Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2018
A stripped-back Chardonnay style that showcases the fruit from our site while still being rich in subtle complexities. We achieve this using large, berried Chardonnay clones, whole bunch pressing, minimal use of old oak barrels, extended time on yeast lees and no malolactic fermentation.
Three qualities define this wine - above all else, the first being the fruit aroma/flavour, which we want to be subtle and pure. Acid structure is the second propping up the wine and giving it a salt crunch. Yeast derived aroma/flavours and mouthfeel provide balance.
Color: Pale golden kiwifruit in colour with hues of green and silver.
Aroma: On the nose, this wine is truly multi-layered however, all of them are understated. Fresh pineapple and sea salted cracker at first, perfumed white flower and white tea in the centre, all sitting on a base of malt toffee. These aromas combine and evolve into a vast number of flavours in the mouth.
Palate: Ripe peach and lemon meringue define the taste, due to a combination of full-bodied mouthfeel, cleansing acidity and a bite on the finish. A rich complex wine.
Food Pairing: Pork. Rich Fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
Residual Sugar: 0.52 g/L
pH: 3.51
Acidity: 6.75 g/L
Akarua Pinot Noir 2022
WINEMAKING
Carefully hand harvested grapes were batch fermented. Mostly destemmed with two batches with a small portion of whole cluster component. Fermented on skins for around three weeks. The resulting wine was gently pressed to French oak barrels for maturation.
AGEING
In French barrels, including 20% new barrels, medium-plus toast, from the Alliers and the Vosges forests.
AGEING DURATION
9 months
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or 2019
Its deep gold colour is defined by a fine and magnificent effervescence. These pearls create a white cordon on the surface.
The powerful bouquet reveals aromas of coco powder and exotic wood. Shortly after, this cuvée reveals all of its character with vine peaches, pear, rhubarb and frangipane.
A remarkable attack with the right balance of freshness and richness. A touch of acidity is enhancing notes of butter and dried fruit. The aromatic persistence is underlined by a tangy finish.
Wine and food pairing
Too complex food pairing should be avoided to keep the wine balance. It texture and mature aromatic profile, will lead the wine to seek products preferably like caviar or with dishes with firm texture (lobster, white meats) and reduced sauces.
Domaine Albert Mann Pinot Noir Grand H 2020
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.
"Although this has staggering forest-berry aromas, it's also full of rooty mystery. It is really hard to find words that are up to this breathtaking beauty. Completely seamless right through the super-long, wide-screen finish. Enormous aging potential, but it tastes just perfect now. From vines in the Grand Cru Hengst. From biodynamically grown grapes. More than 50% whole cluster, then matured in 60% new oak, the rest second use. Drink or hold." - 100 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a layered wine with notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum are complemented by hits of toasted oak, dried currant and baking spice. Fine grained tannins and ample brightness on the palate give way to a polished mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish.
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and transferred to upright tanks for a two-day cold soak. To build its round, elegant mouthfeel, the wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and was pumped over two to three times daily. Each lot was aged and meticulously evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (40% new).
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"A slightly high-toned red with walnut, berry, chocolate and spice on the nose and palate. Medium-to full-bodied with chewy tannins and a rich finish. A little firmer and tighter than in the past, which equates to a more serious red. A touch of petit sirah in this. Drink or hold." - 93 points, James Suckling
Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Sherry
A crisp and dry fino sherry from Gonzalez Byass. This is made using Palomino grapes and the wine is aged for around 5 years. Best served chilled.
Serve ice cold in a small wine glass to accompany all kinds of food, particularly nuts, olives, cured ham and sushi. Or serve as they do on hot days in Jerez, over ice or even 'Rebujito'; a generous splash of Tio Pepe served in a tall ice-filled glass topped with 7-Up.
"This is the prototypical fino sherry with all the salty and yeasty character you expect. Also dried-apple, pear and lemon-zest character. Generous, but very dry and salty on the palate with a refreshing touch of austerity. Where are the olives? Drink now, if possible from a freshly opened bottle." - 90 points, James Suckling
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
Cockburn’s 20 Years Old Tawny
Twenty Year Old tawnies are made from wines of the very highest quality, blended and subsequently aged in oak cask for an average of twenty years, until they strike the correct balance between the delicacy and elegance that come from prolonged cask-ageing, and the rich fruit character that lends these old tawnies their structure, freshness and longevity. Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny is pale, complex and delicate with hints of cedar and crystallised fruits. Perfect served lightly chilled to enjoy with good friends.
Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny has a lovely bright amber tawny colour. On the nose with an amazingly delicate and complex bouquet of fruitcake, honey and nuts combined with notes of orange peel. On the palate smooth and polished, wonderfully balanced, with rich and warm nutty flavours leading to a long and lingering finish.
Cockburn’s 20 Year Old pairs extremely well with nuts, dried fruits and fruitcake, but is also
delicious with vanilla ice cream or crème brûlée. Serve lightly chilled to enjoy at its finest.
Gonzalez Byass Tres Palmas
Biological ageing taken to its limit. A Fino Amontillado between life and death. 10 years ageing on contact with “the flor” endow it with a unique character. Just one barrel No. 33, was selected for this release from the 149 barrels that make up this historic La Constancia solera.
This year Tío Pepe reached its most refined maturity in just one barrel No. 33. 10 years of biological ageing have produced the most elegant oxidation. A Fino Amontillado that expresses the Jerezano quality of a great wine like none other.
Orin Swift Blank Stare 2019
A glowing pale straw with a striking touch of chartreuse sits in the glass. Aromatically, the wine pops with lime zest, gooseberries, ripe passionfruit, fresh cut grass and lemon bars. On the entry, the acidity acts like a belt, constraining the voluptuousness; similar taste profiles to the nose plus crispy green apples and the faintest hint of fresh sage abound. The finish is reminiscent of ripe kiwi and limoncello, teetering on a beam of lingering acidity.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
"Expressive and fragrant, with honeysuckle, candied ginger, tangerine and lemon curd flavors on a full, fleshy frame. A fresh thread of acidity keeps the flavors bright and focused, with accents of matcha green tea, dried white flowers and spice lingering on the finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made." - 92 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.
Locations F French Red Wine
Seeking a true representation and sense of place is what inspires us at Locations. Much of our time is spent in the vineyard, analysing each block and making adjustments to farming based on the vines needs. Attention to detail is fundamental in our quest to make the finest blend possible. For the fourth release of “F”, we have again incorporated some of the best regions in France, drawing upon our network of growers from Rhone, Roussillon, and Bordeaux. Our commitment to quality and our hands-on approach has enabled us to secure fruit from some exceptional old vine blocks located in revered sub-appellations of this great country. With some history of production now under our belt, we’ve had time to nurture our relationships with our growers while introducing new sites which we’re excited about. It is our constant quest to be better each year that drives us to over deliver, which we believe we have achieved with this wine.
A dominant nose of raspberry, rhubarb, and wild strawberry are complemented by savoury aromas of humid tobacco, lavender and rose petal. An immediate entry of cranberry and other red fruit leads to a touch of savouriness. -e wine is fresh and lively with great acidity and approachable tannins.
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and assorted Bordeaux varietals
Barrel aged 10 months prior to release.
"Lots of dried-berry and stone character to this blend of grenache, syrah and assorted Bordeaux grape varieties. Plenty of berries and spices at the finish. A delicious, succulent wine with savory sensibility. Drink and enjoy." - 92 points, James Suckling
Locations I Italian Red Wine
With over 2000 indigenous grape varieties to select and compose a blend, an exhaustive search was undertaken to pay homage to this historic region. Maintaining the integrity of the land was paramount while simultaneously considering the end result of a dynamic and innovative wine. Powerful and rich fruit from Puglia (Torricella and Manduria) serves as the base with a lively vein of acidity from Barbera (Alba) that stabilizes things in just the right way.
A vast array of aromas escapes the glass—black cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cured meat—which are complemented by shades of sandalwood, vanilla, balsa and evergreen. e entry is silky smooth with a textured mid-palate of velvety fig, blueberry jam and soft oak. A hint of sea salt on the finish is rounded out with a mouthfeel that fades slowly.
A blend of Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from the Southern region of Puglia combined with Barbera from Piemonte in the North.
Barrel aged 10 months prior to release.
"The black-olive, blueberry and blackberry character, combined with stone and orange peel is very attractive. Full to medium body. Solid core of fruit and a flavorful, zesty finish. A blend of negroamaro, nero d’avola and barbera. Drink now." - 92 points, James Suckling