Portuga is made by Casa Santos Lima, a grand Portuguese estate in the Lisboa region, just north of the capitol. João Santos Lima founded it in the 19th century and it has been in the same family for three generations. Diogo Sepúlveda is the winemaker today. He has worked vintages all across the world, including Bordeaux's prestigious Pomerol and California's Napa Valley. He is a talented winemaker, who relaxes in his spare time by wrestling bulls (all muscle, no knives!). Portuga is a rich, velvety blend of traditional native varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, aged gently in oak. Delicious either served on its own, with rich pork dishes, or tangy tomato pasta. It's an ideal wine for a barbecue too or with mature hard cheeses.

JEAN-PIERRE MOUEIX BORDEAUX rouge was inspired by the founders early mission: when Jean-Pierre Moueix launched his wine merchant business in 1937, he sought to offer eminently drinkable and enjoyable wines that reflect a sense of place. Personally selected by Christian and Edouard Moueix, the Merlot grape offers depth and complexity, while Cabernet Franc brings structure and spice to the blend. Combined, these varietals produce wines of character and body while maintaining a unique suppleness. The wine shows ruby red with an intense, complex nose presenting notes of cherry, strawberry and blond tobacco. The palate is powerful and inviting with smooth, silky tannins.

Awash with aromatic pomegranate, tamarillo and fresh cherry notes on the nose. The palate has savoury notes of mocha melded with nutmeg and plummy fruit. Fine oak tannins complement weighty stewed plum, dark cherry and raspberry leaving a generous warm finish in the wine.

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 and winemaker Paul Hotker, a “master blender”, was named Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2018. "Unfussed cabernet at its fragrant cassis-lifted best. Barely any oak gets in the way of its pure fruit expression, with classical regional chocolate notes more important in the overall sense of the palate. But every new sip starts with that cabernet aroma and finishes with its spicy tannins, and that's always a joy... 92pts... Great Value" (Tony Love, Halliday Wine Companion).

A fine claret that most years wins Gold – certainly for a vintage as good as the ripe 2019. Vieux Château Guibeau was the first property Tony Laithwaite ever bought from, so it has a special place in his heart. The wine was the 1966, purchased from the estate’s founder, Henri Bourlon, and we’ve bought over 50 vintages since. In those early days, Henri (well ahead of his time) was the first to show Tony that a wine’s quality was as much to do with the passion and skill of the winemaker as the quality of the soil. Tony has remained great friends with the family and today buys wine from Henri’s granddaughter Brigitte. Old vines, meticulous winemaking, this ageworthy claret makes a fine partner to beef. Decant a few hours in advance or cellar.

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 and winemaker Paul Hotker, a “master blender” , was named Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2018. The winery was recently shortlisted for Best Value Winery 2023 in the Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Matured for 9 months in 10% new French and American oak barrels. A truly regional Langhorne Creek blend (49/40/11% shiraz/cabernet sauvignon/malbec) which offers some spice and mid-dark chocolate to the palate. It's succulent, with all elements in unison. It's also stupidly good value... Great Value... 92pts" (Tony Love, Halliday Wine Companion).

Once your wine arrives, slow right down. Be patient with this wine and it will reward your handsomely – decant for half an hour and the transformation is magical. Once the juice loosens up and releases its hidden depths, it develops an aroma that is just divine. Discover liquorice, blackcurrant, cherry, blackberry and bitter cocoa mirrored on the palate with turbo-charged punch and power. And the finish? It goes on forever…

Vintage after vintage, Barón de Barbón proves to be our bestselling Rioja. It’s a lot to do with the wine’s enticing berry aromas, silky texture and luscious flavour. The talent behind this contemporary, fruit driven red is the young and infectiously keen Javier Murúa. His father Julián owns Bodegas Muriel (a winery Julián’s parents established in 1926) in Rioja’s superior Alavesa. We have a fabulous working relationship with the family, ensuring our Buyer Beth goes in straight after vintage and gets first refusal on the finest vats. With its easy going, ripe red berry flavours and fragrant vanilla character, this supple Rioja is great to drink on its own or with simple suppers such as lamb chops, char-grilled vegetable kebabs or chicken.