2012 Rioja Crianza, Bodegas Urbina

Hand-picked 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and Mazuelo from 30+ year old vines. The wine spends 12 months in American oak casks and a minimum of 6 months in bottle before release.

Pretty ruby colour with garnet hues, intense, with strawberry vanilla notes from the American oak. Elegant and graceful the palate has a smooth, velvety texture of red berries, nuts and spice flavours with gentle tannins in the background. Classically proportioned and deliciously mouthwatering.

2020 Morillon Blanc (Chardonnay), Jeff Carrel, Vin de France

Aidan Bell
Polished lemon yellow with a lovely luminescent colour. Nose as always is very marked by oak; sweet but lovely and fresh with good energy. Palate is really full and bold - possibly a bit riper than the 2019, but familiar touches of candied fruit with a rich mouthfeel. Another great success.

2020 Calusari Pinot Noir, Banat, Romania

The lovely Calusari Pinot Noir is light with a soft welcoming nose of Autumn fruits. Soft smooth and spicy flavours throughout on the palate with generous soft fruit and a pleasing aftertaste.

2020 Vinho Verde, Casa do Homem Branco, Quintas do Homem

Bright citrus colour. The aroma is fruity with floral notes. It is very elegant and fresh in the mouth with a vibrant acidity.

2019 Amancaya, Malbec/Cabernet, Bodegas Caro, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), Mendoza

The colour is a deep ruby with purple nuances. The nose is complex deep and broody with layered notes of cassis, cocoa, melted dark chocolate, salted caramel, figs with cinnamon, clove and bonfire. The palate unveils seductive aromas of black fruit with very well-integrated oak. This wine has great balance and an exceptional freshness. There's a restraint to the fruit that exudes sheer class. Well done DBR & Catena this is a really top notch wine.

2021 Gavi di Gavi DOCG, Tenuta Olim Bauda, Piedmont

This beautifully simple and elegant Gavi from Olim Bauda boasts a stunning bouquet of floral notes and soft citrus fruits. A fresh and dry white wine, the crisp floral notes, with hints of underlying minerality lead through to a piercingly pure finish. Light cheeses, fish and chicken. Asparagus risotto.