For the Future - Red Wines .....................................................................................................................................................................................................
As will be deduced from the recommendations of wines to lay down for differing lengths of time the choices are varied and broad depending upon the length of cellaring required. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Chainti Classico Riserva, Vigneto Rancia, 2001 - Felsina Berardenga, Castelnuevo Berardenga - £29.82 per bottle Felsina's wines have never been better. Quite a statement when you stop to think about the wines that Giuseppe Mazzocolin, together with winemaker Franco Bernabei, have put together over the last twenty years. Felsina's vineyards are situated in the commune of Catelnuovo Berardenga on the southern border of the zone. The wines have great intensity, yet they are, as in the case of Vigneto Rancia, also capable of displaying great elegance. Vigneto Rancia is one of the estate's best vineyards and has been bottled on its own since 1983 and the current releases confirm the oft stated view that this is one of the top three wines sold under the Chianti Classico banner. Its combination of pwer, finesse and lenght make it unbeatable. This wine can be kept quite happily for another 5 years or so. GRILLED MEATS/GAME/HARD CHEESES ..................................................................................................................................................................

Château Siran, 1998 - Grand Cru Exceptionel, Margaux - £25.50 per bottle Full bodied with an elegant fruit and well integrated, powerful tannin. Beautiful dark and intense colour, liquorice and incense aromas with a hint of cherry.A very good vintage at Château Siran producing wines with good structure and elegant fruitiness balanced by integrated tannins. Drink now until 2016. One of our very favourite châteaux making some splendid Margaux of undoubted ‘cru classé’ quality. Originally in the ownership of the Comtes de Lautrec (remember Toulouse?), it has been in the hands of the Miailhe family for four generations. The 40 hectares of vineyard have recently had a new drainage system installed and, since the 1992 vintage, extensive green harvesting has been practised between July and September. Average yields totter around 45 hectolitres per hectare and, since the 1995 vintage, Brigitte Miailhe has employed Michel Rolland as wine-making consultant and there can be no doubt that this wine has an extra dimension that we have not seen before at Siran. Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Merlot 30% Petit Verdot 12% Cabernet Franc 8% BEEF/VENISON/CHEESE ..................................................................................................................................................................