Chateau d’Avize Blanc de Blanc Champagne AOC 2012
Smells fresh with lemon and soft floral scents. Delicate and refined this is crips sharp and piercing yet also layered and rich. Bitter lemon rind mixes with honeyed orange and some pie crust savoury elements to give real character. A little bit woody still just peeking out in contrast to the fruit still showing its youthfulness. After a few minutes all the flavours seem much brighter in the glass more evocative and expressive. Thrillingly precise dry and crisp.
The 2012 Chateau d’Avize is an ethereal Champagne that personifies the meticulous processes at Leclerc Briant. The nose shows layered citrus fruits, pear, white flowers, and fresh patisserie. The palate is ripe and shows notes of brioche and toast underpinning the white fruits.
Medium Bodied
100% Chardonnay
Chateau Maillet Pomerol 2018
Chateau Maillet dates back to 1820 when the Moze Berthon Family was established in the area. Georges Moze was the first member to get involved in the wine business. The family was already producing wine under the name Chateau Gouperie and back then, Maillet was the second wine label from the estate.
Soil: Gravel, clay and sand Size: 4.5 hectares Farming: Hand harvested, no pesticides or chemical fertilizers used Vines: On average 40 years old
Garnet-purple color. On the nose, elegant notes of blueberries and blackberries, hints of mocha and cigar, and floral aromas like violets. On the palate, very structured and long finish. Pair this wine with mostly all meats: veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes, Asian Cuisine, and pasta.
Chateau Corbin 2016
Jayson by Pahlmeyer Red Blend 2019
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 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.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested at night to deliver naturally cooled grapes to the winery. Whole clusters were gravity-fed onto a vibrating table for hand sorting. Selected clusters were gently de-stemmed, delivering whole berries for a final hand sorting. After several days of cold maceration, the fruit entered primary fermentation for two to three weeks, then gently pressed in our stainless-steel basket. The wine finished malolactic fermentation in barrel, then aged for 15 months in 88% new French oak barrels.
Effusive aromas of blackberry pie, cassis, and leather greet the nose, foretelling the full, expressive palate. Intense notes of blackberry and plum interweave with flecks of pink peppercorn and plowed earth, amplified by a lift of fresh acidity. The tannins are firm yet seamlessly melded with the rich fruit, driving to a plush, juicy finish.
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
First Drop Vivo Adelaide Hills Arneis 2022
VINEYARD: Kersbrook in the northern Adelaide Hills - 340m above sea level on complex sandy clay loams over shale
VINTAGE 2022: Above average winter rainfall initiated healthy bud burst and minimal irrigation was required as a result. Spring was also relatively cool & windy which lead to some prolific canopy growth in parts of vineyards but also uneven flowering, which saw lower yields in many cases.
Colour: Pale straw, with tinge of green
Nose: Nashi pear and passionfruit with a hint of lime
Palate: Nashi pear and pithy fruit flavours dominate, with lime zest and minerality, making the palate long and zingy.
Food Pairing: Fresh scallops with ginger and shallots, chilli crabs, salt & pepper squid, agnolotti al plin
"Tastes like arneis with candied lemons and limes with some steel and stone undertones. Medium body. Really takes off at the finish. So much energy. Drink now. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
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
Neyen Espiritu De Apalta 2018
Complex aromas of raspberry and blackcurrant mix with notes of vanilla and subtle pepper, cedar and leather. The palate is fresh and elegant, with smooth tannins and a persistent finish.
Certification: V-Label.EU (Vegan Certified)
PH level: 3.67
Residual Sugar: 1.73 G/L
Acidity: 4.95 G/L
Varietals: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Carménère
Recommended Serving Temperature: 13.5 °C
Food Pairing: Beef, Pasta, Veal, Poultry
"This has fresh, herbal style with masses of violets and blackcurrants on offer, as well as iodine, nori and such pure, ethereal fragrance. The palate has a vibrant, bright feel with crunchy, juicy purple-fruit flavors, framed in elegant tannins. Taut, focused and energetic feel here. Builds such succulent, dark-plum and red-berry flavors, ahead of a gently spicy finish. Delicious now, but better from 2024." - 96 points, James Suckling
Orin Swift Mannequin 2020
Nose: Golden straw in the glass with a flash of emerald, the wine opens with notes of ripe Bosc pear, lemon meringue, and white flowers.
Palate: On the palate, the entry is coating with yellow peach, honeydew, and wet stone along with a mid of palmiers, tostones and ripe stone fruit. The finish is accentuated by a seam of acidity and leaves one with hints of lemon pith and butterscotch.
Varietal: Chardonnay
"Complex, with details of butterscotch, ripe melon, baked apple and spices. This has a supple texture that adds an air of elegance, with details of honeycomb and nutmeg on the finish." - 90 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Senior Editor and Napa Bureau Chief at Wine Spectator
*Receive a complimentary pack of drop stoppers with any order of Orin Swift wines above $200. While stocks last.