I went to a funeral on Friday, for a friend who died too soon. On hearing the diagnosis from his doctor he had asked “would this have had anything to do with my lifestyle?”. The specialist responded with a nod.

Rather than inspire me to don the Lycra, change my diet and drop this blog it made me realise that life is too short not to live it to the full, and that wine under $20 should be avoided. He was an ad man, and his death was perhaps the best ad for life I’ve ever seen.

So, none of these wines are under $20.

I’ll start with Billecart-Salmon NV, which I have often mentioned in the past. This time I was fortunate enough to be drinking it from a magnum, as we had something to celebrate at work. I’ll say no more than that a number of people came up to me afterwards to say they’d never really liked champagne, until they had tried the Billy. A magnum will cost you around $160. Celebrate something.

Next, to something completely different, Chateau Lassegue, St Emilion Grand Cru 2015, about $80 if you can find it.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gives it 93+ points and has this to say about it.

“Made by Pierre Seillan of Verité in Sonoma (the estate was purchased by the Jackson Family in 2003) from 50- to 60-year-old vines on clay and limestone, the 2015 Lassegue is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with expressive black forest cake, preserved plums and blackberry pie notes with an undercurrent of mocha, grilled meats, sandalwood and cigar box plus a waft of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, rich and densely packed with opulent layers of spiced black fruit preserves and chocolate box notions, it has wonderfully plush yet firm tannins and a lovely suggestion of background acid, finishing long and fragrant. 7,500 cases were produced.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown (21st Feb 2018)

It was intense, rich and, very drinkable. Plush seems a very good word, like the sculptured seats of a Bentley Continental. We had it with wagyu fillet. Booker would have approved.

The wines of St Emilion are often a bargain compared to their more famous Medoc cousins. And they’re often richer, perhaps more to Australian tastes. Having a wine maker from California presumably boosts that factor. It put me in mind of that great South African Bordeaux blend, Meerlust.

We had a Napa Chardonnay too, I forget which. The fruit was too sweet. I much preferred the Louis Latour Macon Villages 2015 which will set you back $30 at BWS.

I can recommend an Italian red for lovers of muscular, but not steroid-driven muscular wines, the 2014 Barone Sergio ‘Sergio’ Eloro. Sergio is a Nero d’avola from Sicily. Enoteca has it for $42, which is a lot less than the restaurant had it listed at! Much better value than Tuscan reds.

I’ll end on what I’m looking forward to.

A bottle of Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Margaret River. I’m hoping it echoes the Lassegue.

Thank you Booker.