SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $74.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Billecart-Salmon

VINTAGE

NV

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier

Sparkling and crystalline with fine and plentiful bubbles. A blooming nose with harmonious notes of butter, white flesh fruits as well as Mirabelle plums and dried fruits. A well balanced mouth, structured thanks to the greatness of the Pinot Noirs, with flavours of white flesh fruits. The Chardonnays bring to this wine a refreshing finish with notes of citrus fruits and pepper.

 

Every year, Billecart-Salmon vinifies base wines from a greater number of parcels than it actually needs for the production of its main cuvées. The tasting Committee tastes each of these base wines and selects only the ones that match the standard and the style of Billecart-Salmon. Some of the wines that are not selected are bottled to be part of a second wine from the House, Inspiration 1818.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $71.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Domaine laroche

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Chablis, Burgundy, France

GRAPE

Chardonnay

SIZE

3 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $849.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Billecart-Salmon

VINTAGE

2012

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Chardonnay

 

 

Created in 1988 as a tribute to Elisabeth Salmon, one of the domaine's founders, this cuvée is set apart by its radiance, refined purity as well as unique character. It embodies with subtlety the signature of their top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay terroirs. Allowing time to play its role is behind the grandeur of this vintage cuvée. 

The presence of an ancestral savoir-faire is recognized through the art of assemblage and rigorous selection from an exceptional harvest. This cuvée stands out for its sparkle and purity that reveal a noble, unique character.

96, Vinous

The 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon offers up hints of red berry fruit, ginger, spice, rosewater, mint and crushed flowers. There is a feeling of classic austerity that runs through the 2012. I would prefer to cellar this for at least a few years, as it is quite reticent at this stage. Chalk, mint, white pepper and bright saline accents linger on the pointed finish. Dosage is 3.8 grams per litre. Disgorged: first trimester 2023.

 

 

SIZE

3 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $762.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Billecart-Salmon

VINTAGE

2012

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Chardonnay

 

 

99, James Suckling

Incredible aromas of brioche, bread dough and pie crust with superb, electrifying fruit, from peaches to fresh apples. It’s driven, mouthwatering and with fantastic structure, yet it’s so balanced and creamy. Very fine and silky bubbles. It’s better and better as it warms slightly in the glass.

97, Vinous

The 2012 Brut Blancs de Blancs Louis Salmon is a gorgeous Champagne. Lemon confit, spice, baked apple tart, chamomile and dried flowers are all nicely amplified. The 2012 was done 75% in tank and 25% in oak, with most of the lots undergoing malolactic fermentation. There's a feeling of reserve in the 2012 that is quite appealing. This edition is terrific, but it also needs time to be at its best. I would be in no rush to open this. Low yields and a year beset by frost, hail, heavy rain, mildew and sunburn at various times produced a rich Champagne. The blend of sites in Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant and Oiry works so well. Dosage is 3.9 grams per liter. Disgorged: first trimester 2023.

 

 

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $18.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Telmo Rodriguez

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

alicante, valencia, Spain

GRAPE

Monastrell

Made from 100% Monastrell in Alicante from old bush vines situated on calcareous, sandy and gravelly soils. Yields are consistently low. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel before a few months' ageing in the same tanks. 

 

91 Points, Decanter

A consistent favourite in the extensive Telmo Rodriguez portfolio, and one of the best-value wines in a country not short on bargains. This 100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) is intense, sinewy and dark but with a seam of brightness that makes it effortlessly drinkable.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $291.99 EACH 

PRODUCER

Viña Almaviva

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

RED

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

CHile

GRAPE

BORDEAUX BLEND

 

In 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. The rest is history. You'll want to make room on your top shelf for some of these bottles winelovers....

 

92, Wine Enthusiast

Inviting, the nose offers red berry aromas and hints of thyme and vanilla. It's full-bodied and well-structured, with silky tannins and good acidity. Hints of thyme and oak are followed by red fruit flavours. It finishes long

 

90 points, Decanter

Clarity on the nose, summer red berries with bramble touches, nicely aromatic. Succulent and juicy, this is lightly framed with quite a direct flavour - the slightly sour, slightly bitter notes coming through with high acidity giving the strawberry and red cherry flavours a high tone alongside eucalyptus and cool mint as well as soft cinnamon and clove. Super long finish with a nice balance overall. An easy-drinking wine but still with nuance and complexity in terms of the flavour details. Needs time to round out and become more expansive. Right now quite linear and driven on the palate.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $110.99 EACH 

PRODUCER

Viña Almaviva

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

RED

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

MAIPO, CHile

GRAPE

BORDEAUX BLEND

 

In 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. The rest is history. You'll want to make room on your top shelf for some of these bottles winelovers....

 

94, James Suckling

Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and fresh flowers. Very cool and pure. Medium-bodied with fine, linear and very integrated tannins that are compressed and silky-textured. New second wine of Almaviva. Needs time to open.

 

92 points, Wine Enthusiast

Inviting, the nose offers red berry aromas and hints of thyme and vanilla. It's full-bodied and well-structured, with silky tannins and good acidity. Hints of thyme and oak are followed by red fruit flavours. It finishes long.

SIZE

3 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $659.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Giuseppe Quintarelli

VINTAGE

2016

COLOUR

red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Veneto IGT, Veneto, Italy

GRAPE

cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot

96 Points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2012 Cabernet Alzero (packaged in a heavy glass bottle) is a stunning wine that delivers a level of cautious brawn, intensity and fruit weight that sets this wine apart within the portfolio. The blend is 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, and the grapes all undergo a few months of appassimento. I've been asked about possible perception of VA (volatile acidity) that can sometimes appear in wines made with air-dried fruit. As a much-respected Italian colleague once told me, "serve a dare spalla," ("it gives a shoulder to the wine"), and I can't help but admire the beautifully lifted and upright quality of the bouquet that appears especially radiant and buoyant in this wine. The magic, whatever it is, works.

Notes by Anthony Lynch 

Have you ever wondered what first-growth Bordeaux would taste like if subjected to the great Venetian tradition of producing wine from dried grapes? The Alzero is just that, combining the leather, tobacco, and blackcurrant of the Left Bank with the concentration and intense notes of ripe fruit acquired from appassimento in this powerful monument to northern Italian viticulture. The sublime flavors persist on the epic, never-ending finale to what is essentially an Amarone made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $88.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Speri

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

GRAPE

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

 

Fully saturated red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, blackberry, spices, violet and grilled nuts. Sweet and silky but also juicy and lively, thanks to harmonious acidity keeping the nicely concentrated flavors vibrant. This boasts excellent balance; not at all made in a jammy style, this finishes very clean, steely, and classically dry (about 3 g/L rs), with a very typical underlying note of graphite. A blend of 70% Corvina and Corvinone, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara all grown at roughly 400 meters asl but the vines are specifically located where the hill changes direction, such that the grapes bask in a fresher, windier, and more sunlit area . There the grapes ripen because of the light and not of the heat, which is important because while the grapes need to be concentrated, they also need to have enough acidity. The wine ages three and a half to four years in oak and then one year in bottle. Drinking window: 2027-2038.

 

 

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $409.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $464.99]

PRODUCER

allegrini

VINTAGE

2013

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

GRAPE

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

 

 

95 Points, Wine Enthusiast

Particularly intense and compact ruby red in colour, this Amarone opens on the nose with a dominant, broad and toasted scent of coffee and tobacco. On the palate, it impresses with its imposing structure. The tannins are centre stage but not aggressive on the palate, accompanied by a fresh and vital acidity that lengthens and streamlines the mouthfeel.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $42.99 EACH 

PRODUCER

Pithon‐Paillé

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Anjou, Loire Valley, France

GRAPE

cabernet franc

Winemaker Notes

The originality of our cuvée Mozaik is an assembly of Cabernet franc from two great terroirs and subsoil of Anjou: schist of Anjou “black” and limestone of Anjou “white”. The grapevines are cultivated in organic farming which has been converted to biodynamic farming. In order to get a gentle extraction of aromas and tannins, grape maceration is soft and smooth. The fermentation takes place in tanks and the aging has been done in neutral French oaks. A drop of sulfur is added before bottling to preserve the purity of our wines.

A garnet red color,. The bouquet is mixed with aromas of red fruit and black fruit. The mouth-feel is structured with beautiful acidity and a little tannic.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $174.99 EACH

PRODUCER

arcanum

VINTAGE

2017

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

tUSCANY, Italy

GRAPE

Cabernet franc

Arcanum is the pinnacle of the estate’s offerings. A pure Cabernet Franc and true signature of the estate, this remarkable wine is built to age yet is drinkable young, offering aromas of violets, roses and raspberries, with long and delicate spice notes; it is a wine that is seductive yet subtle. Arcanum is sourced from 12 different blocks of Cabernet Franc that each year, thanks to their superb exposure and sandy clay soils, produce the finest expression of the variety for the leading wine of the estate. A Cabernet Franc that embodies a sense-of-place, distinctive of the diverse micro-crus of each vineyard block hand-selected for this vintage. Aromas of sweet oregano, mint and tart cherries are familiar to the nose on this Tuscan single-varietal wine. The palate is soft and round, framed by subtle acid. A core of fresh blueberries, dark chocolate and salted caramel are balanced by a long, elegant finish with hints of licorice, cedar and tobacco. A powerful, expressive Cabernet Franc to be enjoyed for decades.

 

 

 95 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This wine is now a 100% expression of Cabernet Franc. The 2017 Arcanum is the top-shelf red from Tenuta di Arceno. It is a rich, almost meaty wine, with dark fruit, savory tobacco, smoked bacon and sweet earth. What distinguishes this hot-vintage wine, however, are the rosemary and dried lavender that give this wine an authentically Tuscan personality. This is really quite nice.

SIZE

3 PACK, 1500ml BOTTLES, $367.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Bruno Paillard

VINTAGE

2012 

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

 

 

94 Points, Jamie Goode

12% alcohol. A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) from eight crus. 20% fermented in used French oak barrels. Eight years on lees followed by 16 months post-disgorgement aging (something Bruno insists on). Disgorged in March 2020 with a typically low dosage of 4.5g/litre. This has a beguiling aromatic nose with some honey, marzipan, nut and toast, but leaving room for the vibrant fruity notes of cherry, apple and lemon. There’s lovely acidity on the palate that isn’t obscured by too much dosage, and it breathes life into the cherry, table grape and lemony fruit, with some orange peel and almond nuts, as well as a tapering lemony finish with a hint of seaweed and oyster shell. Complex, covering lots of different layers of the flavour spectrum, finishing assertive and bright. A serious effort.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $52.99 EACH

PRODUCER

The BLANKBOTTLE Winery

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

white 

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Elgin, western cape, South Africa

GRAPE

Weisser Riesling, Semillon and Sauvignon blanc

 

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees celsius. The next morning the grapes were pressed as whole bunches. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation in concrete egg shaped tanks, amphora and older French oak barrels. Deep winter the wine received one sulfur addition. 10 months on the leese, blended and bottled.

 

94 Points, Tim Atkin

Autumn Equinox is a new wine from Pieter Walser - or rather a resurrected one, as it was called DOK in a previous life - made from an assemblage of Semillon, 30% Riesling and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in amphoras and old wood for a year, it's sappy, intense and very stony, with pear, lemon zest and lanolin notes and layers of intrigue and complexity. Drink 2023-29’ 

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $36.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Don & Sons

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

NORTH COAST, California, USA

GRAPE

Cabernet Sauvignon, PETIT SYRAH, MERLOT, CABERNET FRANC

 

The B Side Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply concentrated and expressive wine. Aromas of boysenberry, blackberry, currants, Kalamata olive, and dried lavender are pronounced on the nose. This is a full-bodied wine with juicy layers of dark fruit, jam, baked pie, and hints of cinnamon flavor. The brooding fruit is quintessential Napa and Sonoma and with ripe, powdery tannins the wine is soft and easy to enjoy in its youth. The wine is aged for 12 months in predominately French oak barrels (Francois Frere & Radoux) with a small portion seeing time in American Oak. The toasty French oak frames the wine and the addition of a small amount of American oak gives a pleasing, sweet coconut lift. This overall wine is deep, well-structured, and intensely flavored with soft tannins and a lengthy finish.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $147.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Marchesi di Gresy

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

GRAPE

Nebbiolo

 

Colour: Bright garnet red with light orange reflections. Intense notes of plum and cherry sinuously blend with balsamic nuances of mint, tea leaves, dried flowers and gold-leaf tobacco.Taste: The fine and elegant tannic structure, in constant balance with the pulp and the mentholated freshness of the finish, give fullness and harmony to the wine.

 

In the heart of Barbaresco appelation, Martinenga is among the most important MeGA of the area, confining with Asili, on the western side, and Rabaja, towards northeast. A single vineyard of 11.93 hectares in an amphiteatre shape. South-southwest exposure at an altitude between 220m and 290m a.s.l. 

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $269.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Marchesi di Gresy

VINTAGE

2017

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

GRAPE

Nebbiolo

 

97 Points, James Suckling

The freshness and firmness of this young 2017 Barbaresco is impressive. The wine is tight and reserved, but suggests greatness, offering cherries, dark cherries, dried flowers and crushed stones. Intense tannins. This is a wine for the cellar. Give it five or six years of bottle age. Try after 2027.