Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is only ever made in the great vintages, and always with the great man’s personal preference in mind: a robust and full-bodied Champagne that develops incredible depth with age. The exact blend, as ever, is a closely guarded secret, but Pinot plays a starring role. The Pinot dominance gives structure, depth, and breadth to the wine, whilst Chardonnay gives a mineral, vibrant, savoury top note and a fresh thread of acidity. All the fruit comes from grand cru vineyards which were already under vine in Churchill’s lifetime. 2018 was a warm year, yet the wine displays deceptively high acidity, making it approachable and refreshing. Fresh and linear on the nose with subtle hints of pineapple and pastry. There’s a wonderful lacy texture to the fruit on the palate, coupled with Pol’s trademark fine, elegant mousse. This is vibrant and open, with layers of red berry fruit, culminating in a very mineral and persistent finish with just a hint of jasmine.

Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is only ever made in the great vintages, and always with the great man’s personal preference in mind: a robust and full-bodied Champagne that develops incredible depth with age. The exact blend, as ever, is a closely guarded secret, but Pinot plays a starring role. The Pinot dominance gives structure, depth, and breadth to the wine, whilst Chardonnay gives a mineral, vibrant, savoury top note and a fresh thread of acidity. All the fruit comes from grand cru vineyards which were already under vine in Churchill’s lifetime. 2018 was a warm year, yet the wine displays deceptively high acidity, making it approachable and refreshing. Fresh and linear on the nose with subtle hints of pineapple and pastry. There’s a wonderful lacy texture to the fruit on the palate, coupled with Pol’s trademark fine, elegant mousse. This is vibrant and open, with layers of red berry fruit, culminating in a very mineral and persistent finish with just a hint of jasmine.

Pavie is made from 28 different parcels which are vinified separately. Oak in recent years has been toned down with the 2024 vintage seeing around 60-65% new wood. It feels quite classical this year offering a restrained nose of sandalwood, violets with a saline feel that fans across the palate. Super tension to the wine, there are inflections of oyster shell, kelp iris and a lot of detail. There is a sinewy and sapid feel with plenty of flesh around the frame.

A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot. This is a Las Cases with real restraint and rather inward looking for the moment. It has a gravelly core, with hints of spice, cocoa, five spice, and some violet notes. This reminds me a bit of the 2014 – this is zipped up but shows a sense of purity and a lot of detail and definition. Tense and with no excess, it is classical in frame and energy. The tannins are supple and coiled with a lift of iris, violets and soy on the finish.

A blend of different sites from across the Rheingau, this is a step into the world of Eva Fricke - and it is an exciting one at that. A vibrant pulse of acidity lies at the heart of the wine, but there is ample fruit too with juicy white peach and ripe red apple. Subtle white flowers and ocean spray with a lift of citrus peel too. Such a refreshing glass, it is difficult to imagine a more appealing glass of Riesling.

A very classic and classy Margaux, the 2024 Cantenac Brown has aromas of wild starwberry, cherry, sandalwood and subtle earthy notes. It is delicate and full of finesse with a vibrant line of acidity, supple tannin and a gracefulness and ease on the palate. It finishes with a lift of wild flowers and ocean spray.

This year a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, this is real success for the vintage. There is the flesh and the charm that is characteristic of Poyferré with an elegance that goes right to the core of the wine. There are aromas of violets, pepper and cedar with accents of plum and bramble fruit. A wine with aromatic charm and aeriel lift, it is full of brightness and energy.