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

2021 Reiterpfad Riesling, Hanewald-Schwerdt, Pfalz

Riesling

The Reiterpfad Riesling from the fabulous Hanewald-Schwerdt has flavours of dried herbs, pepper in combination with ripe yellow stone fruits and hints of fennel. Creamy and nutty in the mouth again herbs and fennel, fine acidity with a lot of structure.

£21.50

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

2020 Grauburgunder, Weingut Thorle, Rheinhessen

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio

The Thorle Grauburgunder has a creamy texture yet is very fresh with a distinct underlying mineral character which is a true reflection of the grape and the rocky soils in which it is grown.

£17.95