From one of the founding figures of natural farming in Italy. Not-interventionist approach and no use of chemicals, additives or preservatives. A blend of varying amount of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and sometimes Tocai Rosso and Lagrein depending on the year. Fresh, sapid wine. Juicy and mineral.

Ch. Lynch Bages, a Cinquième Cru Classé, is one of the best-known Médoc estates and has always had a particularly strong following on this side of the English Channel. The wine can be surprisingly soft and approachable when young; however, when fully mature, it develops a succulent richness and a heavenly bouquet of minty blackcurrants and cigar boxes. As Oz Clarke says, “Lynch Bages is impressive at five years, beautiful at 10 years and irresistible at 20.”

This is a remarkable 2006: voluptuous and sexy, its massive tannins are cloaked by the hugely concentrated, ripe, cedar-y, brambly fruit, while the sweet, rich, toasty aromas add an extra je ne sais quoi. The purity of fruit on the finish is sensational too. Certainly, we cannot recall Lynch having been so far up the Bordeaux quality ladder in any previous year.

2014 was one of the longest and most delayed harvest at Ornellaia, with the first Merlot harvested the 6th of September, and a large part of the historical vineyards – including some Merlot – harvested in October. The 2014 harvest, that ended on the 22nd of October, was the latest ever.

The clusters were hand-picked into 15-kg boxes and then selected by hand on a double sorting table, before and after destemming, and finally softly crushed. Each grape variety and single vineyard block was vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 26-30°C for two week, followed by 10-15 days of maceration on the skins. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% once-used. The wine then remained in barriques, in Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellars for about 18 months. After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 12 months prior to release.

“2014 was one of the most demanding years in memory of, and has allowed us to produce high quality wines that are offering great delight. The late ripening of the grapes allowed the fruit to fully express its liveliness and freshness. What is particularly striking is the high quality of the tannins on the palate: silky, refined, without rough edges. This year represents the heart of the estate, Ornellaia’s ‘Essence’: its natural style, the exceptional quality of its terroir, and the competence of those who work in the vineyards and the cellar.”

Axel Heinz – May 2015

A classic French red for the Bordeaux lover! This wine comes presented in a single bottle red cardboard gift box. Deep ruby colour. Nose of spice cake, liquorice and red fruit. The palate is powerful and smooth, with very elegant and blended tannins.

Petra, Latin for stone, was created by the Moretti family of Bellavista and is situated in Suvereto in the Val di Cornia. The estate has 97 hectares of vineyards across 3 separate plots. The winemaker Giuseppe Caviola along with Francesca Moretti are working to ensure that the quality of fruit is captured in the finished wines. Bright ruby red in colour. The bouquet is full of red fruit, with hints of black cherry and blueberry. The wine has excellent balance and length with a tangy finish of blackberry and dried fruit. Drink now to 2022.

The 90 hectares of the famous Chateau Lynch Bages vineyards are superbly sited on the plateau west of Pauillac town in the village of Bage. The property is owned by the famous Jean Michelle Cazes and currently run by his son Jean-Charles. A sublimely masculine heavyweight Lynch. It is a Pauillac personified with an impenetrable but incredibly ripe nose bursting with pure, mineral cassis. Mouth filling creamy black cherry and blackcurrant fruit is phenomenally smooth and boasts great structure with hints of tobacco, coffee, leather, and mint. The tannins are rich and silky with rare freshness. Drink now to 2027.

Complex characters of red fruit, violets and silky tannins. This wine is aged for 12 months in barrel which gives it a delicate spice of French oak. A generous, rich wine with elegant acidity which has a tremendous potential for ageing.