The classic Barolo from Brovia is made with a significant portion of Serralunga fruit. Only a barrel of the Cru wines are made and so what ever is left is declassified into the regular Barolo - all the better for this wine! It is so fine and elegant openning with bright cherry fruit, cherry blossom, wilted roses and accents of blood orange and pink grapefruit. It finds the perfect balance between power and energy. There is a seriousness at its core with a mineral, saline freshness with a fine grained, supple frame of tannins. A real standout in 2021.

These are old vines, around 70 years old that are exposed south/south-east on the mid to upper slope with a higher portion of limestone. This gives more dark cherry fruit with ferrous and sanguine quality. A lot of detail here that emerges with air, the tannins are firm yet seamless around the fruit. There are hints of white pepper, aniseed and black tea that linger on the finish. A wine of real intensity, this will need some time to show its true colours.

From very steep, sandy soils which are exposed south east, the wine was bottled in July 2024. There is power but without weight, there are notes of spearmint, crushed stone, violets and liquorice. The tannins are compact and detailed, and cut a structure so finely around the bright cherry fruit. A wine that has depth and freshness.

The vines for Brovia's Villera are south-west exposed and located on the mid-slope. The soil is more compact with a greater portion of clay. The wine is very expressive offering notes of wild strawberry, rose petal and wet rocks. There is a certain muscularity on the palate, the tannins are firm and well defined with a great sense of tension and drama. It is extremely impressive and one of the most exciting of the Crus from Brovia this year.

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.

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.