Red
OVID 2009 Napa Valley Red Wine
Mulberry and fresh boysenberry lead with roasted chestnut and sandalwood, creating a deep, layered aromatic profile. Rich fruit fills the palate around a precise core of polished tannins, with power balanced by clarity and control. Dense yet seamless, the red blend carries its dark fruit and savoury detail through a long, assured finish.
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2005 Napa Valley
Deeply coloured, concentrated and layered, with black cherry, cassis, blackberry and currant lifted by dried violet, rose, anise, graphite, cedar and roasted herb. The palate is classically structured, combining vibrant fruit with fresh acidity, polished tannins and a mineral edge. Rich yet balanced, it finishes persistent and mouth-coating; allow generous air and serve with grilled beef or lamb.
Shafer Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Blackcurrant, berry fruit, roasted pepper, olive and white chocolate form a ripe, generous profile, with polished oak adding warmth. The palate is soft and plush, its abundant fruit carried by graceful tannins rather than hard edges. Silky texture and savoury detail keep the Cabernet balanced through an open, lingering finish.
Ridge Vineyards 2008 Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains
Black cherry and cassis lead a muscular, gradually unfolding profile, with dried mountain laurel, loamy earth and the savoury scent of burning embers adding depth. The palate is broad and structured, its dark fruit held by firm, measured tannins. Earthy complexity lingers through a long, composed and quietly powerful finish.
Caves Sao Joao 1966 Frei Joao Reserva Bairrada Magnum
Mature yet lively, opening with cassis, raspberry and dried fig over pine-needle, coffee and toasted-wood notes. The palate is full and structured, with fresh acidity keeping the evolved fruit clear while settled tannins give the texture a composed shape. Earthy and savoury detail builds through the middle. The finish is persistent, carrying dried fruit, coffee, gentle spice and polished woodland complexity.
Yalumba 2017 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon
Fruitcake, plum cordial and cherry chocolate lead, joined by cola, sweet spice and a measured note of toasted vanilla. The palate remains rich and powerful, with dried fruit and savoury complexity held by firm, oak-shaped tannins. Decant well to let the structure relax, then serve with roast lamb, braised beef, grilled ribeye, mushroom dishes or aged cheddar.
Remoissenet Pere et Fils 1978 Beaune Premier Cru Marconnets
Dark mature ruby introduces smoke, damp earth, charcuterie and limestone, followed by raspberry, violet and blood orange. The palate is rich and full yet still fresh, with bright acidity and a measured tannic frame. Oolong tea, truffle, moss and autumn spice add savoury depth before a silky, gently rounded finish. Bottle variation is expected; stand upright and decant carefully.
Martin’s Lane 2020 Naramata Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir
A perfumed nose has matured toward earth, mushrooms, minerals and wet stone. Rich black cherry and liquorice remain at the core, gradually giving way to a more savoury, mineral expression across a long, persistent finish. Freshness keeps the developing layers in balance, making this Pinot Noir compelling now while retaining clear shape and energy.
Tenuta San Guido 2022 Sassicaia Bolgheri 750 mL
Cassis, blackberry and dark plum are lifted by bergamot, blood orange, Mediterranean herbs, cedar, graphite and fresh mint. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with concentrated black fruit held in balance by lively acidity. Firm, polished tannins provide a fine-grained frame, while liquorice and damson add depth. The finish is long, structured and savoury, carrying graphite, herbs and dark fruit with composed persistence.
Ornellaia 2005 Bolgheri Superiore 750 mL
Red and black berries lead an elegant, complex bouquet, with tobacco, spice and a light balsamic note developing behind the fruit. The palate is full and enveloping, framed by densely woven tannins that feel ripe, soft and polished. Dark cherry, blueberry and crushed stone add definition, while fresh acidity keeps the concentration measured. The finish is long, fruity and quietly savoury.
Tua Rita 2018 Redigaffi Rosso Toscana IGT
Deep purple with generous layers of blueberry preserve, ripe plum and blackberry, followed by dark chocolate, licorice, black pepper, vanilla and incense. Full-bodied and lush, the palate carries its concentration with polished tannins and controlled richness. The finish is exceptionally long, dark-fruited and warmly spiced without losing balance.
Quilceda Creek 2014/20 Cabernet Sauvign
2014 was a spectacular vintage, bringing you a big wine packed to the brim with floral aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and plum fruit intertwine with nuances of cacao nib, anise, soy, forest floor and minerals. Incredibly pure and complex, this richly textured wine is totally seamless in all of its parts, allowing for its silky texture to shine through on the palate with a finish that last for minutes.
Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago 2016 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Generous and intense, showing crunchy red fruit, liquorice and fresh pepper leaf, with a darker, slightly savoury edge underneath. The palate is broad and juicy, balancing ripe fruit with firm structure and a sense of lift. Tannins are present but well integrated, and the wine builds steadily rather than feeling heavy. The finish is persistent, carrying spice, dried herbs and red fruit long after each sip.
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.
Château Léoville-Las Cases 1994 Saint-Julien
Elegant and mature, with blackberry, cassis and ripe fruit set against earth, liquorice, discreet spice, vanilla and oak. Medium-bodied, the palate has refined acidity, balanced silky tannins and a measured, savoury finish that shows a lightly drying edge. Give it about two hours in a decanter and serve with simply roasted beef or lamb.
Mayacamas Vineyards 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 750 mL
Wild sage, dried herbs and sassafras lead before red currant, damson plum and bitter cherry come into focus. The palate is energetic and firmly structured, with bright acidity and a mineral backbone carrying the fruit rather than sheer weight. Fine tannins add grip, while an iron-streaked savoury note sharpens the long finish. Decant generously and serve with roast beef, lamb or mushrooms.
Continuum Estate 2017 Proprietary Red
Rated 98 points by James Suckling, this full-bodied red opens with blackberry, blackcurrant and cassis, lifted by mint and fresh sage. Wrought iron and pencil-shaving notes add savoury mineral depth. The palate is tight yet elegant, with plush tannins and lively tension carrying the fruit into a fine, focused finish. Serve with grilled ribeye, roast lamb or aged cheddar.
Château Montrose 2011 Saint-Estephe
Dark-fruited and classically structured, with blackcurrant, blackberry, plum and dark cherry joined by cedar, tobacco, licorice, fine herbs and damp earth. Full-bodied but controlled, the palate combines firm, well-integrated tannins with fresh acidity and a mineral-saline edge. The finish is spicy, savoury and persistent; decant before serving with beef, venison or slow-roasted lamb.
Château Léoville Barton 2003 Saint-Julien
Blackberry, black cherry and cassis lead into liquorice, dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. The palate is full and concentrated, with firm yet integrated tannins carrying ripe fruit, leather and forest-floor complexity. Floral notes and mineral freshness keep the structure balanced through a long, focused and quietly powerful finish.
Continuum Estate 2016
Citrus blossom and rose petal aromas bring immediate vibrancy, followed by cassis, dark fruit, bergamot and dried wild herbs. The palate builds in power and richness, with cigar box and leather adding depth. Graphite and earthy minerality provide sinewy balance through the close. Decant and serve with roast beef or lamb.