A blend of different sites from across the Rheingau, this is a step into the world of Eva Fricke - and it is an exciting one at that. A vibrant pulse of acidity lies at the heart of the wine, but there is ample fruit too with juicy white peach and ripe red apple. Subtle white flowers and ocean spray with a lift of citrus peel too. Such a refreshing glass, it is difficult to imagine a more appealing glass of Riesling.

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 is such a joyful, fragrant style of Syrah that is full of charm coming from vines planted just beyond the limits of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. The 2023 is another success showing classic aromatics of red cherry, wild herbs and a little pepper note. There floral notes of peonies and violets mingle with the fruit and there is much freshness and juiciness through the palate. This is so easy to enjoy!

The 2024 Côtes du Rhône from Domaine de la Solitude is impressively opulent and full-bodied expression. The rich texture and complex palate of ripe red berries, sweet spices, with hints of cocoa, garrigue and leather are tethered by fine, silky, well-integrated tannins. With a long and powerful finish.

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.

The village bottling of Vauclaire is a new wine for Didier, bottled separately for the first time with the 2022 vintage. This is a parcel on the left bank of the Serein River, planted in 1985 and 1986 near Vosgros and Dessus la Carrière. On the nose this is so fresh and vibrant with aromas of chalk dust, white flowers, apricot and almond blossom. A really beautiful Chablis this year.

Most of the fruit comes from the Côte de Nuits, with the majority from around Nuits itself, with the balance from the Côte de Beaune. The fruit is the star of the show here - strawberries, raspberries, red plum. It is a fresh and crunchy style of bourgogne, with enough bite to give it a vibrant length. It should drink well from a young age. And it’s an absolute bargain.

Thibaud Chevré is a seriously exciting young talent in the Loire. His father spent a magnificent career working with Thierry Germain, and this wonderful vineyard - Clos de l'Ecotard - was the first parcel the father-and-son team bought. It's found right on the edge of the Saumur’s border with Anjou, and its highly active limestone and clay soil produces taut and nervous wines that reverberate with tension and energy, even in warmer years. They only use horses to plough it, but the extra hard work is worth it. The 2022 continues to see them realising the toil of the past decade, bringing to fruition a truly magnificent Chenin Blanc. It is so pretty and expressive, bursting with chalky, saline focus and texture, and a flash of green pineapple freshness. A brilliant Chenin Blanc. Exclusive to Lay & Wheeler in the UK.

Magali Combard’s wines from Figuière have quickly become a go-to on our list. Her signature cuvée is so well balanced and refreshing, you’ll be reaching for another glass in no time. It is pale salmon pink, and has a beautifully expressive nose, with notes of fresh citrus, strawberries, and dried herbs. The palate is silky smooth, with a fresh pink grapefruit energy. It is the perfect Provençal rosé, and a brilliant price.

Hard to put down. At first it is pretty, floral and inviting on the nose. The palate abounds with densely packed stone fruit flavours, cut through by a fresh, taut line of acidity, showing wonderful tension. It comes from three neighbouring parcels near the cellar, from vines with an average age of 45 years. The additional clay in the soil here gives added depth and length to this cuvée.

A highly aromatic wine showing zesty citrus aromas combined with ripe stone fruits, a mineral sensation and hint of white pepper. Dry with a refreshing crisp palate of pineapple, tropical fruits and a delicious, dry, citrus finish.

Bright, fresh and floral, with hints of wild berries. There is a juicy concentration on the core and the wine displays great structure for a Nebbiolo.

A rich, beautifully balanced and fruit-driven blend, with ripe, hedgerow berry flavours layered with aromatic notes of thyme and rosemary. Structured, with chalky fine-grained tannins and a delicate spicy twist on the finish.

An outstanding Soave showing great finesse and aromatic complexity with fine floral aromas, peach and apricot notes and a hint of spicy minerality. Harmoniously balanced, the richly textured fruit flavours lead to a long and elegant finish.

A fresh and elegant Sauvignon Blanc with classic aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers and boxwood. Fruity on the palate with lovely balance and a lingering finish.

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.

Montaiguillon’s 2020 is another resounding success, continuing a string of excellent vintages at the estate. It is a deep ruby colour with notes of spiced plums, cassis and blackberries on the nose. There’s a savoury, graphite note woven through the juicy, sumptuous palate. Its rounded tannins are already integrated with the plump fruit, and the finish has a fresh, balanced length, the likes of which you’d expect from wines with much bigger price tags.

2024 was a very dry season giving rise very low yields but with added concentration. This is a blend of 6 vineyards each with their own range of styles. A true benchmark Chardonnay with layers of complexity. 20% new French barrels, there is a subtle flinty note, orange peel, fresh apricot and orchard fruit, with notes of acacia and blossom. Bright and zesty on the palate the finish is long and mouthwatering.

From a site on the top of the hill, this really is an Arneis apart. So mineral, fresh, with a fine thread of acidity, and such texture on the finish. This is wonderfully judged: it’s fresh, fine, and utterly delicious.

This is bursting with floral freshness. As always, Luc says it showed the best balance between acidity and pH in the cellar, meaning the wine tastes vibrant and fresh without being overly bracing and acidic. Pieuchaud is a flinty-soiled lieu-dit in the commune of Thauvenay in the south-east of the Sancerre appellation. Luc decided to isolate this vineyard after noting it always produced fruit with great maturity whilst maintaining that high acidity - the secret to single vineyard wines in his opinion. It is saline and savoury with layers of mineral tension, making it an excellent food wine with plenty of ageing potential.

This is a Viognier that delivers the hallmark freshness and brightness that is the signature of the Bott wines. The vines for this wine are grown on granite soils at around 300m of altitide. It is beautifully fragrant with notes of apricot and acacia with a refreshing zestiness on the palate. This is a modern and well made Viognier that gives a great window into the estate's style.

The Wiston Blanc de Blancs NV is wonderfully fresh with vibrant acidity and perfect balance. Crisp green apple and elegant notes of kumquat come to the fore, along with a flinty minerality. The finish is long, crisp and clean.

An elegant and precise style of Assyrtiko there are notes of lemon blossom, verbena and citrus peel. Some wild herbal notes of wild thyme and mint complement the fresh grapefruit fruit with a little hint of peach and lemon oil. This is saline, fresh and vibrant. A wine that is difficult to resist.