A long, smooth and seamless, faintly rustic (in a positive sense) shiraz whose meaty presence of brambly blackberries, blackcurrants and blueberries is underpinned by a fine, slatey spine. Its meaty, spicy fragrance of vivacious dark fruits reveals notes of chocolatey oak, cracked pepper and a charming earthiness, while it finishes long and and licorice-like. It’s varietally correct, but has much in common with good pinot, and should flesh out over the medium term.
Scented with strawberries, raspberries and citrus rind lifted by a whiff of mineral and pink flowers, this round, generous grenache rose delivers a smooth, juicy and mouthfilling presence of pristine fruit wrapped in gentle, refreshing acids.
Composed of more than 85% from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards, it reveals a complex creamy bouquet of dried flowers, cracked yeast, bright aromas of strawberries, red cherries and stonefruit backed by nuances of mushrooms and dried straw. It’s long and richly flavoured, chewy and complex, unfolding an evolved and handsomely fruited palate that finishes fresh and mineral, finishing dry-ish with just a trace of sweetness.
A stylish, complex and layered Champagne whose smoky bouquet of brioche, citrus, nougat and nutmeal reveals a hint of mineral. It’s round and creamy, long and crackly, with a pleasing pinot noir-driven palate of small red fruits backed by developed meaty and yeasty notes extending towards a lingering finish of lemon and grapefruit nuances. It’s clean and almost savoury, bordering on dry.
Very classy, smooth and polished, this southern Rhone blend of roughly 30% each of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre is completed with 10% of carignan. While it retains its shape and style, it builds considerable richness with aeration, suggesting a long and rewarding cellar life. Scented with pristine dark flowers and berries, with notes of spice, roasting meats and earthiness, it’s long and unctuous, supported by a fine-grained spine of drying tannin before finishing with lingering suggestions of smoke, leather and tobacco.
A very classy and artfully balanced dessert wine with plenty of fruit and considerable botrytis influence. Scented with peach, melon, apricot and orange rind with a whiff of marzipan, it’s long and mouthfilling. Its viscous, creamy and richly fruited palate is backed by a hint of vanilla oak and wrapped in soft acids, finishing with suggestions of lemon and brioche.
Principally merlot, with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc playing violins nos. 2 and 3, this fine Bordeaux represents exceptional value. Merlot drives its almost bloody expression of dark plums, cherries and redcurrants, while there’s a typical regional presence of gravel and dried herbs. It’s ripe and dark, firm but fine-grained, finishing with genuine length and balance.
A classic Old World blend – in this case from merlot and cabernet franc. Its earthy, faintly leathery fragrance of dark cherries, redcurrants, blueberries and dark plums reveals cedary oak and a whiff of dried herbs. Supported by a fine but kernelly backbone, it’s long and elegant, with a charming depth of dark, luscious fruits, cigarbox and chocolatey oak. The longer it breathes, the more textural, chewy and savoury it becomes, but there’s never ever any shortage of fruit. Watch it evolve.
Scented with musky spices, rose petals, dark cherries and whiff of blueberry, it’s smooth, supple and gentle, with a powdery spine of loose-knit tannins that will build more firmness with time. Gentle, soft and dry, it finishes quite savoury in a southern Rhone-ish style, with a lingering core of fruit, mouthwatering acids and a suggestion of red licorice.
Western Victorian shiraz meets a little European style and elegance. A bouquet of cassis, mulberries, blueberries and dark plums knit with cedar/chocolate oak is laced with spice and cracked pepper. Medium to fullish in weight, it’s long and richly fruited, extending down a powdery spine towards a savoury and charmingly balanced finish of mouthwatering acids.
A spicy scent of white peach, apricot and tangerine lifted by musky, floral aromas precede a long and very restrained palate whose shape and restraint present an appealing alternative to the more oily and coarse expression of many viogniers. It’s savoury, dry and lively – a positive match for many sweet and spicy Asian dishes.
A luscious, mouthfilling white of medium weight whose deep, heady perfume suggests white peach, melon, honeysuckle plus a whiff of spice and dried herbs. It’s long and smooth, with a creamy core of fruit underpinned by a fine, powdery texture and finishing with a refreshing,frisky acidity.