Superstars

94 Pts Neal Martin “The 2023 Cuvée Blanc Reserve is from a vineyard planted in 2016 that burned in the fire three years later. The vines were cut back and, fortunately, regrew. This is a blend of 90% Roussanne, 5% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier, oxidatively handled and fermented on the lees for 11 months in 500-liter barrels. It has a vibrant bouquet with honeysuckle, Clementine and a touch of chamomile, blossoming in the glass. Gorgeously textured and slightly waxy on the finish, this will mature with style. Highly recommended.” Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040

Country: South Africa

Region: Greyton, Western Cape

Grapes: 90% Roussanne, 5% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier

ABV: 14%

Lismore Wine

Californian wine pioneer, Samantha O'Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir in Greyton, Western Cape, South Africa. Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range in Southern Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born alongside her family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 metres, which are chilled by cold winters and nourished by the African sun, produces classic, cool climate wines which are rich, complex and hand crafted with care.

Country: USA

Region: Paso Robles California

Grapes: Counoise

ABV: 13%

Food Match: 

Rich and textured from spending 12 months in oak barrels. Aromas and flavours of stone fruit, citrus and vanilla with a long and mineral finish.

Grapes: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Aligoté

Country: Ukraine

Region: Kyiv, Odesa

ABV: 12%

Food pairing: 

"BIOLOGIST craft winery” from the Kyiv region creates unique and unmatched wines. They have rented vineyards in the Odesa region (the majority of nowadays wines are made from these grapes) and a 1.5-hectare vineyard in the Kyiv region, which is experimental and biodynamic.

Regarded as one of the best sites in the region, Montestefano does not disappoint! Complex aromas of red fruit, blood orange, sweet spice and cedar wood. Juicy, rich and full bodied with a mid palate and finish that goes on forever. Very elegant and refined. Special wine!

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 14.5%

97
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035
Antonio Galloni, September 2024
The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is one of the most elegant, polished wines in this range. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mint and cedar are beautifully lifted. The tannins are remarkably polished for a young, recently bottled Riserva. I admire its poise and elegance. This is an especially refined edition of the Montestefano. In 2020, the mix of vineyards is a bit younger than in the past, as one of the blocks of older vineyards was replanted and not used. If I could have only one of the Riservas in 2020, this would be it!

Deep and complex aromas of blackberry, rose petals, sweet spice and balsamic glaze. Juicy, rich and full bodied with lots of flavour. Morello cherry, cranberry, liquorice and ground white pepper with a backbone of vibrant acidity and grippy tannins. 

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 14.5%

Antonio Galloni, September 2024
The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is gorgeous. It offers a beguiling mix of intense fruit and supporting structure. A wine of depth and complexity, Asili has a lot of everything. It is clearly a step or two above many of the wines in this range. Today, the 2020 comes across as a bit somber, but that may partly be a reflection of its recent bottling. There is gorgeous depth and resonance in the Asili.

Drinking window 2025- 2045

A fresh and aromatic nose with red and black fruit (blackberries, cherries) and some vanilla notes. A fine tannic structure, elegant, yet bold and concentrated with a long and silky finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Aranda and Ribera Burgalesa, Ribera del Duero

Grapes: Tempranillo 88%, Garnacha 10%, Abillo Mayor 2%

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Slow roast leg of lamb with roast potatoes and Mediterranean vegetables. 

Such a wonderful expression of the Listán Blanco grape variety, otherwise known as Palomino Fino in mainland Spain and other parts of the world. An aromatic nose, with notes of ripe peach and apricot. Green pear on the palate with a textured, saline, long finish from spending 4 months on its lees.

Country: Spain

Region: Tenerife

Grapes: Listán Blanco

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: 

Practicing organic, but not certified.

Dry, complex and textured Chenin from a part of the Loire typically famed for its sweet wines.  Beautifully rich and ripe on the nose that suggesting it may not be bone dry - and yet it is! Notes of beeswax, honey, white peach. There is a touch of vanilla on the nose on the palate. Wonderfully complex and special wine that is a steel for this price.

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley

Grapes: Chenin Blanc

ABV: 12%

An elegant, poised and precise, balanced wine that integrates oak while preserving freshness and terroir expression.

Region: Burgundy

Appellation: Chassagne Montrachet

Grape: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%

Domaine Regnard’s Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc is 100% Chardonnay, grown on clay limestone soils rich in iron oxide, lending mineral tension and structure. Hand-harvested fruit undergoes fermentation and full malolactic conversion in oak, with 12 months’ ageing (40% new) followed by three months in stainless steel.

The nose is delicate, restrained and elegant with its grapefruit, greengage, chamomile and apple blossom aromas and whiffs of exotic spice. The floral character of the nose follows through onto a richly textured mid-palate, showing yellow peach, poached pear and nectarine against a backdrop of fresh mandarin and green fig flavours with integrated acidity and a full body. The ripe stone fruit character adds to the complexity on the palate and the spicy finish with hints of fenugreek, black cardamom and Cape fynbos complements a very balanced wine.

Country: South Africa

Region: Franschhoek Valley

Grapes: Semillon (97%), Muscat d'Alexandrie (3%)

ABV: 13.5%

Great with Cape Malay dishes such as beef baboti - a well-known South African dish consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping.

Tim Atkin MW
96 points. Boekenhoutskloof's world-class Semillon uses grapes from three distinct blocks in Franschhoek, planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942, combining these with 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Showing more acidity and restraint than the stunning 2020, and less of the struck match character, it has notes of lemongrass, custard and beeswax and a core of chiselled acidity. Drinking 2024-32

Dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry aromas are complimented by cassis, tea leaves, dried rosemary and dried spices. Delicious savoury characters are followed by succulent berry fruit on the finish.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 14%

Certified organic vineyards

A very rare grape variety, mostly found in the Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife. The vines are 'pie franco' or ungrafted ancient specimens that thus far have managed to avoid the dreaded Phylloxera bug which devastated many European vineyards in the 19th century. The wine is complex, concentrated and flinty with aromas of green herbs, apples and quince. 6 months in barrel and on its lees has given the wine a beautiful texture and long, saline finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Tenerife

Grapes: Vijariego Blanco

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Seafood such as grilled prawns and calamari would work well with this wine.

Practicing organic, but not certified.

Ripe, round and elegant with classic, subtle butter, toast and pineapple notes balanced by juicy acidity. On the palate there are notes of lemony cream biscuits and key lime pie. A broad, decadent and ripe long finish. A top quality white Burgundy with more than 10 year aging potential.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13%

Sublimely crisp, floral and minerally in style with an almost Chablis -like saltiness on the finish. Very elegant and unique traditional method sparkling.

Country: Japan

Region: Yamanashi Province

Grapes: Koshu

ABV: 12%

Food match: Seafood salads and pasta dishes or fresh oysters.

From the Quinta do Cruzeiro winery. Made with hidden gem grape varieties Encruzado and Malvasia Fina -  famous grapes in Portugal and should be world famous in my opinion!

Aromas of lime, green apple and toast. This wine is clean, precise and has great depth of richness and minerallity with a long, complex finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Mangualde, Dão

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Encruzado and Malvasia Fina

Perfect Pinot Noir! Only 24 barrels made of this, so snap it up while you can!

Ripe in dense black cherry, blueberry and raspberry. This wine has a delicious juiciness that keeps it balanced in the glass. A firmness of acidity supports the well-integrated tannins and lithe fruit, while the finish brings a swirl of cinnamon, baked red apple and vanilla. 

Country: USA

Region: Russian River Valley, California

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Pinot Noir