Te Matas Hawkes Bay estate is a prestigious winery with a rich history, producing some of New Zealands most celebrated wines. If the Langtons Classification crossed the Tasman, Te Mata Coleraine would sit alongside Grange at its very pinnacle. Established, esteemed, outstanding vintage after vintage, the glowing adjectives come thick and fast.

Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 is the continuation of a twenty-year endeavor from when Australian vine cuttings were planted in Californian soil. A Wine of the World that encapsulates a bold blending alliance, Quantum reveals a wine that shows wisdom, crafted with conviction but also embedded in the quality-first philosophy that underpins Penfolds flagships. The wine serves as the most powerful expression of Penfolds' blending style and leads the charge in their ambition to seek out parcels of intense flavor, structural tannins and equal parts grace and complexity. Northern and southern hemispheres bring prized cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley and pedigreed shiraz from South Australia, respectively, into each others realm. Not adhering to expectations and de rigueur.

SHAFER VINEYARDS Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

ABREU Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

In 1989, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud acquired a small plot of 0.6 hectares in the valley of Saint-Emilion between Pavie-Macquin and La Clotte. In 1991, they produced their first vintage bottled by themselves. Since then, they have acquired other plots and properties, in Saint-Christophe-Des-Bardes, Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Saint-Etienne de Lisse. While the first critics called it "garage wine", Château Valandraud, although still unclassified, is nevertheless considered by almost all wine professionals, including Robert Parker, as one of the very first wines of Bordeaux. Château Valandraud was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé de Saint Emilion in 2012. Member of the Union of Grands Crus of Bordeaux since 2017. The 2009 Valandraud is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc matured in 100% new oak for 22 months.

This is a classic expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon that combines exceptional structure and concentration with graceful purity and poise. The aromas reveal deep layers of blackberry, cassis and anise along with notes of cedar and violet. The palate is velvety and rich, with underlying tone and structure. Dark fruit flavors are accompanied by hints of roasted coffee, dark chocolate and oak spice that carry through to a long, satisfying finish.