Cabalié's popularity is down to a rare combination of imposing richness and easy drinking smoothness. Recreating that in white was no easy task. But Cabalié maestro Hervé Sabardeil has done it – years of searching, blending and hard work come to fruition in this, his ultimate expression of a southern French white. The magical grape mix is old-vine Viognier for intense honeysuckle aroma and soft texture, Muscat for dazzling grapey notes, and Colombard to keep it all zesty. And of course the other key ingredients are bright southern French sunshine, which ripens the grapes to perfection, sea breezes to keep them healthy and night harvesting to ensure maximum freshness. Bursting with tropical fruit, Cabalié is perfect with seafood or chicken.

Home to “thunderously powerful Grenache” (Andrew Jefford).The grapes come from very old vines – between 60 and 100 years old! Yields are minute (about half of a Grand Cru Bordeaux), which accounts for the opulently black colour and incredible intensity of flavour.

The power-packed wine was then aged in oak casks to lend an even more luxurious layer of creamy rich and lavish oak complexity. This is an outstanding, weighty red that even manages to outpower the original Cabalié – it’s that deep and concentrated! It will be a truly decadent and delicious partner to your year-end parties and Chinese New Year feasts – and it will look wonderful on the table too.

It’s a rarely known fact that the Languedoc was the first French region to be introduced to viticultural practices by the Romans. This balmy red wine country took a hit in the 1980s when it became known for high volume wine, which lacked quality. But today, that quality is back thanks to passionate and dedicated Languedoc enthusiasts, such as Laurent Guillot. Born into a fourth generation Burgundian wine family, Laurent decided to head south and create an estate of his own. A north meets south style is evident in this spicy, supple red. With this wine he won Gold, crafting an authentic expression of the wild, sun-blessed terroir. Syrah based, it’s laden with blackberry and peppery spice, with a pep of fresh red fruit from Négrette.

“I love the creaminess and fresh baguette richness on the mid-palate, the acidity easily balancing this. Long complete finish with good mineral tension. 94pts.” (James Suckling).