If Pinot Noir could replace blood, Neil Prentice would have it running through his veins. He is absolutely obsessed with the stuff. No fertilizers have ever been used. The vines have never been irrigated.

BODEGAS ALTO MONCAYO Garnacha, Campo de Borja Winemaker: Chris Ringland.

Like the men and women of the Barrot family, Domaine La Barroche is many-faceted and generous. It epitomises the balance, authenticity, and flamboyant character of Châteauneuf-du-Pape a brilliant blend of hundred year old Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault from the estate's finest terroirs. This is an unique, elegant, silky and opulent wine that invariably expresses its distinctive qualities. It also shows great class thanks to its deep colour, floral bouquet, freshness, cocoa flavours and delicate after-taste.

Château Tanunda Chorus GSM has lifted aromas of blackberry, black cherry and raspberry area accompanied by spicy, dark berry fruits and white pepper on the palate. The finish is long with fine-grained tannins from two years' maturation in a combination of new and seasoned American and French oak barrels. Although drinking well now the wine will benefit from medium-term cellaring.

For this Grenache blend, grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, followed by a third sorting at the winery. Gentle crushing and selective destemming, followed by 25-40 days' traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation. A classic red Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, very fine and elegant. The best vintages will age for 25 years and more.

Powerful , densely structured and complex, M.Chapoutiers Barbe Rac Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a single vineyard wine produced entirely from Grenache. The fruit is sourced from vines averaging 90 years of age, located in the south of the appellation. The carefully selected grapes are hand harvested, entirely de-stemmed and vinified in concrete tanks. Maturation takes place for 12 months in oak, followed by a further 12 months in bottle prior to release.

Chateau de Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin is a monumental wine, made only in top vintages. The wine was first produced in 1989 as a tribute to Jacques Perrin, who died in 1978. Atypical for Chateauneuf-du Pape, the Hommage is a Mourvèdre dominant blend sourced from low-yielding old vines. Deeply concentrated and powerful, it possesses immense capacity to age.

Spinifex Esprit is a Grenache Mataro blend that has a vibrant, youthful and fresh palate driven by a tangy herb infused line of red fruit red currant, sour red plum, pomegranate and marjoram that gains warmth and depth turning to tobacco, game, cedar and darker fruit to close. Pulpy, fleshy fruit is drawn long with plum skin acids and stony tannins.

Gigondas always seems to play the little-brother role to Chateauneuf du Pape, but these wines can be very, very good. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre vinified in the purest tradition, this wine is opulent now and will age well for the next 8 or 10 years.