750 mL
Domaine de Marcoux 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Dark cherry, cassis and wild berries open with dried thyme, black pepper and violet. Full-bodied yet never heavy, the palate layers ripe fruit over fine, firm tannins and a fleshy mid-palate. Garrigue, tapenade and graphite bring savoury complexity, extending through a long, polished and warmly spiced finish.
Poças 2016 Vintage Port
Smith Woodhouse 2003 Vintage Port
Crushed violet, bergamot and wild herbs lift a brooding core of black plum, blackberry and boysenberry. Powerful and rich, the palate combines ripe perfumed fruit with peppery spice, cigar box and tightly packed tannins. Dark chocolate and molasses deepen the long, structured finish. Decant carefully and serve with blue cheese or dark chocolate.
Quinta do Vale D. Maria 1997 Vintage Port
Cacao and dark chocolate lead a mature bouquet, joined by mint, dried herbs and a subtle savoury edge. Medium-bodied and balanced, the palate combines sweet fruit with round tannins and measured freshness. The finish is long, complex and gently bittersweet. Stand upright and decant carefully, then serve slightly cool with walnuts, blue cheese or dark chocolate.
Robert Weil 2018 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese
Intense ripe apricot, peach and mango set a generous tone, but the palate stays remarkably precise. Bright acidity cuts through the concentrated fruit, while lemon zest, mint and a salty mineral edge add definition. Lush yet poised, it finishes fresh, piquant and exceptionally long, with ample energy for further development.
Nittardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Vibrantly perfumed and savoury, with redcurrant, sour cherry and dark woodland fruit layered with wild herbs, laurel, pepper and warm spice. The palate is firm yet energetic, balancing ripe fruit with fresh acidity, fine-grained tannins and a gently earthy undertone. Long and composed on the finish, it benefits from air and pairs naturally with braised beef or aged pecorino.
Oreste Stefano 2015 Perno Barolo Riserva DOCG
Violet and raspberry lead a classic, traditionally styled profile, with the fruit carried by fresh detail and elegant tannin. The palate is focused and measured rather than showy, balancing floral lift with fine savoury depth. Structured for the table or cellar, it finishes dry, composed and quietly persistent.
Marchesi di Gresy 2016 Barbaresco Martinenga
Wild cherry and redcurrant are lifted by dried rose, orange zest and fine herbs, with forest floor and liquorice adding savoury depth. The palate is graceful and firm, built on fresh acidity and finely drawn tannins rather than weight. The finish is long, floral and quietly earthy. Decant before serving with braised beef or truffle dishes.
Caves Sao Joao 1989 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros Reserva
Brick-garnet in colour, with cherry and strawberry moving into dried herbs, baked gingerbread, leather and a gently earthy savoury tone. The palate remains bright, carrying red fruit and raisined nuance on a firm line of acidity, while mature bottles may show a touch of oxidation. Stand upright before opening, pour carefully, and serve with roast pork, mushrooms or braised dishes.
Caves Sao Joao 1982 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Light garnet with pronounced bricking opens slowly into dried red cherry, currant, hickory, mulch, wet hay, sweet cedar and worn leather. The palate is mature but alive, with resolved tannins and medium acidity carrying savoury red fruit, tobacco, coffee bean and cigar-box detail. Give it twenty to thirty minutes in the glass; stand upright beforehand and open carefully, as older corks may be fragile.
SAS Vincent Ruiz 2020 Monsieur Gringet
Alpine acidity carries a broad spectrum of fruit, moving from bright citrus through orchard tones to a more tropical edge. The palate combines waxy texture with a firm mineral backbone, giving the wine both breadth and precision. Complex and energetic, it remains lifted and focused through a long, distinctive finish.
Champagne Guillaume Sergent 2017 Le Chemin des Chappes Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru
Gran Enemigo 2017 Gualtallary Cabernet Franc
Blackberry and black cherry lead with violet, thyme and eucalyptus. The palate is concentrated yet energetic, layering red plum and juicy cherry over chalky tannins and lively acidity. Sweet spice, black pepper and a subtle leafy note add savoury definition without hardening the fruit. The finish is long and mineral, leaving graphite, herbs, dark fruit and finely drawn tannin.
Burrowing Owl 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Okanagan Valley
Cassis, damson plum, blueberry and dark cherry form a generous aromatic core, edged by cedar, sweet spice and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and structured, the palate carries blackberry and plum through fine, firm tannins. A restrained savoury note adds lift before the long, polished finish. Decant and serve with grilled beef or lamb.
Arnaud de Villeneuve 1980 Rivesaltes Ambré
Walnut, caramel and dried fruit meet vanilla, coffee and a trace of blond tobacco. Full and smooth on the palate, it balances oxidative richness with a surprising line of freshness, layering mild spice, candied fruit and noble rancio through a long finish. Pair with walnut cake, chocolate dessert, aged hard cheese or toasted almonds.
Arnaud de Villeneuve 1976 Rivesaltes Ambré
Chocolate, prune compote and Bourbon vanilla rise from a warm, expressive nose, with polished wood adding depth. Rich and enveloping on the palate, it brings mature rancio character into a cocoa-toned finish that remains balanced rather than heavy. Serve lightly chilled with dark chocolate, walnut tart, blue cheese or simply as a contemplative after-dinner glass.
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo 1992 Vintage Port
Concentrated and firmly structured, with a mature profile that carries weight without losing composure. The palate shows breadth and gravity, while a clear sense of tension keeps the texture from feeling heavy. Richness is held in balance by freshness and measured sweetness. The finish is long, precise and persistent, emphasizing structure, balance and quiet authority over overt power.
Château Gloria 2008 Saint-Julien
Intense dark red in colour, with generous currant, plum and bright red cherry framed by tobacco, earth and gentle spice. The palate is medium-bodied, supple and immediately inviting, bringing pure fruit together with fresh acidity and soft, settled tannins. Elegant and savoury through the finish, it is ready with a short decant and suits roast beef, duck or lamb.
Cigliuti 2017 Barbaresco Serraboella 750 mL
Ripe cherry and raspberry open with crushed rose, anise, cedar and white pepper. The palate is savoury and layered, bringing plum, iron-rich earth and underbrush around a core of generous red fruit. Lively acidity and dusty tannins give the wine a dense, balanced frame, while orange zest and liquorice add lift. The finish is long, focused and quietly powerful.