Exploring the New World - Case of 12

Vintage: 2015

The Marlborough region of New Zealand's South Island is world-famous for its premium Sauvignon Blancs, which have a distinctive aromatic, fruity, crisp character, with a fresh, vibrant aroma and flavours of gooseberries and lemons.

About this bottle: his renowned style of Marlborough's Sauvignon comes partly from the climate there - plenty of sun by day but cool temperatures by night, so lots of fresh acidity is retained in the grapes. A long, slow ripening period in the autumn helps to develop the distinctive rich flavours found in this wine. This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was made especially for us by Brent Marris, one of the top winemakers in the region.

Vintage: 2013

Ripe, rounded, sour-cherry and bramble aromas lead to gorgeous raspberry, plum and strawberry fruit. Easy, approachable red with velvet smoothness and an elegant touch of peach and toffee at the finish.

About this bottle: Dr. Phil Spillman is one of Australia’s more qualified winemakers, with two oenology degrees to his name as well as a wealth of experience in making Antipodean wines. For this juicy red he has conjoured up a magnificent array of Aussie grape flavours with 82% Shiraz, 6% Viognier, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Tempranillo, 2% Malbec and 2% Semillon. The two white grapes in the mix give a wonderful lightness and aromatic lift, and a little oak-ageing provides added smoothness.

Vintage: 2013

Deep violet coloured wine with fruity blackberry and plum aromas combined with delicious secondary aromas of vanilla and toast. Gorgeous soft, silky tannins surround equally sumptuous dark plum flavours and lead to a long, lingering finish.

About this bottle: In Argentina’s dry, semi-desert Barrancas region, on the stony soils of an old river bed, lie the Malbec vineyards of Finca Agostino. This family wine estate was built up by four siblings: Vincenzo, Rosalia, Sebastian and Miguel Agostino, who knew and loved the vineyards and wanted to leave a lasting heritage there. Their ambitions are realised in today’s Malbecs, which are regular award-winners. This wine gains its wonderful smoothness from careful barrel-ageing in French and American oak.

Vintage: 2013

Medium-bodied and utterly fruit driven white with peach and honeydew melon aromas followed by smooth, rounded, peach and melon fruit on the palate, too. A touch of spice and nuttiness comes from extra long lees contact in the winery.

About this bottle: Grown on the old rice paddy fields surrounding the City of Griffith in New South Wales, on flat land that’s easy to farm. This means all the picking can be quickly and efficiently done by tractors and machines, so the grapes are delivered to the winery in ultra quick time, which is essential for this style of fruity fresh wine. Fermentation on oak, a little lees contact, and a dash of Semillon (15%) add fullness and a nutty texture to this Chardonnay.