Spring Clean Day One

A wine we've backed for years now, from a single vineyard in the Hautes Cotes. This shows good ripeness but yet still excellent intensity of fruit. There's a nice lift on the finish: a brilliant example from the Hautes-Cotes.

High on the slope and bordering Vosne, offering elements of the two communes. It’s incredibly mineral, as you’d expect from this poor soil. Limestone and gunflint, with crunchy red fruit and flowers, and loads of energy on the finish.

The 2021 Monts Luisants, from one of Morey's most celebrated vineyards, is lovely in 2021. Lots of whole bunch spice, and there's a fragrance and purity here, too. Very nicely balanced.

This is an exceptionally pretty Chambolle-Musigny, offering up wild strawberry and blueberry notes. If you like the sweet aromatic fruit of 100% whole-bunch winemaking, this is the wine you’re looking for. Fine, silky tannins are extremely well-expressed on the poised finish.

Lots of mineral depth here, and there's also plenty of energy on the palate. There's a lovely density here - with notes of wild flowers and also darker frtui.

Tasted April 2022. Muscular and powerful with broad black fruits on the palate and a spiciness. Crunchier red fruits on the finish and some floral notes. A lot of Cabernet character and a classic tannin structure.

This was our top pick of Yves Cuilleron’s impressive range of Côte Rôties. It feels vibrant and fresh, with a moderate frame and perfumed length. 10% Viognier is in the blend here, with the Syrah grown on the gneiss and granite soils of Bassenon lieu dit.

Yves’ Crozes is juicy and fresh, with lovely texture and definition to the flavours. It’s beautifully made, making it deceptively easy to drink.

Tasted April 2022. Incredibly impressive, from a tiny plot mainly next to Troplong Mondot. Very cool and fresh, with crunchy red fruits on the finish. The core of the wine is full of dark cherry, black plum, and spicy notes like clove and licquorice. There's a chalkiness to the texture and a long, mineral finish. Truly breathtaking.

Tasted April 2022. Delicious and aromatic, this 2021 is full of soft red and black berry fruits, kirsch, mulberry and damson. Cashmere texture, fine, ripe tannins and bright acidity. There's great concentration here and a savoury, mineral finish. Fantastic value as ever. 13.5%.

Tasted April 2022. An unusual blend this year with 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is medium-bodied, full of fresh red berry fruit and crushed stone, mineral notes, petals and mint. There's some spicy, richer notes developing, and plenty of fresh acidity.

Tasted April 2022. This is the first vintage for Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse and it's a stellar effort and one of our favourite wines of the vintage. It's ripe but incredibly elegant with loads of crushed rock, mineral, almost salty elements to it. Slight herbal notes at the start and end on the palate but in good balance with the other ripe flavours, coming across as an almost minty freshness. Tiny volumes made, this is really one to watch.

Tasted April 2022. The best wine we've tasted from Berliquet, the 2021 is full of dark, brooding fruit. There's a powerful earthiness to the complexity in this wine, and plenty of chalky, cool freshness on the finish. Really well balanced, pure and concentrated.

Tasted April 2022. Branaire-Ducru remains a Lay & Wheeler favourite in 2021. Delicate savoury spice notes frame a core of dark berry fruit, and moderate acidity creates a beautiful fresh finish. Tannins are fine and ripe and add to the moreish, savoury style.

Tasted April 2022. Branaire-Ducru remains a Lay & Wheeler favourite in 2021. Delicate savoury spice notes frame a core of dark berry fruit, and moderate acidity creates a beautiful fresh finish. Tannins are fine and ripe and add to the moreish, savoury style.

Tasted April 2022. Rich, powerful, and inky with concentration of blackberry, raspberry, pepper, and dark chocolate flavours. Spicy, clove notes from 50% new oak. There’s a real lift and elegance to this to carry that generosity, possibly from some careful use of whole bunch fermentation. It finishes long, with saline flavours balancing the richness of this seriously impressive Moulis.

Tasted April 2022. Soft plummy fruit and bramble notes. Generous and full on the palate, with moderate grip in the tannins and a lovely fresh red fruited finish.

Tasted April 2022. Very precise Cabernet nose with blackcurrant and bramble, with graphite and cedar. There's a lovely brightness to this wine, and rhubarb-like acidity. The core of the wine is ripe and deep, with a silkiness to the texture. There's a long mineral-laden finish. This is a class act, with concentration and freshness in harmony.

Tasted April 2022. Seamless and ethereal, the excellent terroir at Chateau Canon really shines in 2021. There's a fresh crushed rock, salty sensation running through the wine making it incredibly appetising, and precise, aromatic berry fruit in the core. A slow and steady fermentation this year has left the wine incredibly deep and complex, but weightless and elegant at the same time. 13.5%

A real Lay & Wheeler favourite, the 2021 from Caronne Ste Gemme is everything we want from everyday claret, and in this cooler vintage it's especially refreshing and appetising. Just down the road from St-Julien, it's full of fresh blackcurrant, bramble, gentle spice, and refined tannins.

Tasted April 2022. Rich, savoury and broad with inky dark fruits, juicy in style. There's fresh acidity and some hazlenut and gentle baking spice from the oak. The tannins are supple but fine and delineated, creating a mouth-coating, rich effect.

Tasted April 2022. Bold and structured, with the 25% Cabernet Sauvignon shining through in precise black berry fruits, graphite and grippy tannins. Deep, concentrated fruit flavours and layered with spicy, savoury notes.

Tasted April 2022. This seriously impressed with its pure Cabernet fruit, perfectly ripe blackcurrants, delicate spice and cedar. There's a herbal crunchy finish and wonderful elegance and finesse. Very pure and appetising, this is a fantastic buy in 2021. 13.1%.

Tasted April 2022. Good balance of ripe, dark fruit and sappier red fruits. Medium-bodied with fine tannins, it's a really charming, poised wine. There's a chalky texture and mineral flavours on the finish.

Tasted April 2022. A great Pomerol from Guillaume Thienpont. This has lovely floral notes and aromas of truffle. It's broad and expansive on the palate, almost velvety, but then has a slight chalky bite at the end and some saline, mineral notes. Really intense and delicious.

Tasted 2022. Yields reduced by 60% this year. Savoury, full of tension and a minerally lip-smacking quality. Fleshy red fruit and black berry fruit dominate the palate, with abundant fine tannins. Classic and elegant, with a lovely fresh finish.

Tasted April 2022. Full of classic Pauillac character with firm structure, herbal lift, graphite complexity and a core of savoury dark fruit. This isn't overly opulent, but has lots of power, complex licquorice and leather notes, and a mineral-tinged finish. 13%.

Tasted April 2022. Rich and concentrated, with balanced fresh acidity and plenty of fine tannins framing the concentrated fruit. Delicate earthy spices on the nose and a slightly gamey note. 14%.

Tasted April 2022. Smoky and rich on the nose with tobacco, leather, licquorice and baking spices framing a core of ripe cherry, black plum fruit. The tannins are very fine and there's bright acidity in good balance. There's a lovely mineral, crunchy note on the finish making it very appetising.

The 2021 at La Conseillante is a continuation of a development in their style, the result in this cooler year is an ethereal, elegant and pure wine with velvety, aromatic berry fruits and subtle earthy complexity. Without doubt one of the most elegant Pomerol wines this year.

Tasted April 2022. Very intense black fruits, with a slight aromatic lift and savoury spice. The acidity is fantastically fresh, but balances so well with the pure, ripe fruit. There's complexity of crushed rock, mint and clove. This has density and concentration, but is perfectly poised. The tannins are ripe and there is a lovely saline, appetising quality to the finish, thanks to a higher than usual proportion of Cabernet Franc.

Tasted April 2022. Seriously impressive in 2021, La Garde has good concentration and a velvet, almost creamy texture. The flavours are full of bramble, blackcurrant, red plum and violets, and there's a developing silkiness to the tannins.

Tasted April 2022. Precise red and black berry fruit, overlaid with notes of truffle, dried mint, woody herbs, and petals. Fine grained tannins and fresh acidity. There's a tightness and delicacy to the palate now but tons of complexity waiting to unfurl.

Tasted April 2022. Dark plummy fruit mixed with brighter, crunchy raspberry on the palate. There's some firmness in the tannins now but they provide structure and will soften over time, framing the core of ripe fruit. Some lifted red cherry, floral notes. Acidity is bright and refreshing and the finish is savoury.

This Médoc is crafted by the team at Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, and beautifully displays the quality of the 2020 vintage with rich, plummy, cherry fruit. There are complex clove, cedar and woody herb aromas. It has a long savoury finish, with ripe tannins. It'll be great now with a range of dishes, in the ideal format for sharing, but will equally grow in complexity and savoury depth with some time in the cellar.

This Pauillac is produced by Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) using grapes collected from younger vines at Château Duhart Milon and Château Lafite Rothschild. The wines of the Lafite stable performed very well in 2020, with the Réserve Spéciale Pauillac being no exception. There's charming black fruits, with blackcurrant, a brambly character, and a precision consistent with its pedigree. The wine, though approachable now, should continue to drink nicely for years to come.

This Pauillac is produced by Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) using grapes collected from younger vines at Château Duhart Milon and Château Lafite Rothschild. From the fantastic 2019 vintage this is charming, elegant and full of dark berry fruit, black plum, hints of graphite and cedar. Drinking beautifully at this young age but it will also keep and provide fantastic drinking for years to come.

This Pauillac is produced by Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) using grapes collected from younger vines at Château Duhart Milon and Château Lafite Rothschild. The wines of the Lafite stable performed very well in 2020, with the Réserve Spéciale Pauillac being no exception. There's charming black fruits, with blackcurrant, a brambly character, and a precision consistent with its pedigree. The wine, though approachable now, should continue to drink nicely for years to come.

Crafted by the team at Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, this Médoc is subtle, charming, and refined with rich dark cherry fruit flavours and sweet liquorice spice. Densely packed tannins and a long savoury finish make this the perfect Bordeaux for the dinner table. And it’s in the perfect format to age and develop for years to come.

Tasted April 2022. Linear and precise with restrained blackberry, black cherry and graphite aromas. Medium bodied with a long, saline finish, this has a really mouth-watering, sapid quality. Crushed rock, petals and mint aromas create plenty of complexity but this is approachable and elegant first and foremost.

Tasted April 2022. Raspberries and blackberries, fresh and ripe, mingle with light floral notes and black pepper in this medium-bodied, fresh style of Larcis-Ducasse. The savoury, mineral, umami notes carry on through the long finish. Quite restrained at the moment, but with plenty of complexity developing already.

Precise core of ripe fruit with a plush, velvety texture. There's crisp, bright acidity and that, along with some fine, bold tannins, shows this has a long life ahead of it. A perennial bargain.

Made entirely from Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc this vintage, the 2021 Larrivet Haut-Brion is an absolute joy. Plums and blackberries mingle on the palate with delicate spicy notes and a distinct mineral finish. Cabernet Franc delivers its characteristic salinity here with an aromatic lift. Definitely a property to watch.

Tasted April 2022. Soft, ripe fruit with raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry. Slightly crunchier blueberry and raspberry on the finish. The tannins are silky and ripe, and the acidity is crisp but well balanced with the other elements of the wine.

Tasted April 2022. Deep, brooding and concentrated. Velvet texture and very fine tannins. The acidity is fresh but completely in balance with the depth of flavour in the wine. There are mineral, earthy, truffle notes developing and a long, persistent, moreish finish.

Tasted April 2022. Meticulous sorting during harvest and Carmes' unique position close to the warmth of Bordeaux city centre have resulted in a textural, soft-fruited wine in 2021. The team used slightly less of their characteristic whole-bunch fermentation technique this year but the wine is still full of beautiful lifted perfume, aromatic plums, hedgerow fruits and gentle spice. The dominant cabernet franc really comes into its own in this vintage, adding a silky coolness to the palate. It has a very mineral, almost chalky note, and a bright, crisp finish. 13.5%.

Tasted April 2022. Full of complex dark berry fruits and black plum with savoury hints and a spicy complexity. The tannins are broad and supple. Fresh acidity but in great balance with the savoury, complex style. Once again Les Cruzelles massively over delivers in value.

Tasted April 2022. Dark, juicy fruit in the core of the wine, with lots of spicy, savoury character too. Creamy on the mid-palate, and lovely balance with fresh acidity and a nice savoury, ripe feel to the tannins. 13%.

Tasted April 2022. St-Julien performed very well in 2021 and none more so than Léoville-Las-Cases. This wine has a pure, ripe core of brambly, black fruit and the tannins are very fine and ripe too. The acidity is very bright and refreshing and there's a lovely juiciness to the fruit. The finish is long and has a cooling herbal quality.

Tasted April 2022. Full of dense blackcurrant and brighter bramble and raspberry, with a deep, savoury, almost soy complexity. This is medium-bodied and charming, very fruit-forward and juicy but there's fresh acid and silky tannins providing structure and contributing to the appetising nature of this wine. Definitely one to watch.

Tasted April 2022. Full of perfume, energy and juicy black fruits. Velvety texture and plenty of ethereal, cooling, savoury Cabernet Franc character sending you back for another sip. The acidity is fresh and clean and the finish is seriously long. 13.1%.

Bright, expressive and perfumed with precise dark berry fruit, black plum, dark chocolate, and savoury spice. More lifted floral notes and sappier fruit character create a refreshing feel on the palate. Well balanced, with fresh acidity cutting through concentrated fruit flavours, and an appetising spicy note on the finish.

Produced from miniscule yields of just 9.6hl/ha, with 20% of a normal harvest, the 2018 Château Marsau is a real rarity. But the wine is absolutely stunning. The nose is pure and focussed, with red berries and wild flowers flowing from the glass, while the palate has sumptuous, silky tannins, a core of fruit, and a long, mineral finish. This wouldn’t look out of place in the heart of Pomerol, with the elegance and refinement we’ve come to expect from some of the greatest names there: an extraordinary Marsau.

Tasted April 2022. Another great performance from this St Estephe property on the rise. Full of precise, concentrated red berries on the nose, there’s some floral lift too. Baking spice, cedar, mint and saline notes build complexity and make for a lovely, long, fresh finish sending you back for another sip.

Tasted April 2022. Montaiguillon’s 2021 is another example of what incredible value this property represents. Situated in an elevated spot right on the border of St Emilion, the terroir is exceptional. This year the wine has concentrated blackberry, cassis and spiced plum fruit, but a distinct fresh red fruit character as well, giving amazing freshness. There are developing savoury, graphite, earthy notes beneath which will develop and integrate with age. This is a fantastic, balanced, classic Bordeaux for every occasion.

Tasted April 2022. The vineyards at Montlandrie are all on south facing slopes, with plenty of ventilation to protect the vines. The 2021 is full of ripe black fruit flavours, with a lovely gravelly texture and mineral freshness. There's some nice, earthy, savoury spice underneath and a seam of fresh acidity. It finishes long and mineral, seriously appetising.14%.

Tasted April 2022. A great second wine in 2021. Ripe, plump fruit character but fresh and stony on the finish showing classic St Estephe character. Open and expressive now, with hints of graphite development emerging. 13%

Tasted April 2022. Incredibly concentrated and tightly coiled, with pure fruit character and classic Bordeaux structure. Tannins are very fine, no doubt down to the careful use of large oak foudres to soften and integrate, and there's plenty of crisp refreshing acidity. The fruit flavours are bright and fresh with red berries, some deeper, dark berry fruit, and some herbal notes. There are already beautiful cedar, graphite, smoky flavours developing. 13%.

Tasted April 2022. Palmer used the highest proportion of Cabernet ever in this vintage of Alter Ego, and it really punches above its weight as a second wine. Dense and powerful, with ripe, juicy plum and cherry fruit, aromatic blueberries, and brighter, crunchy black berry fruit. Spicy cedar, licquorice and mint unfurl on the nose. There's bright acidity and fine tannins, and a very long, mineral, iodine finish. 13%.

Tasted April 2022. Concentrated and powerful, but still showing the characteristic freshness of the vintage. There's a mixture of ripe black fruit and crunchier red fruits, with a juiciness on the palate which broadens out into a long finish. The structural elements of the wine are tightly wound, but this has the potential to be fantastic with time in bottle. Tannins are ripe and bold at present. There's some lighter, herbal character and aromatics from 30% Cabernet Franc in the blend. 14%.

Tasted April 2022. Seriously concentrated with tightly-packed black cherry and blueberry fruit. As the palate develops more mineral, saline notes emerge and rise to a long fresh finish. Broad and slightly creamy texture with grippy tannins. Really impressive.

Tasted April 2022. Peymouton in 2021 shows a good level of ripeness with fresh, sappy red berries and some darker, more brooding fruit underneath. The structure is firm at this early stage, with lots of fine tannins and fresh acidity. The whole palate is tightly wound, ready to age gracefully in bottle.

Tasted April 2022. Peymouton in 2021 shows a good level of ripeness with fresh, sappy red berries and some darker, more brooding fruit underneath. The structure is firm at this early stage, with lots of fine tannins and fresh acidity. The whole palate is tightly wound, ready to age gracefully in bottle.

Tasted April 2022. Full of fresh, crunchy blackberry, cranberry and blueberry fruit with medium body and fresh raspberry acidity. This vintage from Château Robin is balanced and approachable, with savoury tannins and a lovely salinity on the finish making it even more appetising.

Tasted April 2022. Red cherry and raspberry fruit mix with black plum and cherry with good concentration on the palate. There are more delicate savoury spice, smoke and truffle notes developing. Fresh, crunchy red fruits on the finish with bright acidity and a fine, long finish.

Tasted April 2022. Linear, pure and rich with bright fresh acidity and some freshness from redcurrant flavours. The tannins are long, soft and slightly stony in character adding some mineral element to the palate. This is tight and intense now, but has the structure and concentration to age beautifully. 13.5%

Tasted April 2022. The 2021 Tertre de la Mouleyre is very fine, with pretty, bright fruits and floral notes. It's very elegant, and has plenty of depth to the dark fruit flavours. The texture is silky and there's an appetising, crushed rock sensation on the finish. Another brilliant vintage from a true gem of St-Emilion.

Tasted April 2022. An incredible shift has taken place at Troplong-Mondot in the past few years, with the new management seeking fresher, elegant, more appetising wines. The 2021 is a triumph, with dense black fruit and crunchier red fruit flavours, and a savoury, herbal lift from Cabernet Franc. For the first time since 1999 it comes in under 14% alcohol. This balance and elegance carries the wine through to a long, savoury finish. 13.5%.

Tasted April 2022. Chateau de Ferrand used more Cabernet Franc than ever before in 2021, and the result is a lively aromatic wine with black and blueberry fruit along with leafy complexity and a limestone-y, mineral finish. The wine is fresh and balanced and there is already a silkiness to the texture of the tannins. This is a property on the rise.

Tasted April 2022. Rich, ripe, heady and mouth-coating, with pure cassis fruit and black plum. The tannins are incredibly fine and silky, but dense now, and the spicy, complex flavours are broad across the palate. Hints of hazlenut and vanilla in the background but overwhelmingly driven by ripe fruit and the silky texture of the wine.

Clos Hedone was founded by friends Arnaud and Christophe, who both hold down day jobs in St-Emilion and Pomerol as well as this 1.8ha project in the St Christophe des Bardes area of St-Emilion. 2020 is their second vintage, and it's got a beautiful red cherry freshness, with darker plum on the palate and a lifted violet note. Silky in texture with savoury, mineral hints.

This has all the constituent parts to soar after sevearl years of slumber in the bottle. It's deep, powerful and intense, showing its breeding just below the Clos du Roi in Corton. It has nice, silky tannins with good depth and energy, and reasonable freshness. It just needs some time to come together.

Always one of our favourite wines here, the Bressandes is a masterpiece in 2018. Incredibly dark with cherries and flowers, and a mineral tang here. This is so complex and pure.

Very floral on the nose, with wild violets and also strawberries and raspberries. This shows the warmth of the vintage, but with real charm. If Savigny can sometimes be austere and rustic, this is the antidote.

This is a steep site with very high limestone soils. It always produces a nervous, tight wine that can do with a year or two in bottle before the floral notes can blossom.

Their Corton Blanc is a blend of grapes from Bressandes and Chaumes. One third in Stockinger barrels. This is long with notes of toast and vanilla, but also wonderful white fruit and soaring floral aromatics. The volume builds. This is outstanding - an affordable Grand Cru.

Cool fruit on this outstanding, and often forgotten vineyard. There’s spice and energy, and silky tannins, too. A delicious, and well-defined Gevrey.

From high up the slope, this is a cool, refined and elegant Gevrey. The fruit is juicy and precise, with a fine texture. And a good, fresh finish.

Thierry and Gilles Faravel make wines from various appellations, and numerous single vineyard or special cuvée labels, but by far and away the focus and priority of the domaine is this, their blended Gigondas. Its flagship position is well deserved. It comes from the first vineyards planted by their father in the 1960s. The 2021 has soft, fragrant berry fruit, with blackberry, blueberry and damson. There's delicate exotic spice and a juicy freshness to the finish. The tannins are fine, already well integrated and add texture and a gourmand quality.

Thierry and Gilles Faravel make wines from various appellations, and numerous single vineyard or special cuvée labels, but by far and away the focus and priority of the domaine is this, their blended Gigonas. Its flagship position is well deserved. It comes from the first vineyards planted by their father in the 1960s. The 2020 is profound and ample, yet so well-proportioned. The nose has intense notes of cassis and wild garrigue. The palate is weighty, but there is nothing cloying or overbearing here. It is peppered with the scent of wild strawberries and dried herbs. Rich, sun-drenched, and ultimately, very well balanced.

This is grippy, with red fruit and lots of pretty floral character, and a dusting of spice. From vineyards just above Côte-Rôtie, this is the essence of Syrah.

Blended from six lieux-dits, there's wonderful tension here between ripeness and mineral purity, with wonderfully perfumed and expressive Syrah fruit. The tannins are ripe and supple: this is a complete wine.

Although Domaine Ogier is based in Ampuis in the Northern Rhône, Stéphane has made a very savvy investment in the South. From a site near Cairanne he produces this brilliant value Côtes du Rhône. It delivers fantastically juicy, lightly grippy length, with an abundance of sweet red fruit flavours, thanks to the 60% Grenache in the blend, which is filled out with 40% Syrah. It is pleasingly rich and ripe for 2021, with vibrant freshness. Early drinking and full of joy.

Mon Village is the destination for the fruit of the Ogier’s younger vines, and it’s an approachable yet not-to-be-undervalued Côte-Rôtie. Very floral and supple, with persistence on the finish.

Although Domaine Ogier is based in Ampuis in the Northern Rhône, Stéphane has made one very savvy investment in the South. From a site near Cairanne he produces this brilliant value Cotes du Rhône. It delivers fantastically juicy, lightly grippy length, with an abundance of sweet red fruit flavours, thanks to the 60% Grenache in the blend.

Although Domaine Ogier is based in Ampuis in the Northern Rhône, Stéphane has made one very savvy investment in the South. From a site near Cairanne he produces this brilliant value Cotes du Rhône. It delivers fantastically juicy, lightly grippy length, with an abundance of sweet red fruit flavours, thanks to the 60% Grenache in the blend, which is filled out with 40% Syrah. It has smooth, attractive tannins thanks to the high proportion of whole bunch used in its fermentation.

Stéphane Ogier’s reputation is built on his Côte-Rôties. This cuvée is a blend of ten plots, mostly from the northern part of the appellation. It was first created in 2010, with Stéphane wanting to create a blended Côte-Rôtie that has all the signature style and spice of the hillside, but is accessible a little earlier than some of his single vineyard wines that are released later. It comes mostly from his younger vines, between 10 and 30 years old. It is bursting with Syrah black pepper and red currants, with a floral note lifting the palate. Salty tannins carry through onto the finish.

This plot of just over half a hectare is planted with 60+ year old vines. There is a floral character, and so much energy and silky tannins behind it. Good balance and drive, and nice density to the flavour.

From a plot close to the celebrated Clos de Cortons Faiveley. Corton is a huge success in 2018, with notes of wild berries, a herbal edge, and loads of finesse and length on the finish. Brilliant.

Les Poireaux, Les Crais, and En Sevrey are the three plots in this. This is savoury and pure, with wild berries and loads of texture. Very savoury and restrained, a nice vintage for Morey.

This plot of just over half a hectare is planted with 60+ year old vines. Complex with notes of baked earth and violets, and tons of lifted dark fruit. This is beautifully balanced, and very long indeed.

From a plot close to the celebrated Clos de Cortons Faiveley. Love the dark fruit, energy and purity. So much tension here, really silky and fine on the palate. A benchmark Corton.

This premier cru, in the south of the appellation, is a south-facing sun-trap. It was the first to be picked in 2021. Its character is not unlike a Volnay - red-fruited, with a pure fruit core, lacy freshness, and just enough structure to mean it will age brilliantly, but can be enjoyed fairly young too.

This is made from a combination of three parcels in the south of the Mercurey appellation from one single lieu-dit. The vines are now over 75 years old, and the wine they make is one of the most juicy and delicious reds you can find at this price level. It has a well-balanced body, and a long, fine finish, with aromatic, fruity cherry on the nose, and soft, supple tannins.

Clos du Roy is one of the finest sites in Mercurey and this comes from a parcel of 55 year old vines. The 2021 shows lovely ripe plummy aromas on the nose with a touch of rose. The palate has so much fruit concentration, density and depth supported by some silky and supple tannins. At the same time, this is fresh and very well-balanced with a long, fine, saline finish.

This is the combination of three parcels in the south of the appellation from one lieu-dit. The vines are now over 75 years old on average, and the wine they make is one of the most juicy and delicious reds you can find at this level. It has a well-balanced body, and a long, fine finish.

This premier cru, in the south of the appellation, is a south-facing sun-trap. It was the first to be picked in 2020, and Vincent has captured the voluminous ripeness and agile freshness of the vintage perfectly. Its character is not unlike a Volnay - red-fruited, with tender fruit core, lacy freshness, and just enough structure to mean it will age brilliantly, but can be enjoyed fairly young too.

First introduced in 2020, this cuvée is a blend of old and young vines mostly coming from the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. There's a precise, lean feel to the palate. This is classic Pinot Noir with juicy, bright, smooth red fruit that builds to a long, fresh finish.

Nicolas sees these vineyards, around Corgoloin just south of Nuits St Georges, as the future of his domaine. Land prices here aren’t impossibly high, yet the quality of terroir is terrific. It means he can make this enormously characterful and interesting wine for an outstanding price. The 2021 has a floral, peppery, cherry and damson character, both ripe and with a little crunchy tannic kick.Satisfyingly delicious.

Nicolas sees these vineyards, around Corgoloin just south of Nuits St Georges, as the future of his domaine. Land prices here aren’t impossibly high, yet the quality of terroir is terrific. It means he can make this enormously characterful and interesting wine for an outstanding price. The 2020 has deep, dark, black cherry and damson character, both richly ripe and with a little sour kick of the vintage’s fresh acidity. Satisfyingly firm.

Nicolas sees these vineyards, around Corgoloin just south of Nuits St Georges, as the future of his domaine. Land prices here aren’t impossibly high, yet the quality of terroir is terrific. It means he can make this enormously characterful and interesting wine for an outstanding price. This is a great success in 2019, with juicy, inky dark fruits, creamy tannins, and satisfyingly firm freshness. It shall no doubt continue to be one of the most popular wines on our list.

A celebrated premier cru up the slope in Nuits. This is elegant and lifted, with Nuits minerality and plenty of crunchy dark fruit. Long and savoury: Nuits intensity with Vosne elegance.

Les Suchots is one of Vosne’s greatest vineyards, situated on the line of Grands Crus. Vines planted in 1937. Power and volume here, but not lacking focus on the palate. It’s a brilliant example of a brilliant vineyard.

From vines planted in 1927, between Echézeaux and Clos de Vougeot, this might be the best placed village vineyard on the Côte de Nuits. And this shows in the quality here. Intense and structured, with beautiful energy: outstanding.

Floral with a great energy on the nose. The energy follows through to the palate, with a lively core of acidity running through this wine. There is great depth to the fruit and a crunchy grip to the tannins which should see this wine age with grace.

Nicolas has the oldest vines in this highly-rated premier cru. They were planted in 1904, and they are incredibly low yielding. The wine has highly concentrated fruit, with impressive tannic grip, though ultimately remaining graceful. A masterclass.

Nicolas has the oldest vines in this highly-rated premier cru. They were planted in 1904, and Nicolas plans to uproot them within the next year because the old vines have become so low-yielding. The wine has powerful and concentrated tannins, fantastic texture and elegant, floral,plummy aromatics to its fruit.

These vines were planted in 1927, and lie just under Echézeaux and next to Clos de Vougeot and a stone’s throw from Suchots, which all in all is pretty unbelievable positioning for a village parcel. In 2021, 100% whole bunch was used, giving a delicious lift to the fruit. There is great depth and layering to the smoky, plum and damson fruit, topped off with a wonderful blackcurrant drive. The tannins are present but not astringent, giving it a muscular dimension. Very well made indeed.

Serious and brooding. Lovely density, and nice mineral texture. Has those grippy Clos tannins, but they’re refined and well rendered. This is elegant and finessed, but doesn’t lose its Clos Vougeot Character. Very long and fine.

This was a high point to finish on with Nicolas. It was elegant, smoky, savoury, and spicy with such intense density, power and concentration in the fruit. It is full-bodied with a great acidity and voluminous tannins. A cut-above.

This attractively priced Bourgogne is well worth scooping up in 2022. It comes from a blend of old and young vines, which make for a fragrant, red-fruited, juicy, and open wine, with a nicely fresh finish.

These 3 parcels of vines are between 50-70 years old, and Nicolas has used 100% whole bunch on this wine, giving it a kirsch/cranberry fruit character. The tannins are really quite crunchy and energetic in their youth, but will stand it in good stead for ageing.

Lovely nose of fragrant wild red fruit and rose petal, then velvety and rich with cherry, plum and wild berry fruit flavours. Fresh and complex with lots of depth. Great energy and concentration in the finish.

Packed full of red fruit character, with structured tannins that are typical of Gevrey. Herbal, savoury notes run through on the palate with a long, saline finish. Quite Nebbiolo in character and quite delicious.

Nicolas has the oldest vines in this highly-rated premier cru. They were planted in 1904, and we learned this year that their days are numbered. Nicolas plans to uproot them within two years because the old vines have become so low-yielding (just 16 hl/ha in 2020). The wine has highly concentrated tannins and a particularly perfumed aromatic fruit.

Tasted April 2022. A delicious mix of red cherry, black cherry, plum, blueberry and blackberry with complex savoury spices. Refreshing acidity and a supple, juicy quality on the palate.

The 2015 Petite Lune is in a beautiful place after 5 years. Notes of candied pineapple and a hint of wild honey on the nose, with a textured and silky, yet still lively palate. It's such a charming, giving wine to enjoy today. Lovely.

Tasted April 2022. Intense, brooding black fruit aromas, with graphite and earthy aromas, minty and spicy. A slightly saline finish, medium bodied and fine tannins. This feels very complete and classic, with elegance and concentration well balanced.

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.

The 2018 Petite Lune is the ideal house claret, with incredible pedigree and quality for the price. It's made by the team at Domaine de Chevalier, and is everything we look for in Bordeaux. Fresh plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit, plenty of fine, savoury tannins, and a long refreshing finish. Medium bodied and ever so drinkable.

From the middle of the slope, from vines 45 years old which Brian says act like they’re 75 years old, given how little fruit they yield. 30% whole bunch. Smells so good: expressive, fine, and good delicacy.Floral, slightly peppery and seductive with lovely tannins. There’s a slightly tonic note on the finish, and wonderful length. Very impressive.

The 2018 L'Aurage is bold, rich and concentrated. Strawberry and raspberry aromas jump from the glass, with layers of sweet spice, dark chocolate, leather and incense. All this is framed by velvety tannins and an extremely enticing texture. Decadent, delicious, and delightful.

The three Cayron sisters make a consistently age-worthy, traditional style of Gigondas that has earned them a strong following over the years. Cayron refers to the peak of the Dentelles Mountains beneath which the Gigondas appellation is nestled. This wine has such a deep, sumptuous colour, and the nose and palate are packed with rich blackcurrant fruit and minty freshness. The wine is neither fined nor filtered; old-school winemaking at its best.

Lalande-de-Pomerol is often accused of producing slightly rustic wines, but this 2016 L’Etoile from Guillaume and Francois Thienpont is anything but. Guillaume is better known for crafting brilliant wines at Vieux Chateau Certain and Le Pin, and in Lalande the team have created a beautifully balanced and finessed wine with plenty of potential for ageing. Perfectly ripe black fruit and just enough crunchy red fruit creating freshness. The tannins are fine and there is a lovely velvet texture. A truly stunning wine that would not look out of place in a more illustrious appellation.

Tasted April 2022. Dark, brambly fruits with some earthy, truffle notes of complexity. The finish is sappy and fresh with more crunchy red fruit. Very cool, refreshing and moreish. 13.5%.

Fresh, textured and accessible, this is simply delicious. There’s pure cherry and spice with a touch of smoke, and it’s thoroughly charming.

This Côte-Rôtie cuvée is wonderfully elegant, with violets, gorgeously pure raspberry, herbs and spice. It’s beautifully balanced and fresh, with lacy acidity and great length.

From one of Côte-Rôtie’s most famous lieux-dits, and this lives up to the billing, exuding power and depth. It’s classically-styled, with floral and herbal characters as well as juicy black fruits. There’s tremendous energy and freshness, and the finish is cool and pure.

Made from a 20-hectare plot of Crozes owned by Delas, and blended from 5 different blocks with big galets. Nice nose, creamy cherry and silky tannins. Beautiful elegance and purity. Long and silky.

This is a two hectare plot that borders Château Grillet. It’s so powerful and elegant, with clean mineral and savoury notes added to the spice and stone fruit. The definition across the finish is spectacular, and there’s energy to keep it driving on.

This comes from a parcel of older vines, aged between 30 and 80 years. It is a textured and fragrant style of Crozes, with amplified fruit on the palate.

Brilliant from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont this year. This wine is full of tension and freshness but has seriously persistent aromatics as well. There's fragrant black fruits, some floral notes and a slightly crunchy black fruit element on the palate. There are very fine tannins and dense savoury flavours, with just a hint of truffle developing. The acidity is fresh and clean but in no way obtrusive. Generous, refined and delicious.