This wine which is the second wine of Grand Puy Lacoste was a great hit at the wine dinner recently hosted by owner Xavier Borie. The wine already has a lovely cedar and spice nose and can be drunk with great pleasure.

This wine is made by Gerard Perse whose better known properties include Pavie, Pavie Decesse and Monbousquet. This offering from the less smart environs of the Côtes de Castillon is made from a 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In this top Vintage the result is a resoundingly successful "House Claret".

This property belongs to Arnaud de Lamy the former oenologist from smart Pomerol estate, Chateau Conseillante. Arnaud's wine making skills have fashioned a civilised but inexpensive wine from a blend of Mourvedre (35%) Syrah (35%) Grenache (15%) and Carignan (15%). Bags of fruit and silky tannins.

This property in the Var is run by two very distinguished Burgundian wine makers, from Domaine Dujac and Domaine de la Romanée Conti. Their Rosé wine has long been a favourite with us because of its fresh wild strawberry aromas, and relatively low alcoholic strength (12.5-13%).

For this mixed case we have chosen three wines that are ready to drink from our cellars. We have recently conducted a couple of "Ten years on" Tastings for the 1999 wines from the Northern Rhônes and these Côte Rôtie wines delivered all we expected. The ‘99s are both maturing nicely. The Guigal wine is the more rich and round of the two. Burgaud's is spicy with more of the aromatic quality and lighter touch that characterises the appellation. Cordeloux from Pierre Benetière is a lovely wine already showing aromas of violets and dried herbs. 2 bottles of 1999 Côte Rôtie Brune et Blonde Guigal 2 bottles of 1999 Côte Rôtie Bernard Burgaud 2 bottles of 2004 Côte Rôtie Cordeloux Domaine Pierre Benetière

As long time fans of Albariño we have been depressed by shortages and price rises for that delicious wine. Accordingly we have looked to the neighbouring region of Ribeiro and found this delicious wine made from (mostly) the Treixadura grape. It is crisp, dry, aromatic and perfect on its own as an aperitif or with fish dishes.

On a recent visit to South Africa I called on Chamonix from whom we have bought a great deal of delicious white wines in recent years. I was fortified in my conviction that this wine is a very fine example of the variety. The wine has plenty of bright Sauvignon aromas without some of the more extreme herbaceous aromas found elsewhere as well as a rather European mineral grip.

A recent offer from a Grand Marque House of a very well known and respected Champagne at a price similar to this "House Champagne" led us to do some tasting to re-evaluate our old friend. The René B came out very well with a good deal more lightness and elegance that the rival. This remains a perfect aperitif Champagne.