Wine Store
- Albino Rocca
- Avignonesi
- Begali
- Besserat de Bellefon
- Benoit Lahaye
- Bodegas Cepa 21
- Castello di Farnetella
- Cava d’Onice
- Celestina Fè
- Château Arnauton
- Château Caronne Sainte Gemme
- Château du Vieux-Guinot
- Château Fleur la Mothe
- Château Fonréaud
- Château Fourney
- Château Labat
- Château Le Sartre
- Château Siran
- Col Dorato
- Delas Frères
- Domaine Langlois-Château
- Domenico Clerico
- Dos Lusíadas
- Eguren / Dominio de Eguren
- Eguren / Sierra Cantabria
- Eguren / Señorio de San Vicente
- Eguren / Teso la Monja
- Eguren / Viñedos de Páganos
- Elio Altare
- Emilio Moro
- Fabio Motta
- Fèlsina
- Finca Sandoval
- Gianni Brunelli
- Jacques Cacheux
- Jean Lallement
- Larmandier-Bernier
- L’Échappée Belle
- López de Heredia / Viña Tondonia
- M. Chapoutier
- Mas de Cadenet
- Masseria Setteporte
- Mauro Veglio
- Nicolas Potel / Domaine Bellene
- Ormanni
- Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
- Piancornello
- Piombaia
- Potel-Aviron
- Schieferkopf, Alsace
- Schieferkopf, Baden
- Sottimano
Luberon La Ciboise Rouge 2021
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta, Syrah
Winery: M. Chapoutier
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's Notes -
Appearance: garnet red colour
Nose: complex and fine with notes of black fruit (blackberry / blackcurrant)
Palate: fruity with lovely notes of liquorice. Silky tannins. Creating a precise and elegant wine with lovely freshness
110.00 TTD
La Vieille Ferme Blanc 2020
Variety:
White
|
Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Rolle / Vermentino, Ugni Blanc / Trebbiano
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's Notes - Pretty pale-yellow dress. This wine reveals an elegant nose with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. This lively wine is very fresh and has a touch of minerality on the palate.
110.00 TTD
Grignan-les-Adhemar 2020
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (80%), Syrah (20%)
Winery: Delas Frères
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Wine Spectator 90 - A fun, open-knit red, offering lively kirsch, anise and blackberry cobbler notes, followed by a light dusting of lavender on the finish. Grenache and Syrah.
Maker's Notes - The colour shows an elegant, ruby-red hue. The aromas are delicate, dominated by red berries, such as wild strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth this wine is supple and seductive on the palate, light, easy to drink, with a deliciously fruity and fresh finish
120.00 TTD
Eleivera White Douro 2018
Variety:
White
|
Códega do Larinho, Gouveio, Rabigato, Viosinho
Winery: Dos Lusíadas
Region:
Douro Valley,
Portugal
Maker's Notes - Appearance: elegant, pale yellow flecked with green.
Nose: fresh, fruity aromas of peaches and pears with citrus notes.
Palate: clean and fresh on entry, with perceptible volume on the mid-palate. The finish is broad and taut with citrus aromas.
130.00 TTD
Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rouge 2020
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta, Mourvèdre, Syrah
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Jeremy's Notes - Perrin's Reserve Rouge is a reference wine for Cotes du Rhone. Well balanced, nuanced, elegant and delicious. They always get this right and the 2020 is no exception. Terrific value, punching well above its price point.
135.00 TTD
Mathilda Shiraz 2018
Variety:
Red
|
Syrah
Winery: Domaine Tournon
Region:
Victoria,
Australia
CRU/JRM - An Aussie shiraz with a French accent. Dark ruby and full of black fruits and pepper aromas. Silky smooth and elegant.
140.00 TTD
Perrin Nature Bio Rouge 2020
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta, Syrah
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's Notes - This wine has a very expressive nose with notes of violets and fresh strawberries. Supple, rich and complex on the palate, it reveals beautiful aromas of pepper, black fruit and thyme before a long, silky and elegant finish.
140.00 TTD
Studio Miraval Blanc 2021
Variety:
White
|
Rolle / Vermentino
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's notes - Elegant, very pale colour with subtle green reflections. With great finesse, the nose opens up with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. Balanced and fresh, the palate reveals the same seductive aromas and ends with a superb saline finish which offers beautiful length.
145.00 TTD
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2018
Variety:
White
|
Muscat Blanc
Winery: Delas Frères
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's Notes - The wine has a pale golden hue. The bouquet of this Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise shows intense fruity and floral aromas. On the palate, this wine has deliciously elegant freshness. It is full-bodied without excess, and has lingering fruity aromas on a melon and lemon-tinged finish.
155.00 TTD
Rasteau 'L'Andeol 2019
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta, Syrah
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Maker's Notes - Elegant velvety crimson-red dress. The nose on this 2019 Rasteau opens with seductive aromas of cocoa and fresh strawberries. Powerful and well-balanced, the palate develops delicious notes of red fruit and black olives with delicate chalky tannins that give this wine real character.
160.00 TTD
Bolgheri Bianco "Nova' 2018
Variety:
White
|
Rolle / Vermentino, Viognier (10%)
Winery: Fabio Motta
Region:
Tuscany,
Italy
Wine Spectator 84 - Ripe, showing lemon, earth and copper flavors. Rich, verging on oily, with moderate length. Vermentino, Viognier and Sauvignon. Drink now.
Maker's Notes - Straw yellow with green hues. Aromas of Mediterranean shrubs, brooms and mature pears with underlying saline scents. The viognier gives some delicate notes of exotic fruits.
The flavour profile is savoury and well-balanced with notes of fresh fruit, a fragrant acidity and a long lingering aftertaste of fresh almonds. Very elegant and rich in the mouth.
160.00 TTD
Masseria Setteporte Etna Rosso 2015
Variety:
Red
|
Nerello Mascalese
Winery: Masseria Setteporte
Region:
Etna,
Sicily
Who makes it?
The Setteporte Estate is a family run winery on the southwest side of Sicily’s active volcano, Mount Etna. The family has had a winemaking heritage here in Biancavilla dating back generations. The vineyards sit at an altitude of between 650 – 800 m and take advantage of the red volcanic soil. These vineyards need to be terraced to cope with the slope on which they are planted.
How they make it?
As you might already have worked out, Etna Rosso is easily translated to mean “Etna red”. So, it is no surprise that the main grape variety in this blend is Nerello Mascalese as it is gaining attention as an Etna grape. Besides Mascalese, there is also an addition of about 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Both of these are local grape varieties and importantly, the vineyards have organic certification. To let the wine come together, it spends 12 months in French oak, 20% of which is new.
What does it taste like?
There is plenty of intense cherry fruit with smoky nutmeg and earth. It is a medium bodied wine with supple tannins and fresh acid. A floral note joins the minerals and spice on the finish. It is a good drink.
What to drink with it?
With the savouriness of this wine it is a good companion for range of foods and flavours. For instance, a good place to start would be something simple like a tomato based sauce over pasta. Grilled lamb chops would be another.
Quickie review - An elegant take on a classic Etna red with intense cherry and a smoky minerality. Made for food, but it is good by itself.
175.00 TTD
Pagliarese Chianti Classico 2016
Variety:
Red
|
Sangiovese
Winery: Fèlsina
Region:
Tuscany,
Italy
WA 88 - The 2016 Chianti Classico by Pagliarese is an elegantly trimmed down red wine with delicate aromas of wild berry, red cherry, cassis and spice. Those fruit tones are generously and seamlessly integrated within the mid-weight body of the wine. As you should expect from Sangiovese (blended in this case with 10% Canaiolo and Mammolo), you get a healthy dose of balanced acidity on the easygoing finish.
178.00 TTD
Bourgogne Chardonnay Cuvee Reserve 2019
Variety:
White
|
Chardonnay
Winery: Nicolas Potel / Domaine Bellene
Region:
Burgundy,
France
Jeremy's Notes - As ubiquitous as Chardonnay has become, Burgundy is still its homeland and with good reason. Terroir matters and Burgundy is all about terroir. This is about as good a value in Burgundian Chardonnay as it is possible to find. Smooth, elegant, complex and long.
190.00 TTD
Chateau Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé 2021
Variety:
Rosé
|
Cinsault (30%), Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (50%), Syrah (10%), Rolle / Vermentino
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Vinous 91 - Vivid orange-pink. Mineral tinged red berries, orange zest and nectarine aromas show fine clarity and pick up a floral nuance with air. Juicy and focused on the palate offering sappy
tangerine and strawberry flavors that deepen steadily and take on a spicy white pepper note through the back half. Finishes long, gently chewy and precise, with repeating red fruit and spice notes.
Wine Spectator 90 - Pure and chiseled in feel, with racy-edged white cherry, rose petal, jicama and jasmine notes backed by a lingering wet stone accent on the finish. This has length and subtleties that set it apart from the pack. Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren.
Wine Spectator 90 - This elegant rosé combines orange pith, white cherry and grapefruit flavors, with undertones of mineral, spice and heather accents. Refreshing acidity gives this a mouthwatering finish.
Wine Advocate 89 - Plump and rounded on the palate, Miraval's 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose follows that up with a mouthwatering, citrusy finish. It's a pretty standard Provence offering but executed at a high level, with attractive scents of crushed stone accenting peach, melon and lime-like notes. Just who owns this wine estate may be in the hands of a French court, but the winemaking is firmly under the control of the Perrin family and reflects their high standards of quality.
195.00 TTD
Lucidus Rouge 2012
Variety:
Red
|
Syrah
Winery: M. Chapoutier
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Wine Advocate 88 - the 2012 Lucidus rouge offers Cote Rotie-like olive, underbrush and both blackberry and raspberry-styled fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and lightly textured, it carries surprising richness and depth. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years as well.
195.00 TTD
Emilio Moro Malleolus 2018
Variety:
Red
|
Tempranillo
Winery: Emilio Moro
Region:
Ribera del Duero,
Spain
Maker's Notes - Very deep, intense cherry red in colour. It is expressive and elegant on the nose with an outstanding aromatic intensity based on the Tempranillo variety,
the spices and the torrefacto notes from its passage through French oak, bringing richness, volume and complexity to the whole. It is broad and meaty in the mouth with polished tannins and a long and persistent aftertaste.
CRU/JRM - Moro's Malleolus is a consistently top-notch Ribera with great depth, length and satisfying palate. The 2018 continues a stellar reputation for quality and luxury.
265.00 TTD
Langhe Rosso L'Insieme 2011
Variety:
Red
|
Barbera (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Nebbiolo (40%)
Winery: Mauro Veglio
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
JRM - The 'Meritage" wine of the Langhe, combining the finest qualities of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. Complex, elegant and long with a sumptuous nose and great palate-feel. A unique and luxurious wine.
270.00 TTD
Vina Tondonia Reserva 2010
Variety:
Red
|
Carignan / Mazuelo (5%), Graciano (5%), Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (15%), Tempranillo (75%)
Winery: López de Heredia / Viña Tondonia
Region:
La Rioja,
Spain
Wine Advocate 96 - The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years.
Wine Spectator 93 - This elegant red is fine and creamy on the palate, with notes of sun-dried cherry, iron, spiced orange peel, graphite and mocha that slowly unfurl. A bit high-toned on the nose as well as loaded with mineral aromas. Muscular tannins are deftly integrated, while savory dried mint and eucalyptus notes play on the lasting finish. Tempranillo, Garnacho, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2030.
300.00 TTD
Châteaunuef-du-Pape Rouge La Bernardine 2020
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (75%), Mourvèdre (10%), Syrah (15%)
Winery: M. Chapoutier
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Jeremy's Notes - We have imported La Bernardine every year and it never fails to sell out. That's because it's wonderfully well made, scrumptious, luxurious and elegant. Complex, smooth and long. It will also age well if you decide to lay it down.
305.00 TTD
Nero di Nubi 2015
Variety:
Red
|
Pinot Noir
Winery: Fèlsina
Region:
Tuscany,
Italy
CRU/JRM - Tuscan Pinot Noir is by no means a common item but Felsina have a masterful hand at vineyards and wine making. The Nero di Nubi is not released young, the current vintage is going on seven years in the cellar. It will not fool you into thinking this is a classic Burgundy but it is miles better than all the tutti-frutti pinot noirs from the wannabe new world sites. This is an elegant, smooth and complex pinot noir produced in miniscule quantities and well worth the price.
310.00 TTD
San Vicente 2013
Variety:
Red
|
Tempranillo
Winery: Eguren / Señorio de San Vicente
Region:
La Rioja,
Spain
Wine Advocate 93 - I also tasted the 2013 San Vicente, which will be released in September 2016, from a vintage that has provided fresh and elegant wine. It has great freshness within its style. This is clearly a lighter vintage, slightly different, more aromatic and floral, with tension and precision--a style I like very much.
Vinous 92 - (fermented in large oak tanks, with malolactic fermentation and 20 months of aging in 90 percent French and 10 percent American oak barriques, all of them new) Bright violet. An explosively perfumed bouquet of primary red and blue fruits, incense, candied violet and vanilla carries a sexy Moroccan spice overtone. Sweet, expansive and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated boysenberry, cherry liqueur, rose pastille and spicecake flavors and a repeating vanilla quality. Fine-grained tannins build steadily on an extremely long, focused finish that emphatically repeats the floral and spice notes. I really like the marriage of fruit and tannins here, and there's impressive depth of flavor for the vintage.
Wine Spectator 92 - This voluptuous red delivers bold flavors of blackberry, licorice, black olive and mineral, with toast and espresso notes adding interest. Well-integrated tannins and citrusy acidity support the generous texture. A fruity, modern style. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made.
315.00 TTD
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Les Sinards 2020
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta, Mourvèdre, Syrah
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
CRU/JRM - No ratings yet but this typically scores in the low to mid 90's with good reason. It's as good as ever.
Maker's Notes - Beautiful, limpid colour of shiny ruby-red. The nose is revealed with finesse with an aromatic bouquet of fruit, full of freshness. On the palate, this wine is soft, elegant, with good acidity and seductive tangy notes of red fruit such as red currant. A wine of great finesse.
320.00 TTD
Brunello di Montalcino 2011
Variety:
Red
|
Brunello
Winery: Piancornello
Region:
Montalcino,
Italy
Vinous 92 - The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the more successful wines of the vintage. Sage, lavender, iron, smoke and dark red cherry notes flesh out in a supple, inviting Brunello. A kick of Mediterranean warmth gives the 2011 its generous texture, with all of the elements very much in the right place. I would prefer to drink the 2011 over the next handful of years or so. This is a strong showing from Piancornello.
WA 91 - Here's a pretty, ruby-colored Sangiovese from the heart of southern Tuscany. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino shows a lot of purity and red fruit intensity with wild berry and dried cherries in pole position. The wine offers a good sense of depth and balance thanks to those warmer notes of light tobacco and spice that add complexity in a subtle and lasting way. This Brunello is also distinguished by the mouthfeel that is tonic and bright without feeling too ripe or thick. This is a silky and elegant wine with a medium finish.
335.00 TTD
Victorino 2011
Variety:
Red
|
Tempranillo
Winery: Eguren / Teso la Monja
Region:
Toro,
Spain
WA 93 - The 2011 Victorino is produced with Tempranillo grapes from 35 hectares of ungrafted, old vineyards in the villages of Valdefinjas, Toro and Villabuena del Puente, which fermented with yeasts selected from their own vineyards and aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months. This is the fruitier and more approachable of the three wines I tasted from them, with aromas of clean, ripe, terse fruit, with hints of violets and a pinch of spices mixed with echoes from the soil. The palate is full-bodied, with glossy tannins, dense and ripe, with very good acidity, balanced and elegant. It’s approachable, but should develop more complexity with time in the bottle. 40,000 bottles produced. Drink 2014-2019.
Wine Spectator 93 - A firm structure supports the plush texture of this rich red. Savory notes of espresso and anise mingle with a deep core of plum, black olive and mineral. Not that expressive now, but harmonious nonetheless. Best from 2016 through 2026.
Vinous 92 - Dark purple. Powerful aromas of cassis, licorice, roasted coffee and cocoa powder. Juicy and broad in the mouth, offering dark fruit liqueur flavors lifted by sexy floral and oak spice qualities. Shows real intensity on the creamy, clinging finish, which features polished tannins and a note of smoky minerals.
340.00 TTD
Barolo Gattera 2005
Variety:
Red
|
Nebbiolo (100%)
Winery: Mauro Veglio
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
Wine Advocate - 91: Warm, generous dark fruit, spices and flowers come through in the 2005 Barolo Gattera. This beautifully balanced wine reveals an outstanding sense of proportion and an elegant, refined finish. This is the hottest of the microclimates in the Veglio stable, and has the vines with the most age, both of which were clearly a help in 2005.
Wine Spectator - 91: Very ripe fruit on the nose, with floral and dried berry character. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and impressive concentration that turns to cedar, berry and blackberry.
International Wine Cellar - 90: Good deep red. More subdued and medicinal on the nose than the Arborina; lower-pitched too. Then big, rich and fairly full in the mouth but less forthcoming today and not showing the clarity of flavor of the Arborina. The medicinal quality carries through on the aftertaste, which shows more serious tannins and very good breadth.
355.00 TTD
Brunello di Montalcino 2016
Variety:
Red
|
Brunello
Winery: Piombaia
Region:
Montalcino,
Italy
CRU/JRM - Piombaia's 2016 Brunello is very well made. Long, quite complex and elegant, it will improve for at least another decade. Classic Brunello flavours.
370.00 TTD
Amarone Classico 2017
Variety:
Red
|
Corvina (65%), Rondinella (30%), Other Red (5%)
Winery: Begali
Region:
Veneto,
Italy
Wine Advocate 94 - The Begali Lorenzo 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a beautiful wine that shows ample ripeness, with balance. It shows elegant restraint, but it is also exuberant and fully loaded. Its opulent character is very much in line with the hot vintage and the basic promise of Amarone that always prioritizes big intensity and lots of brooding fruit. This estate opts for more Rondinella in the blend, clocking in at about 35%, with 60% Corvina and 5% other complementary grapes. Rondinella adds much of the darkness and the extra concentration you see here. It is aged in French tonneaux and botte for three years. The Lorenzo Begali house style offers oak contours and renderings with extra softness and textural density.
Vinous 93 - Dark, rich and deeply
seductive, the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico lifts up with notes of
crushed blackberries, balsamic spice, smoke and lifting hints of mentholated
herbs. It’s silky, coating the palate in glycerol-like textures contrasted by
saturating black fruits, salty minerals and bitter cocoa. A fine layer of tannin clamps
down hard, leaving only purple-tinged inner florals and hints of black licorice to
resonate throughout. The 2017 does a wonderful job of straddling both the savory and sweet side of Amarone, but it will require a good amount of cellaring to fully flesh out.
370.00 TTD
Barbaresco Ronchi 2013
Variety:
Red
|
Nebbiolo
Winery: Albino Rocca
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
Vinous 95 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi is superb. Ample and large scaled, as wines from this clay-rich site often are, the Ronchi is firing on all cylinders today.
Layers of dark red stone fruit fill out the wine's ample frame effortlessly. Pine, menthol, anise, citrus peel and tobacco add attractive aromatic overtones, but it is the wine's balance that is most impressive today. Simply put, the Ronchi is a standout.
Wine Advocate 91 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi shows richness and density that grounds this wine firmly to the palate. This is a lasting and enriched expression that offers the intensity and the natural length that characterizes this vintage. Dark cherries and spice segue to balsam herb and cola. This is an elegant and nicely articulated expression from the Ronchi cru.
Wine Spectator 91 - A tightly wound red, with firm, raspy tannins that make the future difficult to predict. With air, sweet cherry, licorice and spice flavors emerge. Fans out nicely on the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2032.
375.00 TTD
Felsina Fontalloro 2016
Variety:
Red
|
Sangiovese
Winery: Fèlsina
Region:
Tuscany,
Italy
Wine Advocate 98+ - The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more.
Vinous 96 - The 2016 Fontalloro is bold,
hearty and deeply flavored, with all of the Sangiovese wildness that is so typical
of Fontalloro. Ripe dark cherry, grilled herbs, smoke, leather, game and incense are some of the many aromas and flavors
that open up in a potent, virile Fontalloro loaded with personality and character. In so many ways 2016 is THE archetype of
what Fontalloro is - a Sangiovese that is a bit wild and unruly but also full of charm.
Wine Spectator 92 - This is rich and polished, with black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors matched to dense tannins and bright acidity. Tips toward the tannic side now, picking up earth, spice and tar notes on the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2028.
410.00 TTD
Gigondas Domaine du Clos des Tourelles 2015
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache Noir, Syrah
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
WA 94 - Slighter richer is the 2015 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles. It shows similar floral notes but fills the mouth with ripe stone fruit and cherries, fine tannins and an incredibly silky finish. All of the Perrin Gigondas show the elegant side of the appellation.
Vinous 92-94 - Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of blackberry, cherry compote and candied flowers are sharpened by a smoky mineral topnote. Gently sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with aeration. Shows hints of candied licorice and allspice on a very long, sappy finish that features smooth tannins and an exotic twist of blood orange.
415.00 TTD
Barbaresco Ovello Vigna Loreto 2015
Variety:
Red
|
Nebbiolo
Winery: Albino Rocca
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
Wine Spectator 96 - Pretty cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors define this elegant, supple red. Firmly structured and beautifully integrated, leaving a lingering aftertaste of iron, tobacco and underbrush. Best from 2022 through 2042.
Wine Advocate 92+ - Of the three single-vineyard expressions of Barbaresco from Albino Rocca tasted this year, the 2015 Barbaresco Ovello (with 2,500 bottles made) exhibits the most defined mineral note. The bouquet shows dark fruit, spice and medicinal herb. It also delivers a very pretty and defined note of crushed granite or pencil shaving. The Ovello is also distinguished by a sweet and more succulent mouthfeel. Of these three wines, including the Barbaresco Cottà and the Barbaresco Ronchi, this is my favorite.
Vinous 92+ - The 2015 Barbaresco Ovello Vigna Loreto is beautifully lifted in the glass. Even in this warm vintage, the Loreto retains the nerve and tension that are such signatures of this Barbaresco vineyard. Crushed flowers, dried herbs, mint and chalk are all nicely delineated in a precise, finely sculpted Barbaresco endowed with real character. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a few years before diving into bottles.
420.00 TTD
Barbaresco Cotta 2015
Variety:
Red
|
Nebbiolo
Winery: Albino Rocca
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
Vinous 93+ - Here in its first release, 2015 Barbaresco Cottà, shows the natural breadth of this vineyard in Neive. There has a real sense of weight and gravitas that distinguishes the Cottà in this range. I would give the 2015 at least a few years in bottle to fully come together. This is certainly an auspicious debut. The Cottà could very well be a new star in the range.
Wine Advocate 91 - The 2015 Barbaresco Cottà displays a subdued but steady personality. The bouquet is stitched carefully together with dried berries followed by balsam herb, rosemary sprig and cherry cola. There is an oxidative or slightly evolved note, but it is well massaged into the black fruit and spice that sits at the core of this Barbaresco from Neive. The mouthfeel is elegant and bright. This is the inaugural vintage by Albino Rocca. Some 2,000 bottles were produced.
420.00 TTD
Barbaresco Montersino 2016
Variety:
Red
|
Nebbiolo
Winery: Albino Rocca
Region:
Piedmont,
Italy
Wine Spectator 94 - Pure, exhibiting rose, cherry and raspberry aromas. Elements of tobacco, eucalyptus, mineral and tar chime in on the palate. Elegant and long on the finish. Firms up and shows fine balance overall. Best from 2022 through 2037.
Vinous 92 - The 2016 Barbaresco
Montersino is marked by distinct floral overtones, bright red berry fruit and
gracious, mid-weight structure. Clean mineral notes add energy to a Barbaresco that stands out for its tense, crystalline personality. Pine, mint, chalk and crushed rocks give the 2016 its distinctive aromatic upper register to balance things out. This is such a vivid and expressive wine.
420.00 TTD
Besserat Brut Rose NV
Variety:
Sparkling
|
Pinot Meunier (40%), Pinot Noir (30%), Chardonnay (30%)
Winery: Besserat de Bellefon
Region:
Champagne,
France
Wine Advocate 90 - This disgorgement of the NV Cuvée des Moines Brut Rosé is from September 2017 and is (probably) based on the 2014 vintage. The salmon colored wine leads to a delicate, fresh and vinous nose with intense red fruit and floral aromas and a refined chalkiness. It's a bit reductive perhaps but nicely round and fruity on the elegant and refined palate. An excellent cuvée of Pinot Meunier (40%) and equal parts of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
505.00 TTD
Gigondas Clos des Tourelles 2017
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (80%), Mourvèdre (10%), Syrah (10%)
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Wine Advocate 96-98 - Even better than I remember it being last year, and potentially edging out the L'Argnée this vintage, the 2017 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles is just flat-out terrific juice. From yields around 15 hectoliters per hectare, it's 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, all aged in foudre. Soaring floral notes of rose petals, violets and garrigue appear on the nose, followed by ripe raspberry flavors that flow almost weightlessly across the silky, full-bodied palate. So fine, so elegant, so long, it nearly left me speechless.
Vinous 95 - Opaque, bright-rimmed ruby. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry scents are accompanied by suggestions of licorice, candied flowers and exotic spices. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated cherry pastry and blackberry flavors that become more energetic as the wine stretches out. Shows superb energy and mineral lift on an impressively long, subtly tannic finish that leaves behind a suave floral note.
525.00 TTD
Gigondas L'Argnee Vieilles Vignes 2017
Variety:
Red
|
Grenache / Garnacha Tinta
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Wine Advocate 95-97 - There are a whopping two demi-muids of the stellar 2017 Gigondas L'Argnee Vieilles Vignes in the pipeline, so readers will have to be on their toes to grab a bottle or two. Made from the same pre-Phylloxera parcel of Grenache, it's incredibly intense this vintage, boasting enough purple raspberries, black cherries and Asian spices to send me almost into sensory overload. Yet for all the flavor, this full-bodied wine is velvety-silky in feel, with a long, elegant finish.
Vinous 94 - Opaque ruby. Highly expressive aromas of mineral-tinged red berries, incense and licorice candy, along with a suave floral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and seamless on the palate, offering penetrating raspberry, cherry, spicecake and candied lavender flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes silky, sweet and impressively long, with gentle tannins and lingering floral pastille and exotic spice notes.
525.00 TTD
Besserat Triple B 2013 Brut Nature
Variety:
Sparkling
|
Pinot Meunier (20%), Pinot Noir (50%), Chardonnay (30%)
Winery: Besserat de Bellefon
Region:
Champagne,
France
Wine Advocate 90 - The NV Triple B (but referred to only as Brut Bio at the time of tasting) is entirely sourced from organically and bio-dynamically farmed vineyards; it blends 50% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier. There was no malolactic fermentation here. Very clear and discrete on the nose, with aromas of red apples, lemons and rhubarb, this is a fresh and elegant, lovely, clear and refined Champagne with a very nice purity. Very stimulating and bright.
Maker's Notes - Slightly yellow copper-coloured robe, delicate and dense bubbles
Intense and varied nose of fresh fruit and perfectly ripe. Initial notes of vine peach an
red fruits. Notes of stewed fruit (apple-pear-cinnamon) and crystallised fruit (quince,
mandarin orange). Overall it is complex and smooth. The attack phase is pleasantly
intense with the characteristic elegance of 2013 vintage. Its minerality is in harmony with the terroir and the estate’s viticulture practices. The finish offers a remarkable salinity
535.00 TTD
Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2018
Variety:
Red
|
Cinsault (5%), Grenache / Garnacha Tinta (40%), Mourvèdre (30%), Bourboulenc (7%), Clairette Blanche, Roussanne (8%), Other White
Winery: Perrin / Château de Beaucastel
Region:
Rhône Valley,
France
Wine Advocate 95-97 - Another in a string of top vintages, Beaucastel's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape was produced from Grenache yields of only eight hectoliters per hectare ("normal" is about 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Marc Perrin). The final blend I was shown is almost candied in its fruity intensity of raspberries and cherries, yet it has a potent underpinning of more savory elements, like tapenade, grilled meat and dried spices. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins, this shows tremendous length, reverberating with hints of crushed stone on the finish.
Vinous 92-94 - Deep ruby-red. Ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur and hints of garrigue, smoked meat and potpourri on the mineral-accented nose. Palate-staining black currant and cherry pie flavors show excellent clarity, chewy texture and a hint of spicecake that builds as the wine opens up. The energetic, impressively long finish repeats the floral and dark fruit notes, and youthfully chewy tannins add shape and solid closing grip.
Decanter 96 - This is a towering, muscular Beaucastel this year with more depth, intensity and black fruit, pushing towards blackcurrant. It’s very dense and extremely concentrated in 2018, more than most but it has the energy and the vibrancy to thrust it front and forward ending with a saline finish. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre.
Jeb Dunnuck 94 - Moving to the reds, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape showed nicely with a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Beaucastel aromas and flavors of darker currents, blueberries, smoked meats, black licorice and roasted herbs. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, clean, elegant texture, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this seamless, elegant Beaucastel will be approachable in its youth, yet still have 20+ years of prime drinking.