils comprising alluvial deposits, rich clay and iron oxide. This combination of factors produces a Nuits-Saint-Georges that is at once sophisticated and strong, thereby setting it apart from the other less well situated terroirs within the appellation. Handpicked, the grapes are transported to the cellar in 15 kg crates before being sorted by hand so as to solely use perfectly ripened and healthy grapes. 100% de-stemmed, th -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - Jasper Morris. The Château Gris castle was built in the 18th century in the middle of its 3.5 ha (8.6 acre) walled vineyard. After the vineyards were destroyed by phylloxera, the roof of the castle was covered with grey slate although tiles are the traditional material used in Burgundy. The people of Nuits-Saint-Georges therefore began to refer to it as Château Gris (grey castle) and the name stuck. Further to a court ruling in the 1920s, the name “Château Gris” was allowed to prevai -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedIf you have so much as a vague interest in red Burgundy, then this is a must-try wine. The 2020 vintage was as challenging as it was exceptional and Vincent’s obsessive attention to detail came into its own. He deliberately kept his hand-tended Pinot Noir vines’ yields low, boosting the concentration and structure of this classic year still further. The downside to this was he wasn’t able to produce much wine, but what he has created is of memorable quality. Taste Still deep red, the Vincent Pru -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe Les Argillieres is one of the rarer Pommard 1er Cru wines, one that Burgundy insiders regularly seek out. It sits high on the border with Beaune on soils of stony clay-rich marl and tends to give Pinot Noirs that are elegant and deeply coloured. Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils Pommard 1er Cru Argillieres 2020 was produced from old, low-yielding vines and has the intensity and concentration that this freakishly hot year brought. Powerful and robust when released, time has softened it and allo -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Stephen Tanzer - The 'Aux Bousselots' Premier Cru vines are on a well-drained, south-facing plot on the Vosne-Romanée side of the village which has a reputation for making a very gracious style of Burgundy with a natural charm. Aromas of small red fruits and spices, the tannic structure was firm in its youth but has gained softness over time, and this 2014 has matured beautifully and is in its prime. Wine Press 17/20 - La Revue du Vin de France About the Producer Domaine Decelle & -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedThe 'Aux Bousselots' Premier Cru vines are on a well-drained, south-facing plot on the Vosne-Romanée side of the village which has a reputation for making a very gracious style of Burgundy with a natural charm. Aromas of small red fruits and spices, the tannic structure was firm in its youth but has gained softness over time, and this Cuvee from the fabulous 2017 vintage is maturing beautifully. About the Producer Domaine Decelle & Fils was started in 2008 when two distinguished winemakers f -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red92-94 Points - Vinous Media. This wine is a Domaine du Pavillon “monopole”. It has the extremely rare distinction of possessing 2 different levels of appellation within the same 2 ha (5 acres) vineyard. "En Mareschaut" is derived from the Old French term “maresche” (marsh). The lower parts of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny were marshy due to their proximity to the Lauve spring. Major drainage work was undertaken to dry up the land and make it suitable for planting vines. This grapes in this vi -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%Style: Savoury Classic RedYou 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 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%93-94 Points - James Suckling. 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. 6 * Chateau Jean Faure Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion 2016 Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Mar 2024) Wine Press Ratings 93-94 Points - JamesRegular Price£335.70Case Offer - 10% off£302.13 -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint EmilionGrapes: Cabernet FrancABV: 13.5%95 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. 6 * Chateau Jean Faure Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion 2019 Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Mar 2024) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - Decanter "WonderfuRegular Price£371.70Case Offer - 10% off£334.53 -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: Pinot NoirABV: 13%The 45-year old vines are planted in complex soils comprising alluvial deposits, rich clay and iron oxide. This combination of factors produces a Nuits-Saint-Georges that is at once sophisticated and strong thereby setting it apart from the other less well situated terroirs within the appellation. Handpicked, the grapes are transported to the cellar in 15 kg crates before being sorted by hand so as to solely use perfectly ripened and healthy grapes. 100% de-stemmed, the grapes are then transformRegular Price£396.90Case Offer - 10% off£357.21