Vieux Château des Combes is located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, just five kilometres away from the historic village of Saint-Emilion. This is a deep, ruby red wine. Complex aromas of ripe berries and spice lead into a palate rich with flavours of dark red fruits and coffee.

Laurent-Perrier Brut NV is enjoyed for its creamy softness which comes from Chardonnay, the dominant grape in this elegant sparkling wine.

The Laurent-Perrier Champagne house was founded in 1812 and is the main company of the Laurent-Perrier Group, whose other flagship brands include the houses of Salon, De Castellane and Delamotte. Laurent-Perrier Group also acquired Chateau Malakoff in 2004.

Tasting Note: A special blend of Riesling, Muscat, and Pinot Blanc from gravel, clay, and limestone soils. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The Riesling gives this wine a notable acidity, keeping it vibrant and fresh with the fruitiness from all three and the floral touch the Muscat brings. Dry (less than 2g/L residual sugar.)

Certification: Biodynamic

Alcohol: 13.0%

Variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat

Region: Alsace, France

La Grande Dame is one of the great champagnes and is a big, dry, toasty, full bodied wine, made from 90% Pinot Noir, which adds layers of savoury depths to this complex bubbly, and 10% Chardonnay. It is named in homage to the Grands Cru vineyards from which the grapes in this wine come, from Champagne villages Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy and Verzenay and 47% Chardonnay from Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. 

Its name also pays homage to the Grande Dame of Champagne, the late widow Clicquot, whose main legacy is to have left both the brand and the region in better condition than she found them, mostly famously by inventing riddling; the turning of the bottle to remove the yeast sediment into its neck, prior to disgorgement. This resulted in higher quality, cleaner, fresher bubbles in both look and taste. Her quest was quality and she is widely credited with having raised it significantly in the Champagne region and in the bottles it produces.

Clape Cornas Renaissance is crafted from the Clape estate's younger vines, offering a more approachable and vibrant expression of the appellation. These vines are, nonetheless, over 30 year old, primarily in the Les Sabarotte and Geynale lieux-dits providing heady full bodied Syrah with aromas and flavours of boysenberry, star anise and cola - silky polished tannins and keen acidity. Traditional winemaking approaches, including whole-cluster fermentation, and maturation in old oak foudres enhances the wine's aromatic intensity and structure of the wine offering a fresh, yet profound, interpretation of the esteemed Cornas terroir.

Made from premium fruit from several Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs this cuvée is the perfect harmony between elegance and freshness. Grape 100% Chardonnay

The sunny coastal terroir of southern Languedoc is perfect for crisp whites like Picpoul. This is a fresh and crisp Picpoul with great concentration and depth of flavour. Aromatic and fresh, with notes of pear and citrus on the nose. The palate brings a touch of minerality and lime-like acidity. The finish is persistent, with a distinct aniseed flavour. Picpoul is a perfect match for seafood or light Mediterranean foods.

"Bottled just one month before my tasting, Clape’s 2023 Cornas opens with a deep, introverted bouquet of cassis, mulberries and licorice mingled with carnal notes. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it’s built around a firm, somewhat austere palate with a good chassis of youthful tannins that lead to a spicy, lead pencil-inflected finish. Despite its brooding character, it should benefit from time in the cellar."

Wine Advocate 95/100
Review Date: 05/2026

This wine is a classic example of Sauternes. A decent amount of botrytis on the nose complements the ripe fruit and honeyed aromatics. Quince and citrus on the palate are met with a touch of oaky spice and balanced acidity. Great as an aperitif or a desert wine.

Excellent value red from Domaine De La Charbonniere, with Grenache leading the way in this full bodied beauty, which is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah.

The Domaine de la Charbonniere is owned by Eugene Maret, who owns 19 hectares in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, nearly six hectares in Vacqueryas and two hectares in the Cotes du Rhone appellation.

This is an outstanding Cotes du Rhone red with body to burn and flavours of approachable, soft and smooth spicy red fruit notes supported by a tannin structure of impressive velvet smooth framework and complex savoury, clean notes on the finish.

Domaine Fazi rosé is translucent, airy and pale in appearance with a very subtle nose, slightly fruity, slightly spicy, with fine and elegant aromas. On the palate, it is fresh and reveals a persistent finish and perfect balance with notes of papaya, citrus and red summer berries.

35% Sciaccarellu, 30% Merlot, 25% Grenache and 10% Cinsault

This Grenache dominant blend comes from certified organic vineyards in the southern Rhone. This wine offers excellent ripe red fruit notes and great structure. The palate is spiced, complex and rich. Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016 is fresh enough for drinking young, yet promises to age gracefully.

Paquet Victoire Pinot Noir 2023 is a bright, supple red showing lifted aromas of cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry, with subtle floral and earthy undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, driven by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Gentle spice and a touch of forest floor add depth, finishing clean, elegant and refreshingly vibrant on the finish with mineral lift.