Grand Vin Wine Merchants UK | Blog

Year in year out, Clos St Jean make one of the very best regular Châteauneuf money can buy and the 2017 is extra special. The GVWM team have enjoyed many bottles over the last few years and it has always offered everything you could want from a traditional style Châteauneuf du Pape. It's a wine that is bursting with scents of garrigue, liquorice and red fruits... the tannins are evident, but seamlessly integrated and it's medium to full bodied style has perfect symmetry and balance.   It's simply a joy to drink all year round. With a decade of prime drinking ahead, this is unquestionably one of the most attractive buying propositions from the entire Southern Rhone. Don't miss the brilliant opportunity to grab a case or two for the cellar before our stock gets hoovered up! If you've tried the 2017 before and are keen to mix it up with another vintage, then the 2016 is the one we recommend . Both are in stock and immediately available. Clos Saint-Jean  is a prestigio

Taittinger released their 2013 Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs at the back end of 2023  and the GVWM tasting team think it is absolutely fabulous.  We  were hugely impressed. At the launch event hosted by Clovis Taittinger, we met Sean Connery's granddaughter, Saskia, and we were able to get more closely acquainted with the new vintage. We can confirm that it really is one of the best vintages of Comtes that we have tasted thus far. ‘Comtes’ is one of our very  favourite tête de cuvée Champagnes, and has a strong following. Made exclusively from Chardonnay, it is an amazing example of precision, purity and breath-taking energy.  Between us we have tasted most vintages back to 1973, and the wines develop incredible complexity with age, whilst they can also be enjoyed in their exuberant youth. Taittinger only produce their prestige Blanc de Blancs in the very best vintages and ‘Comtes’ is made from grapes grown in the five villages of the Côte des Blancs classified as Grands Cru