Château Beauchene 'Premier Terroir' 2009, Côtes du Rhône
(Rhône, France)

From a vineyard immediately bordering the area of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's appellation, between the communes or Orange and Chateauneuf-du-Pape (all that separates this field and Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a main road.) Significantly it has the same Galet stones (large round potato sized pebbles) which give Chateauneuf its unique character as they absorb sunlight during the day and release heat at night bringing on the ripening of the grapes.

Masi 'Passo-Doble' Malbec / Corvina 2009
(Argentina)

Pliny noted that once the Corvina grape was grown outside of Italy it 'cried' and failed to thrive - the Romans obviously had never been to Argentina.

This is a highly experimental wine where the Malbec grapes are double fermented with a small proportion of dried Corvina making an almost Amarone styled wine that is soft enough to drink now, but has excellent aging potential.

Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2010
(McLaren Vale, Australia)

Dense purple colour and an almost black appearance. Dark chocolate, anise and allspice dominate the nose, supported by hints of French oak, cherries and coffee. A fresh and juicy mid-palate shrouds tannin and length. The wine has flavours of fresh cut plums and licorice with hints of blackberry and espresso. A long and lingering finish. Will cellar well for up to 10 years post vintage date.

Good colour; a very densley packed and rich wine
1st September, 2012. James Halliday.

This is smooth, velvety and appealing for its juicy blackberry and cherry flavours, zinging through the lively, wet earth - tinged finish.
31st July, 2012. Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator. 90 points

Les Coteaux Schisteaux Seguret 2009
(Rhone, France)

Paler ruby than some earlier vintages due to the extreme proportion of Grenache, the nose is however as explosive, plush and opulent as ever, layered with exotic spice, cracked black pepper and of course streaked with crushed vanillin. The palate is instantly appealing, polished and smooth on entry but steeped in depth and texture as the flavours swirl around, lengthen and delight. The lasting impression is satisfying but subtle and fine, not overpowering as perhaps in earlier vintages when they were first released, but a better, finer wine; of course time will be the ultimate judge.

2009 Vintage: "This rock-solid red is dark and muscular, but also perfumy, with an inviting aroma of warm ganache followed by slightly burly currant paste, melted licorice and cherry pâte de fruit flavors. A ganache note takes an encore on the finish. Drink now through 2015".
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator. 91 points.

Morgon, Domaine de Rochemure 2010
(Beaujolais)

This is, in fact, a single vineyard wine, coming from two hectares of the ‘Douby’ climat, which is situated on the very northern border of Morgon, before Fleurie. Two hectares sounds a reasonable size for France, with so many wines being produced from tiny plots much smaller than this. However, Douby is a veritable cliff of about 45 degrees and what vines there are cling on to the slope. The name Douby itself comes from the name of the stream flowing west-to-east along the bottom of the vineyard: this makes the vineyard itself almost a perfect southerly exposure. A suntrap, therefore, and this makes a typically robust Morgon, helped by the appellation’s famously volcanic soils – walk around Morgon and its quite common to pick up pieces of lava, quartz and porphyry.

Philippe Vermorel at Domaine de Rochemure is one of the region’s rising stars, gaining increasing amounts of press attention, and meticulously manages his 9 hectare estate. Low yields and traditional winemaking using careful applications of modern equipment are the byword here, with fantastically aromatic, fruit-driven yet structured wines being the result. This Morgon will certainly age and improve for up to five years plus.

Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenere 2010
(Chile)

Apalta is a small wine-growing sub-region of the Colchagua Valley in Chile.

A delicious wine with aromas of dark fruit, plum and lots of spice plus a little vanilla and smoke. Smoky fruit on the palate with dense spicy tannins and dollops of oak. Wonderful by the fireside and/or with the Sunday Roast...!

Chateau Montlau 2010
(Bordeaux, France)

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in one of the regions oldest vineyards. This is a full bodied red that boasts complex flavours.

"Red and black berries on the nose, light hint of bell peppers. Straightforward style, light-bodied, polished, clear fruit on the palate, fine youthful tannins, very light vegetal notes, delicate spice, well balanced, attractive to good finish." - The Wine Buyer

Saint-Jacques de Siran 2007
(Bordeaux, France)

Saint-Jacques de Siran comes from a small plot of vines bordering Chateau Siran in Margaux. Over the centuries, river alluvia have covered the gravel to give a clay soil that produces well-balanced wines deep in structure. This wine is a blend of mainly Cabernet and Merlot and is rich, full of blackcurrant flavours with gentle tannins supporting the structure.

Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva 2008
(Argentina)

A great example of Argentina's finest indigenous grape. Round and velvety, with flavours of ripe black fruit, violets, spices and tobacco. Long and complex on the finish, this is going to be a cracker with any full flavoured dish, including the classic food match - steak.

Zabu 'Il Passo' Nerello Mascalese 2011
(Sicily, Italy)

Traditionally, wines made from Nerello Mascalese are fairly pale and light bodied. This, however, is almost a mini-Amarone in style, in fact the grapes used in this wine lost about 30% of their weight drying naturally in the hot Sicilian sun. Deep coloured and intensely perfumed, this rounded, rich red has generous fruit on the palate, ripe, soft tannins but good structure and a chunky blackberry and spice fruit character. Good length on the long, warm finish.