Wine Club: bargains to see you through the darkening days

Phew, we made it! I counted them all out and I counted them all back and our full complement of intrepid readers was present and correct as we gathered for our journey home, albeit quieter and more liverish than at embarkation.

Our inaugural Spectator Wine Club assault on Bordeaux had been a glorious, heart-swelling success. Having crisscrossed the region, invading Pauillac, Margaux, St Emilion and Sauternes and taking in such stellar estates as Ch. Angludet, Ch. Belair-Monange, Le Dôme, Ch. Pichon-Baron, Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey and Ch. Tour Baladoz, we remained at full strength with no casualties – well, apart from a couple of walking wounded who overcooked things slightly on the first evening – and there were several mentions in despatches.

This wine offer has been put together especially to see you through the darkening days of autumn

Our Corkscrew of Honour went to the stalwart Bob Barnett, who distinguished himself in the field, seeing off whatever bottle or magnum was sent his way while also coming top of the end-of-tour examination. It was a stouthearted performance, and I felt so proud to have him under my command.

It does mean that – suffering just a tiny bit from shellshock, or rather bottle-shock – I’ve had my fill of fine claret, dry white Bordeaux and Sauternes for a while. We’ve also had two cracking claret offers in these pages over the last couple of weeks, and it’s surely time to turn our attention elsewhere.

Hurrah, then, for our mates at Honest Grapes and this encouragingly well-priced offer of wines put together especially to see you through the darkening days of autumn. There are some bargains ideal for stockpiling before the big splurge as we near Christmas, and I encourage you to get stuck in.