On Friday 17th October, myself and a few colleagues went to one of my favourite restaurants in the UK, Les Mirabelles in no man’s land, just south of Salisbury. Ben Upjohn, a friend and colleague of ours in the Fine Wine Team was getting married the next day and we decided that it would be good form to have a ‘warm up’ dinner the night before. I had been before – in fact my ‘initiation’ into the Fine Wine Team was held there almost 5 years ago. That process involved a lavish lunch and the threat of bottles of wine whose prices scared me – a real welcome to the world of Fine Wine and extravagant dining!

Having survived my initiation all those years ago, I was now relishing the prospect of returning to Les Mirabelles. From memory, the food was the best in the area and the wine list was full to the brim of truly great wines at staggeringly good prices. I am delighted to say that the situation hadn’t changed – the food was absolutely superb and the wine list was everything I had remembered it to be. We started with a ludicrously inexpensive 1990 Spätlese from Louis Guntrum which was just what the doctor ordered – still fresh and it had all the classic hallmarks of an aged Riesling. We then moved onto a fabulous bottle of 2001 Puligny, Combettes from Leflaive which had beautiful balance and fruit but the signature minerality that almost tempted us into a second bottle.

On reflection, I’m glad it didn’t because it meant we then pushed the boat out and went for a bottle of 2005 Puligny, Enseigneurs, Coche-Dury. Rather flashy I know, this is the second time I’ve had this wine in 2 months and there is no doubt in my mind this is the finest white wine I have tasted. Onto the reds, and a sumptuous bottle of 2000 Le Musigny from Mugnier – a house favourite with BB&R Fine Wine – this was a little more closed than a previous bottle I can remember but was still silk in a glass.

A slightly leaner bottle followed in the form of 1998 Clos de Tart but it was amongst very stiff competition. Simon Staples (BB&R Sales & Marketing Director) very kindly brought along the following two bottles – firstly 1966 Ch. Batailley which was fresh, vibrant and a testament to good winemaking and good storage. Then, a classic in the making – a bottle of 2000 Monte Bello from Ridge in the USA – too young at the moment but bearing all the hallmarks of a truly great wine. No doubt in my mind that it will stand up to many of its more expensive peers.

Thanks indeed to Claude from Les Mirabelles and his great team who made us all feel so welcome. All those food and wine fans out there within driving distance of Salisbury should make this restaurant a ‘must visit’.

• 1990 Oppenheimer Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese, Louis Guntrum (15/20)
• 2001 Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru Les Pucelles, Domaine Leflaive (17/20)
• 2005 Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Cru Les Enseigneurs, Domaine Coche Dury (20/20)
• 2000 Le Musigny, Grand Cru, Domaine Mugnier (18/20)
• 1998 Clos de Tart, Grand Cru, Mommesin (15/20)
• 1966 Ch. Batailley, Pauillac (17/20)
• 2000 Ridge Monte Bello (16/20)