The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 12
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
Orin Swift Mannequin 2021
A blinding white gold and a chartreuse shimmer in the glass, the 2021 Mannequin opens with opulent, beguiling aromatics. Ripe golden apple, concentrated jasmine, citrus notes and a touch of cream and fresh brioche emerge. The entry is bright yet with a bit of weight; similar aromatic notes come through on the palate supplemented by rich honeydew and green apple. Tempered by a prominent vein of acidity, the wine closes at length with a seamless silk-like quality, finishing with pleasing minerality.
BLEND: Chardonnay
MATURATION: Aged in French Oak sur lie for 8 months, 23% New
*Receive a complimentary pack of drop stoppers with any order of Orin Swift wines above $150. While stocks last.
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
Dictador Parrafo I Pardo Vintage 2004
Dictador Párrafo is a limited edition of vintages personally chosen and created by Dictador’s Master Blender Hernan Parra. This piece of many years’ work bore fruits in the form of a collection of excellent rums aged in American Oak with Sherry and Port casks finish.
The superbness of the rums in this series is proof of the craftsmanship of the Parra family and their multi-generational experience.
Nose: Hints of ripe banana, with some light toasted coconut and red cherries. Liquorice powder and nutmeg with a backbone of vanilla.
Palate: Light notes of coffee with cream, some hints of banana split (whipped cream, banana, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce) and some red cherry notes.
Finish: Heather honey, light notes of lavender and some sweet tea flavours.
Age: 18 Years
Cask: Sherry
Cask Released Total Bottles: 890
Dictador Parrafo I Fino Vintage 1999
Dictador Párrafo is a limited edition of vintages personally chosen and created by Dictador’s Master Blender Hernan Parra. This piece of many years’ work bore fruits in the form of a collection of excellent rums aged in American Oak with Sherry and Port casks finish.
The superbness of the rums in this series is proof of the craftsmanship of the Parra family and their multi-generational experience.
Nose: The toasted top of a creme brûlée, agave, bright yellow flowers, oak spices and hints of liquorice on the nose.
Palate: Freshly baked rye bread, cinnamon spiced apple doughnuts and some leather tones. This has an earthy depth with a spicy undertone and fruity, apple-led top notes. Toasted hazelnuts.
Finish: Bitter orange, rhubarb, and some notes of grapefruit.
Aged: 23 Years
Cask: Sherry
Cask Released Total Bottles: 300
Orin Swift Slander 2021
Crisp crimson in the glass.
Nose: The 2021 Slander opens with notes of wild strawberry, pomegranate, Bing cherry and cedar. Secondary aromatics abound, with hints of redwood grove underbrush, white pepper and earth.
Palate: Delicate on entry, the palate is flooding with red plum, cherry cola, rhubarb and spices. A touch of cocoa powder on the finish, the wine closes with confident acidity and length.
Varietals: Pinot Noir
*Receive a complimentary pack of drop stoppers with any order of Orin Swift wines above $150. While stocks last.
Vilmart & Cie Blanc de Blanc 2012
A Sensual Minerality
- Blending composed of 100% Chardonnay classified Premier Cru and from vines of sixty years old age (Les Blanches Voies parcel)
- Manual harvest 2012,
- Aging process: ten months in oak barrels of 228 l
- Eighty-four months on lies in the cellars after bottling
- No malolactic fermentation
- Dosage: 4 g/l
- Quantity limited to 2 900 bottles numbered