Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2021
It is with great honor and excitement that we offer you the 2021 vintage of Amuse Bouche, featuring artwork by renowned French artist Marc Clauzade. His piece entitled "Casse Croute" (which roughly translates to "tasty snack") portrays the beautiful chaos of a kitchen scene — its vibrant colors an apt illustration of Julia Child’s famous quote. You may remember that Marc's portrayal of the lady in the red dress, "Le Bar a Vin," adorned our label more than a decade ago.
The 2021 harvest was excellent, but our overall production was down 35% (smaller berries but loaded with flavor) due to the persistent drought conditions of this growing season. Amuse Bouche 2021, 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 GlenDronach Grandeur Aged 28 Years Batch 11
A small number of Oloroso sherry casks which demonstrate exceptional character have been chosen by Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie for the eleventh batch of The GlenDronach Grandeur.
This expression is an exquisite representation of the rich, complex and full-bodied style of The GlenDronach Distillery. All of its natural colour has been drawn from the casks in which it has rested for almost three decades. Each bottle is individually numbered by hand as a reflection of its rarity.Tasting Notes
- Appearance : Ruby tinged walnut.
- Nose : Opulent and powerful with a symphony of sherry aromatics, interwoven with dark manuka honey, roasted almond and walnut. Baked plum and ginger captivate the senses, deepening to rustic vintage leather and freshly ground coffee.
- Palate : Intense and full-bodied with dark fruit notes on a base of velvet and fine leather. A crescendo of black cherry and espresso adorns each mouthful.
- Conclusion : Richly rewarding, with a persistent chocolate, liquorice and walnut finish.
Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2015
Napa Valley’s 2015 vintage was marked by grape yields historically smaller in quantity but exceptional in quality. Circumstances allowed winemaker, Heidi Barrett to create a masterpiece in a bottle – and not just any bttle. Our Amuse Bouche 2015 label is graced with astonishing artwork entitled Le Pique-Nique by Jacques Pepin. A longtime friend of ours, Jacques is a world renowned chef whose impactful work in the culinary world spans more than 6 decades. His most recent awards include the inaugural Julia Chi;s Award and the American Public Television’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In our world, there is no trinity quire so holy as that of wine, food & art. These pleasures – three of life’s greatest – come together harmoniously as we proudly offer your six-bottle allocation of Amuse Bouche 2015.
Made in the Pomerol style, this year’s blend is 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc from our vineyard on Rutherford’s eastern hillside.
Dalla Valle “MAYA” 2019
The 2019 Insignia marks the first vintage to include fruit from the new Joseph Phelps vineyard named El Venadito, located in the Oak Knoll District, just south of the winery’s Yountville Vineyard. It is aged for 18 Months in 48% New Oak, & 60% 1-2 year old French & American oak barrels.
Colour: A brooding purple-black in color
Nose: Enthralling aromas of crème de cassis, mocha, and Morello cherry draw you in, while supporting notions of wildflowers, unrefined earth, and dried herbs captivate the senses.
Palate: As the wine sits in the glass, facets of tobacco leaf, crushed rock, and blackberry begin to surface, yet you can sense a deeper complexity has yet to fully reveal itself.
Pairings: Hard cheese & red meat
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc
Awards: 100 points, Robert Parker & 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck
BenRiach 26 Year Old Cask 1852 S.E.A. Limited Edition Cask Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
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
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
Woodford Reserve® Baccarat
THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY & FINEST FRENCH COGNAC
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition is crafted by uniquely finishing the most complex and balanced Kentucky Bourbon in select XO Cognac barrels.
Sourced by our Master Distiller Chris Morris, each barrel has seen three seasons of cognac before being filled with Woodford Reserve.The result is the best of both spirits – a balance of crisp American and French oak notes, complex fruit character, subtle spiciness and a creamy confectionary finish.
- Process : Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in the finest XO Cognac barrels, bottled in handmade decanters from the artists at Baccarat – the only American whiskey currently available in the precious crystal.
- Proof : 90.4
- Color : Deep Brown
- Aroma : Rich toasted oak dusted with chocolate and cocoa notes, creamy vanilla bean, and hints of clove and cinnamon spice cover a deep layer of dried fruit and citrus peel.
- Taste : Elegant vanilla, dark chocolate, dried fruit and creamy caramel top layers of rich malt and oak.
- Finish : Velvety with a long delicately spiced caramel mocha note.
Juyondai Bessen Morohaku 2022
The Juyondai label, produced by Takagi Shuzo brewery, has earned itself a cult status amongst saké aficionados. Takagi Shuzo was originally founded in 1615 in the northern Japanese Yamagata Prefecture.
Made with 100% Yamada-Nishiki rice, the quality and exclusiveness ensure this rare expression is one of the most highly sought after sake. The Junman Daiginjo is described as bold and flavourful. The nose offers an intense floral and a burst of green apple with hints of melon and fragrant rice. It is light, refreshing and a perfect showcase of the high-quality Yamadanishiki rice.
Food Pairing: Sauce skewers, Hot pot, Boiled food, Seafood, and Salt-grilled dishes
Dictador 2 Masters Ximenez-Spinola 1976
A 45 year-old Dictador Rum from a 1976 vintage finished in whisky casks was shipped to Jerez de la Frontera in the hot south of Spain. There the rum was matured for 9 months in 50 year-old French Oak Pedro Ximenez casks.
- Nose: A profound and mellow nose-feel, lightly nose-drying. The top notes are of Christmas cake with burnt edges, with toasted flaked almonds, becoming gamey and meaty after a while (roast grouse). The mid-notes are both fruity (old Madeira) and floral - a heady, scented fragrance of tropical lilies on a hot night. The base note is reminiscent of burnt toffee.
- Palate: A creamy, mouth-filling texture and a sweet taste overall, with treacle toffee in mid-palate and a suggestion of wine-marinaded and glazed pork. Then a perfumed finish, pleasantly mouth-cooling with lingering warm spice.
- Colour: Deep polished rosewood, with crimson lights. Slow, thick legs, indicating texture.
- Matured in 50 years Old French Oak PX
- Time of Finishing: 9 months
- Quantity: 390 bottles
Dictador 2 Masters Barton Straight Rye 1979/1982
After 36 years of aging, rum was put for 6 months and 14 days in previously used straight rye casks from the 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.
- Nose : Charred oak, spiciness, dark fruits, peppery and tobacco notes.
- Palate : Upfront substantial cinnamon, clove and nutmeg which transitions to a buttery caramel, dark fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla and expansive rye spiciness.
- Colour : toffee, sugar cane, pepperiness, and charred oak with a long and lingering spiciness. A magnificent marriage of distinctive and contrasting bold flavors.
Dictador 2 Masters Nieport 1971/1974/1978/1980
Based on the flavour profiles of the vintages that he receives from Hernan Parra, Dirk Niepoort has made a unique blend, to make a singular rum. From one side before he put them in his own Port Pipes, he blended rums from 71 (49 years-old Rum) and 78 (42 Years-old Rum) and in another Pipe he blended 1974 (46 Years-old Rum) and 1980 (40 Years-old Rum), the pipes that he used are over 50 years Old Port Pipes and after 15 months he made a final blend between these two Pipes.
- Nose: A mellow nose-feel. The top notes are of almond oil – highly fragrant - supported by dried fruits (dates, prunes, candied angelica), on a base of marzipan glazed with hard toffee and dipped in dark chocolate. A suggestion of espresso coffee in the development.
- Palate: A smooth texture and a taste which starts sweet and dries elegantly to a long, warming, lightly spicy (black pepper) finish, with a trace of espresso coffee and crystalline sugar (and later dark chocolate) in the aftertaste.
- Colour: Deep polished rosewood, with magenta lights.
Juyondai Soukou
This Sake is named after a double rainbow, it is a Shizuku Drip Sake, made using the highest grade Yamadanishiki, polished to 35%, and brewed using ultra low temperature method. It is a namazume.
The sake is described as juicy, fruity with a rich mouthfeel and excellent balance. This is one of the highest grade and highly rated Juyondai.
Note: Melon, Muscat
- SMV : +4
- Acidity : 1.1
- Serving Temperature: 6°C to 8°C
Benriach 22 Years 1998 Cask 2803 Batch 17 Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
CASK EDITION COLLECTION : CASK # 2803
CASK TYPE : Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
STYLE : Classic unpeated
AGED : 22 Years
DATE DISTILLED : 12th January 1998
NUMBER OF BOTTLES : 692
TASTING NOTES
- COLOUR : Deep amber
- NOSE : Sticky toffee apple and caramel sponge pudding layered with cherry cake and sugar glaze.
- TASTE : Cherry and sultana bread with vanilla, candied peel and golden syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Dictador 2 Masters Chateau d’Arche 1979
- Nose : Dark chocolate orange with notes of summer fruit compote. Ripe plums and orange zest add energy to nose which also gives some light ginger notes and rich Madagascan vanilla. Vintage leather completes the package.
- Palate : Crepe Suzette at first, followed by tangerine sweetness and some red apple notes. There is an underlying earthy note that adds complexity, followed by a sweet grape overtone that lift the taste again. A good balance between sweetness and earth.
- Finish : Rounded notes of candied orange peel and pear slices, coupled with a hint of smoky oak char.
- Matured in American Oak - Quintessence
- Time of Finishing : 34 months
- Quantity : 237 bottles
Dictador 2 Masters Hardy 1974/77
- Nose: Ginger snaps at first and a beautiful note of stone fruits comes through in the glass. This is backed by smoke, delicate toffee and strawberry notes, with a hint of grape.
- Palate: The ginger notes on the palate set up spices of cracked black pepper and vanilla which give way to plums, toasted coconut and black cherry. These come back with another wave of oak spices before more of the red fruits come to the fore.
- Finish: An oaky vanilla with subtle spices and some cigar smoke comes through giving a long and lingering finish.
- Time of Finishing: 35 months
- Matured in Limousin Oak Cask
- Quantity : 971 bottles
Dictador 2 Masters Glenfarclas 1974
A 44-year-old Dictador Rum from a 1974 single vintage cask finished in whisky cask and then shipped to Glenfarclas in Scotland, where it further spent 14 months in a Glenfarclas 1992 forth-fill Hogshead Sherry Cask.
- Nose: Vintage leather in an old car, a carriage from the Orient Express. Well kept cigar boxes, cinnamon and nutmeg backed with just a hint of summer fruit compote.
- Palate: Rich and smooth with some elements of delicate sherry coming through, a hint of toasted vanilla and some light toffee tones. A touch of orange and a hint of milk chocolate truffle.
- Colour: Woody notes of old castles living rooms, brings us right back to where we started, that vintage car once again.
- Matured in 4th fill Hogshead Sherry Cask
- Time of Finishing: 14 months
- Quantity : 378 bottles
BenRiach 23 Year Old 1995 Cask 7385 Batch 16 Peated Olorosso Butt
Aged : 23 years
Cask Type : Oloroso
Appearance : Antique gold.
Nose : Intense smoked vanilla, with orange and ground ginger. Pear and smoked applewood emerge with nutmeg and cherry tree bark.
Palate : Apple and calvados fill the palate with waves of guava, acacia honey and sweet birch. The exceedingly long finish leaves nutmeg and roasted apple.