Teusner Albert Shiraz is made from old vines in the northern Barossa; rich black fruits and tarry cassis with smoky undertones, the finish is long and luscious. Could easily be cellared for the medium term.

Grape grower Natale Seghesio is known as 'il Poeta' ('the Poet') to his friends. Not only for his lyrical compositions (featured on the label), but also for the intensely flavoured produce of his vines, growing in the premium Piedmont hills. Talented winemaker Paolo Sartirano snaps up Natale's grapes every year, taking them to his family's cellar. Founded in 1871, this cellar is now 150 years old and today in the hands of the fourth generation. Paolo has crafted Il Poeta to be a truly poetical expression of the finest Nebbiolo. Three years ageing in oak ensures the fruit marries perfectly with silky, toasted spice character. Deeply flavoured and complex, the wine is best opened early and decanted. Serve in large glasses with hearty dishes.

With a home on the central east coast of Italy, the Abruzzo region is home to the Montepulciano grape (not to be confused with the region of Montepulciano in Tuscany!). It is here that the variety really thrives and Illuminati's Pieluni Riserva shows wonderful deep, brooding and intense aromas and flavours of ripe plums, tobacco and blackcurrant. Delectable chocolate tannins round out a truly decadent wine.

A wonderful Barolo from Maretti showcasing great value for the region. The colour is dark garnet with ruby highlights. It has a clear-cut, intense nose with overtones of roses, spices, earthy undertones with nuanced vanilla notes. The taste is dry, but soft, full-bodied, velvety and well balanced, and is very long-lasting. Classic Barolo like this works well with rich braised meat dishes or a mushroom risotto.

Approachable, generous and flavoursome with a silken elegance. Berry fruits come to the fore with gentle dried herb notes in the background. Medium bodied, the palate is finely structured with lovely soft lingering tannins which integrate perfectly with the soft supportive acid and plush fruit.

Red fruit aromas in the red cherry and redcurrant spectrum carry through onto the palate.

Nebbiolo d'Alba comes from a vineyard located in Roddi, a short distance from Verduno, at an altitude of 270 m. Old vineyard, facing south-southeast, with different biopypes, including the rose'. The grapes are harvested only when they are sensorially ready ; the vinification does not follow rules but is interpreted from year to year adapting to the grape. The refinement, given the reduced volumes, takes place in barrels of 500 liters and bottling the summer following the harvest. Soils of Langa, rich in limestone make it a very aromatic and structured wine.