Provence remains supreme for classy pinks. Not always cheap, but our Buyer Jean Marc knows that Aix offers quality with value. Using Provence’s classic grapes, the cellar there has captured the berry fruit, stony citrus notes and savoury riff.
Gascony used to be a one-trick pony, making the fine spirit of Armagnac. The market for that dropped dramatically 30 years ago, and growers had to search for another use for their grapes. They discovered that their Atlantic influenced climate was ideal for producing crisp, fruity whites. Good value too. Domaine de Mouchan, on the edge of the Landes de Gascony forest, has been the pride and joy of the Braisant family since 1949.
They have 58 hectares of vines growing local heroes Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Gros Manseng, even the red grape Tannat, plus Sauvignon and Chardonnay. They still produce eau de vie Armagnac, but also bright crisp, fruit driven whites like this gem. Chill down, it makes a delightful apéritif or partner to lighter dishes.
An elite red with all the pedigree of the world’s finest wines. Think the great reds of Bordeaux, but richer and denser – swirling with dark fruits and seductive spices. Flavours that linger well after you’ve put down the glass. So where’s this stunning red from? France? Italy? Spain? No, it’s Lebanon. Called “the wine world’s best-kept secret” by Master of Wine Tim Atkin, this country has been making fine wines for thousands of years.
Not to mention, Ixsir winery is one of Lebanon’s best. No surprise really, considering the legend who works for them. Hubert de Boüard is the winemaker behind Saint-Émilion’s £250-a-bottle Château Angélus. At a much kinder price this sophisticated, spicy red is a special treat that's hard to put down.
The superb 4th-generation Pieropan estate produces the finest wines of Soave Classico. Fantastic vineyards which they tend with 100% dedication. Their Classico regularly scores well over 90 points – crisp peach, melon and mineral notes.
Top-class Shiraz from Australia’s Clare Valley. Run by the Taylor family for three generations, Wakefield estate boasts more than 50 Gold medals since first Shiraz vintage. Luscious black fruits and mocha spice – a Shiraz bound to impress!
Michel Chapoutier is renowned for his brilliant Rhône wines, but this region alone couldn’t contain his brilliance. Since he took over the family estate in 1990, he has also acquired sites in Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence, Alsace – and far afield in Oregon, Australia’s Heathcote and Portugal. Domaine de Bila-Haut is his prize in the Roussillon’s Latour de France. Its rugged slopes include gneiss, schist, chalk and limestone, lending richness, depth, power and finesse.
This white is made from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Maccabeu, with a little this vintage of Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne for a more aromatic style. Pure, unoaked and full of white peach fruit, it’s great with trout or chicken, but also a delicious glass solo.
Since their wines first appeared in 2004, Château Vartely has established itself as one of Moldova’s top wineries. The team controls 300 hectares of vines grown in ideal conditions and soils, very similar to the best of Bordeaux. Most are naturally organic too – winds blow hard and chase away any disease. Glowing online reviews every vintage prove that UK wine lovers have given this estate their backing. From grape harvesting to bottling, each step takes place under the watchful eye of Arcadie Fosnea, ‘Moldovan Winemaker of the Year 2014' and his deputy, Valentin Vrancean. Pristine, handpicked Pinot Grigio, cool fermented, the wine bursts forth with bright orchard fruit and zesty lemon notes. Ideal with lighter dishes or solo.
Opi Sadler is behind many of our most popular Argentine reds. And for good reason - he is a magician of a winemaker. He learnt his skills from an early age in the dark cellars of his grandfather. His family had always made wine and Opi took a healthy interest. That was despite being a little spooked by the sleeping bats that always seemed to come to life as he crept down to the cellar with his candle. He remembers vividly how they'd knock into the it and leave wax prints all over his grandfather’s cellar, hence the name of this wine.
Spicy, liquorice-scented Shiraz, cassis-laden Cabernet and dense Malbec create a wine with bags of appealing ripe fruit. Smooth enough to drink solo and great with spare ribs or veggie wraps. Open early.
The Times wrote: “Sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne is impeccable value for money”. The fine mousse, creamy fruit and elegant zing of this fizz made by the same method and using the same grapes as in the Champagne region.
Say 'elegant French pink' and you're likely to head straight for Provence. But don't forget Corsica and its Île de Beauté. This beautiful island also makes very fine, delicate rosé, as you'll find in this berry fresh and citrus crisp 2020.
This is a deliciously fresh rosado from Rioja. It has all the ripe berry fruit you'd expect of Tempranillo, plus a zip of incisive citrusy freshness. It’s from the Chavarri family, whose cellar has been up and running since 1882. Ruth Chavarri Muro is today in charge, the fifth generation of her family to take the helm, with winemaker Miguel Lopez Nunez head of the cellar.
They can boast some of the highest vineyards in Rioja Alavesa, at 400 to 600 metres, all on excellent, limestone rich soils. Both these factors help to produce lovely intense flavours and delicious freshness in this pink. Just the colour invites you to pour a glass! Irresistible on its own and very food friendly. Chicken, seafood, salads and lighter vegetarian options.
Duemani CiFRA 2019 is a fabulous Super Tuscan red, using the pure herbaceous and raspberry fruit of Cabernet Franc.
All biodynamically grown in prized Maremma, it's "a bright and articulate entry-level wine from this top-level estate" (Wine Advocate).
Now you can enjoy that first-sip-thrill with Sofia Barbanera’s Gold-medal, zesty white. Unusually it's made from Sangiovese. Picked early, this red grape makes a crisp white with notes of sour cherry.
Provence rosés are renowned for being some of the very finest. With lovely berry fruit and freshness, as well as a sophistication you'd expect of a region frequented by the rich and famous. Many tourists flock there every year too, to enjoy the sun, sea and beaches. Indeed, Provence has an ideal climate both for tourists and for growing vines. The region enjoys twice as much sunshine as London – yet relatively moderate temperatures even in the height of summer.
This delightful pink is from the Bréban family’s small domaine in the Côte d’Azur. Their southfacing vineyards are surrounded by wooded hillsides, with well drained soils. The result is a fine pink with subtle berry fruit. Spot on with salmon, salt and pepper squid or simple sipping.
If you come to visit us at Château La Clarière in the heat of summer, we’re sure to offer you a well-chilled glass of rosé. It’s a must, even if you’re a red wine drinker. And when the pink is this good, it would be foolish to resist. We don’t usually have enough grapes to make any sizeable quantity (the rest is reserved for our claret), but the wine has such a following that we always ensure we make some.
It’s a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, fermented very slowly and cold in stainless steel tanks. That way we capture the delicate summer berry fruit and zippy citrus freshness. You can breathe in all its lovely aromas, too. It really is as pretty and crisp as its label suggests, and is delicious solo and versatile with food.
In 2003 Barbara Laithwaite and Cherry Thompson planted 4,000 vines in a hectare of the Chiltern Hills. Just 10 years later, their 2009 took top position at the prestigious Judgement of Parsons Green, the 2010 won two Trophies, 91 Decanter points and medals galore, and this 2011 has just scooped its second Gold to add to four Silvers. You can enjoy it at the renowned Le Manoir restaurant too. Barbara has now planted another hectare of vines next to the first. Crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this 2011 is testament to meticulous viticulture and the winemaking skills of Ridgeview’s Roberts clan and Barbara's winemaker son, Henry. Who needs Champagne when you have English bubbly this good? Serve at your next celebration.
Thanks to snowmelt from the Andes and the wonders of irrigation, green and flourishing vineyards stand out in contrast to their lunar-like surroundings.
Alta Tierra is from Viña Falernia, owned by cousins Aldo Olivier and Giorgio Flessati.
They have 135 hectares of beautifully manicured vineyards and an ultra modern cellar. In 2005 their first vintage won a Trophy and put Elqui on the map.
This dazzling Sauvignon Blanc displays classic varietal character of elderflower and freshly mown grass with ripe melon and citrus fruit.
Serve as an aperitif or partner with spicy Asian dishes or fish.
Martinborough may be less high profile than other Kiwi wine regions (it's only small) but the quality of its cool climate wines is second to none. It lies in the southern corner of North Island and is renowned for Pinot Noir. A government report in 1979 had highlighted that the conditions of the region were remarkably similar to Burgundy – free-draining gravel soils, with moderate temperatures and rainfall. Jeremy Corban and Katherine Jacobs founded their beautiful family estate in 2005, after a wine stint in France.
They chose a site in Martinborough's Te Muna valley and planted Pinot Noir. This is their gloriously fragrant, expressive flagship wine. Aged in new oak, it has a lovely balance of ripe fruit, spice and savouriness. Open early.
Since he took over the family estate in 1990, he has also acquired sites in Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence, Alsace – and far afield in Oregon, Australia’s Heathcote and Portugal. Domaine de Bila-Haut is his prize in the Roussillon’s Latour de France.
Its rugged slopes include soils of gneiss, schist, chalk and limestone, lending richness, depth, power and finesse.
This white is made from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu, with a little this vintage of Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne for a more aromatic style.
Pure, unoaked and with white peach fruit, it pairs well with trout or chicken, but is great solo, too.
Provence is synonymous with lavender fields, sunshine and delicate pink rosés many regard as the best in the world. Since the influx of millionaires and movie stars in recent decades, it’s also become one of the pricier regions of France. Yet, happily, we can still enjoy the trappings of the Côte d’Azur lifestyle with wines like Domaine Pontfract. It comes from a 20 hectare estate with chalky, stony soil and sunshine all summer long.
The prime ingredients of Provence rosé, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, love these conditions. Winemaker Marie Alejandro gives the grapes a gentle pressing to extract a delicate colour and delightful, strawberry scented aromas. Enjoy this pink on its own, or with olive tapenade or a fresh seafood platter.
Provence is France’s premier rosé region and Domaine de Paris is one of its most stylish and elegant. A previous vintage even gained mention in the prestigious US journal Wine Spectator: “Very good – a wine with special qualities. Dry and refined, with dried berry and cherry flavors and plenty of minerally notes.” The estate has been owned since 1900 by three generations of the Brun family.
50 year old Syrah and Grenache vines produce fruit of superb concentration and impeccable purity. There’s a tantalising steeliness to the structure, a flinty backbone coupled with wild strawberries and a lovely savoury note. Fine Provence rosé is not just for summer! The locals enjoy it all year round, on its own or with seafood, chicken or ratatouille.
Veuve Clicquot’s distinctive yellow label has been a guarantee of quality for centuries, and once again this highly respected house has confirmed its stellar reputation with this rich and complex bubbly – it’s our bestselling Champagne!
