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.
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 de Fargues Sauternes
An ancient winery within the legendary region of Sauternes in Bordeaux's south, Château de Fargues uses minimal intervention to produce their wine of great concentration. The '75 showcases its evolved characteristics, displaying a bouquet of apricots, honeycomb, coconuts and lemon zest lead to a flavour focused palate and lingering finish.
Château Climens Sauternes-Barsac
Château Climens dessert whites are known for elegance, purity and freshness. The stellar 1986 vintage has lead to a remarkably rich and defined wine, one that showcases why Climens is regarded by many as the regions best wine after Yquem. Although it is slightly unfair to compare them due to their inherent differences in style and approach.
Domaine de Cambes
Pommery Grand Vintage Champagne
Only fruit from 7 Grand Cru vineyards is used to craft a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which spends over 4 years ageing on lees plus 6 months post disgorgement. Further gentle ageing takes place until deemed ready for release by the Cellar Master. It displays mature citrus characters, fresh white and red fruits and gentle spice, all linked by a common thread of minerality producing complexity, elegance and length.
Pol Roger Brut Vintage
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume
The various shades of gold Quarts de Chaume displays throughout the course of its life are fascinating, telling, and always changing. Aromas are intensely floral, with ripe citrus, pear and other orchard fruits mingling with minerality. On the palate these same notes come through in an opulent, irresistable density that nevertheless finishes lifted and fresh. Domaine des Baumard produces some of the finest examples of Chenin Blanc, and Jean Baumard and now his son, Florent, are universally regarded as the finest winemakers in the appellation. Their wines are among the most unique and rewarding in the world. Soils: The vines are planted on about 6 different soil types, including schist, quartz, rhyolite and spilite. Grape Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc Vineyard Management: Florent Baumard prefers to harvest as late as the vintage weather permits, hoping for plenty of botryitis. The grapes are harvested in successive passes or tries through the vineyard, and any unsatisfactory fruit is eliminated. Florent employs a viticultural technique known as vignes hautes et larges that is unique in the region he uses high training wires (over 6 feet) in order to maintain a large surface area of foliage and avoid the need for topping off the shoots. Rows in the vineyard are alternately ploughed and grassed, helping to maintain the soils microscopic fauna and avoid soil compression from tractors and other heavy machinery. The harvest is manual, and the fruit is transported in small plastic cages to minimize damage.Fermentation: The wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures on their lees; no wood is used in the winemaking or aging process, which Florent believes allows him to achieve a purer expression of site. Aging: The wine spends 9 months on the lees in tank before being bottled.
Château Pape Clement
Planted in 1300, the estate is the oldest planted vineyard in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Premiers Crus for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959.