This superb Pinot Noir shows what heights can be reached when modestly priced wines are produced in outstanding vintages. Expect a red and dark cherry fragrance with a hint of spice. It's light bodied with earthy flavours of red berries delivered with finesses one of the finest producers of the 'Fronsac' appellation. Predominantly Merlot, there's supreme depth of dark fruit, together with the 'polished' structure so synonymous with the 2012 vintage.

All fruit is hand-picked early in the morning and immediately de-stemmed but not crushed. Some batches are left to cold soak for 4-5 days, while others are fermented immediately. Both natural and cultured yeasts are used. Both pumping over and punching down are used for cap management. Some ferments undergo post-ferment maceration depending on tannin structure and style. Wine lovers have a lot to thank (Hoddles Creek winemaker) Franco dAnna for... He crafts his affordable range with the same care and attention as his premium wines, meaning that even when watching ones pennies one can still drink top class wine. Toni Paterson MW of The Real Review After fermentation the wine is gently pressed to oak barrels, 30% new, 30% one year old, the rest two and three years old. After 11 months of barrel maturation, the wine is assembled and bottled without filtration or fining. Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir typically shows aromas and flavours of red berries and dark cherry. Ripe, firm mid-palate tannins give structure and lead into a long, attractive finish with pleasing acidity.

JEAN-NOEL GAGNARD Cuvee L'Estimee , Chassagne-Montrachet

Les Amoureuses, located just below and north of Les Musigny is 5.4 h and is, unquestionably, one of the greatest red premier cru vineyards in Burgundy. Pousse dOrs 0.1965ha plot is in the upper part of Les Amoureuses where the Comblanchien limestone is very similar to Musigny but with slightly less top soil producing a wine with a little more delicacy but still incredible minerality and structure.

LAURENT ROUMIER 1er Cru Les Charmes, Chambolle-Musigny

DOMAINE DE CHATEAU DE MEURSAULT 1er Cru Clos de Chenes , Volnay

DOMAINE DE CHATEAU DE MEURSAULT Clos des Epenots, Pommard

Cuvée de lAulne Gevrey-Chambertin A blend of grapes purchased from seven or eight growers, across 10 to 12 different communal parcels smattered throughout the village. Again, this is the approach that Ponsot advocates in order to glean the essence of the regional terroir, in this case that of a single lauded village. Red and dark fruit essences mesh with the smoked meat parlayed by Gevreys heavier, ferrous limestone. A richer wine in the context of Burgundy, without the edges and creases that need too much smoothing with time in the cellar. Accessible across the earlier to mid-term.

LAURENT PONSOT 1er Cru Les Charmes Cuvée du Tilleul, Chambolle-Musigny