Sevenhill Sweet Altar Red Wine
Made for use as a communion wine, it is suitably soft, sweet and approachable.
Château Figeac Saint-Émilion
Château Figeac is a wine estate that had a very long history. It was once part of the Cheval Blanc estate, whichs soils was well known to be two-thirds of gravel, allowing Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot to grow flourishingly in the area. The 2010 Figeac, had a beautiful complexity to enjoy now or the longevity to cellar for those who prefers. Wine will benefit from decanting.
Château Duhart-Milon Pauillac
Left in a sorry state by the previous owners, in 1962 the Rothschilds of Lafite took over the property and begun to reconstruct the vineyard which was planted mostly to Petit Verdot. 4 decades later and the wines of Château Duhart-Milon are now showing the flavour and concentration you expect from such a site in Pauillac.
Domaine du Gros' Noré Bandol Rouge
Although Bandol produces the most serious red wines in Provence, it still isn't a particularly well known appellation, and chances are most people haven't even heard of Bandol. This intriguing wine is a blend of Mourvèdre (80%) and a dash of Cinsault (15%) and old vine Carignan (5%).
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste produce some of the best value wines in the Pauillac region, if not simply some of the best quality in general. Cabernet based reds are their staple and generally produce wines of a robust and masculine nature. In recent years the wines are close to rivalling the famed Pichons .
Château Tertre Roteboeuf Saint-Émilion
Château Tertre Roteboeuf may have a quirky sounding name that at first has no connection to grand wines of Saint-Émilion, yet the wines produced here of utmost elegance, purity and not surprising for Saint-Émilion, plushness. With the blend consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Roteboeuf's wines are smooth, voluptuous and with tannins that are attractively loose-knit. The 1990 is a vintage for the ages and has proven to be one of the great cellaring vintages as well. Already 20 years in the bottle has not turned down the volume on this remarkable right bank Bordeaux.
Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Like the men and women of the Barrot family, Domaine La Barroche is many-faceted and generous. It epitomises the balance, authenticity, and flamboyant character of Châteauneuf-du-Pape a brilliant blend of hundred year old Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault from the estate's finest terroirs. This is an unique, elegant, silky and opulent wine that invariably expresses its distinctive qualities. It also shows great class thanks to its deep colour, floral bouquet, freshness, cocoa flavours and delicate after-taste.
Château Latour Pauillac
Château Latour is the epitome of power and bold concentration that is Pauillac. With a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, the brilliant close knit tannin complimenting the vibrant cassis driven fruit is something to behold. It is often said that buyers of Latour worry about the wines they purchase will outlive them quite considerably such is the pedigree of such a wine. This is a definite concern for the 2009 vintage which is being reported as being the very best in living memory. The wine itself is a masterclass in concentration and power only with a robust and joyful front and mid-palate. Notes of blackberry and dark plum dance along with secondary characters of subtle oak and pencil shavings. A rambunctuous back palate that is almost thick and viscous that is truly forboding. Robert Parker Jnr has been quoted as saying
Château Lascombes Margaux
Château Lascombes was a small property by Bordeaux standards up until 1951, which then grew to beyond its means until the most recent ownership change which has seen better fruit selection and a creation of a second label to produce an estate wine of purity and concentrated flavours. Using the talents of Dr Alain Reynaud and Michel Rolland the wines continue to impress in recent years, namely this spectacular 2009 vintage which is proving to be one of the greatest vintages in the past 100. Even at this early stage the Lascombes looks superb with balance between power and opulence treading a near perfect line.
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore
Bolgheri Superiore is the Italian winery, Ornellaia's flagship wine which gives rich fruit on the nose and crispy oak. The palate is lively and powerful which full, concentrated fruit flavours and impressive silky, smooth tannins leading to an elegant yet spicy, long finish.