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Grace & Power
Graci ‘Arcurìa’ Nerello Mascelese 2019
Nerello Mascalese | Etna, Sicily
There's an incredible diversity of styles across Etna, Arcurìa, is divine, delicate, perfumed, resting firmly in the feminine camp! The Arcurìa is beautifully fine and long, with a sense of grace and delicious perfume that entrances. Essential to give it a decanter and plenty of time for it to show you its full potential. Boy, when it does you go to a happy place.Graci, are, killing it! These are refined wines, beautifully balanced, elegant, with amazing textures, and, entrancing perfumes.
$102
$97ea in any 3+
$92ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta 890 Gran Reserva 2010
Red Blend | Spain, Haro
Thrilled to be able to offer my thoughts on this special wine. Lunch with the full current release set from La Rioja Alta was thrilling. The wines are a demonstration of respect for the past and judicious use of modern technology combined with an approach that offer a style reminiscent of a refreshed classic. No fads here!A seamless, harmonious delight. Superb secondary to tertiary development whilst maintaining exceptional freshness for a wine aged this long. Earthy and savoury with faint l
$575
$555ea in any 3+
$535ea in any 6+
Roda ‘I’ Blue Note Tempranillo Riserva 2009
Red Blend | Spain, Haro
If 2008 felt cool and Atlantic, the 2009 Roda I could be described as Mediterranean, from a warm and healthy vintage. Here they aim for black fruit character while the regular Roda should show red fruit. The grapes are sourced from over 30-year-old vines and is mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Graciano. It matured in first and second use French oak barrels for 16 months. It's a warm vintage, without reaching the heights of 2011, but there was some stress in the peak of the summer, which in some w
$385
$365ea in any 3+
$345ea in any 6+
Tasting this in Apr 2024 it showed sophistication refinement of tannin, stunning flow and harmony. Deeply layered and delicious. A note differing to Guitiérrez' and perhaps a factor of being some 2 years older when tasted. Delicious.The 2018 Roda I is in line with the other 2018s, lower alcohol, grainier tannins and a little more earthy rusticity that to me translates into more character and less polished wines. This was a blend of 92% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano and 2% Garnacha from 30+-y
$242
$232ea in any 3+
$222ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva Selección Especial 2015
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
Thrilled to be able to offer my thoughts on this special wine. Lunch with the full current release set from La Rioja Alta was thrilling. The wines are a demonstration of respect for the past and judicious use of modern technology combined with an approach that offer a style reminiscent of a refreshed classic. No fads here!Exceptional depth and length, wonderful core of vibrant red fruit flowing through with great persistence. Building the secondary proportion of flavours to fruit over the A
$265
$255ea in any 3+
$245ea in any 6+
Lava Juice!
Buscemi Contrada Tartaraci Rosso 2019
Red Blend | Sicily, Etna
Buscemi's 'Tartaraci' is blended with a splash of Grenache Buscemi's single vineyard red from the Contrada of Tartaraci lies at an elevation of 980m above sea level expect elegances and perfume! It has a good slug of Grenache in it running at upto 30%.
The Contrada Tartaraci Rosso IGP, not produced in 2018, the 2019 is a return to a Nerello dominant wine, with the earlier drinking il Rosso 2019, retaining a higher ratio of Granaccia (Grenache) in the blend.
This wine always shows great touch.
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 2019
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced
$109
$104ea in any 3+
$99ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva HALF 2019
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced
$62
$59ea in any 3+
$56ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva MAGNUM 2019
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced
$219
$209ea in any 3+
$199ea in any 6+
Remelluri Rioja Reserva 2015
Spain, Alavesa
The estate red 2015 Reserva was produced with Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from their 86 hectares of vineyards. It's from an early harvest after a warm and dry year that achieved perfect ripeness with some rain at the end of the cycle. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and oak vats and matured in barrel for 21 months. It combines youth with development, power with elegance and comes through as clean and defined, with a medium to full-bodied palate, focused flavors and
$125
$120ea in any 3+
$115ea in any 6+
Artuke ‘El Escolladero’ Rioja Tinto 2021
Red Blend | Spain, Alavesa
The flow, harmony, fine long fruit and acid entranced. An edgy grip works well in a cleansing way. Super juicy, fine, refreshing with so much energy, vibrant and long. This will settle into something delicious. Savoury, meaty play going on, building into some forest floor. Tightly wound with plenty more to come. This is well worth having a look at, a demonstration of the new Rioja!El Escolladero is a vineyard planted in 1950 in the village of Ábalos at 660 meters in altitude. As with mo
$181
$174ea in any 3+
$167ea in any 6+
Artuke ‘El Escolladero’ Rioja Tinto 2022
Red Blend | Spain, Alavesa
A blend of Tempranillo and Graciano. Exceptionally long, fine and fresh with a stunning elegant acid line. Beautifully balanced. Red to blue fruits with a little licorice. Darkness with the red fruit layering over the top. The faintest lick of oak will undoubtedly be lapped up in just a short time. Layered and flowing. I’d love to see the tannins in 3-5 years and the expression. This is well worth having a look at. A demonstration of the new Rioja!El Escolladero is a vineyard plan
$183
$176ea in any 3+
$169ea in any 6+
Bodegas Urbina Reserva Especial 2006
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
Well, here's something a little bit tasty. 17+ year old Rioja and in fine form. Access to gear with a little age on it is a treat! Urbina Reserva Especial 2006 is one of those wines that you can just nuzzle into, calming, reassuring, delicious.Plush, luscious, super fine, long tannins wrap a core of vibrant, ripe fruit layered with savoury, earthy, truffles and tea. A saline lick matching fine acid to give us a fresh, thirst-quenching wine. The complexity and secondary development here offer
$93
$89ea in any 3+
$85ea in any 6+
Bodegas Urbina Gran Reserva Especial 2004
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
Urbina's 2004 Gran Reserva shows excellent development. One of those wines that requires some patience in the glass, building freshness with the passing of time. At the core fresh vibrant fruit and zippy acidity are at play. A little reduction blows of to reveal wonderful savoury flavours and an excellent mouthfeel with playful grip. A little sappiness and wild edge adding complexity.Loads of fun to be had here!Deep garnet. Aromas of ripe red berries, cherry pit and succulent herbs a
$140
$135ea in any 3+
$130ea in any 6+
Remelluri Rioja Granja Reserva 2015
Spain, Alavesa
The 2015 Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha from their estate vineyards. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in barrels of different origins and sizes for 27 to 29 months. The wine shows superb, an undated style of Gran Reserva, using grapes from the three different valleys they have in Remelluri to create their grand vin. It has a classical style, but the oak and the evolution is slower, and the texture shows more of the limestone from the soils. Th
$250
$240ea in any 3+
$230ea in any 6+
Vajra Barolo ‘Bricco delle Viole’ 2020
Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
The 2020 Barolo Bricco delle Viole, Vajra's flagship, is very fine. Dark cherry, kirsch, blood orange, spice and lavender are nicely amplified. The 2020 is gracious and elegant, but its youthful Nebbiolo tannins will require some time to soften. The 2020 is another wine that captures my keen interests with its sublime balance. I would be thrilled to own it.Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 Points ML 95
$199
$192ea in any 3+
$185ea in any 6+
Vajra Barolo ‘Bricco delle Viole’ MAGNUM 2020
Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
The 2020 Barolo Bricco delle Viole, Vajra's flagship, is very fine. Dark cherry, kirsch, blood orange, spice and lavender are nicely amplified. The 2020 is gracious and elegant, but its youthful Nebbiolo tannins will require some time to soften. The 2020 is another wine that captures my keen interests with its sublime balance. I would be thrilled to own it.Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 Points ML 95
$425
$410ea in any 3+
$395ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva HALF 2017
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
Thrilled to be able to offer my thoughts on this special wine. Lunch with the full current release set from La Rioja Alta was thrilling. The wines are a demonstration of respect for the past and judicious use of modern technology combined with an approach that offer a style reminiscent of a refreshed classic. No fads here!The Ardanza is a ridiculous value. Coming on 10 years old. This is very good. The harmony and grape first tannin with layering of very subtle oak that wraps rather than in
$62
$59ea in any 3+
$56ea in any 6+
La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva MAGNUM 2017
Red Blend | Spain, Alta
Thrilled to be able to offer my thoughts on this special wine. Lunch with the full current release set from La Rioja Alta was thrilling. The wines are a demonstration of respect for the past and judicious use of modern technology combined with an approach that offer a style reminiscent of a refreshed classic. No fads here!The Ardanza is a ridiculous value. Coming on 10 years old. This is very good. The harmony and grape first tannin with layering of very subtle oak that wraps rather than in
$219
$209ea in any 3+
$199ea in any 6+
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1995
Red Blend | Spain, La Rioja
Tasting the 1994 in May 2023 I was lost in the glass with the delicacy, perfume, vibrant red fruit, perfectly poised acid tannin complex. The sophistication, elegance and intoxicating perfume of the wine, simply astonishing. All from a wine held in barrel for 8 years and further 10 in bottle before release!The only current red Gran Reserva is the 1995 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva, the one that is produced exactly the same as before, including fining with egg whites and sealing with red wa
$1,090
Artuke ‘La Condenada’ Rioja Tinto 2021
Red Blend | Spain, Alavesa
Trying ‘La Conenada’s’ brother 'El Escolladero' along with a few other wines from the Artuke range was enough to convince me to grab a couple of boxes.Well it's arrived, and I can see why it is one of the Artuke's two crown jewels! The palate has exceptional shape and flow, yes it is precise! The acid ~ tannin ~ fruit ~ alcohol complex sits in perfect harmony. As with the El Escolladero there is just a little edge of grip to the mouthfeel, again in a cleansing positive way. Opening
$229
$219ea in any 3+
$209ea in any 6+
The Bold!
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Riserva ‘Gabutti’ 2008
Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo
The 2008 Riserva we see the parallels with the 2015. The long structure is there, the complexity has built further, the wine is now fully comfortable wearing it's own skin, having resolved and built generosity. Of the 2015 it was clear that there was no chance to mistake the Gabutti, with its abundance of darker things; stock, porcini, graphite, smoke and black cherry. Under this very typical Serralunga ‘tarry/earthy’ mantle though, are other complexities of dried roses, orange and spices. T
$257
$247ea in any 3+
$237ea in any 6+
The Bold!
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Riserva ‘Gabutti’ MAGNUM 2008
Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo
The 2008 Riserva we see the parallels with the 2015. The long structure is there, the complexity has built further, the wine is now fully comfortable wearing it's own skin, having resolved and built generosity. Of the 2015 it was clear that there was no chance to mistake the Gabutti, with its abundance of darker things; stock, porcini, graphite, smoke and black cherry. Under this very typical Serralunga ‘tarry/earthy’ mantle though, are other complexities of dried roses, orange and spices. T
$515
$495ea in any 3+
$475ea in any 6+
Bodegas Luis Pérez Fino Caberrubia NV Saca III
Palomino | Spain, Anadlucía
Caberrubia is Bodegas Luis Pérez's answer to NV Grand Cru Champagne! 'Caberrubia' is the name of a local bird which has returned to these vineyards since they were converted to organics. All natural alcohol. It's saline, iodine, balsamic, deeply chalky, deeply savoury, rich with balancing bitterness. Drinking it is like skiing down an intermediate slope, deep and winding but not too rushed, there's heaps of time to explore the chalk and every delicate switch and fold of texture and flavour.
$91
$87ea in any 3+
$83ea in any 6+
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Riserva ‘Parussi’ 2008
Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
Sordo's Parussi always sits on the bolder side for the Cru, which it turns out has split soil types. Theirs being on soils more similar to those of Serralunga. The resulting structure shows in the wine. The 2008 is drinking beautifully, showing darker fruits and like the other 2008 Sordos seamless, with exceptional harmony and balance.This is such a great opportunity to look at different Crus in a horizontal from one producer!Matured Barolo straight from the cellars of Sordo ... Bring It
$257
$247ea in any 3+
$237ea in any 6+
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Riserva ‘Ravera’ 2008
Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
It's fascinating the from one of Barolos Northern most Crus in Monvigliero, moving to one of the Southern most in Ravera from Novello we see two Crus that are more playful and expressive in their youth. Here we typically see supple tannins, oppulent red fruits with front to mid-palate attack. Again the metamorphosis only time can offer us really is something special.Here's a chance to see a Ravera with a decade+ of bottle age on it and find out just how it transforms!This is such a great
$257
$247ea in any 3+
$237ea in any 6+
Giovanni Sordo Barolo Riserva ‘Perno’ 2008
Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo
Perno, always the darkest and most structured on release, is perhaps the wine in the Sordo Cru lineup that goes through the most dramatic metamorphosis with time. Monforte is the least defined of the Barolo Communes, the end result is a diversity of styles. Barolo from Monforte can have incredible power, darknesss and earthiness, less reliant on fruit than other communes, in recent times we have soon producers making finer, elegant, perfumed iterations. Sordo's Perno sits in the middle, perhaps
$257
$247ea in any 3+
$237ea in any 6+
A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Spätlese Riesling 2019
Riesling | Mosel, Germany
AP 16.20 The 2019er Hofberg Spätlese, as it is referred to on the consumer label, was harvested at 93° Oechsle from vines planted in 1953 on the main hill of the vineyard, and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It proves quite backward and reductive at first, but only gradually reveals its rich and juicy nose of yellow peach, spices, golden apple, honeyed pear, and a hint of camphor. Plenty of honeyed and juicy yellow fruits give the wine some Auslese allure on the sweet pal
$89
$85ea in any 3+
$81ea in any 6+
A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Auslese Riesling 2019
Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
AP 17.20 The 2019er Hofberg Auslese, as it is referred to on the consumer label, was made with clean fruit harvested at 98° Oechsle from the main hill of the vineyard, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar. It is slightly reductive at first and needs a few minutes in the glass to reveal its ripe and engaging nose of pineapple, candied grapefruit, apricot, pear puree, honey, raspberry, and smoke. The wine is superbly playful on the richly aromatic, honeyed, and sweet pal
$114
$109ea in any 3+
$104ea in any 6+
A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Auslese* Riesling 2019
Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
AP 18.20 The 2019er Hofberg Auslese *, as it is referred to on the consumer label, is a selection of botrytized grapes (40%) harvested at 116° Oechsle from the main hill of the vineyard, and was fermented to down noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a beautifully restrained yet finely aromatic and complex nose of minty herbs, spices, candied pineapple, smoke, lead pencil, pink grapefruit, a hint of apricot, and greengage. The wine proves superbly balanced on the sweet palate, whe
$150
$143ea in any 3+
$136ea in any 6+
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