Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons
Pristine concentration and complexity of favour are the hallmarks of Simmonet-Febvre, a revered maker in Chablis. Stonefruits and ruby grapefruit with grilled nuts, owing no doubt to Simmonet-Febvre's insistence on ageing their Premier-Cru wines on lees for over a year. Has all the zippy-freshness you would expect from a high-level Chablis.
Martinborough Vineyard Chardonnay
Saint James Rhum Agricole Imperial Blanc
Extremely aromatic with notes of freshly cut sugarcane. Great purity and crystal clean with mellow mouthfeel and tropical fruits.
Domaine Landron De Le Fief du Breil
Fine minerality and sea breeze, on the palate, the 14 months on its lees with regular stirring has created a supple wine with great depth, flavours of honey and nuts which then give way to stony complexity and a refreshing acidity on the finish.
Château d'Arche Sauternes
Château d'Arche is an important part of Sauternes history with winemaking dating back to the 16th century. New treatments to the wines including maturing the wine for at least two years in casks, 40% of which are new help produce a wine of utmost concentration. The 2009 d'Arche is a seriously powerful wine with copious characters of marmalade, apricot and dense pineapple. Capturing the vintage perfectly, this is a Sauternes that requires a deeply flavoured cheese accompaniment.
Yeringberg Chardonnay
A more restrained style, Yeringberg Chardonnay has some minerally notes overlayed with subtle hints of fermentation in French oak barrels. Not an overt wine, yet possessed of impressive intensity. It should develop a soft and smooth maturity after several years in the cellar.
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay
The citrus rind and grapefuit lead the palate to an overall fine yet textural journey. Cape Mentelle Chardonnay had this distinctive minerally line too, apparent with focussed refreshing acidity. Faint nuancesof soft nougat and cashews also add to what is a harmonious balance and an elegant and length finish.