Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers Grenache
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers
Contino were the first Rioja bodega to be set up in the mode of a Bordeaux château, with estate grapes from vineyards surrounding the …
362. Lucien et André Brunel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux, 2003
First bottle of this was subtly corked, which was extra-annoying because I could see the quality smothered by the TCA. But the POTG lads …
358. Domaine Bois de Boursan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 1998
This was probably the night’s disappointment for me. Not a bad wine, but given the vintage and a pretty good producer, this should have …
349. Joseph Phelps, Le Mistral Monterey County, 2003
This was going to be the vintage of Mistral that went into the 2nd Optimor Wine Club case, but the lads ended up with …
330. Kilikanoon, The Medley Barossa Valley Clare Valley, 2004
Another from the Optimor mixed case, and from a winery well-rated by Robert Parker. Initially, I thought this might be an overblown ‘taster’s’ wine …
323. Domaine de la Pertuisane, Domaine de la Pertuisane VdP Côtes Catalanes, 2003
2nd from the Optimor Wine Club case. Initially this was disappointing, but after eating food at the same time, along with a day in …
299. Alvaro Palacios, Les Terrasses Priorat, 2003
Out with Christian and Lauren at El Pirata tapas bar, having finally found Down Street’s dead tube station! A good Spanish wine list also …
297. E. Guigal, Côtes du Rhône, 2003
After the quality of the 1999, when I saw this in Majestic for £6, it was an automatic choice for a Christmassy quaffer. Didn’t …
296. Château Mont-Redon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2003
A good Châteauneuf courtesy of the Diageo staff shop (interestingly Selfridges’ own label Châteauneuf appears in the same, uniquely shaped bottle). Mid-pale ruby-garnet with …
294. Domaine Lucien Barrot et Fils, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2003
After the deflation of the 1999 Oratoire des Papes, this much cheaper Majestic offering restored my belief. Though not going to set the world …