Rhône

The Galopine is the top white from Escaravailles and opens with wild flowers, yellow plum, conference pear and chamomile. In the mouth the wine is textured with some complexing oak creaminess, stone fruits once again, sc...(read more)

Fresh and beautifully detailed with white flowers, apricot skin, peach and nectarine. Some richness in the mouth but not overtly so with lithe stone fruit intensity, delicate honey and white flower blossom, backed by a t...(read more)

A mix of most of the permitted white varieties (mostly Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne), the 2019 Lirac La Reine Des Bois Blanc is thrilling stuff, and I’d certainly put it up with any of the top Châteauneu...(read more)

I loved the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Jean Royer. It's loaded with sweet kirsch and strawberry fruits and offers medium to full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a great finish. This is Grenache at its most e...(read more)

2019 St Joseph blanc, from 70% Roussanne & 30% Marsanne. You can feel the granite minerality in this wine, the nose is all floral, white flowers, honeysuckle, a very pretty wine. The mouthfeel if energetic, with a to...(read more)

Round and supple, the full-bodied 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is a large-scaled ball of plum and blackberry fruit and savory nuances. Hints of mocha, black olive and licorice bring added interest to this s...(read more)

The new kid on the Niero block, it makes an impression straight away. A little more pure if that is possible, more concentrated than Ravines but less exuberant, still has a floral of apricot, mandarin. Minerality shines...(read more)

I always find Chery the most alluring of Condrieu sites, much more mineral & salinity in the wines. The 2019 along the lines of the other cuvees is marked out by its pitch perfect elegance, there is real winemaking s...(read more)

Vivid ruby-red. Intense, sharply focused red fruit liqueur, spicecake and floral scents are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals and Asian spices. Sappy, penetrating and appealingly sweet, offering silky raspberr...(read more)

Heritage is a selection of the best barrels of the vintage, no let up here, the standard across the range is very strong. Possibly the richest & roundest of the Condrieu, much more peaches and cream but still with ex...(read more)

The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Source is flat out gorgeous and one of the 2015s readers should seek out. Black raspberries, black licorice, violets and loads of salty minerality all emerge from this seamles...(read more)

The 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape les Hauts Lieux incorporates more Mourvèdre (30%) and comes from the late ripening block on the upper plateau to the south of the estate. Inky colored, it gives up killer notes o...(read more)