2013
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2013 Pauillac
Fine-boned and restrained, with tobacco, cassis and crushed gravel leading into fresh red cherry. The palate is medium-bodied and polished, favouring clarity and precision over weight. Firm but refined tannins frame the fruit, while subtle cedar and mineral notes give the wine a classical, savoury shape. The finish is clean and measured, tapering through cherry, tobacco and cool stone with an understated, composed persistence.
Penfolds Grange 2013
Powerful and intensely youthful, with blueberry, redcurrant, plum and mulberry joined by coffee bean, chocolate, allspice, Szechuan pepper and dry herbs. Richly textured and dense, the palate combines bright fruit with remarkably smooth tannins, precise balance and a long, spicy finish. Give it about four hours in a decanter and serve with roast lamb or beef.
Opus One 2013 Napa Valley
Concentrated and aromatic, with blueberry, cassis, blackberry and black cherry lifted by rose, anise, baking spice, graphite and cedar. A creamy entry gives way to vibrant freshness, velvety tannins and impressive mid-palate depth. Rich but precisely balanced, it finishes very long and perfumed; allow generous air and serve with prime rib, grilled lamb or wild mushrooms.
Dom Pérignon 2013 Vintage Brut Champagne Luminous Bottle
Apricot, tangerine peel and crisp stone fruit meet white flowers, jasmine and fresh mint. The palate is ample and seamless, with lively citrus, bright acidity and fine bubbles carrying pear, almond and buttered toast. Powdery spice, clear honey and mineral freshness build through a polished, persistent finish.
Tenuta di Trinoro 2013 Palazzi 750 mL
Ripe red stone fruit and raspberry open with wild flowers, white truffle and exotic spice. The palate is opulent yet animated, its generous Merlot fruit held in focus by bright acidity and silky tannins. Floral and savoury layers continue to shift with air, giving the wine more freshness and definition than its richness first suggests. The finish is long, aromatic and polished. Decant before serving with roast lamb, braised beef or porcini dishes.
Domaine René Rostaing 2013 Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie
Fresh raspberry and boysenberry rise with potpourri, floral oils and smoky mineral notes. Lively red and dark berry flavours fill the palate, gaining depth from peppery spice, olive, truffle and a savoury forest-floor nuance. Fine, gently firm tannins frame the concentrated fruit, while clear mineral energy drives the long, precise and persistent finish.
Giovanni Chiappini 2013 Guado de’ Gemoli Bolgheri Superiore Magnum
Cassis, ripe black cherry and raspberry open with tobacco, liquorice, black pepper and a quiet balsamic note. The palate is concentrated and vigorous, combining dark fruit with close-grained tannins, savoury olive and measured toast. Fresh acidity and a saline edge keep the richness in balance, carrying the wine into a long, firm finish. Decant carefully and serve with braised beef, roast lamb or porcini dishes.
Château Montelena 2013 The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Black cherry, cassis and black pepper lead, layered with tomato leaf, meat and soy for a distinctly savoury profile. The palate is dense yet seamless, with grippy tannins supporting deep fruit and a long, composed finish. Elegant rather than flashy, it rewards decanting and suits roast lamb, grilled beef, braised short ribs, porcini dishes or aged hard cheese.
Champagne Jacquesson 2013 Dizy Terres Rouges Extra Brut
Crisp yellow orchard fruit, raspberry and wild strawberry meet white flowers, citrus and a touch of nougat. The palate is layered and seamless, with delicate red fruit framed by lively tension and an elegantly vinous texture. Honeycomb and fine spice add depth before a long, bright and seemingly weightless finish.
Palmaz Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Raspberry liqueur rises first, grounded by the mineral scent of wet stones warming in the sun. Black and blue fruit unfolds across a concentrated palate before moving toward sweet black tea. The Cabernet combines generous aromatic depth with firm but measured structure, finishing gently and with a calm, persistent sense of balance.
Hobel 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Sweet oak and cedar frame a deeply coloured, concentrated Cabernet core of boysenberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate. The palate is massive yet silky, with ample fruit, firm vineyard-driven structure and a line of tension running through the richness. Fresh acidity keeps the scale balanced, carrying violets, crushed rock, incense and blackberry into an energetic finish.
Domaine Billaud-Simon 2013 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Chardonnay 750 mL
Mineral and honeyed notes lead into citrus and white stone fruit, with a restrained floral lift. The palate is broad, round and powerful, yet its weight is held in fine balance by clear freshness and a precise mineral line. The texture remains composed through the middle. The finish fades slowly and persists on citrus, pale fruit and a discreet savoury note.
August Kesseler 2013 Cuvée Max Spätburgunder Trocken 750 mL
Fine redcurrant opens over sous-bois, autumn leaf and a quiet savoury edge. The palate is concentrated and firmly structured, with mature tannins and a taut line of acidity giving the fruit definition. Earthy woodland notes deepen through the middle, while the finish remains dry, persistent and composed rather than heavy. Decant carefully to soften the structure; serve with duck, roast veal, mushroom dishes or aged alpine cheese.
Benanti 2013 Pietra Marina Etna Bianco Superiore 750 mL
Orange blossom and ripe apple rise from an intense, complex nose. The palate is dry and distinctly mineral, with high acidity and saline detail giving the fruit a taut, elegant shape. Long lees ageing contributes depth without softening the wine's volcanic precision. The finish is persistent and savoury, leaving anise, almond, ripe apple and a clear impression of sea-breeze salinity.
Szent Tamás Pincészet 2013 Mád Furmint 750 mL
Yellow fruit and lemon open with green herbs and a clear mineral edge. Medium-bodied and dry, the palate is shaped by vivid acidity and a clean, energetic line. Ripe fruit brings breadth without heaviness, while citrus, lean green spice and volcanic stoniness add focus and definition. The finish is notably long for the style, lingering on lemon zest, mineral salinity and fresh, precise acidity.
Sea Smoke 2013 Southing Pinot Noir 750 mL
Black raspberry and baked strawberry lead a ripe, energetic nose, joined by wet stone, cola, cinnamon and mace. The palate is more restrained than the aromas suggest, with vivid acidity cutting through chocolate-coated black cherry and baking spice. Dried oregano and rosemary add a savoury edge through the mid-palate, keeping the fruit focused and the finish fresh.
Zenato 2013 Sergio Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
Deep cherry, Marasca cherry and small dark berries lead with warm spice and a quietly savoury undertone. Full-bodied and intense, the palate remains graceful, with concentrated fruit framed by measured freshness and supple structure. The blend's richness builds gradually, carrying dried-fruit depth and spice through a long, composed finish suited to braised beef or aged cheese.
Giovanni Chiappini 2013 Lienà Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT 750 mL
Plum and dried fruit lead a complex, savoury nose, with tobacco, chocolate and liquorice adding depth. The palate is rich yet elegant, its generous fruit framed by smooth, soft tannins rather than hard edges. French-oak ageing brings polish and subtle warmth while the Cabernet Franc retains a clear, persistent shape. The finish is long, balanced and quietly earthy. Decant before serving with braised beef, roast lamb or aged pecorino.