Day One

The 2015 Petite Lune is in a beautiful place after 5 years. Notes of candied pineapple and a hint of wild honey on the nose, with a textured and silky, yet still lively palate. It's such a charming, giving wine to enjoy today. Lovely.

This is so atypical from Prosecco, the DOC wouldn't let Primo label it as such. But never mind: it's one of the best sparklings we know. Notes of orange blossom and iodine on the nose, and hints of wild strawberry and lots of salinity on the palate. So impressive.

A deep and broad Bordeaux with juicy blackberry, violets and liquorice supplemented by a tinge of tobacco development. The tannins are abundant and assimilated giving the wine suavity and promise for a few more years to come. An excellent value-pick from a remarkable vintage.

Like her father, Bruna Giacosa is lauded for her mastery of red wines. But this, her Arneis, has long been underrated. In 2020, the wine is vibrant and penetrating with green pear and succulent peach notes complementing an expressive and creamy texture. This is a marvellous white wine from this venerable estate, sure to turn a few heads.

A small 7 hectare, family estate in the coolest part of the Colli Orientali region of Friuli and certified organic viticulture. There is a broadness to the 2021 Fruilano with fleshy orchard fruit notes and a juicy core, yet this is brought into focus with a zesty acidity and white flowers combined with minerals and dried pineapple on the finish.

This is the flagship wine of the estate, and offers the best of Muscadet: a little citrus and blossom on the nose, an elegant, defined length, with some savoury structure from lees ageing bringing it all together. This is an absolutely charming Muscadet. It bursts with citrus, and has such a mineral, saline tension.

RS refers to the natural sugar left from the grapes after fermentation, making this off-dry and most similar to a Kabinett from Germany. It's long and mouth-watering with juicy lemon and lime fruit. Soft and incredibly drinkable, it comes in at just 7.5% alcohol.

A juicy and finessed wine from Giovanni Almondo, that's the perfect way to discover their wines, and the Arneis grape. Crunchy pears and apples, and a citrus edge to this brilliantly drinkable white, from one of Piedmont's best producers.

Nicolas sees these vineyards, around Corgoloin just south of Nuits St Georges, as the future of his domaine. Land prices here aren’t impossibly high, yet the quality of terroir is terrific. It means he can make this enormously characterful and interesting wine for an outstanding price. This is a great success in 2019, with juicy, inky dark fruits, creamy tannins, and satisfyingly firm freshness. It shall no doubt continue to be one of the most popular wines on our list.

50% Refosco, 50% Schioppettino, this is a lively, silky red, with loads of whole berry, crunchy fruit, and a finish that lasts an age. Such a joy to behold, and a wine that will age brilliantly.

Donovan’s Cinsault was first released in 2015, and is a blend of fruit from Swartland, shared with David Sadie, and Darling, from the same vineyard as Duncan Savage’s Follow the Line. It’s a really lovely expression of this grape, with loads of rose petal and plenty of juicy berry fruit. Will also age well.

Orange peel and fresh beef tomatoes. And blueberry fruit and some violets. Lovely density: there's a weight and tannins to this, with such impressive length. Lovely acidity here, so much energy and a beautiful finish.

One can't help but be impressed by Château Ausone, set at the top of a tortuously twisted road, with its caves and chapelle dug into the limestone cliff. It is a fittingly romantic location for one of the world's greatest wines. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, this is dark and brooding in the glass. The nose is exceedingly rich and dense, with attractive black cherry and bramble fruit characters. The tannins are firm and structured, yet ripe and well integrated with the rich core of dark cherry, cassis and damson fruit. A stony minerality and a dart of refreshing acidity reflect the terroir and lend backbone to the rich succulent fruit.

Smells beautiful. Very delicate on the nose, beautiful drive and a very silky nose. Some dark berry fruit, plenty of floral character, and just a hint of herbal lift. Very saline on the palate, very finely judged tannins – talcum powder– this was just bottled but already showing plenty of potential.

The second wine from Spottswoode Estate in 2020 has a lot of the same richness and fragrance of their estate wine. There's plenty of savoury quality on the palate, with rose petals and aromatic, musky spice. Fresh with more red fruit and blueberry than the estate wine, it's a brilliant way to experience this celebrated estate at a more accessible price, with earlier drinking potential.

93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The 2019 from Rudd Oakville Estate is focused with pure, ripe blackcurrant and plum aromas, with more floral notes from the Franc and a stony, graphite finish. There's more blue fruit as time goes on with damson and blueberry, with a juicy, succulent feel on the palate and soft, rounded tannins.

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.

Pol Roger is a Champagne house with a huge following, thanks to its much loved Brut non-vintage. This cuvée, Pure, is only made in tiny quantities, and is a relatively recent addition to the portfolio, being released for the first time in 2018. It is the house's only zero dosage wine. Chalky, lean and racy, it's the gin and tonic of the range: a great aperitif for livening up the palate.

The 2019 Capisme is a stunning Langhe Nebbiolo, from a great vintage. Powdery tannins, lifted fruit, and a long, savoury finish all combine to craft a Nebbiolo that would not look out of place in a lineup of Barolos.

With only 3000 bottles produced, the fruit for this wine comes from the oldest vineyard plots of Vigna Romirasco, Vigna Cicala and Vigna Colonello and is only produced in the best vintages. The wine is aged for 33 months in large Slavonian casks and spent a further 9 years in bottle before release. Expect fresh and dried fruits combined with liquorice, mushrooms, blood orange and wild flowers. The tannins have resolved and balance perfectly with the silky core.

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

An impeccable second wine from a celebrated vintage. The 2016 Forts de Latour is rich and exuberant with bright cassis and kirsch fruit alongside more aromatic blueberry and exotic spices. There is a tension to the palate though with bright acidity, compact tannins, and a mineral finish.

Clos des Goisses is Philipponnat's single vineyard Champagne from an impossibly steep site, with remarkable ageing potential. Taut, reserved, and refined in its youth, it will evolved and unfurl with manificent grace. The 2014 is a blend of 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay, striking the perfect balance.

A blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Palomino, this is a delicate and pure white giving notes of white flowers, apricot blossom and white grapefruit. Very pure and finessed in style, this ends with fresh cut herbs and a breath of ocean air.

Just 5.9ha in size, Croix de Labrie is a real insider's tip. It's plush, opulent, and powerful. But in 2020 it also has impressive freshness - and a slew of high scores.

It is anticipated that just 10,000 bottles will be produced, and this iconic Pomerol has created a memorable wine in 2013. Deep concentrated aromas of sweet red fruits and violets lead into a palate of rich, ripe cherry and strawberry fruits, with fine, ripe tannin and well-judged oak influences. Well structured, it will drink in four to five years and unfurl into a beauty. Very enjoyable, even as a barrel sample!