Château Roquefort Roquefortissime 2009 Bordeaux, France
13.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc. The 18th Century Château Roquefort, located in the middle of the Entre-Deux-Mers was completely refurbished by the Bellanger family in the '70s and '80s. Still visible within the estate are the ruins of the “vieux château” - built in 1291 for Edward I. Vines are 35 years old, planted on clay and chalk with a density of 5,000vines/ha. Grapes were mechanically-harvested in late-Sept with a yield of 45hl/ha. Skin contact at low temperature and then the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeast. Matured for 10 months in French oak barrels. Winemaker Samuel Mestre. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 13.25%, TA 2.85g/l, pH 3.69, RS < 1.9g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 37 branches.
Very dark colour. Gorgeous oaky aroma. So often the first wine is a Soave or Pinot Grigio or Muscadet and you get off to a neutral start, but this is exciting. Creamy, oaky and delicious. Long and rich, but not chewy. Yum.
Champteloup Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Touraine, Loire, France
7.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on clay and limestone with gravel. Grapes, juice and then the new wine were protected throughout the vinification process under a blanket of inert gas to preserve natural aromatics. Grapes were carefully sorted at the pressing room in Touraine, quickly pressed and the juice then thoroughly racked. Cool fermented at 14°C, then matured on fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 4 months with regular bâtonnage. Alc 12.0%, TA 4.0g/l, pH 4.3, RS 2.0g/l. Winemaker Serge de Bucy with Angela Muir MW. Special Offer: Save 25%, £7.99 - £5.99 from 07/06 to 26/06. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 277 branches.
Very attractive sauvignon nose. Ripe and appealing. In the mouth it’s faultless. Great price and textbook Touraine sauvignon. VG indeed.
Arnaud de Lassalle 2011 Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France
12.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Saget, a family-owned company, now run by the 2 young sons of Jean-Louis Saget, Arnaud and Laurent. The vines are trained to guyot simple and grown on argilo-calcareous and kimmeridgian marls on slopes overlooking or near to the Loire. Vines are 4 - 35 years old and the grapes were machine-harvested. Fermented with enzymes in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Winemaker Bruno Mineur. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 12.5%, TA 6.0g/l, pH 3.35, RS 2.4g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 218 branches.
Mineral, grapefruity nose. Fresh, crunchy fruit with length. Good and likeable.
Château des Vaults La Jalousie 2010 Savennières, Loire, France
14.99
100% Chenin Blanc from a Château boasting 17ha of some of the best clay-schist terroir. Farmed organically by the de Jessey family, now 4th and 5th generation to run the estate that has been in their family for over 150 years. La Jalousie comes from a steep, sturdy, sandstone schist subsoil with rocky quartz and schist cover. Vines are 25 - 30 years old and planted at 5,000vines/ha yielding 35hl/ha. Grapes were gently pressed, with no skin contact and fermented in stainless steel tanks for 8 weeks followed by 8 months resting on fine lees. Partial malolactic. Winemaker Evelyne de Pontbriand (née de Jessey). Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14%, TA 4.4g/l, RS 3.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 37 branches.
Dark golden colour, as expected. There’s been no oak intervention but the aroma is nutty. Delicious taste. Not quite as oxidised-tasting as some Savennières, but with a hint of ripe sweetness. Lovely. Long and interesting.
Domaine du Vieux Vauvert 2011 Vouvray Medium-Dry, Loire, France
8.99
100% Chenin Blanc from the Val de Loire to the east of Tours. The vines are planted on clay with limestone and clay and silica on a 40ha estate, owned by GCF and vinified by the group. The grapes were quickly pressed before being cool fermented. Alc 11.8%, TA 5.3g/l, RS 24.0g/l. Special Offer: Save 20%, £8.99 - £6.99 from 07/06 to 26/06. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 242 branches.
Apple and honey aroma. Lovely and sweet. This is such a great food wine. Anything with caramelised onions, butternut squash soup, yum. It is pretty sweet, but try and get over that. The real pros love medium-dry wine, so long as it’s good.
Waitrose Chablis 2011 Cave des Vignerons de Chablis, Burgundy, France
10.99
100% Chardonnay from 20-year-old vines planted at a density of 5,500 - 6,000vines/ha on Kimmeridgian soil. Naturally settled then fermented at 16 - 20°C in stainless steel tanks. Natural malolactic and no oak, but matured in tank on fine lees for 2 - 6 months. Suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 4.3g/l, pH 3.2, RS 1.2g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 277 branches.
Not a great deal on the nose. Plenty of flavour and bright acidity.
Esprit de Chablis 2010 Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy, France
15.99
100% Chardonnay from vines planted on the right and left banks of the Serein, in the Chablis Premier Cru terroirs on Upper and Middle Kimmeridgian soils. The vines are double-Guyot pruned and planted at a density of 5,500 to 6,500vines/ha. The grapes were harvested with a yield of 58hl/ha in late Sept 2010. The juice was cold-settled before fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks and small barrels at 16 - 20°C. Matured on fine lees for 12 months. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 3.9g/l, pH 3.25, RS 3.28g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 235 branches.
Rich, leesy aroma. This is oak aged and has a lot more flavour. Long flavour. Nice.
Vincent de Vignaud 2010 Pouilly-Vinzelles, Burgundy, France
13.99
100% Chardonnay from 25 year-old vines planted on clay and limestone soils. Grapes were machine-harvested in Sept 2010 and fermented with temperature control in stainless steel tanks. Full malolactic in tank and aged for 6 months on lees with regular stirring. No oak. Winemaker Jean-Michel Atlan. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.5%, TA 3.0g/l, pH 3.3, RS 0.3g/l. Special Offer: Save 20%, £13.99 - £10.99 from 09/05 to 29/05. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 218 branches.
Not a lot of aroma. This is unoaked. It’s a bit neutral and bordering on flabby, when tasted after the Chablis. Not great.
Domaine Simonnet-Febvre 2010 Chablis Premier Cru Montmains, Burgundy, France
17.99
100% Chardonnay from grapes grown on the classic Kimmeridgian soil of the area. The vineyard is 35 years old and on the lower, frost prone slope of the hillside very close to the village of Chablis. Vines are trained to Guyot double and tended by hand. Grapes were picked with a combination of hand- and machine-harvesting in September 2010 with a yield of 58hl/ha, gently pressed in a pneumatic press and cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks at 17 - 21°C with selected yeast. The new wine spent 11 months resting on fine lees, with full natural malo, but there was no oak used. Bentonite fined. Winemaker Jean Philippe Archambaud. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 3.8g/l. pH 3.23, RS 1.1g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 36 branches.
Creamy nose. Nicely tart palate. Bright and exciting.
Domaine Gérard Thomas 2010 Saint-Aubin, Premier Cru Les Combes, Burgundy, France
19.99
100% Chardonnay from Gérard Thomas, now joined by his daughters Anne and Isabelle with 12ha of vines making some of the best value wines in the Côte de Beaune. Viticulture is lutte raisonnée and the vines are 20 years old, planted on red earth. Grapes were hand harvested on the 22nd Sept 2010 and gently pressed in a pneumatic press. Juice was settled for 24 hours then barrel fermented in Vosges and Allier oak, of which 20% was new. Full malolactic and lees stirring from Nov - May. Alc 13.0%, TA 4.2g/l, RS < 2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 236 branches.
Wonderful oak on the nose, with a hint of lemon balm. Enormously inviting. This is savoury, oaky and lovely, with mouth-watering acidity. Gorgeous.
Louis Jadot 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet, Premier Cru, Burgundy, France
26.99
100% Chardonnay from vines planted on calcareous soils in high density plantings of 10,000vines/ha. This is a blend of several different Premier Cru vineyards from around the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, including Morgeots, Grand Montagne and Chenevottes. The grapes were hand-harvested and immediately whole-bunch pressed. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels (approximately 20% new) and then underwent a full malolactic and an 18 month ageing period. Lightly fined and filtered to bottle. Winemaker Jacques Lardière. Alc 13.6%, TA 6.14g/l, RS 1.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 236 branches.
Rich aroma. Very savoury and oaky, but with heavy fruit to balance. I slightly prefer the St Aubin, which is excellent news for Nat West.
Domaine Henri Clerc Vieilles Vignes 2008 Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
30.99
100% Chardonnay from vines planted on clay and chalk soils and traditionally tended. Grapes were harvested in Sept 2008 and fermented slowly with temperature control. Matured in French oak barrels, 30% new, for 12 months. Winemaker/owner Vincent Girardin. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 13.5%, TA 6.9g/l, pH 3.21, RS 1.8g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 10 branches.
Deep golden colour. Toasty, creamy aroma. Beautiful taste. There’s oak, but the vibrancy of fruit and the excitement in the glass, overpowers any woodiness. Lovely.
Domaine de Sainte Rose Coquille d'Oc Blanc 2011 IGP Côtes du Thongue, France
6.99
40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Viognier and 5% Muscat. All fruit was estate-grown on clay/limestone soils situated beside the River Thongue at an altitude of 58m, and benefitting from 300 days of sunshine per year. Chardonnay vines are 25 years old, Sauvignon and Muscat 7, and Viognier 5 years old, all planted at a density of 4,500vines/ha. Grapes were machine-harvested with a yield of 60hl/ha in early-mid August. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by cold settling, then fermented with selected yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. No malo and aged in tanks for 4 months. Bottled Jan 2012. Winemakers Charles & Ruth Simpson. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 3.6g/l, RS 0.6g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 256 branches.
It’s the sauvignon and muscat that come out on the nose. It’s catty and grapey and inviting. Light, floral taste. Summery, perhaps on the patio, wine.
Paul Mas Viognier/Sauvignon Blanc 2011 IGP Pays d'Oc, France
7.79
70% Viognier and 30% Sauvignon Blanc from 3 different vineyards around Marseillette, Limoux and Montagnac. Vines are 13 - 23 years old, planted on limestone and clay with sandy marls and yield 64hl/ha. Grapes were destemmed and each variety vinified separately. Pressed pneumatically with only the free-run used. Settled at 10°C then fermented at 16°C with selected yeasts for 2 weeks. Aged on lees for 2 months in stainless steel vats with the final blend made in Jan - Feb. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 3.4g/l, pH 3.5, RS 2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 235 branches.
Deep golden colour. Rich aroma. The alcohol’s nice and low, which makes it very appealing. I often find viognier too hot. Refreshing. Nice.
Laurent Miquel Vendanges Nocturnes Viognier 2011 IGP Pays d'Oc, France
8.49
100% Viognier which has been grown on very stony, calcareous-clay soils with lutte raisonnée. The vines are short-pruned and have an average age of 10 years. The grapes were machine-harvested in September in the cool of the night with a yield of 55 - 60hl/ha and immediately pressed. Fermented in stainless steel. Winemaker Laurent Miquel. Alc 13.0%, RS 1.3g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 236 branches.
Ripe nose. Quite light in the mouth. A good wine for friends who don’t like this, that and the other. Easy and likeable.
Jean-Luc Colombo La Redonne 2011 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France
12.99
66% Viognier with 34% Roussanne made by Jean-Luc Colombo with fruit from various vineyards throughout the Côtes du Rhône. The grapes are grown on granitic schist, and the vines are gobelet trained and planted at a density of 8,000vines/ha. The fruit was harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel tanks at 14°C. The new wine was then matured for 10 months on the yeast lees, with 20% of the blend ageing in oak. Alc 13.5%. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 7 branches.
Confusingly, this is in a German bottle. Spicy, peachy nose. Light in the mouth. Refreshing. The price is steepish.
Philippe Zinck Riesling 2009 Eichberg Grand Cru, Alsace, France
15.99
100% Riesling from the Zinck estate, using sustainable viticulture. Vines are 35 years old, planted at a density of 5,000vines/ha on chalk and clay soils. Grapes were hand-harvested with a yield of 45hl/ha in a warm and dry vintage. Gently pressed in a pneumatic press, and the juice fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeast. No malo and left on lees till Spring, with no stirring. Bottled July 2010. Winemaker Philippe Zinck. Alc 13.5%, TA 6.4g/l, pH 3.29, RS 14.1g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 9 branches.
Deep colour. Light on the nose. Off-dry and lovely palate. Not screamingly riesling, but lovely.