Re-Stocked
2025 Kumeu River 'Village' Pinot Noir
$29 | Offer: $24.90!
$
The wine has a bright cherry red /burgundy colour with lifted red fruit aromas. On the palate the wine is red-fruited, spicy and well-rounded with a nice hint of chalky tannin that keeps things dry and refreshing. It really is an absolute bargain.
So far there are no commentator scores on this wine, but it is as good as you expect from a Kumeu wine made with the gifted and safe hands of Michael Brajkovich MW, from hand-picked quality fruit grown on the Rays Road (Hawke’s Bay) vineyard and the home block at Kumeu (Auckland). The Auckland component provided extra richness and structure whilst the enticing fruit and pinot perfume of the Hawke’s Bay portion added silk and seduction. Overall the balance is near perfect, oak well buried and really impressive length for a wine of this modest price!
2025 Kumeu River 'Village' Chardonnay
$29 | Offer: $24.90
$
In a perfect world there should always be a bottle of this wine in the fridge. Fermented 40% in old French oak barriques, and 60% in stainless steel tanks there is very little oak influence on either nose or palate. This has allowed the vibrant fruit to show through beautifully with lively lime, pineapple and 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.
2008 in Champagne
Rarely does a Champagne vintage come along that has such a perfect combination of flavour density, ripeness and high acidity, giving extraordinary quality and ageing potential. I think it's even more consistent if not better than 1996 and 1990, other oft cited greats. Perhaps it is even better the great 1959! We are lucky to still have some of these superb champagnes below! Cheers, Randall.
2008 Alfred Gratien Cuvée Paradis Brut Rosé
$350 | Offer: $239
This is a thoroughbred Champagne in its origins and in its expression.
Champagne Alfred Gratien has always reminded me of Krug in some ways, and in particular a visit to Krug many years ago. Catherine Seydoux, one of the Krug family, said that Gratien was similar to Krug in many ways, not the least of which is the total barrel-fermentation in the 1000 or so old 228lt barrels, no MLF and long ageing in bottle. This is a deep, powerful and serious “Prestige Cuvée” with nice age and a long way still to go. Randall.
'... a blend of 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir from premiers and grands crus... Subtle cream and caramel-dipped rye bread notes with an overtone of cherry express themselves on the exquisitely youthful nose. The palate offers beautifully salty rye sourdough depth and texture, creamy yet taut, with an absolutely fine mousse that foams away with tiny, insistent bubbles lending vivacity and creaminess. This immensely gastronomic Rosé boasts lasting length, real cut and superb freshness.'
95Pts - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
2008 Gonet-Medeville Champagne Grand Cru Mesnil-sur-Oger
'Champs d'Alouette'
$356 | Offer: $330
The 2008 Extra Brut Champ d'Alouette Grand Cru is a pure Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger that spent 14 years on lees. The nose is savory with both fresh sour cream and melted butter. Evolution is evident in a touch of fresh white field mushroom and salty white miso creaminess. The palate is a marvel. There is not a wrinkle, just youthful brightness that expands palate and mind by virtue of its super-fine, creamy mousse. What must have been austere depth has metamorphosed into a picture of salty, luminous elegance. This is not about fruit, although lemon figures in that freshness, this is about profound chalk and its salty, primal pull. Exquisite, long, memorable. Dosage is 4gr/L. Disgorged: July, 2023.
96Pts. - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
NV Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle Itération #26 ('08 & '12 Base)
Offer: $420 - Only a few bottles left.
This top of the range Laurent Perrier is always a beautifully deep, powerful and ageworthy champagne, but this #26 is a very special and rare release based on two super vintages. Is it the best ever? You’ll have to judge for yourself! - Randall
"This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees.” 100Pts! – James Suckling
2008 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut
$690 | Offer: $595
I love Will Kelly's writing and his sharpness, but I think he may be a bit mean with his score here! :-) R.
"When I was tasting Bollinger's brilliant Grande Année in this vintage, I was trying to imagine how good the 2008 Extra-Brut R. D. would be, as the style of the vintage seems almost perfectly adapted to this cuvée. Four years later, we have the answer, and the wine is brilliant. Disgorged in 2022, it's more reserved out of the gates than the dramatic Grande Année was on release, unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, orange peel, freshly baked bread, subtle hints of fino sherry, wet stones and macadamia nut. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit that's animated by racy acids and a refined pinpoint mousse, concluding with a bone-dry finish. Extremely harmonious and full of youthful energy, it's the finest R. D. of the decade and one that will richly reward a bit of additional age on cork. In style, the most obvious comparison is with the 1996, but the 2008 is more integrated and harmonious on release. These bottles were disgorged late last year with three grams per liter dosage." 98+ - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
