Bright medium-gold. Huge, powerful Viognier nose of fresh peach pie and blossoms. Medium-bodied, the pie theme continues in the mouth with flavours of apricots and sweet pastry. Good acidity and an extraordinarily long finish. Memorable.
A tightly wound Pinot with subtle yet interesting dark fruits, bramble, forest floor and red berry fruit on the nose. It’s silky on the palate and opens up to intense raspberry, wildberry fruit, wonderful spice notes and fine-grained tannins. Try with grilled salmon and teriyaki shiitake.
This wine spent 12 months in older oak barrels and 6 months in stainless steel. It smells of white flowers, gunflint, citrus and honeysuckle. It is opulent rather than racy, with some tropical fruit notes to go with ginger and honeysuckle in a juicy style. Pairs well with swordfish fillets marinated in lime juice or seared foie gras.
She’s so French, wearing her flirty medium-garnet dress and perfume of sweet berries and rich leather. On the palate, she is a classic claret, beautifully balanced with crushed berries and a touch of smoke from her Gauloises. Like the best French women, sophisticated and will plateau beautifully for a number of years.
Clear, light brass, typical nose of lychee, spice, flowers and grapefruit. Full-bodied and almost bone-dry, but luscious with pear and melon flavours. A slight flower-petal bitterness on the finish adds interest. Sufficiently complex to stand up to Thai food.
Clear brass-yellow colour proclaims maturity, but the aroma is of a perfectly ripe McIntosh wearing banana cologne. Medium bodied with a pleasant lemony acidity, it’s a tropical fruit salad in your mouth. Perfectly mature now, it will drink well to 2016, maybe longer. Outstanding with a delicate fish.
Maury is a “vin doux naturel” made from old Grenache vines. Bright purple. Irresistible, seductive nose of red and black fruits with anise and liquorice. Voluptuous and warm on the palate, it is semi-sweet and thick but not syrupy. Tannins feel a little dry beneath the sweetness. Excellent on its own or with blue cheese or freshly cracked nuts. Long aging potential but already delicious.