Chardonnay Fleur de Charlotte, Vin de Pays, France
Along with the help of Floris Lemstra at Chateau Canet, we have successfully developed the ‘Fleur de Charlotte’ selection of wines that we believe offer excellent value for money. Floris and his team are best known for their Minervois production and in this case, they have utilised the same approach, based on attention to detail, in order to produce a range of fresh, clean and easy-drinking wines that offer excellent varietal examples
Chardonnay Umbrele, Vilie Timisului, Romania
The Cramele Recas Estate, owned by Englishman, Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have put in a huge amount of work into transforming their slice of grape growing history into a contemporary winemaking haven.
The immaculate vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and much more recent plantings too. With recent investments into modernising and improving their winery, they regularly host world class flying winemakers, vintage to vintage, to work with their team. This enables them to create top quality wines and constantly challenge themselves push innovations and approach winemaking with an open mind.
Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Cesar, Domaine Roche-Audran, Southern Rhone, France
Vincent Rochette comes from a long line of grape growers rather than winemakers. In 1998, he bucked that trend by investing in a cellar and the necessary equipment to allow him to vinify his own grapes, which for five generations had been sold to other winemakers in the area. Vincent is an ardent believer in the benefits of biodynamics, fully converting his estate to follow that philosophy in 2006. He uses only natural products in the vineyard and carries out all his work in keeping with the cosmic cycles of the earth, not only among the vines but also in the cellar
Gruner Veltliner Funkstille, Austria
We all need a little ‘Funkstille’ (radio silence) in our life now and again.
Kick back and take a moment to enjoy the silence with a glass of Grüner Veltliner. With its subtle exotic hints, ripe pear and fresh citrus flavours, it’s a dry wine with complex flavours. The palate is rich with flavours of melon and grapefruit with a refreshing, zippy finish.
Muscadet sur Lie, Domaine des Herbauges, Cotes de Grandlieu, Loire valley, France
This family estate has been in production since 1864 and is now the largest single estate in the region.
The vineyards benefit from an exceptional microclimate; the warmth of the Atlantic brings spring early, while the huge Lac de Grandlieu acts like a giant storage heater through growing season. Fourth generation winemaker, Jérôme is committed to the sustainability of the vineyards as well as to the health of the vineyard workers he has even grassed over 100% of the vineyards to reduce the vigour of the vines and to soak up rain at harvest. Each terroir of Domaine des Herbauges expresses its own subtle nuances, and reveals specific particularities and characteristics of the AOC Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu Sur Lie appellation.
South African Mixed Case
A mixed case of 6 South African wines – 3 reds and 3 white
- Sauvignon Blanc ‘Enita’, Niel Joubert, Paarl
- Grenache Blanc, Piekenierskloof, Swartland
- Chenin Blanc ‘Moment of Silence’, Blankbottle, Wellington
- Pinotage, Du Plevaux, Stellenbosch
- Red Secateurs, Badenhorst, Swartland
- Cabernet Franc, Raats, Stellenbosch
Torrontes, Manos Negras, Salta, Argentina
Alejandro Sejanovich is arguably Argentina’s most knowledgeable viticulturist, working as vineyard director for Bodega Catena Zapata for 16 years, he pioneered high altitude vineyard planting and conducted ground breaking research on Mendoza Malbec clones.
Manos Negras focuses on latitude winemaking, planting Torrontes in the northern stretches of Cadayate in Salta, Pinot Noir in the southern-most region of Neuquen in Patagonia and cultivates 50 year old Malbec vines in the prized Altamira appellation in the Uco Valley.
Trebbiano Altopiano, Feudo Antico, Abruzzo, Italy
Feudo Antico was created on a small plot of land in the heart of Abruzzo. It is in Italy’s smallest DOP and the first designation of its kind in Abruzzo.
Starting from the 2013 vintage, all wines are Magis certified, the most advanced project for the sustainability of wine production in Italy. Currently their 15 hectares are cultivated using native varieties producing limited yields to ensure quality is retained. Clearly they highly value the land they work and this attitude is continued in the winery where the fruit and wine come into contact with no wood whatsoever, only concrete and glass. This guarantees the purity of the fruit, and its flavours, are conveyed from the vineyard direct to the glass.
Verdejo Pegaso Vinas Viejas, Bodegas Manzanos, Navarra, Spain
On the border between Rioja and Navarra, Victor Manzanos carries on the work of the four generations before him.
Adding in significant amounts of ambition and energy, Victor Manzanos is at the forefront of the new Rioja – championing a modern interpretation of its varieties through his wines. As a grower, Victor is keen to prove that Rioja Baja has its own distinct character and should not be judged as inferior to Rioja Alta or Alavesa – just different.
Laura’s picks July wine selection
This month’s trio – 2 of each for £76
As we settle into the heart of summer, Laura has selected three standout bottles to refresh your wine rack: two crisp whites and one elegant rosé, all perfect companions to seafood feasts, summer salads, and lazy evening BBQs.
Guillaume Gonnet, Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Le Revêur, France, 2024
A complex and aromatic white, layered with grapefruit, apricot, and floral notes. Lively acidity and a saline finish make this one truly moreish.
Pair with: Chicken, seafood, rabbit or a plate of soft fresh cheese.
La Vie En Rose, Cinsault Rosé, Languedoc, France, 2024
Back with a fresh new label, this beautifully pale rosé is summer in a glass—bursting with wild raspberry and strawberry, crisp acidity, and serious charm.
Pair with: Chargrilled meats, salads, or just about any seafood dish.
Mabis Biscardo, Bianco di Custoza, DOC, Veneto, Italy, 2024
A light straw-yellow blend with delicate green hues, this Northern Italian white is all about subtle elegance. Think: soft minerality, fresh fruit notes, and a whisper of spice.
Pair with: Shellfish, seafood starters, white meat, or veggie pasta.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, Zaccagnini, Marche, Italy
On the opposite coast to Tuscany lies the less well known, but no less beautiful, region of Marche. This is where you will find the family run Zaccagnini winery, established by two brothers.
Playing to their strengths, they have focused on the local grape Verdicchio, and the results are spectacular. Their range of three Verdicchios are as distinctive and individual as you could wish for, with each wine having its own personality and textural signature. All are benchmark examples of this lesser known region on the East coast. Whilst they have been working organically for a few years, from the 2020 vintage, the wines are being certified as organic.
Viognier Le Paradou, Chateau Pesquie, Ventoux, France
This family run domaine came to being in the early 1970s, when Odette and René Bastide spotted the potential of the Ventoux region and took over an area of rundown vineyards. In 1985 Edith and Paul Chaudière took control and created one of the first independent wineries of the AOC, in an area which had previously been dominated by cooperatives. In 2003, Paul and Edith handed over the running of the estate to their two sons, Alexandre and Frédéric, who have since set about converting the domaine to organic farming. They are blessed with vineyards in an enviable location, ideally situated at the crossroads between the Alpine and Mediterranean worlds. An average altitude of the vineyards of more than 300 metres and the wide variation of temperatures between days and nights create an excellent physiological balance in the vines, adding colour, concentration and balance to their wines.