Barefoot Pinot Noir
Waipara West Pinot Noir 2018
Estate grown on 3 blocks with differing soil structure, wind exposure and clones ā early 1980ās selections from St Helena and more recent Dijon clones. The colour is an attractive, very bright ruby garnet with distinct crimson hues at the rim. Aromatically it is as striking as it is seductive. Bright red fruits - raspberry, strawberry and Morello cherry have immediate impact with an equally impressive array of oriental spices - anise and clove. Ripe seed aromas of almond kernel and cherry stone lift the nose. Time reveals an inner core of darker black cherry, and just a hint of bramble all kept in check by some very attractive yet subtle French oak. The palate is soft, silken and warm but with a certain nervositĆ© which is to say that as a young wine it may appear both bright in acidity and forward in tannins, but thatās just for starters. Those are simply the framework in which the wine is cradled, the fruit depth is palpable, the Pinosity generous and its presence authoritative.
Akarua Pinot Noir 2022
WINEMAKING
Carefully hand harvested grapes were batch fermented.Ā 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
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
Handpicked Capella Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Mornington Peninsula, Australia
The Mornington Peninsula is famous for its Pinot Noir wines and this is a fine example of a great vintage: deep colour, spicy berry aromas, a silky-smooth palate and fine tannin to finish.
Elegant & Refined
Food Pairing: Peking Duck, Roasted Quail, Mushroom Risotto
"A boldly spicy pinot that has ripe red cherries and a layer of charcuterie, as well as sappy, first-wood aromas. The palate has boldly spicy, red and dark-berry flavors with assertive tannin grain. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
Chateau Beychevelle 2013
The 2013 vintage has a very nice definition and an impressive fruit. The freshness and the delicacy of the tannins will enable this wine to be enjoyed in its youth.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 55%, Merlot 36%, Petit Verdot 9%
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
A solid effort from this beautiful St.-Julien estate, the 2013 Beychevelle displays a healthy dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged color along with a floral-scented nose offering notes of black and red currants, forest floor, and subtle oak. With excellent richness, fine-grained, soft tannin and enough acidity for definition, it should drink well for 10-12 years.
92 points James Suckling
Delicate and pretty with blueberry and mineral character. Medium body, fine tannins, fresh finish. Well-crafted for the vintage.
Chateau Gouprie Pomerol 2017
Chateau Gourprie owned by the Moze Berthon family since 1820, is a charming little estate situated at Maillet, neighboring ChĆ¢teau Gazin, l'Evangile and Le Bon Pasteur.
This vineyard is composed of 4.5 hectares laying on a superb clay-limestone and ferruginous subsoil typical of the Pomerol area. Since 2014 Hubert de BoĆ¼ard (Chateau Angelus) is the wine consultant as well as Chateau Maillet the other Pomerol jewel of the Moze-Berthon family.
VINEYARD
Varietals : 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
Soil: gravels and sand on a clay-limestone and ferruginous subsoil.
Size of the vineyard: 10 ha
Age of the vine: 35 years
Planting density : 6 000 vines/ha
Average Yield: 40 hl/ ha
Harvest: by hand
WINEMAKING
Vinification: in stainless steel vats with temperature control
Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels (33% in new barrels)
Bottling: at the ChĆ¢teau
TASTING NOTES
Carmin color with beautiful depth. Complex nose, expressing ripe red fruit (crushed strawberry), vanilla and torrefaction. In the mouth the texture is silky and tannins express finesse and balance. The mouth evolution is long and harmonious with notes licorice and tobacco.
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2013
A perfect wine, that seems to have gone from one strength to another since I first tasted it, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 is absolutely amazing wine. It was aged 21 months in 87% new French oak, finished at 15.3% alcohol and was another abundant vintage, as this lot produced 850 cases, which is even more than 2012 and slightly less than 2003 and 2014. The wine has an inky purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, blueberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, blackberry, espresso roast, chocolate and graphite. Dense and incredibly intense with good acidity (slightly lower pH than the 2012, reflected in the character of the wine), fabulous purity and a finish that goes on for close to 50+ seconds. This could well turn out to be the greatest wine ever made at the Louis Martini Winery and that is saying something. It has at least 30-50+ years of aging potential and is clearly a compelling effort from this historic and iconic winery in Napa.
Podere Le Ripi Lupi e Sirene Riserva 2016
Lupi e Sirene Riserva 2016
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Curiosity leads to Culture leads to Sensitivity leads to Enthusiasm leads to Love leads to Magic leads to Universal Love. Because Everybody feels the Magic. Therefore, Curiosity is a Universal Gift.
- Francesco Illy
Tasting Notes: A bright delicate ruby red, that offers the typical transparency of Brunello. At the nose, it expresses a fine bouquet, where small red fruits are surrounded by earthy and irony notes. In the mouth it offers purity and energy without being excessive. A rich and linear body, so fluent and polished that it will capture the total attention of all your senses for a very long time.
Food Pairing: Serve with roasted meat, aged cheeses, and pasta.
Recommended Serving Temperature: from 16Ā° to 18Ā°C.
Ageing: 33 months ageing in oak barrel, followed by a passage of 9 months in cement and a minimum ageing of 19 months in bottle
Grape variety: 100% Sangiovese
Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot from our Calistoga, Napa Valley vineyards.
Intense aromatics of fresh dark berries and deep, complex tannins comingle with melted chocolate and cassis to create a Bordeaux-esque palate profile. This wine will age
extremely well.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is described as a real beauty by Antonio Galloni (Vinous) with a redolent of blueberry jam, spice, mint, lavender and black cherry, all with terrific energy and superb balance. Vivid and sumptuous.
Handpicked Regional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This delicious wine has trademark aromas of blackberry, cassis and choc-mint with a lovely palate of concentrated dark fruits all balanced by leafy freshness and firm but long tannins. This is classic Coonawarra Cabernet.
Food Pairing: Roasted leg of lamb, slow cooked shanks, osso buco with gremolata, spicy meatballs.
Serving Temperature:Ā 13ĖC - 18ĖC
Cellar Potential: 2026
"The region is Margaret River and it stands out like the proverbial. Rich and powerful cabernet from this great vintage packs quite a punch as it extends to a sustained finish.ā 91 points, Ray Jordan - The West Australian