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This domain has one of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape with its abundance of rounded quartzite stones from the Villafranchian period. These stones absorb heat during the day then radiate it at night, promoting full grape maturity. Yielding just 30 hectolitres per hectare, the vines are carefully managed throughout the year. The grapes are hand-harvested, once each variety has reached full maturity, which is based on tastings undertaken by an expert panel. The vineyard is farmed sustainably according to the principles of la lutte raisonnée. -
Seelug 2022 - the first vintage of something special. First things first though - some relevant terminologies: Off-shore wind - air movement off-the-shore, into-the-ocean. On-shore wind - air movement from-the-ocean, onto-the-shore. Chop/wit pertjies/white horses - Little waves produced by long distance air movement over large expanses of open ocean surfaces. Sampling - The picking of random grape berries from a vineyard in order to get a representable sample to determine ripeness. Seelug - Sea Air. -
Róisín Curley is an impressive winemaker that teaches us all a good lesson on the definition of ''busy lifes''. Winemaker, Pharmacist, Micro-negotiant and a Master of Wine....Whats next? Astronaut? More to the point here, Roisin doesnt do things half way either, all of her wines are stunning, a pleasure to uncork and savor. This aligote Dore is a great example. Going up against the allmighty Chardonnay in Burgundy, doesnt stay behind and does exactly what Roisin sets it for. Elegant yet robust, Mineral, food acidity to a perfect level and a lenght that keeps reminding you that there is more to come -
The name Kanonkop is derived from a hillock (kop) on the Simonsberg mountain above the wine estate from where, during the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon (kanon) was fired to announce the arrival of sailing ships entering Table Bay. The roar of the cannon would be the signal to local farmers, who were waiting to make the 50-kilometer journey to the harbour, to load up their wagons with fresh fruit and vegetables to barter their produce. The first wines bearing the Kanonkop label were produced in 1973. To wine lovers familiar with the centuries old châteaux and domaines of Bordeaux and Burgundy respectively, the winemaking history of our estate may seem surprisingly young. For 1973 was the year in which Kanonkop’s contention for a place in the annals of South African wine greatness began, just three years before the death of the man to whom the wine estate owes everything it has achieved and all the recognition it has attained: Paul Sauer. -
This wine comes from the very poor granit wineyard of Saint Hippolyte. The terroir is made of the degradation of the grey granit of Thannenkirch, light, white, sandy, poor and extremely dry, similar foind in the Cote Des Nuits. The growing of the vine is limited, and it must invest quickly in the maturation of the fruits. This is why this wineyard is one of the first ever planted in Alsace. -
The story of this wine told by Peter Hauptfleisch himself-''Today I'm standing up to defend the EMPIRE - STELLENBOSCH. Silently, she’s been re-aligning her troops and now strikes back at the Swartland to establish herself yet again as a formidable force. Just for the record - I am a huge fan of Swartland white blends. The image of South African wines has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and the Swartland played a huge part in this. Their wines, especially the Rhône-style white blends are top notch. They are fun, young, energetic and unique and started to gain international fame. Stellenbosch, however (where I studied winemaking), is the original EMPIRE of South African wine. Like most of us, I like to support the underdog, and in the case of white blends, the Empire became exactly that. So I created a white blend based on similar varieties - a combination that could give some of the Swartland white blends a go. The empire is therefore now striking back at the Swartland with a blend of an all-Stellenbosch Verdelho, Pinot blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Viognier. The label consists of two sections. On the left part of the label you will see a half star, which was the logo for the "Swartland Revolution". And on the right - stripes that represent a traditional and conservative EMPIRE. And the red brother of Empire Strikes Back is EMPIRE - not striking back but just being himself. With Cabernet Sauvignon as driver and bits of Merlot and Cabernet franc to compliment. The old style design label shows a combination crest. I combined the crest of Stellenbosch University and Elsenburg College - The 2 Empires when it comes to wine education - I studied at both...'' In another words this red was created to strike back at the popularity of the whites and with its quality to balance the market. I dont it was needed as the reds quality is a great as the counterparts. -
Stéphane Riffault (Claude’s son and now the owner of the estate) is turning out Sancerre bottlings that are the envy of many producers twice his age. As David Schildknecht put it, “Make no mistake: this address in the hamlet of Maison Salle (Sury-en-Vaux) is now one of the five or six most exciting estates in the Sancerre appellation.” Given that Stephane’s holdings represent 4-tenths of 1 percent of the appellation, he is clearly doing something right. Based in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, Stéphane Riffault works 33 different parcels in 8 different lieu-dits spread across four villages. The 13.5 hectares of vines are plowed, and no synthetic material is used. Starting in 2017, the property has been certified organic by ECOCERT and biodynamic by BIODYVIN. Unlike most Sancerre producers, the entire harvest is carried out by hand, and extensive sorting occurs before the grapes are crushed. Stéphane’s wife, Benedicte, leads the harvest team while Stéphane manages the sorting and press during harvest. Most of the domaine’s holdings are planted on the soft limestone soil called terres blanches, with some parcels on calliottes and silex. Minor, judicious uses of oak help to add length to the already precise, site-expressive, and vertical bottlings. All the parcels are vinified separately, and except for the rosé, all the wines are bottled unfiltered. Having studied and worked in Burgundy (and closely with Olivier Leflaive), it’s easy to see the Burgundian influence in Stéphane’s wines. The mastery of minerality standing shoulder–height with the wood is rarely duplicated in Sancerre. Regardless of his parcels’ exposition (many are south-facing), Riffault’s wines are always crisp and highcut with a jeweled delineation that speaks to the precision and attention these wines get. These are not your daddy’s (or his daddy, Claude’s) Sancerres. Sancerre Les Denisottes Les Denisottes comes from a lieu-dit located quite close to the domaine’s cellar. Here the terres blanches soils are deeper and more pebbly than rocky and producing a richer style of Sancerre – one that requires a longer élevage in barrel, and released with a greater capacity to age. -
Located on the right bank of the Vienne Valley, between Tours and Saumur, Domaine Grosbois is an old fortified farm built in the 15th century which today covers 20 hectares of vines. Now run by two brothers, Nicolas and Sylvain, the family vineyards are located at a place called “The Pressoir” Panzoult in the Chinon appellation at the heart of the Loire Valley. The winemaking here is concentrated solely on the production of red wines made from the Cabernet Franc grape. Nicolas has been at the domaine since 2005 after returning from ten years working as a travelling winemaker, gaining experience in locations as diverse as the Minervois, Chile, Oregon (Adelsheim), Australia (Brokenwood) and New Zealand (Pegasus Bay). His first vintage was in 2006 where he worked alongside his father, Jacques (who had previously been more inclined to sell off the production in cubitainer). Jacques retired, or at least withdrew, in 2008 allowing Nicolas to develop the domaine in the way he intended to continue, converting to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winemaking philosophy at Grosbois is centred around the idea of micro-site specificity with the various Cabernet Franc bottling's reflecting the 19 unique plots of vines on the Panzoult Hill, all of which had been strategically planted according to their geological characteristics. Once in the cellar, Nicolas lets the grapes speak for themselves, keeping a light hand at winemaking. He ferments in open concrete tanks with indigenous yeast, uses no oak and minimal filtration, so what you find in the final wine is a pure expression of a teeny parcel of Chinon. Pair it with roast duck with peppers. Serve after slight aeration -
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The history of the Porro family is closely related to Langhe and Doljani. In Monforte d'alba lies the Ribote farm, where the best dolcetto wines are born, structured, complex and long-lasting. In this land there is a monastery where you guessed it monks lived for hundred of years. This monastery is divided in two parts, one is where the father of Fabrizio Porro (Bruno Porro) lives and the other is where the famous artist Gianni Gallo used to live. Monks knew where to find the best lands, hidden from prying eyes and rich in water resources. The Ribote farm has a natural amphitheater that is protected from all directions from the wind and creates a special micro climate and has spring frost that is super important for the vines. Ribote vineyards cover 25 hectares, a single ownership of such a large area is not often found in the Langhe. This moment, as well as the absence of neighbors, simplifies the issue of biological viticulture. As Fabrizio explains ''“I would like to get a bio certificate, but my father adheres to a different philosophy, he always says that we are the first to suffer from chemical fertilizers in the vineyards, so they should be eliminated. In addition, we want to leave the land healthy for future generations, not to engage in marketing gimmicks.'' The Nebbiolo grape does not travel well and is high maintenance, which is why it has never thrived quite as well elsewhere as on the Piemontese slopes. Like its top contender, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo takes kindly to its terroir, thus displaying the subtleties of its environment. The white soils that host the Ribote vineyards are a mixture of limestone, clay and sand. Dolcetto, barbera, nebbiolo, arneis and viognier are cultivated. The area next to the winery is characterized by red soils, which are considered more suitable for barbera. The main variety of Doljani is the Dolcetto, which shows excellent results here. Different clones are planted, but a preference is given to the red-footed dolcetto, which has small berries and a long bunch with one shoulder. In August, the end of the bunch and the shoulder are cut off and discarded, because these berries have a very high acidity, which is considered excessive. 2016 was a rainy and difficult year, which has the advantage of being ready to drink earlier. Pair it with meats, game and cheeses. -
Produttori del Barbaresco traces its history all the way back to 1894, when Domizio Cavazza, headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba and a Barbaresco resident, gathered together nine local vineyard owners to create the first cooperative in the area, the Cantine Sociali. The cooperative was forced to close in the 1930’s because of fascist economic rules and revived in 1958 by the priest of the village of Barbaresco who realised that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts. The new union was named Produttori del Barbaresco and produced its first vintages in the church basement until the winery across the square was built where the Produttori are still located. Today Produttori del Barbaresco is considered one of the greatest red wine Co-operatives in the world, as well as one of the most highly praised producers throughout all of Piedmont. Led by the talented Aldo Vacca, the cooperative is made up of 51 vignerons and covers more than 100 hectares of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with centuries old skill and dedication. The Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco is primarily sourced from five of the Cru vineyards, Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo. The grapes are macerated for an extended period of around 24 days while being fermented in steel tanks, followed by 24 months of ageing in large oak casks. While their Riservas and their single-vineyard wines remain some of the most sought-after Piedmont reds, their Barbaresco, as well Langhe Nebbiolo, are wonderful expressions offering grace and complexity at an astonishing price. Pair it with: egg pasta, meat dishes and medium-aged cheeses. -
The Dead Arm is d’Arenberg’s flagship Shiraz and takes its name from a vine disease that kills off one “arm” of the plant while the other side of the vine produces remarkably intense and delicious fruit. The grapes for this bottling come from low yielding old vines on the estate which are harvested in small parcels and vinified plot by plot to give maximum control over the blending. Established in 1912, d’Arenberg is one of the McLaren Vale’s most iconic wineries which boasts some extremely old Shiraz vines planted back in the 1880s. The estate’s chief winemaker is Chester Osborn, the great-grandson of d’Arenberg’s original founder Joseph Rowe Osborn who was actually a teetotaler who used to sell his grapes on to local wineries. Powerful and ageworthy wine with firm tannins and a well-developed structure that will respond well another couple of decade or so in the cellar. Pair with hearty red meat dishes if you’d prefer to enjoy it now. -
Sylvain Pataille is perhaps secretly one of the most important figures in Burgundy today. Beyond being a leader in organic and biodynamic viticulture, he is also a consulting oenologist for some of the most famed domaines in the region. Sylvain grew up around wine, though his family didn’t own any vines. His father was a bus driver, who spent the free time in his afternoons helping his vigneron friend Jean Fournier. Sylvain and his brother Laurent would meet their father in the Fournier vines after school, forming an attachment to the life of a vine farmer. His paternal great uncle also owned a domaine in the Médoc that the Patailles visited every summer. Sylvain knew from an early age that winemaking would be his career and he attended winemaking school in Beaune to make that dream come true. Right before graduating he was hired by a local lab as a salesperson, where he admittedly was very bad at sales. He quickly left to start his own domaine in the village of Marsannay, at the northern edge of the Côte de Nuits, while consulting on the side from contacts made during his sales days. Starting with just 1 hectare in 1999, he slowly grew his domaine to its current size of 15ha. Sylvain’s older brother Laurent, a trained oenologist himself, eventually joined the domaine in 2008, becoming Sylvain’s right hand. The domaine consists of vines across Marsannay, with a large portion planted to Aligoté, to go along with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Sylvain is a leading proponent of the potential of Aligoté to make world-class wines, making more than 5 different cuvées from different single sites. In the vines, he practices very low yields, ploughs by horse, and works biodynamically, earning him the reputation as one of the finest farmers in the Côte d’Or. Their typicity is that of the Côte de Nuits, and their style resemble that of their neighbouring appellations Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin. -
A classic from Castello Banfi in Montalcino.Elegant and balanced Brunello, characterized by a sweet, rich and complex aroma of fruit jam. A wine with great structure that is well balanced by a good softness and acidity on the final. Extremely persistent with excellent aging potential. Game, red meats or aged cheese. Or just on it's own with good company! -
The Champagne house JM Gobillard & Fils is based in Hautvillers, a picturesque wine town in the heart of Champagne. The monk and cellar master Dom Pérignon discovered the first Champagne pearls in the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers around 1681 and thus made the small town the birthplace of Champagne. All three grape varieties of Champagne are carefully cultivated by hand on 30 hectares of our own vineyards - mainly in the Premier Cru vineyards of Hautvillers - under the supervision of Thierry Gobillard, oenologist and patron of the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils". In addition, grapes from another 125 hectares of external vineyards are purchased from strictly controlled, quality-conscious top winegrowers. Committed to house tradition, Thierry Gobillard has full control over all of his grape requirements. With his name, he vouches for quality and uniformity, he is a guarantor of the highest perfection and a bastion in the fight against mediocrity. Thanks to the highest art of oenology, each champagne from the Champagne house "JM Gobillard & Fils" has a unique personality, so rich in expressions and appearances that you will be amazed! A votre sante! - Cheers! -
Matsu represents a journey through time, through several generations dedicated to life on the land. Youth, maturity and old age. Four wines originating in the D.O. Toro needing more than one hundred years for their elaboration with the grape from centenary vineyards, the wisdom inherited from generations of winemakers who continue to grow the vines in an artisan way using the most ancestral techniques. El Pícaro, El Recio, El Viejo and La Jefa personify the essence of Matsu, their individual relationship with the land in accordance with their age and their life stage. They are the tribute to hundreds of men and women who have dedicated their lives to the vineyard in this region. The result is four modern and sophisticated wines, capable of displaying soft, discreet elegance without losing the power that characterizes Toro wines.
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