LIFE | TAYLOR FLADGATE VINTAGE PORT VARGELLAS VINHA VELHA CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO 2011, PORTUGAL BRUNELLO DI 96 points ZODIAC RISERVA 2011, ITALY CLOS APALTA VALLE DE APALTA Beautiful nose of flowers with plum and cherry; more like a fine table wine 96 points 2014, CHILE on the nose. Full body, medium sweet, with super-refined tannins and a A beautiful and tensioned 2011 with full 100 points long, superb finish. Only 310 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine to medium body, superfine tannins and Aromas of fresh herbs, and dark from 19th-century vines at the Vargellas estate. Try in 2022. a long, tangy and polished finish. Fresh berry and floral undertones. Hot Port collectors know that Taylor is one of the best names in fortified wine, acid backbone. Wonderfully crafted, stone character. Full body, very linear and just opposite one of its main port lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia is a showing a deft hand in winemaking for a WONDERFUL and ultra-fine tannins. The precision fantastic property, the Yeatman Hotel. The views from the rooms looking very hot year. Drink now or hold. and perfection here is impressive, across the Douro River to the city of Porto are as spectacular as Taylor’s The luxurious Rosewood Castiglion as it has always been. A blend of 100-point 2016 Vintage Port. del Bosco is the brainchild of Massimo WORLD carménère, cabernet sauvignon and Ferragamo, one of the board members merlot. Drink or hold. of the famous Tuscan fashion company. The Clos Apalta Residence is the OF WINE Built around an ancient villa, the private home of the owner of Chile’s gorgeous property features a fantastic iconic Clos Apalta, which is the only With more than three decades of restaurant and an 18-hole golf course. wine in South America to receive tasting experience, James Suckling two back-to-back 100-point scores has visited countless wineries from James Suckling. The small around the world. He is always hotel boasts beautiful views of the Colchagua Valley, as it is nestled venturing into new territories to in the hills of Apalta, and has an experience the people, places and excellent restaurant. MARQUÉS DE RISCAL RIOJA 150 ANIVERSARIO tastes of each wine destination. GRAN RESERVA 2010, SPAIN Anyone looking for great wine, 95 points charming landscapes and a warm Nothing showy about this on SAN FELICE TOSCANA the nose, although the discreet welcome should check out some PUGNITELLO 2013, ITALY black fruit and chocolate notes of his favourite bottles and the 95 points are appealing. Excellent ripeness This is layered and structured, and concentration. Very polished properties that stock them with excellent ripe tannins and and refined. Drink now. fruit. Full and softly textured yet Hotel Marqués de Riscal is one with a vibrant end to it. One to of the most amazing buildings watch. Very Super Tuscan. on a winery in the world. It was VIK VALLE DE COLCHAGUA VIK 2015, CHILE Drink or hold. designed by Frank Gehry, and its 98 points Located about half an hour’s multicoloured facade of metals Great class on the nose with violet, lavender, currant and blueberry. Very drive from Siena, San Felice is is a bold contrast to the colonial perfumed. Full body, ultra-fine tannins with great finesse and polish. So long and one of the top wineries in the architecture of the winery. The focused. Subtle complexity. One of the new cult of Chile. 2020 release. region and makes excellent restaurant serves solid local CHÂTEAU SMITH 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. Drink in 2021. Chianti Classicos as well as cuisine with aged bottles from HAUT LAFITTE PESSAC- Vik produces beautiful and silky wines and is vying with some of the best vibrant Super Tuscans. Equally the bodega. They might even LÉOGNAN BLANC wines in Chile. Its futuristic winery and hotel is designed by local architect compelling is its luxury hotel and have your birth year available. 2015, FRANCE Smiljan Radic. Its undulating roof made of bronzed titanium is inspired by the restaurant attached to the winery, 98 points surrounding mountains. Borgo San Felice. Very subtle and complex, with sliced cooked apples, pie crust and hints of oyster shell as well as iodine. Full-bodied, tight and layered with mineral IL BORRO VALDARNO DI SOPRA and true terroir character. Just CHÂTEAU LAFAURIE-PEYRAGUEY PETRUNA 2015, ITALY a touch of seamless tannins. SAUTERNES 2015, FRANCE 95 points Solid and fresh. Needs 97 points Fantastic aromas of crushed berry decanting young. Serious for Try to imagine the most beautiful exotic- and walnut follow through to a full ageing. Better in 2020. fruit coulis and you have an idea of how this body, soft and silky tannins and a Bordeaux’s prestigious new style of Sauternes smells. Stunning savoury, gorgeous finish. One year Château Smith Haut Lafitte concentration and purity of flavour. The knife- on the skins in Tuscan ceramic is one of the few châteaux in edge acidity electrifies the palate and turns the TAPIZ MENDOZA LAS NOTAS DE JEAN CLAUDE 2012, ARGENTINA amphora, 450 litres. 3,000 bottles. the region that makes superb finish into a fireworks display of fruit and mineral 95 points The village and 400-hectare Il Borro dry whites and reds. The freshness. You could drink this now but it’s got A really exciting new wine. Love the intensity and richness, with lovely estate were once the private hunting five-star hotel Les Sources enormous ageing potential. ripe fruit and lightly toasted oak character. Black olive and berry. Full grounds of the Italian royal family. de Caudalie is just next door The Lalique hotel and restaurant at Chateau body, firm and silky finish. 91% merlot with petit verdot, cabernet franc It took the head of the Ferragamo and boasts a Michelin-starred Lafaurie-Peyraguey is one of the newest chateau and cabernet sauvignon. Better in 2019. fashion group to transform it with restaurant and a luxurious hotels in Bordeaux. It opened in June and its Bodega Tapiz, about half an hour’s drive from Mendoza, is an eco- the winery and the luxurious Il Borro spa. You’d be hard-pressed restaurant, which has an extensive cellar, is friendly winery with a small boutique hotel called Club Tapiz, which has Relais & Châteaux. The winery to find a better place to enjoy tipped to be recognised quickly by Michelin. It an excellent restaurant. produces exciting reds primarily from a top glass of wine against a shares the same ownership as the esteemed scenic backdrop of vineyards. and syrah. French crystal maker Lalique. To see more top wines from around the world, visit jamessuckling.com