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Isle of Raasay Gin (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 46%A Scottish island gin that's all about juniper, citrus peel and pepper, in that order. The character of the berries is reminiscent of freshly picked pine buds rubbed between the fingers. The malt-based spirit adds a richness to the mouthfeel, however the flavours tread on the drier side; Citrus peel and a peppery tingle invite another sip. It's relatively straightforward yet lovely London Dry with freshness as its strength. Mixing tends to subdue and simplify the profile, so reserve it for vibrant Martinis. Other botanicals include rhubarb, licorice, angelica and water from the distillery's well. 46% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Other reviews... This Scottish island gin is made from a base of Raasay’s double distilled malt spirit, but it is reportedly lighter than the new make used for their single malt line. The gin bill uses Raasay juniper, selected with the help of a local botanist, along with a short list of other botanicals including lemon and orange peel, rhubarb, licorice, and angelica (the more delicate of which have been vapor infused). Thoughts follow. The aroma is bright and clean with an initial punch of sappy, resinous juniper and sharp citrus notes. Everything evens out pretty quickly, however, into a softer mix of orange oil, candied lemon peel, pine needles, and black licorice with faint traces of pepper and currants. It’s an inviting and enchanting aroma that only continues to bloom in the glass. The palate is dry and mild with notes of fresh cut pine, orange peel, and cut grass. It’s an extremely light-bodied gin, almost effervescent, with a clean, airy finish of lemon peel and powdered sugar. While elegant and approachable, it leaves me wanting just a bit more complexity. Ideal as a sipping gin and worthwhile in a martini, but it can get a bit lost in the wrong tonic or adventurous cocktail. - drinkhacker.com
4.5 stars - diffordsguide.com
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Don Fulano 20th Aniversario Sherry Cask Aged 100% Agave Anejo Tequila (750ml)Jalisco, MEXICO$350. 00Bottle$4200.00 DozenABV: 44.4%9000 bottles of this limited edition, additive-free Añejo commemorating 20 years of Don Fulano are on offer globally. One third of that is dedicated to the U.S. market. Agaves grown in Los Altos form its basis, harvested from three ranches in Jalisco: La Tuna in Arandas, planted in 2014, Milpillas Cerro in Atontonilco, planted in 2014 and El Maguey in Atontonilco, planted in 2008. Each harvest was also distilled and matured separately: La Tuna agave in first-fill ex-Amontillado sherry butts for 1 year, 6 months; Millpillas Cerro agave in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry butts for 1 year, 9 months, and the El Maguey agave, matured in French oak ex-Burgundy casks for exactly eight years. All were copper-pot-distilled then blended in April 2023 and re-barreled in a combination of first-fill Amontillado and Oloroso sherry butts. Like other Fulanos, this is not mainstream tequila; Sweet vanillla and smokey agave are present on the nose and palate - in a subtle fashion; There are suggestions of dried grass, peppercorns and (perhaps) papaya coming through, but the initial passes remain fairly muted. Given enough air contact it turns into a rewarding, contemplative spirit that keeps you coming back, the gently smokey agave gaining definition, becoming sweeter and riper with time in the glass. By anejo standards, it's unusually spritely, too. This grand assemblage was bottled in July of 2023 at 44.4% Alc./Vol. A small parcel has been imported to Australia. Tasted from a 20ml sample.
Other reviews... The nose is a heady mix of roasted agave, green bell pepper, grapefruit peel, roasted mushrooms, and toasted walnuts. The liquid has a luxuriously silky feel, with ample complexity that, like a good mole, hits savory, umami, spicy, and slightly sweet spots on the tongue. Flavors of porcini mushrooms mix with bell pepper, bittersweet chocolate, grapefruit and lime peel, cinnamon, chili pepper, earthy sage, and honeyed, roasted agave shine through. The finish is rich and slightly nutty—like roasted pumpkin and sesame seeds—with only a subtle sweetness. 95 points - distiller.com
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Isle of Raasay Quercus Humboldtii Virgin Colombian Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 50.7%Isle of Raasay released its namesake whisky back in 2021. Distilled on a tiny island north of Skye and only reachable via a ferry, they produce both peated and unpeated whisky from 100% Scottish barley and then blend the two to create a lightly peated style. While most single malt is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, Isle of Raasay is harnessing the unique flavours and properties of first-fill rye, Chinkapin oak and first-fill wine casks from Bordeaux. Then there's this - part of the Oak Species Maturation Series showcasing how different woods interact with the spirit. Fully matured in Colombian oak (Quercus Humboldtii), it's a superbly vibrant malt that could be at least ten years old by Scottish standards. Mezcal-like in its smokiness, being earthy, slightly vegetal, and in moments, borderline rubbery, bittersweet dark chocolate, hints of salt and seaweed add to the complexity. It's young umami whisky with the presentation to match. 8500 bottles produced. 50.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Notes from the producers... flavours of crème brûlée and heather smoke in a mix of peated and unpeated malts.
- Isle of Raasay Na Sia Unpeated Chinkapin Single Cask 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 61.8%
Chinkapin, or Quercus Muehlenbergii American white oak is native to central and eastern North America. The fresh charring of these casks brings a rich colour and flavour early on in the maturation process, while the high toast caramelises the natural sugars in the wood. It's anticipated that this expression will be offered every two years as a peated and unpeated variant. Expect sweet toffee and butterscotch on the nose, with vibrant dark fruit flavours and deep, rich colours at just five years of age. 61.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Aged in virgin Chinkapin oak. The aroma is sultry and rich with dark toffee and caramel notes, honey roasted cashews, brown butter, and a bit of Cracker Jack. The palate is expressive, if a bit youthful, with lots of cooked cereal and brown sugar atop a big oak profile of sandalwood, dried coconut, and pencil shavings. A bit of candied ginger develops on the midpalate, along with spice cake and some baked apple before dissolving into a warming, slightly salty finish of honey candies, dried cherries, and apricot. Reviewed: Cask 19/56. - drinkhacker.com
- 2012 El Dorado High Ester Blend LBI / DHE Cask Strength Guyana Rum (750ml)GUYANA$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 57%
"Delicious...estery funk with tons of complexity, and then navy strength on top of that makes this Rum an absolute winner." - tastings.com
2024 marks the first offering in the High Ester Blend Series, combining the La Bonne Intention (LBI) marque from the versatile French Savalle Still with the never-before released Diamond High Ester (DHE) marque from El Dorado's small John Dore Double Retort Copper Pot. Both distilled in 2012 and aged for 11 years in old Bourbon barrels, the ester count is reportedly over 1500g/hl (diffordsguide.com), however it's not certain whether that refers to esters after distillation (i.e.- before maturation) or after years of tropical aging. Regardless, according to more than one review, the results are pretty special, bursting with fruit, funk and floral notes. Bottled at a natural strength of 57% Alc./Vol., no outturn numbers are stated.
Other reviews... Dark amber color. Aromas and flavors of bananas foster, grilled pineapple dipped in chocolate sauce, baked cherries, and pecan pie with cinnamon with a round, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a warming, gigantic, long finish revealing nuances of chocolate creme brulee, ripe banana and pineapple drenched in caramel sauce and lit on fire, cinnamon and nutmeg with clove and ginger accents, and kola nut. First and foremost, delicious; also estery funk with tons of complexity, and then navy strength on top of that making this Rum an absolute winner. 96 points - tastings.com
...There is a lot to be unpacked here and it rewards the patient. The palate is simply strong and very firm, fortunately without any kind of bitchy sharpness. It’s more like a very hot very sweet and very strong black tea. There’s salt, honey, olive oil, brown sugar, salted caramel ice cream, orange peel, sweet soya, and then a repetition of the sweet spices, freshly baked pastries, coffee grounds and unsweetened chocolate…and more of the spices mentioned above. The rum as a whole presents as somewhat dry, but it all leads to a really long, dry, aromatic that sums up the profile quite nicely, but without introducing any new elements. Well. I must say, I’m happy that this is not a rum which was twisted into some semblance of conformity by some moron’s idea of a formula. It’s quite original, while still hewing to a profile that is recognizably Demerara. To do so was probably the right decision, since, overall, the rum works extremely well. The high ester component is less assertive than the Jamaicans have led us to expect (that’s not a criticism, just an observation), yet it does well to balance off the more traditional flavours provided by the LBI, which, even back then, always seemed to be somewhat indeterminate... For that strength, that nose, those tastes and the overall quality, there’s nothing here that I don’t like. My suggestion would be to park the high ester expectations, enjoy the complexity of the blend, appreciate the strength, and maybe even drop the coin to get one for yourself. - thelonecaner.com
Notes from the producers... Aroma: Gusts of figs and start-fruit whiff ahead, trailed by cinnamon and vanilla notes, and balanced by the mellow aromas of toffee and honey, with hints of banana undertones. Taste: the brief introduction of orange peel is overlayed with rich spicy notes in the pallet, prominently vanilla with cinnamon. Clove, dark chocolate, and slightly burner caramel hit the mid-palate delicately, before a smooth transition to honey that softens the leathery, spicy finish. A rum to be sipped and savoured for its delicateness as much as its deep impact, lush minerality and dry finish.
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Don Fulano 100% Agave Blanco Fuerte Tequila (700ml)Jalisco, MEXICO$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 50%Awarded Best in Show at one of the most prestigious spirits judging events in the world.
Fuerte (meaning strong) refers to a high-strength Blanco tequila. Once hard to find, more producers are offering these nowadays following a demand for punchier expressions. Some are better than others, but Don Fulano Fuerte may be as good as it gets. Claiming the prestigious Best In Show Tequila award at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the accolade sets Don Fulano apart in a crowded market, reinforcing its reputation as a top-tier producer. Crafted under the expertise of Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca and blended by Sergio Mendoza, the tequila is made from estate-grown Maduro and Pinto agaves (Jima Media) harvested in the highlands of Atotonilco, an area known for producing some of the finest agaves in the country. A dual-distillation method is employed, using both a column-still and a traditional copper pot-still.
Judges described Fulano's Fuerte as "An amazing and well balanced tequila with agave and black pepper on the nose and palate followed by a burst of citrus and cinnamon on the finish." We received a 30ml sample. The aroma feels heavier yet less expressive than Fulano's standard Blanco and benefits from breathing to get past the hints of matchbox, crushed pine needles and drying minerality. At high ABV and with zero chill filtration, the palate is mouth-filling and creamy - far from your average Blanco experience. Roll it around your mouth to extract the full extent of flavours which really build at the finish as pepper, wax, roasted capsicum and a light herbaceous character shine through. As with many natural strength single malts, this initially understated but very textural tequila needs time to reveal its wares. Its individual profile showcasing the unadulterated essence of the agave will both fascinate and polarise fans of the genre. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- Isle of Raasay Na Sia Unpeated Rye Single Cask 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 61%
Other reviews... Aged in first-fill rye casks from Woodford Reserve. The nose is initially soft and earthy with a mild rye spice, coffee grounds, and a toasted marshmallow sweetness. The peat smoke, which comes across more as mesquite barbecue, doesn’t fully integrate with notes of vanilla bean and butterscotch that start to take over as things open up. On the palate, a peppery entry of young malt and Tootsie Roll gives way to thinner notes of barley sugar and baking spice. The finish, while nicely spiced, is a bit one dimensional, with caramelized sugar, treacle, and a bit of campfire smoke. Reviewed: Cask 18/627. - drinkhacker.com
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Camus Intensely Aromatic VSOP Cognac (700ml)Cognac, FRANCEReduced from $129.99$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Launched in 2019, Camus' 'Intense' range is produced using their 'intensity' process whereby they manually select the most aromatic litres of the heads during the second distillation. It also includes a portion of Borderies fruit, a lesser-known appellation which Camus is well-known for championing. Distilled from 100% Ugni Blanc and matured in fine-to-medium grain French oak casks for a minimum of 4 years, according to Camus, the style is distinguished by a high level of terpenols, resulting in wonderful scents of fine flowers. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... More elegant and refined than many XO cognacs with pleasing fruit and floral notes garnishing rich vanilla fudge and black tea tannins. 5+ Stars - diffordsguide.com
Double Gold at the World Spirit Competition in San Francisco.
Notes from the producers... an elegant golden tint with amber undertones. On the nose, it reveals a perfect balance between precious tannins and fresh notes of tropical fruits, followed by generous floral tones. On the palate, it resonates with lavish fruity notes accompanied by accents of spices and vanilla.
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2021 Domaine Sylvain Pataille Marsannay BlancBurgundy, FRANCE$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThis Marsannay Villages comes from five parcels including Les Larreys, Clos du Roy and En Blungey, as well as fruit from newly planted vines in Couchée. The oldest vines in the cuvée date from 1949. It’s fermented and aged for 18 months in 600-litre barrels, and Pataille uses a little new oak.
Other Reviews....
Delivering aromas of pear, yellow orchard fruit, citrus oil and orange blossom, the 2021 Marsannay Blanc is medium-bodied, fleshy and perfumed with a satiny attack, racy acids and a giving, charming profile. Drink 2023-2030.
89 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 01, 2023)Raised in demi-muids and pièce on the lees, the 2021 Marsannay Blanc has quite a strict nose, a bit bashful at the moment. The palate has much more going on with orange zest and lime, fine length with bitter lemon on the finish. Worth seeking out. Drink 2024-2030.
88-90 points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
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2021 Domaine Sylvain Pataille Marsannay Clos du RoyBurgundy, FRANCE$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkAlongside Longeroies and Champ Perdix, the Clos du Roy is one of Marsannay’s largest and most revered vineyards. Some consider it the appellation’s finest terroir, which makes sense when you consider the name: Roy is the ancient French spelling of roi, meaning king. It’s a steep, east-facing slope above the village of Chenôve, on the same line as the Gevrey Premiers Crus to the south. It has lightish red soil, including some sand, over a bed of Comblanchien limestone. When Marsannay finally gets its first Premier Cru (expected 2024), Clos du Roy will likely be at the front of the queue.
Pataille farms a serious 2.25 hectares in the clos, from vines planted in 1952, 1965, 1978 and 2001. As for the winemaking, ‘the king’s vineyard’ gets the royal treatment in the cellar, with 18 months in barrel and six months in tank before being bottled unfiltered. It ferments almost entirely as whole bunches.
Other Reviews....
Scents of red berries, plums, licorice, potpourri and orange zest introduce the 2021 Marsannay Clos du Roy, a medium to full-bodied, bright and fleshy wine with powdery tannins, lively acids and a saline finish. A nicely balanced cuvée that's neither the most extrovert nor the most structured bottling in the range, it will offer a broad drinking window. Drink 2024-2037.
92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 01, 2023)The 2021 Marsannay Clos du Roy has a nicely poised bouquet with black cherry and mulberry fruit, floral scents emerging with time. The palate is well balanced with firm tannins, very saline with a briny finish. Excellent. Drink 2025-2036.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
- Nick's Import
2011 Claxton's Exploration Series Jura 12 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 50%Differentiating from Claxton's Warehouse ranges, whiskies under their Exploration series arrive in standard, round bottles instead of the premium "flat" bottle type. Under the neck foil on each you'll find a Claxton's coin which gains you points towards their exclusive releases (if you ever happen to visit Claxton's showroom in Dalswinton!) Despite the rather plain presentation, previous shipments have delivered some gems. The value remains reasonable considering these are generally just one or two cherry-picked casks per bottling and offered at a generous 50% ABV.
Jura commenced a massive re-racking programme in 1998 which continued through to 2016. It saw 30,000 mixed barrel types of pre-1995 stocks re-filled into casks of 'higher' quality (we can assume this refers to x-Bourbon). As of 1995, all of the new make spirit is exclusively put into first fill bourbon casks, hence, a Jura from a PX hogshead is an unusual thing. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Oily (Rapeseed), bitter orange and mild herbs. Palate: Sweet grape skin with more bitter fruits. Oily mouthfeel. Finish: Oak-sweet finish with more grape notes.
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2021 Sohm & Kracher Lion Gruner VeltlinerNiederösterreich, Wachau, AUSTRIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with a glimmer of green to the edges and a watery hue. Lifted aromas of lime and pear infused with fresh herbs are trailed by hints of rose water and stony mineral notes. Delicious fleshy textured pear, lime and green apple fruits are counterpointed by zesty acidity with some mandarin and flinty elements enlivening the back half. Finishes dry with a highly energised feel to the long bristling conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews……
A very typical and expressive Austrian gruner veltliner with a wonderfully fresh nose of nutty apple and white pepper. Medium-bodied and very juicy, with attractive citrusy freshness at the long, polished finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Julien Sunier FleurieBeaujolais, FRANCE$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkDeep dark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Elevated sour cherry, rhubarb, fresh herb and earth scents evolve from the glass trailed by some leather and spice notes. Vibrant sour cherry and rhubarb flavours infused with green herbs grace the elegant palate. Earth, traces of smoky minerals and spice lie underneath. Crunch acidity with a sappy mid length finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
Dark cherry, liquorice, floral notes, a smoky damp earth character, spice. It’s firm with a slurry of stony tannin, kind of gamey and wild, but the dark fruit and texture here carries it along, as does the fine ‘mineral’ line of acidity. The finish is smoky, but also sweet in dark berry fruit. It opens up and builds weight and perfume with some time in glass (or decanter), revealing rose petals, sour cherry and raspberry. Yes, it’s a little rustic, but I really like it. Drink 2024-2028+
94 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine FrontWildflower, berry and rhubarb aromas to this, with some citrus and funky earth undertones. Silky, supple and juicy on the palate with a medium body. From organically grown grapes. Why wait? Delicious now.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- Nick's Import
2014 Claxton's Exploration Series Glen Garioch 9 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 50%We're up to the ninth release in the Exploration Series. Closed in 1968, re-opened by the Morrisons (Bowmore et al) then purchased by Beam Suntory in 1994, nowadays Glen Garioch makes largely unpeated malt from short ferments, giving a deep cereal and spice note to the distillate. The new owners have great confidence in the quality of output, with all of its production dedicated to single malt rather than blends. This special selection from Claxton's was drawn from a Tawny Port barrique at 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Rich plums, raisins, icing. Danish pastry. Palate: Rich and fruity. Lots of raisins in syrup. Strudel. Finish: Sweet and warming. Long aftertaste of raisins.
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2022 Maxwell Four Roads Grenache - Last StocksMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $24.99$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinDeep dark red black in colour with a dark red hue. Spicy dark raspberry and black cherry aromas intermix with scorched earth, liquorice and peppered herb notes. Rich juicy black cherry, dark raspberry and liquorice flavours overlay a scorched earth and peppered dried herb back drop. Sandy tannins with a succulently fruited, pepper laced finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
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Taylor's 30 Year Old Tawny PortDouro Valley, PORTUGAL$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 20%Closure: CorkTaylor’s sets the benchmark for aged Tawny, offering precision, lift, and structure even at extended maturities. These wines are aged in seasoned oak casks to develop nutty, elegant profiles with remarkable freshness.
Other Reviews…..
Toffee and salted nuts. Caramel. Smoke. Dried cherry. Full-bodied. Medium sweet. Lots of dried fruit and butterscotch. Small amount of tannin tension gives this a sense of freshness. Drink now.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.comSinged cinnamon, dried cherry and persimmon notes form the core in this suave offering, which streams through a finish marked with bergamot, hazelnut and sandalwood. Leans toward flattering with its sweetness, while a bitter orange hint whispers on the finish to lend contrast and spine. Drink now.
95 points
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator -
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2019 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5Ribera del Duero, SPAIN$440. 00Bottle$5280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkBodegas Vega Sicilia is Spain's most prestigious wine estate, and has produced some of the most famous wines in the country's history. Founded in the 1860's and based in Ribera del Duero, two hours from Madrid, initial plantings at the estate included Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, along with the indigenous Tinto Fino (Tempranillo).
Other Reviews....
The obsession in 2019 was to avoid excess ripeness and to keep the freshness, so they did a softer vinification, used larger vats for the élevage and used less American wood. The 2019 Valbuena was produced with a blend of Tinto Fino with 3% Merlot. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.88 and 4.6 grams of acidity. I love the nose; it is perfumed and subtle. And the wine is beautifully textured; the tannins are very fine, silky even, quite different from the tannins from the other 2019s from the group that I tasted next to this, Macán and Pintia. A triumph over the conditions of the year, it's a more elegant Valbuena than I anticipated. 190,490 bottles, 5,581 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2022. Drink 2024-2032.
95 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Jun 14, 2024)The 2019 Valbuena 5º is primarily Tempranillo with a 3% dash of Merlot from the Vega Sicilia Estate and was aged for up to two years, one in foudres and the other in different kinds of oak barrels. Garnet-red with a faint bluish-purple sheen. The aromas feature cedar and vanilla accompanied by plum, sour cherry and subtle pine hints. The dry and velvety palate shows a faintly chalky texture and supple tannins that create an unctuous but taut character. The energetic red is wrapped in a gently plush blanket. Drink 2025-2040.
94 points
Joaquín Hidalgo - Vinous - Hartshorn Pure Sheep Whey Vodka (500ml) - White BottleTasmania, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 40%
Created as a contrast to the distillery's Black range, this is not exactly neutral, but certainly notable. If you enjoy rye-based styles, this offers similar richness of mouthfeel, from its fresh cream bouquet to its silky, vanilla cream-and-lightly peppered palate which achieves a lovely sweet/dry balance. A great option for cocktails where vodka doesn't need to be the hero. 40% Alc./Vol.
- Distilleria Negroni Rosso Vermouth (750ml)ITALY$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 18%
A 'farm to glass' Vermouth based on the distillery's own wine sees an infusion of alcohol with herbs and spices such as artemisia, thyme, oregano, rosemary, vanilla pods, quassia, rhubarb root and angelica. On the nose, the bouquet is intense and vinous, with hints of balsamic and herbs followed by cinnamon and cloves. On the palate it's sweet, leaving a slightly tannic note on the finish. 18% Alc./Vol.
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Williams & Humbert Don Zoilo 15 Year Old Pedro Ximenez SherryJerez, SPAIN$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenABV: 18%Closure: CorkVery deep dark sienna brown colour with a olive green tinged hue. Engulfing the nostrils are intoxicating scents of raisin cake, honeyed figs, toffee, walnut, marzipan and spice. Thick and heavy across the palate, it has an oil like viscosity with honeyed raisin, fig, marzipan, toffee, traces of marmalade, subtle walnut and spice flavours saturating every corner of the mouth. Outstanding power and concentration finishing warm, sweet and prodigiously long.
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- Nick's Import
2011 Watt Whisky MDB2M 12 Year Old Cask Strength Guyana Rum (700ml)GUYANA$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 57.1%Diamond is the only remaining rum distillery in Guyana, so this is from the same operation that makes the fabulous El Dorado range (amongst others). The barrel in question spent five years ageing in the tropics followed by seven years on the continent. We'd hazard to guess that the mix is majority pot still rums. Overripe tropical fruits melt into milk chocolate, liquorice bullets and molasses cake with grassy, caney notes adding appropriate freshness to the finish. Allow five minutes of air contact and this keeps on giving. The fact that it's unsweetened and carries high alcohol so effortlessly makes this seductive, integrated and perfectly balanced expression an epitome of elegance in the Guyanese category. 264 bottles from an x-whisky barrel. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Thick and oily with aniseed, cloves, peppermint and green olives.
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2018 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$370. 00Bottle$4440.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral, disgorged in August 2024 with three grams per liter dosage, introduces the range of vintage wines. Defined by poor soils with just about 50 centimeters of topsoil, it comes from two chalk-based, old-vine parcels: Le Champ Bouton in Avize (vinified in tank) and Les Bionnes in Cramant (vinified in an old 600-liter barrel). “In 2017, we lost about 50% to 60% due to frost, then in 2018 we harvested three times the volume of 2017,” reveals Ambroise Agrapart, who is now making the wines, though his father is still very much present. More generously structured compared to the 2016 yet more precise than the 2017, it wafts from the glass with notes of tangerine zest, green apple and dried white flowers. Nakedly chalky with electric-like acidity, it maintains its reputation as the most tensile wine in the range, capturing the freshness much better than many other wines of this vintage. Drink 2024-2044.
94+ points
Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024)This must be one of the most beguiling and refined 2018s from the Côte des Blancs, managing to retain a tensile, nuanced and detailed complexity in a year that can sometimes be a bit simple. From some of the estate’s chalkiest, shallowest soils, Minéral impresses by setting white peach, bitter almond and dried flowers in a lithe, persistent frame full of leapfrogging details of slate, umami savour and apricot kernel richness, dancing over a long, detailed finish. Terrific. Drink 2024 - 2028.
95 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter -
- 95
- 94
- Packaging may vary
2018 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$899. 00Bottle$10788.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral, disgorged in August 2024 with three grams per liter dosage, introduces the range of vintage wines. Defined by poor soils with just about 50 centimeters of topsoil, it comes from two chalk-based, old-vine parcels: Le Champ Bouton in Avize (vinified in tank) and Les Bionnes in Cramant (vinified in an old 600-liter barrel). “In 2017, we lost about 50% to 60% due to frost, then in 2018 we harvested three times the volume of 2017,” reveals Ambroise Agrapart, who is now making the wines, though his father is still very much present. More generously structured compared to the 2016 yet more precise than the 2017, it wafts from the glass with notes of tangerine zest, green apple and dried white flowers. Nakedly chalky with electric-like acidity, it maintains its reputation as the most tensile wine in the range, capturing the freshness much better than many other wines of this vintage. Drink 2024-2044.
94+ points
Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024)This must be one of the most beguiling and refined 2018s from the Côte des Blancs, managing to retain a tensile, nuanced and detailed complexity in a year that can sometimes be a bit simple. From some of the estate’s chalkiest, shallowest soils, Minéral impresses by setting white peach, bitter almond and dried flowers in a lithe, persistent frame full of leapfrogging details of slate, umami savour and apricot kernel richness, dancing over a long, detailed finish. Terrific. Drink 2024 - 2028.
95 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter -
- 94
- 95
2018 Pascal Agrapart Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$470. 00Bottle$5640.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Avizoise is sourced from old vines of around 50 to 60 years of age, situated in the clay-rich (argilo-calcaire) Coteaux d’Avize vineyards of Les Robarts and Les Gros Yeux. The richer soils and altitude of these neighbouring sites bring more exotic fruit and roundness. The wine aged entirely in 600-litre demi-muid, and bottle fermentation took place under cork rather than crown seal. The 2018 spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3 g/L.
Other Reviews....
Aged entirely in 600-liter barrels and, for the first time in the history of this cuvée, released without dosage, the 2018 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Avizoise is nevertheless the most demonstrative vintage wine in Agrapart’s cellar. Crafted from two plots in Avize (Les Robarts and Les Gros Yeux), located just 30 meters from each other and defined by deep, clay-limestone soils, it’s more giving and demonstrative compared to Minéral. Opening in the glass to reveal scents of walnut, pastries and ripe orchard fruit, it is full-bodied, ample and layered with excellent concentration, bright acidity and a long, sapid finish. Les Gros Yeux is one of the plots Agrapart farms with horse, to avoid soil compaction. With Ambroise now in charge of this historic domaine, style remains the same, but he undeniably refines the work. Drink 2024-2044.
95 points
Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024)While the Minéral cuvée hails from some of the shallowest, poorest soils in Avize, Avizoise always shows some of the roundness and aromatics of the deeper soils of the Gros Yeux and Robarts parcels. It shows a little more of the heat of the year in 2018, too, with fleshy nectarine, lime and white pepper, deep and long with citrus oil yet retaining a beguiling, papery-delicate texture that all of Agrapart's wines seem to find. For a vintage when blanc de blancs can be a little simplistic, this is full of nerve and detail. Drink 2024 - 2030.
94 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter -
- 96
2018 Pascal Agrapart Venus Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$730. 00Bottle$8760.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Venus is a very special wine from a very special plot. It comes from one-third of a hectare of vines in the renowned Avize vineyard plot, La Fosse aux Pourceaux. This 0.3-hectare section of La Fosse lies on the chalkiest portion of the slope near the village (contrasting with the more clay-rich soils of the Avizoise cuvée). The vines were planted in 1959 and so are extremely old by Champagne standards. This single parcel cuvée is therefore made in only tiny quantities each year. The wine is named after the Boulonnais mare, Vénus, that first ploughed the vineyard. Venus has more depth, grip and phenolic power than Avizoise, yet it offers plenty of finesse and mineral intensity to match the wine’s power and complexity.
Other Reviews....
Disgorged in August 2024 without dosage, the 2018 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vénus, as always, derives from La Fosse aux Pourceaux, a 0.6-hectare plot of land in Avize planted in 1959, which is farmed solely by man and horse, without the use of heavy mechanical equipment. With texture defined by the maturation in old 600-liter oak barrels, Vénus is more discreet than the broad shouldered Avizoise but more demonstrative than the crystalline Minéral, despite the short distance between La Fosse aux Pourceaux and Le Champ Bouton that defines Minéral. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of honeysuckle, pear, fresh hazelnut and iodine, it is a harmonious wine with an intensely chalky profile, laden with bright acids. More elegant than its 2017 rendition, Agrapart’s desire to capture freshness and precision is very well realized in this edition. Drink 2024-2044.
96 points
Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024) -
- 97
2019 Pascal Agrapart EXP (Experience) Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$950. 00Bottle$11400.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Formerly known as Experience, Agrapart's EXP is utterly unique in the world of Champagne. Given how difficult it is to produce, and the inherent rarity of such a cuvee, demand for EXP around the globe is enormous which is in part reflected in the price of this spectacular Champagne. In 2002, Agrapart sought and (remarkably) received permission from the local authorities to begin experimenting with a small quantity of wine that he wanted to produce without any sugar additions at all; no chaptalisation and no additions for the second fermentation and final dosage. Not using sugar and yeast for the liqueur de tirage (to prompt the second fermentation in the bottle) is actually against the AOC laws, which is why Agrapart needed permission. Instead of sugar, he uses must (grape juice) from the same vineyards that produce the wine, thus enabling him to produce a Champagne that is solely the product of estate-grown grapes.
This 2019 release is an equal-parts blend from vineyards that contributed to the Avizoise and Minéral cuvées (Les Robarts in Avize and Les Bionnes in Cramant), ‘dosed’ with around 20% of the juice of 2020 from these same vineyards. It is this juice that drives the secondary fermentation in the bottle. Again, no sugar or yeast additions are used for all fermentation, and the wine is never fined or filtered.
Other Reviews....
The NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Exp. 19 is 100% Chardonnay from the 2019 vintage, done with fresh juice from the 2020 vintage (as opposed to sugar) for the prise de mousse, the secondary fermentation. A wine of soaring aromatic intensity, energy and drive, the 2019 is magnificent. Pear, crisp apple, white flowers and almond build in a Champagne of spellbinding beauty. This is classy and polished from start to finish, not to mention incredibly unique. Unforgettable. No dosage. Disgorged: May 2024. Drink 2025-2035.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous -
- 91
- 90
2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint Aubin Hommage a Marguerite Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$255. 00Bottle$3060.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
Here the airy white fleshed fruit nose flirts with reduction so be sure to allow for a few minutes of aeration if you plan to crack a bottle young. More interesting are the bigger-bodied and richer, though not necessarily more mineral-driven, flavors that deliver fine length on the balanced finale where a discreet touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. Drink through 2027+.
89 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundOpening in the glass with aromas of white flowers, pear, crisp green apple, oatmeal and praline, the 2022 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Hommage à Marguerite is medium to full-bodied, with a satiny attack that segues into a fleshy core of fruit framed by chalky dry extract.
90-92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Saint-Aubin Hommage à Marguerite 1er Cru blends Perrière, Créots, Les Combes and Pitangerets (part of Les Combes). The wonderful bouquet offers scents of peach skin, chai and a brush of chalk dust, very enticing even at this early stage. The palate is very well-balanced with a little more tension than the regular Saint-Aubin, a slightly flinty finish completing this very able wine. Drink 2025-2042.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - VinousThis cuvee has been a blend of Perrières, Combes, Créots and PItangerets since 2016, all pressed and vinified together. The blend effectively covers all the possible exposures of St-Aubin. The bouquet is rather unforthcoming, though there is an attractive weight of white fruit on the palate, with more generosity at the finish. Drink from 2026-2030.
89-91 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 93
- 88
- 90
2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint Aubin Les Champlots Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$285. 00Bottle$3420.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
Prominent smoke and petrol characters partially mask the underlying fruit that is also trimmed in discreet wood influence though I suspect that the smoky aspect will slowly recede with bottle age. The rich, punchy and solidly voluminous flavors are at once caressing but sleek, all wrapped in a powerful, vibrant and lingering finish. This needs to add depth but a few years of keeping should be helpful all around. Drink through 2028+.
90 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots is bright and mineral, exhibiting aromas of pear, white flowers, green apple, lemon oil and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, taut and chalky, with lively acids and a saline finish, it's a strong effort.
90-92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Saint-Aubin Les Champlots 1er Cru, the coolest micro-climate farmed by the Domaine in the valley, reflects that on the nose with flinty, Granny Smith scents dichotomous to the warmth of the growing season. The palate is well-balanced with a touch of flintiness on the entry, lightly spiced with a dab of stem ginger towards what feels like a comparatively understated finish. Drink 2025-2038.
88-90 points
Neal Martin - VinousThe 2022 Champelots shows an attractive spice note to the ripe apricot and citrus fruit with hints of butter and white flowers. There is a pleasant richness—Colin notes that this is 'in the style of Chatenière and En Remilly'. The domaine owns 0.66 hectares here, high on the southwest-facing slope overlooking the village of Gamay. The site is always picked late, and the grapes are pressed as whole clusters before fermenting with most of their lees in cask (25% new). This wine has been racked into tank, but will be returned to barrel for another winter of ageing. Drink 2025 - 2045.
93 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterVery pale in colour, and undemonstrative on the nose. There is time for that to come. Substantial energy towards the back of the palate, clean white fruit with a citrus not at the back, good length, more on stones than flesh. Drink from 2026-2030.
88-91 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 Laurent Roumier Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes-de-Nuits RougeBurgundy, FRANCE$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle-Musigny. His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent mostly de-stems giving wines that show excellent depth of colour and which are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.
The vines are on average 35 years old, and they are farmed traditionally and naturally, with neither fertilizer nor herbicide. Green harvests are carried out in the summer when necessary. All of the vines are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the work is carried out with the same level of precision. The grapes are entirely destemmed the vinified in concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 15 days, with pumping over and punching down every day, and the temperature is checked every day. When it comes to pressing, the team decants the wines for 12 hours in vats and then barrels (50% of which are new for the grand crus and the premier crus, 30% for the villages and 10% for the Bourgogne Hautes-cotes-de-nuits). The elevage lasts 15 to 18 months, with the barrels (mostly Tonnelerie Rousseau) being topped up once a week and racked two or three times during the entire period of elevage.
Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes-de-Nuits comes from the La Poirelotte parcel of vines planted from 1970s through to 2000 located higher above Chambolle village vineyards. No new oak is used for this wine.
- 2022 Laurent Roumier Chambolle-MusignyBurgundy, FRANCE$295. 00Bottle$3540.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle-Musigny. His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent mostly de-stems giving wines that show excellent depth of colour and which are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.
The vines are on average 35 years old, and they are farmed traditionally and naturally, with neither fertilizer nor herbicide. Green harvests are carried out in the summer when necessary. All of the vines are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the work is carried out with the same level of precision. The grapes are entirely destemmed the vinified in concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 15 days, with pumping over and punching down every day, and the temperature is checked every day. When it comes to pressing, the team decants the wines for 12 hours in vats and then barrels (50% of which are new for the grand crus and the premier crus, 30% for the villages and 10% for the Bourgogne Hautes-cotes-de-nuits). The elevage lasts 15 to 18 months, with the barrels (mostly Tonnelerie Rousseau) being topped up once a week and racked two or three times during the entire period of elevage.
Laurent's Chambolle-Musigny comes from five parcels of vines planted between the 1960s and 1990s with an average age of 35 years old. Chambolle-Musigny gets its reputation for perfume and elegance and this is textbook Chambolle yet also with admirable intensity and generosity.
- 2022 Laurent Roumier Chambolle-Musigny Les Charmes Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$520. 00Bottle$6240.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle-Musigny. His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent mostly de-stems giving wines that show excellent depth of colour and which are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.
The vines are on average 35 years old, and they are farmed traditionally and naturally, with neither fertilizer nor herbicide. Green harvests are carried out in the summer when necessary. All of the vines are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the work is carried out with the same level of precision. The grapes are entirely destemmed the vinified in concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 15 days, with pumping over and punching down every day, and the temperature is checked every day. When it comes to pressing, the team decants the wines for 12 hours in vats and then barrels (50% of which are new for the grand crus and the premier crus, 30% for the villages and 10% for the Bourgogne Hautes-cotes-de-nuits). The elevage lasts 15 to 18 months, with the barrels (mostly Tonnelerie Rousseau) being topped up once a week and racked two or three times during the entire period of elevage.
Les Charmes is located just below the village almost exactly half way between the two Grand Crus of Chambolle-Musigny, Bonnes Mares and Musigny. It's also very close to the Les Amoureuses premier cru vineyard, which explains which this is always one of the most highly favoured sites in the commune.
- 2022 Laurent Roumier Clos Vougeot Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$670. 00Bottle$8040.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle-Musigny. His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent mostly de-stems giving wines that show excellent depth of colour and which are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.
The vines are on average 35 years old, and they are farmed traditionally and naturally, with neither fertilizer nor herbicide. Green harvests are carried out in the summer when necessary. All of the vines are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the work is carried out with the same level of precision. The grapes are entirely destemmed the vinified in concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 15 days, with pumping over and punching down every day, and the temperature is checked every day. When it comes to pressing, the team decants the wines for 12 hours in vats and then barrels (50% of which are new for the grand crus and the premier crus, 30% for the villages and 10% for the Bourgogne Hautes-cotes-de-nuits). The elevage lasts 15 to 18 months, with the barrels (mostly Tonnelerie Rousseau) being topped up once a week and racked two or three times during the entire period of elevage.
Laurent Roumier has a superb holding of just over half a hectare of vines which was replanted in 1975 and is located in the lieu dit of Grand Maupertuis in the higher part of Clos Vougeot bordering on to Grands Echezeaux, not far from Musigny. This parcel was worked en metayage by Georges Roumier from the 1950’s and was transferred to Laurent Roumier from the 1997 vintage. This is a remarkably rich deep and stylish wine that would put some notable Musigny’s to shame.
- 2022 Laurent Roumier Bonnes Mares Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$899. 00Bottle$10788.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle-Musigny. His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent mostly de-stems giving wines that show excellent depth of colour and which are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.
The vines are on average 35 years old, and they are farmed traditionally and naturally, with neither fertilizer nor herbicide. Green harvests are carried out in the summer when necessary. All of the vines are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the work is carried out with the same level of precision. The grapes are entirely destemmed the vinified in concrete vats. Alcoholic fermentation lasts around 15 days, with pumping over and punching down every day, and the temperature is checked every day. When it comes to pressing, the team decants the wines for 12 hours in vats and then barrels (50% of which are new for the grand crus and the premier crus, 30% for the villages and 10% for the Bourgogne Hautes-cotes-de-nuits). The elevage lasts 15 to 18 months, with the barrels (mostly Tonnelerie Rousseau) being topped up once a week and racked two or three times during the entire period of elevage.
Laurent Roumier's holding of Bonnes Mares is just 0.14 ha of vines planted in 1938, and produces around 3-4 barrels (900 bottles) of this wine in a good year. This holding was inherited from the Georges Roumier estate and is situated in the heart of this Grand cru site with these vines located between the holdings of de Vogue and Frederic Mugnier. Shows great depth of colour with beautiful fine aromas of rose petal, all perfume and finesse, yet very deep and intense on the palate with remarkable persistence and power.
- 2022 David Duband Nuits-Saint-GeorgesBurgundy, FRANCE$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
Here too a deft application of wood is present on the spicy and earthy essence of ripe red currant along with a suggestion of the sauvage. There is fine volume to the succulent yet sleek medium weight flavors that also possess a caressing mouthfeel, all wrapped in dusty, punchy and lightly austere but not rustic finale. Excellent. Drink through 2029+.
89-92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundFresh purple, a little less evidently whole bunch, a solid raspberry and strawberry fruit, perhaps more at the front than the back. Medium to low acidity, refined tannins, fair length. Drink from 2028-2034.
89-91 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 David Duband Gevrey-ChambertinBurgundy, FRANCE$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
A whiff of herbal tea character suffuses the more deeply pitched nose of plum, red berries, earth and an admirably deft touch of wood. I very much like the texture and detail of the medium-bodied flavors that possess both good volume and focused power that seems to built on the balanced and lingering finale. This needs better depth but the potential for that appears to be present. Drink through 2028+.
89-91 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound85% is from the Brochon side. Mid crimson, another translucent colour. A little more strawberry in the nose, with the fruit here being spread very nicely across the palate, a little more density all the way through and an additional weight of fruit at the back. A lovely example in this style. Drink from 2028-2034.
90-93 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 David Duband Morey-Saint-Denis Clos Sorbe Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$310. 00Bottle$3720.00 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
Much like the Gevrey, there is a hint of herbal tea character present on the equally pure, cool and restrained nose of appealingly spicy array of red currant, cherry and soft earth nuances. The mouthfeel of the energetic medium weight flavors is agreeably refined while possessing excellent complexity on the dusty, balanced and youthfully austere finale. Lovely and understated in style. Drink through 2030+.
90-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundA mid crimson colour. The bouquet is a little bit sterner, with the sauvage character (not evident in the village wine) more of a red fruit perfume on the palate along with a touch of blood orange, a lovely finish. Very graceful, a wine of medium concentration but significant length. Drink from 2030-2036.
91-94 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thorey Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$310. 00Bottle$3720.00 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
This too is very pretty with its perfumed array that blends cool and airy aromas of various red berries with a plethora of floral elements. Once again the mouthfeel of the sleek middleweight flavors is nothing short of gorgeous while exuding a subtle bead of minerality on the firm, serious and solidly powerful finish. I really like the balance and overall, if this can add depth, it could be something very special in time. Drink through 2032+.
91-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundPink purple, more in fruit, less in flowers, yet with a white pepper crunch at the back. This is a graceful Nuits, but could use a little more energy perhaps. Drink from 2030-2035.
91-93 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 David Duband Chambolle-Musigny Les Sentiers Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 12.9%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
A more deeply pitched nose somewhat grudgingly offers up its array of poached plum, black cherry, spice and pretty violet whiffs. As would be expected, there is better volume to the sappy and equally refined medium weight flavors that also exude a subtle bead of minerality that adds a sense of lift to the impressively powerful, balanced and strikingly long finale. This too has excellent upside potential. Drink through 2034+.
91-94 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundGood pink purple colour with a burst of cherry infused energy, excellent intensity here, a couple of tannins to resolve – Sentiers is on the Morey side after all - but with plenty of weight for longer term ageing. Drink from 2030-2037.
91-94 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy - 2022 David Duband Echezeaux Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$899. 00Bottle$10788.00 DozenABV: 13.3%Closure: Cork
David Duband is regarded as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. He took over his family domaine at a very young age and now has more than 20 vintages of experience behind him. Starting out with small family holdings David, together with his business partner Francois Feuillet, have added to their portfolio of wines through the purchase of some exceptional old Grand cru vineyards throughout Gevrey Chambertin and Morey St Denis, including prime holdings of retiring vigneron Jacky Truchot.
Other Reviews....
A whiff of menthol combines with the spicy aromas of red currant and exotic tea. The round, delicious and generously proportioned larger-bodied flavors that retain a good sense of delineation on the compact, markedly powerful and very serious finale. This is pretty much so backward that it's a 'buy and forget' wine that should amply repay extended keeping. Drink through 2034+.
91-94 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundA fine mid crimson, not much nose, definitely a savoury touch here, crushed strawberry and a herbal (not herbaceous) note as well. A significant volume of fruit here, yet still nuanced, enhanced by a gorgeous finish. Drink from 2030-2038.
94-96 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 86
- 88
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de NuitsBurgundy, FRANCE$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Other Reviews....
A more complex nose features notes of violet, anise and red and dark currant scents. The succulent yet nicely detailed flavors possess a subtle minerality that becomes more apparent on the youthfully austere and balanced finale that could use better depth. Drink through 2026+.
86-88 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundOffering up aromas of cherries and smoky berries, the 2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is medium-bodied, lively and layered, attaining an impressive 13.6% natural alcohol, something that would have been unthinkable in this appellation only a decade ago. Drink 2024-2030.
88 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Bourgogne Rouge Hautes Côtes de Nuits comes from fruit from towards Comblanchien. Dark berry fruit on the nose commingles with light truffle scents. The palate is medium-bodied and quite powerful, with a light spiciness. It has perhaps the most opulent finish of the three Hautes-Côtes. Fine. Drink 2025-2032.
86-88 points
Neal Martin - VinousThis is the principle Hautes Côtes cuvée, grown in the commune of Villars, from several plots. Slightly denser in colour than the Bourgogne from the Côte. A slightly plumper raspberry fruit here, still a drier patch from the wood which will assimilate, and fair length. Medium succulent, the highest alcohol of the Hautes Côtes cuvées. Drink from 2025-2028.
87-88 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 93
- 90
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Nuits Saint Georges Aux Thorey Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$840. 00Bottle$10080.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Other Reviews....
An ultra-fresh and equally spicy nose reflects mostly notes of various red berries with more earth influence. The lilting and elegant middleweight flavors possess a really lovely mouthfeel thanks to the dense but fine-grained tannins supporting the balanced and youthfully austere finale. Once again I would advise allowing at least 5 to 7 years of keeping first. Drink through 2032+.
90-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey is quite powerful, bursting with aromas of cherries, berries and plums mingled with peony and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and layered, with broad shoulders and a youthfully chewy finish.
90-92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 1er Cru is a worthy follow-up to Cathiard's over-achieving 2021. There’s fabulous delineation on the nose; this blossoms in the glass with vivacious red fruit laced with minerals - aromatics that positively sparkle. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins. It is full of tension with superb weight and depth on the graphite-tinged finish. This seriously fine Aux Thorey is destined for long-term aging. Drink 2026-23048.
93-95 points
Neal Martin - VinousA solid purple. A bright ripe plummy fruit comes up on the nose. There is clearly more weight here than the village wines, with the fruit hovering between red and black notes, equally distributed across the palate. Medium acidity, a balance between charm and precision. Sound and quite long. Drink from 2029-2035.
90-93 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 94
- 91
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanee Aux Reignots Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$1499. 00Bottle$17988.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Other Reviews....
A discreet application of wood sets off the cool aromas of mostly red berry fruit aromas that are cut with plenty of floral and spice wisps. The sleek, delicious and vibrant flavors are even finer while offering ample minerality, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, focused and balanced finish. This is terrific and altogether lovely and very Reignots. Drink through 2034+.
92-95 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots bursts with aromas of raspberries, sweet spices, vanilla pod and petals. Medium-bodied, supple and fine-boned, it's especially charming and immediate this year, with a more ethereal and less structural profile than the Murgers and Orveaux tasted, respectively, before and after.
91-93 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Vosne-Romanée Aux Reignots 1er Cru has another pure and sensual bouquet of mineral-laden red fruit, very focused with seamlessly integrated oak (50% new). The palate is luscious on the entry, velvety smooth with layers of black and blueberry fruit. Sweet and candied towards the finish, yet still very complex and alluring. Utterly seductive. Drink 2027-2050.
94-96 points
Neal Martin - VinousThe Reignots offers a brilliant perfume, a little redcurrant livening up the other red berries and cherries. Starts with this pure and precise fruit then builds very attractively on the palate. A little vanilla from the oak but the fruit is more than equal to the wood tannins. 60% new wood for this cuvée. Drink from 2030-2037.
93-96 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 94
- 92
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanee Les Suchots Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$1899. 00Bottle$22788.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Other Reviews....
A wonderfully spicy nose that could be from nowhere other than Vosne offers up notes of mostly red berries, exotic tea, sandalwood, clove and hoisin hints. There is impressive density to the rich and seductively textured yet powerful large-scaled flavors that are supported by firm tannins on the sappy, long and impeccably well-balanced finale. This is also terrific and completely different than the Reignots. Drink through 2034+.
92-95 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundAnother of the more large-scaled wines in the range is the 2022 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy effort redolent of baked plums, sweet red berries and orange zest mingled with petals, spices and creamy new oak. Built around powdery tannins, it concludes with a saline finish.
92-94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has a refined bouquet, eschewing the opulence of this vineyard for something more cerebral - a mixture of red and black fruit, violet and hints of loam. The palate is medium-bodied with a gorgeous, velvety entry. It has the depth of the En Orveaux, yet there is more body and precision on the finish. It fans out wonderfully on the aftertaste and lingers long in the mouth. Superb. Drink 2027-2048.
94-96 points
Neal Martin - VinousA clear ruby colour. The nose starts all in elegance, quite floral, fine and delicate, very few tannins, more a fine tensile strength through the middle, delicate raspberry notes, and very good length as the wine climbs up the other side of the Suchots valley. Drink from 2030-2037.
93-96 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 95
- 92
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne Romanee Aux Malconsorts Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$2420. 00Bottle$29040.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Other Reviews....
Once again the fruit is ultra-fresh with plenty of spice, floral and exotic elements adding to the appeal of the ripe, airy and layered nose. There is excellent size, weight and richness to the tautly muscular and mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors that conclude in a hugely long, balanced and built-to-age finale. This is a very serious, compact and tightly wound wine that is indisputably going to need an extended snooze in a cool cellar. Potentially brilliant. Drink through 2037+.
93-96 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThis site is often very reserved out of barrel, yet the 2022 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts was already quite open and expressive when I tasted it. Revealing aromas of plums, sweet berries, smoked duck and spices, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with a rich, textural core of fruit and a broad, expansive finish.
92-94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru is very complex on the nose, leaning more towards black fruit this time, with crushed limestone and hints of ash and forest floor. It seems to expand in the glass. The palate is more linear and stricter than the Suchots, yet more tension and spiciness come towards the bravura finish. The second winter will lend this more weight, and it should be a stunning Malconsorts for the future. Drink 2028-2055.
95-97 points
Neal Martin - VinousA fine bright ruby purple. As always, this cuvée has an extra density over and above the other fine Vosne premiers crus. Indeed, there is so much volume of fruit here, while never becoming over opulent. Welcome back to a first-class vintage of Malconsorts! The finish is exceptionally long, with a useful thread of fine boned acidity extending it further. The tannins are completely integrated. Stunning! So fine, such precision. Drink from 2030-2040.
96-98 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 96
- 93
2022 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Romanee Saint Vivant Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$5899. 00Bottle$70788.00 DozenClosure: CorkSylvain Cathiard built a fearsome reputation through the 1990's and early 2000's for producing some of the greatest wines of Burgundy. His ability to marry fragrant and perfectly ripe grapes with expertly chosen new oak set the standard at the time. While the wines were more approachable than his peers, they also had the requisite components to age and evolve gloriously for many years. Now under the stewardship of his son Sebastien, the wines have gained even more acclaim and are equally as well built for an envious evolution in the cellar.
Cathiard's plot of Romanee Saint Vivant is the smallest of the ten current owners with their 0.1673 ha of vines planted 1919. In a good year they are able to produce only three barrels of wine, however often it's much less meaning this is one of the rarest and most coveted wines of Burgundy.
Other Reviews....
A reticent if beautifully complex nose blends notes of various spice elements with those of floral, red currant, plum and a hint of exotic tea. The sleek, intense and wonderfully textured medium weight flavors possess outstanding drive and unusually good power on the firm, youthfully austere and quite serious finish that possesses stunningly good depth and persistence. This is exceptionally stylish and classy and a wine that should age accordingly. Drink through 2037+.
94-96 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, berries, smoked duck, spices and vanilla pod, followed by a full-bodied, ample and muscular palate, its broad and fleshy core of fruit framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, concluding with a saline finish. This is a powerful wine from Cathiard that will surely benefit from its second winter in barrel.
93-95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru comprises three barrels this year, two of them new from the Raymond cooperage. There is amazing transparency on the nose and stunning delineation, with riveting mineralité behind the red fruit. You could inhale this forever. The palate is medium-bodied, armed with a cashmere texture, filigree tannins and gorgeous black cherries mixed with white pepper and allspice towards the long finish. Very sensual and extraordinarily pure, this is a brilliant RSV. Drink 2028-2055.
96-98 points
Neal Martin - VinousA glowing fresh purple. The bouquet of the Romanée St-Vivant always takes more teasing out than the flamboyant Malconsorts. It is just in the intensity of the fruit in the mouth and the refinement of the finish. Less immediate than the Malconsorts, indeed with much more in reserve, but the quality of the finish shows that all will arrive in due course. Drink from 2032.
96-98 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 91
- Nick's Import
2008 Watt Whisky Glen Moray 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 54.6%Summer orchard fruits are often associated with Glen Moray's house style. Here they're overlaid by oloroso sherry for a delicious harmony of flavours. Muted apple and pear mingle with dried apricot and dried pineapple, laced with a splash of curacao; Bitter dark chocolate and warming alcohol rise through the aftertaste, delivering something pleasingly different from this distillery. 318 bottles were drawn from an oloroso hogshead, finished in an oloroso sherry cask for 14 months. 54.6% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The head of Whiskyfun’s Mathematics Department pointed out some discrepancy in the figures, but honestly, who cares? Colour: pale gold. Nose: oh yes, this is lovely—chestnuts and walnuts mixed with sunflower and peanut oil, followed by fresh apples and morning raisin rolls. Nothing to fault. With water: an entire truckload of fresh nuts. Mouth (neat): excellent, with a rich, pâtisserie-like fruitiness, then honeyed blood oranges with a dash of white pepper. A proper flavour carnage—and “carnage” is positive in English too, is it not? With water: now it’s all about the creams—vanilla cream, orange crème brûlée, crema catalana… Too bad “Andalusian cream” isn’t a thing unless we’re talking sherry, right? Finish: medium length, leaning towards soft pepper. A slight greenness in the aftertaste, balanced with buttery cream. Comments: superb. I hope the honourable bottlers won’t mind me saying so, but I can’t help wondering if this wouldn’t be the perfect whisky for flambéing prawns. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... Sherry, milk chocolate, orange sherbet and pineapple sweets.
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- 97
- 97
- 98
- 98
- 98
2021 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2025-2040)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinOne of Coonawarra’s benchmark Cabernets from an outstanding vintage.
Renown as one of Coonawarra’s benchmark Cabernets, Wynns John Riddoch is made from parcels of the estates best fruit and is only produced in exceptional vintages.
Outstanding colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring out of the glass are captivating aromas of blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry which are complimented by vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle earth, violet and traces of bay leaf. Rich and concentrated yet refined and structured, the medium to full bodied palate is redolent in fleshy red to black currant, liquorice and mulberry fruits. Lending further complexity are spicy vanillin cedar, earth, delicate tobacco and bay leaf accents. Fine grained, sturdily built tannin framework yet quite polished in it’s feel. Marrying finesse with power it finishes very long and eloquent with a deep core of fruit.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
16 months French oak hogsheads and barriques (31% new, the balance one to six years old) and 22 months in bottle prior to release. A cacophony of blackberries, Bing cherries and elderberries. Blackcurrant leaf, acaí and prune skin. Black coffee, vanilla pod, ash and charcoal. Acidity wisps about the palate like magic, a mesh of thread-like tannins pull and draw the focus. A hint of dark chocolate bitters; the wine finishes perky with echoing tunes of granite. It's just so centered and chic. Pure cabernet poise. Drink by 2038.
98 Points
Shanteh Wale – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe 2021 John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant wine. It is achingly intense yet is defined by its levity, which is not a common attribute in Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine expounds the virtues of the red gravel in which the fruit was grown, via its iodine and crushed shells, cassis and blood, sweet marrow and tobacco. It tastes so clearly of the place, which is a wonderful thing. The back palate swells with flavor, framed by the earth and the attuned oak. This is a tribute to the earth, an ode to it. Plentiful tannins bob along on the current of fruit. This will cellar interminably. It's up there in both quality and feel with the 2010, or so I think. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024-2051.
98 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateOne of the best vintages in Coonawarra for many years. Little wonder this release of the John Riddoch is one of the best since the initial release from the 1982 vintage. Aromas of violets and red berry with a slightly cherry glaze character adding further intrigue. The palate is medium weight and refined but with tremendous power and persistence. A combination of hogsheads and barriques has been used to deliver the perfect level of oak. One of the best of these I can recall. Drink 2024-2054.
98 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.comThis 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wynns John Riddoch is stylish and built for the long haul. It takes a couple of days to show its true colors. It radiates with blackcurrant, gravel and dried mint aromas, with a dusting of earth all wrapped up in a gentle blanket of French oak. Composed and super refined, the wine is underpinned by a line of seductive yet firm tannins with killer length and balance to finish. It is already very approachable but with serious staying power. Drink 2030-2045.
97 Points
Angus Hughson - Vinous -
- 89
- Nick's Import
Watt Whisky Ben & Sherry 6 Year Old Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 57.1%This curious blend of 50% Benrinnes and 50% Glasgow single malts has a dry, nutty sherry influence of a kind rarely encountered nowadays; Vaguely sulphury notes, like pencil eraser or matchbox are followed in a warm, grassy profile including traces of walnuts, ginger biscuits and sulphur. Tasted blind you might pick it as young Auchroisk. A somewhat old fashioned composition that nevertheless grows on you. 282 bottles from a butt. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Rich Sherry, dark cherries, soft black pepper, liquorice and marmalade.
Other reviews... This hippy whisky combines fifty percent Benrinnes and fifty percent Glasgow Dist. Let’s try to avoid overly frosty commentary. Colour: Nose: an unusual start, quite fermentary, with notes of cooked vegetables, courgettes, and even Brussels sprouts. Then comes saltpetre, soot, cherry stalks (in herbal tea), and roasted aubergines. It’s very polarising, as they say. With water: still those cooked vegetables, but now joined by honey and slightly "evolved" dried figs. Mouth (neat): more sherry-driven, but spicy and almost fizzy. Think chilli-infused Schweppes, kirsch straight off the still, pink grapefruits, and braised cabbage. With water: it settles down, revealing walnuts, baked apples, marmalade, tobacco, honey, and sweet peppers. Finish: similar, and it lingers for a good while, with a peppery aftertaste. Comments: don’t be fooled—my notes may seem odd, but this little UFO is rather charming, taking you on a journey from Brussels sprouts to meadow honey. Almost a thriller. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
















































