Château La Nerthe is harmonious and balanced: pretty red garnet color with purplish hints. On the nose, a mix of ripe red fruits (cherry) and vegetal scents (licorice, anise). Silky textured, the wine is round, pulpy, with noticable but supple tannins offering red stone fruits (plum) and herbal notes (menthol) on the finish. The whole confirms a solar vintage but without excess of alcohol or dryness, the wine reveals on the contrary balance with a nice freshness to watch for a decade or more.

The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.

DOMAINE PIERRE USSEGLIO Cuvee de mon Aieul, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A brooding and strongly varietal grenache style showing concentrated dark cherry, tobacco, spice, iron and raspberry fruits. Full-bodied, dry and firm on the palate with significant tannins well supported by complex fruit, it finishes long and robust, typical of classic Grenache.

Intense, mineral-accented aromas of cherry, cassis and violets. Juicy with sweet dark berry flavours, bitter chocolate and candied flowers. Powerful and vibrant with excellent balance and clarity. Fine-grained tannins lead a long, spicy, penetrating finish. It will age gracefully.