Americas
The North American wine producing reputation can largely be attributed to the global fame and success of Napa Valley and Sonoma County in the United States. Although technically ‘new world’, its wines have the same devoted fan base (and often first-growth prices) as many classic European wines. Free from the shackles of European winemaking law, one can find a variety of cooler climate Cabs, Merlots, Pinots, Chardonnays and Rieslings that will entice all wine lovers.
South America is an exciting new melting pot of styles and flavours with a range of soils types and altitudes – taking international varietals and finishing with French winemaking techniques, or in the case of Argentinian Malbec, adopting a largely unloved grape and making it their own.
Americas
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Vinous (97)
The 2020 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Stones from Gualtallary, Uco Valley, was barrel-aged for 16 months. Greenish-yellow in the glass. The intense, layered nose presents bold aromas of green apple, pear, hints of linden blossom and ginger with touches of lemon and herbs. In the mouth, it’s concentrated, rooted in a lively, heightened freshness while maintaining the variety’s expansive flow, which also delivers salinity and long-lasting flavor. A thrilling white that defines this nook of the Uco Valley.$268.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2021 White Stones Chardonnay is subtler and more elegant, a little closed with moderate ripeness and alcohol (12.5%) and a mineral palate with strong chalky sensations. It might be worth reproducing their explanation about this wine, one of the finest whites in Argentina: "The term 'white stones' refers to the composition of said rows of soil, with white oval stones covered by gravel. The vineyard 'Adrianna' is planted at an altitude of almost 1,500 meters above sea level, in the district of Gualtallary in Tupungato. The stony soil prevents deep root growth, providing optimum drainage. These soils are very poor in organic matter and contribute to support vines' permanent stress conditions. The cool nights allow for very slow ripening, optimal acid retention and low yields." This is serious and tasty. 7,300 bottles produced.$268.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
At almost 5,000-feet elevation in the cool of the region, growing deep in rocky soils, the light-bodied 2022 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Stones features compellingly grippy texture that excites the palate. Like its sister, White Bones, it sees 12-16 months in used French oak barrel, coaxing a light touch of spice from the wood. Herbal, earthy, and textural above all, it sings in buzzy acidity and yet retains a refined mouthfeel of length and complex angles, digging deep into ethereal flavors of lemon rind and wet stone. Drink now through 2042. This is incredibly delicious.$276.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Wonderful aromas of blackcurrants, dark plums, mint, sage, and dried wood. Some sandalwood. Full- to medium-bodied with tannins that have the texture of fine velvet and run down the length of the wine. Extremely polished and refined. Sophisticated. Firm at the end. This will age beautifully. Pure cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2026.$1,020.00 -
The Wine Independent (99)
The single-varietal 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, from a section of the vineyard at 1,200 feet elevation and the oldest vines, is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs plenty of swirling to unlock slowly unfurling scents of blackcurrant jelly, ripe plums, and black cherries followed by hints of tar, licorice, black truffle, and lilacs plus fragrant suggestions of fertile loam and iris bulb. The full-bodied palate is super intense, with beautifully ripe grainy tannins and seamless freshness framing the densely laden black fruits, finishing long and perfumed. A breathtaking expression of the vintage and this beautiful little corner of Napa Valley! 8,000 bottles were made.$1,020.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95)
A semi-opaque, deep ruby with a purple hint, the 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvee Number Eight takes on a darker profile, with wet stone, blackberry, pepper, and grilled rosemary. Full-bodied, it brings more structure, with ripe tannins, iron-rich earth, and kirsch as well as fresh lift on the finish. Drink 2025-2035.$386.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93)
A deep transparent ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Cuvee Number One is floral with the perfume of candied violets, cola spice, and cherry preserve. Full-bodied and classic, with grenadine, pressed flowers, and vanilla spice, a soft texture, and fine tannins, drink this plush and juicy style of red over the next 4-5 years.$397.00 -
Emanating exquisite sophistication, Cattleya The Temptress 2020 is a sublime expression of artisanal California winemaking. This varietal is meticulously crafted by esteemed winemaker Bibiana González Rave in the verdant vineyards of the Russian River Valley. Taking cues from her Columbian roots and French winemaking training, Rave masterfully coaxes complexity and character from every grape.
Cattleya The Temptress 2020 is a Syrah-based wine with a hint of Viognier, a combination that tantalisingly interweaves floral elements with sumptuous dark fruit flavours. It possesses a remarkable balance of robust structure and polished tannins, brought to harmonious perfection via 14 months of French oak maturation.
In line with Cattleya's 'wine as art' ethos, each bottle is a singularly unique experience, symbolising Rave's adroit translation of terroir into taste. For the discerning wine lover, Cattleya The Temptress 2020 represents an opportunity to relish a gratifying splash of Californian viticultural virtuosity.
$397.00 -
$1,495.00 -
(2x150cl) 1995Wine Spectator (97)
Wow. This '95 Special Selection is a classic. Amazingly complex, it displays a wide range of flavors--including currant, wild berry, herb, sage, coffee and tobacco--gains in nuance, delicacy, elegance and finesse, and unveils pretty oak shadings on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 2,000 cases made.$1,435.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
A wine that's held back three months in barrel and then held a year in bottle (as is the GOK), the 2016 Syrah Armada Vineyard saw 70-80% stems and 15% new oak (both demi-muids and foudre). Slightly deeper ruby in color, it has a mix of both red and blue fruits, salt, violets, damp earth, and smoked earth. Deep, tight, backward, but just loaded with potential, it needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will be very long lived.$548.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97+)
The Armada Vineyard Syrah always reminds me of the Horsepower releases, as it’s a more masculine, earthy style of Syrah. Deep plum/purple-colored with an incredible bouquet of smoked plum, blackcurrants, tobacco, peppered meat, and violets, the 2017 hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, building structure and tannins, moderate acidity, and a great finish. It’s another wine from Baron that packs incredible richness and depth yet still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It shows the more rounded, approachable style of the vintage and will keep for 20 years or more.$544.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Part of the magic that happens with the 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is that it is opaque with neon purple edges without being inky and massive. With classic Syrah tones of smoked meat, leather, lavender, lilac and black pepper, the wine is rich with aromas of blackberry, black raspberry and smoked plum. Medium to full-bodied, the wine explodes with intention and precision on the palate, with an immaculate balance and crystal-clear focus. Brilliantly structured, the wine continues to evolve with subtle and seamlessly integrated spice tones compounded by a mineral tension and a floral lift to make this wine float across the mid-palate. The wine glides effortlessly to a long, winding finish with persistence and the elegance of silk. The vibrancy of flavor remains in the mouth long after the wine has left. For a wine this dark and this full-flavored, yet as graceful and agile on the palate as it is, you’ll be hard-pressed to put down the glass; I certainly can’t keep my hands off of it. This is stunningly beautiful, and with only 516 cases made, it should be sought after by top collectors from around the world.$1,255.00 -
Vinous (95)
(15% new oak; this was the first vineyard planted in what is now known as the Rocks District, back in 1997): Good medium-deep red. Compellingly complex, high-toned aromas of raspberry, brown spices, olive tapenade, smoked sausage, lilac and black licorice are lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully concentrated, saline wine with terrific spicy energy and delineation to its very pure raspberry and smoke flavors. Still tightly coiled but the outstanding purity and intensity of fruit here is clear. Finishes with great length and spicy lift.$341.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
Incorporating a touch more Viognier than normal, the 2014 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from the first vineyard planted in the stones region of Walla Walla. Sporting a surprisingly deep, inky color, it offers a heavenly bouquet of black olives, tobacco leaf, smoked meats, pepper, blackcurrant and black cherry notes. Deep, rich and ever changing in the glass, with incredible complexity and layers, this full-bodied masterpiece has building tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great, great finish. It's pure perfection in Syrah, and the finest vintage of this cuvee ever made. As a bonus, it’s also the largest production Syrah they produce. Bravo!$808.00 -
(3x75cl) 2012Vinous (94+)
Tight, distinctly dark aromas of blue fruits, black cherry, pepper, leather and game. Not qute as fleshy or sweet in the early going as the Cailloux but boasts an outstanding balance between its dark raspberry fruit and crushed-stone minerality. Here, too, the firm tannins are wonderfully noble and the finish extremely long, but this wine will need longer in the cellar to express itself.$524.00 -
Vinous (93+)
Healthy dark red. Musky, Old World scents of bloody steak, minerals, olive tapenade, wild herbs and soy sauce. Densely packed and sweeter in the early going than the En Chambertin, with notes of spices and peat moss that reminded me of a Côte de Nuits wine. Pliant in texture but still quite reserved--and not at all a sweet style. The tannins are a bit youthfully tough and a bit less noble than those of the 2012 version, but this distinctly savory wine is dense and deep. The rocky character of this very stony vineyard really comes through in 2013.$330.00 -
Vinous (95+)
(13.4% alcohol): Explosive aromas and flavors of raspberry, smoked meat, woodsmoke, bacon fat, truffle and black olive, along with notes of minerals and bloody steak. Densely packed but juicy and almost magically light on its feet, with strong smoky minerality contributing to the impression of inner-mouth tension. Like a great Cote-Rotie in its sappiness and spicy lift. Finishes with a whiplash of flavor and subtle building length. Christophe Baron used just 10% new to age this wine as well as the En Cerise and Cailloux, letting his extraordinary sites speak for themselves.$488.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2018 Tempranillo Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard may be the best Tempranillo botting I have tasted from Cayuse Vineyards. The wine broods in the glass. Aromatically, you’re greeted by a brilliant core of dark fruits with tobacco leaf, black tea and tar tones. The palate is soft and generous with a sensuous mouthfeel. Even with 50% new large-format French oak, this doesn’t get close to being overly oaked. Silky and elegant to savor now, it has a really long life ahead of it. This is in a league all its own for North American Tempranillo.$396.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Wine Advocate (96)
Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Hellenthal Old Shop Block comes from the Hellenthal vineyard, contiguous to the Hirsch property. The "Old Shop Block" contains the oldest self-rooted Pinot Noir vines on the Sonoma Coast. The nose is like a flower unfurling, beginning with floral perfume, segueing to tea leaves and nori and again to rhubarb and blackberry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is still tightly wound at this early stage but features loads of crunchy, spicy fruits with a gently chalky frame and long, layered and fresh finish.$524.00 -
The Ceritas Peter Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 epitomises exquisite craftsmanship from the esteemed Ceritas estate in the renowned Barossa Valley. Sourced from meticulously selected vineyards, the grapes benefit from the region’s optimal climate and rich, well-drained soils. Under the expert guidance of Peter Martin Ray, the wine undergoes a meticulous vinification process, including cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve vibrant fruit flavours. It is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, imparting subtle vanilla and spice notes while allowing the robust character of the Cabernet to flourish. The result is a deeply concentrated wine with layers of blackcurrant, plum, and hints of tobacco, complemented by finely integrated tannins and a persistent, elegant finish. Ceritas Peter Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 exemplifies the harmony between traditional winemaking techniques and innovative practices, showcasing the producer’s dedication to quality and expression of terroir. Ideal for both immediate enjoyment and cellaring, this Cabernet is a distinguished addition to any fine wine collection.
$860.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jeb Dunnuck (95)
Coming from the pure shale soils of a site perched 1800 feet above the fog line, the 2020 Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray is more savory and compact, with white mushroom, peach skin, and a slate-like minerality. The palate is rounder and has a more glycerin feel relative to the rest, with pineapple, orange blossom, and beeswax. Drink over the next 10 or more years.$455.00 -
(6x75cl) 2017The Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay 2017 is a majestic specimen, elegantly crafted from old-vine Chardonnay grapes from the iconic Porter Bass vineyard in Russian River Valley, California. The vineyard is managed with a rigorous Biodynamic programme, producing grapes in harmonious alignment with nature. Created by renowned husband-and-wife team, John and Phoebe Raytek, Ceritas is reputed for its exceptional focus on terroir expression.
This 2017 Chardonnay reveals a complex profile of fresh citrus, crunchy green apple and mineral undertones. Reflective of its cool-climate origin, acidity is superbly poised, providing a lively counterpoint to the wine's rich, unctuous texture. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine displays just a whisper of toasted brioche, allowing the pristine fruit character to retain the limelight. With its persistent, resonating finish, the Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay 2017 is an embodiment of California's remarkable viticulture capabilities.
$564.00 -
Renowned for its exceptional character, the Ceritas Bailhache Sauvignon Blanc 2020 hails from the prestigious winemaker Ceritas, set within the heart of California's esteemed Sonoma Coast. Each bottle encapsulates the ideal maritime climate and diverse soil, which culminate to produce nuanced acidity levels and complex flavour profiles. The Ceritas Bailhache Sauvignon Blanc 2020 boasts a vibrant mix of ripe citrus, stone fruits, and subtle mineral undertones, underpinned by a lively crispness that makes it exceedingly palatable.
The esteemed winemaker, John Raytek, adheres strictly to organic farming methods and minimalist winemaking; this approach lets the unique terroir of each carefully chosen vineyard express itself fully within the wine. Grown on mature vines that grace the high slopes of the Bailhache Vineyard, each grape is meticulously handpicked at peak ripeness, simultaneously ensuring the utmost quality and preserving the delicate balance of the wine.
Indulge in the Ceritas Bailhache Sauvignon Blanc 2020, an embodiment of the complexity and elegance of Californian terroir.
$272.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (95)
From the DuMOL’s GVR Estate Vineyard, the medium straw-hued 2021 Chardonnay Carex is savory and briny, bringing forward more richness and broadness with its aromas of chamomile, yellow pear, and savory broth. On the palate, it has outstanding texture and tension, is packed with ripe yellow apple and fresh earth, and has a crunchy texture and a long finish. Drink 2024-2036.$511.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95)
The 2022 Chardonnay Carex comes from a slightly colder vineyard than TBH and takes a silver/yellow hue in the glass. On opening, it reveals lovely, savory aromatics of candle wax, fresh apple, lemon balm, and crushed stone. Medium-bodied, it’s fantastic on the palate, with notes of rocky earth, a great mineral texture, fresh, mouthwatering lift, and great length. Drink it over the coming 12 or so years.$489.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Jeb Dunnuck (96)
The 2023 Chardonnay Carex is a bright straw/yellow color. It has delicate, fresh reduction and is refreshing and expressive, with aromas of sea spray, jasmine, lemon balm, and elegant toasted spice. The palate has fantastic structure and is laser-focused and refreshing, with brilliant transparency and a chalky texture. Carex comes from the DuMOL estate and the Wente Hyde selection of Chardonnay, planted with meter-by-meter spacing. Drink 2026-2038.$475.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
From an esteemed vineyard planted in the 1980s, the 2022 Chardonnay Charles is a highly appealing and attractive wine out of the gate. On opening, it pours a bright silver straw hue and is forward and highly expressive with notes of salted pineapple, fresh citrus blossoms, orange zest, and lifted mineral accents. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it boasts wonderful fresh, juicy intensity through the palate. It is emblematic of the 2022 vintage, which offers a wide drinking window, as it’s a pleasure to drink now, and it should have some real longevity over the coming 10-12 years.$489.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Colima, a blend from five different vineyards, pours a deep ruby hue and offers pure, layered, red-fruited aromas of fruit punch and framboise along with pine and pencil shaving. The palate reveals fine tannins, with outstanding refinement of structure, notes of ripe redcurrant, gravelly earth, and forest herbs, and fresh acidity throughout. This vibrant and high-toned, energetic wine captures what Cab from Sonoma can be all about.$563.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Ceritas Costalina Pinot Noir 2021 exemplifies the pinnacle of Californian winemaking. Cultivated in the esteemed Costalina region, this Pinot Noir benefits from the area's cool maritime climate and well-drained soils, fostering optimal grape ripening. Hand-harvested with meticulous care, the grapes are sorted and fermented using a combination of native yeasts and selected French oak barrels, enhancing complexity and depth. The wine undergoes a 12-month ageing process, allowing subtle integration of oak influences without overpowering the varietal character. On the nose, Ceritas Costalina Pinot Noir 2021 unveils vibrant aromas of red cherries, wild strawberries, and a whisper of forest floor. The palate is gracefully structured, presenting silky tannins, balanced acidity, and layers of raspberry compote and gentle spice. Produced by the acclaimed Ceritas Winery, renowned for their sustainable viticultural practices and dedication to quality, this vintage stands as a testament to their expertise and passion for crafting exceptional Pinot Noir. Ideal for pairing with fine cuisine or savoring on its own, it embodies elegance and sophistication.
$283.00
