2012 Quarts De Chaume, Baumard, Half Bottle

Chenin Blanc

We have a soft spot for the incredible Chenin Blancs from Baumard and gems such as this truly spectacular wine highlight the quality of winemaking at this Domaine.  Baumard eschew traditional trellising methods for this part of the Loire and have also flown in the face of tradition by switching excluisively to screwcaps for their range.  The Quarts de Chaume vineyard enjoys a superb terroir and a unique situation producing wines of rare elegance.  This remarkable wine is wonderfuly textured and manages to comine power and clarity alongside richness and precision. Complex with floral bouquets and notes of citrus and orchard fruit with impeccable acidity, this is a wine to savour.

£39.00

2021 Les Argiles Sec, Francois Chidaine, Vin de France

Chenin Blanc

The Les Argiles Sec is a Vouvray in all but name.  Francois Chidaine is based in Montlouis and is responsible for putting the AC back on the map of destinations for world class Chenin Blanc. The grapes for this amazing Chenin are grown in Vouvray but made into wine at Francois' winery in Montlouis, and therefore can only be classified as a humble Vin de France.

£38.95

2021 Points Cardineaux Metiss, Bott Geyl

White Blend

The Points Cardineaux Metis from Bott Geyl has typical Alsatian aromatics, a lushly textured palate and wonderful purity of fruit which is underpinned by fine minerality. 

£19.95

2021 Sancerre La Pente, Emile Balland

Sauvignon Blanc

This tiny 6.5 hectare domaine in the Loire was started by Emile Balland in 1999. The Ballands have been making wines in the Loire since 1650 and his father was instrumental in achieving recognition for the young AOC Coteaux du Giennois in the 1980s.The La Pente is a first class Sancerre and the pinnacle of Emile' production.  It comes from vines are grown on Emile's finest sites in the limestone soil of Beauregard, and he only uses the first juice from the pressing is used. After a careful fermentation, the wine is matured for large barrels for 18 months to develop complexityWonderful, textured Sancerre showing restrained tropical fruits, fine minerality and a wonderful length on the finish.

£42.00

2022 Chapeau Melon Blanc, Jeremie Huchet, Vin de France

White Blend

Jeremie Huchet is a fourth generation winemaker in the Loire and considered one of the rising stars in Muscadet.  This cracking blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne is spritely, fresh and fruit driven.  Terrific with seafood and shellfish or for simple quaffing in the garden throughout summer!

£13.95

2022 Frankenstein Blend, Charles Frey, AC Alsace

White Blend

The Frankenstein white is a blend of Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Gris grown in granite rich Grand Cru vineyards of Frankstein.  Alsace wine law forbids blending for Grand Cru wines so this cracking wine is only classified as AC Alsace despite the quality of fruit going into it.  Exotic, bold and full of character, this complex and aromatic white blends floral notes, ginger spice and tropical fruits such as Mango, lychee and ripe pear.  Although naturally aromatic the finish is dry and mineral tinged with a surprising delicacy courtesy of the granite rich soils of Frankstein.

£32.00

2022 Pinot Gris, Domaine Mader, Hunawihr

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio

Mader is a tiny, high quality wine producer based in Alsace, in the village of Hunawihr. All the vineyards are grown organically without the use of any chemical treatments and has been certified by Ecocert since 2007.

£23.00

2022/23 Carte d’Or, Baumard, AC Coteaux du Layon, Half Bottle

Chenin Blanc

The Carte d'Or Coteaux du Layon from Baumard has a very attractive honeyed nose, with lifted yellow fruits and more golden tropical elements such as mango, guava and pineapple. It has a particularly tropical character and a very fresh feel on the palate, with steely minerality and a zippy background acidity giving invigorating tartness to keep the wine luscious and buoyant. The rounded, approachable finish has good length.

£13.95

2023 Chinon Les Joueurs, Domaine la Chapelle

Cabernet Franc

The Chinon Joueurs from Domaine la Chapelle's was the first wine to be released from this biodynamic Domaine. The grapes are hand harvested from a mixture of different plots, and then fermented in concrete tank with natural yeasts.  The result is a wine that displays immense purity and freshness, giving hints of typical vegetal notes alongside perfumed dark fruits and a lovely vein of acidity.  Balanced, harmonious and a joy to drink.

£23.00

2023 Gamay, Domaine Moulin Camus, IGP Loire

Gamay

This 100% Gamay from Domaine Moulin Camus comes from grapes grown on a slope of pure mica schist which gives the wine juicy, rounded red fruits a bit of tautness and minerality.  A warmer than normal, sulphur free maceration for three days helps bring out some warmth and roundness to the fruit, making it slightly beaujolais'esque but without the bubble gum/commercial edge that one would normally find in this price range.

£13.50

2023 Gewurztraminer, Sophie Schaal, AOP Alsace

Gewurztraminer

This Alsace Gewurztraminer from Sophie Schaal is utterly delightful.  This expressive wine shows all the typical hallmarks of the grape with lychee, rose petal and turkish delight notes, yet is is wonderfully restrained and elegant showing impeccable balance.  The palate verges on rich with plenty of tropical fruits, ginger and slight spice kept in check with perfectly poised acidity. 

£19.95

2023 Harmonie Pinot Noir, Charles Frey

Pinot Noir

A light and delicate Alsace Pinot Noir with tempting red fruits such as Cherry and Strawberry and pretty floral notes on the finish.

£23.00

2023 Menetou Salon, Domaine Coquin

Sauvignon Blanc

We are delighted to welcome back this wonderful Menetou Salon from Domaine Coquin.  Planted on south west facing slopes with excellent exposure, the vines are tended with the utmost respect for the environment with ploughing and grass cover limiting the excessive use of chemicals.

£18.95

2023 Montlouis Sec Clos du Breuil, Francois Chidaine

Chenin Blanc

Based in Montlouis, Francois Chidaine makes beguiling wines from Chenin Blanc and is largely regarded as the producer who put Montlouis 'back on the map'.  The Clos du Breuil is made from a single parcel of low-yielding vines grown biodynamically on flinty/clay soils.  Grapes are harvested by hand, with a spontaneous fermentation in large, old demi-muid oak barrels.  The wine is then lees aged, without batonnage, for several months. 

£39.95

2023 Pouilly Fume ‘Nanogyra’, Loic Cailbourdin

Sauvignon Blanc

The Nanogyra Pouilly Fume (formerly 'Les Cornets') is a wonderful example of elegant, concentrated Sauvignon Blanc from the fossil rich Limestone vineyards of Pouilly-sur-Loire.  This terrific wine has a lovely weight on the palate with complex, even slightly exotic, elderflower and hedgerow fruit.  This delicious, unoaked white wine shows wonderful purity, is soft and rounded, and has a beautiful balance on the long, mineral-tinged finish.  

£31.95

2023 Riesling ‘Les Elements’, Domaine Bott-Geyl

Riesling

Jean-Christophe Bott is heir to the family tradition dating back to 1795, when his ancestor, Jean-Martin Geyl tended his vines and made his wine. Jean-Christophe Bott has been responsible for Domaine Bott-Geyl since 1993 and he converted the vineyards to be organic in 2000 and then biodynamic in 2002.  In the vineyards he concentrates on low yields and in the cellars he oversees the vinification in the most natural and minimalist manner to produce wines with precise varietal character.

£22.95

2023 Sancerre Rouge ‘La Louisonne’, Emile Balland

Pinot Noir

This tiny 6.5 hectare domaine in the Loire was started by Emile Balland in 1999. The Ballands have been making wines in the Loire since 1650 and his father was instrumental in achieving recognition for the young AOC Coteaux du Giennois in the 1980s.

£27.95

2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Chatelain Desjacques, Vin De France

Sauvignon Blanc

The Chatelain Desjacques Sauvignon Blanc is great value, easy drinking white wine from the western Loire. It offers plenty of varietal character, clean fresh fruit and crisp acidity on the finish. Terrific everyday white for lovers of restrained, easy going Sauvignon.

£10.95

2023 Tuffeau Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, Domaine Plou, VDF

Chardonnay

The Tuffeau Blanc de Blancs is beautifully refreshing and crisp.  Gently sparkling with fine and delicate bubbles, this lovely 'all day' wine is packed with zesty green apple and citrus fruit from start to elegant finish. Perfect for whiling away a sunny afternoon or simply popping to cheer yourself up after a dull day!

£17.95

2023 Vouvray Coeur de Silex, Bernard Fouquet, AC Vouvray

Chenin Blanc

Produced from several vineyards with Silex (flint) soils, this delicious Vouvray is pale yellow with a very reserved nose. The palate is dominated by minerals, with citrus, apple and lemon peel fruit. Floral aromas balance out the minerality with some lovely balanced acidity coming through on the finish. 

£17.95

2024 Cap a l’Ouest Sauvignon, Domaine de la Bretonniere, IGP

Sauvignon Blanc

Domaine de la Bretonniere have been making wine in the Loire for generations.  With an utmost respect for the environment and meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard they are able to produce vibrant, crisp wines with lovely pure fruit and crisp, balanced acidity.  The Cap A l'Ouest Sauvignon is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris and has a bright, pale yellow appearance with golden reflections. The intense bouquet of flowers and lychee follow through to the generous palate that manages to be powerful and fruit-forward whilst retaining freshness and zip with long lasting acidity.

£12.50

2024 Eclat de Granite, Domaine Serol, AOP Cote Roannaise

£23.00

2024 Menetou Salon, Domaine Jouan

Sauvignon Blanc

Domaine Jouan is a family estate with 5 hectares of vines of which 4 are in Sancerre and only 1 in Menetou-Salon.  They produce wines which are very typical and this easy going Menetou is a cracking value alternative to Sancerre.  Light and crisp with a lovely structure and lots of fresh citrus and stone fruit aromas

£21.00

2024 Muscadet Cuvee Prestige, Domaine de la Bretonniere

Melon de Bourgogne

The Muscadet Cuvee Prestige from Domaine de la Bretonniere is a classic, crisp Muscadet that is typically pale with a greenish hue to it.  The nose is intense and complex leading to a not overtly fruit driven palate which is very crisp, fresh and impeccably balanced.

£13.95