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).

A striking creature with a most lustful heart, the night is her ally in performing her craft. She strives to obtain a ruby red treasure, of unsurpassed beauty and value past measure. A calling in life, her great reason to live, she takes what she wants but chooses to give. Adrian Hoffmann is the source of the Mourvèdre and Grenache. Old vines, big flavour, just what you would expect from his Ebenezer vineyards. The other part - the Shiraz - has come from Redheads' long-time partner in crime John Kalleske over in Koonunga. Bright, lifted red fruit aromas of sweet cherry and plum combined with floral and turkish delight characters. Subtle savoury notes, dark morello cherry and red plum characters. A mid-weight GSM with softly woven tannins.

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…

Perla del Mar is the white sibling to the tasty Perla Negra. It comes from a special coastal vineyard called La Marina, 35 miles from Alicante. The wine’s delightfully fresh and fruity style is thanks to the grape selection (mainly the fragrant and ‘grapey’ Moscatel), the fact that the vineyards are surrounded by sea to the north, south and east, and, finally, to the modern methods of talented winemaker Pamela Geddes. Having been in charge of sparkling wine production for Seppelt in Australia, she knows all about keeping flavours crisp and fruity in warm climates. Perla del Mar is an elegant, refreshing wine with a vibrant, lime zest core and hints of lychee and other tropical fruits. It’s the archetypal summer apéritif – all year round!

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.

Late Bottled Vintage Ports are similar to Vintage Ports, but are matured in cask for longer before bottling so that they can be enjoyed earlier - as Vintage Ports often require 20 years of cellaring before they are at their best! Founded in 1845, Andresen is one of the last remaining family-owned Port houses and their LBV is renowned as having concentration and richness to rival even the most expensive Vintage Ports. Sit back and indulge in the ultimate winter warmer.

Introducing Il Papavero – a delicious Italian red showing loads of charisma and style. Blended from the best grapes of the vintage, it offers supple, ripe fruit and easy charm. Only the most flavoursome grapes from the best performing vineyards go into this wine. With fresh and fruity berry aromas and irresistible value, Il Papavero is the perfect match to your favourite pizza or pasta.

Brightwater is from a tiny family estate our Buyer first visited in 2002, having noticed that famous Aussie wine writer James Halliday had reviewed their Sauvignon above Cloudy Bay. Their 2009 was also rated as 5 Stars by top Kiwi wine critic Bob Campbell MW. A classic match with goat's cheese, it's also just the ticket with seafood, especially oysters. Alternatively, enjoy as a refreshing glass on its own.

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.