California |
Garden Creek |
2010 |
Red Tesserae Alexander Valley
|
6 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£30 |
|
|
|
California |
Garden Creek |
2011 |
Red Tesserae Alexander Valley
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£30 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
NV |
Miel Jonata
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
50cl |
£30 |
|
|
|
California |
Hilt |
2014 |
The Chardonnay Vanguard
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£30 |
|
|
|
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2012 |
Morey 1er Cru Clos des Ormes
|
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£30 |
Tasting note: Barnier indicated that this was not vinified by Jadot. There is a background note of menthol to the pretty and fresh red currant, earth and lightly spicy nose. There is a very supple and refined mouth feel to the satin-textured middle weight flavors that also possess a seductive mouth feel, all wrapped in a balanced finish. This should drink well young.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
Italy |
|
2008 |
Guidalberto San Guido
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£30 |
Wine Advocate
90
Tenuta San Guido’s 2008 Guidalberto is a very pretty wine laced with mineral-infused dark fruit. This is a decidedly smaller scaled, lithe Guidalberto that impresses for its overall balance and finesse. The structure of the 2006 and the exuberance of the 2007 are missing, but the 2008 offers superb drinkability and pleasure today and over the next few years. Dried flowers, licorice and new leather add the final nuances of complexity on the finish. The 2008 Guidalberto is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Most of the fruit comes from vineyards that are separate from those used for Sassicaia, although Guidalberto always includes some barrels that don’t make it into the top wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015. (Antonio Galloni)
Tasting Notes |
|
90 |
California |
Shafer |
2014 |
Napa Merlot
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£33 |
|
|
|
Red Bordeaux |
|
2009 |
Fonbel
|
10 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£35£20 |
Made by Ausone's proprietor, Alain Vauthier, this attractive, round, pretty wine is soft and generous, with loads of blueberry and raspberry fruit as well as hints of incense and crushed rock. It should drink well for a decade or more. Drink: 2010 - 2020
Tasting Notes |
|
89 |
California |
Hilt |
2014 |
Chardonnay Old Guard
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£38 |
|
|
|
California |
Rivers Marie |
2014 |
Joy Road Chardonnay
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£38 |
|
|
|
California |
Shafer |
2012 |
Napa Merlot
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£40 |
|
|
90 |
Spain |
|
2001 |
Numanthia
[Duty Paid] |
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£40 |
Rating
95
Release Price
$45
Drink Date
2005 - 2019
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
26th Apr 2004
Source
152, The Wine Advocate
The flagship offering, the 2001 Numanthia, is fashioned from a 70-100 year old Tinta de Toro vineyard planted at a 2300 foot elevation. After a 28 day maceration, the wine undergoes malolactic in barrel, is aged 19 months in new French oak, and is bottled without fining or filtration. The spectacular, opaque purple-colored 2001 offers an explosive nose of melted licorice, barbecue smoke, blackberries, creme de cassis, camphor, and graphite. Full-bodied with gorgeously rich, concentrated fruit, a layered texture, and tremendous purity, it can be drunk young, but should hit its prime in 1-2 years, and last for 10-15.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
California |
Aston Estate |
2006 |
Clone 115 667 Pinot Noir
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£45 |
|
|
|
California |
Ramey |
2013 |
Syrah Cole Creek
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£45 |
|
|
|
Red Burgundy |
Jadot, Louis |
2011 |
Chambolle 1er Cru Les Baudes
|
6 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£45 |
Tasting note: The nose is quite similar to that of the Fuées except that here there is a bit more oak influence. As is almost always the case, the mouth feel is less refined but more muscular with good power, volume and punch to the medium-bodied flavors that finish with excellent length. This should also amply reward up to a decade of cellar time.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
Rhone |
Chapoutier |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois Rouge
[Due 2022] |
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£49 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Fenix
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£50 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Penville |
2013 |
Ballard Canyon Grenache
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£50 |
|
|
|
Rhone |
Barroche |
2006 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Pure
[Duty Paid] |
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£50 |
Rating
95
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2015 - 2024
Reviewed by
Jeb Dunnuck
Issue Date
14th Sep 2015
Source
Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate
From another vintage that flies under the radar, yet always delivers tons of pleasure, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure is less flamboyant than the 2005 and has more spice, ground herbs, pepper and licorice to go with a rocking core of sweet Grenache Fruit. It's full-bodied, structured and has a touch of dry tannin on the finish that I suspect will probably never completely integrate. Nevertheless, there's ample mid-palate depth and a tons of sweet fruit, which will keep anyone coming back to the glass.
Tasting Notes |
|
95 |
California |
Bevan Cellars |
2016 |
Sonoma Coast Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£55 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2009 |
Tierra
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£55 |
|
|
92 |
Red Burgundy |
Fourrier |
2014 |
Vosne Romanee Aux Reas
[Duty Paid] |
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£55 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Todos
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£60 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Ramey |
2014 |
Template
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Realm |
2017 |
Farella Sauvignon Blanc
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Shafer |
2013 |
Firebreak Sangiovese
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2013 |
Winemaker Series Soda Canyon Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2011 |
Fay Apologue Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Hilt |
2014 |
Pinot Noir
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
Red Burgundy |
Mortet |
2011 |
Fixin Vieilles Vignes
[Duty Paid] |
10 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
Domaine Denis Mortet
2011
Fixin Vieilles Vignes
Villages Red 750 ml
Score: 88
Tasted: Jan 15, 2014
Drink: 2017+
Issue: 53
Note: from 40 year old vines in the tiny .74 ha vineyard of Champs Pennebaut, which is near the Couchey border for the inveterate map readers among you
Producer note: Arnaud Mortet observed that the 2012 vintage "suffered through a troubled and extended flowering that was responsible for much of the naturally low yields. The bunches were loose and with tiny berries that allowed the fruit to be super clean at the harvest. I decided to start picking on the 23rd of September and brought in ripe fruit that needed only small amounts of chaptalization and in some cases, none at all. As I have been slowly doing each vintage now, I once again lightened the extraction. I shortened the cool maceration period from 7 days to 5 and did a 21 day total cuvaison. In the same vein I used a bit less new wood as well and it now averages about one-third though that of course varies wine by wine. I completely destemmed in 2012 though I have been thinking about doing some more experimenting with using some whole clusters so we will see going forward. As to the style of the 2012s I think it's the kind of vintage that everyone will like. The wines are ripe but fresh and with a mid-palate succulence that makes them a pleasure to drink." As I commented last year the Mortet 2011s are excellent and now that they are in bottle they confirm the quality that I saw last year. Mortet noted that his 2011s, revisited below, were bottled between January and April, 2013. (Martine's Wines, www.martineswines.com, Novato, CA; multiple UK sources, including Bibendum Wine Ltd., www.bibendum-wine.co.uk, Berry Brothers & Rudd, www.bbr.com, Goedhuis & Co., www.goedhuis.com, Justerini & Brooks, www.justerinis.com, Harrods Limited, www.harrods.com, Laytons, www.laytons.co.uk, and The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com, Tanners Wine, www.tanners-wines.co.uk).
Tasting note: An adroit application of wood sets off fresh and ripe if somber aromas of dark berries, violets and plum. The very round, suave and supple flavors display both good energy and fine volume before terminating in a balanced and persistent finish that exhibits a bit of youthful Fixin austerity and rusticity.
Tasting Notes |
|
88 |
Vintage Port |
|
1977 |
Offley Boa Vista
|
8 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£60 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Tierra
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£65 |
|
|
91 |
California |
Peter Michael |
2014 |
Coeur A Coeur
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£65 |
|
|
|
Rhone |
Trevallon |
1997 |
Domaine de Trevallon
|
6 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£65 |
1997 Vintage
Jancis Robinson
When to drink: 2009 to 2019
Pale red. Stinky. Not quite enough fruit and it seems to have aged pretty fast. It’s certainly proper wine but is not very fruity or appealing. Jancis Robinson
Tasted: 1-Jul-2013
Tasting Notes |
|
|
Italy |
|
2003 |
Pira & Figli Barolo Cannubi Chiara Boschis -
|
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£65£60 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Hilt |
2013 |
Methode Traditionelle Sparkling
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£70 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Jonata Petite Verdot Fuerza
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£70 |
|
|
|
California |
Mount Veeder |
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£70 |
|
|
|
California |
Peter Michael |
2013 |
L'Esprit des Pavots
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£70 |
|
|
90 |
California |
Hilt |
2014 |
Methode Traditionelle Sparkling
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
|
|
92 |
California |
Peter Michael |
2014 |
Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
|
|
|
California |
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2011 |
Fay Cabernet Sauvignon
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
|
|
|
White Burgundy |
Bertagna |
2003 |
Corton Charlemagne
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
|
|
|
Red Bordeaux |
|
1986 |
Lagrange
|
11 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
Rating
92
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2003 - 2025
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
1st Jan 2003
Source
Bordeaux Book, 4th Edition, The Wine Advocate
Here is a classic example of a wine that is showing significantly more complexity and richness from the bottle than out of cask, although it was certainly a potentially outstanding wine when tasted from the barrel. In a vintage that produced a number of enormously structured, rich, concentrated wines, Lagrange is another of the blockbuster wines that seems capable of lasting 30-35 years. Black/ruby in color, with a closed but burgeoning bouquet of spicy new oak, black fruits, and flowers, this muscular, full-bodied, tannic wine is packed with fruit and is clearly one of the great long-distance runners from this vintage. I admire how the significant investment made by the Japanese owners in this property has paid off with a thrilling, albeit amazingly backward, wine. The finest Lagrange to date! Anticipated maturity: Now-2025. Last tasted, 1/97.
Tasting Notes |
|
92 |
Vintage Port |
|
1970 |
Croft
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£75 |
A similar russet core, though a little clearer than the ’66. The nose has good definition and focus with an attractive bouquet of cooked meats, mulberry, spice and leather. Light and feminine, although it never really develops the nuance that I was hoping for in the glass. The palate is vigorous, note quite as elegant as the ’66, a little more alcoholic and unrefined, the finish more linear with liquorice, burnt toffee and raisin. Moderate length. Drinking now. Very fine yet not in the same league as Taylors or for that matter, Fonseca. Tasted November 2007.
Tasting Notes |
|
91 |
California |
Ramey |
2015 |
Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£76 |
|
|
95 |
California |
Jonata |
2005 |
Sangre
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£80 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Jonata |
2009 |
Sangre
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£80 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Ramey |
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£80 |
|
|
|
White Burgundy |
Drouhin Joseph |
2018 |
Chablis Reserve de Vaudon
|
6 |
Case |
6 |
75cl |
£80 |
Maison Joseph Drouhin
2018
Chablis - Réserve de Vaudon
Villages White 750 ml
Score: 88
Tasted: Oct 10, 2019
Drink: 2021+
Issue: 76
Producer note: Note that all wines are labeled as Drouhin-Vaudon. (Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., www.dreyfusashby.com, NY, USA; Pol Roger Ltd., www.polroger.co.uk, UK).
Tasting note: A more complex if otherwise similar nose introduces slightly more voluminous medium weight flavors that flash a bit more evident minerality on the longer finish that also displays evident warmth. I like the intensity as well as the complexity though the warmth is not subtle.
Tasting Notes |
|
88 |
California |
Rivers Marie |
2015 |
Calistoga
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£82 |
|
|
|
California |
Bevan Cellars |
2014 |
Ontogeny
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£84 |
|
|
96 |
California |
Jonata |
2005 |
Desafio
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£85 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Desafio
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£85 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Ramey |
2013 |
Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£85 |
|
|
|
California |
Rivers Marie |
2014 |
Corona Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£85 |
|
|
96 |
California |
Jonata |
2013 |
Alma
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Alma
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Jonata |
2015 |
Desafio
|
2 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
95 |
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Fenix
|
1 |
Bottle |
|
150cl |
£90 |
|
|
93 |
California |
Jonata |
2014 |
Sangre
|
4 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
94 |
California |
Peter Michael |
2015 |
Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
California |
Peter Michael |
2016 |
Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
California |
Rivers Marie |
2014 |
Calistoga
|
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
Loire |
Huet |
2009 |
Vouvray Cuvee Constance Moelleux
|
10 |
Bottle |
|
50cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
California |
Araujo Estate |
2012 |
Eisele Vineyard Altagracia
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90£80 |
|
|
|
California |
Kapcsandy |
2012 |
Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard
|
5 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
|
|
|
Italy |
|
2001 |
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille
|
7 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£90 |
Rating
94
Release Price
$142
Drink Date
2009 - 2021
Reviewed by
Antonio Galloni
Issue Date
26th Dec 2006
Source
168, The Wine Advocate
The 2001 Brunellos show the pedigree of the superior vintage. Gaja’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is the more potent of the Brunellos. It displays a darker color along with notes of tar, smoke, spices, toasted oak and dark fruit on a full-bodied frame with terrific expansiveness and length on the palate. A lingering note of licorice frames the finish of this beautiful, deeply expressive Brunello. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021.
Tasting Notes |
|
94 |
California |
Jonata |
2013 |
Sangre
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£95 |
|
|
|
California |
Peter Michael |
2016 |
Coeur A Coeur
|
3 |
Bottle |
|
75cl |
£95 |
|
|
95 |