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Scented with osmanthus blossoms, this Tie Guan Yin oolong tea from Xianyou County, China, has notes of apricot, cucumber, and custard apples.

The delicate apricot notes complement roasted duck, seared scallops, and grilled sea bass, while its creamy undertones provide an elegant contrast to apple crumble or fresh goat cheese and honey.

The 2016 Angelus is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, aged 18 to 22 months in new barrels and foudres. Deep garnet-purple colored, it drifts effortlessly out of the glass with sensuous notes of lavender, candied violets, garrigue, Ceylon tea and iron ore with a core of warm black cherries, mulberries, ripe plums and aniseed plus wafts of cedar chest and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the perfumed fruit whispers of great intensity and depth, with the vivacious fruit well knit into the plush, seductive frame of velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Still very tightly wound with amazing tension at this stage, it truly needs a good 6-8 more years in bottle to deliver the fully expressed layers that this soft-spoken, profound beauty promises.

The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is another second wine that tastes more like a grand vin. Made from 51.3% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it too is deeply colored and has a classic Haut Brion bouquet of minerals, crushed rocks, cassis, graphite, and violet. With medium to full-bodied richness, good concentration, building tannins, and impeccable balance, it’s more supple and sexy that it’s big brother yet still has the balance, structure, and depth to keep for two decades. It’s a stunning wine in its own right.

A blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored, 2017 Palmer gives a very serious nose of pronounced blackcurrant cordial, warm plums and blackberry preserves with hints of cedar chest, pencil shavings, violets, dark chocolate and star anise plus exotic wafts of sandalwood and cassia. Medium-bodied, the palate features fantastically vibrant, crunchy black fruits with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. It will need a good 5-7 years to really blossom with all those tightly wound nuances, but it should be a stunner! 

Scented with jasmine blossoms, this green tea from Fuding, in Fujian province, China, has a delicate floral aroma and notes of apple sherbet, lychee, and vanilla, making it a refreshing aperitif.

Pairs well with creamy desserts, spicy Asian salads or elderflower jellies

Composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, yields for the grand vin in 2017 were 43 hectoliters per hectare, and it was aged in 60% new oak. It came in at an alcohol of 13% and an IPT of 68. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cos d’Estournel needs a little coaxing to unfurl, revealing beautiful expressions of preserved plums, boysenberries, blackcurrant pastilles and wild blueberries with hints of Indian spices, menthol, lilacs and mossy tree bark plus a compelling suggestion of iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and well-knit freshness supporting the tightly wound blue and black fruits layers, finishing long and fragrant. This wine will need a good 5-7 years in bottle before it begins to blossom and should go on for at least another 40 years. I expect this wine to be a blockbuster of a head-turner when I come back and taste it at 10 years of age!

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

Polished, high toned aromas of buttery caramel, artisan chocolate covered apricots and apples, anise, and roasted nuts. A rich yet supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity full body of dense dried fruit, nut, sweet spice, chocolate, and cigar box flavors. Finishes with an exceptionally long finish of toffee, leather, chocolate covered espresso bean, anise cookies, tobacco, and lavish brown spices. A gentle giant of a cognac to contemplate and savor. An ideal cigar Cognac.

The VSOP with the deepest floral aromas in the category. Featuring in its blend some of the best eaux-de-vie from the Borderies Cru, our VSOP distinguishes itself for the high level of Terpenols, resulting into unmatched scents of fine flowers.

On the palate, Legado Carmenere Reserva delivers layers of dark plum, black cherry, and subtle hints of green pepper, framed by refined tannins and a gentle touch of oak. Its medium to full body, silky texture, and lingering finish make it versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with roasted meats, hearty stews, and mature cheeses. This wine exemplifies De Martino’s dedication to producing wines that honor tradition while embracing modern winemaking finesse.

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

Remy Martin VSOP embodies the perfect harmony of powerful and elegant aromas. It is the symbol of the Cellar Master’s art of blending. Dominant notes of vanilla thanks to longer ageing in French Limousin oak barrels, followed by ripe apricot, baked apple, and an elegant floral note. A perfect harmony between the firm character of ripe fruit and subtle notes of liquorice, offering a great complexity of elegant and powerful aromas. Well-balanced, structured, and multi-layered, it combines the roundness of ripe fruit with a silky texture.

The 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion, crafted with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Fresh, silky and inviting, the Chapelle is all class. Floral notes lead into a core of expressive red cherry and plum fruit. Medium in body, silky and exquisite in its balance, the 2016 has so much to recommend it. I would prefer to give the wine a few years in bottle to allow a broader range of aromas and flavors to develop, but even today, the Chapelle is gorgeous. The 21% Cabernet Franc in the blend adds striking brightness and perfume throughout.

Wine Advocate: 94Pts; James Suckling: 94Pts; Jeb Dunnuck: 94Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 93Pts; Wine Spectator: 93Pts; Vinous: 92Pts

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.