Opus One 2023 - 98 Pointed Napa First Growth

Solaia 2023

98 Points - Decanter

"Solaia sings in 2023. It's supremely vertical with already-integrated sandy tannins, its tall frame adorned with crunchy, sapid forest berries, chocolate, menthol, iodine and floral top notes. Generous and finessed, it's drinking surprisingly well at this early stage and will continue to prosper for the next two decades at least."

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Solaia is one of Tuscany’s most celebrated wines, born from a sun-drenched vineyard within Antinori’s Tenuta Tignanello estate in the Chianti Classico hills. First produced in 1978, it is crafted primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. The southwest-facing slopes, rich in limestone and marl, give the wine remarkable depth, elegance, and longevity. Vinified in state-of-the-art cellars and aged in French oak, Solaia embodies precision, heritage, and the purest expression of its unique terroir.

The 2023 vintage in Tuscany was marked by a wet spring and a challenging start to the growing season, followed by a warm, dry summer. The best vineyards benefited from a long finish, allowing fruit to develop concentration while retaining freshness and balance.

Solaia 2023 is a beautifully poised expression of the vintage, combining ripe dark fruit with the savoury, herbal character that Cabernet brings to the blend. There is plenty of depth and structure, but also impressive freshness and precision, with fine tannins giving the wine a long, persistent finish. Awarded up to 98 points, it looks like another excellent Solaia with serious ageing potential.

Releasing today at €320* In Bond per bottle.

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Solaia 2023

Add to Cellar - BUY

€320* In Bond per bottle

98 Points | Decanter, James Button

Solaia sings in 2023. It's supremely vertical with already-integrated sandy tannins, its tall frame adorned with crunchy, sapid forest berries, chocolate, menthol, iodine and floral top notes. Generous and finessed, it's drinking surprisingly well at this early stage and will continue to prosper for the next two decades at least.

97 Points | James Suckling

A big Solaia with lots of fruit and spices as well as mint and spearmint. Aromatic. Full-bodied with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Muscular and juicy for a modern Solaia. Needs three to four years of age to come together. Best after 2028.

96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2023 Solaia offers up hints of blackberry, gravel, incense, dried herbs, mocha, tobacco, espresso and sweet French oak. There's a bit of youthful firmness in the tannin that needs time to soften, but that should not be an issue for long. Cabernet Sauvignon speaks with tremendous eloquence as hints of grilled herbs, tobacco, incense, leather and gravel stain the incisive finish. There's a lot of wine here.

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Browse all Antinori → | all Toscana → | all Italian wine →

Back in May, when the South African winemakers were in Amsterdam presenting their wines at the bi-annual Cape Cru, there was one Chardonnay that swept us off our feet and was our favourite in the room. We’ve been eagerly waiting for our allocation to arrive, and it’s finally coming now in September.

Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2023

97 Points - Tim Atkin MW

"Now in its sixteenth vintage, Ava Maria has established itself as one of the Cape's greatest Chardonnays. Sourced from the oldest block of the variety in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, it has amazing tension and granitic focus, refined 10% new wood, notes of macadamia nut, beeswax, oyster shell and lemon butter and a lingering, palate-cleansing finish. Sublime"

97 Points - Greg Sherwood MW

"This flagship wine is now made from the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 29 years old, lending the wine an extra concentration, weight and intensity. [...] Beautifully full and expressive on the palate, concentrated, this wine is characterful and classy, precise and impressively complex with an overriding supple ease and accessibility. Undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest Chardonnay expressions produced in the Cape"

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Restless River is one of the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley’s standout estates, run by Craig and Anne Wessels on their Klein Hemel farm. Just five kilometres from the Atlantic, its vineyards sit on cool, elevated slopes over decomposed granite, clay and quartz. The focus is firmly site-specific, with restrained winemaking producing precise, ageworthy Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon across vintages.

Ava Marie comes from a tiny, registered single vineyard planted in 1999, now among the oldest Chardonnay vines in Hemel-en-Aarde. South and east-facing slopes, shallow gravelly topsoils and decomposed granite give the wine its hallmark tension and mineral drive. Whole-bunch pressing, natural fermentation, large-format oak and terracotta build texture without obscuring the vineyard’s cool-climate purity.

The 2023 Ava Marie shows why this has become one of South Africa’s benchmark Chardonnays. From 30-year-old vines rooted in granite, sandstone and gravel, it combines concentration with precision. Whole-bunch pressed and matured on lees with a little new oak and terracotta, it is taut, saline and stony, with lemon, white peach and citrus pith.

We loved the 2023 when we tasted it, and we’re clearly not alone. Tim Atkin MW and Greg Sherwood MW both awarded it 97 points.

At €42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle, it offers extraordinary value for Chardonnay of this pedigree and quality.

Neal Martin perhaps sums it up best:

“The kind of Chardonnay I would slip into a Burgundy tasting just to trip someone up.”

If you love serious white Burgundy but not the prices that increasingly come with it, Ava Marie is well worth discovering.

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Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2023

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€42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

ETA September

97 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Now in its sixteenth vintage, Ava Maria has established itself as one of the Cape's greatest Chardonnays. Sourced from the oldest block of the variety in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, it has amazing tension and granitic focus, refined 10% new wood, notes of macadamia nut, beeswax, oyster shell and lemon butter and a lingering, palate-cleansing finish. Sublime. 2026-32

97 Points | Greg Sherwood MW

This flagship wine is now made from the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 29 years old, lending the wine an extra concentration, weight and intensity. Full of lemon and herbs, lemon cordial and white peach notes that intermingle with fabulous stony mineral nuances. Beautifully full and expressive on the palate, concentrated, this wine is characterful and classy, precise and impressively complex with an overriding supple ease and accessibility. Undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest Chardonnay expressions produced in the Cape. Drink now to 2036+.

94 Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The Restless River 2023 Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Ave Marie Chardonnay comes from two hectares of the Ave Marie vineyard, considered the oldest Chardonnay planting in the appellation, rooted in granite with sandstone and gravel components. Made identically to its sister wine but with 5% to 8% terracotta in place of stainless steel, this pretty wine leans further into mouthfeel and texture, drawing depth and pronounced character from 30-year-old vines. Stone fruit and a bright mineral backbone define the wine, delivering sharpness, clarity and lovely persistence.

92 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2023 Ava Marie Cuvée Cru Chardonnay comes from the single parcel on the estate, whole bunch pressed and matured on the lees for 12 months. This has a delightful bouquet with plenty of mineralité and tension, the oak (5 to 10%) just in the background. Nicely detailed, precise, with a brisk, orange pith and saline finish, this is developing very well in bottle. The kind of Chardonnay I would slip into a Burgundy tasting just to trip someone up.

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Browse all Restless River → | all Walker Bay → | all South African wine →

Y d’Yquem 2024

When we tasted the 2024 En Primeur wines, our hearts really fell for the dry whites, so we’re particularly excited to see Y d’Yquem release today. It’s a rare chance to experience the dry white side of one of Bordeaux’s greatest estates.

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Chateau d’Yquem is the crown jewel of Sauternes and one of the most celebrated estates in the world, producing wines that embody both luxury and longevity. With a history dating back to 1593, it holds the unique Premier Cru Superieur status from the 1855 Classification. Its south-facing vineyards, misty mornings and meticulous berry-by-berry selection create the conditions for extraordinary wines of richness, balance and complexity.

Y d’Yquem, first crafted in 1959, is the rare dry white produced by Chateau d’Yquem. Made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Semillon, it receives the same meticulous care as the estate’s famed sweet wine. Fresh, elegant and textured, Y combines citrus, white flowers and subtle spice with mineral precision, offering a unique expression of Sauternes terroir and a distinctive alternative to Bordeaux’s more traditional dry whites.

The 2024 vintage in Bordeaux was a difficult one, with a wet spring bringing significant mildew pressure before a cool growing season and small harvest. For dry whites, however, the conditions proved surprisingly favourable, preserving freshness and aromatic definition while allowing the best producers to achieve excellent concentration and balance.

Y d’Yquem 2024 should be a beautifully precise and energetic expression of the vintage. Bright citrus and white peach combine with white flowers, fresh herbs and subtle spice, underpinned by fine mineral freshness and the distinctive texture of Y. The cooler conditions should give the wine plenty of tension and lift, while Yquem’s meticulous selection and winemaking bring the depth and complexity expected from this extraordinary estate.

Released today at €140* In Bond per bottle, we have cases of 1x75cl OWC, 3x75cl OWC and 6x75cl OWC available on the website.

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Y de Yquem 2024

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€140* In Bond per bottle

Winery tasting note:

After a string of ripe, remarkable vintages, in 2024 Toni El Khawand, cellar master of Château d’Yquem, discovered an Y that stands apart not for its power, but for its finesse. “As you swirl a glass of Y 2024, the wine opens with a bouquet quite unlike recent vintages, almost pastoral in character, evolving into aromatic herbs such as chervil and thyme, but also citrus notes – lemon zest, grapefruit – which, combined with those lively herbal aromas, rise together to the nose in the most refreshing way. Behind these aromas are very refined floral notes of delicate white flowers, such as lily of the valley and lemon blossom. This is not a powerful wine, it doesn’t impose itself. Instead, everything is gentle and subtle and quite complex, as you pass from flowers to citrus fruits to aromatic herbs. All of this is very well integrated, leading seamlessly into a palate without the great density of Y 2022 or Y 2023, but which remains very fresh and lively, even as it delicately coats the palate and lingers there. For me, it’s a wine that evokes the countryside, as if you were strolling through a field in early spring, when the flowers are just starting to bloom – very delicate aromas, yet very much present, which for me is the nature of finesse.”

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Browse all Chateau d’Yquem → | all Bordeaux → | all French wine →

2023 Vin de Constance releases, and it's their first 100-Point rating!

As part of her report about the September releases, Jane Anson wrote:

"This is the first time I have selected a sweet wine for my If You Pick Just One Wine, and the first time to give 100 points to Vin de Constance. Crazy really, as it is consistently one of my favourite wines at home, and one of the few wines that just never disappoints"

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100 Points - Jane Anson
"As ever, this is just pure pleasure, and full of grace, apricot puree, intense and concentrated, with the most beautiful balance of citrus, grilled pineapple, truffle, fennel, uplift and joy"​

 

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We actually can’t believe this fact, so we wanted to highlight it. Last year we wrote that pickers passed through the vineyards 16 times to harvest the 2022 vintage, which was remarkable enough. In 2023, that rose to an extraordinary 25 passes. For context, Yquem typically makes just five to six passes through its vineyards.

 

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Klein Constantia is one of South Africa’s most historic and celebrated wine estates, founded in 1685 on the cool slopes of Constantiaberg overlooking False Bay. The combination of elevated vineyards, granite soils and cooling ocean breezes creates the freshness and balance that define the estate. Revitalised over recent decades, Klein Constantia has reclaimed its place among the world’s great estates, driven above all by the revival of its extraordinary sweet wine.

Vin de Constance is a modern icon, bringing back the Cape’s legendary sweet wine once coveted by kings, emperors and poets. Made exclusively from Muscat de Frontignan, the grapes are harvested by hand in multiple passes, with pickers returning to the vineyard again and again to select fruit at precisely the right stage of ripeness and botrytisation. The resulting wine combines remarkable concentration with freshness, balancing honeyed apricot, orange blossom and spice with vibrant acidity, extraordinary length and the ability to age for decades.

The quality has gone up another level in recent years. Since Klein Constantia began using its new cellar in 2016, greater precision throughout the winemaking process, from specially designed fermentation tanks to large foudres for ageing, has allowed the team to make small refinements with every vintage. Those incremental improvements have steadily pushed Vin de Constance forward, culminating in the 100-point 2023 vintage.

And what a vintage it is. Jane Anson awarded the 2023 Vin de Constance a perfect 100 points, making it her pick if you choose just one wine from this year's September releases. Her note captures the sheer pleasure of the wine, describing layers of apricot puree, citrus, grilled pineapple, truffle and fennel, all delivered with remarkable grace and balance.

What makes the 2023 so compelling is the tension between richness and freshness. There is immense concentration and sweetness, yet vibrant acidity keeps the wine lifted, precise and incredibly long. It is a wine of both indulgence and refinement, and a fitting milestone for an estate that has spent decades perfecting the modern expression of Vin de Constance.

Releasing today at €57* In Bond per bottle. We think this is a future legend and one to seriously consider stocking up on.

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Klein Constantia Vin De Constance 2023 - 50cl

€57* In Bond per bottle

Buy Vin De Constance 2023 

100 Points - Jane Anson
As ever, this is just pure pleasure, and full of grace, apricot puree, intense and concentrated, with the most beautiful balance of citrus, grilled pineapple, truffle, fennel, uplift and joy. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 162g/l residual sugar.

99 Points | James Suckling
Concentrated aromas of dried apricots, pineapple, caramel and honey. It’s full-bodied with a dense, intense finish, showing spices, limes, dried fruit and some toffee. Very sweet but balanced and fresh. A triumph for this South African estate. One of the best ever. Drink or hold.

98 Points | The Drinks Business, Colin Hay
This is made from roughly 10% of botrytised grapes for only the 4th time in its history. There’s a little less residual sugar (but actually the 2022 was only 6 g/litre higher). Effusive and engaging yet elegant and beguiling – and distinctly nuttier than the 2022 from the botrytis. Peach stone, nectarine, white pear flesh, a little fresh and confit ginger, nougat, angelica, confit fruits and figs. I love too the burnt caramel with its lovely bitterness and grip. The fleshy pear notes provide the focus on the palate. A wine of grace and poise and charm despite the considerable concentration and of wondrous very vibrant freshness. Excellent. Pear belle Helene on the finish. Lovely. Very different from the preceding vintage, but just as good. So sapid and saline on the aftertaste.

 

 

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change

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Browse Klein Constantia

Browse Klein Constantia → | Browse South Africa → | Stellenbosch →

2023 Masseto is released! 

Masseto 2023 is the top release of the September icon wines, producing a legendary expression of Merlot from blue-clay in Italy. This is a release you won't want to miss.
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99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck, Audrey Frick

"Creamy but reserved raspberry and blackberry fruit studded through with sea spray, liqourice root, anis, fennel, bitter orange peel, cocoa bean, beautiful tension and clarity of expression. Brilliant"​

 

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Few wines inspire quite the same awe as Masseto. Born in the heart of Bolgheri, this 100% Merlot has become Italy's answer to Petrus, coveted by collectors and critics around the world. Created by the Ornellaia estate in 1986, its reputation is built on an extraordinary vineyard, meticulous care and uncompromising winemaking. Produced in tiny quantities, Masseto combines immense power with elegance, precision and remarkable longevity, placing it firmly among the world's great wines.

At the heart of Masseto is one of Tuscany's most extraordinary pieces of terroir, a rare vein of compact blue clay running beneath the vineyard. This dense, moisture-retaining soil helps the vines withstand Bolgheri's hot, dry summers, maintaining water availability and allowing the Merlot to ripen slowly and evenly. Cooling sea breezes and excellent exposure complete the picture, while rigorous hand selection ensures only the finest fruit reaches the cellar. The result is Merlot of extraordinary concentration and aromatic depth, with the blue clay giving Masseto its distinctive sense of density, minerality and structure.

The 2023 vintage continues Masseto's remarkable run, earning 99 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 98 points from Jane Anson. Audrey Frick highlights the wine's beautiful tension and clarity, with creamy raspberry and blackberry wrapped around notes of sea spray, liquorice, anise, fennel, bitter orange and cocoa. It is a Masseto with plenty of power beneath the surface, but remarkable precision and restraint, suggesting a long life ahead. With drinking projected from 2028, this is another serious addition to the Masseto story.

Released today at € In Bond per bottle, we have cases of 3x75cl OWC available, as well as some loose bottles. Don't miss adding this to the collection.​

 

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Masseto 2023

€560* In Bond per bottle

Buy Masseto 2023

99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck, Audrey Frick
Creamy but reserved raspberry and blackberry fruit studded through with sea spray, liqourice root, anis, fennel, bitter orange peel, cocoa bean, beautiful tension and clarity of expression. Brilliant. Eleonora Marconi winemaker, Marchesi Frescobaldi owners.
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98 Points | Jane Anson
Creamy but reserved raspberry and blackberry fruit studded through with sea spray, liqourice root, anis, fennel, bitter orange peel, cocoa bean, beautiful tension and clarity of expression. Brilliant. Eleonora Marconi winemaker, Marchesi Frescobaldi owners.

 

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Browse Masseto

Browse Masseto → | Browse Tuscany → | Browse Italian wines →

99-Pointed Release:

Today we're offering the 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne available by the bottle. As well as that, we have a handful of cases of 2004, 2007 and 2008 to offer.

Comtes de Champagne

99 Points - James Suckling

"Fantastic complexity here with aromas of toast, biscuit, lemon, almond, chalk and some fennel. It's long, sleek and mineral, with tight, very fine bubbles and so much tension and precision. Very long and chalky finish"

98 Points - Antonio Galloni

"The 2013 Comtes de Champagne captures all the pedigree of this great vintage in its energy, depth and vibrancy. Lemon confit, dried flowers, chamomile, spice and crushed rocks all race across the palate"

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Taittinger is one of Champagne's great family-owned houses, with roots stretching back to 1734. Its prestige cuvée, Comtes de Champagne, was first produced in 1952 and takes its name from the medieval Counts of Champagne. Made only in exceptional vintages, it has become one of the region's benchmark Blanc de Blancs.

What really sets Comtes apart is its terroir. It is made exclusively from Chardonnay grown in five Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. These chalk-rich vineyards produce Chardonnay with remarkable purity, tension and minerality.

Winemaking remains deliberately traditional. Only the cuvée, the first and finest pressing, is used, while a small proportion of the wine is aged in new oak barrels to add texture and complexity. The Champagne then spends many years ageing on its lees in Taittinger's historic chalk cellars beneath Reims before release.

House Style:

Comtes de Champagne is all about elegance, precision and chalky minerality. In its youth, expect citrus, white flowers and stone fruit wrapped around a fine, saline backbone. With bottle age, the wine develops greater richness and complexity, bringing notes of brioche, toasted hazelnut and pastry while retaining the freshness that defines great Côte des Blancs Chardonnay. At its best, it is one of Champagne's greatest expressions of Blanc de Blancs money can buy.

Today's offer we have some bottles and cases of 2013 as well as some cases of 2004, 2007 and 2008. Limited cases at these great prices.

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Comtes de Champagne BdB 2013

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€129* In Bond per bottle

99 Points | James Suckling

Fantastic complexity here with aromas of toast, biscuit, lemon, almond, chalk and some fennel. It's long, sleek and mineral, with tight, very fine bubbles and so much tension and precision. Very long and chalky finish. Disgorged end of 2023. Drink or hold.

98 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Roger Voss

This beautiful Chardonnay from five top Grand Cru vineyards is textured with fruit that is still impressively perfumed. Its concentration has allowed it to remain perennially young. Although there are hints of toastiness, the Champagne has many more years of potential. Drink now and at least up to 2027.

98 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2013 Comtes de Champagne captures all the pedigree of this great vintage in its energy, depth and vibrancy. Lemon confit, dried flowers, chamomile, spice and crushed rocks all race across the palate. Passionfruit, ginger, marzipan and mint appear later, filling out the layers beautifully. Harvest took place in October in what has become the exception rather than the norm in Champagne.

97 Points | Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy, Steven Pritchard

5 Star Wine - After the relatively easygoing 2012 comes the more serious 2013 vintage. A long growing season with a late harvest has marked the wine with intense acids. The aromas are also cool and intense: lemony fruit on the palate is fragranced with just a hint of coffee beans. As the wine warms in the glass, herbaceous nuances emerge (and a dusting of almonds for good measure). Full of nervy energy from start to finish, the mid-palate interjects a ripe juiciness, hinting at the oft-ignored ripeness of this vintage. The acidity and extended lees aging have imparted a delicate salinity on the long, complex finish. Phenomenally phenolic! This precise and fresh rendition of Comtes de Champagne may threaten to topple 2008 from its throne in the decades ahead. Excellent! Drink from 2028-2055.

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Comtes de Champagne BdB 2008

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€178* In Bond per bottle

100 Points | James Suckling

The perfect blanc de blancs. Full-bodied with a lovely framework of acidity and dry fruit, such as apples, pears and peaches. Opulent. Dense and muscular. Yet, it's balanced and harmonious. Line of acidity at the end. Totally in tune. Superb. Deep and complete. Has everything. One for the cellar. It is the greatest Comte ever. It has everything. A perfect upgrade from two years ago. Drink or hold.

98 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2008 Comtes de Champagne is every bit as stunning as it has always been. The first signs of aromatic complexity are starting to appear, while there is a bit less of the youthful austerity that was present at the outset. It will be interesting to see how the 2018 continues to develop. It is certainly not the austere, bracing Champagne it was a few years ago. Hints of apricot, slate, mint, crushed rocks and light tropical accents build into the salivating finish.

19 Points | Jancis Robinson

Pale copper colour. Tiny bead. Lots of toasty autolysis on the nose and then masses of very crystalline acidity on the palate with a tiny bit of smoky reduction. Really energetic. Should be a great start to our JR.com Christmas dinner and, I hope, a good lead-in to La Grande Dame 1990. Dry finish and super-zesty. Lemon zest at that. Complete and gorgeous. Very long and clean. Beautiful balance.

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Comtes de Champagne BdB 2007

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€132* In Bond per bottle

98 Points | James Suckling

This is a step up from the linear and fresh 2006. It shows subtle depth and power with a dense block of vivid fruit that's highlighted with lemon zest, green apples and hints of white peaches. Just the right amount of praline and nuts on the nose. Fine and tight bead give the Champagne a luxurious mouthfeel. One for now or the cellar. Drink or hold.

97 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Roger Voss

Always one of the great Champagnes, this comes from a year that is generally regarded as good but not great. And yet, with this Champagne is magnificent. The wine has some good bottle age, hinting at toast while also keeping the tight, mineral edge of a great wine from the Côte des Blancs. Drink from 2020.

96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

Taittinger's 2007 Comtes de Champagne will be nearly impossible to resist upon release. Soaring aromatics, mid-weight structure and soft contours give the 2007 its alluring personality. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, chamomile and green pear add brightness and freshness throughout, with a persistent, clean finish that makes it impossible to resist a second taste. Today, the 2007 comes across as a slightly more open version of the 2004, with freshness that makes that wine so appealing, and a touch of textural richness that recalls the 2002. Although the 2007 does not have the explosive energy or verticality of the profound 2006, it will drink better earlier. The 2007 has been positively brilliant on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.

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Comtes de Champagne BdB 2004

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€159* In Bond per bottle

96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

I am thrilled with the way the 2004 Comtes de Champagne continues to evolve in bottle. A few years ago, the 2004 was quite focused and linear, in the style of the vintage, but more recently, the wine has begun to fill out beautifully. The 2004 remains bright, with a full range of citrus, white flower and mineral nuances that dance on the palate. A brisk, saline-infused finish rounds things out beautifully in a Comtes that impresses for its crystalline purity. I expect the 2004 will always remain a bit cool next to the more opulent 2002, but it is still drop-dead gorgeous.

96 Points | Decanter

It was a dry vintage up to August, which turned exceptionally wet and cool. September saved the vintage with the ideal weather conditions - low rainfall and cool nights. The graceful nose opens to white flowers, ripe apricot and citrus hints. It is tense and refined, with a vivid mineral core balanced by pristine acidity and some toasted notes on the finish. It's not the most expressive today, but wait for it to awaken. This is built for cellaring

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Buy Taittinger → | Browse Champagne → | Browse France →

In Stock:

If you're a fan of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, then Cloudy Bay is a name you'll know well. A true pioneer, it helped put Marlborough on the world stage and remains the benchmark by which the country's Sauvignon Blancs are judged.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

94 Points - Wine Advocate

"The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc is fleshy and intense, as is the style of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, and there is enough savory extract and shape in the wine to elevate it beyond the norm. [...] The acidity is saline, and all elements work together toward a common goal. [...] It's very good indeed"

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Few wineries have had a greater influence on New Zealand wine than Cloudy Bay. Founded in 1985 by David Hohnen and legendary winemaker Kevin Judd, it pioneered the vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc style that captivated the world. Forty years later, it remains the benchmark by which all New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are judged.

The 2025 continues Cloudy Bay's remarkable consistency, earning another 94-point score from the Wine Advocate. Fleshy yet beautifully composed, it combines passion fruit, pineapple, fresh herbs and saline minerality with vibrant acidity and impressive texture.

More layered and age-worthy than many Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, this is a benchmark release that will drink beautifully now and evolve over the coming decade.

We have a small parcel in stock and ready to go at a fantastic price of €22.07* In Bond per bottle. Grab them whilst they last.

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Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025

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€22.07* In Bond per bottle

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94 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc is fleshy and intense, as is the style of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, and there is enough savory extract and shape in the wine to elevate it beyond the norm. Here, we have grass clippings and brine, green olive tapenade, passion fruit and pineapple husk. The acidity is saline, and all elements work together toward a common goal. I recall, in context, this wine looking a little sweeter and fleshier than some of its regional peers, and yet here today in isolation, it looks tight, textural and composed. It's very good indeed. Cloudy Bay is a member of the Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW). 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Buy Cloudy Bay → | Browse Marlborough → | Browse New Zealand →

Very limited offer, just a couple of cases and a handful of bottles:

2010 Cos d'Estournel

99 Points - Wine Advocate

"the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant"

98 Points - Jane Anson

"Stands head and shoulders above the 2009 at this point, here you get the creaminess and power of a great vintage, with tannins that head towards monster-territory, and yet there is real delicacy and hidden complexity here, gorgeous quality, brilliant stuff, exotic, incense, cinnamon; 100% new oak"

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Cos d’Estournel is one of the most distinctive chateaux in Bordeaux, instantly recognisable for its exotic architecture and bold, opulent style. Situated on the hill of Saint-Estèphe near the Pauillac border, the estate benefits from exceptional gravel soils and south-facing slopes.

Known as the “Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe,” Cos blends power with finesse in both its Grand Vin and Pagodes de Cos. Under Michel Reybier’s ownership, it remains a benchmark for modern precision and age-worthy grandeur.

The 2010 Cos d'Estournel is a monumental Saint-Estèphe, combining immense concentration with remarkable freshness and precision. Layers of cassis, dark plum, graphite, tobacco and exotic spice unfold over powerful, structured tannins and vibrant acidity.

Awarded 99 points by The Wine Advocate, this is one of the top-scoring vintages from the château. Impressively, Jane Anson has this beating the 2009 in her note.

We have a couple of cases and a handful of bottles at this price. Grab them whilst you can!

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Cos d'Estournel 2010

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€235* In Bond per bottle

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99 Points | Wine Advocate

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Cos d'Estournel unfurls slowly, measuredly, releasing delicate notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and blackcurrant pastilles before giving way to notions of potpourri, black cherry compote and chocolate box plus touches of dried sage, tobacco and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant. Give it another 4-5 years in bottle and this will be stunning!

98 Points | Jane Anson

Stands head and shoulders above the 2009 at this point, here you get the creaminess and power of a great vintage, with tannins that head towards monster-territory, and yet there is real delicacy and hidden complexity here, gorgeous quality, brilliant stuff, exotic, incense, cinnamon; 100% new oak.

97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

A great contrast to the '09, this feels even denser, with dark plum, black currant and fig sauce flavors that pump along. The spine is all graphite and chalk, giving this a riveting feel through the finish. The cut is terrific, no easy feat considering how dense the fruit is. A stunning wine.--Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Best from 2025 through 2045. 16,000 cases made.

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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Buy Cos d'Estournel → | Browse Saint-Estèphe → | Browse Bordeaux →

Last week we offered the Chardonnay and today it's time for the Pinot Noir.

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2024

95 Points - Tim Atkin MW

"Continuing the move towards great elegance in the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noirs [...] perfumed, textured and comparatively approachable [...] impressive palate length."

94 Points - Decanter

"Lovely spice notes, combined with fruit ripeness, richness and very fine tannins. Long, lingering aftertaste. High class. Great aromatics."

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Last week we featured Hamilton Russell's benchmark Chardonnay. This week, it's the turn of the estate's equally celebrated Pinot Noir. If you missed the Chardonnay, you can read about it here.

The 2024 Pinot Noir marks the estate's 50th anniversary, making this release all the more special. A devastating Cape storm during flowering resulted in some of the smallest yields Hamilton Russell has seen, but the surviving fruit is beautifully pure, balanced and expressive. Sometimes nature gives less, but what remains can be exceptional.

Just a few kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, the estate's iron-rich, clay soils and cool maritime climate create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. Gentle extraction, partial whole-bunch fermentation and restrained French oak ageing preserve purity, savoury complexity and a distinctive sense of place.

Hamilton Russell continues its pursuit of elegance over power. The 2024 is beautifully perfumed, savoury and finely structured, with maritime freshness and remarkable finesse that have become the estate's signature.

Awarded 95 points by Tim Atkin MW, this is another benchmark South African Pinot Noir and outstanding value at €39.79* In Bond per bottle.

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Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2024

Add to Cellar - BUY

€39.79* In Bond per bottle

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95 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Continuing the move towards great elegance in the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noirs, despite the very low yields of the 2024 vintage, this is a scented, stylish cuvée of clones 113, 115 and 667 from Emul Ross. Perfumed, textured and comparatively approachable, it has scented 32% new wood, pomegranate and black cherry flavours, savoury tannins and impressive palate length. 2026-32

94 Points | Decanter

The dramatic Cape Storm of 23/24 September resulted in reduced yields following uneven flowering, although the overall season was a little warmer than the cool 2023. Yields were 13.7hl/ha, with pH 3.68 and 12.75% alcohol. Yet despite all the challenges this Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir has lovely spice notes, combined with fruit ripeness, richness and very fine tannins. Long, lingering aftertaste. High class. Great aromatics.

93+ Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2024 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir has a spicy, brambly aromatic profile with eucalyptus-like high notes, alongside distant hints of cinnamon, clove and orange zest. This is a lean-bodied red with good textural backing, giving the wine a firm and silky mid-palate. Fermentation includes 10% whole-bunch fruit, with the remainder destemmed but not crushed, and the wine is matured entirely in new and neutral oak for 10 months. The cool maritime climate of Hemel-en-Aarde, shaped by ocean breezes and clay-rich Bokkeveld soils, supports the wine’s precision and restrained structure. Production totals 27,960 bottles.

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*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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