5 More Wines I've Been Loving Recently

Following on from my Five Wines I've Been Loving Recently musings, I'm back again with a very similar format! Five more bottles that have been bringing joy to my everyday life in the scorching Summer of 2026.

Domaine Partagé – 'Bibi' 2024

Varietals: Mondeuse & Gamay | Region: Chignin, Savoie, France | Price: £40

This bottle of light red was the perfect company on a warm World Cup evening back in July. Gilles Berlioz and his partner Christine (Domaine Partagé) produce some of the most soulful, meticulous wines in Savoie. Working small, steep plots by hand, their cuvées carry a pristine, alpine energy.

• The Wine: An expressive organic blend of native Mondeuse and Gamay crafted with no added sulphur. Mondeuse brings a touch of structure, dark berries, and fine pepper, while Gamay provides vibrant, juicy red fruit.

• In the Glass: Fresh, crunchy, and packed with wild mountain berries, cracked black pepper, and bright acidity. It’s light to medium-bodied with a tactile, mineral edge. Ideal lightly chilled alongside charcuterie or soft cheeses. Only 10% alcohol but certainly not lacking in concentration.

Les Bariolés – Les Suquets 2024

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay | Region: Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France | Price: £50

I was in Paris in May and was fortunate enough to eat at Dandelion in the 20th arrondissement. Absolutely incredible dining experience and that was at least partly down to this bottle of wine. I didn't know about the domain but my knowledgable friend picked this 2024 Chardonnay and we were blown away. Founded in 2022 by Claire Freist and Edoardo Veltroni after honing their craft in prestigious Burgundian cellars, Les Bariolés is a 5 hectare project on high-altitude volcanic slopes in Chalus (600m above sea level). Only 931 bottles of this cuvée were produced.

• The Wine: Organic Chardonnay harvested by hand, whole-bunch direct pressed, fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged in old barrels for one year without filtration, fining, or added sulphur (11.5% ABV).

• In the Glass: Medium-bodied with incredible texture, vibrant acidity, and a profound mineral influence. Expect notes of citrus, stone fruit, and crushed rocks. Outstanding when served alongside rich food.

Marie & Vincent Tricot – Rosé 2025

Varietals: Pinot Noir & Gamay | Region: Auvergne, France | Price: £35

Marie and Vincent Tricot are true pioneers of the modern Auvergne natural wine movement. Having relocated from Beaujolais to Orcet in the early 2000s, they farm volcanic basalt and limestone soils organically, bottling everything completely un-fined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulphur. I drank this at Highbury Library on Friday night (off-duty, naturally) and it was dangerously easy to drink.

• The Wine: A co-fermented rosé of Pinot Noir and Gamay grown on volcanic slopes, capturing the electric, wild energy the Tricots are famous for.

• In the Glass: Forget quiet, pale provencal styles! This is vibrant, living rosé. Bursting with tart red currants, blood orange zest, and a distinct volcanic minerality. It's lively and complex but also just very fun.

Marie Rocher – Emmenez-Moi 2023

Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc | Region: Pouillé, Loire Valley, France | Price: £31

After years spent working in wine publishing in Paris, Marie Rocher transitioned into winemaking in the Loire Valley, learning alongside legends like Les Cailloux du Paradis. Marie’s wines are revered for their freshness, precision, and expression of terroir. They are available in London for the first time courtesy of my friend Raph (The Grapes of Raph) and we poured this at the last Highbury Library Wine Club.

• The Wine: Organic Sauvignon Blanc grown on flinty clay-limestone soils in Pouillé. Spontaneously fermented using indigenous yeast, aged on fine lees in stainless steel and old barrels.

• In the Glass: Far from the tropical, hyper-aromatic industrial Sauvignon Blanc you may have been exposed to, this is pure, textural Loire elegance. Crisp lemongrass, green apple, and white peach meet a distinctly flinty, mineral spine. Bright, taut and refreshing, it makes an ideal match for goat’s cheese, grilled asparagus, or fresh shellfish. Nothing wild or crazy going on here, just very drinkable Sauvignon.

Les Vignes de Babass – Brutal Babass 2023

Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc | Region: Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Anjou, Loire, France | Price: £31

Sébastien Dervieux (famously known as Babass) is a legend in the natural wine world. After years of making iconoclastic wines alongside Patrick Desplats at Domaine des Griottes, he established Les Vignes de Babass in 2011. Farming 4 hectares organically in Anjou, his bottlings are wild, electric, and always expressive of their vintage.

• The Wine: Organic Chenin Blanc harvested entirely by hand, direct-pressed, and spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeast. Aged in underground concrete tanks for 10 months before being bottled without fining, filtration, or added sulphur (11% ABV).

• In the Glass: A lean, high-tension dry white packed with energy. Expect bright citrus, crunchy green apple, crisp pear, and a distinct stony minerality, finished with a subtle roundness that keeps you coming back. I shared with friends in the garden on a Sunday night and it was the perfect wine for the occasion. Not overly complex but plenty to peak your interest.