France

Frédéric Berne's Beaujolais Lantignié `Pierre Bleue` is a lovely deep purple in the glass. On the nose it is fragrant with perfumes of blueberries, black cherry and fruit compote. On the palate, the tannins are soft and ripe, Flavours of bramble fruit and violets are concentrated and well balanced with a lifted acidity.

100% Gamay

A rising star. Damien, Marc Pages’s grandson, took over the running of this property some years ago.

Some 40 years ago, they realised that the soil in this northerly part of the Médoc once produced excellent wines and the land had been abandoned.

Now with 46 hectares, and the vines becoming older, 20-25 years on average, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, a new chai with rows of temperature controlled stainless steel vats and an immaculate barrel cellar. Château Noaillac is now producing succulent, lovely early drinking claret.

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot

This wine is cherry red in colour, with fresh, perfumed aromas of ripe plum and cherries. It is smooth on the palate with medium to full body and integrated supple tannins. Juicy, easy to drink, with a touch of spice on the fruit-driven finish.  A great everyday or House wine!

Intense spicy fruit flavours, supple, soft, sometimes sweet tannins and a fresh acid core, which makes this wine from the Languedoc irresistible with all the hearty rustic fare of autumn - a rich cassoulet, or meaty slow-cooked ox cheek with garlicky mashed potato - the kind of stuff that makes you feel like Henry VIII.

Vines that are  35+ years old. The pinot noir spends 18 months in oak. Red cherry, spice with rounded tannins. A delicious Burgundy

Delicate garnet colour with peppery, strawberry fruit on the nose, the palate is light to medium-bodied with appealing nervy fruit and mouth-watering acidity balancing the dry tannins and elegant red fruit.

Founded in 1864 by Pierre Bourée, Vallet Frères is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the family, Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet. The family owns vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, in the Beaune Premier Cru of Les Epenottes, and in the Grand Cru of Charmes-Chambertin, as well as the entire monopole vineyard of Clos de la Justice, also in Gevrey-Chambertin. Vallet Frères is also a négociant, and sources the best grapes from growers in other areas, with whom it has worked closely for decades.

Serve with a traditionally Coq au Vin. Roast chicken or young game birds and equally good with pasta bakes or wild mushroom linguine.

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN