With the estate itself dating back to 1772, and the logo taking inspiration from an ancient connection to the Knights Templars history in the Pomerol region, Chateau Gazin is steeped in both winemaking and national history. Sharing borders with Petrus and LEvangile, it more than holds its own among its distinguished peers! It has been in the possession of the same family since 1917, with the most recent descendent, Nicolas de Bailliencourt assuming control in 1988. Under de Bailliencourts watchful eye, the Chateau has abolished machine harvesting, making a return to hand-picking, and producing lower overall yields.

Chateau Batailley is a highly regarded 5th growth classified estate, located in the appellation of Pauillac on the left bank of Bordeaux. Owned by the Castéja family of négociants Borie-Manoux, it is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc. A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend with smaller components of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is a solid, classically structured mid-weight Pauillac displaying fresh notes of cassis and a backbone of fine-grained tannins.

Chateau Branaire-Ducru is a fourth growth (4ème Cru Classé) St-Julien estate, in the southern area of the appellation. The Grand Vin has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon between 80-85% in most years; one of the highest in the Médoc. The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a three week post fermentation maceration to build tannin structure before the wine is matured in 60-65% new French oak barriques for 16-20 months. Branaire-Ducru is renowned for producing classic claret wines that are elegant, ripe and well balanced.

Two words come to mind when you mention great Australian Merlot. Jim Irivne. Jim's Grand Merlot is the benchmark of complex and elegant Merlot in Australia and his Eden Valley vineyards are the perfect place to produce this iconic wine.

Moss Wood are not know for their Pinot Noir, however this is a fine a unique expression of region and variety. A fruit bomb of rich and integrated flavours of cherry, spice, charry oak and silky finesse on the finish. The flavours pop and linger in the mouth long after the wine has left it.

This wine is the flagship of Domaine A and is only produced in vintages of exceptionally high standard. The bouquet shows classic Cabernet varietal aromas and the palate is long and concentrated.

One of the Margaret River's more celebrated producers, Howard Park have forged a healthy cult following. The 2001 Cabernet Blend is a full bodied red that has developed liquorice and humidor characters beneath a layers of concentrated blackberry.

Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is vibrant and robust with great balance from the bouquet of ripe forest fruits and violet on the nose; A refined structure of tannins, oak use and the acidity on the palate; All are great indications of a wine that would benefit from careful bottle maturation for many years to come.