It’s always very exciting when we see wines we stock picking up awards and being praised in the press.
Here are just a few of our recent award winners…
£9.99 per bottle | £59.94 per case
Ontañón Rioja Blanco, DOCa Rioja 2023:
(our current white wine of the year 2025/26)
In a region that is overwhelmingly planted to red grapes (around 90% of the total), it’s not surprising that the white wines have sometimes struggled for attention. But, whether the style is fruit-driven and youthful or oakily traditional, Rioja Blanco frequently accounts for some of Spain’s best whites – such as this highly accomplished classically oak-aged Top 100 winner. A 100% Viura aged for four months in American oak and six months in bottle, it’s a wine of “incredible length”, the judges said. “Under-ripe nectarine peach, lovely weight and texture – cracking value.”
Top 100 The Wine Merchant Top 100 (July 2025)
£21.99 per bottle | £131.94 per case
Queirón Mi Lugar Vino de Quel, DOCa
Rioja 2019:
The second wine in this year’s Top 100 from the consistently excellent Rioja producer Bodegas Ontanon is a wine from the Perez Cuevas family’s special project devoted to expressing the vineyards around their home village of Quel. Predominantly made from selected plots of Tempranillo, it’s aged for 18 months in a mix of 80% French and 20% American new oak. “Smoky pipe tobacco with blackberry and a hint of clove on the nose, that smokiness continuing onto the palate like smoked bacon and wood-panelled rooms, mingling beautifully with fresh fruit and fine tannins,” the judges said.
Top 100 The Wine Merchant Top 100 (July 2025)
£14.99 per bottle | £89.94 per case
Daschbosch Mossiesdrift Steen, WO
Breedekloof 2021:
Another prime cut from South Africa’s seemingly inexhaustible supply of fine old Chenin Blanc (aka Steen in the local vernacular) bush vines, the fruit here is sourced from the Mossiesdrift farm, a vineyard planted in eastern Paarl in 1962 and which is registered as part of the Old Vine Project. Fermented in the third- and fourth-fill barrels for three weeks, it offers “stone fruit and spice on the nose, and bright acidity with peach yoghurt flavours on the palate”, the judges said. “Would make a nice food wine with its pithy citrus-peel finish”
Top 100 The Wine Merchant Top 100 (July 2025)
£14.99 per bottle | £89.94 per case
Domaine J.Laurens Les Graimenous,
AOP Crémant de Limoux 2022
Always a solid choice, this Crémant is the flagship sparkling of Domaine J. Laurens in Limoux. It’s full of citrus freshness, lemon and grapefruit twining through the mouth, while also offering a little richness of sweet pastry and brioche. The texture is more lean and sherberty than opulent, but the mousse still fills the mouth pleasantly and carries apple and stone fruit notes on a wave to the finish.
92pts Decanter (July 2025)
£31.99 per bottle | £191.94 per case
Henners Vintage 2018:
Gently toasty, nutty and caramelised with broad, spicy pear fruit. Creamy in style with bright acidity and a ripe expressive palate. Yeasty Marmite notes add character and complexity, while youthful fruit gives plenty of immediate appeal.
92pts Decanter Magazine (July 2025)
£8.59 per bottle | £51.54 per case
Terrazze della Luna Pinot Grigio, Trentino DOC 2024:
Very pale lime-green in hue, the aromatics exhibit stone fruits, accented by lime cordial and lemon zest. Dry, the palate shows a light body and attractive fruit, supported by brisk acidity and hints of allspice and white pepper. A lovely wine, well-suited to cold ceviche with toasted flatbreads.
Gold Pinot Grigio Masters, Drinks Business, (July 2025)
£9.59 per bottle | £57.54 per case
L’Ormarine Duc De Morny Picpoul Pinet
2024:
Always a solid choice, this Crémant is the flagship sparkling of Domaine J. Laurens in Limoux. It’s full of citrus freshness, lemon and grapefruit twining through the mouth, while also offering a little richness of sweet pastry and brioche. The texture is more lean and sherberty than opulent, but the mousse still fills the mouth pleasantly and carries apple and stone fruit notes on a wave to the finish.
92pts Decanter (July 2025)
£16.99 per bottle | £101.94 per case
Cadus Criolla Chica 2023:
This opens with a lovely nose of bright herbs, red fruit and peppermint. The palate is peppery, nervy and juicy, balanced by freshness and subtle tannins that add depth and dimension. Sourced from a pergola-trained criolla chica vineyard planted in 1957 in Vista Flores. Fermented and aged in concrete eggs.
95pts Jamessuckling.com (June 2025)
£15.59 per bottle | £93.54 per case
Nieto Don Nicanor Malbec 2023:
Organic and biodynamic wines have almost entered the mainstream in Argentina, thanks to wines like this Malbec from La Consulta. Stylishly matured in 15% new wood, it’s an intense, vibrantly perfumed Uco Valley red, with tarragon, violet and fennel aromas, structured tannins and a core of bramble and blackberry fruit.
93 pts Tim Atkin Argentina special report 2025