2021
Glantenay 2021 Volnay
A delicate Volnay with bright ruby colour and aromas of violet, redcurrant and cherry. The palate is concentrated yet nuanced, allowing the fruit and floral character to stay clear while subtle savoury complexity begins to emerge. With time it can develop notes of spice, game and cooked plum; serve with duck, roast poultry, mushrooms or salmon.
Château Barbebelle 2021 Héritage Rosé
Kir-Yianni 2021 Xinomavro Ramnista
A firm, age-worthy Xinomavro with deep colour, pronounced acidity and powerful tannins. Its dark-fruited profile is framed by a complex aromatic character and a distinctly structured palate, giving the wine both freshness and the capacity to develop over time. Decanting will help it open; serve with braised beef, lamb, mushrooms or rich tomato-based dishes.
Hewitson 2021 Old Garden Mourvedre
Blueberry, raspberry and black cherry rise with heady spice, mint and a measured touch of mocha. Plump and silky on the palate, it balances succulent fruit with bright acidity and soft, spicy tannins, while dark chocolate and herbs add savoury depth. Generous without heaviness, it pairs naturally with lamb shank, game or slow-cooked beef.
Monster Vineyards 2021 Rosie Sparkling Rose
Raspberry, wild strawberry and watermelon meet a bright lift of pink grapefruit. Fine bubbles carry the juicy fruit across a dry, lively palate, with enough texture to feel composed rather than simple. The finish is clean, lightly tart and refreshing. Serve chilled as an aperitif or alongside salmon, charcuterie and summer salads.
Monster Vineyards 2021 Rosé
Doyac Le Pelican 2021 Haut Medoc
Le Pélican is the special cuvée or second wine of Château Doyac, crafted to be open-knit and earlier-drinking while retaining the estate’s polished style. It shares Doyac’s modern, fruit-forward character with an extra level of approachability.
In the glass, Le Pélican offers vivid aromas of red and black berries (raspberry, currant, blackberry) along with hints of oak spice and floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth – expect juicy, punchy fruit flavors that are fresh and easy-going. The tannins here are softer and more immediately supple, allowing the wine’s creamy dark fruit and subtle vanilla-cocoa notes to take center stage. A touch of peppery spice or graphite from the terroir adds interest.
The wine has good balance, with a lively acidity keeping the ripe fruit in check, and a rounded, silky finish that leaves impressions of sweet blackberry and a whisper of oak. As a whole, Le Pélican de Doyac is seductive and crowd-pleasing – it delivers the essence of the Haut-Médoc (cassis, cedar, fine tannin) in a more relaxed, ready-to-enjoy package, making it perfect for drinking while the grand vin ages.
Doyac Haut Medoc 2021 Cru Borgeois
Château Doyac produces a charming, well-balanced Haut-Médoc that has garnered praise in recent years. The wine is fruit-rich and finely tuned – overflowing with plump dark fruits (black cherry, cassis) yet kept lively by good freshness and structure. On the nose it shows aromas of ripe blackberry and plum along with subtle notes of peppery spice, cedar, and cocoa.
The palate is rounded and rich, with a refined, silky texture and supple tannins that give gentle structure. Layers of juicy Merlot-driven fruit are complemented by hints of dark chocolate, sweet spice, and a touch of graphite minerality. Despite the ripeness of fruit, Doyac remains elegant and medium-bodied, not heavy. The finish is impressively long and smooth, with soft tannins and lingering blackcurrant and vanilla notes.
In short, Château Doyac offers lots of fruit, balance and finesse – a modern Haut-Médoc that is full of charm, approachable when young (thanks to its polished tannins), yet with enough depth and acidity to age a bit. The overall impression is one of harmony: a fine core of ripe fruit, gentle oak influence, and a long, elegant close.
Castiglion del Bosco 2021 Prima Pietra Costa Toscana IGT
Red berries and floral notes lead a broad, persistent nose, with delicate spice adding depth. The palate is fresh and harmonious, combining generous fruit with a vertical, finely defined structure. Soft, dense and velvety tannins give the blend richness without heaviness, carrying savoury spice and ripe red fruit into a polished, lingering finish.
Roland Lavantureux 2021 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros
Pale in colour, with a rich, expressive nose showing citrus, gentle oak and a firm mineral undertone. The palate is concentrated and muscular without losing precision, building from bright citrus into a broader wave of fruit. A surge of energy through the second half drives the exceptionally long, focused finish.
Catena 2021 White Clay Semillón-Chenin Blanc
Seven Terraces 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
Passion fruit, guava and tangerine lead a vivid, fruit-driven nose, sharpened by kumquat and lime. The palate is juicy and brisk, with pointed citrus acidity carrying the tropical fruit through a clean stainless-steel profile. A light dusting of ginger spice adds interest to the snappy finish. Serve with shellfish, ceviche or fresh green herbs.
Sea Star 2021 Prose 375 mL
Grapefruit, peach and apricot lead an expressive, late-harvest profile, with green apple adding freshness beneath the riper fruit. The palate is sweet but lifted, its bright acidity and faint natural spritz keeping the finish lively rather than heavy. Serve well chilled with fruit tart, blue cheese, almond cake or as a small, refreshing dessert on its own.
Wild Goose 2021 Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
Ripe orchard fruit and a gentle floral perfume open a medium-sweet dessert wine with generous texture and clear varietal character. Bright, incisive acidity cuts through the residual sweetness, keeping the palate lively and focused. Light in alcohol and easy to pair, it finishes fresh enough for fruit desserts, blue cheese or spiced dishes.
Painted Rock 2021 Cabernet Franc
Herbs and spice frame dark cherry on the nose. The palate is brambly and concentrated, with the variety's savoury character carried by firm, gently gripping tannins. Extended hangtime gives the fruit full flavour, while 18 months in French oak adds polish and depth. Structured now, it has clear potential to develop further.
Averill Creek 2021 Pinot Noir
Tart red fruit leads with delicate berry fragrance and an earthy tobacco note. The palate is light to medium in body, balancing freshness with a quietly structured feel. Fine acidity keeps the fruit vivid, while savoury earth and gentle spice add dimension through a clean, composed finish that remains bright rather than weighty.
La Frenz 2021 Cabernets
Raspberry, cassis and ripe black cherry open an expressive, dark-fruited profile, with mulberry and a cool thread of spearmint. The palate is full and structured without becoming heavy, layering licorice, earth and cigar-box savouriness around the fruit. Fine-grained tannins provide a measured frame and carry the finish with clarity.
Wesbert 2021 Gewürztraminer
Ripe pear and apple lead an aromatic, off-dry white, with rose, honeysuckle and apple blossom adding lifted floral detail. A subtle spritz sharpens the texture, while fresh acidity keeps the palate bright and composed. Gently rounded yet refreshing, it finishes cleanly and works especially well with spicy dishes, duck or soft cheese.
Rigour & Whimsy 2021 Licorice Daddy Cabernet Franc
Fresh red fruit and green herbs meet in a bright, savoury profile. The palate is dry and energetic rather than jammy, with whole-berry fermentation preserving lift and three weeks on skins adding gentle structure. Five months in seasoned French oak rounds the texture, carrying the herbaceous fruit into a composed finish.