2015 North America
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Ready, but will keep,
This wine is a bin-end, discounted by 20%.
This Sauvignon comes from the well-known Ritchie vineyard. In the Russian River (Sonoma County), the site is a mix of sandy loam and volcanic soil with vines planted in 1972. After whole-cluster pressing, the juice is fermented in concrete eggs and spends eight months on lees, with some aged in neutral barre. It has an attractive phenolic grip with intense grapefruit, a herbal note and a mineral attack.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
This Sauvignon comes from the well-known Ritchie vineyard. In the Russian River (Sonoma County), the site is a mix of sandy loam and volcanic soil with vines planted in 1972. After whole-cluster pressing, the juice is fermented in concrete eggs and spends eight months on lees, with some aged in neutral barre. It has an attractive phenolic grip with intense grapefruit, a herbal note and a mineral attack.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Ready, but will keep,
This excellent vintage displays juicy redcurrant fruit as well as an attractive perfume of wild strawberries. Refreshing acidity and fine-grained tannins provide the perfect backbone to this concentrated Pinot Noir. Hints of herbs and spice add layers of complexity and interest. Pairs well with hard cheeses and lamb dishes. Drink now to 2025.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Ready, but will keep,
This is distinctively Cabernet on the nose, with an attractive perfume of cassis and dark black berry fruits, as well as a subtle herbal top note. The tannins are powdery and firm, supporting the concentration and density on the palate. The length is extraordinary and the savoury finish delicious, inviting you to pour a second glass. Drink 2020-2035.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (September 2019)
Ready, but will keep,
Founded in 1871, El Molino was one of the first wineries in the Napa Valley and it is still family owned. Unlike most of their neighbours in Rutherford who have planted Cabernet Sauvignon, they grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to great effect.
This wine is made with Burgundy clones of Chardonnay, planted in 1978. Barrel-fermented, but with no malolactic fermentation, the wine is vibrant with a mineral core. It spends eight months in bottle before release. Drink now to 2026.
This wine is made with Burgundy clones of Chardonnay, planted in 1978. Barrel-fermented, but with no malolactic fermentation, the wine is vibrant with a mineral core. It spends eight months in bottle before release. Drink now to 2026.
DeSante,
Ready, but will keep,
DeSante is a small grower and their Cabernet comes from the prestigious Oakville area within the Napa Valley, home to some of the most highly regarded and sought-after wines in California. I love this Cabernet: although it displays the typical generosity and power of a Napa Cabernet, there is a purity and elegance that defines the wine and makes it incredibly accessible. Wines of this quality can be rather expensive and unaffordable, but DeSante – who make only 1,000 cases in total – really deliver with this wine, both in terms of price and quality.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
DeSante,
Ready, but will keep,
This wine is a bin-end, discounted by 20%.
A blend of Alicante Bouschet and Petite Sirah, only one barrel of this wine is produced. The fruit undergoes whole-cluster fermentation, and if the team feels the wine needs more acidity, they add white varieties. The nose offers red fruits and floral aromatics with a blueberry top-note. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, balanced by a juicy fruit core with a long finsih. This wine defines the style of Desante, offering great concentration and complexity as well as restraint and freshness.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
A blend of Alicante Bouschet and Petite Sirah, only one barrel of this wine is produced. The fruit undergoes whole-cluster fermentation, and if the team feels the wine needs more acidity, they add white varieties. The nose offers red fruits and floral aromatics with a blueberry top-note. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, balanced by a juicy fruit core with a long finsih. This wine defines the style of Desante, offering great concentration and complexity as well as restraint and freshness.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Ready, but will improve,
Earthy, with a succulent cherry and Raspberry fragrance, sweet spices as well. Very focussed on the palate with a core of sweet red fruit and fine line of acidity. This is right up there amongst the finest Pinots of the New World. A real beauty. Drink 2019 to 2025+.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager
Ready, but will improve,
Ready, but will improve,
Sourced from Dry Creek Valley this cuvee is made up of 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane, 2% Mataro. There is a richness and concentration that showcases itself on the aromatic and textural components of this wine. Rich red berried fruits and spice are supported by a silky density on the core with round but pronounced tannins and a refreshing juicy acid profile. Wild strawberries and pepper continue rather attractively on the length.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Ready, but will improve,
The 14.5% alcohol is incredibly well integrated with a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet. An excellent 50th Geyserville vintage! The aromatic profile is incredibly intense with notes of brambles fruits, spice, licorice and cedar are supported by a richness on the palate but with a distinct vibrancy and balance from the acidity and integrated tannins.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Ready, but will keep,
This wine is a bin-end, discounted by 20%.
Sourced from High Valley in Lake County, the Brassfield Sauvignon Blanc vineyard is north of Napa at 1,800 feet above sea-level. It is one of the coolest sites in Lake County and helps the wines obtain nervier acidities. As for the winemaking: whole-cluster fermentation, no malolactic and a mix of stainless steel and oak barrels for fermentation, it’s then aged for two months on lees, in a mix of neutral oak, stainless steel and concrete egg. The resultant wine is almost Loire in style – fresh and chalky with a citrus core.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Sourced from High Valley in Lake County, the Brassfield Sauvignon Blanc vineyard is north of Napa at 1,800 feet above sea-level. It is one of the coolest sites in Lake County and helps the wines obtain nervier acidities. As for the winemaking: whole-cluster fermentation, no malolactic and a mix of stainless steel and oak barrels for fermentation, it’s then aged for two months on lees, in a mix of neutral oak, stainless steel and concrete egg. The resultant wine is almost Loire in style – fresh and chalky with a citrus core.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer
Colgin Cellars,
For laying down,
Smelling this takes my breath away. Cloves, floras, metal shavings, blackberries and smoked meat. Mandarin zest, too. Full body with a perfect balance of ultra-fine tannins and great complexity. Goes on for minutes. Sets a new standard of syrah for California. Don't wait to drink this.
James Suckling - 03/11/18
James Suckling - 03/11/18
Cayuse Vineyards,
For laying down,
The 2015 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard is superb, wafting from the glass with a bouquet of kaleidoscopic complexity that features aromas of rose hips and peony, ripe cherries and orange rind, mingled with savory bass notes of garrigue, licorice and bay leaf. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and expansive, with a deep core of fruit framed by very fine-grained, velvety tannins, concluding with a sapid, even saline finish. Its concentration without weight, as well as its striking aromatic amplitude, mark it out as one of the finest expressions of Grenache to be found in the United States. The 2015 was cropped at 1.2 tons per acre and saw a saignée of 8% to 15%, and it was fermented with 70% to 80% whole cluster, attaining 14.2% alcohol.
Wiliam Kelley - The Wine Advocate 29/06/18
Wiliam Kelley - The Wine Advocate 29/06/18
Horsepower Vineyards,
For laying down,
Of these three offerings from Horsepower, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard will require the most time, as it's the most tight-knit at this early stage, slowly unwinding in the glass with savory aromas of raw cocoa, tapenade, nori and ripe blackberries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a rich chassis of satiny structuring tannins and a layered, umami-laden core of fruit. At 13.6% alcohol, it's also beautifully balanced
The Wine Advocate
The Wine Advocate
Tablas Creek is a driving force in California for its biodynamic and sustainable practices and this attention to detail is evident in all their wines. Patelin – slang for “neighbourhood” – is a Rhône-style blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise, sourced from both their own vineyards and others in their ‘hood, Paso Robles. Bright and energetic, the wine has aromas of violet, blueberry and pepper spice. It has a silky but pronounced tannin profile, with a juicy and generous mid-palate. From the stand-out 2016 vintage, this wine is drinking beautifully now, but has the structure and concentration to keep for a couple of years.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer