The best own-label wines from independent merchants
Berry Bros & Rudd, Britain's oldest merchant, has more than 60 own-label wines, from its bestselling Good Ordinary Claret (£13.95) to the sumptuous, sweet and raisiny William Pickering Tawny Port (£31).
Berry Bros' St James's Street counterpart, Justerini & Brooks, has a smaller range made by some of the finest producers in France, although you might have to sign the official secrets act to find out precisely who. Its 275th Anniversary Bourgogne (£23) is a case in point, bottled by someone in the village of Vosne-Romanée. These are great wines and, in the case of Corney & Barrow's 2021 Aligoté (£36.25), made by Domaine Marquis d'Angerville, genuine bespoke parcels with only 900 bottles made.
In recent years Yapp Brothers has unveiled several own-label wines, while Tanners has a range from 'trusted suppliers' that best represent specific regions. Not to be outdone, after 52 years The Sunday Times Wine Club has also launched its own range, including a Provençal rosé just in time for summer.
• How can you tell if wine is corked? 33 wine questions answered
France (13%)The Wine Society, £9.95This floral blend including pinot gris, riesling and gewürztraminer has lovely aromatic hints of peach.
France (13.5%)Yapp Brothers, £10.95From a co-operative of growers in the Ardèche, this cabernet sauvignon sings with notes of cassis and has a smooth finish.
Spain (14%) Corney & Barrow, £13.95 A traditional full-bodied rioja with an emphasis on rich, savoury dark fruit and meaty flavours with touches of spice.
• How to start a wine cellar — and drink well for less
France (14.5%) Tanners, £14.40This grenache-dominant blend from the Gonnet family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is silky, supple and full of red fruit.
France (14.5%)Justerini & Brooks, £27.85A serious, classic pomerol, this merlot-heavy red has inviting notes of plum, savoury spice and a dry, velvety texture.
USA (13.2%)Berry Bros & Rudd, £38Quite a coup for Berry Bros, this fine, silky chardonnay teems with citrus, red apple and peach.
• The Sunday Times Wine Club's 10 best bottles this summer
France (13.5%) £13.99 The club's first own-label rosé from the high slopes of Provence is crisp and pure, with a wonderful saline freshness.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Iconic fashion chain plans UK high street RETURN after going bust and shutting 46 stores
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Record number of farms shut in wake of inheritance tax raid
A record number of farms were forced to close for good this year after Rachel Reeves's tax raid made the future of thousands of rural businesses unviable. A total of 6,365 agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses have closed over the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest since quarterly data was first published in 2017. The majority of these closures took place during the first six months of the year after Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, announced in October that she would cut the amount of inheritance tax relief available to family farms. Just 3,190 businesses in the sector have been set up over the same period. It leaves a net loss of 3,175, indicating the number of farms is shrinking at the fastest pace on record. Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said the farm closures were a result of 'Labour's disastrous tax policies'. She added: 'The crippling NICs increases, alongside the family farm and family firm taxes, are destroying generational businesses, creating job instability and even leading to devastating suicides. 'These statistics prove that Labour do not understand our rural communities and our rural communities cannot afford Labour.' Lee Anderson, a Reform UK MP, said rising taxes and red tape were 'pushing British farming to the brink'. 'No government in modern history has done more damage to rural Britain than Labour is right now,' he said. 'Farms are closing at twice the rate new ones are opening. This is completely unsustainable. Labour has betrayed the industry that helped build this country.' 'Beaten from post to pillar' Farmers are also grappling with the soaring cost of fertiliser and a poor harvest following the recent drought and floods last year. James Grindal, a 55-year-old third-generation farmer in South Leicestershire, said the poor weather and barrage of costs mean new farmers and entrepreneurs are reluctant to set up businesses in the industry. He said: 'Yields are quite a bit down this year, it has been so dry – we have not had decent rain for four or five months. 'People have been beaten from post to pillar. Whichever way you turn you seem unwanted. 'The Government is not over-supportive of us, with inheritance tax relief disappearing.' Mr Grindal's 84-year-old father still works on the farm and remains a part-owner. However, he warned that the Chancellor's tax raid meant that when his father dies, the family will be unable to invest in the farm as planned. Mr Grindal said: 'He is still actively involved in the farm – he still sits on tractors occasionally, why shouldn't he own a bit of the land he has worked hard to own? Out of nowhere [this tax was] dropped on us. 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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Water firms should serve the common good
The Water Commission's failure to consider renationalisation as an option for the industry does not necessarily mean that we'll 'watch the industry continue to sink under the failed model of privatisation', as the Green party's co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, has suggested ('Less reorganising, more doing': landmark report alone won't fix broken water sector, 21 July). But, as you say in your editorial (21 July), it will mean that 'making water companies value the public interest more highly, relative to private profit, will be an ongoing struggle'. There is a way, however, of ensuring that the public interest wins this struggle. Change the laws on corporate governance. Legally require water and other private companies to operate in the interests of the common good, and develop a regulatory system to ensure that this happens. This would make it easier to prosecute CEOs and other senior executives, should they fail to run their companies in the interests of the British people. In legislating this way, the government could take its lead from the German constitution, article 14, clause 2 of which states: 'Property entails obligations. Its use shall also serve the public good.' In so doing, the government could take note of the fact that this is a legal cornerstone of Germany's social market version of capitalism – one that for a long time has surpassed Britain's in terms of its higher levels of prosperity, with far lower levels of HendersonLeeds I could accept a privatised water industry if I had a choice of provider. As a Severn Trent customer, the only way to change my water supplier is to move house. There is no incentive for Severn Trent to offer me the best service it can, as there is no penalty for not doing so. Pious statements about regulation are easily addressed by looking at the regulatory bonfire that occurs every time we elect a Tory government. I've been a Labour voter for 40-plus years, and was incensed enough to think about changing my vote over the benefit changes disaster, but now have a positive reason to consider a vote for the Green party – an unambiguous commitment to nationalisation. This is the only way of getting an accountable BowdenBirmingham Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
