Highly commended wines SPARKLING WINES Australia Taltarni Vineyards Clover Hill Tasmanian Cuvée Rosé, Tasmania NV (£22.50, Vindependents): Lovely nose, texture and an excellent balance of fruit.
England Hambledon Première Cuvée, Hampshire NV (£45, Mentzendorff): Super focused and precise with pithy lemon fruit. Great concentration and racy acidity. Henners Brut, East Sussex NV (£31.99, Boutinot): Generous with notes of brioche and patisserie alongside the ripe fruit character. Henners Rosé, East Sussex NV (£37.99, Boutinot): Good intensity and good length. Very well balanced and executed. Moreish.
France Champagne Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs, Aÿ, Champagne 2014 (£58, Mentzendorff): Good length with fruit and savoury flavours mingling nicely. Chablis-esque. Billecart-Salmon Vintage, Champagne 2009 (£80, Billecart-Salmon UK): Rich aromas of caramel and toast. Deep and long finish. Champagne Castelnau Brut, Champagne NV (£43.50, Castelnau Wine Agencies): Lemons and biscuits on the nose, easy and fresh, fine bubbles. Champagne Delavenne Grand Cru Brut Tradition, Grand Cru Bouzy, Champagne NV (£37.50, Vindependents): BOOM! Great value, and will not disappoint customers. Champagne Delavenne Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Grand Cru Bouzy, Champagne NV (£42, Vindependents): Fullbodied; red fruits; spices – foodie Champagne. Champagne Germar Breton Brut, Côte des Bar, Champagne NV (£29, Vindependents): Excellent value: expressive nose of green apple, quince and brioche. Champagne Germar Breton Rosé, Côte des Bar, Champagne NV (£33, Vindependents): Light, fresh, crisp; easy drinking and good value.
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THE WINE MERCHANT TOP 100
Champagne Gremillet Brut Sélection, Champagne NV (£29.99, Boutinot): Good value with lovely biscuity, apple and grapefruit aromas. Champagne Irroy Rosé, Champagne NV (£43.30, Hatch Mansfield): Very fresh, smooth; raspberries and cream on the finish. Youthful and bright. Champagne Lété-Vautrain Rosé Royal, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne NV (£33.50, Vindependents): Rounded plum, cherry, dried fruit. Enjoyable. Value. Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve, Champagne NV (£44.15, Hatch Mansfield): Well balanced. Lovely light mousse. Classic in taste. Champagne Taittinger Brut Vintage, Champagne 2014 (£60.55, Hatch Mansfield): A high-wire act balancing honeyed richness and freshness. Champagne Taittinger Folies de la Marquetterie, Champagne NV (£67.60, Hatch Mansfield): Fresh; pear, greengage, toasted hazelnuts; zingy, persistent finish. Domaines Paul Mas Château Martinolles Crémant de Limoux Brut, Languedoc NV (£14.99, Domaines Paul Mas): Salty minerals; citrus; extraordinary value.
Italy Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blanc, Trentino Alto Adige NV (£27.99 Walker & Wodehouse): Citrus and gooseberry; creamy, refreshing; good depth.
New Zealand Akarua Central Otago Brut, Bannockburn, Central Otago NV (£25.99, Liberty Wines): Silky; fine salinity and minerality. Green pepper spice. Great value.
South Africa Colmant Brut Reserve, Western Cape NV (£24.99, Museum Wines): Lovely soft fruit. Great balance, complexity and length. Toasty and refreshing.
Spain Raventós i Blanc Textures de Pedra Blanc de Noirs, Cataluña 2016 (£41.99, Liberty Wines): Extremely interesting. Nutty, green apples; very dry finish.