Red wines

Domaine de la Rochelièrre Fitou Noblesse du Temps

Fitou, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2019

Domaine de la Rochelièrre is overseen by the Fabre family, who have had a long and deep commitment to environmentally-friendly viticulture, using organic methods since 1979, and having recently been granted HVE sustainability accreditation.

The green approach makes for quality wines that aim to fully reflect the Fitou terroir, such as the Noblesse du Temps cuvée, a blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 30% Carignan and 20% Grenache from the estate vineyard.

“Deep colour in the glass”, the judges said. “Cassis, herbal notes, sweet spice. Big, balanced, ripe, and multi-dimensional. Ripe chewy tannins, balanced and a very long finish.”

Hallgarten & Novum Wines

RRP £30.75 ABV 15%

Château de Nalys Saintes Pierres de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France 2019

One of the key quality players in the Rhône, Guigal is strongly associated with the northern part of the valley, where the family firm orginated. But it applies the same attention to detail to wines they produce elsewhere in the Rhône, not least in the highly rated Châteuneufdu-Pape wines from Château de Nalys.

A classic Grenache-led multi-varietal blend from three different terroirs with vines averaging 45 years of age, the wine is aged for 18 months in stainless steel and foudres (10%). “Rich fruits of the forest and chocolate and garrigue notes,” the judges said. “Really rich, deep and velvety and just hitting all the right notes.”

Fells

RRP £45.99 ABV 14.5%

André Brunel Châteauneuf-duPape Les Cailloux

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France 2020

With roots in the region dating back to the 18th century, André Brunel and family now have some 22ha of vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as well as another 40ha in Côtes du Rhône.

With André himself now joined by son Fabrice, the family continues to make some of the finest wines in the region, starting with this blend of 65% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 3% Cinsault, sourced from numerous plots in a bid for complexity.

These efforts were certainly appreciated by the Wine Merchant Top 100 judges, who loved the “multi-layered” character, with “cherries, oregano, rosemary, and lovely depth of fruit concentration”.

Hallgarten & Novum Wines

RRP £46.75 ABV 14.5%

Domaine Claude Maréchal

Pommard La Chanière

Pommard, Burgundy, France 2021

A former protégé and friend of the celebrated late Burgundy producer Henri Jayer, Claude Maréchal is a winemaker with a natural approach, with no chemical fertilisers, and everything hand-picked, often later than the average in each of the appellations in which the domaine has holdings.

The approach clearly works in Pommard, with this cuvée delighting the judges.

“Beautifully balanced Pinot, with red fruit that grabs your attention, and gentle spice and earthy notes. Great, food-friendly acidity and there are cloves and spice to elevate in the background.

“A class act. This would work at the higher end of an independent’s Burgundy section.”

Vindependents

RRP £52 ABV 13%

Domaine Belleville Santenay Les Hâtes

Santenay, Burgundy 2020

Founded in the village of Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise at the beginning of the 20th century, Domaine Belleville now has a collection of 18ha of primely located vineyards from Gevrey-Chambertin to Mercurey, including a plot of 35-year-old vines on clay-limestone soils in the Les Hâtes climat in Santenay.

Aged for 16 months in barrique, of which 35% is new, this Pinot Noir was highly rated by the Top 100 judges.

“Lovely deep red fruit with some leafy backnotes and a delightful summery freshness,” they said.

“Very quaffable now and it feels like it has lots of development to come. Would very happily recommend to discerning Burgundy drinkers.”

Vindependents

RRP £39.50 ABV 13.5%

Vignobles St Didier Parnac Prieuré de Cénac Les Vignes St

Didier Parnac Cahors

Cahors, France 2019

Former Bordeaux merchant Hervé Joyaux Fabre had already made a success of Malbec with his multi-award-winning versions of the grape in Argentina before setting up shop in the variety’s spiritual home in Cahors. Aalong with a group of friends and investors, he acquired Vignobles St Didier Parnac in 2017.

After a handful of vintages, Fabre has another hit on his hands, with the judges admiring the “deep colour and delicious mix of the fruity, the floral, and the savoury” in this 100% Malbec. “There is a touch of chocolate, too, and the tannins work with nice texture that is ripe and chewy, and mineral freshness on the finish.”

Hallgarten & Novum Wines

RRP £16.25 ABV 13.5%

The Wine Merchant Top 100 and charity

More good causes feel the benefit of judges’ generosity

Judging in The Wine Merchant Top 100 is an arduous and timeconsuming business. We pay all our judges £100 as a thank-you for their efforts.

Merchants are very welcome to bank the cash – time is money, after all, and we don’t expect anybody to work for free. But we also know that several of our judges donate their fees to good causes.

Some merchants ask us to send the money directly to their chosen charities. This year these included:

• Ryedale Community Food Bank, Malton, Yorkshire

• Common Ground Against Homelessness, Edinburgh

• The Alzheimers Society

• 91 Ways, Bristol

• Cornwall Air Ambulance

• Hertfordshire Mind Network

• Children’s Air Ambulance

• The Drinks Trust

• Cavendish Cancer Care

Surplus wines from the judging which are returned to The Wine Merchant office also generate cash for good causes. Many are donated to local groups for fundraising activities, which means we have been able to help, in a small way, all sorts of institutions in our community over the past decade.