France
Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs 2023 Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir 750 mL
Perfumed, crunchy red fruit opens with violet and rose-petal lift, followed by a quiet thread of spice. The palate is dry, medium-bodied and finely shaped, with fresh acidity giving the fruit precision and energy. Silky texture and fine tannins keep the wine graceful rather than weighty. The finish is pure and persistent, returning to red berries, florals and subtle spice with composed length.
Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs 2022 Fixin Pinot Noir 750 mL
Bright cherry, redcurrant and crushed strawberry open with violet, herbal tea and a subtle wild note. The palate is medium-bodied, supple and silky, with crunchy red fruit carried by vibrant acidity. Fine minerality sharpens the centre, while slightly rustic, astringent tannins give the wine a compact, serious frame. The finish is detailed and lightly austere, ending on red fruit and pleasing salinity.
Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs 2023 Fixin Pinot Noir 750 mL
Dark currant and berry fruit meet potpourri, earth, graphite and a subtle wild note. The palate is medium-bodied and velvet-textured, with fine depth and an even balance between red and black fruit. Fresh acidity keeps the shape precise, while dusty, mildly rustic tannins add definition. The finish is quietly persistent, returning to dark fruit, earth and graphite with composed length.
Laurence & Rémi Dufaitre 2016 Brouilly Boldness Gamay 1.5 L
Bright, aromatic fruit leads in a clear and lifted style, with the perfume taking centre stage. The palate is light on its feet and notably well balanced, carrying fresh fruit through a smooth, composed middle. Fine structure keeps the wine focused without adding weight. The finish remains clean and persistent, with lively fruit and a gently savoury note lingering together.
Domaine Pattes Loup 2018 Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons Chardonnay 750 mL
Crisp green orchard fruit opens with white flowers, orange oil and a subtle almond-paste richness. The palate is satiny yet incisive, balancing ample fruit with a firm line of freshness. Chalky extract brings definition through the middle, keeping the texture precise rather than broad. The finish is long and distinctly saline, with citrus, orchard fruit and mineral detail lingering in balance.
Château Haut-Sarpe 2015 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 750 mL
Spicy red fruit and ripe red plum sit at the centre, with liquorice adding a darker, savoury thread. The palate is medium-bodied and crisp, shaped by lively acidity and a gently tart, traditional profile. Fine tannins give the fruit a measured frame without heaviness. The finish stays clean and composed, carrying plum, spice and liquorice with restrained persistence.
Domaine Guiberteau 2017 Saumur Rouge Les Arboises Cabernet Franc 750 mL
Straight and energetic, with a savoury core and a smoky bacon note that gives aromatic depth without weighing the wine down. The palate is taut and focused, carried by fresh acidity and a fine, silky tannin line. Its shape is elegant rather than broad, and the fruit remains restrained and precise. A clear saline note takes over on the finish, leaving a clean, persistent close.
Vignobles Levet 2014 Côte-Rôtie Améthyste 750 mL
Blueberry, red plum, cassis and blackberry meet chimney soot, green peppercorn and a floral peony note. The palate is medium-bodied and firmly drawn, with lean red and dark fruit carried by bright acidity. Fine, dusty tannins provide a traditional frame, while earth and delicate spice add savoury depth. The finish is restrained but persistent, returning to pepper, dark fruit and a quiet smoky edge.
Benjamin Laroche La Manufacture 2018 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 750 mL
Ripe citrus, white peach and white flowers open over crushed chalk and a restrained oyster-shell note. The palate is generous and rounded, reflecting a warm vintage, yet vibrant acidity keeps the fruit precise. A stony, saline line brings definition through the centre, while the texture remains polished and ample. The finish is long, dry and mineral, with citrus and chalk lingering cleanly.
Domaine Étienne Sauzet 2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Jardin du Calvaire 750 mL
A light matchstick reduction opens toward toasted sesame, cool citrus, apple blossom and restrained stone fruit. The palate is dry and neatly structured, with lively acidity bringing clarity to a gently rounded texture. Mineral notes remain at the centre rather than oak, giving the wine a clean, composed line. With air, the fruit becomes more expressive and the finish settles into chalk, citrus peel and subtle savoury detail.
Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy 2017 Chassagne-Montrachet 750 mL
Green apple, pear and white peach meet lemon zest, white flowers and a light touch of toasted hazelnut. The palate is rounded and gently creamy, yet bright acidity keeps the ripe orchard fruit precise. Crushed chalk and wet-stone notes add a cool mineral line through the centre, while restrained oak brings quiet spice. The finish is clean, savoury and persistent, returning to citrus and stone.
René Rostaing 2019 Côte-Rôtie La Viaillère 750 mL
Kirsch, blackberry and ripe plum are framed by violet, dried herbs, olive and green pepper. The palate combines concentration with a velvety, savoury texture, its dark fruit held in line by fresh acidity and fine, rounded tannins. Pepper and mineral notes sharpen the profile as it opens, while a measured touch of oak adds polish. The finish is long, floral and gently herbal rather than heavy.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle 750 mL
Black olive and smoked bacon give the first impression a dark, savoury tone, followed by crushed blackberry, graphite and violet. The palate is dense but not jammy, with concentrated fruit held by firm, fine-grained tannins. A clear mineral line keeps the power focused, and the finish is exceptionally long, elegant and floral. Decant well before serving with venison, braised beef or aged hard cheese.
Château de Fargues 1999 Sauternes 750 mL
Fresh apricot and passion fruit open with saffron, vanilla and a fine roasted-botrytis character. The palate is rich and generous, bringing candied fruit and warm spice around a smooth, flowing texture. Acidity is measured rather than sharp, and the wine gains freshness and aromatic precision with air. The finish is expansive and persistent, returning to passion fruit, roasted notes and a subtle hint of orange peel.
Domaine A.F. Gros 2009 Vosne-Romanée Clos de la Fontaine Monopole 750 mL
Ripe strawberry and cherry lead a graceful, gently savoury profile. The palate is supple and rounded, with soft acidity and enough structure to keep the fruit composed. There is an appealing maturity to the texture, yet the wine remains clear and elegant rather than heavy. Subtle earth and fine spice emerge with air, carrying the red fruit through a smooth, measured finish.
Domaine Anne Gros 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Barreaux 750 mL
Sweet spice and ripe red fruit open with strawberries and raspberries, followed by violets, peonies and a hint of pink rose. Old-vine depth gives the palate a velvety, concentrated feel, while the cooler site brings freshness and finely drawn mineral detail. Expressive and perfumed without losing composure, it combines generous texture with a clear sense of place and finishes poised, floral and persistent.
Domaine Rapet Père et Fils 2017 Corton Grand Cru 750 mL
Cassis and wild berries lead into forest floor and a fine thread of wood smoke. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with dense fruit held by firm, chewy tannins and a savoury mineral undertone. Power is matched by depth rather than excess, and the structure remains clear from the first sip through the finish. Long and expansive, it will reward a generous decant and substantial food.
Domaine du Closel 2018 Clos du Papillon Savennières Magnum 1.5 L
Baked quince and dried apricot open into crushed almond, beeswax and a subtle flinty edge. The palate is concentrated and textural, with orchard fruit and a savoury marzipan note balanced by firm, rocky acidity. A fine bitterness adds definition rather than weight, carrying herbal and mineral detail through a long, dry finish. Decanting will help the layered character settle into focus.
Delamotte 2018 Blanc de Blancs Champagne 750 mL
Fine, persistent bubbles rise through a pale white-gold colour. Williams pear and citrus lead the nose, opening with air toward hawthorn, fresh hazelnut and gentle sweet spice. The palate begins clean and chalky, with a touch of lemon before expanding into vineyard peach and summer fruit. Roasted hazelnut adds crisp depth, while a smooth, generous texture carries the exceptionally long, poised finish.
Trimbach 2019 Riesling Grand Cru Mandelberg 750 mL
Ripe yellow fruit fills the nose and palate, generous and succulent without losing clarity. The texture is broad and mouth-filling, balanced by enough freshness to carry the ample body. Mineral tension and a firm, finely cut structure keep the fruit precise, while the finish is long and texturally complex. Serve with roasted fish, shellfish, white meats or dishes with gentle spice.