Wine
Orma 2009 Toscana IGT 750 mL
Dried fruit, black olive, rich undergrowth and autumnal fruit shape the documented profile. The palate is big and silky, with ample fruit balanced by lively acidity and herbal, earthy secondary notes. Cherry, blackberry, plum, leather and tobacco add further detail, supported by dusty, velvety tannins. The recorded blend is Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Fornacina 2020 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Blood orange and currant lead the documented profile, followed by tar, leather, toasted and spicy hints. The wine is made entirely from Sangiovese, harvested from September into October. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel with long maceration and traditional pumpovers. After malolactic conversion, the wine spends at least two years in large Slavonian oak.
Domaines Ott 2013 Château Romassan Bandol Rouge 750 mL
Blackcurrant, morello cherry and spices define the documented tasting profile. The wine is described as rich and elegant, with fine, silky tannins through the finish. Mourvèdre supplies the established varietal identity, while long ageing is part of the producer's approach to concentration and depth. Fruit, spice and polished tannin remain the central, clearly sourced details.
Château de Pibarnon 2013 Bandol Rouge 750 mL
Structured and built for long ageing, the documented profile emphasizes volume, mass and amplitude. Those elements recede through the finish, leaving finesse, sweetness and fruit-shaped tannins. The estate also records fine tannin extraction, ripeness and minerality. Together, the notes describe a concentrated red whose scale settles into a detailed, composed and distinctly mineral, precisely defined close.
Domaine Gaston & Pierre Ravaut 2013 Côte de Nuits-Villages Rouge 750 mL
Blackberry and blackcurrant define the producer's documented fruit profile, set within a stated balance of tannin and acidity. The fruit comes from Pinot Noir grown on the slopes of Comblanchien. After complete destemming and stainless-steel fermentation, the wine spends twelve months in French oak, including fifteen percent new barrels, followed by six months on fine lees before bottling.
Le Coste 2013 Paino Bianco Procanico 750 mL
Deep amber-gold in colour, with dried apricot, quince, crushed flint and a faint note of volcanic ash. The palate is full and textural, bringing ripe pear, chamomile, salted almond and honeycomb into focus. Bright acidity cuts through the breadth while firm, grippy tannins provide shape. The finish is persistent and mineral, retaining savoury tension and a clear imprint of its volcanic setting.
Nicolas-Jay 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 750 mL
Black cherry and plum lead, accented by violet, dried herbs and bay laurel. The palate is dense and focused, with brilliant red and black fruit framed by impressive tannins and racy acidity. Olive, savoury herbs and a saline edge bring definition through the middle. The finish is long and energetic, retaining bright fruit, mineral tension and a composed, structured feel.
Château de Laborde 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 750 mL
Dark cherry and blackberry open with forest-floor earthiness and a measured thread of spice. The palate is bold and concentrated, with rich black fruit carried by firm, ripe tannins and steady freshness. Savoury detail gives the dense centre definition without making it heavy. The finish is structured and persistent, returning to dark fruit, spice and a gently earthy note.
Poderi Aldo Conterno 2019 Il Favot Langhe Nebbiolo 750 mL
Aromatic and finely detailed, with red cherry, plum and rose layered over gentle spice and a subtle earthy note. The palate is medium-bodied and supple, combining soft fruit with delicate freshness and elegant tannins. Fine structure keeps the wine lively without making it austere. The finish is clean and persistent, returning to red fruit, florals and spice with a smooth, composed feel.
Palari 2016 Faro 750 mL
Black fruit, forest berries and cassis meet smoke, tar, leather and a restrained note of toasted wood. The palate is broad and savoury, with delicate fruit carried by notable freshness rather than weight alone. Firm, fine tannins and steady acidity give the wine a dry, structured shape, while liquorice and mineral detail build through a long, balanced finish with a distinctly saline edge.
Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Chinato 750 mL
Aged red-wine depth meets a complex botanical profile of bitter orange, liquorice, rhubarb and warming spice. Notes of sarsaparilla, coriander, marjoram and bay leaf add a savoury, gently medicinal edge without overwhelming the fruit. Smooth and full across the palate, it balances sweetness with a measured bitterness and finishes long, warm and composed. Serve lightly chilled after dinner or alongside dark chocolate.
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.
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 2018
A polished South Australian Cabernet with cassis, blackberry, violet, bay leaf, tobacco, cedar and graphite. Carefully judged oak frames the fruit without crowding it, while the medium- to full-bodied palate balances concentration with freshness. Fine, persistent tannins lead into a savoury, chocolate-tinged finish. Serve it with grilled steak, roast lamb or a rich mushroom dish.
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateau du Pape 2020
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 is a classic, Mourvèdre-led Southern Rhône red that shows the estate’s trademark depth and savoury complexity. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dried rose, lavender, liquorice, leather and garrigue lead into a layered palate of dark fruit, pepper, earth and warm spice.
Full-bodied and structured, it keeps its shape through fresh acidity, firm but polished tannins and a long mineral finish. A serious, ageworthy red for roast lamb, game or slow-braised meats.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Birch Block 2022 Pinot Noir Magnum
Leather, pipe tobacco and vanilla pod lead into rose petal, violets and wild sagebrush. The palate feels lively and multidimensional, with whole-cluster character bringing savoury definition and toasted spice. Soft, velvety tannins keep the structure supple, carrying floral detail, woodland herbs and warm spice through a poised, quietly persistent finish.