The Wines of France

Domaine La Soumade, André Roméro

The wines of Andre Romero are quite stunning. Intense and powerful the wines spend only about six months in oak, but such is the quality of his fruit that the body and structure is already there. Un-filtered and gently fined the wines are truly outstanding. He is a man after my own heart, his great passions, football, food and of course wine. The difference is he owns a vineyard and I don’t.

Domaine Roger Sabon et Fils

Roger Sabon is now at the leading edge of wine production in Châteauneuf du Pape. Seductive mouthfilling flavours that we cannot recommend highly enough. Try his Lirac for Chateauneuf style at a sensible price.

Domaine Les Pallieres, Henri Brunier et Fils

The finest estate in Gigondas sitting in its own natural ampitheatre, made by the Brunier family who are proprietors at the famed Vieux Telegraphe estate in Châteauneuf.

Domaine Le Couroulu, Guy Ricard

13 hectares of Prime vineyard planted with 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mouvedre, low yield, manual harvest; in all our kind of wine.

Bernard Faurie

1.7 hectares of Hermitage on the top sites of Les Greffiiers, Les Bessards and Le Meal. Superlative wine, but only in tiny quantities.

Vincent Paris

A new kid on the slope, so to speak, Vincent aims for elegant, pure and restrained Syrah which he achieves with distinction. The 60 refers to the gradient of the vineyard (ps very steep!). Frank has recently realise a lifelong ambition and has joined a sydicate who together with Vincent have purchased the perfectly situated "La Geynale" vineyard in Cornas, from a soon retiring uncle of M. Paris.  The first vintage under this new ownership was 2007 (highly regarded as it happens). We look forward to trying this wine in late 2009.

Domaine Niero Pinchon

Brand new cellars in time for the 2001 harvest gave Robert the space in which to express himself, mainly fermented in stainless steel with just a touch of old oak.

Domaine Yves Cuilleron

The most famous and eagerly sought Domaine in Condrieu, we have selected the Les Chaillets as with its fat spicy fruit as a contrast to the Pinchon wine above.

Vin Doux Naturel

Domaine Bernard Latour

With yields of only 28 hecolitres per hectare, M. Latour is serious about quality. Traditional vinification in stainless steel and cement vats followed by partial oak ageing for between 6 and 9 months makes the wine rich warm and spicy. Bottling takes place after light fining and no filtration which helps maintain the concentration of flavour.

Prieuré de Montezargas

Guillaume Dugas makes only Tavel at his 34 hectare estate. Mostly Grenche and Cinsault grapes are planted there and are hand picked. After a short fermentation the must is lightly pressed to retain the vibrant colour but not collect some of the harsher flavours that could arise from overpressing.

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