about-us
The Team
Simon Taylor
Simon Taylor worked at Sotheby's for 23 years, initially as a picture expert and increasingly in management, finishing as Deputy Managing Director of Sotheby's Europe. In the 1990s he became increasingly obsessed by wine and began travelling to taste, learn, and meet wine producers in France, South Africa and California. It was a natural (but financially insane) step in 2002 to dump the Bond Street office, lovely PA, expense account and business class flights, for a chicken-shed in Hampshire, and budget travel from Stansted.The compensation for him is standing in a vineyard, from the Languedoc to Argentina, and simply enjoying the soil, the land and the weather.
Happily married, with three great children and two golden retrievers, Simon is nevertheless doomed to perpetual dissatisfaction as a long-term supporter of the Saints.
Gordon Coates
Gordon Coates originally studied Metallurgy and worked in the electronics industry for five years before letting his growing enthusiasm for wine get the better of him. Accepting a huge cut in salary and an increase in working hours he took a job as a trainee manager with Majestic Wine Warehouses. There he progressed rapidly through the company, managing stores in Reading, Salisbury and most recently Southampton.
Gordon was first lured to Stone, Vine & Sun in early 2004, when needing to source a range of wines to help train WSET Diploma students. When the opportunity came in early 2008 to join the team it was not a difficult decision to make the move.
Living in Southampton with his wife and their son, his love of Riesling and Pinot Noir is likely to ensure ongoing poverty.
Phil Hughes
Phil Hughes joined us in the summer of 2006 following retirement after 28 years as a Captain in the Army. A keen lifelong sportsman, with a particular love of alpine skiing, basketball and road cycling, Phil may well be seen on the local country lanes on his Trek bike delivering should the van require urgent repairs. Keen to pursue and develop his knowledge of wine, joining SVS came as a welcome career change.
Married with 2 teenage children and a chocolate Labrador called Lily, he lives in a village north of Winchester.
Our Favourite Selection
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Cape Chamonix, Pinot Noir Reserve, Franschhoek, 2008
“Soft colour. Perfumed, with red fruit overliad by coffee oak. Both juicy and velvety, this is a really classy Pinot with (by Cape standards)...”
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Domaine Olivier Fichet, Mâcon-Villages, Terroir de Burgy, 2008
“Young Olivier Fichet’s unoaked Chadonnay comes from his 6 hectares of vines in the excellent terroir of the northern Mâconnais near...”
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Domaine Le Couroulu, Vacqueyras, Vieilles Vignes, 2005
“80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, made from two parcels planted on the plateau amidst the garrigue by M. Ricard’s grandparents. Guy says this is the best...”
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Domaine de l'Aumonier, Touraine Sauvignon, 2008
“Our best selling white wine for the last five years. Pale yellow. Fresh, lightly floral scent. Lots of flavour - lime and ripe grapefruit - and good...”
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CarinaE, Malbec, Reserva, Mendoza, 2007
“Oaked, mainly in old barrels. Deep purple. Seductive creamy oak nose. Really ripe and fleshy wine, brambly fruit given substance and ageing potential...”
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Jacquesson, Champagne, Cuvée 732, NV
“Quantities at Jacquesson are tiny, but quality is widely acknowledged as being extremely high. Cuvée 732 is based on the 2004 vintage and sourced...”
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Great New World Pinot
“A mixed case including two bottles of each of the six wines listed, with a discount of 10%”
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Mas des Brousses, Chasseur des Brousses, Vin de Pays d’Oc, 2008
“60% Merlot with Grenache and Cinsaut, a wine with Bordelais style from the garrigue. Leafy and herby scents. Black plum and berry core, spiced with...”
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Honoro Vera, Jumilla, 2008
“Made at Bodegas Juan Gil from 100% Monastrell, organically grown in the mountains north of the city of Murcia. Deep, youthful purple. Very bright and...”
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Lenten Restraint
“A case of three bottles of each of these four wines, with a discount of just over 10%; a mixed dozen intended simply to put decent, fresh, really well-made wines into your home for daily drinking,...”
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Meerlust, Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, 2007
“Strong gold tone. Fascinating fragrance: lightly honeyed, and almost herbal, like a Vermouth. Caramel attack, very smooth, with a palate of...”






























