Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen it adds tannin, colour and flavour, in small amounts, to the blend.
-
The iconic, ivy-covered Château Lascombes is one of the most recognizable structures in all of Margaux. One would never expect this picturesque and secluded estate to have one of the largest vineyards in the Médoc. The vineyard is an astounding 120 hectares primarily located in Margaux; with 10 hectares in the Haut-Médoc appellation. With a staff of 36, one can imagine the harvest period on such a vast estate would be difficult to manage. Because of their access to state-of-the-art technology and some of the most desirable plots in Margaux, the viticultural team of Château Lascombes produces wines that continue to impress and receive critical acclaim. Château Lascombes earned its namesake after its owner, Antoine Chevalier de Lascombes in 1625. The estate was inherited from the Durfort de Duras family who also owned Château Durfort – later known as the famed Second Growth property, Château Durfort-Vivens. Château Lascombes was classified as a Second Growth estate in 1855, but its history really began when it was purchased almost a hundred years later. Alexis Lichine and a group of investors – including the wealthy American, David Rockefeller – purchased the estate in 1952. There is a diverse array of soil types at Château Lascombes. Gravelly outcroppings are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The property also has limestone terroir, which is highly unique to the Margaux region. It is the areas with clay and limestone where the primary varietal at Château Lascombes, Merlot, really shines. Château Lascombes has 50% of its vineyard planted with Merlot – an unusual choice for an estate in Margaux. The vines are on average 35 years old, and only 50-hectares of the sprawling vineyard are considered able to produce the wines of top Second Growth quality. The estate is presently managed by Dominique Befve, who brings his expertise from ten years as technical director at Château Lafite Rothschild and Duhart Milon. Upon his arrival, Dominique oversaw major technical innovations to the cellar. The cellar astonishes visitors with its signature blue lights and technologically advanced Oxoline racks. The racks rotate the barrels and keep the lees of the wine in suspension, reducing oxidation and making the wine round and more immediately accessible. Open at least 1 hour before tasting, this Margaux finesse will be preferred at the time of entry (meat) or on your cheese board (soft and hard pasta). -
This wine is a gem in the middle of great wines produced in the renowned region of Napa Valley. Grapes are meticulously picked from the best parts of the different vineyards belonging to the estate. Great investment wine, with a fantastic long drinking window. The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was marked by cool, mild weather. The cooler than normal spring delayed bud break, bloom and veraison by two weeks compared to the previous five years. The mild weather patterns in August and September allowed for excellent overall phenological ripening and development of a complex aroma and flavor profile in the finished wines. Outstanding flavor development and color were key indicators of this exceptional vintage. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality. Every wine in the Joseph Phelps portfolio is 100% estate-grown, overseen from grape to bottle by our dedicated winegrowing team. The family owns and farms 390 acres of vines in Napa Valley on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, the Stags Leap District, the Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to their wines. Their commitment to the estate-grown model is their way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality that can be achieved. Having estate vineyards give the winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines. Only 12,400 cases were produced. -
Out of stock
Slender and racy length, beautiful smoothness, noble freshness, very fragrant, without weakness in terms of the body and with the extension of high quality terroirs. -
Meerlust Rubicon had a great impact on the history of South African wine. First made in 1980, it essentially set the pattern for Bordeaux blends in the country. There was of course a few pioners at this front that only used Cabernet Sauvignon varietal such as Kanonkop (Paul Sauer) in 1973 but as a blend as per Bordeaux style Meerlust changed the scene. According to Hannes Myburgh, his father was inspired by Julious Cesar words “Alea iacta est. The die is cast,” leading his troops towards Rome in 49BC. As this was a irreversable moment in history as there was no turning back after crossing the Rubicon river as this profoundly shifted Roman politics. Nico Myburgh from the 7th generation of the Meerlust estate and father of the current custodian, was holidaying in Bordeaux when he discovered that the terroir in this area of France was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley. Both have a distinctive climate, characterised by a cooling sea breeze. And both have a soil structure made up of decomposed granite and clay. The red wines produced by the two regions, however, were very different. Unlike the Western Cape’s specified cultivars, Bordeaux thrived on producing blends. Nico returned to Meerlust, filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those of the French. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. Like Caesar, there could be no turning back. Nico and Giorgio had already considered a number of names for the new blend when Professor Dirk Opperman from the University of Stellenbosch, a friend of Nico’s suggested that “Rubicon” might be appropriate. The pair had, after all, crossed a new frontier – and changed the way South Africans thought about red wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot vineyards are hand harvested from February through to March and each individual vineyard block is kept separate throughout the fermentation process and monitored until the moment of blending.In wintertime, after malolactic fermentation has allowed the personality of each vineyard to assert itself in barrel, the wines are carefully assessed to produce the most expressive, harmonious and complex wine. The blend is assembled and then allowed another year in barrel for the components to harmonise. The wine is finally bottled and left for a further 2 years before release. Rubicon is always released at four years of age and will immediately offer the distinctive character and quality of the Estate. However, further bottle maturation is advised for the intriguing complexity of this classic wine to unfold and reveal itself.The first vintage, the 1980, remains vivacious and very much alive, even 30+ years after vintage. Subsequent vintages all express the personality and characteristics of their specific year. All vintages of Rubicon, however, share the hallmarks of wines grown at this special place: intensity, harmony, vibrancy, complexity and individuality.I suppose we could use here ''Veni, vidi, vici'' -
It is in the heart of the genuine Alentejo, with its unique aromas, flavors and textures, nature, silence and immensity, that the 80 hectares of vineyards at Herdade Monte da Cal, located in the municipality of Fronteira, in the parish of São Saturnino, extend over 80 hectares of vineyards. about 40 km from Portalegre. Surrounded by the tranquility of the northern Alentejo plain, it is part of the calm environment of nature characteristic of this part of the country, surrounded by an infinity of vineyards, which we can only see, far away. Here, the red varieties Trincadeira, Syrah, Aragonês, Alicante Bouschet, Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional are planted. The architecture and decoration of the estate reflect the Arab influences, so present in the Alentejo culture. The estate’s modern winery is a fundamental pillar to reinforce the visibility of the wines of this house, and a wine tourism project is already planned for this property. Suggested pairing with dishes from the Mediterranean, Chinese, Indian and African cuisine. -
Family-owned winery Sequoia Grove was founded in 1979 in a 110-year old barn beneath a grove of Sequoia trees in Rutherford. Michael Trujillo joined the winery as assistant winemaker in 1981, becoming director of winemaking in 2002. His philosophy is based on balance in the vineyard, planting different blocks with different clones, and farming without pesticides. The family have been working with their partner growers for decades which gives them access to the very best quality fruit each year and allows them to create this complex wine which truly expresses the Rutherford terroir. The young wine is aged in oak barrel for 20 months which adds sweet spice notes and extra complexity to the finished bottling. The rich, powerful flavor profile makes this a winner with lovers of big, bold reds and a great match for red meats. Drink now through to 2030. Decanting is always recommended but is not a must -
To celebrate the estate's 25th anniversary, the 2020 vintage by Almaviva is adorned with a special "25 años" label. Viña Almaviva was founded in 1997 following the collaboration between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Don Alfonso Larrain, President of Viña Concha y Toro. The Viña Almaviva project gives rise to fine Chilean wines that benefit from a rich French winemaking know-how and the unique expression of this Central Valley terroir. The name Almaviva, though it has an Hispanic sonority, belongs to classical French literature: Count Almaviva is the hero of The Marriage of Figaro, the famous play by Beaumarchais (1732-1799), later turned into an opera by the genius of Mozart. The label, meanwhile, pays homage to Chile’s ancestral history, with three reproductions of a stylized design, which symbolizes the vision of the earth and the cosmos in the Mapuche civilization. The design appears on the kultrun, a ritual drum used by the Mapuche. The label bears the name Almaviva in Beaumarchais’ own handwriting. Two great traditions thus join hands to offer the whole world a promise of pleasure and excellence. Located in the heart of the beautiful Maipo Valley, the Almaviva vineyard covers 50 hectares. The emblematic Bordeaux grape varieties thrive in this exceptional terroir. Almaviva has now become an essential reference for fine Chilean wines throughout the world. A particularly dry year, 2020 began with a cool, dry winter, resulting in a late budburst, particularly during the first two weeks of October. The spring and summer were marked by high temperatures but also by drought. These conditions favoured a rapid maturation of the vineyard and an early harvest, which ended three to four weeks earlier than in recent years. Despite this extreme climate and thanks to the rigour of the teams, the 2020 vintage reveals a fruity structure, a fresh expression and a rare tension.