$500 - $1,000

Sourced from the prestigious Grand Cru village of Mailly, our Own Selection Champagne is a classic blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. With more than three years’ ageing, it is a delightfully complex example of non-vintage Champagne. Aromas of brioche and flowers draw you in on the nose. The palate is elegant, marrying notes of lemongrass, gingerbread and honeysuckle. 

Ready to drink now

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Written by author and critic Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux is a ground-breaking guide to the region.

Jane has used her extensive knowledge of Bordeaux, alongside newly commissioned research, to delve into the region’s wines and winemakers. You’ll discover underrated properties, learn why particular wines taste as they do and much more. It’s an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the world’s most famous wine region.

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This lighter-styled, mature Rioja shows just a hint of brown at the edges. An initial light sweaty note blows off quickly, revealing appealing dried cherry, spice and wood aromas and flavors, and an elegant, balanced mouthfeel.

{***}{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1991{vintage}{***}

A junmai daiginjo at the pinnacle of traditional sake brewing, it features a fruity aroma and distinct rich flavors. Of special note is that, unlike daiginjo sake made by adding alcohol, this sake has the true characteristics of a junmai daiginjo. The crisp and clean umami stands out clearly and lingers as a distinct aftertaste. It is an excellent choice for drinking with tuna sashimi, from fatty to medium fatty and red, and with salmon sushi or other flavorful foods. It also goes well with meat and meat dishes, whether prepared in Japanese or western styles, and other such foods that bring out the umami.

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[]2019 Kura Master First Prize

[]2018 Sake Selection Award First Prize

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The Cuvees St Vincent, using their best wines from old vines plot aged with lees for 10 years before being released, stand easily the test of time and get better with age. The outstanding 2012 vintage Champagne has a promising and pleasant color with twinkling little reflections. A generous mousse with fine bubbles. On the nose the wine expresses a gourmet and powerful personality with buttered notes of hot brioche and an exceptional freshness due to Chardonnay. It offers a gustative aromatic richness, some complexity and a great balance – which reflect an exceptional cuvee. On the palate, the wine is sublimated by notes of pineapple flambe which give a very pleasant feeling of warmth. 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay, 4gr/L dosage.

{***}{region}Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}
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A cinnamon, nutmeg and peppery nose immediately thrusts the spicy signature of rye into the forefront of the conversation, with the savoury palate and moreishly dry finish confirming this impression. The gentle toasting of the barrels allows the oak to speak more quietly than in many American whiskies, moving more towards complex pecan and walnut, rather than luxuriant macadamia.

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The small Hebridean island of Islay is famous for its heavily peat-smoke flavoured Malt Whiskies. Beyond the obvious peatiness each Islay Malt Whisky offers its own signature. Our Reserve has been created by our blenders to capture the very essence of the Islay style. Aromas reminiscent of quaysides emerge. Beyond the distinctive smoky core, there is a seam of subtle yellow fruit. The deep smokiness of the palate leaves a kiss of peat which lingers long into the finish. In short, this is an Islay drinker’s Islay.

This old vines cuvée comes from a tiny parcel of vines nearly 79 years in age that were planted by Massale Selection. The sub-soil here is chalk but there's limestone and clay up above. This is a structured red Burgundy that's powerful and will benefit from age. The majority of the domaine's vines are old vines (Massale) planted in the 1930s and 40s. Naturally the yields are miniscule for this reason making this wine all the more rare.

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{region}Vosne-Romanée{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}

{ratings}   

{ratings}

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This 2021 vintage of Columella displays extremely bright red fruit aromas. The wine is incredibly fresh, and the 24 months of ageing in old casks are unmarked; it almost seems like the fruit is still hanging on the vine. Some velvety spicey herbal aromas of the bush come through on the aromatics, and then violets and perfumes followed. There are darker, deeper lines of graphite, black olive and cedarwood aromatics, and the structure of the wine is quite seamless; the tannins flow into the acidity at the end of the palate. It is incredibly balanced, and delicate layers of stitching make up this wine. Time is your friend on this one.

Benjamin Leroux is perhaps best known as a négociant, but he now owns a significant proportion of his own vineyards. He bought fruit from this 0.5-hectare parcel until eventually buying the land in 2021. The soil is light and sandy with brown gravel, giving a perfumed and pretty wine that has a light and delicate structure. Five barrels were made in 2017. The nose is spicy with open red-berry fruit, with floral aromas that follow through onto the palate. This is a pretty, pure and transparent expression of Beaune.

Drink now to 2027

Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The potential alcohol content was record high from the start, especially in Aÿ, with 11.1% straight away. Denis, just like me, sees great similarities between 2015 and 2019, but where the sharpness and freshness is better in 2019. It is not the acidity, but rather the mineral salt that gives the freshness together with the sense of umami the concentrated grapes give. Here, there is a swirl of exotic fruit and honey and a dry smokiness that I’ve learned to associate with the cluster of aromas that transforms over time into the note of railway on a hot summer’s day. It might sound fuzzy, but it makes perfect sense.

The combination of heated rail, dry gravel, dandelions and nettles that thrive in the embankment gives a concentrated, warm dryness strongly reminiscent of the character the grapes acquire when the temperature crosses the vine’s pain point on a few hot summer days. 41 degrees in the shade was a heat record in Champagne, especially a lot of shade, which the vineyards in Champagne cannot boast of, so the effect is reminiscent of that which arose in 1947, 1959, 1976, and 2003. Hence, this aroma was less marked in 2019. Let’s see if I’m right in 10 years when I expect “The Famous Note of Railroad Track” to appear in this beauty.

Richard Juhlin, The Champagne Club (June 2024)

2007 Champagne Le Mesnil, Cuvée Prestige, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru Champagne is a spectacular 100% Chardonnay from their fabled vineyards. Drinking at its peak with so much drama and class in a glass, this is a heroic wine with an unmissable price tag.

Matthew Jukes, Money Week (October 2023)

2007 was a vintage which favoured Chardonnay and produced many top-level cuvées. The Les Mesnil Cuvée Prestige is made exclusively from the legendary chalky Grand Cru vineyards, close to the winery in the Cote des Blancs’s most famous postcode, Le Mesnil sur Oger. The Blanc de Blancs is fermented in cement and steel at low temperatures to retain the purity of fruit and vintage personality and spent nine years on lees gaining complexity and fine, tight bubbles. 

The texture is firmly Grand Cru, with mineral edges and notes of golden apple, roasted lemon and the salty chew of caramel shortbread. The Prestige 2007 is a work of art and offers brilliant value, considering it is made from some of the region’s finest terroirs. Drink with mixed canapés, cheesy biscuits or, for the ultimate experience, turbot and a white butter sauce.

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

{***}
{region}Volnay{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate: 89-91/100{

ratings

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Designed to perfectly aerate one bottle (75cl) of Claret, this beautiful lead-free crystal decanter is made in Slovakia using traditional fruit wood moulds, then hand-finished by one of Europe’s top glass manufacturers. It is supplied in a sleek white carton, with a separate box for the stopper, which is handmade to fit the jug.

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I have loved this wine on many occasions, and I love it here again. This is not a wine that is hiding its age - there are already some tertiary notes developing - and you'll find younger-looking 2005s, but it has a generosity of spirit, a succulence to its fruit, and a hauntingly fresh menthol edge to the finish that is really beautiful. Mouthwatering brilliance. 45% of production.

Drink 2018 - 2030

Jane Anson, Decanter.com (November 2017)

The Saumur Blanc Breze is sourced from two old vine parcels of Chenin Blanc planted in 1933 & 1952. 1.2 hectares in total. Brézé is not typical Saumur at all. The vineyards are at a higher elevation than most of the surrounding area and sit directly on a hill of tuffeau—a porous, chalky limestone intermixed with clay and sand. Something like 70% of the vineyard has less than one metre of topsoil so the vines of any age must establish roots in the chalky bedrock. This terroir creates a far more citrus, floral and mineral expression of Chenin. Even in ripe and powerful vintages, the wines remain cool, pure and fresh.

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{region}Sancerre{region}
{color}White{color}
{vintage}2018{vintage}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now, but can keep{maturity-text}

{ratings}{ratings}

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One of the most beautiful vineyards of Terroir, with its more than 85 years of life, lives vibrant in the contrast between the freshness of the winds of the Combe and the heat held by the sunny pebbles of the ground. 

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{region}Vosne-Romanée{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}laying-down{maturity}
{maturity-text}For Laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}

{ratings}   

{ratings}

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Founded in 1821, Barbadillo is a seventh-generation family owned and operated bodega based in Sanlucar de Barrameda. VORS is a rare category denoting a ‘Very Old Rare Sherry Eover 30 years of age and this limited release bottling is taken from the third criadera of their 120-cask solera. It is darker in colour, drier and more intense in aroma and flavour than the classic Palo Cortado Obispo Gascon, with fantastically complex notes of citrus, grilled nuts, spices and a distinctive salty finish. This pairs incredibly well with almonds, mature cheeses and cured meats.

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{region}Jerez{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}
        
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Deeply coloured with a crimson hue, this was remarkably expressive at first taste before decanting for a few hours. Instinctively, I was expecting a muscular and brooding Batailley, such is the nature of the vintage, but rather quite the opposite with a silky and seductive wine which showcased layer upon layer of complexity, forest fruits and blackberry pie, through to cedar and spice box. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plentiful structure keeping this completely alive, the tannins finely etched into the background, and acidity plays a balancing role; however, I find the wine is in harmony at present, with 16 years under its belt.

With an opportunity to do this justice, I served alongside a roasted rare topside of fine beef and couldn’t have asked for more - this was absolutely singing, with mineral freshness and impressive length to boot. I would certainly recommend this food pairing. Otherwise, it is extremely enjoyable on its own after a few hours in a decanter. Undoubtedly, it will give for another 10-15 years, but there is certainly no harm in cracking open some 2005 Ch. Batailley now! A stalwart of Pauillac from a brilliant vintage, it’s a reminder of how good Bordeaux can be….Fabulous.

Chris Lamb, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2022 Mev. Kirsten displays tropical fruit aromas that migrate more to fresh apricot and ripe peaches and pears, so generally, stone fruit aromatics. Firm tannins and a grippy acidity uphold these slightly riper and larger fruit aromas. The wine’s structure and the fruit’s volume are incredibly concentrated without being sweet in any way or form. It is truly an incredible vineyard. Decantation helps but can never replace the actual effect of time.

Marqués de Murrieta was one of two pioneers in the production of Rioja wines, this bodega was established in 1852 and is proudly old-fashioned in its approach. All the grapes are sourced from the bodega's own vineyards at Ygay near Logroño, which were recently extended to 300ha. Traditional grape varities are grown Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha Blanca and Viura, many of which have now disappeared from the region. The wines of Murrieta wines are produced by traditional methods, ageing their wines in wood for a minimum of two years (much longer than at any other Bodegas) and there are 14,000 casks for that purpose.

The Saumur Blanc Breze is sourced from two old vine parcels of Chenin Blanc planted in 1933 & 1952. 1.2 hectares in total. Brézé is not typical Saumur at all. The vineyards are at a higher elevation than most of the surrounding area and sit directly on a hill of tuffeau—a porous, chalky limestone intermixed with clay and sand. Something like 70% of the vineyard has less than one metre of topsoil so the vines of any age must establish roots in the chalky bedrock. This terroir creates a far more citrus, floral and mineral expression of Chenin. Even in ripe and powerful vintages, the wines remain cool, pure and fresh.

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{region}Sancerre{region}
{color}White{color}
{vintage}2018{vintage}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now, but can keep{maturity-text}

{ratings}{ratings}

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The vines for this cuvée are 70 years old on average, with some nudging 100 years. The parcels are neighbours to the Grands and Premiers Crus of Griottes, Petite Chapelle, Crais and Champeaux. There is a step up in concentration versus the regular bottling, with greater detail and complexity, and a lovely salivating freshness to finish. Drink 2024-2030.

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{region}Gevrey-Chambertin{region}
{color}Red{color}

{maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text} 

{vintage}2018{vintage}

{***}

Veronique Saunders says that in 2017 the estate lost 30 percent of fruit due to frost. Dark ruby, the nose has notes of spices, cedar, dark fruit and cassis. On the palate it is medium bodied and extremely silky with high quality tannins. A blend of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 percent Merlot, four percent Cabernet Franc and four percent Petit Verdot, it has a gentle, delicate feel in 2017 with cool fruit and a long persistent finish. 

{***}{region}Pessac-Léognan{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                        

   {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 94-96/100

[]James Suckling:: 94-95/100

{ratings} {***}

The Caribbean boasts a long history of rum distilling, born of the sugar plantations that began to develop in the 17th century. Each country has its unique style and with maturity the full, intense fruit, spice and, often, molasses flavours shine through.
This Rum is very fruit driven, with notes of melon and honey combining with a creamy mouthfeel and finish.

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{size}70 cl{size}
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This special multi site blend is a blend of 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir selected from five sloping lieu-dits around Oeuilly & Celle-les-Condé. spontaneous fermentation and maturation in large oak barrel, gaining complexity prior to secondary fermentation. Golden foam supports a palate of stone fruit, exotic saffron like spices with a chewy crumb of cardamom bun. Vinous depth. Vibrant core with soft edges. Disgorged November 2021. 0 gram dosage.

Drink 2023 - 2030

Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2023)

This is a strict single-vineyard selection from the top of the farm. It’s always last to be harvested. Twenty days of natural fermentation and gentle maceration are followed by 36 months in the same 71-hectolitre botti. The 2016 vintage is intense and beautifully elegant. Savoury and weighty with spiced coffee notes and minerality, this needs time.

Drink 2026 - 2045

Davy Żyw, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Feb 2022)

 This 2022 ‘T Voetpad is incredibly expressive, and the usual waxy and lanolin aromatics are to be found, but the cordial limey aromatics, dried straw bales, and a dash of melon are concentrated aspects. The palate has a lingering aftertaste, is incredibly restrained, and the wine is light on its feet. The tannins are restrained, and the acidity is very soft on the f inish. It is one of this vineyard’s most elegant and refined versions. We also had to pick slightly earlier due to the looming heat waves. The wine is just a Mindbender this year.

“Date 7 Eis a collaboration between seven breweries in the Miyagi prefecture aim to improve their brewing techniques and the quality of their sake through technical refinement. This project started in 2015 and the first “Season Ereached its final episode in 2021, and revived as “Season II Ein 2022. In this season, two leading breweries will showcase their unique style under one same theme in each episode, so there will be a pair of sakes to be released for each year. For 2023 release - Date 7, Season II, Episode 2, the two leading breweries – Yamawa (山和é�E造) and Hagino Tsuru (萩野é�E造) will brew with the same rice and polishing ratio specifications, while expressing the unique flavors of each brewery. The other five breweries will also take parts in different brewing process of both sakes.
 

1 x Yamawa style (山咁EStyle):
immaculate balance of gentle ginjo notes with refreshing acidity & supremely refined umami. "aesthetics of subtraction" true to the adage of Yamawa Shuzo, Yamadanishiki is expressed in its opulence, yet brilliantly restrained.
1 x Hagino Tsuru style (萩の鶴 Style):
juicy acidity bursting forth with exuberant tropical notes, culminating to a restrained, sharap finish. as the artwork depicts, a free-spirited & fun adventure awaits!

Here a faint smoke and bitters on the nose  Eaeration brings a more overt floral aspect. A little extra sweetness, more overtly mineral  Eclarity, growing intensity  Eyou could be in Chablis here but with an extra concentration.

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{region} Mâcon{region}
{color} White {color}                                                             

  {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

A second wine that has improved dramatically is the Alter Ego de Palmer. The 2009, a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, exhibits aromas of blackberries, cassis, chocolate, roasted espresso and a smoky/foresty note. This hedonistic, juicy, succulent Margaux is meant to be consumed in its first 10-15 years of life.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 23/12/2011

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{region}Margaux{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2009{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Robert Parker:: 89-92/100 []The Wine Advocate:: 91/100

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The truly excellent 2016 Sea could very well be the finest wine produced at this estate that started as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick and now continues under the guidance of Chadwick and the excellent hand of winemaker Francisco Pancho Baettig. The grapes were picked later in 2016, and the final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Carmenere and 5% Cabernet Franc, with more Malbec and considerably less Carmenere than in the past. This is only 13.5% alcohol and has remarkable acidity and freshness, as well as overall balance and elegance that surpasses all previous vintages. Twelve percent of the volume matured in oak foudres, while the rest was aged in barrique (73% new) for 22 months. Even so, the wine is not oaky and comes through as harmonious and elegant within the house style. It's serious, dry and elegant, with zero concessions to sweetness. A mineral and profound red blend. 72,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2018.
Luis Gutirrez - 31/10/2018

{***}{region}Chile{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

  {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings} []Wine Advocate:: 97/100
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The 2017 Ch. Pape Clément falls into the glass with a deep maroon colour. It has a delicate, expressive nose of red fruit, cassis, iron and wet stone. The blend is 49 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 48 percent Merlot, two percent Petit Verdot and one percent Cabernet Franc planted on clay gravels. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively, tannic grip. It finishes with a long, peppery, saline minerality. A complex wine which will reveal itself over many years.

{***}{region}Pessac-Léognan{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 92-94/100{ratings}    {***}

One of Rioja’s signature wines and certainly the most distinctive label from Muga, Prado Enea is aged for seven years in a combination of vat, cask and bottle, its 2006 manifestation cleaving the traditional to the modern with powerful French oak tannins framing a magnificent savoury personality. An almost meaty vitality and more than a whiff of wood smoke underlines the individuality of this truly great wine, its dark fruit core enhanced by notes of tobacco box and the kitchen garden.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Belonging to the Mouton stable, and with a prestigious location right next to both Mouton and Lafite, Ch. Clerc Milon is a fresher, lighter style of 2008 which has a delicious hint of creamy raspberry fruit to the more classic blackcurrant backbone. Fine with exceptionally fine tannins this has a lovely rounded finish with more than a hint of the savoury minerality of the vintage.

Experts on the subject of soil will tell you that Haut Bailly boasts one of the finest terroirs in the Pessac-Leognan appellation. The wine made here has always been fine, but it has reached a new level of excellence in recent years, rivalling some great Haut-Medoc Cab-Sauvignon-dominated wines. For me, this new departure began with the 2004 vintage, not hailed as a great vintage in Bordeaux but bearing the hallmark of what the British call a "classic vintage", meaning a wine of finesse and elegance, with cool, sweet fruit supported by ripe tannins and balancing acidity—a joy to drink now and until 2030.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The Heitz Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from two vineyards in St. Helena - the 'Only One Vineyard' and the 'Spring Valley Vineyard'. Matured in a combination of new and used large oak casks and smaller barriques for two years, followed by a further year in bottle prior to release.

The nose of the 2018 Heitz Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is scented with fine raspberry and blackberry aromas mixing with macerated red cherries, herbal notes of wild oregano and a top note of sweet spice. What makes this an absolutely brilliant wine on the palate, however, is the combination of its beautiful, layered fruit character with such unbelievable freshness. There is a superb precision and line to this whilst a dusting of chalky tannins adds more refreshment on the long, savoury-lined finish. This is a wine that leaves the palate superbly invigorated, making you want to have at least another glass. It is absolutely delicious and so, so fine compared to what you might expect of Napa, especially at this price.

Drink 2024 - 2038

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

With 7.5 years of lees ageing, this has beautiful patisserie notes but retains layers of sweet tropical fruits. Pineapple, mangos and Amalfi lemons make up a refreshing wine with baking spices developing with time on the palate. The wine has maintained a vibrant freshness given the time spent on lees, which is a testament to the quality. Incredibly enjoyable with a selection of different seafood plates or as an aperitif. 

Drink 2022 - 2026+

Paul Keating, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Mid crimson. Very similar aroma to the 2010. Perhaps a little more red cherry. Leaner on the palate, less flesh, more streamlined but not lacking in fruit. Dry, mineral and super-fine tannins, long dusty finish.

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (August 2015)

Ch. Giscours is one of the largest Margaux properties and now producing wine worthy of its Troisième Cru Classé status. Giscours was in a dire state when it was acquired by Nicholas Tari in 1952. He invested heavily and the quality of the wine improved beyond recognition. In 1995 he sold the property to Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma. Giscours produces richly aromatic wines that are surprisingly powerful on the palate, displaying ripe, black fruit with hints of cedar and new oak.

Giscours typically produces one of the most masculine wines of the Margaux appellation and one which normally requires a little patience. Defined by its rich, dark fruit, complex structure and wonderful, classic perfume, this elegant 2001 is nonetheless drinking beautifully now, yet will last another five years.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

2009 was Alexandre Penet’s first vintage at the helm of Champagne Penet. In celebration, he decided to create the Cuvée Prestige Diane Claire: a prestige cuvée to celebrate the finest expression of Verzenay. Only the best parcels of the village are selected, and a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay is used.

The wine was vinified and matured in barrique before bottling. There is a notable richness, alongside fruit and oak spice with hints of roasted peach. There’s a welcome wash of mineral freshness on the finish, too.

Drink 2022 - 2030

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2022)

{***}{region}Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2009{vintage}
{ratings}

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Grapes for the Les Epinettes Blanc de Noirs are sourced from a north-west plot in Verzy, that offers more maturity than many of Champagne Penet’s wines. This blanc de noirs is a pure and chiselled celebration of Pinot Noir, from a Grand Cru village. Both the nose and palate are filled with notes of hay smoke, musk, and bursts of wild raspberry. The foam is fine, with a firmly mineral, defined, and long finish. 

{***}{region}Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}
{ratings}

{ratings}        {***}

{***}
{region}Gevrey-Chambertin{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}

{ratings} {

ratings

}

{***}

From the Treiso township, the 2014 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù represents a stylistic marriage of the elegant Gallina and the more powerful Starderi crus (both in the Neive township). This is a compact and fine Nebbiolo with a mid-weight style and slightly sweet tannins. In terms of its flavor profile, the wine shows savory spice and barbecue smoke followed by blackberry and dried cherry. In a sense, this wine borrows the best attributes of the other two Barbaresco expressions also reviewed in this report. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                   

            {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100    

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 91/100  

{ratings}

{***}

"This bottling is 100% Chardonnay sourced entirely from a single plot called ""La Tuilerie"" located in the middle altitude slopes of Vandieres (Mi-Coteau). Aged 42 months.

This is a spectacular Blanc de Blanc, great breadth and richness, fairly explosive on the palate with showstopping complexity. Packed with orchard fruits–plump apricot, white peaches, orange blossoms, lemon confit and a slate of minerality running throughout."

The 2012 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is a solid and tighter wine compared to the 2012 Le Vigne. Having said that, it veers close to being too austere and hard-bodied, especially at this young stage of its life. Of Sandrone's two new Barolo releases, this wine definitely needs more time to evolve and soften with extra years of bottle aging. The tannins are more evident and the wine's firm backbone acts to support dark fruit flavors with distant accents of spice, licorice and tobacco. - Wine Advocate

The first of a succession of brilliant wines that have emerged from this previously moribund estate over the last decade, the fully mature 2000 Lascombes is an outstanding effort. Notes of cedarwood, roasted herbs, incense, black cherries, and currants emerge from this medium-bodied, evolved Margaux. Consume it over the next 7-8 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 29/06/2010

From the blended Barolo Serralunga d’Alba we move up a gear to the single-vineyard Cerretta. Noticeably more focused and more resolved than the village Barolo, this is darker plum in colour, suave, soft and generously fruity on the nose, with neat, bright intensity. One is struck by the volume of fruit on offer; succulent kirsch, currant and dark cherry, with such clean lines.

This was quite late to finish malolactic fermentation and accordingly the wine initially shows as quite creamy and soft, but the energy of the vintage illuminates the finish. It's from two parcels, Rue aux Vaches, above the village, and the other Noyers Bret, towards Chassagne.

Drink 2022 - 2028

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Château Brane-Cantenac is among the most reliable names on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, ranked a Second Growth in 1855.

The 2014 has immediate appeal on the nose, with black fruits, peppery spice, violets and cigar box aromas. It’s a delicious Claret to drink now, with inviting flavours of blackberry, plum and earthy complexity from bottle age. It also has the structure to age further, with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. The spicy note works very well with Ixta Belfrage’s porcini mushroom ragu, though you couldn’t go wrong with a simply prepared duck breast.

Charlie Geoghegan DipWSET, Berry Bros. & Rudd

One of the superstars of the vintage, this classic Montrose is not as showy or opulent as the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it offers a dense purple color followed by gorgeously sweet black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with loamy, earthy, forest floor notes, a floral component and a long, full-bodied finish. The 2008 was fashioned from yields of 44 hectoliters per hectare which is slightly less than the 2010's 45 hectoliters per hectare. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following 20+.

Mid purple with rather a savoury touch to the nose. Plenty of emphasis behind, some firm tannins, this is a concentrated masculine version of Grèves. Discreet, youthful, laid back. The fruit will cope with the tannins. Bottled with a DIAM 30 organic closure.

Jasper Morris MW, insideburgundy.com (September 2021)

Disgorged June 2022, 0 dosage and only 1300 bottles made.

This is one of the region best known, and most averred 100% Pinot Meuniers. Grown on steep slopes of Oeuilly above the Marne river which over time has revealed the complex clay and limestone soils. The vineyard itself, is the organic North East facing, Pierre de Bellevue lieu-dits planted by the Tarlant family in 1947. Soft pressing, wild fermentation and 7 months in Burgundian barrique, no malolactic to hold tension. This is a unique Champagne, vinous and rich yet poised with crystalline energy. Earthy minerality layered with waxy fruits, wild flowers and golden apple charm. Complex and very long.

Drink 2023 - 2030+ 

Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

One of the highlights in this range, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is also one of the most classic of these 2011 Riservas. Beams of underlying acidity and minerality give the flavors considerable thrust and brightness. Sweet mentholated notes wrap around a core of plush, red-fleshed plum and pomegranate fruit, leading to a brisk, refreshing finish. What is left to say? The 2011 Pajè is absolutely gorgeous. It's as simple as that. Pajè is one of the cooler micro-climates the Produttori work with, and that was a help in 2011. - Vinous

This is a Pinot Meunier-driven sparkling rosé made using the saignée method, showcasing a dark salmon-pink colour. Based on the 2016 vintage, the latest release was bottled in 2017 and disgorged in 2022. Toasty on the nose with caramelised red apple and red berries. The palate is full-on and rounded, featuring brioche and biscuit, complemented by zingy red pomelo and red apple, refreshed by bright acidity (9g/l). A satisfying rosé with spectacular breadth and flavour concentration. Elegantly poised, it still has plenty of life ahead.

Drink 2023 - 2036

Sylvia Wu, Decanter.com (September 2023)

This is a completely different terroir expression to the 045, and the last vineyard to harvest each year  EPaul never encounters problems with this ‘golden child Eplot. The soil is a deep, limey chalk. From the 2020 vintage, this has not gone through malolactic fermentation and has no added sugar, in order to express the purity of the Pinot Noir in Verzenay. A gourmand, exuberant champagne, this has been aged in 100% Burgundy barrels and demi-muids.

The nose has more tropical, exotic fruit flavours, extremely pure and intense, while the palate has a beautifully fine texture and citrus flavours. The finish is pure Pinot Noir, with a hint of iodine and a lovely minerality; this is such a food wine  Ebut best paired with seafood.

Drink now to 2030

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2023)

{***}{region} Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}

{ratings} 

{ratings}

{***}

The 2017 Saumur Brézé Les Arboises, from the south-facing monopole that was planted on sand and silt topsoil over limestone bedrock in 1957, opens deep, intense and toasty on the concentrated and refreshing mineral, smoky and bloody nose that needs a lot of time to integrate its fruity aromas. Fermented in concrete and aged in barrels (80% new, 20% one year old) for 18 months, this is a full-bodied, silky, fresh and unadorned Cabernet Franc from 60-year-old vines. The finish is dry and clear but not extraordinarily complex or long. Honestly, I find this style too oaky, and on the finish, I miss a certain intensity, complexity and length, but I admit I don’t have experience with older vintages. Tasted in May 2021. - 92 Points - Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate.

The Terroir & Sens Blanc de Blancs from Champagne Penet-Chardonnet is a rare gem, stemming from a Grand Cru village known almost exclusively for Pinot Noir. This wine demonstrates the richness, complexity and minerality of the terroir.

The nose is vinous, smoky and reminiscent of white Burgundy, helped by its time in used barrel. The palate is detailed, with crispy and supple white fruit, alongside notes of cardamom, saffron, and patisserie. There’s a fine, minerally charged mousse.

Drink now until 2035

{***}{region} Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}

{ratings} 

{ratings}

{***}

The 2019 Art Series Chardonnay is rich and savory but pure and saline too. There is white peach, red apples, curry leaf and brine. The way the flavor moves across the palate is testament to the phenolics that course through the wine; it’s all at a perfect intersect of fruit power, tannin and perfectly judged acidity. The flavor stains the palate and lingers in an unravelling spool of thread in the mouth long after the wine has gone. A stupendously good wine.

Drink 2022 - 2037

{***}{region}Margaret River, Australia{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}
{ratings}      
[]James Halliday:: 98/100    
[]Wine Spectatorl:: 96/100 
[]James Suckling:: 94/100 
[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100
{ratings}        {***}

Some 140,000 bottles are produced (which is amazing considering the quality). 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

This is a fantastic wine. The 2013 Bolgheri Superiore Guado Al Tasso reveals soaring aromas of dark fruit, plum, blackberry, savoury spice, tobacco and leather. The results are seamless, harmonious and generous in intensity. This is the quintessential red blend from Coastal Tuscany, and the 2013 vintage is particularly rooted in a profound sense of place. I am reminded of the macchia mediterranea, or Mediterranean shrub, that grows so wild and free in this untouched part of Tuscany. This excellent wine shows its winemaking pedigree, but make no mistake: It is a proud Tuscan at heart.

Drink 2017 - 2035

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (October 2016)

Also a Riserva, hence 42 months in large Slavonian oak followed by six months in local chestnut barrels, Ugolaia is a single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino from a 1.3 hectare plot that has ideal soil, microclimate and aspect (the latter guaranteeing sun all day long). It has such graceful presence, and reflects truly the classic 2008 vintage. It’s so fine, with pedigree, purity, plenty of life and energy, all tightly interwoven and exquisitely balanced.
David Berry Green

This too is sufficiently reduced to render the nose impossible to read. There is a bit more flesh to the delicious and perfumed medium weight flavors that also flash plenty of minerality on the saliva-inducing finish that is just a bit firmer. This lovely effort is very Vosne. Outstanding! - Burghound

A fine, dense, red-purple colour and a classical Vosne-Romanée nose: how else to describe it? The fruit swells to the back of the palate with such poise, presence, charm and precision. Absolutely beautiful.

Étienne Grivot reports better yields in 2014, about halfway between the miserable crops of the previous four vintages and what would count as a very good year. The grapes are de-stemmed but preserved fully intact using the newest model of destemmer. They were totally healthy in 2014 and Mathilde Grivot describes the wines as being accessible, fresh, yet still complex. We would add that they are – yet again – amongst the finest of the whole Côte.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

In my view, Henri Lurton's wonderfully understated Second Growth is one of the most consistent wines of the Médoc. Never forced or pushed, it is a true and usually close-to-perfect expression of the vintage. 2012 is no exception, with the vintage conditions determining the cépage and over 30% of the blend provided by rich and succulent Merlot. Delicate pepper and ripe cherries are lifted by a beautiful crunch of warm and voluminous fruit, while the finish is very elegant and long, with waves of expressive red fruits, making this another fine effort.

Jake Dean, Director of UK & Ireland, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Darker soils than the Serralunga, with more clay, and bigger, more compact berries. Aromas of black cherry and florest floor an the nose, leading to a core of purple fruit on the palate, with finely grained tannins and a mineral spine. Structured and opulent. Drink 2022+

Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer

Open and well-defined on the nose with wild berry aromas. The palate has very fine, soft and refined tannins. - Decanter

The 2017 Auxey-Duresses Les Cloux is lovely, delivering an incipiently complex bouquet of pear, woodsmoke, dried white flowers and fresh pastry. It's medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, built around racy acids and chalky dry extract.

Drink 2022 - 2037

William Kelley, Wine Advocate (February 2020)

There are fully 8,000 bottles of the 2016 Mâcon-Pierreclos Le Chavigne, a superb wine that unfurls in the glass with a classy bouquet of Meyer lemons, confit citrus and smoky reduction. It's full-bodied, ample and silky, with a deep, layered mid-palate, tangy balancing acids and a mouthwatering finish. It's reminiscent of the lovely 2011 rendition. - Wine Advocate

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Regnard (négoce) bursts with aromas of plums, peonies, warm spices and soil tones. It's charming and vibrant, medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, with powdery tannins and a long, sapid finish.

Laurent Lignier began his harvest on August 27, reporting below-average yields and finished alcohols between 13% and 14%. Once again, the result is a fine vintage for both his domaine holdings and négociant sources—the latter, amounting to some 3.5 hectares of vines, now clearly distinguished in our reviews. 

As readers will know, winemaking is pretty classical at this address, with a short cold maceration, two to three weeks maceration with one pigéage and one rémontage per day and maturation in barrels, some one-third of which are new—if possible, without racking—for fully 22 months in the domaine's cold cellars. 

The 2020s are more primary and tightly wound than Lignier's 2019s, but they're similar in quality and worth seeking out.

William Kelley, Wine Advocate (January 2022)

The malolactic was half way through. 58% whole bunch, 50% new wood, including this sample from a new barrel. Jet black with purple rim, some apple notes from the malolactic and some barrel toast. Powerful stuff. Lively acidity though, coffee notes, more dark fruit but not at all heavy. Some tannins. Very good length here.

Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (January 2022)

An elegant wine, this comes from a cool site in a slight dip, with shallow topsoil before the limestone. It offers a coulis of red fruit in 2018, juicy and accessible, but with a lovely cool, refreshing push underneath. Drink 2023-2029.

This is a selection of the vineyards clustered around the village of Volnay itself. Grands Champs, Pluchots, Gigottes and Échards combine to give a richer nose and more density than the standard bottling. The palate displays greater structure while still retaining elegance and finesse. Drink 2021-2028.

Michel Lafarge (b. 1928) and his son Frédéric make use of their combined experience to produce some of the greatest wines in Volnay. There is nothing modern in their winemaking, though the meticulous care of their biodynamically farmed vineyards puts the domaine at the forefront of viticultural practices. When they are working on a patch of vines they are usually accompanied by their hens who eat up any lurking pests. The grapes are de-stemmed, vinified traditionally and very little new oak is used in the cellar. In 2014, they purchased vineyards in the Beaujolais which are farmed using the same biodynamic practices as employed in the Côte de Beaune.

Frédéric was keen to highlight the solidarity shown between vignerons at the end of April, as they mobilised to put in place measures to prevent a repeat of the frosts of 2016. Burning dampened straw bales at strategic locations, they succeeded in creating cloud cover which saved the vast majority of the vineyards. He also stressed the importance of “fractional harvesting” – waiting until each parcel is fully ripe before picking – and feels that the domaine’s biodynamic practices allow the grapes to achieve even ripening and balance, a real boon in early vintages such as 2017. For those with long memories, 90-year-old Michel compares 2017 to 1947 and 1964.

This wine has an amazing wealth of fruit, notable grip and will benefit from longer barrel élévage. It is certainly one to put away in the cellar and look forward to.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

The former Domaine René Manuel has been purchased by investors, the vineyards being split between Domaine des Comtes Lafon and Domaine Roulot while Dominique Lafon himself has moved production of his own label wines to the Manuel cellars in Meursault, as well as gaining some Bourgogne Blanc vines. Though Dominique operates officially under the status of negociant, all the wines are domaine grown and bottled except the Bourgogne Blanc, which will be next year.

The 2022 Maçon-Pierreclos En Crazy, tasted direct from barrel, has a crisp nose with Granny Smith apples intermixed with pear and light brioche. Not complex, yet pure and delineated. A fine silver bead of acidity marks the palate, taut and fresh, with attractive notes of bitter lemon and more pear surfacing toward the finish. This is a very capable Mâcon-Pierreclose.

Drink 2023 - 2038

Neal Martin, Vinous.com (August 2023)

A nose dominated by floral aromas of hawthorn and jasmine. Round and velvety, the mouth reveals buttery and custard notes. The palate is very surprising and impresses with its length.

Coming from all the Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, the 2015 Champagne Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs has a bright silver/yellow appearance and needs a second to open in the glass and reveal notes of fresh pear, candied lime, white flowers, and fresh bread dough. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate and has a broader mouthfeel but remains in check, with a light, chalky mouthfeel and pithy fresh citrus, which is characteristic of the savoriness of the vintage. It has a clean and mouthwatering finish. 7 grams per litre dosage.

Drink 2023 - 2038

Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com (November 2023)

The nose is layered with delicate floral notes and hints of cherry. The palate is incredibly bright and vibrant, with bundles of pink grapefruit and blood orange encompassed in a lively mousse. With the blend favouring Chardonnay, there are hints of tropical fruits too. This is drinking wonderfully now and will age well over the next six years.

Drink 2022 - 2030

Paul Keating, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd

This is very backward compared to lesser cuves, showing power and concentration rather than the detail of the fruit.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Jean-Philippes crop is down from 30 to 40% after the cold and wet flowering, but he is very happy with the quality. He started picking on Sunday 19th September and had finished before the rains came the following Friday. This is a domaine which has been consistently reliable in recent years, delivers excellent value for money and enjoys much deserved success.

Produced with 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, the 2018 Champagne Millésime Extra Brut was vinified and raised for nine months in barrels. It sees 3 grams per litre dosage and was disgorged in March 2023. It pours a rich, youthful yellow hue and is forward in its expressive notes of toasted oak spice that are very assertive and joined by notes of toasted croissant, orange marmalade, white pepper, and ripe red berries. 

Full-bodied, it has a lush and pillowy mousse and a fantastic texture, filling the palate with ample fruit, a chalky texture, and a rounded and fleshy personality. Although, at first, it feels as if its oak is not well-integrated, it impresses me more as it opens and is approachable in its ripe fruit now. It’s long on the palate and is a very well-made wine, but I’d like to see how this harmonizes over time. 

Drink 2025 - 2045

Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com (November 2023)

Laurent Fournier has achieved a lot since taking charge of the domaine established by his father, Jean, in the 1960s. In 2011, he was voted the Cotes de Nuits’ young vigneron of the year. He has since dedicated much of his considerable energy campaigning to establish Premiers Crus in Marsannay. Although he has begun leasing parcels in the Côte de Beaune, Gevrey-Chambertin and Clos de Vougeot, Laurent’s heart remains in Marsannay. All of the vineyards are farmed organically, with certification

Situated in Spain's prestigious Rioja Alta region of Rioja, Bodegas Montecillo was first established in 1874, and has been operated by the Osborne family since 1973. Along with nearby producers like Lopez de Heredia, Bodegas Montecillo makes traditionally styled reds based on Tempranillo that are aged in untoasted barrels coopered on-site. 1981 was an excellent vintage in Rioja, particularly for producers in Rioja Alta, and the best wines stand the test of time. From Decanter: "This was a 'nearly' year when quite a few major producers made excellent wines, most notably Faustino, Luís Cañas, Salceda, Montecillo, Olarra, Lopez-Heredia and Ondarre. Gran Reserva wine was made from 12% of the grapes harvested - more than in the grade-5 year 1982 - which tells its own story." 

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                          {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
 {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1981{vintage}
{ratings}

{ratings} 

A firm favourite of ours for many years, this wine is made from vines planted in the grounds of the Château de Puligny-Montrachet, within the village of Puligny. It is a late developing site and this, with the help of the windmill in front of the Château, ensured a decent crop was made. It is made in large format oak barrels for the first year and then in a large tank over the second winter. The nose is fruity and open with a hint of hazelnut and toast. On the palate, this is energetic and vivacious. There is a pleasing citrus freshness, delicate floral hints and a chalky finish. Drink 2023-2028. 

{***}{region} Burgundy{region}
{color} White {color}                                                              
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2021{vintage}{***}

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                          {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
 {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1973{vintage}
{ratings}

{ratings} 

The 2019 Riesling GG Felsenberg is pure, fresh and flinty on the precise, perfectly ripe and complex nose. Lush and generous on the palate, this is a full-bodied, intense, salty, remarkably finessed and structured Felsenberg Riesling with lingering salinity and crystalline character. The finish is dense and very complex yet vital, fresh and long, with lots of expression. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region} Germany{region}
{color} White {color}                                                              

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}
{ratings}

[] Wine Advocate:: 93-95/100

[] James Suckling:: 95/100{ratings} {***}

As Pommards go, Les Pézerolles is rather Volnaysien in style, thanks to its limestone soils, which give a more elegant and delicate expression. The fruit here is most definitely red and this is pretty, perfumed and charming, but with a serious, chalky limestone structure. Drink 2024-2032.

{***}{region}Pommard{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}
{ratings}        {***}

The 2014 Canon has a very well-defined, precise bouquet with ebullient raspberry and wild strawberry scents infused with minerals. The aromatics here are utterly captivating. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and very well-judged acidity. There is tension and poise to this Saint Emilion, gently fanning out with a delicate spicy finish that lingers long in the mouth. Though surely destined to be over-shadowed by the extraordinary 2015, this Canon deserves a berth in your cellar.

{***}{region}St Emilion{region}
{color} Red{color}                {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100        
{ratings}    {***}

This beautiful lead-free crystal decanter is made in Slovakia using traditional fruit wood moulds, then hand-finished by one of Europe’s top glass manufacturers. The handle on the jug makes it ideal for pouring the larger magnum formats and is supplied in a sleek white card box. The jug stopper is contained in its separate glossy box and is handmade to fit the jug.

{***}{label_price}Price{label_price}{***}

This beautiful lead-free crystal decanter is made in Slovakia using traditional fruit wood moulds, then hand-finished by one of Europe’s top glass manufacturers. This classically-shaped decanter is a stylish way or pouring and aerating wine and is supplied in a sleek white card box. The jug stopper is contained in its separate glossy box and is handmade to fit the decanter.

{***}{label_price}Price{label_price}{***}

Antoine observed that his higher vineyards have loved the 2017 vintage. This has much more bulk than usual, but it is well-toned, resolving to an assertive and intense finish, through which the year’s bright freshness glitters like a quartz lode. Drink 2023-2031.

Antoine feels that 2017 is a little less rich than 2015, but also fresher. He likes wines with body, so the freshness is a bonus, adding another dimension. He will bottle in December and January; he feels that after a warm summer, two winters in barrel is too long and earlier bottling is necessary to capture the fruit. He now wonders whether he should have bottled his 2015s sooner. Harvest began on 31st August – even for his Blagny, which used to be one of the last to ripen, indicative of the warming conditions in the region.

The 2018 Volnay Clos des Angles 1er Cru comes from a vintage, after which half the vineyard was uprooted due to the aged vines that were planted in the 1950s. It has quite an intense bouquet of blueberry and wild strawberry fruit, a little more precocious than the Les Fremiets. The pure, poised palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and black cherry and strawberry pastilles flavours. It is very smooth toward the finish, which feels caressing. This Clos des Angles will be approachable and difficult to resist in its youth.

Drink 2022 - 2038

Neal Martin, Vinous.com (January 2020)

The 2018 Saint-Véran was quite shy when I tasted it, revealing hints of citrus fruit, white peaches and spring blossom. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and nicely concentrated, with lively acids and a precise finish. This bottling contains Guffens's Saint-Véran press wine, which lends it a more giving, open-knit personality than the Clos des Poncetys. - Wine Advocate

This is a very charming wine, offering an expressive nose of ripe white fruit combined with sophisticated struck-match reduction and gentle oak toast. The palate is quite generous, offering richly textured white peach fruit, stylish and attractive oak spice and a keen thread of citrus acidity, finishing on a cleansing note of chalky minerals.  

Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Aug 2022)

Brian pondered whether climate change is helping some of Burgundy’s more marginal vineyards, such as En Remilly. St Aubin is now achieving very good levels of ripeness, as here, showing a sweet and honeyed exotic palate, with ripe, grapefruit-esque acidity. Drink 2022-2028.

Winemaker Brian Sieve draws comparisons between the white wines of 2017 and 2014, explaining that the texture, weight and freshness are very similar in both years, although 2017 has perhaps a little more fruit ripeness, along with excellent tension and persistence. He believes that this same freshness and brightness in the reds will provide ageing capacity, pointing out that they worked hard to restrict the yield of Pinot Noir to achieve riper grapes. Overall slightly less whole-bunch fermentation was used as Brian felt the stems and fruit were not as ripe as in richer vintages.

This particular cuvée comes from the Premier Cru ‘Combe au Moine’, one of the highest vineyards in Burgundy, reaching nearly 400 meters above sea level. The wines from this appellation are typically well structured, boasting bright red fruit and earthy nuances.

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Les Noirots comes from vines of Riparia rootstock, around 35-year old. It has a lovely bouquet, pure and elegant with dark cherries, wild strawberry and rose petal scents. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, well balanced with a fine proportioned, harmonious finish. What a charming Noirots!

Drink 2024 - 2036

Neil Martin, Vinous.com (December 2021)

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with red cherries, blackcurrant, crushed violet and light stony aromas. This is nicely focused with good vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, touches of orange rind and marmalade enlivening the peppery finish. Not the most precise Lavaux Saint-Jacques, but good substance here.

Drink 2026 - 2048

Neal Martin, Vinous.com (December 2021)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Village comes from four hectares of old vines worked by Arnaud Mortet himself. It has a crisp, focused bouquet, quite mineral-driven, with so much freshness. The very well-defined palate features pure red and black fruit tinged with brown spice. Silky-smooth on the finish, this feels very complete and harmonious. Superb. - Vinous

Shallow sandy soils, a dry year, risk of dehydrating – so pick early. Still above 13% though. Two-thirds whole cluster. Plump ripe fruit aromatics but still with some freshness. Just a slightly drier finish.

Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (October 2019)

The fruit here comes from the parcel upslope from that used for the Lafon village Volnay. It’s extraordinary that a few metres uphill can make such a difference, but this is much more powerful and richly perfumed, and still quintessentially Volnay.

Drink 2024 - 2032

Berry Bros. & Rudd

This is a charming and delightful example of everything I love about 2017 reds: pale ruby, a seductive perfume of red berries, rose petals and a dash of pepper. The palate is open and pretty, with juicy, crunchy redcurrant and strawberry fruit, mouth-watering acidity, and delicate, silken tannins. The finish has a chalky limestone freshness and a touch of creamy, spicy oak that will integrate further with time, though it may prove difficult to resist the temptation to enjoy this wine's wonderful balance and charm now.

Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Cabernet Sauvignon 81%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Merlot 7%, Petit Verdot 1%

It’s 10 years since the Suravenir insurance group bought Calon Ségur. Their higher-density replanting programme is at the half-way stage, the benefits already evident. Once built around Merlot grown on clay, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the engine. The 2021 is an unqualified success. Gentle extractions have caressed into play a wine of pure class, refreshing yet intense. The fruits are exquisite, bright and floral, yet there are gourmand notes of lead pencil and cool earth. The tannins are fine-grained and graceful, seeming to waft across the palate.

Our score: 18/20

Berry Bros. & Rudd, April 2022

The 2012 Troplong Mondot has a fragrant bouquet with black cherry, cough candy and touches of marmalade, not complex but vigorous and fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine bone structure and good acidity. Some expressive Cabernet Franc lends a Left Bank tincture to the spicy, black pepper-tinged finish. Classy, but not sure about its longevity. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Drink 2022 - 2032

Neal Martin, Vinous.com (September 2022)

Calon very much reflects the vintage in 2006. Rather than trying to make something big and brawny, this is full of finesse and class, and that inimitable austere St Estèphe style. Made with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon it is a wine for the long term. Its aromas are all dark fruit and raspberries imbued with minerals, while the palate is refined, with lovely crisp silky fruit and a firm tannic structure. This is another very impressive Calon.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Champagne Penet-Charonndet’s 2012 vintage of the La Croix l’Aumonier Blanc de Noirs boasts huge richness on the palate, while retaining tension and firm minerality. Grapes are sourced from a single old-vine plot of Pinot Noir, located on the south-east facing slopes of Verzy, that yield just a few thousand bottles a year. The wine spent time in large oak barrels that have given a soft gloss to the fine mousse, alongside noticeable spiced notes.

Drink 2023 - 2040

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

An outstanding Grand Cru Champagne from one of the most celebrated vintages in recent history. Production is a meagre 244 cases, grown from 3 small plots planted from 1963-1987and the bottles have spent over 10 years on lees.

Despite the age, this is a vibrant and incredibly precise expression of Chardonnay, with rich bursts of apple tartlets and delicate white flowers on the nose, and a graceful effervescence on the palate. With zero dosage added, you can taste every nuance of the complexities Chardonnay can offer, framed by a slightly saline note and a minerality reminiscent of crushed limestone.

Mouth-wateringly delicious, enjoy this now until 2030.

Katie Merry, Assistant Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2023)

Offering up aromas of smoky pear, warm biscuits, clear honey and spices, the 2011 Extra-Brut Grand Cru Les Champs Saint-Martin is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and precise, with bright acids and a charming core of fruit, complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Of these various lieu-dit bottlings from Penet-Chardonnet, it's the 2011 that best transcends the limitations of the vintage. It was disgorged in September 2019 with 5.2 grams per liter dosage.

Drink now to 2027

William Kelley, Wine Advocate (January 2022)

This comes from a five-hectare plot with a mix of soil types, located in a south to south-east facing amphitheatre at an altitude of 320-340 meters. It’s rich and ripe on the nose, with plush sweet fruit, smoky savoury spice and a balsamic lift. A wine of deceptive power, with drive and vibrant energy, and a touch of salinity on the finish.

Drink 2026 - 2040

Adrian Brice, Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Aromas of lime zest, toasted nuts, white flowers and crisp orchard fruit introduce the 2020 Meursault Sous la Velle, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and racy wine that's vibrant and expressive, concluding with a saline finish.

As ever, the inimitable Bernard Boisson presided over my annual tasting in his usual, refreshingly old-school manner, offering splashes from a variety of bottles, some open for several days and some opened for my benefit. As readers will remember, Bernard's holdings have been entirely divided between his son Pierre and daughter Anne.

On this visit, Boisson père reiterated that in fact Pierre and Anne operate separately though cooperatively (Pierre taking care of all the tractor work in the vineyards) and vinify in their own way—though the two labels' styles are undeniably more similar than different. As I understood it, Bernard himself acts as a sort of unlikely business manager for the duo, hosting tastings and managing the wines' distribution.

Drink 2023 - 2033

William Kelley, Wine Advocate (January 2023)

Attractively layered aromas comprise notes of hazelnut, pear essence and plenty of floral elements, especially carnation and acacia. The delicious and fleshy medium-weight flavours possess an incredible intensity and are cut before terminating in a lemony finale that is solidly persistent, if not quite as complex. However, this, of course, may well change with time in the bottle.

Drink from 2027 onward

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (June 2022)

Enough wood to remark upon sets off ripe yet cool aromas of black cherry liqueur, newly turned earth and a whiff of smoked game. There is excellent verve and detail to the surprisingly fine and appealingly textured larger-scaled flavors that possess focused power on the firm, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finale. Drink through 2032+.- Burghound

There are three-and-a-half barrels in 2019. This is a hauntingly perfumed wine, with notes of violet and rose petal. The palate continues the energetic theme with a crystalline focus and a vibrant, mineral finish. This is often a star performer in warmer vintages, and 2019 really suits the vineyard. Drink 2030-2045. 

This wine is new to the portfolio, although it formed part of the village Volnay blend last year. From the Les Pleures sub-section of Les Santenots, Ben has 0.5 hectares of 50-year-old vines which gave a generous 35hl/ha this year. There is a commendable positivity in this wine, almost muscularity, with a rewarding density and richness.

Drink 2026 - 2032

Low on the slope and bordering Pommard, this can be quite a durable wine. The vines were planted in 1985. The wine is full of strawberry fruit, but with a spicy edge; well-judged and nicely structured. Drink 2023-2030.

Rugiens is arguably Pommard's greatest vineyard, of which the lower section is perhaps the finest, but Ben's plot is in the lower part of Rugiens-Hauts and thus very adjacent. This is a big, stern and meaty wine, with dense tannins, but perfume and rigour too. Very serious and age-worthy.

It is fair to say that Ben is very happy with 2017, describing it as the kind of vintage he would sign up for every year. The whites, he says, are beautiful, and not far from 2014 in style, with purity, finesse, great definition and balance. He describes the reds as pretty, appealing and with body to support ageing, while highlighting the importance of lower-yielding old vines for serious ageing. He eloquently explains that there is no ''black sheep'' in 2017, that no village has underperformed. For reason of space, the limited volumes of Grands Crus have not been included in this brochure. Since the 2014 vintage, all white wines are bottled under screwcap

Drink 2025 - 2030

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Arguably the most complex and age-worthy wine in the cellar, this is very tight in its youth, with a little floral character poking through a muted nose before some stony minerals emerge. The palate is tightly structured with densely packed, stony tannins a touch of oak spice and some rich red fruit. This needs time to open up, but will reward those with patience. Drink 2024-2032.

François is keen to highlight the importance of the solidarity shown by the Côte’s vignerons at the end of April, when everyone came together to burn dampened bales and create cloud cover to ward off the frost. Without such action this could well have been another catastrophic yield. Having avoided this threat, the rest of the season was fairly straightforward with careful vineyard management and harvest began on the 30th August. He feels the whites are a mix of 2015 and 2014, while the reds are pretty and will drink well from an early age.

The first red to be picked. 35 year old average age for the vines on sandy chalky soil, one third whole bunch vinification. Pretty mid purple, pretty and floral, more open than Grèves. No great weight but it is attractive and finishes with its floral perfume.

Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (November 2018)

Composed of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Canon la Gaffeliere contains a large part of second-generation fruit because 65% of the crop was affected by frost. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has pronounced crme de cassis, blueberry pie, red currants and red plums notes with touches of Chinese five spice, fragrant earth, tapenade and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with nice firm tannins giving a sturdy frame along with plenty of freshness supporting great mid-palate density, finishing long and earthy.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 27/04/2018

The 2017 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Minéral Grand Cru is gorgeous. It offers a beguiling mix of lemon confit, marzipan, spice and graphite, melding together notable textural richness and vibrancy. This is an especially open-knit edition of the Minéral. That's not a bad thing at all. There's an exotic quality to the 2017 that is perhaps not characteristic but makes this quite enjoyable. - Vinous

Creamy, tangy, coddled-yogurt richness. Dense and weighty, with layers and layers of richness: brûléed cream and cobnuts, honey and baked feta in pastry. Fascinating sprinkle of dried oregano grace notes. A kaleidoscope of flavour and texture tucked within a very firm, square frame. Linear, smoky end. Serious and magnificent. - Jancis Robinson

Dark crimson, although the rim looks more youthful and bluer than that of the Nacional 2000. Lifted nose with strong purple-fruit flavours. Much softer and sweeter on the mid-palate than the 1997 although there are marked, almost jagged tannins on the finish. Some blackcurrant notes. Youthful and without quite the excitement of the 1997.

Drink 2020 - 2045

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (December 2013)

The Roc Breïa 2021 Pinot Noir is just as charming as its white counterpart, bursting with aromas of red berries, plums, rose petals and orange rind. Medium-bodied, open and supple, with melting tannins and a lively, succulent profile, it will drink well on release. - Wine Advocate 89-91/100

In contrast to the sullen 2018, Jamet's 2017 Cote Rotie Terrasses is more open at the moment, with attractive notes of strawberry and raspberry compote framed by velvety tannins. It's full-bodied, with enough stuffing to carry it at least another decade, probably longer.

Just a few steps up the hill and a solid stone wall apart from the old family domaine now home to his brother, Jean-Luc Jamet continues to build and expand his brand-new cellars. As it had been some time since my previous visit, we had some catching up to do, and we went through a few short verticals of the domaine's wines, as well as a quick barrel tasting of the lots destined for the 2020 Cote Rotie Terrasses.

Drink 2022 - 2035

Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (January 2022)

The 2020 Barbaresco Roncaglie shows a distinctly earthy, savoury expression of Barbaresco, with the fruit pushed more into the background than it is in some of the other wines in the range. Dried herbs, flowers, mint, macerated cherry and sweet pipe tobacco all open in the glass. The Roncaglie is not an overt wine, rather it is a Barbaresco built on subtlety and nuance.

There are the best Barbarescos I have tasted from Dave Fletcher. It is not easy for an outsider to establish themselves in Piedmont, which makes these wines doubly impressive. 

Drink 2024 - 2035 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2023)

The Fausoni zone provides sandy and clay soils, and you get more power here than from the other locations. These vines are 35 to 40 years old, and the 2016 Barbaresco Fausoni lets fly those menthol notes that are so characteristic of this vineyard in Neive.

Slightly more balsamic in its aromatic profile than the other Barbarescos, this expression of Nebbiolo, sitting sur lies for two years, shows a very different tannic feel in a wine that offers surprising freshness and purity. 
Those minty Neive notes, its direct and linear nature, plus the very precise and sharply managed tannins make this cru a winner in my book. Some 6,000 bottles were made.

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (June 2019)

Although it is from a sandy vineyard, this wine always surprises with its creamy texture. This is even more apparent since Jean-Oierre's adoption of his en pont and nuages techniques. The wine is very floral this year, alongside the signature creaminess. A mineral grip unfolds on the finish making it a very complete wine. Drink 2025-2035.

The Annexa Grand Cru Ay is a Blanc de Noirs grown from a single lieux-dit, “Les Freres Martin”. Vines were planted in 1930, on the hillside above the Grand Cru village of Ay. This wine is aromatic and floral, rich with notes of jasmine, white tea and red apple tart tatin. There’s some racy, chalky freshness too. It is a remarkably complex wine that is a delight to drink. Very refined and wonderful to drink. 

Drink 2023 - 2040 

Chris Hanssen, Account Manager, Berry Bros & Rudd (September 2023)

Oratorium Sancti Albini is an ancient name for St. Aubin; the blend is composed by four 1ers. A markedly restrained if pretty nose grudgingly offers up its array of citrus, floral and mineral reduction notes. The racy and very sleek medium-bodied flavors exude a bracing salinity on the firm, compact and linear finish. This is notably austere and a bit lean though my sense is that this will flesh out with bottle age. With that said, I would advise buying this only if you have the intent to cellar it.  - Burghound

Balanced, intense, raspberry, bilberry, balsamic, dill, tar, grilled cedar and sandalwood. Welcoming and confident, classic Seña swagger, the balance and savoury spice notes arrive if you allow it to sit in the glass. This was a hot and dry vintage, very little rain over the winter before the season began, and the main challenge throughout was water availability. There are wells at the Seña vineyard, and their location closer to the Pacific helps moderate tempatures, but they also picked one week earlier than 2019, and upped the Malbec in the blend because it kept freshness and acidity, and helped with the aromatics. The result is more powerful and opulent than recent vinages, with an emphasis on cocoa bean and dark mint chocolate on the finish. A wine of layers that absolutely delivers on the house style, not easy to maintain in such dry vintages. 10% 2,500l oak casks for ageing, with 70% new French oak, biodynamic farming. Francisco Baettig winemaker.

The 2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Epenots is showing beautifully from bottle offering up a deep bouquet of ripe berry fruit plums and cherries mingled with soil tones and hints of blood orange. Medium to full-bodied with fine mid-palate volume and powdery structuring tannins this is a lively elegant Grands Epenots that has realized the potential it showed in barrel. As I wrote last year it's always a pleasure to visit Domaine Pierre Morey one of my favorite addresses in the Côte de Beaune. This year I revisited the 2017s from bottle and found them showing superbly confirming all the promise they showed in 2018. And from barrel the young 2018s were beautifully balanced displaying considerable charm. For once the cellars are full and Anne Morey made no secret of the fact that the vintage is characterized by abundance; but all the 2018s are nicely concentrated and classically proportioned and I suspect they will be open for inspection sooner than the serious youthfully introverted 2017s. As usual long élevage is the order of the day here and most of these wines won't be bottled before the spring. - Wine Advocate

{***}
{region}Volnay{region}
{color}Red{color}                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}

{***}

The Annexa Grand Cru Ay is a Blanc de Noirs grown from a single lieux-dit, “Les Freres Martin E Vines were planted in 1930, on the hillside above the Grand Cru village of Ay. No oak was used here; vinification was purely in steel to best preserve and celebrate the charming, musky richness of Pinot Noir. This wine is perfumed and floral, rich with notes of jasmine, white tea and red apple tart tatin. There's some racy, chalky freshness too. Only 2005 bottles were produced. Drink 2023  E2040.

Davy Żyw, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros & Rudd (Sep 2022)

{***}{region}Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
{ratings}        {***}

This organic single vineyard is located directly under the historical cradle of Champagne, Hautvillers Abbey. Pinot Noir (80%) gives this wine a rich fruit profile, with plum, black fruits and roasted red Macintosh apple. Chardonnay (20%) keeps the palate taught and serious, with electric energy. The cuvée spent nine months in mixed oak barrels prior to secondary fermentation, giving the wines an almost Burgundian character and seasoned oak spice while retaining mineral freshness. It’s unfiltered with minimal dosage, revealing the purity and sapid expression of the terroir. Bottled July 2016, disgorged November 2020. Drink now to 2035.

Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (September 2021)

{***}{region}Champagne{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
{ratings}        {***}

The Bruna Grimaldi 2016 Barolo Riserva Badarina sets off according to its own careful tempo, but it opens slowly to reveal not only the beauty and intensity of this classic vintage but also the power and depth of Serralunga d'Alba, home to some of Barolo's most impactful wines. The fruit used here comes specifically from the Vigna Regnola, which the Grimaldi family always vinifies separately, especially in the best vintages. This is a finely delineated and focused expression of Nebbiolo with a firm tannic backbone that supports dark fruit flavors, crushed stone, lilac and candied orange peel. I would recommend setting this bottle aside for another 5 to 10 years, giving it time to become more supple and smooth. A precious few 733 bottles were released. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 95/100

{ratings}

{***}

This Pommard Grands Epenots is a deep rich red, it has a subtle hint of earth on the nose, followed by the rich aromas of black cherries and with a touch of pepper. Very long finish, with great soft tanins.

{***}{region}Pommard{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1996{vintage}
{ratings}
{ratings}        {***}

The 2017 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard begins generous and inky in the glass, with black fruit at its core and floral aromas of violets and lavender followed by a soft smokiness with layers of olive tapenade and dust-covered black raspberry. Full-bodied, the Cailloux Syrah is intensely complex and reveals layers of crunchy minerality and silky tannins that frame the elegant notions of cherry blossom in the mouth. Ending with a long-lingering and sophisticated finish, the wine continues to reveal its subtleties, expressing umami and savory characteristics. Proving to be yet another stellar bottling from the Cayuse team, the wine dares me to keep my hands off the glass. I can’t. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate ::96/100

[]Wine Spectator ::94/100

[]James Suckling::97/100

[]Vinous::95/100

{ratings} {***}

A cool site giving low pH wines (higher acidity). Mid purple in colour with no great depth, an elegant light red fruit nose, strict, fresh raspberry and alpine strawberry. - Jasper Morris MW

{***}{region}Gevrey-Chambertin{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}      [] Jasper Morris :: 89-93/100   
 
{ratings}{***}