Christmas

Made by the team at Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort, who are one of the Right Bank’s most respected winemaking families, and own estates including La Gaffelière and Puy-Blanquet. Predominantly Merlot, with a dash of Cabernet Franc, and made in an unoaked style, this is a fruit-forward, precise red Bordeaux. With a savoury, mineral character, that comes through particularly on the finish, this is a brilliant claret for everyday drinking.

This is a special late release from Château Giscours: their second wine from an outstanding vintage. The label is the winning design from a competition launched in March 2021, designed by James Albon, and 100% of the profits from the sale of this wine will be donated to The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 relief fund, to support members of the UK hospitality industry adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The wine itself is beautiful. Notes of violets and pure, dark Cabernet fruit on the nose, while the palate is detailed, with fine tannins and a savoury note underpinning the core of ripe fruit. The finish is chiselled and intense, with lots of energy shining through. This demonstrates why 2015 in Margaux is such a legendary vintage: it’s a stunning wine, for an excellent cause.

2016 was a brilliant vintage in Bordeaux that we love more and more for it's silky fruit, complexity and balance. The greatest wines from the vintage still need some time, but the second wines are spot on for drinking now. This is a case in point. Silky, generous, expressive, from the incredible pedigree of Brane Cantenac. Sweet red plum and cherry fruit, and delicate savoury tones.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. One of the standout successes of this tricky vintage in Bordeaux, this is a rich and concentrated 2007 from one of our favourite Bordeaux producers Branaire Ducru. It's mature and drinking now, with some fresh red cherry fruit remaining amongst developed leather and tobacco, as well as lots of stony, mineral notes. The tannins are fine and resolved, and it finishes long and minerally.

Brilliant value from the owners of nearby Château Montrose and drinking really well now. From a fantastic vintage in St-Estèphe, this charming wine has lovely rich fruit and beautiful freshness.

2009 is quite rightly celebrated as a top vintage in Bordeaux, known for generous fruit and weight. Lovely blackcurrant, black plum and red cherry fruit here, with spicy, peppery notes on the nose and rich, mocha on the palate with a velvet texture. There's great balance with a tensile, mineral seam running through it and matching the intensity of the fruit.

This tantalising wine has been made especially for Lay & Wheeler from the deep sand and Löess soils from the Sandgrube vineyard. The nose displays wonderful aromas of citrus, crushed shells and white pepper. The acidity is crisp and refreshing, with an attractive saline palate. Such a great example of the indigenous grape, Grüner Veltliner, produced by a grower that is greatly admired in the region.

Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW are among New Zealand’s most dynamic winemakers. With more that forty years joint experience making wine in New Zealand and further afield, they know better than most where to find the best parcels of grapes, to craft into refined, characterful wines. So we were thrilled when they agreed to work with us on Our Collection, using grapes grown in a single vineyard in the Dillons Point sub-region. This is a brilliant example of a Marlbourough Sauvignon Blanc, that has lots of the upfront fruit you’d expect from the style, but with an added layer of minerality and complexity. It really is a cut above.

We’ve backed the wines of Eva Fricke in the Rheingau since the beginning of her journey: they’re some of the most vibrant, soulful, delicious bottlings we know. And we’ve been thrilled to see Eva receive more and more critical acclaim over recent years, as critics and consumers discover just how good her wines are. This comes from a range of sites throughout the Rheingau region, and balances ripe fruit, saline minerality, and plenty of spice. It’s a brilliant Riesling from day one, with the potential to age further.

Made by the team behind Shaw & Smith, owned by Michael Smith MW, who was the first Australian to pass the MW examination, and highly respected winemaker Martin Shaw. They’ve put the Adelaide Hills on the map for world class Chardonnay, and this barrel-fermented example from high altitude vineyards balances spice, fresh fruit, and lots of brilliant energy. It’s a delicious, ageworthy Chardonnay, that is more than a match for far pricier examples from around the world.

Adi Badenhorst is one of the original Swartland trailblazers. He is based on the Paardeberg, where deep, decomposed granite soils are perfect for growing Chenin Blanc. This is from a single vineyard - Dassiekop - a tiny plot of vines planted in the 1970s, that produces a quintessential Swartland Chenin: vibrant and tense, with lots of ripe citrus fruit, and a long, savoury finish.

Chalky, fresh and racy, this is classical white Burgundy. It’s made by Justin Girardin, whose enterprising domaine in Santenay is making some of the most exciting wines in the southern Côte de Beaune. It has the structure and elegance the region is renowned for, with the vibrant energy of the 2021 vintage. It is made from a blend of fruit across the Côte d'Or, Mâcon and Chablis, with half aged in old oak to give structure and depth, and the rest in tank, keeping it vibrant and fresh.

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.

Produced from a family estate in the heart of the Basque town of Getaria, Spain this wine is wonderfully zingy and fresh. The nose is full of lemon verbena, green apple and white pepper spice. There is a touch of spritz on the palate and the acidity is crisp and refreshing. The core has hints of white peach, white blossom and a salinity that offers a sense of place to this very easy to drink dry white wine.

At 6.5 hectares, this is Gunderloch's largest site and is probably its most prestigious. The gravelly red slate and cooler site provides a delicate finesse and lively acidity. Steely in its approach with jasmine and white grapefruit pithiness. This is a classy wine.

Tightly coiled and tensile with tangy acidity and slowly unfurling texture on the palate. This is full of juicy golden fruit framed by the savoury, chalky texture. Young and delicate, but with serious concentration to age.

The fruit for this blend comes from three sites in Meursault (making up 60%), with the remainder from a single plot in Puligny. In spite of their Bourgogne classification, these sites are high quality, knocking on the door of village level, with shallow topsoil and lots of small stones, aiding drainage. It is a Bourgogne full of lemony freshness and delicious energy.

From vineyards predominantly from volcanic soils, but also with slate and quartzite, this is a brilliant introduction to the wines of the estate. Mineral, cool, and utterly delicious, don’t underestimate the potential for ageing here.

We are excited and proud to add an Our Collection Rioja to our own label range. Made by world renowned Spanish winemaker Telmo Rodriguez at his Bodegas Lanzaga property, Viña Avanzando characterises the true expression and soul of Rioja. This delicious red displays sour cherry, redcurrant and juicy red plum aromas combined with vanilla and clove spice. Hints of wild flowers and herbs add some intriguing layers of complexity, balanced perfectly with a juicy core and ripe but structured tannins.

Côtes du Rhône is a style of wine beloved for its easy, fruit-forward character, juicy tannins, and savoury, herbal complexity. But not all Côtes du Rhône is created equal, with wines designated Côtes du Rhône-Villages coming from the region’s choicest terroirs. This, made by Joséphine and Frédéric Arnaud who have run this family estate since 1995, comes from the commune of Laudun, and is an utterly delicious example of its style. A large proportion of Syrah in the blend gives this a powerful, spicy character with lots of licorice and pepper. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is just ten miles or so down the road from here, and there’s more than a little of that character about this. Savoury, mineral, and so easy to drink, it’s a wine we’re thrilled to introduce.

G.D.Vajra is one of Piedmont’s most celebrated estates, run by Aldo Vaira and his children, Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro. This Nebbiolo comes from plots across the Barolo zone, and is a brilliant example of the elegance and refinement of the Nebbiolo grape variety. Notes of wild cherries and rose petals swirl from the glass, while the palate has silky tannins, and a real sense of energy. The finish is long and mineral: this is a complex, food-friendly wine that shows the best of this corner of Italy.

Wild strawberries, cherries and bramble fruits are supported by complex layers of liquorice, leather and coconut. There is a vibrancy on the core and the fine grained, yet firm tannins provide great structure to this delicious Rioja.

From grapes grown just north of the boundary of the Châteauneuf appellation, surrounding the winery, this has to be one of our greatest hidden gems. Don't let the Côtes du Rhône label fool you, this is so much more than your average Côtes du Rhône. In 2020 it is full of brambly fruit and peppery garrigue notes along with dried flowers and savoury spice. There's lots of texture building on the palate but it feels tightly coiled now with restraint. As it opens it shows more generosity with fresh fruit and dry spice, with a very subtle hint of truffle.

Made by brothers Jim and Bob Varner, we love this Central Coast Pinot Noir for its bright and exuberant red fruit and mid-weight, refreshing style. It's uncomplicated and approachable, focused on the quality of the fruit and careful winemaking.

This is a brilliant introduction to the estate, from a selection of vineyards in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Dernau and Rech. Cherry fruit and some spice, and then a long and mineral finish. Just such a delicious Pinot Noir, with excellent potential.

Valter has said, “I want to do a vintage like 2018 every year”, and when the most basic Barolo is this good it’s easy to see why. This is crunchy and elegant, with a really enchanting nose, and plenty of fine fruit. Utterly delicious.

From one of the highest points in the appellation, Tenuta Le Potazzine soars in warmer vintages. And that’s certainly the case in 2017. This is a pure, high-toned Brunello of incredible poise and perfume. There’s notes of sour cherry and plenty of powdery tannins: with a few years in the cellar this will be brilliant. Don’t miss it.

The Clos des Epeneaux is an impressive vineyard in both size and history, with vines dating back to 1919. It is one of the largest monopole vineyards in Burgundy at 5.23ha, and certainly one of the most celebrated in the region. 2017 has produced a remarkable Epeneaux. The constraints of the small cellar in the centre of the village meant that a large crop had to be carefully juggled between tanks. Some racking off of the juice during the height of fermentation meant winemaker, Paul Zinetti, managed to draw out a delicious core to this 2017, while preserving the aromatic freshness of the vintage. With a few years in bottle, it’s clear something special happened here. You can dispel the old trope that Pommard is muscular and rustic only: this is svelte, fragrant, profound, and intense. It marries density with silky freshness.

A truly exceptional example of McLaren Vale Shiraz, the 2018 Koomilya is bold, rich and full of complex flavours but still manages to maintain freshness and sapidity. Ripe dark plums, blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas with tons of saline, iodine, ferrous flavours emerging on the palate. There’s structure here with an abundance of fine tannin that will soften in time.

Our search for the perfect Champagne to put our name to was a long one. So we couldn’t be more delighted to have teamed up with long-standing favourite of the business, Champagne Thiénot. Their classic brut non-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, based on the outstanding 2015 vintage, is exactly what we wanted. It’s balanced and refreshing, with a well-judged 6g/l dosage. Extended ageing has lent the wine depth, character, and intensity. And quite frankly, it’s an absolute bargain.

Once again Montaiguillon is punching well above its weight with its 2019. Notes of dark cherries and plums on the nose, with just a hint of oak spice, leads to a palate with good fruit weight and excellent precision. The finish is stony and long, and very mouthwatering. This tastes many times the price.

Made by the team at Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort, who are one of the Right Bank’s most respected winemaking families, and own estates including La Gaffelière and Puy-Blanquet. Predominantly Merlot, with a dash of Cabernet Franc, and made in an unoaked style, this is a fruit-forward, precise red Bordeaux. With a savoury, mineral character, that comes through particularly on the finish, this is a brilliant claret for everyday drinking.

Anseillan is a small property within the estate of Lafite Rothschild, and for years they have made this separate wine and enjoyed it at the chateau, amongst the family. The 2018 was the first commercial release, and in the year since they have decided to release this magnum parcel from the 2014 vintage. In this part of the left bank 2014 was a glorious vintage, with ripe blackcurrant, plum and red cherry fruit, spice and stony character. This is maturing slowly, developing truffle, earth and smoke on the nose.

Brioche aromas combine with toasted hazelnut and red apples on the nose. The palate is packed full of dried citrus and wonderful lemon concentration with hints of tropical fruit. Impressive depth and texture, whilst remaining precise and elegant. Excellent.

The 2016 Meyney is a brilliant wine, focused and intense, with lots of tension and refreshing acidity. Harmonious black and red fruits with stony notes and a crushed shell sensation on the palate. Energetic and incredibly long on the finish. One of the bargains of this exceptional vintage.

Brazen is a blend of Fernao Pires - from 37 year old vineyards in the Swartland - alongside amphora-aged Palomino from a 47 year old vineyard in Piekenierskloof, and Grenache Blanc from the Voor Paardeberg. It’s a savoury, textured, vibrant white, with a mineral finish that lasts for minutes.

A touch of coconut is present along with the cinnamon-spiced oak here. Again the fruit core is compact, dense and concentrated with the promise of power and weight to follow. The palate is incredibly taut with intense, tightly bound raspberry and dark cherry. The tannins are ripe, full, and assertive while the acidity brings the trademark long, juicy character. This is currently showing all the potential of a beautifully constructed Gran Reserva. An exciting prospect indeed.

Chardonnay here refers to the village, rather than the variety. Clos de la Crochette is a charming walled vineyard that Dominique bought in 2003. After a little investigation he discovered it is one of the most historic sites in all of Burgundy, first planted by the monks of Cluny (c.900 AD). The energy and tension of the 2020 emphatically demonstrates why this has been a favourite spot with winegrowers through the centuries.

Brilliant value from the owners of nearby Château Montrose and drinking really well now. From a fantastic vintage in St-Estèphe, this charming wine has lovely rich fruit and beautiful freshness.

Brut Premier is dead, long live Collection! An idea that started in 2002, deep in the Roederer cellars, has finally been realised by master winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. He wanted to make a multi-vintage wine that captured the essence of the Roederer style, and differentiated the nuance of the vintages in the blend. In 2012 he started a perpetual reserve, with young vine fruit from the biodynamic parcels usually dedicated to the production of Cristal. Collection 242 is the inaugural release of this idea. 56% of the blend comes from the 2017 harvest, 10% from reserve wines (spanning 2009 to 2016), and 34% from the perpetual reserve. The house dates back to 1776, and the name pays homage to the 242nd harvest since then. It is fresh and incisive, with the chalkiness and salinity you might find in young Cristal. Its arrival marks the end of the line of the Brut Premier cuvée. It’s only a small step up in price, but from tasting it multiple times we are convinced it is a huge leap up in quality and style.

A brilliant Bordeaux blend from Johan Reyneke, at an outstanding price. Magnums are a great way to enjoy this: the perfect sunday lunch wine.

The 2018 is a spectacular Vin de Constance. A wine that shows notes of fresh apricot, wild flowers, and just a hint of wild honey, the finish here is somehow savoury, keeping everything in check. There’s notes of white peach and grapefruit zing, and then spice fills the palate, too. It’s an astonishingly complex wine, that is somehow intellectual and delicious at the same time.

Château Suduiraut is one of Sauternes’ greatest estates, and was rated as a Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 classification of the region. This, from the highly rated 2016 vintage, shows why Sauternes is so highly prized. Notes of marmalade and ginger spice, with wonderful freshness coming through. Everyone should always have a bottle of Sauternes to hand: it never fails to impress.

Expect a deep ruby colour in the glass with intense ripe fruit aromas of plums, redcurrants, raisins with liquorice and clove spice. Wild flowers are noticeable on the palate combined with subtle savoury spice notes and a breadth that has come from the 6 years ageing. Tannins are present but incredibly well integrated and with an attractive suppleness.

Hans-Joachim (“Hanno”) and his wife Ruth Zilliken mark the tenth generation to make wine predominantly around their famed Saarburger Rausch vineyard, and they’ve now been joined by their daughter, Dorothee. They barrel ferment all of their wines using natural yeasts and traditional “moselfuder casks”, some of which are more than a half-century old. With long, cool fermentations allowing complex flavours to emerge slowly, these are Rieslings to age with the very best. For many, the sweet Auslese category is where German Riesling reaches its pinnacle, with incredible complexity and longevity, and remarkable acidity balancing that ripeness. This is the perfect example: a wine that wows with its explosive fruit yet stunning freshness.

Due to light filtering, this Fino has real character and expression. Lemon citrus, herbal and olive brine support bread and salted almonds notes. There is a saltiness on the palate and despite Palomino being relatively low in acidity, this Fino displays a lively acid profile.

Made from 100% Malvasia and aged for 20 years. Incredibly decadent and rich with masses of complexity and a persistent freshness so typical of fine Madeira. Berry fruit, leather, dried figs, coffee, citrus peel, caramel, and brown sugar. Perfect to pair with cheese or desserts or try as an aperitif.

Château Suduiraut is one of Sauternes’ greatest estates, and was rated as a Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 classification of the region. The 2004 is mature and drinking well now, with bright orange blossom, citrus peel, apricot and lots of gingery spice. 134gm/L residual sugar

This is deliciously beautiful on the nose, with sweet spice, Christmas cake, and a hint of toffee apple. The palate is silky smooth, with a warmth that coats the mouth without being overpowering, and just a hint of smokiness completing the picture. A brilliant debut from this name to watch.

Malts from the Miyagikyo distillery are known for their elegance and fruit-forward nature. This whisky is made from peated and non-peated barley and is made in indirectly heated pot stills to emphasise the delicate fruity signature style. Maturation is mostly in sherry casks which shines through in the final whisky. Made from a blend of whiskies of various ages.

Glenfarclas is one of the only family-run distilleries in Scotland and has been in the Grant family for generations. This 25 year old single malt from Glenfarclas spent its days in 100% Oloroso sherry casks. It's complex, nutty, with clear sherry character and a rich, long finish. It won gold at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge.

This XO can include the Château on the label because it is made exclusively from grapes harvested, distilled, aged and bottled at the Château Fontpinot. Full of dried apricot, citrus peel, dried fig on the nose and palate, with marzipan, hazlenut, and 'rancio' from long ageing. Warm and rich on the palate.

Mark Reynier is a pioneering believer in terroir in whisky, and moved home to Ireland to focus on expressing each individual barley site in his whiskies. Cuvee is their new flagship, and is a blend of 25 different single farm origin whiskies. The result is finer than the sum of its parts, with aromatic honey, hay, peach, vanilla and orange. It's delicate and elegant in style, and soft, peppery and biscuity on the palate. Unique and characterful.

This truly small-batch premium whiskey from the Michter's Distillery, made using only the finest ingredients and traditional techniques, is a must-have for every home bar. Each batch is made up of no more than 20 full barrels of carefully selected mature whiskeys. The whiskies are known for their soft, mellow style, making it suitable for sipping neat or for mixing. The flavours are rich and concentrated, full of stone fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, raisins and dates. It finishes long and smooth.

This alcohol free sparkling wine is the best example I have come across, as well as showing typicity to both Riesling and the Mosel. Expect notes of mandarin, citrus and white blossom combining with a juiciness on the palate. This really is a great alcohol alternative and one to convert the critics.

This alcohol free Riesling is undoubtedly the best alcohol free still wine that I have come across. The wine delivers what you expect from a delicious Mosel Riesling with jasmine, lemon citrus and steely aromas, combined with a juicy acidity and palate.

Chardonnay from the Languedoc is vinified, and then the alcohol is removed. This is juicy and vibrant, with notes of green apple, pear, and a hint of honey. There’s some sweetness here, bringing palate weight, but there’s enough acidity to balance it.

A blend of Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, from the Languedoc-Roussillon, with the alcohol removed. This is crunchy and juicy, with nice vibrancy, and notes of crunchy apples and lots of citrus fruit on the finish. There’s good length here: surprisingly delicious.

A blend of Garganega and Vespaiola, from the Veneto region of Italy, and more specifically from the village of Breganze. This is full of pear notes and hints of peach, with a bright palate, and good palate weight, with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. The alcohol is removed at the end of the winemaking process.

A blend of Merlot & Pinot Noir from Veneto, this is aged for 12 months in oak barrels and tonneaux, bringing oak spice as well as bright cherry fruit. There’s some sweetness on the palate to make up for the lack of alcohol. The alcohol is removed at the end of the winemaking process.