Rhône

Carrying on with the theme of naming wines after children, albeit the one they don't have, the daughter of whom I dreamed 'La Fille dont j'ai reve'. A Roussanne/Marsanne blend from 0.4 hectare, a combination of stainless...(read more)

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)

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)

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)

Moving to the three Châteauneuf du Pape that I was able to taste, 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Saintes Vierges shows a beautiful bouquet of kirsch liqueur and wild strawberry-like fruits interwoven with notes...(read more)

Similarly colored, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Pied De Baud is also an incredibly floral and perfumed 2018 that has a beautiful perfume of wild strawberry (and some blue fruits as well) fruits interwoven with l...(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)