Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny was created in 1994 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Penfolds. Subsequent blending material has been sourced from stage six of the ‘Grandfather Solera’ and individual batches of maturing Grandfather that are identified as having exceptional quality. These components are further aged before being blended and introduced into the ‘Great Grandfather Solera’. After an initial launch of exactly 1994 bottles to commemorate the year of its inaugural release, Great Grandfather is only ever released in limited quantities to ensure the age and quality of the style is never compromised. With a minimum average blended age of 30 years, Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny delivers a beguiling mix of age, structure, strength and complexity with each and every sip. Specially selected South Australian vineyards. Many of the vineyards selected for the production of the first release of Great Grandfather are still utilised for the current release. These vineyards are selected for their consistently high quality and reliability year after year. As Great Grandfather is produced using a Solera system and sourced from additionally matured Grandfather stocks, it will always retain every variety used, albeit in small amounts. Of the some 13 varieties identified the major varieties which form the backbone of the blend from year to year are Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro and Cabernet. A specially selected ex-still fortifying spirit that has a distinctive aroma and flavour is then added. The selected spirit has an abv of 80-85% with the power and intensity to accompany and enhance the 30 years of age concentration and complexity without presenting as the dominant character. While spirit is the main driver of style in younger wines it becomes a less dominant contributor in wines of this age as the aged components take the forefront. The current Great Grandfather Solera contains a vintage span of 42 years with individual components covering 1960 to 2002 included. This large span of vintages ensures consistency and that the required level of age and youth for complexity and freshness is maintained. Lustrous deep tawny in colour with an obvious yellow-green edge. The aromas are intense, fragrant and seductive. Alluring toffee/praline notes. Rich fruit characters of quince paste, fig, raisin and candied peel. Toasted almonds and roasted chestnuts. The aromatic elements conspire into a wonderful integration, that complexes and evolves in the glass. Seamless and integrated from start to finish. Dark fruitcake, milk and dark chocolate, coffee, vanillin and aniseed all in abundance. Toffee/brûlée sugar with orange zest and marzipan add length and balance to the palate. The richness and weight of the wine are held in harmony by the spirit-acid balance, which conveys the long, persistent finish.

Seppeltsfields founder, Joseph Seppelt and his eldest son, Benno, both possessed an incredibly long-term vision and outlook for Seppeltsfield, working tirelessly to ensure a legacy was passed on to future generations. This is manifest in Benno Seppelts inception of the Centennial Cellar, a remarkable system of laying down and maturing single barrels of vintage Tawny for significant ageing before release. It is believed to be the world's only unbroken lineage of single vintage wines spanning more than 130 consecutive vintages. This amazing resource allows Seppeltsfield to offer the release of wines at the 30, 40, 50,60,70,80 and 90 year anniversaries to mark a special birthday or milestone.

WEINGUT ROBERT WEIL Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling-Beerenauslese, Rheingau

Seppeltsfields founder, Joseph Seppelt and his eldest son, Benno, both possessed an incredibly long-term vision and outlook for Seppeltsfield, working tirelessly to ensure a legacy was passed on to future generations. This is manifest in Benno Seppelts inception of the Centennial Cellar, a remarkable system of laying down and maturing single barrels of vintage Tawny for significant ageing before release. It is believed to be the world's only unbroken lineage of single vintage wines spanning more than 130 consecutive vintages. This amazing resource allows Seppeltsfield to offer the release of wines at the 30, 40, 50,60,70,80 and 90 year anniversaries to mark a special birthday or milestone.

SCHAFER-FROHLICH Bockenauer Felseneck GK Riesling-Auslese, Nahe

Since 1984 Château Rieussec has been the Sauternes property of the Rothschild family, owners of Chateau Lafite. Rieussec, a neighbour of Chateau dYquem, had for generations been a leading producer and was ranked Premier Cru in 1855. Even so, under Rothschild ownership the property has been transformed, with new cellars and winery and far more rigorous grape selection (plus greater use of barrel fermentation and maturation) for the flagship Grand Vin. This has led to Rieussecs clear emergence as a rival to its famous neighbour. Chateau Rieussec is 90% Semillon, with minor contributions from Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The property is 110ha with 68ha under vine.

Opaque dark mahogany in colour, with an amber rim. This wine is reminiscent of figs, dates, raisins and licorice on the nose. Spectacluar flavour and density, but not at all cloying. Its light acidity leaves the palate clean. Very long aftertaste. Emilio Lustau is one of Spain's greatest Sherry bodegas and is named after Don Emilio Lustau Ortega who founded the family estate in 1896. Renowned for the quality of their Sherries, Emilio Lustau is probably best known for pioneering the Almacenista system, whereby individual dry Sherries are produced from small private holdings. These are bottled under Lustau's name but with the individual bodegas name on the label as well. In addition to their standard range of wines the estate also produces a stellar range of limited edition and Solera Reserva sherries which are amongst the finest wines in the region. A stellar producer of this famous wine style.

Quinta do Noval is the go to Port house for those who prefer VP in a more elegant guise. 1995 was a terrific year at Noval and now almost 20 years old, it is a beautifully balanced and supple wine with a lush, plump texture and smooth, round tannins. Intense flavours of plums, raisins and dark chocolate abound with a hint of secondary development now peaking through.

It is a lovely, driven, spicy, nutty and smoky Amontillado with a generous, pulpy, glycerol-rich personality and a complex finish that has a twist of quinine and bitter coffee.