Wine for Laying down, 5-10 Years

The 2011 vintage was very different, marked by early ripening and a spring drought. This forced the root network to delve deep in the earth in search of the water it needed for proper growth and resulted in a voluptuous...(read more)

Pleasingly pale, with a fine bead of soft, well-integrated bubbles that fill the nose with aromas of wild strawberry, some perky red berries and a very gentle, soothingly doughy, autolytic note. In the mouth the fine bri...(read more)

This gorgeous and intriguing wine is Simon 'The Coulsh' Coulshaw's take on the classic Côte-Rôtie blend of Syrah - with about 5% Viognier. He only makes this in exceptional vintages when the Syrah and Viognie...(read more)

Organic farming. Deeply coloured. Wonderfully pure and intense nose of sweet blackcurrant and black cherry with notes of chalk and clay. There’s even a hint of blackberry jam. The palate shows lovely concentration, with...(read more)

Les Quartiers comes from the pure limestone soils at the top of the estate. The resulting Cabernet Franc fruit has a power and a purity that is unmatched from their other vineyards. Crunchy cassis - crisp and brisk at th...(read more)

Seems quite oaky, but it's really just that the fruit is a little on the back foot. In need of a racking? No doubting the volume; it's as rich and full as it could be. Rich and tense and relaxed and velvety all the the s...(read more)

Sleek and fresh, with cassis and plum puree notes that shimmer prettily as they race through, lined with light lavender, dried anise and singed alder hints along the way. Showing nice range, this is approachable already,...(read more)

As always more dense and compact, touch smoky, spice and plum flesh, cherry and blackberry fruit. The volume is turned up on the palate, beautiful richness, delivered in a very sleek pure way, rich tannins undoubtedly bu...(read more)

Bussia is renowned for the deep blue clay soil and a good slug of limestone that lies beneath and so always delivers wines with breadth and structure. The Barale family handle this power with their trademark restraint. T...(read more)

The 2017 Barbaresco Cottà is punchy, with terrific freshness and verve. Red toned fruit, flowers, mint and bright acids yield a decidedly delicate expression of Cottà, a Neive vineyard where the wines tend...(read more)

Sottimano's 2013 Barbaresco Riserva, a blend of old vines from Cottà and Pajorè, is off the charts gorgeous, and also one of the best wines I have ever tasted here. Rich, dramatic and sweeping, the 2013 pos...(read more)