Re-Stocked
2025 Kumeu River 'Village' Chardonnay
Offer: $24.90
Offer: $24.90
This is a wine where we always have a bottle in the fridge - the perfect aperitif Chardonnay, and pairs especially well with all types of seafood. Fermented 40% in old French oak barriques, and 60% in stainless steel tanks, there is very little oak influence on either nose or palate. Vibrant fruit shows through beautifully with lively lime/lemon aromas and a flinty, mineral edginess with hints of fig and white peach.
'Entry-level Chardonnay that has been made with the sort of care and attention that leaves an indelible Kumeu River stamp...' Bob Campbell MW
Just-Landed Special
2023 Bachelet-Ramonet
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Grandes Ruchottes'
$235 | Offer: $229 | $224 in 3-Packs
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Les Grandes Ruchottes'
$
These wines are hidden gems (from some of the really great sites in Chassagne!). Bachelet-Ramonet is under the radar and the family is not good at promoting themselves so they are relatively cheap (1er Cru Chassagne here!). These are "on the money" - great quality, clean, tight, dense and as mentioned, great value.
This great lieu sits at the top of the slope between La Romanee and Caillerets, and it's also known as La Grande Montagne. This is taut and powerful, classy and ripe with deep flavours. The oak is well hidden, and it really needs a few years to open and for the inner core of latent power and richness to emerge. As an example the 2020 is now much richer than it appeared a few years ago, such is the "old-school" classicism.
Cheers, Randall
Just-Landed | 2023 Bordeaux
The 2023 Bordeaux 'En Primeur' campaign is now on-hand, and after sampling a few the conclusion is that 2023 just might be better and far more classic than the esteemed 2022’s. Supplies are extremely limited and original wooden cases are available where ordering in 6's or 12's. Cheers, Randall.
"The best 2023s exhibit the fully ripe tannins and suave, seamless mouthfeels of a sunny vintage such as 2019; yet their vibrant aromas and flavors, evocative of fresh fruits and flowers, are more indicative of a cooler year. Preserving that bright, expressive fruit in all its purity will be critical for successful élevage. But this is far from a frivolous vintage: plenty of tannin and more classical pHs lend the wines serious structure, even if it is generally nicely integrated… Above all, however, the vintage tended to amplify the voice of each estate and terroir, producing extremely characterful wines.” William Kelly, The Wine Advocate
2023 Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac 5eme Classe
Offer: $269
The vineyard is next to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, and is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.
"... envelops the palate with silky tannins as hints of vibrant red-toned fruit, crushed flowers, spice and dried herbs fill out the layers. The 2023 is an exceptionally finessed Pontet-Canet. This is the first vintage in which the Grand Vin was blended early-in December following the harvest-as opposed to just before bottling, which had been the norm. That's one of many changes that resulted in a striking wine endowed with superb finesse. Tasted two times." 98Pts. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2023 La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc
Offer: $269
"Effortless, well balanced, white peach, juicy pear, delicious, sculpted and extremely easy to love. 3.2ph, 40% new oak. A test with shade cloths to provide cover for the berries on a small part of the white vineyard is underway, as the team under Jean-Philippe Delmas reacts to the changing conditions."
93Pts. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
2023 Chateau Leoville Las Cases
Offer: $679
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot
"Bright, gorgeous, expressive aromatics of dark purple and black fruit. A sense of opulence and clear Cabernet effects on the nose. Supple and agile, juicy and succulent, a rich almost thick cherry juiciness, fleshy, ripe and cool. Lovely minty, liquorice and graphite undertone that keep the freshness going to a long finish. It’s a bit bolder than I expected for LLC and also a bit bigger for the vintage. A characterful style, certainly not missing any body but retains pure charm - this is out to please, certainly not tough or too serious, this is more easy to approach. Lots of herbal elements, pencil lead, graphite and wet stone with cloves and cinnamon. It’s still compact no doubt, but despite the power there’s finesse and it ends clean and lifted. Up there with the best of the vintage." - 98Pts. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter
2016 Museum Release Ch. Branaire Ducru Saint-Julient 4eme
Offer: $229
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cab Franc
"Bright, gorgeous, expressive aromatics of dark purple and black fruit. A sense of opulence and clear Cabernet effects on the nose. Supple and agile, juicy and succulent, a rich almost thick cherry juiciness, fleshy, ripe and cool. Lovely minty, liquorice and graphite undertone that keep the freshness going to a long finish. It’s a bit bolder than I expected for LLC and also a bit bigger for the vintage. A characterful style, certainly not missing any body but retains pure charm - this is out to please, certainly not tough or too serious, this is more easy to approach. Lots of herbal elements, pencil lead, graphite and wet stone with cloves and cinnamon. It’s still compact no doubt, but despite the power there’s finesse and it ends clean and lifted. Up there with the best of the vintage." - 98Pts. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter
