Cellar Circle exclusives

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

Chailloux is the local Sancerrois name for flint (more commonly known as silex), and this parcel is tucked up in the north-east of the appellation where this soil type predominates. It has a northwest aspect and is shaded by a large forest. Flinty sites are often a little warmer, but this one keeps cool, and produces profound acidity. It is so pure and fresh.

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

Pieuchaud is a flinty-soiled lieu-dit in the commune of Thauvenay in the south-east of the Sancerre appellation. Luc decided to isolate this vineyard after noting it always produced fruit with great maturity whilst maintaining high acidity - the secret to single vineyard wines in his opinion. In 2020 this is restrained, yet agile. It would do well for a few years in the cellar, and its saline, savoury structure will make it an excellent food wine in the years to come.

Unlike his neighbours who use the lieu dit name Cul de Beaujeu, Gérard keeps the original 'Clos' in his, as his vines lie within the oldest part of the vineyard, that had originally been surrounded by a wall. They sit in the chalky Kimmeridgian terres blanches soils of the dramatically steep south-east facing slope that rises up behind the village of Chavignol. This is the most opulant in character, the most open and forward in its youth, with fleshy fruits and just a hint of tropical succulence, twinned with a superbly fresh cut of acidity.

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

This is Sancerre’s best known and greatest site. It is a dramatic slope of Kimmeridgian terres blanches in Chavignol that wraps around the hillside. Boulay's is charged with the site's natural power and depth, and has layer upon layer of energy and drive. Its ample weight and scintillating concentration promise it is built for greater things. Don't be afraid to cellar this, it will only improve.

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

This is Sancerre’s best known and greatest site. It is a dramatic slope of Kimmeridgian terres blanches in Chavignol that wraps around the hillside and dips down into the commune of Verdigny, where Luc’s parcel lies. His 2020 is charged with the site's natural power and depth, and has layer upon layer of energy and drive. Its ample weight and scintillating concentration promise it is built for greater things. Don't be afraid to cellar this, it will only improve.

Tasted from a barrel sample sent to the UK, the 2019 Tertre de la Mouleyre has a beautifully floral, elegant nose. There's a purity here, and depth to the dark fruit. Notes of violets, silky tannins and plenty of crushed rocks on the finish. Beautifully structured and poised, this is classic claret at its zenith. Wonderful.

This is one of the finest sites of the Côte Blonde, and it produces a wine of huge elegance and subtlety, although you’ll want to tuck it away for a few years before pulling the cork.

“The smoking good 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous (60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Muscardin, Vaccarese and Cinsault) is a structured, serious wine that gives up notions of blackberry, currants, melted licorice and assorted meaty nuances that flow to a full-bodied, seamless wine that has terrific fruit intensity, masses of fine tannin and a blockbuster finish.”

Jeb Dunnuck, 95 – 97 points

A blend of numerous different parcels across the appellation, this is a benchmark from one of the region’s most traditional estates. Notes of lavender and crushed berries, with graphite and so much tension and energy. Long and precise finish.

From a plot close to the celebrated Clos de Cortons Faiveley. This is powerful Pinot: ripe and intense, with nice acidity and noble tannins. When it comes together, this will be superb.

This is a hugely powerful and impressive Châteauneuf. Old vines (100 years+), low yields, slightly cooler north-facing terraces, and Jaun-Paul's magic touch make for an exquisite wine. Very limited. The 2012 is now hitting its stride, with mature savoury notes, leather and spice coming through the juicy Grenache fruit.

A Lay & Wheeler favourite for years, from 90 year old vines, this is textured with spice and real energy. There’s very fine tannins, and a long, saline finish.

Crozes-Hermitage is the sweet spot of the Delas offering. This is their no-nonsense, great value, fruit-driven Syrah with notes of anise and red berries. Sadly in 2019 some of the parcels were badly hit by the June hailstorm, so volumes are severely reduced. But thanks to the fragmented layout of the holdings, some were left unscathed, and quality remains as high as ever.

Nice sweetness of fruit. Touch balsamic and tapenade, nice salinity but also dark core of, lovely texture and finesse, fragrant and good purity. Long and fine; a touch of bitterness on the finish keeps it all together.

This well-located premier cru is just beneath Les Rugiens-Bas on the Volnay side of the village. It is one of the most improved wines of this estate over the past ten years. In 2019, it has some crunchy herbal notes amongst the red fruit notes, and an appealing salinity on the palate.

Blessed with parcels in some of the best 1er Crus in Gevrey, together with a high proportion of old vines, it is little wonder that Humbert is a top destination for some of the finest the appellation has to offer. The nose is perfumed with hints of wild violets overlaid with forest floor notes and intense morello cherries. Structured, grippy and seriously good.

This is the defining grand cru of the village of Turckheim. The wines from this site often have a ripe and approachable acidity, and 2018 is a perfect example. It should drink well from youth or keep for 20 years. The juicy, fleshy style of fruit is perfectly composed within the frame of the wine, built along detailed acidity. It showcases Brand’s typical power.

Crafted from 100% Grenache from one low-yielding vineyard situated in the south of the Châteauneuf appellation, and fermented and aged in concrete tanks. This is really intense on the nose, and suggests great power even at this early stage. Freshly crushed red fruits, liquorice and dark chocolate are all present on the multi-faceted, complex palate. The tannic structure is impressive, as is the powerful and long finish - this should age beautifully for decades.

This wine shows the polished side of Fixin made, as Manou Humbert describes it, to be delicious and enjoyable with charcuterie and bread (which, trust me, it is). Supple fruit with good concentration, this is defined by character and balance.

Le Soula sits at 660m up in the eastern Pyrenées, which its makers refer to as ‘terroir d’altitude’. Talented winemaker Gérard Gauby sought this cooler climate up in the foothills for its freshness, and since 2001 has been producing some captivating, long-lived, and characterful wines from this unique outpost. This blend of Carignan, Syrah and Grenache is sappy, juicy and well balanced, with notes of tapenade and leather. Decant before serving to let it open up.

An exciting wine from a truly great vineyard. Tasted just after Echézeaux it takes finesse to a different level with a cornucopia of spiced red fruits and layer upon layer of texture and flavour. Uplifting, this is already really singing.

This is made from Marsanne, and is a fresh, energetic white with plenty of spice. Its mouth-watering finish makes it so charming, and simply delicious.

Vaudésir is most commonly considered the second best grand cru plot after Les Clos, and it’s clear as to why. Samuel has two parcels, one on each side of the vineyard, which bring markedly different characters. There’s lovely pure citrus, with floral and saline notes and real power on the palate. It’s long, precise and utterly charming.