Easter Cellar Raids -
Rest of Europe

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.

The Les Maynes always feels quite spicy, the 2016 also displays a wonderfully floral and red berry perfume that lingers for some time on the finish. The palate is tightly wound with great vibrancy, energy and fine grained tannins.

From 40 year old vines right at the top of the slope, where the forest starts. It’s very cool and shy, but there’s remarkable breadth and focus. Tightly coiled, mineral, and savoury, this is one for the long haul.

Flint Vineyard’s 2022 Pinot Noir Précoce, is made from an early-ripening clone of Pinot Noir that was hand harvested in September and October from their own small parcel and from Martin’s Lane vineyard in Essex. A dry and hot summer provided small bunches with more tannin and flavour concentration than usual. Fifty percent whole-bunch is used here, leading to a light, crunchy and aromatic style – a baby Burgundy if you will, full of rich, cherry aromas. The palate is wonderfully textured, with smooth, fine-grained tannins, packed with gorgeous blackcurrant and cherry fruit and a hint of sweet spice.

Klingenberg is one of the western villages of Franken and is made up of grapes coming from the Grand Cru Schlossberg vineyard. The vineyard is one of their warmest sites and as aresult the wine is spicy and juicy in its profile. As well as purple fruit, expect ripe red plum and cherries. Tannins are chalky and extremely well integrated into the wine's juicy and rich core. Very long length.

Grapes are sourced from Müller’s exceptional estate holdings in Wiltinger Braunfels, Oberemmeler Rosenberg and Saarburger Rausch. The 2022 has a ripeness of fruit and displays juicy peach and fresh apricot combined with a juicy acidity as well as lime and steely notes with this beautiful off dry style of Riesling.

Brambles and rich dark berried fruits combine with savoury spice and crushed stone and hints of black olive and rosemary. There is an intensity and concentration that is supported beautifully with fine grained but firm tannins.

This wine is comparable in quality to the Grosse Gewächs level Spätburgunder from this estate. Expect the spiciness of Krauterberg, a breadth and creaminess of Sonnenberg and a minerality and complexity that you would associate with Herrenberg and Mönchberg. This wine has a delicious red berry perfume that is reminiscent of some of the best Pinot noir in Germany and beyond. Wild strawberries, jasmine tea and spice are the main charcteristics that shine in this wine. The tannins are tight knit and there is great tension on the core thanks to the crisp acidity and silky palate. The wine has an innate quality that you can enjoy now or will develop and age for many years to come.

This Vermut is made with a mix of Fino sherry and sweet Moscatel infused with botanicals and herbs that present themselves on the aroma profile. Expect rosemary, juniper, sage, chamomile and citrus notes with a grapefruit pithiness on the palate.

Lovely lift and energy here, displaying a ripeness and juiciness to the palate. Yellow peach and some greengage are evident, and there’s also some spice that lingers on the palate. Very juicy and fine boned, with a silkiness on the finish.

2020 was characterised by a warm summer, yet temperatures over the growing season were relatively cool and therefore the wine has a fantastic juxtaposition of concentration and weight combined with an energy and purity that you come to expect from the very best Mosel Rieslings. Jasmine, lime and white peach aromas are supported with a lively acidity and almost steely profile. Subtle perfume notes of verbena and mint add layers of complexity.

Les Tosses has more bramble and black berry fruits compared to the other cuvées, it has an incredible sense of place with wild herbs and wild flowers in the background. With a mineral core, the tannins are extremely well integrated and fine.

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.

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.

This is a benchmark Riesling from Sebastian, and shows why his whites should be mentioned in the same breath as his world-class reds. Dry and mineral, with salinity that shines through on the palate, there’s a layered character here that keeps you reaching for more. There’s maybe even a blackcurrant note on the long and floral finish. This is so complex, and so impressive.

The cooler climate makes this wine steely on the attack and display green apple, lime and and steely notes supported by hints of jasmine. The core is linear and crisp and very focused.

The Rothenberg in 2020 is a drop-dead gorgeous Riesling. It ripples with tension and drive, but has a little more creaminess than in some vintages, making a really delicious, approachable wine. Don't underestimate this wine's ability to age, though. This will go on and on and on.

At approximately 40 hectares, the Setzberg vineyard is the largest single vineyard in the Hirtzbergers’ home village of Spitz. And it’s a dream site for Riesling. The 2022 Setzberg is full of passionfruit and lime aromas, some white peach on the palate, and a spine of racy acidity. This is long, complex, and livelier than a Cocker Spaniel. Don’t miss it.

2010 was a benchmark year at Wiston: a vintage of perfect balance between yield & ripeness of fruit, which produced extraordinarily complex and elegant wines. This limited-edition, single vineyard, 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs has savoury layers of mushroom, spice and truffle with notes of lemon zest, biscuit and crushed oyster shells. Generous and very long. A wonderful example of how beautifully English Blanc de Blancs can age.

Sebastian may be best known for his Pinot Noirs, but this is a spectacular Chardonnay. Apple fruit and lots of complexity, with some spice and a mineral finish. Delicious.

2020 is an exceptional vintage for Kabinett and the prized site of Wehlener Sonnenuhr simply excels. Expect jasmine, white peach and flinty notes along with a racy core.

A wine coming from old vines, it shows immense concentration and character. Struck match reduction combines with white blossom and red apple and hints of honey and wax. There is a salinity on the finish and there is a zesty acidity that brings vibrancy to the palate.

Wild flowers, red berries and crushed gravel notes are supported by crunchy fruit and acidity as well as powdery, restrained tannins. Subtle black pepper and liquorice spice present themselves on the finish.

From the oldest vines on the estate (alte reben means old vines), this is a wine that wows with its intensity, power and structure. Notes of thyme and a pure core of blue and red fruit are encased in wonderfully refined tannins. And it’s the length that really marks this wine out as special: it’s detailed, pure, and incredibly long. Spectacular.

The quartzite and red stones give more roundness and texture. The 2022 is wonderfully mineral with a saltiness to the finish. The palate displays an energetic acidity as well juicy stone fruit flavours, a wine that will not disappoint

This wine comes from the lower terraces of the Achleiten vineyard at around 300 metres and is largely planted on loess and white sand. Juicy in its profile with hints of jasmine and wild herbs, expect fresh apricot, peach and lemon citrus notes with a racy acidity and salty finish.

A wine that is fermented and aged in premium Stockinger barrels, with 17 months on lees to give the palate more weight and texture. Attractive reduction and flinty on the nose with white pepper and white blossom adding layers of complexity. The acidity is crisp and energetic and balanced perfectly with the creaminess on the finish.

Named after the Poniente winds, these sherries are produced from the el Aljibe vineyard in Pago Añina, and aged in a restored house tucked among the vines. Complex layers of dried fruits, salted almonds, hazelnuts and candied orange peel.

Some of the vines here were planted in the 1950s, with a small portion in 2002. This is intense and stony, with more vibrant acidity than the Spitaler. It’s more angular in the mouth, with lots of wild flowers and plenty of nervy acidity. It needs time, but when it comes together it will be spectacular.

This wine is precise and finishes on the saline and citrus. There are elements of juiciness with fleshy peach, mandarin and white blossom notes as well as smoky and flinty notes that add layers of complexity.

Expect liquorice spice, garrigue and smoky notes that are typical of these wines with concentrated red berry perfume and pomegranate thanks to the 100% Garnacha. The palate is silky and the tannins are supple and fine grained, there is a wonderful energy and freshness to the core and the length is long.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and it displays more ginger and spice, with florals and citrus notes taking a more supporting role. There is a juiciness and breadth on the core, a wonderfully enticing wine that is very easy to drink.

Honeysuckle and plenty of freshness. This has kiwi fruit and also plenty of yellow plums and some verbena. Wonderful poise.

The 2017 Ardanza is another showstopper from La Rioja Alta. The grapes come from three vineyards in the Rioja Oriental region that are 30 years+ old and benefit from 550 metres altitude. The Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%) blend spends 3 years in American oak barrels prior to bottling. Expect wild flowers, cherries and raspberries combined with liquorice, clove and dill spice. Tannins are juicy and firm and the acidity is wonderfully refreshing.

Expect bright, wild berry fruits from Pegel 735 with lots of energy and a very quaffable wine indeed. Rescued by H.O Spanier is more smoky in style with a signature bacon fat character from Stodden's wines. The wine is more brooding in profile with a zesty acid profile. Alexander Die Grossen is the Grand Cru wine that has an attractive perfume and presents jasmine tea and wild strawberry notes that continue for a long time on the palate.

Grapes are coming from the oldest vines of this plot and contributes to the wine's concentration. There is a density on the palate combined with a mineral backbone and saline quality. There is an exotic profile on the nose of mango and papaya, yet this plays a supporting role to pink grapefruit and lemon.

Always on the tropical spectrum, the wine demonstrates a pepper spice as well as honey blossom and ginger notes. The concentration and ripeness is well balanced with purity and unflinching acidity.

This is a focused wine that displays great minerality and focus. The acidity is nervy and the aromas are steely and flinty with a lime citrus core and a delicious concentration and length.

This comes from a small plot of the oldest vines, and was first produced in just 2017. It balances richness and elegance, with all the concentration of a Grosses Gewächs Riesling from a top grower.

From a single vineyard Grand Cru (Grosse Lage) site that is due south and is made up of sandstone and loam. One of the standout wines from Sebastian's range, this is a riesling that expresses white peach, lemon and white florals. The core is tightly wound, bone dry and displaying a pithy grip on the finish that helps provide structure.

The Petite Arvine is intense and savoury. There’s peaches here, and plenty of savoury spice, with notes of fresh ginger and a long and textured finish. Very saline on the finish: makes you reach for another glass.

From old vines of over 40 years, there is an intensity of ripes mango, pineapple and exotic friuts. The palate is much more tightly wound with real energy from the acidity as well as a touch of phenolics adding to the texture. This is a complex wine that will only get better with time in bottle.

The iconic wine from Vega Sicilia is made up predominantly of 97% Tino Fino (Tempranillo) and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are planted on various plots on the Ribera slopes that benefit from more than 19 different soil types. The wine ages for close to 10 years in wood and bottle. A mix of American and French oak is used to create a wine with concentration and finesse. The 2013 was cooler than the 2012 and the wine has an elegance and vibrancy.

Coming from 30-40 year old vines with a south west exposition, this site is consistently producing elegant wines with tension and purity. Lemongrass, white peach and honey blossom notes exude from the glass and the palate has a generosity and juiciness that combines with layers of saltiness.

BodegasTamerán was set up in 2019 by footballer and Canary Islands native, David Silva after a much sought after 6 hectare vineyard became available on the island. He asked friend Jonathan García (owner and winemaker at Suertes del Marqués) to run the project and the wines have since gained much praise. This exceptional white wine comes from the volcanic archipelago of Gran Canaria. Vines are planted on their own roots at altitudes of 600-700 metres on mountainous plots benefitting from a cooling Atlantic influence and volcanic soils. There is a lot of citrus and ginger spice combined with fleshy stone fruit aromas with an incredible waxy texture.

The Steinriegel site comes from a the northern part of the valley and is dominated by a chalk silicate and marble soil. Toni Bodenstein believes that this wine produces his fruitier styles, especially with a mid palate concentration. Fresh mango, pink grapefruit and red apple notes lead the charge, yet the palate is brought into focus with the wine’s crisp and energetic acidity.

This is really fine, with lovely balance. It’s so well woven together: big and broad but also with nerve. A generous style of Riesling, but also with elegance and finesse on the finish.

Pale lemon in colour, this Fino has an attractive lemon citrus profile that supports the yeasty, salty and savoury notes that are a result of the biological ageing. The palate has a refreshing acidity and saltiness on the palate.

This wine comes from Prager’s highest terraces in the Achleiten vineyard with over 100+ different clones in a small parcel that creates big genetic variation and diversity. Grapefruit and lemon citrus profile with white pepper and ginger spice layers. The acidity is focused and zesty with a long and saline finish.

While Sebastian Fürst is best known for his Pinot Noirs, don't overlook this brilliant Chardonnay from the limestone soils of the village of Astheim, far from the estate's cellar in Burgstadt. This is incredibly Burgundian, with wonderfully expressive notes of hazelnut and peach, and lots of salinity. A real delight.

The Everflyht Brut N/V reflects the current estates planting which combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in equal measure with a touch of Meunier. Hand-picked from the single estate vineyard and created in a low intervention method using steel, new and old oak to bring the best from each variety and block. Aged for 20 months on the lees, with around 24% reserve wines going into the blend, and just 6 g/l dosage added, this is a fresh yet generous English fizz, with lots of green and red apple fruit, and a long and elegant finish: the perfect way to discover Everflyht.

This is the estate's Grand Cru site with extremely old plantings from 1890. The wine has great acidity and freshness and the finish is long with a salinity that almost feels like a coastal wine. Grapefruit and beeswax notes combine with white florals.

Close to Centgrafenberg, this single vineyard wine is often described by Sebastian as 'the little brother'. An interesting nose of red berries and blood orange with subtle liquorice and pepper spice. Tannins are fine grained and the palate is wonderfully silky.

Blossom, lemon verbena and grapefruit notes combine with a salty and crushed stone character on the palate. The acidity is piercing and the core is tightly wound. This is a serious Riesling that has so much to offer

This is Fürst's village level wine with the grapes coming from 3 vineyard sites, including 2 Grosses Gewächs sites and an Erste Lage vineyard that are in a cool location. The red berry perfume is seductive and the palate is silky with very fine grained tannins and a zesty acidty. There is an attractive violet perfume on the finish.

This Vermut blends Fino, sweet, white Moscatel and a small amount of Tintilla de Rota with a mix of botanicals and herbs. Vanilla, wild strawberries, sour cherries and notes of parma violets, this is delicious paired with tonic, prosecco or cava or as part of a cocktail.

Macán Clásico 2019 is Vega’s project in Rioja with the Rothschild family. It is 100% Tempranillo planted in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria in the Sonsierra region of Rioja. The Clásico is their second wine that uses younger vine fruit and the wine spending a few months less ageing in french oak barrels (14 months). 2019 was a very dry and warm vintage, with a concentrated core and richness.

With an aromatic core of orange blossom and stone fruits enveloped by a nutty and herbaceous texture, the 2022 Grüner Veltliner Loibner is so vibrant and focussed. Though it’s a village level wine, the length, creaminess, and complexity on the palate mean that you could easily mistake it for one of the Wachau’s top crus. It’s zingy, intriguing, and utterly delicious.

From 25 year old plantings in the Astheim vineyard, the yields are extremely low producing very concentrated grapes and wine. There are yellow fruit and citrus notes at the forefront, yet the wine's quality comes through on the finish with crushed stones and saltiness.

Tawny gold colour. Complex and elegant, this classic Amontillado is pungent and aromatic, with fine notes of oak. Nutty on the palate with a hint of sweetness and a lingering, dry finish. The Solera of this Amontillado consists of 10 casks which are aged in José Luis González Obregón’s bodegas in El Puerto de Santa María.

Sebastian may be best known for his Pinot Noirs, but this is a spectacular Chardonnay. Apple fruit and lots of complexity, with some spice and a mineral finish. Delicious.

A vineyard that is 100% red sandstone soil that displays aromas of blood orange pith and spice. The 2022 has a glorious tension and is layered with peppery notes and spice. A wine that is concentrated, yet has incredible focus and balance.

The 2020 Centgrafenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs shows remarkable poise, with notes of greengage and some more exotic fruit, and then stunning spice alongside. There’s incredible length here, and flavours that continue to unfurl. Sebastien can make stunning Grand Cru Rieslings, too.

From 85 year old vines that come from a small 1 hectare vineyard at altitude on complex soils of quartzite, slate and clay. Primarily Garnacha, there is some Macabeo that has been field blended in the vineyard. Blood orange, raspberries combined with sweet and savoury spice. The tannins a chalky and extremely well knit.

‘Smaragd’ denotes grapes picked with the highest level of ripeness, and in 2022 the Axpoint Grüner Veltliner is intensely concentrated with yellow tropical fruits that jump out of the glass. There’s a velvety texture, perfectly judged acidity, and an extraordinary length. This is completely captivating in its youth, but there’s no doubt that it has the structure to age for a long, long time.

Having spent 12 years ageing in casks in Bodega La Campana in Jerez de la Frontera, this Oloroso has taken on complex aromas of baked apple, grilled nuts combined with dark chocolate and saltiness.

Pale lemon in colour, this Fino has an attractive lemon citrus profile that supports the yeasty, salty and savoury notes that are a result of the biological ageing. The palate has a refreshing acidity and saltiness on the palate.

We are delighted to have discovered a new wine project that was established only a few years ago in 2020. The grapes are sourced from a high altitude, single vineyard plot on the foothills of Mountain Za, on the island of Naxos, Greece. Exclusively old vines of more than 150 years old, these low yielding, ungrafted bush vines are planted on spectacular rocky and clay terraces.A burst of lemon verbena, white peach and grapefruit combined with ginger and flinty notes are supported by herbal notes on the finish. The crisp acidity balances perfectly with the wine’s salty and tangy profile. The 150 year old vine fruit going into this wine gives concentration and energy that is so rare and so enjoyable to be able to taste.

Viña del Olivo was revolutionary in Rioja in the early 1970s for being Rioja's first single estate, modelled on the Bordeaux concept. Under the meticulous winemaking of Jorge Navascués, this wine and the 2020 vintage is exceptional. A wonderful perfume of red cherries, rose petals and cranberries are supported by sweet and savoury spice. There are hints of lapsang souchong tea and crushed stones as well as some herbs. The tannins have a great presence, as well as an attractive suppleness.

This comes from mineral vineyards, not from Loess. It’s delicate, with notes of iodine and then a floral element. The finish spreads out and then there’s a bitterness here, too. This is explosive and very pure. This is a spectacular Grüner. So much oyster shell on the finish, and brilliantly balanced. Love this: very driven style.

A vineyard that is 100% red sandstone soil that displays aromas of blood orange pith and spice. The 2022 has a glorious tension and is layered with peppery notes and spice. A wine that is concentrated, yet has incredible focus and balance.

This limited edition, very rare Tawny port is so complex and intense made up of wines up to 90 years old. Coffee, dark chocolate, clove, black pepper and leather combine with dried blood orange. The core is vibrant and the tannins are extremely well resolved. The length is exceptionally long.

This is a spectacular Grüner sourced from gneiss, schist and brown soils in the Hirtzberger family’s southwestern corner of the Wachau. The vineyards are set on precipitously steep terraces above the Danube, and the process of hand-farming the land is extremely labour-intensive. The 2022 iteration of the Rotes Tor Grüner Veltliner is rich and textured, brimming with yellow apple notes, and balanced with a spine of vibrant acidity. This is always one of Franz Hirtzberger’s most impressive wines, and it stands out in 2022.

Scharzhofberger is one of the most highly sought after sites in Germany and the world. A steep, high altitude site that overlooks the estate, the Auslese demonstrates tropical fruit aromas of dried mango and apricot combined with honey blossom and hints of marmalade. There is a luscious core that is balanced rather elegantly with a nervy acidity.

Orange blossom, fresh and dried apricots, honey and ginger are all displayed in the glass. The palate is juicy and the acidity is racy and provides the perfect tension to the sweetness and rich core.

A seriously complex wine that exudes yellow fruits as well as exotic notes of papaya. Wonderfully floral and intense, carefully balancing the ripeness with the tension. This is quite a showy wine, yet the precision still remains.

Wonderful perfume and elegance on the nose, swirling flowers, cherries, blackberries and chocolate, too. Wonderful length, drive and beautiful density. Love the purity here - so fine and so so long. Impressive and delicate yet rich at the same time.

4 Kilos' first vintage in 2006 was made in a milk refrigeration unit and since then, winemaker Francesc Grimalt and business partner and musician Sergio Caballero have really honed their efforts to produce Mallorca's most well known and respected wines. 100% Callet grape. A wine that displays immense purity and freshness with a wild strawberry perfume and aromas of crushed red berries and hints of violet and sweet spice. The tannins are so fine grained and the palate is silky in texture with a restrained concentration on the core.

With an estate based in the southwestern corner of the Wachau Valley, five generations of Hirtzbergers have tended their 12 hectares of precipitously steep vines that overlook the Danube. Riesling Singerriedel is their flagship wine, and many would argue that it’s the finest Riesling in all of Austria. Each vine in Singerriedel is individually hand tended and inspected around one hundred times in the season, and this attention to detail translates into a showstopping wine that is an authentic expression of place and vintage. In 2022, the nose shows a hint of orange blossom and white stone fruit, while the palate is a perfect balance between structure and finesse. It’s elegant, immensely pleasing, and clearly world-class.

This has a floral nose with tropical fruit and nice texture. There’s good depth and energy, with a long, long length.Very nicely judged.

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.

Always on the tropical spectrum, the wine demonstrates a pepper spice as well as honey blossom and ginger notes. The concentration and ripeness is well balanced with purity and unflinching acidity.

From a small plot of the oldest vines, this was first produced in 2017: this is just the third vintage of a GG from the Krotenpfuhl vineyard, following ten years of recultivation of the plot. This balances richness and elegance: there’s ripe exotic fruit, and then a vibrant line of acidity that continues onto the long finish. Brilliant.

The 2022 Honivogl is all about salinity, herbaceousness, and restraint. Delicate aromas of ripe Bosc pear and watercress are evident on the nose, while on the palate, there’s an umami character that complements the fruit. If you like ponzu sauce, you’ll absolutely love this.

Citrus and blossom are underpinned by flinty and stony complexity. Ginger spice aromas add complexity and are typical of the 'spice garden' vineyard. Acidity is zesty and brings vibrancy to this fantastic wine.

Sourced from very old vines on slate soils that take on an additional layer of salty minerality in vintages like 2020. Expect the jasmine, lemon citrus and fleshy peach notes to be underpinned with steely and stone notes as well as a saline core. Restrained concentration defines this wine.

Viña del Olivo was revolutionary in Rioja in the early 1970s for being Rioja's first single estate, modelled on the Bordeaux concept. Under the meticulous winemaking of Jorge Navascués, this wine and the 2020 vintage is exceptional. A wonderful perfume of red cherries, rose petals and cranberries are supported by sweet and savoury spice. There are hints of lapsang souchong tea and crushed stones as well as some herbs. The tannins have a great presence, as well as an attractive suppleness.

From Jean Stodden's most famous vineyard, this is incredible in 2019. There's so much going on here, with spice and dark fruit, and a hint of liquorice, too. The finish is mineral and so well defined, and goes on for an age. With elegance yet power, this wouldn't look our of place in a line up of Burgundy Grands Crus.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and the wine is riper and richer in profile. Expect tropical fruits with spice and quince notes adding layers of complexity.

Southeast facing, the morning sun on this vineyard dries out any moisture, resulting in perfectly healthy grapes, while the warm slate soils creates a Kabinett that’s full of ripe fruit and tons of energy: it’s one of the most up-front wines from Dönnhoff, worth buying every year.

Grapes come from a slate dominated plot in the village of Toral de los Vados. It's northeast-facing exposition at 700 metres altitude, combined with 100 year old vines as well as Mencia co-planted with around 12 other varieties makes this a very exciting site and wine. Expect wild strawberries, cranberries and sweet spice combined with graphite and garrigue. Tannins are chalky and the core has so much finesse.

Scharzhofberger is one of the most highly sought after sites in Germany and the world. A steep, high altitude site that overlooks the estate, the spätlese displays a generosity of rip stone fruits and spice as well as steely and crushed stone notes. The acidity is lively and provides great structure.

Winemaker and owner of this impressive family estate, Pedro Rodríguez, has brought this estate to the forefront of high quality Spanish wines and is considered a pioneer of the Ribeira Sacra region. The blend is largely Mencía with 15% Galician indigenous varieties Caiño, Sousón, Mouraton, Garnacha Tintorera, Brancellao, Negralada and Alicante Bouchet. Located on steep slate and granite terraces, the grapes are sourced from different plots and vinified separately. The 2022 is a delight of violets, wild flowers, rosemary and graphite aromas that are supported beautifully by a fresh acidity and chalky tannins.

Bramble fruits,red cherry and violets are supported by licorice and pepper spice aromas on the nose. There is a silkiness on the palate and the tannins are fine grained in this accessible and delicious wine.

A vineyard that is only 0.73 hectares and sits on the eastern part of the village on very steep terraces, close to Achleiten this cuvée is often more austere than some of the estate’s other wines. It is largely gneiss soils and incredibly poor soils that produce grapes with low yield yet with great concentration. Crushed stones, smoke with ginger and lemon verbena herbal notes. The acidity is crisp and nervy and the length is incredibly long. Would benefit from decanting.

Apricot, pink grapefruit and flinty notes are incredibly concentrated with an awesome vibrancy and nervy core. There are layers of complexity in this wine with both savoury and fruit forward aromas that will continue to develop and express themselves further with bottle age.

Adelphi is best known as a highly regarded independent bottler. However this is a blend from its private stock, kept in a solera system. The blend is a mystery, but contains whiskies from across Scotland, including Islay, Speyside and Campbeltown. The whisky is always bottled non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The nose is full of rich fruit, caramel and butterscotch. There’s a spiciness to the palate and a long clean finish.

The 2018 Taylor's is spectacular. Floral and creamy, lovely vibrancy and pure tannins. So saline and intense, with silky fruit. Very impressive complexity, showing baked fruits, cloves, exotic spices, and plenty of energy, too. Remarkable.

Les Hauts de Pierre is the pinnacle of Blaise’s production. It comes from a single parcel of old vine Chasselas, and is powerful, textured, and intense, almost reminiscent of top Burgundy. This 2019 is a little closed, but with texture and purity on the palate, it points to a long life ahead. The salinity and leesy complexity on the palate lasts an age, with notes of citrus and more savoury elements unfurling over time: this is a remarkable Swiss white.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and the wine is riper and richer in profile. The wine is so concentrated and complex with a mix of fresh and dried fruits with spice and beeswax notes.

One of Eva's Grand cru sites, this site is always more floral and instantly inviting on the nose. Expect white blossom, grapefruit and white peach supported by hints of honey and ginger. The acidity is nervy and the saltiness continues on the finish, proving to be a rather delicious wine.

An incredibly rare bottling from this prominent estate, the Auslese from Achleiten displays plenty of honey and spice with orange peel, fleshy peach and dried apricot notes. So luscious on the palate and incredibly concentrated.

Bramble fruits,red cherry and violets are supported by licorice and pepper spice aromas on the nose. There is a silkiness on the palate and the tannins are fine grained in this accessible and delicious wine.

Having spent 24 months in a mix of French and American oak, this more modern style Rioja is displaying attractive purple and black fruit aromas. Notes of cinnamon, coconut and licorice spice. Tannins are fine grained with some grip, yet extremely well integrated given this wine is still so young. There is a red berry fruit concentration on the palate that continues for a long time on the finish and is balanced spectactularly with a lively acidity.

The outrunning hill of Heiligenstein. So intense - almost Grand Cru Chablis character. These’s so much going on here - texture and power, and creaminess and then plenty of spice. This treads that line between opulence and focus so so well. This is a big, intense wine, with so much intensity. Everything here is dialled up to 10.

Sebastien’s Chardonnays get better and better every year. This is from the limestone soils of the village of Astheim, far from the estate's cellar in Burgstadt. It’s pure and focussed, but with just a little fat on the bones. Lovely.

Much more opulent and intense, with mango and passion fruit and loads of freshness and minerality. Such purity and vibrancy, but also just a sense of latent power. Spearmint, wet stones, and ginger, and tons of length.

Slightly closed but fresh and silky, with lovely energy to the fruit. Very nice energy, here, good weight and power, but with a fine thread of acidity, very silky and pure, really good dry extract, and fine balance. So driven and saline and focussed. Love the phenolics here, incredibly complex and long.

The 2014 Tillington is just the fourth vintage of this defining single vineyard wine released by Nyetimber. It is now firmly established as the British Isles’ greatest wine. The site is found in West Sussex, and the vines here thrive in the greensand soils. The nose is shy at first, but very pretty, with a delicate floral note, and with some air, a vinous energy. The palate shows, of course, supreme acidity twinned with creamy texture which holds the orchard and hedgerow fruit notes together in perfect harmony. This is a superb release from Nyetimber, with the greatest ageing potential of any English Sparkling Wine we know.

A very special wine with limited production, the grapes are sourced from a small plot, with many vines over 100 years old. Black cherries, juicy red plums, brambles and clove and cedar spice are also supported by chalky, ripe tannins. Dark chocolate notes persist on the finish.

The wines of the Wachau have long been defined by mineral and peppery whites made from Grüner Veltliner planted on pure loess soils. And in that context, there are few wines more characteristic than Weingut Knoll’s Ried Kreutles Grüner Veltliner. The Kreutles vineyard sits at the bottom of the Loibenberg with pure loess soils that are perfect for Grüner, and in 2022 it particularly impresses with its complexity and finesse.

Achleiten is one of Prager’s most recognised vineyard sites, with this cuvée coming from a parcel that is largely gneiss, with the vines planted in the 50s on the lower terraces at around 220 metres. This wine is often the most open and floral of all of the Prager wines with classic white pepper notes supported by crushed stone and lime.

First documented in 1381, the Loibenberg is one of Austria’s most storied sites. There’s a silky, velvety texture that makes Weingut Knoll’s 2022 Grüner Veltliner Loibenberg completely irresistible. It’s lighter on its feet than some other Smaragd wines from the vintage, but the harmonious balance of textures, stone-fruited flavours and minerality set it apart as a timeless classic. It dances along the palate like a Viennese waltz, and goes on for ages like a Wagner opera.

This wine shows fabulous richness and breadth, yet retains a mineral and flinty character and zesty acidity that brings structure and definition.

Exotic and smoky and spicy. Lovely fruit and juice, amazing purity and silky fruit, lovely tension and finesse, comes in waves with salinity and length, this is just so elegant and finessed, with outatanding poise. Wonderful.