2020 was an incredibly hot vintage in the Cote d’Or. Winter was mild followed by an early budburst in the spring. The heat continued through the summer with drought being a challenge, as a result verasion also came early. The end of season storms did alleviate some of the troubles and so the grapes produced were of good quality with wines providing surprising freshness considering the heat.
El Coto’s 2022 vintage in Rioja was characterised by a dry winter with little rain, and a summer of equally low rainfall and moderately warm temperatures, with the exception of some stormy weather in June. September proved more problematic, with high levels of rainfall bringing on botrytis in some areas. A dry and warm October, however, brought the perfect conditions for the last stages of ripening and allowed for a slow, staggered harvest.
The grapes for this Chardonnay are sourced from El Coto’s Finca Carbonera estate, at 875 metres above sea level, making it the highest vineyard in Rioja and ideal for the new white grape varieties approved by the Rioja Regulatory Board. A wide diurnal range aids the slow, steady ripening of the grapes, ensuring they retain fresh acidity and perfumes. The vineyard sits on a glacis – a sloping bank beneath an old fortress – with stony top soils that provide good drainage and aid in the health and maturation of the grapes.
For Château Moulin Riche, 2017 is known as the year of the frost, luckily vineyards in Saint-Julien were largely unaffected. Winter was slightly warmer than average, and the conditions were balmy until a large drop in temperature in late April. May brought sunshine and warmth, and the summer months remained warm until August. The cooler weather allowed the grapes to maintain their acidity and bright aromatics. Early September saw some rains prior to harvest which gave the vines a boost to complete the final stages of ripening.
David Moret’s 2022 vintage in the Côte de Beaune was characterised by abundance and excellence. The growing season began with a cold, wet winter, which resulted in a slower start to the growing season and delayed budburst, saving the vines from the worst of the spring frosts. The winter rains also replenished soil water reserves and sustained the vines through four heatwaves during the summer. Harvest was earlier than usual, but the quality of the fruit harvested was excellent, with vibrant aromatics and balancing acidity.
David Moret is a micro-négociant making wines in his small cellar in Beaune. Despite first studying oenology, he went on to sell winemaking supplies before finally deciding to make wines himself. With no family-owned vines, David bought grapes and purchased his first barrels in the late 1980s, starting his own, eponymous label in 2000. Since then, he has continued to buy small parcels of grapes from top growers and ferments using indigenous yeasts. His wines are bottled without fining or filtration, after being naturally settled while ageing in oak. David uses 20% new oak for his Villages wines and up to 40% new oak for his Premier and Grand Crus.
Gunderloch are one of the Rheinhessen’s most respected producers, known for their complex Rieslings derived from the distinctive, red soils of Roter Hang. Though the estate has over 130 years of history, including a pivotal role in the founding of the Verein Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP), its reputation has been shaped by a willingness to adapt in pursuit of continued quality. As sixth-generation winemaker Johannes Hasselbach explains, “this is an old estate with a long history, but we have to evolve because when nature changes, so do the wines”.
Gunderloch own 24-hectares of vines, most of which are concentrated in Roter Hang (the red hillside), which stretches from Nackenheim in the north to Nierstein in the south. The area, which overlooks the Rhine, takes its name from the distinctive iron-rich red soils formed over 280 million years ago. This combination of red slate, clay and limestone lends a distinctive character and complex minerality to the Riesling grown there. Their Roter Hang vineyards include several Grosses Gewächs shared with producers such as Weingut Keller, including ‘Rothenberg’, ‘Hipping’ and ‘Pettenthal’.
Since taking over from his parents in 2016, Johannes has developed Gunderloch’s viticultural practices, achieving organic certification in 2022. Johannes has put significant focus on improving soil health. The vineyards are now low-tilled with native cover crops planted between rows and solar-powered drones are used to apply biodynamic tea preparations without compacting the earth. In the solar-powered winery, Johannes takes a low-intervention approach to enhance site expression. The ‘pied de cuve’ is cultivated in both the vineyard and cellar, and skin maceration is utilised, with ageing in old oak and cement eggs (particularly on the Grosses Gewächs wines), to bring out the natural phenolics of the fruit.
The third mezcal release from the iconic Clase Azul pays homage to the San Luis Potosí region, capturing its essence in both flavor and design. The bottle itself is a tribute to the desert valleys and rugged terrain that define this unique area.
Crafted from green agave, a native plant thriving in the deserts of San Luis Potosí, this mezcal offers an alluring profile. Experience a rich, earthy bouquet that evolves into notes of dried fruit, delicate smokiness, and a touch of citrus zest. The finish is smooth, with a subtle warmth and hint of spice.
The decanter is as captivating as the mezcal it holds. Each ceramic bottle is a handmade masterpiece, reflecting the stunning desert landscapes of mountains and valleys, adorned with vibrant red finches. The cap, created using a traditional yarn applique technique, is individually crafted by Mexican artisans, requiring over three hours of dedicated artistry for every piece.
Clase Azul Mezcal is crafted from Cenizo Agave, which grows wild in the State of Durango. The region’s extreme climate, mineral-rich soil, and natural springs impart a unique depth and complexity to its flavor, setting it apart from mezcals produced elsewhere in Mexico. The bottle’s design draws inspiration from black clay pottery, a hallmark of Mexican folk art, with its meticulous craftsmanship enhancing the beauty and quality of each piece.
This award winning mezcal is artisanally crafted from papalote agave native to the humid highlands in the state of Guerrero.
Tasting notes
Colour
Crystal clear with light straw-coloured highlights
Aroma
Grapefruit zest, freshly cut wood, rosemary and toasted peanuts with faint hints of butter and daisies
Palate
Freshly cut wood, seaweed, lemon juice, pepper, and light notes of tobacco
We are delighted to offer this stunning Macallan 26 Year Old 1st fill sherry hogshead from Gordon & MacPhail. Only 316 bottles were produced at 52.8%, from a 1st fill sherry hogshead.
We are delighted to offer this stunning Macallan 18 1st fill sherry butt from Gordon & MacPhail. 18 Year Old Macallan’s usually retail for £350, so to get an 18 Year Old Macallan from Gordon & MacPhail allows customers to try some superb liquid for a fraction of the usual cost.
Gold winner and best in England at the World Drinks Awards 2025!
Experience the sophisticated blend of cultures with Capybara Coffee Rum. This premium spirit seamlessly fuses the finest rum from Guyana with rich, aromatic cold brew coffee from Colombia. Named after the loveable Capybara, an adorable creature native to both regions, this exceptional rum offers a unique flavour profile that combines deep coffee notes, smooth vanilla, and subtle cocoa undertones.
Celebrate the season in style with our exclusive offer. Receive six bottles from the stunning Gusbourne vineyard, and receive a stylish £50 champagne cooler absolutely free. Whether you’re curating a festive drinks cabinet or looking for the perfect gift, this is your chance to enjoy exceptional drinks and elevate your hosting experience.
Discover Excellence with Gusbourne
Among our curated selection is the award-winning Gusbourne sparkling wine, crafted in the heart of Kent. Renowned for its dedication to quality, Gusbourne produces elegant, vintage sparkling wines from hand-picked grapes, ensuring every bottle delivers a luxurious experience. Having visited the Gusbourne estate during harvest, we’ve seen firsthand the care and precision that go into every bottle. Their Blanc de Blancs and Brut Reserve are perfect additions to your collection.
Each order contains a free champagne cooler worth £50 and a bottle each of brut reserve 2020, rose 2019, blanc de blancs 2019, blanc de noirs 2019, late disgorged 2015 and fifty one degrees north 2016, all complete with gift boxes.
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The villagers are out there with a vengeance to get that Frankenstein
You made all the required mock ups for commissioned layout, got all the approvals, built a tested code base or had them built, you decided on a content management system, got a license for it or adapted:
This is quite a problem to solve, but just doing without greeking text won't fix it. Using test items of real content and data in designs will help, but there's no guarantee that every oddity will be found and corrected. Do you want to be sure? Then a prototype or beta site with real content published from the real CMS is needed—but you’re not going that far until you go through an initial design cycle.
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