Intense, mineral-accented aromas of cherry, cassis and violets. Juicy with sweet dark berry flavours, bitter chocolate and candied flowers. Powerful and vibrant with excellent balance and clarity. Fine-grained tannins lead a long, spicy, penetrating finish. It will age gracefully.

Situated since its origin on Plateau de La Crau, in the southeast of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, the estate has grown, developed and matured on this vast stony terrace which, generation after generation, has imparted all of its character. Chateauneuf Blanc may not be on everyone's radar, but if you like big-boned, opulent an age-worthy whites, they are extremely hard to beat. This rendition comes from older vines of classic white Rhone varieties, grown on the La Crau plateau. Grapes for the Blanc are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, then a third sorting in the winery. Pneumatic pressing, then static settling. Fermented in barriques, demi-muids and 30 hl foudres. Maturation on the lees in barriques, demi-muids and 30 hl foudres. Bottled one year from harvest. As a young wine, fruit and impressive power is at the fore, but if allowed to cellar for 6 - 10 years, complex notes of toast, nuts, Asian spices and pastry and bees wax will emerge.

Deep dark purple. Fine, elegant, restrained and with a touch of cedar, the nose shows estery floral/cherry fragrance, with an underlying hint of pepper: typical of concentrated Grenache . Oak plays a minor role in the background to allow the beautiful fruit to shine through. This wine is all about texture, length and balanced fruit. It has medium body in which the tannins are long and soft while the bright fruit provides persistence of mouth feel. Fruit flavours are in the cherry spectrum. Drink now to 15 years. Curtis Family Vineyards sources fruit from a combination of owned vineyards and premium McLaren Vale growers. The blend of individual vineyard and sub-regional characteristics is the key to the resulting style. Sub regions are Blewitt Springs, McLaren Flat, Willunga and McLaren Vale. Wine was matured in oak barrels, ranging from new to 2 year oak. with a mixture of French and American oak.

Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils is located in the village of Châteauneuf du Pape, has built a solid reputation over the years as producing rich, ripe red wines, so it's interesting to see that Thierry Usseglio and his son, Gregory, are experimenting with the use of whole bunches and an entirely new wine style that combines a large proportion of white grapes and use of amphorae. A wine you don’t see often (there’s only one barrel made), the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Not For You is 100% Grenache from the 100+ year old vines in the Les Serres lieu-dit, only made in the best vintages, 100% Grenache, mostly destemmed, with 3-5 week concrete vat vinification, before being aged in new 600-litre oak casks 24 months. An array of red and black fruits, pepper, lavender and spicy oak. Incredibly unique, full-bodied and concentrated.

DOMAINE PIERRE USSEGLIO Cuvee de mon Aieul, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.