Chateau Bellevue Mondotte St. Emilion Grand Cru
Bellevue Mondotte is a small jewel of a vineyard that is perfectly located, just east of the picturesque St. Emilion village. Even though the vineyard is quite small, it is divided into 3 main parcels which are two different terroirs with half the vineyard planted in clay with limestone and the other half of the vineyard planted in pure, deep limestone. Due to drastic green harvesting and selection, this property has some of the lowest yields of any Right Bank Bordeaux wine estate. After harvesting and intense sorting at Bellevue Mondotte, vinification starts naturally in temperature-controlled, oak wood vats. This initial step is followed by a long maceration can, between five and seven weeks. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in barrels. The wine of Bellevue Mondotte is aged in 90%, new, French oak barrels for up to 24 months. During the first six months of aging, the wine remains on its fine lees. The final blend takes place just before bottling, which is done without fining or filtering. Very little Chateau Bellevue Mondotte is produced each year. In an average vintage, production hovers at close to 350 to 400 cases of wine per year. The wine is not as powerful as one might expect, given the owners and winemaking team, coming in at 15%. A sensational, rather massive example for a 2010, this opaque purple wine offers up notes of subtle barbecue smoke, blackberry and cassis as well as a hints of lead pencil shavings and a confiture of red and black fruits in the mouth. Full-bodied, unctuously textured and excruciatingly tannic, this is a big, blockbuster style of wine meant for 10-50+ years of cellaring. - Robert parker, Wine Advocate, March 2013, 95+ Points
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 2me cru classe
Chateau Montrose 2me cru classe
Chateau Montrose is a second Grand Cru Classé estate in St-Estephe and is considered one of the leading wine properties of the appellation. Located in the eastern half of the appellation just 800 metres from the Gironde estuary, the propertys proximity to the water provides a unique micro-climate that protects the vines from frost. The Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, that appears very powerful and austere in its youth, with a backbone of firm tannins that provides exceptional longevity.
Chateau Palmer 3me cru classe
Regarded a Super Second (but technically a 3me growth), Palmer is capable of producing wines that equal or even outstrip the quality of its famous Premier cru neighbour, Ch. Margaux. Named for the wealthy English military man who bought the estate in the early 19th century, Palmer is now majority owned by the Mahler Besse and Sichel families - famous Bordeaux negociants. Many of the best plots on the property were purchased after the Classification of 1855, explaining in part why Palmer did not warrant higher standing at that time. Certainly today there is no question that the wine is among Bordeauxs best. The estate also makes a separate second label - named Alter Ego - which is made from similarly high quality fruit but treated differently in the winery with the aim of producing a counterpoint in style to the First wine.
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Lalande 2me cru classe
The history of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron is a tale of two estates. The chateau and vineyard known as Pichon Baron was given in dowry to the founders daughter when she married Jacques du Pichon Longueville. After the death of their descendent, the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville, in 1850 the estate was again divided - on his deathbed, he gave what became Chateau Pichon Baron to the men of his family, and what became Chateau Pichon Lalande to the women - resulting in, some say, more masculine and sensuous styles of wine respectively! Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the estate went through a period of rather lacklustre production - however, since 1990, they have been producing, according to many, some of the best wines in their history. The 2016 has earned high praise and glowing comparisons to their legendary 1990 Pichon Baron.
The Mascot Cabernet Sauvignon
Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz
Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz is the pinnacle of a long winemaking journey of excellence, that rightfully honours one of Yalumbas most adventurous sons. A blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Barossa Shiraz, The Caley is a classic marriage of two noble varieties and two great Australian wine regions.
Cullen Wines Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
Named in honour of Vanya Cullens passionate and inspired efforts as a dedicated winemaker and celebrating her love of Cabernet, the Vanya is the ultimate expression of Cullens style - this is Cabernet manifest.
Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz
Graveyard Vineyard is the jewel in the Brokenwood crown, responsible for the company's flagship wines. The vineyard was planted with Shiraz vines in 1970 - extremely heavy clay soils, yields are low, but fruit flavour is intense through employment of meticulous vinification techniques. Strong lifted aromas of sweet earth and dark cherry greet the olfactory senses. Oak features, but will soften and integrate given some patience. Initial flavours of dark chocolate and ripe plums are beautifully lashed to ripe tannins lending an edge of cedar.
Cullen Wines Flower Day Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
Cullen Wines respectfully acknowledges the Wadandi people, past and present, traditional custodians of the land on which the wine was grown. The grapes for this wine were handpicked, sorted, and destemmed on a flower day in early March. The wines grown on these ancient soils are certified biodynamic, carbon positive, and naturally powered.