Stockist/Retailer: Mr Wheeler

(2022) From the Languedoc, still following the Provence template, if a little deeper in colour, this has raspberry and peach aromas, a little bit of gravelly character too. In the mouth that peach fruit is edged by alcohol and acidity to give this the merest hint of phenolic grip, but it softens in the finish to be quaffable and food friendly.

(2021) Pale peach in colour, this 2020 wine very youthful with some pear drop character that will subside, a little cherry note and soft red berry fruits. On the palate Whispering Angel's trademark combination of elegant, cool precision with very easy-going, open and attractive fruitiness. Nicely textured, the raspberry fruit and edge of acidity is ripe but bone dry,  and there's a hint of stony minerality adding to the sophistication of the finish.

(2021) Partially barrel fermented in large oak barrels, Rock Angel is made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle. A slightly deeper, peachier colour than the other wines tasted here, and a peachier fruit character too: aromatically some floral character, orange and that peach down softness. There's substance on the palate here: yes, there is charming stone fruit and light strawberry character, but a bit of grip too, the barrel component, keen acidity and a touch of tannin even giving real gastronomic credentials. For me the (comparatively) meatiest of the Esclans line-up, but just delicious.

(2021) Banfi's Rosso is aged for around 12 months, partly in French oak barriques and partly in large Slavonian oak casks. The nose is vinous and dark, but reveals very little about the wine initially. In the mouth it is powerful and savoury, edged with bitter cherry and with a plummy character, the tannins are quite finely grained but grippy, and the classic Italianate bite of the acidity joins the finish. This could be cellared for a few years or decanted if opening now perhaps. Note Majestic may be stocking the 2019 in some stores, but their 'mix six' price is a sharp £16.99. Watch the video review for more information.

(2020) Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Merlot. Huge depth of colour, bright fruit aromas - blackcurrant and cigar box. Smooth, svelte, beautifully pure and dark flavours. Tangy fruit skins, bold, blackcurrant and ripe but has structure too with creamy tannins and pure acidity. Quite classy.

(2020) From a site that faces directly north and gets more of a tropical fruit character than the citrus and so “Can take heavier oak,” according to Michael Brajkovich. Just a touch of hazelnut and light toast, a pure line of lime fruit again, fabulous acidity, but touching on peach and nectarine-ripe juiciness. More flamboyant, but still taut and precise.

(2019) Noval's LBV is a serious interpretation of the style, unfiltered so it will continue to develop in bottle, as indeed it has since my previous tasting around one year ago. Glorious nose, blueberry crumble straight from the oven, lovely floral high notes of violet, and underpinned by cocoa. The spirit is barely discernable. In the mouth it's more of the same: that ripe, creamy blue/black richness of fruit, alluring sweetness and those more ethereal, lifted kirsch notes, yet the chocolate and the dry weight of tannins give it power and structure to match up to that opulence. I suggest you decant before serving as is it will throw a sediment, but watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.

Note: until 2nd January 2020 Ocado has this for £18.25, and the fabulous 2003 Colheita from Noval is £32.99 (£10 off) - that's a great price for a brilliant vintage tawny.

(2017) A case of this was purchased by me maybe a decade ago, and after three of four enjoyable bottles from it, I rather forgot all about the remainder in the cellar, so it was time to try this 27-year-old sweet Chenin Blanc again. The colour is a lovely buttercup/light gold, with immediately attractive notes of honey and wild flowers, beeswax and pollen, quite complex and so inviting. On the palate it is medium-bodied but has some slippery texture and weight, and the sweetness is lovely: just as sweet as I remember it, a light honey and caramel, but dazzling freshness too. Long, with some barley sugar and excellent acidity, it's not full-on sweet, but just lovely. Drink with fruity desserts, foie-gras, or on its own.  There are actually two or three stockists of this 1990 at time of review - use wine-searcher.

(2017) This is a négociant wine from Louis Latour, where growers on long-term contracts supply the Pinot Noir grapes and Latour makes the wine. From 30-year-old vines and unoaked, it has a haunting, expressive fragrance, briar and stalkiness, mushroom and then also clear cherry and red berry fruit. A touch of pepper and herbs adds more interest. Very fresh on the palate, there's a lovely juiciness to this wine, more of that pert red fruit and nicely precise tannins and acids to finish. It's a lovely village Burgundy in a restrained but fruit-forward style. Watch the video for more information.