Solaia, which means the 'sunny one' in Italian, is a 10 hectares (25 acres) southwest-facing vineyard planted 351-396 metres (1,150-1,300 feet) above sea-level on stony calcareous soil of marl and friable albarese rock. It is located at Santa Cristina, contiguous to the Tignanello vineyard, which is on the same property, in the Mercatale Val di Pesa zone of Chianti Classico. Antinori first produced a single-vineyard wine from these vines with the 1978 vintage (which was a limited release only in Italy); the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, which was repeated in 1979. During following vintages, 20% Sangiovese was introduced and small adjustments were made (according to vintage) to the proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc used, to arrive at today's blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 20% Sangiovese.
Belle Glos by Caymus showcases distinctive Pinot Noirs produced from some of California’s top wine-growing regions. The vineyard locations can all be described as coastal, but the climate differences are significant, depending on the amount of fog, wind, sunlight, and soil type at each site.
Each wine is crafted to distill the purest essence of the vineyard into elegant expressions of California Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Joseph Wagner chose the name Belle Glos (pronounced BELL GLOSS) to honor his grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, a co-founder of Caymus Vineyards.
The 2007 Sigrid Chardonnay is both unfined and unfiltered and bottled directly from tank after a long, cool and slow fermentation and 12 months on its lees in new French Oak Barrels, neutral French Oak Barrels and small stainless steel barrels. The assemblage is a selection of the greatest barrel selections in the cellar and represents only 10% of all chardonnay lots harvested for each year from each vineyard. The remaining barrels are declassified. This wine has a pale gold color leaning towards white gold with rich, enticing aromas of grilled brioche, wet stones, citrus rind, meyer lemon curd and craime anglaise with hints of hazelnuts. The wine has a medium body with a lithe frame with flavors reminiscent of the aromas as well as apples, lemons and pears with opulent spices and creamy texture. There is a great purity to this wine and a very strong mineral expression which is laced with just the slightest kiss of oak spice and toast. The finish is strong with a good mineral and tannin backbone which will help this wine age well into the future.
“Reserva” is made from carefully selected grapes from vineyards more than 30 years old. The wine is aged in French oak barrels and then additionally in bottles before release. The harmonious coexistence of fruit and wood over time
has made this a great wine, characterized by elegance and complexity.
Deep red colour with hints of purple. Expressive on the nose with notes of ripe black fruits, violets, and tobacco. Long finish.
ST. EDEN is based upon an 11-acre rocky knoll that is part of a beautiful estate located just north of the Oakville Crossroad. Eden is an historical reference to this region's designation on nineteenth century maps.
The red rocky soil of this northfacing site originates from high in the Vaca Mountains. St. Eden, which appeared first in the 2001 vintage, reliably shows great focus, an opulent "sweet" center and notes of crème de cassis, dark chocolate, and roasted herbs. Mineral-tinged and broad on the palate, the wine consistently displays fine-grained tannins and a lush concentration.
SOIL: Iron Rich fractured volcanic rock from a landslide.
Northern Exposure.
MELBURY originates from a spectacular property on the slopes north of Lake Hennessey, in the hills east of Rutherford.
The name Melbury is in homage to an historic area in London, where the estate owners reside much of the year. Since its debut with the 1999 vintage, the consistent hallmarks of Melbury have been plush red fruits (currants, bing cherries), redolent with spice and the scent of violets. Elegance and a supple texture define the structure of this wine. The particular exposition of this rocky 7-acre hillside vineyard is southerly overlooking Lake Hennessey, allowing the vines to capture the morning sun yet moderating afternoon temperatures.
SOIL: Ancient sedimentary soil with compressed clay.
Eastern and Southeastern Exposure.
QUELLA is the name for the wine from a 9-acre site located in the eastern hills overlooking the heart of the Napa Valley.
Making its debut with the 2006 vintage, the name is derived from the German word for a pristine source or an artesian aquifer. This property is steeply sloped facing southwest. The site is an ancient riverbed composed of cobble and rocks interwoven with pockets of tufa (volcanic ash) that were uplifted during the last volcanic activity in the area. Quella displays an almost ethereal quality of blue fruits, graphite, and a vibrant, subtle finish.
SOIL: Ancient uplifted riverbed covered with Tufa (volcanic ash).
Southwest Exposure.
The top-product of the Brancaia brand. The Supertuscan IL BLU proves the performance of Brancaia in terms of elegance, complexity and intensity. As a rule, food with pronounced taste, dark meat such as beef or lamb, roast or braised game, darkfeathered game such as pigeon or pheasant.
ILATRAIA, IGT Maremma Toscana (Brancaia in Maremma) is an intense and complex red wine, produced in a modern style and at most typical of its terroir. Food with well balanced and intense flavors, meat and game - roasted or braised -, poultry like pigeon or pheasant.
Promis, from the Latin abbreviation, promissio, meaning promise truly lives up to its name. The grapes are grown in the terre brune (rich, dark soils) of the Ca'Marcanda vineyard. The soil consists primarily of loam and clay. The climate--hot summer days, freshened by brisk sea air and cool nights--is ideal for the grapes grown here.
Color: Light garnet
Aroma: Bright and fruity with a jammy nose.
Taste: A delightful wine that combines the elegance and suppleness of Merlot and Syrah with the austerity of Sangiovese. Balanced, almost musical, its a pleasure to drink from an early age and also has an aging potential of 5-8 years.
This wine shows an intense ruby red color and nuances of ruby red, little transparency. The nose reveals intense, clean, pleasing, refined and elegant aromas which start with hints of black cherry, plum and black currant followed by aromas of blueberry, violet, vanilla, tobacco, licorice, leather, pink pepper and menthol. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a tannic attack and however balanced by alcohol, full body, intense flavors, agreeable. The finish is persistent with flavors of black cherry, plum and black currant. Cabreo Il Borgo ages for 16-18 months in barrique followed by at least 6 months of aging in bottle.
Harvest took place in the early days of September after a dry and very hot summer after a superb growing season - long and cold winter followed by a rainy and humid spring.
Exceptional weather conditions for an exceptional vintage.
Full maturation of the grapes and good concentration. Aging in oak cask during 15 months
Bright ruby colour. Intense aromas of red berries (raspberry) and ripe plum on spicy nuances.
Dense and compact. Well-balanced on a delicate oak structure and an important layer of tannins. Persistant aftertaste.
The grounds of the Saint Julien Appellation lie on the graves massif and colluvions formed during the two episodes of the Mindel era, just like at Pauillac. This partly explains the strong presence of Grand cru classified châteaux in Saint Julien. One often says that, for climatic reasons and from its geographical position, the wine from Saint-Julien is being in-between the force of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux. The history of the grounds confirms this assertion as Saint-Julien differs from other names of the Medoc by its terraces of average altitude from Mindel era and also by the relative balance between the two types of graves from this era.
Saint Domingue, another marvel from the same owner as Saint Dominique in Saint-Emilion. Situated next to Cheval Blanc on the edge of the Pomerol. This Saint Emilion village has all the class of a Grand Cru. Deep purple in colour. Intense aromas of stewed black berries and creme de cassis. Soft Oaky tones with hints of roasted coffee, caramel and vanilla. Powerful and rounded on the palate, with a creamy finish.
Planted on quite sandy soil with a flatter gradient, the wine is early to ripen and always shows its characteristic raspberry/plum, blackberry fruits intertwined with mint and other herbs. A very voluptuous wine which is always a real crowd pleaser.
A very consistent vineyard, which always has very dark colour and black plum fruit with a gamey, leathery background. This has more to do with Cornas or Hermitage.
Situated in a natural ampitheatre with 360 degree aspects, this vineyard is dry grown and produces small crops of deeply concentrated Syrah with high tannin levels.
The yield here rarely exceeds two tonnes/acre and is often much lower.
This old gone ungrafted Syrah vineyard has a unique character which I describe as 'the full meal followed by the cigar'!
This wine is made in the same manner as all the Syrah vineyards and shows it's individuality purely due to vineyard influences.
This wine develops slowly and positively for a most complete tasting experience.
The Puente Alto Vineyard in the Maipo Valley has the perfect combination of climate and soils for producing world-class wine: the climate is ideal and predictable, and the soil is poor and gravelly to reduce yields and increase concentration naturally. After fermentation, the wine is matured in the finest French oak barriques for 14 months, followed by another year in the bottle before release.
Ripe fleshy fruit and berries lead off this highly aromatic wine. Later, the tobacco and chocolate come through and marry with the vanilla. Agreeable, mature tannins elegantly convey the best expression of the Puente Alto vines. The pleasant, long finish displays great harmony and balance.
The result is a rich, full-bodied wine with unmistakable character in the bouquet and on the finish. Drink with any hearty dish, lamb, steak, and strong cheeses.
Don Melchor has been hailed the best Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile by both the Wine Spectator and Robert Parker.
Producing a wine made up of five Bordeaux varieties to reflect the unique diversity of the Stellenbosch terroir. This wine, made by cellarmaster Louis Strydom, is Ernie Els and Jean Engelbrecht’s vision to produce an exceptional wine, reflecting their respective commitment to quality.
The different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot are kept separate (micro-vinified) throughout vinification. Vinified in 300 litre French oak barrels for 20 months, the wine underwent bottle maturation for a further 18 months. This wine is made in a full robust style and has the potential to age.
Colour: Bright, dark ruby
Aroma: The aroma of the wine is fruit driven with combination of red current, cassis and plum fruits. The fruit is supported by violets, black olives and hints of vanilla and spice.
Palate: The fruit from the aroma follows through unto the delightful palate, supported by an soft mineral feel with hints of oak and backed by a seamless tannin structure.
Impression: “This elegant wine offers great middle palate complexity with a long spicy finish.”
Franco Serra is made by the Sperone family who has produced premium wines for four generations. In 1920, Antonio Sperone opened a small wine shop in Torino where he sold bulk wine directly to consumers. Unsatisfied with the quality and price of the local wine, Antonio started his own winery in Puglia where land was inexpensive and produced good wine. He built a bottling facility in Torino and was soon able to offer his customers quality wines at prices everyone could afford. Sadly, it was destroyed when the city was bombed in WWII. The winery in Puglia survived the war and enabled Antonio’s grandson Giacomo to open a new facility near Milan where he produced vermouth, sparkling wines, spirits and fine wines. With the help of his sons Paolo and Antonio, the company grew quickly and achieved distribution throughout Italy and expanded into foreign markets. In 1965, the family purchased 75 acres of prime vineyards in Piedmont and built a new winery in Monferrato.
The vineyards were planted to Sauvignon Blanc in 1983. The wine derives its name from the "alteni," small stone walls that once surrounded the orchards in the area, and "brassica," the yellow flowers that cover the vineyards in the spring.
This wine is produced from grapes grown in several estate-owned vineyards. The Rossj vineyard, planted in 1984, is named for Angelo Gaja's younger daughter Rossana, (Rossj).
Color: Golden.
Aroma: Fine perfume of citrus fruits and flowers with a hint of honey.
Taste: Considerable depth. Elegant body, definite character and good acidity; a fresh, lingering finish.
The aromas coming from the glass are of sweet, perfumed blackberries, while on the palate there’s power and finesse all at once. The same-said fruit is luscious and the wine will age well into the first quarter of the 21st century. But hold on to it for a couple of years because the tannins need to settle in.
Produced only in the best years and in limited quantities, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2003 Vigna Paganelli is made exclusively with Sangiovese grapes sourced from the eponymous vineyard, planted in 1964. An austere, "classic" and aristocratic Brunello, it is a wine that honors the blazon and the image of the wine symbol of Montalcino
Dense ruby red color with garnet hues
The nose is rich of warm tones, red fruit, spices, liquorice
On the palate it is a thoroughbred, with a flavorful weave of silky tannins that are greeted with the freshness and structure that is typical of a great vintage. With a very long and overwhelming finish, it is a wine that will further evolve in the years to come.
Brut non-vintage is always the expression of the House style and, as such, it is the signature champagne. Laurent-Perrier Brut’s style is defined by its very high proportion of Chardonnay which provides a natural purity, freshness and elegance. These essential characteristics, expressed in all our champagnes, are a good introduction to the spirit of Laurent-Perrier.
The Laurent-Perrier Brut also benefits from ideal ageing in the cellars: three years minimum. Its balance and natural freshness are enhanced by a light dosage. After the dosage, the wines are kept in the cellar to rest for several months before shipment.
COLOR: Strong and deep red, with some violet highlights.
NOSE: Very complex nose expressing the combination between the Malbec, such as black cherries, prunes, raisins and some violets. After swirling more fruits appear, such as cassis, raspberries and blackberries. Also chocolate, vanilla, toast and caramel notes appears very soft and integrated due to its aging in new French oak barrels.
MOUTH: Full-bodied wine. The tannins are quite present, but very mature, rounded and sweet which end in a velvety whole. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the tannic structure and body, and the Malbec contributes with the fleshy, round flavors, which characterize it. The mouth aromas, are plums, cassis jam, raisins. It is a very long ended, complex and elegant wine.
As always, Savitar 06 is the most brooding wine of the lineup. A dark red with a vibrant purple hue, the aromatics are bright, elevated combinations of cassis, tobacco and spice-box yet with freshness and vitality. The palate is full bodied, meaty and complex – well integrated oak and tannin provide elements of structure to the wine and it finishes with impressive length.
This is Shiraz at its best. This wine has a sumptuous aroma, revealing deep chocolate, lifted violets and blackcurrant fruit. With an amazing fruit expression reminiscent of strawberries dipped in chocolate, the palate is rich and robust, with licorice and spice fruit intermingled with lovely hints of oak. Its massive structure will explode in your mouth and finished velvety smooth with lively, exuberant fruit.
From Montes Alpha's 'La Finca' Estate, in the Apalta Valley. They included it in their ALPHA range because they believe its present merits and future potential so recommended. The scarcest of their ALPHA line, it shows how promising the Apalta Valley slopes are. Yield is very low, only 6 tons per hectare. It has been aged in French oak barrels for one year and had only one soft filtering. In the purest of Rhône styles, Aurelio has added a percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, also originating from Apalta, and some Viognier to the final mixture. Of intense ruby red color, it has a great aroma with floral, tobacco and leathery notes. Strong and full bodied to the palate, with soft and mature tannins. A very long, elegant and satisfying after taste. A superb Syrah.
An enticing, rather pronounced ruby red, edged with garnet. Its suite of fragrances exhibits considerable complexity, opening to dark fruit such as plum and blackcurrant, then enriched by a pungent spiciness that betrays cinnamon and clove. The attack offers dense, impressive pulp, and fine-grained tannins that marry beautifully with its alcohol; the result is a solidly-built, but not heavy or extractive, wine with a seamless, long-lingering finish.
Connoisseurs judge a champagne house by the quality of its non vintage brut wine . It is on its brut, created in the mid-19th century, that Perrier-Jouët has built its reputation.
The House style is distinguished by the extensive use of chardonnay. Perrier-Jouët owns 161 acres of vineyards with an average cru rating of over 99% including 99 acres in the most renowned villages for Chardonnay (Cramant and Avize.) The wines show lightness and sweetness, as well as a rounded and fruity character.
Great balance and a lingering finish mark this zesty, full-flavored brut as something special. Rich in fruit flavor, crisp in balance, with an underlying tangy quality that begs for another sip.
French it may be, but in 1861, Champagne Perrier-Jouët was the favorite of Queen Victoria, and the House became not only the official supplier of the British monarchy, but also of the Swedish royal family and the King of Belgium.
Connoisseurs judge a champagne house by the quality of its non vintage brut wine . It is on its brut, created in the mid-19th century, that Perrier-Jouët has built its reputation.
This champagne is a blend of the best first growths from the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the
Great balance and a lingering finish mark this zesty, full-flavored brut as something special. Rich in fruit flavor, crisp in balance, with an underlying tangy quality that begs for another sip.
The Malbec grapes from mature vines are sourced in equal parts from the Agrelo and La Consulta regions. The wine is fermented and aged in French oak barriques, with aging lasting 16 months. It is then matured in bottle for a further 6 months. Deep red in color with intense violet shades. On the nose, a combination of red fruits and toasty notes given by the French oak are evident. In the mouth the wine is complex and structured with a long aftertaste.
This is a Port with an indication of its average age, aged in oak casks and taking on characteristics of walnuts, dried fruits and spices, showing increasing intensity of colour, complexity, concentration and depth of flavour.
Truth vive tawny color. It is the youngest of the Noval tawnies with age indication. In its complex aroma, the vibrant young fruit lovely blends with the attractive and characteristic dry fruits aromas like nuts. Rich and smooth on the palate it as an elegant structure and a long finish. It can be served slightly chilled as an aperitif, as a digestive at the end of a meal, or in any occasion during the day on its own.
Cristal, the ultimate Champagne to be produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, builds upon the 200-year tradition of fine winemaking that has made Roederer French Champagnes amongst the most sought-after in the world. For connoisseurs the world over, there is nothing finer than Cristal. Jewel in the Louis Roederer crown, cuvée CRISTAL remains faithful to the value which inspired it in 1876 when, especially created for Tsar Alexander II, it sought to epitomize the elegance and purity of Champagne.
Twenty percent of the wines were matured in wood (oak barrels) with weekly batonnage. There was no malolactic fermentation. Cristal is made from grands crus from the Reims mountains, the Marne Valley and the Côte des Blancs. Matured for an average of 5 years in the cellars, it is left to rest for 8 months after disgorging to complete its maturation. Dosage is adapted to each vintage, at between 8 and 10 g/l. 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.
The 2005 vintage was a year of marked contrasts between seasons and regions. Following a fairly harsh winter, 2005 had a mild spring with relatively warm temperatures all year long. There was above-average sunshine and a slight water deficit, as had been the case throughout the dry cycle of 2005/2004 and 2003. The heat and humidity in July produced larger grapes and bunches, rather unusual for the Champagne region, while the cooler weather in August, followed by a very sunny month of September, led to favorable ripening in spite of heavy parasite pressure. The harvest dates were typical of those of the decade: September 12th for Chardonnays and the following day for Pinots noirs.
From its first years of production Riserva Ducale has become synonymous with fine Chianti, and it has played a leading role in the development of the privileged position which Tuscan quality wines hold throughout the world today. In many markets this Riserva has in fact transcended its category and become known simply as "Riserva Ducale". It has managed to preserve its excellent reputation through time, thanks to Ruffino's commitment to cultivating the finest Sangiovese grapes on the slopes of the Chianti Classico hills.
Colour: Intense ruby red.
Aroma: the 2006 Riserva Ducale is characterised by particularly fragrant, fruity notes, typical of this vintage. Sweet cherries and red berry fruits meet with delicately spicy hints of cigar box and white pepper grains and elegant scents of red roses and flint.
Tasting profile: Fruity, soothing, and well-balanced, the taste reveals velvety tannins and a enjoyable spicy sensation. The ageing in oak enriches the fruity core with hints of cacao and cloves. The long-lingering aftertaste adds intriguing notes of rosemary and figs.
On the label of Modus the rose of the winds is intertwined with the elements which form the soul of a great wine:
the vine - the sun - the soil - the life
the time - the fruit - the manner - the wine
In this special wine the Sangiovese from the Chianti hills encounters two international grape varieties which have found a new home in Tuscany, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Rosella’s Vineyard is in the Santa Lucia Highlands Appellation of Monterey County.
It is west of the town of Gonzales and was planted in 1999 to multiple clones of Pinot Noir
(and some Chardonnay and Syrah). The vineyard is owned by Gary and Rose Franscioni.
Siduri has been purchasing grapes and making a Vineyard-Designated Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot
Noir since the innagural 2001 vintage. They purchase 5 different clones of Pinot Noir
from the Rosella’s Vineyard, fermenting them separately and then combining the best
barrels for the final blend.
Poggio al Lupo is deep, opaque purple in color suggesting its considerable intensity and extraction. The heady aromas deliver jammy black berry fruit and cassis impressions with notes of balsam wood and cedar which are confirmed on a palate of great silky voluptuousness. The finish is long, penetrating and seductive.
Owner / Winemaker Roberto Guldener began making wine at Terrabianca in the heart of Chianti Classico in 1988, realizing his dream to make wine in Chianti. Obsessed with making a contemporary terroir-driven product, he set out immediately planting new vines, and clonal selection has since been a driving force in his work. He currently has 126 acres under vine. Campaccio, a blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese, was Guldener's first wine at Terrabianca, and remains the winery's flagship offering.
Growing area: 40% Chianti Classico, 60% Maremma.
Yield per vine: 1.7 kg. Density: 6,000 vines per hectare
