What we tasted in September 2025

A new light on Laithwaites?

This month we were very glad to welcome Ross Donaldson and his team (Sam and Dan) from the Laithwaites shop in Nottingham. Laithwaites are a hugely successful wine importer, but they also make their own wines, and these are what we tasted today. These wines all come with their own stories, from the original French vineyard taken over by Tom Laithwaite to the vineyard in Windsor Great Park that resulted from customer feedback. The wines were full of interest too.

For more information: https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/jsp/content.jsp?pg=store_nottingham

The wines tasted were:

1. Windsor Great Park Vineyard, sparkling; Berkshire, England, 2019. Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier.

2. Harrow & Hope Blanc de Blancs, sparkling; Marlow, England, 2020. Chardonnay.

3. Château la Clarière blanc; AC Bordeaux, France, 2022. Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon gris.

4. La Voûte; VDF, Limoux, France, 2024. Chardonnay

5. Château la Clarière rouge; AC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, France, 2022. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc.

6. RedHeads Night of the Living Red; South Australia, 2022. Durif, Shiraz, Touriga Nacional.

7. RedHeads 1888; Barossa Valley, Australia, 2022. Shiraz

8. La Presbytère de la Clarière; AC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, France, 2020. Cabernet Sauvignon.