Château Montrose
France's Bordeaux, is the spiritual home of the Cabernet family of grapes, which extends beyond Sauvignon and Franc to Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. If you love Margaret River Cabernet blends, or indeed the Merlot dominant reds of Hawkes Bay, NZ, then you must look at the wines upon which many of them have been modelled. This wine is Cabernet and Merlot, deep and rich, cassis and earthy cedar, structure and uncommon length - all hallmarks of Grand Cru Bordeaux.
Hugel Schoelhammer Riesling
M chapoutier Ermitage de L'Oree Blanc
One of the longest-lived white wines in France, the extremely rare M.Chapoutier Ermitage de lOrée is a single varietal Marsanne sourced from a single vineyard Murets plot at the eastern edge of the Hill of Hermitage. Orée means edge in French and is also a reference to the colour of the wine as or in French means gold. Rich, full-bodied and immensely complex, Ermitage de lOrée has the structure and concentration to age often well beyond 50 years.
Domaine Ponsot Clos Des Monts Luisants 1er cru Blanc
Vincent Dauvissat Sechet 1er cru
Château Léoville-Barton Saint-Julien
Château Léoville-Barton is one of the oldest Château's in Saint Julien with the Barton family still owning the estate some 175+ years since they took stewardship of the property. Always a finely perfumed wine is produced with rich and powerful tannin that gives way to beautiful fruit and richness of flavour with aging. This is especially the case when speaking of the remarkable 2009 vintage which is being classified as one of the very best of the past 100 years. Take advantage of such a vintage with wines like Léoville's that won't break the Bordeaux bank.
Château Léoville-Poyferré Saint-Julien
The times ahead for Château Léoville-Poyferré are very exciting indeed. After many years of changing ownership, the fortunes of the vineyard have also ebbed and flowed. With the younger generation of the Cuvelier's now at the helm, the results speak for themselves. No more so than the quite exuberant 2009 Léoville-Poyferré which has seen the estate produce what is possibly the greatest wine to have been produced there. Close to perfection in so many ways, the layer upon layer of complex flavours is something to behold. Blackcurrant, graphite, espresso, mocha, menthol, blueberry to name but a few. A modern Bordeaux classic in the makings.
Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
Golden hue with a bright green rim. A complex signature of reductive characters; meal, the 'good dirt' and matchstick complimenting hazelnut and peach notes infused with lemon zest and ginger. The palate is taut and compact with a strong mineral edge drawing out white peach fruit. A powerful and assertive example of Chardonnay that combines multifaceted flavours with latent power. The finish is compelling: minerality and acidity combine to a rapier-sharp finish.