Direct from
the Vineyard

"A lovely and eminently approachable, Pinot Meunier-dominated grower Champagne, based on the 2016 vintage, with 40% of reserve wine from 2015 in the blend. It has a golden colour and only 5.5g/l dosage, but the ripeness and softness of the mousse and fruit profile make this elegantly sippable. There is some biscuity toast, but there's plenty of mid-palate fruit and a well-balanced finish with zippy acidity giving good length."

"Harvested late in slow-ripening vintage, but still fresh and light (with only 12% alcohol). There's a whiff of exoticism to the aromas, with lychee and mango nuances to the limey-fresh fruit. In the mouth, masses of peach juice and mango again, little in the way of the 'cat's pee' thiols here, just a juicy mouthful of fruit streaked through with vibrant, food-friendly acidity."

"...I had it marked down for at least twice the price, so classic and sophisticated is it. With intense, ripe, fresh and bitter cherries in the mouth and sweet and savoury spice, its finish goes on and on. It's a cast-iron belter at a derisory price."

"Yes, you can legitimately say you are serving Eyquem tonight, and just hope nobody notices it is red and dry. From some of the oldest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Right Bank appellation of Côtes de Bourg, there's a slightly funky, gamy character here at first, then black fruit with high-toned notes. On the palatae the oak adds toastiness to the picture, with raspberry-edged dark berry fruit, firm tannins and plenty of substance with its 14% alcohol. At its best with a bit of red meat protein I think."

"Mrs Ray also has a distinct weakness for Gavi di Gavi, honed during many years of sitting by sun-dappled pools on holiday in Italy. She heartily approved of the 2017 Nicola Bergaglio, La Minaia Gavi di Gavi and I lapped it up too (what little she left). Made from 100 per cent Cortese in the heart of Piedmont, its stainless-steel fermented for freshness and spends plenty of time in bottle before release. Its aromatic and peachy with mouth-filling fresh fruit and a long, silky finish."

"A lightly-oaked Nero d'Avola from the Italian island of Sicily that spent a few months in oak barrels. Deep in colour, the nose has a fragrant black cherry lift to the aroma, quite pretty and touching on floral, before a very juicy palate, the ripe blackberry fruit set against a little toast and earthiness, the tannins supple and the acidity giving a fine, dry, plum-skin finish to the wine."

"By sheer coincidence, I had splashed out on a bottle of 1er Cru Chassagne-Montrachet the evening before tasting this wine from further south in Burgundy. I could have bought nine of these for the price paid, and whilst I am in no way claiming this is of Chassagne 1er Cru standards, I have to say there were genuine similarities and the wines were not as far apart as those prices would suggest. Balanced, elegant, typical Saint-Véran, the touches of oatmeal and crushed almond over pristine white fruits move on to a gently honeyed palate, the racy acidity sharpening the finish after some sweet and luscious mid-palate fruit. A touch of stony minerality also adds to the subtle complexity."

"This classic Saint-Émilion from the English producer Jonathan Maltus has vibrant notes of blackcurrants and a dry finish."