SIZE

1 PACK, 700ml BOTTLES, $249.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Hunter Laing

AGED

16 years old

COUNTRY

SCOTLAND

Part of the First Editions collection from Hunter Laing, this 16 year-old single malt made by Benrinnes was aged solely in a sherry butt and bottled at 55.1% ABV. The nose holds notes of caramel and rhubarb, and the palate brings flavours like cinnamon and toffee apples. The finish is dryer, with notes of coffee and spice. Only 270 bottles are available worldwide.

Built in 1826, at the foot of the Rinnes mountain, the distillery was washed away by flood 3 years later. Rebuilt, bankrupted twice and reopened only to be then burned to the ground in 1859. The new make spirit is robust due to short neck stills and worm tub condensers. A rarity in Scotland single malt, Benrinnes was partially triple distilled until 2007.

SIZE

1 PACK, 12000ml BOTTLES, $1,999.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Tenuta Il Poggione

VINTAGE

2016

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

GRAPE

Sangiovese

 

 

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is produced only in the best vintages and in limited quantity. This wine comes exclusively from "I Paganelli" vineyard, the oldest one in the estate, planted in 1964. Its vines, used as a clonal reference when planting new vineyards, produce high quality grapes which are picked by the individual selection of the best and ripest bunches. After the manual harvest, the must ferments at controlled temperature. Subsequently the wine spends a long time in large French oak casks and it is then aged in the bottle.

 

96 Points, Wine Advocate

This is the top-shelf wine from Il Poggione, and it's a must-have bottle for those who collect wines from this celebrated estate. From an icon vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a beauty. It stands at the intersection of intensity, elegance and power. The fruit is shapely and dense with plenty of blackberry and black cherry, and you also get savory touches of campfire ash, tar, licorice, ferrous earth and balsam herb. Honestly, you get it all, including that distinctive Brunello power and abundance that is not easily achieved with such careful balance. The finish is structured, fresh and long, and with more time in the glass, the leathery or savory aromas become more pronounced (as does the alcohol). 

SIZE

1 PACK, 3000ml BOTTLES, $344.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Tenuta Il Poggione

VINTAGE

2018

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

GRAPE

Sangiovese

 

94 Points, Wine Advocate

The Il Poggione 2018 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a dark and savory character with more fruit weight and concentration than you might find in many of its peers. This wine shows a dense center of gravity that is padded with dark cherry, blackberry, toasted spice, mahogany smoked meat and tilled earth. Despite the robust aromas, this Sangiovese is actually quite streamlined and polished in texture. The tannins are soft and veering toward accessibility. This is an ambitious production of 200,000 bottles. The estate's Riserva Vigna Paganelli was not made in 2018, so fruit from that wine went here instead.

 

94 Points, James Suckling

This is a flavourful, layered Brunello with aromas of fresh and sour cherries, plums, bay leaves, rosemary and olives. Cloves and licorice, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Sleek and well-integrated, with a lengthy and deliciously savoury finish.

SIZE

1 PACK, 700ml BOTTLES, $204.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Hunter Laing

AGED

14 years old

COUNTRY

SCOTLAND

 

Distilled at Jura Distillery, this Island Region is a bottling from The Old Malt Cask range at Hunter Laing & Co. The marvellous expression was aged for 14 years in a single hogshead cask and this is one of only 304 bottles. Bottled at 50% abv and free from chill filtration with natural colour.

Expect leafy, sweet and fresh aromas, followed by a palate full of orange pulp and a touch of fennel. The finish is long and grassy, with a hint of ginger.

Named for the island just 7 iron away from Islay.  Expect ocean influence, lack of peat smoke. The distillery offerings are often gimmicky, finishes and different cask types, however major changes throughout the last decade, especially since 2018. Streamlining 200 years of history into a clean fruit driven style with saltiness and oak compliments.

SIZE

1 PACK, 1500ml BOTTLES, $939.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Bruno Paillard

VINTAGE

2008

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier

 

The cuvée N.P.U. - «Nec Plus Ultra», was born from the desire to create, whatever the costs and constraints, the greatest wine from Champagne. To do this, the most demanding choices have been made at all stages of its development. From this crazy dream is born a Champagne with the most absolute vinification...

 

Deep, bright yellow gold with fine, shimmering effervescence gently and gracefully rising in the glass. At first, notes of incredibly fresh red fruits (redcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, wild strawberries) mixed with stone fruits (Bigarreau cherries) and candied orange peel. Little by little, the aromas of fresh ginger and peppermint unfold, evolving towards slightly more smoky characters and notes of cocoa powder and quince paste revived by fresh honeysuckle.

 

The attack is precise and fresh, powerful and serene all at once. The vivacity of the vintage shows a delightful balance allowing the depth of the wine to be further explored supported by its silky texture. The nose and widely complex, aromatic palate continue to develop into a long, lingering finish.

 

95 Points, James Suckling

Figs, quince, toast, hazelnuts, walnuts and white chocolate on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, focused and full of energy, with persistent layers of dried fruit and nuts, accompanied by very fine bubbles. Long. Dry and mineral on the finish. Chardonnay and pinot noir. Drink now or hold.