Luce 2019
TUSCAN TRADITION
2019: a balanced and late vintage. A cold and sunny winter was followed by a spring characterized by low average temperatures and heavy rainfall, which contributed to the creation of important water reserves in the soil. The reduced sunlight coupled with the heavy rainfall resulted in a slight delay of about ten days in the vegetative cycle of the grapevines. The flowering phase took place in early June, after which the growing season continued regularly with a hot summer free of excessive temperatures and some rainfall occurring between late July and early August, which supported a vigorous and efficient growth of the leaves. The mild temperatures in September and the good water reserves supported a slow and regular ripening of the grapes, which resulted in perfectly ripe, highly intense tannins rich in aromatic freshness. The harvest began with a sunny climate on September 12 with the first Merlot grapes, continued with Sangiovese in late September and early October. The wines are structured showing balance, vigor and great aging potential. Luce 2019 has an intense ruby red color. The nose is striking with its floral hints of violet and rose accompanied by red fruits such as raspberries and sweet spices. In the mouth, the wine is balanced and elegant with an almost creamy texture supported by silky and well-integrated tannins. Spicy notes accompany the persistent finish. Food Pairing: Beef, Lamb, Veal, Poultry, Cured Meat
Coup de Foudre Lightning Bolt 2019
Coup de Foudre Lightning Bolt is only produced when we feel there are barrels worthy enough of presenting 100% Cabernet Sauvignon as a stand-alone.
Showing perfect varietal Cabernet Sauvignon character, this 2019 is rich with elements of Dark Chocolate, focused cassis, nuances of blue and black berry.
100% new French Oak, aged 20 months, fills in the crème brulee like mid-palate. Only 100 cases produced (4 barrels!)
Yangarra Old Vine Grenache (MLV) 2022
Handpicked Regional Selection Rosé 2020
The colour is a clear light salmon. The nose has vibrant red fruit and spice aromas, and the palate has juicy fruit flavours and savoury notes. This wine is perfect for sipping on its own and will pair handsomely with a range of foods. A youthful wine made to drink while young and fresh.
Food Pairing: Pan fried rainbow trout with new potatoes, smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, sushi, vegetarian frittata, antipasto.
Wine Style: Crisp & Refreshing, Soft & Fruity
Recommended Serving Temperature: 8-12°C
Louis M. Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Our 2017 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a boisterous wine with an assertive profile, offering ripe notes of black currant, plum, crushed fennel and cedar. Rich and rustic, this Cabernet features distinct brambly undertones and finishes memorably with structured, lingering tannins.
Grapes were picked early in the morning to preserve maximum flavor en route 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
"A firm, juicy red with blackberries, chocolate and light tobacco. Some vanilla. Medium to full body. Round tannins. Fruity and fresh. Drink now." - James Suckling, 92 points
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon showcases ripe note of blackberry, blueberry and red plum. Accompanying with hints of cocoa and oak. They are perfect pair with strong and firm cheese such as asiago, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda and even pungent cheese like blue cheese and Gorgonzola. They can also be paired with Steak, Lamb and Venison.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"Dark plums, black cherries, grilled herbs and smoke on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, sleek tannins. Supple and juicy with fresh acidity. Savory, flavorful finish. Drink or hold." - 92 points, James Suckling
Domaine Albert Mann Grand Cru Steingrubler Gewurztraminer 2017
This wine has a bright, light yellow color. The nose is perfumed, flattering and expressive without exuberance, with aromas of pineapple and mango with a hint of spice. The attack on the palate is both tender and velvety. The finish is persistent and greedy on exotic notes of lychee and pepper. Its suppleness is loaded with refinement and finesse which provides good digestibility for this grape variety. Very harmonious in his balance, he is a straight gentleman with very broad shoulders.
Guillaume Gonnet Bel Ami Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019
Soft round tannins, a very elegant wine. Red and black fruit bouquet, (cherries, blackberries), hints of garrigues, Christmas cake and peppery spice. A fine wine. This wine will open beautifully if decanted at least 1 hour before serving. Good for pairing with Coq au Vin, Magret de Canard (Duck), charcuterie such as Parma ham, spicy sausage, and a selection of cheeses, such as comté and beaufort.
Vines are 50-90 years old.
70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mouvèdre, 10% Cinsault
"Juicy and vivid, with a mix of cassis, cherry paste, and raspberry coulis flavors that grab your eye, while light anise, floral and applewood notes fill in through the racy finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2023 through 2036. 3,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported." - 93 points, Wine Spectator
Cockburn’s 2015 Late Bottle Vintage
Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Ports are wines of a single very good year that age in large oak vats between four and six years, until they reach an ideal level of maturity. LBVs are then bottled, ready to be enjoyed without the need for decanting as the natural sediment is left behind in the vat. They are rich, full-bodied wines with a smooth texture, mellowed over time by the wood ageing.
This Late Bottled Vintage Port is sourced from the same vineyards that produce Cockburn’s famed Vintage Ports, namely the company’s own Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho properties, both located in the remote Douro Superior subregion.
Deep crimson centre with an intense garnet rim. The very high quality of both the Touriga Franca and the Touriga Nacional in 2015 sings through the attractive floral aromas, where a rock rose fragrance is particularly evident. The wine is simultaneously full and smooth on the palate, with typical red fruit flavours ranging from raspberry and strawberry to red cherry. There is a fine, peppery spice element on the finish, which shows Cockburn’s trademark grip.
This wine is fully mature and ready for pouring as it has been bottled free of sediment. Late Bottled Vintages, as the term implies, are bottled later than classic Vintage Ports (the latter after two years). Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage can be enjoyed anytime and pairs wonderfully
with dark chocolate desserts as well as semi-cured and cured cheeses like Cheddar and Manchego. In warm weather, try serving the wine lightly chilled, this will enhance the aromas and flavours. Once open, the wine will keep in good condition for several weeks.
Cockburn’s Fine White
Cockburn’s Fine White is a blend of young wines from high altitude vineyards that has been matured in stainless steel for up to 18 months to accentuate its freshness.
Cockburn’s Fine White is a delicate golden colour with crisp, flowery aromas and hints of
almond.
Cockburn’s Fine White is perfect for mixing. Served in a large glass over ice with tonic water, a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint, it makes the perfect Port and Tonic, but it can also be served chilled on its own. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening.
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny is a blend of young, vibrant wines from different harvests aged for an average of two to three years in casks before being blended and bottled ready to enjoy. They are lighter in colour than Ruby Ports and combine the fruitiness of young wines and the nuttiness derived from the maturation in seasoned oak casks.
A bright reddish tawny colour. On the nose Cockburn’s Fine Tawny has light and crisp fruit aromas balanced with a nutty toffee mellowness achieved through its maturation in oak casks. On the palate it’s elegant and well balanced, with a smooth and subtle long finish.
Cockburn’s Fine Tawny is the perfect accompaniment to rich creamy desserts and dried fruits but is also wonderful enjoyed on its own or as part of a long drink. It does not need to be decanted and should be consumed within four weeks of opening. Serve slightly chilled.
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2014
Our Gnarly Vine Zinfandel is a big, full-bodied wine with rich blackberry and pepper aromas that lead to a sweep of dark fruit flavors, including blackberry reduction, plum and black currant. The intense fruit blends with layers of spice notes ranging from fresh peppercorns to clove and baking spices. The vibrant and robust wine is balanced by velvety tannins and the spice and minerality characteristic of Monte Rosso’s iron-rich volcanic soils. The extraordinarily long, luxurious finish includes hints of vanilla, pepper and molasses.
Varietal: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah
"Fully ripe, extracted fruit dominates in this robust, heady wine, a mixture of red berry jam and vanilla that takes on a perceptible sweetness on the palate. From the mighty mountain vineyard, it also shows dustings of dried herb and brush, an herbal undertone that balances its overall intensity. " - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast
Overture By Opus One (2018 Release)
In the tradition of many great Bordeaux estates, Opus One produces a fine second wine called Overture. Like the introduction of a great musical piece, Overture, the wine, presents elements of the exceptional work itself, although certainly not in its entirety or full complexity.
Since 1993, we have created Overture as a result of our highly selective process for Opus One. We meticulously cultivate each section of our estate vineyard with the attention to detail and singular focus required to produce Opus One. This diligence carries through the extensive blending process, and not all wine-lots from our estate are chosen for the final Opus One blend.
Yet, when these remaining lots are afforded additional time in French oak barrels, coupled with the added flexibility of blending across multiple vintages, the final wine, Overture, achieves remarkable elegance, complexity and approachability.
As a natural extension of the creation of Opus One, Overture’s varietal composition evolves based on the lot selections made for each vintage. Overture reflects the proportion of Bordeaux-heritage grape varieties planted on our estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Uniquely, Overture captures the essence of our estate across vintages; therefore the exact blend and cellar approach will always differ from Opus One.
Handpicked Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Margaret River, Australia
This is a complex wine with aromas of black berry fruits, chocolate, and cedar with berry highlights. On the palate it has layers of interest starting with rich dark berry fruit flavours, deft oak treatment, and plush tannins. It is ready to drink and will age beautifully over the long term.
This fruit was hand harvested in late March in a selection of our vineyards; the majority was from the Wilyabrup sub-region and there was a parcel from Carbunup. The wine was aged in French oak barriques, 30 per cent new, for 15 months.
Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicella Ripasso Monti Garbi 2020
The vineyards of Tenuta Sant’Antonio lie on the Monti Garbi: harsh and impervious soil, but generous with great wines. Like this splendid combination of Valpolicella Giovane and Amarone skins. Produced from the municipality of Mezzane di Sotto - Monti Garbi District (Verona).
- Colour: ruby red.
- Nose: red fruit and cherry.
- Palate: semi-dry, soft, caressing, fresh, savoury and fairly tannic with a spicy aftertaste.
- Corvina and Corvinone 70% - Rondinella 20% - Croatina and Oseleta 10%.
BenMarco Malbec 2021
BenMarco Malbec brings together the best components of the Los Chacayes soil, such as its alluvial character with excellent permeability.
The wine is a testimony of Valle de Uco, endowed with aromas of black berries, notes of violets, pronounced acidity, firm tannins and great length.
BenMarco Malbec pairs well with grilled red meats, sausages, seasoned or roasted pork, hard cheeses and pasta with meat-based sauces.
"The 2021 BenMarco Malbec was produced with fruit from Los Chacayes in Valle de Uco, fermented destemmed in stainless steel and matured in second use French oak barrels for 11 months. It’s floral, spicy, aromatic, showy and expressive with the aromatic flowers with very integrated oak. It has both good ripeness, 14.3% alcohol, with good freshness and fine tannins. They produced an impressive 240,000 bottles. " - Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Domaine St Patrice Côtes-du-Rhône 2019
First Drop ‘Real Time’ 2022 Chardonnay
Long mild mornings & days as well as bitterly cold nights slowly ripen, pristine chardonnay fruit allowing it to develop elegant flavours & tight texture. Delicate & minimal handling in the winery has seen us produce an outstanding Chardonnay from an excellent vintage.
Colour: Pale Straw
Nose: Apples, yellow peach & pear blossoms with hints of toasted hazelnuts
Palate: Nectarine & white peaches with yellow grapefruit. Fresh lemon curd & hints of brioche, on a tightly textured palate.
First Drop Mother’s Ruin McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
VINTAGE 2019: A very dry winter and spring, with frost events in September and November disrupting bud burst and flowering, resulted in the lightest crops in the past decade. January and February were warm and dry, and in conjunction with the low yields, ripening was rapid. Quick decision making and early picking resulted in reds with great intensity and structure thanks also to the light crops and early tannin maturity. 2019 was a challenging vintage, but one of the most rewarding, with our alternative varieties showing particularly well. The overall quality is a tribute to our growers and their perseverance in a difficult growing season. We salute you!
The fruit is crushed/destemmed and fermented at temperatures ranging from 20- 25°C for 10 days on skins. The ferment is managed by a variety of techniques, including ‘aerative pump overs’ and ‘drain and returns’ which assist in extracting colour, flavour and tannin from the grapes. At the end of fermentation, it is drained/pressed, and transferred to 10% new French oak barriques, and the balance to 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads to undergo MLF. Post MLF, sulphur dioxide is added, and the wines mature sur lie for 18 months.
Body: Medium Bodied
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon
Yangarra Roux Beaute Roussanne 2020
The 2019 growing season was very dry, which resulted in incredibly low yields. We had a relatively warm lead up to the ripening period, which produced a very condensed and fast harvest. With Roussanne being a late ripening variety, it faired very well in a season like this, giving rise to concentration, freshness of flavor and marked natural acidity.
Hand-picked from Block 6 (1.0 ha) on March 16th, our oldest Roussanne planting which is now 15 years old. 50% is destemmed, crushed, and filled to 675L ceramic eggs, where it is fermented and remains on the skins for 193 days. The other 50% is pressed into ceramic eggs and fermented off of the skins. The final blend was 40% extended skin batch and 60% without skin contact. The final blend was 40% extended skin batch and 60% without skin contact. Bottled November 2019.
“A lovely nose of lemon curd, chamomile and crushed thyme. Medium-bodied with silky texture. Bright acidity and fresh citrus fruit wash over the palate. Taut and crisp. Refreshing tannins at the finish. Tropical fruit such as pineapple. From organically grown grapes. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.” – 94 points, Nick Stock at James Suckling
Beronia Tempranillo Elaboración Especial 2022
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
The wine shows a crimson red colour. Sophisticated and attractive on the nose with prominent aromas typical of the Tempranillo grape: rose petals, red fruits and liquorice, accompanied by sweet spices such as cinnamon and vanilla, with light touches of mocha complementing the other aromas. A very fresh, varietal wine with prominent flavours of red fruits and chocolate and well-integrated tannins that make it easy to enjoy the many different flavours.
SERVING AND PAIRING Store in a cool place (maximum 14ºC), away from direct light and unpleasant odours.
Noe Pedro Ximenez 30 Years
An extraordinarily intense, profoundly sweet, sticky Pedro Ximenez sherry from Gonzalez Byass. One of the world's great wines - so densely viscous you practically have to shake it out of the bottle.
Made from Pedro Ximenez grapes, enriched by the age-old "soleo" sun drying method, then matured on oak for 30 years. Noe has a powerful bouquet, oozing heady aromas of concentrated raisins, figs, coffee and Christmas spices.
Hand-crafted from the finest sun-ripened grapes, expertly blended and then matured in oak casks for a minimum of 30 years, the Rare Old Solera sherries are a true expression of some of the world’s finest and rarest wines.
Delightful with dark chocolate, desserts especially Christmas Pudding, or poured over vanilla ice cream.
Apóstoles Palo Cortado 30 Years
A rare and interesting wine, palo cortado starts out life as a fino, aging under a layer of protective flor, before going on to age without the flor like an oloroso. Apostoles continues this secondary ageing up to a total of 30 years, including some time in ex-Pedro Ximénez casks, to produce a rich and concentrated sherry.
Apóstoles is dark amber in colour. It is an interesting wine with a elegante and delicate nose similar to an Amontillado with notes of concentrated fruits. However complex and intense on the palate with notes of caramel, mature wood., nuts and candied orange peel.
This wine should be served slightly chilled in a small wine glass. Ideal with foie gras, mature cheeses and red meats.
87% Palomino, 13% Pedro Ximenez
Predicador Tinto 2020
Predicador is a red with a bright, intense colour, which smells of fruit and earth, but also of balsamic notes, menthol and wild herbs; that feeling of being deeply rooted to the earth which is palpable all the way through. This is a concentrated, mature, fresh and complex wine, with a certain minerality (stones), some subtle caramelised sugar notes, liquorice, spices (cloves) and the scent of red roses, and plenty of volume.
Shows a very tense purple color. On the nose shows ripe red fruits. Very mineral. With balsamic and fine woods. In the mouth it has an enveloping volume and, as my friend Paco’s father used
to said about these kind of wines: “This is chocolate”. Long life.
92% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha, 3% Mazuelo and 2% Graciano
Serve between 16ºC and 18ºC
Food Pairing: Sausages and Ham, Vegetables, Stews and Casseroles, Rice (Paella), Red Meat