Pale yellow. Discrete nose with rich notes of fresh cream, white fruits and hints of white flowers and honey. Opulent with its creamy texture, dense mid-palate and spherical mouthfeel. Lasting, balanced finish. This wine is sophisticated and complex. Enjoyable now but promised to a great future over the next 10 years or more.
A 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon with a gamey, black fruit nose and touches of liquorice, tar, vanilla toast and oak. It’s concentrated and nicely balanced in the mouth with ripe tannins, meaty/earthy notes and blackberry, plum and currant fruits. Needs to further integrate in the bottle to reach its peak performance.
Medium-deep reddish copper colour. Nose of raspberries, ripe mango, toast and spice. Left in the sun — an occupational hazard of rosé in the summer — the aromas turn to milk chocolate–dipped strawberries, but this is better drunk well-chilled. On the palate are mixed ripe red berries with offsetting acidity and a hint of tannic backbone for structure. From a good vintage, but drink soon anyway.
This wine is made by the son of founders/owners Catherine and Pierre Brenton, organic champions who farm 11 hectares of vines just east of Bourgueil in the village of Restigné. Their eldest 20-something son Paul has joined the generations and made this singular Chenin from the tiny lieu-dit of Pierre Rousses in Vouvray, named for the red rocks covering the surface of the limestone undercover. Give this ample airtime to allow the exceptional layers of crushed stone, earthy pear, wild clover, key lime, honeysuckle, white pepper, ample crushed sea salts, to emerge and pulse along the confidently lackadaisical palate. After native fermentation in 1-to-2-year-old barrique, this ages in barrique for 7 months, sans MLF.
From one of the hottest summers on record, a more robust style of Pinot, with intense raspberry, strawberry and cedar notes on top, before a palate of dark red berries and raspberries, with well integrated oak, that opens in the glass to show plush, more spicy layers and well-rounded tannins. Made from five separate blocks, harvested and aged separately for 14 months in French oak.
Savoury meets fruity with aromas and flavours of dried herbs, passion fruit, melon, citrus and honeysuckle. Sauv Blanc (8%) highlights crispness while partial French oak treatment (15%) contributes spicy complexity and a creamy texture. Sings with bacon-enhanced shellfish dishes.
A unique Alsatian take on the grape, this lemon yellow wine reeks of lychee, tropical flowers and pineapple. Good acidity, rich mouthfeel, lemon and melon on the palate — a surprisingly long finish for a simple wine. Excellent with old-fashioned Cantonese food.