The Modest Merchant

The Modest Merchant A new, young, London wine merchant selling to the London restaurant, bar and pub trade. Email for any trade enquiries.

Importing directly from France, Italy and Spain from small, original and exciting winemakers.

ENGLISH WINE WEEKThe week is upon us, and we thought what better way to celebrate than with a glass of Sussex’s finest f...
23/06/2025

ENGLISH WINE WEEK

The week is upon us, and we thought what better way to celebrate than with a glass of Sussex’s finest from Oastbrook Estate Vineyard in Bodiam.

English wine might feel like a new discovery, but its story began nearly two thousand years ago with the Romans. For much of its history, England’s cool climate made winemaking a struggle, and by the mid-20th century following both World Wars, it had all but disappeared.

Today however, things look very different.

With warmer growing seasons and a new generation of dedicated producers, English wine is thriving - not only in sparkling but increasingly in still wines that rival Burgundy and Champagne.

One of the estates leading this charge is Oastbrook, a family-run vineyard tucked into the Rother Valley in the East Sussex countryside. Founded by Brazilian-born winemaker America Brewer, Oastbrook is built on hard work, sustainability, and a deep connection to the land. Since planting her first vines in 2018 with husband Nick, daughter Gabby, and their Golden Retriever Lora by her side, America has championed a low-intervention, soil-first, preventative approach to winemaking.

Alongside traditional Burgundian and Champagne clones, Oastbrook also cultivates Alsatian clones of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, an unusual choice for England, but one that thrives in the local soils and delivers wines of real character and finesse.

We now stock a wide range of Oastbrook’s wines, from their elegant, extended-lees-aged sparkling to expressive still wines (including a White Pinot Meunier and White Pinot Noir) that speak clearly of place.

DM or email for trade enquiries and stock up for English Wine Week, and perhaps beyond.

The MM Bondholder Summer Tasting 2025It’s that time of year again… We’re thrilled to announce our Summer Bondholder tast...
17/06/2025

The MM Bondholder Summer Tasting 2025

It’s that time of year again…

We’re thrilled to announce our Summer Bondholder tasting of 2025 - and this one’s open to everyone. Expect a host of new releases (plus a few warm-weather favourites), poured on the garden terrace at Scenery Coffee, London Bridge (SE1).

Come meet Alex, Jack, Rob & Laura, who’ll be there to talk you through everything, alongside generous helpings of charcuterie, cheese + bread.*

📍Where?

Scenery Coffee, 171 Union Street, London SE1 0LN

🗓️ When?

Wednesday 2nd July | 7–9pm

Entry:

• Full Bondholders (£500) – Free, plus one guest
• Mini-Bondholders (£250) – £25pp (guests welcome at same rate)
• Prospective Bondholders – £25pp

Tap the link in our bio to RSVP - space is limited.

*Please let us know about any allergies when booking.

NEW IMPORT Maison Advinam, L’Allumée Blouge 2022 [Bordeaux] We’re thrilled to introduce the newest gem in Anne Buiatti’s...
12/06/2025

NEW IMPORT

Maison Advinam, L’Allumée Blouge 2022 [Bordeaux]

We’re thrilled to introduce the newest gem in Anne Buiatti’s range: L’Allumée Blouge (pictured right) - a vibrant, juicy blend from her vineyards in St. Morillon, Graves.

Anne and her husband Grégoire settled in this sleepy Bordeaux village in 2019, bringing with them a wild energy and a fierce commitment to low-intervention farming. They now tend 2 hectares in Graves and another 2 in Roussillon - a tiny but mighty domaine that’s quietly pushing boundaries. Before Bordeaux, they took care of a remarkable plot of Syrah on shale in Calce, Roussillon, which they still farm today.

Anne’s approach is hands-off, soil-first, and deeply regenerative. No chemicals, ever - just composts, herbal teas, and silica to bring the soil to life. Their vineyards hum with biodiversity: beehives, ewes grazing between rows, vegetables and fruit trees coexisting with the vines. And in the cellar too, it’s entirely manual and quite natural: destemming and sorting of the grapes in a wicker basket, crushing by hand and by foot, fermentation of indigenous yeasts only. All her wines are aged in 750 litre terracotta amphorae, with some 300 litre Austrian oak barrels. As a further mark of uniqueness there is no fining nor filtration.

‘Blouge’ (Bordeaux’s first of its kind), a name that nods to both blanc and rouge, is a co-ferment of Semillon (40%), Merlot (30%) and Malbec (30%). The grapes undergo direct-pressing into amphora, are fermented together, and then aged on the lees for 6 months with weekly battonage. This is certainly not your grandfather’s claret!

It’s juicy, luminous and totally unclassifiable - think white flowers, lychee, a hit of blood orange, and the zing of cranberry juice. Chill it down and watch it fly. With barely-there tannins and tons of flavour, it’s the perfect partner to Anne’s equally electric L’Allumée Orange: a skin-contact Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend, again aged in amphorae and Austrian oak.

Both wines are now in stock and available for retail or trade. DM or email for trade enquiries, or head to the site and snap them up online.

Carbonic Claret No, you didn’t read that wrong. June sees the 2024 release of Vincent Lacoste’s modern take on a classic...
02/06/2025

Carbonic Claret

No, you didn’t read that wrong.

June sees the 2024 release of Vincent Lacoste’s modern take on a classic.

Whole-bunch, co-fermented Semillon and Merlot (50/50) under semi-carbonic maceration, followed by a brief 20 days on skins without any pumping, entirely in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks.

Crunchy, bright and bursting with raspberries, frozen cherries and freshly crushed redcurrants. The acidity is vibrant, the tannins are powdery, the wine is moreish.

A perfect BTG chilled red as we head into the warmer months.

In stock and available now. DM or email for trade enquiries, or head to our website for any retail purchases.

NEW IMPORT De Stefani, Manzoni Bianco 2024 [Veneto]We are excited to introduce a brand new wine from one of our favourit...
13/05/2025

NEW IMPORT

De Stefani, Manzoni Bianco 2024 [Veneto]

We are excited to introduce a brand new wine from one of our favourite Italian families.

The De Stefani family has been producing wine for nearly 150 years, beginning at their Colvendrame estate, between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, before buying vines in the Piave Valley (Pra’ Longo estate) and in Fossalta di Piave (Le Ronche estate) where they eventually set up a new base and winery. Both sites enjoy exceptional micro-climates, due to the nearby Adriatic Sea, the Dolomites and surrounding hills as well as a very particular “caranto” soil: a mix of Alpine white clay and minerals.

Manzoni Bianco 2024

Manzoni Bianco, also known as “Incrocio Manzoni 6.0.13”, is a distinguished wine crafted from the eponymous grape variety, created in the 1930s by Professor Manzoni (who actually taught Alessandro’s father, Tiziano de Stefani) at the prestigious Conegliano School of Oenology. This unique grape is the result of crossing two noble varieties: Rhein Riesling and Pinot Blanc. The designation 6.0.13 refers to the precise location in the vineyard of experiments where this particular cross was located: 6th row, 13th plant.

With a love for Riesling and the cooler climate wines of the north of Italy and the Mosel, Alessandro planted 1 hectare of vines in 2022 with plans to plant many more.

Manzoni Bianco is celebrated for its vibrant freshness and mineral character, and boasting aromas of white flowers, citrus and exotic fruits. The De Stefani 2024 is no different. The Riesling shows through with notes of fresh lime, apricot and white flowers, with a soft, green apple fleshiness from the Pinot Blanc.

Technical Info:

Varietals: Manzoni Bianco (Riesling/Pinot Blanc)
Appellation: Piave, 10km from the Adriatic Sea, 50km from the Dolomites.
Terroir: Alluvial, white clay
Viticulture: Organic, Biodynamic
ABV%: 12%
Production: 7,500
Fermentation: Concrete tank
Ageing: 4-5 months on lees in SST

DM or email to make a trade enquiry, or head to our website for any retail purchases.

NEW WINERYChâteau des Vergers [Beaujolais-Lantignié]We are very excited to introduce Cosima Bassouls, a truly exciting y...
17/04/2025

NEW WINERY

Château des Vergers [Beaujolais-Lantignié]

We are very excited to introduce Cosima Bassouls, a truly exciting young winemaker from Beaujolais-Lantignié.

The family estate, Château des Vergers, dates to 1604 and has deep winemaking roots. Lantignié, the sub-region near Morgon and Régnié, has wonderful pink granite and volcanic blueschist soils, producing Gamay with great depth and complexity.

Cosima is now in charge of her family’s 7-hectare estate near Morgon’s famed “Côte du Py,” and is at the forefront of Beaujolais’ new generation. Trained in international agro-development, she initially pursued humanitarian work before returning to France. After working in organic and regenerative viticulture, she took over the estate following her mother’s passing, determined to farm on her own terms.

Since 2019, she has converted all 6 hectares to organic farming, integrating agroforestry, cover crops, and regenerative techniques to foster biodiversity, combat erosion, and improve soil health. She’s also pioneering vine-training methods, replacing gobelet with cordon, training old vines on high stakes and braiding the vine tops instead of trimming them.

Cosima also leads a movement advocating for Lantignié’s recognition as a Cru, with organic farming as the foundation. She and 18 fellow vignerons share resources and expertise, creating an exciting energy in the region.

We have two cuvées to introduce to you from Château des Vergers.

100% Carbonique 2024

The 100% Carbonique is a crunchy & energetic modern Beaujolais packed with juicy fruit and at only 11.5%. The lightly-pressed juice comes from young eight year old vines on blue schist. Best served chilled!

Aux Saules 2022

Aux Saules, farmed from a single vineyard 350m above sea level on rich pink granite, leans in to a more traditional style of Beaujolais. It has extended time on skins and is aged in concrete tanks for 8 months. Spicy and perfumed, with fleshy, earthy undertones.

In stock and available now in limited quantities. DM or email for trade enquiries, or head to our website for any retail purchases.

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07865079876

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