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With a name like George Smith, you could be mistaken for thinking this vineyard was on the northern side of the 'channel', but alas, it resides in Pessac-Léognan in France's famed Bordeaux region. Bought by the Englishman in 1720, the wine still bears his name. The red wine that comes out of the estate is one of aromatics and spiciness and of recent times, more opulence and fruit weight.

Something of a d'Arenberg icon and "the best one yet" (Halliday), an elegantly packaged, triumphant 96pt century-old-vine Shiraz meets a trio of young, exotic & fragrant white Rhône varieties. (Although as the d'Arenberg site points out: "Some might joke that the old bloke is Chester, and the three young blondes are his daughters, the fifth generation who will carry on the d'Arenberg tradition. Each of these title characters are represented on the label as a cut out silhouette." ) As Marcus Ellis writes in The Halliday Companion, this iconic red is: "“From centurion vines crushed over 1% each of roussanne, viognier and marsanne. The cuvée name always sounds like the start of a joke going the wrong way, or at least for the zeitgeist. This does not go the wrong way, although it is also outside the zeitgeist. No matter – cancelling isn’t recommended… It’s loaded with flavour, roiling through red and black berries, plum, old cupboard spices, ground dark chocolate and dried herbs. For me, it’s the best one yet. 96pts” (Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion). In 1912, horse-fanatic Joseph Osborn sold his beloved stables and horses and bought the family the d'Arenberg estate in premium McLaren Vale. “d’Arenberg kept its 100+yo heritage while moving into the 21st century with flair. At last count, the d’Arenberg vineyards have 40 varieties planted, as well as more than 50 growers in McLaren Vale. Its considerable portfolio of richly robed red wines, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and grenache are the cornerstones. The iconic 5-level Cube cellar door offers a range of wine experiences including a restaurant and a wine sensory room” (James Halliday). The Osborns are co-founders of The First Families of Australian Wine. You'll always spot a d'Arenberg wine with its bold red stripe on the label.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste produce some of the best value wines in the Pauillac region, if not simply some of the best quality in general. Cabernet based reds are their staple and generally produce wines of a robust and masculine nature. In recent years the wines are close to rivalling the famed Pichons .

Chateau Beychevelle is a 4th Growth producer known for wines of intensity, depth and brooding nature. The 2010 continues this line but with a suppleness born of the vintage. The estate is set in the very south of the St-Julien appellation and can be some of the more powerful, concentrated wines of the region. Wines spend around 18 months in about 50% new oak for distinction and character. Though having historical ties to aristocracy of France, the current owners of this fine estate are Grands Mill?simesde France. Expect youthful drinking in the next five years and cellar up to 20.

Flor de Pingus is produced by the visionary Danish winemaker Peter Sisseck. Truffle-tobacco nose with sour cherry and fruitnnut tree aromatics, theres gamey beast-hide, and a purple storm raining minerals. Fine and radiant, with cool blue fruits - powder-tannined, nutty-inky-and-mineral in the mouth, this Tempranillo is Ribera del Duero from on high.