Cellar Raids: Day One

This 2018 is showing great purity of red cherry and berry fruit, supported by liquorice and clove spice. Hints of blood orange and a stony minerality add complexity, combined with the wine's chalky tannins and vibrant acidity.

Château Calon-Ségur in St-Estèphe is a brilliant property, that's hugely sought after. This, the second wine, is a brilliant purchase: one that you should stock up on.

Château Capbern is a real gem of our Bordeaux range. From St-Estèphe, and made by the same team as high-achiever Calon-Ségur, this is a wine that will thrill with its energy and complexity, and with its price. It’s a wine that comes very highly recommended: stock up at En Primeur prices, while you have the chance.

There’s lots of creamy merlot character on the 2020 Evangile, a Pomerol which gets better every year we taste it. Lovely silkiness to the tannins, that build through and coat the palate. Very detailed and feel that slight savoury cabernet franc on the finish. Very pure and insanely long. Gets better and better.

Montevetrano is a blend of Aglianico, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It's an intense, powerful wine, but what marks it out is the freshness and textured layers here. A brilliant southern Italian red.

Grapes are sourced from Müller’s exceptional estate holdings in Wiltinger Braunfels, Oberemmeler Rosenberg and Saarburger Rausch. The 2022 has a ripeness of fruit and displays juicy peach and fresh apricot combined with a juicy acidity as well as lime and steely notes with this beautiful off dry style of Riesling.

This Chenin Blanc is different from all the other Chenins in our range: it comes from Elgin, one of the coolest grape-growing regions in South Africa. Planted on Bokkeveld Shale - not all that dissimilar to the soils of the Loire’s Savennières - this is as cool and precise as South African Chenin gets.

Deep and brooding, very mineral and fine, striking tannic structure and there's a depth to the fruit. Power, balance and intensity. Really impressively put together with energy and length.

One of the lesser known Nuits premiers crus, this vineyard is shared with Domaine Robert Chevillon, just below Aux Thorey, on the Vosne side of the appellation. Its clay-rich soils have yielded a big-shouldered, powerful Nuits, with a complex and surprisingly silky palate with an ample, pleasing finish.

A very bold style of New World Cabernet Sauvignon, the Bin 707 is fermented and matured in new American oak barrels, giving the wine powerful flavours of vanilla and coconut. Linear tannins typical of Cabernet provide the structure for long ageing.

An impressive Le Gay, this opens with notes of violets, chocolate, and ripe purple fruit. The palate finds the perfect balance between freshness and exuberence with fleshy bramble fruit clothing the wine's ripe tannin. This ends with a long, supple finish and accents of liquorice and brine.

From the Baudana cru in Serralunga, this is nervy and ethereal, with notes of grapefruit and peach skin, and so much lift on the palate. Very Serralunga, with the refined, mouthwatering tannins we’ve come to expect from Clerico.

2020 was characterised by a warm summer, yet temperatures over the growing season were relatively cool and therefore the wine has a fantastic juxtaposition of concentration and weight combined with an energy and purity that you come to expect from the very best Mosel Rieslings. Jasmine, lime and white peach aromas are supported with a lively acidity and almost steely profile. Subtle perfume notes of verbena and mint add layers of complexity.

An outstanding value Pomerol, now owned by Calon-Segur this is undoubtedly one to watch. An insider's tip from the Pomerol plateau, this has energy, power, and ripeness in perfect balance. A beauty.

The Scharzhof Riesling is sourced from holdings in different famous vineyard sites including the Saarburger Rausch, the Oberemmeler Rosenberg, the Wiltinger Kupp, and the Wiltinger Braunfels. While this is an off-dry wine with just 8.5% alcohol the sweetness is barely noticeable with a laser light focus, lip-smacking freshness and a rush of bright citrus and green mango fruit. There are notes of jasmine, lime and white peach aromas are supported with a lively acidity and almost steely profile. Subtle perfume notes of verbena and mint add layers of complexity.

Berliquet, tucked away between the illustrious names of St-Emilion, really is one to watch. 2017 was the first vintage under the new owners, who also run Chateaux Rauzan Segla and Canon. It’s full of rich plum and blackberry fruit with a mineral complexity alongside woody herbs and licquorice spice. Elegant and silky with soft tannins.

The 2020 Pavie-Macquin is another lovely wine from this impressive Thienpont-owned estate. Fine tannins and intense fruit, with lots of spice and minerality on the finish. Really well put together in 2020.

Scharzhofberger is one of the most highly sought after sites in Germany and the world. A steep, high altitude site that overlooks the estate, the Kabinett displays saline and steely notes combined with jasmine and lemon citrus with a juiciness and a touch of ginger on the finish.

The 2018 Rathfinny Classic Cuvée is a stunning fizz from a remarkably beautiful estate. There’s a richness on the nose that comes from the perfect growing season: ripe citrus and a hint of redcurrants, while the palate is tense, chalky, and impeccably balanced. This is beautifully delicious today, but will also age wonderfully.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and it displays more ginger and spice, with florals and citrus notes taking a more supporting role. There is a juiciness and breadth on the core, a wonderfully enticing wine that is very easy to drink.

This wine is precise and finishes on the saline and citrus. There are elements of juiciness with fleshy peach, mandarin and white blossom notes as well as smoky and flinty notes that add layers of complexity.

This is a focused wine that displays great minerality and focus. The acidity is nervy and the aromas are steely and flinty with a lime citrus core and a delicious concentration and length.

2020 is an exceptional vintage for Kabinett and the prized site of Wehlener Sonnenuhr simply excels. Expect jasmine, white peach and flinty notes along with a racy core.

Dom Ruinart breaks the mould in 2010. It's a vintage that hasn't yielded universally celebrated wines in Champagne, but the Dom Ruinart is an exception to the rule, and one to get seriously excited about. The critics have heaped praise on it, with Antonio Galloni stating "the 2010 Dom Ruinart is one of the most impressive Champagnes ever made here. If there is anything better, I don't think I have tasted it!" It has huge vinous energy and wonderful complexity. This is an absolute classic in the making. 4g/l dosage.

This is really fine, with lovely balance. It’s so well woven together: big and broad but also with nerve. A generous style of Riesling, but also with elegance and finesse on the finish.

This is a hugely powerful and impressive Châteauneuf. Old vines (100 years+), low yields, slightly cooler north-facing terraces, and Jaun-Paul's magic touch make for an exquisite wine. Very limited. The 2012 is now hitting its stride, with mature savoury notes, leather and spice coming through the juicy Grenache fruit.

Dominio del Águila was established in 2010 by Jorge Monzón and his partner Isabel Rodero in the small town of La Aguilera in the Ribera del Duero and since their arrival have been making waves in the wine world. They manage to achieve breathtaking elegance in their wines, focused on small volumes and high quality, these are not your typical Ribera del Duero fruit and alcohol bombs. The Canta la Perdiz is a single vineyard parcel that is made up of a field blend (principally Tempranillo with a mix of Carignan, Bruñal, Bobal and Albillo) of mainly 100 year old, ungrafted vines. The organically grown grapes are hand harvested and foot trodden and later spend over 30 months in oak prior to bottling. Despite the wine’s concentration and density, it still manages to portray great minerality and focus. Expect bramble fruits and spice combined with blood orange and wild strawberries. The tannins are fine grained yet present and the acidity remains refreshing and lively, and the wine’s length is exceptionally long.

P2 - or Plénitude 2 - is a fascinating wine to taste. It comes about when the team at Dom Pérignon hold back a small portion of vintage Champagne in their cellars of Hautvillers. For a further 10 years after the wine’s initial release, these bottles age on lees and gain in richness and complexity. So in total, it means the wine has spent almost two decades before disgorgement. This extra time adds harmony, complexity, and intensity.

Lovely intensity and power. There's so much depth and concentration here, spanning floral notes to deep dark fruits, bound up with lovely tension and elegance. This is beautiful. The finish is nicely balanced with a cool, saline finish and more spice and flowers. Quite brilliant.

This much anticipated release from Dom Pérignon shows the rich style of the vintage combined with exceptional tension born of the wine's long ageing before release. It's a striking contrast to the 2008, whose taut austerity warrants patience and contemplation. The 2009 on the other hand, is voluptuous and enveloping, right from the off. It is a huge triumph for chef de cave, Vincent Chaperon, and his team.

Another top cuvee, made from vines planted in 1901 in Pignam and La Crau, on sand, it’s named after their father Pierre, not a reference to stone. Amazing lift and energy, so much texture and intensity, silky and lovely tannins, mouthwatering finish. Brilliant.

When asked whether the Château was having to change anything to compensate for climate change, Marie Descotis, who heads up the Château's research and development department, explained that their terroir is proving to be perfect for the somewhat warmer and drier conditions over the last few years, allowing their Cabernet Sauvignon to flourish. The blend this year is made up of 86% of this Cabernet, 10% Merlot and the rest split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The resultant wine is the most concentrated they have ever produced, yet it is also incredibly poised and balanced. Dark berry fruits, notes of woodsmoke and spice come through on the nose. The palate is immediately fresh and pure, with a layered sense of fine tannin, depth and power. There is a graphite-like grip to the structure, a definite minerality and a core of cool-natured, classic fruit. Despite the concentration and density in the wine, the balance is such as to give it an almost approachable sensation. Beautiful rather than pretty, this is an elegant and refined wine that shows what could be achieved in 2011 with great terroir and a deft hand.

The 2017 Petite Lune is everything we want from everyday claret, and more. Notes of blueberries and fresh plums on the nose, with loads of finesse to the tannins and a very long and savoury finish. This is far more complex, concentrated, and pure than the price would suggest. Go long: it won’t disappoint.

Dubbed the ‘baby Grange’, this blend of Cabernet and Shiraz creates a massive complexity of dark fruit flavours, with large oak barrels adding delicate sweet spice flavours. Mouthwatering acidity and the tannins are approachable and silky. The perfect way to enjoy what makes Penfolds so celebrated.

2002 is an outstanding vintage in Champagne, and a huge success story at Billecart-Salmon. This cuvée is a blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%), and brings the voluptuous and exhilarating character of the vintage. It's a full-throttle 2002, with volume and energy.

“Bousselots” means “little bumps”, but this premier cru’s clay-rich soils make for a rounded and approachable Nuits-Saint-Georges. Complex and generous, with plenty of cool fruit coming from that clay in the soil.

Scharzhofberger is one of the most highly sought after sites in Germany and the world. A steep, high altitude site that overlooks the estate, the Auslese demonstrates tropical fruit aromas of dried mango and apricot combined with honey blossom and hints of marmalade. There is a luscious core that is balanced rather elegantly with a nervy acidity.

From deep red iron-rich soils, this is a rich, expressive wine with ripe plum, blueberry, cassis fruit. The tannins are typical of Cabernet, linear and tightly-packed with a slight drying quality at this early stage. There's a seam of fresh acid running through the wine, cutting through the richness on the palate, and subtle spicy notes are developing on the long finish.

From one of Côte-Rôtie’s most famous lieux-dits, and this lives up to the billing, exuding power and depth. It’s classically-styled, with floral and herbal characters as well as juicy black fruits. There’s tremendous energy and freshness, and the finish is cool and pure.

Attractive notes of white peach and apricot on the nose, with a hint of zesty citrus, giving this an immediate sense of poise. On the palate, this is balanced and appealing. Intense without being cloying, finishing very pure and fresh.

Decanter: High acidity balances high sugar. Intriguing muscadelle floweriness. Marvellous finesse. 19 points.

The grapes are sourced from 9 vineyards spread across 5 villages, although predominantly Serralunga. Rose and violets and subtle dried cranberry combined with liquorice spice and truffle notes. The tannins are significant, yet the wine’s concentrated core is more than adequate to withstand their presence.

This is a highlight of the range this year. The wine has an energy and focus, yet is still accessible and so delicious to be drinking now.

Inky and brooding in colour, the 2018 Cheval Blanc has freshness with so much power, there's length and juicy fruit. Notes of spice and wild berries, with amazing refinement of tannins and cool fruit, too. Impeccable balance.

Sourced from across the Barbaresco region, from trusted suppliers, this is a wonderfully fragrant example of the region's everyday grape variety.

The iconic wine from Vega Sicilia is made up predominantly of 97% Tino Fino (Tempranillo) and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are planted on various plots on the Ribera slopes that benefit from more than 19 different soil types. The wine ages for close to 10 years in wood and bottle. A mix of American and French oak is used to create a wine with concentration and finesse. The 2013 was cooler than the 2012 and the wine has an elegance and vibrancy.

Deep and brooding, very mineral and fine, striking tannic structure and there's a depth to the fruit. Power, balance and intensity. Really impressively put together with energy and length.

The 2019 Family Vineyards Pinot Noir is a stunning wine, that’s all about floral aromatics and focussed energy. It comes from four separate parcels on the estate, and shows incredible balance, purity of fruit, and savoury length. A brilliant Pinot Noir: the best value we know?

Valli founder and winemaker Grant Taylor has won international renown for his ability to showcase variations in different Otago subregions. This 2020, from Valli's cooler site in Bannockburn, is fresh, complex, expressive and elegant. It shows dark hedgerow fruits with an edge of cranberry and pomegranate, and some brambly, structural tannins giving the wine length and longevity. Lots of cracked pepper on the nose. Though enjoyable in its youth, this has the structure and concentration to age for many years.

Bin 28 has all the classic hallmarks of rich black fruit, dark chocolate, black pepper and vanilla on the nose and palate. It's rich and textured with mouth-coating, with broad tannins and creamy coconut flavours. An ideal warming red to drink by itself, but incredibly versatile with savoury, black olive notes developing in the background.

A brilliant cool climate Shiraz from the By Farr team in 2019. Bright and fresh with sappy berries alongside some riper black fruit. There’s some black pepper and earthiness and a silky texture.

From one of the most famous sites in Neive, this shows the classic character of the commune. Very delicate and fragrant, this shows the classic tar and roses that we love in so much great Nebbiolo. Very pretty, and alpine tinged.

Yet another wine that shows just how good the 2014 vintage is. Soaring aromatics, incredible finesse, and remarkable length. A complete wine.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and the wine is riper and richer in profile. Expect tropical fruits with spice and quince notes adding layers of complexity.

Stéphane Ogier’s reputation is built on his Côte-Rôties. This cuvée is a blend of ten plots, mostly from the northern part of the appellation. It was first created in 2010, with Stéphane wanting to create a blended Côte-Rôtie that has all the signature style and spice of the hillside, but is accessible a little earlier than some of his single vineyard wines that are released later. It comes mostly from his younger vines, between 10 and 30 years old. It is bursting with Syrah black pepper and red currants, with a floral note lifting the palate. Salty tannins carry through onto the finish.

The 2016 Hommage is a tour de force. Intense and powerful, this Mourvèdre led wine balances notes of pot pourri and fresh flowers with tapenade and burnt rocks. Long and remarkably complex, it lifts Châteauneuf to a new level.

Les Poireaux, Les Crais, and En Sevrey are the three plots in this. This is savoury and pure, with wild berries and loads of texture. Very savoury and restrained, a nice vintage for Morey.

“Bousselots” means “little bumps”, but this premier cru’s clay-rich soils make for a rounded and approachable Nuits-Saint-Georges. The 2017 is juicy and saline, with silky tannins, and really fine acidity on the finish.

Château Palmer created this blend as a homage to the days when Bordeaux proprietors would often blend in Syrah to add heft to their Cabernet. Syrah lends the wine a smooth, broad texture, precise tannins, velvety mouthfeel and notes of black truffle. This 10th vintage is characterized by an unprecedented high proportion of Petit Verdot (44%) in the blend and no Merlot.

This is gorgeous. Very elegant, fine and floral, with lovely delicacy and salintiy. There’s much purity to the fruit, with lovely lift and acidity, and balance in spades. The finish unfurls violets and stones, and tons of red fruit. Wonderful and saline, and so much energy.

A great vintage of Chateau Latour with potential to age for decades. Approachable now with some dense fruit cake flavours and a hint of savoury tobacco just starting to emerge. Plenty of structure for age with robust and fine grained tannins, but restrained use of new oak means the fruit really shines through.

Density and concentration combine with a lifted and pure expression of fruit. Subtle complexities and mineral nuances give depth of character with a prolonged finish. Finely-tuned, with much in reserve this, like its Grand Vin sibling, has much to reveal with age.

2019 has brought a more 'classic' expression of Grange, with dense black cherry and blackberry, and notes of tar, coffee, coconut and licorice. It's unsurprisingly tightly wound now, with lots of tannin, toasty oak, and a ripe, juicy core. This vintage is 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.

There are big expectations with new ownership for this Grand Cru sandwiched between Angelus and Le Dôme. The 2017 has impressive texture and energy with finely judged tannins.

The 2019 from the much-loved Spottswoode estate is gorgeous, with fragrant bramble and black cherry with sweet spice, earthy notes and cedar. It's marries the generosity and warmth that comes naturally to Napa Cabernet with Spottswoode's textbook grace and charm. It's a medium-weight, elegant Napa Cabernet, harking back decades. These age beautifully, but the supple tannins, balance and refreshing style you'd be forgiven for failing to resist now.

Wonderfully fresh and vibrant, particularly for a 2017, this has notes of cinnamon and freshly cut flowers swirling from the glass. A finessed and classy Barbaresco, that's surprisingly ready to go.

A touch of coconut is present along with the cinnamon-spiced oak here. Again the fruit core is compact, dense and concentrated with the promise of power and weight to follow. The palate is incredibly taut with intense, tightly bound raspberry and dark cherry. The tannins are ripe, full, and assertive while the acidity brings the trademark long, juicy character. This is currently showing all the potential of a beautifully constructed Gran Reserva. An exciting prospect indeed.

Apricot, pink grapefruit and flinty notes are incredibly concentrated with an awesome vibrancy and nervy core. There are layers of complexity in this wine with both savoury and fruit forward aromas that will continue to develop and express themselves further with bottle age.

Second wine of Chateau Pavie, from limestone soils on the plateau, a 50:50 blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

2017 was a spectacular vintage in South Africa, and this Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant iteration from Kanonkop: possibly the best we’ve tasted from here. This is fine-boned, crunchy, but with perfect ripeness. Don’t miss this.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 is a blend from Coonawarra, Barossa Valley and Wrattonbully and is matured for 16 months in new American oak hogsheads. Coonawarra is becoming more and more of the signature here, giving lots of fresh cassis and refreshing herbal character. It's built to age, with a firm structure but a lot of complex flavour to match, and it should soften into a brilliant 707 given the long, cool, even growing season in 2021.

The RWT is a supercharged example of Barossa Shiraz: it’s broad and intense with massive volume. This is unashamed, yet perfumed, too. There’s some violets but it’s quite earthy and scorched ground takes over on the back palate. With impressive depth and intensity and a really driven and cool finish, it’s a super-impressive wine.

A small single plot, entirely made from the Lampia clone of nebbiolo, Valter has managed the heat of 2015 beautifully: this is still a cool, savoury, impeccably balanced Barolo. Notes of wild strawberry and rose, and silky acidity. Bravo.

Very mineral and cool, yet amazing intensity of tapenade and powerful berry fruit. There’s a coolness and purity here, and a sense of balance, too. Feel the generosity of the vintage only on the finish, where it’s balanced with soft yet saline tannins.

Yet another wine that shows just how good the 2014 vintage is. Soaring aromatics, incredible finesse, and remarkable length. A complete wine.

Braune Kupp is a warmer site compared to Egon’s Scharzhofberger and the wine is riper and richer in profile. The wine is so concentrated and complex with a mix of fresh and dried fruits with spice and beeswax notes.

Scharzhofberger is one of the most highly sought after sites in Germany and the world. A steep, high altitude site that overlooks the estate, the spätlese displays a generosity of rip stone fruits and spice as well as steely and crushed stone notes. The acidity is lively and provides great structure.

This wine is incredibly focused and the acidity is piercing. Jasmine and citrus are supported heavily by an attractive ginger and white pepper spice that continues for some time on the finish. Like all of the wines from this producer, there is a salinity on the finish that seems to last forever.

Cédric Bouchard has enjoying a meteoric rise in fame and demand. His have fast become some of the hardest to find Champagnes. He had started his career as a sommelier in Paris, but in 2000 decided to return home to the family domaine in Celles-sur-Ource in the Côte des Bar, where he brought his huge knowledge of world wine styles to bear on his own thoughtful production. His way of making wines often leans more towards Burgundy than Champagne. His philosophy is: single vineyard, single variety. And in each of his cuvées he seems to transcend both, creating something truly special. He has some of the lowest yields in all of Champagne, and practices ageing in tank, using low pressure, and zero dosage.

The prestige cuvée from one of the Southern Rhône's greatest estates.

This is the defining wine of this famous grand cru, the one to which everyone looks as the quintessential Corton-Charlemagne. The west-facing aspect of the hill means the vines enjoy the long rays of the afternoon sun, making for rich textures and a sumptuous depth of fruit.

This is a wonderful site in Beaune, high up on the hill to the south of the town. The 100% whole bunch works extremely well here, making for a salty, charming wine with depth and length, and a hint of sucrosity at the end - not from any residual sugar in the wine, but from the beautiful sweetness of fruit.

This is a very pure Belair-Monange, and the best we can remember tasting. The palate has a lovely savoury edge to it, with amazing purity of fruit and excellent persistence. The texture coats the mouth, and the building flavours seem to last an age. Chapeau Christian, Edouard and all the team.

Bruno Giacosa put lots of emphasis on his Roero Arneis, and this is one of the best examples as a result. There’s lovely drive, with pithy pears, and a slightly savoury, floral character, too.

The prestige cuvée from one of the Southern Rhône's greatest estates.

This Cheval Blanc is deep and brooding, with notes of pencil lead and spice around the dark fruit. It's finessed and classical, with lots of refined, elegant tannins. Really balanced, and long too, with a nice savouriness to the finish.

Made from Timorasso, that comes from Derthona, to the north-east of the Langhe, this is a stunning white from Luca, that balances generosity and power, and also a mineral texture. It’s a truly complex, ageworthy white from a talented winemaker.

The best value second wine of a First Growth, the 2020 is a blend of 60.1% Merlot, 31.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot.

From the Ausone stable of wines, Moulin St-Georges is a smart buy in 2020. It's a generous yet impeccably balanced St-Emilion, that shows the success of merlot in the vintage.

La Pointe is under the radar in Pomerol but always impresses in tastings. It's full of fresh black and red berry fruit, tobacco, spice, incense and floral notes. Some light truffle notes are starting to emerge now it's had a short time in bottle, and this will carry on ageing beautifully. It's soft in texture but has a brightness and vibrant acidity to balance.

An impressive nose, with complex and pure whole berry fruit. There's impressive structure and finely judged tannins - they're ripe and coat the mouth. The finish goes on with suppleness and subtlety for minutes.

Fragrant and scented aromas of red fruits, blueberry and a touch of vanilla from the oak. The palate is smooth and round with really fine tannin. This wine emphasises the purity and intensity of the fruit character and reveals its Pauillac power and attack as it builds on the palate with repeated tasting.

This recent release from the esteemed Ardnamurchan distillery is a combination of 50% peated and 50% unpeated spirit. It was bottled in July 2021 non-chill filtered and with no colour added. It’s a blend of 65% bourbon casks and 35% sherry casks. The nose is fresh and citrus driven initially, with salty, nutty, bonfire notes coming along soon after. On the palate there is more toffee and an oily texture with more seaspray.

The 2018 Taylor's is spectacular. Floral and creamy, lovely vibrancy and pure tannins. So saline and intense, with silky fruit. Very impressive complexity, showing baked fruits, cloves, exotic spices, and plenty of energy, too. Remarkable.

Each wine (Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez) is matured, separately in its own solera for 12 years. Once blended together, the resulting sherry is returned to a 45-cask solera for a further 3 years ageing. Expect candied orange peel, black tea, figs, toffee and hints of smoke. Super concentrated and long on the finish.

The 2018 is a spectacular Vin de Constance. A wine that shows notes of fresh apricot, wild flowers, and just a hint of wild honey, the finish here is somehow savoury, keeping everything in check. There’s notes of white peach and grapefruit zing, and then spice fills the palate, too. It’s an astonishingly complex wine, that is somehow intellectual and delicious at the same time.

This is multi-vintage, but retains plenty of 2019 character with subtle and balanced flavour and a juciness to the fruit. Full of aromatic plum, blueberry and red cherry, as well as fresh herbal notes. Fresh, well-knit and too easy to drink.

The second wine from Spottswoode Estate in 2019 is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot and 4% Malbec. It's got the classic Spottswoode restrained, almost-European style with fragrant rose petals, savoury notes and cedar, wrapped around fresh blue and red berry fruit. This is medium-bodied, elegant and refreshing.

The 2019 is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc, with 5% of it aged in amphoras. Layers of ripe cassis, black plum, blueberries and sweet spices. There's a rich, chocolatey texture on the palate, with velvety tannins and lifted violet notes.

The 2016 Napanook shows the breeding and brilliance of the grand vin in the vintage. Notes of bramble and wilder hedgerow fruit, with plenty of grippy tannins, and a nice thread of minerality. The finish is impressively long: this punches above its weight.

This has developed lots of rich, savoury notes of truffle and cigar, as well as dry exotic spices. There's still plenty of ripe, spicy bramble, blackcurrant and plum. The tannins are smooth and rounded, with enough bite to contribute to the rich, appetising texture. A world-class Cabernet wine.

Exceptional wine from the Finn family, Neudorf is undoubtedly one of the most highly rated Chardonnay producers in New Zealand. Concentrated, rich, complex, with a stony, mineral finish. Juicy and forward for drinking now but will cellar for well over a decade.

The 2021 Bin 138 is a blend of 50% Grenache, 44% Shiraz and 6% Mataro. It's full, juicy and rich with blackberry, black cherry and raspberry. Then there's more complex peppery, meaty notes and earthy tobacco.

St Henri's signature is its maturation in large format old French oak. As a result, there's a freshness and purity of fruit that sings through. It's elegant and supple, showing some of the warm character of the 2020 vintage with ripe blackberry and damson. There's aniseed, clove and spicy cured meat complexity on the nose and palate, and lots of concentration from the low-yielding vintage conditions.

Always one of our favourites in the Penfolds release, the St Henri is an elegant, fruit-driven example, with concentrated black berry fruit and lovely spice. The palate is silky with delicate earthy notes and aromatic blueberry tones. There's a warmth here but it's well balanced with enough freshness to carry the depth of flavour.

"Bright colour, made in the same way as McCutcheon, both reflecting the outstanding vintage. The flavours here are deeper, with more dark berry fruits, heading back to the Estate rather than McCutcheon. That said, the wine has very good length, and carries its foresty bramble overtones." James Halliday, 95 points

This portuguese blend made up of predominately Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barocca is accessible and delicious with lots of fruit and spice on the nose and palate. Ripe red berry and cherry fruits are supported by liquorice and clove spice, with subtle bacon soke notes. There is a juiciness and vibrancy on the palate as well as firm but integrated tannins.

Rich peach, orange blossom and ginger spice aromas are harmoniously balanced with citrus and crushed shell notes. Hints of salted almonds along with herbal notes add to the complexity and bring focus to the wine. The acidity is racy and the wine finishes on the saline and mineral, yet the wine’s concentration allows the wine to linger on the finish for some time.

As with all of the wines at Giacosa, this is a lovely expression of the grape variety. Lots of cherry yoghurt here, with plenty of spice, too. Serve slightly chilled for a delicious red for summer.

The 2020 is generous on the nose with juicy red plum, blackcurrant, liquorice spice and leather notes. The juicy and silky core is supported by a refreshing and energetic acidity as well as fine grained, yet present tannins.

The Pieropan family were the first to bottle and release a single vineyard wine in the region, recognising the potential of the region with its rolling hillsides and complex soils. La Rocca comes from a limestone dominant vineyard, truly unique to the region. Aged on its lees for 15 months in a mix of large oak casks and stainless steel the wine has a density to its palate as well as a hint of almonds and creaminess. Ginger spice, pink grapefruit and fresh mango notes are supported by verbena and floral aromas.

Chiselled, precise, and characterful, the Isole e Olena 2020 Chardonnay Collezione Privata is quite an achievement. Sitting somewhere between a New World and an Old World Chardonnay, this has luscious aromas of preserved lemon and sweet pear that are measured against the backbone of acidity and the chalky, saline finish. Outstanding.

The 2018 Cepparello is another astonishing wine from this great estate. Detailed, with notes of wild cherries, citrus lift, and plenty of vibrant spice, the palate is fine boned and wonderfully fresh. Once again shows why this is one of Tuscany's most prized wines.

Juicy and fine boned, with notes of orange and a hint of ripe beef tomato, the 2018 Barbera is a lovely wine. It's drinking well out the gate, but will age nicely, too.

This comes from a single site in the Roero region, giving bright fruit and silky tannins. Giacosa's mastery of Nebbiolo is well known, and this shows their whole talent.

A tiny production wine from Luca, that’s got lots of Tortonian soil character. Lots of silky tannins, citrus fruit, and a lovely sense of purity. Rare but beautiful.

So mineral and deep, this balances a charming bitterness with lots of citrus fruit and also a core of very fresh fruit. This always reminds us of Negronis (in a very good way) and the 2017 is no different. Don’t be afraid to age this.

Coming from selected plots within the celebrated Pajé vineyard this wine is silky on the palate and demonstrates amazing finesse with fine grained but firm tannins that give structure and focus.

Dal Forno are one of the most sought after producers in the Valpolicella region, having making wine under their own label in the early 1980s. This 2009 is a special library release from the estate that has been stored in their cellar for an additional 7 years. Hail storms led to yields being ridiculously tiny, but of exceptional quality thanks to a warm summer and sunny Autumn. Expect bramble fruits and black cherry notes combined with liquorice, clove and hints of smoke on the aroma profile. The palate is concentrated and dense with refreshing acidity and supple, glossy tannins.

La Rioja Alta 904 is consistently one of the best value fine wines on the market, with an incredible ability to age gracefully for decades. This 1997 comes directly from the winery cellars where it has been stored in perfect conditions. Expect mature red fruits, leather, coffee, dried herbs, floral aromas and a silky texture.

Benje Tinto grapes come from an impressive altitude of 1000 metres in Santiago del Tiede in Ycoden-Daute-Isora with notable Atlantic and volcanic influence. The majority is Listán Prieto (also known as País) and a small amount of Tintilla and the vines are completely untrained which no doubt has contributed to this wine’s wild character. Expect smoky notes with crushed rocks, black pepper spice and bramble fruits. The crispness and lively acidity drives the backbone of this wine along with the wine’s grippy tannins.

Benje Tinto grapes come from an impressive altitude of 1000 metres in Santiago del Tiede in Ycoden-Daute-Isora with notable Atlantic and volcanic influence. The majority is Listán Prieto (also known as País) and a small amount of Tintilla and the vines are completely untrained which no doubt has contributed to this wine’s wild character. Expect smoky notes with crushed rocks, black pepper spice and bramble fruits. The crispness and lively acidity drives the backbone of this wine along with the wine’s grippy tannins.

Macán Clásico 2019 is Vega’s project in Rioja with the Rothschild family. It is 100% Tempranillo planted in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria in the Sonsierra region of Rioja. The Clásico is their second wine that uses younger vine fruit and the wine spending a few months less ageing in french oak barrels (14 months). 2019 was a very dry and warm vintage, with a concentrated core and richness.

The Pintia made up of 100% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) and comes from the Toro DO. Winemaking history goes back to the Romans here, with a climate that experiences extremely cold winters and hot summers. 2018 saw a cooler vintage, with significant rainfall and therefore the wine is very restrained and shows a lot of finesse.

The Valbuena is aged between barrel and bottle over five years and is made up of 96% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 4% Merlot. The vines are located on the conclave slopes of Ribera with complex colluvial soils. The 2018 vintage was a slightly cooler vintage in Ribera del Duero, which has led to a fresher style and lighter profile.

The Valbuena is aged between barrel and bottle over five years and is made up of 96% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 4% Merlot. The vines are located on the conclave slopes of Ribera with complex colluvial soils. The 2018 vintage was a slightly cooler vintage in Ribera del Duero, which has led to a fresher style and lighter profile.

2018 was a good vintage in Rioja and with with lower alcohols and fresher acidities, this Rosado is a rather delicious wine indeed. The aromatic profile has a restrained concentration of red fruits with pink grapefruit combined with wild herb notes, verbena and flint. The palate has an attractive pithiness and weight that provides a generosity and depth that you come to expect from high quality roses. The acidity is crisp and energetic and thankfully the wine lingers on the finish for a long time.

Castillo Ygay is the Marqués de Murrieta flagship wine, with one of the most recognisable labels in the world. This is only produced in the best vintages, and the 2011 is full of heady perfume, aromatic fruits, well-integrated spice and juicy acidity. The tannins are softening, contributing to a velvety texture.

While Sebastian Fürst is best known for his Pinot Noirs, don't overlook this brilliant Chardonnay from the limestone soils of the village of Astheim, far from the estate's cellar in Burgstadt. This is incredibly Burgundian, with wonderfully expressive notes of hazelnut and peach, and lots of salinity. A real delight.

This wine takes on a richness and breadth with yellow stone fruit and ripe pear, yet has a mineral and flinty character as well as zesty acidity that brings structure and definition.

Citrus and saline core combines beautifully with white peach and mint verbena notes. Fleshy apricot notes continue on the finish alongside the salty and crisp acidity.

Totally delicious and so unquestionably Mosel Riesling with citrus and floral aromas combined with a vibrancy and juicy acidity.

Ripe, fleshy peach, manadrin and pink grapefruit notes balance wonderfully with the white blossom and citrus core. A juicy core that is brought together well with a zesty acidity and saltiness.

Ripe and fleshy peach notes combine with blossom, citrus and herbal notes to create a very concentrated wine. There is a juiciness on the palate that is carefully supported by the nervy acidity and mineral profile.

Much more opulent and intense, with mango and passion fruit and loads of freshness and minerality. Such purity and vibrancy, but also just a sense of latent power. Spearmint, wet stones, and ginger, and tons of length.

A mix of Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeu and Monastrell, this pink sparkling displays attractive red berry and citrus notes. Having spent 18 months on lees, the wine has a breadth and concentration that denotes its quality, with a zesty acidity that provides wonderful refreshment.

This 2015 from Pol Roger has a beautifully precise, delicate nose with floral notes taking the lead and orchard notes underneath. It is a classic blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from grand and premier crus sites across the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. The palate is fresh and agile, with just a hint of brioche, biscuity richness, which should emerge further with bottle age. Overall it is one of the prettiest, most subtle, and enticing releases from Pol Roger in recent years.

The 2015 Brut Blanc de Blancs offers up a more full-bodied, vinous style than the more taut and tightly wound 2013. On the nose, aromas of white pepper, dried herbs and crisp golden orchard fruit intermingle with subtle biscuity notes. There’s an energetic, fleshy fruit core, lively acidity and a precise, chalky finish. Impressive.

The 2014 Grande Année Rosé is a truly wonderful wine. It comes from grapes sourced across 19 Grands Crus. It is measured, even a little shy on first opening, but with some air the delicious notes of strawberry and cherry begin to open up. The palate is a tour de force: rich and textural with a powerful energy and a mineral-driven finish. Exceptional.

Cristal 2012, with over a decade in bottle, is really beginning to show its mettle. It has been fantastically reviewed, picking up a staggering 98 points from Antonio Galloni. It has set the tone for the new direction of this Roederer wine, and has remained a high point in this much-loved cuvée’s story. This is one of the world's most celebrated prestige cuvée Champagnes. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, from biodynamically farmed vineyards.

This blanc de noirs is Billecart at its best. It comes from a single plot planted with Pinot Noir in 1964. It is produced in tiny quantities, and goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Bollinger's Vielles Vignes Françaises and Krug's Clos d'Ambonnay.

Salon is one of the most celebrated and sought-after Champagnes in the fine wine world. It comes from a single cru: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru; a single grape variety: Chardonnay; and a single year.

The 746 is the latest cuvée in Jacquesson’s ground-breaking series, which celebrates their dynamic style. It is their flagship non-vintage blend, with this iteration based around the generous and delicious 2018 vintage. It’s concentrated and powerful, with a real swagger and flare about it. Its ripe acidity and biscuity richness combined with a taut 2g/l dosage gives it a refreshing and incisive length. It is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the finest villages of the Montagne de Reims (Aÿ, Hautvillers and Dizy) and the Côte des Blancs (Avize and Oiry). This wine shows the sheer quality of fruit integral to the Jacquesson style.

One of the wine world’s enduring greats, Krug’s multi-vintage rosé is sumptuous, complex, textured and deep. Its pale pinky-orange hue and fine, persistent mousse are the most immediately alluring characters. Beyond these, the luxurious combination of toasty autolytic flavours and vibrant, plush red fruit concentration with spiced gingerbread notes make this a hugely impressive and indulgent wine. The 27ème Édition is a blend of nine vintages, with the majority drawn from the 2015 vintage.

This is one of the Côte d'Azur’s most distinctive wines, with its recognisable bottle shape and pale onion skin pink. The domaine shot to fame after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt invested in it, alongside the expert winemaking family, the Perrins, of Château de Beaucastel fame. The 2020 is lightly scented with sweet strawberry and bonbon notes, with an apricot flavoured and peachy palate, and a balanced, creamy finish.

This is made from a high quality Beaujolais village parcel, but after the wine was rejected in 2012 for being ‘too pale’, Jean-Claude decided to change its classification to the much freer Vin de France, valuing the innate character of the wine over the AOC’s regulations. It remains one of the most interesting in his range. The palate is so light on its feet, with a lifted red berry energy. 100% whole bunch fruit gives it a cool, bright structure with lacy tannins. No sulphur dioxide is added at all here. Equally well suited as a chilled aperitif red or a superb lighter style to finish an evening off: this is natural winemaking at its finest, least-faddy best.

Chapoutier is an undisputed master of Syrah in the Northern Rhone, and this is their excellent blend from the deep south-west of the Côtes du Roussillon. It is juicy and structured, with the warmth of Grenache singing through. Grenache 65%, Syrah 35%.

This Muntada is a showstopper. There’s a thrilling wildness and energy here, with bright, pure fruit and sweet leather and spice. Predominantly Grenache and Carignan (from 125 year old vines), there’s superb concentration and complexity here.

A sweet Chenin Blanc from the hugely succesful 2015 vintage in the Loire.

Clos des Cazaux's old vine Vacqueryas offers great value, with elegant peachy fruit, white flowers, salinity and charming freshness. There's no oak but the old vine character lends some delicate spice and texture to the wine.

This unique and exciting wine - produced from 140-150 year old Clairette vines - was not produced in 2019, so it was with great excitement that we celebrate its triumphant return in 2020. It is waxy and intense, with a leesy, savoury character combined with saline depth and notes of dried honey and summer flowers. It is without question the greatest Clairette you will try.

Once again, an Hermitage Blanc steals the show: this is just awesome. Fresh and savoury, with so much depth, texture and purity, the flavours just keep coming and delighting you.

Dark bramble fruit with herbal notes and earthy, savoury spice. The tannins are tightly packed and fine, with a powerful, muscular structure. Warmth on the palate but with lifted, juicy red berry acidity.

From the heart of the village, this is one of the best Gigondas out there. Notes of sun-baked earth and wild berries, together with a herbal lift, make this an impressively detailed, complex wine.

Unusually for Crozes, this comes from a single block on fine gravel soil. It’s wonderfully elegant and driven, with so much texture. There are violets and pure black fruit in wonderful balance. Precise and finely judged.

Yves’ Crozes is juicy and fresh, with lovely texture and definition to the flavours. It’s beautifully made, making it deceptively easy to drink.

The fruit for this blend comes from three sites in Meursault (making up 60%), with the remainder from a single plot in Puligny. In spite of their Bourgogne classification, these sites are high quality, knocking on the door of village level, with shallow topsoil and lots of small stones, aiding drainage. It is a Bourgogne full of lemony freshness and delicious energy.

This is a blend of grapes from Corton-Bressandes and Corton-Chaumes. It always displays an abundance of white fruit aromas, complemented by the little hint of vanilla and spice from the oak.

Porusot is one of the finest vineyards in Meursault, with an enviable south-east exposure. Its stony soils make taut, age-worthy Chardonnay.

At the bottom of the slope of grand cru Chapelle-Chambertin.Notes of kirsch, fresh dark cherries, and baked earth. Very rich and intense, there’s just enough freshness to keep it lifted and mouthwatering.

0.63ha running from bottom to top on the south side. Nice juicy fruit. Silky tannins, with real finesse and balance. Very sensuous and appealing, with surprising weight to the palate, and nice length.

At the bottom of the slope of grand cru Chapelle-Chambertin. This is aged in an egg shaped barrel, produced especially for the domaine. There’s richness and energy, as well as spice and a fine, cool finish here.

Sitting just under Chapelle-Chambertin, a quarter of a hectare of 45 year old vines produces a translucent wine with spice and silky fruit, and wonderful tannins. So much energy and balance. Beautiful.

A pure and juicy start to the tasting with a touch of liquorice, alongside chalky tannins and excellent freshness. This sets the tone for Pascal’s elegant wines.

Situated on the slope below the Grand Cru of Chapelle-Chambertin, this site is renowned for its elegantly silky texture. Black cherries with a whiff of coffee bean and white pepper, matched by tannins that are chunky yet fine grained. Well proportioned and very fine indeed.

2020 is the smallest release on record for Chateau d'Yquem, the result of a quick harvest with plenty of botrytis. It's very fruit forward at the moment with mandarin dominating on the nose and palate, along with honeyed notes and delicate savoury hints. Open and approachable, with a purity and floral lift towards the finish, it will benefit from some time in bottle to soften and build in complexity and richness.

The second wine of both Haut-Brion and La Mission, this white offers remarkable value when compared to its bigger brothers. It’s a blend of 52% Semillon and 48% Sauvignon.

The 2019 d'Yquem has a higher proportion of Sauvignon Blanc than ever before, with 45%. It has a beguiling, aromatic nose with lemongrass and green pineapple, and a palate that is all about elegance and refinement. Complexity grows, and the finish is a peacock's tail of an incredible breadth of flavours, with spice, sea spray, and pure fruit all coming to the fore in waves. This is a remarkable wine: it will not disappoint.

Managing richness and finesse, there’s fine and dancing acidity with pure peach fruit and hints of grapefruit. A wonderfully floral finish.

A medley of crushed rocks, lemon curd, cut grass and fennel. The exceptionally low yields of 2012 are revealed in the perfectly weighted textural richness, intensity and extraordinary length. Easily a candidate for wine of the vintage.

Beautiful pale straw colour and gold highlights shimmering with flashes of green.
A marvellous floral burst comes right off the glass, with white flower and hints of passion fruit. On the palate, plenty of richness and elegance, with honey and great acidity balancing all the components in this splendid wine.

The 1996 Calon Segur is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Full of developed notes of cedar, forest floor, dry spice and tobacco. There's still some grippy tannin and muscular St-Estèphe structure, as well as some subtle red cherry and bramble notes.

Tasted April 2022. A great second wine in 2021. Ripe, plump fruit character but fresh and stony on the finish showing classic St Estephe character. Open and expressive now, with hints of graphite development emerging. 13%

The 2020 Gazin is a beautiful Pomerol. This year no Cabernet Franc in the blend, but 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon brings a little structure. The palate is finely judged, with plenty of pure fruit, and a long finish with mineral notes and slight herbal edge, bringing freshness. This is benchmark for the appellation.

Nice density and texture here - just restrained claret. Mouth watering, grippy tannins and also plenty of cassis fruit. Just a hint of leafiness and mint on the finish, and also a perfume element. Nicely done.

The 2020 La Lagune is an impressive Cru Classé, with beautifully pure fruit, grippy tannins, and a lovely savouriness on the finish. It's a long, classically structured wine, with impressive poise: a lovely bottle of claret.

In a rich vein of form, the 2020 Branaire-Ducru is an astonishingly beautiful wine, particularly at this price. It's silky and fine, with detailed tannins, and wonderful floral lift. A complex, delicious wine that's not to be missed.

The 2020 Palmer is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. We haven't had a chance to taste it yet, but look forward to doing so soon.

Château Quintus has been owned by Clarence Dillon since 2011: it takes its name from the Franco-Roman tradition of always calling a fifth son Quintus. The top wine, gets better every year, and is showing more and more of the breeding that makes the owners’ Pessac wines so highly prized.

Made by the Thienpont family, this is always a smart purchase for anyone looking for everyday drinking from some of the best winemakers out there. There’s vibrant fruit, pure energy, and an impressive finish for a wine of this price. Buy this.

Pavillon is 36% of the estate’s production. Perfumed and silky, lovely floral character and amazing acidity, very pure energy, very saline, very good length. They put some old Cabernet in the blend that’s usually in the grand vine as it was too powerful for that blend. Here, it gives lift and power and energy.

A superb effort: deep and powerful, intense and structured. There's real presence and concentration, with excellent purity on the finish, but it's the mineral complexity that marks this out. And the flavours unfurl for minutes and minutes.

The 2017 Les Forts de Latour has plenty of ripe blackberry, currant and plum, and plenty of graphite, tobacco and dried herb complexity already sings through on the palate. This is well-balanced, poised and medium-weight, reflecting the lighter vintage, which makes it all the more refreshing to drink.

The 2016 Meyney is a brilliant wine, focused and intense, with lots of tension and refreshing acidity. Harmonious black and red fruits with stony notes and a crushed shell sensation on the palate. Energetic and incredibly long on the finish. One of the bargains of this exceptional vintage.

An exceptional bottling from Les Carmes Haut-Brion, their 2014 is silky in texture with ripe, delineated tannins and expressive fresh dark berries. There's some graphite developing, although this has long to go before it's at its peak. It finishes long with smoky mineral notes.

A great vintage of Chateau Latour with potential to age for decades. Approachable now with some dense fruit cake flavours and a hint of savoury tobacco just starting to emerge. Plenty of structure for age with robust and fine grained tannins, but restrained use of new oak means the fruit really shines through.

65.5% Merlot, 32.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc. The beautifully lifted, fragrant, herb-scented nose is followed on the palate by an almost surprising level of concentration. The powerful and pure core of almost sweet blackcurrant fruit is garnished with more aromatic herbs, freshly roasted coffee beans and a hint of peppery spiciness. The tannic structure is very impressive for its seamless integration and fine-grained quality. Expressive with huge length and understated power to round off the package, this surely is a candidate for wine of the Vintage this year.

Part of the same Chanel ownership as Rauzan-Ségla, this is a property that has seen a renaissance over recent years, with new investment improving the management of both the vineyard and the chais. Open and expressive on the nose, this boldness of style continues onto the palate, which has rich fruit core, balanced by a mouthwateringly fresh nature. The tannins are well-resolved and finely tuned, making this an attractive and balanced St-Emilion. Extremely good.

Made from a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. Restrained with notes of very powerful black fruits. This is the key to 2010 - power, finesse, concentration, yet balance. A beautiful wine which will need many years of cellaring to sing, but which undoubtedly will be a classic.

Now softening and harmonious with developing aromas of tobacco, pencil shavings and bitter chocolate, this 2008 still has tons of dark berry fruit and refreshing acidity. The tannins are softening and create a lovely frame around the complex flavours on the palate.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. One of the standout successes of this tricky vintage in Bordeaux, this is a rich and concentrated 2007 from one of our favourite Bordeaux producers Branaire Ducru. It's mature and drinking now, with some fresh red cherry fruit remaining amongst developed leather and tobacco, as well as lots of stony, mineral notes. The tannins are fine and resolved, and it finishes long and minerally.

Medium deep in colour with a bright, purple-red core. This has lovely perfumed, ripe Morello cherry, loganberry and raspberry fruit on the nose and is piercing and pippy with such freshness. Some cool but ripe plum notes and great elegance on the attractive, natural palate. Flowing, balanced and poised with medium acidity and vibrant fresh fruit. The tannins are incredibly fine.