Fine Wine Clearance Small Wonders

This museum release, matured at the winery, shows the elegance and complexity born of almost a decade of ageing. The nose reveals layers of forest floor, mushroom and dried herbs alongside dark fruit notes of blueberry, blackcurrant and fig, with a gentle lift of cedar and charred oak. On the palate it is supple yet structured, with fine tannins supporting flavours of black fruit, savoury spice and earthy truffle. There’s a lively acidity that brings freshness and keeps the wine from feeling heavy, carrying the flavours through to a long, persistent finish. This is a cabernet that balances maturity with vitality, drinking beautifully now but with the structure to continue evolving gracefully for several more years.

If you enjoy concentration of flavour without heavy alcohol or dominating oak, this Australian blend is for you. A far more serious wine than the packaging might suggest, this old-vine carignan is made using old hogsheads to avoid oak flavour but round out the juicy and concentrated fruit flavours. Medium-bodied with black cherry, peppery spice and fresh-berry crunch. Their mission statement is ‘Smallest impact on the environment. Greatest impact on the community.` which they bring to life by avoiding pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilisers in the vineyard, and running a non-profit organisation to build houses for the local homeless community.

Impressive old-vine carignan from Empedrado in Chile, 50% of which sees nine months in French oak. There's black-fruit character with a hint of black olives and juniper. Empedrado is a cool spot for carignan and this is ripe yet fine flavoured.

A deliciously refreshing dry white from a tiny vineyard planted with Greek variety assyrtiko, which copes brilliantly with the hot conditions; with more typical local varieties grenache gris and bourboulenc adding texture and body. The wine is made by former Society buyer Juliet Bruce-Jones.

A marsanne and roussanne blend from a top grower based in the village of Larnarge and aged in a mix of oak and cement vats, with a small percentage of new oak giving added weight and toasty notes. Waxy notes combine with orange blossom and hints of ginger as well as a refreshing juiciness on the palate. Will pair well with cured meats, chicken tagine and hard cheeses.

From a small parcel of 50+ year old vines in the famed La Rochelle vineyard, this is a deeply-coloured, concentrated Moulin-à-Vent with sweet tannins and a lingering finish. Pair with confit of duck or a mushroom risotto.