Vouvray is a French wine appellation devoted to the great Chenin Blanc grape, which is expressed vibrantly in this gorgeously fresh and light bodied but intensely flavoursome white wine. Its high acidity and expansive fresh flavours make Chenin Blanc one of the most versatile wines with its bold and bright lemon, honey and floral aromas. High acidity adds length and backbone to the palate of this lovely wine. 

The history, mystery of a long established winery

The Domaine Marc Bredif winery is one of the great names of the Loire. The estate has enjoyed a long and colourful history, having been established in 1893 under the original name of Château les Roches. In 1919, not long after the end of the First World War, Marc Bredif took over from his Uncle and renamed the property to mark the change of ownership. His focus was simple, to forge an unrivalled reputation for excellence amongst the estates of the Loire Valley.
He invested heavily in the estate during the 1930’s, building a tremendous circular storage room in the heart of its cellars, which today houses venerable vintages of sweet Vouvray, some of which date back to the 1900’s. The property managed to survive the Second War World War relatively unharmed and remained under family control until the 1980’s. As is so often the case, family intrigue and financial necessity meant that the Domaine had to be sold, and in 1980 Baron Patrick de Ladoucette acquired the estate. Thankfully, the Baron was every bit the conscientious owner and has given new life to Marc Bredif – investing heavily and expanding their holdings to include some of the most prized Vouvray vineyards – 20 hectares in total. Picking exclusively by hand, the Domaine produces some of the most profound and immortal expressions of Chenin Blanc, in a range of styles to suit all wine lovers.

Soil type

Limestone, clay and silt. Sandy gravel.

Grape variety

100 % Syrah.

Average age of vines

35 years.

Winemaking

Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats at high temperatures. 3 weeks maceration in vats.

Ageing

18 months in oak barrels.

Average yield

40 Hl / hectare. The vines are mainly on steep slopes from the villages of Gervans, Mercurol, Larnage et Crozes-Hermitage.

Appearance : Dark and deep colour.

Nose : Red fruits, cherry and strawberry with delicate oak aromas.

Palate : A structured tannic wine. Aromas of blackcurrant buds and vanilla.

Overall : Remarkable freshness with notable and refined tannins to due long oak ageing.

Intense purple red color. Intense nose of flowers (violet) and black fruits (black cherry, blackcurrant) combined with peppery hints. Full on the palate with a nice fruity and spicy aftertaste.

55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre grown in the Côtes du Rhône apellation in cobblestone-clay and clay-limestone soils.

Grapes were destemmed with daily racking. Wine aged on fine lees in vats with controlled oxygen levels.

Food Pairing: Spicy food, red meat in sauce, cheese.

"Richly fruited and instantly appealing, the wine shows dark plum, cherry, warm spice and roasted nut aromas, followed by a generously expressed palate that's succulent and silky. It's soothing and comforting with loads of tasty flavours. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Feb 2024

Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Tasting notes:

Deep red colour with ruby highlights. Expressive nose full of red berry aromas (strawberry, raspberry) as well as cocoa notes when agitated. Harmonious, with ripe fruit flavours (blackberry jam) and rich in soft tannins. Long and smooth finish.

Winemaking: Traditional winemaking methods with a minimum of 6 months of ageing in French and American oak barrels. De-stalked grapes – Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in vats. Regular rackings (every 3 months) and fining before bottling.

Soil: Limestone covered by clay, sand or gravel.

Climate: Oceanic, mild and humid.

Aging: 6 months of ageing in American oak barrels (of which 50% new)

Food matches: Duck breast “Vigneronne”, medallion of Monkfish in a St Emilion sauce.

Frescobaldi's Nipozzano Riserva Rufina Chianta is named after the Castello Nipozzano and is a delicious complex Riserva Chianti with extended aging time and made from vineyards in Rufina. Wild berries and cherry flavours are flattered by spicy undertones of pepper, nutmeg and roasted coffee. It has a silky texture and layers of depth and interest. 

Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Winemaking: Cabernet and Merlot grapes are vinified and aged separately in French and American oak barrels, before being finished.
Controlled extraction – 3 weeks maceration with daily pumping over

Soil: Combination of clay, limestone and gravels.
Climate: Oceanic and mild climate.
Aging: Aged in oak for 6 months.

Tasting notes: Intense and brilliant red color. Expressive nose of small black fruits (blackberry, blueberry) with delicate roasted notes (cocoa). Fruit driven on the palate, supported by present and well-integrated tannins. A long and spicy aftertaste.

This gorgeous smooth fruity red puts Spain's best foot forward every year with its spicy aromas and ripe smooth fruit flavours. 

David Moreau is a rising star in Burgundy, based in the village of Santenay. Having studied oenology and worked in both New Zealand and at Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, he returned to Burgundy in 2006 to take over his family’s estate. David brings a modern touch while maintaining the traditional values of his ancestors, focusing on sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention in winemaking.

The vineyards for his Santenay 2022 are planted on classic Burgundy terroir, primarily limestone and clay soils with a high mineral content. This contributes to the wine's structure and purity. The vines are relatively old, averaging 40–60 years, which adds depth and concentration to the final product.

With white flowers, stone fruits and toasted bread aromas lead to a balanced fruity palate. Drink over the next five to six years.

Founded in 1885 by Felipe Rutini, Rutini Wines pioneered viticulture in Mendoza, becoming the first winery to plant vineyards in the Uco Valley in 1925. Committed to innovation, the winery modernised its historic La Rural facilities in the 1990s and later established a state-of-the-art winery in Tupungato in 2008. Today, it produces high-end labels such as Felipe Rutini, Antología, Apartado, Single Vineyard, Dominio, Colección Rutini, Encuentro, and Trumpeter, with vineyards thriving at 1,050–1,200 meters above sea level.

With an annual production of 8.5 million liters and continuous growth, Rutini Wines ensures the highest quality standards at its cutting-edge Tupungato facility. Under the direction of Mariano Di Paola, chief winemaker since 1994 and recognised by Decanter as one of the world’s top 30 winemakers, the winery integrates innovation and precision at every stage of vinification. Supported by a specialised agronomy team, vineyard management is optimised to enhance terroir expression. The winery is equipped with advanced fermentation systems and 6,500 French oak barrels, ensuring ideal aging conditions.

Aging: 12 months in french oak.

Great gateway into the wonderful, deliciously complex world of Pinot Noir from its most famous traditional homeland, Burgundy in France. This is a top producer's starting point into the silky elegance and power of French Pinot Noir. 

Domaine Pattes Loup is a 24 hectare certified organic vineyard owned by Thomas Pico in the village of Courgis in Burgundy's northern outpost, Chablis. This creamy and crisp Chablis is an excellent example of what happens when small scale meets lofty ambitions of making full bodied, beautifully balanced, complex Chablis using organically certified grapes. 

Pattes Loup, which means 'wolf's paw'.

Great value Pinot Noir from the Corgoloin village in the Bourgogne region. This is a fresh and fruity, medium-bodied wine. Aromas of fresh berries and subtle spice continue onto the palate, which is enhanced by vibrant acidity. Ageing has allowed the wine to soften and gain complexity.