Search results for: 'allow ar'

Stellum Bourbon finds its flavor in the tension of three Indiana Bourbon mash bills, two of which are high-rye, with the third being almost exclusively corn. Older barrels from both Kentucky and Tennessee are folded in slowly, through a multi-step blending process. This brings added layers of depth and complexity, ultimately allowing it to round out a uniquely Stellum flavor profile. Learn More

From the winery: Graceful aromas of mixed red berry, violet, and green tea envelop the senses before opening onto the most round, inviting palate. Lush raspberry flavors are lifted by vibrant acidity and restrained, refined oak. Tannins are supple, allowing ripe berry flavors along with soft floral and dust accents to shine all the way through to the lingering finish.

Learn More

Rolle, Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Clairette. Founded on organic farming principles, Domaine de la Mongestine stands apart as a true rarity in Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, a region known for mass-produced and standardized wines. Rows are planted on clay and limestone soils of some of the highest North facing slopes in the appellation, reaching up to 450 meters. The nutritious soils allow for a longer maturation process that preserves the freshness of the grapes and their acidity. The vineyard is further breaking the mold for Provence winemaking as it transitions to biodynamic viticulture, producing its wines with the least intervention possible and allowing natural processes to extract the fullness of the terroir. Aging takes place in inert tanks and amphora (traditional clay containers), where micro-oxygenation results in a fresh and fruit-forward white wine.

Learn More

93 Points! A well-balanced red, combining Amarone power with a sense of approachability. The black, lightly dried fruit is packed into a tight core that runs through the wine, picking up spicy and oaky notes as it goes. The aromatic complexity is not huge at present, but the tannins are deeply embedded and allow for a largely unhindered flow through the full-bodied palate. Long finish. - JamesSuckling.com

Learn More

The grapes for this wine come from unique vineyards, particularly well-suited for these wines, that are on a hillside exposed to the rising sun but protected from the hotter setting sun by a pine forest. Its position allows the grapes to fully ripen on vines planted in clay earth with a calcareous subsoil. The terroir gives the grapes their floral and exotic characteristics, while preserving their freshness, which is rare for white Côtes du Rhone wines. Learn More

When Luxardo marasca cherries are harvested at the beginning of every summer, they are put in alcoholic infusion in larch-wood vats together with some leaves and branches of the same trees for up to three years. When ready, both the liquid and the solid parts are distilled in traditional copper pot stills, separating the heart from heads and tails. Only the heart of the distillate is then allowed to mature in ash-wood vats. The last process consists in transforming the distillate in liqueur by adding a simple syrup of water and sugar lowering the ABV to 32%. Crystal clear in colour, the aroma is typical of marasca cherry distillate with strong alcohol spirit and roasted nuttiness, while the taste results smooth but sharp at the same time with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and orange marmalade. Learn More

From the importer: Grown on rare limestone soil with heavy topsoil of loam and clay. The vines are 15 to 39 years old and do grow low yields around 45 to 65 hl per hectare. It is a curious fact, that most of the wines are located on today’s french side of the border but we are still allowed to produce german wine there as the family owns the vineyards for many generations already.

The grapes were hand harvested and destemmed. Before pressing, the grapes were macerating for 12 to 24 hours days to extract all the flavors and aromas from the grape-skins into the juice. The lightly pink-hued juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks and 2400 liter oak-barrels and afterwards let on lees for almost 5 months after fermentation to gain even more flavor and complexity through the lees-contact.

Learn More

Owned by the Shannon family of Lake County, Block 8 of La Sierra vineyard is a small western facing block of head-trained and organically farmed old vine Mourvèdre. Sitting at 1800ft above sea level in the High Valley AVA, this hilltop vineyard is comprised of a mix of clay loam and volcanic soils and is subjected to long hours of sunlight, cooling breezes and large temperature swings. These growing conditions that allow for a long growing season and optimal phenolic development and are ideal for a late ripening varietal such as Mourvèdre.

Learn More

Learn More

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antoni Galloni, Vinous Media

Learn More

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Learn More

Domaine de I’R runs along the picturesque Vienne river in the region of Chinon, the heart of Cabernet Franc country. Founded in 2007 by Frédéric Sigonneau, the young winery quickly climbed the ranks to become a top producer of Cabernet Franc. The popularity of his wines is no surprise, as the estate has raised the bar for what Carnet Franc can offer through its sincere attention to taste and quality. The vineyard is managed as naturally as possible, working in harmony with the natural elements to produce a red wine with exceptional flavor and utmost purity. Throughout the entire winemaking process, there are no compromises, and the wines undergo frequent tastings during vinification. Healthy grapes are fermented in raw cement tanks, the porosity of which allows for a smooth, controlled, and gradual fermentation producing an incredibly rich and flavorful red wine.

Learn More

DeRose has a handful of ”old-vine” varieties on its Cienega Valley estate, but none is more exotic that a 10-acre planting of Negrette. These vines are even rare in their native land of France where records show only 100 acres cultivated in the Toulouse region on the Garonne River. Adding to the mystique, the variety was called “Pinot St. George” until the BATF changed its official name effective with the ’97 vintage.

Planted on their own roots in the 1880s, the old vines are dry farmed in gray clay-loam soils that contain large chunks of dolomite. This shimmering white mineral is mostly calcium, an essential element of good soil. Relatively young
in geologic time, these loose soils allow vines to extend deep and wide in search of water and nutrients. Yields average one ton per acre.

Learn More

The vines were planted on high elevation plots in Saint-Aubin in the 1980s. There are two soils types: One on white clay-limestone soil, and the other on a thin layer of red soil on lava, which gives all the complexity to this wine according to Fornerot.

After being handpicked, the harvest is lightly crushed then pressed in a pneumatic press. The juice is then allowed to settle and placed by gravity in French oak barrels to ferment with indigenous yeasts. After aging in barrels for 10 months, the wine is placed in vat for a month and is bottled at the estate.

Learn More

From the importer: With its three hectares of 85-year-old Chardonnay, the Clos des Rocs produces a Pouilly-Loché like no other. Its due-easterly exposition allows for optimal ripeness, and its iron-streaked calcareous topsoil extends a mere 30 centimeters before reaching limestone mother-rock. Aged 13 months in used barrels, this wine—in true grand-cru-like fashion—synthesizes the positive attributes of all its cellarmates: gleaming acidity, fine but tunneling minerality, and stunning concentration. With their low levels of sulfur and their open-knit generosity, Olivier’s wines are never forbidding in their youth, but this deserves some time in bottle to properly unfurl its multilayered complexity.

Learn More

Nobleza 33 is crafted by Felipe Camarena at La Alteña Distillery, the same legendary producer behind some of Jalisco’s most respected tequilas. Camarena’s commitment to traditional methods, including brick oven roasting and slow fermentation, ensures that the spirit reflects both heritage and quality. The Reposado is gently aged in oak, allowing the agave character to shine through with added depth from the barrel.

Tasting Note:
Aromas of cooked agave are layered with vanilla, toasted oak, and a touch of caramel. The palate is smooth and balanced, offering notes of honey, baking spice, and soft citrus alongside warm wood influence. The finish is long and elegant, showing harmony between fresh agave and oak maturity.

Learn More

95 Points! Aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers crushed citrus, oyster shell, white flowers, and a kiss of salty minerality. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. As I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! Shows harmony and intensity, with focused flavors of tangerine, Meyer lemon, lime and pomelo that are lovely at the core, plus aromatic notes of lemongrass, lemon thyme and oregano. A fresh thread of acidity and details of Himalayan sea salt gain momentum on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

From the winery: This bottling is comprised Chardonnay from four vineyards within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune vineyards all contribute to the wine which exhibits a drive, richness and pedigree expressive of our special growing area coupled with the purity of fruit and firm structure which have been the trademark of Brewer-Clifton.

3D The primary emphasis of the predominantly sandy 10 acre vineyard is chardonnay, with five clones planted. In addition to chardonnay, there is a smaller field of pinot noir planted to Swan, Pommard and 667 clones.

MACHADO 15 acre parcel on the Machado family land is located adjacent to Clos Pepe and immediately behind the Kessler-Haak vineyard. The site is marked by a gorgeous rolling terrain with sandy clay loam soils.

HAPGOOD In slightly richer soil, the vineyard is planted to the Mount Eden selection of chardonnay. The elevated clay loam content results in larger volume and a more dense palate expression. Our most recent installation, planted in 2010, is this small 2 1/2 acre section of pinot noir planted to Merry Edwards clone.

Only neutral barrels are employed. We strive for whole cluster fermentation. We farm with a focus of ripening the stems alongside the fruit, allowing the cluster to be in harmony. Working with the stems allows for wines that are structured, earthy and balanced with our beautiful Sta. Rita Hills fruit.

Learn More

From the winery: The fruit for this Gamay was harvested from several vineyards surrounding our winery in the Arroyo Seco AVA. This AVA is recognized as having the longest growing season in California. Strong daily winds that bring cool fog from the Monterey Bay allow the grapes to spend more time on the vine building flavor, complexity and acidity. Extremely rocky well-drained alluvial soils are the base for creating wines processing freshness & minerality. The combination of sand, granite, and shale loam soils with the ever present marine influence provide the perfect conditions for growing Gamay. 100% whole cluster using ambient yeast and native malolactic aged in 100% nuetral french oak puncheons, bottled unfined and unfiltered, 12.1% ABV.

Learn More

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

96 Points! Rich but very refined and layered, showing spot-on ripeness, the basis for finesse and complexity. Nuanced paprika, minerals, cocoa powder and cigar box with currants and berries. Intense and perfumed, showing fine, dusty tannins and a tight-grained, lengthy finish. Give it three years to soften more, and it will shine. Drink from 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The 2022 Durfort-Vivens is a wild, exotic wine that very much shows the natural opulence of the year. Super-ripe dark red/purplish fruit, pomegranate and sweet spice are front and center. There’s a bit more Merlot in this year’s blend, and that seems to come through in the wine’s overall fruit intensity. The final blend is project to be 70% new oak and 30% amphora, but the sample I tasted was only taken from oak components, as the wine had only been racked into amphora shortly prior to this tasting. Drinking window : 2030-2052 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Learn More

96 Points! This superb wine boasts a dense and lovely ripe plum and blackberry fruit aroma with plenty of depth and substance. The tannins are supple and not at all astringent. The grapes come from several small organically farmed parcels near the top of the appellation close to Chambertin, blended with a bit of Mazoyères. They are vinified 75% as whole clusters, with a very gentle extraction before ageing in cask (one-third new). For maximum pleasure, age this for at least five years from release to allow it to open up. - Decanter Magazine

95+ Points! The 2022 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru reveals the same seriousness it displayed in barrel. Unwinding in the glass with notes of cherries, dark berries, orange zest and petals, it's full-bodied, layered and enveloping, built around a chassis of sweet, powdery tannins and animated by lively acids. While this is generally the domaine's most immediate grand cru, the 2022 will nevertheless demand a bit of patience. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

Learn More