MAYACAMAS VINEYARDS Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Not much has changed by way of production since Bob Travers started the Mayacamas estate in the early 1940s. The fruit is handpicked early, often in early September - abvs usually end up between 13 and 14 percent to preserve natural, altitude derived acidities. Fermentations occur predominantly in open-top cement vessels which were built in the 1950s, again to preserve acidities and vibrant fruit character. Extended ageing occurs exclusively in neutral oak some as old as 100 years typically for three years which allows the vineyard's expression to shine through the powerful fruit profile, while also minimising oxygenation and helping to maintain the powerful and tight tannin structure Mayacamas is so famous for. The wines then usually spend a further two years in bottle before it is ready to be released to the market. Mayacamas make wines that lie in stark contrast to the more prevalent rich, heavily oaked, high in abv, bombastic wines that are common in the Napa Valley.

CHATEAU PAVIE, Les Aromes de Pavie(second wine by Pavie), St-Emilion A Merlot-dominant blend featuring Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is among Bordeaux’s best second wines. Introduced in 2005 by Pavie’s winemaker, Gérard Perse, Les Aromes de Pavie inherits four hectares of vineyard from the château’s grand vin. Made with the same care and aged on 50% new French oak, Les Aromes comes with all the elegance of the flagship: a rich, full-bodied drop. It’ll easily age well over 20 years, but give it 5 in the bottle at the very least.

Penfolds Bin 407 began life back in 1993 with the release of the 1990 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon. Created as a result of the availability of high quality Cabernet fruit, Bin 407 is inspired by its older brother, Bin 707. Not only offering varietal definition, but also approachability, structure and depth of flavour. The Bin 407 highlights the Penfolds approach to multi-region, multi-vineyard blending to create a Cabernet that rewards the drinker in both early and later years.

Penfolds' Block 42 vineyard is one of the most historic Cabernet vineyards in the world. Planted only 30 years after the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Block 42 has the oldest plantings in the world that have continuously produced Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique history is harnessed by Peter Gago in the 2004 Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet that has produced a beautifully aromatic, perfectly balanced and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit simply explodes across the palate, giving tremendous depth and length of flavour. While young, plush and full-bodied today, the Block 42 has many years of ageing ahead of it and will be comfortable in your cellar well into the 2020s.

HENSCHKE Marble Angel Vineyard Cabernet, Barossa Valley

Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon combines with South Australian cabernet for a multi-regional blend Max Schubert could only dream of. Matured in French and American oak, this release shows a dark fruit intensity with notes of black pepper and coffee liqueur.