Australia's premier cool climate Cabernet. It was John Middleton's dream to create such a wine and purchased the Mount Mary property in the Yarra Valley in 1971 to persue this dream. Quintet is his dream realised and is a blend of the classic Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

In the 1950s, the father of current winemaker Paolo di Marchi purchased the adjoining hamlets of Isole and Olena and their estates in the Tuscan commune of Barberino Val d'Elsa. The concept and style of Cepparello was developed by Paolo De Marchi over a period beginning in the mid 1970's. This Sangiovese wine is named after a small stream, Borro Cepparello, originating in the highest point of the vineyards on the Isole e Olena estate.

Ruby red in colour with hints of bring orange at the rim, this wine has an intense aroma of cherry, raspberry, rose, tobacco and truffle. The palate is full bodied and robust with concentrated flavours of dark berries, spice and licorice. The wine is best enoyed with some decanting to allow its flavours to evolve and pair wonderfuly with hearty Italian dishes such as rissotto or aged cheeses

An upswing in quality over the past decade or so, has resurrected Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte's position amongst Bordeaux Chateau. New ownership breathed life into exceptionally positioned vineyards, now farmed with less chemicals, with a more sympatico approach in winery. Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is an additional feather in Smith-Haut-Lafitte's cap, enhancing the wines concentration, power and depth, while maintaining a finesse. Though full-bodied, the wine from 2010 will be approachable a little earlier than most other fine Bordeaux, with more moderate tannin - that being said, it's life will stretch several decades too.

Barolo Bricco Boschis is rich, seductive and totally beautiful. A radiant Barolo, the wine captures the essence of the year. Sweet red berries, flowers, spices and mint all flesh out in this gorgeous, sexy Barolo. It should drink well pretty much right out of the gate. Stylistically, it shows the personality of the ripe vintage.

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Paje, Barbaresco DOCG

Elvio Cogno Vigna Elena Riserva Barolo The first vineyard planted by Cogno, on lighter sandier soils within Ravera. It is named after maker Valter Fissores daughter. Today it is a cult wine, prized among regional aficionados for alluring floral aromas, an intensity of flavour and a lattice of bracing tannins juxtaposed against a chiaroscuro of supple herbal notes, a winning finesse and a lightish hue. This is because Riserva Elena is crafted with the rare Nebbiolo sub-variety Rosé, one of but three permitted in the region. This strongly supports the oft-referenced affinity between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir; great Barolo and Burgundy. 'the estate of Elvio Cogno has unequivocally thrust itself into the pantheon of top Barolo makers.'Ned Goodwin MW Shop Elvio Cogno