Wine
Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat 2022 Chambolle-Musigny 750 mL
Red cherry and black plum lead a fragrant bouquet, with raspberry, cassis and rose petals adding detail. The palate is supple and finely drawn, showing lively acidity beneath pure, gently ripe fruit. Silky tannins provide measured grip without interrupting the wine's light-footed feel. Lavender, mint and a trace of liquorice appear with air. The finish is fresh and persistent, carrying red fruit and delicate floral notes.
Gould Campbell 1997 Vintage Port
Plum and ripe strawberry meet liquorice, cocoa and a subtle leafy note on a dark, focused nose. The palate is full and lightly sweet, with juicy fruit, firm tannins and a chewy, solid frame. Spice builds through the mid-palate before a long, structured finish. Decant carefully and serve with blue cheese or dark chocolate.
Delaforce 1977 Vintage Port
Violet and lavender rise above dried cherry, fig and sweet red fruit, with cinnamon, nutmeg, cedar and spiced chocolate adding mature complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and sweet, its resolved tannins carrying toffee, berry and a touch of cold tea. Balanced and persistent, it is ready to enjoy after careful decanting.
Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port 1990
Opaque and powerful, with blackberry, plum, ripe cherry and dark berry layered with dried leaf, cocoa and warm spice. The palate is broad yet balanced, combining concentrated fruit with integrated spirit, firm structure and a fresh line that keeps the sweetness composed. Long and resonant on the finish, it is excellent with blue cheese, dark chocolate or roasted nuts.
CheckMate 2020 Opening Gambit Merlot Magnum
Black cherry, cassis and blueberry lead, lifted by violets and savoury spice. The palate is rich yet energetic, layering raspberry, blackberry and tart cranberry with dark chocolate, tobacco, clove and black pepper. Fine, polished tannins give the wine firm shape, while lively acidity and a subtle saline note carry the finish.
Penfolds 2018 Bin 149 Wine of the World Cabernet Sauvignon 750 mL
Ripe blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry and plum form a concentrated core, lifted by violet and a thread of fresh acidity. Cedar, tobacco, dark cocoa and baking spice add measured oak detail without obscuring the fruit. The palate is full and structured, with firm, fine-grained tannins carrying the wine toward a long, composed finish. Decant before serving with roast beef or grilled lamb.
Château Haut-Marbuzet 1986 Saint-Estèphe
Cassis and spicy berry fruit open with smoke, cedar, tobacco and espresso, followed by earthy and savoury tones. The palate is full-bodied and supple, its mature fruit layered with vanilla, dark chocolate and sweet toast. Structured tannins remain composed, carrying the wine into a long, gently meaty finish.
Egon Müller 2020 Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Spätlese
Lime and crisp apple lead the nose, followed by ripe orchard fruit, white flowers and a subtle flinty note. The palate is finely balanced, with gentle sweetness carried by vivid acidity and a clear mineral line. Elegant rather than weighty, it closes with citrus lift and lingering stony detail. Serve with spicy dishes, roast pork or blue cheese.
Larkmead Vineyards 2016 Dr. Olmo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Wild blackberry, black cherry and blueberry compote rise from the glass with graphite, forest floor and purple flowers. Full-bodied yet remarkably nimble, the Cabernet layers macerated strawberry, bittersweet chocolate and espresso over firm, dusty tannins. Black tea, pepper and pomegranate emerge with air, leading to a gravelly cranberry finish with lasting savoury detail.
Chateau Talbot 2012 Saint-Julien
Cassis, blackcurrant and red currant lead a polished aroma, joined by plum, roasted herbs and a restrained tarry note. The palate is juicy and rounded, with soft tannins, fresh acidity and a medium-bodied sense of balance. Cedar, liquorice and spice add savoury depth. The finish is persistent and composed, leaving dark berries, dried herbs and gentle mineral lift.
Feret Lambert 2018 Bordeaux Superieur 3L
Blackcurrant, black cherry and plum open with measured notes of cedar, graphite and dried herbs. The palate is medium to full in weight, with ripe fruit held by fine tannins and a fresh, savoury line. Balanced rather than heavy, it finishes with dark fruit and gentle spice. Give it air before serving with roast beef or lamb.
Croft 1967 Quinta da Roêda Vintage Port 750 mL
Deep ruby in the glass, opening with dark chocolate, black pepper, warm spice and black forest fruit. The palate is mouth-filling, with a sweet entry giving way to rich, ripe fruit and a lively thread of spice. Generous in texture yet still bright, it carries its mature character with notable energy. The finish is long and persistent, leaving dark fruit and sweet spice in balance.
Pio Cesare 2009 Barbaresco Il Bricco 750 mL
Ripe and dried black cherry meet rose petal, licorice and sweet spice in the documented profile. Truffle, black pepper, cedar, smoked meat and earth add depth. The palate is dry and full, with fresh acidity, high tannins and a long finish. Almond and oak detail round out a mature Barbaresco that remains structured and savoury.
Canalicchio di Sopra 2017 Brunello di Montalcino
Candle wax, ripe cherry and worked leather lead a deep, savoury aroma, with cedar shavings adding definition. The palate is full and fleshy, shaped by firm tannins and cranberry-like acidity. Mineral salinity runs through the fruit and keeps the structure precise. The finish is long and smouldering, returning to dark cherry, leather, smoke and a taut mineral edge.
Gaja 2015 Ca’Marcanda Camarcanda Bolgheri
Ripe black cherry and blueberry meet tobacco, iron and dark mineral notes. The palate is compact and concentrated, with succulent fruit, silky tannins and a sleek, tensile shape. Polished yet serious, it carries fine minerality through a balanced finish and is best served with grilled steak or lamb.
Remoissenet Père et Fils 2019 Pernand Vergelesses 1Er
Refined Chardonnay with white blossom and acacia at the fore, moving toward honeyed, amber and lightly spiced notes with time. Bright mineral energy gives the palate definition, while a harmonious texture keeps it graceful and composed. A quietly sophisticated white Burgundy for seafood risotto, grilled fish, sushi or nutty mountain cheeses.
Viña Don Melchor 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto 750 mL
Deep garnet in colour, with blackcurrant, plum and red fruit at the centre of a precise, layered bouquet. Black tea, leafy herbs and a light red-pepper note lend savoury definition, while refined oak remains measured. The palate is dense but elegant, carried by fresh acidity and rounded, fine-grained tannins. Juicy fruit persists through a long finish, joined by dark berries, herbs and gentle cedar.
Marcoux 2016/23 Chateauneuf Du Pape VV
A benchmark old-vine Grenache cuvée showing soaring aromatics of kirsch, raspberry, and crushed cherry layered with rose petal, spice, and a subtle cocoa nuance. The palate is rich yet remarkably poised, with silken texture, fine-grained tannins, and a core of pure, ripe red fruit that balances power with elegance. Exceptionally long and refined on the finish, with a signature sense of purity and perfume that underscores its age-worthiness.
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.
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.