Casa Castillo El Molar Garnacha, Jumilla Casa Castillo El Molar Garnacha Jumilla is borne of sandy clay and gravel, differentiating itself from the pack by virtue of its Garnacha makeup. Hand-harvested and fermented wild in concrete, with a finishing of 14 months in assorted large format French wood. With consistent scores in the mid-90s across vintages from the Wine Advocate and James Suckling, this rich wine bares a striking resemblance to the brawn, core of kirsch, tapenade accents and long-limbed garrigue-soaked tannins of fine Châteauneuf du Pape, at a fraction of the price. It is now wonder, as the fragmented rocky soils are virtually interchangeable.

Casa Castillo Pie Franco Monastrell, Jumilla Casa Castillo Pie Franco Monastrell is hewn of concentrated fruit from 75 year vines, planted on calcareous soils of sand and clay, hand-picked and fermented in stone lagars where extraction is achieved by foot treading, with whole-bunches intact. Élévage takes place in neutral 500L French demi-muids. A wine that consistently scores in the high 90s, this received a 96 in the Wine Advocate and 95 from Vinous in accordance with its reputation as one of Spains finest wines and arguably, the worlds greatest example of Monastrell/Mourvèdre/Mataro. The fruit is of a darker persuasion, with scents of black rock, cinder, clove and rosemary to accompany. As always, despite the capacious nature of the wine, there is an uncanny stream of pungent mineral freshness, beautifully articulated tannins and the breadth of larger format wood, tucking in the seams and towing the flavours long.

Head Wilton Hill Shiraz Barossa Ranges Wilton Hill is comprised of an old vine vineyard, perched atop the Barossa Ranges as it encroaches on the Eden Valley. The soil, a complex polyglot of sandy loams, limestone and ferrous ironstone over a substrata of mottled quartz. The geology is arguably more intrinsic to the makeup of the wine than the variety, or maker Alex Heads deft hand. This is top- drawer Barossa Grand Cru speaking. Make no mistake! Think a swirl of dark fruits, aromas of iodine, lilac and violet, punctuated with a swab of tapenade-encrusted tannins. Dig deeper and there are scents of smoked meats, thyme, lavender and mocha, trailing across a peppery trail of freshness that tows this full-bodied wine long. Sumptuous gear that is ready for an aggressive decant, or extended time in the cellar.

HARRISON WINES Fleur De La Lune Grenache, Barossa Valley