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Château Larcis Ducasse 1er Grand Cru Classé (B), St-Emilion Château Larcis Ducasse, situated on the Right Bank of the Gironde, is ranked 1er Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. Long before there was a Château Larcis Ducasse, vines were tended on the land by the Romans. Through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the wine was highly regarded and premiums were paid even then. The most recent chapter in the story of Château Larcis Ducasse begins in the late 19th century when Henri Raba purchased the vineyard. Since then, ownership has passed through several generations and today is in the control of the Gratiot Alphandéry family. While the underlying quality and potential remained, the Château had somewhat fallen out of favour in the latter part of the 20th century. Since 2002, there has been something of a reversal of fortunes with the winery being under the management of Nicolas Thienpont. After 10 years under his watchful eye, the Château was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification.

Pavie Macquin is a Premier Grand Cru Classe (B) growth of Saint-Émillion, planted mostly to merlot on the region’s famous limestone plateau. The Château is named after Albert Macquin, the man oft-credited with much of the innovation around rootstock grafting that eventually saved the vineyards of Europe from the infestation of phylloxera. Prior to the 1998 vintage the wines are thought to not adequately reflect the potential of the terroir of the property, but in the past few decades the chateau has built an incredibly strong reputation.

Two words come to mind when you mention great Australian Merlot. Jim Irivne. Jim's Grand Merlot is the benchmark of complex and elegant Merlot in Australia and his Eden Valley vineyards are the perfect place to produce this iconic wine.

An excellent example of cool-climate Shiraz with dark black fruit, spice and pepper characters. The oak and tannins are well balanced ensuring that this wine is drinking well now and has plenty of life ahead.

A producer of distinction, Howard Park fashion wines with that rare and beguiling combination of elegance and power. Favourably likened to the great wines of Bordeaux, this wine will reward careful cellaring for many years.

A concentrated dark fruit spectrum with an abundance of ripe blackcurrants, cherries and a hint of cassis. Coffee bean, dark chocolate and black olives lie beneath. Subtle dustiness combines with a seductive violet lift, enhancing the varietal fragrance and increasing complexity. A dense and layered palate with incredible texture. The generosity of the palate is carefully laced with a fine and structural acid line. Dark cherries and currants weave through smokey and mocha notes, finishing with long tactile tannins.

"Reticent. Firmly structured. Southern Margaret River across its verdant veins. Lathered in classy oak (23 months' ageing in all), this needs time to liberate itself from its structural carapace. The intensity, however, cannot be denied. Cassis, dried sage, plum and a herbal potpourri mingle within. The sappy length and emerging layers with time in the glass, all bode for a bright future ahead...93 points" (Halliday)

Podere La Brancaia is one of Tuscanys leading wine estates, each year winning national and international awards. The winery is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone at Poppi, in Radda in Chianti, and draws on its own fruit from Poppi and La Brancaia in Castellina. A selection of their best Sangiovese, with 20% Merlot, matured in barriques (half new) for 16 months, followed by 6 months in the bottle. Loaded with ripe fruits of dark cherry and plum, the Merlot gives the wine mid-palate depth and richness to make this a great wine for drinking now or cellaring over the short term.