The Tenuta Di Arceno Strada al Sasso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017 is the result of a new chianti classico designation implemented in 2014. This classification is a level above riserva and requires slightly higher minimum alcohol levels and six months more aging than riserva. Tenuta Di Arceno is sourced from one vineyard on their estate and is 100% sangiovese. The result is a complex chianti classico featuring fresh and dried cherries and plums with hints of earth and leather.

The Tenuta Di Arceno Chianti Classico Riserva 2017, however, displays a deeper, richer quality with softer and riper plum and cherry fruit notes. It is 90% sangiovese and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Very elegant.

The Tenuta Di Arceno Chianti Classico 2018 is crafted from 85% sangiovese and 15 percent merlot grapes and presents youthful fresh fruit notes of fresh cherries. The merlot softens the sangiovese acidity to make a very agreeable package.

Something like this Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Peake Cabernet Shiraz 2019.It’s hard to talk down the quality of the Hickinbotham reds. Alongside Jackson Family Wines stablemate Yangarra, this is one of the most impressive estates in McLaren Vale bar none, crafting grandiose reds of luxury and impact.What I like about the Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard range is that, despite the ‘McLaren Vale goes to Napa’ weight, these are detailed wines. It helps that the clever Pete Fraser is on the ground (with Chris Carpenter dropping in from a US time zone) but at every turn you can see the thought behind the decisions. Couple that with the uncompromising quality of the grapes by plucked feom the coveted contour planted slopes of the ’71 planted Hickinbotham Vineyard and you’ve got a pretty magic recipe.And the winemaking notes? My kingdom for specific notes like these (and Yangarra for that matter) more often. pH, TA, block numbers, all of it. It’s a benchmark that more producers should aspire too (numbers here: ph 3.61 TA 6.4g/L).Anyway, the Peake is indeed the peak of the Hickinbotham empire and it’s a magnificent beast. Something majestic, that squarely takes aim at 707 or the like, yet built with more honesty and less added tannin.That’s a nice segue, because this wine’s biggest challenger is the already superb Brooks Road Shiraz.The Peake lays is all out there. Sourced from the original 1971 plantings, this is a best blocks, best barrels blend, the winemaking following the Brooks & the Trueman.There is an almost limitless coffeed richness here, a sense of oak-drawn purpose, backed up by fruit. That palate is absolute top-draw in a seductive, overt way. Reminds me very much of top Napa, unsurprisingly. Seamless, dark fruited, with not a hair of place. Big hats, big fruit, but wearing a very expensive wool suit. Lots of oak too. Hmm.On polish and purpose alone this is a megastar, long, tannic and taking square aim at Grange. That’s it. It’s Grange-like. Is it perfect? Not yet. That hat is so big that you can’t see the face underneath. But next year? The year after that? The years and years after that? It’s a lay down misère. You’re probably going to love this wine…

If I get my hands on another bottle of the 2017 Chateau Lassègue Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, I’m going to set it aside for a while. First, it’s plenty special for a special occasion. Second, I would love to see what it becomes. This is not to say the wine isn’t beautiful now, and indeed ready to drink; for a wine this young, it is exceptionally balanced and complete.But two hours after I opened it, those waves of lush fruit that had been prominent at the outset folded more thoroughly into the mouth filling, lush tannins. Minerals emerged on the long finish, decorated with warm florals. Yes, if I can get my hands on another one, I hope I can get my hands on two: I’ll share one with good friends now, and the other some time in the future.

Elegant, enthralling, enigmatic, engaging… and easy to adore.

21 inexpensive Christmas gift ideas for coworkersA bottle of wine can never go amiss as a Christmas present and this classic Californian chardonnay will tick the boxes for anyone who loves that oaky, buttery, west-coast taste. With notes of pineapple, mango, and papaya that blend with subtle vanilla and honey ,and a finish of toasted oak and butter, your teammate will be left thinking this is a lot more expensive than it really is—making this a great Christmas gift for neighbours too!

You Had Me at MerlotFor good measure, we included a Bordeaux wine with some age on it, the 2012 Chateau Lassègue Saint Émilion Grand Cru, an opulent wine with brooding aromas of violets on the nose and classic blackberries and herbal notes.

Wines to be thankful for at ThanksgivingHungry for red with your turkey or ham? Choose one with smooth tannins. Keep the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for red meats. But Pinot Noir would be an ideal choice. A recent discovery of a perfect Thanksgiving Wine is the 2018 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.The Sonoma Coast AVA is one of the largest in Sonoma Country and stretches along the mountainous coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The strong maritime climate provides a cool growing climate throughout the year, essential for producing premium Pinot Noir.The elegant La Crema reveals black cherry, boysenberry, and plum, along with earthiness, vanilla, and cinnamon. These complex aromas transition into multi-layers of flavours with silky tannins, a creamy texture balanced with crisp acidity, and a long fruity but dry finish.

Whoa, mama! This is what I call a serious Merlot. It’s powerful, plush and luxurious, showing dark cherries, some dried herbs and bittersweet chocolate. This tastes expensive and it delivers the “wow” with every sip.

Fruit from the Coal River Valley in Tassie, but made in the Yarra via the gentle way that defines Giant Steps. Yet the density and power of the place, the fruit intensity, comes through strongly. Dark cherries abound, but so too savoury, umami flavours of soy sauce and dried porcini with meaty reduction and spicy oak adding another layer. Full bodied with shapely tannins and a persuasive finish. A neat counterpoint to the Yarra Valley single-vineyard wines.

Deep, polished and filled of terroir, the 2018 Mt. Brave Merlot is a spectacular bottling by Chris Carpenter. Once on the nose this evokes tar with leather, baking spices and copious dark fruits with chocolate tones adding to the intrigue. Full-bodied and decadent, with good structure, enjoy this outstanding bottling over the next fifteen to twenty years. If enjoying in its youth, give this beauty at least an hour decant. Drink 2021-2038.

Touchdown this Tailgating Season with our Game Winning Wine PicksThe winemaking team at La Crema has been perfecting Chardonnay for 40 years, and it shows. The 2019 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is flavorful, bright, and juicy, making it an ideal pairing for a wide variety of cheese-centric Sunday snacks - plus, it’s incredibly easy to find at your local grocery store while you’re out hunting for game day supplies. For a low-key pairing, kick back with a bowl of cheese-its or some warm, gooey queso with chips. If you’re looking to take things up a notch, try dungeness crab mac and cheese or honeycrisp apple pizza with balsamic onions.

This light-yellow colored Chardonnay from Cambria opens with a light oak, pineapple, and pear bouquet. On the palate, this while is medium bodied with nice light acidity. The mouthfeel is round and pleasant. The flavor profile is similar to the nose. It features light oak, vanilla, and pear blend with notes of green apple skin. There is also a little almond, chamomile tea, and ginger mixed in. The finish fades away nicely. This easy to drink Chard will certainly be a crowd pleaser. It will not last long. I would pair this food friendly Chard with a garlic and herb butter roasted chicken.

Deep mahogany. An outstandingly gorgeous nose, redolent with autumnal fruit. The palate is equally beautiful – perfumed with fruit and flowers but still minty fresh, bright and remarkably youthful. The age only becomes apparent in the perfectly resolved tannins adding layered texture as padding rather than structure. This is a complete and balanced masterpiece, alive and dancing; immensely flavourful but with flavours yet unnamed, making it wonderfully intriguing and totally moreish. Superb wine from a great Napa vintage.

Authenticity returns in this classic rendition of a 1970s-style Tuscan red with a balanced aroma of red fruit, dried tomato, trace of licorice and Turkish tobacco.The gorgeous dry/tart mid-palate makes it ideal for pairing with grilled chicken, tomato-sauced seafood, and lots of other medium-weight foods.

This very pale straw-colored Chardonnay from Oregon opens with a toasted coconut and almond butter bouquet with hints of lemon zest, lychee, and pine wood shavings. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with medium acidity. It is balanced, clean and has rounded edges. The flavor profile is pineapple and lemon blend with notes of vanilla, oak, and coconut. We also detected hints of almond, key lime pie and ginger ale. It is pretty complex. The finish is dry, and its acidity and flavors linger nicely. The Panel would pair this Chard with seared diver scallops, coconut grilled shrimp or shrimp or linguini in a lemon and garlic cream sauce.

Medium garnet in the glass, with purple highlights, this wine smells of cherry and even darker berry flavors. In the mouth, a touch of raisin character mixes with cherry and cranberry compote. Faint, putty-like tannins. Decent acidity. Slightly overripe for my palate. 14.2% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap.

Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherries. In the mouth, bright cherry and sour cherry fruit have a muscular, powdery tannic texture and bright citrusy acidity that keeps things vibrant on the palate. Quite tasty.

Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and pomegranate. In the mouth sweetish cherry and pomegranate flavors have a wonderful brightness thanks to excellent acidity. There’s a hint of herbs and the tiniest hint of fresh jalapeño greenness in the finish, along with faint tannins.

Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of raspberry and cranberry fruit with a hint of dried herbs. In the mouth, bright raspberry fruit is dusted with powdery tannins and the scents of dried herbs and orange peel. Excellent acidity keeps the wine bright and juicy. Hints of cedar enter the finish.

Light gold in the glass with a hint of green, this wine smells of lemon curd and cold cream. In the mouth, silky flavors of lemon curd and cold cream have a nice zippy brightness to them thanks to excellent acidity. Lemon peel and a touch of herbs linger in the finish.

Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and citrus pith. In the mouth, bright berry and citrus peel mix with Ranier cherries and a touch of tropical fruit. Excellent acidity and brightness, with a faint salinity. Quite delicious.

Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cedar and cherries. In the mouth, somewhat flat cherry flavors mix with cedar and hints of herbs. Faint tannins buff the edges of the mouth. Needs more acidity and more complexity, but there’s nothing wrong with these flavors.