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Wildflower Signature Gin (700ml)Queensland, AUSTRALIA$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%A gin infused with subtle flavours from the distillery's own honey supply as their backyard bees visit local flowers. According to the producers, it gives the gin a deliciously sweet and floral aroma that sets it apart. Lifted, juniper and citrus forward aromas exhibit good freshness, following in a light to middle-weight palate; Lemon mousse, white pepper and lemon sorbet flavours continue through to a lemon honey and chamomile tea aftertaste. Soft textured, easy-drinking. 40% Alc./Vol.
Gold Medal in the Australian Gin Awards (2020, 2022) and the Melbourne Spirits Awards (2022).
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- Packaging may vary
Lallier Rose Champagne BrutChampagne, FRANCE$144. 99Bottle$1739.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkA blend of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. A buoyant fluffy white mousse slowly subsides to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that has a nibble stream of bubbles flowing through it. Refined minerally nose with subtle winter strawberry, cranberry, citrus and gun flint notes evident. Elegant winter strawberry and raspberry fruits are sculpted by chalk tinged crisp acidity with some blood orange and mineral elements lying underneath. Very dry and tense yet invigorating finish.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2018 Ryder Cabernet SauvignonClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $11.99$9. 99Bottle$119.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2023-2026)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRyder is the entry level label of Reillys wines, sourced from premium vineyards in the Watervale sub region of Clare Valley, these bold, fruit driven wines are renown for delivering terrific bang for your buck.
Matured in French oak for 18 months. Midnight black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant and dark cherry aromas are interwoven with vanillin cedar, tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Rich weighty ripe blackcurrant fruits drive the palate with vanillin cedar, spicy tobacco and dried herb elements lying underneath. A ripe sturdy tannin structure lends some firmness to an otherwise opulent mouth feel. Excellent concentration and depth with a long well endowed finish. Great bang for your buck here.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2020 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas RenaissanceCornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$265. 00Bottle$3180.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkAuguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
Other Reviews....
I tasted two components that will make up the bulk of the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, both still in foudre. From Patou and 15- to 20-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample featuring mentholated red plum notes, chewy tannins and mouthwatering acids (90 - 92). From Reynard and 30-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample that showed more cassis fruit, silky tannins and great freshness (93 - 95). They should make a lovely Cornas for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Drink 2023 - 2035.
91-94 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 21, 2022)Dark violet. Offers dark berry preserves, fruitcake, smoky minerals, olive and pungent flower notes on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with sappy black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors; black pepper and mineral accents add lift and back-end cut. Quite deep but energetic as well, finishing on a building tannic note and with impressive, dark fruit-dominated persistence.
95-96 points
Josh Raynolds - VinousA delicate nose of forest berries, dark cherries, blackcurrants, undergrowth, stones and baking spices. Medium body yet so ample and intense. Great concentration at the center, expanding all along. It’s well-balanced and harmonious with finely grained tannins, a pure and juicy core of berries, and crisp acidity. Expansive and long finish. Best after 2025.
96 points
JamesSuckling.comI loved the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, a ripe, fleshy, supple, and already undeniably delicious Cornas. Darker berries, plums, garrigue, and peppery game notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with lots of fruit and texture. It should evolve nicely for 10-12 years or more, and there's no harm in opening bottles now either. Drink 2022 - 2035.
93 points
Jeb Dunnuck -
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2020 Domaine Auguste Clape CornasCornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$350. 00Bottle$4200.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkAuguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
Other Reviews....
I tasted four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific. Drink 2026 - 2045.
95-97 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 21, 2022)Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.
97-98 points
Josh Raynolds - VinousA fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026.
97 points
JamesSuckling.comThe flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades. Drink 2026 - 2046.
97 points
Jeb DunnuckA vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres. Drink 2026 - 2039.
97 points
Matt Walls - Decanter -
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2019 J.L. Chave Selection Hermitage FarconnetHermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$185. 00Bottle$2220.00 DozenABV: 15%Closure: CorkDomaine Jean-Louis Chave represents one of the longest examples of vinous lineage in the world, with the family making wines in the area since 1481. Now under the guidance of Gerard Chave and his son Jean-Louis, the pair draws on five centuries of expertise to craft each of their wines. While known for the enviable collection of prime plots on the hill of Hermitage, their other main skill is in precise blending each year to best express the region and vintage. The backbone of their red Hermitage is sourced from the steep, granite slope of the Les Bessards cru, and is essential for making the finest red each year. Likewise, the base for Chave’s heroic Hermitage Blanc is the plot of century-old Marsanne vines in their Péléat monopole, which provides rich and intense fruit without heaviness.
J.L. Chave Selection is the exclusive negociant label of Jean-Louis Chave, and represents a more accessible way to experience the wines of the Chave family. Mon Coeur Cotes-du-Rhone is a blend of excellent plots in Vinsobres, Visan, Buisson, and Estargues, while Silene Crozes-Hermitage is 50% estate Syrah and 50% purchased, and the white Crozes-Hermitage Sybele a blend of 60% Marsanne and 40% Roussane. As with all things Chave, quality is paramount even at the entry level.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Hermitage Farconnet comes from a mix of Péléat, Les Doignières, and Les Greffieux, and it was raised in used barrels. It has a classic Northern Rhône bouquet of ripe red and blackberry fruit as well as saddle leather, forest floor, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Needing a short decant, it's medium to full-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, those classic Hermitage ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's already drinking nicely yet has a solid 10-12 years of longevity ahead of it. Drink 2023 - 2035.
92 points
Jeb Dunnuck -
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2021 Domaine Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$730. 00Bottle$8760.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Here too moderate wood frames the pretty essence of red cherries, earth, crushed fennel and clove. Much like the Clos St. Jacques, there is unusually good richness to the vibrant medium-bodied and sappy flavors that exude a bracing minerality on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. This is lovely though it presently lacks top flight depth so I would strongly advise allowing this at least some bottle aging to address that need. Drink through 2033+.
90-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2021 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) is one of the highlights of the range this year. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, raspberries, pomegranate, spices, rose petals and orange zest, it's full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, with a layered, complete profile. It derives from a parcel planted in 1920–1921, where most of the old vines remain intact.
93-95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 01, 2023)The 2021 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru has a largely perfumed bouquet with black plum, raspberry and earthy notes, though I am seeking just a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. A bit of wood needs to be eaten up. It has fine depth, though it does not possess the complexity of the 2020 on the finish. However, it should still give 15-odd years of pleasure. Drink 2025 - 2040.
90-92 points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
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2017 Domaine Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les PoyeuxSaumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$599. 00Bottle$7188.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2017 Les Poyeux is a silken, elegant wine that's just starting to turn away from its primary fruits and develop some mellow tertiary characters. Very smooth in texture, an abundance of fine, powdery tannins coats the mouth. The 2017 is long, fragrant and sophisticated, with black fruit, woody herbs, Christmas spices and the merest whiff of nectarine, which I commonly find in Les Poyeux, year in, year out. Excellent. Drink 2026-2045.
96 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousThe nose is more restrained than Le Clos 2017 or Les Poyeux 2018. There's a small touch of minerality in the background, and a mineral edge to the finish. Very tight on the palate, all the purity of the cuvée is hiding behind the structure; the fruits will shine through in time. This really needs time but should soften to great elegance over some years. Drink 2032-2047.
92 points
Benjamin Lewin MW - Decanter -
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- Organic
2021 Wittmann Aulerde Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$145. 00Bottle$1740.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2021 Aulerde Riesling GG offers a deep, spicy, refined and very elegant bouquet with ripe fruit and finely flinty as well as phenolic nuances. Lush and savory on the palate, this is a very elegant and harmonious Aulerde with fine acidity and stimulating salinity and lots of refreshing grip on the pure and crisp finish. This is a classic in the making that needs another three to five years in the bottle, but it can also be enjoyed today. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in August 2022. Drink 2025 - 2040.
93+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Dec 31, 2022)The 2021 vintage has given the bold and generous character of this site a cool herbal element. Next to the ripe mirabelle and melon fruit are notes of licorice and sandalwood. The grapefruit acidity lifts the rather full body very nicely. Quite a firm finish with plenty of fine tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Vegan. Drink or hold.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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- Nicks Import
2018 Promontory Proprietary RedNapa Valley, California, UNITED STATES$2299. 00Bottle$27588.00 DozenClosure: CorkFrom the Harlan family, one of the most respected names in Napa, Promontory represents a singular vision: to express a completely distinct, previously undeveloped territory on the western edge of Oakville. Discovered in the 1980s but only launched as its own estate in 2008, the vineyard sits on dramatic terrain, far removed from the valley floor and carved by geologic fault lines. The site’s complexity, elevation, and isolation set it apart from anything else in the region, and the team behind Harlan Estate and Bond have spent years unlocking its potential with patient, detail-oriented farming and restrained winemaking. This is not just another Napa label, it’s a project that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible from the region.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Promontory was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a vibrant black fruit core of ripe plums, boysenberries and black currants with hints of crushed rocks, bay leaves, lavender, olives and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features firm, exquisitely fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, beautifully framing the intense, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and minerally.
97-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2018 Promontory is another riveting wine from the Harlan family and winemaker David Cilli. It has been nothing short of spectacular in two recent tastings. "What is a 100-point wine?" I am often asked. Well, it is a wine that is complete, where nothing sticks out, and where all the elements are in perfect balance. The 2018 Promontory is a great example. A wine of stature and breadth, the 2018 covers every corner of the palate. Beguiling aromatics and precise, sculpted tannins - so hard to achieve in a mountain wine - round things off in style. Dark fruit, gravel, spice, licorice and leather add subtle layers of nuance. Today, the 2018 comes across as a more refined version of the 2016. It is a magnificent wine in every way. Drink 2028-2043.
100 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousViolets and blueberries with cloves and pine cones, following through to a medium to full body with tight, seamless tannins, like finely cut diamonds. It’s very closed and reserved at the end. Weightless. Needs plenty of time to open. Unique wine. Better after 2027.
100 points
James SucklingThe 2018 Promontory shows the fresh, elegant, yet still structured style of the vintage nicely. The vibrant cassis and blueberry fruits that define the nose give way to more lead pencil, scorched earth, graphite, and tobacco with air. Very Bordeaux-like aromatically and texturally, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate and has beautiful purity of fruit, substantial yet ripe and polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It's going to gain depth and richness with 5-7 years of bottle age and should be very long-lived given its freshness, purity, and balance. It's another brilliant wine from this team. Drink after 2026.
98+ points
Jeb DunnuckGorgeous blackcurrant bramble fruit tones on the nose. A hint of plum, juniper, allspice, cinnamon, pepper and violets. Stylish and compelling, a real sense of purity from the first mouthful. So carefully controlled and delivered. Tannins are ample but finely textured and well integrated - this really stands out in the tasting and is a step-up in terms of nuance, complexity and character. Tannins coat the mouth in a powdery chalky minerality while the subtle density and quiet muscular power gives the base and focus. Nothing stands out, you know you're in California which is excellent, but it's not overt or too much. Tastes sophisticated, stylish and overall expensive! A thrilling wine that really shines and is all the more likeable because it's not showing off or shouting too loudly. Liquorice and tar end the wine on a savoury note, suggesting long cellaring and long ageing potential. I love it. A class above. Director Will Harlan, winemaker David Cilli. Drink 2026-2042.
100 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter -
- Packaging may vary
White Possum Naked Kina Liqueur (500ml)AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 20%Naked Kina is a take on a quinquina, a bittersweet wine based liqueur designed to be served chilled as an aperitif or mixed in a number of classic cocktails. This refreshing drink starts its life as a small batch Sauvignon Blanc, which is then fortified with a combination of sugar cane spirit and distilled wine. It's then infused with fresh local orange peels, cinnamon myrtle, strawberry gum and a handful of earthy herbs. The remaining orange hearts are given away to a local cafe manager who presses them into fresh orange juice. Zero filtration takes place before bottling, so you may notice some sediment in the bottle. Once opened, keep it in the fridge to maintain optimal freshness. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Vegan friendly and Gluten free. 20% Alc./Vol.
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2021 Palliser Estate Hua Nui Vineyard Pinot NoirMartinborough, NEW ZEALAND$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinMatured for 10 months in French oak barrels with 49% whole bunch inclusion. Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Potent aromatics of dark cherries, violets, dark plums and anise engulf the nostrils with some toasty cedar, earth and spicy dried herb notes also evident. Rich and fleshy textured the palate is flooded with dark to black cherry, dark plum and anise flavours. Spicy cedar, scorched earth and dried herb elements lurk beneath. Excellent power wave and velvety tannins. Concludes long, supple and impressively deep.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
After cool, damp weather at flowering, the 2021 vintage in Martinborough was never going to be a bountiful one, but the second half of the season was regarded by many growers as near perfect and the quality of what was finally harvested in this North Island Pinot-Noir hotspot was enviable. Deep scarlet in colour, the aromas of this forthright, vital Pinot evoke both raspberries and plums. On the palate, too, the wine is energetic and exuberant; its structure derives from that force of fruit, darkened by oak and lifted by ripe, fruit-dense acidity rather than tannins. The overall mouthfeel, thus, is smooth rather than grippy, despite this impressive depth of fruit. This is assured Pinot Noir from one of the southern hemisphere’s reference zones.
97 Points
Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 -
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Blind Tiger Organic Mandarin Gin (700ml)Renmark, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 42.7%Organically grown “Dancy” and “Imperial” mandarins from the Riverland are the keynote in the latest addition to the Blind Tiger range. Getting the formula just right involved a balancing act. Fruit was peeled and kept in varietal batches. One third was soaked fresh overnight in organic spirit then distilled as a separate run. The remaining peel was air dried above the pot stills and then distilled in small batches. The drier Imperial mandarin distillates were blended together, as were the two Dancy distillates creating two different styles of mandarin concentrates. Selected amounts of both were then blended together with the six botanicals that make up Blind Tiger's London Dry. The resulting gin has a bouquet redolent of mandarin pith and peel, leaning into sharper piney juniper notes after air contact. That's repeated in a wonderfully creamy, round, mouth-filling delivery where the citrus oils take centre stage; Tangy peel and pepper add the perfect amount of zest and zing to the finish. Because the juniper is almost completely phased out, it's more like a curaçao than a gin. A novelty for afficionados, more of a treat for fans of citrus liqueurs. Serve neat over ice, with soda or tonic with a twist of orange peel or mandarin. 42.7% Alc./Vol.
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St. Agnes Bartender's Cut Brandy (700ml)South Australia, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 44%St. Agnes' Bartender's Cut is a remarkable mouthful, and for the money, almost unbeatable in its segment. Developed by bartenders for bartenders, the base is a fruity five year old blended with x-wine, Tawny and Sherry cask matured spirit plus a good lick of XO brandy for richness, depth and length. That brings the average age to eight years old. Delivering many of the pleasures found in sherried single malts, it boasts powerful notes of fruit cake, spiced raisins, praline and brandy cream sauce in a caramel setting, backed up by a vivacious, cinnamon-laced finish that raises the bar. Double pot distilled from Colombard, Chardonnay and Doradillo grapes and bottled at a robust 44% (up from 37% in the brand's standard issue), mix it and the flavours remain vivid and undiminished. The sub $100 brandy category rarely gets better than this. Batch #5 tasted. 6000 bottles produced.
On the making of Bartender's Cut, Richard Angove from the St Agnes distillery comments: "It was just amazing to collaborate with 10 amazing bartenders on the project. We landed on a flavour profile which is intense and deep, rich, robust and perfect for mixing in cocktails. The support for the project from the trade has been amazing. In particular Seb Costello from Bad Frankie was an inspiration in leading the team in developing the flavour but also in advising on the final packaging – a true legend and champion of the Australian spirit Industry and great supporter of St Agnes. Our team really are looking forward to reigniting the early success we were having."
Other reviews... A blend of various brandies with an average age of 8 years, Bartender's Cut, as the name implies, was developed specifically for cocktail use in consultation with some of Australia's top bartenders. And what do bartenders want? More booze, for one, to stand up to dilution in cocktails, more modern branding to match the sleek aesthetic of Australia’s classy drinking dens, and plenty of fruit character without aggressive sweetness. St Agnes has delivered a wonderfully rich and powerful brandy that’s become a staple of Aussie cocktail lists. There’s perfume, dried fruit and oak in excellent balance here, and a sweeter, denser palate than the VS or VSOP, but still a nice dry finish. For serious brandy drinkers, this would be the first St Agnes to reach for, as pleasant to sip on as it is to work with behind the bar. 90 points - Fred Siggins, James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
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2020 Yangarra Ironheart ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2023-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinCertified organic and biodynamic with 20% whole bunch inclusion. Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated aromas of red to dark plum and red liquorice infused with dried clove meet up with some smoky cedar, dried meat and blackpepper notes. Boasting superb refinement and polish, a cascading mix of red plum, red liquorice and blueberry fruits roll across the medium to full bodied palate. Smoky vanillin cedar, dried clove, scorched earth and peppered meat characters lend further complexity to the back half. Beautifully integrated velvet smooth tannins with a long powerful yet highly finessed finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
Hand picked and fermented in open-tops replete with 30% whole berries, albeit, no bunches; 21 days on skins. Blackcurrant, raspberry, mint, anise and lilac. No aggressive punch downs or pump overs. This is a refined wine boasting a meander of sinewy tannins, like a songline across the palate. It doesn't play any cards not dealt, the inherent freshness derived from organic principles and impeccable fruit quality, glimpsing a southern Rhône-style, despite the variety. Drink by 2032.
95 Points
Ned Goodwin – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis is an open and focused red with blackberry, cloves and dried flowers. Pencil shavings, too. Some black cherry. Medium to full body, firm and balanced, fresh and bright. Peppery. Flavorful and savory. Open for this wine already. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2022 Grace Kayagatake KoshuYamanashi, JAPAN$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinGrace Wine is one of Japan’s leading producers of Koshu, a delicate, dry white wine variety native to the Yamanashi region. Low in alcohol and softly aromatic, Koshu offers a clean, mineral profile that makes it an excellent alternative to other crisp whites like Albarino, Chablis, or dry Riesling.
Brilliant water like colour with a very faint tinge of green around the outskirts. Drifting from the glass are pear and red apple scents followed by hints of honeysuckle, fresh herb and subtle flinty mineral notes. Light and crisp yet nicely rounded on the mid palate, it features delicate pear, lime and green apple fruits over a zingy flint and mineral infused back drop that gives it an electric stony feel. Finishes dry, edgy and crunchy.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 11.5%Other Reviews….
Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks with no lees contact, the 2022 is ripe, richly perfumed with fresh green apple, white peach, Nashi pear and grapefruit aromas. There's vibrant acidity and concentrated fruits on the palate, pleasant and long. Drinking well now, though may evolve for another five years in the bottle. Drink 2023-2028.
97 Points
DecanterCrisp, gently peppery and herbal wine with a green pear and lemon water flavour. Light in body, delicate, fine dusty and peppery feel to texture, tangy citrus crunch to acidity, subtle gingery character, with a tight and dry finish of very good length. So refreshing and pleasing to drink. Barely there in a way, yet so present. Drink 2023-2026+.
93 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front -
- 91
- Organic
2021 Chionetti San Luigi - Last StocksPiedmont, ITALY$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA 100% Dolcetto farmed organically. Deep dark purple black colour with a youthful looking purple red hue. Attractive freshly crushed dark cherry, violet and red liquorice scents greet the nose with some earthy incense and fresh herb notes also chiming in. Fresh juicy cherry and red liquorice fruits sit over an inky back drop of earth, infusions of incense and fresh herbs. Dry, slightly chalky finish with vibrant acidity and a tightly knit tannin framework. Concludes youthfully fresh, elegant and inky.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2020 Yangarra High Sands GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$280. 00Bottle$3360.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2023-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinDeep dark red core with black shaded edges and a dark red hue. Intense red to dark raspberry, black cherry and red liquorice aromas infused with crushed rock sail out of the glass trailed by subtle dried herb and peppered earth notes. Refined and polished the mid weighted palate is layered with rich red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits. Energetic acidity with infusions of crushed rocks and peppered herbs lying underneath. Well integrated yet muscular tannin structure with a long powerful yet elegant finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From the 1.7ha Block 31, the highest section of the 1946 bush vines. 50% whole berries, wild yeast open-fermented; matured in a foudre and ceramic eggs for 11 months. Truly great wines add something new on each taste; here, there's an ethereal, otherworldly purity to the lingering finish and aftertaste. Drink to 2050.
99 Points
James Halliday – The Weekend AustralianThis has such precision with aromas of blackberries, cloves, raspberries, black tea, rooibos, dried rosemary and iron shavings. Dark and mineral with a medium body and a firm, very fine and tight tannin frame. Fantastic tension and freshness. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better from 2024. Screw cap.
97 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 95
2022 Joshua Cooper Greytown Old Vines Syrah Cabernet SauvignonHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkDescribed by wine commentator Mike Bennie as "one of Australia’s brightest young winemakers”, Joshua Cooper is steadily forging a reputation for thoughtful, elegant, and confident wines from grapes grown in Macedon and surrounds. The Greytown Vineyard, situated in the northeastern corner of what is now the Heathcote region, was established in the 1950s by European immigrants. Notably, the planting was done in a traditional manner without irrigation, featuring a field blend of Syrah vines intermingled with an unspecified amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The objective is to harvest the entire site together, capturing a more nuanced representation of the location and the growing season. These vines are some of the oldest in the region and have thrived in the rich alluvial soils. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of one-year-old Stockinger 600L barrels (30%), Spanish stoneware jars and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulphur. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews....
At first, some green notes rise – a touch of spearmint and eucalyptus with a lime-oil oak flavour but with a decent airing, they fade into the background while the gorgeous dark fruit comes to the fore. Plus, some pepper and Chinese five-spice with a touch of lavender; lots in this and it constantly changes in the glass. It builds and expands with more savoury inflections. Fuller bodied with textural, slightly gritty tannins and it does finish on a high. Drink 2024 - 2034.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe idea of co-planting and field blend proper so lost in the nuances of current vineyard ideology. Wonderful to see it available to us here.
This is a ripping drink and feels fine and fancy to boot. It has this really beautiful sweet fruit core, red and black berries, a touch of pastille and choc-mint in the mix, mahogany whiffs, liquorice, white pepper, green olive also playing cards. The wine is broad-shouldered but tempered with spice and graphite-laced and lengthy tannins. It’s got density and yet freshness on hand. It draws long and to a fine, succulent point with audible chews on that tannin following. Impressive. Drink 2023 - 2040.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
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- 92
- 95
2022 Joshua Cooper Redbank Vineyard 1970's Vines Cabernet SauvignonPyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkDescribed by wine commentator Mike Bennie as "one of Australia’s brightest young winemakers”, Joshua Cooper is steadily forging a reputation for thoughtful, elegant, and confident wines from grapes grown in Macedon and surrounds. The Redbank Vineyard, overseen by its founder Neill Robb, has been cultivated without irrigation since its establishment. The vine roots have extended deep into the hillside soil, primarily consisting of shale and mudstone. This soil also features an iron-rich top layer of reddish-brown loam, which is crucial for retaining water. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of new Stockinger 300L barrels (30%), Spanish stoneware jars and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulfur. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews....
The wine world is a far more interesting, intriguing and diverse place with Josh Cooper in it plying his trade. Here, he sources fruit of a well-known vineyard planted in the '70s by Neill Robb, who still tends it. Skilfully, Josh teases the dark fruit into a savoury, complex wine that’s utterly delicious. Mid-weighted, fine tannins and lots of them, rolling smoothly across the palate. A striking wine. Drink 2024 - 2038.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionWhat a coup that cabernet enthusiast and cheerleader Josh Cooper gets fruit from this vaunted and celebrated Pyrenees vineyard! Proprietor Neill Robb still farms the 1970s planted vines.
Dark chocolate, dark plum, dark cherry, dark plum, you get the gist… It’s a vortex of potent and powerful cabernet flecked with mint, eucalyptus, cedar, clove, rich and smooth, though ribbons of fine, firm tannin, slightly bitter, do a wonderful job of tensing the wine up and guiding the lengthy persistence of these flavours. Fantastic wine, I hound the glass seeking the characters and textures on hand – an orchestral wine of high drinkability and prized age worthiness. Mega attractive. Drink 2023 - 2040+.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine FrontThe 2022 Redbank Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon continues the theme of dark, spicy, rocky, mineral-shaped Cabernets from the 2022 release, and this takes the full length of the palate for all the flavors and textures to be fully revealed. There is crushed rocks and loose-leaf black tea, dried blackberries, black peppercorns and salted licorice. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. Drink 2024 - 2037.
92 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
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2022 Joshua Cooper Balgownie Vineyard 1970 Block Cabernet SauvignonBendigo, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkDescribed by wine commentator Mike Bennie as "one of Australia’s brightest young winemakers”, Joshua Cooper is steadily forging a reputation for thoughtful, elegant, and confident wines from grapes grown in Macedon and surrounds. Established in 1969, at an elevation of 200 meters near the banks of Myers Creek in Maiden Gully, the vineyard thrives on Ordovician shale, quartz, and ironstone rubble soils. This Cabernet Sauvignon originates from vines planted in 1970, making it one of the first plantings at the historic Balgownie Vineyard. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of new Stockinger 300L barrels (30%) and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulfur. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews....
This beautiful wine transports me back to the days when my (late) Dad and I would share a bottle of cabernet. It smells of nostalgia yet of a promise of things to come, as it’s a modern rendition and in the hands of young Josh Cooper ... well this is something else. While there’s a waft of florals and dark fruit, this is savoury in outlook. It has some cooling menthol and Aussie bush fragrance, ironstone and warm earth, but key is the fuller-bodied palate with such poised, detailed tannins, fine acidity and superb length. It’s complete. Josh says it ‘displays my most prized characteristics – effortless complexity and power without weight’. Sums up the wine perfectly. Drink 2024 - 2040.
97 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionVery cool that Balgownie, already excellent, gets a go from Josh Cooper here. And go he does.
A significant cabernet for Australian wine, again. Elegant, refined, silky as with an authority of silty tannin that stretches long into the distance. Blue fruits here, violets and lavender, green olive, tobacco, faint eucalyptus, rosemary and sweet spices. It sits at medium weight, poised, everything seamless and in its place and delivers a rush from the perfume, evocative, serious all over. The wine is delicious and refreshing while being backed with fruit, tannin, cool acid profile, mineral charm, herbal elements, savoury qualities. Fine, fine wine. Watch it go. Drink 2023 - 2045+
96+ Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine FrontThe 2022 Balgownie Vineyard 1970 Block Cabernet Sauvignon is all about black pepper, blackberry and bramble on the nose. It is brooding without being heavy or sticky and shows a capacity for black tea minerality though the finish. A super wine as usual, this release is a little more loose weave than the ultra tight 2021, but it's true to the austerity presented last year. Hurrah. For the uninitiated to Bendigo in Victoria, it's a beautifully preserved relic of the profligate Gold Rush era of the 1850s and is an incredibly picturesque town to visit. 13% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. Drink 2024 - 2035.
92 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 95
- 95
- Organic
2022 Joshua Cooper Shays Flat Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonPyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkDescribed by wine commentator Mike Bennie as "one of Australia’s brightest young winemakers”, Joshua Cooper is steadily forging a reputation for thoughtful, elegant, and confident wines from grapes grown in Macedon and surrounds. Shay's Flat Vineyard, in the heart of the Pyrenees, sits on a beautiful elevated ridge, surrounded by wheat fields and native bushland. The vineyard has mature vines (over 20 years old) that grow in soil rich in minerals like shale, quartz, and mudstone, producing powerful, yet detailed fruit. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of new Stockinger 300L barrels (30%) and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulfur. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews....
One of the delights of good cabernet is its perfume – the cassis, the blackberries and leafy freshness. This has all that but with savouriness throughout. Some cured meats, salty licorice, stony with a whiff of eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, with lovely tannins leaving a drying imprint on the finish. Drink 2024 - 2038.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion“I have a distinct soft spot for the Cabernet wines produced in the 70s and 80s by the pioneering wineries of Central and Western Victoria, many of which seem ageless even now”, says Josh Cooper, and don’t we know it! The top flight cabernet producers of Australia now have Josh tailgating, and then some. Pyrenees site, organic farmed.
This is athletic and poised, a wine of tannin-driven tension and freshness, corkscrews of fine, puckering chew in a weave. It’s exceptional in its length and persistence but shows impressive depth of fruit character too – blackberries, black olive, beautifully struck eucalyptus, black pepper, cola and charred spice. It’s aromatic and flavoursome, but the wine seems way more about its architecture and precision, with a strong sense of longevity for the wine in tow. It’s a treat to drink now, regardless. Drink 2023 - 2040+
95 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
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2022 Joshua Cooper Flynn & Cooper Williams Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonMacedon Ranges, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkThe Williams Vineyard, established in the 1970s near Kyneton, is historically significant in the Macedon Ranges region. Laurie Williams originally planted it, and later, it was managed by Alec Epis. Over the years, the vineyard has produced high-quality, age-worthy wines under various labels, including Flynn and Williams and Epis and Williams. This wine is a collaboration between Joshua Cooper and Tim Flynn, whose father was the winemaker for the original Flynn and Williams wines. This vintage is likely to be the final one from this important site. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of one-year-old Stockinger 300L barrels and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulphur. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews...
The Williams vineyard in Kyneton was planted in the ‘70s by the late Laurie Williams, famed as the fruit went into the Flynn and Williams label. This is a new wine, a collaboration with friend Tim Flynn, whose father crafted the Flynn and Williams wines. Well, this is magnificent. Savoury and spicy with fruit accents of cassis, currants and pomegranate. So savoury, with some Pontefract licorice, Vegemite, new leather, the fragrance of old bricks warmed by the afternoon sun, cleansing acidity, with beautiful tannins that roll across the medium-bodied palate. Stopped me in my tracks, so I just had to drink a glass. Drink 2024 - 2038.
96 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionWell, this is something else. And something that a few of the older gen have been raising an eyebrow over, knowing the vineyard, the older wines, the legacy. Meanwhile Josh Cooper forges ahead with his cabernet/Claret agenda with an eye on medium weight reds of that vin de garde style. While Josh drinks an obnoxious amount of cabernet, and foists it onto all and sundry, he’s making a pretty good point about fine wines of this ilk and turning a freight train around on ideas around avant garde winemaking and what it encompasses – I love this.
It’s magnificent. It delivers on the promise. It feels like whimsy met deliciousness in a dark alley and made a pact. Sleek, silky, so fine and lacy, dark fruited, midnight but with that shimmer of moonlight. Poetry in a glass, the ultimate wine wankers dog whistle and yet here we have a wine of immense and broad appeal for those seeking vitality, fine tannin, freshness, drinkability. Dark cherries, violet floral lift, rhubarb, sweet earthiness, alpine herbs, faint mahogany and new leather, anise in scents and flavours. So very compact but feathery, succulent to the max and a swish of the finest, dried herb-laced, silty tannin. It’s impossibly good, impossibly delicious. And, I bet, will last a generation. Sheesh. Drink 2023 - 2040+
96+ Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine FrontThe 2022 Flynn and Cooper Williams Vineyard Cabernet Merlot leads with a most attractive nose of cassis and bramble, granite and ozone, licorice and iodine. In the mouth, the tannins and the fruit interact as one, making for a truly pleasurable drinking experience—one that is tactile and chewy, lithe and fresh. I'm into this wine in a big way. 13% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. Drink 2024 - 2042.
95 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
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2022 Joshua Cooper Dash Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonBendigo, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkDescribed by wine commentator Mike Bennie as "one of Australia’s brightest young winemakers”, Joshua Cooper is steadily forging a reputation for thoughtful, elegant, and confident wines from grapes grown in Macedon and surrounds. Established in 1999, Dash Farms is nestled at an elevation of 450 meters, positioned on the southern slopes of Mt Alexander (Leanganook), just outside of the Macedon Ranges. The mountainside nature of Dash Farm provides incredible freshness to the wine. After three weeks of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of new Stockinger 300L barrels (30%) and seasoned thin-staved Bordeaux barrels for 12 months of maturation. The wine is then racked to stainless steel tanks for four more months of settling, before bottling without any additives except a small amount of sulphur. This medium-weight cuvée is notably intense and embodies the classic "Claret" style. It's filled with dark berry fruit and is complemented by finely textured gravelly tannins. While already quite enjoyable, this wine will become even more complex and rewarding with some moderate aging. Decanting well is recommended when drinking in its youth.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery of the Year
Other Reviews....
A cool rendition, by no means green or unripe, matched to a fineness within. The just-medium-bodied palate comes with a savoury perspective even if there are blackcurrants, cassis and tomato leaf nuances. Tapenade, woodsy spices and freshly rolled tobacco in the mix, with slightly raspy tannins and bright acidity, both of which will help with ageing and ensure this mellows out in time. Drink 2025 - 2034.
92 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe 2022 Dash Farms Cabernet Sauvignon is possessed of such a pretty nose! It has aromas of spring flowers and cassis, eucalypt and hot earth, crushed rocks and bramble. In the mouth, the wine does not disappoint, with claret-weight, dried-herb fruit and a long spooling finish. It's dry and it's lean, in its way; "composed" could be another/better word for that, and I like the restraint. It doesn't give it all away on the first palate but holds back for the long finish. Cool. Drink 2024 - 2042.
93 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateJust outside the Macedon Ranges wine region border, a cool site nonetheless and an attractive proposition to bolster Josh Cooper’s cabernet suite.
It’s a wine not quite in its groove but the DNA of fine wine is in here. Concentrated mulberry, black olive, black plum, hazelnut, piquant dill and white pepper meshed together in the bouquet and palate. There’s good depth of flavour and requisite, finer grain tannin profile, a sluice of blood orange acidity keeping things perky, but the feel isn’t quite as seamless as the higher grade cabernet releases of Josh Cooper. That being said, you can see that the folding in of everything will be nigh, and the wine will mellow into its savoury and dark fruited elements well. Drink 2026 - 2035+
93+ Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
- Reduced
The Macallan Double Cask 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Annual 2022 ReleaseSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $8,999.00$6999. 00Bottle$83988.00 DozenABV: 43%The highpoint in Macallan's Double Cask series is matured for 30 years in sherry seasoned American and European oak casks. It is a release that showcases the distillery's unwavering commitment to barrel selection as oak influence is considered the single greatest contributor to the quality, natural colour and distinctive aroma and flavour of their malt. Expect decadent notes of honeycomb, sweet toffee, red apple, fig and vanilla pod and a smooth melody of cinnamon, ginger, Madagascan vanilla, dried fruits and oak on the palate. 43% Alc./Vol.
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- Packaging may vary
Pascal Agrapart Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$575. 00Bottle$6900.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkUnlike most so-called prestige cuvées, Terroirs is produced from only great sites and is 100% Grand Cru. The fruit comes from four villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Oiry. The vines average 40 years of age, and Agrapart uses between 50-60% reserve wine. After a natural fermentation, half of the wine is matured in large format, neutral oak and then spends up to 48 months on lees. Dosage is limited to 5g/l and disgorgement is carried out by hand.
A plentiful mousse sits comfortably over a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edges and is finely threaded by a delicate bead that shows great persistence as it rises to the surface. The nose exemplifies a classic Champagne sniff featuring rich, toasty notes of oily baked bread, yeast lees, honeyed cashew, roast almonds and hints of citrus. Remarkably fresh and possessing an elegant creaminess, mouthfilling toasty baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours show great richness over a back drop of light oily characters, traces of honeyed cashew and roasted almonds. Dry crisp finish with a long oily toast, baked bread, yeast lees, citrus and roasted almond aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12% -
- Nicks Import
2010 Claxton's Warehouse No.8 Tormore 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 62.4%Predominantly used in blends like Ballantines, Tormore has an easy-going feel that doesn't carry a lot of weight. For added interest, Claxton's have matured theirs in a refill oloroso sherry octave before bottling at a potent 62.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered. 66 bottles only.
Notes from the bottlers... NOSE: Brandy butter. Dry Sherry notes. Christmas pudding. PALATE: Sweet and dry. Bittersweet oak with rich spice and herbs. FINISH: Powerful finish with oak and sherry notes dominating. Long spicy aftertaste.
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- Nicks Import
2012 Claxton's Warehouse No.8 Balblair 9 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 56.1%Some have dubbed Balblair as "The fruitiest Highlander of them all", but will the oak and sherry be too much for the spirit’s fresh fruitiness in this example? With just 65 bottles available only a few will ever find out. Oloroso sherry octave matured. 56.1% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... NOSE: Rich oak and cream Sherry notes. Tannins. Stewed fruits. PALATE: Sweet and Sherried at first. Again big tannin hit. Bittersweet oak. FINISH: Bittersweet oak and Sherry notes. Lots of oak in the aftertaste.
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- Nicks Import
2012 Claxton's Warehouse No.8 Auchroisk 9 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 58.3%Another quite young whisky from a little-known distillery that indies often bottle. Sometimes it's worth it when the distillate is characterful, and sometimes it's not. Coming from Claxton's and matured in an oloroso sherry octave, this should err towards the former. One thing that's certain is its rarity. Just 59 bottles are available! 58.3% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
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Old Louisville Whiskey Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 2 (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$319. 00Bottle$3828.00 DozenABV: 48%A straight Bourbon, aged 7-10 years and bottled at barrel proof – uncut, unfiltered. Prickly opening sniffs reveal dried corn over light vanilla and caramel; wavers and narrows, accenting oak shavings before bouncing back. Lots of oak to the attack; Fruit cake, dried peach, sweeter grains and vanillas struggle to gain ground over the wood spices which clinch the finish. Ends mildly astringent, fading with bitter dark chocolate and moderate persistence. 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. 1622 bottles produced. 48% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey (750ml)UNITED STATES$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 45%Made from 95% rye / 5% malted barley and aged for over four years in new charred oak. A soft, fruity rye, reminiscent of Sazerac in its subtly peach-apple aromatics and soft rounded mouthfeel. On the palate, dried apricots combine with a slathering of sweet spices; light oils add succulence and length to the finish, leaving you with orange curaçao and cocoa. One of the highlights in the Redwood lineup. Add a few drops of water to accent the keynote grain. Matured in northern California. 45% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… Aromas of fresh grain, red berries, dried cherries, and fresh-cut lemon, overall a very fresh and lively nose that is beautifully fragrant and redolent of fresh morning fields. The palate is equally fresh, with balanced notes of red fruit, iced tea, and vanilla. The finish is quite long, with more vanilla, and lemon sorbet, balanced by savoury espresso. A smooth but complex rye with depth and lively flavors, but easy to savor. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...While the grain may be stark, the tobacco note tends to knock this whiskey sygogglin, as the moonshiners of the South Appalachians might say. Never seems to be on an even keel, though the odd sharp note is more than attractive. 86 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
Redwood Empire Distilling is in the heart of the Russian River Valley wine region in Sonoma County, California. Emerald Giant is aptly named after the fastest growing Redwood tree in the world. With a focus on sustainability, for every bottle sold, Redwood Empire Distilling will plant a tree. The rye itself is an easy sipper that offers just the right amount of spice with an interesting cast of supporting flavors. It may not be the most complex of ryes, however, its approachable price tag along with its four year age statement makes this whiskey an easy bottle to recommend picking up. - breakingbourbon.com
97 points - Tasting Panel Magazine - Nov. 2019
DOUBLE GOLD - Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards, '19
DOUBLE GOLD - Sunset Magazine International Spirits Competition - Nov 2019 -
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Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Blend of Straight Whiskeys (750ml)UNITED STATES$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 45%Composed of 60% rye and 40% bourbon and named after the world’s largest coastal Redwood, this moreish blend has the mouthfeel of a single malt while retaining some of the oiliness and zap of bourbon. Shy at first, over time the flavours unfold in a deliciously sweet whiskey, buttery through the middle stages with hints of popcorn and vanilla wafers; Older material adds depth, creaming up the finish which lingers with more of the same, toasted oak in tow. Besides Redwood Empire's rye, this sports the best oak-spirit balance and length. You could drink it all night. Matured in Northern California. 45% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… A blend of 3 to 5 year old straight rye and 4 to 12 year old straight bourbon. Although the nose is a bit reticent, once it opens up, what is revealed is pure delight: orange blossom, iced tea, dark berries, lemon oil, pine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and leather. Fruit and spice enjoy a dynamic interplay on the palate, with orange, cherry, blueberry, and grape, shot through with cedar, cinnamon, and sturdy oak. The medium-length finish is supple and pretty: dark chocolate, toasted pecans, and well-integrated oak. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Redwood Empire immediately feels like a company you want to root for. Their distillery was built in an old apple processing plant and is located in the small town of Graton, in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California. For every bottle sold, the company plants a tree, which according to their website is at 225,415 trees at the time of this writing. Drinking this whiskey I kept thinking, is this the new...old High West? A blend of bourbon and rye, Lost Monarch offers an usual range of bourbon and rye flavors. With a light gin-like quality, the taste reminds me of older High West releases and leans in more towards the rye flavor profile. Exploring further and learning the blend contains bourbon ranging from 4 to 12 years old along with rye ranging from 3 to 5 years old solidified that thought... It’s a no-brainer, buy it and try it before the price goes up or the blend changes. - breakingbourbon.com
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Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)UNITED STATES$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 50%Redwood Empire's 100 proof version is produced from 66% corn, 23% rye, 7% wheat and 4% malted barley, aged five years in 200 litre barrels, toasted and charred to level three. Bitter peel, wood shavings and tingling alcohol are evident on the nose before settling into fruity-vanilla territory. Despite the high ABV, it's a middle-weight, accessible style; If at first the wood feels a little too assertive and grippy, work it around your mouth to extract sweeter notes of cherry and ripe peach. Oak and spices rally at the finish, leaving the impression of bitter dark chocolate. The label references the Grizzly Giant, a massive Sequoia in Yosemite National Park. Batch 002 tasted. 50% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… All manners of orange are here, with orange peel, Creamsicle, and a hint of orange soda right up front. This citrus is joined by sweeter elements: a drizzle of maple syrup and inviting wood spice. The palate is creamy, and that tangy, zesty citrus carries on, though there's also blueberry cobbler, a burst of Red Hots, and buttered toast sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. A moderate-length finish balances oak with tart red fruit. (3,000 bottles) 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)UNITED STATES$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 45%Named after the 14th tallest tree on the planet, Pipe Dream is a mix of four to twelve year old Bourbons, some made at Sonoma County's Graton Distilling Co., others sourced from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. The high corn mash bill is balanced out with 21% raw rye and 4% malted barley. The nose opens with attractive, youngish aromas of peach tart, cherry chocolate, white pepper and citrus zest. Entry develops into a semi-sweet, well-rounded profile offering toasty oak, dried peach and lively spices. Fresh oak and hints of muddled mint balance the finish. A quality mid-tier Bourbon with a typical profile and nice texture. Matured in northern California. 45% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… For a whiskey of this age, the hickory content is high. And a very sweet hickory at that. Very distinctive Bourbon. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.
...An herbaceous nose offers spearmint, spice, tea, and leather. Coconut on the palate, followed by orange oil, peach pie, vanilla, brown sugar, and chocolate-covered almonds. The finish has spice, nutty dark chocolate, espresso, and melon. Cohesive, balanced, and well-textured. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
I’m not sure if Redwood Empire’s goal was to create a quintessential bourbon flavor profile, but they certainly nailed it if that was the case. Pipe Dream Bourbon is mainly a straightforward bourbon that nails the caramel/vanilla/oak trio with expert precision. Easy sipping and inoffensive in every way, Redwood Empire nails being an every-person bourbon. That decision ends up being a double edged sword, as it makes the bourbon a bit on the boring side, lacking much excitement besides its delightful strawberry rhubarb aftertaste. The bourbon will probably work best as a gift to a budding bourbon drinker that will be equally impressed by the out-of-the-mainstream selection and enchanting label design. For more experienced drinkers, despite its straightforwardness, it gets a few bonus points for its amazingly smooth and buttery consistency. For its price, it's hard to beat the value it offers. - breakingbourbon.com
94 points - Tasting Panel Magazine - Nov 2020
DOUBLE GOLD - SIP Awards - Aug 2020
DOUBLE GOLD - San Diego Spirits Festival - Sept 2019 -
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2020 Vino Volta La Chingadera Tempranillo Touriga GrenacheWestern Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2023-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA blend of 49% Tempranillo, 25% Touriga, 18% Grenache and 7% Shiraz sourced across Margaret River, Geographe, Swan Valley and Frankland River. Aged in old barriques for 14 months. Totally opaque dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Aromas of dark cherries and red liquorice have a leathery overlay with some red raspberry, earth and spice notes also present. Mid weighted red to dark cherry and raspberry fruits meld into a leathery back drop of earth and spice. Chewy mouthfeel with slightly robust tannins and a leathery red to dark fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Tempranillo, grenache and touriga. In stroll the cool-kid regions: Fruit was sourced from across Margaret River, Geographe, Swan Valley and Frankland River. Epic tension and concentration in the mouth. This is savoury and sweet, with layers of spice (star anise, licorice root, aniseed, black pepper, tobacco leaf), fruit (blackberry, blood plum, raspberry) and flowers (violets, lavender and black rose petals). Another cool release of La Chingadera.
94 Points
Erin Larkin – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
2021 Collector Marked Tree Red ShirazCanberra, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2023-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinDeep dark red black colour with a lively dark red hue. Blackpepper infused red liquorice and scorched earth aromas rise out of the glass trailed by smoky dried clove, dried meat and capsicum notes. The elegant, medium bodied palate features red plum and red liquorice fruits over a smoked dried meat, dried clove and peppered earth back drop. Grainy tannins concluding bright, savoury and peppery.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% - Sullivans Cove Single Cask TD0070 French Oak Second Fill 17 Year Old Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml)Hobart, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA$1250. 00Bottle$15000.00 DozenABV: 47.6%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some light creasing/scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Barrel No. TD0070 was a French oak cask that resulted in 439 bottles at a strength of 47.6% Alc./Vol.
The French Oak Single Cask range is renowned for its bold, decadent character, achieved through full-term maturation in French oak casks that once held Australian tawny. These casks impart intense flavours of dark fruit, rich spice, and velvety sweetness, creating a deeply layered and luxurious whisky. Widely celebrated on the world stage, previous French Oak releases have won accolades such as “World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards, cementing their reputation for power, complexity, and a long, indulgent finish. -
- Biodynamic
- Organic
Azimut Brut Nature Rosat CavaPenedes, SPAIN$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: Cork"Azimut" is the project of Assis Suriol, who in 2000 returned to his ancestral family vineyards to create a wine that would allow his family to live on the land, and farm in an organic, biodynamic, and sustainable manner. The idea is to make their wine as close to the grape as possible, creating a fresh and immensely drinkable experience. This Organic Rose Cava is produced from 50% Grenache & 50% Mourvedre from the limestone-rich soils of Penedes in Catalunya. The wine is aged for 10 months in bottle on lees and is disgorged on order (without any dosage), resulting in a dry and complex sparkling with a delicate bouquet of strawberries.
Alc. 11.5% -
- 91
- Nicks Import
Combier Creme de Violettes (Violet) Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 25%Distinguished from Parfait Amour which is similar in appearance but built on a curacao base, Creme de Violettes is made by extracting the aromas and flavours of violet petals. This forgotten bar standard of the 19th century is now being rediscovered by contemporary mixologists. Transluscent violet to deep purple in colour, its light fragrant character offers an evocative infusion of floral notes that are reflected on the palate with a delicacy befitting the genre. Should you desire an Aviation, a Blue Moon or a spectacularly layered Pousse-Cafe, you'll need a bottle of this liqueur classic at hand. 25% Alc./Vol.
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- 89
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Combier Creme de Fraise (Strawberry) Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenABV: 17%Fraise liqueurs are usually made with a variety of strawberries, some wild, some large and ripe, some small and 'green'. Lighter in both body and alcohol than most of Combier's offerings - also sweeter with only trace acidity - this offers typical aromas and flavours of raspberry jube and strawberry jam with a good level of fruit purity to enhance cocktails and desserts. 17% Alc./Vol.
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- 93
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Perique Tobacco Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 31%In the world of liqueurs Perique stands as a unique achievement, that like fine wines, has taken a combination of expertise, culture and terroir to realise.
Created by Ted Breaux - the man behind many of the world's finest absinthes - Perique debuted in 2006. It is based on the rare Perique tobacco grown in Saint James Parish in Louisiana, USA, coined "the caviar of tobaccos" and prized for its strong fruity aroma. Very much a contemplative drink in our view, it has already been embraced by bartenders and mixologists looking for a safe alternative to homemade products. Due to the rarity of the Perique tobacco, the liqueur is itself difficult to source - and probably always will be.
Sitting at the drier end of the liqueur spectrum, very little sugar is used so as to allow the complexity of the tobacco take centre stage. Spices, orange rind, cognac rancio, cacao beans and a refreshing, almost cooling tang on the palate are among the descriptors commonly used for the liqueur, which is carried by an incredibly smooth eau de vie. There's a curious mix of aromas suggesting aniseed, caraway and orange peel with a subtle tobacco top note (think of fresh rolling tobacco rather than cigars). The soft, silky entry builds in concentration into a quasi-sambuca-like experience that’s semi-sweet (candied orange), herbal and very gently warming. Hints of sweet tobacco emerge in the aftertaste which is dry and fresh, rounding off this liqueur nicely. What is, presumably, the flavour of the perique tobacco seems to return late with surprising intensity and persistence. Overall it's a fascinating, unique and nuanced liqueur that demands tasting and re-tasting to fathom. Just as fascinating is the story behind its creation, which is detailed below. 31% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Aroma: Clean horse stables, old leather saddles in a tack room with Lady Grey Tea, fresh tobacco leaf and lemon drizzle cake. Taste: Slightly sweet, old leather briefcase, tobacco and stewed tannic lemon tea with a faint soapy note and anise. Aftertaste: Bitter stewed tea, the last knockings of a fat cigar and liquorice. Fades with stewed black tea flavours. 4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
On a business visit to Japan in 2004, Franck Choisne, head of France’s prestigious Combier Distillery, noted the complaints of some prominent barmen in Osaka regarding their difficulties sourcing the tobacco ‘cordials’ typically used in their cocktails. Recognising an opportunity to break into a new market, Franck brought samples back to the distillery in Saumur. He presented them to the person he thought would be best suited for the task: Ted A. Breaux.
Those already in the know will be familiar with Ted, a biochemist and researcher who grew up in New Orleans. Ted rose to fame when he cracked the “Absinth code” in the late 1990s, employing gas chromatography to analyse an old sample of the now legendary Pernod “Tarragona” and Edouard Pernod liqueurs he’d scored in a dusty estate auction. Ted subsequently set up a business, ‘Jade Liqueurs’, with the aim of recreating several ‘rediscovered’ Absinthes.
The tobacco liqueur samples immediately flared Ted’s imagination and he took on the project wholeheartedly, adopting the same philosophy he’d applied for his Absinthe recreations: Make no compromises and seek out only the best raw materials.
Being a native of Louisiana, he knew of the production of a very rare and highly prized tobacco in the area between Baton Rouge and New Orleans: the Perique tobacco. Coined the “cognac” or “truffle”of tobaccos, Perique only grows in the St James Parish, flourishing along the Grande Pointe Ridge, on the rich alluvial soils skirting the Mississippi. Attempts to grow the seeds elsewhere have never replicated its distinctive and robust flavours.
Its cultivation in the area goes back some 200 years with an industry that peaked at 1100 acres in the early 1940’s. The tobacco’s potential was first fully realised by Pierre Chenet, part of a wave of Acadian immigrants forced out of Nova Scotia in the late 18th century who finally settled in the Bayou Teche area of Louisiana. Chenet became acquainted with the tobacco being produced by the Choctaw and Chickasaw natives who cured the leaves by fermenting them in a hollow tree stump under pressure by way of a lever and a heavy stone.
Learning all he could from the Indians, he refined the curing process to turn it into a commercially viable operation. The tree stump was replaced by Hickory whiskey barrels where the “torquettes” of tobacco leaves could ferment under pressure applied by jackscrews. The resulting anaerobic fermentation that takes place over 12 months is considered just as essential to Perique’s aromatic glory as the “Magnolia soils” it’s grown in. In short, “If you don’t ferment it, you ain’t got no Perique”. So quips Percy Martin, the modern day Cajun patriarch of Perique growers. Today, only a handful of farmers look after a mere 16 acres of Perrique, tending to it with the same labour intensive processes perfected by Acadian settlers in 1824.
Not surprisingly, it remains highly sought after by pipe smokers the world around, however only small amounts of the tobacco actually make it into commercial blends. The aroma and taste are considered too potent on its own - hence its comparisons to truffles.
To create the Perique liqueur, Ted Breaux considered the Combier Distillery a logical choice (it is famed for the production of the world’s first Triple Sec liqueur in 1834). More importantly, the distillery owns unique Egrot stills, considered benchmarks for Absinthe distillation, as well as two other units identical to those in use for the production of Chartreuse and Benedictine liqueurs, that can only be found in three distilleries worldwide. It took Ted and his team about 18 months of trials to reach what they considered to be the best expression of the Perique aroma in a liqueur that was also free of the noxious substances generally associated with tobacco.
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Combier Mandarine Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 25%In the history of cocktail making, orange is arguably one of the most used liqueur ingredients. A closely related expression employs mandarines, but besides the famous Mandarine Napoleon, few other producers have offered the citrus in liqueur form. Typically mandarines from Sicily are lightly ‘crushed’ then macerated in neutral distillate to harness the full flavour of the meat of the fruit. Loire-based distiller, Combier have introduced their own version. While not as intense as some curacaos, we love the way this accents the pith-peel aspect of the fruit on the nose in a very natural way. That's echoed on the palate which captures the luscious character of ripe mandarines, balanced by a touch of acidity at the finish. Even though the ABV is lower than its cognac-based equivalents, this will make a delicious contribution to Margaritas, Brandy Crustas or Mandarin Spritz. 25% Alc./Vol.
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- 92
- Nicks Import
Combier Liqueur de Poire William (Pear) Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 25%The white orchard fruit flavours found in Poire William liqueurs make them a treat to be enjoyed on their own or in cocktails like the Spiced Pear Daiquiri. This semi-sweet example smells and tastes a bit like an eaux de vie or a fruity grappa, less the spirit kick. The flavours are medium fresh, closer to the skin rather than ripe juicy pulp, with hints of cinnamon and dried fruits bringing warmth to the finish. Add a dash to sparkling wine and you could have a cocktail reminiscent of Perry. 25% Alc./Vol.
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- 95
- Nicks Import
Combier Liqueur de Noix De Coco (Coconut) Liqueur (500ml)Saumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenABV: 20%A fabulous expression of the liqueur that strikes a balance between the sweetness and freshness of the coconut with added richness from a rum base. The result is akin to liquid Bounty Bar, delivering decadent, mouth-coating flavours of desiccated coconut, milk chocolate and nougat. Use it as a digestive or in tropical cocktails like Pina Coladas. 20% Alc./Vol.
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- 92
- Organic
2022 E. Pira (Chiara Boschis) Dolcetto d'AlbaPiedmont, ITALY$61. 99Bottle$743.88 DozenClosure: CorkThe Boschis family purchased E.Pira & Figli in 1981, propelling the young Chiara into a role significantly different to that intended with her economics degree. The family were proprietors of Barolo’s historic Giacomo Borgogno estate, where Chiara originally learnt her winemaking skills. Her philosophy is to craft wines that marry the extraordinary power of Barolo with approachability and the Pira wines are all about elegance, great aromatics and lush textures. This has been achieved through strict vineyard management, careful selection and impeccable vinification techniques. In her vineyards, Chiara has always worked without chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides and the wines have been certified organic since the 2014 vintage.
From Monforte (Ravera and Le Coste), this Dolcetto is fermented and aged in stainless steel to produce a racy wine with bright blue fruits, spice and floral notes, the tannins ripe and round.
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Dolcetto D'Alba is expressive with candied violets, black raspberry, and dark stones. Fresh and lifted in its style, it displays the vibrancy of this warm vintage. The tannins are polished and elegant, and the wine has a lovely, sweet bouquet that lifts throughout the finish. This is an exceptional Barbera to drink over the next 6-8 years. Drink 2023 - 2031.
92 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
- 92
- Organic
2021 E. Pira (Chiara Boschis) Barbera d'Alba SuperiorePiedmont, ITALY$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenClosure: CorkThe Boschis family purchased E.Pira & Figli in 1981, propelling the young Chiara into a role significantly different to that intended with her economics degree. The family were proprietors of Barolo’s historic Giacomo Borgogno estate, where Chiara originally learnt her winemaking skills. Her philosophy is to craft wines that marry the extraordinary power of Barolo with approachability and the Pira wines are all about elegance, great aromatics and lush textures. This has been achieved through strict vineyard management, careful selection and impeccable vinification techniques. In her vineyards, Chiara has always worked without chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides and the wines have been certified organic since the 2014 vintage.
From Monforte (Mosconi and Ravera) and Serralunga (Gabutti), and aged in old barriques for 16 months, this is elegant and taut with classic Barbera acidity and bite.
Other Reviews....
A deeper, more opaque hue, the 2021 Barbera D'Alba Superiore offers notes of graphite, lavender, and plum. It is medium to full-bodied but doesn't feel weighted and has fresh acidity and sweet tannins. Its notes of berries and fresh herbs last long on a clean finish. Drink over the next 5-8 years. Drink 2023 - 2031.
92 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
- 96
- Organic
2017 Mouzon Leroux L'angelique Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkSébastien Mouzon is a dynamic, ninth-generation grower producing exciting and terroir driven wines at his domaine, Mouzon-Leroux. Based in the Grand Cru village of Verzy, Sébastien farms eight hectares of vines spread across 60 separate plots. While much of the vineyard area is planted to Pinot Noir, there are additional small parcels planted to the remaining six varietals legally allowed in Champagne; Chardonnay, Arbane, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Petit Meslier. Aiming to bring further translation of site to his wines, Sébastien works with very low yields in his certified organic vineyards, with fermentation and élevage then completed in a mix of steel tanks and older 500L barrels. Sulphur additions are also kept to a minimum.
The 2017 L'angelique is a 100% Chardonnay cuveé, using fruit from multiple Grand Cru sites in Verzy. These sites are located in the first and second valleys, where the plantings are more heavily skewed to Chardonnay and the soils are rich in clay, limestone, and flint. The base wine matures for 5 years in French oak barrels and is disgorged with extra brut dosage of just 1.5g/L.
Other Reviews....
Some of the learnings for Mouzon Leroux’s biodynamics come from time spent in Senegal, curiously, looking at the local agriculture, and vegetable gardens, where distinct approaches exist to encourage insect and bird life into farming systems are rife. The vigneron has applied this to his farming in Champagne. Verzy chardonnay.
Electric wine. Bristling, briny acidity in green apple, clove spice, dried pear, Japanese pickled ginger, preserved lemon and pink grapefruit. Tight lines, a juiciness around that, piercing bubbles and a very long, sweet, slick spice finish married to fino sherry notes. Very precise. Refreshing. Crystalline. Brilliant. Drink 2025-2035+.
96 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
- Organic
2017 Mouzon Leroux L'ineffable Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: CorkSébastien Mouzon is a dynamic, ninth-generation grower producing exciting and terroir driven wines at his domaine, Mouzon-Leroux. Based in the Grand Cru village of Verzy, Sébastien farms eight hectares of vines spread across 60 separate plots. While much of the vineyard area is planted to Pinot Noir, there are additional small parcels planted to the remaining six varietals legally allowed in Champagne; Chardonnay, Arbane, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Petit Meslier. Aiming to bring further translation of site to his wines, Sébastien works with very low yields in his certified organic vineyards, with fermentation and élevage then completed in a mix of steel tanks and older 500L barrels. Sulphur additions are also kept to a minimum.
The 2017 L'ineffable is a 100% Pinot Noir cuveé, using fruit from multiple Grand Cru sites in Verzy. These sites are located in the second and third valleys, where the soils can have a heavier clay component but are still rich in the limestone and flint, so signature to the Verzy region. The base wine matures for 5 years in French oak barrels and is disgorged with zero dosage.
















































