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.
Château Haut-Bailly 2005 Pessac-Léognan 750 mL
Mature and composed, with blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum framed by graphite, tobacco and worn leather. The palate is generous without becoming heavy, its ripe fruit held in place by fine, persistent tannins and a savoury mineral line. Cedar and earth emerge with air, while measured acidity keeps the texture fresh. The finish is long and quietly complex, carrying dark fruit, pencil lead and gentle spice.
Jérôme Prévost La Closerie Les Béguines NV Extra Brut Champagne 750 mL
Golden in colour, with a fine mousse and an expressive smoky edge. Brioche, nectarine and lemon zest lead into chalk, wet stone and a subtle flinty note. The palate is taut and concentrated, driven by lemon oil, brisk freshness and firm linearity. Hints of honey and iron add depth without softening the mineral focus, and the finish remains long, bright and precise.
Frédéric Savart La Moufle 2020 Les Mesneux Premier Cru Extra Brut Champagne 750 mL
Dried pear and bright citrus lead into ginger, sage and dried flowers, with a fine creamy touch beneath the fruit. The palate is tense and energetic, its Meunier-led core cut by saline minerality and chalky precision. Spice and menthol bring lift as the wine opens, while restrained dosage keeps the finish dry and focused. Balanced, pure and persistent, it closes with savoury mineral detail.
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.
Veuve Clicquot 2004 La Grande Dame Brut Champagne
Floral and open, with baked pear, brioche and toasted nuts joined by apple, quince and a quiet honeyed note. The palate is creamy yet energetic, its fine mousse carried by bright acidity. Cherry, strawberry and chalk bring freshness and definition through the middle. The finish is balanced and persistent, leaving dried apple, pear, bread dough and a clean mineral trace.
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot DD 2022 Arbois Rouge 3 L
Raspberry, cranberry and bright red berries lead with rose hip, hibiscus and a delicate floral perfume. The palate is medium-bodied and lively, balancing juicy fruit with earthy detail, fine tannins and a lightly dusty grip. Gentle herbs and warm spice add savoury definition without obscuring the freshness. Concentrated yet approachable, it closes cleanly with red fruit and an earthy, food-friendly finish.
Chateau Rieussec 2003 Sauternes
Marmalade, quince and vanilla open a rich, aromatic profile, followed by coconut, candied orange peel and dried mango. The palate is medium to full in body, with honeyed sweetness held in check by lively acidity and a fine mineral line. Spiced pear and toasted almond deepen the centre. The finish is long and precise, leaving citrus, stone fruit and warm spice.
Château Montrose 2006 Saint-Estephe
Dense and still tightly wound, with red berries, currant and morello cherry set against cedar, graphite, tobacco and dark mineral notes. The palate is concentrated and firm, carrying substantial extract and tannin with a measured sweetness of fruit on the finish. Decant generously to reveal its savoury detail, then serve with braised beef, venison or roast lamb.
Chateau La Fleur-Petrus 2008 Pomerol
Dark cherry and plum lead a generous but controlled profile, joined by black tea, earth, cedar and a discreet note of truffle. The palate is medium to full in body, with silky tannins and fresh acidity carrying the fruit without heaviness. Graphite and dark chocolate deepen the middle. The finish is long and harmonious, returning to plum, savoury earth and polished cedar.
Château Brane-Cantenac 2009 Margaux 750 mL
Warm black plum, Morello cherry and mulberry lead an expressive, mature profile. Blackberry and dark cherry remain clear through the palate, joined by earth, cedar and a restrained touch of vanilla. The texture is polished and balanced, with fresh acidity and resolved tannins carrying the fruit rather than masking it. Gentle spice builds toward a composed, savoury finish with lingering dark berries and fine mineral detail.
Château Prieuré du Monastir del Camp 1964 Rivesaltes Ambré 750 mL
Dark gold to amber in colour, with hazelnut, almond, nut husk and candied citrus among the principal descriptors. Roasted notes add a savoury accent. Oxidative ageing is central to the amber Rivesaltes style, alongside nutty and citrus-led character. The mature profile brings nuts, candied citrus and roasted tones together in a traditional French dessert wine.
Domaine René Rostaing 2013 Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie
Fresh raspberry and boysenberry rise with potpourri, floral oils and smoky mineral notes. Lively red and dark berry flavours fill the palate, gaining depth from peppery spice, olive, truffle and a savoury forest-floor nuance. Fine, gently firm tannins frame the concentrated fruit, while clear mineral energy drives the long, precise and persistent finish.
Dhondt-Grellet NV Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne Magnum
Ripe citrus, green apple and white peach lead, followed by fresh bread, toasted nuts and a fine floral lift. The palate is creamy yet tightly drawn, with lively acidity, delicate bubbles and chalky minerality giving the fruit shape. Sea-spray salinity and lemon zest linger on a long, savoury finish.
Maison Louis Latour Château Corton Grancey 2010 Grand Cru 750 mL
Deeply coloured and aromatic, with cassis, ripe cherry, saffron and an earthy undertone. The palate is powerful but polished, its tannins wrapping around the fruit with a silky, controlled texture. Notes of spice, dark berries and forest floor develop with air, while the wine retains firm structure and definition. The finish is long and savoury, giving this grand cru both authority and restraint.
Agrapart 2018 Avizoise Extra Brut Champagne
Walnut, fresh pastry and ripe orchard fruit unfold over lemon peel and a pronounced chalky mineral line. The palate is full-bodied and layered yet remains energetic, with bright acidity carrying citrus oil, white pepper and savoury depth through a long, dry and saline finish. Concentrated but controlled, it is a natural match for lobster, scallops, roast poultry or aged Comté.
Gérard Bertrand Legend Vintage 1974 Rivesaltes 750 mL
Deep amber in colour, with a complex nose of cocoa, roasted coffee, dried fruit and caramel. The palate is rich and layered, unfolding through dried fig, honey, walnut and beeswax while lively acidity keeps the sweetness composed. Notes of raisin, toffee and warm spice gather toward a long, smooth finish. A mature vin doux naturel with both concentration and savoury detail.
Bollinger 2015 La Grande Année Champagne
Golden and mature in tone, with Mirabelle plum, orchard fruit and honey followed by blackberry, cherry and almond. The palate is broad, generous and finely textured, its creamy mousse carrying ripe fruit toward a layered finish of dark chocolate, citrus and cool mineral detail. Richly gastronomic, it suits roast poultry, mushrooms or nutty cheeses.
Vaudon 1996 Cognac
Ripe plum and cherry lead a powerful yet elegant aroma, with sandalwood giving the fruit a calm, seasoned frame. The palate is broad and composed, moving into rose petal, orange peel and spicy wood. Floral lift keeps the mature character from feeling heavy. The finish is deep and persistent, leaving citrus oil, polished oak and a final echo of dark fruit.