Wine
Barefoot Chardonnay
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2017
Lot No. 1 is something of a mosaic of iconic appellations and vineyards an assemblage of Napa Valley’s best mountain, benchland and valley floor fruit. The 2017 vintage is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Mount Veeder and other stellar sites throughout Napa Valley AVA. From a growing perspective in 2017, ample winter rains fueled vine growth early in the season followed by steady warmth in the summer and fall, leading to a slightly early harvest with ripe, fruit driven intensity.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"A soft, juicy red with licorice and aniseed undertones to the blueberries and sage. Candy. Medium to full body with agility and elegance. Drinkable now, but better in 2022." - 95 points, James Suckling
"A rich, lush style, with creamed plum, blueberry and warmed blackberry compote flavors gliding along, laced with cocoa and warm earth notes. A black licorice note drapes over the fruit on the finish, and there's a violet note hanging in the background. Large-scaled and well-defined. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,272 cases made." - 94 points, Wine Spectator
Handpicked Regional Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Tasting Notes
- A mouth-watering combination of juicy fruits, passionfruit, bright acidity and herbal lift. Pure Marlborough.
Season
- It was a warm and dry season in Marlborough with low yields as a result of unsettled weather around flowering in spring coupled with very dry weather after Christmas. There are advantages to such a season – low disease pressure and excellent fruit intensity among them.
Winemaking
Region
- This wine is made to preserve and highlight its fresh fruit flavours and refreshing acidity. The fruit is pressed to a temperature-controlled stainless-steel tank and the juice is vinified at low temperatures over a long fermentation. It is bottled within months of harvest and is best enjoyed when youthful and fresh.
- This wine is from select vineyards in Marlborough, where warm daytime temperatures, high sunshine hours, low rainfall and cool nights encourage the development of the intense aromas and flavours that are the hallmark of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The wine region is centred on two river valleys in the north east of New Zealand’s South Island – the Wairau River and the Awatere River valleys. Soils are alluvial and free draining silty shingles intermingled with stones and rocks. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is an internationally recognised wine style and accounts for about two thirds of the total vineyard in New Zealand, more than 70% of the country’s wine production and about 85% of its wine exports.
- Green salads, Asian-style salads, and slaws, goats' cheese, fried calamari seasoned with pepper or chilli.
- Crisp & Refreshing
Le Volte dell’ Ornellaia 2020
Ruby red with purple reflections, Le Volte dell' Ornellaia 2020 has a vinous bouquet, releasing a complexity of aromas ranging from ripe red fruits, to Mediterranean scrub, up to delicate notes of tobacco and spices. The mouthfeel is soft and silky, but at the same time supported by a lively acidity that gives us a crisp, persistent finish.
"A blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Ornellaia 2020 Le Volte dell'Ornellaia shows medium darkness and texture followed by a very primary and fruit-forward bouquet. There is a generous display of cherry, cassis and wild plum. On second nose, this easy and straightforward Tuscan blend reveals hints of spice, cardamon and polished river stone. In a hot vintage like this, the wine comes together nicely and rather effortlessly." - 90 points, Robert Parker
Gonzalez Byass Alfonso Oloroso
Alfonso is a delicious, dry Oloroso with a deep mahogany colour, warm spicy aromas and pronounced nutty flavours. A rich, smooth wine with a long, lingering finish. The perfect partner for game, light cheese and pâté.
"A very solid Oloroso with nice toasted-nut, dried-apricot and caramel aromas. Quite rich, but properly dry without the bitterness that makes many high-end Olorosos challenging. Nice length. Where are those nuts? Where is that dry-aged ham? Drink now." - 90 points, James Suckling
Gonzalez Byass Leonor Palo Cortado
A beautiful Palo Cortado sherry from Gonzalez Byass. Produced from Amontillado sherry, this ages for 12 years before bottling to give a lightly sweet and nutty wine. A bright mahogany colour with golden tones. Aromas of hazelnut and bitter orange waft from the glass. Smooth on the palate, balanced texture. Excellent drunk chilled as either an aperitif or as an accompaniment to food.
"A very elegant example of this rare type of Sherry, which combines the best of Fino freshness with Oloroso richness. Long finish with delicate dried-fruit and toasted-nut character. Drink now. Aged for 12 years in cask. Drink now." - 93 points, James Suckling
Cockburn’s Special Reserve
Cockburn’s Special Reserve was originally introduced in 1969 and created an entirely new Port category that was fundamental to the success of Port and the Douro over the following decades. Cockburn’s Special Reserve is an exceptionally fine wine selected for its richness and concentration, from the finest vineyards in the Upper Douro and matured in oak casks for five years. This longer wood ageing gives its fruity and full-bodied palate a distinctive dry finish, making it the benchmark for all Reserve Ports.
A garnet red colour. Cockburn’s Special Reserve has a youthful nose packed with rich and concentrated red fruit aromas, predominantly red cherry with hints of plum and strawberry. On the palate it's sweet, well rounded, medium length and with luscious red berry flavours leading to a distinctive peppery finish.
Special Reserve is perfect served at the end of a meal, with rich, nutty or chocolate desserts, a cheese platter or simply on its own. Although usually served at room temperature, Reserve Ports are equally delicious when served lightly chilled. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening.
Louis M. Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
The 2019 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine grown along the meandering Russian River. Pronounced aromas of brambleberry, crushed dried herbs and violet rise from the glass. The palate delivers notes of graham cracker pie crust and black plum with undercurrents of dried sage and leather. This wine lands firmly on the rustic side of Cabernet with dusty tannins and a long earthy finish.
Grapes were picked early in the morning to preserve maximum flavor enroute to the winery. All lots were aged and evaluated separately, allowing us to craft a harmonious wine before marrying the final blend in barrel to finish aging. In total, the wine spent 17 months in a combination of French and American oak (29% new).
Varietal: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2019
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).
Notes of crème de cassis, black cherry, green olive and dried fennel root extend from the nose through to the supple, bold palate. The unctuous finish uncovers layers of oak that you would expect from a classic Napa Cabernet.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"Deep and concentrated blueberries, dark chocolate and espresso flavors fill out this powerful but polished wine whose firm but gentle tannins will carry it to a long life. It's the top-of-the-line Cabernet from the now Cabernet-centric 90-year-old winery. Best from 2027–2040." - 96 points, Wine Enthusiast, September 2023
Handpicked Regional Selection Shiraz 2018
This wine is everything we've come to expect from a Barossa Valley Shiraz – loads of spicy dark fruit with flavoursome oak and supple tannins.
Wine Style: Big & bold, red, full-bodied Food Pairing: Spicy hot pot, vegetarian stew, beef bourguignon, barbecued lamb Serving Temperature: 16°C "Beautifully ripe and fragrant with blackberry, sweet cherry, vanilla, mixed spice and roasted nut characters, it's supple and juicy in the mouth delivering fleshy texture and silky flow. Flavoursome and delightfully appealing. At its best: now to 2028." Wine Orbit
Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Tasting Note: This is a remarkably refreshing white that displays purity of fruits, elegance and truly reflects its origins. A delightfully fruit-driven wine exuberating aromatic notes of passionfruit, guava, green apples & citrus, while on the palate, burstful of flavors with minerality and lemon zest. Clean, bright and persistent finishing.
Food Pairing: Perfect by itself or pairs well with white meat dishes, grilled or with sauces. Lobsters, scallops, snow crabs, all will match ideally with freshness of the wine.
Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Noir Grand H 2022
A beautiful limpid color, color chart of ruby with purple reflections. We begin with a nose with rich aromatic expressions, on the one hand a wild side, undergrowth, black truffle and on the other hand a pronounced bouquet of ripe black fruits, Burlat cherries, blackcurrant, blackberry and wild blueberry, which are both intense and promising for a captivating great wine. On the palate, it is a very nice, generous and powerful Pinot Noir. There are also noble spices, touches of roasted coffee and bitter chocolate from Tanzania. A great finesse of tannins lines the palate, revealing a thickness and a width, characteristic of the Grand Cru Hengst. A fusion between the balance of the fruit and the haute couture aging presents us, a wine of pleasure under the sign of the gluttony with a promising future.
Grapes come from Wintzenheim, on the Grand Cru Hengst. Marno-calcaro-sandstone, southern exposure. Vines are about 40 years old.