• This wine is produced using 100% Sagrantino grapes. It is a wine capable of being cellared for upto 15 years. It has intense flavours of dark berried fruit, earth , subtle spices and a touch of licorice with an elegant finish
• ‘One of my favourite producers' Jancis Robinson MW
• ‘Best Producer in Italy 2006'Gamberro Rosso Guide
• ‘The greatest achievement of the past 15years was discovering the wines of Arnaldo Caprai– Robert Parker Guide
• ‘One of the 10 varietals you need to try' Wine Enthuasiast

100% Sagrantino which is the indigenous red grape from the Umbria region of Italy. Under the capable hands of Marco Caprai a wine has been produced that is regarded as one of the best and most age worthy wines in Italy. It is aged for 24 months in French oak and the grapes used are from the oldest vines and from the best sites in the vineyard. ‘One of my favourite producers' Jancis Robinson MW

The Montefalco Rosso is a blend of 70% Sangiovese 15% Merlot and 15% Sagrantino. The wine is a softer rounder wine than the Sangrantino dominated wines and the Sangiovese  gives it an earthy and red cherry dimension which is so good with red meats and Pasta.

Bizarrely I discovered this wine in  what many agree is one of the top Italian restaurants in Paris.

This is a super wine and so much better value than Bordeaux

The Laplace family are one of the foremost quality producers in Madiran which is in the South West of France. The wine is made using 100% Tannat. Frederic Laplace is regarded as one of the Pioneer winemakers of the region and the Laplace family patented the technique called Micro-oxygenation which is now used globally. The wine is a food wine as it has lovely earthy qualities, lots of bramble fruit and hints if herbs and spice. John Wilson the respected wine writer selected this as one of his wine choices of the year.

Professor Richard Corder extolls the health giving virtues of this wine in his attempt to expalin the 'french paradox', in his book 'The Wine Diet'  

Here is one of my favourite wines from Rioja. this modern producer using impeccable wine making techniques, exercises restraint in his use of oak, allowing the fruit express itself fully in this wonderful wine.

I discovered this wine in a restaurant in Salamanca. I asked the Sommelier what she regarded as the best wine on her list and she did not hesitate in recommending Baigorri.  Subsequently and after it was introduced to the Irish market by my friends in Vinostito, Decanter Wine Magazine selected it as the top Reserva in Rioja........a stunning find

I am slowly taking the view that Italy is hard to beat in terms of quality, value and variety. Sadly however they produce so very poor wines which are widely available in Ireland.

Soave for me was a revelation as I had tasted too many poor examples. I was so impressed when I asked for a sample of this wine to be sent to me from England. I had read a piece by Jancis Robinson MW who rated this as the best value quality Soave available. and for what it's worth I agree. Again a great food wine, lovely soft fruit, softer acidity but a touch of honeymelon and flintiness. great with Chicken in cream, hard cheeses and delicate spicy dishes.