The Full Autumn Edit

The 2019 Prairie comes from a distinct vineyard on the Marsau estate, and has been made with no oak ageing and as little sulphur as possible. The resulting wine is as pure and focussed a merlot as we’ve come across. Notes of fresh victoria plum, blood orange, and wild flowers, with silky tannins, and a long, mineral, savoury finish. It’s a stunning wine: one you simply want to try over and over again. Bravo Anne-Laurence.

A Lay & Wheeler favourite for years, what's not to love about this St-Emilion, part of the Durantou family of wines. Silky and fine, with loads of savoury tannins, and long and pure finish. Buy this in bottles, and magnums, and make sure you've always got both to hand over the years to come.

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.

This brilliant-value Bourgogne Blanc comes from limestone parcels scattered around the Puligny side of Meursault. This wine always delivers: in 2023 it’s brimming with fresh pear on the nose. On the palate, it’s so textured and long, and particularly persistent for a Bourgogne. It sees 25% new oak, which is relatively high for a Bourgogne, adding savoury definition - you get a lot of bang for your buck here. It is a great introduction to the Côte d’Or.

The 2019 Prairie comes from a distinct vineyard on the Marsau estate, and has been made with no oak ageing and as little sulphur as possible. The resulting wine is as pure and focussed a merlot as we’ve come across. Notes of fresh victoria plum, blood orange, and wild flowers, with silky tannins, and a long, mineral, savoury finish. It’s a stunning wine: one you simply want to try over and over again. Bravo Anne-Laurence.

Bruno Clair has an impressive 10 hectares in his home village of Marsannay. He bottles five separate cuvées, including this wonderful iteration from a single parcel at the southern end of the commune, on the slope that rises up behind the village. Its name (meaning “fat heads”) refers not to anybody involved in its cultivation, but rather the large rocks that show through the surface of the clay soil. It is typically the most structured and powerful of the Clair Marsannays, and in 2021 it is muscular and tightly coiled, reminiscent of Gevrey-Chambertin. It has fantastic fruit concentration, and with the structure and freshness to age wonderfully. This is quintessential Marsannay, and quintessential Clair.

Often regarded as a "Baby Brunello" because it is sourced entirely from two outstanding, Brunello-classified parcels, the 2024 Gianni Brunelli Rosso di Montalcino is a wine of exceptional clarity and varietal authority. Sourced from Podernovone and Le Chiuse di Sotto, it pours a bright, transparent ruby red and opens with highly floral aromas of violets, rose petals, and fresh cherries with a hint of savory leather. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully supple and vibrant, balancing crunchy redcurrant and wild strawberry flavours with ripe and polished tannins.

A zesty, vibrant white with notes of white grapefruit, pear, and crushed rocks. There is a salinity and brightness here with a little herbal nettle twist. Refreshing and enjoyable with a touch of complexity and texture from the proportion of Sauvingon Gris.

This comes from various parcels of younger vines, aged around 20 years old. The name is a tongue-in-cheek nod to a dispute many years back with a neighbouring vigneron. In Savennières, the vignerons have a wicked sense of humour as well as great pride in their appellation. The grapes are picked at the beginning of harvest, and there is a pithy, salty tang to the dry, hugely textural palate. It's the lightest weight of the Closel wines, vinified 100% in stainless steel. This is fresh, with great tension and verve and an impressively long and evolving finish to it.

This is juicy, lightly peppery, bright and elegantly smooth Cabernet Franc which is wonderful in its youth. The fruit comes from the bottom part of the slope, hence 'Pied' - foot. This is in contrast to the mid-slope fruit goes into the age-worthy, denser 'Mi-Pente' cuvée. Some vines at the bottom are as old as 80 years, so although the wine is juicy, upfront, and invitingly drinkable, the finish is sustained and persistent with old vine intensity taking this above a simple easy-drinking wine. It’s got a wonderful sour cherry note, with lightly smoky notes.

The 2020 Labégorce is a beautiful Margaux, that's undoubtedly Cru Classé quality, but that's available at a much lower price. Notes of lavender and woodsmoke on the nose, and a structured yet elegant palate, that shows the best of this commune. A must-buy in 2020.

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.

This delicious white comes from a plot of limestone soil high up on the hill. It’s floral, mineral and zippy, with fantastic energy. This delivers the quality and complexity of a village wine for the price not far off others’ Bourgogne Blancs.

Coming from three different communes in which the estate owns vineyards, this is 100% destemmed and vinified in stainless steel. This has such clarity of bright cherry fruit, violets and a little black pepper which flow seamlessly across the palate. Delicious, bright and crunchy, this is a great value Crozes from Rousset.

Made from 60 year old vines grown in the sandy soils of Lirac across the river from the domaine, this Lirac is full of vibrant, bright fruit with nice savoury chewy tannins. The ripe cherry fruit keeps it fresh and approachable with a lovely minerally finish adding to the gourmand feel of this wine. Excellent value.

From a vineyard that could be used to produce Barolo, this is a tensile, juicy, strawberry tinged Langhe Nebbiolo. Never overworked, and brilliantly balanced, it’s a delicious expression of this style of wine.

The Bignon parcel has red clay soil, not dissimilar to that found in pockets of Pommard. It usually produces an easy-going, fruit-forward wine, but I’m struck by the excellent structure found in this 2022. It still has the signature smooth fruit, but with fine, lightly grippy tannins from well-handled 60% whole-bunch fruit.

A superbly elegant and intense Chianti Classico Riserva from this much-lauded vintage, the wine opens with beautiful aromatics of violets, wild herbs and hedgerow fruit. There is a sleekness and elegance through the palate with a core of wild cherry, a little white pepper and a sense of salinity behind the fruit. The tannins finely frame the fruit with a lovely tension and the finish builds through the palate with accents of raspberry and liquorice.

The Red blend is a blend of 68% Syrah, 27% Carignan, and 5% Mourvedre. The Syrah and Mourvèdre were fermented as whole bunches, carrying elevated aromatics and firm structure. Carignan was destemmed to preserve purity of fruit and balance. A fifth of the blend was matured in new oak, another fifth in concrete and the remainder in seasoned oak barrels. The Syrah leads on the nose here, with notes of wild herbs, juniper, and violets. The palate has a silky mouthfeel, with ripe plum and hedgerow fruit flavours with a subtle accent of tapenade and sandalwood on the finish.

The Fèvre Chablis comes from 40 parcels scattered across four hectares, from vines with an average age of 50 years. Much of these are grown around Chichée, near Vosgros, and give the quality you might expect in a Premier Cru. The result is a village Chablis of brilliant precision and nice freshness with a long voluminous finish.

From vineyards adjoining the legendary Sanford & Benedict vineyard, this cool climate Chardonnay has elegant aromas of grilled peach, lemon and toasted hazelnuts. The palate of bright fruit and honeycomb is beautifully framed by crisp acidity and has a rich texture that carries through to the long, clean finish.

Sourced from the younger vines of the Sommerberg Grand Cru and its environs, the 2024 Riesling Réserve is a triumph of precision timing. Despite a demanding growing season, Jean Boxler has delivered a wine defined by racy acidity and a high-toned aromatic profile of tangy grapefruit and lemon. The palate is lean and electric, offering a surge of citric energy underpinned by a firm granitic mineral core. Bone-dry and beautifully slender.

A Champagne of great finesse and elegance from the Chardonnay and a lovely rich character and structure from the Pinot Noir. The 2016 is a wonderfully fresh and expressive vintage.

An elegant and beautifully balanced expression, rich in voluptuous dark fruit aromas, with a firm and rounded texture and an alluring cherry and blackberry finish.

Attractive blueberry fruits, redcurrants and red plums with hints of spice and graphite. The palate has a silky texture and there is a wonderful juiciness that lingers for some time.

This is Syrah wearing its Pinot cloak. The Kamaka is the wine that needs the most explanation in the Bott cellar. Seyssuel, on the other side of the river to Côte-Rôtie, is an appellation on the march. There are hopes that it will be elevated to full cru status within a matter of years. Here, the schist and gneiss soils glisten in the sunlight; there’s no granite on this side of the river. The Syrah that grows here is floral and pinot-esque, with an elegant texture and a spicy, salty undertow. Kamaka is the Maori word for rock or stone, and a nod to Graeme’s Kiwi origins. Much more than a curiosity.

South African winemaker Manfred Ing has been elevating this estate since his arrival, and the Querciabella wines are considered some of the most exciting coming out of the Chianti region. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, the 2021 vintage is a masterpiece of cool-vintage precision and linear elegance. Expressive aromas of dried violets, blackcurrant, and fresh mint yield to complex notes of graphite and leather. On the palate, a vibrant core of sour cherry and dark woodland berries is framed by fine, velvety tannins and a superb mineral freshness. Classy, tightly wound, and beautifully poised, this stellar vintage boasts the perfect structural backbone for a long, graceful life in the cellar.

The son of renowned winemaker Jorge Riccitelli, Matías has created a stunning, modern classic from 80-year-old ungrafted vines in Vistalba, Perdriel, and La Consulta. The 2022 vintage showcases the incredible gravitas and seamless depth typical of these centenarian plants, balanced by the winemaker's trademark freshness and precision. Deeply concentrated, it opens with a quintessentially fragrant bouquet of wild blackberries, black cherries, liquorice, and perfumed violet. The palate is full-bodied and beautifully structured, wrapping rich, dark cocoa and hazelnut-chocolate notes in superfine, silky tannins that flow into a remarkably long, polished finish.

This elegant Syrah completely redefines Paarl’s warm-climate reputation with northern Rhône-style lift and poise. Showing a deep ruby color with violet flashes, the nose reveals an expressive, fresh bouquet of redcurrants, mulberries, and lavender, backed by notes of olive tapenade and cracked black pepper. The palate is silky, supple, and beautifully balanced, layering bright red berry fruits with delicate clove, sweet fynbos, and dark chocolate elements. Supported by remarkably fine, featherweight tannins and a refreshing blood orange acidity, it finishes incredibly clean and focused.

Craggy Range is proud to be among the earliest champions of the Gimblett Gravels, and this 2024 Syrah perfectly demonstrates the unmistakable synergy between site and variety. Pouring deepest red with a vibrant purple hue, the nose is richly perfumed, offering elegant aromatics of violet, lavender, freshly cracked pepper, and boysenberry. The palate is plush and concentrated without feeling heavy, carrying a pure core of dark cherry and blackberry fruit layered with aniseed and savoury black olive. Poised, taut, and beautifully balanced, it flows into a long, mineral finish supported by very fine, dusty tannins.

Widely regarded as one of New Zealand's absolute masters of the grape, Neudorf has crafted a brilliant 2023 Tiritiri Chardonnay that confidently walks a tightrope of fruit, minerality, and oak. Bright aromas of white peach, ripe nectarine, and candied citrus peel are interwoven with a cool thread of rockpool minerality and a hint of toasted almond. On the palate, it is beautifully shaped-voluminous and generous yet never heavy, carrying a chalky, salivating acidity and a creamy texture from partial malolactic fermentation and lees contact. The finish is remarkably clean, modern, and precise, leaving behind lingering notes of citrus oil and subtle savoury spice.

A silky, bright, and highly expressive cool-climate Pinot Noir that consistently overdelivers on value. This 2025 release bursts from the glass with lively aromas of wild strawberries, red cherries, and orange zest, alongside a sweet, brambly spice and hints of mace. On the palate, it balances a juicy, concentrated core of red berries and plums with subtle, savoury herbal undertones and a touch of bark for grip. Keeping light on its feet with fresh acidity and silky, supple tannins, it finishes long, clean, and remarkably refreshing. It is highly enjoyable when served with lightly chilled.

Crafted by the legendary Monforte d'Alba producer Elio Grasso, the 2025 Educato Langhe Chardonnay is a beautifully polished, Burgundy-inspired white that brings superb poise to the red-dominated Langhe. Intensely aromatic and beautifully fresh, the nose opens with lifted notes of wild herbs, delicate white flowers, and zesty lemon tart, balanced by fresh green apple, ripe pear, and a hint of white peach. On the palate, it balances crisp, mouthwatering acidity with a luxurious, silky creaminess and subtle sweet spice derived from perfectly integrated French oak. Boasting excellent structure and a stony, mineral energy, it drives forward into a long, beautifully clean, and refreshing finish.

Vel’Uveyra, meaning "to gaze at the vineyards," is predominantly Mencía blended with a touch of Garnacha from steep, terraced vineyards. The 2024 vintage opens with fragrant aromas of wild blackberries, roses, and cracked black pepper. On the palate, it is beautifully fleshy and medium-bodied, layering juicy flavours of ripe plums and dark cherries with wild herbs and a distinct stony minerality. Brilliantly balanced with a silky texture and vibrant acidity, it finishes incredibly clean, long, and refreshing.

The 2025 Red Slate Dry Riesling perfectly showcases Middle Mosel's rare, iron-rich red Devonian slate terroir. Hand-harvested from estate-owned vineyards averaging 60 years of age, the wine opens with highly expressive aromas of ruby red grapefruit, under-ripe apricot, and fresh herbs. On the palate, a juicy, concentrated orchard fruit entry seamlessly transitions into a bone-dry, mineral-driven finish marked by vibrant acidity, herbal complexity, and a mouth-watering, stony salinity.

Produced by one of the Loire Valley's most historic family-owned estates, the 2025 Château de Tracy Pouilly-Fumé is a Sauvignon Blanc of incredible purity and terroir-driven intensity. It opens with highly expressive, precise aromas of fresh pear, white peach, and zesty lemon muddled with aniseed, fresh mint, and the estate's signature smoky, flinty undertone. On the palate, a bright, dynamic entry drives into an ample and concentrated core of juicy citrus. It shows exceptional focus and structure, balanced by a vibrant, salivating acidity and a long, deeply saline, mineral finish.

Crafted by Louis Barruol from biodynamically grown grapes on the cold limestone soils of Saint Martin, the 2024 Les Deux Albion Blanc is a wonderfully unique and refreshing Southern Rhône blend showing crystalline purity and elegance. The expressive nose bursts with aromas of yellow peach, dried apricot, and white flowers, accented by lime zest, wild thyme, and a distinct touch of exotic papaya. On the palate, it beautifully balances the natural, rounded texture and honeyed richness of Viognier and Marsanne with the vibrant, limestone-driven acidity of Picpoul Blanc. Ending with excellent mineral tension, it finishes clean, crisp, and remarkably persistent.

The Wiston Estate Cuvée Brut 2020 is an incredibly opulent and beautifully focused release from a memorable, growing season. Shimmering with a warm golden hue, the nose immediately invites you in with decadent aromas of baked apple pie, tarte tatin, and vanilla custard, seamlessly layered over poached pear, lemon curd, and toasted almonds. On the palate, this flagship blend reveals an impressive depth and richness, showcasing a creamy pastry base and notes of runny wild honey, brilliantly balanced by a linear, chalk-driven citrus acidity and a subtle touch of salinity. Outstandingly delicious now, its vibrant energy and precise structure guarantee it will evolve and mature magnificently in the cellar.

Serving as a bright and highly approachable introduction to the cool-climate elegance of Victoria's first vineyard, the 2025 Little Yering Chardonnay beautifully captures the youthful vibrancy of the Yarra Valley. Aromas of fresh lemon, pink grapefruit, and white nectarine leap from the glass, complemented by delicate white florals and a touch of ripe papaya. On the palate, a crisp citrus drive of Meyer lemon and crisp melon is balanced by a subtle pastry-like spice and a luxurious texture. Bright, balanced, and instantly appealing, it finishes long and remarkably refreshing.

A stunning showcase of pure, cool-climate Southern Rhône Syrah. From the stony, limestone-clay terraces of the Gard, this 100% Syrah pours an inky, vibrant purple in the glass. The perfumed nose bursts with intense aromas of white pepper, ripe black cherry, and wild lavender, framed by subtle undertones of sweet garrigue and liquorice. On the medium-bodied palate, it unwinds with a deep, energetic core of fresh wild blackberry and plum. Silky, velvety tannins and a bright, focused acidity carry the wine into a beautifully smooth finish marked by a distinct, chalky salinity.

Named after the legendary companion of Charlemagne, the 2023 Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée Blanc is a beautifully structured blend of 75% Marsanne and 25% Roussanne. Grown on the steep, terraced granite slopes of the northern Rhône, it displays a brilliant pale-yellow color with subtle green reflections. The expressive nose reveals a complex bouquet of ripe pear, pineapple, and candied citrus peel, seamlessly layered with delicate notes of white flowers, honey, and toasted hazelnuts. On the palate, the wine is ample, rich, and creamy, perfectly balancing its ripe orchard fruit flavours with a vibrant, zesty freshness and a refined, mineral-driven finish with a touch of salinity.

An emblematic Rioja showing exquisite balance, silkiness and opulence. Aromatic notes of spice, liquorice and pepper envelope ripe red fruits with a touch of balsamic on the long, smooth finish.