Wine & Spirits

Winemaker Notes Pale yellow with the greenish tint typical of the Furmint grape. Fresh and aromatic with hints of white flowers and grapefruit. A palate of exotic fruits with pear and quince followed by a lingering mineral, salty finish. Refreshingly elegant. Perfect as an aperitif or with light fare.

Read more less

Sourced from the Tenuta La Meirana in the Gavi di Gavi DOCG. The oldest document which states the origin of the name “Gavi” is preserved at the record Office in Genova mentions vineyard and chestnut woods on a spot called Meirana. That document dates back to 971 A.D.The Cortese varietal grape vines here average 30 years of age. After hand harvest, the grapes are fermented in Stainless steel tanks and aged there on the lees 6 months before bottling.James Suckling scored this 91 points saying "Lightly honeyed lemon aromas with hints of dried herbs and orange zest. Full-bodied with a dense, silky mineral underlay to the bright, lemony flavors. Despite the density here, it remains bright through the long finish. Drink now."

Read more less

The grapes go directly to press with no sulfur added and from the press the juice is moved to tank to cold settle for 48 hours before going to barrel on its fine lees. The barrels are 5 year old french barriques, a combination of Francois Freres, Damy, and Rousseau, including one Rousseau Puncheon (500L), so they provide a neutral vessel that is not imparting flavor or tannin, but the micro-oxygenation that the wine needs to develop. The wine was gently stirred once a month during primary fermentation. Malolactic fermentation completed late winter and then was sulfured around 30ppm. The wine was racked out of barrel into tank to settle over night to be bottled the following day. 11.7% abv.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes:  Chateau Cheval Blanc is one of the greatest and most famous wine estates in the world. The winery is located in the right bank of Bordeaux, in Saint-Emilion, which is known for its rolling hills, ancient vineyards, and exceptional wine production. The winery is committed to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. They use traditional winemaking techniques, such as fermenting the grapes in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, to produce wines that are both expressive and balanced.CRITICAL ACCLAIMDecanter - "Love this wine, and it has taken a leap in depth and character since the addition of Sémillion as of the 2018 vintage. Fleshy citrus comes through in the rich texture and a contrasting scrape of fresh acidities pulls everything in. Gooseberry and lime zest flavours pick up the pace with a bright Sauvignon Blanc character, all balanced out by the steadying hand of Sémillon. A clean finish, this is an excellent vintage of this wine."

Read more less

Winemaker Notes This Chardonnay reflects AXR's commitment to quality wines and their trust in the palate of Winemaker/Partner, Jean Hoefliger. This Chardonnay provides a well-rounded and balanced display of the varietal with vibrancy, acid, minerality and fruit. Elegant and plush with aromas of toasted bread, blood orange, caramel, vanilla and white flowers. The palate has a round entrance evolving on vanilla, apricot jam, tangerine, yellow cherries, tiramisu and delicate spice. Critical Acclaim James Suckling Aromas of smoke, jasmine, peach and marmalade on toast. Almond-skin flavors, too. It’s full-bodied and creamy with crisp acidity. Complex layers of toasted nuts and ripe fruit. Elegant. Drink or hold. Wine Enthusiast An impressive white that is balanced between fruit, acidity and oak, this appellation wine offers a creamy, cohesive center that is both pretty and complex. Baking spice elements adorn layers of apple, apricot and Meyer lemon flavor that are rich yet fresh.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Located in Mâcon, two parcels of this vineyard were purchased by Domaine Leflaive in 2003. It is made up of vines as old as 85 years and grows on shallow calcareous clay, resulting in a slightly more complex, fuller-bodied bottling from Mâcon-Village. Hand harvested, sorted, and pressed in Mâcon, the wine is decanted overnight and then brought back to Puligny for both fermentation and aging at the Domaine. The wine ages 12 months in oak (20% new) then 6 months in stainless steel vat before bottling. 

Read more less

Producer tasting notes: "The resulting wine is a wine of great purity, both floral and mineral, which gives off a lot of energy and liveliness." - Domaine Leflaive

Read more less

95 points James Suckling: "Extremely aromatic, with intense flint, dried lemon and white peach. Crushed stone, too. Full-bodied with layered and creamy tannins that show super length and depth. Exciting to drink now but will age beautifully. (8/9/22)"94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Chardonnay VGW is fresh with white flowers, orange peel, and light flint. It has more tension on the palate, with fresh lime, delicate vanillin spice, and lasting floral notes on the back end. True to the vintage, it is a bit more subtle in its personality. although I think this will be an incredible wine as it matures over the next 10 or more years. Drink: 2024-2034. (Aug 2022)"

Read more less

Winemaker Notes:  "On average more freshness and linearity are found in this vineyard. The wine shows the classic Badenhorst hallmarks of old wood, moderate alcohol and stony minerality. Taut, saline and very focused, it’s a deliciously refreshing Chenin Blanc."  Review: I decanted this in the morning and then back into the bottle for MWW The extra air made a huge difference On the nose, apple, peach, dried straw, spice, touch of smoke So beautifully balanced with creamy texture from the long lees aging Yellow peach, under ripe pineapple, apple tart tatin, quince jelly Chamomile, ginger High acidity Lovely saline finish, which I often find in Swartland Chenin But the finish was immense, it just went on and on --Lisa Harlow

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Clear and bright with young greenish tones. An expansive aroma, with notes of ripe mango, nectarine and hints of well-ripened citrus fruit. This fruitiness is also present on the palate, alongside a balanced acidity that provides great freshness, as well as balance. This wine has a harmonious, fruity finish. The profile of this wine allows for immediate consumption, but it will evolve positively in the bottle for at least 3 years. The profile of this wine makes it an ideal accompaniment for fish dishes, fresh salads and seafood. It is also a wonderful aperitif. Its freshness makes it very suitable for drinking outside of mealtimes.

Read more less