John Lehmann Recommends... French Reds and Fizz

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Le Vieux Château Guibeau 2019

Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Superb, Merlot-rich claret from an award-winning estate that Tony Laithwaite has bought from for years. It’s from the Saint-Emilion satellite, Puisseg

A fine claret that most years wins Gold – certainly for a vintage as good as the ripe 2019. Vieux Château Guibeau was the first property Tony Laithwaite ever bought from, so it has a special place in his heart. The wine was the 1966, purchased from the estate’s founder, Henri Bourlon, and we’ve bought over 50 vintages since. In those early days, Henri (well ahead of his time) was the first to show Tony that a wine’s quality was as much to do with the passion and skill of the winemaker as the quality of the soil. Tony has remained great friends with the family and today buys wine from Henri’s granddaughter Brigitte. Old vines, meticulous winemaking, this ageworthy claret makes a fine partner to beef. Decant a few hours in advance or cellar.

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Château Les Grands Maréchaux 2012

Rare opportunity to enjoy this superb Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux with 11 years' age. It's a favourite petit château of Wine Advocate's Robert Parker. Alw

Blaye, on the Right Bank of the Gironde, offers outstanding claret at affordable prices. This is thanks to a growing number of producers determined to match the standards of Saint-Emilion nearby. Les Grands Maréchaux has been on top form since new owners, Christopher Reboul Salze and Etienne Barre, bought it in 1997. They introduced the legendary Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant (he has worked at many top Saint-Emilion estates, including La Mondotte, Canon La Gaffelière and Pavie Macquin). A fine Merlot-rich claret that always offers exceptional value and here with a decade of age. Stand the bottle upright to allow any sediment to drop to the bottom. Then pour carefully. It offers mellow cassis, plump black cherry and blackcurrant flavours with touches of cedar and leather. Influential American wine judge Robert Parker Jr wrote: “A complete mouthfeel from beginning to end.” Enjoy with simple game, roast chicken or mushroom goulash.

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Domaine Martin Rasteau 2020

Concours des Cotes du Rhone Villages de Vinsobres

Concours National des Vignerons Independants

Concours des Grands Vins de France Macon

Domaine Martin is firmly established as a great source of high quality southern Rhône reds. Its velvety Rasteau is a smart choice if you’re like Châte

The Côtes du Rhône are home to many rich, warming reds that can be serious bargains, and those entitled to the Villages appellation promise even greater intensity and fruit power. Such has been the quality in Rasteau that the area was promoted in 2010 to full AOP status, putting it on a par with mighty Gigondas next door. Indeed, Domaine Martin can claim a key part in securing this promotion. The property goes back to 1905, when Julien Martin bought the 5-hectare estate. In 1947 his son Jules took over, expanding the vineyards and building a winery. Today it is run by David and Eric Martin, grandsons of the founder.This Grenache-based blend (70% Grenache, 20% Shiraz and 10% Mourvèdre) from the Cote de Rhone opens with earthy, herbal aromas mingling with hints of blackberry and raspberry. Herbal-scented dark fruit flavours drive the supple palate with smoked meat and spicy notes adding complexity.

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RRP $36.00

$33.99 / bottle for any 12 bottles

12 bottle(s)

Château de La Grange Organic 2019

Pepped with Syrah spice, Grenache charm and rich Mourvèdre, this authentic, southern French red comes from coastal Fitou. Cooled by Mediterranean sea

Fitou is one of the top appellations of the Languedoc, with red wines that are hugely appealing with their rich, ripe fruit and authentic taste of the herbal garrigue. Our buyer, Mark Hoddy, lives close by, always on hand to check out any great discoveries. This is one from the Dellova family and their 40-hectare estate, which they've owned since 1971. They proudly began organic conversion in 2009, gaining full status in 2012. Brothers Thierry and André are today in charge, nurturing the vines in the dry, ocean-breeze-swept terroir of La Palme. This fabulous, silky, intensely flavoured 2019 is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, heaped with heady black fruits and spice. Perfect for baked aubergine and tomato or grilled meats.

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RRP $28.00

$23.99 / bottle for any 12 bottles

12 bottle(s)

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Domaine François 1er Roche-Grès 2018

Moulin à Vent is one of Beaujolais's best-loved crus. Its top wines age into sublime, fruit-filled velvet texture. That's even more true when the grap

François Guillaume is not only head of this great estate and a terrific winemaker, he's also an Olympic athlete, representing France in badminton. A National Champion too. He worked in Switzerland for a few years, between training, before he returned to Beaujolais and bought this small property in 2016. He renamed the estate Domaine François 1er, after the King of France who championed Burgundy and Beaujolais. He follows environmental principles in the vineyard and in 2021, his vines qualified for organic status. Velvety Beaujolais, packed with an array of concentrated flavours: juicy cherries and strawberries, decadent black forest gateau and Christmas cake spice combine in a mouth-filling palate. Pure fruit, no oak. Created from a 60-year-old vineyard in Moulin à Vent, one of Beaujolais’s best-loved crus. A cracking Beaujolais with an impressive depth of flavour.

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Château Gicon 2019

Sitting beneath Gicon hill, the estate’s gnarled, old Grenache and Syrah vines frame a medieval castle above. These stubby trunks produce the best gra

Château de Gicon’s old vineyards share the same huge ‘galets’, or pudding stones, that dot the earth as nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Just like in the famous estates over the river, the rocky ground soaks up sunshine and radiates heat up to the vines by night. This tips the quality, ripeness and concentration of fruit off the scale. Yet here in quiet Chusclan, the powerful wines don’t come at the same hefty price. We first visited the cellar over 40 years ago and fell in love with their great-value, fruit-filled, spicy and easy to enjoy red. The 2019 is a seamless marriage of bold Syrah and juicy Grenache, with a touch of Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan for added complexity. Smooth and rich, it's a great partner with lamb or a casserole.

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