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Treasure Trove III Feb 2011

Helen Brotherton — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:12:15 +0000

Fine Wine Works Treasure Trove Issue III
Valid from 26th January 2011

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien

Our Winefinder service procures wines absolutely to order from the best current sources in terms of Price and Provenance. We also take the opportunity to acquire small parcels of fine wines as we discover them throughout Europe – may we introduce our FWW Treasure Trove!

A selection of juicy and delicious tiny quantities of fine wines we have acquired recently:

All prices are HT (without tax). Call us or e-mail us if any of the wines are of interest to you.

WHITES

1. Flowers Estate, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2008
Sonoma Coast, California USA
61.00€
Showing balanced depth and complexity with a light straw colour. Aromas unfold with layers of lemon drop, pear, apricot and wet stone mineral. This vintage shows crispness and intense fruit on the palate – lush and balanced.

2. NEW Château Suduiraut Sauternes 2006 (Sweet)
Sauternes 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France
52.00€

Sauternes is arguably the finest sweet wine in the world and here Château Suduiraut, a stone’s throw from the immortal Château d’Yquem, produces outstanding wines which are profound, intense and complex as any from the region. The flavours explode with lots of dried apricots, candied lemon and a big peachy finish.

This wine is medium gold in color, with a flamboyant, buttery, intensely intoxicating nose of smoked tropical fruits, especially pineapple, melted caramel, and honeyed orange. Unctuously textured, with superb, full-bodied richness, good underlying acidity, and a stunning finish, it should have 30+ years of longevity Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 93 points

Dried citrus fruit and apple crumble aromas follow through to a full, thick and intense palate, with loads of lemon curd and apple skin character. Wine Spectator 92 points
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A honeyed concentrate, with notes of orange blossom and a beautiful purity. There is a lovely flavour of richness which caresses the palate displaying complexity, depth and a fine balance. An undoubted triumph here. Decanter rating **** 4 stars

REDS

Bordeaux

3. Château Pichon Baron Longueville 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
2ème Cru Classé
155.00€

Pichon Baron, a leading Pauillac 2eme Cru Classé estate, is one of Bordeaux’s most illustrious “super seconds”. The best examples have layer upon layer of unctuous, vanilla scented and cassis fruit intermingled with cigar box and lead pencil shavings aromas – as they require cellaring for at least 10 years, this 1996 is drinking magnificently now!

4. Château Pontet Canet 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
5ème Cru Classé
103.00€

A super star, great value property which borders Mouton Rothschild, owner Alfred Tesseron is outperforming this property’s historic reputation by perhaps the greatest degree in the whole of Bordeaux. Shortly to be granted full eco Organic certification. The 1996 is just starting to come into its stride!

With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 92 points

5. Château Ducru Beaucaillou 1996
St Julien, Bordeaux, France
2ème Cru Classé
218.00€

A description of the land, the name literally means “beautiful pebble”: small stones and gravel permit good drainage of the soils and that’s exactly what Cabernet Sauvignon thrives on!

A thoroughly outstanding wine, sleek and racy with loads of character. Intense floral and blackberry aromas, with hints of mineral. Full bodied, with super silky tannins and a long, long finish. Wine Spectator 92 points

6. Château Beau Séjour Bécot 2005
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
1er Grand Cru Classé
105.00€

In the upper echelon, and rightfully so, of Bordeaux right bank producers, but still offering excellent value for money, even for this exquisite 2005 vintage, for its fruit dripping, well-made Merlot based wines.

Offers aromas of blackberry, coffee and tar, with a full body, silky tannins and a blackberry, mineral and light vanilla aftertaste. Balanced, refined and pretty. Wine Spectator 92 points

The bottled 2005 Beau Sejour Becot confirms that this is the finest effort from this estate in the thirty years I have been covering Bordeaux. A classic blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is an intense, full-bodied St.-Emilion revealing notes of espresso roast, chocolate, blackberries, licorice, and truffles. With sweet but noticeable tannins, good acidity, and a powerful, long finish, this textbook St.-Emilion cuts a swath between the modern school of winemaking and the traditionalists. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 94 points

7. Château Pavie Macquin 2003
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
1er Grand Cru Classé
160.00€

Recently promoted in the 2006 St Emilion classification re-shuffle and is a property which has really hit form in the last 10 years, producing first-class wines. Since 1990 Nicholas Thienpoint of Vieux Château Certan has been in charge of the vineyards which he manages on organic lines.

One of the top St Emilion’s of the vintage. Deep, intense colour. Ripe, dark fruit and licquorice nose. Rich layered extract, velvety texture of fruit with a muscular tannic structure. Powerful but ripe and balanced with a long fresh finish. Decanter Rating ****

Burgundian, liqueur-like nose – very distinctive! Full-bodied, quite soft and a different structure from most. Fine tannins and some tarry flavours on the finish. Jancis Robinson 17/20

8. Château Bellevue 2000
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Grand Cru Classé
135.00€

St Emilion

With just over 6 hectares planted (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc), this estate cuddles up next to Ch Angelus and Beau Séjour Becot, this wine has been catching the eye of wine guru and critic Robert Parker in the US – he gives this vintage a staggering 95+ points!
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Impressive fruit in this wine, with crushed plums and spices. Full- to medium-bodied, with super silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A refined and beautiful wine. Best after 2008.
Wine Spectator 91 points

9. Château Kirwan 2000
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
3ème Cru Classé
104.00€

An illustrious property, currently passing through a bit of a golden age, Kirwan takes its name from its original Irish proprietor who was, rather unfortunately, guillotined in 1792! The wines from Kirwan continue to offer seriously good value for a 3ème Classed growth.

Lovely stylish nose, oak and cassis, finely perfumed. Rich and opulent, lush, big ripe tannins, formidable and built to last. Tight and powerful. Drink 2008-17.
Decanter Rating **** 4 stars

Dense, dark nose of black fruit leading to a full palate with sweet fruit and good structure – plenty of potential here. This is very good indeed!
The Wine Doctor 17.5 / 20

…shows attractive plum and berry character, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and very refined tannins. Lasts a long time on the finish. Very, very silky.
Wine Spectator 92 points

10. NEW Château Kirwan 1998
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
3ème Cru Classé
82.00€

New Barriques at Chateau Kirwan, Margaux

Extremely well-crafted, with interesting aromas of berry and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2006. 8,330 cases made.
Wine Spectator 89 points

The opaque purple-colored 1998 boasts a smoky, licorice, cassis, and mineral-scented bouquet. Full-bodied, powerful, yet elegant, it successfully balances complexity with an unbridled richness and power. Very impressive, particularly in view of its exceptional concentration, it will handsomely repay cellaring of two decades or more. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 90 points

Very good earthy, wild violets, gamey Cabernet bouquet, complex. Very fine length and excellent ripeness, proper structure and superb tannins. Drink 2009-21. Decanter rating **** 4 stars

11. NEW Château d’Armailhac 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
5ème Cru Classé
70.00€

No other vineyard in Bordeaux has undergone so many name changes but now as Château d’Armailhac it represents one of the shrewdest buys in Pauillac. With the work in both the vineyards and the cellar overseen by the team from next door neighbour, Mouton Rothschild, and the grapes from predominantly 50+ aged Cabernet Sauvignon vines, d’Armailhac is never a soft, lightweight option! But here, fully in its stride is a successful and seductive wine, brimful of mature & supple fruit.

Wonderful aromas of ripe fruit, spices, licorice and fresh herbs. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Balanced and delicious. Wine Spectator 88 points

Quite deep. Lots of bold black fruit. Fine, firm structure and poise. Decanter rating **** 4 stars

12. NEW Château Prieure – Lichine 2000
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
5ème Cru Classé
78.00€

Thanks to its rather subdued presence in the market place, this property offers the richness of Margaux terroir at an almost alarmingly good price. The estate came to notice when, then a mere 11 hectares, it was bought by the famous French wine writer, Alexis Lichine, and still carries his name.

A solid red, with big, velvety tannins and lots of ripe fruit, tobacco and chocolate character. Long, fresh finish. One of the best Prieuré-Lichine in a long, long time. Wine Spectator 91 points

Undeniably the finest Prieure-Lichine in 30-40 years, this textured, rich, medium to full-bodied 2000 boasts a dark ruby/purple color in addition to a knock-out nose of black cherries, cassis, tobacco leaf, cocoa, and toasty oak in the background. The wine is sweet on the attack, full- bodied, and well-textured, with oodles of fruit and glycerin. This is sexy stuff that can be drunk early, but will age gracefully for 15-16 years. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2026. Bravo! Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 90 points

Very good full colour, smoky, Cabernet/blackcurrant, quite concentrated nose, finely extracted and very good ripe fruit, very ripe Merlot rounds and softens it, a very attractive, supple Margaux with beautiful balance for the medium term. Ready 2006-2015. Decanter rating **** 4 stars

13. NEW Château Leoville Barton 1996
St Julien, Bordeaux, France
2ème Cru Classé
146.00€

Anthony Barton

The wines of Anthony Barton, and most specifically those of Chateau Léoville-Barton, exist in a unique place; there are few wines held in such high regard by the press, the trade and consumer alike, whilst also maintaining a reputation for good value. Add in an amiable proprietor, of Irish descent, who has been outspoken on the matter of Bordeaux as a wine for giving pleasure – for drinking no less – rather than as a vehicle for investment, and you perhaps have something close to the perfect Bordeaux chateau.

This impressive wine is a classic. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to abundant black currant fruit intertwined with spicy oak and truffle-like scents. The wine is brilliantly made, full-bodied, and tightly-structured with plenty of muscle and outstanding concentration and purity Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 92 points

Wild berries on the nose, with an exotic flower undertone. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Gorgeous red. Give it time. Wine Spectator 91 points

14. NEW Château Lanessan 1994
Haut – Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
42.00€

Château Lanessan describes itself as Grand Cru Hors Classé and this refers to the fact that one of the previous owners felt it unnecessary to submit samples for the 1855 Classification and consequently its traditional ranking as a 4ème Cru Classé was never ratified. Lanessan is now owned by G.F.A des Domaines Bouteiller and has a reputation for producing Cru Classé standard wines at Cru Bourgeois prices. Lanessan is located just to the south of Gruaud- Larose and the blend is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon based and is aged in oak barrels for 18 months.

15. NEW Château Gracia 1999
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
140.00€

This is a garage wine that has many Medoc aristocrats unsettled as well as jealous of the prices these small gems are fetching, Gracia is produced from a 4.4-acre vineyard with microscopic yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare and the massively dense wines are often compared favourably to the lushness of nearby Château Ausone.

The 1999 Gracia is made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in 100% new oak and is bottled without fining or filtration. There are just 425 cases produced. The dense, gorgeously perfumed 1999 boasts notes of jammy cherries infused with licorice, smoke, and minerals. It possesses layers of concentration, low acidity, and tremendous purity as well as length. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 91 points

16. NEW Château Batailley 2000
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
5ème Cru Classé
79.00€

The name Batailley is said to derive from a “bataille” fought 600 years ago between the French and the English on the same spot as the present property. Château Batailley is owned by Emile Casteja of the famous negociants, Borie-Manoux, and produces classically styled Pauillac wines with intense cassis and smoky character and is considered one of the best value wines in the commune.

Aromas of blackberry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a caressing finish. Layered, beautiful and just starting to come around. Wine Spectator 90 points

Huge colour, deep tobacco-y fruit, fat and fleshy and good oak, very ripe, spicy fruit, robust and good concentration. Decanter rating **** 4 stars

Black currant, licorice, damp earth, moss, and fresh porcini mushroom characteristics emerge from this dark plum/ruby-colored Pauillac. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 88 points

Rhône Valley

17. Côte Rôtie “La Mordorée” M. Chapoutier 1997
Rhône, France
118.00€
The Côte – Rôtie vineyard is certainly one of the oldest in existence and Vienne wines were already highly reputed by Rome as far back as one century BC. Since Michel Chapoutier took control of this long-established firm in 1988, quality has soared.
All the vineyards are now run on biodynamic principles and all his wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
“Filtering a wine is like making love with a condom,” says Michel Chapoutier and crucial to his philosophy is the production of “téte de cuvées”, which include La Mordorée made from 60 year old vines on the Côte Blonde.

The 1997 Cote Rotie La Mordoree is an extremely expressive, open-knit, aromatic, and seductive example. Chapoutier believes it is the finest he has ever made. It is soft, accessible, and easy to understand. The saturated ruby/purple color is accompanied by tell-tale aromas of black raspberries, roasted herbs, smoke, and meat. The wine is medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic, with low acidity, superb concentration, and an intense black cherry, camphor-like, olive component. This wine should be drinkable upon release, and last for two decades. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 92-94 points

A class act. Succulent yet ripe, showing wonderfully defined aromas and flavors, kicking with lively acidity but also delivering plenty of ripe fruit, smoke, grilled meat and leather notes. Supple, subtle, sweet tannin structure. This Rhône red is enjoyable on release, but has the stuffing to age. Wine Spectator 93 points

Italy

18. “Cepparello” Isole e Olena 2004
Tuscany, Italy
78.00€

A barrique – aged 100% Sangiovese classified as an IGT – at the time of its creation in the 1980’s, a wine comprising 100% Sangiovese could not be labelled as Chianti!!

19. “Ornellaia” Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia 2005
Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
198.00€
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is without question one of Italy’s blue-chip properties. The gorgeous, sprawling estate is located in Bolgheri in Tuscany’s Maremma. Ornellaia is a Bordeaux inspired blend consisting principally of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Displays beautiful aromas of ripe fruit, with currant, plum and blackberry. This complex and full- bodied Tuscan red has soft, polished tannins and a long, long finish. Shows a deft hand in the winemaking. Wine Spectator 95 points
20. “Sassicaia” Tenuta San Guido 1998
Tuscany, Italy
265.00€

“Unquestionably one of the most compelling and dramatic Cabernet Sauvignon’s I have ever tasted, it continues to go from strength to strength” Robert Parker
Sassicaia is one of the original show-stopping Super Tuscans and is now a “must have” on any noteworthy cellar list.

Shows its class. Loaded with fruit. Rich yet balanced, with lots of jammy and plummy character. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a silky finish. Exotic. Sass made excellent wine again in a less than easy year. Wine Spectator 93 points

Fairly subdued on the nose (but in fairness the sample had only just been opened – I’d love to look at this after decanting), just an allusion to prune and leather. But absolutely stunning on the palate. The spice is softly embroidered into shimmering fruit. Very very firm, sleek tannins. Terribly elegant, softly spoken and precise. Detailed and fine lined. Unending silky-spiced length. Jancis Robinson 18 /20

21. “Sassicaia” Tenuta San Guido 2000
Tuscany, Italy
265.00€
Hickory, black cherry, spice rack, cedarwood and a mushroomy earthy tone to the nose. Likewise on the palate, a funky expressive nose, like fresh compost and over-ripe fruit. The structure is eminently accessible whilst grippy enough to keep, and is showing development that will surely expand with age. Very good Jancis Robinson 17.5++/20

22. Barbaresco “Asili”, Bruno Giacosa 2005
Piemonte, Italy
125.00€
Single vineyard traditional style Barbaresco, it shows remarkable balance and harmony in an incredibly pure, graceful style. The tannins are so finessed and elegant it is actually hard to perceive them on the palate. Here too, the wine shows awesome inner balance and poise.

Sweet raspberries, flowers, roses and spices are just some of the nuances that emerge from this incredibly delicious, promising Barbaresco. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 95 points

23. Barbaresco “Rabaja”, Bruno Giacosa 2005
Piemonte, Italy
105.00€
A different single vineyard – just as joyously exquisite!

Wonderful perfume in this Barbaresco with flowers and ripe berries, including strawberry. Full bodied, chewy and long. Massive on the finish. A superb wine. 95 points Wine Spectator

24. NEW Barolo “Le Vigne”, Sandrone 2004
Piemonte, Italy
130.00€

Multi – award winning wines from this highly regarded modernist Barolo producer in the Langhe hills – and a star studded vintage – the best of the decade – a winning combination! Luciano Sandrone has built up a top quality wine estate from its small- scale beginnings in 1978. His Barolo is made in the modern style: elegant, attractive and easy to appreciate right from its first years in the bottle, but with no less power and structure than traditional Barolos. Luciano is a Burgundy fanatic (he sports a map of the Cote de Nuits & Beaune on his wall of his office) and his wines in their silky elegance are certainly reminiscent of the Cote d’Or’s finest.

The 2004 Barolo Le Vigne is a phenomenal effort. Sweet, long and pure, it reveals an expansive core of perfumed ripe red fruit, flowers and spices. Despite its notable concentration it is made in a restrained style, showing remarkable elegance as well as harmony, with superb length and finessed tannins on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. Wine Advocate 96 points

Aromas of dried rose, with plum and violet. Full-bodied, with fine yet big tannins and a long, caressing finish. Dense and structured. A serious young red. Strong. Wine Spectator 94 points
Spain

25. Dominio de Pingus 2001
Ribero del Duero, Spain
727.00€

A candidate for perfection in the world of wine – truly one of the most profound wines ever made in Spain. Miniscule production (less than 500 cases per year) in the hands of intrepid Danish winemaker, Peter Sisseck – one of the world’s most highly regarded and sought after wines. Peter’s aim is to produce “an unmistakeably Spanish wine” from 100% Tinto Fino (aka Tempranillo).

It offers great fruit on the attack along with huge body, and notes of grilled meats intermixed with Provencal herbs, pepper, spice box, cigar smoke, and copious quantities of barbecue smoke-infused blackberry and cassis flavors. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2028. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 95 points
Power and restraint join forces in this muscular red. Alluring spicy aromas give way to a thick palate with flavors of plum, coffee, tobacco and mineral, backed by firm tannins. It remains balanced and fresh on the long finish. Best after 2006. 500 cases made. 95 points Wine Spectator

USA

26. Flowers, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2008
Sonoma Coast, California, USA
61.00€ SOLD OUT
Walt and Joan Flowers purchased 321 acres in the northern Sonoma Coast, high above the Pacific Ocean in 1989 with the intention of producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a place they believed to be uniquely suited to growing them. Fresh fruit aromas of raspberry, cherry and plum are followed by hints of violet, spice and pepper. Tannins are supple with a lingering finish showing cola, smoke and strawberry.

27. L’Ecole 41, Seven Hills Vineyard “Perigee” 2005
Washington State, USA
61.00€
Perigee exemplifies elegance: the essence of the Estate’s Seven Hills Vineyard – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot and Cab Franc, it shows smooth, silky red cherry and blackberry fruit, with rich, floral and spicy aromas of cinnamon and mocha on a vivid, mineral, earthy finish.
Perigee 2005 – 92 points (Wine Advocate)

Black cherry, ripe firm tannin with a leather and liquorice finish. Jancis Robinson 17/20

28. Opus One 1990
Napa Valley, California, USA
245.00€

Probably California’s single most famous exported wine – the co-production between the Rothschilds of Bordeaux and Robert Mondavi in California. Capturing the best of both worlds in a truly sublime representation of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

Dramatic, with its ripe, rich, plush core of exotic currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and berry notes that are enormously complex on the finish. Delicious. Wine Spectator 96 points

Treasure Trove II Nov 2010

Helen Brotherton — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:02:27 +0000

Fine Wine Works Treasure Trove Issue II
Valid from 1st November 2010

A selection of juicy and delicious tiny quantities of fine wines we have acquired recently:

All prices are HT (without tax). Call us or e-mail us if any of the wines are of interest to you.

Whites

1. WillaKenzie Estates Pinot Gris 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon USA
27.00€ SOLD OUT
This Pinot Gris is made in a rich and complex Alsatian style, fermented in stainless steel, with generous aromatics and a pleasingly rich mouthfeel dominated by ripe ear, peach and a touch of grapefruit. This wine sees no wood and has flavours and aromas of stone fruit, orange blossom and honeysuckle with a light minerality and a crisp finish.

2. Flowers Estate, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2008
Sonoma Coast, California USA
61.00€
Showing balanced depth and complexity with a light straw colour. Aromas unfold with layers of lemon drop, pear, apricot and wet stone mineral. This vintage shows crispness and intense fruit on the palate – lush and balanced.

Reds
Bordeaux

3. Château Pichon Baron Longueville 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
2ème Cru Classé
155.00€
Pichon Baron, a leading Pauillac 2eme Cru Classé estate, is one of Bordeaux’s most illustrious “super seconds”. The best examples have layer upon layer of unctuous, vanilla scented and cassis fruit intermingled with cigar box and lead pencil shavings aromas – as they require cellaring for at least 10 years, this 1996 is drinking magnificently now!

Pichon Longueville Baron’s 1996 has turned out to be even better than I thought from cask. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend (about 80%) resulted in a wine that has put on weight in the bottle. An opaque purple color is accompanied by beautiful aromas of tobacco, new saddle leather, roasted coffee, and cassis. This well-endowed, classic Pauillac should be at its finest between 2006-2022. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 91 points
4. Château Pontet Canet 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
5ème Cru Classé
103.00€
A super star, great value property which borders Mouton Rothschild, owner Alfred Tesseron is outperforming this property’s historic reputation by perhaps the greatest degree in the whole of Bordeaux. Shortly to be granted full eco Organic certification. The 1996 is just starting to come into its stride!

5. Château Ducru Beaucaillou 1996
St Julien, Bordeaux, France
2ème Cru Classé
218.00€
A description of the land, the name literally means “beautiful pebble”: small stones and gravel permit good drainage of the soils and that’s exactly what Cabernet Sauvignon thrives on!

6. Château Beau Séjour Bécot 2005
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
1er Grand Cru Classé
105.00€
In the upper echelon, and rightfully so, of Bordeaux right bank producers, but still offering excellent value for money, even for this exquisite 2005 vintage, for its fruit dripping, well-made Merlot based wines.

Offers aromas of blackberry, coffee and tar, with a full body, silky tannins and a blackberry, mineral and light vanilla aftertaste. Balanced, refined and pretty. Wine Spectator 92 points

7. Château Pavie Macquin 2003
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
1er Grand Cru Classé
160.00€
Recently promoted in the 2006 St Emilion classification re-shuffle and is a property which has really hit form in the last 10 years, producing first-class wines. Since 1990 Nicholas Thienpoint of Vieux Château Certan has been in charge of the vineyards which he manages on organic lines.

Burgundian, liqueur-like nose – very distinctive! Full-bodied, quite soft and a different structure from most. Fine tannins and some tarry flavours on the finish. Jancis Robinson 17/20
8. Château Bellevue 2000
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Grand Cru Classé
135.00€
With just over 6 hectares planted (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc), this estate cuddles up next to Ch Angelus and Beau Séjour Becot, this wine has been catching the eye of wine guru and critic Robert Parker in the US – he gives this vintage a staggering 95+ points!
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Impressive fruit in this wine, with crushed plums and spices. Full- to medium-bodied, with super silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A refined and beautiful wine. Best after 2008.
Wine Spectator 91 points

9. Château Kirwan 1996
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
3ème Cru Classé
90.00€ SOLD OUT
An illustrious property, currently passing through a bit of a golden age under the deft winemaking expertise of Michel Rolland. Kirwan takes its name from its original Irish proprietor who was, rather unfortunately, guillotined in 1792

Pretty plum and blackberry character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a fresh finish.
Wine Spectator 90 points

Fantastic tanginess, so rich and deep. Brooding and opulent. A stonker. 10 years+.
Decanter Rating ****
10. Château Kirwan 2000
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
3ème Cru Classé
104.00€
Lovely stylish nose, oak and cassis, finely perfumed. Rich and opulent, lush, big ripe tannins, formidable and built to last. Tight and powerful. Drink 2008-17.
Decanter Rating ****

Dense, dark nose of black fruit leading to a full palate with sweet fruit and good structure – plenty of potential here. This is very good indeed!
The Wine Doctor 17.5 / 20

Rhône Valley

11. Côte Rôtie “La Mordorée” M. Chapoutier 1997
Rhône, France
118.00€
The Côte – Rôtie vineyard is certainly one of the oldest in existence and Vienne wines were already highly reputed by Rome as far back as one century BC. Since Michel Chapoutier took control of this long-established firm in 1988, quality has soared.
All the vineyards are now run on biodynamic principles and all his wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
“Filtering a wine is like making love with a condom,” says Michel Chapoutier and
Crucial to Michel Chapoutier’s philosophy is the production of “téte de cuvées”, which include La Mordorée made from 60 year old vines on the Côte Blonde.

Italy

12. “Cepparello” Isole e Olena 2004
Tuscany, Italy
78.00€
A barrique – aged 100% Sangiovese classified as an IGT – at the time of its creation in the 1980’s, a wine comprising 100% Sangiovese could not be labelled as Chianti!!

It boasts layers of vibrant fruit intermingled with subtle mineral and licorice notes, showing outstanding length on the palate and fine, noble tannins. A wine of extraordinary elegance, it has been stunning on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. That said, readers who want to experience this wine’s full array of tertiary notes will have to give this wine time to mature in the bottle. It is highly recommended. Anticipated maturity 2009-2022. Robert Parker (Wine
Advocate) 95 points

13. “Ornellaia” Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia 2005
Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
198.00€
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is without question one of Italy’s blue-chip properties. The gorgeous, sprawling estate is located in Bolgheri in Tuscany’s Maremma. Ornellaia is a Bordeaux inspired blend consisting principally of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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14. “Sassicaia” Tenuta San Guido 1998
Tuscany, Italy
265.00€
“Unquestionably one of the most compelling and dramatic Cabernet Sauvignon’s I have ever tasted, it continues to go from strength to strength” Robert Parker
Sassicaia is one of the original show-stopping Super Tuscans and is now a “must have” on any noteworthy cellar list.

15. “Sassicaia” Tenuta San Guido 2000
Tuscany, Italy
265.00€
Hickory, black cherry, spice rack, cedarwood and a mushroomy earthy tone to the nose. Likewise on the palate, a funky expressive nose, like fresh compost and over-ripe fruit. The structure is eminently accessible whilst grippy enough to keep, and is showing development that will surely expand with age. Very good Jancis Robinson 17.5++/20

16. Barbaresco “Asili”, Bruno Giacosa 2005
Piemonte, Italy
125.00€
Single vineyard traditional style Barbaresco, it shows remarkable balance and harmony in an incredibly pure, graceful style. The tannins are so finessed and elegant it is actually hard to perceive them on the palate. Here too, the wine shows awesome inner balance and poise.

Sweet raspberries, flowers, roses and spices are just some of the nuances that emerge from this incredibly delicious, promising Barbaresco. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 95 points

17. Barbaresco “Rabaja”, Bruno Giacosa 2005
Piemonte, Italy
105.00€
A different single vineyard – just as joyously exquisite!

Wonderful perfume in this Barbaresco with flowers and ripe berries, including strawberry. Full bodied, chewy and long. Massive on the finish. A superb wine. 95 points Wine Spectator
Spain
18. Dominio de Pingus 2001 LAST BOTTLE!
Ribero del Duero, Spain
727.00€
A candidate for perfection in the world of wine – truly one of the most profound wines ever made in Spain. Miniscule production (less than 500 cases per year) in the hands of intrepid Danish winemaker, Peter Sisseck – one of the world’s most highly regarded and sought after wines. Peter’s aim is to produce “an unmistakeably Spanish wine” from 100% Tinto Fino (aka Tempranillo).
It offers great fruit on the attack along with huge body, and notes of grilled meats intermixed with Provencal herbs, pepper, spice box, cigar smoke, and copious quantities of barbecue smoke-infused blackberry and cassis flavors. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2028. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 95 points
Power and restraint join forces in this muscular red. Alluring spicy aromas give way to a thick palate with flavors of plum, coffee, tobacco and mineral, backed by firm tannins. It remains balanced and fresh on the long finish. Best after 2006. 500 cases made. 95 points Wine Spectator
USA
19. Flowers, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2008
Sonoma Coast, California, USA
61.00€ SOLD OUT
Walt and Joan Flowers purchased 321 acres in the northern Sonoma Coast, high above the Pacific Ocean in 1989 with the intention of producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a place they believed to be uniquely suited to growing them. Fresh fruit aromas of raspberry, cherry and plum are followed by hints of violet, spice and pepper. Tannins are supple with a lingering finish showing cola, smoke and strawberry.

20. WillaKenzie Estate, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007
SOLD OUT
Oregon, USA
33.00€
Named after the soil that defines it, WillaKenzie Estate is a small family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir. They make wonderful wines exclusively from the Pinot family of grapes. This Pinot Noir offers complex aromas of red and black fruits with attractive floral tones and a touch of spice. The finish is long with hints of candied fruit and spice and beautifully combines elegance and concentration, finely balanced acidity and well-integrated tannins.

21. Howell Mountain Red, Duckhorn 2004 SOLD OUT
Napa Valley, California, USA
87.00€
From one of North America’s premier producers of Bordeaux varietal wines comes this blend (57% Cab Sauv, 32% Merlot, plus Cab Franc and Petit Verdot) from two Howell Mountain vineyard sites. A wine of exceptional structure and extracted aromatics of peppermint, chocolate, bramble, soy and ginger spice. On the palate it is ush and mouthfilling with Howell Mountain’s signature wild berry and currant flavours, alongside notes of taoasted marshmallow, espresso, earth, sage and sandalwood. Extraordinary!
22. L’Ecole 41, Seven Hills Vineyard “Perigee” 2005
Washington State, USA
61.00€
Perigee exemplifies elegance: the essence of the Estate’s Seven Hills Vineyard – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot and Cab Franc, it shows smooth, silky red cherry and blackberry fruit, with rich, floral and spicy aromas of cinnamon and mocha on a vivid, mineral, earthy finish.
Perigee 2005 – 92 points (Wine Advocate)
Black cherry, ripe firm tannin with a leather and liquorice finish. Jancis Robinson 17/20

23. Opus One 1990
Napa Valley, California, USA
225.00€
Probably California’s single most famous exported wine – the co-production between the Rothschilds of Bordeaux and Robert Mondavi in California. Capturing the best of both worlds in a truly sublime representation of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
Dramatic, with its ripe, rich, plush core of exotic currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and berry notes that are enormously complex on the finish. Delicious. Wine Spectator 96 points

New Wine List available shortly!

Helen Brotherton — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:47:32 +0000

In the next few days you’ll start to see a few changes creep onto the FWW site, not least of which is a fully revamped wine list. After a few jaunts around the country earlier this year we find ourselves with an expanded portfolio of Distributorships and have been appointed agents for two French wineries to represent them in the Alpes – Martimes. There are a few old friends we’ll be sticking with – new vintages plus a few range extensions, but we are most proud to now be working closely with both Château des Chaberts in the Var and Domaine de Mourchon in the Southern Rhône village of Séguret.

There is so much more to Provence than simple quaffing Rosé so we’ve opted to list Chaberts most premium range – a red, white and a rosé all at 17.75€, that all have a full trophy cupboard of awards and medals and offer real class and complexity. Betty Cundall, who runs Château des Chaberts, will admit she is fiercely proud of the Chaberts rouge and is delighted we will be giving it a high profile this Summer at our tastings and events. Also, although we have been championing our fabulous range of Vilmart champagnes since early 2009, we do recognise that there are some fun party occasions where you need something a little frothier and less serious. Chaberts happen to do a traditional method Provence rosé sparkler in a most glamorous frosted bottle for a fantastic 12.60€. Made in exactly the same way as champagne but using local Provence varietals, serve well chilled at around 6 – 8?C and enjoy passion-fruit, raspberries and roses in a glass!

Over to the Rhône and the Estate we used for our Grape Escape tour, the fabulous Domaine de Mourchon for warm hearted juicy Grenache and Syrah based stunners. We’ve listed their luscious rosé “Loubie” at 7.25€ (something a bit more intense and punchy than our delicate Provence flowers), their eminently quaffable “Tradition” at 8.75€, a Côtes du Rhône – Villages – peppery, packed with berry fruit and smooth as silk, and their incredibly dense and brambly Grande Réserve at 15.00€. As a special introduction to our new list, we are offering a case of 12 of the superb 2006 Grande Réserve for the price of 11 bottles, representing a saving of 1.25€ per bottle! Amongst other projects with the McKinlay family at Domaine de Mourchon, we are working on developing a trio of wines to package specially for Nice Rugby Club for their next season – we’ll keep you posted as we progress.

Reading this, you’d think our wine list was all French – but think again! We really enjoy setting ourselves the challenge of sourcing non French wine here in France. I believe French customs officers think we are a bit bonkers when we go to them with various paperwork to import wines from other countries – “surely we ‘ave enough wine ‘ere??” But scour the globe we do, and the list now has wines from New Zealand, Chile, Germany, California, Spain and much more. We are particularly looking forward to sharing Delta Vineyards exquisite strawberry scented Pinot Noir from Marlborough (19.50€) with you and introducing you to the wonders of the grape variety Alvarinho from Vinho Verde DO in Portugal (16.00€) – the most perfect seafood wine ever. Also, banish memories of sickly Liebfraumilch which has done so much damage to Germany’s image in the wine world – we have two of Ernie Loosens wondrous Rieslings from the Mosel to tempt you – a spine-tingly yummy Kabinett from the Erdener Treppchen vineyard that is all apples and honey at (14.75€) and heavenly, spicy nectarine filled ethereally enchanting Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese (18.75€)

On the whole, we have chosen just a couple of wines to star on our list, but we can usually get other wines from the same producers – just ask. The list itself also has Food Matching suggestions and full descriptions of what to expect from each wine. Also new for Summer 2010 is our FWW Treasure Trove – a small selection of parcels of “ready to drink” Fine Wines, mostly Bordeaux. These wines will change and come and go, so when you spot something you think is an amazing bargain from say, St Emilion, in the Trove you best snap it up as we cannot promise to find the same again. This will be appearing as a special section on the Wine List page – just as soon as our web wizard, Ben from Pure Design International can magic it up for us.

“Snow Business like the Wine Business!”

Helen Brotherton — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:31:46 +0000

We have just returned from a mad pre-Christmas Wine trip by car to the UK to visit the necessary “rellys” and friends, exchange pressies and deliver festive bottles of Vilmart champagne to all our
nearest and dearest. I suppose one of the teensy downsides of becoming the sole representative of a chic, exclusive artisan and award winning grower Champagne house, is that everyone expects to be given a bottle of the magic fizz at Christmas time! Not that we are complaining – we know how much pleasure a sip of sensational Coeur de Cuvée can bring!

Also, the exercise ensures sufficient allocation of boot space for the slightly bonkers return journey, which requires us to load up with a wild and whacky range of non – French wines bought in the UK to bring back down to the Riviera to use on our WSET® courses. We have quite a run of courses planned for the first quarter of 2010 and naturally, as per the WSET® syllabus requirements, need to have particular wines from all around the world for the practical (and very pleasant) side of our courses. You try sourcing a Hunter Valley Semillon, and Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a Dry Oloroso Sherry here in b****y France.!! Love ‘em to bits, of course, but it is a tad frustrating that an entire wine producing nation has no interest (or belief that anyone else could have an interest) in tasting anything other than French wine. We have yet to suffer a routine Customs search at Calais by perplexed Douane officials if they open our boot and find 100+ bottles of eclectic “foreign” wines stashed – one day, it’s bound to happen.
The snow chased us down from North Yorkshire to Dover: we crossed the channel OK, only to meet the blizzards head on in Northern France, which slowed down our homeward journey and meant an extra unscheduled stopover en-route. As the snow and ice got heavier and road conditions worsened, we hoped that Day 2 of our journey might see us as far as a Northern Rhône overnighter – stupidly started fantasising about a white St Joseph followed by a hearty Crozes Hermitage to accompany dinner that
night. But, the Great Snow God was in charge and forced us off the road and to head for shelter in Maçon by mid-afternoon. So Supper was a more Burgundian affair with a simple Maçon Blanc Chardonnay to accompany the snails (curious how when in Burgundy, one cannot avoid the lure of these funny little molluscs with garlicky butter…), then a more robust Beaujolais, a Morgon, with our Côte de Boeuf. All extremely pleasant and a testimony to the old Food & Wine Matching adage that you won’t go far wrong if you stick to the traditional fare of the region with the local wines.
So here we are, counting down the hours to the BIG DAY! I would imagine most of you have already decided on what you are going to drink to celebrate Christmas 2009. Funnily enough, having ranted
earlier at how frustrating it is to be limited to just French wines when living in France and envying the UK for their hugely diverse and exciting global wine availability, when it comes to Christmas, you just can’t beat the classics! Champagne is a must – I know, I’m trumpeting the “V” word again (Vilmart), but myself and my marvellous husband will be indulging in a glass (or 3) of the classic vintage Grand Cellier d’Or 2003 as we open pressies. Lunch (for the first time in I think, 25 years….) is being cooked by SOMEONE ELSE!!!. All we have to do is show up at 1.30pm brandishing a couple of pre-chilled Vilmart Grand Cellier NV and we will be admitted and fed and entertained royally! The Turkey feast
itself will, I gather, from one of my ex WSET® pupils who has kindly invited us, is to be accompanied by a trip round France encompassing the Loire, Burgundy and Bordeaux – can’t wait.
Never one to leave the apron hung on its peg for long, and not having had the task of preparing the
festive bird itself, we are having a very English Boxing Day Buffet for friends and with a Glazed Ham, a Home-made Raised Pork Pie with Piccalilli & Winter Coleslaw followed by Raspberry & White Chocolate Trifle & Mince-Pies, we are sticking local, however, for the wine. Chateau de Chaberts in the Var with their cut above Provence wines will provide the quaffers for our Boxing Day gathering.
The trick is to spend “just the right amount” on your Party Wines: go too cheap and you’ll find your indoor house plants suffering from a surfeit of poured away plonk and all your guests will remember is
the hangover. Don’t raid the cellar for the good stuff, either – nobody will notice or be nearly reverential enough if the atmosphere is convivial. Take the time to select a pair of good “all rounders” to see you through and to please everyone. As we seem to be sticking to France, may I suggest you turn your thoughts to the Southern Rhône for the Red and to the lesser known villages (avoid the mad prices demanded by Châteauneuf du Pape, for example) – go for a Visan, a Séguret or a Vacqueyras. For a
White, the fashionable variety at the moment is Sauvignon Blanc – no need to go over the top with a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé – try a straight varietal from a good producer of one of the above – my mind has wandered to the Sancerre producer La Porte, whose simple Vin de Pays Sauvignon Blanc (from the same vineyard area – durrr!) but at half the price,is a no brainer!

That’s it folks! Fine Wine Works is signing off for 2009 – your last chance to share any quality time with us is at our New Year’s Eve event in Cannes on 31st December (check out our Forthcoming Events page for details).

Bon Fete!

Helen Brotherton
22.12.09

Riesling Reminiscences

Helen Brotherton — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:19:49 +0000

A very happy Loosen lady!

I have finally topped up the dangerously low Riesling levels in my body with a long overdue Wine Tour of Germany. Part work, part pleasure we had an exhilarating time trotting round Weingut’s and Estates in the Pfalz, the Nahe and the Mosel, picking up samples to use for our Wine Courses and Wine Tastings.
For those of you who think German wine is all sugary sweet and vapid medium wines such as Liebfraumilch, Blue Nun and Black Tower, it is time to rethink and revisit.

For a start the German wine industry has been giving itself a thorough shake up over the last couple of decades. Plantings of the desperately uninteresting grape variety, Müller Thurgau (the demon behind the worst of wines like Niersteiner Gutes Domtal and its friends), are now in decline, amounting to now no more than about 14%. Climate change, better winemaking technique and a genuine thirst to meet strong demand for drier styles and indeed Red wines has totally changed the face of German viticulture and winemaking. The region where we based ourselves, the Pfalz, (in a charming village called Kirchheim in an apartment on a Wine Estate to be close to the action), is considered to be the most dynamic and innovative. On the stupidly picturesque and idyllic Deutsche Weinstrasse, a winding road through Hansel and Gretel villages full of Wineries, stretching from the Alsace border up along the slopes of the Haardt mountains for some 70km, there are vineyards brimful of different varieties: the Pinot family is fully represented (known as “Burgunder” in Germany), so we have Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris or Grigio); we have Dornfelder, St Laurent, Portuguesier and Cabernet Dorsa adding to the Red line-up and alongside the heavenly Riesling, is Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Scheurebe for the Whites.
We arrived just in time for a Weinfest on the Sunday, stretching along the whole Weinstrasse all the villages had “open house” with entertainment and wine tents representing the local estates. Pleasingly the tradition is to serve the chilled wines in large 250ml glasses and charge about 3€ – it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that just 3 glasses later, you’ve consumed a bottle! The route was closed to car traffic for the day so the Germans had taken to their bicycles in their droves – we, rather pathetically, opted for the train and deposited ourselves in Bad Durkheim for the day to enjoy the festivities. A perfect day was then peaked by a sublime live organ recital of Bach in the church in Kirchheim in the evening – truly magnificent!
The Mosel region was for me, the highlight of the trip, however, as we had a private tasting arranged at one of Germany’s best known estates – Dr Ernst Loosen in Bernkastel on the Wednesday. Here my Riesling obsession was finally sated as good old Ernie reigns supreme as master of this exquisite aromatic variety. Traditionally off-dry and low in alcohol, delicate, racy and minerally Mosel Riesling’s can be truly superb. Ernie has some of the best Grand Cru vineyard sites in the area and to taste the differences in the wines was amazing! We tasted, for example two Riesling Spatleses from different vineyards: both exact mirrors analytically – same vintage, same alcohol, same PH and sweetness levels
and yet the different soils of the Wehlener Sohnnenuhr vineyard and the Urziger Wurzgarten site meant the two wines tasted utterly and deliciously different! This was the best illustration of the mysterious concept of “terroir” that I have ever come across. These wines are the supreme aperitif – you really don’t need to be munching at the same time to thoroughly enjoy the honey and apple flavours, the steeliness and grace and the refreshingly sherbetty acidity.
I’m a very smug and happily Rieslinged out bunny!!!

Helen Brotherton
07.07.09

FWW Wine List – Order Cycle Dates

Helen Brotherton — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:15:02 +0000

Check out our funky, vibrant International Wine List by clicking on Wine List page. So as to keep our costs at an absolute minimum and therefore make the price to you, dear Customer, as sexy and attractive as possible, we don’t hold stock and so “buy to order” -also by paying up front to our suppliers we can squeeze them for the best price possible and so pass it on to you. We can do this ONLY by accepting pre-paid orders from you and by working to an order cycle pattern that optimizes our flexibility.

So, the next Order Cycle is:

Place orders by Friday 5th June
Send your cheque (or bank transfer) so we recieve it by Wednesday 10th June
We’ll start our delivery schedule from Monday 15th June

Simple, hey?

If you are unsure as to how to proceed, want some further guidance on your Wine Choices, or any other wine related advice – just call us on 06 42 15 51 21 or e-mail us at info@finewineworks.com

Helen Brotherton