Clos du Marquis
Guigal Hermitage
One of the powerhouses of the Rhône and a name synonymous with beautifully crafted wines from some of the regions finest vineyard sites. Deep ruby red in colour with violet tinges. Spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. A powerful and tannic Shiraz. Aromas of blackcurrant buds and vanilla, liquorice and spicy finish. A racy and seductive wine by Guigal, perfect for putting down.
Château d'Issan Margaux
The 2010 Chateau d'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, showing 'classic Margaux' in its perfume, finesse and apparent elegance. Soils are gravel and clay, which contributes to the high-tones of perfume from the wine, and though an estate that is neccesarily clawing its way back to a higher profile, is doing so with deeds in bottle over showmanship. On its side, the vineyard is dense with older vines that naturally offer lower yields, allowing for a higher quality of fruit for the winemaking team, in turn producing a wine of stellar quality from 2010.
Château d'Armailhac Pauillac
A famous 5th growth Bordeaux from the classic appellation of Pauillac that has undergone many name changes over its life. Starting life as Mouton d'Armailhac before changing in 1956 to Mouton Baron Philippe which changed to Baronne to commemorate the Baron's second wife. In 1991, the Baron's daughter decided to give the Château an original name to separate it from the other Mouton's and Château d'Armailhac was born. Situated across the road from the famous Mouton, the estate is run separately, but with equal care. Wines of great concentration and intensity are produced, as one would expect from such pedigree. The 2009 is the perfect example of this with a wine of fantastic intensity and concentration. One of the finest d'Armailhac's is living memory, swathes of blueberry, roasted meats and espresso coffee characters are present early and will only further develop with careful ageing over the next 20 years.
Château Brane-Cantenac Margaux
Château Brane-Cantenac sits in a prime position on the plateau of Cantenac and makes full use of its excellent terroir. No doubt something that Baron de Brane was aware of and along with his viticultural talents were the reasons behind the estates rise to fame. Now tended by the Lurton family, the wines continue to be in great hands. Of the 2009 vintage, Henri Lurton is known to have said that the winery was enveloped in aromas of raspberry and blackberry even before fermentation began! Even though fruit ripeness is an obvious trait, the balance and structure of the wine are also clearly evident which will see the wine age for a decade or two more.
Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan
Originating from the southern Bordeaux region of Pessac-Léognan, Domaine de Chevalier is known for reds that are deep in colour, a nose that is restrained at first, but full of complexity and a palate that has power and length of flavour. Some are of the beleif that their wines are verging on the reputation of Haut-Brion and La Mission!
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc Pessac-Léognan
Domaine de Chevalier uses traditional methods when making their flavoursome white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Fermentation occurs in oak casks and is then aged for 18th in oak, some of which is new. This practice was abandoned by many in Graves, only to be (rightfully) regenerated to allow wines of substance and character to be produced once again. Chevalier's Blanc is a wine that is taut and restrained that opens up over a six to eight year period to reveal a wine of supreme delicacy.
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge Grand cru classe
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Maison Bleue
"Replacing the Petit Chapelle cuvee and first made in 2015, the 2016 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is smoking good. Black fruits, charcoal, powdered rock, currants and chocolate notes all give way to a big, concentrated, impressively structures barrel sample that has tons of potential. I expect the tannin will have integrated by the time this is released, but a few years of bottle age still recommended." - Jeb Dunnuck
Primo Estate JOSEPH Moda Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
This wine is acclaimed as one of Australia’s finest Cabernets since Joe Grilli of Primo Estate released the first vintage in 1987. To create the JOSEPH Moda, Joe combines Aussie know-how with his traditional Italian winemaking by air drying the finest McLaren Vale fruit on shaded outdoor racks for two weeks prior to crushing. The fruit is concentrated so that it loses around 15% of its weight. This inspired use of the Italian Amarone technique creates an opulent, brooding wine. All fruit is hand harvested and sorted from Primo Estate's dry grown vineyards in McLaren Vale and Clarendon. The wine is aged in new French and American oak barriques for 20 months to create a subtle layering - mocha, cinnamon, vanilla and cedar streaks ripple through the palate; the considerable tannins are saturated by the sheer lushness of flavour.