Grüner Veltliner Wagram, Weingut Mehofer - Organic (Screwcap closure) 

White | Austria | Wagram | 11% | Dry, crisp white

The Wagram region has now been awarded its own protected denomination so whilst the
labels of Mehofer’s Klassik range have changed, the wine in the bottle remains its joyful self with its juicy white stone fruit, lightly spiced hints of white pepper and a distant creamy note. This is really fresh and, with just 11% abv, oh so easy to drink.

“Pale sandy yellow; aromatic and citrussy with florality and white pepper. Fresh enough for an aperitif; a versatile food wine that will match with white meats, soft cheese or meaty white fish. Drinking nicely now, but can be cellared for greater complexity.” Tom Lewis, Substack

Valserrano Rioja Blanco, Bodegas de la Marquesa 

White | Spain | Rioja | 13% | Dry, crisp white

Pale in colour with a delicious nose of sherbety lemon fruit, a light tropical note and a distant touch of oak from barrel fermentation, this is fresh and juicy, tastily sapid and delicious either on its own or with food.

“White Rioja is still a bit of an unknown to many wine drinkers, which is not so surprising when you consider that white grape varieties account for less than 10 per cent of the region’s vineyards, but Rioja Blanco sales are rising as consumers around the world switch from red wines to white” Joanna Simon www.joannasimon.com

Valserrano Rioja Crianza, Bodegas de la Marquesa 

Red | Spain | Rioja | 14% | Full-bodied red

Spending 16 months in a combination of French and American oak to give it suppleness and a plummy, grilled note whilst retaining delicious freshness and spice.

Château Tayet, Cuvée Prestige, Bordeaux Supérieur 

Red | France | Bordeaux | 14% | Full-bodied red

The 2019 Tayet is a chip off the old block – big, joyful black fruits, supple and ripe with a good bite of tannin behind, eminently approachable now but clearly with the wherewithal to last as well. And don’t miss the bigger formats!

Pinot Noir Neudegg, Weingut Mehofer - Organic 

Red | Austria | Wagram | 14% | Lighter, fruitier red

All juicy red berry fruit, with hints of strawberry and even raspberry, with lovely supple tannins behind.

Take a trip to the beautiful vineyards and cellars of Neudeggerhof with the Mehofer family by watching this video.

“Another Pinot Noir but from an organic Austrian producer: very fragrant yet also with more weight than the Pinot above; pure, fragrant black cherry fruit – lovely (Private Cellar, £20.85.)” - Andy Neather, aviewfrommytable.

Château Tour Baladoz, Grand Cru St Emilion 

Red | France | Bordeaux | 14.5% | Full-bodied red

Dense purple black with a nose of intense earthy black fruit, crushed and creamed, tactile with a lightly soured black fruit note. On the palate big black fruit, ripe and sweet with a hint mulberry, spiced and again tactile with hints of purple fruits plus a touch of cherryade going to a long, grilled, lush, smoky finish. Drink 2027 - 2036

Château Haut Breton Larigaudière, Margaux 

Red | France | Bordeaux | 13.5% | Full-bodied red

Still very youthful with gallons of juicy black fruits, spiced and grilled, and it will age gloriously if given the chance – superb.

Champagne Brut Blanc de Noirs, Henri Chauvet 

White | France | Champagne | 12.5% | Dry sparkling

Damien and Mathilde Chauvet's Blanc de Noirs is from a blend of Pinots Noir and Meunier, with a lovely depth of pure golden fruit, rich and intense, with a long, grilled finish. Sublime.

"This Pinot Noir and Meunier blend feels very true to the red grapes of Rilly-la-Montagne on the Montagne de Reims, crisply and carefully made, with notes of dried apple, plum and strawberry fruit before a nutty, peppery finish. There’s both breadth and freshness in this straightforward and recommendable grower cuvée. Drink 2025-2027." Tom Hewson, Decanter, August 2025

“I’ll start by admitting that after tasting 40 wines in four days, I cannot claim an expert’s palate. I preferred, for example, the slightly nutty Henri Chauvet Brut Blanc de Noirs (£29.95 in the UK) over Bollinger’s supposedly fabulous La Côte aux Enfants 2012 (£1,060 – yes, that’s per bottle).” Martin Vander Weyer, The Spectator July 2024

"The Chauvets make their wine in a very traditional manner and still riddle their bottles by hand in their chalk cellars. They only disgorge the wines when they need to prepare a shipment. Made from 90 per cent Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier, it is crisp, clean and fresh. There’s also a nice touch of toasty biscuit in there too, and a very fine mousse.” Jonathan Ray, Drink More Fizz!

"Want a soft moreish Champagne that sparkles way above its price point? Henri Chauvet’s Blanc de Noirs is a real palate pleaser. Tasted 2021" Martin Isark, Can I Eat It?

“Sometimes, though, only champagne will do, in which case it will either be my all-time favourite ‘grower’ champagne, Henri Chauvet Blanc de Noirs Brut NV..." Jonathan Ray, The Field, December 2023 edition.

“Henri Chauvet is a top-class grower champagne, making very pure, crisp wines from eight hectares in Rilly la Montagne, a premier cru village near Reims. Today it is owned and run by winemaker Damien Chauvet, the fourth generation of the same family, and his wife Mathilde. Five grams of sugar per litre here, added to the same percentages of the black grapes. The sugar amplifies the apple flavours, but for me it blocks out some of the minerality and terroir.” Will Smale @willsmale1

‘A cracking-value blend of Pinots Noir and Meunier with a lovely depth of golden fruit’ The Field, December 2025