Clos L'Oratoire, St Emilion Grand Cru 2005

A beautifully balanced and complex Chardonnay, fermented and matured for nine months in 3-year-old French oak barriques. Generous aromas of ripe orchard fruits, floral honey, and toasted nuts.

The highlight of the Wine GB tasting, and indeed the day, was this Pinot Noir Precoce (an early riprning variant of Pinot Noir) from just outside Ledbury.

A good depth of garnet and a slight tone of terracotta in colour. Black cherry and sweet spice with hints of chocolate and smoke on the nose. A rich and almost full-bodied palate with silky tannins from time in barrel. Dark fruits, clove and vanilla spice are followed by earthy forest floor undertones on the finish

Fresh and dry with a persistent with foam. Soft and approachable with red berry charaters on the nose and palate.

The name of this unusual Bourgogne Pinot Noir refers to the latitude of Burgundy, and it is a blend of out best Bourgogne Rouge, Cote de Nuits Village, Marsannay and Vosne-Romanee.