AZIENDA AGRICOLA SORDO GIOVANNI Parussi, Barolo DOCG

AZIENDA AGRICOLA CASCINA PUGNANE Pugnane , Barolo DOCG

Shiraz By Farr is one of Victoria's premier cool-climate Shiraz's, made by the iconic Geelong winemaker, Gary Farr. The nose is incredibly complex showing notes of red and black fruits, spice, black pepper and iodine. In the mouth the wine is incredibly fresh. Wonderfully braced fruit and fine framing tannins and an outstanding length.

The Estate produces just 900 cases of this succulent, dark cherry and anise-scented Barbaresco. Like all of the Rocca family's Barbaresco, this is a single cru wine. It hails from a south facing, single site in a cru called Montersino (in the Treiso commune). One day it may well be labelled according to its cru. The altitude here is 310 metres and the soil is a mixture of clay and limestone. It's 100 per cent Nebbiolo of course, from another super vintage, and matured exclusively in large, 20 hectolitre, Austrian coopered Botti for two years. Succulent, pure and meticulously crafted, there is a wonderful core of dark cherry, lavender and tobacco scented fruit and fine structure to balance the fleshy texture. Nebbiolo in all its atmospheric glory.

Barossa Valley identity, Kym Teusner, harnesses the fruit weight and concentration of old vine Mataro with expert hands here with the Righteous Mataro. The fruit was sourced from the 'fruit salad' vineyard planted in the 1930s and consists mostly of Grenache, but if you look closely, every fourth vine is a quirky Mataro vine! Wonderful layers of spice over dense blue and black fruits pave the way for a finish that is utterly long and sublime.

Although this is elegant and seamless by Bandol's standards, there is plenty of density with dark cherry fruit, prune, anise and peppercorn spice. Layered and intricate, a great example of Bandol (and a benchmark Mourvdre) that stylishly brings together generosity and freshness.