SHAFER VINEYARDS One Point Five Cabernet, Napa Valley

LE P'TIT DOMAINE Les Bois Blancs , Saumur-Champigny, Loire The fruit for this Les Bois Blancs Cabernet Franc is sourced from the chalk and clay terroir of Dampierre sur Loire. The vines are average 60 years old and farmed using certified organic practices with ploughing under and natural grass in the rows. The fruit is handpicked and fermentation is undertaken with Indigenous yeasts. The wine macerates in concrete tanks for 12 to 24 days with Malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks before being aged in demi-muid (two or three wines no new oak) for two years.

LE P'TIT DOMAINE Le Coup d'Douze , Saumur-Champigny, Loire The fruit for this Saumur Champigny is sourced from the chalk and clay terroir of three different villages: Dampierre, sur Loire, Varrains and Champigny. The vines are average 40 years old and farmed using certified organic practices with ploughing under and natural grass in the rows. The fruit is handpicked and fermentation is undertaken with Indigenous yeasts. The wine macerates in concrete tanks for 12 to 24 days with Malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks before being aged in concrete tanks for 4 to 6 months before filtering and bottling.

The synergy between region and variety is on full display here with this powerful Margaret River Cabernet from Allegiance Wines, which will continue to soften in the cellar.Mid garnet with a brick hue. Clean and lifted ripe berry fruit with integrated oak giving depth and complexity. Ripe, youthful and plush with integrated charry oak, rich cassis fruit and silken tannins on the well-balanced and persistent finish.

The formidable fortress depicted on the famed vanilla Latour label was built to withstand the Gironde pirate attacks of the 15th Century. And, truly, as well as the tower still stands, so does Latour and its consistent excellence regardless of vintage. Nominally Pauillac, this First Growth sits almost astride the border of St. Julien and its output as one would expect is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with 10 per cent awarded to both Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Any experience with Latour is to be savoured with patience this notoriously slow-developing wine requires at least a decade or twos development. But the reward for this patience is a fulsome melange of power, finesse, depth and tone.