Bruno Fina spent the 1990's running Sicily's experimental cellar at Alcamo, applying radical techniques to Sicilian varieties in pursuit of their true vocation. He advised growers making plantings - so he knows where the best grapes are, and what they can do. His cellar, near Erice, was ready for the superb 2005 vintage. Nero d'Avola [...]

Swirling aromas of cassis, herbs and aniseed herald a richly-textured, red fruit-packed, meaty palate. Since 1549, Beaucastel has been home to some of the finest Châteauneufs, made from the fruit of classic, pudding stone-strewn vineyards. Marc and Pierre Perrin's progressive commitment to organic cultivation echoes the spirit of Edwardian scientist forebear Pierre Perrin, who introduced [...]

Lively purple-red. Bright and vivacious with soft, ripe plum and summer fruit flavours.
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The Great Zorbel. Youthful Traslepuy proprietor Frédéric Z. has the attention-grabbing skills of a circus ringmaster. Hearing we were in the southern Rhône he waylaid us with an invitation to taste and we're glad he did. In 2000 he took vineyards around Roquemaure and Lirac, began cultivating organically and built his own winery. This big, [...]

Mainly Garnacha but with addition of Cabernet which dominates with its blackcurrant flavours. Vigorous and fruity balanced by an oaky backbone.
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Great depth of colour and flavour; 2004 is made from organically grown Carmenere, Cabernet and Syrah by one of Chile's finest winemakers. Outstanding.
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Dried figs, ripe apple skins and wonderfully rich fruit flavours -with the structure and dry finish of the true Amarone. Glorious.
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Jean-Paul Versino, who operates from his home on the south side of Châteauneuf, is emerging as a star of the region. His use of oak is idiosyncratic: he employs beermaking vats from Alsace, so well-used that there are scarcely any woody flavours left. This, however, his Grenache-rich top cuvée, was aged in small barrels for [...]

Crew-cut and businesslike (he's also a legal academic and runs a sizeable property portfolio) René Rostaing has made Côte Rôtie (elite northern Rhône Syrah plus a little Viognier) of stark purity at his brutally stylish Ampuis cellar since 1971. He was fortunate in inheriting many small plots, some containing century-old vines.
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Dense purple colour, lifted cassis aromas, with a multi-track of cherry and red fruit tones bursting forth. Lovely acidity; harmonious tannins. Fabulous wine.
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Attractive junior, with strong ripe tannins, brambly and concentrated fruits. Good length. Excellent value for money.
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One of our most popular reds: elegant and appetising, a mix of Gascon grapes plus a pleasing dash of Merlot. Our 'Jean des Vignes' range is designed to showcase the best in good-quality everyday-drinking from southern France. Made in this case by the ultra-reliable Plaimont winery, who have an admirable focus on polishing the finer [...]

Wonderful purity of blackfruit flavours, reminiscent of Pauillac were it not for the added warmth.
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Impeccably organic, an impressive alliance of lush, cassis-rich Cabernet and gamey, generous Syrah. Domaine Richeaume lies at the foot of Provence's Sainte-Victoire mountain. The winery itself was built on the vestiges of a Roman Villa by organic vigneron Henning Hoesch. All viticulture at the estate is biodynamic, to the extent that a flock of sheep [...]

Substantial, well-structured, biodynamic claret with ripe concentration of black fruit flavours and restrained oak. John and Véronique Cochran, whose vineyards spread out from their 14th century château (once home to the lords of Lansac, faithful to the English Crown) in an area called 'the little Switzerland of the Gironde' have won praise for their wines [...]

A brooding beauty that's just starting to show at its best: aromas of roast game and herbs, a dense, rich palate of blackcurrants, figs and plums and a firm tannic finish. Since 1549, Beaucastel has been home to some of the finest Châteauneuf-du-Papes, made from the fruit of classic, pudding stone-strewn vineyards. Marc and Pierre [...]

Full and involving. Cloves, red fruit and ripe tannic structure. Classic hint of astringency. A new Yarra Yering classic! 2005 - 2010
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Dr Bailey Carrodus (now sadly deceas ed)was one of the best and most innovative of all Aussie winemakers. He chose the Yarra Valley in Victori a for its cool climate and the world soon followed him. Esposing old worl techniques his wines have a length a nd finesse to them which soon earnt him an [...]

Crew-cut and businesslike (he's also a legal academic and runs a sizeable property portfolio) René Rostaing has made Côte Rôtie (elite northern Rhône Syrah plus a little Viognier) of stark purity at his brutally stylish Ampuis cellar since 1971. He was fortunate in inheriting many small plots, some containing century-old vines. His 2003 is unprecedentedly [...]

Jean-Paul Versino makes one of the finest, velvety smooth, Grenache dominant wines of this region
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Jean-Paul Versino, who operates from his home on the south side of Châteauneuf, is emerging as a star of the region. His use of oak is idiosyncratic: he employs beermaking vats from Alsace, so well-used that there are scarcely any woody flavours left. This, however, his Grenache-rich top cuvée, was aged in small barrels for [...]