Fine French Red Wine

From France's deep south where the daily heat gives red wines a bigger, richer character than further north. This a wine with structure, suppleness and plenty of warm, ripe fruit.

Seven generations of authentic Beaujolais making are expressed in Domaine de Cornillac's vibrancy, freshness and earthy intensity. Gamay as it should taste.

A lively, cherry and red berry-scented pinot, with a soft, rounded palate full of black cherry and blackcurrant flavours.

A delicious red Rhône and a long a favourite of the Guide Hachette des Vins, Hugh Johnson, Robert Parker and ours. Grenache, syrah and just a touch of mourvedre.

Made in only the best vintages and blended for us by Jonathan Maltus, the first Englishman to be awarded 100 points by Robert Parker. Rich, ripe merlot, beautifully integrated oak.

Ripe, red-berried fruit on a dense silky palate. Savoury notes reminiscent of cigar box add a touch of refinement. Drinking well now and will continue to evolve.

A brilliant red for outdoor drinking. There is invigorating, zippy freshness to complement gorgeous concentration and grip. Perfect on its own but will equally stand up to hearty grilled meats. ...

From 3rd-growth Château Giscours (Margaux) and sumptuous, abundant, well-balanced proof that you need not always pay £20+ for a bottle of Left Bank pedigree and finesse.

Domaine les Grands Bois was recommended to us as the best local grower by the owner of the best bistro in Cairanne, itself the best of the 21 Cotes-du-Rhone villages.

An "utterly delicious Médoc" from one of the great Bordeaux vintages of recent times, and one in which a complexity of fruit-laden flavours now approaching full maturity.

"...the Château Meaume 'Reserve du Château' 2015, is similarly quaffable with perhaps a touch more finesse and elegance."

Rasteau, with cairanne is the best of the 21 Cotes-du-Rhône Villages. Small fourth generation family growers Marc and Mireille Besnardeau's grenache, syrah and mourvedre Rasteau is a favourite of ours.

Vibrant, deeply flavoured cabernet sauvignon that is elegant, aromatic, and, though irresistible now, also happy to spend the next ten years developing further layers of enchanting nuance and flavour.

A captivating equilibrium between sumptuous, spicy dark fruit and a surprisingly gentle, fresh conclusion. A remarkable performance from a wine so youthful.

The warmer 2022 vintage is evident - enticing, bold aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry with a hint of dark liquorice and spice. Fine, balanced tannins and beautiful long finish

"The 2021 Juliénas 'Le Clos des Poulettes' is unique in that it's made in what I imagine to be the only working winery in France located in a church. 

A showy, voluptuous style of claret - very clearly from a warm, expressive vintage, but still with striking freshness and fine balance.

Château Ramafort is in cracking form. The Cru Bourgeois estate, once belonged to Château Lafite. A 50/50 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

Wonderful structure and balance, where merlot delivers rich, vibrant, plummy fruit, and cabernet franc adds structure, a touch of perfume and bouquet garni both aromatically and on the palate.

"...a resolutely Right Bank blend of 90 per cent Merlot/10 per cent Cabernet Franc despite coming from the Haut-Médoc..."

Expressive, vibrant nose with perfumed, floral notes enhancing blackberry, mulberry and plum aromas. Mint, mocha and exotic spice layers unfurl, leading to a rich, spicy, robustly structured palate.

"...Saint-Estèphe is my one naughty treat really, of serious excellence. It was hugely enjoyable when we offered the same vintage last year and that enticing juiciness remains."

One of the absolute bargains of our portfolio over the past few years, this cuvée crafted from vines in Pommard has it all; juicy, crunchy fruit, a soft-edged texture and ...

"...from a stellar château whose grand vin sells for just shy of £400 a bottle."