The name William Knuttel resounds in California fine wine circles. In the 1980s, Knuttel was key to establishing Saintsbury as a leader of fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and later helped build a great reputation for Chalk Hill and Dry Creek wineries too. In 2001, he founded his own estate and today is joined by his son and daughter.

This full-bodied, velvety red is pure Cabernet, sourced from Wilson Vineyards in Clarksburg. Just east of San Francisco Bay, the site benefits from cooling sea breezes and rolling mists that encourage long, slow ripening of the grapes. 14 months ageing in French oak barrels has lent layers of gentle oak spice to the dense dark fruit of this Cabernet. A great red to serve with roasted red meats or hearty bakes.

Chai winemaker Mark Hoddy reserves the Belle Roche label for a red wine made from the best parcel of grapes of the vintage. In 2021 he found just the ticket in a few rows of dark, thick-skinned Cabernet, grown in high-up Languedoc vineyards close to Carcassonne. There the climate benefits both from Mediterranean and Atlantic influences, hence a wine that echoes both of the warm ripeness of the Med with the structure of Bordeaux. It's a densely flavoured red, its colour almost black – the reason he calls it his precious ‘black diamond’ of the vintage. Meticulously crafted by Mark at the cellar, Belle Roche is best decanted an hour before serving, just like a claret. It’s ideal with a juicy steak, a rich lasagne or a hearty casserole. Decant.

The grapes all come from old, arid soil vineyards, overshadowed by statuesque stone pines. Both vines and trees benefit from the cool down draught from the Moncayo mountains, producing grapes with delicious depth of ripeness and long, velvety tannins. 16 months in French oak barrels provides more layers of richness and depth. This will impress.

Opi Sadler has brought us the customer favourite ‘Waxed Bat’, now he presents the ‘Big Bat’. If you didn’t think a wine could get any richer, silkier and packed with luxurious layers of flavour, you were mistaken. But then, Opi is one of Argentina’s most internationally renowned winemakers and he adores the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

To achieve such an ageworthy perfection, he selected grapes from the finest, high-altitude vineyards in Altamira, Uco Valley, ageing this grand red for 18 months in French oak barrels. This lends a spicy edge to the rich black fruits. Opi states that Argentina makes "undoubtedly the best Cabernet wines in the world". A big statement, but judging by this wine, he may well be right. An elegant, mature steak red.

Since its launch over a decade ago, Albastrele has amassed awards in Europe for nearly every vintage.

It shows just how perfect for winemaking the Black Sea influenced climate in Moldova really is.

No wonder that during the 18th and 19th centuries Moldova became the ‘Vineyard to the Tsars’.

Made from hand picked grapes at the Tvarditsa Estate, Albastrele is named after the cornflowers that carpet the vineyards in spring.

Winemaker Haraba Marian has crafted a smooth, blackberry rich Cabernet in 2019.