DOMAINE ARMAND ROUSSEAU Clos des Ruchottes Monopole, Ruchottes-Chambertin

Now this half bottle is handy if you wish to toast yourself. Pol Roger is one of the world's power house champagne houses. Famously quoted by the likes of Winston Churchill and the champagne of choice for Her Majesty the Queen. An equal blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, with addition of 20% reserve wines. It is impressively fresh and vivacious with more depth than most aperitif styles.

Elegant and aristocratic kaleidoscope of aromas, an abundance of fruit flavours, blackberry, mulberry and blueberry with supporting complexity of mint, eucalypt, rhubarb, Turkish delight and cinnamon. The palate offers a rich tapestry of enjoyment and fulfilment of flavours of raspberry, strawberry and boysenberry to name a few. Made by Jim Barry.

Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their +share+ over the past century. With a history dating back to 1851, Seppelt's pioneered fortified winemaking in Australia and the genious and engenuity of Benno Seppelt is plain for all to see. The port itself is sweet and viscous showing burnt toffee, raisin fruit cake and dark chocolate. An extremely complex wine with a finish of remarkable intensity enhanced by acidity and alcohol giving considerable flavour length. A perfect wine.

The harvest began very early, on the 5th September, and lasted 9 weeks. This made is possible to reflect all the diversity of a year in which both flowering and veraison were very spread out. Picking began especially early at Yquem in 2014. Some 25% of the crop was brought in before the 15th of September, providing a rare and precious background of acidity.

Château Mouton Rothschild is the work of one man, the legendary Baron Philippe, who is solely responsible for this giant of Bordeaux. Taking charge in 1923 until his death in 1988, he created something the world will always be in debt for. He also started the tradition of getting an artist to design a label for every vintage, a tradition that continues to this day. In 2009, the wine almost transcends perfection. A quite low alcohol percentage given the ripeness of the fruit, the bouquet is reminiscent of cigar box and graphite with violets and cassis playing a part. The palate is both restrained and concentrated, a impressive result indeed. The structure of the wine is hidden somewhat by the exuberant fruit, yet it is that structure that will see this extraordinary wine cellar for the good part of half a century!