Christmas Brochure

To find a good sparkling wine under £10 is a considerable challenge. After dozens of samples we struck gold with this dry Colombard, Chenin Blanc by Jules Larose.

Winemaker Enrico Mercato has crafted this sumptuous lightly oak aged wine which is soft and full of rich black fruit flavours with a hint of spices and a lovely finish.

A beautifully textured, Viognier-dominant blend organically produced by one of the highest quality co-operatives in France. Outstanding value.

Made from Portugal’s top red grape varietal, Touriga Nacional, and aged for six months in oak barrels for an exquisite richness in aroma, body and texture.

"Made by La Guardiense co-operative deep in the Sannio Hills of Campania, Italy, it’s fresh, floral and fruity. There’s a lemony touch to it too and a long, crisp finish."

"... created from 100 per cent Grillo, it's made in the appassimento style - that's to say, with a proportion of semi-dried grapes. With fine acidity, it has depth, character..."

An extremely generous, full-bodied red with lusciously sweet, dark cherry and plum fruit that comes through straight away, staying smooth and ripe, right through to a wonderfully long finish.

For when you fancy the fruit, finesse and delicacy of Sancerre but not the budget, Bellevue offers spectacular value for money.

A sumptuous blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from one of Chianti's most ancient estates, representing over 5 centuries of Siennese winemaking. Loves grilled red meats, game, mature cheeses.

This lovely blend of marsanne, rousanne and viognier made by Nathalie Blanc-Mares is fresh, lively, with ripe tropical fruits, good minerality and hints of spice.

A delicious red Rhône and a long a favourite of the Guide Hachette des Vins, Hugh Johnson, Robert Parker and ours. Grenache, syrah and just a touch of mourvedre.

A great example from Saint-Gervais - one of the best Côtes-du-Rhône Villages. A blend of ripe syrah and grenache and is gloriously rich and jammy.

From this up-and-coming producer a sensational Côtes du Rhône village and for us, one of the best value wines to be found in all the Rhône valley. Very Châteauneuf.

From 3rd-growth Château Giscours (Margaux) and sumptuous, abundant, well-balanced proof that you need not always pay £20+ for a bottle of Left Bank pedigree and finesse.

Dopff's riesling is very classic, dry, and pristine with crisp, green apple and vibrant citrus. Perfect aperitif or with seafood in the autumn.

From northwestern Spain's verdant Salnés Valley in Gallicia (D.O. Rías Baixas), comes the crisp, fruity Albarino varietal, one perfectly matching the region's seafood-heavy cuisine.

From the wine making team at Château Clinet in Pomerol and so good that the proprietor Ronan Laborde named it after himself. Luscious merlot that is at its peak now.

From the great Estoras vineyards historically owned by the Esterhazy Princes and producing Austria's most famous varietal for white wines that pair supremely with all manner of Asian cuisine.

A delightful soft juicy red made by Alexander Sichel that is lapped up by the Wine Bars and Bistros in Paris who always eek out the best new wines.

An unoaked blend of cinsault, syrah and cabernet sauvignon with the same heart and soul as the Hochar while being a bit fresher, fruitier, and lighter.

Beautiful, traditionally made white burgundy made by 5th generation members of the Gonon family at the foot of the great limestone escarpment Solutré that dominates Pouilly Fuissé.

A lovely off-dry white wine which is well balanced with a refreshing acidity. A rich yellow in colour, with a nose of smoky notes and dried fruit.

Good Vouvray from the north of the Loire by Tours is one of France's hidden jewels, and one of our favourite white wines. Bernard Fouquet's fabulous Vouvray, grown on vines ...

Domaine les Grands Bois was recommended to us as the best local grower by the owner of the best bistro in Cairanne, itself the best of the 21 Cotes-du-Rhone villages.