Arrowsmith’s 2022 Ballerina, Rose Wine (Pinot Noir – Santa Maria, California)    

THEY SAY: Made exclusively from Pinot Noir, this rose possesses the gentle perfume and structure for which this wine is renowned. The Santa Maria Valley’s cool breezes and foggy mornings provide the perfect conditions for Pinot Noir to thrive, resulting in wine with the balance, finesse and beauty of a ballet dancer. 

WE SAY: Our second vintage! We are so proud of this, especially as Anna helped design the label. It’s smooth and delicious!

The Santa Maria Valley’s cool breezes and foggy mornings provide the perfect conditions for Chardonnay to thrive. This wine exemplifies this, with a fresh taste that is all its own. It is light and refined, in a style more comonly associated with Chablis in France's Loire Valley. 

Broadbent Rainwater Medium-dry Madeira Tinta Negra - Portugal

THEY SAY:  A light, toffee-scented bouquet with hints of crème brûlée. Notes of marzipan, raisin and fresh fig, sweet and spicy on the entry. It is understated at first with smoked walnut, nougat, cumin and Chinese 5-spice and it builds gently towards a harmonious, beautifully balanced finish with traces of red chilies, dried honey and walnuts. 

WE SAY: We holidayed in the island of Madeira where we first tasted the delights of this wine and we highly recommend it. It is different from other sweet wines, it’s warming yet fresh with lots of lovely almonds!

Broadbent White Porto Malvasia Fina, Códega, Rabigato, Gouveio - Portugal  

THEY SAY: Golden color with a very good nose and honey aromas. Palate is sweet and nutty. 

WE SAY: Bring on the white port! The drink that us Brits drank so much of in the 1990’s. If you haven’t 

tried white port, it’s time to!

Collet Premier Cru "Les Florēts" 2020 (Chardonnay - Chablis, France)

THEY SAY: Collet ferments the wine in a combination of 90% cement egg and 10% used barrel, aged for about 12 months. No stirring or lees. It is dynamic and angular, which flirts with scents of wet stone, sea spray and peach skin. On the palate find savory nuances,white flowers, honey and anise.

WE SAY: Alas, the more expensive French is really worth the money, *sighs*

Domaine Dyckerhoff, 2019 (Petit Gris Rose – Reuilly, Loire, France)

THEY SAY: Pale salmon color, fruity nose. Great length and freshness in the palate with flavors of wild strawberries, peach skin and mineral.

WE SAY: A deliciously soft rose, done in the subtle way only the French can. Lovely!

Canadian 'Ice' Wine.

This warm climate white wine speaks of the sunlight and warmth of California's Central Coast.  Its bright lychee and tart tropical fruits are balanced by its acidity on the mid-palate, tailed by a lingering apricot finish.  This clean, crisp white wine is aged in stainless steel to showcase the bright fruit and natural acidity of Pinot Grigio. 

Domaine Dozon Clos Du Saut Au Loup, 2020 (Cabernet Franc – Chinon, France)            

THEY SAY: Vibrant purple color. Traditional notes of plum skin, raspberries and capsicum abound. Manageable tannins and herbal notes underscore a direct fruitiness.

WE SAY: Tim can’t stop talking about this wine, he is crazy for it. I like t too, but he just won’t shut up about it. A subtle, beautiful alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Assembled in great years from the Neveu family’s best parcels around Verdigny, Chavignol, and Sancerrre, “PFX”—as it is affectionately known by the family—is raised in oak rather than stainless steel (the former being the historical norm in Sancerre). The oak adds a grain and level of class and backbone that raises this cuvée a step above the domaine’s classic Sancerre bottling. PFX ages more slowly and gracefully than most Sancerres, and it makes a great cellar diversification play.

Paul Lato, 'O Sole Mio 2021 (Sauvignon Blanc – Santa Ynez Valley, California)

THEY SAY: Made from a 100% organic vineyard in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley, [at Two Wolves Vineyard, owned and run by the singer Pink!] this Sauvignon Blanc was whole cluster pressed at 22 brix, then fermented and aged in both concrete and stainless-steel vessels… brilliant ripe flavors balance with crisp acidity.

WE SAY: We recently came across Paul Lato and have found all of his wines to be excellent.

Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.

Union Sacre 2022 Edelzwicker, Orange Wine (Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer – Central Coast, California)

THEY SAY: Tangerine, peaches, Asian pear and lilies.

WE SAY: A delightfully smooth and unique blend that has just a detectable touch of Gewürtz, both interesting and delicious!