A pretty, yet intense nose, combining red fruits and sweet notes of British candies. Then comes the aromas of crushed strawberries and bananas. The palate is lively, round, and harmonious. Good length on the finish.

Like a trio of Jazz musicians, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre are brilliantly compatible as many people will have discovered in great examples from the Rhone Valley. The blend gives spicy blackberry flavours, dark plum, black cherry dark fruit and a hint of pepper. There is also a distinctive mineral, perfumed note that comes from the Mourvèdre. The different soils and altitudes contribute hugely too.

Torbreck, a well-respected winery in South Australia. The Steading is a decadent blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, the three traditional Barossa varieties. Wonderful richness and bold fruit flavours packed in this bottle yet harmoniouslyýco-exist together. Well developed complexity on the palate, although great to enjoy now, it has great potentialýfor further long term cellar with the right conditions.ý

Les Forts de Latour is the wonderful second label of the famous Château Latour of Pauillac. Les Forts lacks none of the legendary power and concentration of its elder brother although it is approachable at a much earlier age. Rich Cabernet influence dominates this wine that comes from Latour fruit that doesn't make the grand vin as well as the younger vine material. The 2009 is considered one of the truly great vintages in living memory and it is in these years that secondary wines like this Forst de Latour really shine. Value and pedigree all wrapped in one package!

A very important estate in St-Émilion, Château Angélus was acquired by the de Boüard de Laforest family in 1924 and merged with the previously owned Château Mazerat. The apostrophe was dropped in 1989 and is now simply known as Angélus. The wines are characterised by a fabulous texture offered by the high component of Cabernet Franc with the plump softness added by the Merlot creating a wine of pleasing plushness.