Stocktake Sale 2024

100% Ansonica, from the Island of Giglio - just off the Tuscan coast. “Testamatta 2021 is a pure expression of the Ansonica on Giglio Island. It delivers perfumes of sliced apple, peach and lemon peel while the 12 months of aging provide final hints of toasted spices. Testamatta 2021 encompasses the power of the vintage with a bright acidity and minerality given by the granitic soil. It’s so energetic and vivid, it’s like walking on Giglio ‘slopes!” Bibi Graetz.    

James Suckling 94 points, Wine Advocate 94 points. Deep garnet with a touch of purple, the 2009 Cluster M45 Shiraz has notes of fragrant earth and forest floor over youthful black fruits and tar. Full-bodied and built like a brick house with firm chewy tannins and a nice acid backbone, it has a wonderfully long, earthy finish.WA 94. LPB Feb 2015. # jasper

93 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!" 12/22. James Suckling 93-94 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "Blackberries, blackcurrants and flowers on the nose and palate. Medium body, firm tannins and a long, fresh finish. Linear, refined tannins. Subtle now." 05/21. #20

    "The 2021 Diana Madeline is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (4%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Malbec (2%). The only other time since the first 1995 vintage of this wine (formerly labeled as the Cabernet Merlot) that the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon has crested 90% or higher was the 2016 vintage, which saw 93% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021 vintage in Margaret River was an interesting one, with several climate curveballs thrown at viticulturists during key times during the harvest season. Here, the fruit was handpicked on biodynamic fruit and flower days across five picks from the middle of March to the Super...

This is very powerful and rich with amazing depth of fruit and ripe tannins. Full body. Round and chewy tannins. Super depth and beauty in this pure tempranillo. Needs time in the cellar. Better after 2021. 97 points, James Suckling (Dec 2019). "CVNE has been on a roll lately, and this ace from a great vintage only helps to keep that roll going. Stout aromas of bramble, berry fruits, tobacco and fine oak are highly convincing, as is a muscled-up palate that's showing superb structure. Black-plum and cassis flavors are more up front delicious than complex, although further aging may flip the script. Best from 2023 onward. Michael...

WA 100. The very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Maya is shy and restrained to begin. With swirling, it begins to reveal beguiling notes of fragrant earth, lavender, garrigue and Sichuan pepper, giving way to a core of wild blueberries, boysenberries, black raspberries and black currants plus a hint of iron ore. The palate is full-bodied, revealing itself in slow-releasing layers of black and blue fruits with exhilarating earth and mineral sparks, framed by firm, beautifully ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a persistent ferrous note. As cerebral as it is downright hedonic, this Maya is simply jaw-dropping. LPB Jan 2021. #100...

Wine Advocate 95 points. This is a special selezione expression. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne starts off a bit closed and shy, however it soon gains speed thanks to the intensity of its berry fruit, spice and camphor ash aromas. This wine is built to withstand longer cellar aging. It is firmly compact and tight at its core, recalling a Brunello from a cooler vintage. However, much of that 2015 sunshine and dark fruit exuberance comes through nonetheless. Fruit comes from a 10-hectare site with a large component of clay in the soils. Only 6,600 bottles were made, and the wine was released in January...

Wine Advocate 95 points. This is a special selezione expression. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne starts off a bit closed and shy, however it soon gains speed thanks to the intensity of its berry fruit, spice and camphor ash aromas. This wine is built to withstand longer cellar aging. It is firmly compact and tight at its core, recalling a Brunello from a cooler vintage. However, much of that 2015 sunshine and dark fruit exuberance comes through nonetheless. Fruit comes from a 10-hectare site with a large component of clay in the soils. Only 6,600 bottles were made, and the wine was released in January...

James Suckling  WINERY NOTE: Sicily can be appreciated not only for its red wines, but also for the whites and international varieties offered. Chardonnay is perhaps the one that has the best adaptability among all non-native white grape varieties. In this wine, the varietal notes are brought into the spotlight and the good acidity characteristic of this grape gives it a freshness that also makes it ideal for ageing. Label drawn by Alberta Ferretti. Tasting notes: Straw-yellow and transparent, the wine is characterised by a full and fresh nose, with hints of yellow peach and pineapple. In the mouth the wine displays freshness, drinking...

James Suckling 96 points. "There’s a unique floral and herbal edge to this, in the form of peppercorns, aniseed, licorice and five spice; wait for this to open up in the glass (decanting suggested), and along comes a cohort of dark fruit in the form of dark plums, mulberries and blackcurrants. Dense and flavorful, yet wild and pretty tannins envelop the mouth, coating layers of dark fruit and painting them in colorful hues. It’s full-bodied and full-throttle, but its beauty is understated and the acidity and fruit are playful and subtle." JS The wine "Terra di Lavoro" takes its name from the province of the...

“This is a classy, medium-bodied rendition that will unfurl and garner more complexity given more time.” 95 points - Jane Faulkner. James Halliday Wine Companion 94 points. A blend of 55/40/5% merlot/cabernet/petit verdot. All barriques, 20% new. A medium deep, bright, plummy red. A good effort from this cooler year, this smells of dark cherry, damson plums, cedar and a dusting of fine, good-quality dark cacao powder. Good depth on the medium-bodied palate, too. The tannins are fine and persistent with good grip on the finish and while approachable now, with food, this will continue to improve in the bottle for at least the next...

Organic. 95 Points - Outstanding - Cameron Douglas Master Sommelier. " Complex, mineral-laden, detailed and seductive bouquet. Aromas of ripe dark red cherry, wet clay and limestone mineral and earth layers, raspberry and scents of roses and sweet air. Youthful and equally complex on the palate with firm textures of tannins and acidity contrasted by a core of ripe red berry flavours and mineral. Chalky tannins carry a limestone flavour, some wood flavours and leesy complexities begin to emerge after several minutes in glass. A delicious wine, complex and layered, needs to be cellared for some time to bring together all the qualities it...

James Halliday Wine Companion 92 points. No details other than a touch of nero d'Avola in the mix, and there's certainly a lovely black cherry-jubey-cola lift among the more meaty-reductive-savoury notes. While more medium-bodied, the tannins are firm and there seems to be a lot of charry oak drying and clipping the finish. 92 points. Jane Faulkner Published 01 August 2020.

WA 92. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed black raspberries, black plums and blackcurrant pastilles, plus hints of underbrush and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied with intense, pure black fruit flavors, the fruit is well-framed by ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with a skip in its step. LPB Oct 2021. #NEWINT

WINERY NOTE: ​Le Traversagne is our dessert wine easy to pair with a variety of desserts. Perfect balance of sweetness and minerality. Alcohol Content: 13% Grape Varieties: 60% Corvina and Corvinone; 40% Rondinella,   Croatina and Oseleta Vineyards: Selection of the best grapes from or vineyards in Valpolicella Classica Wine Making: Selection of the best grapes during manual harvest, followed by natural drying process for approximately 5/6 months in wooden cases. Vine Training: Pergola Ageing: 24 months in cement tanks and 6 months in bottle. Could be enjoyed for over 15 years Pairing: Dry pastries, almond, hazelnut cake, cookies,...

Wine Advocate 94 points. Their second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2018 Macán Clásico, which in the cooler and late year (they picked between October 2nd and 14th) fermented in stainless steel and matured in 50% new French oak barrels, 10% American oak barrel and 40% used ones for 12 months. The wine has moderate ripeness and alcohol (14%) in a fresher, subtler and more elegant year with good freshness (a pH of 3.75) and balance. It's young and creamy, a baby that will improve as it burns down that fat. Separating the press wine by quality and aging it separately seems to have increased the precision. It has to be...

Winefront 93 points. Reflecting the mixed planting of old vines, a complex and intriguing aromatic mix of atypical muscat aromas with white peach and nectarine, honeydew, lemon sorbet and grapefruit pith. A firm palate of ruby grapefruit astringency combined with nervy acidity, homemade lemonade sweet and sour balance give a truly eclectic, unconventional white wine.

A more classical vintage for Central Otago with strong seasonal variations and lots of hot days cold nights. 2019 Riesling has orange/grapefruit peel at its core, a mineral pith like texture is the marker that makes this so special. Whole bunch pressed, fermentation in a mixture stainless steel barrels and tanks, wild yeasts, no temperature control and aged on gross less for 3 months. RS 6g/l Floral and citrus aromas, flavours of lemons, limes, and grapefruit characters, underpinned by mineral characters and refreshing acidity. 13 % alc, medium weight in an off dry style. The Wine Advocate – Lisa Perotti Brown Duncan Forsyth is one...

97+ Points - Gary Walsh Wine Front " The winemaking and style of these 2017 reds is probably the best I’ve seen from this venerable old winery. Hats off to Adrian Sparks and Jim Chatto. This is a mix of Rosehill and ‘Estate’ fruit, with a sneaky, but very clever addition of 6% Pinot Noir. It’s now being made in a way that O’Shea would approve of, I suspect. It’s a beautiful wine, excellence in simplicity and verity of fruit, rather than industry in the winery. Perfumed, so fine and long, effortless flow and sense of grace, with an amalgam of mixed berries, spice, aniseed, and earth, supple but...

Antonio Galloni 91 points. CHARACTERISTICS: Produced in the vineyard surrounding the cellar, in the biggest property of our winery, it is always an important wine thanks to its texture and complexity. Historical fl agship wine every year it expresses to its best the great potentialities of Dolcetto grapes. This wine is produced with low yields and in suitable climate conditions, this allows it to exalt fruit, tannic sweetness and a great wine harmony. The dialectal name “Augenta” derives from Latin “Augere” which means “augment”, i.e. to make greater as in size, extend or quantity. It seems, as a matter...

WINERY NOTE: Aromatic wine of the most renowned, beautiful yellow-green colour, with characteristic gold reflections with a persistent frame of little bubbles. Pelissero Moscato d'Asti 2020 DOCG typical of our soils. To the taste it is a complex balance of sweetness from the fully ripened grapes, contrasted with fresh acidity to keep the finish clean and sharp. Intense and refreshing.

Wine Advocate 91 points. Ultreia Mencía 2020 is a red wine with aromas of ripe red fruits on the nose, accompanied by a balsamic and mineral touch. The palate is elegantly balanced. This is a well-defined red wine, full of nuances, where the oak gives prominence to the fruit. It is fresh, silky and lively with a pleasant herbaceous note. Red wine Aged in wood Respectful agriculture. 12 months in French oak barrels.  

100% Chardonnay. Bianco Bianco is a naturally semi-sparkling wine made for Rocca delle Macìe in the province of Trento, within one of the most suitable areas for the cultivation of grapes intended for the production of spumante. Once harvested, the Chardonnay (100%) grapes are fermented without the skins, and then the base wine undergoes natural second fermentation. Bianco Bianco is fresh and fragrant, with overtones of just-ripe fruit. It has a fine, persistent bead that makes it suitable both as an aperitif and as an accompaniment to fried vegetable or fish platters.

James Suckling 91 points. 100% Carignan from 35 year old viines on original rootstock. Matured in historic concrete vats, restoring the ancient technique of hundreds of years of wine production on the island. Colour: ruby red Nose: the wine has a fine bouquet, with aromas of red berries and warm mediterranean scrub scents. Palate: Remarkable structure, ample, velvety, harmonious and balanced, with fruity notes in evidence. Persistent finish. Nur: abbreviation of the word “nuragic”. The label depicts a bronze statuette found in Sant’Antioco Island and represents a nuragic warrior.

OWC 6. James Suckling 95 points. This is the Californian venture of Gonzague and Claire Lurton (owners of such reknowned Bordeaux estates inter alia as Durfort Vivens, Haut Bages Liberal). Cabernet Sauvignon 85% , Merlot 9 %, Cabernet Franc 6% Winemaker Notes Continuing the string of great vintages, 2014 completes the trifecta of extremely high quality growing seasons. The 2014s exhibit a great purity of place, with generous fruit and elegant textures The 2014 shows the purity and excellence of our Cabernet Sauvignon. Subtle and energetic plum and currant aromas follow through to a georgously harmonized palate of wonderfull fruit and ultra...

“ A balance of bright tropical fruits and savoury depth, this wine is styled on fun white wines of the Mediterranean. Made in an aperitif style and to be enjoyed with food and friends.” –  Alan Varney, Winemaker. 210 dozen made.     THE VINEYARD Sourced from Oliver’s Taranga and Lopresti Vineyards, McLaren Vale. Picked early to retain natural acidity. This variety has been showing great promise in McLaren Vale for the past decade and the chance to source fruit from two of the top Vale vineyards simply could not be passed up. WINEMAKING Picked early in the season to retain a focused acid structure in...

Each presentation box contains 3 bottles, one bottle each of La Joie, La Muse and Le Desir 2019. LA JOIE (WA 99 points) The 2019 La Joie is an elegant expression that offers power, freshness and expressive, floral character. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, it has a deep ruby color and opens slowly from black cherries and blueberries to accents of violets, ground coffee and licorice. The full-bodied palate has generous, grainy tannins, detailed, perfumed flavors and bright acidity, finishing with an alluring iron character. 2,500 cases were made. LA MUSE (WA 99 points) The 2019 La Muse is a...

Copper color, aromas of pear and grape, whose balance combines roundness and sweetness. A Copper Classic from Veuve Lafontan & Ses Enfants Bas-Armagnac 15 ans - Equilibre is a rich blend from artisanal Armagnac house Veuve Lafontan & Ses Enfants. Fresh and full-bodied, it encompasses the perfect mix of influences from the esteemed lower Armagnac terroir and grape varieties. Aged 15 years in traditional oak barrels, this Hors d’Age blend is a mature companion for Armagnac connaisseurs. Veuve Lafontan & Ses Enfants is the proud producer of this Armagnac. The house is a small, artisanal business that prides itself on an...

Bright appearance, the nose is intense apricot fig and prune. Armagnac dense, supple and surprising with notes of tea and tobacco.   The nose is fresh, carried by aromas of candied fruits such as fig, apricot and even prune. Mouth: The tannins are silky bringing delicious notes of tea and tobacco. Finish: The finish of this Veuve Lafontan Armagnac is slightly spicy.

Ambré with copper highlights. Its intensity and complexity surprises with spicy aromas, brioche. At the palace baked apple flavors and gingerbread.

Wine Advocate 95 points. Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 Vieux Château Certan has a potent, smoke, cooked meat, Cabernet Franc-scented bouquet that is beautifully defined—quintessentially Pomerol. You want typicité? Come right here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite gentle as it sashays across the mouth. The acidity is very well judged and leads to an elegant tobacco tinged finish. Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont have produced one of the finest wines of the Right Bank in 2012, one that is up there with the greats. NM Oct 2016.

Wine Advocate 91 points. The entry-level red simply called 2019 Garnacha is what they define as their regional bottling, using grapes from the villages of de Corella, Cintruénigo and Fitero, produced in an approachable and easy-to-understand way. It had a gentle vinification, starting with grapes of moderate ripeness with a good pH, fermented with indigenous yeasts and using 20% full clusters. The difference in vintage is noticeable when tasted with a majority of 2018s; this is a clearly riper and more open vintage, with a more Mediterranean character, with sweet fruit and aromatic herbs. It reminds me of some of my favorite old-time...

Tempranillo 100%. From a selection of the Tempranillo harvested at optimal health and maturation in small 15 kg boxes. In the winery, a manual selection of bunches and destemming occurs and crushing without pressure. Produced by malolactic fermentation in the barrel and then an aging of 14 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% of which are 12 months old.   #NEWJULY