With one of the longest and most pedigreed histories in the Medoc region, Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases has passed through the hands of some of Frances most notable and wealthiest noble families, culminating in the Las Cases family - the final royal family to hold title to the Chateau. Up until the French Revolution, after which large portions of it were sold off, it was one of the largest vineyards in Bordeaux. Today, the estate remains family owned by the Delons, of which brother Jean Hubert and sister Genevieve manage proceedings. Their second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases, is a relative newcomer, only having been released for the first time in 2009. The 2016 vintage has been praised for its traditional style and light, nimble palate.

This wine shows the style of the vintage and quite likely the impact of the small crop. In such years, Cabernet Sauvignon in particular, has a complex but somewhat subdued nose, where the wine hints of the underlying power and complexity but takes years to reveal its true colours. So here we see smouldering red currant, black currant and mulberry, with a floral, violet lift, sitting over cedar and tar. On the palate there is concentration and length - dark fruits combining with firm tannin and leather and tarry notes.

A perfect marriage of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon fruits, this is a modern Australian style of red wine. The Cabernet gives the wine structure and length, while the Shiraz imparts it deep plum fruit sweetness, along with dark berry and chocolate flavours. This is a nice and well rounded drink.

MCHENRY HOHNEN Rolling Stone Cabernet Malbec Petit Verdot, Margaret River

Umamu create exquisite handcrafted wines. Each bottle is deliberately and meticulously created: from the delicate balance tasted within each glass, to the small touches of family handwriting and messages on our labels. Our philosophy has always been to give our wines time to develop in the bottle before release, a rarity in today’s market. Enjoying wines when they are ready to drink, rather than straight after bottling, when the wine has had time to develop and balance up in the bottle with no screaming parts.

Umamu create exquisite handcrafted wines. Each bottle is deliberately and meticulously created: from the delicate balance tasted within each glass, to the small touches of family handwriting and messages on our labels. Their philosophy has always been to give our wines time to age in the bottle before release, a rarity in today’s market. Our philosophy has always been to give our wines time to develop in the bottle before release, a rarity in today’s market. Enjoying wines when they are ready to drink, rather than straight after bottling, when the wine has had time to develop and balance up in the bottle with no screaming parts. Our 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a prime example of a Margaret River cabernet. With fine tannis and a hint of oak, the aging process has allowedblackcurrants and winter berries fruit to come forward with length.

A fine and quite flinty modern expression of Margaret River Chardonnay. Finer and leaner it might be in some ways, but the unmistakable power and persistence of the region still triumphs. Complex mealy grapefruit and roasted nut characters on the nose, and a deep and richly intense palate power through to the finish.