Make Christmas easy with this dizzyingly diverse selection that leaves no stone unturned in its quest for festive splendour. We've represented our roots with three 'sud ouest' offerings, whilst there's also sherry, champagne, white burgundy, languedoc loveliness and a brace of winsome US whites. If you're after a set of wines to delight your family and friends this Christmas, look no further!
OVUM, BIG SALT, OREGON, USA, 2023, 12.5%
50% Riesling, 30% Gewurz, 12% Early Muscat, 5% Pinot Blanc, 2% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Others
2023 Big Salt is dry, aromatic and zippy. Lemon peel, mandarin and pineapple leap out of the glass. An earlier than expected harvest gave the palate a lightness at just 12.0% abv. In it’s youth, Big Salt continues to be Muscat forward, but we find as it ages into summer that Gewurz comes to the forefront, while oceanic citrusy Riesling shines after a year in the bottle.
DOMAINE DUPRAZ, EN ROUTE POURL'APERO, 2023, APREMONT, SAVOIE, 11.5%
100% Jacquere
Clean with an alpine acidity, notes of juicy pears, green apple, very refreshing. Ideal with tartiflette, raclette, or creamy fish based dishes. Certified Organic.
LO-FI WINES, HONEYBEAR CHENIN, LOS OLIVOS, CALIFORNIA, 2023, 12.5%
100% Chenin Blanc
Gloriously voluptuous example of Chenin with classic notes of fleshy and ripe honeyed apple, and spice. Underpinned, of course, with the Chenin's signature acidity which lies in the background, just out of sight, but makes its influence known. Organic methods employed.
PRODUCTEURS PLAIMONT, MILLESIME D'EXCEPTION, AOC SAINT MONT, GASCONY, 2010, 13%
80% Gros Manseng, 15% Courbu, 5% Arrufiac
One of south west France's hidden white gems. Intermingling citrus fruit and acacia flower with a hint of spice, this wine is round and long with good complexity and agreable freshness. Wine-maker Christine Cabri comments that the natural acidity of the native Pyrenean grape varieties means that additions of Sulphur can be kept to a minimum.
DOMAINE THIBERT, SAINT VERAN, BOURGOGNE, 2018, 13%
100% Chardonnay
The selection from different terroirs gives this Saint-Véran a certain degree of complexity, varying from charming fruitiness to nuttiness, resulting in an astonishing finesse. The palate is rich, elegant and harmonious. Try with veal, pork or terrines for maximum pleasure.
BODEGAS BARRERO, MANZANILLA GABRIELA, NV, SANLUCAR DE BARRAMEDA, 15%
100% Palomino Fino
If there was such a thing as a house wine for our buyers, then this would surely be it. Perhaps the most food friendly wine on the planet, and possessing an otherworldly salinity and lip smacking drinkability, this ticks all our boxes. Try this with your cheese board this year, or better still as a pre dinner aperitif.
HUGUES GODME, LES TERRES D'UNIONS BRUT NATURE, VERZENAY, CHAMPAGNE, 12.5%
34% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay. 33% Pinot Meunier
A lively and thirst-quenching champagne with plenty of finesse and minerality. The palate shows wonderful poise, supported by a delicious fruitiness. Organic and biodynamic.
CLOS LAPEYRE, MAGENDIA, JURANCON, 2019, 12%
80% Gros Manseng 20% Petit Manseng
The wine has a nice expressive nose with fruity aromas of pineapple and white flowers. The palate is sweet, fresh and well balanced. Try with fruit based desserts. Or foie gras. Certified organic with biodynamic methods.
SENAT, LA NINE, MINERVOIS ROUGE, 2023, 13%
Carignan 60%, Grenache 20%, Cinsault 10%, Syrah 10%
Immediate pleasure. The juice is refined and fills the mouth with aromas of black fruit and dried flowers, dotted with notes of cocoa and fresh tobacco with a touch of spice. The balance is perfect. A pure southern style. Certified organic, with no chemicals used in the vineyard. the Carignan vines used are over 100 years old.
FRANCK BALTHAZAR, COTES DU RHONE, VINSOBRES, 2023, 14%
50% Grenache 50% Syrah
One of the northern Rhone's stars turns his hand to a Cotes du Rhone, this is from bought in organic grapes, from a horse ploughed plot, that Franck vinifies in his uber traditional way, using old oak demi muids and concrete. the wine has lifted red fuit strawberry, violets, alongside some savoury depth and structure from the Syrah. Extremely drinkable and delicious in every way.
DOMAINE BELEMA, SANS PAREIL, HAUTE SAVOIE, 2023, 11%
50% Mondeuse, 50 % Etraire de la D'huy
Sans Pareil comes from a 0.4 ha plot., planted in 2019. Yann farms using organic and biodynamic practises, in the cellar, minimum intervention, no filtration and no additives. Yann uses biodynamic preparations which he applies according to the vegetal cycle and the lunar calendar. The wine is delicate, and fresh with lovely salinity.
DOMAINE ARRETEXEA, IROULEGUY ROUGE, SOUTH WEST FRANCE, 2022, 13.5%
66% Tannat, 17 % Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
An interesting contrast to the Madiran, this Tannat-based red is given fragrance by its Cabernet partners. Fascinating aromas of forest fruits allied to sous-bois (undergrowth), fern and tea. Elegant and fine on the palate with delicious acidity. A wine of great character and real purity – a wine of terroir. Certified organic and biodynamic.
price includes delivery. all wines are subject to vintage changes.