ELIO ALTARE, Barolo DOCG The Elio Altare Barolo is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes from the La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga dAlba and Barolo sub-regions. Only 800-850 dozen bottles are produced each year from vineyards planted on south and south-east facing slopes in the late 1900s. The vineyards, on various soil types, are farmed organically, but along traditional lines. The grapes are crushed and then macerated on skins for 4-5 days in temperature-controlled rotary fermenters before fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine is matured for 24 months in French oak barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Elio Altare Barolo shows an intense ruby-red colour with hints of garnet. On the nose fresh scents of small red fruits, raspberry, redcurrant and wild roses evolve into licorice and spice notes. The palate is typically warm, elegant and persistent, with soft tannins and a long finish.

From a 37-acre vineyard, Château Pavie Macquin is stunningly situated on the clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. 2010 has produced a formidable wine: a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a top release of the harvest year and a highlight from St-Émillion in 2010. Tannins, restraint and inward concentration are motifs, this is a wine for the patient, sophisticated collector who wishes to embellish a cellar with pedigree wines that need time and maturity to come to the fore.

Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the sole and present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is today one of the most respected producers of the fine wines of Piedmont and a leading figure in its viticultural industry.Cannubi is a paradigm of Barolo with features from the Helvation and Tortonian soil, notes of liquorice and sweet tobacco accompanying full round tannins. It reaches complete maturity after 6/7 years with its complexity and aristocracy.

Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the sole and present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is today one of the most respected producers of the fine wines of Piedmont and a leading figure in its viticultural industry.Cerequio is one of the Langhe great historical cru. Barolo Cerequio is unique for its balsamic and minty aroma and for its elegance. Sweet tannins and sublime fruits are evident even when more mature. It reaches its peak after about 6 years and it is splendid for at least 20 years.

Established in 1858 by the first king of Italy, Fontanafredda is now the single largest contiguous wine estate in the Langhe region, with a fierce commitment to organic viticulture as well as woodland regeneration. The Platinum label represents the unique tradition of the Estate and more than 160 years of history. This is a serious, brooding Barolo, aged at the Estate for a minimum of 62 months to highlight the complexity, structure and richness of classic Barolo Reserva. Ruby red with the faintest hints of bricking on the edge. Intensely aromatic and complex, with black cherries, tobacco, dried mushrooms, nutmeg, and sweet balsamic notes all vying for attention. Supple, sweet fruit and round, powdery tannins on the palate. So much complexity with nothing out of place.

First produced in 1911. The fruit for Massolino's classic Nebbiolo cuvée is selected from seven sites, representing roughly seven hectares of prime-sited Serralunga vineyards. The oldest vines that feed this bottling are 55 years old (the youngest are 10), and it spends 24 months in large Slovenian oak (only).

David and Jenny Jones are making wine with tremendous depth of fruit flavour, reflecting the relatively low-yielding but very well- maintained vineyards in The Pyrenees. Their flagship Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz is a perfect example of this. Pristine and fresh with more of everything providing plenty of stuffing, redcurrant, blackberry and sage characters.

Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz is rightfully considered by many to be Australia's best cool-climate Shiraz. Nestled in western Victoria, right in the heart of the Grampians wine region, Langi Shiraz is a classic, true to type wine that Dan Buckle has handcrafted. A sensuous Shiraz that displays exotic aromas and flavours of spice, savouriness and that trademark pepper character. Red berry fruit is not to be forgotten here and after a good decant, is more than suitable to be enjoyed from today onwards.

The Barolo del Commune di La Morra is a wine made from grapes grown in the La Serra, Fossati, Case Nere and Barolo vineyards. Roberto leaves each cluster weighing around 1kg instead of the 500g clusters used for the Cru Baroli. This is a stellar wine and a very good introduction to the range and philosophy of Roberto Voerzio.