Champagne Renard Barnier, Blanc de Noirs Brut NV £26.00

For over 20 years Renard Barnier champagne has been exceeding our expectations for quality and value for money.  A ‘Blanc de Noirs’, it is made entirely from black grapes leading to a rich, rounded, fuller style of champagne.  Aged for 3 years before dégorgement, far longer than regulations require, resulting in a rich, almost toasty nose, crisp, balancing acidity on the palate with apple and citrus notes and small, persistent bubbles.  A creamy finish with a touch of brioche, and very good length. 

Champagne Mailly Grand Cru, Brut NV £35.00 / £18.75 halves / £80.00 magnums 

"A very refined example, zesty and limey on the nose with supporting floral notes. Elegant palate, with great purity on the finish.  93 points."  Decanter Magazine, Dec 2019

Champagne Ruinart, 'R de Ruinart' Brut NV £65.00

Our favourite Grande Marque champagne, stylish, refined, elegant and memorable.

"Very intense nose with sour green fruit and a strong salty note. This is very stylised and uncompromising, with loads of hard cheese and yeasty character. Not for mainstream palates, perhaps, but should satisfy most ardent fizzophiles. 17 + points."  Richard Hemming MW, Jancisrobinson.com 2017

Champagne Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV £95.00

"This blanc de blancs (100% Chardonnay) is sourced mostly from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, including a portion of premier cru vineyards. It has a lean, lemon and apple bite backed up by some smooth creaminess. It's fuller in body than stablemate Veuve Clicquot, displaying good acidity and power. Dosage 9g/l.  91 points."  Decanter Magazine, Nov 2019

Champagne Ruinart Rosé NV £85.00

"A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, and featuring around 25% reserve wines, this is 100% premier cru fruit from the Montagne des Reims and Côte des Blancs. Almost a third of the Pinot Noir was vinified as a still wine. A deep coral colour, this is fresh and youthful, with rounded wild red berry fruit, and hint of rose. With some time in the glass, it develops deeper, complex, more exotic notes, leading to a long and lively finish. Dosage: 8g/L.  Drinking Window 2021 - 2026.  92 points."  Decanter Magazine, Jan 2021

NV Krug Grande Cuvée '168 Edition' £195.00

"Krug's NV Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition is a classic in the making, wafting from the glass with aromas of dried fruits, pear, toasted nuts, orange zest, honeycomb and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, generous but incisive, it's deep and elegantly fleshy, with a beautifully refined mousse and an enveloping core of fruit that's complemented by the characteristic Krug patina of nutty complexity imparted by barrel fermentation...based on the 2012 harvest, complemented by fully 42% reserve wines—a blend of 198 wines from 11 different vintages dating back to 1996. 96 points."  William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, May 2020

L'Oratoire Rosé, Domaine Saint Andrieu, Coteaux Varois En Provence 2021 £15.40

Pale onion-skin hue, with fresh watermelon and notably intense, pure white peach aromas on the nose (the white stone fruit character seems particularly perfumed in this vintage).  Completely dry, but with ripe raspberry fruits, more white peach, spice and just a little limestone minerality on the palate.  

Domaine Ott Clos Mireille Rosé 'Coeur de Grain', Côtes de Provence 2021, £33.50 

"A subtle nose, softly floral with white flowers and melon notes emerging from the glass. This is soft on the palate, with delicate fruit flavours - mango, apricot and a touch of nectarine balanced by a mineral vein running through the wine. There's a lovely rise of lemon at the end giving a zesty sherbert finish."  Decanter Magazine