Post & Beam by Far Niente Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Vibrant, refreshing and stunningly perfumed, the Post & Beam Chardonnay opens with aromas of fresh melon and wild honeysuckle. The palate is lush and round, with silky layers of melon and baked apple spice framed by soft, toasted oak and lifted acidity.
REVIEW
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Snake Oil needs a little swirling to reveal emerging notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants, blackberry pie and mulberries plus suggestions of tilled soil, cedar chest and Indian spices with a touch of roses. The full-bodied palate completely coats the mouth with opulent black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, supported by velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
-Wine Advocate 93+ Points
The 2018 Priest Ranch Snake Oil is all Cabernet Sauvignon, from a trio of hillside vineyards on the Somerston Estate. It has beautiful blueberry and plum fruits as well as notes of sappy herbs, violets, and bouquet garni. More medium-bodied, focused, and elegant, it shines for its purity, freshness, and length. It’s a classic 2018 that will have 15+ years of longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Our 2018 Snake Oil was handpicked, sorted, and fermented naturally, then aged for 24 months in 75% new French oak barrels and 25% once-used French oak barrels.
HARVEST NOTES
The early half of 2018 brought us moderate temperature allowing for a long growing season. We had a majority of our rainfall in February followed by a mild Spring. Then summer brought consistent temperatures with little heat spikes. This weather allowed for longer hang time and for the fruit to ripen at a slower rate. The 2018 harvest at our estate began in late August and resulted in exceptional quality.
Proidl Gruner Veltliner Ried Hausberg Kremstal DAC is made from 100 percent Gruner Veltliner.
Medium yellow green colour with silver reflections. Ripe tropical fruits, a bit of candied clementines, a bit of apricot, dark minerality, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, fine acidity, mineral and salty, a touch of yellow apples, lingers long, versatile.
Review:
"Medium yellow green colour with silver reflections. Ripe tropical fruits, a bit of candied clementines, a bit of apricot, dark minerality, inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, fine acidity, mineral and salty, a touch of yellow apples, lingers long, versatile. - Peter MOSER"
- Falstaff (April 21st 2023, Kremstal DAC Cup 2023), 92 pts
Quinta de Fafide Reserva Branco is made from 50% Codega do Larinho, 30% Rabigato, 20% Viosinho
In this wine we look for an aromatic concentration and high acidity of the grapes from the very old traditional vineyards of high altitude in Douro Superior, about 550 meters above sea level, showing the full character of the varieties of indigenous Douro old vines, giving very mineral and creamy wines. Mineral aroma, citrus and tropical fruit, fresh and full-bodied on the palate, buttery texture and complexity provided by fermentation and ageing in barrels.
Gigondas offers a rich bouquet, with fine, fruity and spicy aromas and a sunny color ranging from ruby to dark garnet. The nose reveals a bouquet of red fruits and very ripe black fruits. On the palate, the Gigondas is full-bodied with a fleshy attack. The Grenache Noir releases all the expression of its power in this shimmering red wine with marked tannins, a structured body and a great aptitude for aging. Syrah and Mourvèdre reinforce their garnet color and spice up their aromas.
Review:
- Wine Enthusiast , Anna Lee C. Iijima 94 Points
Visual aspect: Straw yellow color with persistent mousse.
Aromas: Fruity notes of delicious Golden apple and Kaiser pear with a pleasant citrus background.
Mouthfeel: The wine is well balanced with a nice acidity and minerality, combined with freshness and complexity.
The finish is long and very pleasant.
Area of origin: Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, Vittorio Veneto.
Soil: calcareous clayey
Varietal: Glera (known as Prosecco)
Harvest: manual harvest with grape selection
Winemaking: off skins by gentle pressing.
Primary fermentation with controlled temperature by selected yeats.
Refinement :Stainless Steel tanks
Foaming: secondary fermentation in "autoclave" (cuve close) at a controlled temperature with selected fermentation as long as a 5 bar pressure is reached.
Fining: 60 days
Training system: autochthonous called "capuccina modificata"
Bottling: isobaric bottling after sterile filtration.
It is ideal for important occasions and as an aperitif. It is also excellent with risotto and noble meat.
Riebeek Cellars Merlot is made from 100% Merlot.
Grapes were cold soaked overnight. Inoculated with selective yeast. Fermentation took place at 24 - 26 degree Celsius. Wine were pressed at
above 2 degree Balling. Malolactic fermentation finished in stainless steel tanks. Oak maturation include French oak chips, French oak staves and 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. All blended together to perfection.
The style is elegant with distinctive red berries and well-integrated wood flavors on the nose. The pallet is velvety and smooth with an aftertaste that lingers with the juicy flavors of abundant berries.
At room temperature or slightly chilled. Enjoy with pasta or light meat dishes.
This unoaked style of Viognier offers an accessible wine with enough body but without wood flavors.
The color is a brilliant green-gold and the style is dry but fruity. The perfume of a floral bouquet greets the nose and follows through with lovely tropical flavors in a light but lingering palate.
Free run juice was used. After settling and acid adjustment, it was inoculated with selected yeast. Fermentation temperature stayed between 13-14 degree Celsius. Wine was left on lees for few months prior to bottling to enhance the flavor. Alcohol: 13.82% Residual Sugar: 3.4 Total Acidity: 5.3 pH: 3.5
Slightly chilled. Lovely with most entrees - from crisp salads to creamy soups. Beautiful with chicken and fish - whether served grilled or in a creamy sauce.
Riley's Rows 3x3 Red Blend is made from 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 29% Merlot
Riley’s Rows "Three by Three" Proprietary Red Blend North Coast is a great wine from some of the winery's favorite North Coast vineyard sites. The Merlot is from their Brandt ranch in Lake County…which, is one of the best vineyards in Lake County. The Cabernet and Syrah are both from great Sonoma County sites.
Riley’s Rows 3 x 3 displays a nose of ripe plum and Bing cherries with a hint of cocoa. The palate opens with ripe red berries. The mid-palate offers a delicious melange of blackberry, Rainer Cherry, and nutmeg. The wine has a long finish, very balanced acidity, and soft tannins. The wine is approachable now but will age nicely for many years to come!
Rinaldi Celle Piemonte Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Intense red color with purple reflections. The characteristic aroma is pleasant and dominated by notes of blackberry, plum and black currant. A short passage in wood gives it elegance and complexity.
Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.
The 2021 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows notes of plum, blackberry, licorice, chocolate, violet, and warm spice. Dark plum and black fruit carry through to the palate. Fresh and lively with plush tannins and a polished structure.
Review:
Soft around the edges and firm in the middle, this red- and black-fruited wine has a creaminess on the palate, delivering a mix of red cherries, blackberries and blueberries wrapped in moderate tannins. Contains small amounts of petit verdot, cabernet franc, malbec and merlot.
-James Suckling 92 Points
Robert Mondavi Winery The Estates Red Blend is made from 49% Cabernet Franc, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot.
Robert Mondavi’s vision was to elevate Napa to the world stage. In celebration of his achievement, our Napa Tier wines are sourced from distinctive vineyards throughout the Napa Valley and truly emulate a classic Napa Valley style.
Aromas of blackberry, cherry, toasted almond, bay leaf and mocha. Luscious ripe cherry and cassis, with savory notes of dried herbs and toast. Rich, weighty, and mouth-coating, with classic fine To Kalon tannins.
Review:
This has a pretty fragrance of violets, green peppercorns, salted olives, blackcurrants and black raspberries. Creamy, salted dark chocolate and praline to follow. Medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Delicious and superbly balanced. 50% cabernet franc, 47% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot.
-James Sucking 94 Points
The 2019 Red Blend Estate comes all from the To Kalon Vineyard and is close to an even split of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a clear step up over the base Red Blend and offers terrific, full-bodied aromas and flavors of darker fruits, dark chocolate, violets, and a kiss of spring flowers. With silky tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length, it's going to evolve for 15 years or so.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Roland Champion Champagne Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru 100% chardonnay.
Champagne with rich and structured aromas. Very pleasant and generous roundness, nice length in mouth. Golden color with buttery and fruity aromas. All the expression of a magnificent terroir for your most pleasurable moments.
Manual harvest; then pressing immediately to avoid oxidation & preserve quality. Free run juice only. Aged six years sur lattes.
It matches magnificently with foie gras!
"Opaque ruby. A complex, beautifully structured wine from Europe’s hot summer of 2003. Lively spicy, toasted aromas and a ripe and generous palate with layers of rich, dense flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco, spice box and a hint of marmalade. Finishes dry and long with still firm tannins. A delicious Port that should be paired with Roquefort and other blue cheeses."
- International Wine Review (Succulent Sweet Wines for the Holidays: The Best of 2018), 92 pts
Rubus Brut Rose is made from 60% Tempranillo, 40% Bobal.
The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.
Stunning salmon-pink hues. The nose is intense and fine, dominated by notes of red berries. On the palate, the combination of fine bubbles and delicate aromas produces a delightfully light and silky rosé.
Machine harvest. The base wine is fermented at a low temperature. The second fermentation takes place at 14°C for 2 weeks, followed by dosing.
The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.
Grapes are sourced from the Lessini hills in the Colli Berici, where the cold nights allow the aromatic compounds in the grapes to develop. The vines, 20 years old on average, are planted on calcareous soils of volcanic origin.
Nice garnet and red color. Expressive and charming on the nose with cherry and blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine has a nice spicy note. The length to the finish is round and long.
Rubus Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir from Veneto Italy
Tasting notes: Nice garnet and red color. Expressive and charming on the nose with cherry and blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine has a nice spicy note. The length to the finish is round and long.
Vineyards:
The grapes are grown primarily on the hills south of Vicenza, the Colli Berici, where the hillside sites ensure lower yields and better ripeness of the grapes.
The vineyards are located in the hills and are south-west facing. The hillside sites experience cooler nights, allowing the aromatic compounds in the grapes to develop. The vines are trained using the Guyot system, planted on calcareous soils of volcanic origin.
Average age of the vines is around 20 years old.
Vinification:
The grapes were harvested, destemmed, crushed and then cool soaked for 24 hours. Maceration on the skins took place before fermentation at temperatures of up to 22°C. Following malolactic fermentation, 30% of the wine was aged in oak for four to five months prior to bottling.
Winemaker: Alberto Marchisio
Acidity: 5.3 g/Liter
RS: 5.6 g/Liter
pH: 3.42
Nice with roasted or grilled beef, game and a very good companion for matured cheese.
Rubus Special Edition Barossa Shiraz is made from 100 percent
The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.
Deep red with a slight purple hue on release. The wine has a rich mix of dark chocolate infused with coffee bean and black liquorice, then scents of tar, aniseed, raw (pure) soy and black olive on the nose. The palate is expansive, and yet balanced and finessed. An amalgam of dark berried flavors and textural sensations. The 100% new oak is completely absorbed, meshed with ripe tannins, completing a palate of impressive length and youthfulness.
Sourced from Thorn-Clarke’s St Kitts vineyard (Block 7) in the far north of the Barossa, the Rubus Reserve demonstrates both the strengths of the region and the unique characters of the vineyard.
A thin layer of topsoil over weathered marble, schist and shale mean the vines work hard to source water and nutrients. The result is naturally low yields concentrating the power and density of the fruit. Diurnal temperature variation is another important aspect of St. Kitts. Warm daytime temperatures are followed by cool nights with variations of up to 30°C (55°F) from the peak during the day into the cool night minimums.
Review:
“Earthy detail develops in this sleek and juicy shiraz, a tarry streak under fresh plum and bruised strawberry. The tannins have gravity and precision, their bracing intensity and concentration integrated into what panelist David Hawkins described as “a big, powerful wine with great liveliness.” While suited to aging, this is accessible now if you’re grilling meats to serve with it.”
- Wine & Spirits (February 2023), 94 pts
"Made by Thorn-Clarke for the US market, this has a rich and vivid nose with blueberry, violet, dark plum and subtle oak spice in play. The palate has a succulent feel with plenty of rich, open-knit blackberry and blueberry flavor. Smoothly delivered tannins carry long and even. Drink over the next decade."
- James Suckling (November 2021), 94 pts
Wachau Riesling is dry and often defined by high levels of dry extract (due to a lengthy ripening period) and a pleasing freshness (due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night). Sedimentary soils of sand and stone give Kirchweg Riesling a dense mineral texture and fine fruity flavors.
Review:
Welcome to the dark side of Wachau dry riesling! Deep and delicately spicy nose that’s full of mystery. Incredible concentration and massive wet stone character on the very precise medium-bodied palate. Radical mineral energy and garden herb freshness at the enormously long and tightly-focused finish.
-James Suckling 98 Points
Ruttenstock Gruner Veltliner is made from 100 percent Gruner Veltliner.
Very fruity and light Gruner Veltliner with fresh aromas of citrus and green apples. Crisp on the palate with lively acidity structure.
Pair with cold appetizers, soup, fish, vegetables, salad.
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Rouge is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault.
Saint Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from three climats, the most famous of which is the plateau of La Crau with its distinctive galets over clay, bringing power and structure to the blend. The climats of Valori and Christia are on sandy soils, giving the wine its perfume and freshness. The wine is a blend of Grenache Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsaut, made with whole cluster fermentation from indigenous yeasts, is aged for 24 months in old 228-liter barrels, and bottled without fining or filtration.
TASTING NOTES:
This is a classic, delicious Honjozo with crimini mushroom, almonds and lilac aromas. The first sip of this sake is full of stone fruit and minerals complimented by notes of caramel, cocoa and almond and finishes with plenty of umami.
POLISHING RATIO: 60%
ALCOHOL: 16-17%
SMV +/-: +3.0
ACIDITY: 1.6
RICE KOJI: JAPANESE RICE 100%
RICE KAKE: JAPANESE RICE 100%
YEAST STRAIN: KYOKAI
FOOD PAIRINGS: Chinese Food, One Pot dishes like Beef Stew.
CHEESE PAIRINGS: Foggy Morning, Prima Donna, Domaine de Village
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Siegel San Elias Merlot is 100 percent Merlot
Soft, rich and concentrated with juicy plum and blackberry fruits, soft tannins and a velvety texture.
Try with hearty stews, pasta and roast red meats.