Marcel's Significant Six

A lovely, fully ripe-tasting syrah from the extraordinary 2019 vintage in the Rhône. This estate draws its fruit from its vines in the northern part of Crozes, on mostly granite slopes behind the hill of Hermitage. Perfect with a juicy steak.

A member favourite for many years, this is copybook, perfumed Fleurie delivering plenty of supple, ripe fruit, and is particularly good in 2022. Perfect with roast chicken and other fowl.

White Vacqueyras remains something of a rarity and is based on the clairette grape, here 50%, with roussanne and grenache for the rest. A lovely, appetising nose, recalling fennel and a dry, fruitv palate with the clarity and crystalline quality brought by the outstanding 2022 vintage.

Rather than being made from a single grape variety, this is a blend that varies a little by vintage, so that no one flavour dominates. A little fuller bodied than the 2021 but typically dry and fresh on the palate. Produced for us by the Hugel family, this wine occupies the pivotal spot in our Alsace selection and has introduced the region to generations of members.

These steep, iron-rich slopes ion south-west France have been good vineyard country for centuries. This is the key estate that has led the present revival and has the largest vineyard holding. Ruby coloured, light-bodied and refreshing with sappy flavours of raspberry and plum.

Above the Mediterranean amidst the towering limestone Calanques is where Provence's most exciting whites are made. This is bone-dry, characterful, savoury and perfect with all manner of seafood.