Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their

Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their +share+ over the past century. With a history dating back to 1851, Seppelt's pioneered fortified winemaking in Australia and the genious and engenuity of Benno Seppelt is plain for all to see. The port itself is sweet and viscous showing burnt toffee, raisin fruit cake and dark chocolate. An extremely complex wine with a finish of remarkable intensity enhanced by acidity and alcohol giving considerable flavour length. A perfect wine.

Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their +share+ over the past century. With a history dating back to 1851, Seppelt's pioneered fortified winemaking in Australia and the genious and engenuity of Benno Seppelt is plain for all to see. The port itself is sweet and viscous showing burnt toffee, raisin fruit cake and dark chocolate. An extremely complex wine with a finish of remarkable intensity enhanced by acidity and alcohol giving considerable flavour length. A perfect wine.

Christmas cake dark colour, with tinges of olive green at the rim. Thick and viscous in the glass. The aromas combine the impression of great age with tremendous vitality. Deep and brooding, reminiscent of curious characters such as cold tea, leather, tobacco and malt, coupled with pretty honeysuckle and barley sugar notes. Then the flavours, simultaneously almost impossibly sweet, tart and intense. It has rich malt, polished leather, bursts of raisined fruit, vibrant spice and earthy warmth. The initial sweetness gives way to mouth watering acidity and tactile graininess followed by a constantly developing finish that lasts for minutes. Almost overwhelming at first, even the tiniest sip is immensely satisfying and yet decadently moreish.

Château Guiraud is a large Sauternes property that is the only 1er Cru Classé, with the exception of its illustrious neighbour Château d`Yquem, that is located within the commune of Sauternes itself. Guiraud's 85 hectares of vineyards are located on one of the hills above the village of Sauternes. They are planted with 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are harvested in "tries" and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is then aged in oak casks (50% new) for 2 years. Guiraud is a very ambitious property with aspirations to produce a wine that will one day rival d`Yquem. The wines are astonishingly rich, especially in light of the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, and are undoubtedly amongst the finest wines being produced in Sauternes today.

After Yquem, Château Climens is regarded as the region's second best wine. Where Chateau d'Yquem is known for concentration and lusciousness, Climens strive for elegance, purity and freshness. For those looking to discover the best of Sauternes, this wine is a must.

Since 1984 Château Rieussec has been the Sauternes property of the Rothschild family, owners of Chateau Lafite. Rieussec, a neighbour of Chateau dYquem, had for generations been a leading producer and was ranked Premier Cru in 1855. Even so, under Rothschild ownership the property has been transformed, with new cellars and winery and far more rigorous grape selection (plus greater use of barrel fermentation and maturation) for the flagship Grand Vin. This has led to Rieussecs clear emergence as a rival to its famous neighbour. Chateau Rieussec is 90% Semillon, with minor contributions from Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The property is 110ha with 68ha under vine.

Incredibly opulent and rich, Château d'Yquem is widely considered the greatest sweet wine in the world. Currently owned by LVMH, this prestigious Sauternes estate is at the very top of the appellations classification, designated 1er Cru Classé Supérieur. Château dYquems 110 ha of vineyards are planted to 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The Grand Vin is produced from only fully botrytised fruit, carefully hand-harvested over successive passes by a team of highly skilled pickers. Yields are tiny, with each vine producing just one glass of wine. Fermentation takes place in 100% new oak barriques followed by up to 36 months maturation in oak. A wine of exceptional intensity and complexity, the best vintages of Château d'Yquem are capable of aging gracefully for well over 50 years.