One of the most famous - as well as one of the most expensive - wines in the world, Chateau Lafite Rothschilds history dates back to 1235, by which time, it is believed, the vines were already planted and thriving. Nearly 1,000 years later it still retains the name of its then-owner Gombaud de Lafite. It wasnt until 1868 that the Rothschilds came to become the Chateaus owners, after it was sold at public auction in Paris - and it remains in their hands today. Producing an elegant Paulliac wine, Chateau Lafite is renowned for its characteristic blend of rich dark fruit with spicy, savoury and earthy notes of cassis, tobacco, and truffle. The 2016 earned sterling reviews, with James Suckling scoring it a perfect 100 and speculating on its standing as Perhaps the greatest Lafite since the legendary 1959.

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.

Inspired by the iconic jet that took it to the world. The rich and powerful Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, our first commercial release of a single cabernet-based wine, is linked to Max Schubert’s dream of making a great Australian red wine that could last at least 20 years. During the ‘50s and early ‘60s cabernet sauvignon was mostly used for blending, but Schubert’s breakthrough with the varietal as a stand-alone wine came in 1964 with inaugural vintage. Early Bin 707s were typically open fermented under wax-lined header boards and matured in seasoned old oak (rather than new oak). The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when fruit was directed to other wines) nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2011 or 2017 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Palate; Powerful - propelled by a wave of fruits - fresh mulberry, fig, Goji berry, raspberry, fresh blackcurrant. And licorice. Ripe and firm, glossy tannins frame many layers, including those that appear to stand above. A textural creaminess, sumptuousness - possibly by way of oak? Balanced, complete, latent. AWARDS: • 99 Points - Tyson Stelzer • 98 Points - Ken Gargett • 98 Points - Ray Jordan • 19.5+ Points/20 - Matthew Jukes • 97 Points - Jeni Port

Penfolds Bin 707 is widely regarded as the ‘benchmark’ of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. A full-bodied wine with outstanding depth, complexity and structure, the palate offers great intensity and concentration of varietal flavour, balanced by a finely integrated oak character from 18 months maturation in new small American oak barrels. Aromas: Poured, swirled - persuasive Cabernet black olive, graphite and tapenade aromatics may initially relax Bin 707 style sceptics. Yet just when the guard is dropped, in creeps a scented wave of choc mint, Asian spices and sage/bay leaf botanicals. Taking no prisoners - a good measure of soot/ ironstone/ sump oil blackness, and a floral headiness of iris and dried hibiscus. Yes, a full-on, uncamouflaged Bin 707 aromatic assault. Not for the meek. Unashamedly 100% Cabernet, 100% new oak, 100% Penfolds. Palate: All is convincingly redeemed on the palate. No stylistic retreat, yet engagingly a better understanding of what lies beneath…Texturally, a suppleness and tightness that is indeed profound. Fine long ripe tannins offer polish and a felt like ‘attaque’. Perhaps trademark – a significant mid-palate and convincing length – synergising an amalgam of Cabernets (only) off the varied soils of Coonawarra/ Barossa Valley/Padthaway/ McLaren Vale. A base of ferrics and black-pudding/ blood-sausage – laced with white milk-chocolate and red and black berry fruits. 100% new oak – thought about only when reminded. All Bin 707 boxes ticked, except one – time. Peaking Drinking: 2028 - 2050. Awards: • 98 Points - Ken Gargett, The World of Fine Wine. • 97 Points - Andrew Caillard, MW. • 97 Points - Tyson Stelzer.

With a history dating back to 1152, Château d'Issan was established as a third growth in the 1855 classification. By 1945 when the Cruse family purchased this storybook Margaux property with its 17th century Château and moat, it was a shadow of its former self with just 2ha in production. With 44ha planted to 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot, the Cruse family sold 50% to Jacky Lorenzetti in 2013. D'Issan is now firing on all cylinders, producing a wine that is both fleshy and structured. Up to 40% of the production is declassified into a second wine (Blason d’Issan).

Very deep purple. There's plenty of extract on the nose with deep plummy fruit aromas set against a finely-measured backdrop of smoky oak. It's succulent in the mouth, silky in flow, long and deep in flavour, with ripe tannins in excellent balance. A deceptively easy wine to sip in youth because of its inherent balance, but it should live for many years yet.

https://orchestracms.s3.amazonaws.com/eosportal/pdf/tasting-notes/jim-barry-wines/jim-barry-the-benbournie-cabernet-sauvignon-2010.pdf