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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Emilia Romagna | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€317.58 |
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Le Lucciole is an elevated version of Predappio, sourcing from the 0.8 hectare parcel of Raggio Brusa vineyard. Perched at the lofty altitude of 350 meters, this vineyard is unique in its East-facing situation and poor soils. 100% Sangiovese, this is a very special Italian born-and-bred wine of sensational quality.
More Info
The 2018 is a genuine representation of the gracefully balanced vintage. While it offers a welcoming freshness and acidity, there is also a superb concentration to support the wine to cellar in the long term. Production is ultra-limited, only 5,000 bottles were produced. |
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Emilia Romagna | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€175.98 |
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Vinous (92)Mixing both savory and sweet, floral and herbal, earthy yet packed full of bright cherry-berry fruits, the 2019 Sangiovese makes quite a first impression. This is silky in texture, yet juicy and spry with zesty, red berry fruits motivated by brilliant acidity under an air of inner violets and exotic spices. The 2019 has energy to burn, tapering off long and slightly grippy, creating a classically dry impression while also holding your attention firm with its lingering hints of licorice and candied almonds. There is so much balanced pleasure to be had from this Predappio Sangiovese. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€420.25 |
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James Suckling (100)Aromas of plums, flowers, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold. |
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Mosel | 1 | 19 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€365.58 |
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Jancis Robinson (19)Aromas of green and yellow fruit mix it with flinty minerality. The palate shows a little more fruit than the straight Marienburg, grapefruit with peel and pith, but without any tropical aspirations. Nuances of salt and quinine give an almost medicinal tang, but a generous texture makes the medicine go down without any resistance. Very cool, the essence of mineral Riesling. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WCI) |
Inc. TAX
€546.47 |
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The Wine Cellar Insider (98)Flowers are the first thing you notice before discovering all the spice, cloves, kirsch, and dark cherries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, elegant, fresh, supple, and refined. The kirsch shows a beautiful purity and spicy character, along with its refined tannins and peppery strawberries that kick in at the end of the finish. The wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah with the remaining 5% consisting of various, allowable grape varieties. The grapes are as always 100% destemmed. The production is quite low this year at only 25 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is 15.2% ABV, but you do not sense any heat. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€1,011.18 |
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James Suckling (97)Love the dark-berry and intense black-olive and chocolate aromas that follow through to a full body and firm and chewy tannins that deliver a rich and delicious finish. Such polish and, at the same time, finesse. But one of the cellar. A blend of 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2022. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93 (JA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,454.88 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)This stands out from the first nose, has sinewy tannins, textured bilberry and blackberry fruits, savoury liqourice and tobacco, slate tannins and a juicy finish. Accomplished and confident, one to look out for. Stephane Dief owner, 35% new oak for ageing, plus 6% amphora. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93 (JA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,456.80 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)This stands out from the first nose, has sinewy tannins, textured bilberry and blackberry fruits, savoury liqourice and tobacco, slate tannins and a juicy finish. Accomplished and confident, one to look out for. Stephane Dief owner, 35% new oak for ageing, plus 6% amphora. |
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Marlborough | 1 | 98 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€317.58 |
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Decanter (98)Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay has become one of the world’s most recognised New Zealand wine brands. Te Koko is made from fruit from four prime vineyard parcels. It’s barrel-fermented with ‘wild’ indigenous yeasts for four to five months before spending 15 months on fine lees. Roger Jones: Thai rice pudding with kaffir lime. Clean, focused and lingers for an age. The luxurious feeling at the end is immense; this is a stunning wine. Melanie Brown: Opulent and alluring. Shows how oak can heighten flavours and texture. Soft white peach and florals on a citrus base. Creamy centre with caramel popcorn and a pristine acid line. Beautiful. Rebecca Palmer: Attractive key lime characters, oak melding to create the silky, sleek palate. |
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Coquimbo | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€330.85 |
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Decanter (96)Elegant perfume of lavender, wet stones and jasmine haunt the nose of this expressive and vibrant wine. With the chalky minerality and tangy finish that are trademarks of Limarí, this shows great regional typicity and is a mouthwatering wine with subtle oak integration. A complex yet elegant style. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€191.58 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Superb. The acidity is geometric, triangular, feisty, orange-blossom fragrant, direct. The fruit is orange and passion fruit bleeding into plums and tea leaves and sage and mint and thyme and scribbles of pencils and late-summer nights and the finish is like walking through a just-harvested hay field when the first cool rain of autumn is falling soft as mist. Love this. It's delicious, delicious, delicious. I tasted it right at the end of a very long tasting – seven hours on my feet – and it quite literally revived my flagging soul. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€551.35 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)A smaller production cuvée brought up in barrel, the 2018 Saint Joseph La Sensonne sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as beautiful cassis, kirsch, and blackberry fruits mixed with lots of spiced meats, dried flowers, and a touch of chocolate. Full-bodied, opulent, yet brilliantly balanced, this stunning Syrah has ripe tannins and an almost La Mouline-like exotic sexiness about it. It has a touch of obvious background oak, so give bottles 2-4 years and it should keep for 15-20 years, if you're so inclined. Bravo. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€335.58 |
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James Suckling (97)This is very ripe with blackberries, dried fruit, toasted oak and black licorice on the nose. Full-bodied with ultra-fine, linear tannins and a racy, refined finish. This has fantastic structure and length. It goes on for minutes. It needs time to open and refine even more. One of the best Imperiale Gran Reservas in a very long time. Drink after 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€289.98 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Appetising freshness but a little hint of wood shavings (Cabernet Franc?) on the nose. Bone dry and pretty vital but relatively early maturing. Lovely drink with St-Estèphe minerality. Everything in the right place but not a long-distance runner. Very pure though. |
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California | 2 | 97+ (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€734.63 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The 2018 Soul Of A Lion is an incredible Cabernet Sauvignon, made exclusively from free-run juice, blended with 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot and aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple in color, the nose opens slowly, segueing from graphite and tobacco leaves, to violets and blue fruit preserves, to cinnamon, potpourri and dark spices. The palate is seamless and cashmere-like, with expansive, pure, mineral-laced fruits enlivened by a burst of freshness that highlights the perfectly ripe fruit character this vintage. The finish is very long, offering violet perfume and iron tones that linger in the mouth. This is a gorgeous wine that combines unique personality with expert craftsmanship. It drinks well now but has all it needs for a long life in the cellar. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. TAX
€225.18 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)The 2019 de Pressac is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. A complex, mesmerizing wine, Pressac offers up an exotic mélange of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and menthol. All the elements are so well balanced. Espresso,, lavender, dried rose petal and cedar linger on the complex, beautifully delineated finish. The 2019 is seriously impressive. It's as simple as that. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€424.38 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Delamotte's just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn't as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€1,426.38 |
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James Suckling (98)A firm and vivid Champagne with a precise, focused palate. Full-bodied and dry. It’s very layered and bright with light pineapple, peach, praline, cooked-apple and stone aromas and flavors. It’s very subtle and focused at the end. Integrated with richness and high acidity. Good depth. Reminds me of the 1995. Very clean. Solid. Lovely to drink already, but will age nicely. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€408.78 |
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James Suckling (96-97)Iron, black mushroom and dark berry with some burnt orange peel. Flowers, too. It’s full-bodied with round tannins that turn linear and tight at the end. Excellent energy. Brightness and purity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€422.26 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Les Hautes Brusquières (60/40 Grenache and Syrah) comes from a cooler terroir near the Mount Redon plateau and was brought up in oak tronconique tanks and demi-muids. Its dense purple, almost opaque hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of mulled red and black fruits, peppery herbs, crushed stone, violets, and licorice. With full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and just about perfect tannins, it's another superstar wine from this estate that's up with the finest vintages to date. |
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Rhone | 4 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€645.18 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2019 Cornas is one hell of a base Cornas that should be snatched up by readers. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, with a texture like silk, it offers a kaleidoscope-like array of red and black fruits, tapenade, smoked game, black olive, and Asian spices. It’s a thrilling wine to enjoy over the coming two decades. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,384.38 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The youth, freshness, balance and harmony of the 2016 Peñas Aladas Gran Reserva is gobsmacking. The wine is a little shy, insinuating, reticent and a little closed, and it feels younger than it is. It comes from a collection of small plots of some of the oldest vines in the village of La Aguilera in the lieu-dit, or "paraje," that names the wine, in a small valley surrounded by pine, holm and juniper trees, where there is a cold draft of air and the temperature is lower than in the rest of the village. The soils are sandy and intermixed with clay on a marl mother rock. The plants are mostly Tempranillo, but as they are very old vines, there's always a field blend of other varieties—Albillo Mayor, Monastrell, Garnacha, Bobal and Cariñena—all fermented together with full clusters that were foot trodden in concrete vats and indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in barrel and lasted for 11 months, while the élevage was extended to a total of 55 months (almost five years!). After all this time in barrels, the wine is not oaky at all; it's floral and perfumed, elegant, nuanced and layered. The texture is silky, and it's medium-bodied, with moderate ripeness, 14% alcohol and very good freshness denoted by a pH of 3.41. It has fine tannins that make it nicely textured and fine-boned, with subtle minerality. This should be veeeeeery long lived, as it has the stuffing, all the ingredients and the balance between them to make old bones. Amazing juice. 3,591 bottles and 51 magnums were filled in April 2021. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€406.38 |
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Wine Advocate (97)2017 was a low-yielding year, so I also tasted the 2018 Reserva, their flagship red wine that wants to be a representation of the village of La Aguilera—fine, serious and elegant. It's 95% Tempranillo with the remaining grapes found interplanted in their oldest vineyards at an average of 880 meters in altitude on limestone, clay and sandy soils. All the clusters ferment together with indigenous yeasts in concrete, where they are foot trodden, and malolactic was carried out very slowly (11 months) in oak barrels where the wine matured for a total of 27 months. It has a somewhat shy nose but is very elegant. The wine was recently bottled, and that can make it a little closed and subtle, and it clearly improves with air as it sits in the glass. It's still young, and the palate reveals lots of energy; the flavors are very pure and the wine precise and delineated. The tannins are very fine and provide for a chalky texture and an almost salty twist in the finish. This is very in line with the 2016. 15,250 bottle and 101 magnums produced. It was bottled in February 2021. |
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Central Valley | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€644.51 |
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James Suckling (98)Very perfumed and aromatic with blackcurrant, sweet-tobacco and Spanish-cedar character. Full-bodied with ultra fine tannins that build on the palate and take the fruit and other flavors to an endless finish. More refined than the perfect 2018 and almost as compelling. Drink in 2023 or after. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 98-99 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€1,462.38 |
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James Suckling (98-99)Really perfumed and complex with blackberries, blackcurrants and flowers. Gorgeous cabernet sauvignon character. Full-bodied with really fine, polished tannins. Superb length and intensity. Very compact and seamless. Ethereal. Just goes on and on. |
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Bordeaux | 10 | 95 (JA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,429.81 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Bordeaux | 21 | 95 (JA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,427.93 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Wairarapa | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€352.38 |
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Wine Advocate (95)The full-bodied, rich 2019 Kupe Pinot Noir is a lovely example of how size doesn't have to mean a loss of elegance. Bold black cherry and plum flavors combine with nuances of cola spice and mocha to yield ample complexity, while the palate is plush and velvety, seamlessly extending through a lingering finish. While delicious now, I expect it will drink well for more than a decade. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€280.38 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€367.57 |
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James Suckling (93)Notes of blueberries, blackberries, porcini and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced with a fleshy texture. Round and velvety. Long, flavorful finish. Fine and fresh at the end. Drink or hold. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Emilia Romagna | 1 | - |
In Bond
€246.00 |
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Le Lucciole is an elevated version of Predappio, sourcing from the 0.8 hectare parcel of Raggio Brusa vineyard. Perched at the lofty altitude of 350 meters, this vineyard is unique in its East-facing situation and poor soils. 100% Sangiovese, this is a very special Italian born-and-bred wine of sensational quality.
More Info
The 2018 is a genuine representation of the gracefully balanced vintage. While it offers a welcoming freshness and acidity, there is also a superb concentration to support the wine to cellar in the long term. Production is ultra-limited, only 5,000 bottles were produced. |
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Emilia Romagna | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€128.00 |
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Vinous (92)Mixing both savory and sweet, floral and herbal, earthy yet packed full of bright cherry-berry fruits, the 2019 Sangiovese makes quite a first impression. This is silky in texture, yet juicy and spry with zesty, red berry fruits motivated by brilliant acidity under an air of inner violets and exotic spices. The 2019 has energy to burn, tapering off long and slightly grippy, creating a classically dry impression while also holding your attention firm with its lingering hints of licorice and candied almonds. There is so much balanced pleasure to be had from this Predappio Sangiovese. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€344.00 |
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James Suckling (100)Aromas of plums, flowers, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold. |
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Mosel | 1 | 19 (JR) |
In Bond
€286.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (19)Aromas of green and yellow fruit mix it with flinty minerality. The palate shows a little more fruit than the straight Marienburg, grapefruit with peel and pith, but without any tropical aspirations. Nuances of salt and quinine give an almost medicinal tang, but a generous texture makes the medicine go down without any resistance. Very cool, the essence of mineral Riesling. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (WCI) |
In Bond
€433.00 |
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The Wine Cellar Insider (98)Flowers are the first thing you notice before discovering all the spice, cloves, kirsch, and dark cherries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, elegant, fresh, supple, and refined. The kirsch shows a beautiful purity and spicy character, along with its refined tannins and peppery strawberries that kick in at the end of the finish. The wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah with the remaining 5% consisting of various, allowable grape varieties. The grapes are as always 100% destemmed. The production is quite low this year at only 25 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is 15.2% ABV, but you do not sense any heat. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€824.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Love the dark-berry and intense black-olive and chocolate aromas that follow through to a full body and firm and chewy tannins that deliver a rich and delicious finish. Such polish and, at the same time, finesse. But one of the cellar. A blend of 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2022. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93 (JA) |
In Bond
€1,167.48 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)This stands out from the first nose, has sinewy tannins, textured bilberry and blackberry fruits, savoury liqourice and tobacco, slate tannins and a juicy finish. Accomplished and confident, one to look out for. Stephane Dief owner, 35% new oak for ageing, plus 6% amphora. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93 (JA) |
In Bond
€1,169.02 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)This stands out from the first nose, has sinewy tannins, textured bilberry and blackberry fruits, savoury liqourice and tobacco, slate tannins and a juicy finish. Accomplished and confident, one to look out for. Stephane Dief owner, 35% new oak for ageing, plus 6% amphora. |
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Marlborough | 1 | 98 (DC) |
In Bond
€246.00 |
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Decanter (98)Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay has become one of the world’s most recognised New Zealand wine brands. Te Koko is made from fruit from four prime vineyard parcels. It’s barrel-fermented with ‘wild’ indigenous yeasts for four to five months before spending 15 months on fine lees. Roger Jones: Thai rice pudding with kaffir lime. Clean, focused and lingers for an age. The luxurious feeling at the end is immense; this is a stunning wine. Melanie Brown: Opulent and alluring. Shows how oak can heighten flavours and texture. Soft white peach and florals on a citrus base. Creamy centre with caramel popcorn and a pristine acid line. Beautiful. Rebecca Palmer: Attractive key lime characters, oak melding to create the silky, sleek palate. |
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Coquimbo | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
€257.00 |
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Decanter (96)Elegant perfume of lavender, wet stones and jasmine haunt the nose of this expressive and vibrant wine. With the chalky minerality and tangy finish that are trademarks of Limarí, this shows great regional typicity and is a mouthwatering wine with subtle oak integration. A complex yet elegant style. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
In Bond
€141.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Superb. The acidity is geometric, triangular, feisty, orange-blossom fragrant, direct. The fruit is orange and passion fruit bleeding into plums and tea leaves and sage and mint and thyme and scribbles of pencils and late-summer nights and the finish is like walking through a just-harvested hay field when the first cool rain of autumn is falling soft as mist. Love this. It's delicious, delicious, delicious. I tasted it right at the end of a very long tasting – seven hours on my feet – and it quite literally revived my flagging soul. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
€437.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)A smaller production cuvée brought up in barrel, the 2018 Saint Joseph La Sensonne sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as beautiful cassis, kirsch, and blackberry fruits mixed with lots of spiced meats, dried flowers, and a touch of chocolate. Full-bodied, opulent, yet brilliantly balanced, this stunning Syrah has ripe tannins and an almost La Mouline-like exotic sexiness about it. It has a touch of obvious background oak, so give bottles 2-4 years and it should keep for 15-20 years, if you're so inclined. Bravo. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€261.00 |
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James Suckling (97)This is very ripe with blackberries, dried fruit, toasted oak and black licorice on the nose. Full-bodied with ultra-fine, linear tannins and a racy, refined finish. This has fantastic structure and length. It goes on for minutes. It needs time to open and refine even more. One of the best Imperiale Gran Reservas in a very long time. Drink after 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
In Bond
€223.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Appetising freshness but a little hint of wood shavings (Cabernet Franc?) on the nose. Bone dry and pretty vital but relatively early maturing. Lovely drink with St-Estèphe minerality. Everything in the right place but not a long-distance runner. Very pure though. |
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California | 2 | 97+ (WA) |
In Bond
€601.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The 2018 Soul Of A Lion is an incredible Cabernet Sauvignon, made exclusively from free-run juice, blended with 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot and aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple in color, the nose opens slowly, segueing from graphite and tobacco leaves, to violets and blue fruit preserves, to cinnamon, potpourri and dark spices. The palate is seamless and cashmere-like, with expansive, pure, mineral-laced fruits enlivened by a burst of freshness that highlights the perfectly ripe fruit character this vintage. The finish is very long, offering violet perfume and iron tones that linger in the mouth. This is a gorgeous wine that combines unique personality with expert craftsmanship. It drinks well now but has all it needs for a long life in the cellar. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
€169.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)The 2019 de Pressac is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. A complex, mesmerizing wine, Pressac offers up an exotic mélange of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and menthol. All the elements are so well balanced. Espresso,, lavender, dried rose petal and cedar linger on the complex, beautifully delineated finish. The 2019 is seriously impressive. It's as simple as that. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
€335.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Delamotte's just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn't as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€1,170.00 |
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James Suckling (98)A firm and vivid Champagne with a precise, focused palate. Full-bodied and dry. It’s very layered and bright with light pineapple, peach, praline, cooked-apple and stone aromas and flavors. It’s very subtle and focused at the end. Integrated with richness and high acidity. Good depth. Reminds me of the 1995. Very clean. Solid. Lovely to drink already, but will age nicely. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
€322.00 |
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James Suckling (96-97)Iron, black mushroom and dark berry with some burnt orange peel. Flowers, too. It’s full-bodied with round tannins that turn linear and tight at the end. Excellent energy. Brightness and purity. |
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Rhone | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
€328.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Les Hautes Brusquières (60/40 Grenache and Syrah) comes from a cooler terroir near the Mount Redon plateau and was brought up in oak tronconique tanks and demi-muids. Its dense purple, almost opaque hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of mulled red and black fruits, peppery herbs, crushed stone, violets, and licorice. With full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and just about perfect tannins, it's another superstar wine from this estate that's up with the finest vintages to date. |
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Rhone | 4 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
€519.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2019 Cornas is one hell of a base Cornas that should be snatched up by readers. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, with a texture like silk, it offers a kaleidoscope-like array of red and black fruits, tapenade, smoked game, black olive, and Asian spices. It’s a thrilling wine to enjoy over the coming two decades. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,135.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The youth, freshness, balance and harmony of the 2016 Peñas Aladas Gran Reserva is gobsmacking. The wine is a little shy, insinuating, reticent and a little closed, and it feels younger than it is. It comes from a collection of small plots of some of the oldest vines in the village of La Aguilera in the lieu-dit, or "paraje," that names the wine, in a small valley surrounded by pine, holm and juniper trees, where there is a cold draft of air and the temperature is lower than in the rest of the village. The soils are sandy and intermixed with clay on a marl mother rock. The plants are mostly Tempranillo, but as they are very old vines, there's always a field blend of other varieties—Albillo Mayor, Monastrell, Garnacha, Bobal and Cariñena—all fermented together with full clusters that were foot trodden in concrete vats and indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in barrel and lasted for 11 months, while the élevage was extended to a total of 55 months (almost five years!). After all this time in barrels, the wine is not oaky at all; it's floral and perfumed, elegant, nuanced and layered. The texture is silky, and it's medium-bodied, with moderate ripeness, 14% alcohol and very good freshness denoted by a pH of 3.41. It has fine tannins that make it nicely textured and fine-boned, with subtle minerality. This should be veeeeeery long lived, as it has the stuffing, all the ingredients and the balance between them to make old bones. Amazing juice. 3,591 bottles and 51 magnums were filled in April 2021. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
€320.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)2017 was a low-yielding year, so I also tasted the 2018 Reserva, their flagship red wine that wants to be a representation of the village of La Aguilera—fine, serious and elegant. It's 95% Tempranillo with the remaining grapes found interplanted in their oldest vineyards at an average of 880 meters in altitude on limestone, clay and sandy soils. All the clusters ferment together with indigenous yeasts in concrete, where they are foot trodden, and malolactic was carried out very slowly (11 months) in oak barrels where the wine matured for a total of 27 months. It has a somewhat shy nose but is very elegant. The wine was recently bottled, and that can make it a little closed and subtle, and it clearly improves with air as it sits in the glass. It's still young, and the palate reveals lots of energy; the flavors are very pure and the wine precise and delineated. The tannins are very fine and provide for a chalky texture and an almost salty twist in the finish. This is very in line with the 2016. 15,250 bottle and 101 magnums produced. It was bottled in February 2021. |
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Central Valley | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€515.00 |
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James Suckling (98)Very perfumed and aromatic with blackcurrant, sweet-tobacco and Spanish-cedar character. Full-bodied with ultra fine tannins that build on the palate and take the fruit and other flavors to an endless finish. More refined than the perfect 2018 and almost as compelling. Drink in 2023 or after. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 98-99 (JS) |
In Bond
€1,200.00 |
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James Suckling (98-99)Really perfumed and complex with blackberries, blackcurrants and flowers. Gorgeous cabernet sauvignon character. Full-bodied with really fine, polished tannins. Superb length and intensity. Very compact and seamless. Ethereal. Just goes on and on. |
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Bordeaux | 10 | 95 (JA) |
In Bond
€1,169.02 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Bordeaux | 21 | 95 (JA) |
In Bond
€1,167.48 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Wairarapa | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€275.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)The full-bodied, rich 2019 Kupe Pinot Noir is a lovely example of how size doesn't have to mean a loss of elegance. Bold black cherry and plum flavors combine with nuances of cola spice and mocha to yield ample complexity, while the palate is plush and velvety, seamlessly extending through a lingering finish. While delicious now, I expect it will drink well for more than a decade. |
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Burgundy | 1 | - |
In Bond
€215.00 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (JS) |
In Bond
€269.00 |
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James Suckling (93)Notes of blueberries, blackberries, porcini and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced with a fleshy texture. Round and velvety. Long, flavorful finish. Fine and fresh at the end. Drink or hold. |
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