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Richard’s favourite wines

Pouilly Fuisse Vieille Vignes Meurgey – Croses 2020
Burgundy was the first French wine growing region that we visited and explored properly back in the 1980’s when we first set up Gerrard Seel and it still holds a special place in my heart. It produces some of the best wines in the world which can either be drunk young or aged for more mature drinking.
Pierre Meurgey who makes this wine used to own a negotiant called Champy in Beaune but now just produces his own wines under the Meurgey label and this Pouilly Fuisse is a fine example of how good these wines can be if made with proper care and attention.
This wine comes from five vineyard parcels in the village of Pouilly and from old vine plots that are 75 years old, so produces a rich intense and complex wine but with good freshness and a citric zing in the finish. Well done Pierre this is an outstanding wine.

Macon Peronne Domaine du Bicheron 2020
Staying in the Burgundy region but moving a little further south into the Maconnais area where the wines offer better value for money than their famous cousins further north, I am also a big fan of this wine from Domaine du Bicheron.
We have been buying this wine for many years from the village of Peronne , from this lovely little domaine now run by the 5th generation of the family which I think offers great value for money and drinks above it’s price point. Unfortunately the price has increased a bit over the last few years due to lower yields caused by difficult weather conditions but it is still a great wine.
No oak barrels are used here which keeps the lovely freshness and mineral content of the wine, meaning it is a wine that can be drunk on its own or with a wide variety of lighter foods so it is a great all rounder.

Vouray Sec ‘Les Tuffes’ Domaine Darragon 2019
Staying in France but moving to the Loire Valley close the the village of Tours we find this small domaine run by the Darragon family and since we have been working with them the next generation has taken over and they are producing some really exciting wines.
Chenin blanc originates from this region of France although it has now made a second home in South Africa where it also produces some really nice wines but I really like this cool climate style of wine made in this region, so if you are looking to try something new and a little different , look no further.
The wine has a lovely crisp apple fruit quality and again good mineral content but has great concentration on the palate with both elegance and power making this a wine that will work well with both lighter fresher foods and also those richer white meat dishes as well. I am sure David and Christelle who now run the domaine will keep pushing the boundaries to make exciting wines.

Cotes du Rhone Chateau St Roch 2020
There seems to be a French theme breaking out here and while Cotes du Rhone is a wine that has been readily available in the UK for many years when it is made properly as it is here at Chateau St Roch a think it is a fantastic little wine.
The estate is based in Lirac which is a lesser known appellation in the UK and here Eve Brunel is labelling the wine as Cotes du Rhone for us to give it a wider audience and this is another wine that I think over delivers in both taste and value for money.
The estate has some old Grenache vines which give this wine lovely red berry fruit aromas and flavours with a lovely structured and spicy finish which is why it makes it on to my favourites list !

Rioja Seleccion Bodegas Sierra Cantabria 2020
Sierra Cantabria are another producer that we have been working with since the late 1980’s and are recognized as one of the best wine producers in not only Rioja but the whole of Spain. Quality is first and foremost here and no corners are cut to make sure that the wines produced are first class.
Although this is really one of the entry point wines for Sierra Cantabria it is a superb wine make with all the attention to detail that the top wines are given on this privately owned Estate. Wine maker Marcos Eguren attracts world wide acclaim for his wines from both the Rioja and Toros regions.
Made from 100% Tempranillo and matured for 6 months in second and third fill oak barrels this wine has both freshness and complexity with that classic Rioja style which is smooth, rich and full flavoured with a touch of vanilla in the finish. A great price point too.

Valpolicella Classico Ripasso ‘Campolieti’ Luigi Righetti 2019
Coming from the Valpolicella vineyard areas close to lake Garda in Northern Italy where the climatic conditions are tempered by the sheer volume of water in the lake which gives ideal growing conditions for vines and vineyards.
Again a small estate that have total control over quality by owning all their own vineyards and being able to work with them throughout the year to end up with top quality grapes which allows then to make really good wines. Valpolicella has also made a comeback to popularity over recent years and we also see this happening with our restaurant customers too.
Being a Ripasso wine which means a second fermentation happens once the skins from the Amarone Della Valpolicella have been added back to the wine which gives some of the extra richness left in the skins to this wine. This wine has cherry and berry fruits with cranberries and dried fruit on the palate and a lovely smooth finish. I hope you enjoy this wine as much as I do.

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