Wines for the Garden

From 120 year old Pais vines, made by a legendary vineyard mapper and soil scientist, who’s worked as a consultant at some of the world’s greatest estates. It’s a peppery, floral, fragrant red, with charming acidity and a long and pure-fruited finish. Absolutely delicious: a brilliant alternative to Gamay, or to lighter cool-climate Syrah.

We were totally blown away by Lucinda’s Cinsaut, when we tasted it for the first time last year. It’s from a 1974-planted vineyard in Darling, on red sandy soils, and she’s making it in a style that’s most reminiscent of top Beaujolais. With 50% Carbonic Maceration, and the rest whole bunch fermentation, this brings out a really floral, elegant side to the Cinsaut grape. It’s a really beautiful red.

Lovely open nose of clove and fruit. It’s charming already: fresh, well balanced and the perfect introduction to Nebbiolo.

The Birba comes from the same vineyards as the Brunellos, but sees one year in smaller oak barriques before being bottled earlier. This makes it a more forward style of wine - a Brunello for the impatient, if you will.

Always an impressive wine in the Lafite stable, this has notes of bramble and plums, with hints of burnt earth and a touch of tapenade. The palate is long, with enjoyably grippy tannins. Another outstanding 2016.

A rare “northern” Côtes du Rhône, Alain makes this cuvée with young vines from Cornas and other parcels from just outside the region. Nice nose, creamed dark cherries and also a hint of dark pepper. Very nice finesse and good silky acidity. Impressive density and fine mineral. Rather delicious, and quite serious.

With more concentration than the classic cuvée, a fuller nose and a palate that is dense but not overripe, this is impressive and beautifully textured. The finish has a slight saline note adding complexity, and is very long.

Very old Gamay vines produce this exceptional cuvée, which ages as well as most 1er Cru Pinot based wines. Wild strawberry, rose and a hint of blood orange notes abounding, this is dense and rich: a smart buy which would fool most in a blind taste.

The 2017 Petite Lune is everything we want from everyday claret, and more. Notes of blueberries and fresh plums on the nose, with loads of finesse to the tannins and a very long and savoury finish. This is far more complex, concentrated, and pure than the price would suggest. Go long: it won’t disappoint.

Michel Chapoutier is a towering talent in the Northern Rhône, producing some of France’s greatest wines. Quick to recognise the potential in this southern corner, his investment and dedication here make for a Roussillon red of excellent value. With notes of garrigue and fresh berries on the nose, a hint of tapenade, and focussed grippy tannins, this is a charming wine from Chapoutier.

A mix of 33% Cinsault from Darling and Stellenbosch, 30% Grenache, 21% Swartland Syrah and 16% Wellington Carignan , this is a fine yet powerful red, with so much energy and character. Named in honour of Franco’s dad, it’s a stunning tribute.

This is made from a high quality Beaujolais village parcel, but after the wine was rejected in 2012 for being ‘too pale’, Jean-Claude decided to change its classification to the much freer Vin de France, valuing the innate character of the wine over the AOC’s regulations. It remains one of the most interesting in his range. The palate is so light on its feet, with a lifted red berry energy. 100% whole bunch Gamay gives it a cool, bright structure with lacy tannins. No sulphur dioxide is added at all here. Equally well suited as a chilled aperitif red or a superb lighter style to finish an evening off: this is natural winemaking at its finest, least-faddy best.

Juicy and fresh. Nice strawberry fruit, with a hint of clove adding complexity. Touch of tannin, with creamy fruit on the finish.