Pale straw/gold colour, offering a nose of apple and peach, w.ith mineral, herbal nuances and hints of coconut, marzipan and oak vanillin. The palate is bone dry and full of apple and lemon zest flavours, plus a good deal of peppery spice and star anise on the finish. Dry but not bitter, quite light in body, but with a long finish. A food wine.

Lovely pale gold colour, offering heady aromas of peach, apple, flowers and fennel. The palate is quite complex, yet very refreshing, with the addition of 15% Parellada adding acidic lift. Careful oak ageing (5 months in new oak for the Chardonnay) adds depth and complexity. Lovely wine.

Bright, deep-coloured ruby core, fading to a pink rim. Lovely red berry and black cherry aromas, allied to meaty, animal notes. A generous palate of sweet red and black fruits, warming spice, fine tannins and a lick of bitter acidity. Lovely grip and a good deal of elegance, in a wine that could be mistaken for a top-notch Cotes du Rhone Villages, or even a decent Chateauneuf du Pape. A structured and refined wine, which is drinking really well now, but has the capacity to get even better. A few 2000 and 2002 also available.

Tasting note to follow.

Small-ish dark ruby core, fading gently to a bricking rim. Distinctive, almost Claret-like nose of plum and blackcurrant, with notes of red pepper, cedarwood and forest floor. The palate is quite rich and lush, the black fruit flavours being supported by a backbone of tannins and acidity, with herby and savoury notes adding further interest. This wine opens up beautifully after a few hours, and is indeed even better on day 2. A dead ringer for a mature Cru Bourgeois Claret - at about half the price!

Another winner from this top estate. Full tasting note to follow.

Fairly deep-coloured ruby core, fading to a brick rim. A mature nose of forest fruits, sous-bois and cedar, with some tertiary fruit flavours (raspberry and wild strawberry) allied to cedar, mushroom and tobacco notes, in what is a quite savoury, mature wine.