Laherte & Frères are based in Chavot-Courcourt just to the south of Epernay in an area that falls between the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne. In 2002 brothers Thierry and Christian, were joined by Thierry’s son Aurélien, who now heads the domaine and represents the seventh generation of the family to grow vines in the area. Aurélien is part of a dynamic young generation of vignerons making waves in Champagne, producing a fine array of terroir-driven champagnes and adopting a natural approach to viticulture. Aurélien makes this crowd-pleaser Blanc de Blancs from mid-slope vineyards in Chavot and Epernay where the vines average 35 years. Made with zero dosage, this is a dry and lively Blanc de Blancs that has aromas of orange peel, ginger, brioche and dried apple. It’s crisp and vibrant with a fine mousse. There is a lovely structure that comes from the clay and chalky soils, with great tension. 50% of the wine comes from the 2021 vintage (aged in a mix of foudres and barrels), with the remainder made up of barrel-aged reserve wines from 2019 and 2020. This helps give an extra richness and flesh to the wine with a good weight of fruit on the palate. Disgorged March 2024.

Ata Rangi’s estate Pinot Noir is produced from their oldest vines on the Martinborough Terrace, sourced from six of their most revered, small vineyards located within 500 metres of the winery. There's 40% whole bunch in the 2022 and it is made entirely with wild yeasts. It was aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. This is benchmark Martinborough Pinot Noir, elegant and full of concentrated red and dark berry fruit. It's got flavours of cassis, wild strawberry, violet, wood smoke and sweet spice. Bright acidity and fine tannins combine, extending along the full length of the palate. Powerful but elegant, it will age gracefully.

This year a blend of 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the wine was aged 45% in new oak, 45% one year old, and the remainder in amphora. It is a wine with well defined aromatics of violets, nutmeg and cedar spice. There is dark cherry fruit etched with chiselled and supple tannins. There is freshness and focus through the wine with a lovely lift of dried herbs on the finish. A real success for the appellation.

This year a blend of 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the wine was aged 45% in new oak, 45% one year old, and the remainder in amphora. It is a wine with well defined aromatics of violets, nutmeg and cedar spice. There is dark cherry fruit etched with chiselled and supple tannins. There is freshness and focus through the wine with a lovely lift of dried herbs on the finish. A real success for the appellation.

This year a blend of 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the wine was aged 45% in new oak, 45% one year old, and the remainder in amphora. It is a wine with well defined aromatics of violets, nutmeg and cedar spice. There is dark cherry fruit etched with chiselled and supple tannins. There is freshness and focus through the wine with a lovely lift of dried herbs on the finish. A real success for the appellation.

A blend of 78% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, this is classic blend for Tignanello and a wine that has managed the warmth of the vintage well. There are subtle spiced notes of cinnamon, sandalwood and incense that mingle with the floral notes of dried rose petal and violets. The fruit is vibrant and well defined with wild cherry, plum and wild herbs. It is fresh but also fleshy through the mid-palate with tannins that glide through the fruit.

This year a blend of 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the wine was aged 45% in new oak, 45% one year old, and the remainder in amphora. It is a wine with well defined aromatics of violets, nutmeg and cedar spice. There is dark cherry fruit etched with chiselled and supple tannins. There is freshness and focus through the wine with a lovely lift of dried herbs on the finish. A real success for the appellation.

The Palmer 2024 has an expressive and vibrant nose of dark cherry, crushed rocks, cedar and a little nutmeg. A really complete and harmonious wine it is caressing, sappy, detailed - growing in tension and drama. There is charm here but also plenty of seriousness and detail. It feels deftly sculpted with a fine mineral inflection and cocoa dust note on the finish.

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.