Recent Reviews

	Mac Forbes RS19 Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2017 Amazing! Fruity, peachy and zesty with juicy richness. Splash out. - Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 7th Oct 2018 )	£17.00
	Patrimonio Rouge, Clos Alivu 2016 A red made from nielluccio (Corsican sangiovese), this has a rasp of spice, the subtle astringency of moorland berries, the scent of sun beating down on hot stones, and a hint of molten strawberry. A gorgeous red for autumn. - Victoria Moore ( The Daily Telegraph 6th Oct 2018 )	£14.95
	Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde 2017 Mouthwateringly refreshing white from Portuguese giant Sogrape. Ideal for seafood. - Fiona Beckett ( The Guardian 6th Oct 2018 )	£7.95
	Raats Original Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2017 I've followed this wine for years and it always delivers, with gloriously drinkable ripe pears, cut by aniseed. - Hamish Anderson ( The Daily Telegraph 6th Oct 2018 )	£9.50
	Tio Pepe Fino 'En Rama' (2018 Bottling) ... a young wine drawn from the cask unfiltered, usually in the spring when the flor is at its peak: the taste is therefore both youthful and fresh, but more complex and yeasty and intended to be drunk as soon as possible after bottling, ideally within a few months. - Terry Kirby ( independent.co.uk 6th Oct 2018 )	£14.95
	Romate Maribel A Selection of Amontillado Medium Dry ... made to be darker than fino, but still naturally dry, although some can have slightly sweet notes and all have complex flavours of nuts, caramel and toffee. At the off-dry end, try [this] as a cooler weather aperitif … Terry Kirby ( independent.co.uk 6th Oct 2018 )	£8.95
	Joseph Burrier, Mâcon-Vergisson 2016 One of four brilliant Mâconnais whites on show ..., this is amazing value for what it is: fruit, richness (half is fermented in oak) and considerable elegance. Lovely and affordable white Burgundy. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£12.50
	Champagne Marc Hébrart Premier Cru Cuvée de Réserve Brut NV A delicious and fairly priced grower champagne: toasty, lovely elegance, quite long. Made from 80% pinot noir/20% chardonnay. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£28.00
	Chinon ‘Le Temps des Cerises', Domaine de la Noblaie 2017 I love Jérôme Billard’s clean, pure, organic Chinons: pure bright berry fruit, cabernet franc grip - just lovely Loire red, and such good value for this kind of quality. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£10.95
	Prophet's Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 This is just about as serious a pinot noir as I’ve tasted from Central Otago: gorgeous sweet berry fruit with structure and depth, long. Really impressive. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£26.00
	The Society's Exhibition Hermitage Blanc 2014 Wow! Made by the king of Hermitage, Jean-Louis Chave, this white is so big that it had to be moved down the line-up in last week’s tasting to the end of the whites, as it was just blowing everything else out of the water. Powerful, complex, almost oily, just so long. Beautiful now but will get better. And despite the price tag, something of a bargain for an Hermitage of this quality. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£36.00
	Viognier Grès du Trias, Coteaux de l'Ardèche, Vignerons Ardechois 2017 Lovely classic viognier, fragrant and expressive apricot fruit balanced with good freshness and acidity: a good deal more subtle than most of the Midi takes on the grape. - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£9.95
	Half bottle of Solear Manzanilla, Barbadillo Nothing very surprising about a manzanilla, perhaps, but tasting it after 60-odd wines, I was struck anew by it’s wonderful freshness and character. Wonderful, refreshing saline character so typical of Sanlucar; yeasty, tangy. Solear is my favourite manzanilla (and as ever a steal, too.) - Andy Neather ( The view from my table 5th Oct 2018 )	£5.95
	Felton Road Cornish Point Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 Just a gentle whiff of redcurrant here with a hint of boxwood savouriness. The red fruit continues on the concentrated but charming palate, where the finest tannins unfold. With some air, both floral notes and raspberry appear. Always the most dreamy of all the Felton pinots. - Anne Krebiehl ( Decanter 3rd Oct 2018 )	£41.00
	The Society's Chablis 2016 If anyone tells you they don’t like Chardonnay, give them a glass of this and see what happens. Actually, I can tell you what happens. They finish the glass, ask for a top up and then when you tell them it’s Chardonnay they don’t believe you. Because this one hasn’t been anywhere near an oak barrel and just lets the fruit – and place it’s been made – do the talking. Clean, crisp, and very, very drinkable. Only thing that’ll improve it is an omelette served alongside. - Helen McGinn ( Knackered Mothers Wine Club 2nd Oct 2018 )	£14.50
	Montefalco Rosso, Scacciadiavoli 2015 A characterful blend of sangiovese, sagrantino and merlot. The sagrantino grape provides earthy base notes, above which lie the red fruits and perfume of sangiovese. Beautiful with grouse. - Hamish Anderson ( The Daily Telegraph 29th Sep 2018 )	£12.95
	Fitou, Domaine Jones 2016 Englishwoman Katie Jones has found her métier deep in the Languedoc, where she makes luscious, hearty reds and fragrant whites from grapes grown on rugged hillsides. Think ripe and dried figs, with swags of brambles. - Victoria Moore ( The Daily Telegraph 29th Sep 2018 )	£15.50
	Vouvray Sec Tendre Lieu-Dit Rosnay 2015 Fresh and lemony with just a hint of sweetness, this white is delightful. It's bright and fruity with hints of cheese and straw, which is typical of chenin from the Loire. - Jamie Goode ( Sunday Express 29th Sep 2018 )	£11.50
	Duo Des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier, Vin de France 2017 “Crowd-pleaser” springs to mind to describe this easy-going white. Sauvignon blanc brings freshness and bounce; viognier adds a little cushion and florality. On a weekend away with a lot of friends, we got through a lot of this. - Victoria Moore ( The Daily Telegraph 29th Sep 2018 )	£6.50
	Syrah-Mourvèdre Côtes de Thongue, Domaine La Condamine L'Evêque 2017 From southern France, this blend of syrah (for dark, liquorice-tinged fruit) and mourvèdre (blueberries and slightly savage spice) offers extremely good-value drinking. - Victoria Moore ( The Daily Telegraph 29th Sep 2018 )	£6.75
	Patrimonio Rouge, Clos Alivu 2016 100% nielluccio, which is the same as Sangiovese. Very floral, bright and fruity with expressive, pure red cherry and raspberry fruit. Linear, with a bit of structure. Quite delightful. 91/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£14.95
	Saint-Chinian, Château La Dournie 2016 Supple, bright and slightly smoky with a mineral edge to the stylish cherry and plum fruit. Some herb/garrigue complexity. Grown-up Languedoc red with nice personality. 90/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£9.50
	Chinon ‘Le Temps des Cerises', Domaine de la Noblaie 2017 Lovely floral nose with some chalk and fine herb notes. Linear, juicy and fruity on the palate with brightness, freshness and poise. A classic Loire cabernet franc of some class. 91/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£10.95
	Prophet's Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 This is pretty special: it’s not your fruit-bright New Zealand style, but instead has some savoury complexity. Supple and refined with spicy cherry and strawberry fruit and some fine savoury notes, with minerals and herbs. Understated and fine. 94/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£26.00
	Half bottle of Solear Manzanilla, Barbadillo This is such a bargain. Salty, tangy and yeasty this has nice bright fresh apple and citrus fruity notes, in an elegant, bright style. Nice purity. 91/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£5.95
	Jean-Paul Brun, Terres Dorées Beaujolais L'Ancien 2016 Very floral with a green sappy and beetroot edge to the cherry and raspberry fruit. Bright, fresh and sappy with raspberries to the fore. Light and expressive and quite pure. 92/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£11.95
	Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Bourgogne Aligoté 2016 Fermented in 500 litre barrels. Fine and lemony with lovely pear fruit richness and a subtle nuttiness. Stylish and complex with a hint of baked apple, and lemony focus. 92/100 Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 28th Sep 2018 )	£14.50
	Young & Crazy Broadleaf Melnik, Villa Melnik 2017 Bulgaria was once best known for its rough cabernet sauvignons but is now turning to native grapes such as this melnik. Juicy and fresh, it makes very easy glugging with roast duck with Bramley apple sauce and red cabbage. - Kate Hawkings ( Olive 28th Sep 2018 )	£8.50
	The Society's Exhibition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 John Williams makes cabernet sauvignon in a classical style: not too much oak or an overly fruity character. This has dark fruit notes, but the addition of a little merlot gives it nuance. Great with roast beef or cold roast-chicken salad. - Will Lyons ( The Sunday Times 23rd Sep 2018 )	£18.00
	Talinay Limarí Coastal Limestone Vineyard Chardonnay 2015 From vineyards close to the sea with a high limestone content, this is a very distinctive chardonnay brimming with generous pear and peach fruit. It also has a grainy texture, a bit of saltiness and taut acidity. - Jamie Goode ( Sunday Express 23rd Sep 2018 )	£14.50
	Marcillac ‘Lo Sang del Pais', Domaine du Cros 2016 The southwest of France boasts a cluster of wine regions that have never quite got the attention they deserve. This is almost entirely down to what the French cutely call le marketing. The regions are too diverse and individualistic, as well as being too geographically spread out, for any Mad Men or women to think up a single convincing story to tell about them as a group (à la Bordeaux). But each is too small to make enough noise on its own in a crowded international wine market. It means the wines don’t tend to stray too far from home, and even in the rest of France, appellations such as the tiny Marcillac in the Aveyron, where the fer servadou grape is used to make this super-succulent, red-berried, iron-streaked light red, are scarcely known. - David Williams ( The Observer 23rd Sep 2018 )	£8.95
	Weinert Carrascal Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 A young cabernet sauvignon is robust and fruity, but as it ages and matures in bottle it softens into a more earthy, soft and savoury red. Try [this wine], a snip … Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 23rd Sep 2018 )	£9.50
	The Society's Primitivo di Manduria 2016 Oof, this is a big fellow, and I've selected it for those of you who want to make Rosemary [Shrager]'s pheasant breasts with wild mushroom pappardelle recipe. The wine complements the depth of flavour in this dish on account of its stunning black cherry-soaked fruit. - Matthew Jukes ( The Daily Mail 22nd Sep 2018 )	£10.50
	Iona Sauvignon Blanc, Elgin 2017 Iona Sauvignon Blanc captures that [original]charm [of the grape]: the ripe gooseberry fruit which defines the variety is unmistakable, but it retains an all-important savoury sensibility on the palate, as well as a chalky, flinty character reminiscent of the Loire. There is a sort of soft-focus elegance to the structure that makes it compellingly drinkable for casual drinkers, and grace notes of spice and hops for anyone paying closer attention. The lightness of touch is thanks partly to hands-off winemaking (other than the inclusion of 4% semillon and 6% barrel fermentation, it is vinified to conventional standards), but surely owes more to the vineyard location in Elgin, the cool region to the south-east of Cape Town. ... Iona Sauvignon Blanc represents a model that produces a delicious wine at a good price, while at the same time facilitating much-needed investment in the people and quality potential of the South African wine industry. At around £11 in the UK, this sauvignon blanc has a quality-to-price ratio that far outstrips most of its peers, be they from the Loire, Marlborough, Chile or anywhere else. So not only is Iona Sauvignon Blanc one of the best in its class for both quality and value, but it proves that South African wine can command a price that can sustain the wine industry. Just glorious stuff. Rarely seen or known about outside its native South Africa, it is produced by mulching the grapes and allowing the juice to remain in contact with the skins for between 36-48 hours. After separation the skins are pressed and then the must (the juice with the seeds, skins and stems) is fortified with spirit - with little, if any, fermentation taking place. Interesting, eh? The nose has a lifted raisin note to the bright red cherry and strawberry fruit. In the mouth there is a sweet entry but the freshness throughout from the acidity is so appealing, as is the lighter-than-expected texture to the fortified curio. Rare and interesting and will keep for weeks once opened - as if it's going to last that long. - Richard Hemming ( JancisRobinson.com 21st Sep 2018 )	£10.95
	The Society's Rioja Crianza 2014 Textbook rioja - soft, sweet and mellow—at a ridiculously modest price. - Jonathan Ray ( The Field 21st Sep 2018 )	£7.75
	Undurraga Cauquenes Estate Grenache Syrah 2016 Chilean champ [that] showcases Chile's great value. - Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 16th Sep 2018 )	£8.95
	Mendel Mendoza Malbec 2015 A dense malbec from a vineyard planted in 1928, this red has smooth, lush black cherry and blackberry fruit with hints of coconut and spice from the oak. It’s a big wine that’s food-friendly. - Jamie Goode ( Sunday Express 16th Sep 2018 )	£16.00
	Domaine du Bois Florencin Cuvée Pierres Dorées, Beaujolais 2017 Juicy, vibrant and joyous – perfect with a baguette and a good hunk of pâté. - Fiona Beckett ( The Guardian 15th Sep 2018 )	£7.95
	Pacherenc du Vic-Bihl, Château d'Aydie 2016 (50cl) … luscious, sweet … Fiona Beckett ( The Guardian 15th Sep 2018 )	£12.50
	Isola della Fiamma Nero d'Avola 2017 The brilliance of this lies in its poise, because while nero d'Avola in Sicily always gives you plenty of dark, rich fruit, keeping the wine this fresh and lively is not easy. Ideal for late summer barbecues. - Hamish Anderson ( The Daily Telegraph 15th Sep 2018 )	£6.50
	The Society's Exhibition Rioja Reserva 2011 Terrific, rich, herby, savoury red rioja, with lashings of sweet tobacco and cinnamon oak, made exclusively from the tempranillo grape. - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 15th Sep 2018 )	£15.50
	'Dirt Track' Cinsault by Duncan Savage, Swartland 2016 Very cherry. Excellent value here for a light, cherry-ish red to serve lightly chilled. - Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 9th Sep 2018 )	£6.50
	Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Le Clos du Château L'Oiselinière 2014 A mouthwatering, steely, citrussy, minerally triumph. - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 8th Sep 2018 )	£12.95
	Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie, Château L'Oiselinière de la Ramée, Chéreau-Carré 2015 Chéreau-Carré’s muscadets are a joy, so tuck into this zingy, apple blossom, green pear and citrus-edged delight. - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 8th Sep 2018 )	£8.25
	Tuercebotas Tempranillo Blanco, Rioja 2017 An apple and a peach united - deliciously summery. - Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 2nd Sep 2018 )	£8.95
	Arbin Vin de Savoie Mondeuse ‘La Belle Romaine' Château de Merande 2015 A biodynamic estate run by Daniel and André Genoux, whose winemaking heritage dates back to the 13th century. The sappy blue and black berry fruit has a lovely rustic touch. Complex, long and very drinkable with fresh acidity and dusty tannins. - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Sep 2018 )	£17.00
	Henriques and Henriques Medium Rich Single Harvest Madeira 1998 From a famous producer founded in 1850, comes this special single-vintage bottling made unusually from tinta negra mole. Complex dried fruit and nuts, sweet spices and creamy mocha. Incredible length. Serve lightly chilled with cheese. - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Sep 2018 )	£25.00
	Maycas del Limarί San Julian Pinot Noir 2014 A fleshy yet scented and elegant pinot noir from Limar?. The touch of age becomes it well, with earthy dried plum aromas and a succulent palate. Great with lamb. - Peter Richards ( Decanter 1st Sep 2018 )	£25.00
	Undurraga TH Alto Maipo Cabernet Franc 2013 Highly recommended: Admirably subtle, elegant and traditional - in fact this is very Bordeaux in style. It's ageing so beautifully, with still-bright acidity carrying through the palate and fuelling a lip-smacking, savoury finish. - Panel tasting ( Decanter 1st Sep 2018 )	£14.95
	The Society's Exhibition Grüner Veltliner 2017 Star buy: A step up in richness and quality here with this beautifully textured characterful grüner from Willi Brundlmayer’s steep Langenlois terraces. Loved its peach and citrus fruits, vivid racy acidity, sweet sour flavours, hint of spritz with a welcoming hint of creamy sweetness. Works well as a stylish aperitif, but better with charcuterie, asparagus or potted shrimps. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 30th Aug 2018 )	£13.95