Calvados, Gamay, Rhone Blend, ...

Lots of honeyed orange, caramelized pineapple, and honeyed flower notes emerge from the 2021 Château Coutet, a medium-bodied, pretty, vibrant Barsac with plenty of character. It should easily be an outstanding wine. JEB DUNNUCK

Fantastic energy and length to this young Sauternes, with dried-apple, apple-pie, spice and cinnamon character . Medium body, medium sweetness and a vibrant finish. (96) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2021 Coutet has another refined and (for Coutet) low-key bouquet that gradually finds its voice: quince, white peach, pineapple and beeswax scents. A faint hint of saffron that surfaces with aeration. The palate is well-balanced and quite viscous, bearing superb weight and a clean and pure, beautifully defined, botrytis-rich finish. Touches of vanilla emerge on the aftertaste. Excellent. NEAL MARTIN

Slightly toasted orange rind and vanilla caramel on the nose. Lovely density and unctuousness on the palate, really quite rich and fleshy with peach, sweet pineapple and toasted almond notes on the palate. Mouthwatering and racy, but also textured, balanced and structured. A great effort with excellent ageing potential. DECANTER

Great quality, bright and concentrated, dried apricots, mandain peel, fig, pineapple and candied ginger, with a touch of bitterness and a mouthwatering finish. This is gorgeous, one to look out for. (95) JANE ANSON

Pale medium colour. Attractive verbena, camomile, honey aromas with crème brûlée notes. Refined and beautiful apricot glacé, verbena lime honeyed flavours, fine chalky hint al dente textures and fresh linear acidity. Bittersweet notes at the finish. (96) ANDREW CAILLARD MW

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More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Intense exotic fruits abound, powerful apricot, nectarine, white flowers and white truffles with excellent bitter almonds on the finish that works so well as a counterpoint to the luxurious texture. I love this, silky and seductive yet strict. Philippe Dhalluin of Mouton does the blend here since 2009 along with the family. (97) DECANTER

The 2019 Coutet has a luscious bouquet with scents of dried honey, honeysuckle and orange pith, intense and well defined. The palate is built around Coutet's trademark line of acidity, an underlying zestiness cutting through the unctuous honeyed fruit with a welcome orange rind and marmalade note on the persistent finish. Excellent. (96) NEAL MARTIN

The pale lemon-gold colored 2019 Coutet is a thrill ride from the get-go, exploding from the glass with fantastically intense scents of tangerine peel, lime blossoms and lemon marmalade over a core of pineapple upside-down cake, candied ginger, ripe apricots and clover honey plus suggestions of chanterelles and musk perfume. The palate is equally electric and exhilarating, prancing around the palate with a whole myriad of candied citrus, stone fruit and citrus flavors, charged by a racy backbone of acidity, finishing beautifully textured and with an epically long firework display of minerals. Apart from all that, it is pretty darn delicious. (97) WINE ADVOCATE

STAFF PICKS 2024 - ROSCOE HALLIGAN-ROSE

Too long a story to tell here, but the brief version is, I spent a good bit of time before our recent trip to the Rhone trying to find a producer that fit our wants and needs perfectly, we found three in the end. The Rhone is so exciting at the moment with so many great wines coming out, and many remain at reasonable prices. Still, in the face of this wave of excellent wine it is still rare to find someone crafting wines that are this extraordinary. Paul Formosa is one of the most talented and focused young winemakers I have come across in a long while. His wines are nothing short of spectacular.
Wonderful purity of expression, vivid, bright and clearly defined. Lighter in colour than you may expect, but that belies the deep wells of character that lurk amongst those soaring aromatics, dramatic fruit and the flashes of minerality that add to the overall feel of crispness that accompanies the luxurious and beautifully cushioned fruit. The wine goes on and on and with each moment another nuance or detail escapes from the depths and flicks or flutters along your mouth, tantalising you with the feeling of things to come.
Composed and self-assured, this is not a Gigondas that seeks to stun you with bold and forward fruit, rather it lures you in with its seductive flavours, its shapely profile and its enticing array of perfume. Sneaky structure pays second fiddle here, but it is all perfectly measured and ensures a very long and expressive life ahead. This was an easy choice for my wine of the year. ROSCOE



The promising 2022 Gigondas Cuvée Tradition 1871 mixes 80% Grenache with the remainder equally split between Syrah and Mourvèdre. Glossy red fruits mingle with dashes of dried herbs and a splash of rosewater. Refreshing acidity neatly balances the moderate fruit concentration, persisting all the way through to the sapid finish. This is a lovely Gigondas. NICHOLAS GREINACHER, Vinous

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Aged in small apple brandy casks for over 12 months, this rich and generous liqueur is a result of blending pressed French and British heirloom apple varieties with our apple spirit.

Complex and well-structured with baked apple and spice, balanced with firm tannins and cask influence.

Our take on the traditional aperitif from North-West France – enjoy as such or serve with blue cheese or dessert. WILLIE SMITH

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More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

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Barsac 1er Cru Classé
Avaliable
The 2017 Coutet, which was tasted both as a final blend and directly from several different lots in barrel, has a very well defined bouquet with pure wild honey and orange blossom aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is crisp and fresh, underpinned by Coutet’s trademark acidic drive that counterbalances the intense honeyed fruit laced with orange zest and white peach. Superb. (96) NEAL MARTIN

The 2017 Coutet is very, very good. Nuanced and beautifully textured, throughout, the 2017 has quite a bit to offer. Silky contours add finesse to the orange peel, apricot jam, mint and spice flavors. Above all else, Coutet offers terrific depth while remaining light on its feet. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and smaller amounts of Roussanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc. Ripe citrus, crushed stone, white flowers, and even a kiss of brioche all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a pure, elegant mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for 10-12 years, if not longer, if well stored. JEB DUNNUCK

Incredibly mineral and saline with astonishing focus and precision for this very warm location. Great lemon aromas ranging from blossoms to the peel. Great concentration, but no less vitality. Amazingly long finish that reminds me of great Alsace dry rieslings, like Clos St. Hune! Drink or hold. ( 96) STUART PIGOTT Pigott, James Suckling

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Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip. (95) JOSH RAYNOLDS

Could the 2020 Gigondas be the best ever from this estate? The usual blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre that was destemmed and brought up in very old foudre, it has wonderful purity (which is a trait of the vintage) in its red and black fruits as well as notes of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, and cedary spice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this is never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage yet it oozes Provence character, is perfectly balanced, has great tannins, and is going to deliver the goods for upwards of two decades. (95) JEB DUNNUCK

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Crafted by the Gonnet family, whose deep-rooted history in Châteauneuf-du-Pape spans generations, this wine reflects a legacy of precision, tradition, and a deep respect for terroir. Their approach results in wines that are both refined and expressive, capturing the essence of this historic region.

Their flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape is sourced from south-facing vines over 50 years old, ensuring concentration and depth. After a traditional fermentation, the wine is aged in a combination of concrete vats, 600L demi-muids, and smaller 200L oak barrels, allowing for texture and complexity without overpowering the fruit.

The blend is a true reflection of the appellation’s diversity, featuring Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Cinsault, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse, Clairette, and Bourboulenc—a medley of red and white varieties that together create a wine of balance, richness, and southern charm

Sauternes (1st Growth)

The Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey has an ebullient nose of Tropicana, dried honey and quince that intensifies in the glass whilst maintaining impressive definition. The palate is very well-balanced with superb tension and focus, a Sauternes built of minerality and poise, leading to a citrus, almost spicy finish that leaves the mouth tingling with pleasure.  NEAL MARTIN

Over the past 10 years or so, this estate has been producing finer and finer wines. We are now a long way from the heavier styles of the 90s. This '10 is a lively, fine, fresh-kiwi / quince-fruited example, all minerality and vibrancy, with controlled sweetness and fine acidity, and finishing with a lovely almost Nairac-type tanginess.  BILL BLATCH

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More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

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The 2017 Carbonnieux Blanc is absolutely lovely. Lemon confit, white flowers and green orchard fruit open up first, followed by a range of bright citrus and floral notes that add brilliance to a very pretty upper register. ANTONIO GALLONI

…This is one of the most sophisticated white Carbonnieux that I have encountered at this stage with wonderful mineralité and veins of ginger furnishing the finish that convey brio and confidence. This should evolve into an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. NEAL MARTIN, vinous.com

Right off the bat this has richness and concentration, with peachy creaminess through the mid-palate but without sacrificing tension and lift. It's a fine example of what 2017 can deliver in the best whites, and should age very well. JANE ANSON, decanter.com

Notes of lemon curd, citrus rind and hints of crushed rock define the 2017 Château Carbonnieux, which is medium-bodied, pure, and elegant on the palate. It's another great white from the Pessac-Léognan region in 2017. JEB DUNNUCK

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More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

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A wine of stunning beauty, the 2017 Lafaurie-Peyraguey is so remarkably vivid from the very first taste. All the elements simply fall into place effortlessly. Orchard fruit, tangerine, passion fruit mint and exotic floral overtones all grace this precise, wonderfully inviting Sauternes from Silvio Denz. Lafaurie-Peyraguey is pure and total finesse. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

A wine with fresh, clean botrytis influence and lemon curd, sliced apricot, dried apricot and apricot confiture. This has striking purity with such intense flavors of peach and apricot custard, apricot pastry and a very elegant and supple, fleshy-fruit texture with acidity that holds such freshness on the finish. Elegance and freshness meets power and purity. Concentrated in every respect - flavors, sugar and acidity. Drink now or age for a considerable time, as you prefer. (97) JAMES SUCKLING

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The 2020 Château Coutet is flat-out gorgeous, with a concentrated, powerful style in its caramelized orange, honeyed flowers, pineapple upside down cake, and toasty, spicy nuances. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and layered, it nevertheless stays focused, pure, and precise, with laser-like precision and vibrancy on the palate. This tour de force in Sauternes is going to pretty much just knock your socks off over the coming two decades. (97) JEB DUNNUCK

A signature Coutet nose with burnt orange, caramelised peaches and floral flecks. Thick and intense, really lovely weight on the palate, deep yet juicy with high acidity that gives a tang to the palate. Lovely layers of sweetness, acidity and richness - concentrated and intense. Classy and stylish as always. Not as dazzling at this point as the 2019 was but this is still a lovely wine with plenty of enjoyment on offer. (95) DECANTER

The 2020 Coutet has a pale lemon-gold color, waltzing out of the glass with energetic notes of lemon tart, pink grapefruit, green mango and lime blossoms, with hints of chopped almonds, clover honey, candle wax and straw, plus a waft of sea spray. The palate is all class, featuring ethereal intensity and amazing poise, enveloped in a satiny texture and seamless acidity, finishing long and mineral laced. Currently, while it is just a tick or so down on the impressive 2019, I love the restraint and energy of this 2020 and wouldn't be surprised if it eventually spreads its wings and surpasses its showier sibling over time (96) WINE ADVOCATE

A triumph for the vintage with spices, dried mushroom, dried pineapple, peaches, and honey. Full and sweet with bright acidity and a long, intense finish. Powerful wine. This could be the best Coutet ever. JAMES SUCKLING

The Coutet 2009 is a sensational effort from Philippe Baly and his team. It has a fragrant nose of honey, vervain tea, pineapple, frangipane and apple-blossom, well defined if needing a little more vigour at the moment. The palate is vibrant on the entry, informed by touches of apricot and orange peel, very focused and tensile towards the long, sensuous, viscous finish. It has the same minerality exuded by Doisy-Daene and reminds me of a stellar '62 tasted just a few weeks previously. A magnificent Coutet. (98) NEAL MARTIN

Intense exotic fruits abound, powerful apricot, nectarine, white flowers and white truffles with excellent bitter almonds on the finish that works so well as a counterpoint to the luxurious texture. I love this, silky and seductive yet strict. (97) DECANTER, tasted 2020