Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac
Château Pontet-Canet is a classic large Pauillac property that adjoins the Mouton Rothschild vineyards that in the past has struggled to get fruit richness into their wines until Michel Rolland was called in. The wines of the past 15 years have produced lovely, voluptuous reds with ripe fruit and brilliant balance. The 2009 is quite simple a stunning incarnation of Pontet-Canet and quite possibly their best wine ever produced! A 'tour de force' of the highest standard, layers of concentrated fruit along with sublime oak integration see this biodynamically farmed vineyard reach Bordeaux perfection. Will age comfortably for the next 50 years.
Roberto Voerzio La Serra, Barolo
Roberto Voerzio Fossati
Roberto Voerzio Fossati Barolo The Fossati is a descentdaent of the Fossati Case Nere 10 Anni Riserva. This wine offers a dual education in the power and robustness of relatively younger vineyard Barolo (it is more Barolo than La Morra) and the lamentable predictability of Italian bureaucratic nonsense. Owing to a change in the regulations, Roberto Voerzio had to change tack from his doppio cru reserve Barolo, known as Fossati Case Nere, as producers can only put the name of the winery, the region, sub-region or the particular cru on the label. You might think this is a reasonable stipulation, and, in truth, it is. What was so predictably lamentable is that it took so long. Now Roberto keeps the Case Nere for his Riserva and the Fossati for the Young Turk of Barolo that we may enjoy now. The 2015 was the first vintage of this wine.
Roberto Voerzio Cerequio
Roberto Voerzio Cerequio Barolo The south/southeast-facing vineyard of Cerequioone of the most prestigious Crus in the commune of La Morra if not all of Barolosits at 270-320m asl. The older vines are pruned for low yields with an aggressive green harvest followed by trimming the bunches to about 500g of fruit per plant. The fruit is harvested by hand (in late September, early October) and fermented on indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for two years in older French oak barrels and 20 hectolitre botti followed by an additional eight months in tank. It spends further eight months in bottle before release.
Roberto Voerzio Rocche dell Annunziata
Roberto Voerzio Rocche dellAnnunziata Barolo Le Rocche dellAnnunziata is a special Cru. Were there a Grand Cru classifcaition in Barolo, this would certainly be one of the first to gain such certification. Roberto Voerzios expression shows prop forward power, drive and determination. With good cellaring and decanting, the youthful ferocity calms to reveal more fresh herbs and balsam wood. Crush red fruits, orange peel and a touch of chocolate.
Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz
McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz continues lead the pack of great Hunter Valley Shiraz. A lovely return to old form, this Maurice has a striking purple hue to it in the glass. To the nose aromas of liquorice and spice with hints of cedar will beguile. Layers of complex flavours dance across the palate including savoury, spicy dark fruits like dark plums and cherries. A classic of classics.
Château Palmer Margaux
Château Palmer is considered one of the worlds first 'Super Seconds' (although actually classified as a third growth), a term relating to the top echelon of producers that fall outside of the ancient 1st Growth classification. Margaux's Château Palmer was named after a British general who fought under Wellington. It has been stated by quite a few wine critics that this could possibly be the finest Château Palmer ever produced. An amazing claim considering how phenomenal the 2005 was and is yet to be. Masses of concentrated aromas and flavours that will keep your senses entertained for hours on end. A truly remarkable achievement that will repay the patient cellarer over the next 30 years.
Giacomo Conterno Nebbiolo d'Alba Arione
Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon
Certified biodynamic, the Cullen Vanya is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in new French oak of which 50% was new for a period of 19 months. Totally opaque dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Intense but beautifully refined the nose offers up aromas of blackcurrant and mulberry laced with cedar and tobacco characters followed by hints of cigar box, faint bay leaf and spice. Medium weight the palate is the perfect marriage of richness, elegance and power delivering sublime flavours of blackcurrant, ripe mulberry and dark cherries seamlessly integrated with cedar, tobacco and spice characters. Exquisite finesse with exceptionally fine grained, polished tannins. Very long after-taste of blackcurrant, ripe mulberry, cedar faint tobacco, cigar box and spice that seems to sail on forever.
Château la Fleur Pétrus Pomerol
Château La Fleur Pétrus is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant red blend. Vintage 2010 has the great balance between the intensity of the fruits, acidity and oak flavour. Ripe black fruits and jammy cherries with a hint of meaty back tone. Full body with pronounced tannins, elegantly put together. Perfect for those who love to cellar their reds.
