Wine
Fornacina 2020 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Blood orange and currant lead the documented profile, followed by tar, leather, toasted and spicy hints. The wine is made entirely from Sangiovese, harvested from September into October. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel with long maceration and traditional pumpovers. After malolactic conversion, the wine spends at least two years in large Slavonian oak.
Orma 2009 Toscana IGT 750 mL
Dried fruit, black olive, rich undergrowth and autumnal fruit shape the documented profile. The palate is big and silky, with ample fruit balanced by lively acidity and herbal, earthy secondary notes. Cherry, blackberry, plum, leather and tobacco add further detail, supported by dusty, velvety tannins. The recorded blend is Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Riecine 2017 Riecine di Riecine Rosso Toscana IGT 750 mL
Raspberry, strawberry and goji berry lead a fragrant, finely detailed nose, with violet, dried orange and a light mushroom note adding depth. The palate is juicy and fresh, carrying sour cherry and darker fruit through crisp acidity and soft, closely woven tannins. Medium to full in body but never heavy, it remains balanced and smooth through a clean, savoury finish. Serve with roast pork, mushroom ragù or aged pecorino.
Montezemolo 2019 Barolo Monfaletto
A powerful Barolo with pressed cherry, blackberry, liquorice, cured tobacco and iron-rich mineral notes. The palate is dense and richly textured, yet supple enough to keep the dark fruit clear and composed. Firm structure and savoury depth carry the wine through a persistent finish. Decant generously and pair with braised beef, roast lamb, mushrooms or aged hard cheese.
Xavier Gérard 2018 Côte-Rôtie
Dark violet in colour, with ripe blackberry, cassis and bitter cherry framed by pungent flowers, black pepper and a savoury trace of smoked meat. The palate is concentrated yet agile, its dark fruit gaining licorice and smoky mineral detail with air. Fine dusty tannins give measured grip, carrying pepper, fruit and earth through a long, composed finish.
Mamete Prevostini 2015 Albareda Sforzato di Valtellina
Ripe red and dark fruit open into liquorice, alpine herbs, mint and cocoa. The palate is full-bodied and enveloping, with concentrated fruit, well-integrated tannins and a savoury saline thread that keeps the richness composed. The finish is long, balanced and quietly powerful. Decant before serving with braised beef, venison, aged hard cheese or mushroom ragu.
Twomey 2013 Merlot Napa Valley
Black cherry, coffee and licorice open with creamy red fruit, followed by chocolate-covered cherry and a subtle savoury note. The palate is elegant and texturally plush, with velvety yet firm tannins keeping the Merlot focused rather than heavy. Red currant and plum carry into a fresh, composed finish.
Charles Heidsieck NV Rosé Réserve Champagne
Powdery pink with luminous rose highlights and a delicate, lively bead. Strawberry jam and vineyard peach lead the nose, followed by warm gingerbread. The palate is deep and generous, layering strawberry, raspberry and blackberry over a creamy texture. Freshness and fine structure keep the finish precise, poised and quietly savoury.
Champagne Christophe Mignon NV ADN de Meunier Brut Nature
Crushed flowers, ripe pear, dried herbs, mint and lemon peel rise from the glass with an airy, lifted feel. The palate is dry and finely drawn, combining bright acidity with subtle orchard fruit and a chalky, lightly saline edge. Floral accents return on the energetic finish, giving this zero-dosage Champagne clarity and poise.
Domaine Joseph Voillot 2021 Volnay Vieilles Vignes Pinot Noir 750 mL
Red cherry and raspberry open with delicate florals and a quiet earthy note. The palate is elegant and finely textured, with old-vine concentration balanced by lively freshness and supple tannins. The fruit remains clear and measured rather than heavy, while subtle spice brings detail through the middle. The finish is persistent and graceful, returning to red berries, florals and gentle savoury complexity.
Contino 2012/18 Rioja Gran Reserva
Contino Gran Reserva is a harmonious wine, with a great balance between silkiness and roundness in the mouth. On the nose it is fragrant, reminiscent of ripe black fruit, with floral and balsamic notes that provide freshness. All well balanced with subtle toasted notes from its ageing in barrel. On the palate it is fine, subtle, with pleasant tannins and perfect acidity, which make it a persistent wine with a long finish.
Racines NV Grand Reserve Sparkling Chardonnay
Toasted biscuit and layered yeast notes lead into spiced pear, bruised apple, cardamom and nutmeg. Rich and creamy with air, the palate combines ample fruit with fine mousse, savoury biscuit and a distinctly mineral core. Almond cream rounds the texture, while freshness and depth carry the wine through a long, composed finish.
Domaine Parent 2018 Ladoix Premier Cru La Corvee
Brilliant in colour and firm in shape, with cherry and redcurrant gradually opening from the glass. The palate is structured and focused, carried by ripe fruit and assured tannins that should soften with time. There is power here, but the finish remains composed rather than heavy. Decant if opening now and serve with roast duck, pork or mushroom dishes.
Lindstrom Wines 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Cherry, cola and fresh earth lead with bright cranberry and a light touch of baking spice. Broad and silky on the palate, the Pinot Noir brings fresh cherry juice, celery leaf and a fine mineral-saline note. Coastal freshness keeps the texture lively, carrying crisp cranberry and gentle spice into a clean, refreshing finish.
Georges Glantenay 2022 Volnay Vieilles Vignes
Beautifully perfumed, with lifted red fruit and fine floral detail. The palate brings extra density without heaviness, driven by vibrant freshness, energy and striking intensity. Fine tannins provide quiet shape beneath the fruit, while the finish remains poised and persistent. Expressive now, it also has the balance and depth to age gracefully.
La Rogerie NV La Grande Vie Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne
Deep, rich and elegant, this old-vine Blanc de Blancs balances generous Chardonnay texture with Avize's firm chalk backbone. Extended lees ageing brings measured breadth and quiet savoury complexity, while Extra Brut dosage keeps the palate dry and focused. Fine mineral tension carries the layered fruit through a clear, poised and persistent finish.
Taittinger NV Prestige Rosé
Bright raspberry, cherry and blackcurrant rise from the glass with a light floral lift and a discreet hint of brioche. The palate is vivid and full, its fresh red fruit carried by a fine, persistent mousse and clean acidity. Velvety texture brings polish without weight, leading to a crisp, balanced finish with excellent definition.
August Kesseler 2015 Rüdesheim Berg Roseneck Riesling Grosses Gewächs
Deep and elegant on the nose, with ripe fruit woven through herbal, floral and mineral notes. The full-bodied palate is complex yet remarkably vivacious, balancing power and persistence with purity, finesse and lightness. Peach and lemon bring definition, while a piquant, salty finish adds grip, tension and impressive length.
Marques De Murrieta 2012/13 Dalmau Rioja
Powerful yet refined, with aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis layered with dark chocolate, spice and subtle mineral notes. Full-bodied and richly textured, the palate is balanced by fresh acidity and polished tannins, leading to a long, elegant finish. A modern and age-worthy expression of Rioja.
Blue Mountain 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir Magnum
Fresh, complex fruit leads a structured, lively palate, with gentle extraction preserving delicacy rather than weight. Subtle herbal detail and measured cask depth add shape, while vibrant acidity keeps the fruit clear through the finish. Refined and food-friendly, it has the reserve to develop further. Serve with roast duck, salmon, mushroom dishes or earthy lentils.