Sancerre is the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc, where you’ll find the most refined, purest, most ageworthy examples of the grape variety. Domaine Paul Thomas is a small, family-run estate, with just nine hectares of vines in Chavignol, for many the sweet-spot of the region, and the site of the most famous vineyard here, Les Monts-Damnés. This, a blend from the estate’s vineyards around the village of Chavignol, shows pure and aromatic citrus fruits, with a precision and tension on the palate, its texture and minerality derived from the deep limestone soils. It’s a benchmark example of a much-loved region.

The first year of organic certification, this is a wine of beautiful intensity. The nose opens with a fine, subtle menthol note with accents of nutmeg and sandalwood spice. There is a caressing and velvety feel to the tannin with mineral detail of wet rocks, graphite and oyster shell. There is a coil of tension that runs through the palate with a poised and refreshing finish with a lift of crushed violets.

One of the highest ever proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend this year at 90% this is a brooding and restrained Léoville Barton that opens with notes of cedar, graphite and pencil shavings. For the moment it is tense and with a real sense of classicism and energy with firm, supple Cabernet tannins framing the black fruit core. It’s a wine that bridges old and new – precise, tense, and vibrant with a fine gravelly mineral note on the finish.

An expressive Haut-Brion this year there is fine detail of Cabernet with notes of warm gravel, violets and cassis fruit. Accents of pepper and cocoa add complexity here with a sinewy, fine-grained and tense tannin structure framing the fruit. It is a fine, supple and elegant Haut-Brion this year which can be considered a success for the vintage.

Expressive from the outset this vintage of Cos is carefully sculpted. The nose delivers aromas of cocoa, dried herbs and star anise which lead to fine, fluid hedgerow fruits on the palate. There is tension and poise here, with rather chiselled, precise tannins that coil around the fruit. It is not a heavy-weight wine this vintage but beautifully managed with classical balance.

This year a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, this is a very full and complete Brane-Cantenac and a real success for the vintage. A spicy nose offers aromas of sandalwood, cocoa and toast while the palate gives ripe, dark cherry fruits and violets, There is charm and beauty to the wine yet also a fine vein of minerality and tension. Mid-weight, fresh and fine boned, it is a lifted style but seamless and real classic finishing with brightness and energy.

A blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, this is a beautifully managed wine this year. A nose that offers aromas of black tea, cherry blossom, violets and ripe dark cherry fruit, it is understated and very elegant. It has a seamless and silky feel in the palate with the limestone soils showing themselves through a certain salinity and crunchiness to the fruit. Subtle spiced notes of white pepper and dried herbs here too, with a detailed and bright finish with a lot of sapidity.

This Côte-Rôtie comes from various parcels across the appellation. Vinified with around 30% whole bunch and aged in Burgundy barrels for 20 months with 5-10% new oak, this is a charming and fleshy style. It is floral and elegant with notes of violets, iris and dark cherry with a subtle wild herb spice. There is plenty of drama to this wine with a seamless and supple feel to the tannins, and a subtle, peppery bramble finish.

Named 'Sisters' for the three different types of Pinot planted in this vineyard, it is a four acre sited that was planted to Pinot Noir in 1987 using Pommard and Wadenswil clones. It is always one of the more floral and earthy wines in the line up. This a Pinot with real elegance opening with notes of bay leaf, wild berries, blood orange, and rosehip. There is a savoury almost ferrous quality to the wine, with a fine lattice of tannins. The finish is fresh with a delicate spiced note and citrus lift.

This is the original vineyard of the estate some vines dating back to 1965 - it is truly the home of Oregon Pinot Noir. The hills are exposed south and roll from east to west. This is a really expressive wine from the Eyrie range with vivid aromas of wild strawberry, aniseed, and fresh herbs. There is a silkiness to the texture of the tannins and a bright seam of freshness running through the wine. It is both light-footed yet with a seriousness and intensity that speaks of the old vines here.