Top Society Sellers

A 2021 Wine Champion. As buyer Matthew Horsley put it, ‘the standard of Beaujolais this year was amazing’, and this exciting taste of the 2020 vintage showed why it’s a great opportunity to get acquainted or reacquainted with the wines. After two fuller-bodied vintages, the freshness of this well-balanced, cherry-fruited favourite certainly perked up the tastebuds.

Ripe, fruity grenache-syrah Rhône blend from an outstanding producer in Vinsobres. The colour has depth and the nose is beautifully marked by raspberry and redcurrant fruit. There is nothing heavy here, just loads of vibrant fruit.

This ‘textbook’ New Zealand sauvignon wowed the panel with its gooseberry and blackcurrant-leaf notes that ‘jump out of the glass’, according to one taster. Juicy and refreshing, with tingling acidity. A 2022 Wine Champion with real personality.

Merlot-based fruity and unoaked claret supplied for over a quarter of a century by family-owned Maison Sichel. Deliciously ripe and appealing in the 2020 vintage.

From Chéreau-Carré in the western Loire Valley, this is the ideal accompaniment to shellfish, delicious on its own, but good too with chicken, charcuterie and much more.

Sebastian Payne MW namechecks this superlative red in his introduction to our 2022 Wine Champions offer, and with good reason. A generous, aromatic red bursting with character, this wine is incredibly popular with members, and deservedly so.

Our panel of tasters voted this a Wine champion in 2022. ‘This got me thinking about risotto!’ said Joanna Locke MW, and the panel agreed that this Italian pinot grigio’s soft texture, floral and citrus notes with a hint of almond would be the ideal pairing. Elegant, clean and refreshing.

Frosts devastated much of the Languedoc in spring so a big change was needed to create the fragrant, fruity and dry 2021 which, if anything, will be better than the 2020. Vermentino becomes the major element with an important addition of very fine chardonnay. A final third is made up by sauvignon, grenache and viognier.

A smooth, fleshy and oaky Rioja, made in the traditional style from tempranillo aged in American and French oak.

Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc produces a clean, full-flavoured white and is a perfect partner for seafood, among other dishes. It also makes the perfect white to drink on its own, maybe with a few olives or half a dozen oysters.

From family-owned Casa Ermelinda Freitas, and the sandy soils of Setúbal, south-east of Lisbon, this friendly Portuguese red combines local grape castelão, which is all juicy red fruits, with a little alicante bouschet which brings darker black fruit and fleshiness.

Absolutely textbook Vinho Verde, with zingy citrus fruit complemented by a moreish nuttiness and subtle spritz on the palate. A very light and easy-drinking Portuguese star that is a Wine Champion in 2022.