$100 and over
Chateau Climens 1er cru classe
After Yquem, Château Climens is regarded as the region's second best wine. Where Chateau d'Yquem is known for concentration and lusciousness, Climens strive for elegance, purity and freshness. For those looking to discover the best of Sauternes, this wine is a must.
Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny Port
Seppeltsfields founder, Joseph Seppelt and his eldest son, Benno, both possessed an incredibly long-term vision and outlook for Seppeltsfield, working tirelessly to ensure a legacy was passed on to future generations. This is manifest in Benno Seppelts inception of the Centennial Cellar, a remarkable system of laying down and maturing single barrels of vintage Tawny for significant ageing before release. It is believed to be the world's only unbroken lineage of single vintage wines spanning more than 130 consecutive vintages. This amazing resource allows Seppeltsfield to offer the release of wines at the 30, 40, 50,60,70,80 and 90 year anniversaries to mark a special birthday or milestone.
Fonseca Vintage Port
Intense black inky core and narrow purple rim. The nose opens onto a dense brooding mass of dark blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Compact and concentrated, it also displays exceptional purity - one of the hallmarks of the 2011 vintage. The nose gradually opens to reveal an array of heady herbal scents, discreet notes of exotic wood, marzipan and plum as well as an attractive graphite minerality. Solid well integrated tannins give both volume and firmness to the palate with its reserves of dense black fruit infused with dark chocolate and liquorice. A vigorous, concentrated fruit-driven Vintage Port, showing the classic opulence of Fonseca.
Chateau Guiraud 1er cru classe
Château Guiraud is a large Sauternes property that is the only 1er Cru Classé, with the exception of its illustrious neighbour Château d`Yquem, that is located within the commune of Sauternes itself. Guiraud's 85 hectares of vineyards are located on one of the hills above the village of Sauternes. They are planted with 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are harvested in "tries" and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is then aged in oak casks (50% new) for 2 years. Guiraud is a very ambitious property with aspirations to produce a wine that will one day rival d`Yquem. The wines are astonishingly rich, especially in light of the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, and are undoubtedly amongst the finest wines being produced in Sauternes today.
Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny
Arguably one of the greatest Australian Tawny Ports, Penfolds Great Grandfather is a refinement of the reserve material used for the Grandfather Tawny. With an average age of 15 years, fruit is picked from vines that are 166 years old. For serious port-lovers this is heaven.
Henriques & Henriques Terrantez 20 Years Old
Aroma of dried fruits, raisins, hazelnuts and walnuts. Complex, the medium dry palate shows bitter almond, dried fruits, spices, green pepper and oak. The tannins and acidity are balanced, long and drying.
Penfolds 50 Year Old Tawny
The 50 Year Old Rare Tawny is a symbol of Penfolds heritage, typifying collaboration and shared creative expression. For Series 1, Penfolds collaborated with glass artist Nick Mount to create 330 units, individually blown and hand crafted to suit the rarity of the wine. The wine encased captures the legacy of past and the aspirations of present winemakers, spanning almost a century of fortified history in one blend. Amongst the many individual components captured in this wine is the 1915 vintage, reported to be the foundation of the first Grandfather cask. Additionally, the 1940, 1945 vintages, the first two commercial releases of the Grandfather (in 1965 and 1969 respectively) and the first Great Grandfather release (1994). Incorporating the 1915 vintage component from Penfolds precious glass stock reserves means the Penfold 50 Year Old Rare Tawny carries a generic connectionto the earliest recorded vintage of Penfolds Grandfather Tawny.
Chateau Rieussec 1er cru classe
Since 1984 Château Rieussec has been the Sauternes property of the Rothschild family, owners of Chateau Lafite. Rieussec, a neighbour of Chateau dYquem, had for generations been a leading producer and was ranked Premier Cru in 1855. Even so, under Rothschild ownership the property has been transformed, with new cellars and winery and far more rigorous grape selection (plus greater use of barrel fermentation and maturation) for the flagship Grand Vin. This has led to Rieussecs clear emergence as a rival to its famous neighbour. Chateau Rieussec is 90% Semillon, with minor contributions from Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The property is 110ha with 68ha under vine.
CHATEAU DE RAYNE-VIGNEAU 1er cru classe
Rayne Vigneaus vineyard overlooks Sauternes near the village of Bommes and forms the third highest point in the area after Yquem. Founded by Gabriel de Vigneau in the early 17th century. Madame de Rayne, née Catherine de Pontac, bought the Domaine du Vigneau in 1834. Under her ownership, the estate reached the envied rank of premier Grand Cru Classé of Sauternes in the famous 1855 classification. Today, Château de Rayne Vigneau is a true benchmark for the Sauternes appellation. Its intensely fresh style,stands out vintage after vintage.
Chateau Coutet 1er cru classe
A prestigious 1er Cru Classé estate, Château Coutet is the oldest and largest property in Barsac. The name Coutet is derived from the Gascons word for knife and the estates wines are renowned for their fresh cutting acidity and crisp lively palate. A blend of Sémillon (75 5%), Sauvignon Blanc (23%) and Muscadelle (2%), the wines show beguiling aromas of citrus, tropical fruits, white flowers, honey and ginger, revealing more candied fruit, gingerbread notes with age. The wine is matured in oak barriques for 18 months.
