Wines for the Garden

Here's the perfect gift for those bon vivants who might prefer an alternative to wine. This extra virgin olive oil was pressed this season by one of our favourite Brunello producers, Laura Brunelli.

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.

Made from Clairette, this is a fresh, tangy white made in honour of Pieter’s old cellar hand. It’s fresh, delicious, and has you reaching for another glass.

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.

Aged for five years in bottle before release, this has developed brilliantly. Fresh acidity and citrus flavours are accompanied by more honeyed, toasty notes, with characteristic Semillon texture that finishes crisply and cleanly.

From the region of Slovenia that borders Italy, this is a beautifully floral, almost tropical white, with slightly honeyed notes. There’s a salinity here, that will make it a brilliant seafood white. Delicious.

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.

Gallina de Piel is the winemaking project of David Seijas, the former Head Sommelier at three-Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli. He uses indigenous grapes to make fresh, savoury, food-friendly wines. This fits the bill perfectly, with a hint of grip on the palate, and a lovely, long, mouth-watering finish.

A lovely floral element to the nose on this Riesling, with honeysuckle, and even rose petal shining through. There’s a beautiful creaminess to the fruit here: this is so approachable, and so delicious. The finish has notes of white peach, and a vibrancy and energy that’s hard to ignore. Excellent value.

Very floral and elegant, there’s a lightness of touch here. Notes of orange blossom and plenty of citrus zest, and just a hint of spearmint on the finish. Vibrant.

There can be few more enjoyable wines than this Moscato, from the best place for the grapes in Piemonte, Canelli. Notes of grape essence and apple blossom, with honey and a hint of hazelnut, too. The sweetness is wonderfully balanced with acidity: this should be in everyone’s life.

The 2019 has a wonderful nose showing sun-ripened peaches and apricots, these delicious stone fruits give way to cool, refreshing acidity and juicy wild strawberries on the palate, transporting you immediately to a sunlit afternoon in the south of France.

This blend of Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best value whites we've come across recently. It is fresh, grassy, clean, lightly aromatic, and highly refreshing.

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.

Grown on schist and galet roulé soils between the Lac de Grandlieu and the Atlantic Ocean, where the thin topsoil produces a very fine example. In 2019 it has great body, with the concentration that comes from low yields. The perfectly ripened skins at harvest time add just a touch of tropical fruit to the creamy texture of this wine.

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.

Crisp acidity and drive on the palate give way to fresh flowers and crunchy pears. There’s so much complexity here, with notes of acacia and peach supported by crushed rocks and a hint of white pepper. Brilliant, and so moreish and a truly remarkable Prosecco.

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 slightly more generous example, exotic but without being over the top. Lovely saline quality to the fnish, structure is lacy but amazing length. Amazing structure and balance. Lovely depth. Cool and fresh and so much energy. Beautifully balanced. 58 grams/litre.