Recent Reviews

	Dogliani, Luigi Einaudi 2017 This charming red from Dogliani, southeast of Turin, has a vibrant violet colour and a perfumed, fruity nose. Derived from the dolcetto grape, it benefits from decanting and pairs beautifully with pasta. - Will Lyons ( The Sunday Times 3rd Feb 2019 )	£11.50
	Half bottle of Solear Manzanilla, Barbadillo So good, yet so cheap: have it in the fridge at all times. A lovely dry aperitif with a satisfying salty, nutty tang. Serve blisteringly cold with olives. - Will Lyons ( The Sunday Times 3rd Feb 2019 )	£5.95
	Domaines Lupier El Terroir Garnacha, Navarra 2012 Garnacha... performs well in the far northern region of Navarra, where one of the most exciting producers, Domaines Lupier, uses small plots of old mountain vines that bring real elegance and freshness to the fragrant juiciness. - David Williams ( The Observer 3rd Feb 2019 )	£17.50
	Gratien and Meyer Festillant Sparkling Sans Alcool Very lively bubbles, pear and apple fruit characteristics, tangy and fresh with some residual sweetness. Great with sweeter dishes. - Alex Hale ( Prima 2nd Feb 2019 )	£4.25
	Carlos Lucas Ribeiro Santo, Dão 2016 Unoaked red with herb and cherry fruit aromas, initially with a soft velvety texture finishing with gripping tannins. Made by Magnum Vinhos in Carregal do Sal, set up by Carlos Lucas and others who met at Dao Sul winery. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 2nd Feb 2019 )	£7.95
	Crémant d’Alsace Cuvée Julien Dopff au Moulin NV [A] typical and terrific buy… a blend of auxerrois and pinot blanc and very typical of the refreshing and utterly irresistible crémant style; for celebrations and parties of all kinds. - Terry Kirby ( The Independent 2nd Feb 2019 )	£13.50
	The Society's Grüner Veltliner 2017 Demand has been immense for this zesty, lip-smacking and vivacious grüner veltliner. I'm thrilled to recommend it, especially as a companion to James [Martin]'s caramelised onion, courgette and Wensleydale quiche. - Matthew Jukes ( The Daily Mail 2nd Feb 2019 )	£8.25
	The Society's Exhibition Alsace Riesling 2016 A good starting point for the [riesling] grape is [this wine], made for [The Society] by the highly regarded Josmeyer company just outside the pretty town of Colmar, in the hands of the same family since 1854 and now run by two sisters on biodynamic principles. Gorgeous floral aromas, a pure, ethereal touch on the palate with refreshing, lovely apple and peach flavours; ideal with shellfish. - Terry Kirby ( The Independent 2nd Feb 2019 )	£14.50
	Pinot Noir Côte de Rouffach, Muré 2016 90 per cent of Alsatian still wine production is white and pinot noir is the only red grape that gets any attention and mostly reflects the German pinot style of lightness, minerality, spice, a touch of earth and very forward cherry fruit flavours. [This] elegant [wine] is just about everything a gorgeous silky pinot should be, best served lightly chilled, with a plate of Alsatian charcuterie. - Terry Kirby ( The Independent 2nd Feb 2019 )	£21.00
	The Society’s Vin d’Alsace 2017 Made by the Hugel family of winemakers which is Alsace class in a glass. Winemaker Marc Hugel creates a blend each vintage from riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, muscat, and sylvaner, known as “the noble varieties”. There are notes of freshly cut green apples, lychee, pear, and a hint of white peach. It is fresh and rewarding. - Jane Clare ( Liverpool Echo 2nd Feb 2019 )	£9.50
	Earth and Sky Naoussa, Thymiopoulos 2016 Thymiopoulos could claim to have transformed our perceptions of Naoussa in western Macedonia, the most important Greek wine appellation. Instead of being dense and a bit rough in youth, Thymiopoulos's reds are haunting, fresh and ageworthy. Parallels with Barolo are not far-fetched. Earth and Sky... is their top bottling, from the family's oldest vines. - Jancis Robinson ( JancisRobinson.com 2nd Feb 2019 )	£21.00
	Rosé de Xinomavro, Thymiopoulos 2017 …surprisingly long-lived… highly recommended. - Jancis Robinson ( JancisRobinson.com 2nd Feb 2019 )	£10.95
	Weinert Carrascal Corte Clasico Mendoza 2013 This lovely mature Bordeaux blend spent three years in oak and is now hitting its drinking peak, so don't wait! It's full of spice-laden mocha-choc bramble fruit on a plush palate, backed by firm tannins and a long savoury finish. Decant and hour or two ahead. - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Feb 2019 )	£9.50
	The Society's California Old-Vine Zinfandel 2016 Zinfandel is a Marmite grape; if you're a hater, try this - it won't break the bank. The cool coastal fruit gives balancing acidity to the rich red berry compote flavours and, while not complex, it's smooth and juicy and a perfect match for a winter stew. - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Feb 2019 )	£7.95
	Hidalgo Pastrana Manzanilla Pasada A single-vineyard manzanilla matured for 12 years and bottled en rama (only very lightly filtered), giving immense concentration and complexity of flavour balanced by mouthwatering acidity. Briny, yeasty and nutty, with floral hints on the beautifully textured, full-bodied palate that leads to a very long lemon-zest finish. Superb! - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Feb 2019 )	£11.95
	Aranleón Sólo Bobal, Utiel Requena 2016 A rustic bobal-syrah blend from old vines (40-100 years) planted at 700m. High-toned macerated summer berries, baked red fruits and sweet spice on a round palate, which is warm in alcohol but has vibrant acidity and firm structure from its 11 months in French oak barrels. - Tina Gellie ( Decanter 1st Feb 2019 )	£8.95
	The Society's Cava Reserva Brut NV This has a champagne-like nose with very fine bubbles. ( bbcgoodfood.com 31st Jan 2019 )	£8.50
	Cava Conde de Haro Brut 2016 Made by rioja company, Muga, it has a champagne-like nose, with a toasty bready quality. There are very fine bubbles some apple cider (but not scrumpy!) notes, and a floral honeysuckle quality. ( bbcgoodfood.com 31st Jan 2019 )	£13.50
	Parcelas Ecológico Monastrell, Yecla 2017 A great winter warming Monastrell from up-and-coming Yecla region. For those who like gutsy juicy deep coloured reds with forest fruit flavours, spicy depth and smooth finish. Monastrell is the same grape as France’s southern Rhône Mourvèdre. Exceptionally good value and organically made. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 27th Jan 2019 )	£7.50
	Lan D-12, Rioja 2015 Smooth soft sweet herby Rioja goes well with vegan stews – and this is a really fine example from Lan’s top Rioja Alta vineyards. Unashamedly modern and fruit forward in style, with prominent sweet clove and cedar notes from a mix of American and French oak. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 27th Jan 2019 )	£16.00
	Mendel Mendoza Semillon 2017 The grapes for the charming Mendel Semillon, Mendoza 2017, with its green figgy, subtly honeyed and lemony citrus character, are sourced from a 70-year-old plot in Mendoza’s fashionable Paraje Altamira. - David Williams ( The Observer 27th Jan 2019 )	£12.95
	Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Semillon 2017 One small part of the wine world that has been ploughing a somewhat lonely furrow with its idiosyncratically delicious versions of semillon is the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. These are quite unlike anything else in Australia in being modest in alcohol (often under 11% abv) and lemony-limey-lean when they’re bottled, before transforming into something richly toasty, but still steely and lithe, as they age (which they can do for decades) ... Tyrrell’s textbook example ... can be squirrelled away while you await its toasty transformation, but its current state of pristine citrus is great with a plate of seafood right now. - David Williams ( The Observer 27th Jan 2019 )	£14.50
	Australia Felix Swan Hill Victoria Shiraz-Sagrantino 2017 Sagrantino is an Umbrian grape and it can be a beast: earthy and unyielding, with hints of cinnamon, quinine and cherry. Blending some in with shiraz is a stroke of genius – it gives a spicy twist to this medium-bodied wine, a cherryish lift and a slightly vermouthy finish. - Victoria Moore ( The Daily Telegraph 26th Jan 2019 )	£8.95
	Duo Des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier, Vin de France 2017 I was chatting to a friend the other day and discovered that he only ever buys one wine ([this one], in case you’re curious), works his way through it, then reorders. This seemed weird to me, given how many delicious wines there are out there, but then I realised that it is exactly what I do with other things: breakfast cereal, yoghurt, a particular loaf… If I like something, I keep on buying it. - Fiona Beckett ( The Guardian 26th Jan 2019 )	£6.50
	Les Pierres Bordes Marsanne-Viognier 2017 My favourite… a humdinger of a Midi white from the western Languedoc, bursting with nutty, honeysuckle, white peach and dried apricot fruit. - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 26th Jan 2019 )	£6.50
	Saint-Péray, Roussanne, Domaine du Tunnel 2013 If it’s a new-wave, white burgundy-inspired Rhône you want, an elegant, blossomy, age-worthy roussanne, rather than a heavy marsanne, is the answer; [This] gorgeous, exotic, smoky, white flower-spiced [wine] gets my vote. - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 26th Jan 2019 )	£24.00
	Badacsonyi Kéknyelű, Sabar 2017 A mouthful in more ways than one, kéknyelü is a rare Hungarian grape here made into a dazzling white wine, bright with razor-sharp freshness and seductive apricot fruit. A perfect partner for lobster linguine. - Kate Hawkings ( Olive 25th Jan 2019 )	£11.75
	Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Meursault Premier Cru Gouttes d'Or 2013 A cool vintage that yielded mixed results, but some very good ones, witness this unfiltered Premier Cru from Fabien Coche (cousin of the feted Coche Dury family and domaine). Honeyed, nutty, sourdough-bread nose and the same rich, freshly baked sourdough depth to the palate. Generous, fleshy, succulent and savoury with fine, balancing acidity giving mouthwatering freshness. Just coming into its own. Could be kept 6 or 7 years. - Joanna Simon ( joannasimon.com 21st Jan 2019 )	£49.00
	Château de Meursault, Meursault Clos des Grands Charrons 2014 Clos des Grands Charrons is a Monopole (i.e. all owned by Château de Meursault) and, although not a Premier Cru, it's better than regular village Meursault, especially in a vintage of the calibre of 2014. Youthful, concentrated and salty with honeyed sweetness, spice and fruit emerging from a creamy, silken texture, nutty richness and concentration. - Joanna Simon ( joannasimon.com 21st Jan 2019 )	£45.00
	Olivier Leflaive, Bourgogne Oncle Vincent 2016 Classified as Bourgogne but made from Olivier Leflaive's own vines, his oldest and best, in Puligny-Montrachet and regarded as a mini Puligny. This is barrel fermented and matured, has smoky hazelnuts and minerals on the nose, and impressive intensity, roundness and silkiness cut through by piercing acidity and saline notes. - Joanna Simon ( joannasimon.com 21st Jan 2019 )	£20.00
	Domaine Guillemot-Michel, Viré-Clessé Quintaine 2016 ...Quintaine in Viré-Clessé, home to Marc, Pierrette and Sophie Guillemot-Michel's 6-hectare biodynamic estate, is one of the warmest spots in the Mâconnais. Their unoaked 2016 has lovely toasted-wheat, grilled-almond and tinglingly fresh lemon-zest aromas and a fleshy, rich-textured, concentrated palate with sweet apple and peach flavours trimmed with grapefruit peel. - Joanna Simon ( joannasimon.com 21st Jan 2019 )	£21.00
	Domaine Cordier, Mâcon Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four 2016 Delicate white flower, acacia honey and citrus nose, fine-spun texture and tight structure with apple, lemon and almond notes and a salty mineral streak. From one of the best Mâcon villages, Milly-Lamartine, and its best vineyard, Clos de Four (or du Four). Christophe Cordier picks early, which emphasises the cool, zingy minerality of the elevated, late-ripening vineyard, but he used to pick late for a more opulent, oaky style. I loved them at the time, but am completely won over by the tauter, more precise style he now captures. - Joanna Simon ( joannasimon.com 21st Jan 2019 )	£14.95
	Gewurztraminer 'Folastries', Josmeyer 2016 Almost decadent, billowing, rose, lychees and ginger fullness of a dry gewürztraminer… positively glides alongside ginger-inflected pork dishes as well as pongy cheeses. - David Williams ( The Observer 20th Jan 2019 )	£21.00
	McManis Family Lodi Viognier 2016 …ripe, aromatic and packed with characteristic peach, honeysuckle and apricot flavours – no oak here and tank ageing allows the pure fruit flavours to shine: definitely one for the pork belly or lighter Asian-spiced dishes. - Terry Kirby ( The Independent 19th Jan 2019 )	£11.50
	The Society's Exhibition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 8 Years Old …sublime, spicy, floral, sea spray-scented… - Jane MacQuitty ( The Times 19th Jan 2019 )	£32.00
	The Society's Exhibition Limarí Chardonnay 2017 I want my wines with a bit more oomph to them at this time of year, and this cool-climate Chilean Chardonnay fits the bill. From the Limarí Valley, it’s a tropical fruit salad of a wine. A hug in a glass. Food pairing: roast chicken. - Helen McGinn ( Daily Mail 17th Jan 2019 )	£10.50
	Soli Pinot Noir, Edoardo Miroglio 2016 Italian winemaker Edoardo Miroglio has shown an undiscovered affinity for pinot in Bulgaria: vintage after vintage, his lithe Soli Pinot Noir is among the best value reds of any kind. - David Williams ( The Observer 13th Jan 2019 )	£11.95
	Samos Anthemis 2012 Heroic value for a honey meets marmalade moment. One of the world's great sweet wines. - Olly Smith ( The Mail on Sunday 13th Jan 2019 )	£9.50
	Valpolicella, Allegrini 2017 Allegrini is a legendary producer Valpolicella circles and this wine is the first rung on the ladder of their incredible portfolio. Sensational in every respect, this plum, damson and cherry-scented wine has a silky texture and a long finish and it is a winner at eleven quid. - Matthew Jukes ( The Daily Mail 12th Jan 2019 )	£11.50
	Half bottle of Soave, Pieropan 2017 Fresh melon aromas, minerally palate with nutty undertones and a creamy texture from a blend of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave. You have to pay more for Soave from Pieropan, who are based right in the centre of the mediaeval town of Soave in Classico heartland – but it is worth it. They focus on low yields, old vines and ripe citric fruit. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 12th Jan 2019 )	£7.25
	Château Fontesteau, Haut-Médoc 2000 Particularly good value. - Jancis Robinson ( JancisRobinson.com 12th Jan 2019 )	£19.00
	The Society's Hunter Valley Semillon 2018 Hunter Semillon is a popular choice for those looking to cut down on alcohol. Picked early with low sugar, the acid can sometimes be a bit like battery acid and short on the finish – but this excellent example from Brockenwood in Pokolbin is very approachable, zingy with refreshing crispness. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 12th Jan 2019 )	£8.95
	Primo Franco Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene 2017 If you are a Prosecco fan, you should always look for Valdobbiadene on the label. This is where you find a superior version of this popular fizz – due to the cooler climate, high altitude vineyards at 500 metres, better soils and old vines. This is made by the historic Prosecco house of Primo Franco. Lemon meringue pie, very creamy, soft silky texture and complexity from lees ageing. A touch sweet, but still fresh vibrant with potential for ageing. - Rose Murray Brown ( rosemurraybrown.com 12th Jan 2019 )	£18.00
	Almeida Garrett Entre Serras, Beira Interior 2015 From the slopes of the Serra d’Estrela, with granite soils, this is a blend of tinta roriz, tinta barocca and trincadeira. This is so fresh and bright with nice concentration and freshness. Lovely black cherry and blackberry fruit with good acidity and bright, focused fruit. Hints of meat and olive too: delicious stuff. 90/100 - Jamie Goode ( wineanorak.com 10th Jan 2019 )	£6.25
	Thymiopoulos Rapsani Terra Petra 2016 A wine from [Rapsani] was the most recommended bottle of The Wine Society’s Community in 2018 – not a surprise when the wine in question is Terra Petra, a mix of xinomavro, krasato, and stavroto made by Apostolos Thymiopoulos, the closest modern Greek wine has to a rock star. - Peter Pharos ( matchingfoodandwine.com 7th Jan 2019 )	£20.00
	Barbera d'Alba, GD Vajra 2016 I can’t say that it was barbera that had inspired me to take a trip to Barolo and Barbaresco before Christmas. Nebbiolo from some of my favourite producers was more on my mind (plus it was truffle season). Still, I left with a new respect for barbera, a feeling that it would be much more highly regarded if it wasn’t in the shadow of its by turns brooding and pretty rival; that its light dusting of tannins make it rather more accessible than nebbiolo; and that it can be a special occasion wine as well as a handy midweek pasta or pizza partner... [This version is] exquisitely bright but polished. - David Williams ( The Observer 6th Jan 2019 )	£17.00
	Corbières-Boutenac Atal Sia, Château Ollieux-Romanis 2015 Selected parcels of old-vine carignan, grenache and mourvèdre with a dash of syrah. No oak, but creamy and profound. Lovely fruit density, smooth on the palate, a mineral note adding freshness and tension. Delicious. - James Lawther ( Decanter 1st Jan 2019 )	£19.00
	The Society's Valpolicella Ripasso 2016 Showing hints of ageing in the glass, this is a complex Valpolicella Ripasso with good levels of grip, dark red berry fruits and attractive sweetness on the finish. There is good concentration and depth on the palate, with a lengthy finish. - Andy Howard ( Decanter 1st Jan 2019 )	£10.50
	Valpolicella, Allegrini 2017 Complexity on the nose with dark plum and berry fruit characters. Bright, fresh and leafy, there is plenty to like here. Not complicated, but a Valpolicella with good weight and extra layers of flavour, finishing with a little green edge to the tannins. - Andy Howard ( Decanter 1st Jan 2019 )	£11.50
	Susumaniello Salento Rosso, Vallone 2016 A rare 100% bottling from close to the coast near Brindisi demonstrates this grape's rustic personality and chalky texture. Blueberry, raisin and sweet spice gain intriguing iron and anchovy notes. - Michaela Morris ( Decanter 1st Jan 2019 )	£8.25