Colour: Cherry. Nose: sweet spices, scrubland, ripe fruit. Palate: spicy, balsamic, good acidity, fresh.

Some attractive citrus elements are present, but bruised-apple notes suggest a certain level of oxidation, and the flavors fall away quickly on the finish.

The Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru La Toppe au Vert presents vivid red cherries and black plums on the nose, displaying focus alongside refinement and poise. With time in the glass, blue fruits emerge, adding depth to the aroma profile. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with fine tannins, initially displaying a subtle ferrous character. There's a fine grip in the mouth, with chalky tannins on the finish that provide a long and satisfying conclusion.

Plush and softly textured, this modern expression of Brunello boasts generous tones of black fruit, cherry, tobacco, leather and cola with smooth, silky tannins. You could age this wine many more years, or drink it sooner thanks to the inherent softness here.

The nose is a light lunch on a rocky beach, where the dusty stones contrast with the sanguinity of bresaola and the richness of sweet chili jam. The jam spreads onto the palate, but the meatiness doesn't go anywhere either, before a crackle of black pepper sets up a lingering finish.

This wood-aged wine is still full of its ripe, jammy fruits. They combine well with the wood aging and the rich dried fruits and dense texture. The wine, showing plenty of black fruit, is ready to drink. Roger Voss

An accomplished blend packed with appealing flavors from Miyagikyo and Yoichi Distilleries. Honey, baked lemon, vanilla essence, brioche, golden syrup, and spring tree blossom aromas, with hints of butterscotch and caramel. Smooth, rich, and rounded, this has toffee, chocolate, red berry fruit, plum, vanilla pod, a touch of oak char, and clipped spices. A flash of peat smoke on the finish, with flavors of burnt sugar, baked fruits, and spices.

Tasting Notes describe this as a crisp, intricate, and dry wine, delivering fresh notes of Granny Smith apples, honey, and lime, characterizing it as a youthful white wine with a notable complexity. This is Oddbird's sparkling chardonnay, a wine that has been liberated from alcohol, underscoring Oddbird's commitment to selecting premium grapes to maintain the distinctive taste and quality of their offerings. The Oddbird Blanc de Blancs, made entirely from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the prestigious vineyards of Languedoc, stands out for its natural purity. Free from additives, artificial colors, or aromas, it's crafted as nature intended. The wine is matured for up to 12 months and undergoes a unique, patented process to remove alcohol while preserving its essential flavors and aromas.

Scotland has hundreds of islands, many of them familiar to scotch lovers, but the one known as Arran has flown beneath the radar. This sleeper single malt has a sublime aroma of bread dough that barely hints at the lively flavors that await in the glass, which include freshly shelled almonds, sweet berries, and clover honey, plus a toasty finish with a lovely (if not overly long) chocolate note. A balanced, elegant, and flavorful whisky that’s lively on the palate, and a true bargain

The somewhat nondescript bouquet is neutral and mildly grainy with some mild aromas of spice and ripe yellow fruit. Palate entry is meek and softly sweet; things improve at midpalate as flavors of charcoal, maple and sugar syrup emerge. Finishes well in a sweet grain manner.

This Sangiovese wine brings out the grape's most profound spectrum of aromas. The selection process begins directly in the vineyard, where only the finest bunches are chosen. These are then subjected to an extended drying process and meticulous vinification, resulting in a Sangiovese that is rich, bold, and brimming with flavors.

This rum blended with coconut extract makes one tasty piña colada shortcut. It's clear, quite sweet and palate-coating like a liqueur, with bold coconut flavor.

Mildly smoky aromas entwine with vanilla. The bold palate opens with cigar wrapper, leather and maple, while a splash of water releases tinges of burnt orange peel, espresso and unsweetened chocolate. Nuanced oak and smoke wind into the mouthwatering, puckery finish.

The nose is fruity and offers a slight freshness as well as a small crunchiness. It reveals notes of apple, crunchy peach and small notes of white flowers associated with touches of citrus, exotic fruits as well as slight hints of gunflint. The palate is fruity, juicy, well-balanced and offers a beautiful acid frame, a slight roundness, a good definition, a very fine fleshiness, suavity as well as a slight unctuosity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy peach, fleshy / juicy apple and small notes of lemon, tangerine associated with slight touches of zest, gunflint and discreet hints of vanilla.

This entry-level Gibson’s is cut from the same fine cloth as the exquisite Gibson’s 18 and their lavishly flavorful 12 year old. Immediately, rum and butter laced with spirit and hot pepper seep into sweet and sizzling rye spices. Then light berry-ish notes turn to Concord grapes, pear juice, and soft yellow apples, as bitter walnut skins counter rich maple ice cream. A slight waxiness lends a satisfying weight.

Elegant, light and pretty. This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish.

The first single malt in the world aged exclusively in French Limousin Oak and Cognac casks, Brenne Estate Cask is twice-distilled in a copper alembic still, and aged for a minimum of six years. The whisky has perfumed fruit and French patisserie aromas with creamy and complex sugar notes of rich creme brûlée and burnt caramel. On the palate: notes of banana, tropical fruits, and warm spices like cinnamon and clove.

Miner’s Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc that spent 21 months in 60% new French oak without being overly impacted by the wood. Scents of crushed stone, pencil shavings, cherries and sage mark the nose of this full-bodied effort, which comes across as tannic and even a bit rugged

Bordering on the presitigious Vosne-Romanee appellation, pinot noir from Nuits-Saint-Georges offers both power and elegance in the glass. The deep clay-limestone soil creates an elegant, velvety and fresh wine with aniseed aromas and an explosion of juicy red fruits on the long and intense palate.

Nose: Blackberry, black cherry, cassis, cedar, tobacco, vanilla
Taste: Dark fruit, plum, blackcurrant, chocolate, spice
Palate: Full-bodied, velvety tannins, balanced acidity, long finish

Nose: Intense aromas of ripe red berries, cherries, and plums, with hints of dried herbs and spices.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of blackberries, black cherries, and dark chocolate. Subtle notes of tobacco and leather add complexity.

Palate: Well-structured with velvety tannins and a long, persistent finish. Balanced acidity and a touch of minerality contribute to the overall elegance of the wine.

Nose: Rich cherry aroma with hints of vanilla and oak.
Taste: Smooth and velvety, with notes of ripe cherries, caramel, and dark chocolate.
Palate: Balanced and complex, with a lingering finish of cherry and toasted oak.

Nose: Intense aromas of ripe blackberries, dried cherries, and plums, with hints of tobacco and leather.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dark chocolate, blackcurrants, and figs, complemented by notes of vanilla and spices.

Palate: Velvety smooth tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish of dried fruits and toasted oak.

This crisp, fruity wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay in Varnier Fannière's Côte des Blancs vineyards. It has a citrus flavor, with touches of green plum and quince, and a tight, mineral character. Ideally, this should be aged for a year, but it is drinkable now.

A bundle of wood—sawdust, pine forest, and wood spice—jumpstart the nose, though sweeter aromas of bundt cake, shea butter, malted milk balls, and chocolate milk soon join the fray. More chocolate lies on the heavenly palate, which sings with raspberry Ghirardelli squares, cocoa powder, Raisinets, mocha latte, and grape jelly. The finish keeps a good thing going: chocolate, fruit, and cinnamon spice linger on and on.

Made entirely from Sangiovese, this opens with enticing aromas of iris, black-skinned berry and Mediterranean herb. The structured, savory palate offers juicy wild cherry, star anise and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. Kerin O’Keefe

Each batch is a little bit different, this one leaning to sweet orchard fruits, nutty barley, and hot spicy rye. Butterscotch and vanilla on the nose translate well onto the palate. Brisk peppery spice underlies developing layers, adding another dimension of complexity to an already broad range of flavors. Hints of oak tannins on the finish remind us this was finished in Canadian wood.

Little is known about this tiny family winery, but the wines are spectacular and true to Sangiovese from Montalcino. With only 7ha purchased in 2000, winemaker Jessica Pellegrini is a rising star in the area making elegant wines that are organic. The 2015 vintage was excellent and with lovely cherry nib, balsamic and tomato leaf, it is a wine for the ages that you will want to drink again and again.