Bushmills Single Malt Whiskey 21 year old is aged for a minimum of 19 years in former Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon-seasoned casks, then transferred into Madeira casks for a further 2 years. The result is a whiskey awarded Best Irish Single Malt 2013. It has huge depth that interweaves dried fruit flavours with spicy, aromatic maltiness and subtle nutty raisins notes.
This 25-hectare Premier Grand Cru Classe estate, perched on the highest plateau of St Émilion, is one of the jewels of the right bank. Made with the assistance of Michel Rolland, this opulent and generously proportioned Bordeaux, with dark plum praline flavours and chocolatey tannins, is one of the top wines of this vintage.
Prosper Delord was a travelling distiller who upon discovering Armagnac fell in love with the spirit and decided to start Maison Delord in 1893. Today Jerome and Sylvain Delord, Propers great grandchildren continue the tradition with the same passion, knowledge and love that has been handed down through the generations.
This is a complex blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc finished with Carmenere and Petit Verdot - flavours and perfume are thus layered, intense, detailed and glorious. A cavalcade of fruit, spice, earth, savouriness and beautiful wood handling. The estate is managed by Patrick Leon, whose talents are writ large in the finesse of handling the complex array of fruit, and judicious use of winemaking technique to elicit this most elegant yet finely wrought style. It's relative approachability is another key to this wines excellence.
A stones throw from the famed Chateau Beychevelle, the estate is set in the south of the St Julien appellation and notable for vitality, finesse and elegance. The wine here is produced by Patrick Maroteaux whose increasingly influence is in turn elevating the quality and reputation of these wines.
The Bollinger La Grande Année is the pinnacle of Bollingers Champagne styles and is produced only in the best years. Fruit is sourced entirely from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyard sites in Champagne. The base wine was aged solely in old oak barrels, providing additional depth and nutty complexity. After secondary fermentation, the wine is aged on lees for more than five years before disgorgement. La Grande Année shows complexity and richness from the long ageing on lees and oaked base wines used in the cuve. The wine typically displays richness and depth of toast and bready characters, creamy palate texture, chalky minerality and great persistence. A vintage style it can be enjoyed upon release or carefully cellared for up to 10 years.
Floral notes of spring Jasmine, medlar flowers combine with notes of ripe fig, prunes, candied orange and creme brulée, as well as spicier notes of warm brioche and toasted oak. Mellow, generous, refined and elegant on the palate, with a rich, very long finish.De Luze XO Fine Champagne is superb on ice.
Chamapagne Rosé is a true delight to the senses and Billecart-Salmon rightly takes its place in the top echelon. A vibrant Salmon pink colour greets the glass, with a long, smooth, delicate, elegant and refined palate to follow. Without the price tag that others of this quality demand, this is a Champagne that all must enjoy at least once.