What to drink this summer

From the team at Lalu, Lara and Luisa, this is stunning. So perfumed and elegant, it shows a whole new side to Barbera. Long, savoury, and beautifully fresh, it's not to be missed.

Wow. What purity and focus, and also such silky tannins. This is a brilliant red. Notes of pomegranate and rose petal, and lots of blood orange add to the core of red fruit. The tannins are talc-like, and there’s such focus on the palate. This is outstanding.

The 2019 Capisme is a stunning Langhe Nebbiolo, from a great vintage. Powdery tannins, lifted fruit, and a long, savoury finish all combine to craft a Nebbiolo that would not look out of place in a lineup of Barolos.

An Italian red we love, this comes from just down the road from Elena's winery, from a 70 year old vineyard that belongs to one of her grandfather's friends, that was going to be pulled out. Elena volunteered to farm it, and this is the result. It's herbal, tarry, and so complex. Utterly delicious.

A brilliant Chardonnay from the Langhe, this is tightly wound but still with plenty of opulent fruit. Never overbearing, this is just such a joy to drink.

This 2016 Barolo from G.D. Vajra was bottled exclusively for Lay & Wheeler, and is from a blend of vineyards all planted on the Tortonian soils of the west of the Barolo zone. The resulting wine is perfumed and pure, with incredibly silky tannins, notes of rose petal and terracotta, and a core of cherry fruit. There’s the structure for this to last decades if you’ll let it, but it’s already delicious. It’s a wine we couldn’t be prouder to have secured: make sure it’s in your cellar.

Gianfranco's young vine cuvée, this has notes of ripe plums, prunes, and lots of store cupboard spice. The tannins need time to soften, but put this with food and you'll be richly rewarded.

This is the best iteration of this wine we've tried, from a great vintage. Notes of blood orange and ripe cherries, with a structured palate and a juicy finish. This is so delicious today, but will age well, too.

An indigenous grape that had long been forgotten, this is such a lovely white. Nice weight in the palate, with slightly herby notes and a long, peachy finish. This will age, too: older bottles we've tried have been so complex, mineral, and long.

Broader than the Ribolla Gialla, this washes over the palate with notes of lemon pith and orange blossom. The finish is ever so slightly waxy, but the wine is not lacking freshness. Delicious.

This is so atypical from Prosecco, the DOC wouldn't let Primo label it as such. But never mind: it's one of the best sparklings we know. Notes of orange blossom and iodine on the nose, and hints of wild strawberry and lots of salinity on the palate. So impressive.

This is so perfumed and floral, with notes of blood orange, fresh cherries, and an incredible sense of place. There's nervy acidity and a wildness here; this is benchmark Etna from Rory and his team.

This wine is completely seductive and a joy to drink. Expect bramble fruits and spice combined with layers of complexity from leather and smoky notes. The tannins are present and have a grip yet have been very well managed and provide great structure and balance with the palate’s juicy core.