France

Arrogant Frog

"Croak Baronne" Syrah. £8.50. Deep purple colour with garnet red tints. Nose: At first spicy and balsamic the second nose develops blackcurrant, humidor and violet flower aromas finishing on toasted oak notes.

"Croak Rotie" Syrah/Viognier. £8.50. Deep purple colour with ruby rims. Nose: At first sweet spices and violet flowers with fresh blueberry flavours evolving towards strawberry jams notes. Palate: Opulent full bodied but mellow with velvety tannins. Ripe and floral flavours on the middle palate, liquorice and blackcurrant flavours on the long finish.

"Lily Pad" Pinot Noir. £9.50. Bright and lovely light garnet-red colour. Nose: Very elegant with a quintessence of red berries, strawberry, cherry, and soft spices aromas with a hint of vanilla. Palate: It’s a medium bodied wine, with ripe tannins and acidity which testify his capability to age. It develops very delicate aromas and a long-lasting finish.

"Ribet Red" Cabernet/Merlot. £8.50. Deep purple garnet red with ruby and garnet red tints Nose: Elegant and complex with a quintessence of black berries, truffles, mocha and jammy aromas finishing on spicy vanilla notes. Palate: Well balanced and rich with smooth tannins. Long finish on plum notes.

Crocus

Malbec de Cahors "L'Atelier" £23.00. A nearly opaque wine with purple tints, offering a bright and harmonious nose redolent of Morello cherry, black plum and blackberries with a hint of ash and leather. The expansive palate is alive with fresh fig, raspberry and redcurrant finishing with earthy tannins with a touch of freshly cracked pepper. A rustic and well-structured wine, befitting to pair with a variety of cuisines. Grilled red meat or a rustic beef stew such as daube de boeuf.

Guillaume Gonnet, Southern Rhône

Lirac. £19.70. Intense red and black fruits, lots of spices and garrigue (herbs from Provence), soft, elegant tannins developing complex aromas (liquorice, truffle and dark chocolate) with aging. This wine deserves to be served with a slow cooked meal such as a Daube (Southern French casserole) or a baked lamb.

Château Naujan Lapeyrere

Bordeaux Superieur. £18.00 This is very elegant, bright with sweet red and dark fruits and a touch of caramel and vanilla, and a silky-smooth mouthfeel.