Wines from the Week | 28th June - 4th July 2021
Truly a week full of wonderful offers and new releases, here are our top picks for wine investors, collectors and drinkers.
Our Recommendations
La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion 2020 | Outscoring most second wines from the First Growths yet available at a fraction of the cost. Our top recommendation of the week
The second wine of La Mission Haut-Brion, La Chapelle 2020 is yet another stellar EP release. Earning an impressive 92-94 points from the Wine Advocate and a highest-ever 94 points from Jane Anson, it could potentially be this cuvée’s greatest ever vintage. Anson admires the “confidence and sheer easy appeal” that oozes out of La Chapelle 2020, emphasising that the second wine “rivals plenty of first wines in this vintage”. Antonio Galloni (Vinous) cites the exceptional balance of La Chapelle 2020, finding that to be extremely impressive and calling it “an especially fine La Chappelle”.
Krug Grande Cuvée 169th Édition NV | This is no ordinary NV Champagne. Composed of 146 wines across 11 vintages, an uncommon score of 18.5/20 from Jancis Robinson MW should pique every buyer’s interest
Krug Grande Cuvée is no ordinary NV Champagne, with no other Maison blends as many wines, from as many years as Krug
Édition 169 is an astonishing blend of 146 wines across 11 years constituting the final wine, of which 2013 is the lead and 2000 the eldest. Hailed as “a Chardonnay year par excellence” by Michael Edwards (Decanter), Édition 169 reflects the exceptional harvest from 2013.
Expressing the fullness and elegance of 2013, Édition 169 is a “sleek and fresh and truly spring-like" Champagne, according to Jancis Robinson MW who awards the wine 18.5/20 points. Beguilingly complex as all the greatest Krug Champagnes are, 169 cannot help but “play the intellectual card” and gives drinkers reason to pause and contemplate.
Petrolo Galatrona 2016 | A worthy rival to the likes of Pétrus, Le Pin and Masseto, this is an iconic Merlot-based Super Tuscan representing some of the best value in Italy
Galatrona is the prestige cuvée from Petrolo. The undisputed king of these hills, this wine is sourced from a small vineyard of the same name. Planted in the 1980s with low-yielding Bordeaux clone Merlot vines, the vineyard’s soil is an archetypal composition of deeply rich clay with veins of schist, marl and sandstone imbuing stunning minerality to the effortlessly generous and elegant fruit. Inspired by the great producers of Pomerol, Galatrona has established itself as a worthy rival to the likes of Pétrus, Le Pin and Masseto.
In 2016, a legendary vintage for many regions, Petrolo produced a truly profound expression of Merlot in Galatrona. “A masterpiece to behold” in the words of Monica Larner (Wine Advocate), the 2016 unfurls with unfathomably layered and generous notes of gorgeous dark fruit, chocolate and hauntingly perfumed violets as well as wilted rose. As powerful and deceptively integrated as any world-class Merlot, Antonio Galloni (Vinous) was deeply impressed by the wine’s “serious fruit intensity and energy”, whilst providing collectors with the stern warning that patience should be exercised in respect for Galatrona’s structure, stating that “opening a bottle now is a crime”.
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Wines from the Week | 28th June - 4th July 2021
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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South Australia | 27 | 97 (WFW) |
Inc. TAX
€558.43 |
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The World of Fine Wine (97)Even darker in colour than No. 3, and the aroma here is a little more closed at even this early stage, not quite as alluring. Warm earth, chocolate, black fruits, a hint of woodsmoke. This is more burly, more concentrated. Excellent complexity. The tannins here are not as cashmere-like - more chalky and firmer, more mouth-coating; perhaps more what one expects from Grenache. Fuller in flavor, great structure, bright acidity, and a very long finish. Another superb wine and again, a great future. Indeed, this would seem to have an even longer-focus than No. 3. |
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Scotland | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€276.68 |
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From a deeply underrated distillery, this Allt-a-Bhainne bottled by the Stewart Whisky Company under their Stiùbhart Single Cask label is a glorious example of what happens when a cask is simply allowed to mature as it should. A natural cask strength of just 44.9% after 24 years makes it clear that this was maturing at an accelerated rate, losing a lot of alcohol and water but the phenolic oils that remain have led to an extremely concentrated whisky; a masterclass in bourbon-wood maturation.
More Info
Appearance: Showing a brilliant old-brass colour courtesy of the bourbon wood and that unique concentration through the ageing process. Nose: this whisky jumps out of the glass with notes almost reminiscent of a great White Burgundy. Crushed river stones and struck flint alongside golden delicious apple and herbes de provence come across on the nose. Palate: The palate is gentle as one would expect from the lower ABV but it is oily and viscous with a sensation of scented candle followed by sea salt, delicate earthy peat and a return of that golden delicious apple note. Finish: Extremely long and gentle with the initial notes of crushed stones mingling with sea salt and stewed orchard fruit. |
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Beaujolais | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€540.37 |
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Vinous (94)Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, spice-accented red berries and cherry liqueur, smoky minerals and a hint of incense. Energetic, mineral-laced blueberry and bitter cherry flavors show very good depth and take on a hint of candied licorice with air. Smooth, harmonious tannins add framework to the impressively long, floral-tinged finish, which leaves behind a sweet touch of red fruit preserves. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€342.78 |
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James Suckling (94)Very attractive floral and fresh aromas to the plums and cherries, following through to the palate. Flavorful and gorgeous, yet lively and focused. Lovely 2017. Drink now or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€359.58 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 Solengo seduces with its richly decadent display of vanilla and mocha-tinged dark fruits and spices, which are wonderfully lifted by minty herbal tones and white smoke. This enters the palate like weighted velvet, smooth and fleshy at first, yet lively, as mineral-tinged black currants mix with fine-grained tannins, clamping down with youthful poise. Like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, this tapers off incredibly long and staining, with echoes of licorice beneath an air of cedar and tobacco; yet somehow, through it all, the palate is left watering for more. It will be many years before the 2019 is ready to show its best, but it will certainly be worth the wait. The Solengo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese that spends eighteen months refining in a combination of 60% new to 40% second-pass barriques. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,264.38 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The bottled 2018 El Carretil was phenomenal. It comes from a plot of 3.64 hectares planted at three different times—1930, 1975 and 1988—on limestone, sandstone and silt soils with up to 18% active limestone. Its Tempranillo grapes aged in barrel and then were racked back to stainless steel, where it was left to mature until it was bottled. It's mineral and balsamic, expressive, open and fresh, with beautiful elegance. It's classical with even a Bordeaux twist. It shows pretty much like the sample I tasted 12 months ago, expressive and open, aromatic and perfumed, with great freshness and balance, vibrant and energetic, juicy with fine-grained tannins and with terrific balance and purity. 5,000 bottles were filled in June 2020. |
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Western Cape | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€186.78 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Fermented in 22% new wood without malolactic, this is consistently one of the Cape's best Chardonnays, a wine that can rival a very good Côte de Beaune white Burgundy. Leesy, waxy and stylishly wooded with racy acidity and the concentration to age further in bottle. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€442.38 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Fresh and vivid, this red features cherry, raspberry, plum, floral, black tea and mineral aromas and flavors. The well-defined fruit character is nicely balanced by earthy, savory elements, lively acidity and refined tannins. This is complete, with terrific finesse and complexity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€427.98 |
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James Suckling (97)Very dense black-fruit aromas, but also licorice, an entire microcosm of spice and a whiff of smoked bacon. Very dense and meaty with an incredible tannin structure that enables this to be simultaneously very big and elegant. Super-long finish with enormous mineral freshness. Drink or hold. |
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Rioja | 2 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€369.18 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Built around a core of Tempranillo from vineyards near Haro, with a splash of Graciano from the Rioja Oriental, this is a superb Roda I from a vintage that is often under-rated in Rioja. Balanced, perfumed and precise, with adroitly handled 50% new wood, a hint of good reduction, some vanilla spice, wild herbs and layers of blackberry and blueberry fruit. Delicious. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (PG) |
Inc. TAX
€345.18 |
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Platter's South African Wine Guide (97)(Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year) Power & precision combine in stellar 2019. Ripe black cherry fruit with lifted perfume notes (dab of cab franc, as Franschhoek sibling), fine integrated tannins & fresh, lithe appeal. 75% new French oak adds to muscular richness completing a very fine wine. 5 parcels in Helderberg, Polkadraai & Faure. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€268.38 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)The wine that launched the modern Syrah revolution in South Africa, even if it's sourced from two sites in the Swartland these days, rather than Somerset West. Almost indecently perfumed and alluring, this is a very immediate wine that will also reward cellaring. Sweet spices, red berry fruit, fine, savoury tannins and just a hint of oak with energetic acidity. 2023-31 |
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Champagne | 1 | 96-98 (EA) |
Inc. TAX
€875.58 |
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Essi Avallen MW (96-98)At this point of youthfulness the pink colour is rather rich and bright. Lovely clean and fruit-forward nose with fresh red berry aromas mixing with spice and orange notes. Quite shyly evolved with much more to surface on the complexity front. Today there is attractive exuberant fruitiness and perfect creamy freshness. Promising palate with power and persistence where an overall harmony enhances the feeling of sophistication. |
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Champagne | 1 | 95 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€605.58 |
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Decanter (95)Produced exclusively from vineyards owned by Bollinger, this takes advantage of the dynamic equilibrium between the structured, robust Pinot Noir grape and a terroir that is late-ripening. Picking began on 25 September and delivered a wine with plenty of concentration and impressive freshness and balance, with expressive green apple fruit accented with notes of toast and smoke and a creamy, supple, and open texture. Dosed at 6 g/l. Disgorged in November 2020. |
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Victoria | 2 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€599.58 |
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Vinous (95)Shimmering ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red fruit preserve, potpourri, exotic spice and vanilla aromas show outstanding clarity and minerally lift. Conveys an impressive blend of depth and energy on the palate, offering sweet Chambord, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and a touch of botanical herbs. The wonderfully long, focused finish features reverberating red fruit and floral notes and polished, finely interwoven tannins. |
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Victoria | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
Inc. TAX
€456.78 |
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The Real Review (98)Deep red/purple, bright and youthful colour. The bouquet shows black pepper, latent dark berries, some 'forest floor' bunchy touches and a hint of freshly-turned earth—a stylish and hi-fidelity varietal nose. The palate is likewise intense and bright, with silky-textured tannins in fine balance, acidity evident and refreshing, inviting the company of appropriate food. Brilliant bouquet and flavour. A stunning wine in an elegant cool-grown style. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€336.78 |
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James Suckling (96)The nose immediately shows a fabulous contrast between riper mulberries and blackberry crumble and freshly ground herbs, citrus and incense. The palate shows much the same polish, carrying bright blue-fruit flavors across a bedrock of muscular tannins and driven acidity. This finishes long and very grainy yet succulent. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, sangiovese, petit verdot and alicante. Drink in 2022. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€385.36 |
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James Suckling (96)This is extremely perfumed with violets, sage, lavender, currants and berries. Fresh and vivid. Medium-to full-bodied with super refined tannins and fruit. So subtle and refined. This is really long and gorgeous. Goes on for minutes. A change in style from past vintages and I like it. 30% syrah, 30% cabernet franc, 16% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot 7% petit verdot and 5% sangiovese. From organically grown grapes. So hard not to drink now, but better after 2023. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€303.18 |
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Vinous (95)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is wildly perfumed, dusty and exotic, with balsam herbs, savory spices, red currants and plums coming across as so pretty yet rich and potent. A silky display of sour wild berries contrasted by candied citrus wows the senses as the 2017 plays a zesty sweet-and-sour act upon the palate. It’s long, youthfully chewy, yet still remarkably fresh, with rosy florals and tart, tart cherries giving way to chiseled tannins through the finale. This is a beautiful rendition of the 2017 vintage, one that takes the dry warmth of the year and expresses it with tremendous energy and verve. What's more, I revisited this bottle over the course of 36 hours and it only got better with time. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€255.25 |
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Wine Spectator (96)This red is all about finesse, delivering superb balance and complexity, with cherry, raspberry, earth and wild herb aromas and flavors. Succulent and charming, yet with a solid base of tannins and vivid acidity, this remains focused through the long aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. 4,575 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 98 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€316.38 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)Combining the considerable talents of Fernando Buscema and Philippe Rolet (the former made the wine, the latter did the blend), Caro is one of the wines of the vintage in 2018. Paraje Altamira is the source of this finely judged cuvée of Malbec and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 80% new wood. Subtle, graceful and perfumed, it’s a wine that carries its structure and concentration lightly, with graphite, cassis and blueberry fruit, fresh acidity and harmonious, caressing tannins. Superb stuff. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€626.87 |
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Wine Advocate (96)This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,276.38 |
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Vinous (99)The 2018 L'Apparita is a total stunner. Ama's 100% Merlot is usually a wine of bombastic intensity, but the 2018 marks a departure from that style, as it is all finesse and nuance. Blackberry jam, spice, menthol and lavender are some of the aromas and flavors that open in an Apparita that dazzles with its precision and nuance. Rain at the end of August pushed out harvest and gave Marco Pallanti the ideal conditions to craft this gorgeous wine. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€314.87 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Valtuille El Rapolao, now a Vino de Paraje, fermented with 100% full clusters with a long maceration and matured in well-seasoned, neutral 500-liter oak barrels (which might be eight years old now), the modus operandi for all of the single-vineyard reds. It's perfumed and heady, as it comes from a plot that also has some fruit trees, in a v-shape, planted along with some 8% Malvasía grapes that have been added since 2018 and have given it finesse. It's more exuberant on the nose, something that seems to define this wine that is quite unique and different from its siblings. It's medium-bodied with around 13% alcohol; winemaker César Márquez feels that when these wines are riper than 13.5% they are too rustic. 1,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2020. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€592.45 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2017 Barolo Bricco Boschis is highly aromatic with anise, dried leather, and burnt orange. Ripe and structured, it offers ripe cherry, turned forest floor, and a long finish. The warmth of the vintage is felt while remaining fresh. Drink 2024-2042. |
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Piedmont | 22 | 98 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€722.05 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Aromas of underbrush, camphor, new leather and woodland berries mingle with a whiff of pressed rose petal on this compelling red. Still youthfully austere but already incredibly delicious, it delivers raspberry compote, truffle, tobacco and licorice framed in tightly knit, noble tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Another fantastic showing from this wonderful estate. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€2,080.38 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow! |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€4,138.38 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Since I reviewed the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc last year (98+), I had some doubts about spending the time to re-review it. But one taste had me transfixed. Hints of crushed stone and subtle oak appear on the nose, backed by waves of honeyed pear and pineapple, plus enough invigorating citrus to provide a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, this has come into its own, being incredibly long, balanced and ethereal on the finish. Amazing stuff! |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€1,552.38 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2020 Ermitage Le Pavillon is pure gold, and Hermitage doesn't get any better. Incredible aromatics of cassis, graphite, burning embers, and crushed stone all emerge from this beauty. Stunningly proportioned and incredibly pure, it's full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, but as with all great vintages of this cuvée, it's going to demand bottle age. While Les Greffieux and Le Méal bring much more opulence, this is the powerhouse, long-distance candidate in the lineup. It's an incredible effort. Give bottles upwards of a decade in the cellar, and it should evolve effortlessly over the following 30-40 years. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€793.98 |
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James Suckling (98)An amazing 2008 rosé Champagne that has all the structure and aromatic complexity - sushi ginger, oolong tea and caramelized mandarin orange - we associate with this vintage, but also has more charm than most. On the palate, this has stunning concentration, yet is diamond bright. The interplay of creaminess, fine tannins and mineral acidity builds and builds at the breathtaking finish. The color comes from about 7% pinot noir red wine, partly from the little-known Les Riceys in the far south of Champagne. Drink or hold. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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South Australia | 27 | 97 (WFW) |
In Bond
€456.00 |
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The World of Fine Wine (97)Even darker in colour than No. 3, and the aroma here is a little more closed at even this early stage, not quite as alluring. Warm earth, chocolate, black fruits, a hint of woodsmoke. This is more burly, more concentrated. Excellent complexity. The tannins here are not as cashmere-like - more chalky and firmer, more mouth-coating; perhaps more what one expects from Grenache. Fuller in flavor, great structure, bright acidity, and a very long finish. Another superb wine and again, a great future. Indeed, this would seem to have an even longer-focus than No. 3. |
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Scotland | 1 | - |
In Bond
€219.00 |
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From a deeply underrated distillery, this Allt-a-Bhainne bottled by the Stewart Whisky Company under their Stiùbhart Single Cask label is a glorious example of what happens when a cask is simply allowed to mature as it should. A natural cask strength of just 44.9% after 24 years makes it clear that this was maturing at an accelerated rate, losing a lot of alcohol and water but the phenolic oils that remain have led to an extremely concentrated whisky; a masterclass in bourbon-wood maturation.
More Info
Appearance: Showing a brilliant old-brass colour courtesy of the bourbon wood and that unique concentration through the ageing process. Nose: this whisky jumps out of the glass with notes almost reminiscent of a great White Burgundy. Crushed river stones and struck flint alongside golden delicious apple and herbes de provence come across on the nose. Palate: The palate is gentle as one would expect from the lower ABV but it is oily and viscous with a sensation of scented candle followed by sea salt, delicate earthy peat and a return of that golden delicious apple note. Finish: Extremely long and gentle with the initial notes of crushed stones mingling with sea salt and stewed orchard fruit. |
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Beaujolais | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€413.00 |
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Vinous (94)Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, spice-accented red berries and cherry liqueur, smoky minerals and a hint of incense. Energetic, mineral-laced blueberry and bitter cherry flavors show very good depth and take on a hint of candied licorice with air. Smooth, harmonious tannins add framework to the impressively long, floral-tinged finish, which leaves behind a sweet touch of red fruit preserves. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (JS) |
In Bond
€267.00 |
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James Suckling (94)Very attractive floral and fresh aromas to the plums and cherries, following through to the palate. Flavorful and gorgeous, yet lively and focused. Lovely 2017. Drink now or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€281.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 Solengo seduces with its richly decadent display of vanilla and mocha-tinged dark fruits and spices, which are wonderfully lifted by minty herbal tones and white smoke. This enters the palate like weighted velvet, smooth and fleshy at first, yet lively, as mineral-tinged black currants mix with fine-grained tannins, clamping down with youthful poise. Like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, this tapers off incredibly long and staining, with echoes of licorice beneath an air of cedar and tobacco; yet somehow, through it all, the palate is left watering for more. It will be many years before the 2019 is ready to show its best, but it will certainly be worth the wait. The Solengo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese that spends eighteen months refining in a combination of 60% new to 40% second-pass barriques. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
In Bond
€1,035.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The bottled 2018 El Carretil was phenomenal. It comes from a plot of 3.64 hectares planted at three different times—1930, 1975 and 1988—on limestone, sandstone and silt soils with up to 18% active limestone. Its Tempranillo grapes aged in barrel and then were racked back to stainless steel, where it was left to mature until it was bottled. It's mineral and balsamic, expressive, open and fresh, with beautiful elegance. It's classical with even a Bordeaux twist. It shows pretty much like the sample I tasted 12 months ago, expressive and open, aromatic and perfumed, with great freshness and balance, vibrant and energetic, juicy with fine-grained tannins and with terrific balance and purity. 5,000 bottles were filled in June 2020. |
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Western Cape | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
€137.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Fermented in 22% new wood without malolactic, this is consistently one of the Cape's best Chardonnays, a wine that can rival a very good Côte de Beaune white Burgundy. Leesy, waxy and stylishly wooded with racy acidity and the concentration to age further in bottle. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
€350.00 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Fresh and vivid, this red features cherry, raspberry, plum, floral, black tea and mineral aromas and flavors. The well-defined fruit character is nicely balanced by earthy, savory elements, lively acidity and refined tannins. This is complete, with terrific finesse and complexity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€338.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Very dense black-fruit aromas, but also licorice, an entire microcosm of spice and a whiff of smoked bacon. Very dense and meaty with an incredible tannin structure that enables this to be simultaneously very big and elegant. Super-long finish with enormous mineral freshness. Drink or hold. |
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Rioja | 2 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
€289.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Built around a core of Tempranillo from vineyards near Haro, with a splash of Graciano from the Rioja Oriental, this is a superb Roda I from a vintage that is often under-rated in Rioja. Balanced, perfumed and precise, with adroitly handled 50% new wood, a hint of good reduction, some vanilla spice, wild herbs and layers of blackberry and blueberry fruit. Delicious. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (PG) |
In Bond
€269.00 |
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Platter's South African Wine Guide (97)(Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year) Power & precision combine in stellar 2019. Ripe black cherry fruit with lifted perfume notes (dab of cab franc, as Franschhoek sibling), fine integrated tannins & fresh, lithe appeal. 75% new French oak adds to muscular richness completing a very fine wine. 5 parcels in Helderberg, Polkadraai & Faure. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (TA) |
In Bond
€205.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)The wine that launched the modern Syrah revolution in South Africa, even if it's sourced from two sites in the Swartland these days, rather than Somerset West. Almost indecently perfumed and alluring, this is a very immediate wine that will also reward cellaring. Sweet spices, red berry fruit, fine, savoury tannins and just a hint of oak with energetic acidity. 2023-31 |
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Champagne | 1 | 96-98 (EA) |
In Bond
€711.00 |
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Essi Avallen MW (96-98)At this point of youthfulness the pink colour is rather rich and bright. Lovely clean and fruit-forward nose with fresh red berry aromas mixing with spice and orange notes. Quite shyly evolved with much more to surface on the complexity front. Today there is attractive exuberant fruitiness and perfect creamy freshness. Promising palate with power and persistence where an overall harmony enhances the feeling of sophistication. |
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Champagne | 1 | 95 (DC) |
In Bond
€486.00 |
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Decanter (95)Produced exclusively from vineyards owned by Bollinger, this takes advantage of the dynamic equilibrium between the structured, robust Pinot Noir grape and a terroir that is late-ripening. Picking began on 25 September and delivered a wine with plenty of concentration and impressive freshness and balance, with expressive green apple fruit accented with notes of toast and smoke and a creamy, supple, and open texture. Dosed at 6 g/l. Disgorged in November 2020. |
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Victoria | 2 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
€481.00 |
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Vinous (95)Shimmering ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red fruit preserve, potpourri, exotic spice and vanilla aromas show outstanding clarity and minerally lift. Conveys an impressive blend of depth and energy on the palate, offering sweet Chambord, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and a touch of botanical herbs. The wonderfully long, focused finish features reverberating red fruit and floral notes and polished, finely interwoven tannins. |
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Victoria | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
In Bond
€362.00 |
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The Real Review (98)Deep red/purple, bright and youthful colour. The bouquet shows black pepper, latent dark berries, some 'forest floor' bunchy touches and a hint of freshly-turned earth—a stylish and hi-fidelity varietal nose. The palate is likewise intense and bright, with silky-textured tannins in fine balance, acidity evident and refreshing, inviting the company of appropriate food. Brilliant bouquet and flavour. A stunning wine in an elegant cool-grown style. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€262.00 |
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James Suckling (96)The nose immediately shows a fabulous contrast between riper mulberries and blackberry crumble and freshly ground herbs, citrus and incense. The palate shows much the same polish, carrying bright blue-fruit flavors across a bedrock of muscular tannins and driven acidity. This finishes long and very grainy yet succulent. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, sangiovese, petit verdot and alicante. Drink in 2022. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€298.00 |
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James Suckling (96)This is extremely perfumed with violets, sage, lavender, currants and berries. Fresh and vivid. Medium-to full-bodied with super refined tannins and fruit. So subtle and refined. This is really long and gorgeous. Goes on for minutes. A change in style from past vintages and I like it. 30% syrah, 30% cabernet franc, 16% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot 7% petit verdot and 5% sangiovese. From organically grown grapes. So hard not to drink now, but better after 2023. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
€234.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is wildly perfumed, dusty and exotic, with balsam herbs, savory spices, red currants and plums coming across as so pretty yet rich and potent. A silky display of sour wild berries contrasted by candied citrus wows the senses as the 2017 plays a zesty sweet-and-sour act upon the palate. It’s long, youthfully chewy, yet still remarkably fresh, with rosy florals and tart, tart cherries giving way to chiseled tannins through the finale. This is a beautiful rendition of the 2017 vintage, one that takes the dry warmth of the year and expresses it with tremendous energy and verve. What's more, I revisited this bottle over the course of 36 hours and it only got better with time. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (WS) |
In Bond
€194.00 |
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Wine Spectator (96)This red is all about finesse, delivering superb balance and complexity, with cherry, raspberry, earth and wild herb aromas and flavors. Succulent and charming, yet with a solid base of tannins and vivid acidity, this remains focused through the long aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. 4,575 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. |
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Mendoza | 1 | 98 (TA) |
In Bond
€245.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)Combining the considerable talents of Fernando Buscema and Philippe Rolet (the former made the wine, the latter did the blend), Caro is one of the wines of the vintage in 2018. Paraje Altamira is the source of this finely judged cuvée of Malbec and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 80% new wood. Subtle, graceful and perfumed, it’s a wine that carries its structure and concentration lightly, with graphite, cassis and blueberry fruit, fresh acidity and harmonious, caressing tannins. Superb stuff. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
€500.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
€1,045.00 |
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Vinous (99)The 2018 L'Apparita is a total stunner. Ama's 100% Merlot is usually a wine of bombastic intensity, but the 2018 marks a departure from that style, as it is all finesse and nuance. Blackberry jam, spice, menthol and lavender are some of the aromas and flavors that open in an Apparita that dazzles with its precision and nuance. Rain at the end of August pushed out harvest and gave Marco Pallanti the ideal conditions to craft this gorgeous wine. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
€240.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The 2019 Valtuille El Rapolao, now a Vino de Paraje, fermented with 100% full clusters with a long maceration and matured in well-seasoned, neutral 500-liter oak barrels (which might be eight years old now), the modus operandi for all of the single-vineyard reds. It's perfumed and heady, as it comes from a plot that also has some fruit trees, in a v-shape, planted along with some 8% Malvasía grapes that have been added since 2018 and have given it finesse. It's more exuberant on the nose, something that seems to define this wine that is quite unique and different from its siblings. It's medium-bodied with around 13% alcohol; winemaker César Márquez feels that when these wines are riper than 13.5% they are too rustic. 1,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2020. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
€475.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2017 Barolo Bricco Boschis is highly aromatic with anise, dried leather, and burnt orange. Ripe and structured, it offers ripe cherry, turned forest floor, and a long finish. The warmth of the vintage is felt while remaining fresh. Drink 2024-2042. |
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Piedmont | 22 | 98 (WE) |
In Bond
€583.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Aromas of underbrush, camphor, new leather and woodland berries mingle with a whiff of pressed rose petal on this compelling red. Still youthfully austere but already incredibly delicious, it delivers raspberry compote, truffle, tobacco and licorice framed in tightly knit, noble tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Another fantastic showing from this wonderful estate. |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,715.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow! |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€3,430.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)Since I reviewed the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc last year (98+), I had some doubts about spending the time to re-review it. But one taste had me transfixed. Hints of crushed stone and subtle oak appear on the nose, backed by waves of honeyed pear and pineapple, plus enough invigorating citrus to provide a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, this has come into its own, being incredibly long, balanced and ethereal on the finish. Amazing stuff! |
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Rhone | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
€1,275.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2020 Ermitage Le Pavillon is pure gold, and Hermitage doesn't get any better. Incredible aromatics of cassis, graphite, burning embers, and crushed stone all emerge from this beauty. Stunningly proportioned and incredibly pure, it's full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, but as with all great vintages of this cuvée, it's going to demand bottle age. While Les Greffieux and Le Méal bring much more opulence, this is the powerhouse, long-distance candidate in the lineup. It's an incredible effort. Give bottles upwards of a decade in the cellar, and it should evolve effortlessly over the following 30-40 years. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€643.00 |
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James Suckling (98)An amazing 2008 rosé Champagne that has all the structure and aromatic complexity - sushi ginger, oolong tea and caramelized mandarin orange - we associate with this vintage, but also has more charm than most. On the palate, this has stunning concentration, yet is diamond bright. The interplay of creaminess, fine tannins and mineral acidity builds and builds at the breathtaking finish. The color comes from about 7% pinot noir red wine, partly from the little-known Les Riceys in the far south of Champagne. Drink or hold. |
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