Seductive nose dominated by raspberry, cherry and redcurrant aromas. Soft and smooth on th palate developing aromas of small red berries.

Shiny pink with pink petal reflections. Luminous in colour. The nose develops notes of mouth-watering strawberries and raspberries while also releasing light tones of exotic fruits. The palate has a well-balanced structure, full and fresh, with a lingering aromatic finish.

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!

At the very top of the Appellation. Black fruits with spicy ink notes on the nose The palate- the tannins are very powerful but also mellow, smokey notes pepper, highlights wonderfully the Syrah variety on granite soils.

This red from France is a great introduction to Bordeaux without the expensive price tag. A deep purple colour with hint of spice and vegetal aromas. The palate is supple and round with notes of plum, leather and spice with a rich, persistent finish.

The Guigal family owns vineyards in prime locations throughout the Appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage and Saint-Joseph from where their iconic wines are produced. The Guigal cellars are located in the centre of the town of Ampuis, on the right bank of the Rhône River, about 40 km south of Lyon. The Côtes du Rhône region stretches 200 km from Vienne in the north to Avignon in the south. Côtes-du-Rhône is the workhorse red of the southern Rhône Valley and is blended from up to 13 grape varieties, but usually leans heavily on grenache and syrah (Shiraz). Deep, bright, garnet-red in colour, it is a fresh, crisp wine with small soft fruit and spices. A full-bodied, elegant wine, with mellow tannins, warmth and aromatic intensity.

Brouilly is the largest and furthest south of the Beaujolais crus. It has a good south eastern exposure, at the bottom of the Saône Valley at an altitude of 200 to 300 metres. The subsoil consists of granite debris and blue-tinged schist. This also ranked the full 5 stars in my abbreviated-for-iPad rating system! Immediately exuberant, with a diverse array of floral notes, theres also some white pepper and crushed cherry notes. Gamay varietal by Dominique Piron.

A Rosé with the structure of a prestige Cuvée, Charles Heidsidck Rosé Reserve has a subtle, yet complex aromas of strawberry jam mixed with ripe peaches on the nose. It is delicate at first on the palate but the raspberry and blackberry slowly became apparent. They are well-balanced with the right amount of acidity. The wine is well structured and made to match with food.