Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para 1894 Tawny Port
Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their +share+ over the past century. With a history dating back to 1851, Seppelt's pioneered fortified winemaking in Australia and the genious and engenuity of Benno Seppelt is plain for all to see. The port itself is sweet and viscous showing burnt toffee, raisin fruit cake and dark chocolate. An extremely complex wine with a finish of remarkable intensity enhanced by acidity and alcohol giving considerable flavour length. A perfect wine.
Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para 1892 Tawny Port
Arguably Australia's finest wine treasure and a link to our colonial past. Laying in puncheons (475 litre barrels) for 100 years, Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Tawny is bottled to request as only 500 litres remains after the angels have taken their +share+ over the past century. With a history dating back to 1851, Seppelt's pioneered fortified winemaking in Australia and the genious and engenuity of Benno Seppelt is plain for all to see. The port itself is sweet and viscous showing burnt toffee, raisin fruit cake and dark chocolate. An extremely complex wine with a finish of remarkable intensity enhanced by acidity and alcohol giving considerable flavour length. A perfect wine.
Domaine Lucien Le Moine Grand Cru
Thibault Liger-Belair, Richebourg Grand Cru
For many Burgundophiles, Richebourg is the single greatest vineyard in Burgundy. More statuesque than la Tache and when on form, more exotic and forceful, than Romanée-Conti. Expect aromas of the Moroccan souk, coupled with firm, sinuous tannins that demand reconciliation in the cellar. Thibault Liger-Belair’s vines are very old in a regional context, dating to 1931-1934, imparting depth and vinous torque.
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 Mouton-Rothschild 1er cru classe
One of the very greatest estates of Bordeaux, Château Mouton Rothschild is in the commune of Pauillac in the Haut-Medoc, 50km north-west of the city of Bordeaux. Its Chateau wine or grand vin is among the worlds most highly-rated and expensive. Excluded from the highest rank (Premier Cru or First Growth) of the famous Bordeaux Classification of 1855, Mouton was finally promoted in 1973 after decades of lobbying by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who ran the estate from 1922 until his death in 1988. Mouton was first in the region to bottle at the estate, rather than shipping its wine to merchants for bottling elsewhere. Since 1924 artists including Braque, Dali, Picasso, Henry Moore, Miro, Chagall, Kandinsky, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, David Hockney and Lucian Freud have been commissioned to produce label images. Mouton, uniquely among the First Growths, remains in the hands of the same family as it was at the time of the 1855 Classification. The vineyards are on slopes with gravel-based soils leading down to the Gironde estuary and total 75ha 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The Chateau wine is (unusually) fermented in large oak vats and then matured in new oak barrels for between 19 and 22 months. Total production of the grand vin is 20,000 dozen or less. There is a second wine, Le Petit Mouton, established in 1993. The grand vin is noted for its flamboyance exotic, powerful aromas of cassis, minerals, tobacco leaf and graphite, an opulent palate and impressive length of flavour.
Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz
Australia's most prestigious single vineyard icon, Henschke Hill of Grace's provenance from this small Eden Valley patch makes it the ultimate statement or rare gift. Stephen and Prue Henschke continue the tradition that is their family legacy with utmost class and ingenuity as can be tasted in this remarkable single-vineyard shiraz.
Torbreck The Pict Mataro
Sourced from the Materne Quarry Block vineyard (planted in 1927), and built with considerable age-worthiness in mind, The Pict is a 100% Barossa Valley Mataro. A variety often unfairly blended away, this wine is a prime example of the kind of quality achievable using Australian Mataro as the standalone hero. Explore the Museum
Salon Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs
Billecart-Salmon Cuvée 200
Family run since the 19th century, the Billecart Champagne house delivers large number of bottles which are always well made and of the highest quality. Champagne Billecart-Salmon was founded with the marriage of Nicolas-François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. Situated in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, near Epernay. Champagne Billecart-Salmon is still a family-run organisation with seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart overseeing business. In 2016 Chef de Cave François Domi retired after 30 years with Billecart and handed over to his deputy Florent Nys who started with the business in 2005. The vineyards are overseen by Denis Blée and all of the team are members of the eight strong "tasting committee" along with 6th generation François Roland-Billecart and Antoine Roland-Billecart and fifth generation Jean Roland-Billecart. By 2020 production had expanded with grapes now coming from 300 hectares and 40 crus mostly within 20 kms of the winery. This unique release celebrates 200 years of Billecart-Salmon independence and family savoir-faire since 1818. Bicentenary Cuvée 200 is a multi-vintage blend of four exceptional harvests: 2000, 2003, 2008 and 2012. In tribute to the foundation year, just 1,818 magnums and 18 Jeroboams were produced. The blend constitutes wine heralded from eight Grand Crus in the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, 50% of which were vinified in oak barrel. The champagne is Pinot Noir dominant in order to reflect the ‘old rose’ fragrance that is typical of Billecart-Salmon's famous Clos St-Hilaire, as well as the founders’ cuvées Nicolas François and Elisabeth Salmon. Appearance: Pale gold colour intensity, draped with a bright luminosity with golden yellow tinges. A persistent and abundant finesse of bubbles evolving in a disciplined and energetic way Aroma: A noble and racy expression of a chiselled complexity towards floral notes, orchard fruits and slightly roasted dried fruits (carnation, Williams pear and just roasted hazelnuts). A natural and vibrant sparkle evolving towards scents of citrus zest (lemon caviar and kalamansi) Palate: An ample and dense tension where the texture slowly reveals itself under a controlled and exhilarating acidity. The mid-palate offers a distinguished balance, vinous, almost salty, under the gustatory impact of careful maturing (vine shoots and blond tobacco) Food Pairing: This exceptional cuvée will enchant your taste buds when paired with fine vegetable ravioli, creamy celery with Cévennes chestnuts Bicentenary Cuvée 200 is a powerful statement from Billecart- Salmon, representing a move away from their tradition of releasing wines that have been perfectly matured and are ready to drink, as this special bicentenary release will benefit from longer ageing.