Marlo started with a simple idea – to make brilliant wine easier to get hold of. Ben, or known to most as Dawesey, has been in the wine trade for over 25 years. He set up Richard Dawes Fine Wine back in 2008, a traditional wine trading business, and ever since, he’s been the person friends turn to when they’re after a cracking bottle or a bit of wine advice. His no-fuss recommendations and legendary dinner party picks got us thinking, why not create a straight-talking fine wine website? One where you can buy amazing wines by the bottle, have them beautifully wrapped, and sent straight to your door?
So that’s what we did. We launched Marlo, named after our children, Milo and Margot, in February 2020, coincidentally just before the world went into Lockdown.
At its core, Marlo is about sharing the wines we genuinely love with more people. We try to keep things simple, avoiding too much wine terminology, we offer a small, carefully chosen range of wines we’re excited about. From cult favourites and old vintages, to hidden gems and bigger bottles for special occasions, there’s a bit of everything. Someone once said we’re like a luxury flower delivery service, but for wine – and we’ll take that! Whether you’re treating yourself or sending a gift, we want it to feel like a special experience.
Do you have a personal favourite wine?
For Ben, it’s got to be Hermitage from Domaine Jean-Louis Chave. It’s one of those wines that just always delivers, every vintage is spot on, and it never stops feeling like something really special.
As for me – Pip – I’ve got a real soft spot for white Burgundy. One that really sticks in my mind is a bottle of Jean-Claude Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, Les Ruchottes. We opened it on Christmas Day during lockdown, just the two of us and the children in London, and honestly, I can still taste it. Am insanely delicious wine on a very strange day.
Do you have any memorable trips to vineyards when researching suppliers?
One of the real perks of working in wine is getting to travel and meet the people behind the bottles. As a team, we’re lucky enough to head off two or three times a year – and the trips are always a highlight.
One unforgettable adventure for Dawesey was when one of our suppliers invited him out to Argentina and Chile to visit winemakers. He spent a week travelling across the Andes, soaking up the stunning scenery, tasting some truly brilliant wines, and tucking into incredible food cooked over a traditional parilla. It was a proper reminder of just how many amazing wines are being made by passionate, skilled people – often in places where the conditions can be pretty tough.
Every April, we also make our way to Bordeaux for the En Primeur tastings – a whirlwind week where we get to try the latest vintage before it’s bottled. The days are packed, with tastings every half hour and speedy pit-stops for lunch, but it’s always fascinating. It’s a great chance to catch up with others in the trade and to spend time with producers. Bordeaux itself is home to some of the world’s most beautiful vineyards and tasting rooms, and the welcome is always second to none. Château Rauzan-Ségla and Château Canon – both owned by Chanel – are always standouts, with their stylish interiors and polished, memorable experiences.
The beauty of wine is that it’s made in so many different corners of the world – so even on family holidays, we can’t resist squeezing in a visit to a local producer if there’s one nearby!
In catered ski chalets, the ‘all you can drink’ wine used to get a bad rep. If you were asked to choose wines for an evening dinner in a ski chalet, what would you go for?
You can find some utterly delicious wines that offer serious value for money, We don’t think you can go wrong with keeping a few bottles of rosé chilled in the fridge — it’s a crowd-pleaser on a bluebird day and often very reasonably priced.
For supper, if Marlo had a chalet, we’d serve something like the 2022 Le G de Guiraud Bordeaux Blanc Sec — a white blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s zesty and fresh, requires no ageing, and makes the perfect house white.
For red, we’d go with the 2020 Côtes du Rhône from Franck Balthazar. This wine is crammed with lush black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, balanced by a peppery, herbaceous finish. Absolutely delicious with anything and everything.
And if you’re after bubbles, we love NV Marie Demets Brut Champagne, it’s our house Champagne. Incredibly reasonable, a real crowd-pleaser, and it feels like a treat every time.
Of course, après ski is all about fun, can you recommend a light-hearted easy-drinker for those evenings in the bar, straight off the slopes and still wearing your ski boots?
Again, you can’t beat a tasty, crisp and ultra cold glass of rosé. It really hits the spot. Alternatively, something like 2022 Wild Boy Chardonnay, Au Bon Climat. It’s a Californian Chardonnay, that is full of fruit, rich, creamy and gets the party started. It’s a perfect aperitif.
What is your favourite lunch time tipple – especially on a sunny mountain restaurant terrace after a hard morning’s ski?
We’ve recently returned from a ski trip to Leogang in Austria, where we enjoyed a few glasses Bollinger of PN AYC at lunchtime with roast chicken, a homemade bread roll and some curry sauce. It was insanely delicious and the champagne made it extremely spoiling and memorable
A ski holiday is often booked for a family celebration such as an anniversary, Christmas or even a wedding. What are your top 3 celebration wines?
Always NV Pol Roger Brut White Foil, it’s a staple at family celebrations. Creamy and delicious.
For white, something really special, like a bottle or two of 2022 Macon-Verze Domaine Leflaive. It punches way above its weight.
For red, this is a wine to behold, a Rioja from CVNE which is aged and ready to go.
Many Alpine resorts are just as popular in summer months for cyclists, hikers and people looking for an alternative to the traditional beach holiday. Which wines would you recommend for summer drinking?
Ben would grab a bottle of 2022 Chablis Laurent Tribut, This is crisp and mineral – one for lovers of classic Chablis.
Meanwhile, I love a glass of rosé in the summer, we’re just taken delivery of Selladore rosé from Domaine st Jean de Villecroze, it’s a firm summer favourite in our house, especially in large format and we are now the UK distributors of this wine, which we are very excited about.
If you prefer a red wine then a Pinot Noir is always great during the warmer months, the Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir from Chile is utterly delicious. Fragrant with summer fruits and a little crisp acidity which lends an easy-drinking juiciness to the wine.
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