Taste of the high-life: a mixed dozen celebrity wines (cont...)

Seresin, Sun & Moon Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand 2012 93 £ 57.99-£69 Davy’s, Hedonism, Simply Wines Direct, The NZ Cellar, The NZ House of Wine Hollywood cinematographer Michael Seresin may be more used to being behind the lens than in its full glare, but the spotlight really shone on his wine in this tasting. Seresin makes some of the best New Zealand wines, and this is one of his favourite cuvées. Already five years old and maturing with grace and elegance, this is concentrated and dense, opening up to layers of red cherry and spice with subtle oak and leading to a savoury palate with dried herb hints. An impressive and serious Pinot. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 13% Quinta do Moinho, Vida Nova Reserva, Algarve, Portugal 2012 91 £ 16.50 Wells Wines Cliff Richard has a string of hits going back many years, among them Where Do We Go from Here; sadly the same could be said for his wine venture, as it is rumoured to be up for sale. Aged in oak for 12 months, this delicious SyrahAragoñez blend exhibits opulent black cherry fruit with some sweet spice from the oak. The palate is rich and compact with firm tannins, rich black fruit concentration and a smoky finish. One for a big piece of grilled meat, and best decanted. Drink 2020-2025 Alc 14.5% Two Paddocks, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand 2015 91 £ 28.25-£ 36 Corks Out, Haynes Hanson & Clark, Hennings, The Light House Wine Store, The New Zealand Cellar Actor Sam Neill started with a modest 2ha of Pinot Noir in his native region, Central Otago on South Island. His first vintage was 1997 and since then the wines have been going from strength to strength. Here in the glass, a very fruit-forward, pure and vivid nose packed with black fruit and spice, then a lifted palate with tones of ripe red and black fruit concentration and nicely balanced by fine acidity. Very enjoyable, with a strong feminine core. Drink 2017-2022 Alc 13.5%

Domaine Rouge Garence, Côtes du

Rhône Villages, France 2015 90 N/A UK www. rougegarance.com From one of the most talented French actors of the post-war era, also screenwriter and director Jean-Louis Trintignant ( Amour being his most recent film), who partnered with Claudie and Bertrand Cortellini in 1996 to create the domaine near Uzès. Predominantly Syrah with some Grenache and a dash of Mourvèdre, this is big and bold with structure and complexity. You can definitely smell and taste the sunshine here, with black berry fruit characters and lots of spice. While it shows concentration, it also has the firm acidity to support it. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 14.5%

Tenuta degli Dei, Cavalli, Tuscany,

Italy 2013 90 £ 35.68 (2008) The Drink Shop Roberto Cavalli, the Leopard King fashion designer, ventured into the wine world with his first vintage in 2004. The estate in Tuscany is run by his son Tommaso. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this is a typical SuperTuscan showing ripe blackberry and spice with hints of clove. Tannins are silky with a pristine acidity and a touch of herbal style on the finish. A red that cries out for food. Drink 2020-2025 Alc 14% Ernie Els, Signature Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2013 88 £ 50-£ 55 Gerrard Seel, Frontier Fine Wines Former world No 1 professional golfer Ernie Els has earned the nickname Big Easy for his tall stature and fluid golf swing. His signature wine blend is certainly the former of these too, being big, ripe and concentrated with notes of pure cassis and ‘putting green’ vegetal notes. It's easygoing on the palate, though, with smooth tannins and noticeable alcohol on the finish. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 14.5%