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ARPEPE Sassella Stella Retica , Valtellina, Valtellina

Boroli Barolo Classico is the estate’s benchmark Barolo, a traditional blend of their best Nebbiolo vineyards in Castiglione Falletto, capturing the commune’s mix of structure and fragrance in one bottle. East-, west- and south-west-facing clay-limestone parcels with touches of sand are harvested by hand in mid-October, then divided into micro-parcels so each plot is fermented and aged separately before blending. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel with 10–12 days on skins and a further 20–25 days of submerged-cap maceration, followed by at least 18 months in large Slavonian oak and a year in bottle before release, giving a supple but ageworthy frame. In the glass, recent vintages show bright red colour, scents of fresh wild berries, rose, sweet liquorice and gentle spice, with velvety tannins, good line and a harmonious, savoury finish – a classic, “all-round” Barolo that drinks well in its first decade yet has the stuffing to go further in a good cellar.

Boroli Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto is a village Barolo drawn entirely from the family’s own vineyards in the heart of the appellation, a commune long prized for its balance of structure and perfume. East-, west- and south-west-facing Nebbiolo on clay-limestone soils with touches of sand are harvested by hand around mid-October, then broken down into micro-parcels so that each plot and ripeness band is picked, fermented and aged separately before blending. Fermentation and submerged-cap maceration in stainless steel can run to 30 days, followed by at least 18 months in large oak and further bottle ageing, giving a Barolo that marries supple tannins with depth and freshness rather than sheer power. In the glass, recent vintages are noted for aromas of cherry and raspberry, dried rose, herbs and subtle spice, with medium-bodied, savoury palates and fine, chalk-edged tannins, making this a classic, village-marked Barolo that drinks well from release but is built to evolve over the next decade and beyond.

In 1904 a co-operative winery called Ai Vino Delle Langhe was founded and a young man who worked there was Alfred Prunotto. Prunotto took over the estate in 1922, giving it his own name and today it is run under the umbrella of the famous Marchesi Antinori family. Located in Alba the estate tends around 50 hectares of vineyards throughout the Langhe and Monferrato. This Nebbiolo is garnet red in colour with ample and complex aromas of violets and berry fruit, full and velvety in flavour and very balanced. Its structure and body make it an ideal match for meat and game dishes and for cheese.

Oakridge 864 Pinot Noir is a true single vineyard expression of Pinot Noir by one of the Yarra Valley's premier producers. A nose of dark cherry and plum greets you followed by a palate that is both concentrated and dense. Fruit flavours of framboise, dark cherry and forest floor carry off a truly remarkable Pinot.

John Duval, famously known as the craftsman of the mighty Penfolds Grange, continues to further forge his reputation as a maker of great Shiraz. 'Eligo' from the latin: 'To pick out, select or choose or choose the best' is the flagship wine of the John Duval stable with its main aim to produce a Shiraz with structure and an elegant expression of its terrior. Multi layered with lashes of dark berry fruit, the wine is intense yet still quite restrained. An excellent Barossan Shiraz!

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.

This is Ciabot Berton's signature wine and a blend of 3 great Cru vineyards, creating a complex alluring wine with aromas of leather, tar and roses. The palate is powerful with rich dark fruit. Typical of the 2007 vintage, it is a Barolo that is stunning now due to its elegance, but will continue to cellar very well.