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Deep, dense colour with glints of violet. Very expressive nose with black fruit and subtle notes of toast. On the palate, the attack is powerful, dense and structured. The mid-palate is full-bodied, with a fine, well-balanced tannic structure. The finish has plenty of volume with superbly ripened tannins, while remaining elegant and refined, thanks to the quality of the grapes of this exceptional vintage.

Made from 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc brought up in plenty of new oak, its ruby/plum color is followed by an awesome bouquet of blackberry jam, smoked meats, licorice, truffle, and hints of chocolate. Thick, opulent, super ripe, and decadent, with a full-bodied mouthfeel that needs to be tasted to be believed, it still stays balanced and fresh on the palate and is already impossible to resist. It’s going to keep for 3+ decades.

Sena 2020 is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot, aged for 22 months in 90% French oak barrels (78% new) and 10% Foudres.  With a deep and beautiful garnet-red colour with violet hues, it presents complexity on the nose with multiple layers of fresh red-fruit aromas such as cherries and raspberries accompanied by violets and pleasing touches of dill and rosemary, all framed by light notes of sweet spices.  The palate shows young fruits, more sweet spices, and smooth balsamic tones. It is fresh and juicy with elegant  ne-grained tannins that create to a silky and pleasing sensation.  The 2020 vintage of Seña shows elegance and balance with an ample and profound finish.

Falstaff: 97Pts; Descorchados: 97Pts; Robert Parker: 97Pts; Tim Atkin: 96Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 95Pts

Crafted from organically-grown grapes

Order 6 bottles, and receive the original wooden box

The production of Montes Alpha M is extremely limited and vintages are only released if our head winemaker, Aurelio Montes considers the quality of the wine to be of a good enough standard. Production starts by selecting individual grapes at harvest time. This wine, from the Apalta Valley (a sub-region of Colchagua), is one of the best and most awarded Chilean wines.

A blend of 86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Chateau Clos Fourtet comes all from the upper limestone plateau and spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort offers a rocking perfume of ripe black raspberries, cassis, crushed stone, chocolate, and flowery incense. Powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it’s beautifully done, has ripe, present tannins, and a great finish. It ranks with the gems in this solid vintage and will benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. 

The 2016 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new oak. It has a generous, well defined licorice-tinged fruit that is very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and boysenberry fruit with that salted licorice theme continuing. This Clos Fourtet has impressive concentration, yet there is real elegance and persistence, fanning out wonderfully towards the finish. Mathieu Cuvelier has overseen another outstanding Clos Fourtet. Tasted twice, with a second bottle demonstrating a tad more backbone but equally admirable.

Miguel Torres Chile is a prestigious winery founded by the renowned Torres family from Spain. Situated in the heart of Chile's wine country, this esteemed estate combines centuries of winemaking tradition with the unique terroir of the Chilean landscape.

With a focus on sustainability and innovation, Miguel Torres Chile is dedicated to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The winery's commitment to quality and integrity has earned it a reputation as one of Chile's premier wine producers, delighting wine enthusiasts around the world with its portfolio of outstanding wines.

‘Buio Buio’ is is deep ruby red in color withcherry highlights. There are complex aromas of red berry fruit and blossoms, balsamic notes, and hints of spices and new oak on the nose. It is rich, full-bodied and well-balanced on the palate with elegant tannins and a long, lingering finish. Pairs well with first courses of game, red meat stews, and aged cheeses.

Wine Enthusiast: 91Pts; Decanter: 90Pts

A bouquet of fruity and citrus notes of citron are accompanied by fine floral accents. The nose possesses both the crisp qualities of green apples and the sweetness of ripe apricots. In the mouth, rich and persistent notes of ripe summer fruits lead the way for lingering and fresh citrusy finish.

The Rialzi single vineyard is located at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level and beyond, laid out over three terraces with alberese soils and a south-western exposure. After careful work in the vineyard, the Sangiovese grapes were carefully harvested by hand. Fruit of a careful handpicked selection, the wine was matured for 36 months, of which 24 were spent in barriques.

The 2018 Rialzi is a bright and deep ruby-red colour with light garnet highlights. Its bouquet is extremely broad yet elegant. The notes of undergrowth are particularly prominent, accompanied by fruity hints of sour cherry. Among the floral notes, rose dominates, alongside spicy scents of juniper and cinnamon. The nose is finished with delicate tertiary notes, perfectly integrated into the body of the wine. Balanced, warm and dry in the mouth. The tannins are soft and silky. An extremely long and persistent finish.

WinesCritic.com: 94Pts; James Suckling: 92Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 90Pts

Crafted from substainably-grown grapes, certified by Agriqualita

This is stunning. Troplong never has trouble conjuring up wonderfully rich fruit, but here it is plump and dense without being pumped up. The tannins are chewy rather than chalky, but the elegance of the vintage is unmistakable, and the rich chocolate flavours are dusted with mint. There is a very pretty salinity on the finish that lasts for minutes. I had a fascinating visit here at the start of the week, and retasted several times as this is a wine that I sometimes have trouble understanding. My main takeout is that the majority of the richness here is found naturally in the terroir – limestone on the plateau but with cool clay over the top, which explains why they are such late harvesters. But there are always winemaking and viticultural choices coming into play in any wine, and here there are adjustments being made to bring out a more finely wrought version of what is always a high impact and successful wine. Yields are higher this year, up at 48hl/ha, which helps, as does the style of the vintage and quieter extraction in the cellar, but Troplong remains true to itself.

A superbly stylish cognac whose name refers to the old French saying, ‘Noblesse Oblige’. Martell Noblige is intended for those who prize the natural dignity of a great cognac. The bottle’s contemporary design carries strong cues of elegance and sophistication. A masculine and elegant cognac, expressive of the fruit’s smooth and generous sensuality balanced with complex wood notes.

The 2017 Gruaud Larose was picked from 15 to 20 September for the Merlot and from 21 to 3 October for the Cabernets, fermented in wood and cement tanks and aged in French oak, 80% new for 18 to 24 months. Quite deep in colour, it has an introverted bouquet at first that demands a lot of coaxing from the glass. There are notes of black cherry, iodine and just a touch of pencil lead. The palate is medium-bodied with finely balanced. An unpretentious but pretty Gruaud Larose that is benefitted by what is clearly a prudent extraction. The oak is neatly integrated with a linear, almost pastille-like finish and quite a sustained aftertaste. Drink 2022 – 2040. 

No57 of Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of 2020

The 2017 Chateau Pape Clement Blanc showed spectacularly well and is one of the wines (if not the wine) of the vintage. Based on 55% Sauvignon and 45% Semillon aged 14 months in barrel, it offers powerful notes of honeyed melon, tart pineapple, green figs, and floral notes as well as a terrific sense of minerality. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, with rocking levels of acidity, give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.

The 2017 Chateau L’Evangile is 100% Merlot, and 2017 is the first time this cuvee has not included some other variety. Aged 16 months in 75% new barrels, it’s a ripe, powerful L’Evangile loaded with chocolate-laced black fruits, mocha, toasted spice, and subtle oak. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has plenty of oomph and power, yet stays flawlessly balanced and even elegant. It’s a stunning example from the vintage that’s going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades.

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old single malt whisky has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. To create the ideal finish Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE filled American oak casks with his own blend of select West Indian rums. 

Hand-picked, whole berries and whole bunches with pre and post maceration, matured on its lees in French barriques. It's got bold perfume, hallmark cherry and cranberry fruit characters, a sketch of dried herbs, black pepper, charry spices and some new leather characters. While pinot descriptors roll off the tongue, per se, there's also a darker, more brooding note in the wine, a teetering into dry red territory over more pure and flowing pinosity - a niggle for some seeking gloss and silkiness over a more guttural, firm experience

International Wine Challenge: Gold medal - 95 points; The Wine Front: 91Pts, The Halliday Wine Companion: 90 Pts

This pinot has a brilliant ruby color with elegant flavors of red fruits, cherries and blackcurrants. Spicy notes lead to a finish that shows elegance and balance, while the fruit and subtle oak show the nobility of Pinot Noir.

Crafted from organically-grown grapes