Chateau Canon-La-Gaffeliere 1er grand cru classe (B)
Chateau Canon la Gaffelière is a Grand Cru Classé Chateau in the St Emilion appellation of Bordeaux. The Grand Vin is a Merlot dominant blend often with a substantial portion of Cabernet Franc. Hand harvested and sorted, the grapes undergo cold maceration prior to fermentation. Maturation takes place in 50% new French oak barriques. In top years, Chateau Canon La Gaffelière is supremely elegant, displaying beautiful perfume and richness with smooth velvety tannins.
La Mondotte 1er grand cru classe (B)
Joseph-Hubert von Neipperg bought Clos de l’Oratoire, Château La Mondotte, and Château Canon la Gaffelière in 1971. However, it wasn’t until his son, Stefan von Neipperg arrived in Saint-Émilion in 1985 that the quality of the wines began to improve dramatically, beginning with Canon la Gaffelière. In 1995, at the renamed 4.45ha La Mondotte von Neipperg—convinced that the limestone/clay terroir could produce great wine—began dramatically reducing yields. Together with the little-known winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, he began making small quantities of what has become one of Bordeaux's most sought after wines. These days they have cut back on the 100% new oak and this certified organic 80% merlot / 20% cabernet franc wine made from 60-year-old vines has never been better.
Noon Reserve Shiraz
Noon Winery has become a cult figure in the wine world due to their opulent red wines that are known for their concentration and power. Not beholden to the trend of lower-alcohol, leaner styles, Drew and Raegan Noon produce block-buster reds that are in huge demand the world over. Their Reserve Shiraz is so highly thought of, it sits in the Outstanding category in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine. With fruit sourced from the '20 Rows' block in Langhorne Creek owned by the Borrett family, this is a Shiraz of serious weight and body. Still very young, aromas of violets, lavender and herbs are balanced with traditional fruit notes of blueberries and spice. Big and fleshy on the palate while still showing supreme complexity, this is a wine that needs some decanting before enjoying the saturating flavours that Noon can offer.
Château Talbot St-Julien
The old school of the UK wine market have long loved the wines of Chateau Talbot, and the 2010 would have them purring. Chateau Talbot is a producer that occupies a large (102 hectares) swathe of land under vine in Medoc and makes wines that are set to a more traditional style, including rich wood scents, firm tannins, some rustic charm and a cassis-meets-violet fruit profile. This is a superb release of the wine, reminscent of classic Talbots that are sinewy when young, but still approachable, and for enthusiasts, glorious with cellar time.
Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca
On the palate it is very vigorous, rich in extracts, with lively and pleasant tannins that are rounded through a skilful use of wood. A powerful, tantalizing wine with a great ageing potential.
Torbreck Les Amis Grenache
The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.
Chateau Nenin
Elio Altare Arborina, Barolo
100% Nebbiolo from the village of La Morra. Made using grapes from two south and south-east facing plots, one planted in 1948, the other in 1989. Soil composition is marna stone with clay and sand. Maceration takes place on skins for 4-5 days in rotary fermenters with temperature control. After fermentation the wine is aged in (225l) French oak barriques for 24 months. After more than 45 vintages, Elio Altare, grandson of founder Giuseppe, passed the torch to his daughter Silvia, who produces some of the very best modern Barolos Piedmont has to offer.
Domaine Jerome Galeyrand, Billard
Clos Saint-Martin Grand cru classe
Taking its name, appropriately enough, from Saint Martin, the Patron Saint of winegrowers, Clos Saint-Martin wines are renowned for their sensuous, opulent style - all lush, fruit-driven flavours and silken textures. This is embodied particularly beautifully in arguably the finest wine the estate has ever produced - the notoriously difficult to find 2005 Clos Saint-Martin. The winery dates back to the early 1800s and most recently changed hands in 2013, coming under the ownership of the Cuvelier family, who also own Clos Fourtet. Managed under the partnership of Michel Rolland, the evolution of Clos Saint-Martin continues to unfold in the most interesting (and delectable!) of ways.
