Stockist/Retailer: North & South Wines

(2026) Rubicon is Meerlust's flagship red wine, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (46%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the best estate vineyards. In the cellar it was fermented in 300-litre barrels and large foudré for eight 8 months before components were blended and given a further 10 months in barrel. The colour is a dramatically saturated deep purple/crimson, and there's a black-fruited, meaty solidity to this that speaks of the Cabernet dominance. Cedar and graphite, blood and game notes precede a gorgeous, classical palate where the savoury, but ripe, black fruits burst in the mouth, bolstered by chewy tannins and really juicy, focused acidity, over a depth of oak tannin and subtle chocolate flavour and texture. A terrific wine continuing a legacy of very fine Bordeaux-style red from this estate at a fraction of the price of similar wines from the Left Bank.

(2025) As a huge lover of Pinot Noir and admirer of many Californian examples, I couldn't get behind this wine. I want my Pinot to be pale and on the softer side, but although this had an inviting colour, the wine itself was a slightly unhappy marriage of green stemmy and stalky notes and overly sweet berry fruit, that dies almost instantly on the finish apart from sugar. Not for me.

(2025) A blend of selected Grenache and Rolle which have been sorted three times via optical sorting and manual sorting tables. It is made from free-run juice and gentle first pressing, fermented and aged in large oak barrels. A little depth to the colour and vinous aromas, fresh and grapey, but delicate too, a little peach down, freshness of raspberry and a background hint of cedary spices. There's plenty of texture on the palate, a creaminess that fills the mouth. Sweet fruit is reminiscent of strawberry and peach, but with a limey citrus pushing through. Quite powerful and intense, the spice reassert lightly in the finish.

(2025) Striking in its metallic purple paint-dipped bottle, this blend of 85% Grenache with Syrah 15% is Minuty's prestige cuvée. It is among the palest of this year's crop of Provence pinks, and is quite headily perfumed with wild strawberry and elderflower, rose-hip and a hint of peach. In the mouth it is very much fruit-forward, and though it hints at sweetness, with only 1g/l of residual sugar it is not: the finish is dry, and after a mid-palate suggestion of pulpy, creamy soft red fruits the acidity is tingling and refreshing.

(2025) The 40th vintage of Cloudy Bay's iconic Sauvignon Blanc is a really good one. It remains a first class example of the style it, arguably, created. From a vintage of below average yield due to Spring frost followed by drought, just 1.5% of the blend was fermented in large oak barrels, the rest in stainless steel. Part of the ferment was with wild yeasts. It burst with grapefruit and peach on the nose. A background hint of elderflower and green bean is a signature of this wine, but appearing here in a relatively restrained form as fruit is very much to the fore. Full-textured and full-flavoured on the palate, it is a wine that bursts with juiciness and exuberance. You'd be crazy to pay the supposed RRP of £32, but it's not hard to find in many independent retailers or on a deal at larger players for around £21.00. Still quite expensive, but it is also very good indeed.

(2024) From a single vineyard of 100-year-old vines, Garrus is fermented and aged in new French oak, but larger 600-litre barrels. There's an intensity here, dried apricot and an earthy, dried fig nuance over both small red berries and a creamy almond and nut husk background. In the mouth there is immense concentration. It's a rosé with real grip and purpose, and many layers of flavour and texture. Another convincing Garrus, with extract and phenolic that few achieve, but importantly, done with grace and elegance too.

(2024) Henriot's non-vintage Blanc de Blancs is blended from 12 different Crus, is aged for 36 months on the kees, and is bottled with 7g/l dosage. It contains a significant proportion of reserve wines, constituting 30% to 50% of the blend. Pastry notes dominate the nose, yeasty with a little nettle character. The mousse is rolling and full, the palate quite sharply tuned: lemony citrus and apple core dryness, that biscuity suggestion of the nose just beginning to fill out with a layer of nutty richness that eases the finish.

(2023) The grape for which Bollinger is most famous, Pinot Noir, this comes mostly from the Grand Cru village of Aÿ and has a moderate dosage of 6g/l. It is based on the 2018 vintage, but has 50% reserve wines, including 25% of the 2009 vintage from Aÿ, aged in magnums. In the house style, 50% of the wine was fermented in oak barrels. Plenty of creamy, nutty autolysis, a meaty umami nuance, but there's a highly perfumed floral and herbal lift too. A really intriguing, multi-layered aromatic. The palate has brisk acidity, plenty of dry, pithy lemon, and core of firm Asian pear fruit. Textured and juicy, but taut in the finish, this is delightful.  

(2023) The 'P' is code for the Grand Cru Pfersigberg, where 45-year-old Pinot vines grow on limestone soils at 280 - to 320 metres. It was fermented with 50% whole clusters and maturated in oak barrels, 60% new. Similar medium ruby-crimson to the Muré, and a delightfully elegant cherry and raspberry fruit that is clear and fine. There's a gravelly, taut character to this and the oak adds just a touch of creaminess - no high toast here at all. In the mouth it has lovely texture, medium-bodied but silky. It stays composed, savoury and balanced, moving from sweet, fleshy red fruit to liquorice and endive, the whole palate picture very harmonious and long. Tannins here are ultra refined and the acid etches the finish.

(2023) Though not certified organic, I believe this vineyard is organically farmed. A little development to the colour here, and a fine, herby, slightly medicinal (but not at all unpleasant) nuance to the aroma. In the mouth a subtle and complex wine, with a vivacious edge to the fruit, aided by keen acidity. A definite saline tang to this too.