BODEGAS ALTO MONCAYO Garnacha, Campo de Borja Winemaker: Chris Ringland.

The Hoffmann Vineyard wine is the result of close collaboration between winemaker Ringland and his friend, grape-grower Adrian Hoffmann, whose vineyard holdings occupy key sites in the Ebenezer sub-region of the northern Barossa. Robert Parker himself calls Ringland an international grandmaster of Shiraz. The Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is a tête de cuvée (literally head of the blend) style. Key parts of the vineyard, with vines between 60 and 100+ years old, are picked at different stages of ripeness, resulting in five separate two-tonne grape parcels ultimately filling 20 barrels. The final wine is a selection of the best four barrels. The annual make will never exceed 200 dozen. Its an essence-of-Shiraz style uncompromisingly rich and concentrated. The first vintage was 2006 and the wine has begun building a track record that will inevitably match that of the Barossa Ranges wine. Right now, you need to decant it 12 hours (or more) before serving to allow the fruit to come to the fore.

This Chardonnay has plenty of robust varietal aromas of stone-fruits and melon on the nose, which is well supported with spicy oak. The palate has a soft creamy mouthfeel while maintaining a tight structure that includes well defined fruit flavours of melon, pears and a touch of citrus acidity bound by well integrated French oak.

DOMAINE DUJAC Les Beaux Monts 1er cru, Vosne-Romanee

DOMAINE DE CHATEAU DE MEURSAULT Clos des Epenots, Pommard

A Premier Cru by classification; a Grand Cru by breed. Clos Saint Jacques has long been a contentious site. For many it is superior to all Grands Crus in Gevrey but for the regal duo of Chambertin and Clos de Bèze and even then, it is often their equal. Sturt. Forceful. Ferrous. Among the very greatest expressions of this regal commune, Jasper Morris MW refers to the Clos as the crown prince, as it slopes steeply to an ideal southern and easterly exposure. Rousseaus, by far the finest articulation.