Avennia Justine Red Blend 61% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, and 18% Syrah.
Justine reflects our belief that Washington is capable of producing world class blends of grape varieties traditional to the Southern Rhone region of France. The name is inspired by one of the great heroines of recent literature, who also sprung from the imagination of the Mediterranean. Dark, seductive, complex, with a chasm of depth: The Justine is a great reflection of Avennia's mission of expression, and Washington's generous terroir.
Tasting Note: Big black cherry, blackberry, hints of orange peel, fresh herbs and loam on the nose. Plush and round on the palate. Dark earthy fruits from the Mourvedre, along with citrus high notes, mountain flowers, jasmine, and savory herbs. Balanced and complex without forgetting its hedonistic roots in the Southern Rhone.
Avennia Valery Red Blend is made from 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc
Valery is named for the patron saint of wine in the St. Emilion region that inspired it.
We started with old vine Merlot from a stony block in the heart of the Yakima Valley and added complex, aromatic Cabernet Franc from the Horse Heaven Hills. The result is a balanced, complex wine with the elegance and ethereal perfume that this blend of two of Washington’s best varietals are known for.
The nose on this wine is very perfumed, almost exotic with notes of fresh violets, red plum, winter mint, fresh herbs and crushed limestone qualities. The palate is poised and balanced, with red fruits and mocha powder encapsulated in limestone. The finish lingers delicately, with the Cabernet Franc asserting a light tobacco and herb note, giving depth. A compelling wine that will continue to unwind for 7-10 years in the cellar.
This wine is characterized by grace and elegance. The bouquet is full and ethereal of ripe fruit and cherries in alcohol accompanied by typical nuances of the Mediterranean scrub such as lavender, thyme and wild mint. On the palate it has a very large and sweet opening. The silky tannin spreads a dense texture accompanied by a warm and lively body where notes of fresh coconut and sweet spices such as cinnamon persist.
The yellow area highlighted on the label indicates where precisely the grapes came from for this vintage.
Review:
-James Suckling 94 Points
Babylons Peak Cinsault is made from 100 percent Cinsault.
Medium to light bodied. Fruit driven with spicy undertones. Soft tannins and fine complexity. A fruit driven wine with lively light palate and lingering mouthfeel.
Review:
"Savory aromas of black olives, grilled meat, thyme, peppercorns and dark fruit. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a flavorful, succulent and peppery palate. Drink now."
- James Suckling (December 2021), 90 pts
Bachelet Bertrand Santenay Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Tasting Notes:
The Santenay Blanc comes from a parcel that is 1.2 hectares in size (3 acres) in the village called “En Charron”, at around 300 meters above sea level, with excellent sunshine and thin limestone soil, guaranteeing great aromatic finesse.
The wine shows a beautiful golden color, a fresh and slightly roasted nose combining lemon and lime aromas with a hint of vanilla. On the palate, almond and toasted hazelnut flavors, along with notes of white flowers and vanilla nuances.
Baron Aime Cremant de Bourgogne Brut is made from 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Aligote.
Light yellow with bright reflections. The nose is fresh and lemony with subtle floral aromas, apple and citrus fruits. The mouth is fresh, delicate, tight and precise with fine bubbles that stimulate the palate nicely.
A delicious aperitif and a great match with shellfish.
Review:
Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of brioche, green and yellow apple, dried pineapple, and lemon oil with a supple, vibrant, finely carbonated, dry medium body and a smooth, engaging, medium-long finish displaying impressions of croissant with salted butter and tart pear jam, white tea, and grapefruit peel with no oak flavor. A lovely and racy apéritif that will pair splendidly with a cheese and bread course."
- Beverage Testing Institute (November 2022), 93 pts - GOLD MEDAL - BEST BUY
Baron Aime Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose NV is made from 85% Pinot Noir & 15% Chardonnay.
Light pink color with coppery shades. The citrus notes blend subtly with aromas of strawberry, forming a fresh and delicate bouquet. The palate is lively, with notes of grapefruit and fresh bread. Together they form a rich, fresh and vibrant wine.
Review:
"Steely amber color. Aromas and flavors of strawberry, green apple, toasted oats, and creme fraiche with a satiny, lively, finely carbonated, dry light-to-medium body and a tingling, intricate, medium-length finish that presents overtones of slightly under ripe wild strawberries, apricot, warm bread dough, and lemon zest. Lively and bright for a perfect apéritif yet with just enough richness and body to carry you in seamlessly to the first course."
- Beverage Testing Institute (November 2022), 94 pts - GOLD MEDAL - BEST BUY
Baron Ermengaud Faugeres Rouge is made from 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5%, Mourvèdre and 5% Carignan.
The Baron Ermengaud cuvée is named after the lord Ermengaud de Fouzilhon. In the 12 century, the Lord gave land, which was located in Laurens Village, to monks, who built a monastic barn. The monks (Benedictine and then Cistercian) used to cultivate the vineyards, using techniques that were quite wise and modern at the time. The people of Laurens enjoyed and benefited from learning their methods.
This Faugeres is dark red with shades of black cherry. A large complexity of aromas allows us to savor a mix of sun fruits and spices. This powerful and full-bodied wine, with a deep consistency, offers an intensity of ripe fruits. It has a long, rich palate on velvety tannins with raised hints of pepper.
Pairs with roast saddle of lamb with juniper berries; peppered venison with pears.
Review:
"Les Crus Faugères is the only cooperative in this appellation, managing 2,223 acres or nearly half of Faugères’ vines. It puts out a vast array of labels, including Mas Olivier, also recommended here, but Baron Ermengaud was the standout for both its 2019 and 2018 reds. Mostly syrah (80 percent), with grenache, carignan and mourvèdre, all of it hand-harvested off schist parcels, the 2019 shines in its combination of earthiness and brightness. Lively acidity and herbal notes give it a just-picked freshness that energizes the red fruit; the clarity allows a clear view of the earth, too, in shades of schist and iron. It tastes like it’s from a place, with a sense of sun and garrigue that’s transporting."
Wine & Spirits Magazine (June 2021), 94 points
#32 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023
Delicate red in color. The incredibly expressive bouquet offers notes of sandalwood, herbs de Provence, and Red Delicious apples. On the palate, freshly picked red huckleberries provide tart and lasting succulence with a hint of baking spice. The sandy soils of the Chehalem Mountains offer salinity and minerality on the finish that is complemented with dark cherry and rhubarb.
Review:
Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins.
-Wine Spectator 95 Points
The first impression of this stunning red is of brilliant red raspberry fruit, as pure as a sunbeam. Yet an inky depth plays counterpoint, rumbling beneath, dark and a bit spicy, grounding the fruit with tannins from the silica-based soils of Bergström’s estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains. The tension between these two elements is gorgeous, the fruit saturating and full, and yet it has an energy and drive giving the texture a lifted, graceful feel.
-Wine & Spirits 95 Points
Betz Family La Serenne Syrah is 100% Syrah
La Serenne is the most reflective of the site/vintage dynamic of our three single-site 2012 Syrahs. Lovers of this wine know that its source, the Boushey Vineyard, is the highest altitude of the three vineyards and is typically the latest harvested. This cool site was accentuated by the cooler season and the results reflect the seriousness of this vineyard and its care.
An extraordinary, nearly impenetrable black purple color leads to a concentrated, inky aromatic impression: smoky black cherry and wild blackberry dominate, but a litany of supporting aromas is already emerging: smoke, violet, mushroom, roasted meat, Chinese 5 spice and minerals. It has a full attack on entry and a big, rich mouthfeel that goes on and on.
Review:
Aromas of blackberries, black raspberries, violets, black and white peppercorns and stones. It’s medium-bodied with fine, tightly knit tannins. Seamless and transparent with a silky texture. Very bright and pure with layers of wild berries and minerals. Tar and dark tobacco, too. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 95 Points
Intense ruby red color. Hints of spices, fruit and flowers, a bouquet that reflects the soil on which it is born, rich in Alberese. In the mouth it is soft, with a pleasant acidity that makes the wine fresh and lively. Sweet and ripe tannins give the wine a pleasant persistence. Riserva dei Colli is an excellent expression of the Estate's Sangiovese, so much so that it bears its name.
Review:
Bordering on opulent, this red features blackberry, black currant, plum, iron and spice aromas and flavors, matched to a velvety texture. Firms up as the resonant tannins emerge, yet remains harmonious and long. Drink now through 2032. 1,700 cases made, 570 cases imported.
-Wine Spectator 93 Points
There are wonderful aromas of summer-ripe peaches with tropical fruits and flowers. The silky-smooth flavors are reminiscent of baked apples and toasty vanilla bean. The lively acidity makes this an extremely well-balanced Chardonnay. The finish is long and fruity, with an interesting hint of hazelnuts. This wine’s overall taste profiles is creamy with apricots and lemons.
Intense ruby color of high layer with garnet edge, clean and shiny. Intense nose that, from the beginning, transmits complexity, penetrating, with aromas of black fruits, blueberries and currants, undergrowth, roasted memories, toffee, coffee powder, liquorice, cloves, vanilla and lebanese cedar. Mouth with freshness and balance, with tannins ripe and creamy, which highlight its elegance, with a step harmonious and intense. Long and pleasant aftertaste, with a great variety of balsamic and spicy memories.
Review:
The old-vine component of the El Otero parcel, running to around seven hectares, supplies the fruit for this ageworthy Tinto Fino. After a frost-induced break in 2017, it's back with interest in 2018. Aged in new French oak, but not dominated by the wood, it's a finely judged red from Julio Sáenz with notes of blackberry and tangerine, filigree tannins and a long, textured finish. 2023-33
-Tim Atkin 96 Points
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Boeira Douro Reserve Red is made from 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Tinta Roriz and 30% Touriga Franca.
Smooth attack with good structure and excellent mouth feel. Fresh, with well integrated tannins bringing elegance and a gastronomic profile to the wine. Very well balanced.
No Oak.Boeira Douro Doc Red Reserve from the Douro Valley is the result of a careful blend of different varieties from the Douro. After fermentation the wine was left in contact with its lees until bottling in order to develop complexity and richness.
Ideal for red meat dishes, such as beef or roast beef with strong spices, thus associating with some traditional Portuguese dishes such as roasted lamb or veal steak. The wine should be served between 16º and 18ºC.
Boeira Douro White 40% Malvasia Fina, 30% Rabigato, 20% Gouveio and 10% Fernão Pires.
Good volume in mouth revealing its fruity character, now enhanced with a citrus component. Slight mineral touch that gives it personality. It is a complex and deep wine with a persistent finish.
Good accompaniment to fish dishes, salads, and can also be drunk as appetizers. Should be consumed at a temperature between 8º and 10ºC.
Boeira Tawny 20 Year Port is made from 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Francesa and 30% Tinta Roriz.
A Good Complexity of Natural Flavors of Cassis, Blackberries and Caramel.
Fermentation in steel tank and stopped by adding spirit and aged in oak barrels for 20 years. Wine was slightly filtered before bottling.
Review:
The NV 20 Year Port is based on Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinto Cão and was aged 20 years in French oak casks. It's more complex and nuanced, with beautiful white raisin, white chocolate, ripe cherries, caramelized fig, and smoky tobacco nuances. Beautifully balanced and medium to full-bodied, it has a layered mouthfeel, a ripe tannic structure, and one heck of a great finish.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
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.
Boussey Monthelie Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The name Monthelie comes from Mont Lyoei, mountain of Bacchus.
The Boussey Monthelie Blanc has a nice pale yellow color with green reflections. Aromas of white flowers, fresh almonds, lemon and minerality. The finish is long with a very good balance between the acidity and the ripeness.
Goes well with poultry, fish and crab cakes.
Boussey Monthelie Blanc Premier Cru Sur La Velle is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The name Monthelie comes from Mont Lyoei, mountain of Bacchus. The "Sur la Velle" plot is located on the eastern edge of Monthélie. It borders the Volnay Clos des Chênes Premier Cru to the east. The vineyards here lie on broadly southeast facing slopes with just enough gradient to achieve good drainage.
The Monthelie Blanc Premier Cru Sur La Velle has a beautiful pale yellow color with green reflections.
It is complex and rich with delicious aromas of white flowers, fresh almonds, lemon and minerality.
The finish is long with a very good balance between the excellent ripeness and the perfect amount of acidity.
We recommend this wine with white meat, fish and seafood.
Boussey Monthelie Blanc Premier Cru Sur La Velle is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The name Monthelie comes from Mont Lyoei, mountain of Bacchus. The "Sur la Velle" plot is located on the eastern edge of Monthélie. It borders the Volnay Clos des Chênes Premier Cru to the east. The vineyards here lie on broadly southeast facing slopes with just enough gradient to achieve good drainage.
The Monthelie Blanc Premier Cru Sur La Velle has a beautiful pale yellow color with green reflections.
It is complex and rich with delicious aromas of white flowers, fresh almonds, lemon and minerality.
The finish is long with a very good balance between the excellent ripeness and the perfect amount of acidity.
We recommend this wine with white meat, fish and seafood.
Boussey Volnay Premier Cru Les Taillepieds is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The grapes for this Volnay Premier Cru Les Taillepieds are coming from the vineyard located in the middle of the coteau, halfway up the hill, with a very nice South sun exposure, allowing to reach an optimal ripeness every year.
The wine displays a nice ruby and garnet color. It boasts aromas of red and black fruit, fig, and violet.
It always has a lot of finesse and elegance, but also a great length to the finish, with juicy and round tannins.
Pair with frog legs with parsley and garlic, omelette, duck and cheese.
Slightly filtered before bottling.The wine is then aged in French Oak barrels for 12 months. (25% new barrels).
The Volnay Premier Cru Les Taillepieds is vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Surface area : 0.2 hectare (0.49 acres)
Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family. Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers.
Smaragd is a designation of ripeness for dry wines used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau. The wines must have minimum alcohol of 12.5%. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October and November, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks.
Klaus sits adjacent to Achleiten and is one of the Wachau’s most famous vineyards for Riesling. The vineyard is incredibly steep with a gradient of 77% at its steepest point. The southeast-facing terraced vineyard of dark migmatite-amphibolite and paragneiss produces a tightly wound and powerful wine. The parcel belonging to Toni Bodenstein was planted in 1952.
Tasting Notes:
Austrian Riesling is often defined by elevated levels of dry extract thanks to a lengthy ripening period and freshness due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night. “Klaus is not a charming Riesling,” says Toni Bodenstein with a wink. Klaus is Prager’s most assertive and robust Riesling.
Food Pairing
Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table. Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame some saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette might.
Review:
Superbly cool, restrained and refined, this austere, beautiful dry riesling is a slow-burn masterpiece that's only just beginning to reveal its complex white-peach, white-tea, wild-herb and dark-berry character. Super-long and mineral finish. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 97 Points
Leindl Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein Kamptal is made from 100 percent Riesling.
Medium yellow green. Fine nuances of ripe apricot, a hint of yellow apple, delicate herbs and spices, mineral Touch, hints of candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, fine stone fruit, touch of finesse acidity, salty minerality in the finish, remains long, already well to drink.
Cold Fermentation.
Aged on the lees for 12 months in Stainless Steel tank. No Oak.
No ML
Review:
"This excellent expression of the Heiligenstein site has a wonderful youthful tension. The sleek, medium-bodied palate features understated power, great precision and Amalfi lemon freshness. Very long, focused finish with a cascade of dry flowers. Sustainable. Drink or hold. - Stuart PIGOTT"
- James Suckling (September 12th 2024), 95 pts