This cuvée was bottled in 2012, after the 2011 vintage had spent close to one year in cask, and was blended with 50% reserve wines from 2010. All of the vinification and ageing for both vintages was in barrique as always. Dosage was at 4g/L.

Soft, smooth and a fantastic expression of Cheval Blanc. Sweet red cherries, black currants, lavender. The palate is silky with great length, all framed with the hallmark superb balance. Wonderfully elegant, with the dominance of Merlot in the blend playing all the right cards.

PHILIPPONNAT Clos des Goisses Just Rose Extra-Brut, Champagne

In 1989, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud acquired a small plot of 0.6 hectares in the valley of Saint-Emilion between Pavie-Macquin and La Clotte. In 1991, they produced their first vintage bottled by themselves. Since then, they have acquired other plots and properties, in Saint-Christophe-Des-Bardes, Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Saint-Etienne de Lisse. While the first critics called it "garage wine", Château Valandraud, although still unclassified, is nevertheless considered by almost all wine professionals, including Robert Parker, as one of the very first wines of Bordeaux. Château Valandraud was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé de Saint Emilion in 2012. Member of the Union of Grands Crus of Bordeaux since 2017. The 2009 Valandraud is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc matured in 100% new oak for 22 months.

In 1974, 100 years after the creation of Cristal, Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to create the Cristal Rosé cuvée. To achieve this, he selected old-vine Pinot noir grapes from the finest Grand Cru vineyards at Aÿ, which are now cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The unique calcareous clay soil, which gives the grapes an exquisite minerality, enables the vines (in the best years) to attain exceptional fruit maturity, complemented by a crystalline acidity. A blend of around 55% Pinot noir and 45% Chardonnay, comprising 20% of wine matured in oak tuns, Cristal Rosé is produced using the saignée process after cold maceration. The Cristal Rosé cuvée is aged, on average, for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars. The attack reveals an aromatic intensity with a remarkable fullness and the smooth, sweet flavours of white flowers, red fruits, caramel, and Tarte Tatin. The full, round, and refined texture in the initial attack, which is characteristic of the Louis Roederer Champagne House, is complemented by a winey—though not full-bodied—structure and a remarkable freshness, giving an impression of great finesse and strengthening the wine’s precision.

The wine unfurls on the palate to reveal fruity notes, highlighted by a creaminess reminiscent of honey made from fir trees. Smoky accents of coffee beans and toast balance out the wine’s minerality.

Corton Charlemagne, an esteemed south-west facing Grand Cru vineyard, graces the slopes of Côte de Beaune, across the communes of Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix-Serrigny. The wines are acclaimed for their opulence, showcasing ripe orchard fruits, toasted nuts, and a touch of flint. Their palates offer rich texture, precise minerality, and impressive length. Bass Phillip’s Burgundian outpost, Vigne Comte de Chapelle, produces 14 wines that complement, and challenge, their acclaimed portfolio of Australian pinot noir and chardonnay. Owner, and chief winemaker, Jean-Marie Fourrier envisions Vigne Comte de Chapelle ‘sitting alongside Bass Phillip as a distinguished yet approachable option, offering a unique yet familiar quality that resonates with both new and seasoned wine enthusiasts.’