Hervé Sabardeil, our winemaker with limitless talent, has been making Cabalié, the big, ripe Catalan red, for over 15 years. He added the old-vine (Vieilles Vignes) edition in 2011, originally as a one off, but it was so popular we insisted he did it again. And again! The magic to this punchy red is really in the vines. At 60 to 100-years-old, yields are minute (about half of a Grand Cru claret). As a rule of thumb, the smaller the yield, the more concentrated the fruit, the more flavoursome the wine! That’s why we call it Cabalié’s Big Brother. Still made in the same style that was beloved by the Roman centurions and now our customers too, it packs even more flavour than the original. Ideal with garlic-roasted lamb, rich stews or cheese.

It was David Duband's father, Pierre, who started the estate in 1965. He bought 15 hectares of land in the then unfashionable Côtes de Nuits, just west of Nuits-St-George, and grew grapes. These he sold to the cooperative in Beaune. In 1991, David joined and the first wine was made at the domaine. He took over four years later. There have been many changes since, with the acquisition of 5 Grands and 7 Premiers Crus and a new winery built in 2007. They have farmed organically since 2006 and introduced whole bunch fermentation since 2008. With wines from 23 Burgundy appellations and listings in over half of France's three-Michelin-star restaurants, David is obviously doing something right! From an exceptional vintage, this is a very fine red.

Bleasdale is “one of the most historic wineries in Australia ... in 2015 celebrating 165 years of continuous winemaking by the direct descendants of the founding Potts family.” (Halliday). Among many major awards, they’ve won the Jimmy Watson Trophy.

Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Deep dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Spicy red to dark cherry aromas mix with hints of stalky cedar, earth and meaty notes. On the palate generous dark cherry fruits are intertwined with strawberry, earth, spicy dried meat characters and dried herbs. Good flesh with slightly grainy tannins and a savoury medium length conclusion. Drink over the next 3-4 years. Alc. 13.5%

Mountadam can boast being the “foremost producer of chardonnay in the Eden Valley” (Halliday), but their deeply layered, textural and complex reds are also creating great excitement amongst the trade. Try for yourself here with this 'exuberant' yet underrated Cabernet showing lovely florals of violets, dark brambly fruits and fine supple tannins. "A morass of mulched leaf, anise and black currant, dabbed with olive. A lovely, energetic feel, finishing with verdant cigar box tannins and a whiff of mint to menthol. This has spent up to 24 months in oak and is in it for the long haul. It will be nice to taste it again when the curranty exuberance calms... 93pts" (Halliday Wine Companion, Ned Goodwin MW).