The term 'New World' covers an enormous range of climates, soils and ambitions, but the wines that interest us share a characteristic more important than geography: they were made by growers who looked to the great estates of Burgundy, the Rhône and Bordeaux not as templates to copy, but as proof that wine made with genuine conviction in the right place could achieve something lasting.

The finest bottles from California, Oregon, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, when properly stored, reward patience in a way that is still under-appreciated by the wider market.

Our selection here is deliberately narrow, focused on mature vintages and producers whose work has stood the test of time rather than the demands of a particular moment.