From the oldest winemaking family in Argentina, Nicolas Catena was a pioneer for high-altitude wine growing. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec is an excellent example of ageable Argentinian wine. Deep, concentrated, bramble and blackcurrant fruit dominate.

Duckhorn in Napa Valley is always synonymous with quality. Their Cabernet always receives critical acclaim as it's well balanced and full bodied without being overly oaked.

Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine blend made from a selection of five Bordeaux grape varieties. The wine is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. This wine has a deep ruby color and aromas of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, and spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied, with flavors of ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, and espresso. The tannins are firm and well-structured, providing excellent balance to the fruit flavors. The wine has a long, lingering finish, with a touch of oak and spice. It is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, offering power, elegance, and complexity. 

The Colpetrone Antica Chiusina Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a full-bodied red wine that offers intense aromas of dark fruit, leather, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and complex with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and plum, as well as notes of tobacco and oak. The tannins are firm yet well integrated, providing structure and balance to the wine. This is a wine that can be enjoyed now, but will also age beautifully over the next several years.

We don’t often think about Nebbiolo outside of Barolo or Barbaresco, but the northern region of Gattinara is a quality region growing points-worthy Spanna, as it is known here. Elegant with aromas and flavours of dried roses, raspberry jam and hints of toasted nuts and vanilla. If you’ve never tried Nebbiolo from Northern Piemonte, this is a good place to start. 

The 2019 bottling marks the 20th anniversary of the production of Oreno. This “Super Tuscan” of Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot are blended beautifully with aromas and flavours of black fruit, exotic spice, cured tobacco and new leather.

It’s not often thought of for Champagne to be “vintage”, but these make for some of the best! This traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier are knitted together seamlessly with flavours of lemon, toast, green apple, and a smoky mineral characteristic.

Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, all sourced from a single vintage. The wine is aged for at least seven years in the cellars, which gives it a rich and complex character. It has aromas of ripe fruit, such as peach, apricot, and pineapple, as well as notes of vanilla, toast, and honey. On the palate, it is full-bodied and creamy, with flavors of fruit, brioche, and almond, and a long and elegant finish. The wine has a balanced acidity, which makes it suitable for pairing with a variety of dishes, such as seafood, poultry, or light pasta dishes. Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage has received positive reviews from various wine critics, such as Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, and it is considered one of the best Champagnes in its price range.

After a classic winter, spring settled down with warm températures, but fabulous weather in April slowed down the vines’ evolution. May was rainy and was followed by a warm summer with heat waves. However, a few thunderstorm épisodes brought enough rain to allow the maturation of the grapes to continue. The harvest started in early September with an excellent sanitary level of the grapes. Vinification: whole bunch fermentation for approximately two weeks; the wines are then aged in our XVth century cellar for a period between 14 and 18 months—moderate use of new oak.

Tasting: Dark ruby colour. Delicate floral fragrances (violet) mixed with red berries and plum aromas with a hint of vanilla. Well-balanced and complex. Dense and velvety texture. Well-integrated tannins. Long aftertaste. GUIDE BETTANE & DESSEAUVE 2020 : Score 16/20 - JANCIS ROBINSON : 16/20 - BURGHOUND : Score 88-91/100

Food pairing: Game (pheasant), poultry and all the classic cheeses (Epoisses, Langres).

Château des Quarts was created in 2012 through a joint partnership between two old friends, Dominique Lafon and Olivier Merlin.

For over a decade, Olivier had tasked himself with sourcing and making wine from the best sites within Pouilly-Fuissé and bottling them under his own label. After buying grapes from Clos des Quarts for several vintages, he was first approached with the news that it was for sale. Having been already convinced of the terroir's integrity he jumped on the opportunity.

The vineyard is located in Chaintré, the southernmost village of Pouilly-Fuissé. At just over 2 hectares, the oldest vines are almost a century old and are planted on clay-limestone soils.

Pairs well with: Grilled chicken, Summer salad and Turkey

After two years of drought, 2013 proved to be an excellent vintage with expressive black and red fruit in this 100% Tempranillo.

Producer tasting notes: "Colour: Medium-high layer, with red background. Nose: Very good intensity with notes of black and red fruit that are interspersed. It is very expressive, with the life and freshness of the coldest vintages as it is the case of 2013. Depth is transformed into expressiveness and more aerial character marked by a lighter fruit. Palate: Medium volume, where black and red fruits appear alternately. Sensation of herbs and leaves in the forest, typical of the Atlantic vintages. Very fresh, aerial and enveloping at the same time. Tannins are fine and the fruit endures in the aftertaste with a magnificent sensation of freshness." - Bodegas Roda

With 16 months in cask, the Ribera del Duero offers excellent wines made from Tempranillo. Elegant and refined, this will age well- another 15 years easily.

Winemaker Tasting Notes: 

Colour: It is very intense, almost impenetrable, with a very dark background and a deep red rim.

Nose: When you bring it closer to the nose, many layers appear superimposed. The black fruits stand out with the memory of perfectly ripe plums and blackberries. It has a large mineral component that gives depth to the wine with memories of the smell of Chinese ink. The smell of the humid earth and the aromatic herbs in the shade of the pines appeared. There is a huge balance in which oak accompanies in the distance.Delicate, long, suggestive and intense at the same time and topped with menthol notes of black cocoa.

Taste: Voluminous and full. With black fruit and cocoa, but also freshness. It remembers the landscape of the pine forest of La Horra with freshness after the rain.The tannins are of great quality and forge a feeling of power and elegance at the same time, being voluminous and aerial. A set of fruit, minerality, volume, length and freshness that forms a huge wine.

Excellent to have with meat dishes.

If you're looking for an alternative to the expensive Grange, try Bin 407. Still muscular with full flavours of blackcurrant, cedar, dark chocolate, and pepper, it's that big Australian style one might be looking for.

Not just Barolo, but single vineyard Barolo which makes these wines even more special. The typical flavours of roses and dried cherries is evident in this powerful Nebbiolo and of course these wines will age for decades, into 2040. On the nose, the wine exhibits rich, intense aromas of red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, alongside hints of licorice, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, it is full-bodied with firm tannins, a great structure, and a long, persistent finish. The wine has a complex flavor profile that includes dark berries, plums, and black pepper, with subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The oak aging process adds a layer of complexity and depth to the wine, while the high acidity gives it a vibrant freshness. This is a well-balanced wine that showcases the elegance and power of the Barolo region. It can be enjoyed now or aged for several years to come.