309 products

Large Formats

Take table theatre to the next level or simply say a BIG thank you with a selection from our extensive collection of large format bottlings. Bound to impress! *Very limited quantities available on most items. Bottle terms and volumes are as follows: Magnum 1.5 litres (2 bottles). Jeroboam 3 litres (4 bottles). Rehoboam 4.5 litres (6 bottles). Methuselah 6 litres (8 bottles). Salmanazar 9 litres (12 bottles). Balthazar 12 litres (16 bottles) Nebuchadnezzar 15 litres (20 bottles).
    Belvedere Vodka (3000ml)
    POLAND
    $385. 00
    Bottle
    $4620.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Belvedere, the luxury vodka brand, is now more impressive than ever in this super-sized 3 litre format!

    Belvedere Vodka from Polmos Zyrardow is crafted from 100% Polish rye, distilled four times and charcoal filtered. Easily recognised by its innovative packaging, the bottle depicts the Belvedere House, the Polish equivalent to the White House, the official residence of the Polish president in Warsaw. 40% Alc./Vol.
    Belvedere Vodka (1750ml)
    POLAND
    $230. 00
    Bottle
    $2760.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    Belvedere Vodka from Polmos Zyrardow is crafted from 100% Polish rye, distilled four times and charcoal filtered. Easily recognised by its innovative packaging, the bottle depicts the Belvedere House, the Polish equivalent to the White House, the official residence of the Polish president in Warsaw. The question is does the impressive packaging match its quality? Reviews vacillate from average to very good. Desmond Begg in the 'The Vodka Companion' had this to say about it: 'Strong whiff of toffee on the nose. Sweet and cloying on the palate with strong caramelization. Some alcohol burn. Powerful finish in which toffee flavor predominates. This is an indifferently distilled vodka.'

    Other reviews... Clear. Faint marshmallow and stone nose. A round entry leads to a very smooth, oily medium-bodied palate with tasty confectioner's sugar and talc notes. Finishes very cleanly with a light peppery fade and a hint lemon peel and salt. Very stylish and perfect for martinis'. 40% Alc./Vol. 92 points (Exceptional)

    ...Belvedere Vodka is fairly aromatic with the spicy dark rye notes coming in. There's just a hint of lemon zest. The vodka has an average body and a touch of sweetness. It is clean and finish is peppery. No off flavors or aromas. Solid. 88 points - distiller.com

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    2008 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Vintage Rose Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $999. 00
    Bottle
    $11988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Created in 1988 as a tribute to the co-founder Elisabeth Salmon, this cuvee is an elegant and refined rosé composed of 55% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, along with 45% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Less than 10% of the Pinot Noir is vinified as a red wine, with these old vine grapes sourced from the south facing slopes of the Valofroy vineyard located in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. This 2008 rendition shows all the traits from this magnificent year, a highly refined wine with wonderful delicacy of texture and flavour. Dosage is 7g/l.

    Other Reviews.....
    Disgorged with seven grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is one of the finest wines I've tasted from Billecart in recent years. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of peach, mandarin oil, warm bread, red berries and petals, it's full-bodied, deep and vinous, with lovely mid-palate amplitude, terrific concentration and bright girdling acids. In what is quite a tightly wound vintage and from a house whose style is rather understated, this is a dramatic, fleshy wine that concludes with a long, flavorful finish. Drink 2022 - 2048.
    97+ points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2021)

    This is very vinous with aromas of iron, strawberries, old roses and geraniums. So aromatic. Full-bodied, really intense and layered with super dryness and depth. Lots of saline and spicy character at the end, such as clove and pepper, as well as hints of flowers and melted butter. Strawberry tart at the end. 17% in aged oak casks. Blend of 55% pinot noir from six villages (Mareuil sur Ay, Ay, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzenay and Verzy) and 45% chardonnay from three Grand Crus (Mesnil sur Oger, Cramant and Chouilly). 9% of the blend is red wine from a parcel in the village of Mareuil sur Ay. Bottled June 2009 and disgorged July 2019. Drink or hold.
    98 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    The 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon explodes from the glass with a mesmerizing array of aromas, flavors and textures. Blood orange, cinnamon, mint and dried flowers. The 2008 is incredibly young, but it is also incredibly tempting. Patience will be rewarded. In the meantime, readers might enjoy adding a few bottles of the stellar 2007 to their cellars, as the nervy, taut 2008 needs time. The 2008 is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay and Mareuil) and 45% Chardonnay (from Chouilly, Avize and Cramant), with 9% still wine from Mareuil. It is the first vintage that includes a portion of wines (17%) done in barrel and the first vintage in which the magnums were aged on the cork rather than on crown seal. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Drink 2028 - 2043.
    97+ points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    A superb vintage of this renowned prestige cuvée, this is made from a base of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, to which is added 9% of red wine. Despite ageing on its lees for 10 years, it remains almost shockingly youthful, its vividly primary flavours of red cherry, strawberry and nectarine wrapped up in a taut, tense frame. It’s silky in texture and intricately complex on the long, elegantly harmonious finish, underlined by a saline chalkiness, and it demonstrates all the requisite completeness and character for long ageing, promising a slow and dignified evolution to come. Drinking Window 2021 - 2050.
    98 points
    Peter Liem - Decanter

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    Billecart-Salmon Reserve Brut Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $260. 00
    Bottle
    $3120.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2020-2024)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Billecart-Salmon’s ever reliable Reserve Brut is made from a blend of 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Meunier and spends 30 months ageing on its lees. 50-60% of the blend is made up of reserve wines.
    Buoyant and frothy upon pouring, the mousse fades into a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of pale gold to the edges and an extremely fine and persistent bead flowing through its core. A classic sniff of yeasty baked bread characters is followed by pear, cashew, hints of dried honey and brioche. The delicious palate has a satiny and airy like feel to it and features a flavour profile of baked bread, pear, yeast lees, subtle cashew, citrus and brioche. Dry crisp chalked tinged finish with a long and delicately creamy aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews... 
    An uncommon blend of 40% pinot meunier and 30% each of pinot noir and chardonnay, with 40% reserve wines, fermented in a mix of tank and use of aged oak barrels. Deliberate choice of meunier is the key to its drink any time soon style, combining elegance, finesse and great length. 
    95 points
    James Halliday - Top 100 Wines of the Year 2019

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    Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $370. 00
    Bottle
    $4440.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier aged on lees for 36 months with the inclusion of 40% reserve wines.

    A frothy white mousse holds well over a salmon pink coloured base that has a very fine and persistent bead flowing through it. Streaming out of the glass are delightful aromas of peach and strawberry which are followed by hints of brioche, yeast lees and ginger. Racy pear, strawberry and yeast lees flavours meld into subtle baked bread and mineral characters. The satiny textured mid palate counterpointed by crisp nervy acidity on the finish which lends a vividly refreshing effect to the long aftertaste.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    The NV Champagne Brut Rose is an attractive pale salmon hue, with a fresh perfume of wild strawberry, ripe peach, white and red flowers, a hint of tropical fruit, and grapefruit. The palate is rounded, with fruit up front and through the mid-palate, and it has a silky and fresh lift. There is a wonderful ease and drinkability to this wine, which delivers balance and finesse. Drink 2022-2037.
    94 points
    Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.com

    Billecart-Salmon is one of my favorite Champagne houses, and their non-vintage Rose (Lot #L85547401905M) is a consistent winner. A delicate pink color is accompanied by gorgeous sweet cherry, strawberry, and mineral-like scents, assertive medium-bodied flavors, a delicate, crisp personality, and surprising depth as well as persistence. A beautiful berry character in the finish adds to this impeccable rose’s captivating style.
    94 points
    Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #162 (Dec 2005)

    Composed with 30 per cent from each of pinot noir and pinot meunier, and 40 per cent chardonnay. It has 40 per cent reserve wine, and spends three years on tirage. It is the go-to rosé for wine professionals, with nuances of juicy/poached red berry fruits, yet finishes dry and fresh.
    96 points
    James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2022

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    • Reduced
    2003 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah Magnum (1500ml)
    Clarendon, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    Reduced from $1,200.00
    $899. 00
    Bottle
    $10788.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of Australia’s greatest Shiraz in magnum format at a bargain basement price with over 20 years bottle age behind it. Priced at or below most vintages of Penfolds Grange in 750ml format this is a once off offer that can never be repeated.

    "Frankly, along with Penfold's Grange, this may be the greatest Shiraz being made in Australia." - Robert Parker

    Impenetrable pitch black heart with a very dark red hue. Hedonistically scented, sent wafting from the glass are dark plum, liquorice and blackberry aromas which are complimented by leather, vanillin cedar, earthy dark chocolate and spice notes. Rich, silky and super intense, the seductive palate is saturated with voluptuous waves of aniseed, blackberry and dark plum which gradually evolve into a leather, dusty vanillin cedar, black olive and pepper back drop. Exceptionally powerful and expansive it possesses cashmere like tannins and finishes tremendously long and plush. Tasted from a 750ml bottle we expect the magnums to look even more impressive and show less development.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews……
    It’s hard to believe the 2003 Syrah Astralis Vineyard could be better, but it offers riveting richness, intensity, purity, and equilibrium. Structurally, it is similar to the Piggott Range, revealing abundant amounts of sweet, ripe tannin, and huge extract, richness, and depth. Meant for true connoisseurs who are willing to forget it for 5-8 years, it represents what Roman Bratasiuk and Clarendon Hills do so well ... show respect for the great traditions of France, but recognize the extraordinary raw materials that emerge from old vines planted in McLaren Vale. This fabulous wine offers both power and elegance, and showcases the extraordinary talent of Roman Bratasiuk. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030.
    99 points
    Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate

    Grey Goose Vodka (1750ml)
    Cognac, FRANCE
    $230. 00
    Bottle
    $2760.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Other reviews... "Crystal-clear and pure. Nose is unabashedly smoky in the first nosings; aeration smoothes it out as fetching aromas of mint, harvested grain and grain husk assert themselves. On palate, the entry is intensely grainy, silky and off-dry; the midpalate offers moderate bite plus chewy tastes of cracked wheat and cocoa bean. Aftertaste is dry, cleansing and medium-long."
    90-95 points 40%Alc./Vol. - www.wineenthusiast.com

    Although Grey Goose Vodka is distilled and bottled in Cognac, France the product is 100% American owned. Chairman, Sidney Frank, dreamed of creating a vodka with a taste as radiant as its presentation. "I went to one of the finest distillers in France and asked for their assistance in making this dream of mine a reality" says Frank. "We tested various blends of grains and different water sources. When we tested the mineral water from the Gente springs of Cognac, which is naturally filtered with Champagne Limestone, we realised we had discovered the perfect source."
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    2022 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Magnum (1500ml)
    Mosel, GERMANY
    $420. 00
    Bottle
    $5040.00 Dozen
    ABV: 8%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Still very youthful on the nose, this is crammed with ripe peach, plus more delicate notes of pineapple and mangosteen. It’s a minor miracle that this kind of concentration can be packed into such a sleek, medium-bodied palate. What an amazing mouthfeel this has thanks to the seamless integration of slatey acidity and ripeness. Very long finish with spot-on balance. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
    97 points
    Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com

    The 2022er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese has a beautifully engaging and captivating nose of fresh herbs, white mint, bergamot, yellow flowers, pineapple, candied grapefruit, smoke, and juniper. The wine has great presence and is still on the sweeter side on the palate, where ripe yellow and slightly honeyed fruits with a touch of exotic presence come through. The finish is slightly broader yet captivating and hugely long. The aftertaste shows candied grapefruit and orange zest. This is a gorgeous, ripe, and refined Auslese.
    95 points
    Jean Fisch and David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines

    The 2022 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese opens with a notion of baked peach, especially baked peach skin, aromatic, slightly caramelized with concentrated fruit. Peach compote sweeps onto the palate, ripe and still with bite, just as cooked peach flesh appears, expressive and sweet but not overdone. This entire flight is a lesson in restraint. The long finish and aftertaste are tempered with citrus, corralling that expressive peach. Lovely, restrained, elegant. (Sweet). Drink: 2025-2050.
    94 points
    Anne Krebiehl MW - Vinous

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    2013 Luciano Sandrone Aleste Barolo Sibi et Paucis Magnum (1500ml)
    Piedmont, ITALY
    $860. 00
    Bottle
    $10320.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2013 Barolo Aleste Sibi et Paucis, the Sandrone library release of the 2013 is a powerhouse. A rush of black cherry, mocha, new leather, licorice, cloves and tobacco race across the palate. The Aleste is a bit more forward than Le Vigne, but it, too, is aging pretty slowly. The 2013 can be enjoyed now with a good decant, but I would cellar it for another year or two. Aromatics in the empty glass are nothing less than thrilling. Drink: 2024-2038.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Aromas of black berries, cherries, dried leaves, and bark follow through to a full body with firm and chewy tannins and a savory finish. Holding on well in a classic, tannic nature. Held in the cellar of the winery for 10 years. Drink or hold.
    96 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    Past vintages of this wine report the name of the MGA (Cannubi Boschi), but from this point on, the wine is called Aleste. This is a late-release project with bottles that are held back in a brick-lined room for an additional 10 years of bottle age. The Luciano Sandrone 2013 Barolo Aleste Sibi et Paucis is a true classic. The wine still shows hints of its primary fruit, but it has otherwise moved into an exciting phase of its evolution. There is dried spice, campfire ash, licorice and truffle essence. The flavors trigger your mouth to salivate, and the tannins feel like silk. Drink: 2024-2045.
    98 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)

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    2019 Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo Magnum (1500ml)
    Piedmont, ITALY
    $560. 00
    Bottle
    $6720.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2019 Barolo Le Vigne is pure and total seduction. Kirsch, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, cedar, dried herbs and orange peel all grace a Le Vigne built on mid-weight structure and energy. There is a feeling of youthful classicism and austerity that is so beguiling. Readers should plan on being patient, though. The 2019 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but there is enough fruit to make me think it will be superb, in time. Drink: 2029-2049.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Very aromatic with hibiscus, crab apple, orange blossom, and ripe strawberry on the nose. Full-bodied, very layered and powerful, yet it remains very fine textured with an intense finish. Slightly more structured than before. Perhaps due to the addition of wines from a new vineyard? Try after 2027.
    97 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    The 2019 Barolo Le Vigne is a historic blend of fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello. This year, a fifth site was added to the final blend. It is the Le Coste MGA in Barolo with south-facing exposures and 45-year-old vines in a two-hectare parcel. The backbone of this wine is Baudana, and Merli adds freshness. The wine needs more time in bottle, but already it proves generous and bold with dark fruit, spice and crushed mineral. Drink: 2025-2055.
    97+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)

    A tightly wound red, with floral, cherry, iron, earth and underbrush aromas and flavors. Beefy, with the vintage's characteristic austerity and a strong grip on the finish. The tannins lend a compact feel in the end, yet this stretches out on the finish, with a core of pure fruit. Best from 2027 through 2047.
    95 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2019 Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca Magnum (1500ml)
    Piedmont, ITALY
    $450. 00
    Bottle
    $5400.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Bright ruby in the glass, Pira's Marenca 2019 shows a bright definition of liquorice stick with vibrant violet and a bergamot-like citrus note. The attack is elegant, refreshing and savoury, but then the palate is dominated by firm, grainy tannins with a dusty yet sweet finish. A greatly powerful wine which deserves attention for its ageing ability. Drink: 2024-2050.
    95 points
    Aldo Fiordelli - Decanter

    Aromas of rose stem and fresh herbs. Plums, too. Medium to full body. Chewy and polished tannins and a savory finish. A little rustic but should come out nicely in three or four years.
    92 point
    jamessuckling.com

    A bit more reserved now, the 2019 Barolo Marenca is ripe with kirsch, tobacco, leather, and anise and is a more meditative wine that will need time to unfurl. It takes on even more power and structure on the palate, with ripe muscular tannins and ample fruit throughout. Full-bodied, with notes of ripe cherry, tea leaf, and turned earth, this one demands time. Drink 2026-2046.
    95 points
    Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

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    Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $218. 00
    Bottle
    $2616.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2017-2021)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Pours with a creamy white mousse that holds well eventually dissipating to reveal a base wine colour of pale straw with pale gold edges. Very fine and profuse bead. Good aromatics with baked bread melding into yeast lees characters and hints of toast followed by citrus and brioche notes. Flavours of freshly baked bread intermingle with oily toast like characters and yeast less underpinned by subtle cashew and citrus nuances. A dry creamy like finish is counterpointed by good crisp acidity. Long oily baked bread, toast, yeast lees and subtle cashew aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc 12%

    Tasting Notes sourced from Moet & Chandon:
    The Moet & Chandon Non Vintage is a blend of wines from a specific year, with the addition of different reserve wines from earlier years (the precise proportions vary from year to year) in order to achieve consistent quality and character. Moet & Chandon sources grapes from nearly all the different classified vineyards of Champagne which greatly assists to acheive this consistent quality.A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot and Pinot Meunier. Pale yellow colour with a tinge of green. The nose is delicately vinous, with an initial aroma of both lime and vine blossom. The palate shows predominantly Pinot characteristics. Light, persistent sparkle. Very ample in the mouth, with a discreet finish. Esentially an aperitif, but is also a good acompaniment to fish.

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    • Nick's Import
    2013 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Extra Brut Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $1099. 00
    Bottle
    $13188.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses vineyard is one of the most famous in all of Champagne, and having been purchased by the Philipponnat family in 1935 it immediately became its crown jewel. The name is taken from the local dialect “Gois” meaning very steep, and the vineyard is the steepest, directly south-facing site in the whole of Champagne with a gradient between 30-45%. Pinot Noir dominates the cuvee with the typical blend two-thirds Pinot and one-third Chardonnay, granting Clos des Goisses with power, structure, and exceptional longevity. Work is done almost entirely by hand, and no insecticides or synthetic herbicides are used in the vineyard. The 2013 release is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay, aged on lees for 8 years.

    Other Reviews....
    Surpassing even the 2012 and 2008, Philipponnat's 2013 Extra-Brut Clos des Goisses looks to be the finest vintage of this cuvée in several decades, at least on first acquaintance. Deriving from only the six core parcels out of the 13 that make up the Clos des Goisses, it's a striking wine, evoking aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, Anjou pear, clear honey, bee pollen, stone fruit and iodine. Full-bodied, layered and vinous, its textural attack segues into a deep, concentrated and tightly wound mid-palate that's girdled by racy acids and chalky structure, before concluding with a long, saline finish. Why is it quite so good? It would appear that 2013 was the perfect storm: an early-ripening terroir in a cool, late vintage; moderately yielding Burgundian selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that attained full maturity; and a willingness to make a strict selection have all come together to deliver a profound Clos des Goisses. Drink: 2025 - 2055.
    98 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate

    The 2013 Extra-Brut Clos des Goisses is fabulous. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2013 is in no mood to show all its cards. The late harvest produced a bristling, intensely saline Clos des Goisses that will require years to be at its best. Even so, its depth, textural resonance and finish are so evocative as to what the future holds. The 2013 is a positively stunning Champagne and one of the best Goisses in recent memory. I can't wait to see how it develops. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Drink: 2031-2053.
    98 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Gently aromatic nose, floral and fresh. Round, generous and so delicate. Tiny bubbles are so lovely, coating the mouth in a fresh lemon, green apple, peach and nectarine quality. Sensual almost, so charming, so welcoming. Round, not massively full, but driving and persistent. You can definitely have this without food and just enjoy the balance, the detail and the nuance. Excellent winemaking here. Beautifully controlled and such a joy to drink. Dosage 4.5g/L. Drink: 2024-2040.
    96 points
    Georgina Hindle - Decanter

    Tasting this a year later alongside the new release of 2014, the 2013 Champagne Clos des Goisses Extra Brut seems to be coming into its own. Composed of 85% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, and pouring a rich straw/copper hue, it’s starting to show lovely, layered aromatics as it unfolds with scents of red berries, currant, toasted croissant, frangipane, and orgeat. Full-bodied, assertive, and long on the palate, it has driving, assertive energy with fantastic concentration and acidity. Though it has broad shoulders, it remains in check with itself and offers a long, fantastic finish. It has great structure and an angular feel, with notes of Meyer lemon preserves and orange rind, and delivers wonderful energy throughout. This can hold up through a meal of sweetbreads or other rich fare. 10,723 bottles were produced. Drink 2024-2055. Disgorged in March 2022, with 4.5 grams per liter dosage.
    97 points
    Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

    • Organic
    2020 Sadie Family Swartland Palladius Magnum (1500ml)
    Swartland, SOUTH AFRICA
    $520. 00
    Bottle
    $6240.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    The Sadie Family team work with roughly 30-hectares of vines, one-third of which are estate, with the other vines farmed entirely under their control. This is a considerable undertaking when you consider, at their furthest point, the vineyards lie some 250 miles apart and are spread across 53 separate parcels. Then consider that everything is dry grown and organically farmed and that each parcel, having different geologies, aspects and often grape varieties, will require different management. These vines lie mostly on the high altitude slopes of Swartland’s Atlantic-influenced mountains, one hour north of Cape Town on the Western Cape.
    Sadie’s signature white is a blend of all 11 of Swartland’s official white varieties, with old, bush-vine Chenin Blanc playing the principal role. The idea is to produce a great white that represents the overall terroir of Swartland (as much as this is possible) and to use all the permitted varieties. As a result, this is harvested from 17 separate vineyard sites, with the full list of grapes taking in Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Blanc, Palomino and Colombard, as well as the hyper-rare Semillon Gris (which plays a key role in Sadie’s Kokerboom and ‘T Voetpad old vine cuvées).
    As for the winemaking, the fruit was sorted and pressed in a traditional basket, directly into clay amphoras and six concrete eggs. The wine finished fermenting in its own time (which can take up to 20 months) after which it went to large wooden foudre for maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

    Other Reviews....
    No fewer than 17 parcels and 11 varieties (for now) contribute to the blend of this impressive white. Palomino, Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc are the dominant grapes in a wine that nods towards the southern Rhône and Spain. Less exotic than it was, Palladius is tauter and more focused these days, with freshness and zip form Clairette Blanche, Colombard and Verdelho, citrus, pear, lemongrass and aromatic herb notes and a tangy, wet stone finish. Drink: 2023-2030.
    96 points
    Tim Atkin MW - South Africa Report 2020

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    2020 Torbreck The Forebear Shiraz Magnum (1500ml)
    Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $1850. 00
    Bottle
    $22200.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 40 Years (2025-2065)
    ABV: 15.5%
    Closure: Cork

    By any measure a mind blowing example of Barossa Shiraz.

    The second release of this new flagship addition to the Torbreck portfolio, the Forebear is a single vineyard Shiraz that dates back to the 1850’s and pays homage to generations of Barossa vignerons. Maturation takes place in new French oak barriques for a period of 24 months.
    Super dense inky black core with an equally deep dark red black hue. Wafting from the glass with extraordinary force are potent aromas of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry which are complimented by some vanillin cedar, earthy fennel, subtle dark chocolate, leather and spice notes. Exceptionally powerful and intense yet showing more refinement and freshness than the Laird, ultra rich dark plum, blackberry, liquorice, blueberry and dark chocolate flavours coat the palate with a tidal wave like energy. Extending across the back half are spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel, delicate mocha and pepper elements. Opulently textured and dense yet highly finessed and seamless it possesses beautifully polished, tightly structured tannins. Concludes with stratospheric length. Hold onto your hats when you drink this!
    Drink over the next 10-40 years.
    Alc. 15.5%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2020 The Forebear is sourced from the oldest plantings in the Hillside Vineyard in Lyndoch—12 rows planted in the early 1850s. For this tasting, the wine has been open now for three hours, and yet it needs more in the way of oxygen than what it currently has. The wine remains aromatically closed, with notions of black fruit, exotic spice, charry oak and forest floor. This has peat, old leather, jarrah and black cherries in profusion. The palate is shaped by intense graphite tannins, which feel closely knit and exclusively the property of old vines; they are silty and settle in the mouth—if you need a visual—like watching a pint of Guinness settle in the glass. A monumental wine, it needs space and quiet to be able to absorb the layers of complexity and undulating waves of flavor through the finish. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax. Drink 2025-2040.
    98 Points
    Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    Complex aromas of blackberry compote, roasted coffee beans, iodine, graphite, olive tapenade, dark chocolate, blood plums and baking spices. The palate has a deep, luscious mouthfeel with firmly framed tannins that lead into a viscous and textural finish. So much concentration and old-vine character that is built for the ages. Exceptional. Made from vines planted in 1850s on one acre in Lyndoch. Drink or hold.
    98 Points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 99
    • 99
    2018 Torbreck The Laird Shiraz Magnum (1500ml)
    Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $1999. 00
    Bottle
    $23988.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 20 Years (2023-2043)
    ABV: 15.5%
    Closure: Cork

    In Scottish terminology, ‘The Laird’ refers to the Lord of the Manor. This single vineyard Shiraz comes from an old vineyard in Marananga planted in 1958, a plot which remains the focus of envy amongst many of the region's winemakers. Previously owned and operated by the legendary Malcolm Seppelt, the vineyard was purchased by Torbreck in 2014 and is perfectly sited with the dry grown, original Barossa clone vines facing south east. The berries are typically small and concentrated and usually harvested in two separate passes.
    The French oak selected for the maturation of this wine is considered to be some of the finest in the world. Referred to as Dominique Laurent's 'Magic Casks', the wood is selected from the incredibly tiny and highly prized Troncais forest. The staves are hand split in the French tradition and twice as thick as machine split staves.
    As a result of the extra thickness the barrels are able to sustain an extended maturation process due to the tighter porosity that comes with the extra wood.
    Maturation took place in the new hand crafted French oak barriques for a period of 36 months. The barrels were stored in their own temperature controlled, ancient stone shed. In short, no expense has been spared.
    Dense inky black heart with a very deep black dark red hue. Soaring out of the glass are potent ripe blackberry, liquorice, black cherry and dark chocolate aromas that are totally intoxicating. Also chiming in are toasty vanilln oak, earthy mocha, hints of new leather and pepper. About as concentrated and powerful as a wine can get, it boasts out of this world richness, decadence and power along with a liqueur like density. Mouth coating flavours of lush blackberry, liquorice and black cherry stain the palate backed by a firm muscular tannin structure that is largely absorbed by the sheer weight of voluptuous fruit. Toasty vanillin oak, earthy mocha characters, traces of boot polish and pepper lend further complexity. Finishes exceptionally long, deep and opulent.
    Drink over the next 10-20 years.
    Alc. 15.5%

    Other Reviews…..
    Single-vineyard wines that are at the behest and mercy of the seasons are very exciting to view over time. You understand the essence of the style of the wine and the vineyard DNA, so you sit, patiently waiting for the vintages and seasons that meet your personal proclivities to roll around. The 2018 vintage is one of those for me, as will be the cool 2021 and 2022 seasons. The fruit is sourced from the Gnadenfrei vineyard, which was planted in 1958, in Marananga. The fruit was picked over a variety of picks at optimal ripeness and matured for 36 months in new French oak barriques by Dominique Laurent. Eminently red-fruited in the mouth, this 2018 The Laird is reflective of the 2018 season, in that it is pure, fresh, laden with blood plum, saturated in red berries and framed by savory, exotically spiced black tannins. The oak, while a prominent feature of the wine, supports the fruit at all times and assists in extending the flavor through the finish. Thick in the mouth, yet still fresh, there is a moreish quality to this wine. I love it. (It is likely unnecessary to tell you that the wine is incredibly full-bodied. It is enveloping and huge but wonderful.) Drink 2023-2053.
    99 points
    Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    It is funny how truly great wines make me think of another other than wine. When I first inhaled the scent of 2018 The Laird, I heard music, which was somewhat unnerving. The phenomenal perfume here conjured up Mendelssohn’s Fingal’s Cave – a distant musical memory from my youth. I have never seen this famous sea cave firsthand, so I searched for it on my phone while diving into this glass. If this wine looks like any marine geological formation, it must be this incredible cavern on the uninhabited island of Staffa. It is fantastic to think that Mendelssohn sat in a boat, off Staffa, in 1829 and penned a couple of bars of music inspired by this cave. Some 15 years later, the first vines were planted in Barossa. I suppose it is somewhat of a tradition for me not to bang on about fruit, flowers, herbs and spices when writing about tremendously moving wines preferring to take my readers to a more emotional place in the hope that they are moved enough to seek out the subject of my musings. In this instance, I cannot get over my Fingal’s Cave spark, and I think it sums up the absurdly deep and never-ending joy that this sublime wine imbues in its taster. Drink 2030 – 2050.
    20++/20
    Matthew Dukes

    • 95
    • 95
    2017 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling Magnum (1500ml)
    Alsace, FRANCE
    $440. 00
    Bottle
    $5280.00 Dozen
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Please note: due to the metallic nature of these labels they often arrive with slight scuffs. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these wines.

    This wine is named after Frédéric Emile Trimbach, who became renowned in 1898 for ensuring a new standard of quality and authenticity for Trimbach. For several generations, the south and southeast-facing Grand Crus of Geisberg and Osterberg in Ribeauvillé have been producing this wine. The vines, averaging over 55 years, yield limited quantities. Alongside the Clos Saint Hune release, this is the estate’s most famous wine.

    Other Reviews....
    Bright straw. Clean, vibrantly mineral and racy aromas and flavors of green apple, pear and lime. Ripe yet brightly acidic, this exhibits a penetrating quality on the long, juicy, ginger- and mineral-accented finish. Very compact, dense and still youthful Riesling. Outstanding. Drink 2026 - 2039.
    95+ points
    Ian D'Agata - Vinous

    Poured from a magnum, this age-worthy wine is snappy and precise in texture, offering abundant minerals, orange zest and white peach in the aroma and crisp, stony flavors on the palate. Focused, invigorating and still young, it will drink best from 2028.
    95 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 93
    Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2017-2021)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Pours with a frothy white mousse which once dissipated reveals a pale straw base wine colour with a very fine and persistent bead. The nose exhibits aromatics of baked bread, creamy cashew and yeast lees with light toast and citrus end notes. The palate is quite toasty and has a faint creaminess to it with a refreshing dry finish. Citrus, toast and yeast lees overlay some subtle roasted almond characters. Aftertaste of citrus, toast, yeast lees and roasted almonds.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc 12%

    Retasted May 2011: Good, white, creamy mousse that quickly dissipates with pale straw gold base wine colour. Very fine and persistent bead. Lifted aromas of baked bread and yeast lees are followed by some cashew and light toast notes. The palate is quite refined but also possesses good richness with flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and light roasted almonds, with some toast end notes. Clean, crisp, dry finish with an almost creamy like texture. Aftertaste of toasty baked bread, almonds and yeast lees.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    93 points

    First tasted November 2000: An excellent example of non vintage Champagne. Brilliant, pale straw colour. Fine, persistent bead. The nose is impressive, with a pronounced yeast autolysis aroma over a biscuit background. Creamy texture, with a remarkable degree of finesse and concentration of flavour. Perfect balance, with long biscuit yeast lees aftertaste.
    94 Points

    Notes from the House of Veuve Clicquot:

    Fine and persisting sparkle; complex and intense nose (apple, citrus fruit and caramel); dry full flavour balanced with elegance, crispness and a lingering spicy aftertaste. Veuve Clicquot's famous "Yellow Label" is a classic champagne representative of the Veuve Clicquot style. It is excellent with food and as an aperitif.

    Ardbeg Uigeadail Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (4500ml)
    Islay, SCOTLAND
    $1299. 00
    Bottle
    $15588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 54.2%
    A super bottling of this Islay legend. Sold out internationally. Now rare, yet at a price that's hard not to be tempted by. We have ONE only to sell.

    First launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) is a cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg is produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives this whisky a velvety texture, with a sweet and smokey finish.

    Tasting notes: Bright gold appearance. Big, sweet sherry influenced nose offers dried apricot and marmalade scents over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. Excellent balance at cask strength. Boiled lolly and spice aftertaste with a subtle spearmint fade. Latest batch tasted October 2010.

    NB. - Image is indicative only.
    Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (4500ml)
    Islay, SCOTLAND
    $999. 00
    Bottle
    $11988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    The Ardbeg 10 Year Old is the distilleries benchmark bottling. In his 'Complete Book of Whisky' Jim Murray said of it: 'If perfection on the palate exists, this is it.'

    This second release of Ardbeg's super size 10 year old is bottled at 46% Alc./Vol. as opposed to the previous limited release which was cask strength. Each one weighs 6.5kg (14lb), is 52cm (20.5in) high and filled with 4.5 litres of 10-year-old Ardbeg - reputedly the largest bottles of single malt on sale anywhere in the world. Labeled as Ardbeg 'Mor' (meaning 'big' or 'magnificent' in Gaelic) this release is a giant gem for whisky collectors.
    46% Alc./Vol.



     Click here to learn more about Scotch Whisky

    • 97
    • 95
    2022 Bannockburn Pinot Noir Magnum (1500ml)
    Geelong, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $135. 00
    Bottle
    $1620.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2023-2033)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    This outstanding Pinot Noir is drawn from Bannockburn’s entire spectrum of vineyards (planted in 1976, 1997 and 2007), including fruit from the iconic, close-planted blocks. All the sites have volcanic loam and dark clay over a limestone base and are planted to various clones, mainly MV6 with a smattering of the Dijon (or Bernard) clones 114, 115 and 777. Hand-picked fruit from each block is fermented separately with 20% whole bunches and a small portion of carbonic used. The wine was then pressed to a combination of hogsheads and puncheons (20% new) for a period of 10 months maturation before blending.

    Supple, complex and expansive, this is superb example of Geelong Pinot Noir.

    Semi translucent dark red colour with black tinged edges and a light red hue. Alluring aromas of cherry, rhubarb and strawberry eloquently sail through the nostrils with a perfumed like intensity. Dried herb, forest floor, game and spicy cedar notes also chime in to make a very complex sniff. Light yet supple and expansive across the palate it features moreish red to dark cherry, rhubarb and strawberry fruits which are interwoven with dried herb, forest floor, subtle game and spicy cedar elements. Refined, seamlessly integrated tannin structure with a gentle tang to the acidity enlivening what is a powerful yet elegant Burgundian like finish.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 13.5%

    Other Reviews…..
    I really like where the Bannockburn wines are at right now.
    I guess that you’d call this light but its length and general insistence is right up there. Indeed over the course of 24 hours this just built and expanded in the most impressive of ways. It’s a minerally pinot noir, smoky and spicy, with red cherried flavour run through with herbs and twigs and undergrowth. In its infancy, now, it somehow manages to be quite remarkably complex; it will only add from here. Certainly it’s light but this is an outstanding pinot noir. Drink 2024-2032+
    95+ points
    Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front

    Belvedere Vodka (6000ml)
    POLAND
    $799. 00
    Bottle
    $9588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Belvedere, the luxury vodka brand, is now more impressive than ever in this super-sized 6 litre format!

    Belvedere Vodka from Polmos Zyrardow is crafted from 100% Polish rye, distilled four times and charcoal filtered. Easily recognised by its innovative packaging, the bottle depicts the Belvedere House, the Polish equivalent to the White House, the official residence of the Polish president in Warsaw. 40% Alc./Vol.
    Beluga Gold Line Vodka (6000ml)
    RUSSIAN FEDERATION
    $1199. 00
    Bottle
    $14388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Massive 6 Litre bottling!

    The Itkul Distillery (est. 1868), home of Beluga, employ the use of ‘malt spirit’ as a base for their vodka. The malt spirit is made from malted wheat, rather than a mix of grains. Reportedly, the wheat in this form possesses a large number of enzymes that aid in a completely natural fermentation, eliminating the need for additives and other ingredients. After being distilled five times, this vodka is further enriched with rice extract and golden root (rhodiola rosea) extract. This unusual adjunct is actually a traditional European practice, whereby each producer would have their own unique recipe.

    Tasting note: Pristine, crystal clear appearance with a faint straw tinge. Super soft aroma is border line neutral, opening creamy and luxurious - flashes of citrus blossom, talc and whisper light spices issue a gentle prickle with deeper inhalations. Impeccably clean, supple entry leads into a round, semi sweet profile; glowing spirit warmth and delicate spices adding depth and length to the creamy-yet-dry mid palate. Traces of vanilla and a herbal / pepper note towards the crisp, delicately grassy aftertaste. Even more so than most vodkas, this is textural territory, bordering on complete neutrality. A superbly pure, ethereal spirit that remains a highlight in its category. 40% Alc/Vol.

    Beluga Gold Line Vodka (1500ml)
    RUSSIAN FEDERATION
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    A superbly pure, ethereal spirit that remains a highlight in its category.

    The Itkul Distillery (est. 1868), home of Beluga, employ the use of ‘malt spirit’ as a base for their vodka. The malt spirit is made from malted wheat, rather than a mix of grains. Reportedly, the wheat in this form possesses a large number of enzymes that aid in a completely natural fermentation, eliminating the need for additives and other ingredients. After being distilled five times, this vodka is further enriched with rice extract and golden root (rhodiola rosea) extract. This unusual adjunct is actually a traditional European practice, whereby each producer would have their own unique recipe.

    Tasting note: Pristine, crystal clear appearance with a faint straw tinge. Super soft aroma is border line neutral, opening creamy and luxurious - flashes of citrus blossom, talc and whisper light spices issue a gentle prickle with deeper inhalations. Impeccably clean, supple entry leads into a round, semi sweet profile; glowing spirit warmth and delicate spices adding depth and length to the creamy-yet-dry mid palate. Traces of vanilla and a herbal / pepper note towards the crisp, delicately grassy aftertaste. Even more so than most vodkas, this is textural territory, bordering on complete neutrality. A superbly pure, ethereal spirit that remains a highlight in its category. 40% Alc/Vol.

    Beluga Noble Vodka (1500ml)
    RUSSIAN FEDERATION
    $165. 00
    Bottle
    $1980.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Highly polished. Everything about it screams luxury.

    If it were true that all vodkas tasted alike, there'd be no reason to favour a $70 bottle over a $25 bottle. Each brand has a unique, though subtle, aroma, taste, texture and burn. In fact, depending on the source ingredient and production method, vodka's can be remarkably diverse.

    The highly desirable Beluga brand is produced on the outskirts of Siberia, 300 km from the nearest settlement. Named after the prized caviar, it's created on a foundation of wheat and malt spirit which undergoes quartz filtration and post-sand filtration. A resting period of around thirty days in stainless steel helps to neutralize the aroma and enhance the mouth feel. While it’s technically a straight vodka, it also includes tiny proportions of honey, oat extract and Silybum marianum extract (aka milk thistle), and the final product is cut back with a last key ingredient - artesian Siberian water.

    As one of a handful of affordable, must-try Russian vodkas currently exported, Beluga comes with a premium presentation to match its contents. Everything about it screams luxury. Bloggers and drinks writers frequently rank 'Noble' with the best of the best, however 'Gold Line' raises the bar again: It's a superbly pure, ethereal spirit and a highlight in its category. Both win on all sensory accounts, depending on what you are willing to spend.

    Tasting notes: Crystal clear. Almost neutral aromatics reveal nuances of cream and meringue followed by a touch of white pepper. Super smooth, satiny entry leads into an off dry profile with a texture verging on creamy, followed by hints of wet stone, talc and meringue. Finishes with a delicate pepper burst. Aftertaste is silky, gently warming, dry and super clean. Highly polished. 40% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... There’s something slightly savoury about this Russian vodka, which is made with water drawn from the Siberian bedrock. Triple-filtered and then “rested” for 30 days, the finished product is light, but flavourful, with some subtle oat notes, and a kick of spice that cuts through. There’s also a little citrus sweetness and even a little honey. But it’s the lingering, smooth endnote we love. It’s sippable on its own of course, but we think the fiery heat of a ginger ale brings out the flavours perfectly. Six Best Russian Vodkas - UK Independent 2017

    4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
    Beluga Noble Vodka (3000ml)
    RUSSIAN FEDERATION
    $325. 00
    Bottle
    $3900.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Highly polished. Everything about it screams luxury.

    If it were true that all vodkas tasted alike, there'd be no reason to favour a $70 bottle over a $25 bottle. Each brand has a unique, though subtle, aroma, taste, texture and burn. In fact, depending on the source ingredient and production method, vodka's can be remarkably diverse.

    The highly desirable Beluga brand is produced on the outskirts of Siberia, 300 km from the nearest settlement. Named after the prized caviar, it's created on a foundation of wheat and malt spirit which undergoes quartz filtration and post-sand filtration. A resting period of around thirty days in stainless steel helps to neutralize the aroma and enhance the mouth feel. While it’s technically a straight vodka, it also includes tiny proportions of honey, oat extract and Silybum marianum extract (aka milk thistle), and the final product is cut back with a last key ingredient - artesian Siberian water.

    As one of a handful of affordable, must-try Russian vodkas currently exported, Beluga comes with a premium presentation to match its contents. Everything about it screams luxury. Bloggers and drinks writers frequently rank 'Noble' with the best of the best, however 'Gold Line' raises the bar again: It's a superbly pure, ethereal spirit and a highlight in its category. Both win on all sensory accounts, depending on what you are willing to spend.

    Tasting notes: Crystal clear. Almost neutral aromatics reveal nuances of cream and meringue followed by a touch of white pepper. Super smooth, satiny entry leads into an off dry profile with a texture verging on creamy, followed by hints of wet stone, talc and meringue. Finishes with a delicate pepper burst. Aftertaste is silky, gently warming, dry and super clean. Highly polished. 40% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... There’s something slightly savoury about this Russian vodka, which is made with water drawn from the Siberian bedrock. Triple-filtered and then “rested” for 30 days, the finished product is light, but flavourful, with some subtle oat notes, and a kick of spice that cuts through. There’s also a little citrus sweetness and even a little honey. But it’s the lingering, smooth endnote we love. It’s sippable on its own of course, but we think the fiery heat of a ginger ale brings out the flavours perfectly. Six Best Russian Vodkas - UK Independent 2017

    4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
    Beluga Noble Vodka (6000ml)
    RUSSIAN FEDERATION
    $699. 00
    Bottle
    $8388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    Highly polished. Everything about it screams luxury.

    If it were true that all vodkas tasted alike, there'd be no reason to favour a $70 bottle over a $25 bottle. Each brand has a unique, though subtle, aroma, taste, texture and burn. In fact, depending on the source ingredient and production method, vodka's can be remarkably diverse.

    The highly desirable Beluga brand is produced on the outskirts of Siberia, 300 km from the nearest settlement. Named after the prized caviar, it's created on a foundation of wheat and malt spirit which undergoes quartz filtration and post-sand filtration. A resting period of around thirty days in stainless steel helps to neutralize the aroma and enhance the mouth feel. While it’s technically a straight vodka, it also includes tiny proportions of honey, oat extract and Silybum marianum extract (aka milk thistle), and the final product is cut back with a last key ingredient - artesian Siberian water.

    As one of a handful of affordable, must-try Russian vodkas currently exported, Beluga comes with a premium presentation to match its contents. Everything about it screams luxury. Bloggers and drinks writers frequently rank 'Noble' with the best of the best, however 'Gold Line' raises the bar again: It's a superbly pure, ethereal spirit and a highlight in its category. Both win on all sensory accounts, depending on what you are willing to spend.

    Tasting notes: Crystal clear. Almost neutral aromatics reveal nuances of cream and meringue followed by a touch of white pepper. Super smooth, satiny entry leads into an off dry profile with a texture verging on creamy, followed by hints of wet stone, talc and meringue. Finishes with a delicate pepper burst. Aftertaste is silky, gently warming, dry and super clean. Highly polished. 40% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... There’s something slightly savoury about this Russian vodka, which is made with water drawn from the Siberian bedrock. Triple-filtered and then “rested” for 30 days, the finished product is light, but flavourful, with some subtle oat notes, and a kick of spice that cuts through. There’s also a little citrus sweetness and even a little honey. But it’s the lingering, smooth endnote we love. It’s sippable on its own of course, but we think the fiery heat of a ginger ale brings out the flavours perfectly. Six Best Russian Vodkas - UK Independent 2017

    4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
    Belvedere Spectre Limited Edition Vodka Magnum (1750ml)
    POLAND
    $165. 00
    Bottle
    $1980.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    Belvedere, the luxury vodka brand, has just unveiled a special collector's edition vodka, "Belvedere 007 SPECTRE" in a large 1.75 litre format, celebrating their partnership with the 24th James Bond movie. This limited edition bottle features the iconic gun barrel and 007 gun logo which makes it a must have item for all James Bond fans.

    Belvedere Vodka from Polmos Zyrardow is crafted from 100% Polish rye, distilled four times and charcoal filtered. Easily recognised by its innovative packaging, the bottle depicts the Belvedere House, the Polish equivalent to the White House, the official residence of the Polish president in Warsaw. 40% Alc./Vol.

    1997 Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz (1500ml)
    Great Western, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $599. 00
    Bottle
    $7188.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Four thousand five hundred and sixty bottles of this extraordinary wine were made from the 1997 vintage - that's a total of 380 dozen available for the entire world. The Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz is an International Wine Icon. The vines were established in 1869 by Henry Best and 130 years later the wine enters the new Millennium as one of a wine lover's most desirable possessions.Each November we anxiously await the release of this wine and with each successive vintage our expectations reach new levels, and yet in the back of our minds we have a nagging tall poppy syndrome - Viv Thomson surely can't produce a better wine than he did last year? He has to falter some time! Viv is too smart to be complacent, and as each vintage is blessed with spectacular fruit, he manages to create its perfect bottle expression. However, when nature turns against him as it did in 1999, there was no Thomson made - severe frosts saw to that.The 1997 Thomson is an expression of Shiraz fruit concentrate and in our opinion is completely undervalued, thus offering great investment upside. Consider what else is available in the market place of this quality. Chateau Tahbilk 1860 vines Shiraz retails at around $110 a bottle, the current vintage of Henschke Hill of Grace is available at around $295 a bottle (if you can get it) and Roman Bratasuick's Australis is $165 a bottle (again if you can get it).The 1997 Best's Thomson Family Shiraz has all the requirements for improving both in value and quality over time. The criteria for investment upside in wine is similar to that of antiques. Firstly, the wine must be rare - not a product of mass production. Secondly, it must be of exceptionally high quality. Thirdly, it must be undervalued at the time of purchase. Fourthly, it must have a pedigree - that it's not just a bottle of wine which has been made by chance. Lastly, it must improve in quality over time.

    TASTING NOTE: This is almost the perfect wine. It achieved the remarkable score of 99.3 out of 100, the highest ranking wine in memory. Opaque crimson colour with mauve edges. Exceptional nose of violets, blackpepper, spice, liquorice allsorts, confectionary, vanilla and an aniseed end note. Totally mouthfilling. Concentrate of Shiraz! Flavours of blackpepper, spice, liquorice and blackcurrant, filling every cavity of the mouth. On the back palate the blackpepper flavour explodes and carrys through the after flavour in an exceptional long aftertaste that lasts for 5 minutes and more. Velvet smooth tannins. Perfect balance and capable of 10-20 year cellaring. AN AUSTRALIAN TREASURE AND A WONDERFUL PIECE OF HISTORY TO TAKE INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM.

    • 97
    2001 Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz Magnum (1500ml)
    Great Western, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $399. 00
    Bottle
    $4788.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 8 - 10 Years (2012-2014)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    This is one of the Great Wines of the world, and now clearly established as a major investment piece. Produced from old vines, planted in 1866, this wine is a national treasure. Production is minuscule and limited to around 350 cases per year when produced - the wine is only made in great years, with no Thomson being produced from the 1993, 1999 and 2000 vintages. The Best’s Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz has established itself as one of Australia’s great shiraz alongside the likes of Henschke Hill of Grace, Penfolds Grange Hermitage and Clarendon Hills Astralis.

    An exceptional wine, produced from old and rare vines planted in 1866. Totally opaque black crimson purple colour, with purple hue. Superb nose – a wonderful sniff of violets, cedar and spice followed by liquorice allsorts and blood plum. The palate follows the nose with superb length and structure. Refined flavours of blackberry, spice and liquorice allsorts followed by a very spicy white and black pepper back palate. Fine grained tannins, perfect balance, followed by an aftertaste that lasts for several minutes.
    Alc/Vol: 14.0%
    RATING: 97/100

    • 99
    1998 Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz Magnum (1500ml)
    Great Western, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $449. 99
    Bottle
    $5399.88 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%

    This is one of the Great Wines of the world, and now clearly established as a major investment piece. Produced from old vines, planted in 1866, this wine is a national treasure. Production is minuscule and limited to around 350 cases per annum. The wine is only made in great years, with no Thomson being produced from the 1999 vintage due to frost damage of the vines.When we first tasted the early vintages of this wine it was very obvious to us, that in a few years the Best’s Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz would establish itself on an equal footing with other Great Australian wines (such as Hill of Grace, Grange Hermitage, Astralis and the like).

    In a recent re classification of top Australian red wines, we ranked this wine as equal to the very best that Australia had to offer, and asked International and Australian wine lovers to comment. The response has been universal. This is a Great Australian Wine, and amongst the Great wines of the world.A few years ago, this wine made front cover of every Vintage Direct upon release. Today, the demand is such that collectors needs can not be met, and thus a very large part of the stocks are already gone.The Success of the 1998 vintage needs no further elaboration. It was without any doubt the vintage of the last century in Australia, which makes this wine even more collectable.What is the quality that makes this wine so special? The age of the vines is one factor. The rarity of the production is yet another, there are only 15 rows of these pre phyloxera vines left standing. Finally the pure concentration of flavour and remarkable persistence on the aftertaste makes this wine simply extraordinary.

    The historic perspective that accompanies this wine is mind boggling. Cast the mind back some 134 years, and imagine the native country side around the township of Great Western. The paddocks were not cleared. All work is being done by horses and manual labour. Henry Best is grubbing his way over his selection, whilst in Europe, the Great men of the 19th century are establishing there mark on the world. Alfred Noble, Karl Marx, Guiseppe Verdi, Dostoyevsky are creating a legacy that would last for centuries, and unknowingly so is Henry Best. A bizzare parallel. The humble farmer gains a place alongside the geniuses of his age. Contemplate that fact for a moment – then enjoy the wine.

    Outstanding opaque purple, crimson mauve colour. Magnificent nose with intense aroma of vanilla, violets, spice and blackberries, followed by hints of marzipan and liquorice. This is a rare sniff, that finds the aromas resting high in the temples and staying there. On the palate, the flavours are totally mouthfilling, refined elegant and concentrated, with a remarkable degree of persistence. Flavours of black pepper, vanilla and confectionery are seamlessly welded together and enwrapped by velvet smooth tannins. This is a very special taste experience. Perfect balance, with a profoundly long aftertaste, lasting over 5 minutes.
    Cellar 10-15 years (2011-2016)

    • 96
    • 96
    • 93
    2009 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Vintage Rose Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $999. 00
    Bottle
    $11988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Copper-orange color with aromas of grapefruit pith, cherry stones, dried roses, white pepper, pastries, walnuts and oyster shells. Refined and elegant with pretty, dried red and citrus fruit, layered with subtle spice and toast. Fine bubbles. Dry. 55% pinot noir from Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay, and 45% Grand Cru chardonnay from Cote des Blancs, with 10% of pinot noir red wine. Dosage 7g/L. Disgorged in July 2021. Drink or hold.
    96 Points
    JamesSuckling.com (August 2022)

    Incorporating fully 10% still red wine, Billecart's 2009 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is showing beautifully, delivering fragrant aromas of plums, stone fruits, petals, sweet spices and marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and elegant, it's seamless and pillowy, with bright acids and a pure, precise profile, concluding with a bright, saline finish. In 2009, it was vinified entirely in stainless steel. Drink 2022 - 2035.
    96 Points
    William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (September 2022)

    An elegant rosé Champagne that seamlessly knits juicy acidity and fine-grained texture with a subtle, smoke-laced underpinning and a delicate mesh of wild strawberry, kirsch, mandarin orange peel and toasted brioche flavors. Harmonious, with an open-knit, spiced finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged July 2021. Drink now through 2029.
    93 Points
    Alison Napjus - Wine Spectator (December 2022)

    • 95
    • 94
    • Reduced
    Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    Reduced from $275.00
    $260. 00
    Bottle
    $3120.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2021-2025)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    An exuberant mousse holds well over a pale straw, pale gold tinged base that’s threaded by an ultra fine and very persistent bead. Heady baked bread and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with hints of citrus and pear fruits also present. Subtle oily toast and roasted almond like notes ensue. Racy yeasty baked bread and citrus flavours are both sculptured and tense. Oily toast like characters, chalky oyster shell and roasted almond characters fill out on the back half. Finishes very dry and crisp with a chiselled feel to the long aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc 12%

    Other Reviews….
    A dense, layered Champagne with a full body and lots of creamy texture. Lovely cooked apple and pie crust. 40% pinot meunier, 30% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. The base was 2015, but in total it contains 10 harvests. It was bottled at the beginning of 2016 and disgorged in March 2020. Four years on lees. Fantastic release. Drink or hold.
    94 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 96
    2008 Billecart-Salmon Vintage Champagne Jeroboam (3000ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $999. 00
    Bottle
    $11988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    A stunningly pure nose with aromas of apples, pears, grapefruit, dried flowers and fresh bread dough, all intermingled. The palate has a super fresh, sleek and vibrant feel with elegance, length and precision. The finish is so long and so precise. A stunning Champagne.
    96 points
    jamessuckling.com

    Categorically the finest Extra Brut ever conceived, this is a cuvee of laser line and immortal structure that rejoices in the lightning energy of 2008 and the exacting precision engineering that is Billecart. A glowing, medium straw hue is a dazzling prelude to its scintillating purity and drive, cut with magnificent acid line and high-tensile chalk structure. The distinguished, north-east facing slopes of Verzy and Verzenay take a delightfully fragrant and pure lead, presenting white cherry and strawberry hull that ring out in clear peals like church bells. Age has done nothing to evolve its pitch-perfect high notes, lending just the most subtle nuance of fresh almond. A cuvée to age for another 20 years at least – and it will live effortlessly for 50. In sheer, breathtaking purity, monumental chalk minerality, endless longevity – not to mention ludicrous affordability – Extra Brut 2008 is one of the champagne buys of the decade.
    97 points
    Tyson Stelzer - 2021 Champagne Guide

    A blend of 65% Pinot Noir consisting of Premier and Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallee de la Marne and 35% Chardonnay from the Cote des Blancs. Significantly, this has nine years ageing on its lees (longer than some Prestige Cuvees), the 2008 was first released onto the global market back in March 2019. With an Extra Brut dosage of 4g/l, this is a highly expressive, confident and convincing interpretation of the vintage. Right now, it is youthfully sharp and focused with fine salinity, depth, acidity and balance, and as such is already extremely approachable. The flavour spectrum encompasses toast, oyster shell, citrus, cream and a flinty, mineral depth. There’s supreme balance and elegance here, combined with a hidden underlying power that will continue to emerge and broaden with time. The finish is dry and long.
    97 points
    Decanter

    • 95
    • 95
    Billecart-Salmon Reserve Brut Champagne (Nebuchadnezzar) 15 litres
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $3400. 00
    Bottle
    $40800.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2020-2024)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Billecart-Salmon’s ever reliable Reserve Brut is made from a blend of 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Meunier and spends 30 months ageing on its lees. 50-60% of the blend is made up of reserve wines.
    Buoyant and frothy upon pouring, the mousse fades into a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of pale gold to the edges and an extremely fine and persistent bead flowing through its core. A classic sniff of yeasty baked bread characters is followed by pear, cashew, hints of dried honey and brioche. The delicious palate has a satiny and airy like feel to it and features a flavour profile of baked bread, pear, yeast lees, subtle cashew, citrus and brioche. Dry crisp chalked tinged finish with a long and delicately creamy aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews... 
    An uncommon blend of 40% pinot meunier and 30% each of pinot noir and chardonnay, with 40% reserve wines, fermented in a mix of tank and use of aged oak barrels. Deliberate choice of meunier is the key to its drink any time soon style, combining elegance, finesse and great length. 
    95 points
    James Halliday - Top 100 Wines of the Year 2019

    • 96
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    • 93
    • 93
    Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $265. 00
    Bottle
    $3180.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Bollinger’s trademark depth and richness are on full show here. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with over 85% of the blend sourced from Grand and Premier crus.
    Pours with a fluffy white mousse.The base colour is pale straw with tinges of gold around the edges. Very fine bead with a steady stream of bubbles. The nose exhibits Bollinger’s hallmark richness with pronounced aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and oily toast like characters followed by cashew, almond and citrus notes. Rich, mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast like characters, citrus and cashew. Creamy textural feel with good freshness on the finish. Long aftertaste of baked bread, oily toast like characters, yeast lees and cashew.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc 12%

    Other Reviews....
    Surely the most underpriced champagne on the market today, yet one of the most complex. The 60/25/15% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier blend is of scant importance compared with the 400 components with 60% reserves, the oldest 8+ years old. Majestically complex and layered in a jewelled crown of freshness.
    96 points
    James Halliday's Top 100 2020

    This harmonious Champagne is wonderfully vibrant as it dances across the palate, with the satinlike mousse carrying flavors of white cherry, Marcona almond and ground coffee that show accents of candied kumquat, ginger, aromatic verbena and graphite. A streak of racy salinity emerges on mouthwatering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2025
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

    Bollinger’s NV Special Cuvée knocks it out of the park. Made from 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, with 30% of the blend brought up in barrels, it boasts a rich, deep, medium to full-bodied style as well as terrific notes of lemon curd, crème brûlée, caramelized stone fruits, and hints of toasty nuttiness that develop with time in the glass. It’s a big, rich Champagne that stays balanced and pure. Beautiful stuff. Drink 2018-2028.
    93 points
    JebDunnuck.com

    Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.
    92 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 93
    2018 Castellari Bergaglio Fornaci Gavi Magnum (1500ml)
    Gavi, ITALY
    $79. 99
    Bottle
    $959.88 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Made from Cortese grapes. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinctive tinge of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of limes and green apples meld into some green pear, fresh herb and mineral notes. The spiritly palate sees green apple and lime fruit dominate over infusions of fresh herbs. Finishes dry and minerally with lively acidity leading into a refreshing aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 1-2 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Chartreuse Yellow Liqueur Jeroboam (3000ml)
    FRANCE
    $399. 00
    Bottle
    $4788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    One of the liqueur immortals, Chartreuse is the product of monks from the Carthusian order who originated the product at their establishment in the French Alps called “Grande Chartreuse”. Unfortunately, this order was banished from France to Spain just after the turn of the century, and at Tarragona they again set up with their secret formula compounded of elixirs from 130 odd and rare herbs, water, sugar and fine spirits. (The production has since returned to France.) Green Chartreuse (55%alc./vol.) is most pungent and expensive. Only three monks know how to blend and distill the recipe. They are also the only ones who know which plants they have to macerate to produce the natural green and yellow colours.

    Yellow Chatreuse, first produced in 1838, is just as good (40% alc./vol.), though milder, sweeter and more aromatic. It is not only invaluable as a liqueur with coffee, but is the final decoration for a Gin daisy and other delicate drinks. The much sought after White Chartreuse, the sweetest version of the three, also exists or did exist. Whatever the case, it's unavailable in Australia. Chartreuse is most often drunk on its own or with ice. Alternatively, it makes a refreshing Summer sipper mixed with tonic.
    2007 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin Magnum (3000ml)
    Chateauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
    $3250. 00
    Bottle
    $39000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Other reviews….
    No Hommage a Jacques Perrin was made in 2008, but the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is an utterly perfect wine. Composed of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache, this prodigious effort boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim in addition to an exceptional bouquet of camphor, roasted meats, blueberries, black cherries, black currants, truffles, beef blood, pepper, and incense. The sumptuous aromatics are followed by a wine of compelling intensity, full-bodied power, perfect balance, laser-like focus, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. The 2007's texture reminds me of the 1998 Jacques Perrin, and the freshness of the fruit and explosive aromatics are to die for. There are only 500 cases of this legend in the making, but for those lucky enough to find any, it will last for 40-60 years.
    100 points
    Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate
    2007 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin Magnum (1500ml)
    Chateauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
    $1500. 00
    Bottle
    $18000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork
    Other reviews….
    No Hommage a Jacques Perrin was made in 2008, but the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is an utterly perfect wine. Composed of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache, this prodigious effort boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim in addition to an exceptional bouquet of camphor, roasted meats, blueberries, black cherries, black currants, truffles, beef blood, pepper, and incense. The sumptuous aromatics are followed by a wine of compelling intensity, full-bodied power, perfect balance, laser-like focus, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. The 2007's texture reminds me of the 1998 Jacques Perrin, and the freshness of the fruit and explosive aromatics are to die for. There are only 500 cases of this legend in the making, but for those lucky enough to find any, it will last for 40-60 years.
    100 points
    Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate
    • 98
    • 97
    2016 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Magnum (1500ml)
    Chateauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
    $450. 00
    Bottle
    $5400.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 10 - 15 Years (2029-2034)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Impenetrable black dark red core with a deep bright dark red black tinged hue. Soaring from the glass are black cherry and liquorice scents with black raspberry, dried meats, subtle incense, provincial herb and spicy pepper notes in hot pursuit. Rich and powerful yet elegant and structured the palate is testament to the greatness of the vintage. Pepper infused black raspberry, black cherry and liquorice flavours engulf the mouth underpinned by lightly smoked meats, dried herbs, earth and spice. Muscular feel with sturdy tannins providing a robust structure. Exceptional length finishing with great freshness and a very long and persistent aftertaste. Outstanding.
    Cellar 10-15 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Bottled only a week before my visit, I was blown away by how well Beaucastel's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape was showing. It's full-bodied, creamy, lush and rich, with layers of raspberry fruit, garrigue and spice that unfold across a seamless palate. No doubt it will go through cycles of being open and closed throughout its lifespan, but it would be a mistake to simply order a case, put it into storage and forget about it without trying one first and swooning over the sheer lusciousness and youthful complexity. Drink 2019-2040.
    97 points
    Joe Czerwinski – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    Being bottled the day of my visit, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape checks in as a blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties. It offers a ripe, sexy, rounded style that quickly shows more structure, minerality, and tannin with time in the glass. Blackberries, blueberries, smoked earth, violets, and garrigue all give way to a full-bodied, deep, structured Beaucastel that's going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. It reminds me of the 2001. Drink 2023-2043.
    96+ points
    JebDunnuck.com

    2011 Chateau de Myrat Magnum (1500ml)
    Sauternes, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $145. 00
    Bottle
    $1740.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews….

    The 2011 de Myrat offers a lightly honeyed but very pure bouquet with subtle tropical notes and satisfactory levels of botrytized fruit. It is actually reminiscent of a top Doisy-Vedrines. The palate has a ripe, sorbet-like sweetness on the entry with notes of blood orange and apricot, while the finish is composed, with crisp acidity imparting tension and precision, and a residual tang of Clementine lingering in the mouth. Xavier Pontac has overseen a very fine de Myrat that will be worth seeking out after bottling.
    Score: 92-94
    Neal Martin-Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012

    Intense character of dried apricots, pineapples and honey follow through to a full body, very sweet and spicy. Oily texture. A cross between the outstanding 2001 and 2003.
    Score: 93-94
    James Suckling

     

    Click here to learn more about the appellations of Bordeaux.
    Click herefor a map of the appellations of Bordeaux

    2010 Chateau de Myrat Magnum (1500ml)
    Sauternes, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $125. 00
    Bottle
    $1500.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork
    Other Reviews….

    The sample tasted blind during my main Sauternes tasting was a little out of sorts; however, a second and third encounter were much more promising. The nose is very pure, with honey, passion fruit and quince, whilst the palate demonstrates great freshness and vitality, zippy acidity, with real race towards the linear finish. This holds great promise for the future.
    Score: 91-93
    Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011

    Score: 91-93
    Wine Spectator:

    A classical styled Sauternes with a delicate nose of lemon curd and sweet spices. Rich and delicious but lacks a little bit of a middle palate.
    Score: 89-90
    James Suckling

    Click here to learn more about the appellations of Bordeaux.

    Click here for a map of the appellations of Bordeaux
    2010 Chateau La Lagune Magnum (1500ml)
    Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $275. 00
    Bottle
    $3300.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Another great success from proprietress Caroline Frey, the 2010 La Lagune provides an essential drinking experience, with notes of Asian plum sauce, mulberries, kirsch liqueur and black currants. The wine also exhibits a savory, rich smokiness and subtle lead pencil shaving notes. Full-bodied and pure, combining both elegance and power, this is a brilliant, very approachable effort that should hit its stride in 5-7 years and last for at least two decades. Think of it as a hypothetical blend of the 2005 and 2009. Kudos!
    94 points
    Robert M. Parker, Jr. - Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

    Is this 2005 deja vu “all over again”? Proprietress Caroline Frey has elevated the quality at La Lagune since acquiring this estate, and the 2010 is another superb effort as well as one of the better values in Bordeaux. An opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of black raspberries, black currants, licorice and subtle smoke and graphite. While uber-concentrated, full-bodied and pure, it retains both elegance and precision as well as a sensational 45-second finish. The suppleness of the tannins and stunning opulence suggest it will drink beautifully for 25+ years.
    93-96 points
    Robert M. Parker, Jr. - Wine Advocate #194 May 2011

    This shows an enchanting nose of roses, violets and other flowers. It's also fruity but very subtle. A full-body, super-structured red with an excellent backbone of ripe yet firm tannins. Goes on for minutes. Don’t touch for five or six years. Try in 2019.
    96 points
    James Suckling - March 13th, 2015

    • 93
    • 91
    • Reduced
    2018 Chateau Riotor Rose Magnum (1500ml)
    Provence, FRANCE
    Reduced from $54.99
    $49. 99
    Bottle
    $599.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now (2020)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Chateau Riotor is located in the prime Massif des Maures region where wonderfully fresh rose wines are produced. Owned for four generations by the Abeille family (of the famed Chateau Mont-Redon in Chateauneuf-du-Pape), the vineyard is planted with the classic varieties for the region of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah together with a little Rolle (Vermentino) which is blended into the rose.
    Translucent salmon pink in colour. Elevated peach, strawberry and subtle blood orange aromas rise from the glass with some wet stone notes in the background. Delicious peach, raspberry and blood orange fruits have a supple feel across the palate underscored by light musk and stony characters. Dry, brisk finish with a long spicy well rounded aftertaste.
    Drink now.
    Alc. 13.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Pale brilliant pink. Lively, mineral-accented orange zest, strawberry and floral scents show very good clarity and pick up a spicy nuance with aeration. Nicely concentrated yet lively on the palate, offering incisive red berry, blood orange and floral pastille flavors underscored by a dusty mineral quality. Shows sharp delineation and cut on the finish, which hangs on with strong tenacity. Drink 2019-2022.
    91 points
    Josh Raynolds – Vinous

    • 93
    • Reduced
    2017 Chateau Riotor Rose Magnum (1500ml)
    Provence, FRANCE
    Reduced from $54.99
    $45. 99
    Bottle
    $551.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now (2019)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork
    Translucent salmon pink colour. Subtle raspberry scents merge with peach, light musk and stony notes finishing with a dash of spice. Beautiful supple textural feel with delicious flavours of raspberries, cherries and musk prevailing over traces of pebble stones and spice. Dry brisk conclusion with a long aftertaste.
    Drink now.
    Alc. 13.5%
    Chopin Potato Vodka Methuselah (6000ml) - with Bonus Chopin Paraphenalia
    POLAND
    $899. 00
    Bottle
    $10788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    One only available. The lucky purchaser of this super-sized Chopin gets these bonus items as part of the deal:
    1 x Chopin Cloth Bag
    1 x Chopin Ice Bucket
    1 x Chopin Tray
    1 x Chopin Bar Mat
    1 x Chopin Pillow

    Launched in 1992, this is one of Poland's super premium brands made exclusively from Stobrawa potatoes, mostly sourced from nearby the distillery to maximise freshness. The vodka is distilled four times following a six century old tradition. Founder and CEO, Tadeusz Dorda sums up the brand's philosophy: "We believe that the definition of vodka – “a flavorless, odorless, neutral spirit without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color” – is simply incorrect. We also reject the popular notion that all vodkas are the same. The flavor profile of our marquee product, Chopin Potato Vodka, is distinctively creamy with earthy notes and sets the standard in its category."

    Master Distiller, Waldemar Durakiewicz, has worked with the Dorda family (who still own and run the company) since he graduated from university in 1978. Named after Poland's favourite son, the vodka is packaged in a frosted, cork-finished bottle which has since been copied by the likes of Belvedere Vodka and others.

    Other reviews… Clear. Clean flinty aromas gives way to a supple, silky, light-to-medium bodied palate with confectioner's sugar, lemon zest and mineral flavors and a pointed peppery fade. A smooth and elegant vodka for martinis. 40%Alc./Vol.
    International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
    93 points (Exceptional)
    - tastings.com

    The first sniffings unearth a soft, slightly sour and vegetal aroma; more time adds minor scents of ash and unsmoked cigarette. The bittersweet palate entry taste flashes on cocoa bean and sap; at midpalate toasty, sooty flavors of tobacco leaf, wood smoke, wood resin and vanilla are found. Ends up semisweet, succulent and roughly spirity. 85-89 points - wineenthusiast.com

    “Potato vodkas have never been as well-received as their grain-based competitors, but Chopin—which appeared on the American market in 1997—should go a long way toward changing their lowbrow reputation. It's the smoothest vodka we tried, with a slight oiliness (specific to potato vodkas) that cut beautifully against the briny funk of black caviar and held its own against the thickest black bread I'd been able to find. We found Chopin itself to be 'slightly sweet' and 'well-rounded' with 'perhaps a hint of apple.' Chopin also had a 'medium-length, pleasing burn,' but 'very little aftertaste—it's remarkably clean.' To top it off, Chopin's tall frosted bottle was the prettiest we'd seen...the panel unanimously called Chopin 'far and away the best vodka we tried.” – Alex Abramovich, “Hit me With Your Best Shot”, Slate Magazine, 2004.

    • 97
    2005 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Syrah Magnum (1500ml)
    Clarendon, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $350. 00
    Bottle
    $4200.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews…
    The 2005 Syrah Hickinbotham Vineyard is opaque purple-colored with aromas of crushed rocks, toasty oak, tar, licorice, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry. Muscular and large in scale, it will profit from a decade of cellaring and drink well through 2030.
    97 points
    Dr Jay Miller – The Wine Advocate #173, October 2007

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