To be brutally honest, most Demi Sec Champagnes, don’t do a lot for me, I’d rather have a Prosecco Aromatico, or Spumante any day of the week. But this one is good, its ripe, rich and lush, a substantive wine despite its sweetness; pear, apple, apricot, spice, vanilla, toasted honey and flowers, all transfer from the aromatics to the palate, this has lots of personality, grace and elegance.

This attractive, light coral coloured, fruit laden rosé delivers strawberry and cherry spice aromatics, ample fresh flavours backed by good acidity, providing good harmony on a lightweight frame, almost feminine, the girls will certainly love this.

This is a first ever vintage… and the vineyard site has shown what it’s capable of… bright dark red, pungent aromas of black raspberry, blueberry and mace, sweeter and more pliant than many, it’s also a bit darker in character than many NZ or even most New World Pinot Noir’s. This is a sexy, juicy, sweet wine with lovely breath of flavour, there’s moderate density here, but it comes across as being light on its feet. If you’re looking for a very classy Pinot Noir which you can crack open and enjoy straight away you won’t go far wrong with this. Being the first ever vintage, yields are very low and quality is high, production was only 500 cases, and we purchased one third of the production, but I’m not certain how long it will last, to be safe drink it up between 2009 and 2014. There’s a very talented team behind this label and my feeling is “it’s a winery going places”.

The 2005 Madonna delle Grazie Brunello again displays awesome potential, made in the traditional Biodynamic style, but with clearly very modern approach in the vineyards, floral spring blossom, ripe black cherries, liquorice, leather and minerals all come together in this excellent wine. On the palate the glorious fruit and truffle notes carries all the way through to the long finish, I suggest this will continue to improve for another five or more years and drink wonderfully well for a further decade. This is a real gem of a wine, and whilst very polished already, some further bottle age will enable it to catch all the light and reflections of a class 1A diamond.

This is a youthful purple in colour, ripe almost primary fruit aromas of red berries, cherries and dark berries complemented by smoked meat and bright mineral. Warm with lightly bitter cherry and dark chocolate flavours, round and fleshy, finishes persistent and sappy, with supple tannins and surprising brightness, this would be good with lamb or game. This is a very serious bargain basement priced wine, and if you’re not sure about the Grape Monastrell, or the style of wine it makes, I would liken it to a Pinot Noir on steroids but some people think it’s a bit like Grenache.

This has a solid feel, projecting depth and concentration unusual for Vinho Verde. It is mouth gripping and coating, an awfully friendly style of wine, easy to drink and totally delicious with a burst of acidity on the finish to cut the lemony fruit. The price is very reasonable, considering the way Vinho Verde’s have escalated of late, but it’s for drinking young, I don’t think it will hold well for more than a couple of years. Drink now-2013. Tasted Feb 2010.