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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

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 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. 

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

Great intensity of color. Its aromas powerfully express the character of the Carmenere varietal (forest fruits, eucalyptus, and leather), with notes of torrefaction – laurel and clove – licorice and black pepper. Great fullness on the palate and robust tannins. Retro-nasal aromas of toasted bread and spices ending in a long finish.

Tim Atkin: 92Pts; Descorchados: 90Pts

The Cherry Brandy liqueur reveals all the taste of the spirit infused cherries. This delightful liqueur is a must to mix with any chocolate base. But its powerful balanced taste allows amazing before dinner creations, such as Manhattans, slings, daisies. You can also enjoy it in a simple way over ice cubes.

Created in 1886, St-Remy is the world’s number-one French brandy. St-Remy is bottled in the Loire Valley and shipped around the world! St-Remy eaux-de-vie are aged in small French Oak barrels, and, as time passes, acquire their amber colour, their body and roundness, their fruity and floral accents and light spicy notes.

It is a genuine blend of French traditions, distilled and aged until just the right moment. The Master Blender then demonstrates all her expertise in blending them, selecting the right eaux-de-vie, capturing their unique, mellow and well-rounded aromas.

Falstaff: 92Pts

The wine is matured for around 14 months in predominantly French oak barrels, adding structure and complexity while preserving freshness. Oak integration is precise, contributing subtle smoky and cedar notes, fine tannins, and a long, refined finish that elevates it above the classic Crianza style.

Points Awarded:

Hudin.com: 94Pts
Guia Penin: 91Pts
Tim Atkin: 91Pts

Thanks to the acquisition of vines planted at a place called in Pontet and the chai built in Fumet, Roger Bardet developed the first cuvées of the Pontet-Fumet castle in 1962. His grandchildren, today watch over this beautiful inheritance located in the appellation of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru: a magnificent terroir by the Dordogne from South to West Graves.Sporting a beautiful dress with garnet and ruby reflections, Château Pontet-Fumet reveals a complex and elegant nose.Silky and generous on the palate, its dense and balanced structure asserts itself by a good length.

Robert Parker: 100Pts; Falstaff: 100Pts; The Wine Cellar Insider: 100Pts; Wine Spectator: 97Pts; James Suckling: 97Pts

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.

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.

Expect a harmonious fusion of flavors, with notes of honey, vanilla, and caramel mingling with hints of dried fruits, oak spice, and subtle floral undertones. The influence of the Pineau des Charentes casks adds layers of complexity, enhancing the whisky's depth and sophistication. With its smooth and velvety texture and a lingering finish, The Balvenie 16 Years Old French Pineau Cask offers a delightful balance of sweetness, spice, and fruitiness, making it a sought-after choice for whisky enthusiasts seeking something truly unique.

An approachable yet complex wine, capturing the very best that Rioja has to give, thanks to the winemaking artistry of the Campo Viejo winemaking team. Aged for 18 months in American and French-oak casks (50%). 

Complex aromas. There is a great balance between the fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and the clean nuances coming from the wood (clove, pepper, vanilla and coconut). The nose is further enriched by the aromas that develop during bottle ageing. Smooth and balanced on the palate with a full, elegant feel and a long, lingering finish.

 
Robert Parker: 91Pts; James Suckling: 91Pts; Wine Spectator: 90Pts