‘There is nothing stronger than those two: patience and time, they will do it all,’ wrote Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace. These fine wines have been ageing beautifully in the cellar to reach their apogee. We’ve got premiers and other grands crus from Bordeaux, Hermitages by Chave, sweet Alsace cuvées from Deiss, and 70-year-old Rivesaltes!

When it comes to mature vintages, Bordeaux is our natural reference point, and we’ve had over 900 new arrivals from this most classic of regions. Fans of Château Cheval Blanc will be delighted with an exceptional 2010, as well as the 1995 and 1999 vintages, all ready to be uncorked. From the region’s left bank, we recommend discovering the 1998, 1999, and 2009 vintages from Château Haut-Brion, the 1998 and 1999 from Château Mouton-Rothschild, or indeed the 1999, 2000, and 2007 cuvées from Château Montrose. And if you’re after a more generous bottle, there’s an imperial (six litres) of 2005 Château d’Yquem and a jeroboam (4.5 litres) of Château Poujeaux from 2005 and 2010.

Consistent from one year to the next, Alsace’s continental climate always brings good ageing potential for its white wines due to the way the fruit’s acidity is preserved. This is why you can trust in the marvels that the vendanges tardives have in store; we recommend those from Domaine Hugel (1989, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003) and Marcel Deiss (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004). Other signatures to fall for include Zind-Humbrecht (2006 Muscat Goldert), Weinbach (2008 Gewurztraminer Altenbourg), and Bott-Geyl (2011 Pinot Gris Sonnenglanz).

Let’s move on to consider the prestigious produce of Champagne’s elite estates. We have a Dom Pérignon from 2008, a top-quality year for the region. One to try for a taste of truly fine Chardonnay, this champagne bursts with white fruit aromas and remarkable persistence on the palate. From Maison Bollinger, there’s an R.D. cuvée from 2002, a wine that macerates for three times longer than the appellation’s lower limit. At the end of this extensive process, the wine is disgorged before a low dosage of 3 to 4 grams per litre is added, allowing the aromas to flourish and complexify.

Now to the south, specifically to the Rhône Valley, where we’ll find the Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage in its 2001, 2002, and 2003 vintages. From the same appellation, a magnum of 2001 Les Bessards by Delas Frères is waiting. Those of you who like Syrah should turn to the Côte-Rôtie cuvées of Domaine Guigal (2007, 2008, 2009) and Jean-Michel Gerin (2002, 2006, 2007). Following along this path, you’ll find a sumptuous magnum of 2007 Alpilles by Trévallon, undoubtedly one of the finest reds in Provence.

Let’s finish on a sweet note with an incredible choice of Rivesaltes, some of which are 70 years old! A 1949 La Sobilane, 1958 Villargeil, 1965 La Cuvée des Aigles from Riveyrac, and 1973 L’Archiviste are just some of the names to please you.

As usual, there are so many wonderful names in ready-to-uncork vintages just waiting for you! You can explore the full selection here!