First release: BIG bottles

2005 was rightly heralded as one of the greatest in the history of this acclaimed region, and Lafite was one of the finest in this historic vintage. Now twenty years on, I'm delighted to say these wines are starting to enter their drinking window and they're truly fulfilling their potential. The colour is only just starting to show signs of evolution, with a nose that bursts from the glass with aromas of crushed graphite, leather, rose petals, cured meat, blackberries and plum. The palate is hugely concentrated, with tightly knit, fine-boned tannins that coat the mouth in a flavour-packed film of pencil lead, thyme and leather. The finish lasts for an age. This wine is a truly bewitching experience, and it is amazing to consider how much longer it will continue to mature – a testament to the provenance of this special wine. Please note that this double magnum is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2050. 13%

Chante-Alouette comes from some of the best parcels on the Hermitage hill, including Le Meal, Les Murets and Chante-Alouette. Always generous and concentrated with great depth of flavour and length, it keeps developing layers of complexity with age. 2019 is a concentrated vintage with lots of structure and energy.  Please note that this double magnum is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2040. 15%

The sum of the parts from Michel Chapoutier`s extensive holdings on Hermitage, this is a deeply coloured, vibrant, chewy and multi-layered wine with great depth that has benefitted from a decade in bottle. Decant and drink or keep it for even further development. Please note that this double magnum is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2040. 14%

A delicious wine from an iconic winery, in a remarkable vintage. The 50th release of The signature is dedicated to long time Yalumba staff member Chris Gerhardy, who had been with the business for 50 years. A blend of 53% cabernet sauvignon and 47% shiraz, with 19 months maturation in a combination of French and Hungarian barriques and hogsheads (23% new oak). This is a full but silky and notably elegant release. The nose is immediately luxurious, with polished dark fruits, olive tapenade and soft, pillowy notes of cedar, cigar box and vanilla pod. The palate is full and broad, with deliciously plump and cushion-like tannins. Slatey minerality supports the plush and generous dark plum, cassis and bramble fruit and adds to the impressive depth of this wine. Effortlessly classy, distinguished and a true representation of the quality of both producer and vintage.  Please note that this methuselah is equivalent to six litres or eight bottles. Drink this year to 2045. 14.5%

Beaumont is one of our members’ best-loved châteaux with a proven track record. It was a notable success in the outstanding 2016 vintage. A refined and finely honed Haut-Médoc with pronounced black-plum perfume and supple, ripe tannins on the palate. Please note that this imperial is equivalent to six litres or eight bottles. Drink this year to 2036. 13.5%

Pioneering and ever-popular South African syrah-based blend, admirable for its consistent quality. With flavours of ripe mulberry and strawberry, wild herbs, and a touch of peppery spice, this has supple tannins, and balances its inherent fruit richness with freshness. The blend in 2023, which was a cool, elegant vintage for the Swartland, is 74% syrah, 11% grenache, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cinsault, and 1% viognier. This is a benchmark, crowd-pleasing Swartland red ready to drink now which in jeroboam format will make an amazing centrepiece for a Christmas party. Please note that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2030. 14.3% 

Fully mature Provencal red from one of the region's top estates, this displays rich cabernet sauvignon fruit character with peppery syrah in support. Perfect for a large gathering this wine is at its drinking peak. The property was once under the same ownership as Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, and the 2010 skilfully balances Bordeaux elegance with Provençal ripeness. Please not that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2030. 14%

This cuvée from the Languedoc brings together syrah and grenache, mostly from young vines, barrel-aged for a year, but without new oak. Balanced with a touch of spice and ripe black cherry. Ripe strawberry and spice in this lovely 2022 vintage and a real centrepiece on any dinner table. Please note that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2035. 14.5%

A fine Cissac in 2016, from lower-than-average yields (just 40hl/ha), this shows good concentration and ripe cassis flavour. The blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 7% petit verdot makes for a classic northern-Médoc claret offered in a party-sized format. Please note that this jeroboam is equivalent to five litres or 6.66 bottles. Drink this year to 2036. 13%

The 2014 Vignelaure displays a wonderful, cedary nose, with classic cabernet sauvignon fruit character very much to the fore. The property was once under the same ownership as Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, and this is a vintage that skilfully balances Bordeaux elegance with Provençal ripeness thanks to the syrah element in the blend. Please not that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2031. 14%

Chryseia`s vinification is inspired by Bordeaux, but the wine remains resolutely Portuguese, the successful result of the long-term friendship and partnership between two great winemaking families. 2021 was a cooler vintage in the Douro, spared the extreme heatwaves suffered in much of Europe that summer. The later ripening season benefited from cool nights, favouring the freshness, elegance, perfume, and supple tannins in the resulting wine. This wine is more approachable than a Bordeaux of similar quality would be at this age, with moderate use of oak, fragrant fruit, and refined tannins, but cellaring is recommended, and age-worthiness guaranteed. Somewhat of an icon of Douro table wine, this reflects the pedigree of the Symingtons' winemaking, and the bright future ahead for fine wines of the Douro. Please not that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2045. 14.5% 

One of the great Saint-Estèphe properties with an open fruitiness and welcoming charm of its own. Rich flavour with silky tannins. Elegant and long-lasting. Please note that this double magnum is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2040. 13%

A fine Cissac in 2016, from lower-than-average yields (just 40hl/ha), this shows good concentration and ripe cassis flavour. The blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 7% petit verdot makes for a classic northern-Médoc claret offered in a party-sized format. Please note that this double magnum is equivalent of three litres or four bottles. Drink from this year to 2036. 13%

A blend of equal parts cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc with merlot, this Figeac saw 100% new oak that has now integrated nicely and delivers plenty of ripe dark fruit aromas and flavours with cedary nuances in a superb vintage for the château. Please note that this double magnum is equivalent to three-litres or  four bottles. Drink this year to 2040. 13.5%

Continuing the recent trend for Trilogy to be led (just) by cabernet franc – a grape variety Warwick's cellar master JD Pretorius is a master of – the 2022 is a perfumed and expressive rendition, with aromas of dried flowers, tobacco leaf, cassis as well as strawberry, and subtle clove spice. The palate shows beautifully concentrated, supple fruit with fine-grained almost silky tannins even at such a young stage of development. There is a lovely energy and early approachability to this vintage, which shows vibrant, bright fruit and a persistent, chalky grip on the finish. As with so many Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blends, 2022 is the Trilogy vintage to drink before you even consider opening the 2021. Please note that this jeroboam is equivalent to three litres or four bottles. Drink this year to 2036. 14.5%