Maysara Autees Pinot Blanc is made from 100 percent Pinot Blanc
No oak
Autees is the ancient Persian Goddess that protects all plants, animals and trees on Earth. She is the protector of life and all things that grow.
A slightly richer episode of Pinot Blanc, tending towards monologues of ripe apricot and even lychee.
Act I is entitled: ‘Floral scents in the nose are pure honeysuckle alight on a cool breeze…’ Then the grizzled director cuts to a shock of acidity that beckons you back again.
Act II opens with a playful back-and-forth of the mineral laden mid-palate and a lilting tune of a green grass finish.
Act III is seldom noticed over your mile-wide smile.
At Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyard, we are committed to cap-turing the complete expression of our land and conveying it to you through superior quality in every bottle. We practice only low-impact, holistic farming methods in our Demeter Certified Biodynamic Vineyard. We are confident these practices are the best way to capture the true essence of the soil in our fruit and ensure health of our vines and the unique accent of our terroir for generations. This philosophy is carried into the cellar, where Demeter Certified Biodynamic wine-making practices produce wines with intensity, sophistication and elegance while maintaining a purity of both fruit and earth.
Stellar with the firmer cheeses, fresh, ripe fruit and subtly herbed seafood.
Maysara Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose is made from 100 percent Rose.
A stunning sparkling rosé made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes, that is balanced with high tension acidity and minerality. The fine bubbles keep the aromatics tight with a clean finish of dried cranberries, pomegranate, and wild strawberries.
Pair with soft cheeses, fried chicken, oysters, Mediterranean salads.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Michel Thomas Sancerre Blanc Silex is 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.
Intensely aromatic and concentrated Sauvignon from the Silex soils, this is a wine of great concentration and excellent balance. Aromas of fresh herbs, with flavors of citrus, ripe gooseberry, apple and a hint of gunflint. A delicious apéritif and the classic match for goat cheese or asparagus.
The special bottling "Silex" is limited each year to between 400-500 cases. They grow grapes on three soil types: 40% Terre Blanche-Argilo-Calcaire, 40% Caillottes-calcaire, 20% Le Roc-Silex. This wine come from the hardest stone soil on the vineyard giving it pleasant notes of fruit and a very dry flavor: This wine is bottled using traditional methods without filtration, allowing for a authentic and natural taste to the wine.
A delicious apéritif and the classic match for goat cheese or asparagus.
Thomas Sancerre Rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir.
Vines are 20-55 years old.
Terroir (soil type) is a blend of "Caillottes" and "Terre Blanche".
Everything is machine harvested (which means it is 100% destemmed).
50% Direct press + 50% Saignée (bled) with 12-24 hours of skin contact maceration.
The alcoholic fermentation is done in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Right before bottling, the wine is fined with Bentonite (very light filtration with oenologic clay).
Tasting Notes:
Light, bright pink. Redcurrant, strawberry and chalk on the nose, with a touch of singed orange gaining strength with air. Dusty red fruit and citrus flavors are braced by tangy minerality, which adds lift and cut. Uncompromising in the best way, finishing with excellent clarity and echoes of lemon and orange zest.
Food pairings:
This is a very versatile wine. You can have it on its own in the summer time as an apéritif. But it is also excellent with Hors d'Oeuvres and terrines. It will compliment any white meat dish and poultry. You can also enjoy it with salmon or exotic food (slightly spicy sushi).
Mordoree Tavel Rose Plume de Peintre is made from 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Clairette.
Deep rosé color. Complex and intense aromas of red fruits. The palate is elegant and offers a great balanced acidity. The wine has a long lasting finish.
Risotto with crayfish and asparagus, duck breast roasted with honey, poultry with morels.
Murray Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%, Merlot , 6% Malbec, 6%, Petit Verdot.
A beautiful ruby color, this wine is very fruity with lots of plum and just a hint of characteristic Red Mountain minerality. It is very smooth with a slight texture of tannin on the back. This wine is a real Cab crowd pleaser.
As much as possible, winemakers Tim and Kelly Hightower take a non-interventionist approach to winemaking. They place great emphasis on vineyard selection, picking, pressing, and blending so that Hightower wines are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. They let the powerful and concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle.
They age in the oak barrels until they are ready to bottle.Neutral Oak 52%, New Oak 48% (American 57%, Hungarian 15%, French 14%, European 14%).
After primary fermentation, all wines are pressed directly into 59 gallon oak barrels. Aging for 19 months.
Estate Vineyard 75%, Shaw Vineyard 21%, Red Willow 4%
Red Mountain AVA 100%
Beginning in 1993 and following in the tradition of great Bordeaux estates, Opus One created a fine second wine called Overture. Every acre of the estate vineyard is meticulously farmed with the attention to detail and singular focus required to produce Opus One. This scrutiny carries through the blending process and certain lots will not be included in the final Opus One blend. Yet, when these lots are afforded additional time in barrel along with the added flexibility of blending across multiple vintages, the final wine achieves a remarkable elegance and complexity.
Overture displays a vibrant garnet color with expressive aromas of fresh red fruit. Notes of bright cherry and red currant are underpinned by more earthy tones of ground cocoa, cedar and vanilla. Extended barrel aging gives the wine an elegant texture accentuated by round tannins and a soft mouthfeel.
Review:
The first time specific blocks have been used for this wine. Dark forest berry notes on the nose with perfumed elements and notes of milk chocolate. Supple and agile, generous with textured, slightly grainy tannins that are so pleasant - expansive and round in the mouth. It's well built and very approachable with blackcurrant and black cherry flavours on the palate. Concentrated, deep and layered but still with elegance. Extremely characterful. A blend of the 2018 and 2019 vintages with 18 months ageing in French oak barrels. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
-Decanter 93 Points
Pago de Carraovejas El Anejon is made from 94% Tinto Fino, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon .
El Anejon vineyard is a terraced plot on a steep slope, oriented toward the sun and with great views of the Castle of Peñafiel. The soil of the narrow terraces has a compact, loamy limestone texture. The presence of the white-colored limestone calcium salts contributes to a distinctive minerality in this wine. Only made in exceptional vintages.
Grape varieties: Parellada 40%, Macabeo 30% and Xarel·lo 30%.
Harvest: Occurs in 3 stages. Macabeo within the first fortnight of September, Xarello during the second fortnight in September and Parellada within the first fortnight of October.
First fermentation and vinification: This is a "Methode Traditionnelle" with
soft pressing of the grapes to obtain 60% of the must (flower must). It is decanted and fermented with controlled temperatures of 18ºC for 20 days until it fully develops the primary aromas of the grapes.
Secondary fermentation: takes place in the bottle for 40 days at a temperature of 16ºC and final ageing for 20 months. Residual sugar: 7 gr. per litre.
Color: Pale yellow with green tones. Shiny and clear.
Aromas: Powerful in the nose, clean. Ageing aromas.
Taste: Soft and well structured, long aftertaste and good balance of acidity and sugar contents.
Gastronomy: It should be served chilled between 5ºC and 7ºC. A flute type glass is recommended. Excellent with pasta, red and soft meats and white fish.Painous is unique in that it is a Cava-Joven style sparkling wine, meaning, the wine receives the minimum aging of 9 months. This allows crisp, fresh aromas and flavors to be expressed. It is delicious for aperitif.
Review:
"Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of brown butter poached pear, marzipan, lemon and apple, and floating in the pool with the grill going with a round, crisp, finely carbonated, dry medium body and an interesting, medium-length finish manifesting notes of dried apples, apricot jam, blanched almonds, and jasmine rice with no oak flavor. Layers of flavor from fruit to earth dance on the tongue for a classic expression of sparkling wine from Catalonia."
- Beverage Testing Institute (November 2022), 91 pts - Gold Medal
Pale Yellow color with fresh green tones.
Very aromatic, with citrus, tropical fruit, tangerine, lemongrass and lemon thyme. Fruity notes with anise and minerals, typical of the Verdejo grape. Fresh in the mouth, the wine is slightly fizzy, with an excellent balance between acidity and sweetness.
100% Verdejo from the Rueda region.
Vine density: 2,222 vines per hectares
Yield: 9,000 kilos per hectares
Machine harvested
Selected yeast
Fermentation lasts between 6 and 8 days.
Total Acidity: 6.8 g/liter
Pairs with appetizers, dessert or light meal.
Mineral and citrus notes.
RS : 2 g/liter
TA : 5.9g/liter
Mineral and citrus notes.
Fresh and elegant.
RS : 2g/liter
TA : 5.5g/liter
Patricia Raquin Bourgogne Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The animals shown on the label are dogs. The breed is called Borzoi, also called "Russian Wolfhound", which means "fast" in Russian. Patricia and Alain are proud owners of 2 Borzois and they designed this label so that the dogs will be guardian of the vaulted ageing cellar inside their house.
Patricia Raquin Bourgogne Chardonnay is made from grapes sourced in the Maconnais region. As it is located in a slightly warmer climate (as it is located 100 kilometers South compared to the Cote d'Or or Cote de Beaune), the wine tends to display more tropical notes, with elegance and freshness, with a touch less of minerality.
Patton Valley Rose is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Its beautiful salmon-pink color hints at the enjoyment that awaits you. Alluring aromatics spill out of the glass, with scents of fresh-cut ripe strawberry, candied rose petal, cotton candy and bubble gum harmonizing together and inviting deeper inspection. In the mouth, the first sensation is one of volume and a cacophony of lush ripe fruit flavors, followed by a zingy, green apple acidity and a slight mouth-watering frizzante, the trademark of Patton Valley Rosé. One glass is never enough.
Patz & Hall Gaps Grown Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Gap's Crown Pinot Noir.
This vineyard sits high on a rock strewn, windswept hill directly overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the coastal mountain feature that feeds the cool Pacific air into the Russian River basin. Usually the last vineyard we pick each year, this extremely slow ripening site shows deeply fruity aromas of black cherry, plum, and cassis. Notes of sandalwood, moist fresh earth, and a faint waft of ocean spray define this wine as one of the most unique in our lineup. A crowd-pleasing richness is tempered by a fresh beam of mouthwatering acidity. Gap's Crown Vineyard is a very long-lived wine that rewards patient cellaring.
Review:
Classy forest floor, mulberry, black raspberry, spice, and incense notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown, a beautifully elegant, seamless, classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This is a great vineyard.
- Jeb Dunnuch 94 Points
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Farmed with a unique precision to match the unparalleled terroir of this historic Oakville site, this vintage is ethereal, delicate, and nuanced. An attractive deep garnet in appearance, this wine expresses soft red cherry, strawberry, floral, and graphite. The palate is full and lively with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, sandalwood, and dried herbs, supported by a lovely grip of tannins and well-tensioned texture that leads to a long, refined finish.
Review:
More expressive and open-knit, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard sports a similar ruby/purple to go with an incredible array of black raspberry, cassis, flowery incense, orange blossom, smoked tobacco, and exotic spice. As are all To Kolans, it's incredibly perfumed and complex aromatically, and it's one of those wines that changes every time you come back to the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, it offers beautiful richness and depth, a light, graceful mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a heavenly finish. It's another magical wine from this talented winemaker that readers will absolutely love.
-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
Ptit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Verdot, 3% Cabernet Pfeffer.
Oak: 11 months on lees in neutral barrels
The Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a vineyard at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Morgan Hill, which grows in a mix of granitic and volcanic soils, and a 25-year-old vineyard east of Gilroy, which grows in deep, extremely sandy soils against the foothills of the Diablo Range. The Petite Verdot is sourced from the Paicines AVA and grows in rocky alluvial deposits above the Tres Piños Arroyo. All three vineyards experience the warm days and cold nights typical of the Central Coast, allowing these late ripening Bordeaux varieties to be picked at high acidity and moderate sugars.
Le P'tit Paysan offers intense blackberry, dark cherry aromas, chocolate, herbaceous and toasty notes on the palate. Medium-bodied, well-balanced with moderate and integrated tannins that give structure and liveliness to the wine.
Pairs well with steak, duck, game, hearty stews, ribs, and dark, rich sauces.
Pearmund Cellars Petit Verdot is made from 100 percent Petit Verdot.
Blackberry aromas with rich plum flavors. Well-rounded tannins and a smooth finish. Earthy, rustic, and warm. Limited production.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle No. 26 is a blend of 58% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir
white gold in color with delicate and persistent bubbles, Grand Siecle No. 26 offers a very complex nose which mixes honeysuckle, lemon, clementine and fresh butter aromas, followed by notes of hazelnut and a touch of honey. The feel in the mouth is very delicate and fresh with candied lemon and fresh hazelnut aromas. The palate is silky and mineral with notes of honeysuckle, flaked almonds and clementine.
It pairs with high quality produce and refined dishes, including shellfish, noble fish and white meats such as Thai style langoustine tartare and fine roasted poultry.
Vintage in Champagne is usually synonymous with excellence for Prestige Cuvées. Contrarily, Laurent‑Perrier believes that only the art of assemblage can offer what nature can never provide, that is, the perfect year.
The expression of the perfect year is that of a great champagne wine that has long ageing potential and over time develops depth, intensity and aromatic complexity yet retains its freshness and vibrancy.
Since 1959, Grand Siècle has been revealed only 26 times in bottle format and 23 times in magnum.
The « Grand Siècle » (Great Century) is the name given to one of the most prosperous periods (17th century) in the history of France known for the capacity of man, through his works, to create what nature cannot. Louis XIVth, known as the « Sun King », by creating the « Château de Versailles » and its gardens, was the architect of this model of harmony, balance and perfection.
The symmetry and perspective of the « Jardins à la française », the capacity to grow Mediterranean fruits (especially Oranges inside the « Orangerie ») in such a Northern climate, creating the Grand Canal, the fountains and ponds with no nearby rivers are many illustrations of this ability of man to sublimate natural elements. The name of Grand Siècle was chosen for Laurent‑Perrier’s Prestige Cuvée based on this common vision to reach a perfection that Nature, on its own, cannot provide.
Review:
This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage.
-James Suckling 100 Points