Every collection starts with one special bottle

Krug 171 is a celebration of the 2015 vintage, where Pinot Noir soared in quality. The 171 is luxurious, toasty, enveloping and gourmand. While 2015 takes the lead, the wine’s magic comes from the detailed support of 12 other years, going back to 2000. It’s an intricate combination of no less than 131 wines, and the result is a glorious harmony, fully orchestral in its volume. Captivating in its power and enthralling in its decadence, this is Krug at its very best

Brut Premier is dead, long live Collection! An idea that started in 2002, deep in the Roederer cellars, has finally been realised by master winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. He wanted to make a multi-vintage wine that captured the essence of the Roederer style, and differentiated the nuance of the vintages in the blend. In 2012 he started a perpetual reserve, with young vine fruit from the biodynamic parcels usually dedicated to the production of Cristal. Collection 242 is the inaugural release of this idea. 56% of the blend comes from the 2017 harvest, 10% from reserve wines (spanning 2009 to 2016), and 34% from the perpetual reserve. The house dates back to 1776, and the name pays homage to the 242nd harvest since then. It is fresh and incisive, with the chalkiness and salinity you might find in young Cristal. Its arrival marks the end of the line of the Brut Premier cuvée. It’s only a small step up in price, but from tasting it multiple times we are convinced it is a huge leap up in quality and style.

Anseillan is a small property within the estate of Lafite Rothschild, and for years they have made this separate wine and enjoyed it at the chateau, amongst the family. The 2018 was the first commercial release, and in the year since they have decided to release this magnum parcel from the 2014 vintage. In this part of the left bank 2014 was a glorious vintage, with ripe blackcurrant, plum and red cherry fruit, spice and stony character. This is maturing slowly, developing truffle, earth and smoke on the nose.

This is deliciously beautiful on the nose, with sweet spice, Christmas cake, and a hint of toffee apple. The palate is silky smooth, with a warmth that coats the mouth without being overpowering, and just a hint of smokiness completing the picture. A brilliant debut from this name to watch.

This XO can include the Château on the label because it is made exclusively from grapes harvested, distilled, aged and bottled at the Château Fontpinot. Full of dried apricot, citrus peel, dried fig on the nose and palate, with marzipan, hazlenut, and 'rancio' from long ageing. Warm and rich on the palate.

Glenfarclas is one of the only family-run distilleries in Scotland and has been in the Grant family for generations. This 25 year old single malt from Glenfarclas spent its days in 100% Oloroso sherry casks. It's complex, nutty, with clear sherry character and a rich, long finish. It won gold at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge.

This spellbinding wine was tasted at the estate with Paolo De Marchi, having just sold the estate after over 45 vintages at the property. Expect ripe cherries, cranberries and pomegranates combined with liquorice and hints of black olive and clove spice. The tannins have a presence and grip to them, yet are so fine grained and so beautifully integrated into the wine's juicy core.

Malts from the Miyagikyo distillery are known for their elegance and fruit-forward nature. This whisky is made from peated and non-peated barley and is made in indirectly heated pot stills to emphasise the delicate fruity signature style. Maturation is mostly in sherry casks which shines through in the final whisky. Made from a blend of whiskies of various ages.

Les Sétilles is a contender for most popular wine on our list. It is a smash hit of a Bourgogne Blanc, made from a huge patchwork of vineyards, many clustered around the village of Puligny, and some from further afield. Latterly the fruit coming from the Hautes-Côtes has brought welcome freshness and tension to the wine. Two-thirds of the wine is raised in oak, with just a touch (10%) in new. It is precise, full of character, and quite simply a snapshot of some great winemaking at play in a promising vintage. It shows lemon brightness, mineral bite and a lovely seam of acidity leading to an impressively long finish.

Pol Roger's classic N/V blend has a huge following, and with good reason. It is one of the most finely balanced and delicious grandes marques on the market. It's a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. It is one of the most complex and rewarding non-vintage Champagnes you'll find, with creamy citrus notes on the nose, and a crisp orchard fruit palate with savoury minerality on the long, elegant finish. This is based on the excellent 2018 vintage.

Owner Mark is a huge believer in the power of Pinot Noir-led sparklings, grown on the pure chalk of the Rathfinny farm. So their Classic Cuvée is Pinot Noir-led, and spends 36 months on the lees. Rathfinny only produce vintage wines, and the 2017 is crisp and fruit forward, with just 5g/l of dosage, and a long, chalky, delicious finish.