Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla Casa Castillo Jumilla is hand-picked and fermented wild in tank, before spending eight to nine months in larger format, neutral French oak. Think pulpy blueberry, raspberry bon bon, violet, smoked meats and a twine of sage-brushed tannins, corralling the flavours into a long corridor across the palate. The wine is full-bodied, to be sure. Yet the gentle approach to extraction and employment of a substantial percentage of whole berries in the mix ensures a lightness of touch, a mid-weighted feel and the sense of the fruit popping through the mouth. Versatile at the table, this is an everyday wine for the most assiduous drinker to the layperson.

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.

DOMAINE MICHELE & PATRICE RION Clos des Argillieres, 1er Cru , Nuits-St-Georges

Grenache in all its glory. Red fruits proudly lead the charge: raspberries, cranberries and pomegranate. Fragrant coulis on a summer berry pudding. Ferric notes of steel wool and cordite allude to the iron-rich clay soil upon which the vines prosper in the Barossa Valley. Charcuterie aromas of Jamón ibérico and Mojama dry cured tuna notes add an interesting slightly saline nuance. Rubbed olive leaves, sumac spice and ginger peel aromas round out a very enticing nose. Disclaimer: Product may have a cork or screwcap closure