Loire

Lionel continues to produce fabulous value Sauvignon and the 2019 is another cracker. Slightly fuller fruited than Sancerre, with ripe gooseberry and citrus, some lovely herbal touches and a bright lifted acidity making it truly refreshing.

A wonderfully characterful style from Bruno Cormerais, hints of fennel and tarragon run throughout this wine. Thrillingly pure and crisp, with tangy citrus fruit, it is quenching and enticing in equal measure. A perfect match for a seafood platter.

From a small family-run Domaine in the heart of Chenin Blanc territory, (Coteaux du Layon) this is a beautifully crafted Crémant de Loire. Traditionally made (bottle-fermented) sparkling wine which is vinified from a large proportion of Chenin Blanc, with some Chardonnay and Caberne...(read more)

More floral, an almost rosé-style nose. Immediatley there is more fruit here than the 2015 which was firmer and more terroir led. But there is good intensity too. Not sappy but good drive of hard stone fruit and a sprinkle of citrus zest keeps this perky. There's gooseberry juice an...(read more)

Such delicious Chenin, giving plenty of peach, honey and warm straw notes. The weight is superb and this is made in a slightly easier going style, the fruit is more open, fleshy, but backed by Chenin's tell-tale fresh lively acidity.

The name Ronceray refers to the abbey that once owned Quarts de Chaume, and it has become a name that all producers making dry wine here intend to use on a communal basis, at least until Quarts de Chaume can legally exist in this dry guise. This super site so prized for years as a source f...(read more)

As ever this is beautifully fresh, a lovely citrus tang and salty zip at the outset but it is the weight of perky fruit that fills out the middle and drives this on, making it so much more impressive than almost anyone else achieves in the appellation. The Delaporte vines are all in Chavig...(read more)

This is a wonderful bargain, filled with stewed apples and pears, some honeyed notes and then just a touch of caramel. In the mouth there is plenty of richly layered fruit, with just enough acidity to balance the depth of sweetness that flows through on the finish.

The wines of the d'Assay family are rightly lauded for the high quality and incredible consistency they deliver and this release is no different. In their youth the wines are taut and pure, with aromatics of youthful green fruit, gooseberry, citrus and a hint of that characteristic gunflin...(read more)

Wowsers this is intense, layers of fruit richness, quince, honey, hay and peach. Such gorgeous concentration, rich yet dry, textured and fruit filled, the finish is phenomenal as the acidity gives a zing and ping to the long finish. This is definitely a wine that lives long in the memory a...(read more)