Review Round-Up (July 2026)
Fortunate to have been born in the great city of Liverpool and to fall into the world of wine. More than 20 years later I'm Boutinot's marketing manager for much of Europe (mostly Italy and Spain) and more than content with my compact family, including 3 cats (sadly just the 11 legs) and a 1969 'Dark Star' (no, not a wine!)
We truly believe our wines are fantastic, but you already knew that – we wouldn’t sell them if we didn’t!
That said, it is always nice when someone else recognises the quality in our portfolio, even better when they write a lovely review in the press to tell everyone about it…
Here’s a round-up of what they’ve been saying about us recently!
Château l’Ermite d’Auzan Blanc, AOP Costières de Nîmes [Organic & Biodynamic] 2025: A fresh, vibrant, zesty style with a touch of lemon verbena. Rounded in texture, but only light- to medium-bodied, with well-balanced acidity. Fairly persistent finish. Refreshing, with tangy acidity. 91pts Decanter.com (June 2026)
Château L’Ermite Cuvée Sainte-Cécile Rouge, AOP Costières de Nîmes 2020: Deep ruby, transparent colour. Only medium-bodied, with balanced alcohol. There’s a touch of the wild side of Mourvèdre, and a hint of farmyard but not too much. Lovely ripe dark fruits, plum and blackberry aromas. Great energy and vibrancy, with a persistent finish. Very drinkable and enjoyable. Made from their best parcels each year, typically from their older vines. 93pts Decanter.com (June 2026)
Domaine Lafran-Veyrolles Rosé, AOP Bandol [Organic] 2024: Mid-apricot colour. Generously styled, led by ripe yellow plum, baked raspberry and green strawberry, with frangipane and chalky spice. Layered, zesty and heady. Long and textural. 91pts Decanter.com (June 2026)
Domaine de Rimauresq Cru Classé Rosé, AOP Côtes de Provence [Organic] 2024: Pale rose gold. Tangy with yellow grapefruit, strawberry, poached rhubarb and cherry blossom. Structured, aromatic and lively. Mouthwatering finish. 90pts Decanter.com (June 2026)
Château Gairoird Rosé, AOP Côtes de Provence [Organic] 2024: Bright salmon pink, with redcurrant, baked raspberry and savoury spice. Creamy yet steely, finishing long, mineral and gastronomic. 89pts Decanter.com (June 2026)
Bressia Profundo, Lujan de Cuyo 2022: French and American oak, it’s smooth, perfumed, well-appointed red with fine tannins, bramble, blackberry and summer pudding flavours and a lightly balsamic finish. 94pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Bressia Monteagrelo Cabernet Franc, Valle de Uco 2024: It’s a bright, well-balanced iteration of the grape with notes of raspberry, red cherry and paprika, a sheen of patisserie spcies and a smooth, nicely textured finish. 92pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Cadus Tupungato Malbec, Valle de Uco 2024: French oak, it has lots of colour and perfume, flavours of oregano, damson and blackberry and a refreshing, appealingly chalky finish. 93pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Cadus Tunuyán Chardonnay, Valle de Uco 2024: Wet stone and nutmeg aromas lead you into a palate of citrus zest and brioche, complemented by a textured mid palate. The 25% new oak is right on point. 93pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Cadus Naranjo, Tunuyán [Orange Wine] 2024: Fermented and aged in older barrels, it has appealing grip and intensity, aromas of gin botanicals and orange zest and a palate of pear, citrus and black tea. Lots of fun 91pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Cadus Tunuyán Pinot Noir, Valle de Uco 2024: Sourced from vines at 1,400meters in Los Arboles, it’s subtle interpretation of the 777 clone, with some pepper spice from 50% whole bunches, bright pomegrante and wild strawberry fruit and a subtle oak-spice undertone. 93pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Nieto Don Nicanor Malbec, Valle de Uco [Organic] 2024: Matured in a combernation of stainless steel and 15% new wood, it has some subtle stony reduction, violet and lavender aromas, nuanced oak spiced and a core of vibrant plum and raspberry fruit. 93pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Nieto Patrimonial Bonarda, Luján de Cuyon 2025: Made with grapes from 20-year-old pergolas in Agrelo, this has intriguing aromas of tar and black olive, a touch of wood spice and a core of damson and bramble fruit. 92pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Nieto Patrimonial Malbec, DOC Luján de Cuyo 2024: Skilfully matured in 10% new French oak, this has ample colour and intensity, a nice interplay between red cherry, plum and blackberry fruit, textured tannins and classic aromas of violet and jarilla. 92pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Bodega Urqo El Mirador Chardonnay, Chacayes 2024: Picked in two stages for complexity, it has subtle oak spices from 60%-barrel fermentation, citrus, pear and stone fruit flavours, a dab of cream and sesame seed and good underlying zip, freshness and minerality.91pts Tim Atkins Argentina Special Report 26
Marchesi di Grésy Martinenga, Barbaresco DOCG 2021:…Emerges a Barberesco of captivating aromatic intensity, with enticing notes of drived lavender, Seville orange, fresh cranberry and a citrus-tinged lift. Structually, it ticks all the boxes for its status, doing so with such balance and grace this is hard not to consider the favourable factors at play: a great vintage, a great cru and a great producer. Decanter Magazine (July 2026)
Gradis’ciutta Pinot Grigio, Collio DOC [Organic] 2024: Bruised apple, caramalised pear and mango rose with rose water and white flower. Dense, aromatic and salty, with apple struddle and richness, citurs lift and deep, gastronomic persistence. 93pts Decanter Magazine (July 2026)
Queirón Mi Lugar Blanco Vino de Quel, DOCa Rioja 2022: An assertive, well-honed framework of salted Marcona almond and buttered croissant outlines the clementine and yellow apple fruit. A distinct and alluring single malt-like pithiness gives the wine character and depth. Elegant, with poise and edge. Long spicy tail. Deft use of wood brings Tempranillo Blanco’s identity and potential into focus. 94pts Decanter.com Rioja Report (July 2026)
Giornata Fiano, Paso Robles AVA 2023: This Fiano from Giornata, a Paso producer specializing in Italian grapes, impresses, offering a complex nose that weaves together ripe fruit, savory herbs, and subtle floral notes. The palate bursts with melon—cantaloupe and honeydew—layered with a gentle richness and depth that reflects its additional aging. Textural and nuanced, this vintage captures Fiano’s distinctive balance of texture, nuance, and acidity.94pts Decanter.com (July 2026)
