Bordeaux 2020: St Estèphe

In this series, Mark Pardoe MW provides insight into how Bordeaux’s key communes fared in 2020. Here, our Wine Director looks at St Estèphe, based on a conversation with Lorraine Watrin of Ch. Montrose. At a glance: St Estèphe in 2020 Hectares under vine: 1,250 Average yield: 41hl/ha in 2020 (50hl/ha in ’19); down 18% […]

Barolo: old vs. new

Mark Pardoe MW, our Wine Director, explains the traditionalist/modernist debate in Barolo, its key players and ideas, and the state of play today. Alone among the great European wine regions, Barolo was created, rather than evolving over time. Previously sold only in bulk, the first wines bottled under the name “Barolo” did not appear until the mid-18th century. Its […]

Understanding the Southern Rhône

This fascinating region is home to some of France’s most characterful and best-value wines. Here, Mark Pardoe MW explains how to navigate the Southern Rhône, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape where terroir speaks volumes, to the village wines where climate is key. We tend to talk about the wines of the Rhône Valley as a single entity, but […]

New Year savings: six of the best bottles

We asked our Wine Director, Mark Pardoe MW, to recommend some of his favourite wines available as part of our New Year savings, which ran until 14th January 2021. His picks range from Collioure to the Côte d’Or and beyond. Being asked to make a personal selection from the wines offered in our New Year […]