£21, minimum order 12 bottles (which can be mixed), emilewines.co.uk
In 1877 Zaccharie Geoffray bought Château Thivin and his family has run the property ever since. This was the only Beaujolais producer to make the cut in a book I wrote, many moons ago, entitled The 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates of the World. Thivin is one of the greatest vignerons in France and its wines represent some of the best value you will ever find. This exemplary outfit makes sensational reds from the gamay variety and they all manage to capture the essence of their village, the history of the region and the drama and splendour of top-flight Cru Beaujolais.
This entry-level Côte de Brouilly, Les Sept Vignes, is made from a blend of seven different parcels of vines. With wild, red-berry fruit and a dusting of earthiness and gaminess, this is one of the most thirst-quenching and yet classy wines I have tasted this year. Coming from 50-year-old vines atop blue volcanic rock, it is perhaps no surprise that this wine is so noble.
Rebecca Perry is a huge talent in the industry and she set up Emile Wines earlier this year in very challenging circumstances. The wine business is ever-changing and when one company closes its doors another opens, maintaining epic standards and guaranteeing that great wines have a direct route to our dining room tables. Please support this exciting new merchant by loading up with this stellar wine.
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)