Tucked away in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, next to Saint Emilion, is award winning Château de Colombe, a tiny estate much neglected until we took ownership in 2012. Now it’s being lavished with utmost care in the vineyard and the cellar. Our Head Winemaker, Haut-Brion-trained Jean-Marc Sauboua, quickly spotted the potential of its steep, south-facing slopes and limestone soils. Judging by the 11 Golds won over the last five vintages (two for 2020), he was spot on. 2020 has been unanimously declared as 'exceptional', its fruit deliciously ripe, which has made for a very much ‘drink me now’ style. Merlot with a little of both Cabernets and Malbec, aged a few months in barrel, this red is fruit-rich and supple. For now open early and decant.

Mouton Cadet Select, is the result of the selection from the best parcels of highest terroirs across the Bordeaux region. Created in 1930, by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton Cadet has become a standard-setter for Bordeaux wines in France and rapidly overseas. The nose initially reveals black cherry, very ripe red fruit notes, hints of mocha and spice. From a supple and voluptuous attack on attractive fruit, the mid-palate displays powerful flavours with forward red fruit, leading into a long and spicy finish.

Made from the top hill grapes. Single Vineyard to bottle. Sandy limestone soil, cool climate. Stone fruit flavours. Low yields. Vibrant cherry with spice and aromas of dark fruits.

Life is about connections, and Daniel is nothing if not a “people person”, we wanted this wine to reflect the everyday quality occasions where fun is had, friends are made and life happens. Peter Munro, St Hugo Chief Winemaker Plush, opulent and generous, a modern masterpiece of open and inviting fruit with a little hint of something more. Various parcels were created individually with the objective of blending these to form a synergistic whole. For this reason, many winemaking techniques were employed, including, cold soaking to ensure vibrant floral were present. Generally, parcels spent between 10-15 days on skins in a mixture of open fermenters and closed statics fermenters, reaching temperatures of 26-28°C, to ensure optimum flavour and tannins were extracted. All the resulting parcels were matured in oak for a short period to maintain their fresh vibrant nature. Good Spring rainfall then set the vines up well for what was to become a very mild and dry ripening season. With no significant rain, temperatures below average and only 3 days above 35°C in February and March, ideal ripening conditions were observed resulting in an extended ripening window; a wonderful vintage. Colour: Bright vibrant red. Taste: Fun, generous lively fresh red fruits dance on the palate with softness and approachability. Fine tannins emerge slowly but are controlled by the plush vibrant cherry fruit that lingers. Aroma: Raspberry, strawberry and spiced plums, with lifted violets to entice and an ever so slight hint of char that adds to the intrigue.

When it comes to Australian Merlot, Katnook is among the very best. Lovely plum dark berry and cedary cigar box characters slip seamlessly into a finish that seems everlasting. Aged for 22 months in French oak, the swathes of blackcurrant are a delight to the senses.

St Hugo Cabernet Shiraz displays a dark ruby red with purple hues. The bouquet of dark forest fruits such as plum, blueberry and cassis lead into a beautifully complex palate of blackcurrent, sweet plum and chalky tannins. There is a underlying savoury oak hint and a finish of lingering dark chocolate.

The trailblazers of the Adelaide Hills have created another outstanding wine. A superb expression of modern cool-climate Shiraz; Shaw & Smith is elegantly spicy and brimming with supple red-fruit flavours matched by fine tannins. An absolute ripper.

Everyone loves good Rioja. Now take a step up to Reserva level. This is from the 2012 vintage, officially classified as ‘very good’. It was aged for at least a year in barrel and two in bottle to produce a Rioja of perfect balance and depth. Pagos de Tahola comes from the Chavarri family – Francisco and daughter Ruth form a winning partnership with winemaker Miguel Lopez Nuñez. Their exemplary wines are based on exuberant fruit harvested from mature vines in some of Rioja’s highest vineyards then infused with the signature fragrance of quality French and US oak. Rich aromas of dried berries and vanilla, hallmark red berry and sweet spice flavours and silky texture – impressively smooth. Serve with Spanish style rice dishes or grilled meats.

Margaret River is an under appreciated region for Australian Shiraz, and it's hard to see why with Cape Mentelle's Shiraz showing a vibrant core of blueberry, mulberry and hints of raspberry. It is well balanced with cocoa and savoury oak. The palate yet, is fine, elegant and focussed, finishing with chalky and structural tannins.

From some of the earliest plantings of Shiraz in the Yarra Valley with vines dating back to 1969. Shiraz (96%) co-fermented with small parcels of Viognier, Marsanne and Mataro aged 12 to 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels produces a wine that is perfumed and feminine with the tannins and acidity as integral to the wine as the fruit. Proven to age for 25+ years, Yarra Yering Dry Red No 2 was the first Cote Rotie style blend made in Australia