Château Grillet
Torbreck Les Amis Grenache
The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.
Chris Ringland Dry Grown Shiraz
The Chris Ringland Dry Grown Shiraz 2007 smells of mineral oil, leaf litter, stones and dust. Despite it's weight and density, it is lively and vivid. This is a very powerful Shiraz with great structure, it could be cellared for 20-30 years and mature gracefully.
Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac
Château Mouton Rothschild is the work of one man, the legendary Baron Philippe, who is solely responsible for this giant of Bordeaux. Taking charge in 1923 until his death in 1988, he created something the world will always be in debt for. He also started the tradition of getting an artist to design a label for every vintage, a tradition that continues to this day. In 2009, the wine almost transcends perfection. A quite low alcohol percentage given the ripeness of the fruit, the bouquet is reminiscent of cigar box and graphite with violets and cassis playing a part. The palate is both restrained and concentrated, a impressive result indeed. The structure of the wine is hidden somewhat by the exuberant fruit, yet it is that structure that will see this extraordinary wine cellar for the good part of half a century!
Château Cheval Blanc Saint-Émilion
Without a doubt one of Bordeaux's most famous vineyards, Cheval Blanc lies on the border of Pomerol and is also easily the most important estate in St-Émilion. Uniquely a blend dominated by Cabernet Franc, Cheval Blanc's wines have a powerful bouquet which is spicy and rich which is followed by fruit that is soft, mellow and liquorous. Matched only by Pétrus in the realm of vigour and concentration, Cheval's exuberance is not to be missed. With this latest release, the 2009, the wines are bordering on immortal. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, this super-smooth, velour textured and opulent red wine shows rambunctious flavours of raspberries, blueberries, liquorice and a smidge of menthol. Will be fascinating to watch this
Dal Forno Romano
Domaine Bruno Clair
Château Ausone St-Émilion 1er Grand Cru 'A'
Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Ausone took more time to settle in the glass than its peers, eventually deciding upon briary, violet and cassis scentsvery floral and Margaux-like in style, not powerful but insistent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, blackcurrant pastille mixed with cedar and a dash of spice, the wine finally revving up towards an intense and persistent finish that almost stains the mouth with its opulence. It is a gorgeous Saint Emilion from Pauline and Alain Vauthier. Tasted January 2016. - Rober Parker Jr
Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Grand Cru
One of the two Grand Crus from this iconic Domain, this one the wilder of the family. The soils here are on gentler slopes, (less well-drained, less quickly warmed by the sun) than their stablemates. This lends the Bonnes-Mares a distinctive individuality in the portfolio. It is more purple, rather than ruby, and takes its energy from structure, rather than minerality. It's "unconventional and free-thinking says vigneron Eric Bourgogne.
