Rathfinny - East Sussex
While we get to travel to many of the world’s most beautiful wine regions, it’s hard to think of a more stunning estate than Rathfinny. It’s situated right in the heart of the South Downs, within sight of the English Channel, just three miles as the crow - or raven - flies from the sea.
Mark and Sarah Driver founded Rathfinny in 2010, on a working arable farm just outside the picture-perfect village of Alfriston. They planted their first 50 hectares of vines in 2012, with an end goal of 350 hectares planted on this single site. Mark studied winemaking at Plumpton, making him a hands-on owner, and everything - from the state of the art cellar to the labels that show off Sussex’s famous Seven Sisters, just a few miles down the road - has been very carefully thought out.
With plenty of wind blowing across the vineyard, Rathfinny are able to pick later than most, allowing the grapes to reach an impressive level of maturity. That results in wines that balance purity and ripeness of fruit with an incredible freshness.
Domaine Paul Prieur et Fils - Sancerre
Luc Prieur took over the running of his family estate in Verdigny, Sancerre, at the age of 21, having finished his studies in Beaune. Over the past few years he has taken this well liked, classic producer of reliable Sancerre to the very top of the appellation, with its name now whispered about among the greats of Sancerre. His single vineyard wines in particular have earned him plaudits. Through his dedication in the vineyard, and the use of gentle techniques in the cellar, he is coaxing fine expressions from his distinctive terroirs, and offering wines of outstanding value.
Kumeu River - New Zealand
Called “White Burgundy in Kiwi clothing” by Neal Martin and "an Auckland Pearl" by Julia Harding MW, no New World producer has received such critical acclaim over the last few years as Kumeu River. It’s no surprise: this is a New Zealand Chardonnay producer crafting wines of Grand Cru quality at village wine prices. And the connection to Burgundy is apt: these wines are dead ringers for top white Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet or Meursault, without losing their own sense of identity.
Les Horées - Burgundy
German-born, trained chef Catharina Sadde has one of Burgundy’s most impressive CVs. Her fearless determination to succeed, despite being a relative newcomer in Burgundy, has seen her estate’s reputation rocket. She now makes some of the region’s most sought-after wines. Her skills were honed with stints at Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Domaine Comte Armand, Marquis d’Angerville, and Cécile Tremblay, having graduated from Germany’s most prestigious wine school, Geisenheim. Les Horées is the culmination of a decade of fine tuning her winemaking skills, buying up vineyards that she loves, and working closely with a few other grape growers who share her philosophy. She now works from her cellars in Beaune, has a penchant for the lesser-known Burgundy varieties, Aligoté and Gamay, alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is an enthusiastic practitioner of biodynamic farming.
Demand for Catharina's wines is incredibly high, and they are carefully allocated to our Cellar Circle customers. If you'd like to find out more, contact our Fine Wine Advisors via the button below.
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux - Bordeaux
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux lies in Moulis-en Médoc, a less well-known corner of the Médoc on the Left Bank between Margaux and St-Julien. It has an enviable position next to Châteaux Poujeaux and Chasse-Spleen. Although it has remained relatively unknown, critics like the Wine Advocate’s Neal Martin have labelled it “one to watch” and it’s fast becoming a Lay & Wheeler favourite, so this won’t be the case for long.
Branas Grand Poujeaux is, in Bordeaux terms, a relative newcomer to the Bordeaux scene; Justin Onclin and Carmen Onclin-Paqueron purchased the run-down property in 2002, and Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus has been the consultant here since 2012. They have systematically replanted the vineyards and renovated the winery, including installing a brand new gravity-fed cellar. With just 12 hectares of vines, it’s one of the smallest estates in the appellation, but the quality here is clear. The vines are sectioned into parcels, planted to maximise the potential of the gravel soils of the Poujeaux plateau. Their parcels are split between 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, which are tended organically (they’re working on their official certification.) The resulting wines are classically styled, with an ability to age, and offer quality which punches well above their reasonable price point.
Mullineux and Leeu - South Africa
Andrea, an American, and Chris, a South African, met in France in 2004. In 2007 they started Mullineux Family Wine. They’ve been at the forefront of the Swartland Revolution: now based at Roundstone Farm on the Kasteelberg, they focus on Chenin Blanc and Syrah, and make some of the Cape’s most impressive, serious bottling from this stunning landscape. In 2013, they entered a partnership with Anajit Singh. And this opened up a new chapter for the couple.
Up until this point, Mullineux had focussed entirely on the Swartland, as continues today. But over the years, Rosa Kruger had been suggesting parcels of vines outside the region that could be interesting. Now they had an opportunity to seek these out.
The Leeu Passant wines are made in the stunning environs of Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, which is also a luxury hotel, while the Mullineux wines are still made at Roundstone. And that gives separation to the projects. Out of these two cellars are emerging some of South Africa’s most revered wines.