L.J. scored this wine: 93/100

This wine is deep purple, dry, medium plus acidity, medium body yet high alcohol, and medium tannin. It is a blend of 40% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 17% mourvedre, and 10% Carignan from the Terrasses du Larzac in Languedoc-Roussillon. It has a pronounced aroma of black plum, raspberry, an earthy tang, herbal notes, black pepper, black olive, and is salty/smoky/ savoury and meaty. I believe I detected all the aromas on the palate; I would call it complex and evolving and very delicious. Paired with braised beef cooked and smothered in mushrooms with black pepper and basil. The earthiness of the mushroom and the herbal notes worked well with the wine as well as the beef. I would drink on its own, or with braised beef and mushrooms, or with a cheese of the area like Tomme aux 7 fleurs: cows cheese, made in Ardèche with mallow flowers, marigold flowers, cornflower flowers, safflower flowers, rose flowers, strawberry leaves and trigonella or a local tomme from Quebec or perhaps goats cheese.

L.J. scored this wine: 93/100

This wine comes from the Saint Mont vineyard, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in South West France.It is a mix of 60% Gros Manseng,30% Petit Courbu, and 10% Arrufiac. This wine area, part of Gascogne, is known for creative blends of Gros Manseng and lesser known varieties native to the area. These wines are well worth searching out. This particular wine is medium lemon in colour, dry, with a medium to medium full body and a pronounced nose of ripe apricot, peach, wild herbs, citrus and citrus pith and a tangy salinity. In the mouth it is rich and smooth, almost lush, due to the extensive aging on lees and has a lovely fresh acidity. It paired very well with white Stilton with ginger and mango; the fruit notes and rich texture of the cheese complemented the fruity notes and richness of the wine. Roasted squash soup, made with white beans, fresh sage leaves and tomatoes also complemented the wines richness and herbal notes. This wine and others from the area are favourites of mine and a very good value.

L.J. scored this wine: 93/100

Lovely deep purple Rioja Reserva, pronounced nose featuring vanilla, baking spice (primarily clove), black plum and cherry. Rich and velvety in the mouth with a lovely silky feel, and tastes of vanilla, concentrated black plum and cherry, cloves and vanilla. It is dry, full bodied, with medium tannin and acidity. Paired beautifully with roast beef crusted with rosemary and pepper. Pleasure to drink with food or on its own.

L.J. scored this wine: 91/100

Deep purple coloured wine, with a pronounced aroma and taste of raspberry, black plum, and blackberry with chocolate and smoky notes and a hint of pepper. Dry, medium plus acidity, medium tannin and medium body. The wine paired very well with rosemary and thyme torta and old cheddar, and smoked beef. A pleasure to drink on its own or with food. It likes rosemary!

L.J. scored this wine: 95/100

Medium gold coloured white wine with a pronounced aroma of pineapple, bruised peach, lemon, lemon curd, hazelnut and a mineral note. The wine is dry, medium bodied and alcohol with a creamy mouthfeel and bright lemon notes. The aromas are replicated on the palate and the winemaking techniques used contribute to the outstanding mouthfeel and layering of flavours. The grapes were whole bunch and a 100% barrel fermented, using 30% new 228 litre fine-grained oak barrels and the rest in 2nd and 3rd fill oak barrels. 20% went through malolactic fermentation. The wine spent 9 months in 228L French oak barrels. The contribution to flavour from this barrel fermentation technique was excellent. This wine paired very nicely with salmon and potato cakes with dill, served with lemon caper aioli. Tried with butternut squash ravioli with arugula, leeks and mushrooms in sage cream sauce with a hint of ginger; this tended to overwhelm the wine. Extremely pleasant on its own.