We hope you will find two key characteristics in our new retail list: as well as the highest quality, the much relished but also much threatened variety of wine, always such a large part of its attraction and fascination. We have tasted and travelled happily and widely over many years to bring the list to its present state, and are delighted to be able to offer many exciting new discoveries as well as previously selected wines from some of the world's finest producers. In all cases the criteria for selection have been simple. Above all we have sought out wines which we believe it an experience - a pleasure, a privilege, at best with the added je ne sais quoi dimension of greatness - to drink and to share.

For us that means wines which display a definite identity (cépage, terroir, producer and vintage) and a particular personality per se, as well as the highest levels of quality and value whatever the price range. Accordingly, although there appear here many of the most famous names in wine - old (Latour) and new (Le Pin) - they do not do so on account of past or present reputation alone, and only where we feel that this is currently warranted. Equally, the less well known wines are not merely the result of the search for eccentricity, exclusivity or novelty - though many certainly do possess these qualities.