The 2023 Côte Rôtie is, as usual, destemmed, and uses around 20% new oak during its 14 month ageing. This is a very detailed wine with a real sense of classicism to it. Supple with pristine hedgerow fruit, there is purity and charm to the aromatics of pepper, violets, black olive which fan across the palate. The finish is beautifully long and balanced – such a charming wine that will excite any Northern Rhône fan.

This must be the most reliably brilliant N/V rosé champagne out there. Delicate onion skin pink, with savoury notes and a gentle but sophisticated lift of red fruits on the nose. The palate is exceptionally smooth, with creamy bubbles and a long, elegant finish.

One of the finest wines of South Australia, made by the legendary Brian Croser from his The Tiers Vineyard which is planted with vines from his original Petaluma vineyard. The vines sit around 450m above sea level and 2023 was a cool vintage here bringing incredible freshness and a razor sharp line of saline acidity. The palate is refined and focussed, with lime, grapefruit, white peach and white blossom bringing elegant lift. Very persistent and fine.

A really classic Medoc, with subtle spiced nose of cedar and a little tobacco. Supple bramble fruit clothe the palate with a tinge of crushed violets and warm earth. The tannins are fine grained with a gentle grip with wonderful sense of poise on the finish.

A vibrant Sassicaia that defies the warmth of this vintage, the wine opens with notes of cocoa nibs, white pepper and rose petal. There is a power, and supple core of cherry fruit to the wine with a gravelly, mineral undertone. This is coiled and bursts forward on the palate with a sappy energy and intensity. This isn’t a flamboyant wine, rather the opposite – this is an athletic, poised and precise Sassicaia.

A vibrant Sassicaia that defies the warmth of this vintage, the wine opens with notes of cocoa nibs, white pepper and rose petal. There is a power, and supple core of cherry fruit to the wine with a gravelly, mineral undertone. This is coiled and bursts forward on the palate with a sappy energy and intensity. This isn’t a flamboyant wine, rather the opposite – this is an athletic, poised and precise Sassicaia.

A vibrant Sassicaia that defies the warmth of this vintage, the wine opens with notes of cocoa nibs, white pepper and rose petal. There is a power, and supple core of cherry fruit to the wine with a gravelly, mineral undertone. This is coiled and bursts forward on the palate with a sappy energy and intensity. This isn’t a flamboyant wine, rather the opposite – this is an athletic, poised and precise Sassicaia.

The nose of the 2023 Difese opens with fresh aromas of cherry blossom, cranberry and hedgerow fruit. A subtle note of cocoa and wild herbs mingles with the fruit and you feel the fine web of tannins clothing the fruit. A little more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend this year (35%), there is a both charm and structure to the Difese this year.

Coming from a site in the Lower Helderberg, this offers a beautiful Cabernet nose of violets, blackcurrant and bramble fruit. The tannin is ripe and clothed in ample fruit with a dash of cocoa spice adding complexity. There is a lovely freshness but also intensity here with a core of purple fruit lingering on the finish.

The fruit for the Boekenhoutskloof Syrah comes 90% from the Porseleinberg farm and 10% from Goldmine. This is a spicy, nuanced Syrah with around two thirds whole bunch that was vinified in concrete before ageing in large foudres and 500 litre barrels. There are aromas of cracked pepper, roast beef, with a fleshy and rounded feel to the bramble fruit. The tannins are ripe but well defined adding tension to the finish. An excellent effort and another great Syrah from Gottfried.