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Month: June 2026

Wine of the Week

Chalky Chablis

Published 26. June 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

This is a striking expression of modern Chablis from one of the region’s most thoughtful estates. Under the stewardship of Athénaïs de Béru, the family domaine has become a benchmark for organic and biodynamic viticulture, with a strong focus on expressing individual vineyard sites rather than cellar techniques.


The wine comes from a high-altitude limestone vineyard overlooking the Chablis landscape. The combination of Kimmeridgian soils, cool exposure and biodynamic farming gives it a distinctive sense of place. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, and ageing is deliberately gentle, using older vessels that allow the vineyard character to shine through without obvious oak influence.


Montserre 2022 (Château de Béru)


In the glass it shows a lemon colour. The nose offers aromas of citrus peel, green apple, white flowers, crushed chalk and a subtle saline note. On the palate, it is precise and energetic, combining ripe fruit from the warm 2022 vintage with remarkable freshness and mineral tension. Layers of lemon, orchard fruit and wet stone lead to a long, dry finish marked by chalky texture and a touch of sea-breeze salinity.

Price: High

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Wine of the Week

Varietal Antão Vaz

Published 19. June 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

Alentejo may be best known for its powerful reds, but its native white grape antão vaz can be every bit as expressive. Traditionally, antão vaz is known for producing full-bodied wines with generous texture, moderate acidity and aromas that range from citrus and stone fruit to tropical fruits, often with a distinctive herbal and mineral edge. In the warm climate of southern Alentejo, the variety develops richness without losing its characteristic freshness when grown in the right sites.


Antão Vaz da Malhadinha 2023 comes from the rolling schist soils of Albernoa in southern Alentejo. It is produced by Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, one of the region’s pioneering family estates, renowned for combining modern precision with a deep respect for the surrounding landscape and biodiversity.


This single-varietal wine originates from the Peceguina vineyard and is made from hand-harvested grapes picked during the cool early hours of the morning. After careful sorting, the grapes are destemmed, gently pressed and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks, preserving the purity and character of the fruit. The result is a wine that captures both the generosity of the grape and the freshness of the site.


Antão Vaz da Malhadinha 2023 (Herdade da Malhadinha Nova)


Pale straw yellow in appearance with bright clarity. The nose offers aromas of ripe peach, pear, melon and citrus, accompanied by subtle floral and mineral notes. On the palate it is fresh yet generously textured, with ripe fruit, balanced acidity and a broad, mouth-filling structure. The finish is long, harmonious and persistent, showing both varietal character and elegance.

Price: Medium

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Wine of the Week

Balanced Brouilly

Published 12. June 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

Beaujolais is often associated with easy-drinking wines, but at its best the region can produce reds of remarkable depth and finesse. Château Thivin is one of the historic estates of Côte de Brouilly, situated on the slopes of Mont Brouilly in southern Beaujolais. The vineyard known as La Chapelle takes its name from the small chapel that crowns the hill and overlooks one of the region’s most distinctive terroirs.

The Geoffray family has owned Château Thivin since 1877 and has played a key role in establishing the reputation of Côte de Brouilly. The vineyards are planted on the blue volcanic rock known locally as pierre bleue, a soil that gives the wines both structure and a characteristic mineral freshness. Farming is carried out with a strong emphasis on preserving the health of the vineyards and expressing the individuality of each site.

La Chapelle is made entirely from gamay grown on steep hillside parcels. The grapes are harvested by hand and vinified using traditional semi-carbonic maceration, a hallmark of Beaujolais. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, followed by maturation in large, neutral oak casks that allow the wine to develop complexity without masking the fruit.

La Chapelle 2024 (Ch. Thivin)

In the glass, the wine shows a bright ruby colour with youthful purple highlights. The nose reveals aromas of red cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry and violet, layered with hints of crushed stone, herbs and spice. On the palate, it is elegant yet concentrated, combining juicy red fruit with lively acidity, fine tannins and a pronounced mineral backbone. The finish is long, precise and refreshing, capturing both the energy of gamay and the distinctive character of Côte de Brouilly.

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Wine of the Week

Beautiful Bandol

Published 5. June 2026 by Vidar Kenneth Johansen

The Mediterranean coast of Provence has become synonymous with rosé, but not all Provençal rosés are created equal. Château La Suffrène is situated in the Bandol appellation, one of the region’s most distinctive wine areas. Sheltered by hills and cooled by sea breezes from the Mediterranean, Bandol is best known for mourvèdre, a grape that brings structure, character and longevity even to rosé wines.


The estate has been in the same family for generations and today farms around 50 hectares of vineyards surrounding the château. The vineyards are cultivated with respect for the local environment, and the focus is firmly on expressing the character of Bandol’s limestone-rich soils and sunny maritime climate.


Domaine La Suffrène Rosé 2024 is made primarily from mourvèdre, supported by grenache and cinsault. The grapes are harvested at night or during the cool hours of the morning to preserve freshness. After gentle pressing, fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then matured on its fine lees for a short period to enhance texture while retaining its bright fruit profile.


Domaine La Suffrène 2024 (Ch. La Suffrène)


In the glass, the wine displays a pale salmon-pink colour with delicate copper highlights. The nose offers aromas of wild strawberry, white peach, pink grapefruit and Mediterranean herbs, accompanied by a subtle saline note. On the palate, it is dry, fresh and beautifully balanced, combining ripe red berry fruit with citrus-driven acidity and a gentle mineral undertone. The finish is long, clean and refreshing, leaving a lingering impression of sea breeze and Provençal sunshine.

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