Coup de Foudre Les Bouquinistes 2020
Les Bouquinistes 2020 is a field blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from our Calistoga, Napa Valley vineyards.
We produced just shy of 500 cases of this vintage.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
"Aromas of currants, orange peel, dark plums and hints of vanilla. Some bark. Medium-bodied with juicy flavors and a light bark and stem undertone. 24% petite sirah, 20% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 18% syrah, 10% malbec, and 8% cabernet sauvignon. Delicious for early drinking. Drink now." - James Sucking, 91 points
We are excited about this offer; and the amazing story told by our featured author will move you to your core. Our goal is to produce a stunning Napa Valley wine while promoting the missions of our esteemed authors and generating much-needed awareness and funding for worthy charities throughout the world. Each vintage celebrates an author who exemplifies unwavering commitment to social justice. Past vintages have featured a wide range of scribes, including Nicolas Kristoff of The New York Times, Pulitzer-prize winner Tracy Kidder, Jacqueline Novogratz and Patricia McCormick. These collaborations have raised more than $100,000 to benefit charities in Cambodia, Africa, Nepal and other developing countries.
I AM A GIRL FROM AFRICA
We are excited about this offer; and the amazing story told by our featured author will move you to your core. Our goal is to produce a stunning Napa Valley wine while promoting the missions of our esteemed authors and generating much-needed awareness and funding for worthy charities throughout the world. Each vintage celebrates an author who exemplifies unwavering commitment to social justice. Past vintages have featured a wide range of scribes, including Nicolas Kristoff of The New York Times, Pulitzer-prize winner Tracy Kidder, Jacqueline Novogratz and Patricia McCormick. These collaborations have raised more than $100,000 to benefit charities in Cambodia, Africa, Nepal and other developing countries.
Read more...
Les Bouquinistes 2020 Chapter Six features Elizabeth Nyamayaro’s I Am A Girl From Africa. It is a remarkable story of what is possible when girls are given an equal right to quality education. When Elizabeth was only eight years old a severe drought decimated the crops in her agricultural village in Zimbabwe. After months of hunger and malnourishment, she found herself alone, face down under a tree in a parched field, too weak to move. Incredibly, a UN aid worker found her, gave her food, and saved her life. This was a transformative moment for Elizabeth; it inspired her to dedicate her life to uplifting her community, her continent and now the world. As Elizabeth grew into a teenager and then a young adult, attending school intermittently when she wasn’t needed to help “find money,” she never lost sight of this goal. She was grounded by the African concept of Ubuntu: I am because we are. And because we are, you are! With the support of her community — and exceptional drive and perseverance — Elizabeth overcame crushing obstacles and eventually served as a senior advisor to the United Nations where she launched HeForShe, one of the world’s largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. She has chosen that the proceeds from the sale of this wine will benefit globalgirlsglow.org. Global G.L.O.W. is an organization that mentors girls to advocate for themselves and make their communities stronger. Their after-school programs in 23 countries, including the United States, seek to ignite the power of girls as a force for global transformation. Your contributions will continue to deliver the important message of hope, community support and interdependence to girls and women all over the world.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer Red Blend 2018
Jayson Red Wine is a distinctive blend from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards, crafted to express each vintage with intensity and richness. With vintage 2020, fruit was sourced primarily from Atlas Peak, supported by fruit grown in the renowned Stagecoach Vineyard and other exceptional Napa Valley sites. Grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted before undergoing fermentation in stainless steel tanks to enhance its fruit profile and retain bright acidity. The wine was then racked to 65% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.
This wine has aromas of crushed black cherry, fraises des bois, and wild mushroom on the nose. The palate opens, layer upon plush layer, with raspberry, strawberry, and lingonberry, all held beautifully in focus by integrated polished tannins.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer Chardonnay 2020
This silky-smooth wine offers an appealing lift of crisp tropical fruit and subtle touches of oak for a vibrant, layered Chardonnay.
Notes of lemon meringue, poached pear, crushed granite and fresh pineapple juice offer incredible structure to the palate. Deeper into this well-textured wine are richer hints of butterscotch, almond cream, salted caramel and crème brûlée, finishing bright and playful. Pair this inviting Chardonnay with a grilled pork chop in a mustard-thyme cream sauce with a side of rosemary-herb roasted potatoes, or with a cheese pairing of aged gouda with dried apricots.
Amuse Bouche Prêt à Boire Rosé 2021
Made in the southern French style, the 2021 Prêt à Boire Rosé is a Grenache and Syrah blend. Pale salmon pink in color, it offers beautiful aromas of potpourri, raspberry tart and fresh cherries, with hints of baking spices and cracked black pepper. It remains the only rosé produced in the US that garners 90+ point ratings from all the top wine critics.
Some of you may not be aware that the world lost George Rodrigue on December 14, 2013. He was 69 years old. George, and his wife Wendy, have been dear friends of ours since 2005 when we initially commissioned George to paint a "blue dog" for our 2006 Amuse Bouche release. A native of Louisiana, George launched his painting career in the 1960s. He was not only a magnificent artist; George was a true community leader, philanthropist and advocate of arts education, inspiring a new generation of artists through the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
"Cherry-colored rosé with aromas of plum stones, raspberries, watermelon, sweet spices and dried flowers. Medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity and just a hint of tannin texture. Dry. Grenache and syrah. Drink now."
- James Suckling, October 2021
Dictador Rima I American Oak Cask Vintage 1997
Dictador Rima is a sequent edition of a limited series of a collection of vintages aged under the supervision of Hernan Parra. Dictador’s Master Blender continues his masterpiece in splendorous creation of rums aged in American Oak casks finish.
Rima in Spanish means ‘Rime’ and just like in a poem one can find perfect symbiosis of words, in the bottles of Dictador Rima, you will find a perfect synergy of flavours and a unique tasting experience.
Nose: Freshly vanished oak flooring, with a decadent note of dark chocolate and cinnamon spice over the top. Rich honey and some earthy notes of high-grade maple syrup, too.
Palate: Bold with lots of fresh coffee notes, some ginger snaps and an element of honeycomb dipped in rich milk chocolate. Cherries, too.
Finish: Lightly spiced with a hint of cinnamon balls and vanilla.
Age: 21 Years
Cask: American Oak
Cask Released Total Bottles: 307
Dictador Parrafo I Fino Vintage 2007
Dictador Párrafo is a limited edition of vintages personally chosen and created by Dictador’s Master Blender Hernan Parra. This piece of many years’ works bore fruits in the form of a collection of excellent rums aged in American Oak with Sherry and Port casks finish.
The superbness of the rums in this series is proof of the craftsmanship of the Parra family and their multi-generational experience.
Nose: Maple syrup on the nose, with hints of freshly baked French pastries, and some apple compote. A back note of strawberries and cream.
Palate: Soft and delicate, this has some grape notes to it which give a natural fruity sweetness, followed by some earthy and spicy notes of cinnamon and cardamom. A hint of rhubarb on the end.
Finish: Light spices, some notes of vanilla and a hit of maple syrup from the start of the nose.
Age: 15 Years
Cask: Sherry
Cask Released Total Bottles: 290
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2018
Winemaker Notes
Our concept of small-lot winemaking dates back to 1948 when Louis M. Martini began ranking his most exceptional Cabernet lots to use for a special selection blend. We honor this attention to detail with every vintage we make, fermenting Lot No. 1 in small open-top tanks, which allow for a high level of precision when extracting color and flavor. All lots were alternately punched down and pumped over up to four times daily to build the desired foundation for the wine’s mouthfeel. Our barrel program for Lot No. 1 is also unique, with the primary component being 36-month air dried French oak. This longer drying time encourages rich tannin structure throughout the duration of the wine’s 19 months in barrel (83% new).
Nose: The 2018 Lot No. 1 vintage showcases enticing aromas of wild blackberries, cocoa and toasted oak supported by notes of brown spice and humidor.
Palate: The rich, plush palate boasts flavors of shaved chocolate and reduced blackberry compote with hints of cinnamon. The long finish reveals classic oak character and plush tannins.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"This has a frankly toasty note overlaying rich cassis, plum and boysenberry compote flavors, while licorice root, loam and roasted mesquite notes fill in on the finish. Not shy in the muscular approach. For fans of the style. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,149 cases made." - 94 points, James Molesworth, Senior Editor and Special Projects Director at Wine Spectator
Veramonte Chardonnay 2022
CHARDONNAY | 2022
CASABLANCA VALLEY
BRIGHT • LUSCIOUS • SMOOTH
Fresh and expressive aromas of pear, quince, and lemon curd, interwoven with toasty oak notes. On the palate, vibrant purity of the fruit, with a beautiful texture and depth that leads to a memorable long finish. A very expressive and elegant wine.
This vintage in Casablanca presented good conditions starting in spring, setting us up for excellent flowering and fruit set. Harvest began the last week of February, which was slightly delayed from what we had planned. However, things sped up and we had a very good ripening curve, especially at the end of the season. This year, the first varieties to be harvested were Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, having received very good temperatures from October onwards.
This Chardonnay is silky and mineral and is without a doubt an elegant and expressive wine.
Recommended Serving Temperature: 12ºC
Food Pairing: Seafood, Chicken Salad
"A pure chardonnay here with some wet stones, green pineapples and lime. Nice texture on the crisp, linear palate. A nice attack of fresh acidity and an alkaline, chalky finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now." - 90 points, James Suckling
First Drop Fat of the Land Barossa Shiraz – Ebenezer (Single Vineyard) 2015
The Barossa is an amazing place with a diverse history from which a great community has grown living o- the Fat of the Land. Famed for its Shiraz vineyards, some dating back to the 19th century, the wines from this small, but proud region are as unique and divergent as its history and community. One can make such varied expressions of Shiraz, due to the different meso-climates of each subregion, the elevation range, and the myriad of soil types that are to be found throughout the Barossa. The Fat of the Land series seeks to showcase the sub regions of the Barossa, and the contrasting styles of Shiraz that can be made here. Shiraz from a single vineyard in Seppeltsfield.
Colour: Dark kirsch
Nose: Lifted dark cherry aromas with notes of licorice and dark chocolate
Palate: Flavour packed with kirsch, prunes, dark chocolate and liquorice. Rich and muscular, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"The nose is captivating here, offering up aromas of forest fruits, blueberries, sour cherries and a hint of walnut shell. Full body, structured and juicy tannins and a long finish. Everything is in balance and nothing's overdone. Drink now." - 94 points, James Suckling
"Offers toasty, cedary notes that lend a dominating spicy, tobacco-laced vibe to the core of plum and black cherry flavors. Finishes with licorice and toasty spice notes, and firming tannins. Drink now through 2028. 200 cases made, 50 cases imported." - MaryAnn Worobiec, Senior Editor and Napa Bureau Chief at Wine Spectator
First Drop 2% Barossa Shiraz 2019
Our reserve Shiraz is sourced from vineyards in Greenock (35%), Ebenezer (35%), Seppeltseld (30%). Dense dark berry fruits, with hints of tobacco and cocoa are further enhanced by subtle use of oak. This wine has been matured in 28% new French oak hogsheads and the balance in 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads and American oak barriques for 17 months sur lie, resulting in a sexy, textured palate. And who’s 2%? Moscatel! A splash of funk that supports the base line fruit, and puts the ‘ph’ in fat.
Colour: Dark plum
Nose: Lifted black fruit aromas with a hints of earth and spice
Palate: Rich, phat, dark berry fruits, with hints of dark chocolate and Indian ink, supported by a dense core of tannins.
"That’s two percent muscadelle for those playing at home, the rest is shiraz sourced from Ebenezer, Seppeltsfield and Greenock and aged in French oak (50% new). The split is roughly one-third each. The nose has a deeply spicy edge and aromas of ripe dark plums, blackberries and black cherries, as well as dark chocolate and currants. The palate has a wealth of rich black fruit and flavors of salted licorice, cocoa, blood plums and blackberries. Very concentrated. Drink over the next decade. Screw cap." - 94 points, James Suckling
Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2019
For the 2019 vintage of Amuse Bouche, it features the artwork by one the most prominent artists of our time. Françoise Gilot, born in 1921, is a decorated French painter perhaps best known for her long, stormy relationship with Pablo Picasso, with whom she had two children, Claude and Paloma. Gilot is highly regarded as an international artist of the second half of the twentieth century. She has exhibited her work for more than 50 years in the major art centers of Europe, Asia, and North America. She was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters with rank of Commander in 1988, the French Legion of Honor with rank of Chevalier in 1990, and the rank of Officer in the National Order of Merit by the president of France in 1996.
Amuse Bouche 2019 is crafted in the Pomerol-style, is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford Hills of Napa Valley.
"The 2019 Amuse Bouche, a Right Bank-inspired Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is superb. Expansive, sweet aromatics are immediately seductive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plum fruit, sweet tobacco, chocolate, spice and leather. This wonderfully expressive, elegant Napa Valley red hits all the right notes in a mid-weight, nuanced style that is all class." - Antonio Galloni, January 2022
"This is a beautiful, juicy, merlot-based red with melted-chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. It’s full and creamy with lovely balance and attractive character, showing freshness and layers of fruit. Violets and berries at the end. Merlot and cabernet franc. Gorgeous. Drink or hold." - 95 points, James Suckling
Starward Fortis Miniature
Fortis meaning ‘brave, bold’, is a full bodied, full flavoured whisky that celebrates local Australian ingredients. Bottled at a higher ABV of 50% and non-chill filtered, this whisky
is fully matured in 100% American oak red wine barrels, predominately sourced from the Barossa Valley.
These barrels, which previously held big Australian bold reds like cabernet and shiraz, offer a fuller and richer mouthfeel to this single malt whisky. Starward Fortis is blended in batches, meaning each batch will be unique but will maintain the core flavour profile and intensity.
Nose: Very forward aromas of Madagascan vanilla pods, rich toasted American oak, blackberry jam, raisins, caramelised fig, raw sugar and over ripe plums.
Palate: Rich and full bodied, upfront vanillin, quince paste, Muscadelle raisins, chocolate ganache, cinnamon and baked banana bread.
Finish: Viscous and long. It really captures the whole palate and balances well with a finish of baking spices from the oak and ripe figs and raisins.