Closure Type: DIAM

(2026) A blend of 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20%, Syrah  and 10% Cinsault from Mediterranean red sandstone, this is fermented with wild yeast and matured for 15 months in stainless steel tanks. The nose is immediately firm and svelte, a taut black fruit character like black cherry and plum skin with a hint of mulled wine spices. Taut and juicy on the palate, this maintains that supple, smooth black fruit character, the tannins super-fine and the acid integrated a balancing elegantly. What a lovely wine, and well-priced for this quality and refinement.

(2026) Glen vineyards rise from 450- to 700 metres on steep, south- west facing slopes. It's an area of medium sun exposure and soils of brown sand and loam, with dolomite limestone and clay minerals and oxides. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel was followed by ageing in barriques for 12 months. Pale to medium garnet, spices, vanilla and pulpy strawberry fruit are charming on the nose, just a little truffly background. Plenty of plump, juicy charm on the palate too, but there's a firming core of cherry-pit acidity and tight tannin, leading to a taut, spicy finish.

(2026) Mazon's vineyards run from 350- to 450 metres on northwest slopes with less sun exposure than Glen, the other prime Pinot Noir terroir. Soils are similar with sand and loam with dolomite limestone, clay minerals and oxides. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel is followed by one year in barriques and a further year in bottle before release. The site may be cooler, but aromas are ripe and juicy, alcohol still 14%, and the overall impression rich and deep, with a touch of roasted chestnut and earthy plum. In the mouth it has plenty of red fruit, maybe a touch more edge, with tight, but moderate tannins and good acidity. This finishes a touch less richly than Glen.

(2026) Brenntal is a southeast, steep slope at 220-300 metres, enjoying a microclimate with temperatures reaching 40°C in summer and good diurnal shift. Soil here is sandy and loamy with clay minerals and oxides. The wine, the flagship for the co-operative, is aged in barriques for 12 months, with a further period in large oak and bottle before release. Fascinating nose: lifted, with caraway seed, briar, cedar and ripe red plum. There's a sense of balsamic richness. On the palate this is beautifully done: there's a tension here, a knife-edge balance between savoury, quite meaty character and real juicy, incisive fruit and acidity that runs into a long, energising finish. An intriguing Merlot from such a northern, Alpine location, that reflects its origins.

(2026) An organic wine that's part of a range titled 'Artisans Partisans', led by producer Pierre Bories and each of the wines with strong eco credentals in vineyard and winery. This is a blend of Grenache Gris and Cinsault from Corbières. This fashionably pale wine packs a fair aromatic punch. Red fruit and orange are highlighted by a touch of citrus and florals. The palate too has plenty of fruit and a razor sharp acidity. It is fruity, but has some savoury, delicately spicy bite too. Nicely done.

(2026) There's no doubting the imitation as a form of flattery here. This Angel doesn't whisper, but it does provide a very nice drop of crisp, fruity and refreshing pink from the South of France at a modest price. There's scant information out there about this brand, but I believe this is a blend of Grenache, Merlot and Syrah. It has a fashionably pale, peach-toned, light pink colour, and the nose is summery and delicate, with strawberry bon-bon and a hint of nectarine. On the palate the juicy fruit is pure and upfront, the acidity well-balanced, and the overall picture attractive. Though it’s the understudy, you may not even notice that the famous whispering star is not on stage... Watch the video for more information.

(2026) It's noteable that this wine contains 10-15% white and pink grapes in the blend, and though the colour is a deep cerise, it seems to have extra perfume. From a recently purchased Grenache vineyard, whole bunches were fermented in demi-muids (500L barrels) and after 15 months of ageing the best, single 500L barrel, was bottled as The Wizard's Hat. There's a bright, juicy raspberry character showing sweetness and a pleasing tartness, but it is underpinned by quite a rich depth of fruit that is darker, with a creamy weight of quality, polished oak. Tannins are elegant, balance is too, for a new star in the Domaine's line-up.

(2026) From one hectare of 80-year-old vines this was fermented in a combination of steel and open barrels, delicacy sought by using only free run juice and the first, gentle pressing. It was aged in a single, 500-litre new oak barrel - barrel number 36. There are real aromatics here, some florals and a suggestion of just-after-the-rain forest floor. Small, intense black fruits fill in on the nose and palate, where there is a chocolate density to the tannins. A finely-honed edge of acidity gives a certain steeliness to the finish. Club members buy for £32.

(2026) On a very warm summer evening I chilled this for 15 minutes in the fridge which suited this fresh style of Grenache well. Reading the estate's info later I see it is partly made with carbonic maceration, the technique common in red Beaujolais, which often suits a light chill so it was a lucky hunch. It doesn't show the 'bubblegum' character that some wines made by this techique exhibit, but there is a lift and cherry brightness to the aromas. In the mouth there's more of a gravelly crunch to the fruit, think cranberries and savoury redcurrants, the tannins moderate and the acid balance making for a very nice mouthful of wine. £18 for club members.

(2026) This delicious white wine is made from ancient vines belonging to Jean-Marc Lafage, some of them over 100 years old. It's a blend of Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc with a little Roussanne, around 20% seeing some barrel ageing. I think this represents a great bargain, especially at the club price of £15. The nose is redolent of honeysuckle and peach, a touch of citrus peel too. In the mouth it is textured and crammed with fruit flavour, but always edged by its acidity and with a savoury note of bay and peppercorn that adds to the immense, 12.5% alcohol, drinkability.