Taking its name from its uniquely rocky terroir (beau caillou translates as beautiful stones), and Bertrand Ducru who purchased the estate in 1795, what we know today as Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou as a wine producing estate, has history stretches back to the 13th century. Owned today by The Borie family (who have long-standing roots of their own in Bordeaux), the Chateau is, according to many, producing the best wines in their history at this very moment. The 2016 vintage has already been hailed as yet another monumental success for the winery with Antonio Galloni praising it as simply magnificent.

TE MATA ESTATE Coleraine. Cepage may include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

CHATEAU TERTRE DE LA MOULEYRE Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Concentration is the key word for this wine. Super ripe fruit, dense and rich, matured for an extended time in toasty new oak. Complex, vibrant aromas of violets, plums, blackberries and cassis with dried rosemary, thyme and oregano nuances, and a hint of beef stock, cedar and star anise spice. The palate is powerful yet incredibly finely structured with layers of plums, blackberries and red currants, guided by elegant acidity and tannins that integrate with the fruit and lead to a long, fine, beguiling finish. Exceptional vintage, 25+ years (from vintage).

Planted in 1300, the estate is the oldest planted vineyard in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Premiers Crus for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959.

France's Bordeaux, is the spiritual home of the Cabernet family of grapes, which extends beyond Sauvignon and Franc to Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. If you love Margaret River Cabernet blends, or indeed the Merlot dominant reds of Hawkes Bay, NZ, then you must look at the wines upon which many of them have been modelled. This wine is Cabernet and Merlot, deep and rich, cassis and earthy cedar, structure and uncommon length - all hallmarks of Grand Cru Bordeaux.

With a name like George Smith, you could be mistaken for thinking this vineyard was on the northern side of the 'channel', but alas, it resides in Pessac-Léognan in France's famed Bordeaux region. Bought by the Englishman in 1720, the wine still bears his name. The red wine that comes out of the estate is one of aromatics and spiciness and of recent times, more opulence and fruit weight.

The 2017 Haut-Bailly is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it has a wonderfully spicy nose of cinnamon stick, cloves, anise and fenugreek with core of roses, warm blueberries, black forest cake and black raspberries plus hints of underbrush and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied with firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has oodles of freshness and great finesse, continuing bright and energetic on the long, minerally finish.