Bernardins Beaumes de Venise Rouge Cru Cotes du Rhone is made from 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache Blanc.

Bright ruby color with cherry tinges. Complex black fruit aromas on the nose enhanced by spicy notes. Rounded palate with good length.

The wine is drinking well right now and can be kept for another 10 years.

Situation
Spreads out over the south-east side of the Dentelles de Montmirail hills, in Beaumes de Venise in the southern part of the Rhone valley.

Terroir
 On a poor sandy, hungry and arid soil consisting of tender limestone and gritty zones of sandy mollasse.

In the vineyard
The vineyards and their terroir are the essence of our wines. This is where everything starts and where we focus our efforts throughout the year. You can’t make great wine without great grapes.

The viticulture is essentially done by hand. Five people work full-time in the vineyards. They are supplemented by seasonal employees who work during bunch thinning and the harvest in order to bring out the very best in our vines. Working by hand and the attention each vine gets are fundamental. Pruning, de-budding, trellising, leaf removal and picking are thus carried out by hand with the utmost care.

We prepare the soil by using good old-fashioned ploughing. Organic compost is made from grape marc (the discarded stalks and skins).

As a way of protecting the plants, we only use phytosanitary products when necessary and within strict guidelines by staggering the treatments appropriately, to minimise the amount of chemicals used. We prefer to use as much as possible manual and organic techniques . Leaving natural grass cover, removing buds and leaves from the vines, preserving biodiversity around the vineyard: olive, almond and cypress trees, wild rosemary and capers.

Winemaking
We make two red wines at the estate. Terroir wines shaped by the two classic Côtes du Rhône varieties: Grenache and Syrah. We don’t follow any winemaking recipe but are constantly searching for the perfect expression of terroir and each vintage’s particular characteristics. We don’t go for overripe grapes and over-extraction, as we think the wine has to stay refreshing and balanced.

Leaving the wine for 15 days in concrete vats, we try to gently extract the tannins and anthocyanins essential for the wine’s structure and colour. The wine doesn’t come into any contact with wood during ageing. This way the characteristics of our terroir can fully express

Serve with a meal especially red meat, game and cheese.

Blending Detail:

• 49 % Grenache
• 20% Syrah
• 16% Cinsault
• 9% Mourvêdre
• 6% Counoise

Grenache speaks loudly in the Bésoleil with notes of pomegranate, red raspberry, and strawberry leaf. The Counoise and Cinsualt bring bing cherry fruit and blueberry notes to the table, complicated by pepper and garrique. Mourvedre donates a wild meatiness to the blend, and a purple hue. Syrah rounds things out, adding texture, and flesh to the palate.

Review:

The first vintage where they’ve pushed the bottling back to give the cuvee 16-18 months in barrel, the 2015 Besoleil is a dead ringer for a high-quality Chateauneuf du Pape and offers perfumed notes of herbes de Provence, kirsch, licorice and sweet spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, textured and fruit-forward, with a hedonistic yet elegant profile that’s going to evolve gracefully. 
Robert Parker 91-93 Points

Betz Family Besoleil is made from 55% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah and the rest Cinsault,

Grenache speaks loudly in the Bésoleil with notes of pomegranate, red raspberry, and strawberry leaf. The Counoise and Cinsualt bring bing cherry fruit and blueberry notes to the table, complicated by pepper and garrique. Mourvedre donates a wild meatiness to the blend, and a purple hue. Syrah rounds things out, adding texture, and flesh to the palate.

Review:

"Attractively complex aromas of cherries, kirsch, white pepper, spice, potpourri and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, sappy and succulent, with velvety structuring tannins and bright acids." 94 pts - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate 

"Bright raspberry and red-plum fruits with attractive depth and freshness. This has all you want in a Rhône-style blend. Good depth of flavor and focused structure." 93 pts - James Suckling

"Moving more and more from Olsen Vineyard, which is 20 miles northwest of Red Mountain (where they love working with the grower, who is proactive and responsive), the medium ruby/purple-colored 2016 Besoleil is 55% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah and the rest Cinsault, all aged in a mix of neutral barrels. It offers beautiful notes of red plums, blueberries, white and black pepper and herbs de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, a silky, elegant style, and integrated acidity. It's another beautiful vintage of this wine that will keep for a decade."  92 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck

Bihan Le Sancerre Blanc 2023 is made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.

Pale, lemon green color, with pronounced citrus intensity. The nose is dominated by lychee, grapefruit and peach aromas; rich and well-rounded in the mouth, showing a pleasant acidity length.

Traditional, in stainless steel tanks. Bladder press grape pressing and reception of the must in the tanks by gravity. Settling of the must 24-36 hours before fermentation. Slow alcoholic fermentation only is done, in order to preserve the aromatic qualities. A racking is done over 3 months later. Clarification and light filtration before bottling at the estate.

To drink as an Aperitif or with food, such as white meat, seafood, crottin de Chavignol goat cheese.

Boeira Tawny 50 Year Port is produced from Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cao.

Brownish color with strong coppery reflections. Toasted almonds and dried fruit stand out on the nose, with a delicate sweetness. Intense flavors on the plate, but a refinement and elegance that reflects its level of ageing. A very long evolving finish. 

Boeira 50 Years Old Port is excellent as a digestive.

pH : 3.57TA : 9.48 g/L
RS : 152g/L
Then, it is aged for 50 years in 550 liter French oak barrels.
Traditional Porto winemaking with skin contact maceration and short alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks followed by fortification.

Boeira White Diamond Port  is made from Malvasia Fin, Viosinho, Gouveio, and Côdega de Larinho.

Clear amber color, on the nose aromas of citrus, tangerine peel, peaches and honey. In the mouth it is full but elegant, well integrated and persistent finish

Boeira White Diamond Port is the perfect companion for a number of foods including appetizers, lean fish, salads, pasta or desert like apple pie or crème brulée.

Review:

The NV White Diamond Port is the estate's 10-year Tawny based on Málvasia Fina, Viosinho, Gouveio, and Côdega de Larinho. Caramelized orange, toffee, fig, and spicy white chocolate notes all shine on the nose, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness and a round layered, incredibly seamless mouthfeel. It's all about its seamless, decadent, sweetly fruited, yet balanced style.

-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points

Boroli Barolo Brunella is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.

A clear ruby red color, with very light orange reflections. A net aroma in which liquorice stands out at first, immediately followed by a fruity scent; the aroma makes you scent it again and again to discover different and pleasant facets. The fruity aroma magnificently prevails after a few minutes in the glass. A very enveloping, fresh and harmonious taste, with a delicate and tasty presence of wood. A long lasting taste that invites to sip it slowly again and again.

Tasting Notes

Brunella is distinguished by a careful selection of grapes, perfect destemming, long macerations with submerged cap. The barrels for Brunella are specifically chosen by the winemaker.

Wine Production

Brunella is one of the most historic single vineyard sites of all of Castiglione Falletto, however it hasn’t ever been bottled singularly under the Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva BRUNELLA until 2013. The Brunella vineyard occupies the western crest of the Villero hillside and complete surrounds the Boroli winery.  The vineyard is a monopole—owned entirely by Boroli and is the most prestigious wine in the lineup.  As it occupies the best exposed section of the Villero hillside, La Brunella expresses power, drive, complexity, and extraordinary length and ageability.

About the Vineyard

The Boroli family is a family of entrepreneurs, with roots in Piedmont dating back to 1831.  The family started their winemaking business in1997, when Silvano and Elena Boroli felt an ardent desire to step away from the pressures of their publishing business and reconnect to nature. Silvano and Elena grew the company until their son, Achille, stepped in to run the wine-growing and production business in 2012.

With the 2012 grape harvest Achille decided to radically change the methods used in vineyards and wineries, aiming for the highest quality in Barolo and its crus. He cut production levels, updated the winemaking technology, and focused on low intervention methods to raise the quality of the Boroli wines be on par with the finest Barolo wines. 

Review:

Ripe red cherries and blood oranges, as well as herbs and roses on the nose, leading to a juicy and flavorful palate that has a swathe of bright, juicy red-fruit flavor. Drinking well now.

-James Suckling 93 Points

Bouchard Pere & Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Intense aromas of berry fruit and spices on the nose. Rich, tannic and well structured, this wine develops additional roundness after a few years in bottle. Good ageing potential. Pairs well with game, venison, all grilled and roasted meat.

Bressia Lagrima Canela is made from 70 % Chardonnay, 30 % Semillon

Barrel fermented for 14 months in new French and American oak

Lagrima Canela means 'cinnamon tears'. This white blend shows an intense greenish-yellow wine with luminous golden highlights. It has fresh, elegant floral aromas, lent to it by its grape varieties, as well as melon, pear and toasty oak. Medium bodied with a creamy texture and outstanding depth and concentration.

Light gold colored with a perfume of candle wax, pear, melon, and toasty oak, on the palate the wine is medium-bodied with well-integrated oak, dry flavors, a creamy texture, and outstanding depth and concentration.

"This inspiring, revolutionary blend of Chardonnay with 30% Semillón was first made in 2006 and has been one of Argentina’s best whites ever since. New oak-fermented and aged, with subtle baking spice and toast aromas, waxed lemon, saffron and beeswax flavours, lovely texture and weight and a fresh, tangy finish. 2023-30"

Brulesecaille Rouge Sans Soufre Ajoute is made from  50% Merlot and 50% Malbec.

Deep purple color, powerful nose of blackcurrant and floral as well. Full on the palate with soft and ripe tannins with a fresh aromatic return.
Aging potential 5 years.

Pairs with boeuf Bourguignon, grilled vegetables and strong cheeses.

Burgo Viejo Rioja Blanco Organic is made from 60% Viura and 40% Trempranillo Blanco

No Oak. Aged 3 months on the lees with frequent batonnage

Pale yellow color with green tones. Fresh and intense flavors of white fruits, peach, apple and some citrus notes.
Full-bodied mouth with nice balance of volume and length.

Vineyards are located in Alfaro. 
Manual harvest in 8 kilograms baskets. 
100% destemmed.
Light pressing of the grapes. 
Fermentation at controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. 
No Malolactic fermentation.
Aged 3 months on the lees with frequent batonnage. (stirring of the lees)

Pairs with seafood, pasta and rice dishes, smooth cheeses.

Burgo Viejo Rioja Crianza is made from 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano.

Red ruby colored wine with violet tones; well-balanced, black fruit, vanilla and coconut flavors. Powerful, complex and silky smooth...classic old style Rioja at a bargain price.

Review:

"A fruity and attractive red with medium body, red fruit and a fresh finish. Not a lot of structure, but delicious and fruity at the end. And not overdone. Tempranillo. Drink now."

- James Suckling (August 2021), 91 pts

Burgo Viejo Rioja Reserva is made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha & 5% Carignan.

Burgo Viejo Rioja Reserva presents with red ruby color; black pepper and vanilla flavors and some mature black fruit taste too. Well-balanced, well-structured and elegant in mouth displaying some splendid taste of fruit and bouquet too.

Burgo Viejo Reserva Wine vinification has occurred blending different grape varieties to produce an aged wine that will surely keep maturity and fullness from the vineyard until the very moment of uncorking.

VINIFICATION: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature; aged in American and French oak barrels -50% each- for 18 months.

Enjoy it with red meat and game.

Review:

"Elegant berries and spiced cherries with a hint of oranges and undergrowth on the nose. Juicy and evenly packed with a fluid, medium-bodied palate and soft tannins. Drink now - Zekun SHUAI (Senior Editor)"

- James Suckling (May 4th 2023), 91 pts

Pulled from a Gentleman's cellar, all wines from this cellar have been purchased by the owner either from the importer or direct from winery. They stayed in his cellar until being moved to the Timeless Wines warehouse. 

Cardinale Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot.

Super structured and with minerality to spare, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers a real presence on the palate from start to finish. Generous notes of dark chocolate balance beautifully with a blue and black fruit flavor explosion, finishing with a subtle whisper of rose petal.

- James Suckling 98 Points

Castelmaure Grande Cuvee Corbieres Rouge is made from 50% Grenache (30 year old) and 50% Syrah (30 year old).. 

In the early 1990’s, Castelmaure began experimenting with a Prestige Cuvée of Corbières.  This wine has become known as “Grande Cuvée” and is made with the help of the winemaking team of Tardieu-Laurent.

Vinification: destemming, pneumatic press, end of fermentation at 25 degrees C; two racking; aging in tank then in 220 Liter Bordeaux barrels for 10-12 months. Egg fining, slight filtration..

Deep and intense color, powerful aromas of dark berry fruit, prune and coffee nuances, and a persistent finish.

Vineyards: planted on 50% Schist and 50% limestone soils.

This new red wine blend is produced from Suisun Valley, a remarkable AVA that has become the Wagner family’s second home. A 30-minute drive from Napa, Suisun has ideal soils and climate for a variety of grapes. The Walking Fool is named after a long-ago relative who was often seen traveling by foot – thus earning this affectionate moniker. Featuring Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, this wine is smooth and lively, with juicy raspberry, notes of espresso and softly fine tannins.

Cazaux Gigondas Cuvee Prestige is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre produced from the oldest vines of the estate and only in the years of highest grape quality. Aromas of prune, chocolate, spices, fruit brandy and plum. Rounded tannins and a long finish.

Red meats aged, venison

Review:

"I was also able to taste the late-release 2020 Gigondas Cuvée Prestige, which is 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre that was brought up in barrel. It has a rocking nose of Provençal spices, saddle leather, dried flowers, and assorted strawberry and raspberry fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, has fine tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Count me in as a fan. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 7-8 years."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 30th 2023), 94 pts

Cazaux Gigondas Tour Sarrasine is made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. 45 year old vines on average.

This strong, warm wine comes from a selection of grapes planted on exceptional soils. The vineyards in Gigondas are situated on the arid hills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The Mistral blows regularly on these slopes which limits the amount of treatment needed to the vines. The vines grow on stony soils and produce wine that can be kept easily for 10 yrs.

Intense, persistent red and dark fruit aromas. Raspberry, pepper and spice flavors. Silky tannins.

HUGE SALE $80 OFF CASE PRICE

Regularly $479, now $399!

Cazaux Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d'Or is made from 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc.

A wine with lively acidity, expressive aromas of fennel and white flowers. It is long and full in the mouth with minty and anisy aromas mixed with white peach flavors. Refreshing and mineral character.

Clairette grapes are green harvested to concentrate and harmonize aroma. Each grape varietal is hand picked separately. Pressing with skin contact at low temperature. Aged 12 months in stainless steel tank. (No oak)

Enjoy this wine with all sorts of fish starters, squid salad with olive oil and basil. A must try with fresh oysters.