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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Douro | 1 | 18+ (MJ) |
Inc. TAX
€325.98 |
|||||
Matthew Jukes (18+)Because this trio of wines runs in a neat sequence, I made one consecutive note to cover all three vintages – a direct comparative tasting note, if you will. 2016 is my preferred wine – it is the grandest, and it has the most potential. It is one of the finest value, elite reds I have tasted in a very long time. The 2017 is more refined, the most forward, most restaurant friendly and most open. It is lighter, more herbal, and it will get you in the mood while the others have a chance to mellow. I will hold back on any more notes on this wine because it is my MoneyWeek wine of the week this Friday! Finally, the 2018, which is a beauty. More flamboyant, more plush and sensual, and it is not dissimilar to the 2016 in fruit expression, but it is not quite as powerful or as impactful. Either way, you need all three in your collection because if you like each of these wines for their respective character traits, I can imagine you will follow this label for the rest of your days. |
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|
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Douro | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€366.78 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Fantastic aromas of blackberries and blueberries with tar and minerals. Medium-to full-bodied, with very firm and fine tannins that tighten the wine and make it compacted and impressive. A retro feel to this wine that reminds me of the great Barca Velhas of the 1960s. Better after 2027. |
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|
|
Douro | 2 | 19+ (MJ) |
Inc. TAX
€646.42 |
|||||
Matthew Jukes (19+)This is a stunningly serious wine with extraordinary class and detail. I wrote ‘utterly gobsmacking’ in my notebook – not words I often use. There is phenomenal balance, a stunning mid-palate, and epic length here, and this makes 2020 Leda the finest value £50 red wine on earth, not least if you want to drink a bottle now or in 30 years! |
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England | 3 | - |
Inc. TAX
€475.72 |
|||||
|
|
England | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€369.18 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Platinum Medal Winner 60% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, 8% Pinot Meunier Bold and opulent, with a plush nose of cinnamon-coated baked apples, spun sugar, oats and custard, then a soft yet crisp palate revealing layers of intense apricot, red apple, nuts and toast. Still retains plenty of age-worthy freshness. |
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|
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England | 2 | - |
Inc. TAX
€280.28 |
|||||
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€158.05 |
|||||
|
Experience the sheer elegance of Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, artfully crafted under the skilful hands of winemaker Charla Haasbroek. This artisanal wine is produced in the renowned Stellenbosch region of South Africa, famous for its optimal grape-growing conditions. Charla's meticulous winemaking approach, aligning traditional methods with innovative techniques, results in Cabernet Sauvignon of distinctive character. The wine displays rich dark fruit aromatics, underscored by nuanced notes of leather and spice. On the palate, it reveals a robust structure with velvety tannins and a harmonious balance achieved through 18 months of French oak barrel maturation. The Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 could be described as a modern classic: a wine that pays homage to its varietal heritage with a discernible expression of its unique terroir. Ly celebrated for her dedication to crafting authentic wines that echo their origins, Charla Haasbroek's Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a sublime testament to her passion and expertise. |
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Bekaa Valley | 4 | - |
Inc. TAX
€320.39 |
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Niederosterreich | 1 | 95 (TWF) |
Inc. TAX
€587.32 |
|||||
The Wine Front (95)Curious, as my mind went to Jura pretty quickly, then came back to more citrusy things, but saline for sure, sea spray, heaps, nuttiness, yep. What a treat! A serious, serious white wine of depth, insane freshness, mouth puckering tang and freshness. It’s a wine that sets you back in your seat a bit; big impact, not a big wine. So much detail here in texture, layers of fruit and savouriness, minerality and vibrancy. Wildly delicious too. Length for days as well.It’s a wine that sets you back in your seat a bit; big impact, not a big wine. |
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|
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Mosel | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€443.58 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Smelling this is like looking into a deep abyss, and someone unfamiliar with intensely mineral dry riesling might feel a bit of vertigo. However, these grapefruit, white-tea and wild-herb aromas really excite us. On the sleek palate this is super-focused with a terrific tannin structure that beautifully matches the crystalline quality on the pristine finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
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|
|
Mosel | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€418.38 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Here comes the boss! The dense grapefruit, rosemary and thyme nose pulls you inexorably into the orbit of this rich and concentrated dry riesling that has enveloping,salty minerality. And, in spite of all this, it is laser-beam bright and has white-flower delicacy at the very deep finish. From 110-year-old vines. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2023. |
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|
|
Mosel | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€442.38 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)If you thought you knew what peaches smell and taste like, then think again. At first there's a touch of bready character form long sur-lie maturation, but then the most ravishing peach aroma develops, plus notes of wild rose, orange and jasmine. Super-elegant on the ripe yet extremely precise palate. The peachy beauty only expands and expands at the breathtaking finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
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|
|
Mosel | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€616.38 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)The 2020 Marienburg Felsterrasse offers perfectly ripe and concentrated yet refined, finely slatey and perfectly ripe fruit aromas with delicate lemon juice and herbal aromas. A stunning beauty! Silky, crystalline, lush and intense yet highly finessed and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and very intense yet playful, saline and finessed Riesling with power and concentration and a very long, hedonistic yet always elegant and balanced finish. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022. |
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|
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Mosel | 2 | - |
Inc. TAX
€809.52 |
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|
|
Mosel | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€807.18 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)Essence of Mosel wine here, which immediately conjures up an image of tiny riesling grapes that have turned a perfect golden color in the autumn sun. Then, on the extremely rich and refined palate, comes a gigantic wave of minerality that sweeps you away. Enormously long finish of almost overwhelming beauty. Just doesn't want to stop. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
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|
|
Mosel | 2 | - |
Inc. TAX
€439.92 |
|||||
|
|
Mosel | 2 | - |
Inc. TAX
€439.92 |
|||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 19 (JR) |
Inc. TAX
€364.38 |
|||||
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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|
|
Porto | 33 | 94-96 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€616.62 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94-96)The Cockburn’s Vintage Port is sourced from their two main vineyards, Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho, plus a small contribution from Quinta do Cachao de Arnozelo. Around 55% of the blend is sourced from Touriga Nacional vines in Quinta dos Canais, the remainder of the blend 30% Touriga Franca, 5% Sousao and 10% a mixture of old vines. The fruit was picked between September 8 and October 5 at Canais and between September 12 and 30 at Vale Coelho. It has a lifted bouquet with raisin, fresh dates and some lovely tobacco and sandalwood aromas that lend the aromatic profile complexity, although it feels rather compact at the moment. The palate is very well-balanced with a spicy, black pepper-tinged opening and very good structure. There is wonderful focus here, with a refined, clove-tinged finish and a long, spicy aftertaste so you do not forget it in a hurry. The 2011 Cockburn harks back to those classics of yesteryear. Cockburn’s is back. Tasted May 2013. |
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|
|
Porto | 78 | - |
Inc. TAX
€698.22 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€565.02 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This shows fantastic graphite and dark-berry character with black-stone undertones and hints of dried roses. Full-bodied and very tight and precise. Good kick in the end. Love the polished tannins, which are totally folded into the wine. Reminds me of the 1947 Cockburn. Try in 2024. |
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|
|
Madeira | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€3,945.41 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€155.82 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The 2018 Vintage Port Quinta da Roeda is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very large used wooden vats. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Ripe and expressive, this delicious single-quinta Porto also has fine concentration and some pop on the finish. Indeed, as this sits and airs out, it proves it has a real backbone. Two days later, it was pretty tight. This is more about fruit than structure, though, and this sexy, nuanced and succulent Port is going to be hard to resist as it ages. Likely to be accessible on the younger side, it should still hold very well. I need to see a bit more to be fully convinced, but right now this seems like the steal and sleeper of the Fladgate Partnership trio this issue (the Fonseca and Taylor's being the others). For the moment—and young Ports do change notably as they age—this would be my favorite of the trio. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle. |
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|
|
Porto | 3 | 19 (RM) |
Inc. TAX
€676.62 |
|||||
Richard Mayson (19)Croft has developed its own rather ripe, voluptuous and rather jammy style in recent years, distinguishing the wine from the firmer, perhaps more challenging character of Fonseca and Taylor. Perhaps 2017 has been kind to Quinta da Roêda which provides the ‘cornerstone’ of this Port: surprisingly closed on the nose with plump juicy fruit underlying, ripe plums and cherries; similarly plump and voluptuous initially with a wonderfully ripe, broad tannic core rising in the mouth, dense and rather gorgeous all the way through to a fresh, vibrant finish. This has it all and maybe the wine of the vintage. |
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|
|
Porto | 8 | 92-95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€653.51 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (92-95)The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralite within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years. Tasted May 2013. |
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|
|
Porto | 7 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€571.91 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend originally seen about a week before bottling. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Not a lot has changed except that it seems even more approachable and much better balanced now. It also seems drier than its statistics would suggest. Tight and intense on first taste, this comes around relatively well with a couple of hours of air on the first day tasted, but it isn't expressive until a couple of days later. The initial firmness moderates to some extent, showcasing a relatively approachable young Port. (That doesn't mean it is ready or close to it.) The concentration seems good enough now, so that the hints of alcohol that I saw in June—and again this time around when this was in its first 90 minutes of aeration—seem under much better control. The balance is just more appealing. It shows beautifully with a couple of days of air. As with all Ports of any quality, this could use some time. This is gripping, but it won't sear your mouth with tannins. You are going to have to cellar it awhile to allow it to acquire more complexity and more harmony, though. This is showing more promise than ever. |
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|
|
Cape South Coast | 4 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€339.18 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)Cuvée Cinéma is sourced from the top end of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley from a clay- shales vineyard planted in 2009. The stems were unusually mature in 2019, so Peter-Allan Finlayson added 70% whole bunches. The result is sappy, spicy and quite dense, with effortless concentration, black cherry and plum fruit, sinewy tannins and good ageing potential. 2022-29 |
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|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€471.18 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)Part of a brilliant line up of Pinot Noirs from Crystallum in 2020, this is a wine with evident tannin and extraction - more Nuits-St-Georges than Chambolle-Musigny perhaps - with plenty of grip, dark cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle 20% new wood and added complexity from 40% whole bunches. |
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|
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. TAX
€387.18 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)Jacob's Vineyard on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge - also the source of Crystallum's Clay Shales Chardonnay - supplies the grapes for Cuvée Cinéma, which sits mid-way between Bona Fide and Mabalel in style. Perfumed, intense and grippy, with orange zest, cranberry and forest floor notes and well-handled 20% new oak. |
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|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€329.27 |
|||||
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Douro | 1 | 18+ (MJ) |
In Bond
€253.00 |
|||||
Matthew Jukes (18+)Because this trio of wines runs in a neat sequence, I made one consecutive note to cover all three vintages – a direct comparative tasting note, if you will. 2016 is my preferred wine – it is the grandest, and it has the most potential. It is one of the finest value, elite reds I have tasted in a very long time. The 2017 is more refined, the most forward, most restaurant friendly and most open. It is lighter, more herbal, and it will get you in the mood while the others have a chance to mellow. I will hold back on any more notes on this wine because it is my MoneyWeek wine of the week this Friday! Finally, the 2018, which is a beauty. More flamboyant, more plush and sensual, and it is not dissimilar to the 2016 in fruit expression, but it is not quite as powerful or as impactful. Either way, you need all three in your collection because if you like each of these wines for their respective character traits, I can imagine you will follow this label for the rest of your days. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€287.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Fantastic aromas of blackberries and blueberries with tar and minerals. Medium-to full-bodied, with very firm and fine tannins that tighten the wine and make it compacted and impressive. A retro feel to this wine that reminds me of the great Barca Velhas of the 1960s. Better after 2027. |
|||||||||
|
|
Douro | 2 | 19+ (MJ) |
In Bond
€520.00 |
|||||
Matthew Jukes (19+)This is a stunningly serious wine with extraordinary class and detail. I wrote ‘utterly gobsmacking’ in my notebook – not words I often use. There is phenomenal balance, a stunning mid-palate, and epic length here, and this makes 2020 Leda the finest value £50 red wine on earth, not least if you want to drink a bottle now or in 30 years! |
|||||||||
|
|
England | 3 | - |
In Bond
€374.00 |
|||||
|
|
England | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
€289.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Platinum Medal Winner 60% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, 8% Pinot Meunier Bold and opulent, with a plush nose of cinnamon-coated baked apples, spun sugar, oats and custard, then a soft yet crisp palate revealing layers of intense apricot, red apple, nuts and toast. Still retains plenty of age-worthy freshness. |
|||||||||
|
|
England | 2 | - |
In Bond
€211.18 |
|||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
In Bond
€113.00 |
|||||
|
Experience the sheer elegance of Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, artfully crafted under the skilful hands of winemaker Charla Haasbroek. This artisanal wine is produced in the renowned Stellenbosch region of South Africa, famous for its optimal grape-growing conditions. Charla's meticulous winemaking approach, aligning traditional methods with innovative techniques, results in Cabernet Sauvignon of distinctive character. The wine displays rich dark fruit aromatics, underscored by nuanced notes of leather and spice. On the palate, it reveals a robust structure with velvety tannins and a harmonious balance achieved through 18 months of French oak barrel maturation. The Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 could be described as a modern classic: a wine that pays homage to its varietal heritage with a discernible expression of its unique terroir. Ly celebrated for her dedication to crafting authentic wines that echo their origins, Charla Haasbroek's Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a sublime testament to her passion and expertise. |
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|
|
Bekaa Valley | 4 | - |
In Bond
€245.00 |
|||||
|
|
Niederosterreich | 1 | 95 (TWF) |
In Bond
€467.00 |
|||||
The Wine Front (95)Curious, as my mind went to Jura pretty quickly, then came back to more citrusy things, but saline for sure, sea spray, heaps, nuttiness, yep. What a treat! A serious, serious white wine of depth, insane freshness, mouth puckering tang and freshness. It’s a wine that sets you back in your seat a bit; big impact, not a big wine. So much detail here in texture, layers of fruit and savouriness, minerality and vibrancy. Wildly delicious too. Length for days as well.It’s a wine that sets you back in your seat a bit; big impact, not a big wine. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€351.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Smelling this is like looking into a deep abyss, and someone unfamiliar with intensely mineral dry riesling might feel a bit of vertigo. However, these grapefruit, white-tea and wild-herb aromas really excite us. On the sleek palate this is super-focused with a terrific tannin structure that beautifully matches the crystalline quality on the pristine finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€330.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)Here comes the boss! The dense grapefruit, rosemary and thyme nose pulls you inexorably into the orbit of this rich and concentrated dry riesling that has enveloping,salty minerality. And, in spite of all this, it is laser-beam bright and has white-flower delicacy at the very deep finish. From 110-year-old vines. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2023. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€350.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)If you thought you knew what peaches smell and taste like, then think again. At first there's a touch of bready character form long sur-lie maturation, but then the most ravishing peach aroma develops, plus notes of wild rose, orange and jasmine. Super-elegant on the ripe yet extremely precise palate. The peachy beauty only expands and expands at the breathtaking finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
€495.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)The 2020 Marienburg Felsterrasse offers perfectly ripe and concentrated yet refined, finely slatey and perfectly ripe fruit aromas with delicate lemon juice and herbal aromas. A stunning beauty! Silky, crystalline, lush and intense yet highly finessed and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and very intense yet playful, saline and finessed Riesling with power and concentration and a very long, hedonistic yet always elegant and balanced finish. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 2 | - |
In Bond
€652.00 |
|||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
€654.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)Essence of Mosel wine here, which immediately conjures up an image of tiny riesling grapes that have turned a perfect golden color in the autumn sun. Then, on the extremely rich and refined palate, comes a gigantic wave of minerality that sweeps you away. Enormously long finish of almost overwhelming beauty. Just doesn't want to stop. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Mosel | 2 | - |
In Bond
€344.00 |
|||||
|
|
Mosel | 2 | - |
In Bond
€344.00 |
|||||
|
|
Mosel | 1 | 19 (JR) |
In Bond
€285.00 |
|||||
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. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 33 | 94-96 (WA) |
In Bond
€484.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94-96)The Cockburn’s Vintage Port is sourced from their two main vineyards, Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho, plus a small contribution from Quinta do Cachao de Arnozelo. Around 55% of the blend is sourced from Touriga Nacional vines in Quinta dos Canais, the remainder of the blend 30% Touriga Franca, 5% Sousao and 10% a mixture of old vines. The fruit was picked between September 8 and October 5 at Canais and between September 12 and 30 at Vale Coelho. It has a lifted bouquet with raisin, fresh dates and some lovely tobacco and sandalwood aromas that lend the aromatic profile complexity, although it feels rather compact at the moment. The palate is very well-balanced with a spicy, black pepper-tinged opening and very good structure. There is wonderful focus here, with a refined, clove-tinged finish and a long, spicy aftertaste so you do not forget it in a hurry. The 2011 Cockburn harks back to those classics of yesteryear. Cockburn’s is back. Tasted May 2013. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 78 | - |
In Bond
€552.00 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
€441.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This shows fantastic graphite and dark-berry character with black-stone undertones and hints of dried roses. Full-bodied and very tight and precise. Good kick in the end. Love the polished tannins, which are totally folded into the wine. Reminds me of the 1947 Cockburn. Try in 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Madeira | 1 | - |
In Bond
€3,255.00 |
|||||
|
|
Porto | 1 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
€100.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The 2018 Vintage Port Quinta da Roeda is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very large used wooden vats. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Ripe and expressive, this delicious single-quinta Porto also has fine concentration and some pop on the finish. Indeed, as this sits and airs out, it proves it has a real backbone. Two days later, it was pretty tight. This is more about fruit than structure, though, and this sexy, nuanced and succulent Port is going to be hard to resist as it ages. Likely to be accessible on the younger side, it should still hold very well. I need to see a bit more to be fully convinced, but right now this seems like the steal and sleeper of the Fladgate Partnership trio this issue (the Fonseca and Taylor's being the others). For the moment—and young Ports do change notably as they age—this would be my favorite of the trio. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 3 | 19 (RM) |
In Bond
€534.00 |
|||||
Richard Mayson (19)Croft has developed its own rather ripe, voluptuous and rather jammy style in recent years, distinguishing the wine from the firmer, perhaps more challenging character of Fonseca and Taylor. Perhaps 2017 has been kind to Quinta da Roêda which provides the ‘cornerstone’ of this Port: surprisingly closed on the nose with plump juicy fruit underlying, ripe plums and cherries; similarly plump and voluptuous initially with a wonderfully ripe, broad tannic core rising in the mouth, dense and rather gorgeous all the way through to a fresh, vibrant finish. This has it all and maybe the wine of the vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 8 | 92-95 (WA) |
In Bond
€514.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (92-95)The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralite within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years. Tasted May 2013. |
|||||||||
|
|
Porto | 7 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
€446.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend originally seen about a week before bottling. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Not a lot has changed except that it seems even more approachable and much better balanced now. It also seems drier than its statistics would suggest. Tight and intense on first taste, this comes around relatively well with a couple of hours of air on the first day tasted, but it isn't expressive until a couple of days later. The initial firmness moderates to some extent, showcasing a relatively approachable young Port. (That doesn't mean it is ready or close to it.) The concentration seems good enough now, so that the hints of alcohol that I saw in June—and again this time around when this was in its first 90 minutes of aeration—seem under much better control. The balance is just more appealing. It shows beautifully with a couple of days of air. As with all Ports of any quality, this could use some time. This is gripping, but it won't sear your mouth with tannins. You are going to have to cellar it awhile to allow it to acquire more complexity and more harmony, though. This is showing more promise than ever. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 4 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
€264.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)Cuvée Cinéma is sourced from the top end of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley from a clay- shales vineyard planted in 2009. The stems were unusually mature in 2019, so Peter-Allan Finlayson added 70% whole bunches. The result is sappy, spicy and quite dense, with effortless concentration, black cherry and plum fruit, sinewy tannins and good ageing potential. 2022-29 |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
€374.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Part of a brilliant line up of Pinot Noirs from Crystallum in 2020, this is a wine with evident tannin and extraction - more Nuits-St-Georges than Chambolle-Musigny perhaps - with plenty of grip, dark cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle 20% new wood and added complexity from 40% whole bunches. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
€304.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Jacob's Vineyard on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge - also the source of Crystallum's Clay Shales Chardonnay - supplies the grapes for Cuvée Cinéma, which sits mid-way between Bona Fide and Mabalel in style. Perfumed, intense and grippy, with orange zest, cranberry and forest floor notes and well-handled 20% new oak. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
In Bond
€252.00 |
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One of the best things about wine is its limitless nature.
Even professionals with 30 years under their belt come across new regions and new varietals all the time – it is the passion/hobby/profession that just keeps on giving. If you have not yet experienced the profound Gruners or Rieslings from Austria, the sweet nectar that is Tokaji from Hungary, the precise and terroir driven German Rieslings with unrivalled drinkability, the wild and sometimes bloody reds of Portugal, or any other of the beauties found off the beaten track, you are in for a treat. For wine can transport you to another place and time just by popping the cork, and there is a whole world full to discover.
