Wine & Spirits

Winemaker Notes Vintages in Champagne are synonymous with excellence despite significant variations in style, expression, and quality from one to another. Grand Siècle seeks a perfection beyond single vintages, with the ambition of recreating "the perfect year", one nature on its own cannot provide. The 26th iteration of Grand Siècle was released to great critical acclaim – including a perfect 100-point rating from James Suckling. A white gold in color with delicate and persistent bubbles, it offers a very complex nose which mixes honeysuckle, lemon, clementine and fresh butter aromas, followed by notes of hazelnut and a touch of honey. The feel in the mouth is very delicate and fresh with candied lemon and fresh hazelnut aromas. The palate is silky and mineral with notes of honeysuckle, flaked almonds and clementine. Grand Siècle Nº26 will pair beautifully with high quality produce and refined dishes, such as truffle, caviar, shellfish, noble fish and white meats.  Blend: 58% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Intense, bright and luminous golden hue. Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. The lovely sensation of big ripe fruit is balanced and lifted by energetic fresh tangy overtones. Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness typical of Cristal that is powdery and saline. Dense, juicy, concentrated, and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats (foudres). The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and a velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline, and superbly elegant finish. Critical Acclaim Jeb Dunnuck Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored.

Read more less

This Magnum (1.5 liter) from Château Fleur Cardinale Surf Edition is a limited series, only 1,500 anointed magnums bearing this unique label. This is the second edition produced by the castle which started last year with the Hard Rock Edition. With the 2019 vintage, the family knight of Château Fleur Cardinale sets sail and storms the Hawaiian waves, the time for a Collector's Edition "Surf Session". This "Surf Session" Collector's Edition is coming for the 2019 vintage, which can be compared to the ideal wave that you will never surf twice. It is the only witness to a year of extreme weather conditions, which began between the frost in early May, followed by a very dry and hot summer, and ended under optimal harvest conditions. He is like a surfer seeking to tame the natural power of the wave in a flexible posture, and a perfect mastery of balance.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot James Suckling The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannin's that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026. Wine Enthusiast The wine's tannins are impressive and solidly structured, with a firm concentration of ripe black fruits to round it out. The black plum flavor and bright acidity offer a juicy feel, allied with a mineral note on the finish.

Read more less

Since 1983, Denis Durantou has been at the helm of this historic estate. He has quietly performed something of a revolution, introducing a host of innovations and bringing his wine-making philosophy to one of the greatest terroirs in Bordeaux. The 4.5 hectares used for the grand vin are situated next to the church in Pomerol on gravel and clay soils. A further 1.5 hectares of on sandy soils account for the excellent Petite Eglise. Denis' wines receive many accolades, all richly deserved. The grand vin is consistently amongst the best wines of the vintage; they are typically perfumed, nuanced and posses the structure to age gracefully for many decades.94 Points Wine AdvocateTasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 L'Eglise Clinet has long been a strong performer. Here, at a decade old, it offers gorgeous aromas of redcurrant, crushed strawberry, tar and truffle, a discrete mineralité that only surfaces with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with superb acidity, impressive cohesion and outstanding structure (for a 2007) towards the finish. It is brimming with sophistication, class and character—one of the standout Pomerols of the vintage. Tasted February 2017.

Read more less

93 James Suckling“Blackberry and blueberry aromas with black licorice and dark violets that follow to a medium to full body with ultra fine tannins and a pretty finish. Very fine texture. Drink after 2024.” 91 Decanter“Attractive, bright and bristling fruit, from grapes that were small and concentrated after a particularly dry summer in St-Julien, with rain at the right time in September. Things have been well-handled over ageing and this is rippling with life and succulent acidity. Previously known as Lalande-Borie. Drinking Window 2023 – 2038.”

Read more less

The 2019 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru, which contains around 60% whole bunch, has a well-defined bouquet of ebullient dark berry fruit laced with light woodland and earthy scents. So much vigor and coiled-up energy! The palate is medium-bodied with wonderful balance, supple tannins, perfectly judged acidity and a crescendo of flavors toward the splendid, mineral-driven finish. The cooler microclimate really benefited this cuvée in 2019, and it is one of the Trapet’s finest contributions to the vintage.Vinous Media | 96-98 VM The 2019 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru is the finest rendition of this cuvée I’ve ever tasted from Trapet. Unfurling in the glass with an incipiently complex bouquet that mingles dark berry fruit with nuances of coniferous forest floor, peonies, bergamot and exotic spices, it’s full-bodied, layered and velvety, with terrific depth and concentration, framed by powdery tannins and animated by a lively spine of acidity that carries through the mouthwateringly mineral finish. I wrote that Trapet’s 2018 Latricières was worth a special effort to seek out—I’m happy to have some in my cellar—and that applies a fortiori to this brilliant 2019.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95-97 RP

Read more less

This shows the purity of Angelus. I have never tasted a wine from here with such incredible clarity. Full body, full fruit and full beauty. Super silky tannins. A joy to taste. Makes you want to drink it. 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. --James Suckling A total blockbuster is the 2015 Angelus and it’s reminiscent of a slightly more elegant 2009. Made from 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels, this rich, opulent beauty boast killer notes of blackcurrants, blackberry liqueur, truffle, chocolate and scorched earth. With full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin and a stacked profile on the palate, this hedonistic Bomb of a wine from Hubert de Boüard needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for three decades or more. --Jeb DunnuckRating: 97+

Read more less

100 points Wine Spectator  Absolutely fantastic. This is one of the most exciting young reds I have tasted in a long, long time. It shows intense aromas of berries, currants and minerals, with hints of mint. Full-bodied and packed with fruit and tannins, its long finish is refined and silky. A benchmark for the vintage. Las Cases has always wanted to make first-growth quality in a top-notch vintage, and it certainly did in 2000. *Collectibles, Ranked No. 5 on Top 100 Wines of 2003* (JS)  (3/2003) 99 points Jeb Dunnuck  The 2000 Leoville Las Cases is another brilliant wine and, like most 2000s, appears to just now be at the early stages of its drink window. Smoky black fruits, crushed rocks, lead pencil, and menthol notes all emerge from this brilliant, blockbuster beauty that still tastes like it's just 5-6 years old. Beautifully concentrated, ripe, sexy, and seamless, it has the classic elegance and regal quality of this domaine front and center. It has another 3-4 decades of longevity. (JD)  (6/2019)

Read more less

A delicious blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon on a mixture of sand and gravel soil, much like parts of nearby Pomerol. Aged primarily in tank with a few barrel-lots thrown into the blend, this is a well balanced claret that is perfect for classic bistro fare. By far our biggest selling Bordeaux, this wine seriously overdelivers for its price! The Château de Cugat was constructed in the 1500's. Located in the small town of Blasimon, it stands upon a hill overlooking the village. The vineyards surround the Château, and are comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle for white wines. Since the 2021 vintage, Château de Cugat has obtained the HVE 3 -  High Environmental Value certification.  The domaine is situated in the Entre-Deux-Mers, which is an appellation designated for strictly white wines; the red wines of the region are entitled to the appellation Bordeaux Contrôlée. If their yield is below a certain point and their alcohol level half a degree higher (12.5%), they are entitled to the appellation Bordeaux Supérieur Contrôlée. 

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Comprised of Xarel·lo with a nearly equal amount of Macabeu. The wine is fermented in oak barrels, marked by notes of ripe fruits married to a lively citrus-infused backbone: the height of elegance. Aged a minimum of 7 years on the lees. 94 points Decanter  The 2014 vintage of the estate's flagship sparkling wine saw 68 months of lees ageing. A blend of 56% Xarel-lo and 44% Macabeo, it's more sweet-spiced on the nose compared to the 2017 vintage, with still-fresh green and yellow apples and hints of crushed almonds. Bone-dry on the palate with 5.1g/l of acidity. Elegant and textured, the crunchy green fruits are enriched by bruised apple and sourdough notes, leading to a long finish. (SW)  (11/2022)

Read more less

Philipponnat’s Royale Réserve Brut is one of the most traditional of non-vintage Champagnes. It’s a blend primarily of Pinot Noir grapes from the southern slopes of the fabled Montagne de Rheims – Champagne’s greatest vineyards – to which lesser amounts of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier are added. Full, rich, and dry, Philipponnat’s Royale Réserve truly lives up to its reputation as a connoisseur’s Champagne. Royale Réserve is bright in color and redolent in aroma with the scents of apple, apricot, currant, freshly baked bread, nutmeg, and citrus zest. Moreover, it comes across as immediately gratifying. In the mouth, this delicately beaded Champagne caresses the palate as it continues to offer a wealth of creamy flavors and a textured, sophisticated feel before making a grand exit. Fresh, deep, and uncommonly persistent for non-vintage Champagne, the Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut provides ideal drinking in the traditional style of grand Champagnes. We suggest serving this fine Champagne fairly well-chilled (38º – 40º F) and exercising caution when opening.

Read more less