Poised aromas of waxy yellow fruit open to a more expressive palate. It’s broad and complex with a yeasty mouthfeel, layers of dried peach, apricot and hay, smoky minerals and a creamy finish. The acidity just balances the plush fruit and it should age into a savoury beauty.

Another big version, but the great brambly mountain fruit and acidity give it some nice balance.

Stop Giving Merlot the Side EyeLocated in the appellation of St. Émilion, Bordeaux, France and first built in 1738, the estate was purchased by the Jackson & Seillan families in 2003. Ornate sundials adorn the façade of Château Lassègue, a beautiful 18th century Château. This wine is the second label of Lassègue and is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

This wine shouts Applejack from the rooftops: it's perfumed, elegant and relatively light-bodied, but with a fireworks display of red fruits and complex, savoury tannins. As with all Giant Steps pinots, it's not fined or filtered.

Great depth of colour. Partly destemmed, and partly left as whole bunches, matured in French barriques (25% new) for eight months. Ripe plum and glossy cherry fruit flavours fill the mouth, with spice and soft tannins adding flavour and texture.

Two barrels spontaneously underwent malolactic fermentation. The elevation of the Wombat Creek Vineyard at 410m makes this the last vineyard to be picked, and gives the wine a spine of acidity, with a wealth of nectarine and melon fruit wrapped around it.

Bordeaux has many expressions. For Saint-Émilion it’s the ability for longevity in the wines. True, most wines are made to drink now, and then there are wines like Les Cadrans, which have the ability to be enjoyed now, or held on to for several years. The 2016 offers soft and subtle fruit of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, and like traditional Bordeaux, it holds back the expressive nature and allows it to work with food and to be a companion to whatever meal you might be having. There are notes of black cherry, cranberry, spice and violet, expressing its silky Merlot character. Rich and round on the palate, with a touch of well-integrated oak and fine-grained tannins, Les Cadrans is mainly Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and aged 10 months in new French oak. A celebration of Old World Merlot, this Saint-Émilion can be enjoyed now and over the next 10 years.

Deep purple colour from core to rim. Vibrant crushed raspberry fruit on the nose. The palate shows super-bright red berry fruits. Lovely line and length, the fine tannin line gives purpose and direction into the finish. A juicy and fun drink-now wine.

This slightly opaque and ruby colored Chianti Classico opens with a red plum and mild cedar bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and quite juicy. The flavor profile is an oak influenced red plum with notes of green tea and pomegranate. I also detected hints of red beet, crushed stone and red cherry. The finish is dry and its mild tannins linger and last for a while. This Chianti Classico would pair well with Tuscan slow cooked braised beef in wine sauce.

Complex, with lithe minerality and rich savoriness to the concentrated raspberry, red plum and currant flavors, backed by crunchy acidity. Delicate and well-spiced on the pure-tasting finish. Drink now through 2026.

Rich and fruity, featuring mineral-inflected raspberry, cherry tart and dried currant flavors that are buoyant and lightly creamed. Hints of cocoa powder emerge on the long, well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2024.

Resonant, with ripe spiciness to the broad, fleshy flavors of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant. The powerfully pure and well-knit finish lingers, featuring concentrated raspberry tart accents, backed by firm tannins. Best from 2021 through 2026.

Offers an explosively spicy aroma, with an alluring creaminess to the concentrated plum tart and raspberry flavors. Pure and minerally midpalate, featuring a lilting finish of wild herb notes. Drink now through 2025.

Offers an aroma of forest floor, with rich minerality to the pure-tasting red fruit flavors. Hints of mocha show midpalate, leading to a finish of ground cooking spice notes, accented by lively acidity and medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2025.

Juicy, with lithe minerality and acidity framing the focused red currant, raspberry and cherry tart flavors. Slate and spice notes show on the racy finish. Drink now through 2024.

Well-structured, with crisp acidity backing the intensely savory and precise flavors of dried cherry, slate and plum. The finish offers toasty accents to the pure minerality. Drink now through 2024.

Dense, featuring ripe dark fruit flavors, backed by firm tannins and acidity. Slate and underbrush notes lengthen out midpalate, with a taut, savory finish. Drink now through 2024.

Plush and rich-tasting, featuring ripe boysenberry and raspberry flavors, accented by seductive pastry notes. Creamy midpalate, with a long, Asian spice–filled finish. Drink now through 2024.

Svelte and fine-grained, with a rich, savory essence to the dried berry and cherry flavors. Mineral and forest floor accents show on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Juicy, with rich minerality to the vibrant red plum and wild cherry flavors, supported by suave acidity and silky tannins. Broad-textured and spicy on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Redolent of cherry tart, with plenty of pastry accents. Juicy and fresh, featuring hints of black licorice midpalate. Slate and spice details show on the crunchy finish. Drink now through 2025.

Delicate, with dried rose petal and red cherry flavors, backed by fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. The juicy finish is spicy and crunchy, revealing savory hints. Drink now through 2024.

A pretty and refined wine, with vibrant cherry and strawberry blossom accents, showing elegant structure and polish on the long finish. Drink now through 2026.

Minerally layers of ripe red currant and cherry compote flavors feature plenty of toastiness. Cedary accents come in on the well-structured and lightly spice finish. Drink now through 2024.

Plush flavors of red fruits are matched to viscous spiciness. Pastry and toasty accents emerge midpalate, leading to a fruity finish that lingers with hot stone notes and hints of paprika. Drink now through 2024.