Vintages release: September 12

Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir 2006
Sonoma Coast, California $32.95 (140273) 14.5% alcohol
Crafted with care—hand-picked and sorted, cap hand-punched, bottled unfined and unfiltered after almost a year in French oak. Hugely perfumed, this opens with sprigs of spice, dark berry fruit, floral notes, hints of toasty oak and forest floor aromas. It’s medium weight, fully textured and bursts on the palate with a rush of fabulous flavour—black currant, kirsch liqueur and ripe pomegranate. There’s a lingering finish that showcases additional sweet berry fruit, finely grained tannin, well-integrated oak and a dollop of moderating acidity. Well balanced, well priced and well... delicious. (Vic Harradine)


Bodegas Vallobera ‘Reserva’ 2001
DOCa Rioja, Spain $28.95 (114314) 13.5% alcohol
Opening with a full rainbow of aromas—mocha, black licorice, cherry and sweet oak—this is lovingly sculpted and elegant. The persistent stream of flavour showers ripe Bing cherry, bramble berry and tangy black currant on the palate. Medium bodied and nicely textured it has a solid underpinning of polished tannin finishing dry and well balanced. Aerate/decant for two hours then pour alongside a generous cut of beef tenderloin grilled rare to medium rare. Drinking well for another decade. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages release: October 10

Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez ‘Tinto Pesquera Crianza’ 2006
DO Ribera del Duero $30.95 (341461) 13.5% alcohol
The complex perfumed nose opens with tar, floral and spice aromas as segue to a gorgeous mouthful of rich palate-drenching flavours—black currant, succulent red cherry and spiced black Damson plum—that mingle with ripe tannin. It’s mid weight and fully textured with18 months in new American oak seamlessly integrated. Impeccably balanced and well structured, the finish layers on earthy notes and dark sweet berry fruit. Aerate/decant for two hours and drink now to 2018. Incredible value, you’ll want a bottle or two. (Vic Harradine)


Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez ‘Tinto Pesquera Reserva’ 2005
DO Ribera del Duero $46.95 (323345) 14% alcohol
Mineral, spice and leather on the nose, there are tightly focused flavours of pie cherry, ripe boysenberry and red currant that form a persistent stream throughout. It’s medium bodied, nicely textured and shows deft balance and good structure. There are glorious flavours lurking under the firm tannin structure—dark Belgian chocolate and ripe black juicy Bing cherry and good moderating acidity. It needs time, patience and careful cellaring allowing it to evolve into something special. Drink 2012 to 2020. (Vic Harradine)