It is as impossible to recommend an ideal cellar for a complete stranger as it is to advise them on the ideal contents of their wardrobe. However, this is my personal selection.
Bordeaux
Medoc: Chateaux Leoville Lascases, Palmer, Levoville-Barton, Pichon-Longueville-Lalande, Pichon-Longueville, Lynch-Bages, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Cos d’Estournel, Palmer, La Gurgue, Haut-Bages-Liberal, Chasse-Spleen; Graves: Domaine de Chevalier, Chateaux la Louviere, Fieuzal, Haut-Bailly (red); Pomerol and St Emilion, and statellites: Chateaux Pavie, Figeac, Lafleur, Le Bon Pasteur, Certan-de-May, Vieux-Chateau-Certan, Haut Bertinerie, Puygeraud, Canon (Canon-Fronsac); Sauternes and Barsac: Chateaux Rieussec, Gilette, Bastor-Lamontagne, Doisy-Daene.
Burgundy
Nuits St Georges: Gouges, A Michelot, Faiveley; Vosne Romanee: D Rion, Meo-Camuzet; Volnay: M Lafare, Pousse d’Or; Meursault: Michelot-Buisson, Lafon; Puligny-Montrachet: Carillon, Leflaive, Chartron et Trebuchet; Chassagne-Montrachet: Carillon, Sauzet.
Rhone
Hermitage: Chave, Guigal, Crozes – Hermitage: Graillot; Cote Rotie: Guigal, Jaboulet Aine; Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Chateau Beaucastel.
Southern France
Mas de Daumas Gassac, Domaine de Trevallon, Domaine Hortus, Chateau Vignelaure.
Barolo
Elio Altari, G Mascarello, Aldo Conterno.
Italian superstars
Gaja Chardonnay, Sassicaia, Tignanello, Solaia, Cepparello.
Rioja
Campillo, Contino, Remelluri.
Navarra
Chivite.
Spanish superstars
Pesquera, Vega Sicilia, Jean Leon Cabernet, Marques de Grinon, Torres Mas la Plana and Milmanda Chardonnay.
Germany
Mosel: Dr Loosen, Egon Muller, Deinhard, F W Gymnasium; Rhine/nahe: Balthasar Ress, Burklin-Wolf, Bassermann-Jordan, Muller Cattoir, Tony Jost, Kurt Darting.
Champagne
Pol Roger, Bollinger, Billecart-Salmon, Gosset, Boizel, Deutz, Krug.
Vintage and tawny port
Dow’s, Graham’s, Taylor’s, Niepoort, Fonseca-Guimaraens, Noval, Quinta de la Rosa, Quinta de Crasto.
Top-quality sherry Barbadillo, Gonzalez Byass, Lustau.
Other sparkling wine
“J” by Jordan, J Schram, Scharffenberger, Croser, Iron Horse, Green Point.
NEW WORLD
Cabernet Sauvignon
Penfolds Bin 707 (Aus.), Coleraine (NZ). Mondavi Reserve (Cal.).
Chardonnay
Kumeu River (NZ), Leeuwin Estate, Petaluma (Aus.), Inniskillin (Canada), Hargrave (Long Island), Sonoma Cutrer, Simi, Kistler (Cal.).
Sauvignon Blanc
Cloudy Bay (NZ), Cullens (Aus.), Thelema (SA), Casablanca Vineyards (Chile).
Semillon
McWilliams (Aus.)
Riesling
Hardy’s Siegersdorf (Aus.), Kiona (Washington), Knappstein (Aus.), Renaissance (Cal.).
Pinot Noir
Martinborough (NZ), Dom Drouhin (Oregon), Hamilton Russell (SA), Saintsbury, Au Bon Climat (Cal.), Coldstream Hills, Wignalls (Aus.).
Merlot
Matanzas Creek, Newton (Cal.), Casa Lapostolle (Chile).
Syrah/Shiraz
Grange, Yarra Yering, Henschke, Peter Lehman (Aus.), Phelps, Bonny Doon (Cal.).
Zinfandel
Ridge, Ravenswood (Cal.), Cape Mentelle (Aus.).
Late-harvest and fortified, Petaluma, Brown Bros Orange Muscat and Flora, Morris Liqueur Muscat (Aus.), Phelps, Renaissance (Cal.).
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