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2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Pouilly-Fuissé by Olivier Merlin, BurgundyMâconnais maestro Olivier Merlin fermented and aged this rich, toasty, citrus-edged E1 exclusive in oak.Jane MacQuitty, White Wine I’ve Fallen in Love With, The Times (October 2023)The Merlin family have made our Pouilly-Fuissé from vines in the villages of Vergisson, Chaintré and Fuissé. Fermented and aged entirely in oak, it is complex and layered. The nose is restrained and floral; the palate is rounded, with generous citrus and melon fruit. The finish is crisp and mineral, with a waft of toasty oak. Enjoy this with seafood and hard cheese.Drink now to 2026Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (November 2022)
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Provence Rosé by Château la MascaronneWe are delighted to work once again with the superb Ch. la Mascaronne for our Provence Rosé. Nestled in the rolling hills of Provence, the rocky terrain here is hard to work. However, it is perfectly suited to Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle, the classic grapes in Provence rosé.
The Grenache brings beautiful ripe red fruit character, with a hint of herbs added by the Rolle. This wine is the perfect example of what Provence has to offer; relatively light in body, with plenty of subtle flavour. Serve straight from the fridge alongside fish, charcuterie or salads. -
2020 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret by Dourthe, Bordeaux
Our Good Ordinary Claret is an early-drinking style of red Bordeaux – one that is versatile and reliably delicious. The 2020 vintage is predominantly Merlot, supported by Cabernet Sauvignon and a dash of Cabernet Franc. On the nose, ripe hedgerow fruits mingle alongside warming aromas of cedar and allspice.
The palate is plump and moreish, laden with black cherries, blackberries and myrtle berries. Meanwhile, a backbone of smooth, velvety tannins brings structure and complexity. This is a great wine to please a crowd, perfect with a Sunday roast or a winter vegetable stew.
Ready to drink now
Georgina Haacke, Bordeaux Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2020 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret by Dourthe, Bordeaux2020 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret by Dourthe, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $32Bottle Price 150cl $66 -
2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Chablis by Domaine Sébastien Dampt, Burgundy
Our Chablis has been made for us by Sébastien Dampt. The warm and dry 2022 vintage has given a ripe and fleshy citrus fruit character which combines harmoniously with the classic Chablis notes of iodine and oyster shell. Entirely unoaked, this is perfect as an apéritif or with fresh seafood.
Drink 2024 - 2027
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd White Burgundy by Collovray & Terrier
The nose of our 2022 White Burgundy offers up a bouquet of juicy white stone fruit and subtle, toasty oak. Succulent peach and nectarine flavours fill the palate, tempered by zesty citrus and rounded out with notes of melted butter and a sizzling, iodine finish.
Drink now to 2026
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne by Mailly, Grand Cru, Brut
Sourced from the prestigious Grand Cru village of Mailly, our Own Selection Champagne is a classic blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. With more than three years Eageing, it is a delightfully complex example of non-vintage Champagne. Aromas of brioche and flowers draw you in on the nose. The palate is elegant, marrying notes of lemongrass, gingerbread and honeysuckle.
Ready to drink now
Davy Żyw, Champagne Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd -
2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Barolo by Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont, Italy
This is a classic blend of three Barolo communes, showcasing the quality and complexity of the region’s vineyards. The commune of Barolo gives chewy power and fruit depth; Castiglione Falletto lifts the nose with floral charm; and the ancient white soils of Serralunga d’Alba give an unmistakable mineral grip. This is a succulent vintage with notes of roses, ripe red fruits and cloves.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Sancerre by Domaine David Sautereau, Loire
This cool and elegant Sancerre is made for us by 10th-generation vigneron David Sautereau. The nose is fresh and mineral, with citrus fruits mingling with crushed stone. In the mouth, the attack is precise, crisp and energetic, with pleasing mid-palate weight and a saline finish. This is excellent with fresh seafood or the local crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese.
Drink 2024 - 2026
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Bourgogne Côte d'Or Pinot Noir by Benjamin Leroux
If you order only one red Burgundy this autumn, make it this one. Every facet of stunning Côte d'Or Pinot Noir is present in this creation and the price is as competitive as I have seen this year for any epic-quality wine made from this fabulous grape. Ben Leroux's skills are well-known and here he draws on fruit harvested from od vines in Chorey-lès-Beaune to craft this expressive, silky-red-cherry perfumed wine. It is young, but there is already much to adore, from the pristine clarity of aroma and flavour to the delightfully refreshing finish
Matthew Jukes, Wine of the Week, Money Week (October 2023)
Made in collaboration with Benjamin Leroux, our Bourgogne Côte d’Or comes from old vines planted in the appellation of Chorey-lès-Beaune. The 2022 vintage seamlessly marries explosive red-berry fruit with refreshing acidity and sweet tannins. Spicy floral top notes and a hint of vanilla oak provide further complexity. This would be an excellent match with roasted poultry, grilled meats and soft cheeses.
Drink now to 2027
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2014 Coteaux Bourguignons, Blanc, Les Glapignys, Domaine Guyon, Burgundy
The excellent Domaine Guyon in Vosne Romanée has been below most people’s radar Eperhaps because Jean-Pierre Guyon spends as much of his time as possible out in the vineyards, which have been farmed organically since 2006, certified from 2012. The wines are extraordinarily good, yet are priced very sensibly indeed, a winning combination.This range of wines is hugely impressive, from the simple Bourgogne Rouge up to the Grand Crus. Finding high quality Vosne Romanée at this pricing level is a rare thing indeed.
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2009 Barolo, Serra, Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont, Italy
I recall picking La Serra in 2009 as if it were yesterday! The sun was just up, flooding the ESE facing, cliff-like face of the white La Serra with bursting orange light. Davide’s father Giovanni had had a bad night (he died the following January) so there had been a slight delay, even though their house lies close to the vineyard. They were one of the very last to harvest. The result: an uplifting, soaring wine, the emphasis on the high tone redcurrant notes, exhibiting both pulpy grasso and saline flavours. A joyful wine despite the sad circumstances.
David Berry Green -
Berrys' Amontillado Estilo, Medium Dry, Jerez, 18.5%The House of Lustau is one of the greatest names in Sherry, and it pioneered a system of working closely with the smaller producers, known as Almacenistas, who blend and age sherries of great individuality. Long-term partnerships of this nature have resulted in a range peerless in its diversity and quality.
The Amontillado Estilo has been especially blended for us by one of these merchants and aged in Solera for several years to achieve a unique depth of flavour and richness of texture. An Amontillado is essentially and aged Fino, that is to say it maintains the tangy delicacy of the Flor-matured Fino, but then has been, over time, deliberately oxidised to add nutty complexity and an extraordinary depth of flavour to its yeasty core.
Hugely under-rated, sherry is one of the great drinks of the world; the Estilo is a more than worthy ambassador for the category.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer -
2016 Château Potensac, Médoc, BordeauxJean-Hubert Delon considers this to be very close in style to his delicious 2016. The long summer was especially beneficial to the later-ripening vineyards in the northern Médoc and this Potensac shows a sunnier face as well as its more usual linear profile. The tannins have the necessary bite and the fruit is bright cassis. Drink 2022-2032.
Blend: 45% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot2016 Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux2016 Château Potensac, Médoc, BordeauxBottle Price 75 cl $76 -
2004 Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
Experts on the subject of soil will tell you that Haut Bailly boasts one of the finest terroirs in the Pessac-Leognan appellation. The wine made here has always been fine but in recent years it has reached a new level of excellence, rivalling some of the great Haut-Medoc Cab. Sauvignon-dominated wines. For me this new departure began with the 2004 vintage, not hailed as a great vintage in Bordeaux but bearing the hallmark of what the British call a "classic vintage", meaning a wine of finesse and elegance, with cool, sweet fruit supported by ripe tannins and balancing acidity. A joy to drink now and over the next 8 years.
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2015 Viña Arana, Gran Reserva, La Rioja Alta, Rioja, SpainAs always, Viña Arana delivers. Sitting alongside 890 & 904, this wine offers earlier drinking than its bigger siblings. Grippy tannins with a brilliant array of ripe red fruits and black cherry, there’s a sweet coconutty vanilla nose, with cinnamon and toasted coffee-bean notes. This wine is drinking beautifully now, though it has the quality to develop much further in the bottle for those of you who like the more earthy, meaty, mushroom undernotes that come with maturity.
Drink now to 2036
Joshua Friend, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (March 2022) -
The King's Ginger, 41%
The King’s Ginger may be celebrating its 117th birthday, but it remains a timeless liqueur. On the nose, there’s fresh natural ginger and zesty lemon; on the palate, you’ll find ginger-syrup sweetness, fresh ginger and lemon Edelicious on its own, or mixed in a cocktail. This year, The King’s Ginger is appearing in its new bottle. Its updated design is a nod to the saddle flask, and to King Edward’s love of the outdoors.
{***} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {ratings} {ratings} {***}
The King's Ginger, 41%The King's Ginger, 41%Bottle Price 50 cl $75 -
2008 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux
Ch. Grand-Puy-Lacoste has been in excellent form over the last few years and the 2008 continues in this impressive vein. This boasts the generous fruit of the vintage but with a classic, Pauillac seam running right through the core. Once again feminine in style, this is stylish and elegant with crisp acidity and fine-grained but structured tannins; this represents excellent value in 2008.
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Swartland Red by The Sadie Family Wines, South Africa
Splurge on the magnificent 2022 Berry Bros Swartland Red by the Sadie family. It’s a wonderfully seductive Syrah with layer after layer of fat, fleshy, spicy incense and bramble fruit.
Jane MacQuitty, The Times (February 2024)
We’re thrilled to work with the legendary Eben Sadie for our Swartland Red, a new addition to our Own Selection. Eben has planted some incredible new vineyards over the last decade. In the future, he’ll use the fruit of these young vines for his own signature wines. But for now, he is working exclusively with us on our Swartland Red and Swartland White.
The precise blend will change from one year to the next; our 2022 Swartland Red is made from 100% Syrah fruit. With pure, freshly picked raspberries on the nose, the palate has deep, fleshy, bramble fruits and gravelly minerality. A delicate umami note lingers on the invigorating finish.
Ready to drink now
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (May 2023)
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2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Pomerol by Château Feytit-Clinet, Bordeaux
This blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc comes from younger vines at Château Feytit-Clinet. The nose is plush and expressive, its bright raspberry and raspberry-leaf aromas sweetened by notes of black cherries and cedar spice. The palate brings smooth, mouth-coating layers of damsons and blackcurrants which are enriched with dark chocolate and soft, velvety tannins. This is textbook Pomerol. A mouth-watering burst of redcurrant acidity reminds us of the fresher, earlier-drinking style of this vintage. This is moreish, elegant and delightfully versatile.
Georgina Haacke, Bordeaux Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages, Massif d'Uchaux Garance, Domaine la CabotteThis rewarding blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre is named after the ‘Wild Madder Eplant that grows around the village of Massif d’Uchaux. The sunshine of E0 has imbued the wine with aromas of ripe red cherry and blackcurrant. It has depth and generosity on the palate, featuring red and black hedgerow fruit and fine mineral acidity. This is elegant and delicious.
Drink 2022 to 2026
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Mar 2022) -
Gusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, Kent
Gusboune’s sparkling rosé (de facto although not de titulos) 2010 is a fine blend of 39% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 21% Pinot Meunier. The proximity of the coast ensured a milder autumn in 2010 than elsewhere and more than satisfactory ripening. Red wine is added, as with most Rosé Champagne and the wine marries red fruit flavours, with a fine mousse and an elegant sherbet finish.
Excellent with strawberries and summer pudding, or, per Gusbourne, with sorbet and tarte tatin. Good matches one and all!
Simon Field MW – Wine BuyerGusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, KentGusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, KentBottle Price 75cl $45 -
2004 Château Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux
Batailley is one of the most consistent château in the whole of Bordeaux, in terms of its production of classic, refined, elegant Pauillac, and has become a benchmark for good winemaking. The 2004 goes beyond that and the Castéja family has delivered a really exciting wine which rivals their very good 2000. Whilst Batailley's wines are normally quite closed and backward the 2004 has more immediate appeal without losing any of its traditional, reserved quality. With a jammy blackcurrant fruit character and a richly dense, velvety texture, this is really quite racy for Batailley and will be a great value cellar filler.
2004 Château Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux2004 Château Batailley, Pauillac, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $134 -
2022 Miraval Rosé, Côtes de Provence
As one of the leading lights in Provence, Miraval continues to strive for excellence and the 2022 vintage certainly continues in this manner. Raspberries, candied strawberry, pear and white flowers combine beautifully on the nose and the palate is just as generous, with explosions of ripe white peach, lemon peel and pear all in perfect harmony. Beautifully pale in colour and with wonderful acidity, this really is the perfect drink for summer.
2022 Miraval Rosé, Côtes de Provence2022 Miraval Rosé, Côtes de ProvenceBottle Price 75 cl $46 -
2015 Le Clou 34, Domaine Naudin-Ferrand, Vin de France
Classified as Vin de France. From five parcels of old vines planted between 1902 and 1953. Fresh and mineral, pleasant fruit weight with a slight tropical edge, pure and elegant style, ripe and juicy acidity, just a hint of yeast, crème patissière, good length. Not a very typical Aligoté, but a lovely wine.
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2016 Moulin-à-Vent, Olivier Merlin, Beaujolais
Offering a touch more colour than the 2014, with a sweeter weight of fruit before the spice and tannins at the back. Some elegance too. This will drink well in the near future.Offering a touch more colour than the 2014, with a sweeter weight of fruit before the spice and tannins at the back. Some elegance too. This will drink well in the near future.
Jasper Morris MW, insideburgundy.com (Decemner 2019) -
2016 Gevrey-Chambertin, Benjamin Leroux, Burgundy
The Gevrey-Chambertin is becoming somewhat totemic for Ben, produced mostly in a beautiful 35hl foudre which Ben feels gives the wine more elegance, finesse and precision than traditional 228-litre barrels. With gorgeous, sweet red cherry fruit, a charming softness and supple tannins, it is hard to disagree with his assessment.
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2016 Chianti Classico, Marchese Antinori, Riserva, Tignanello, Tuscany, ItalyAlluring aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and oak-driven spice shape the nose. The aromas follow through to the elegant, savory palate along with vanilla, star anise and a hint of coconut while bright acidity and supple tannins provide support and finesse.
Drink 2021 E028.
- Wine Enthusiast 92/100 -
2017 Pommard, Rugiens-Hauts, 1er Cru, Benjamin Leroux, BurgundyRugiens is arguably Pommard's greatest vineyard, of which the lower section is perhaps the finest, but Ben's plot is in the lower part of Rugiens-Hauts and thus very adjacent. This is a big, stern and meaty wine, with dense tannins, but perfume and rigour too. Very serious and age-worthy.
Drink 2025-2030.
It is fair to say that Ben is very happy with 2017, describing it as the kind of vintage he would sign up for every year. The whites, he says, are beautiful, and not far from 2014 in style, with purity, finesse, great definition and balance. He describes the reds as pretty, appealing and with body to support ageing, while highlighting the importance of lower-yielding old vines for serious ageing. He eloquently explains that there is no ''black sheep''Ein 2017, that no village has underperformed. For reason of space, the limited volumes of Grands Crus have not been included in this brochure. Since the 2014 vintage, all white wines are bottled under screwcap -
2008 Champagne J.L. Vergnon, Confidence, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NatureA gifted and well-known oenologue, Christophe Constant at Vergnon has excellent raw materials to work with, helped by the situation of his vines. His philosophy is to nurture ripe and mature Chardonnay, usually from old vines, to eschew malolactic fermentation, and to allow the wines a lengthy maturation pre (and post) disgorgement, to facilitate integration and presage a potential for lengthy ageing. A very sound philosophy indeed it would seem.
Barrel-fermented with zero dosage, this is a definitive statement, if one puts thoughts of Krug’s Clos de Mesnil momentarily to one side, of oak-fermented Champagne from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The oak does not mask the steely linear purity that has made this village’s wines so famous, but adds texture and hints of sourdough, tarte tatin and fig; resplendent complexity, in other words, to adorn a cerebral core. -
Berrys' Meredith, 5-year-old, Full Rich MadeiraBerrys Erevamped Madeira wine range is now available in the popular 50cl format The range of four covers the gamut of styles, and all wines have been up-graded from 3 and 5 year old to the 5 Year Old Premium category. All, most importantly, have been matured by the superior 'canteiro' method, whereby the ageing is achieved naturally by allowing the casks to mature in the lofts of the lodges.
The Meredith is part of the traditional ship-series nomenclature, an evocation of C19th colonial life where trade and war (and indeed trade wars) were often carried out at sea, indeed always carried out at sea for a remote Atlantic island such as Madeira. The Meredith is the richest member of the family, made in the Malmsay/Malvasia style; its characteristic mahogany colour leading to encyclopaedic notes of figs, toffee, dried fruits and roasted nuts. The counterpoint between sugar and acidity is astonishing; the wine is wonderfully full-bodied, sweet and exceptionally long.
Simon Field, MW - Wine Buyer -
5 Year Old Reserve Madeira, Broadbent Selection, 19%Imported from Madeira, a volcanic island 400 miles off the North African coast, Broadbent Madeira is the product of Michael and Bartholomew Broadbent, both world-renowned Madeira experts. The wines were hand-selected on the island by Michael Broadbent, the world's most experienced taster of Madeira and his son Bartholomew, who is deemed one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira, and is credited with spearheading the revival of Madeira in America.
Aged in oak casks for at least five years, this is a delicious, full-bodied and rich dessert wine, with an excellent balance between sweetness and acidity. -
2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Pouilly-Fuissé by Olivier Merlin, Burgundy
We’ve worked once again with the magical Merlin family to bring you this distinguished and characterful Pouilly-Fuissé. Carefully selected fruit from late-ripening vineyards in Vergisson, Fuissé and Chaintré gives a wine with freshness and energy. This offsets the generous stone and citrus fruits beautifully, combining with subtle oak spice, yielding a complex and layered wine. It pairs beautifully with white meats, seafood and goat’s cheese.
Drink 2024 - 2028
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs by Hambledon Vineyard, Hampshire, England
This is made for us by the celebrated Hambledon Vineyard. Bright, pure and refreshing, a neatly woven mousse supports notes of stone-fruit, gooseberry crumble and English meadow. The palate is foaming and firmly mineral, showcasing the quality of the Chardonnay from Hampshire’s pure chalk soils. This is the perfect partner for any celebration.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2018 Meursault, Les Vireuils, Benjamin Leroux, Burgundy
The fruit here comes from three parcels: the first is high towards Auxey-Duresses, the second in the middle of the Dessus section, and the third is lower, towards Les Cloux. This is another example of the success of the cooler sites in 2018. The bouquet is lifted and expressive, the palate deep and rich, with precision and clarity. Drink 2022-2027.
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2017 Nuits-St Georges, Les Pruliers, 1er Cru, Domaine Jean Grivot, Burgundy
This is one of the firmer and denser wines in the range, influenced more by the clay, which is more evident here than in the neighbouring Roncière wines. A compact and positive wine that will require a little more patience. Drink 2023-2029.
Jean Grivot, whose name continues to appear on the labels, took over from his father Gaston in 1955 and handed the estate on to his son Étienne in the early 1980s. Étienne, married to Marielle Bize from Savigny, has been through a number of incarnations as winemaker here. When he took over, his father’s style was for gentle, graceful wines which perhaps were a little weak in the lesser vintages. Since then Étienne has found his own voice and made a range of increasingly fine wines. The drive to reduce yields and fine-tune his work in the vineyards and cellar since the mid-2000s continues to enhance quality. The succession to the next generation is now well underway, with Mathilde and Hubert increasingly influential, under their father’s experienced and wise guidance.
Here the decision was to wait for a bit of rain, to get the skins and berries fully ripe. The rain did the trick and the resulting wines are among the best of the Côte this year. Adjectives tumbled from Étienne during the tasting: seductive and precise, glamorous, graphite and saline, luminous and suave. We both agreed we rather liked “resonant E Volumes are up 50 percent but Étienne warned us that the run of short vintages has depleted their reserves, and as such allocations this year will not move up in line. -
1999 Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Late Disgorged Vintage, Brut (22/04/21)Only in magnum. 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir form top crus. Disgorged on 22 April 2021. Dosage 7 g/l.
Honeyed straw colour. Tingly, vibrant nose with great energy even if without a massively deep undertow. Real grip and presence on the palate. And impressive persistence. But it's a sprightly wine rather than one in which pronounced autolysis has been sought.
Drink 2022 - 2026
Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com (Jun 2022) -
2014 Riesling, Cuvée Frédéric Emile, Trimbach, AlsaceIn my opinion, Trimbach are the benchmark amongst Alsace Riesling and at the forefront of this is their flagship Ethe Cuvée Frédéric Emile. Against such expectations some wines can disappoint but that has never been the case with the Frédéric Emile. The 2014 is no exception as it excels with citrus notes, honey, and apple at the forefront with a lip-smacking acidity that just makes me want more. I would recommend this as the perfect foil for Thai food, but realistically the food is unnecessary for this taste of absolute deliciousness.
Drink 2022 to 2034+.
Markus Ljunghammar, Account Manager (April 2022) -
2014 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, St Emilion, BordeauxThe 2014 Beau-Sejour Becot was tasted on two or three occasions. It has a generous and sensual bouquet with ample macerated red cherries, wild strawberry, vanilla pod and orange sorbet aromas. This is endowed with superb delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, beautifully integrated new oak, real depth and focus. You could argue that it needed to demonstrate more persistence on the finish but that would be clutching at straws. There is so much freshness and vivacity in this Saint Emilion that it really is a must-buy.
- Wine Advocate 93/100 -
Berrys' Fino Jerez Sherry, 15%The unique flor yeast produces a Sherry that is pale, delicate and dry with an elegant bouquet evocative of salted almonds. Drink lightly chilled.
Simon Field MW, Wine BuyerBerrys' Fino Jerez Sherry, 15%Berrys' Fino Jerez Sherry, 15%Bottle Price 75 cl $50 -
2005 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins
Made from Chardonnay grapes from an old, 100 % Grand Cru vineyard in Avize, La Vigne aux Gamins is a unique Cuvee full of love and flavour. The wine has a very clear, almost limpid colour and delicate bubbles. The nose develops very subtly Aromas of prune whilst aerating the wine reveals notes of cooked fruits, brioche and the lovely lingering finish of a great terroir. La Vigne aux Gamins is free of all embellishments, making it an exceptionally pure Champagne.
{***}{region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2005{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast:: 94/100{ratings} {***}
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Champagne Krug, Grande Cuvée, 170ème Édition, Brut
The latest edition of Grande Cuvée is a release I await with anticipation every year. This wine doesn’t disappoint in the slightest, although I was surprised at the delicacy of the wine vs. other recent vintages. The nose opens with fresh aromas of crushed flint, dried flowers and ripe citrus fruit. As the wine develops in the glass, richer notes of apricot, pineapple, marzipan and warm patisserie emerge. The palate is lively and mouthwateringly refreshing, with hints of lemon compote enveloped in Grande Cuvées trademark rich and nutty character. As is so often the case, I daydream of sipping alongside some fresh oysters.
Drink from 2024-2034.
Paul Keating, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd -
2017 Morey-St Denis, Domaine Henri & Philippe Jouan, Burgundy
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2015 Vosne-Romanée, Les Suchots, 1er Cru, Domaine François Lamarche, Burgundy
The colour here is a beautiful, brisk pink-purple. The nose is heady with pure red fruit, a little touch of new oak, good concentration. Bright red fruit follows on the palate, stretching out very nicely to the back. This wine is very much about the fruit and the delicacy of the approach. Good length. Drink 2022-2030.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine BuyerThe Lamarches began on 10th September, picking over six days and realising better yields than in 2014. This year Nicole Lamarche has been able to make exactly the wines which she wants to make, avoiding deep extraction while using around 30 percent whole bunches. Do not expect dark colours and overt concentration, but if your taste is for elegant, floral, eventually ethereal wines then this is the place to be.
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2011 Contino, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain
Vivid ruby-red. Displays expansive, smoke-tinged red fruit preserve and cherry-vanilla scents, along with vanilla, tobacco and allspice flourishes. Seamless and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated cherry, blackcurrant and spicecake flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. The smoky note repeats on the sweet, seamless and impressively long finish, which features rounded tannins and lingering vanilla and mocha qualities.
Drink 2019 - 20262011 Contino, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain2011 Contino, Gran Reserva, Rioja, SpainBottle Price 150cl $220 -
Hambledon, Classic Cuvée, Sparkling, Hampshire, England
52% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, and 17 % Pinot Meunier from the 2018 harvest, with tank-aged reserve wines added. Dosage 5.7 g/l.
Hambledon Vineyard has a long and fascinating history. Not only does the village have the reputation as the cradle of cricket, long before Lord’s, it seems, but it is also the location of the first English commercial vineyard, courtesy of the Francophile Sir Guy Salisbury Jones, who developed the vineyards in the early 1950s. After an uneventful hiatus, the vineyard was purchased by Ian Kellett in 1999, and his investments of both patience and capital are now yielding fruit, quite literally, in the form of some of the best-located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country.
Fruits of the 2011 harvest, with reserve sines added from 2010, this is a most impressive effort, its lees-ageing imparting gentle biscuity notes and adding weight and structure to the first impressions, which recall English orchard fruit, yellow fruits and quince.
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2014 Nuits-St Georges Rouge, Clos de la Maréchale, 1er Cru,Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Burgundy
Bright, fresh purple with good density; this has a beautiful, pure, racy bouquet. There is a wonderful sweetness of fruit across the palate, with a coating of velvet, then a gentler, graceful finish.
Frédéric notes that the grapes were very healthy in 2014, with a “correct” yield, lower than 2009 but the best since then. In any case, Frédéric aims to stay below 35 hl/ha, so the wines will always have a desirable intensity. This being a given, the style here reflects the light hand of the winemaker, with minimal extraction during vinification.
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2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, Brut
The 2015 Brut Vintage Rosé is generous and demonstrative, bursting with aromas of peach, orange and pear mingled with hints of red berries, fresh bread and ginger. Full-bodied, layered and vinous, it's rich and enveloping, its textural attack segueing into an ample, fleshy core that's girdled by bright acids and enlivened by a pillowy mousse. Long and expansive, it's more generous and gourmand than its racier 2014 predecessor, but just as good.
Drink 2021 - 2031
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Sep 2021)
2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, Brut2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $140 -
2012 Imperial, Gran Reserva, C.V.N.E., Rioja, Spain
The nose of this wine is delightful. Incredibly gentle and beguiling, in a way that all great wines should be. There is spice and tobacco, with a hint of wood smoke. The palate is soft and velvety, with waves of complexity led by juicy plum and smooth vanilla. This will only become more enticing with age.
Drink now to 2040+
Paul Keating, Private Account Manager (November 2019)
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2008 Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux
The 2008 Potensac has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, briary and cedar aromas that gently waft from the glass, the oak here nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannin. This comes across a little savoury in style, with hints of dried blood infusing the black fruit towards the slightly dry but still balanced finish. Fine. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
Drink 2018 - 2026
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (May 2018)
2008 Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux2008 Château Potensac, Médoc, BordeauxBottle Price 150cl $150 -
2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut
Precision, pleasure & elegance is what I always associate with Billecart Salmon. And in a vintage as fabled as 2008, these hallmark traits are revealed in greater detail. The Billecart Vintage 2008 is pure joy, tiny, steady bubbles stream through wild gold in the glass.The nose is filled with baked russet apples, waxy lemons and the golden crumb of cherry crumble, all supported by the noble Pinot vinosity of Grand Cru terroir.
The palate is a roasted medley of peach, Red Macintosh and white cherry, very seductive, very classy. Pinot noir leads the mid palate, earthy and richly textured, with the hallmark tension of the vintage extending the palate with an electric Cotes des Blancs, mouth-watering tang. The mousse is silky and seamless, the finish is tart tartin with saffron flecked Chantilly cream. The wine has benefitted from time in bottle, drinking beautifully now.
Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra BrutBottle Price 150cl $260 -
2019 Marsannay Rouge, Es Chezots, Domaine Jean Fournier, Burgundy
This wine has a gorgeous bouquet of black berry fruit, and subtle floral and smoky aromas which need coaxing from the glass. It’s always a cool customer, from the relatively cool, windswept Es Chezots. The warm growing season in 2019 adds a touch more padding to the mid-palate, and there’s a fresh, chalky finish.
Drink 2021 - 2027
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2002 Champagne Pol Roger, Brut
It should come as no surprise that Pol Roger have delayed the release of their 2002 Vintage Champagne until 2012, in defiance of all commercial logic and the dictates of cash-flow. The reason is simple; 2002 is the best vintage in Champagne since 1990, a vintage which has not been equalled since and a vintage where the rewards of patience are and will continue to be very fine indeed. The wine was aged for nine years in Pol Roger’s famously deep cellars, kept at a constant 9 degrees, the perfect natural ambiance for gentle autolytic ageing and the nurturing of an exemplary equilibrium and a very fine and persistent mousse.
And as with all great things, fools rush in and the winemakers at Pol Roger, needless to say, are far from foolish. Indeed Cellar master Dominique Petit, formerly of Krug, is regarded as one of the greatest winemakers in the region and he knew from the out-set that the wine would need an unusually long cellaring before release. This, to borrow a phrase from another friend of Pol Roger, is his finest hour, thus far… The blend is a traditional one of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay; after the double-débourbage (cold-settling) the first fermentation is in stainless steel, kept relatively cool. A full malolactic fermentation ensues, followed by the second fermentation in bottle and then the lengthy slumber beneath Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. The bottles are hand – tuned by remueurs, the prestidigitatory efforts of whom ensure the completion of yeast autolysis and ensure a blameless richness and length on the palate.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer - June 20132002 Champagne Pol Roger, Brut2002 Champagne Pol Roger, BrutBottle Price 150cl $360 -
1995 Clos de la Roche, Grand Cru, Collection Bellenum, Burgundy
Perfumed and attractive, this is a ‘95 that is ready to sit up and take notice. Very graceful lines, still fresh behind but the fruit is maturing nicely. Just getting there.
(Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director)
Nicolas Potel, took his first steps as winemaker in the family Estate in Volnay, Le Domaine de la Pousse d’Or. He established his own negoce operation in 1996 , followed by Maison Potel-Aviron in Beaujolais region in 2000 and his efforts culminated in his own Estate, Domaine de Bellene in 2005, with 15 ha of organically-farmed vines in Côte de Beaune.
In 2008, after leaving the SAS Nicolas Potel company, Nicolas Potel launched a new, "Haute Couture"-style negociant business called "Maison Roche de Bellene" which focuses on offering the rare and fine cuvées.
The Bellene range encompasses wines from the Côte de Nuits, and has the widest selection of Grand Crus from Burgundy, as well as a number of prestige 1er Cru cuvées such as Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses, Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes.
Recently , Nicolas Potel introduced a range of very rare older vintages, under the name "Collection Bellenum".
These exceptional wines, dating back from 1959 are the result of a strict selection of old vintages originating from the cellars of some of the most acclaimed wine producers in Burgundy. -
The Pink Pigeon, Mauritian Rum (40%)
This is definitely in the uplifting and refreshing domaine, having an exquisite balance of well defined spirit and beautifully integrated vanilla. The quality of the underlying rum gives structure and texture allowing the vanilla layers to fuse and play on the palate. Unique and enlightening!
Doug McIvor, Spirits Manager, BBR Spirits
The Pink Pigeon, Mauritian Rum (40%)The Pink Pigeon, Mauritian Rum (40%)Bottle Price 70cl $79 -
Karlsson's Gold Vodka (40%)
Karlsson’s Vodka is handcrafted with different varieties of Virgin New Potatoes, all grown in Cape Bjäre, Sweden. Surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, the sandy, but fertile soil is home to the most exquisite heirloom potatoes, known locally as “Farmer’s Gold.”
Distilled once and unfiltered to preserve the rich taste of the delicate, young potatoes, the vodka’s unique character is the result of the quality and quantity of the ingredients from which it is made. Approximately seventeen pounds of Virgin New Potatoes are needed to make just one bottle of Karlsson’s Vodka.
Developed by Master Blender Börje Karlsson, Karlsson’s Vodka is a beautifully balanced and smooth spirit, possessing some unique qualities of character and natural taste. Karlsson’s Vodka honors the heritage of vodka by going back to an artisanal, handcrafted aesthetic that preserves as much of the inherent flavor as possible.Karlsson's Gold Vodka (40%)Karlsson's Gold Vodka (40%)Bottle Price 70cl $79 -
2005 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Stanislas Blanc de Blancs
Firm and focused, with a creamy mousse supporting a subtle weave of lemon meringue pie, poached white peach, toasted almond and honey, showing a pronounced vein of smoky minerality that echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2025.
Wine Spectator 92/100{***} {region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2005{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast::92/100 {ratings}{***}
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2008 Pinot Gris, Heimbourg, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Alsace
The wines of Olivier Humbrecht MW need little introduction, possessing great depth and exactitude, as well as generosity… much like the man himself. The Humbrecht family’s viticultural roots can be traced back to 1620. Today they own 40 hectares across five villages in the Haut-Rhin, the southern half of the picturesque vineyards overlapping the Vosges foothills, treasured for its idyllic climate and tapestry of terroirs, as much for its half-timbered houses.
This is a delicious white showing structure, firm acidity and subtle hints of exquisite white peach. Combine this with a zesty lemon complexity and several pleasing saline notes. A match for simple preparations of chicken, fish and shellfish. Drink now and over the next five years. -
2015 Riesling, Cuvée Frédéric Emile, Trimbach, Alsace
The power of the solaire vintage is on show in the 2015 Frederic Emile which sits more in the broad shouldered camp that it’s sometimes slatey, lean style. Small, concentrated berries have yielded around a third less than normal. This is a FE of immense power and concentration I think will have the capacity for even longer ageing than normal but the luscious fruit also makes it highly approachable today Eas shown by the Trimbach family’s generous donation of the vintage for us to show at our recent 325th Anniversary party. This is a great Freddie Emile!
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2005 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux
A Second Growth in 1855, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou regularly gives the First Growths a run for their money Eespecially since the arrival of third-generation owner Bruno Borie in 2003. Bruno never saw such an “easy vintage Eas 2005, apparently: he considered every bunch “perfect E Some 18 years on, this is only starting to come into its own, with the promise of spectacular things to come.
There are pronounced, complex aromatics of fresh black fruits, leather, liquorice, dried leaves and cigars, though this is only a hint of what further ageing will bring. This is a dense, mouth-filling Claret with a lot of structure, a real concentration of fruit and lively, refreshing acidity. Approach it now if you are that way inclined, though it will evolve wonderfully for decades yet.
Bruno is famed for his cooking, and this standout wine deserves a special dish: a côte de boeuf or grilled portobello mushrooms would work very well. -
1995 Beaune, Le Clos des Mouches, 1er Cru, Domaine François Gaunoux,Burgundy
This is a classic. Vinous, round and fleshy Pinot Noir. Tons of fruit. Enjoy now and into the next century. The walled vineyard is filled with history, generally considered the pinnacle of 1er Crus in Beaune.
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No.3 London Dry Gin (46%)
Know your Bourdeaux from your Burgundy? Then you’ll also be familiar with Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchants, Berry Bros & Rudd, aka the brains behind this bottle. It’s a suitably classy affair, delivering a strong herbaceous note, warming spice and a whiff of citrus Eand at 46% ABV, they’re not mucking about. We’d serve it with a light tonic and fresh herb garnish.
Stacey Smith and Millie West, Esquire Magazine (November 2023)
No.3 perfectly balances three essential flavours: juniper, citrus and spice, making for the most refreshing gin and tonic, clean, crisp martini or distinctive negroni.
It took us two years to create our masterpiece, working with master distillers, top mixologists, and Dr David Clutton - the only person in the world to have a PhD in gin. We spent months selecting the best botanicals to create a truly classic London Dry Gin.
To meet our exacting standards, we distil our spirit and botanicals in a unique 100-year-old, brick-encased copper pot still in Holland - the home of gin. With the best ingredients, the know-how of the world’s leading gin experts, and perseverance, we created No.3 Gin.
No.3 is the only gin awarded ‘World’s Best Efour times (2012, 2013, 2015, and 2019) at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC).No.3 London Dry Gin (46%)No.3 London Dry Gin (46%)Bottle Price 70cl $129 -
2018 Rosso di Montalcino, Poggio di Sotto, Tuscany, ItalyThis was grown as Brunello, with tiny yields from fossil-filled vineyards. It was spontaneously fermented in botti before spending two years in smaller casks. This is bright, pretty and vivacious, with incredible aromatics. The palate is elegant and complex, superior to many Brunellos. This is a work of the highest craft: Brunello intensity meets Burgundian finesse.
Drink now to 2032. -
2019 Bourgogne Rouge, Les Grands Chaillots, Domaine Thibault Liger-BelairOne-third is from domaine fruit from Nuits with, since 2017, two hectares in Chambolle, including Bons Bâtons. There’s usually about 20% whole-bunch. The UK sample showed sweet and ripe fruit, a svelte undertone and a whiff of cinnamon. The palate was round and ample, very complete for this level. Finishing with strawberry fruit, it’s a classy, well-composed wine.
Drink 2021-2028. -
2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutThe 2002 Dom Pérignon is unforgettable. Rich, sumptuous and flamboyant to the core, the 2002 captures all of the radiance of a year in which ripeness in the Chardonnays was pushed to the edge. The 2002 is oily and viscous on the palate, with tremendous textural resonance in all of its dimensions.
Tropical fruit, pastry and exotic floral notes all build as the 2002 opens up with air. I can still remember the first time I tasted the 2002, here in the Hautvillers cloister, with former Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. It was thrilling back then, and is every bit as memorable today.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2019)2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $454 -
2017 Chambolle-Musigny, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair
For more than two decades, Thibault Liger-Belair has been following organic and biodynamic practices. He believes that winemaking starts not with the fruit, but with the soil. “We all talk about terroir, but my focus is on the soil and putting what it needs first, EThibaut explains. His wines are pure, focused and desirable.
The 2017 is a blend of Thibault’s five village Chambolle vineyards, but in 2018 he expects to make three cuvées. The vines are at least 50 years old and 40 percent whole-bunch was used. There is lots of pretty, floral fruit here and an intensely silky, seductive texture that is impossible not to love.
Drink 2020-2026.
Thibault continues to keep himself busy, having bought more vineyards in Moulinà-Vent. In the Côte d’Or he waited until 13th September to pick, feeling that the skins were not ripe until that point. He describes the vintage as transparent, where each vineyard’s identity is clearly visible, and one where those with large yields will not be able to hide. In the Beaujolais, hail was again a significant factor, reducing the average yield for those wines he made to an eye-watering 8hl/ha. The damage was so bad that it cost more to pick the grapes than he will make on the wines, but he felt a duty to harvest and vinify the fruit. With careful use of the vibrating sorting table, he was able to carefully select only the clean fruit and has made exceptional wines. -
Berrys' Rainwater, 5-year-old, 19%Berrys Erevamped Madeira wine range is now available in the popular 50cl format. The range of four covers the gamut of styles, and all wines have been up-graded from 3 and 5 year old to the 5 Year Old Premium category . All, most importantly, have been matured by the superior 'canteiro' method, whereby the ageing is achieved naturally by allowing the casks to mature in the lofts of the lodges.
Berrys' Rainwater is a medium-dry Madeira. Shrouded in historical mists of Atlantic crossings and open casks absorbing rainfall on the beaches of Funchal, this is a subtle and evocative wine. The Rainwater style, traditionally associated with the Verdehlo grape variety has an inimitable, timeless quality with notes of almonds and dried fruit underpinned by a firm streak of acidity and a smoky backdrop.
Simon Field, MW - Wine BuyerBerrys' Rainwater, 5-year-old, 19%Berrys' Rainwater, 5-year-old, 19%Bottle Price 50 cl $50 -
Berrys' Boreas, 5-year-old, Medium Rich Madeira, 19%Berrys Erevamped Madeira wine range is now available in the popular 50cl format. The range of four covers the gamut of styles, and all wines have been up-graded from 3 and 5 year old to the 5 Year Old Premium category. All, most importantly, have been matured by the superior 'canteiro' method, whereby the ageing is achieved naturally by allowing the casks to mature in the lofts of the lodges.
Berrys' ""Ship Series"" of Madeiras reflects the practice, common until the mid 19th century, of naming wines after the ships that carried them. The frigate Boreas visited Madeira in 1784 on its way to Antigua, taking on board four casks for the Governor of Domenica and a quarter for its 26-year-old captain, Horatio Nelson. Berrys' Boreas is a medium-sweet, Bual style Madeira, with characteristic amber colouring with gold highlights. The attractive nose of toffee apple and vanillin is carried through to the palate, which at 19 degrees of alcohol, has a wonderful balancing sweetness and characterisitic firm supporting acidity. Perfect with puddings, fruit and cheeses.
Simon Field, MW Wine Buyer -
Berrys' Own Selection Jamaican Rum 2000, 13-year-old, 46.0%Amaica produces some of the heaviest character rums in the Caribbean, often with high ester content resulting in rich aromatics and full flavours. This fine pot still example epitomises the fuller style from the island Intense aromas of brown sugar sprinkled bruised bananas, a hint of pineapple and some nice honey notes display.
The palate gives sensational tarry richness as it swells with burnt treacle and smokiness. One to linger over. -
Berrys' Own Selection Barbados Rum, 10-year-old, 46.0%
Classy bajan Rum with a sweet fruity nose and balanced raisin and fig rich depths. The luxuriant fruity palate lingers through to a stylish finish.
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Champagne Thiénot Brut
This blend of the three classic Champagne grape varieties forms the signature Thiénot style of finesse, fruit and freshness, offering springtime notes, magnificent balance and a lingering finish. The Champagne House’s great classic.
Champagne Thiénot BrutChampagne Thiénot BrutBottle Price 37.5 cl $59 -
2016 Clos de Vougeot, Grand Cru, Domaine Henri Rebourseau, Burgundy
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2010 Castillo Ygay, Gran Reserva Especial, Marqués de Murrieta, Rioja, SpainA blend of Tempranillo with 15% Mazuelo (Cariñena) vinified separately in stainless steel for 11 days and matured for 26 months in American and French oak barrels.Perfumed bouquet with notes of dried cherries, smoke and sweet spices. Intense palate lifted by a linear acidity and the tannins that support the evolving fruit. Elegant and refined finish.Marien Rodriguez, Fine Wine Junior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (March 2023)
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2009 Ermitage Rouge, Ex Voto, E. Guigal, Rhône
This Ermitage from the top Rhone producer Guigal is nothing short of astonishing. The nose is reticent and shy to come out but shows fruits of the forest, liquorice, black olive tapenade. The palate is lush, mouthcoating and full, tannins are incredibly well integrated and balanced and yet there is still an underlying power that will keep this beauty into the next two decades.
Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager2009 Ermitage Rouge, Ex Voto, E. Guigal, Rhône2009 Ermitage Rouge, Ex Voto, E. Guigal, RhôneBottle Price 75 cl $557 -
2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, Brut
The Millésime Rare is an absolutely delicious Champagne, and a wonderful example of the quality of the 2008 vintage. Made up of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, all grapes for the wine were sourced from Grand Cru villages. Initially delicate on the nose, it opens up in the glass to show aromas of sweet peach, dried flowers, almonds and white pepper. The palate is ripe with a rich mousse; it’s zesty and refreshing, with hints of pineapple, blood orange, liquorice and freshly-baked pastries.
Drink 2022 E2035
Paul Keating, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Nov 2021)2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, Brut2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $293 -
2012 Champagne Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame, Brut
The 2012 La Grande Dame is a pretty wine, but it is starting to show the first signs of aromatic development. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something readers should keep in mind when deciding when to open this. I would not push my luck on aging. Dried pear, ginger, crushed flowers and spice fill out the layers nicely in a gentle, open-knit Champagne to drink over the next 5-10 years.
Drink 2023 - 2030 -
2020 Boekenhoutskloof, Syrah, Swartland, South Africa
The lesser known (almost) twin of Porseleinberg – 80%+ of the grapes here are grown by Callie Loux on the famed farm, with the balance coming from next door at Goldmine (another fine source itself). If you were to classify Syrah vineyards in the Cape, these two would be at the very top of the list. Winemaker Gottfried Mocke applies a gentle hand in the cellar, with 60% whole cluster retained adding a delicious smoky bacon note to the soft, black fruit. Silky tannins with just a little bite at the end and lots of soft, spicy fruit. If you’re not lucky enough to be on the allocation list for Porseleinberg, dive in here! This is a Syrah of the highest order.
Drink 2024 - 2040 -
2016 Keermont, Syrah, Stellenbosch, South Africa
With fine, lifted red and black fruit aromas, this wine still feels incredibly youthful. The palate is soft with ripe hedgerow berry fruit dominating, moving into a sweet red cherry note. The wine is mellow yet still fresh with a mid-weight, Southern Rhône feel to it. With a brilliant twist of spice on the finish, this is really lovely to drink now yet certainly has some time ahead of it yet too.
Drink 2024 - 2028 -
2000 Château Gruaud Larose, St Julien, Bordeaux
Fully mature (yet I'd say in the early stages of its drink window), the 2000 Château Gruaud Larose offers a ripe, powerful, medium to full-bodied style as well as lots of currant and darker fruits followed by cedarwood, tobacco, iron, and assorted meaty, spicy nuances. It's a rich, almost chunky effort with a great mid-palate, still present yet ripe tannins, and an excellent finish. It lacks some of the purity and precision of today's wines yet is a satisfying, rich, impressively textured Saint-Julien to drink over the coming 15-20 years.
Drink 2021 - 20412000 Château Gruaud Larose, St Julien, Bordeaux2000 Château Gruaud Larose, St Julien, BordeauxBottle Price 150cl $760 -
Champagne Frédéric Savart, Éphémère 022, Blanc de Blancs, 1er Cru, Extra Brut (Base 2018)
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2017 Vivaltus, Ribera del Duero, Spain
Brambled bilberry, loganberry and cassis fruits, the dark tight flesh with well-developed acidity that you have come to expect from this wine, touch of bitter black chocolate on the finish. This is a slow build, well integrated, and the power is subtle rather than overt, at least in comparison to the usual style of Ribera del Duero. Strongly savoury finish, with fennel and aniseed. Jean-Claude and Jeff Berrouet consultants, with winemaker Montxo Martinez and owners Marcos and Carlos Yllera, made from old vines growing from 750m to 1,000m in altitude, aged in French oak.
Drink 2022 to 20382017 Vivaltus, Ribera del Duero, Spain2017 Vivaltus, Ribera del Duero, SpainBottle Price 75cl $156 -
2013 Saumur-Champigny, Le Bourg, Clos Rougeard, Loire
The 2013 Saumur Champigny Le Bourg opens delicate like a Burgundy, with floral as well as flinty and toasty aromas but also intense red fruit and dark cherry ones. Pure, fine, and juicy on the palate, this is a silky-elegant Le Bourg with fine tannins and a long, salty and mineral finish.
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2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut
This is an incredible rosé with super fine tannins that are layered and caress the palate, giving this Champagne an incredible mouthfeel. Iron and stone in the nose. Iodine. Dried flowers as well as dried strawberries and peaches. It's full-bodied but not overpowering and shows super complexity. Chalky sensation as well. A truly great wine for the table. You sip and fall in love. Aged all this time in the cellar of Dom Perignon.
Drink or hold2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $744 -
2020 Chinon, Clos de la Dioterie, Charles Joguet, Loire
Clos de la Dioterie is a northeast-facing vineyard on the left bank of the Vienne River that's on limestone clay. This is one of the last parcels to be harvested. The 2020 barrel sample offers a delightful texture - exuding a fine, chalky grain. It is almost creamy-rich in style, and yet this being Loire Cabernet Franc, it retains its elegance and shape. This is a ripe, black-fruited style with plentiful oak and long length. A fragrance of tea leaf, smoke and spice lingers long on the sinewy, focused finish, undoubtedly thanks to the limestone sub-soil.
A leading light in Chinon, the now-organic estate was founded in 1957 by Charles Joguet, a Chinon native sculptor and painter with an atelier in Montmartre. Joguet returned to found his domaine at a time when vines were part of a mixed farming approach – putting all your eggs in one basket was not the done thing. But the Burgundy wine lover was an artist, and artistic types tend to get away with taking an alternative approach, which soon became the norm.
The Genet family have owned the estate since 1997 and had partnered with Joguet for a decade before the takeover. With 30 hectares of vines, of which 28ha are Cabernet Franc and 2ha are Chenin, the estate makes a wide range of Chinons, but fine wine lovers will best know it for its cuvées Clos du Chêne Vert and Clos de la Dioterie.
Drink 2022 - 2030 -
2020 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux
Sémillon was added to the blend of the Cheval Blanc white from 2018, and it was immediately apparent that it added an extra layer of interest. This is a vintage that I've tried several times over the past few years, and it keeps getting better, showing white peaches riven with waxy lemon rind, sage and saffran that bring it in line with the complexity and finesse of the rest of the (red) Cheval stable. Aged for 18 months in large-sized new oak barrels.
Drink 2023 - 20322020 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux2020 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $247 -
2018 Anjou, Grolleau, Clau de Nell, Loire
The 2018 Val de Loire Grolleau opens with a light reduction on the nose that is clear, fresh and spicy, with fresh raspberry, blackberry and elegant flinty aromas. Silky, fresh and elegant on the palate, this is a fleshy, sweet, silky-textured but generous red with fine tannins and a sleek, crystalline and concentrated tart finish. It needs some time, but this is excellent and generous. Tasted in June 2021.
Located 24 kilometres west of Saumur in Ambillou-Château in the very east of the Anjou appellation and almost bordering the Saumur AC, the 10-hectare Domaine Clau de Nell, purchased by Anne Claude Leflaive and her husband Christian in 2008 and today managed by winemaker (and shareholder) Sylvain Potin, offers a small but fine range of white and red wines from one block with a homogenous soil of clay, silex and sandstone, the latter gives the wines their characteristic energy and tension.
The organically farmed, south-facing and wind-exposed vineyards are about 100 meters above sea level and are surrounded by forests, grassland, grain fields and a tree farm, which gives a large natural diversity and protection against pollution.
Drink 2023 - 20402018 Anjou, Grolleau, Clau de Nell, Loire2018 Anjou, Grolleau, Clau de Nell, LoireBottle Price 75cl $79 -
2018 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux
Cheval Blanc’s relatively new white wine, the 2018 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, is a blend of 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 26% Sémillon. This is the first vintage that the Sémillon plantings have come online to make the blend. Profound notions of ripe pineapple, passion fruit and white peaches explode from the glass, followed by fragrant notes of lemongrass, lime blossoms and yuzu zest with a waft of sea spray. The palate is full-bodied with an alluring oiliness to the texture and layer upon layer of tropical fruits, citrus peel and minerals, marked by a refreshing line and finishing with loads of mineral sparks.
Put aside all your preconceptions of “Bordeaux Blanc”, and don’t even try to compare it to Pessac-Leognan. This has its own gorgeous expression of these grapes, defying regional tradition. Give yourself over to the rich decadence of this flamboyant white that is at once without peers but is also quintessentially Cheval Blanc.
Drink 2022 - 20322018 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux2018 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $263 -
2016 Charmes-Chambertin, Grand Cru, Domaine Henri Richard, Burgundy
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2016 Volnay, Clos des Chênes, 1er Cru, Domaine Potinet-Ampeau, Burgundy
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2015 Beaune, Célébration, 1er Cru, Louis Jadot, Burgundy
The 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Celebration is a rich, radiant wine. Sumptuous and expansive on the palate, the 2015 possesses striking inner perfume and fabulous depth. The flavours are dark, bold and incisive in this decidedly potent, somber Beaune 1er Cru from Jadot. Even with all of its natural richness, the 2015 is massively tannic and shut down. I wouldn’t dream of opening a bottle anytime soon. The combination of 19 climats results in a Beaune of unusual complexity and pedigree, butders will have to be patient. The 2015 was only bottled in December 2017.
Drink 2030 - 2055 -
2013 Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Denis Bachelet, Burgundy
Brilliant purple in colour with a lively bouquet of vivid dark raspberry. Medium-bodied yet really intense with glowing fruit, really long. A Gevrey to put away for a decade.
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2012 Champagne Bérêche & Fils, Montagne, Grand Cru, Brut
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2008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut
Spring and summer were generally cool and overcast but the year was rescued by a beautiful September, but was it enough? Harvest began on 15 September. Red wines came from Champs de Linotte in Hautvillers (close to the seat of Dom P) and Vauzelles in Aÿ.
First bottle: Pale to mid salmon pink (much deeper than a typical Provence rosé). There's some note that's mineral or iodine or oyster shell on the nose of this. Then we segue into something floral – rose petals? even candied rose petals. This doesn't have quite the substance and undertow of the 2012 and 2003 P2 reviewed alongside. Perhaps it will develop it, but this bottle seems a bit simple. I will open a backup sample to check it out and ensure this is not a cork effect. There doesn't seem to be any TCA on the nose but there is a slight shortage of fruit and no great follow-through on the palate.
Second bottle: This bottle has more fruit on the palate but it still doesn't have real zest and tension. And it rather falls away on the finish. Mind you 2008 was a very grey, cloudy year.
Drink 2022 - 20272008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut2008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $660 -
2001 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux
Breathtakingly complex and vibrant nose of lightly burnt creme brulee, white peaches, apricots, mustard seed and gorgeous light new oak heralds the way to the most magnificent mouth-filling essence. With the texture of melted butter and a perfect balance of precision acidity, it feels as fresh, zingy and exciting as any wine you can imagine with a concentration you can't imagine. Total nectar. If the nose and the palate aren't enough to blow you away the 30-minute (at least) aftertaste is ethereal.
2001 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux2001 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $1,007 -
2000 Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux
Violet and iris aromatics curling out of the glass, starting to reach their full expression at 20 years old. Beautifully finessed and elegant, with hints of black truffle, cloves and rich blackberry fruits, this is a vintage that showcases the best of Margaux. It took its time to reach this point but it has been worth the wait, and the wine just gets better and better over a few hours in the glass. Highlights the success of the partnership between owner Corinne Mentzelopoulos and director Paul Pontantallier, with this château delivering some of the most memorable wines of the turn of the century years in Bordeaux.
Drink 2020 - 20502000 Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux2000 Château Margaux, Margaux, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $1,750 -
1998 Champagne Philipponnat, Clos des Goisses, L.V., Brut
Disgorged in March 2023, the 1998 Extra Brut Clos des Goisses L.V. matured for 25 months in bottle and on lees. It reveals a brilliant, complex and intense bouquet with aromas of white pepper, smoke, orange peel, pastry, ripe fruits and flowers intertwined with a refreshing, delicate note of menthol. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and chiseled, it’s concentrated and racy with bright acids and an endless finish. Fully mature, it should age well over the next two to three years.
Drink 2023 - 2035 -
Champagne Emmanuel Brochet, Rosé de Saignee, Extra Brut
The 2019 Extra-Brut Rosé de Saignée is produced from organically farmed old-vine Pinot Meunier grown in Villers Aux Noeuds that Brochet purchases from another grower. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, plums, sweet berries, peonies and orange, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a textural, enveloping profile and a broad, expansive finish. Avoiding any of the ponderousness that can sometimes mar this style of rosé, especially when the grapes get very ripe, shows all the precision typical of this producer's style.
Drink 2021 - 2026 -
Champagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, Brut
A distinct coppery colour with amber highlights. Superbly pretty. I noticed this particular bottle has six years of cork-ageing after being disgorged in the winter of 2015. The wine is moving into early mature middle age, showing tantalising complexity now: a touch of toffee, walnut, rich tea biscuit and sweet prunes. There is a silk mousse texture and it is all zipped up with a precise and bracing redcurrant racy finish. Quite a finale, positive freshness which promises more to come.
Drink 2022 - 2030Champagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, BrutChampagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, BrutBottle Price 150cl $1,200 -
2021 Régnié, Julien Sunier, Beaujolais
Half on alluvial soil and half on sand, the former adding spice and weight. Half raised in foudre and half in tank. Glowing purple and much fresher than Wild Soul. This is really classy with the lovely grip that Julien gets to reinforce his wines.
2021 Régnié, Julien Sunier, Beaujolais2021 Régnié, Julien Sunier, BeaujolaisBottle Price 75cl $40 -
2021 Morgon, La Voûte Saint-Vincent, Louis Claude Desvignes, Beaujolais
La Voûte Saint-Vincent is the Desvignes’ calling card: an accessible expression of Morgon made from vines planted on sandy soils. Made entirely without oak, the nose has a beautifully lifted perfume of red berries and peonies. In the mouth, the attack is juicy and saline, a theme that runs through the 2021s. This is already very expressive and charming in youth. This is a moreish and thirst-quenching wine, ideal for the summer months.
Drink 2023 - 2027 -
2021 Meursault, Les Perrières, 1er Cru, Pierre Girardin, Burgundy
One of the vineyards successfully saved by intelligent use of bougies. Paler lemon. Some fresh pears in the bouquet. Splendid balance here, with a real refinement. The joy of a decent yield. Freshens up nicely at the finish, and through to a fine long finish. Pears and light mangoes keep coming back, so this Perrières is showing quite an exotic character. Drink from 2026-2032. - Jasper Morris MW
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2019 Fleurie, Domaine Lafarge Vial, Beaujolais
This is a blend of the lieux-dits of Bel Air and Cercillon, raised mostly in a 1,500-litre foudre, alongside some 350-litre barrels. The soil here is the classic decomposed pink granite that gives Fleurie its bright, floral nose and crunchy, saline tannins. This is medium bodied with surprising structure, without sacrificing any elegance or lift.
Drink 2022 - 2028 -
2019 Moulin-à-Vent, Vieilles Vignes, Louis Boillot, Beaujolais
Blended with 10% whole bunch, the 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Vieilles Vignes was acutely affected by millerandage and yields were just 8–10hl/ha. This has a well-defined bouquet of blueberry and black plum aromas, the whole bunch neatly interwoven. The palate is well balanced with juicy ripe black fruit, fine acidity and very good structure on the finish. An excellent Moulin-à-Vent.
Drink 2022 - 2030 -
2018 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Kent, England
Toasty on the nose with orange zest, blossom, and a hint of burnt sugar. Citrus, melon and steamed rice on the palate, with a brioche depth and an umami undertone. It finishes long and clean with a pinch of white pepper spices on the tip of the tongue.
Drink 2022 - 2027 -
2017 Auxey-Duresses, Les Cloux, Pierre Boisson, Burgundy
The 2017 Auxey-Duresses Les Cloux is lovely, delivering an incipiently complex bouquet of pear, woodsmoke, dried white flowers and fresh pastry. It's medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, built around racy acids and chalky dry extract.
Drink 2022 - 2037 -
2017 Moulin-à-Vent, Olivier Merlin, Beaujolais
Moulin- à -Vent was badly hailed in 2017, so Olivier did not make a bottling of his single-vineyard La Rochelle, instead blending the fruit into this single bottling. Théo looked after the vinification, de-stemming the fruit and using very gentle extraction to produce a gorgeous, pretty wine with rich red and black cherry, white pepper and a concentrated but fresh feel.
Olivier is taking many steps to counteract the warmer summers and earlier harvests; managing the canopy to protect grapes from sunburn, using late-ripening rootstocks, reducing the amount of new oak he uses to keep the wines feeling fresher, and bringing harvest dates forward to retain acidity. The 2017 crop is around 15 percent down due to the dry summer which stressed the grapes. Picking began on 27th August and Olivier feels the wines are a little richer than 2016, but still with very good balance and well-integrated oak.
Drink 2019 - 2025 -
2017 Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Henri & Philippe Jouan, Burgundy
From Derrière la Four, Chardannes and Herbues. Again, I sense a little touch of volatile on the nose, but perhaps it is just me today. Pale to mid purple with light rim, elegant wine with an attractive supple character and a particularly long finish.
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2017 Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg, Burgundy
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2015 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Jean-Marc Roulot, Burgundy
A ripe and mildly exotic combination offers notes of lychee nut, white peach, spice, jasmine tea and a hint of matchstick character. There is impressive richness to the opulent, round and full-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the bitter lemon and slightly warm but well-focused finish. This is a relatively tightly wound 2015 that should age well. - Burghound
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2014 Baron de Brane, Margaux, Bordeaux
The second wine of Château Brane Cantenac (2éme Cru Classé), the 2014 Baron de Brane consists of 60% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of Cabernet Franc and Carmenère that add depth and flavour dimension to the final wine. Black cherry, cassis and coffee all jump out of the glass, combining with a punchy palate full of dark ripe fruits. There is a touch of tobacco that provides a warming spice to the finish, while silky, ripe tannins create a rich and glossy mouthfeel. This is a very good example of the quality you can find from a property’s second wine.
Drink 2023 - 20262014 Baron de Brane, Margaux, Bordeaux2014 Baron de Brane, Margaux, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $70 -
2014 Cornas, Reynard, Thierry Allemand, Rhône
Steep and stark (decomposed) granitic splendour has framed a wine where intervention, be it in the form of racking or de-stemming, or pretty much anything else, has been eschewed in the name of purity of thought and clarity of deed. The result, somewhat paradoxically, is virtually impenetrable; such is its tannic livery. The intensity and quality of fruit will come through over time and the result will be a wonderful match for the richest of Lyonnais fare.
Drink 2018-2026.2014 Cornas, Reynard, Thierry Allemand, Rhône2014 Cornas, Reynard, Thierry Allemand, RhôneBottle Price 75cl $490 -
2012 Vosne-Romanée, Les Chaumes, 1er Cru Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, Burgundy
Very smart nose with a hint of oak. Lots of race and energy though the oak is just a tad obvious. You'll need to wait quite a while for this.
Drink 2019 - 2028 -
2008 Pommard, Les Chaponnières, 1er Cru, Domaine Debray, Burgundy
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2008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut
The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up.
One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers, orchard fruit build into the explosive, resonant finish.
“We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then,” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.”
Drink 2020 - 20502008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut2008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, BrutBottle Price 150cl $2,200 -
2006 Clos de la Roche, Grand Cru, Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy
A brooding yet softly perfumed nose features a pretty mix of both red and dark berry aromas that are just beginning to display some secondary development along with background nuances of spice and exotic tea. The delicious and relatively accessible medium-bodied flavors exude a discreet minerality on the complex, balanced and lingering finish. For my taste this hasn't quite yet arrived at its peak though it's not far away and could easily be enjoyed now. That said I would advise hold this for another 2 to 4 years first. In a word, lovely.
Allen Meadows - burghound.com - Oct 2014 -
2003 Volnay, Clos du Château des Ducs, 1er Cru, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy
Truly a classic wine despite the sumptuous aspect of the fruit in 2003 there is nonetheless a real sense of elegance. Extraordinary length. Certainly 5 to 10 years, maybe much longer.
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2002 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut (2020 Late Release)
The 2002 Cristal is now entering its first plateau of maturity, making it a terrific Champagne for drinking. Hints of apricot, brioche, lemon confit, honey, hazelnut, baked apple tart and spice give the 2002 striking layers of nuance.
Rich and generous, the 2002 shows plenty of the natural opulence of the year and yet retains terrific freshness. Cristal is a blend of Pinot from Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont sur Vesle, and Chardonnay from Mesnil, Cramant and Oger.
The dosage is 9 grams per litre. This is the original 2010 disgorgement. What a wine.
Drink 2019 - 2039
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (December 2019) -
2000 Château Cheval Blanc, St Emilion, Bordeaux
The 2000 Cheval Blanc is a wine that I have encountered more than a dozen times. Now at just over 20 years of age (how time flies - I remember tasting this from barrel), it has a lovely, quite beguiling bouquet of brambly red berries, iron rust, Provençal herbs and clove, powerful and somehow enveloping. The peppery palate is medium-bodied with quite firm, stocky tannins and good backbone, though coming after a vertical of recent vintages, it feels more rustic and feral.
As Pierre-Olivier Clouet noted, there are fewer "pixels" in this millennial Cheval Blanc, but you can’t help falling for its charms. Ready to drink now but will age for the next 20–30 years.
Drink 2021 - 2040
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (September 2021)
2000 Château Cheval Blanc, St Emilion, Bordeaux2000 Château Cheval Blanc, St Emilion, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $1,520 -
2000 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
Opaque dark purple/black colour with an opulent viscosity. Hedonistic aromas of spice, leather, earth, tar, herbs and lively sweet, ripe fruit jump from the glass. This is exceptionally concentrated with a glorious mouth-filling palate of low to medium acidity with extra ripe tannins providing a much earlier drinking date than other vintages of Haut Brion. An extraordinarily long finish adds to its sheer class.
2000 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux2000 Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $1,400 -
1999 Chambolle-Musigny, Les Clos de l'Orme, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Burgundy
Rich, elegant and generous. Lovely fruit. Harmonious and intense. Very good indeed, especially for a village 'appellation controlee'. From 2007.
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1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut
This is a wine that I know extremely well from 750 ml and it's one that is beginning to tire though I hasten to point out that it's still enjoyable and just beginning to show signs of fatigue. However there are no such concerns with the same wine from magnum that remains magnificently fresh and while it's clear that the aromas are mature, that's not at all the same thing as describing the yeasty and baked apple suffused nose as tiring.
There is equally good depth and vibrancy to the beautifully delineated flavors that are supported by a fine and firm mousse that allows the texture of a well-aged Dom to be easily appreciated. For my taste this has arrived at its peak though note well that it should easily be capable of effortlessly holding for years to come.
Drink now
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (October 2015)
1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutBottle Price 75cl $1,100 -
1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, Brut
Tasted from magnum, the 1985 Krug Collection is a poignant reminder of just how well Champagne ages in the big bottle. Extraordinarily complex and yet so subtle, the 1985 is utterly captivating. A slight hint of Burgundian reduction adds aromatic nuance and intrigue as this stellar, silky Champagne shows off its pure pedigree.
The 1985 is at a glorious peak of expression, but has more than enough freshness to drink well for another 10-15 years, perhaps more. What a wine.
Drink 2016 - 2026
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2016)
1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, Brut1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, BrutBottle Price 150cl $5,000 -
Champagne La Closerie, Jérôme Prévost, Les Béguines, Extra Brut
The NV Extra Brut Les Beguines is spicy, savoury and full of Meunier character. All it needs is time to soften and fully come together, as it has just been disgorged. Today, it is the raw energy that impresses me most. Dried pear, ginger, spice, dried herbs, anise and chamomile open gradually.
Time in the glass fills out the mid-palate and finishes nicely, giving a good idea of what is to come. This looks to be a medium-bodied, distinctly savoury, vintage for Les Beguines. This release is based on 2020, with 20% reserve wines from 2019. The dosage is 2.5 grams per litre.
Disgorged: October 2022.
Drink 2024 - 2032 -
Champagne Louis Roederer, Collection 242, BrutIt was a brave decision for Champagne Louis Roederer to replace their flagship, bestselling Brut Premier. But Louis Roederer have a reputation for boldness, driven by excellence. In the face of global warming, Chef du Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has described the challenge of making this Champagne as ""fighting for freshness"". The style of this wine is a seamless transition from the Brut Premier, with the same drinkability, vinous detail and hallmark quality. Cleverly utilising a new perpetual reserve based on acidity and minerality, Jean-Baptiste has futureproofed the wine's freshness and style. The collection number represents the number of times they have made a multi-vintage since Louis Roederer was established in 1776.
This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, from Louis Roederer’s owned Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. It's based on the 2017 vintage, with the addition of special reserve wines held in oak and steel. These have been chosen to add complexity and depth, but also freshness. It's been aged on the lees for at least three years, giving Collection 242 incredible elegance, with a silk-like mousse and notes of red apple and yellow plum. It shows remarkable purity of fruit, with floral highlights and a delicious pain au raisin character. But, as with all of Louis Roederer cuvées, it has an electric chalky freshness which extends the enjoyment of this magnificent multi-vintage cuvée.
Drink now to 2030.
Davy Żyw, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Oct 2021) -
2006 Champagne Thienot Brut Millesime
A rare Champagne made only from red grapes, this dry wine is marked by an intense acidity that needs time to soften. At the moment, lemon flavor dominates, but with time, the crispness of fruit should round out. It's a wine that should age for many years. Drink from 2015. - Wine Enthusiast 90/100
2006 Champagne Thienot Brut Millesime2006 Champagne Thienot Brut MillesimeBottle Price 75cl $146 -
1996 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The 1996 Dom Ruinart is beginning to enter the second stage of its life post-release, where the aromas and flavours are starting to show hints of development. Orange peel, apricot jam, spices and mint are vivid and beautifully delineated in the glass. The 1996 remains fresh and vibrant on the palate, with remarkable depth and more than enough pure intensity to drink well for another 15-20 years. Readers looking for a 1996 Champagne to drink now will find considerable pleasure in the 1996.
Drink 2014 - 2031
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2014) -
2002 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Still a stunner, the 2002 Dom Ruinart is just as gorgeous as it has always been. Warm, toasty notes meld into apricots, succulent peaches, white flowers and spices in a rich, expansive Champagne that captures the year's essence.
The 2002 is pure, full-throttle opulence, yet all the elements are very much in balance. A creamy, resonant finish rounds things out in style. Multiple tastings have shown that the 2002 is shutting down in bottle, so my suggestion is to be patient.
What a gorgeous wine this is. This bottle was disgorged in March 2012.
Drink 2014 - 2032
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2014) -
2001 Château du Tertre, Margaux, Bordeaux
Deep crimson. Something of the farmyard on the nose. Not recommended for technophiles. But a solid, mature Bordeaux for traditionalists that is now tasting drier than du Tertre usually does in its youth. There’s a hint of leather and saltiness too. I suspect those tannins will outlast the fruit.
Drink now to 2026
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (May 2022)2001 Château du Tertre, Margaux, Bordeaux2001 Château du Tertre, Margaux, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $142 -
Champagne Ulysse Collin, Les Maillons, Blanc de Noirs, Extra Brut (Base 2018)
Disgorged in 2022 after 36 months in tirage, the NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Maillons (2018) is based on the 2018 vintage, incorporating fully 60% reserve wines from the 2017 vintage.
Opening in the glass with scents of sweet mirabelle plum, honeycomb, orange oil, bee pollen and spices, it’s full-bodied fleshy and seamless, with a satiny attack that segues into a vinous, enveloping mid-palate that’s complemented by a fine, pillowy mousse.
Concluding with a sapid, penetrating finish, 2018 was the first vintage in which Collin employed his new Coquard press, and it doesn’t seem fanciful to imagine that this contributes to the notable finesse of this release.
Drink 2022 - 2035
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (August 2022)
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1998 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The 1998 Comtes de Champagne is a different story altogether. This is a sexy, up-front Comtes endowed with lovely richness in its fruit and open, expressive aromatics. It remains an impressive, inviting Comtes that should also continue to develop nicely in the bottle for at least another decade plus. - Vinous
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2009 Clos de Vougeot, Grand Cru, Sylvain Loichet, Burgundy
This is a wine of immense potential but it is rather raw at the moment and will certainly need decanting. Underneath the reductive elements, the fruit is superlatively rich, sumptuous yet also stylish, with dark fruit notes, weight and yet excellent structure.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director -
2015 Côte-Rôtie, La Giroflarie, Patrick Jasmin, Rhône
Brilliant ruby. Bright and focused on the nose, displaying spice- and mineral-tinged red berry, cherry and floral scents that pick up smoke and cracked pepper nuances as the wine opens up. Juicy and light on its feet, especially given the vintage, offering sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavours and a hint of salty olive paste. Fine-grained tannins add grip to a long, lively finish that echoes the olive and cherry notes.
Drink 2022 - 2030
Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com (March 2018)
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2014 Seña, Aconcagua Valley, Chile
Very deep, dark colour. Rich blackcurrant fruit on the nose, both berry and leaf, no obvious oak on the bouquet, no confection, just a hint of toast. Very good on the palate, serious and savoury, ripe and reminiscent of unsweetened blackcurrant juice, wonderful mouth-feel with crisp acidity and rounded tannins, complexity is provided by a hint of spice in the shape of black pepper notes and a touch of cedar. Long and impressive on the finish. The best Chilean red I can remember tasting.
Chris Pollington, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
A lovely depth of colour with flicks of purple in appearance. The nose reveals comforting aromas of ripe blackberries, bramble, and cloves with a gentle herbal character of blackcurrant leaf. Concentrated flavours of red plum, blackberry and mulberry greet the palate which is generously structured with gradually building ripe tannins. Hints of sweet spice and mocha come through and a cleansing acidity wraps the wine up neatly providing balance and freshness towards the long finish. Profound, focussed and with fair depth, this 2014 is proof that Viña Seña are moving in the right direction. Allow a few years in the cellar.
Chris Lamb, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2014 Seña, Aconcagua Valley, Chile2014 Seña, Aconcagua Valley, ChileBottle Price 75cl $170 -
2014 Clos Saint-Denis, Grand Cru, Benjamin Leroux, Burgundy
The 2014 Clos St Denis Grand Cru has a very refined, very cohesive, elegant bouquet with red cherry, wild strawberry and rose petals - wonderful. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin on the entry, a thickly layered Clos Saint Denis with dense, ripe raspberry and cranberry fruit, though it just needs a little more detail on the finish if he wants to strut like the Amoureuses.
Neal Martin - 31/12/2015 -
2013 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Referts, 1er Cru, Etienne Sauzet, Burgundy
The 2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru les Referts has a poised, tightly wound bouquet with hints of blackberry leaf and licorice suggesting that post-bottling, this might turn out to be spicy little number. Nothing wrong with that! The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with a steeliness coming through with aeration, then it lets go during the second half with citrus lemon, orange zest, freshly squeezed lime and a long minerally finish. This is one of the more mercurial Puligny's from Sauzet - very intriguing.
Neal Martin - 30/12/2014 -
2000 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2000 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is spectacular... A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this effort has a singular/distinctive yet possibly controversial aromatic smorgasbord existing of creme de cassis, vanilla, and violets, but also tapenade and tree bark. No doubt the Petit Verdot has imparted a certain almost olive-like component to the wine's aromatic profile.
In the mouth, it is a wine of extraordinary density, opulence, great presence, and richness. As the 2000 sits in the glass, notes of lavender and melted licorice emerge along with the distinctive tapenade aromas interwoven with creme de cassis, espresso roast, and cedar. The wine is full-bodied, with extraordinary purity and a tremendous texture.This is a dramatic, almost flamboyant style that is not classic Pauillac in one sense, but a classic wine.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 2003
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1982 Château Léoville Las Cases, St Julien, Bordeaux
If the 1855 Classification was rewritten tomorrow there is little doubt that this aristocratic estate would be reclassified as a First Growth. Their 1982 is probably the finest wine Las Cases has ever produced and coming from what many consider to be the finest vintage of the 20th century, it’s little wonder that the combination of magnificent vintage and phenomenal estate produced such an epic wine. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated and bursting with ripe fruit, this is the epitome of elegance, purity and balance. No cellar is complete without this exalted Claret.
Drink now
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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Champagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutChampagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutChampagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutBottle Price 75cl $330
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2021 Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc, Bellis Perennis, Dom. Naudin Ferrand
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2021 St Aubin, Derrière La Tour, 1er Cru, Jean-Claude Bachelet & Fils, Burgundy
Bright fresh purple colour. Here there is a trace of a minor reduction but much less severe than the Bourgogne, otherwise a much prettier raspberry fruit with a light cherry touch. Perfectly clean fruit, quite juicy and with good length. Will be a treat. No great acidity.
Drink 2024 - 2028
Jasper Morris MW, InsideBurgundy.com (January 2023)
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2020 Saumur-Champigny, Les Closiers, Domaine des Closiers, Loire
Domaine des Closiers is the project of Anatole de la Brosse, who fell in love with wine and became friends with Nady Foucault of Clos Rougeard before setting up this domaine. This is a blend of all the estate’s holdings, giving a wonderfully pure and refined expression of Cabernet Franc. The grapes are de-stemmed and undergo a very gentle maceration before ageing for 8-10 months in stainless-steel tank. This is delightfully perfumed with lovely, lifted aromas of flowers, cherry fruit and graphite. The palate has beautifully pure and crunchy red and black fruit and a fine, refreshing finish typical of this producer.
Drink now to 2028
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2019 Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc, Bellis Perennis, Dom. Naudin Ferrand
This Chardonnay is from the south-facing En Daisey vineyard in Magny-lès-Villers. The nose is ripe and complex, with peachy and tropical notes and a generous lick of oak. Despite the wine’s sunny aromatic profile, the palate has a beautiful limpid and mineral character. Like the Aligoté, there’s a distinctly saline, moreish finish.
Drink 2022 - 2025
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2018 Yann Durieux, Recrue des Sens, Love and Pif, Vin de France
Yann Durieux's Aligoté comes from his vineyards near Beaune, where the vines, aged over 45 years, grow in clay and limestone soils. Yann's winemaking ethos prioritises freshness and dynamism, eschewing oak for tank maturation, allowing the wine to evolve gracefully in the bottle before release. The 2018 vintage entices with a refreshing, lively palate with citrus-mineral accents, balanced acidity, and a lingering, salty finish nuanced with hints of iodine. It's undeniably fresh with fruity and mineral notes, perfect for pairing with seafood, white meat, and Asian dishes.
Drink now
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2016 Anjou, Cabernet Franc, Clau de Nell, Loire
From 45-year-old vines, macerated for 30-35 days ("just infusion, no extraction") and aged in old barrels for 12 months plus six months in tanks, the 2016 Anjou Cabernet Franc is pure and intense on the nose that reveals finely concentrated raspberry, red cherry and tobacco aromas. Pure, intense and fresh on the palate, this is a silky-textured, refined, elegant red with fine tannins and vibrantly mineral acidity. Tart on the finish but full of character. Excellent. Bottled at the end of April 2017.
Drink 2022 - 2036
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (October 2021)
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2015 Chassagne-Montrachet, Les Petits Clos, 1er Cru, Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard, Burgundy
Delicate, light colour with faint green notes, this has a very elegant, classy nose, still with a layer of velvet. This is lively, vibrant and very dense, with pure ripe pears. It is very long and has quite a bit of power behind it; there is exceptional potential here.
The sometimes hesitant Caroline Gagnard was confident when showing us her excellent range of 2015s, and rightly so. Poor conditions during flowering have resulted in a small crop in red but somewhat better for white. Caroline began picking on 31 August and thinks that 2015 resembles a mix of 2010, ‘12, and ‘13, describing the wines as being both “glace et sorbet” – i.e., with the fresh precision of a sorbet and the richer texture of ice cream.
Drink 2019 - 2025
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2015 Chablis, Domaine William Fèvre, Burgundy
5-10% fermented and aged five to six months in old barrels, the rest in tank and aged therein for 10-12 months.
Light notes of citrus and cedar, more open and expressive than some. With the rounded texture of that oak-fermented portion determining the overall style though there is no oak flavour. Gentle and creamy but still very fresh on the longish finish.
Drink now
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (October 2017)
2015 Chablis, Domaine William Fèvre, Burgundy2015 Chablis, Domaine William Fèvre, BurgundyBottle Price 600cl $460 -
2014 Vosne-Romanée, Les Suchots, 1er Cru, Lucien Le Moine, Burgundy
Reduction. Otherwise there is both good verve and a lovely sense of freshness to the relatively big-bodied flavors that possess a velvety texture while delivering excellent depth and length on the dusty, palate coating and moderately austere finale. I like the fine balance as well as the underlying material and this beauty should amply reward 10 to 15 years of bottle age. - Burghound
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2013 Nuits-St Georges Rouge, Clos de la Maréchale, 1er Cru,Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Burgundy
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale has a more sophisticated and nuanced nose compared to its peers, red and black fruit here and well-integrated oak.
The palate is smooth in the mouth, supple and quite plush, with some quality new oak that is almost Cathiard-like in style (which appears to have evolved in the last few months).
However, there is fruit to support that here. Give this 2-3 years in bottle; it should turn into a decent Nuits Saint-Georges. Tasted September 2016.
Drink 2018 - 2030
Neil Martin, Wine Advocate (November 2016)
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2013 Beaune, Les Grèves, 1er Cru, Domaine de Montille, Burgundy
One third whole cluster. Decent solid fruit on the nose here, rugged perhaps. Dark fruit with a redder final touch, a mite of spice, good tannins, slightly taking the fore over acidity, the fruit stays equal to it and continues on well behind.
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2012 Solaia, Antinori, Tuscany, Italy
Solaia is derived exclusively from its namesake vineyard, Solaia—meaning sunny one—a 10-hectare, southwest-facing site that is comprised principally of marl soils and albarese rock.. The Marchesi Antinori firm produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with an initial blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a blend repeated again in 1979.
Solaia is a 50 acre (20 hectare), southwest-exposed vineyard of the Tignanello estate situated between 1150 and 1320 feet (350-400 meters) above sea level on stony soils consisting of calcareous clays and limestone rock. The Marchesi Antinori produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with a blend consisting of 80% Cbernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, repeating the initial production in 1979. In the following vintages 20% of Sangiovese became part of the blend and certain corrections in the ratio of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were made as well until the current composition of the blend was defined and became definitive. Solaia is produced only in high level vintages and was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983,1984, and 1992.
2012 Solaia, Antinori, Tuscany, Italy2012 Solaia, Antinori, Tuscany, ItalyBottle Price 75cl $489 -
2005 Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Burgundy
This is discreet, stylish and exceptionally long with a wonderful heady Vosne perfume and plenty of stuffing on the palate. A delicious wine. Drink 2008-2012.
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2005 Penfolds, St Henri Shiraz, Australia
Showing a beautiful perfume of crushed red and warm black fruits, this wine is ripe but not overly so on the palate. It’s totally beguiling because of its New World flare combined with Old World purity, and really is rather spectacular.
(Simon Staples, BBR Sales & Marketing Director)2005 Penfolds, St Henri Shiraz, Australia2005 Penfolds, St Henri Shiraz, AustraliaBottle Price 75cl $250 -
2002 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux
The alcohol this vintage is 14%, while the residual sugar is 129.4 grams per litre, and the total acidity is 4.5 grams per litre of H2SO4.
Pale to medium gold coloured, the 2002 d'Yquem strides confidently out of the glass with forthright notions of spiced pears, baked pineapple, apricot preserves and orange blossoms with touches of graham crackers, praline, ginger nut and lemon curd. The palate lends an understated earthy/savoury character with seamless freshness and a satiny texture paving the long, perfumed finish.
Open-knit, expressive and yet still packing some primary fruit flavours, this vintage has entered its drinking window for those who love Yquem while it still possesses bags of vivacity. Five to seven more years in bottle should begin to yield more of the toffee, toasted nuts and savoury elements for those who love that more evolved phase.
Drink 2019 - 2040
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (August 2019)
2002 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux2002 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, BordeauxBottle Price 37.5cl $398 -
1996 Château La Gaffelière, St Emilion, Bordeaux
La Gaffeliere's 1996 is one of this estate's finest efforts over recent years. The property's hallmark style produces medium-bodied, soft, attractive, lightweight wines that are savoured for their delicacy and subtlety as opposed to blockbuster impact. The 1996 reveals a dark plum colour, a sweet nose of black cherries and cassis, a medium body, excellent purity, nicely integrated wood and acidity, and a sweet, finely textured, savoury finish. The wine will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep for 15 or more years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate (April 1997)
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1977 Dow's, Port, Portugal
Dow traditionally produce a drier and more fragrant style of Port than its siblings in the Symington Family fold. The ’77 Dow’s Port is one of the greats and memorably combines the depth and quality of the vintage with its own inimitable deftness and class.
The nose is complex and intriguing, full of malted fruit, sultanas and figs, which draw you in. The palate unfolds beautifully, with mature walnut and wood smoke notes on the finish. This deserves time in the decanter and perhaps a bit of peace and quiet in front of the fire.
Philip Moulin, Fine Wine Quality & Authentication Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
1977 Dow's, Port, Portugal1977 Dow's, Port, PortugalBottle Price 75cl $395 -
1963 Graham's, Port, Portugal
The 1963 Graham’s Vintage Port is mature in colour, with wide bricking on the rim and a mahogany core. It has an elegant, almost understated bouquet for a 1963, presenting scents of eucalyptus, antique bureau, clove and Chinese five-spice, all beautifully defined.
The palate is very well balanced, silky smooth in texture and spiced with white pepper, touches of curry leaf and cracked black pepper. At 55 years of age, it is not a voluminous, opulent Vintage Port, and it feels just a little faded.
I suspect that maybe it peaked a few years back, but it will still give pleasure for several years. Just don’t expect fireworks. Tasted at the Symington Tawny Port tasting at the Tower of London.
Drink 2018 - 2030
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (December 2018)
1963 Graham's, Port, Portugal1963 Graham's, Port, PortugalBottle Price 75cl $489 -
Champagne Clandestin, Les Semblables Boreal, Brut Nature
Derived from the 2019 vintage, Benoît Dussot's NV Brut Nature Les Semblables (Boréal) is derived from north-facing holdings. Wafting from the glass with scents of crisp pear, citrus oil, white flowers and buttery pasty, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and chiselled, its fleshy core of fruit girdled by racy acids.
Originally from Beaune, Benoît Doussot arrived in Champagne in 2015 after a stint at Domaine Fichet in Meursault. Working at Vouette & Sorbée, he perceived that organic growers were selling their fruit to big houses and the local cooperatives for no premium, and he set out to change that. Today, Doussot works with some 12 hectares of vines, farmed by nine different vignerons, divided among 18 parcels. In sourcing, he's looking for the second terrace of Kimmeridgian limestone; and all his cuvées are derived from a single vintage, a single grape variety and this same terrace, differentiated by their different expositions.
Drink 2023 - 2030
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (August 2023)
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Champagne Domaine Nowack, Les Arpents Rouges, Extra Brut
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2011 Barolo, Vigna Rionda, Riserva, Massolino, Piedmont, Italy
Massolino's 2011 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is a more than worthy follow-up to the stellar 2010. Silky, perfumed and incredibly inviting, the 2011 will also give up its considerable charms much earlier. Sweet red cherry, rose petal, spice, hard candy, and mint give the 2011 its inner sweetness. Above all else, the 2011 captures a compelling middle ground that balances the warmth of the year with a classic sense of structure. The 2011 is a racy, alluring Rionda that will be nearly impossible to resist, even young.
Brothers Franco and Roberto Massolino decided to give their single-vineyard 2013 Barolos a bit more time in barrel than normal. Tasted from bottle, those wines are every bit as impressive as they were from barrel. Massolino has made compelling Barolos for several decades. Still, in recent years, they have made additional investments that include a greater focus on quality, acquiring more vineyards and completing a significant cellar expansion. As for the wines themselves, they have never been better.
Drink 2021 - 2036
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2017)
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2004 Barolo, Vigna Rionda, Dieci X Anni, Riserva, Massolino, Piedmont, Italy
Maturing mid-ruby with only a very narrow, orange-tinged rim. This is what Barolo is about: cherry, earth undergrowth and hints of dried fruit, which do not take the upper hand. Lovely supple, tangy fruit that hasn’t lost any of its lustre, perfectly balanced with chewy tannins. Already impossible to resist, but not nearly at its peak.
Drink 2020 - 2046
Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com (November 2015)
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2021 Riesling, Réserve, Trimbach, Alsace
The 2021 Riesling Reserve is sourced entirely from estate owned old vines in Ribeauville and Bergheim. Green apple and lychee make way to stone fruits and oyster shell. It is bone dry with mouth-watering acidity, creating a real sense of freshness and energy. This is already drinking remarkably well now but will keep for decades. A cellar staple that offers unrivalled value.
Drink 2023 - 2043
Alex Weller, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2021 Riesling, Réserve, Trimbach, Alsace2021 Riesling, Réserve, Trimbach, AlsaceBottle Price 75cl $55 -
2021 Danbury Ridge Wine Estate, Pinot Noir, Essex, England
This is a Pinot Noir that I would be happy to drop blind in any Burgundy tasting.
The 2021 Pinot Noir has a lucid colour. This has a superb bouquet, more transparency and complexity than the 2020. Vivid red fruit mixes with a touch of sous-bois and tomato vine. It’s probably my favourite of the Pinots so far. The palate has exquisite balance with slightly edgy tannins, impressive transparency, vivid cranberry and wild strawberry notes, and a sense of symmetry towards the finish. A bottle poured blind in New York showed more red fruit, Gamay-like characteristics.
Drink 2024 - 2034
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (April 2024)
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2021 Coteaux Bourguignons, Blanc, Les Glapignys, Domaine Guyon, Burgundy
This wine comes from an outlying vineyard, sitting between the railway line and airfield near Nuits-St. Georges. The land is low-lying here but there is clay and limestone. The little parcel of 0.15 ha that Jean Pierre has found has a mix of two-thirds chardonnay and one-third pinot blanc, with 50-year-old vines. The enjoyment is all front-loaded with lots of aromatic character and some exotic fruit notes. The palate gives pleasure although the lowly provenance finally wins out on a shortish finish. Nonetheless, this is exceptional for what it is, and where it comes from.
Drink 2023 - 2026
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2019 Morey-St Denis, Domaine des Lambrays, Burgundy
All destemmed. Medium deep red, a rather light nose, not much change from the past thus far. More purity on the palate though, with a sweet deep red fruit, a little bit of barrel showing behind. There is a sweet length of fruit, ripe raspberry, quite perfumed and with good length. - Jasper Morris MW
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1989 Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac, Bordeaux
An excellent value for money, underratted, yet immaculately made Barsac. Doisy-Daene does not possess the lusciously sweet character of other, more expensive Sauternes/Barscac wines. It compensates with its rich, vivid fruitiness, well-supported by a remarkably fresh, harmonious acidity. And it can be approached at a much younger stage.
"Exhibiting plenty of honeyed ripe fruit, a more elegant personality, fine richness, chunkiness and depth, full body, and low acidity" Robert Parker (The bordeaux Book, 1998)1989 Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac, Bordeaux1989 Château Doisy Daëne, Barsac, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $170 -
Hophead Vodka (45%)
Founded in San Francisco more than 100 years ago, Anchor Brewing & Distilling remains an innovator in the beverage industry. Fritz Maytag, the pioneer of modern craft brewing, became the instrumental force behind the company’s resurrection in 1965 and sparked the modern craft spirits movement in the United States.
Inspired by the mesmerising aroma of hops that permeates the brewery and distillery, Head Distiller Bruce Joseph and Brewmaster Mark Carpenter, two of the company’s original visionaries, developed Hophead Vodka using small copper pot stills and two varieties of hops. The result is a vodka built on flavour, but not a “flavoured” vodka. This craft spirit captures the fresh, aromatic character of Yakima Valley hops, with notes of pine and citrus but without the typical bitterness. It’s unfiltered to retain maximum flavour and mouthfeel.
Berry Bros. & Rudd
Hophead Vodka (45%)Hophead Vodka (45%)Bottle Price 70cl $79 -
2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins
Made from Chardonnay grapes from an old, 100 % Grand Cru vineyard in Avize, La Vigne aux Gamins is a unique Cuvee full of love and flavour. The wine has a very clear, almost limpid colour and delicate bubbles. The nose develops very subtly Aromas of prune whilst aerating the wine reveals notes of cooked fruits, brioche and the lovely lingering finish of a great terroir. La Vigne aux Gamins is free of all embellishments, making it an exceptionally pure Champagne.
2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux GaminsBottle Price 75cl $170 -
2018 Beaune, Les Perrières, 1er Cru, Domaine de Montille, Burgundy
Brian has used two-thirds whole-bunch this year, adding some mid-palate sweetness and reinforcing the chalky tannins of Les Perrières to give added freshness. The high active limestone content in this vineyard gives an energetic and mineral expression of Pinot Noir, with a creamy attack and high-quality chalk tannins on the finish.
Drink 2022 - 2028
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2017 Gevrey-Chambertin, Lavaux St-Jacques, 1er Cru, Domaine Denis Mortet,Burgundy
From five plots around the vineyard, this is a wine for which Arnaud never includes any whole bunches, feeling the floral profile of the vineyard does not need further embellishment. The wine has the perfect balance of ripe, sunny fruit, gorgeous silken tannins and vibrant acidity. The 70 percent new oak is so wellintegrated that it is unnoticeable.
Self-assured Arnaud Mortet is rightly proud of his capacious, extended cellars on the edge of Gevrey, explaining that the extra space allows him to work with the same precision in the winery as he does in the vineyard. Arnaud is meticulously thorough in the vines, explaining that he loves vintages like 2017, where all that hard work really pays off and gives just reward for the true vigneron. His carefully managed yields have given wines with ripe tannins and good concentration. Overall, he reduced the number of whole bunches as he didn’t want to reduce acidity levels in the wines.
Drink 2022 - 2032
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2017 Échezeaux, Grand Cru, Domaine Jean Grivot, Burgundy
Initially this just delivers a huge amount of sensual ripeness. Hedonistic, yes, but there is also more grip and structure than the first impression suggest. As on his Clos de Vougeot, Étienne has been working hard here to deliver more finesse, with evident success. Drink 2025-2032.
Jean Grivot, whose name continues to appear on the labels, took over from his father Gaston in 1955 and handed the estate on to his son Étienne in the early 1980s. Étienne, married to Marielle Bize from Savigny, has been through a number of incarnations as winemaker here. When he took over, his father’s style was for gentle, graceful wines which perhaps were a little weak in the lesser vintages. Since then Étienne has found his own voice and made a range of increasingly fine wines. The drive to reduce yields and fine-tune his work in the vineyards and cellar since the mid-2000s continues to enhance quality. The succession to the next generation is now well underway, with Mathilde and Hubert increasingly influential, under their father’s experienced and wise guidance.
Here the decision was to wait for a bit of rain, to get the skins and berries fully ripe. The rain did the trick and the resulting wines are among the best of the Côte this year. Adjectives tumbled from Étienne during the tasting: seductive and precise, glamorous, graphite and saline, luminous and suave. We both agreed we rather liked “resonant”. Volumes are up 50 percent but Étienne warned us that the run of short vintages has depleted their reserves, and as such allocations this year will not move up in line. -
2016 San Leonardo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Notes of rich, dark fruits on the nose, intermingled with spice and ripe herbs. Full-bodied and palate-filling in the mouth with loads of dark cherry, cassis and plum notes, a touch of vanilla, summer herbs and hints of tobacco and graphite. Crisp acidity and fine-grained tannins round this off on the long finish. This is a very impressive San Leonardo which will drink well young and age gracefully for decades.
Drink 2023 - 2040
Chris Pollington, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2016 San Leonardo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy2016 San Leonardo, Trentino-Alto Adige, ItalyBottle Price 150cl $260 -
2014 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Château de Beaucastel,Rhône
More forward and approachable than the 2013, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is nevertheless a massive wine that has more depth and concentration than just about every other wine in the vintage. A classic blend of 60% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, and the rest Counoise and Syrah that was brought up in foudre, this full-bodied, forward, sexy effort has thrilling notes of black and blue fruits, beef blood, liquorice, ground pepper, and bouquet garni. While a relatively accessible, charming vintage (by this cuvees standards anyway), it still needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to evolve beautifully on its balance, complexity, and length. It’s an awesome 2014.
Drink 2023 - 2044
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (June 2019)
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2014 Champagne Ayala, No. 14, Rosé, Extra Brut
The nose is layered with delicate floral notes and hints of cherry. The palate is incredibly bright and vibrant, with bundles of pink grapefruit and blood orange encompassed in a lively mousse. With the blend favouring Chardonnay, there are hints of tropical fruits too. This is drinking wonderfully now and will age well over the next six years.
Drink 2022 - 2030
Paul Keating, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2013 Saumur-Champigny, Clos Rougeard, Loire
Medium dark garnet colour, earthy nose with a pleasant slight green herbal note; the palate starts with tasty darker fruit, excellent medium intensity, perfect acidity, then a lovely tangy slight saline soy note, there’s a bit of green here, but it just blends in with the other interesting complexities; all kinds of savoury, green peppercorns weaving through the somewhat reserved dark fruit—quite delicious, complex, fascinating wine. I loved the 12 last year; this is at least as good, maybe even more interesting.
2013 Saumur-Champigny, Clos Rougeard, Loire2013 Saumur-Champigny, Clos Rougeard, LoireBottle Price 75cl $398 -
2012 Champagne Gosset, Célébris, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The colour is golden with emerald reflections and particularly fine bubbles. The nose is fresh, with a hint of menthol spicing up the fruity aromas of pink grapefruit and frangipane. On the palate, the wine evokes a range of gourmet aromas: apples baked in salted butter, tarte tatin, far breton. This subtle complexity is enhanced by a spicy touch of candied ginger and star anise. The long, tonic and mineral finish evokes fresh pineapples with a touch of citrus.
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2012 Champagne Pol Roger, Berry Bros. & Rudd 325 Years Limited Release, Brut (Disgorged December 2019)
The 2012 vintage continues to prove it is one of the greatest of this millennium. It was sunny, but low yielding and the resulting wines have concentration, opulence and are worthy of time in the cellar. This unique parcel, late disgorged exclusively for Berry Bros. & Rudd, gives the palate richer golden depth, but also freshness.
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, the nose entices with roasted citrus, fig tarts and musky floral lift. The palate is a celebration of drinkability and complexity. The texture has a soft flow of fine mousse which carries the vintage’s richness in a cloud-like embrace. There are notes of peach, lemon meringue, the chewy corners of pâtisserie, and some depth of hazelnuts from evolution.
The finish is driven and typifies the grandeur of the vintage, but also the Grand Cru vineyards of Pol Roger. Everlasting, mineral elegance. Our 325th anniversary edition Pol Roger 2012 is testament to our enduring alliance with Pol Roger, but also the quality of their wines and the vintage.
Drink now to 2045
Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (October 2023)
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2009 Chinon, Les Roches, Alain & Jérôme Lenoir, Loire
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2004 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Les Comtes is one of the greatest of all Chardonnay Champagnes, its fruit sourced from the finest Grand Cru sites of the Côte des Blancs. Blue chip provenance includes the villages of Avize, le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant; it is the best of the best. Or, doubly appropriate given its luxuriant gustatory profile; la crème de la crème. 5% of the wine is aged in wood before spring bottling and the ensuing lengthy somnolence wherein the alchemical process of autolysis weaves its patient magic over nearly a decade.
2004 was an abundant crop, but also, unusually given its volume, one of high quality, especially in the south of the appellation and for the Chardonnay grape. Aromas of pear, greengage, bergamot and white flowers prove immediately attractive; the palate boasts precision, focus and a wonderful mousse bead. The immediate impression is of freshness and vitality; this is complemented by a profound yet subtle intensity that more than justifies the supreme reputation of this wine.
Ready to drink
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 1986 Pichon-Lalande has long been one of the standout wines of the decade, and served blind, this suggests that it might have the 1982 in its sights. In many ways, it is the twin brother of the Cabernet-driven 1996. It bolts out of the stable doors with intense blackberry and cedar aromas – pure Cabernet – and reveals touches of mint with time. The palate is medium-bodied and thankfully less obdurate than a decade ago; the tannins have mellowed in recent years and secondary notes of sage and graphite are now more expressive. I once described the 1986 as "broad-shouldered." It remains just that, but it has learned some grace and manners. This is a clear high point for the estate.
Drink 2019 - 2040
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (August 2019)
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1985 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, Bordeaux
This is the epitome of a classic, good, mature British Claret. Textbook cassis, cigar boxes, toast and minerals are all here. Its tannins are beautifully soft, but it has lost none of its flesh and intensity. It is fantastic right now, but will last for a further 10 to 15 years.
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1981 Crianza, Reserva, Bodegas Muga, Rioja, Spain
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Champagne Domaine Nowack, Autre Cru, Extra Brut
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Berry Bros. & Rudd F.L.B. Grande Champagne Cognac, Frapin (40%)
The Frapin family have been vinegrowers and distillers in Charentes since 1270, and count Rabelais among their ancestors. The family owns the largest single vineyard in Cognac Grande Champagne. Named after a twentieth century BB&R ancestor, Francis Lawrence Berry, this Cognac is floral and fragrant, with mellow, mature flavours.
This is a real standout, holding its own among its older and more established siblings in the Frapin range. There’s an amazing depth of flavour, and the price is approachable enough to entice Cognac aficionados and novices alike. I’ve shared this with friends and family, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Whether as an after-dinner tipple, a celebratory toast or after a takeaway pizza, F.L.B. punches well above its weight.
Markus Ljunghammar, Wine & Spirits Advisor
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Champagne A. Lamblot, La Coroche, Brut Nature (Base 2022)
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Champagne Emmanuel Brochet, Le Mont Benoit, Extra Brut
Emmanuel Brochet derives from a farming family in a part of Champagne that converted from viticulture to agriculture (more lucrative, given their proximity to Reims) in the aftermath of phylloxera. One of the remaining outposts of the vine is the Mont Benoît, where his grandparents had some 2.5 hectares contracted out. So, in 1997, Brochet took over and started a project of his own—a choice he made freely and enthusiastically, he emphasizes, rather than out of obligation.
Emmanuel Brochet's brilliant NV Extra-Brut Le Mont Benoit is the finest rendition of this cuvée that he has produced to date. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of waxy citrus rind, crisp stone fruit, bread dough, beeswax and nutmeg, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and vinous, exhibiting terrific concentration without weight, uniting the full maturity of the vintage with the pillowy, chalky signature of the Mont Benoit. Complex and compelling, this release underlines Brochet's status as one of the reigning champions of artisanal Champagne.
Drink 2023 - 2040
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (December 2023)
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Swartland White by The Sadie Family Wines, South Africa
We’re delighted to work with the legendary Eben Sadie for our Swartland White, a brand-new wine in our Own Selection. Eben has been planting some wonderful new vineyards over the last 10 years. In the future, he’ll use the grapes from these young vines to produce his own signature wines. For now, though, he is working exclusively with us on our Swartland White and Swartland Red.
The precise blend will change from one vintage to another; our 2022 Swartland White is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc. The nose is lively, with notes of yellow apple, white flowers and honey. The palate is gorgeous with tart white peach, fine minerality and a hint of tangerine. The finish is fresh and wonderfully pure.
Ready to drink now
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (May 2023)
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2006 Coranya, Celler Sangenís i Vaqué, Priorat, Spain
Deeply coloured, with a rich, complex nose of black cherry, leather and sandalwood, and a touch of sweet spice. Powerful yet restrained on the palate, with a seam of acidity proving the perfect foil to the dense tannins and the ripe dark fruit character. A spicy finish of impressive length.
Drink now until 2025
Stuart Fyfe, Private Client Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (January 2021)
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2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Leroy
Mossy nose with autumn leaves. Sweet start. Good freshness on the palate despite the compost elements on the nose. Firm tannins. Quite serious with a definite future. - Jancis Robinson
2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Leroy2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine LeroyBottle Price 75cl $340 -
2009 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling, Kent
An outstanding Chardonnay from the most exciting of all the current English sparkling wine producers (there is now very stiff competition), the 2009 has been aged for 36 months on its lees, and has undergone full malolactic fermentation. The wine has an impressive toasty depth, seldom hitherto encountered in England, with all the freshness and vivacity that we have come to expect from these patriotic sparklers.
The fruit character of tarte tatin and poached pear hints at an impressive ripeness, a ripeness that is naturally present and not in any way forced by an excessive dosage. All in all, very impressive indeed. Bravo M. Holland (and I don’t mean the gentleman, who, at the time of writing, is the President of France!).
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer -
2007 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Taittinger's 2007 Comtes de Champagne will be nearly impossible to resist upon release. Soaring aromatics, mid-weight structure and soft contours give the 2007 its alluring personality. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, chamomile and green pear add brightness and freshness throughout, with a persistent, clean finish that makes it impossible to resist a second taste.
Today, the 2007 comes across as a slightly more open version of the 2004, with freshness that makes that wine so appealing, and a touch of textural richness that recalls the 2002. Although the 2007 does not have the explosive energy or verticality of the profound 2006, it will drink better earlier. The 2007 has been positively brilliant on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.
Drink 2018 - 2047
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2018)
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2019 Rosso di Montalcino, La Serena, Tuscany, Italy
These vines are planted at 300 metres altitude on a mix of clay, sand and galestro. This 2019 is excellent: bright, serious and charming. Long, slow fermentation in steel, followed by 12 months in large oak, gives a floral nose with high-toned cherry and some wood spice. The palate is berry-laden and gleaming, with fleshy Sangiovese chew; the finish is vibrant.
Drink 2022 - 2030
Davy Żyw, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (February 2022)
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2003 Château Le Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux
Recently acquired by Sylvie and Jacques Guinaudeau, owners of one of Pomerols legendary estates, Ch. Lafleur, this property has undergone a major overhaul in recent years and results are now beginning to show through.This well-sited property has benefited from the ubiquitous but highly talented Michel Rolland's advice, plus a very smart new chai; it is one to watch for the future. The present is pretty impressive too with the majestic feel of this wine belying its humble location. This is another exception that proves the rule in Pomerol, displaying a silky, sensual texture that smooths over a reassuringly gravely mineral structure.
2003 Château Le Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux2003 Château Le Gay, Pomerol, BordeauxBottle Price 75cl $160 -
2018 Beaune, Les Grèves, 1er Cru, Dominique Lafon, Burgundy
Dominique rents this from the same owner as Vignes Franches, and the vines are also 60 years old. Arguably Beaune’s best vineyard, this has an extra layer of dark, meaty richness alongside the usual bright, floral notes.
Drink 2024 - 2031
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2016 Meursault, Les Narvaux, Dominique Lafon, BurgundyA pale lemon colour with light green tints, this cuvée displays a very backward nose with a touch of beneficial reduction. In the mouth it is very classy, building to the back, quite generous, with a lovely aftertaste. The fruit keeps on coming. Drink 2019-2025.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer
The whites were picked from 28th August with a good crop for the Bourgogne Blanc (see page XX), rather less in the other white vineyards. The reds Emore wine than in 2014 or 2016 but far from a full crop Eare superb, having been vinified with very light extraction, given the health and beauty of the raw material. While all the whites count as domaine wines, there are now two excellent cuvées of Premier Cru Beaune from purchased grapes to go alongside the domaine-owned Beaune Épenottes and the two Volnays. -
2020 Morey-St Denis, Les Monts Luisants, 1er Cru, Pierre Girardin, Burgundy"Pierre Girardin is known for his meticulous approach to winemaking. He practices sustainable viticulture, taking great care of his vineyards and working with low yields to ensure the concentration and quality of the grapes. In the cellar, he employs traditional winemaking techniques focusing on minimal intervention to allow the expression of the terroir.
The wines of Pierre Girardin are often described as elegant, precise, and expressive, showcasing the distinct characteristics of each vineyard: the white wines balance fruit flavors, minerality, and a beautiful texture. The red wines, primarily made from Pinot Noir, exhibit complexity, finesse, and a sense of place. -
2014 Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, Bordeaux
What a beautiful opening to this, with stunning cassis fruit and just a touch of wood spice that adds complexity. The palate is graceful and fresh, with the cherry fruit emerging again with liquorice and a lovely peppery finish. This is the best Comtesse I have tried for some years and will be an absolute joy to drink in 5-8 years time. I suspect given its fine balance it will drink for 10+ years.
2014 Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, Bordeaux2014 Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, BordeauxBottle Price 150 cl $199 -
2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Jean-Claude Ramonet
The 2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay is a medium to full-bodied, round and fleshy wine evocative of peach, fresh mint, pastry cream and vanilla pod. Open and demonstrative, it will drink well young. - Robert Parker
2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Jean-Claude Ramonet2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Jean-Claude RamonetBottle Price 75 cl $184 -
2010 Côte-Rôtie, Ampodium, Domaine René Rostaing, RhôneQuite reserved on entry, with fine linear acidity and a pure, long finish. The harvest was relatively late after a mild August; and René praises the resulting wine for its ‘belle tension E The wine has ripe yet restrained fruit, with subtle aromatics of violets and forest floor, and beautifully silky tannins at the back of the mouth. Extremely promising.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
A brilliant vintage for Côte-Rôtie, this is René’s favourite vintage of the past 20 years. Long maceration and low temperatures preserve the crystalline focus, yet the ripeness of the fruit gives a balance of opulent richness that makes this wine approachable in youth. There is finesse with black fruit precision with a touch of wet stone minerality, floral jasmine notes and herbs de provenance on the finish. Personally, I feel this wine as it represents the best of the Côte-Rôtie at a reasonable price. Though approachable now, this has the structure to age happily for a decade or more and will continue to give and give. If you have a case of this, I would open a bottle a year and track its progress.
Fine Wine Team
M Rostaing, or RR as we affectionately call him, is something of an enigma, a man giving all semblance of being a classicist, yet whose winemaking philosophy, with its use of rotary fermenters and pragmatic approach to destemming, is far from the old-school. His vocabulary, however, is pleasingly old-fashioned; he likes the 2010 vintage, as there is Ene belle rigueur E describing it as ‘Jansenist Ein temperament. The classicism now extends to the names of the wines; the wine formerly known as ‘Cuvée Classique Ehas been renamed Ampodium, the Roman name for the town of Ampuis, and the location of his winery. -
2016 St Aubin, En Remilly, 1er Cru, Domaine Hubert Lamy, BurgundyThis vineyard is on the western side of the Mont Rachet, close to Puligny-Montrachet. This has a plumper feel to the palate, with more of the mealy, oaty character of that appellation. Not to be underestimated, there is splendid intensity to match the fruit and energy of the wine. Drink 2021-2027. Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer
There have been Lamys growing vines in St Aubin since 1640 Etoday the domaine is run by Olivier Lamy in succession to his father Hubert. Olivier ceased supplying négociants in 1997, grubbing up and selling off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. He has been experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture an even greater expression of terroir. Every single one of Olivier Lamy’s vineyards in St Aubin was completely frosted; only Santenay escaped. In a strange way, this was a benefit because, when the vines began to re-flower, they did so all at the same time and there was an homogeneity of growth and maturity. Furthermore, without two differently maturing sets of grapes to contend with, the crop made up the two-week delay imposed by the frost and Olivier was able to start harvesting in Santenay on 15th September, finishing his Bourgogne Blanc from his highest vineyards in St Aubin 10 days later. Olivier suggests the style is like a lighter version of 2014. Overall his production is down about one third. -
2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut
71% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay with 25% vinified in oak tuns and 20% malolactic fermentation. RS 8 g/l.
There is real savour of age on the nose of this wine, which seems to have considerable development. Something very appetising on the palate but with the intrigue of the age on the nose. It may have 8 g/l dosage, but it tastes bone dry and extremely vibrant on the end. Only 20% malo presumably had an effect. Lots of wild-flower flavours Ea bit of a wild card overall.
Drink 2019 - 2027
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (October 2021)2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $130 -
2012 Viña Real, Gran Reserva, C.V.N.E., Rioja, Spain
Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke- and mineral-accented aromas of dark berry preserves, dried cherry, pipe tobacco, vanilla and incense. Stains the palate with intense blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. Packs a serious punch but comes off as lithe and precise, finishing with strong cut and length and silky tannins that come up slowly.
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2010 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
At first glance, the champagne looks golden yellow, with light greenish hues and a fine, persistent sparkle.The first nose reveals a powdery, floral and mineral note evoking the chypre universe of perfumery. The second nose brings together toasted and spicy notes such as nutmeg mace, roasted hazelnut and almond, and a hint of coffee. Fig leaf aromas mingle with notes of black tea and fresh spices in the mouth. A lingering fresh finish is elevated by an elegant bitterness.
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2007 Barbaresco, Rio Sordo, Cascina CruciataCascina Bruciata, Barbaresco "Rio Sordo" DOCG -is elegant red wine from the Nebbiolo varieties of berries collected in the vineyards in the area Rio Sordo. This wine is characterized by a special harmony velvet tannins and a pleasant dry in taste.
Vinification made in a traditional Barbaresco style, the wine is dark ruby in colour with a nose and palate of dried fruit, cedar wood and tobacco.2007 Barbaresco, Rio Sordo, Cascina Cruciata2007 Barbaresco, Rio Sordo, Cascina CruciataBottle Price 75 cl $280 -
2021 Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Riesling, Margaret River, AustraliaCrisp, with pure lime leaf and citrus zest aromas. A firm, linear racy acid line lifts the elegant palate that shows concentrated citrus fruits. Refined and delicate palate texture. Great potential for further ageing in the bottle.
Drink now until 2030
Adrian Brice, Fine Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (March 2023) -
2002 Nuits-St Georges, Aux Murgers, 1er Cru, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, BurgundyMedium depth of colour with a delicate, fragrant nose, very glossy, a delicious volume of fruit, fair depth, brisk red fruit with plenty of acidity. Fully ready but holding up nicely; no hurry.
Jasper Morris MW, insideburgundy.com (January 2018) -
2014 Château les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, BordeauxChange continues apace at this estate, which has been under new ownership since 2010, with their new cellar and tasting room opening in summer 2015. Displaying a lighter, more ethereal style, the 2014 has notes of menthol, tobacco and sweet blackcurrants, with violets and floral aromatics. Medium-bodied with a dark, plum-like colour, there is some sour cherry in the mix too. Earthy, mineral and with plenty of acidity, the luscious fruit balances out really nicely alongside the savoury edge. Persistent on the finish, spice and green pepper linger on the palate. The wine is quite powerful and serious, with layers of complexity. The 2014 is a very good effort.
55% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot -
2001 Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, BordeauxCh. Rauzan-Ségla and Mouton Rothschild were considered the leading Second Growth Bordeaux properties during the 19th century; however, while the fortunes of Mouton prospered in the 20th century, Rauzan-Ségla's reputation dwindled, and a succession of disappointing wines were produced.
In the early 1980s, the property was sold, and the Renaissance began. Now with the might and wealth of Chanel behind this château (since April 1994), the wines here have gone from strength to strength. Rauzan-Ségla is once again worthy of its Second Growth status.
The 2001 vintage is dense with a concentrated cassis nose, supported by graceful fruit and ripe tannins. Despite its power, this has real class, showing elegance, restraint and subtlety. This has all the majesty of great Margaux.
Drink now
Berry Bros. & Rudd (July 2023)2001 Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, Bordeaux2001 Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, BordeauxBottle Price 75 cl $252 -
2018 Condrieu, Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay, Stéphane Ogier, RhôneThis limited production cuvée is made with ageing in mind and only in the best vintages. It is released only when Stéphane judges it to be at the beginning of its drinking window at 4-5 years after the harvest. It is rich and succulent, packed full of ripe stone and tropical fruits, underlaid with notes of ginger and honey and orange blossom highlights. There is also a hint of sweet spice and creaminess owing to the 7 months it spends in new but large oak foudres.
It is unctuous and silky but far from overbearing. A bite of fresh citrus fruit and crushed stone minerality brings balance and purity to the mid-palate and the assurance of many fine years of drinking ahead. It is one of only a handful of wines to challenge the concept that Condrieu is best drunk young.
Drink now to 2030+ -
2001 Château Léoville Barton, St Julien, BordeauxThe 2001 Léoville Barton is still a few years from full maturity. Unwinding in the decanter and glass with aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and muscular, with a deep, concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and ripe but firm tannins that still assert themselves on the finish. If Léoville Poyferré is in its prime today, this Léoville Barton still ideally deserves a few more years' patience.
Drink 2021 - 2041
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (February 2022) -
2018 Cervaro della Sala, Antinori, Umbria, ItalyCompared to the 2017 vintage, which shows a more accessible and full-bodied style, the 2018 Cervaro della Sala is a classic edition—it’s about as classic as I have ever tasted this landmark white from Umbria to be. This cooler vintage prizes finesse and elegance, and those traits are matched by efforts in the winery to accomplish that same goal.
On many levels, the 2018 vintage opens a new chapter for Cervaro della Sala, emphasising preserved lemon, crisp pear and crushed mineral. The wine offers beautiful freshness and linearity. I must also mention that this vintage is released while the fruit is still a bit closed or shy. That slightly reductive approach bodes very well for the wine’s future evolution.
Drink 2020 E2035
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (October 2019) -
2011 Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc, Les Planchots, Domaine Guyon, BurgundyThe Savigny Blanc Planchots Guyon is a wonderful example of aged white Burgundy, made from old vines on the sandy gravel soils of Savigny-lès-Beaune. Notes of peach, almond and hazelnut combine with a touch of acacia honey and a salty tang to deliver a wine of generosity and freshness. This would be equally at home as an aperitif with charcuterie, or as an accompaniment to the cheeseboard.
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (April 2021) -
2017 Vosne-Romanée, Aux Malconsorts, 1er Cru, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, BurgundyThe 2017 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru is matured in 62% new oak and underwent a slightly later malolactic fermentation than the other cuvées. It has a very pure, detailed bouquet of precise blackberry, briar and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red and black fruit, displaying more grip and backbone than the Les Suchots, and the bold finish perhaps offering less charm. It will certainly require several years in bottle.
- Vinous 93-95/100 -
2019 Barbera d'Alba, Scarrone, Vigna Vecchia, Vietti, Piedmont, Italy
Deep ruby purple color. Pronounced and intense aromas of ripe red and black cherries and blackberries, paired with notes of spices and a hint of tar. Full bodied, with intense fruit on the palate that is paired with refreshing acidity. The single vineyard Scarrone has finesse, excellent balance, great complexity and a long lingering aftertaste.
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2006 Barolo, Le Vigne, Luciano Sandrone, Piedmont, ItalySoaring aromatics make a strong first impression in Luciano Sandrone's 2006 Barolo Le Vigne (Library Release). Stunningly beautiful and vivid, the 2006 possesses tons of pedigree. Silky tannins, expressive floral notes and delineated, red-toned fruit set the stage for powerful, voluptuous Barolo that satisfies all the senses. Like the Cannubi Boschis, the 2006 Le Vigne is in a gorgeous spot to deliver phenomenal drinking pleasure now and over the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer.
- Vinous 97/100 -
2007 Barolo, Le Vigne, Luciano Sandrone, Piedmont, ItalyThe 2007 Barolo Le Vigne presented a beguiling combination of explosive, ripe fruit and finessed silky tannins, making it a thrilling wine to taste, even at this stage in its development. Small red berries, minerals, crushed flowers, vanillin and sweet spices are woven together in a fabric of indescribable elegance. The French oak has never been better balanced, while the vibrant, crystalline finish leaves a lasting impression.
The 2007 Le Vigne has all the potential to develop into a spectacular wine; it already is. This is a stunning bottle of Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. Luciano Sandrone’s wines have never been more elegant than they are today. The French oak is increasingly well balanced, and the at-times excessive heaviness of some prior vintages is long gone.
Simply put, Luciano Sandrone is at the top of his game.
Never one to be satisfied, this year Sandrone showed me several experimental wines, including a barrel sample of 2009 Barolo Le Vigne vinified with 100% stems, an approach that is virtually unheard of in Piedmont. Although this wine will ultimately be blended into the Barolo Le Vigne, the all-stems Barolo was huge, explosive, and compelling. Sandrone fans have much to look forward to, as the 2008s and 2009s appear promising at this early stage. As for the 2007s, they are off the charts.
Drink 2015 - 2027
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (February 2011) -
2017 Volnay, Les Lurets, 1er Cru, Dominique Lafon, BurgundyIn contrast to the village wine from the same parcel, this displays more complexity, with subtle spice notes joining the berry fruit and violet on the nose. The palate is dense and concentrated with some warmth and rich strawberry fruit, all the while retaining the elegance of Volnay.
Drink 2022-2029.
After the famine of 2016, this year is something of a feast, at least in the case of the reds. Sadly, the whites, which Dominique praises as having excellent clarity, are in slightly smaller volumes than 2016. The good news is that the full range of red wines has been made, and in good volume too. Dominique is effusive in his praise for the 2017 reds, describing them as appealing, with beautiful balance, a lightness of touch, refined tannins and a floral character with stunning red fruit. -
2010 Château Guiraud, Sauternes, BordeauxAcquired in 2006 by Olivier Bernard from Domaine de Chevalier, together with three other vignerons and the Peugeot Family, this property can only be on the road to success. It has great intensity on the nose with touch of oranges, apricots and pineapple, and a delicious, viscous, yet fresh mid-palate. The energy in this wine makes you reach for another sip and the finish is intense and very persistent: a lovely wine.
Max Lalondrelle, BBR Bordeaux Wine Buyer2010 Château Guiraud, Sauternes, Bordeaux2010 Château Guiraud, Sauternes, BordeauxBottle Price 75 cl $103 -
Berrys' Spy, 5-year-old, Dry Madeira, 19%Berrys Erevamped Madeira range is now available in the popular 50cl format. The range of four covers the gamut of styles, and all wines have been up-graded from 3 and 5 year old to the 5 Year -Old Premium category. All, most importantly, have been matured by the superior 'canteiro' method, whereby the ageing is achieved naturally by allowing the casks to mature in the lofts of the lodges.
Berrys' ""Ship Series"" of Madeiras reflects the practice, common until the mid 19th century, of naming wines after the ships that carried them. The Spy was a sloop from Bermuda, carrying grain to Madeira and wine back to the West Indies until shipwrecked off Funchal in 1714. Spy 5-year-old is the driest Madeira in Berrys' Own range; it has a pale topaz colour with golden highlights, a characterisitc bouquet of dried fruit and old school libraries, then an attractive 'burnt' flavour, which in turn belies an astonishing freshness on the finish. A great aperitif.
Simon Field, MW - Wine BuyerBerrys' Spy, 5-year-old, Dry Madeira, 19%Berrys' Spy, 5-year-old, Dry Madeira, 19%Bottle Price 50 cl $48 -
2002 Riesling, Eiswein, Erdener Treppchen, Dr. Loosen, MoselRich and graceful, this '02 eiswein layers its apricot, peach and mineral flavors on a firm structure, leaving the essence of peach and a hint of vanilla on the finish. It ends with a tangy note. Drink now through 2015. 100 cases made.
94/100 points. (Wine Spectator - Mar-2004) -
Junipero Gin, Original Pot Distilled, 49.3%Junípero Gin is a London Dry Gin has been distilled with twelve botanicals together in a small copper pot still. The result is a traditional juniper heavy flavour, with a pronounced spiciness. While the final botanical list remains secret, citrus elements as well as coriander and liquorice play their part in complementing a classic, timeless gin profile.
Although the nose is subtle, there is little more to say about the spirit that is exactly what its name suggests Ejuniper predominant gin with no aspirations to be anything other than a typical London Dry. Allegedly the name Junípero ESpanish for juniper, is also a word play that refers to Junípero Serra, an important figure in San Francisco and California’s history. As with many stronger, traditional tasting gins (bottled at 49.3% ABV), Junípero makes for a great Martini.
Made by Anchor Distilling in Potrero Hill in San Francisco, California, Junípero was launched in 1998 and was truly one of the first in the new wave of gins to reach the market during the category’s recent resurgence.
Anchor Distilling Company, based on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, was established just over 20 years ago in 1993, but has a long history connected to it before that. The first owner of Anchor Distilling Company, Frederick Louis Maytag III (also known as Fritz), established it as a parallel business to his already thriving Anchor Brewing Company. The expansion of the Brewery in 1979, when Fritz moved it to the current location where it still resides today, meant that he was able to do expand the business, giving himself the title of owning the first brewery in the world with it’s own in-house distillery.Junipero Gin, Original Pot Distilled, 49.3%Junipero Gin, Original Pot Distilled, 49.3%Bottle Price 70 cl $111 -
Berrys' Guyanan Rum 1998, 15-year-old, 46.0%During the 1650s the British introduced the art of distilling to Guyana’s sugar plantations spawning the country’s vibrant rum industry. Within two decades there were more than 300 stills in operation. Today only one survives, Diamond distillery on the banks of the Demerara river.
Deep fruity aromas evolve giving raisin and prune notes. A little vanilla softens the intensity. The palate has some toasted oak notes and balancing sweetness from the fruit. Bruised apples and pears come to mind.Berrys' Guyanan Rum 1998, 15-year-old, 46.0%Berrys' Guyanan Rum 1998, 15-year-old, 46.0%Bottle Price 70 cl $120 -
2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain Thiénot
Dark black currant, plum violet and spicy aromatics lead to a silky elegantly textured palate showing great depth, tension and persistence.
{***} {region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2007{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast::94/100 {ratings}{***}
2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain ThiénotChampagne2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain ThiénotBottle Price 75 cl $146Bottle Price 150 cl $330 -
2007 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Garance, Blanc de Rouges
An expressive version, with vibrant acidity providing fine cut, and flavors of wild berry, toasted brioche, orange pâte de fruit and clover honey riding the finely detailed bead. Smoky on the finish. Enjoy this rich, balanced version with food. Drink now through 2027. - Wine Spectator
{***}{region}Champagne{region} {color}Rose{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {ratings} []Wine Spectator::92/100 []Wine Enthusiast:: 92/100 {ratings} {***}
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2006 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Stanislas Blanc de Blancs
With fruit from the chalk vineyards of the Côte des Blancs, this wine named after Alain Thiénot's son Stanislas is tightly textured, mineral-driven, steely and crisp. Apple skins and lime juice feature along with a continuing freshness despite the wine's age.
{***} {region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2006{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast::92/100 {ratings}{***}
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2000 Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux
2000 saw a warm, dry July and August with a small amount of rain from mid-September onward. Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Latour has a deep garnet color and is showing a good amount of evolution, sporting mature notes of fried exotic spices, hoisin, unsmoked cigars and fruitcake with hints of incense, potpourri, cast iron pan and charcuterie.
Medium-bodied, soft, plush and savory in the mouth, it has a long, mineral-tinged finish. 14,000 cases were made this year, representing 48% of production.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (February 2019)2000 Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux2000 Château Latour, Pauillac, BordeauxBottle Price 75 cl $1,716 -
2019 Meursault, Les Grands Charrons, Pierre Girardin, Burgundy
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2019 Bourgogne Blanc, Clos-du-Château, Domaine de MontilleWith the vineyard now well over 30 years old Esince its conversion from an orchard in 1986 Ethere’s increasing gravitas to be found in this ostensibly generic wine. An enclosed biodynamic vineyard for 15 years, the wine increasingly resembles a miniature Puligny-Montrachet, with notes of citrus and white flower, and a spicy back note.Drink 2021 - 20272019 Bourgogne Blanc, Clos-du-Château, Domaine de Montille2019 Bourgogne Blanc, Clos-du-Château, Domaine de MontilleBottle Price 75cl $54Bottle Price 150 cl $110
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2018 Petit Chablis, Domaine Raveneau, Burgundy
There is both good freshness and reasonably good typicity to the white orchard fruit scents that are laced with soft citrus nuances. The vibrant and nicely concentrated medium weight flavors possess a caressing and succulent mouthfeel while delivering fine depth and persistence though there is a bit of perceptible backend warmth. This is a quality Petit Chablis that could be enjoyed young or cellared for a few years first.
Drink 2023+
Burghound (Nov 2020)2018 Petit Chablis, Domaine Raveneau, Burgundy2018 Petit Chablis, Domaine Raveneau, BurgundyBottle Price 150 cl $640 -
2018 Meursault, Limozin, Domaine François Mikulski, Burgundy
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2017 Pommard, Les Rugiens-bas, 1er Cru, Domaine de Montille, Burgundy
Firm reduction knocks down the underlying fruit at present. There is more size and power to the equally mineral-driven flavors that aren't especially dense, though neither are they dilute, while offering outstanding depth and persistence on the notably firm finale. Patience suggested.
Drink 2034+
Burghound (Apr 2019) -
2017 Mazoyères-Chambertin, Grand Cru, Arnaud Mortet, Burgundy
A cool, pure and airy nose reluctantly expresses notes of red cherry and whiffs of spice, humus and freshly turned earth. There is good power to the succulent and enveloping medium weight plus flavors that offer even better minerality if, somewhat surprisingly, a bit less concentration, on the youthfully austere and mildly awkward finish as there is just enough dryness to mention. This may well come together as the supporting tannins seem ripe but that is not a certainty.
Drink 2029+
Burghound (Jan 2019) -
2017 Côte-Rôtie, La Landonne, Domaine René Rostaing, RhôneThis famous vineyard is currently shared by five vignerons. Rostaing uses only whole-bunch on the fruit from their plot. Inky black in appearance, the nose reveals youthful bramble fruit with heady violets creeping through. The palate is textured and muscular, the dark blackberry fruit combined with a hint of pepper and iron. The finish is very long and the tannins fine, adding to the wine’s finesse.
Drink 2022-2042.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant -
2016 Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Burgundy
A very late malolactic fermentation Efinishing only on 17th September, allowing extended time on lees Ehas given this wine a fabulous texture. Aged in new (50 percent) and second-fill barrels, this is benchmark Vosne, with expressive aromas and a nugget of fruit at its core. Just 13 barrels were made. Drink 2020-2027.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer
Sylvain Cathiard’s grandfather, a foundling from Savoie, came to work in Vosne-Romanée, subsequently buying a few parcels of vineyards for himself. His son André Cathiard began to bottle some of the crop. In due course Sylvain began work with his father but then separated to start his own small domaine, until, on his father’s retirement in 1995, Sylvain could take back the family vineyards on a renting agreement. He has now passed the domaine on to his son Sébastien and a spacious new cellar has been constructed. There is a sense of frustration about Sébastien Cathiard this year. Of course, the loss of so much fruit sets the tone, but he also had to take emergency action to control the aggressive mildew, losing his organic status in the process. Who can blame him? Thus he states a preference for 2015, a significantly easier vintage and one for the long-term, but there are still some very notable wines here. The vintage began on 28th September and was over in three days, as the small berries on the frosted vines had caught up after the welcome September rains. He describes the year as gourmand, balanced and pure. -
2016 Opus One, Napa Valley, California (Magnum)
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Opus One bursts from the glass with ripe blueberries, black cherry jam and cr?me de cassis with hints of violets, dark chocolate, cedar chest and cardamom, plus a touch of charcoal. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate delivers layer upon layer of opulent stewed black fruit with amazing tension and firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long with a whole array of exotic spices coming through.
Drink 2021 - 2055
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Feb 2021)2016 Opus One, Napa Valley, California (Magnum)2016 Opus One, Napa Valley, California (Magnum)Bottle Price 150 cl $1,413 -
2015 Gevrey-Chambertin, Aux Combottes, 1er Cru, Domaine Dujac, BurgundyThe 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 1er Cru has quite a stemmy bouquet beneath an attractive carapace of black and red fruit. It is certainly well defined, charming and full of character. The palate is detailed and structured, yet endowed with thrilling focus. There is still a little new oak to be assimilated, but the tannins are very fine and there is wonderful mineral tension all the way through to the classy, ever so slightly lactic finish. This will require several years in bottle, but it will reward those with patience. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.
[Neal Martin, 13/11/2018] Vinous- 93/100 -
2015 Chambolle-Musigny, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, BurgundyAs is usually the case this is both more elegant and more aromatically complex with its wonderfully broad-ranging nose of sandalwood, violet, plum, lavender, Asian-style tea and dark cherry scents. The gorgeously refined, intense and mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors are pure silk while delivering plenty of punch on the impeccably well-balanced finish. This is both classy and graceful and importantly for those who prefer their wines on the younger side, this should be reasonably approachable young meaning after 7 to 8 years. In a word, gorgeous.
Burghound 96/100 -
2015 Chambolle-Musigny, Aux Beaux Bruns, 1er Cru, Domaine Ghislaine Barthod, BurgundyThe 2015 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Aux Beaux Bruns has a slightly more austere, reserved bouquet compared to the Les Chatelots, but still compelling with precise, cold stone-influenced red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, sharing the same linearity and precision as the Chatelots, but with more depth and grip towards the finish. It has a disarming sense of purity, just the right tinge of salinity to beckon another sip. This is excellent.
- Wine Advocate 91-93/100 -
2012 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Patrick Javillier, Burgundy
This wine receives extra time in barrel compared to the Meursaults. A little touch of menthol, very good energy, the stony quality is certainly there. It is very backward, but will be all there. Superb persistence and a tangy mineral feel at the back, all enrobed in judicious oak.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Though there are variations from one vineyard to another, Patrick has made about half a crop in 2012. He pressed the grapes very gently in 2012 to avoid mashing the skins and has thus managed to retain elegance in wines which are naturally full of power. His skills in the cellar have once again paid handsome dividends. A beautiful range of wines in 2012. -
2012 Clos de la Roche, Grand Cru, Domaine Dujac, Burgundy
There is enough reduction to notice though not so much as to completely dominate the floral-suffused nose. This also possesses relatively fine-grained tannins though there is notably more size, weight and power as well as a bit more complexity to the mineral-driven and impeccably well-balanced finish that is both explosive and palate staining. This is most impressive as it manages to deliver stunning intensity and depth of material without any undue heaviness. Note however that this is one very structured wine that will require a lengthy stay in a cool cellar to arrive at its full peak.
Allen Meadows - burghound.com - Jan 2015 -
2012 Barolo, Francia, Giacomo Conterno, Piedmont, Italy
Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination.
The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting.
I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.
Drink 2020 - 2050
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (June 2016) -
2010 Flaccianello della Pieve, Tenuta Fontodi, Tuscany, Italy
A rush of intense blue and black stone fruits, tobacco, smoke, licorice, spices and new leather hits the palate in the 2010 Flaccianello. A wine of considerable immediacy and intensity, the 2010 captivates all the senses with its magnificent richness and pure texture. There is so much to like here.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (May 2014)___
Dark, rich and powerful, the 2010 Flaccianello wraps around the palate with serious depth and density. The aromas and flavors are totally alive in the glass. Smoke, tobacco and savory herb notes add complexity over time. Initially quite muscular, the 2010 finds quite a bit of finesse with time in the glass. The 2010 Flaccianello is exceptional, but the competition is tough this year at Fontodi! Still, the sensation of tannin is virtually nonexistent in a Flaccianello that is all about elegance and pure refinement.
96+/100 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous (August 2013) -
2010 Clos de Tart, Grand Cru, Clos de Tart, BurgundyTasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2010 Clos de Tart Grand Cru would have been made by angels if not Sylvain Pitiot (angels that had graduated from University of Dijon with a degree in oenology). The nose is so ineffably pure that it is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. In a strange way it reminds me of a top Armand Rousseau with its awe-inspiring transparency. The palate is ethereal - divine balance, a gentle grip, a saline edge and poise on the finish that takes your breath away. Iron fist in a velvet glove, etc. This is surely legend in the making.
Wine Advocate 98/100 -
2009 Flaccianello della Pieve, Tenuta Fontodi, Tuscany, Italy
The 2009 Flaccianello della Pieve is a bit of a shock to the palate after 20+ older vintages. Still, it is impossible to miss the wine’s striking purity and finesse. Today the 2009 is a bit of a brute, but it should mellow out over the next 5-7 years as the tannins start to soften. Firm tannins frame layers of ripe, juicy fruit in this young, extroverted Flaccianello.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Issue#201 Jun 2012 -
2009 Clos Monlleó, Celler Sangenís i Vaqué, Priorat, Spain
If you're interested in how Priorat wines age, this blend of Garnacha and Carignan is an excellent way to find out. Deep cherry colour, with lots of aromas of rich blackberries and plum cake on the nose with a touch of earthiness. Whilst the palate seeks powerful notes of cassis, stewed fruits, leather, chocolate, and liquorice to follow with a sweet spicey finish and an impressive length. It is wonderfully enjoyable at this stage of life.
Drink 2021 - 2032
Josephine Owen, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (November 2021) -
2007 Ermitage Blanc, l'Ermite, M. Chapoutier, RhôneAnother candidate for perfection is the 2007 Ermitage l’Ermite blanc. A nectar of rocks, honeysuckle, quince, pears, and white peaches, this super-expressive, full-bodied, thick, glycerin-endowed wine is another example of a massive white Hermitage that can not be found anywhere else in the world. It should last for 35-50 years.
- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 2009, 99/100 -
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Château de Beaucastel, RhôneThe star of the show was the 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin, which in this vintage is a classic blend of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache. Inky colored and insanely perfumed, with to-die-for notes of lavender, Provencal herbs, roasted meats, black cherries, truffle, crème de cassis and licorice, it flows onto the palate with massive concentration, a stunning mid-palate and a thick, rich texture that never gets heavy or cumbersome. This is blockbuster stuff that just could not get any better. Drink it anytime over the coming 3-4 decades. 100/100
The Wine Advocate -
2007 Charmes-Chambertin, Grand Cru, Domaine Sérafin Père & Fils, BurgundyDeep red-ruby. Black cherry, minerals on the nose, with a suggestion of dark berry syrup. Sweet, lush and superripe but not yet as aromatic or complex in the middle palate as the Cazetiers. But this is wonderfully dense, silky and round. Finishes very long and sweet, with greater complexity emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Serafin suggests pairing this wine with beef and the Cazetiers with game, but I hope he wasn’t suggesting I do this anytime soon.
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous 94+ -
2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut
Bollinger’s 2007 R.D. is superb, but it is also a wine that reflects the nature of a unique and challenging growing season. In most vintages the R.D. is marked by the distinct creaminess and breadth of Aÿ Pinot Noir. Two thousand seven, though, was a difficult year marked by very dry weather, rain at the end of the growing season and an early harvest in August, something that was not as common as it has become. Selection was essential. For the 2007, the blend is composed of just 14 villages compared to the more typical 18-25. Verzenay is the main Pinot component while Cramant plays the leading role in the Chardonnays. For these reasons, the 2007 is an R.D. driven by more focus, energy and tension than readers are used to seeing. Lemon confit, dried flowers, sage, mint, crushed rocks, almond and ginger are some of the aromas and flavors that give the 2007 its complex, multi-faceted personality.
The 2007 can be enjoyed now, but I would prefer to cellar it for a few years. It will age effortlessly for decades as it moves through the various phases of its life. I was reminded of the way Champagne can magically traverse time by magical bottles of the 1976 R.D. and 1996 Vieilles Vignes Françaises I tasted recently. The blend is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, 91% Grand Cru fruit and the rest Premier Cru. Bollinger fans will notice the return of the original label, with the disgorgement date clearly visible, a tribute to Madame Bollinger, who was a pioneer in so many ways. Disgorged: July 10, 2020. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.
Drink 2022-2047.2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra BrutBottle Price 75 cl $343 -
2004 Hermitage Rouge, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, Rhône
The 2004 red Hermitage, which was given a much longer time in barrel and small foudre than normal because the Chaves determined the tannins and the acids needed a longer time to integrate, is a beauty. The wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, black cherry, licorice, pepper, and a hint of olive paste. It is a full-bodied wine that tastes atypical for this vintage with its beautifully integrated acidity and sweet tannin. The wine is structured, more masculine and backward than the over-the-top, full-throttle 2003. Readers could probably think of it as an improved, modern-day version of the 1988 or 1998.
Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate (April 2007) -
1999 Torresilo, Cillar de Silos, Ribera del Duero, Spain
The 1999 Torresilo from Cillar De Silos is astonishingly youthful, given its 20+ years of age. There is barely a hint of garnet on the rim of this intense wine. The nose is initially full of wild strawberry and red cherry fruit, which develops into darker, earthy bramble aromas alongside a hint of cured meat. This is a wonderfully pure, perfumed red with aromas that burst from the glass, of scented petals and hints of cherry blossom.
Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Mar 2021) -
1997 Charmes-Chambertin, Grand Cru, Domaine Dujac, BurgundyConcentrated layers of black fruits are intermingled with red berries, stones and Asian spices in its character, as well as in its 30+ second finish.
- The Wine Advocate -
1994 Masseto, Tuscany, Italy
The 1994 Masseto is not a wine I have had often, but it is so compelling tonight. The aromatics alone are totally beguiling. A whole range of floral, savory and spice notes are woven throughout a core of red-toned fruit. Delicate and nuanced, the 1994 is utterly beguiling. I absolutely loved it. Readers who own it should be thrilled. The growing season was marked by an early flowering but normal harvest time, which means the cycle was on the longer side. Maybe that explains why the 1994 is such a complete and alluring wine.
Drink 2018-2028
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2018)1994 Masseto, Tuscany, Italy1994 Masseto, Tuscany, ItalyBottle Price 75 cl $1,817