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Zoe Chen on Taylor's 40 Year Old Tawny Port

8/10

Incredible but hard to justify the price

Tried this at a tasting event and it's genuinely lovely. Really complex with spice and dried fruit, and it stays fresh even though it's quite sweet. But at nearly £200 a bottle I can't see myself buying one for a regular Tuesday night. Special occasion only for sure.

Erik Strom on La Gitana Palo Cortado Wellington VORS / Hidalgo: Amber Elegance

8/10

Proper grown-up sherry

Had this at a tasting evening and immediately tracked down a bottle. The fig and raisin thing on the palate is gorgeous, and there's a saltiness that makes it really moreish. Not your nan's cream sherry, that's for sure.

Alex Ramos on Gallimard Les Riceys Rose Brut Champagne

8/10

Rosé Champagne convert

I don't usually go for rosé Champagne but a friend brought this round and I'm glad she did. It's expressive and interesting without being try-hard, if that makes sense. The finish lingers in a really pleasant way. At 12.5% it's easy drinking too — dangerous honestly, the bottle didn't last long between the three of us.

Adaobi Eze on Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet Vosne-Romanée Les Petits Monts 2020: Dark Fruit Elegance

9/10

Special occasion wine and it delivered

Bought this for my wife's 40th and we were both blown away. The dark fruit flavours are incredible — like blackcurrant and cherry just rolling on and on. Tannins are smooth, not that drying thing you sometimes get with reds. At £199 it's not an everyday bottle but for a celebration it was perfect.

Freya Lindqvist on Taylor's 40 Year Old Tawny Port

9/10

Christmas day winner

Bought this for Christmas dinner and it was the star of the evening. Poured it after dessert and everyone went quiet for a second — that's how you know it's good. The finish just lingers forever. My brother-in-law who "doesn't like port" had three glasses.

Marcus Chen on Lelarge-Pugeot 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne / Extra Brut

7/10

Good not great

Picked this up from an online retailer on a whim. It's well made and the finish is clean — no complaints there. Just didn't blow me away the way I hoped for a premier cru champagne. The acidity is quite forward which I know some people love but it's not really my thing. Would still happily drink it again though.

Yuki Nakamura on Warre's 1994 Vintage Port / Library Release: Amber Elegance

8/10

Birthday treat that delivered

Got this as a birthday present to myself because I've always wanted to try an older port. The dark chocolate and walnut thing is real — it's like drinking a fancy dessert. That salty finish caught me off guard in the best way, kept going back for more.

Aria Kim on Douro Boys Anniversary Very Old Tawny Port

8/10

Incredible but hard to justify the price

Tried this at a tasting event and it's genuinely stunning — concentrated, layered, beautifully balanced. But £575 is a LOT of money for a bottle of port, even one this good. I've had ports at half the price that got me 80% of the way there. If someone else is buying though, absolutely say yes.

Nils Bergman on Chapel Down Grand Reserve 2019

8/10

Great dinner party wine

Served this with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder for a dinner party and got loads of compliments. It's got this confident, inviting smell when you pour it and the flavour builds really nicely. One of those wines that makes you look like you know what you're doing.

Priya Sharma on Valdespino Pedro Ximenez Niños VORS

10/10

Best sherry I've ever had

Tried this at a tasting event and immediately tracked down a bottle. The coffee and burnt caramel thing going on is incredible, and it just keeps going — the finish lasts forever. It's £130 which is a lot but for a VORS sherry this old it's actually not bad. Pour it in tiny glasses and it'll last you ages.

Isabella Rossi on Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rose 2012 Champagne / Gift Box

10/10

Best champagne I've ever had

My wife got this for my 50th birthday in the gift box and it's stunning. I'm not usually a rosé person but this is on another level — structured and serious but still so easy to drink. We had it with salmon and it was perfect. If you can afford it, just do it.

Omar Diallo on JL Vergnon Conversation Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne

8/10

Proper grown-up champagne

Picked this up after seeing JL Vergnon mentioned somewhere online and I'm glad I did. It's got this lovely structure to it — fruity but with a real backbone of acidity holding everything together. Not showy at all, just quietly really good. Had it with some fish and chips on a Friday night and it was perfect.

Henrik Larsen on Lindisfarne Dark Mead: Amber Elegance

6/10

Nice but a bit niche

Got this as a birthday present from someone who knows I like trying unusual drinks. It's decent — the cinnamon and dried fruit flavours are lovely and it's well made. But at 14.5% and that sweetness level I could only manage a small glass before it felt like enough. Not sure I'd spend £13.50 on it myself when I could get a solid port for similar money.

Sophia Laurent on Harveys Fine Old Amontillado Sherry / 30 Year Old / VORS

9/10

Dinner party hero

Served this at a dinner party as a wildcard and it was the talking point of the night. People kept going back to it. There's a brightness to it that stops it being heavy despite all that richness. The finish is so clean. Already bought another bottle.

Ryan Mitchell on Billecart-Salmon Le Clos St Hilaire 2009

9/10

This is what the fuss is about

I've been slowly working my way through the big champagne houses and Billecart-Salmon Le Clos St Hilaire is right up there. The 2009 vintage has this confident maturity to it — everything is perfectly in place from the second you pour. The acidity is precise without being sharp and the finish just lingers beautifully. Treat yourself if you can.

Olivia Wong on Normanno Ciello Bianco 2024

7/10

Really nice for the price

Picked this up from the local wine shop on a whim and honestly really impressed for under eleven quid. It's crisp and fresh with a bit more going on than your average cheap white. Would definitely buy again for a weeknight dinner.

Natasha Volkov on Drappier Rosé Brut Nature NV Champagne

9/10

Best rosé champagne I've tried

Picked this up after reading about Drappier somewhere online. The nose is amazing — just smells like proper rosé champagne should. It's got layers to it that keep revealing themselves as you drink. Already ordered another bottle.

Liam Anderson on Quinta da Pedra Milagres Alvarinho 2021

7/10

Great dinner party bottle

Bought this for a dinner party and it went down really well. Smells gorgeous straight out of the bottle and it's got enough going on to keep you interested. 14% so it packs a punch — we got through two bottles between four of us and nobody complained.

Elena Vasquez on Veuve Clicquot Rich Rose NV Champagne

9/10

Perfect for celebrations

Bought this for my wife's 40th and it was a massive hit. Really fruity but not sweet if that makes sense, and it's got this lovely freshness that keeps you going back for more. At nearly 70 quid it's not an everyday thing but for a special occasion it's absolutely worth it.

Noah Williams on Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2021

8/10

New Zealand does it again

The guy at my local wine shop recommended this and I'm glad he did. It's got loads going on — fruit, a bit of spice, and it finishes really cleanly. Sat with it over a slow Sunday roast and it was perfect. Will definitely be getting another bottle.

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